Chapter 170 The Bourne Supremacy

Chen Sheng's first impression on Li Ping was his majestic appearance.

And Chen Sheng's neat coarse cloth clothes make people feel that he is definitely not a scholar who likes to be arty and boastful.

Then his family background is still very good, which is even more rare.

According to Yang Ming, who had a pleasant conversation with him, Chen Sheng's talent was indisputable.

Shi Lei also believed that his reputation as a talented person in Huangzhou Prefecture should be authentic and credible, because Shi Lei found enough witnesses easily and quickly.

After some conversation, Li Ping knew that his feeling was not wrong.

He is a scholar who is full of knowledge but very down-to-earth. He is also gentle and very quick-thinking, and it is easy for people to like him.

The series of abnormal actions taken by Chen Sheng before his arrest seemed to prove that he was definitely not a member of the peasant army, nor did he actively want to join the peasants.

At least he didn't want the peasant army to think that he had taken the initiative to surrender.

Although Chen Sheng came to Huangpi to visit friends and could not escape, this reason was very lame.

"Sir, since you have done such a confidential thing, why do you say it so easily? Aren't you worried that it will be revealed and the matter will be ruined?" Li Ping was very confused.

He simply couldn't believe everything he heard.

But Chen Sheng smiled bitterly and said: "General, your men are like a group of wolves that have found their prey. I really don't know how to escape. If you don't tell me, I won't even have a chance to go to the industry, so how can I fail?"

!”

"That's not to say everything! Don't you think you've said too much? This is the first time we've met, so we're not familiar with each other at all!" Li Ping's doubts have not diminished at all.

He is not a person who can be easily persuaded.

Although Li Ping also knew that Shi Lei might make Chen Sheng feel uncomfortable, and indeed might even make Chen Sheng feel frustrated.

But it's unreasonable to let a spy who has shouldered such a heavy responsibility and worked so hard to surrender easily throw up his hands and admit defeat in just one morning.

And how can someone who is willing to do such a dangerous thing not be mentally strong? How can someone who is willing to do such a dangerous thing not have a deep scheming mind?

"But if I am secretive, how can the general judge the truth of what I say? Besides, the general can go against the odds and conquer Huangpi, so he is naturally a loyal minister of my Ming Dynasty. If I don't even believe you, who can I believe?"

Chen Sheng had a determined expression, as if he was very confident in his judgment.

"But if you tell me everything, will I believe it?" Li Ping still couldn't help but ask.

"The general actually believes it." Chen Sheng smiled.

Li Ping disliked Chen Sheng's self-obsessed smile.

He also didn't like to let others think they could defeat him. He couldn't help but sneered in anger: "Don't be too confident!"

But Chen Sheng didn't take it seriously. He just suppressed his smile and said, "Believe it or not is entirely up to the general's discretion. But the general should understand that no matter what I say is true or false, I am actually harmless to you."

"Then what are you talking about?" Li Ping almost blurted out.

"I need the general to help me. The general conquered Huangpi, so I lost the opportunity to passively join Luo Rucai's army. And if I want to be trusted by them quickly, people like me can't take the initiative to join him because there is not enough reason." Chen Sheng said helplessly.

This time Li Ping didn't act stubborn again, nor did he keep asking questions like before, but he just said politely: "I need to think about it."

"It should be." Chen Sheng's answer was very reasonable.

Then Chen Sheng ignored Li Ping and walked directly to the window of the small room where he was imprisoned. He gently opened the window and silently looked up at the clear sky outside.

Chen Sheng seemed to be extremely confident in everything and knew that he needed to give Li Ping time.

Of course, Chen Sheng seemed a little worried.

Li Ping didn't hesitate and directly called Shi Lei, the only person allowed to listen, to leave the room. He had to digest the shocking information he just heard, and he also needed to discuss it with a smart person.

Li Ping felt that he was not good enough to complete the judgment because it was too unbelievable.

Chen Sheng was a spy sent by the Ming government to infiltrate Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai. This amount of information was too large and shocking.

This is a bit like the plot of a 21st century spy drama, which seems a bit out of tune with this era. But what Chen Sheng said is so true, and he also cited a lot of supporting evidence.

In June of the 15th year of Chongzhen, Hou Xun, the right minister of the Ministry of War, wrote in a memorial: "The thieves join forces with various ministries, such as Luo Rucai's branch, and they have the intention of annexation. They are guessing... You can save the discussion in the court and do things outside."

Military law is to ignore reproaches, show no favoritism, assemble thick troops, cultivate prestige and build up strength, wait for gaps and create gaps, break the heart of the enemy, and the thief's heart will grow from within."

This opinion was eventually adopted by the Ming government, and several Ming army generals stationed in Henan at that time performed such tasks.

In the autumn of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, the peasant army surrounded Kaifeng, and the governor Gao Mingheng implemented counterintuitive tactics.

He specially wrote a fake letter to contact Luo Rucai, but he deliberately let the sender be captured by Li Zicheng's troops on the road. The letter clearly stated that the reinforcements from Hebei Province would be in the south of Songjiazhai on the night of August 29th.

After crossing, I met Luo Ru before meeting him.

Li Zicheng probably did not inform Luo Rucai about this matter, and the position of Luo Rucai's troops was subsequently moved away from Songjiazhai by Li Zicheng for an excuse.

In September of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the censor Wang Han, who patrolled Henan and was ordered to manage reinforcements, also adopted counterintuitive tactics.

When he captured a confirmed spy of Li Zicheng, he deliberately pretended not to know his details and asked him if he was sent by Luo Rucai. He then said that he had a close relationship with Luo Rucai and asked the spy to pass on the secrets. Finally, he let him go after entertaining him.

Gone is the spy.

…

This series of vividly named events really does not look like it was made up, it would be difficult to make it up, and it is not even necessary to make it up.

However, Li Ping could not figure out how these events could be strangely known to Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng knew too much and was too detailed.

According to Li Ping's experience from spy war dramas, Chen Sheng should not know about other spy operations.

This is basic common sense of confidentiality.

But Shi Lei believed that this was not against common sense.

He believed that if Chen Sheng was completely ignorant of previous business affairs and high-level decisions, it would be difficult for anyone to convince a talented scholar like Chen Sheng to risk his own life and directly infiltrate the enemy.

Chen Sheng should be the person or one of the group of people who is preparing to carry out the final blow.

This may also be the source of Chen Sheng's confidence that he can complete the task of "adding firewood and adding fuel to the fire". It also shows that Chen Sheng was directly dispatched by a fairly high-level civil service system.

Zhou Wen affirmed Shi Lei's judgment.

Zhou Wen is the smart person Li Ping is looking for.

Although he has doubts about Zhou Wen, Li Ping has to admit that Zhou Wen is currently the only person who can help him check for omissions and remind him on key issues.

Zhou Wen also recognized Shi Lei's judgment based on his understanding of the scholar community and values, and made further analysis.

There are almost very few Juren who actively or passively surrendered to the peasant army. Except for Niu Jinxing, few people have heard of it (not counting Li Yan, whether he actually existed is a controversy in the historical circles). The main reason is that this is completely inconsistent with the vast majority of scholars.

value orientation.

Of course, the group of Ming officials who were captured and surrendered did not count, because the peasant army did not trust them at all.

If he didn't know a lot and could connect with the highest level, there was really no need for Chen Sheng to avoid taking an official career that could easily highlight his reputation and become a spy, a job that scholars usually think does not require their personal experience.

"I think what Chen Sheng said is credible." Shi Lei decisively gave his answer after getting Zhou Wen's support.

But Duan Qiang was still in shock and disbelief, and he was completely speechless at Li Ping's consulting gaze.

Duan Qiang is another person whose scope of knowledge has been expanded, because he is Shi Lei's immediate boss, and it is not good to avoid him.

As for Ma Yong, he had already gone to report his victory with the head of the pseudo-magistrate.

But with the opinions of Shi Lei and Zhou Wen, it was enough for Li Ping. He knew that he also had the answer.

…

At noon that day, the news that the Huangpi officials and gentry requested to kill all those who defected to the rebel army accidentally spread to the prisoner camp.

The prison camp soon became restless, and the officers and soldiers had to use force to suppress it.

But in the afternoon, the prisoners heard the consolation from the officers and soldiers guarding them that they did not need to worry about their lives.

Huangzhou Chen Sheng, a scholar who was briefly captured by their bandits, engaged in a verbal exchange with the Huangpi elders and expressed his firm opposition to indiscriminate killing. Afterwards, Chen Sheng also petitioned guerrilla Li Ping in person.

It is said that Chen Sheng received preferential treatment after being kidnapped.

Under Chen Sheng's lobbying, guerrilla Li Ping had clearly rejected the opinions of Huangpi officials and gentry.

The prisoners soon began to cry for joy one by one, and Chen Sheng's name was etched in each of their hearts.

When it was getting dark, Li Ping and Song Baolai listened to Shi Lei's latest report on a section of the city wall.

Song Baolai, who had just arrived and was already crazy with joy, could miraculously endure and listen all the time because he was also a curious baby.

And it is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience to hear such a magical spy plot.

Of course Li Ping must fully cooperate with Chen Sheng in acting.

He must do this both in public and private matters, and you must know that this may be a good line to get in touch with the Ming Dynasty's civil servant group.

Whether Chen Sheng will succeed or not is not his concern.

But at least Li Ping knew that Luo Rucai had indeed disappeared from the ranks of the peasant army when Li Zicheng entered Beijing.

"Tell Chen Sheng that he will suffer some injustices and suffer some hardships in the past few days. The officials and gentry in Huangpi will inevitably accuse him, and we will fan the flames again to prevent the storm from rising."

Li Ping explained.
To be continued...