Chapter 43 Zhang Kai: I would rather be a thief

Zhang Kai is a thief. Zhang Kai has been stealing and stealing since he was a child, and he has never done bad things in the village.People in the village didn't want to see him, and they shook their heads when they mentioned Zhang Kai.The two swore that they would meet Zhang Kai as soon as they went out.Women scare children: Don't cry, Zhang Kai is here.The child was shocked and stopped crying. When Zhang Kai grew up, he gathered a group of prodigal children and went up to the mountain to become thieves.Raiding houses, robbing men and dominating women, doing all kinds of evil.The village is surrounded by hundreds of miles of uninhabited people.Zhang Kai has a great sense of accomplishment, and feels that it is not in vain to make people afraid to such an extent.

Tao Qian, governor of Xuzhou, was known for his benevolence.How could his land allow criminals like Zhang Kai to exist?He led his troops into the mountains to fight.Zhang Kai was defeated and captured. Many people advised Tao Qian that Zhang Kai had committed many crimes and committed serious crimes, so he should be killed quickly. Tao Qian said, no.Although Zhang Kai is bad, he can still be taught. I should influence him, make him a new man, benefit the society, and offset the crimes he committed a few years ago. Instead of killing Zhang Kai, Tao Qian accepted Zhang Kai as his adopted son and promoted him to general.

At that time, although the world was in chaos and the princes separated their regimes, Tao Qian was still able to keep Xuzhou safe.Some people advised Tao Qian to recruit soldiers and horses to expand the army to meet the needs of the war.Tao Qian refused.We should influence people with benevolence and righteousness, how can we subdue people with force?Not only does it not perform martial arts, but it emphasizes literature more, and it also promotes Buddhism. Therefore, during Tao Qian's tenure as governor of Xuzhou, the Yellow Turban riots in Qingzhou and Yanzhou in the north happened one after another, but Xuzhou was peaceful.This is all due to Tao Qian's great travels to farm and promote Buddhism.

Tao Qian also held a lecture hall of hundreds of schools in Xuzhou, inviting some celebrities to give lectures from time to time.Of course, it’s not just about Buddhism, but it’s generally about exhorting people to accumulate virtue and do good deeds. Every time the class opened, Tao Qian would go to speak in person, and he would bring Zhang Kai with him.Tao Qian said, it is good for you to listen to what others have to say. At that time, a famous scholar named Mi Zhu came to vote for Tao Qian.Tao Qian invited him to give a speech.Mi Zhu used his own experience to illustrate the benefits of doing good deeds.

Mi Zhu said, despite my simple clothes, I am very rich and the richest man in our village. One night, I was driving in a carriage when suddenly a woman stopped the carriage and asked for a ride.I'm a decent person, so I got out of the car and let her sit.But the woman said, come up and sit together, otherwise I won't feel at ease sitting.I said, I'm afraid I won't feel at ease when I sit.The woman said, I feel at ease when you sit on it, and so do you.Pulled me up.My feet, I got on the car like stepping on cotton.Getting in the car is getting in the car, but we sit upright from beginning to end, not looking at each other.After walking for a long time, the woman got out of the car, and I wiped off the sweat on my forehead, but the woman's words scared the sweat out of my forehead again.The woman said, I am the god of fire in the sky. The Jade Emperor ordered me to burn your home. I heard that you are very benevolent. I tried it just now. Sure enough, how can I have the heart to do harm to a gentleman like you?

We can be stupefied there.The woman said, don't be dazed, go back quickly, and move out all the valuable things in your house that can be moved.It must be moved before the third watch, and it will not be waited for when it is outdated.After speaking, the sleeves of the robe flicked and disappeared.When we got home, we hurriedly moved everything to the neighbor's house and put it away.Sure enough, at midnight that night, the kitchen caught fire and my home was burned to ashes. I carried my belongings to Xuzhou overnight to vote for Mr. Tao.All my things are donated to the people of Xuzhou.I am much more secure now.

Mi Zhu said, people, you have to be upright, don't talk about doing bad things, and you shouldn't have any evil thoughts.If I had evil thoughts at that time, it would be all over. Mi Zhu's speech was very successful, and the audience applauded thunderously.Zhang Kai also kept applauding from the audience.His palms were all red. Tao Qian said, Zhang Kai, please tell me too. Zhang Kai refused at first, but Tao Qian insisted on letting him speak, so Zhang Kai took the stage to speak.Zhang Kai was very excited.He said that he did do a lot of bad things in the first half of his life, and he will do good deeds in the future to make up for his past mistakes.

Zhang Kai also said that this is the kindness and trust of Mr. Tao to me. It is the people of Xuzhou who gave me a new life. I will use practical actions to repay Mr. Tao and the people of Xuzhou. Zhang Kai's speech was a great success, and the audience applauded even more enthusiastically. Tao Qian took the opportunity to persuade Zhang Kai again, and asked everyone to help Zhang Kai so that he could regain his life. There was another warm applause from the audience. In the days that followed, Tao Qian arranged for Zhang Kai to attend many speeches, and Zhang Kai cried bitterly every time he spoke.The people in the audience were also moved by it.

Zhang Kai not only speaks well, but also does well.He often helps people in need, and helps the elderly and women carry water and firewood.Everyone said that they did not expect Zhang Kai to change so much. Tao Qian was very proud, and often said to others, don't think that Zhang Kai has learned well now, it is because the old man influenced him with his benevolence.Back then, he was a thief. Cao Song, Cao Cao's father, took more than a hundred carts of luggage and gold and silver treasures from Langya to Yanzhou.Passing by Xuzhou, someone persuaded Tao Qian to take the gold and silver from these vehicles, because Cao Cao always wanted to attack Xuzhou, and now he just took hostages and negotiated with him.Tao Qian said, it's better to get rid of enemies than tie them up. Not only can they not be detained, but they should also be escorted, so that Mr. Cao can feel my sincerity and not hit me.

Who to send?Send Zhang Kai. Some people objected that Zhang Kai is a thief, and I am afraid that the thief will not die. Tao Qian said, don't speak so harshly, it's a thief with every mouthful.He had a blemish, that's a thing of the past, don't keep digging up old scores.Isn't it a new life now?Give him a chance this time to prove that he is a good man. Tao Qian also said that in the future we must speak in a civilized manner, and we Xuzhou people must be civilized, and we are not allowed to mention the thief word again, and those who mention the thief word again will be punished.

Zhang Kai took the order and escorted Cao Song with two hundred guards.Walked between Mount Tai and Hua County and Fei County, commanded the guards, killed Cao Song, robbed Cao Song of his belongings, and ascended the mountain to become king. When the news reached Xuzhou, Tao Qian almost lost his temper.He sent someone to the mountain to question Zhang Kai, why did he not be a good man but a thief instead of repaying his kindness? Zhang Kai replied a letter with only one sentence: I feel that being a good person is more tiring than being a thief.I'd rather be a thief. At this time, Tan Ma came to report: Cao Cao's brigade had already rushed to Xuzhou. Tao Qian yelled, "Bastard, thief!"