Chapter 5 2. Brother Sima was arrested

While they were talking, they heard a sudden commotion from the moon-shaped doorway beyond the garden.Dong Zhuo was annoyed, his face darkened, and he raised his eyes to follow the prestige.I saw Dong Yi, his beloved general, bearded and glaringly escorting the two young men, and behind him were more than 20 soldiers from Xiliang, carrying more than ten large wooden boxes, barging in noisily. "Dong Yi! You are becoming more and more unruly!" Li Ru caught a glimpse of Dong Zhuo's complexion, and hurried out of the green bamboo pavilion, trotted up to Dong Yi and reprimanded Dong Yi, "You have been in Luoyang City for so long, you I still haven’t learned the Confucian etiquette of the imperial court at all! Do you think you can still be like that in Liangzhou? Be more solemn and respectful! I disturbed the rest of the Grand Master, and I don’t have any good fruit for you!”

Dong Yi was reprimanded by Li Ru, shut up quickly and stood still, resisted listening to his reprimand, then coughed, suppressed his loud voice again and again, and said in a low voice: "Li Jun, please don't reprimand me!" Dong is rude... It is true that these famous scholars in the court have treated Grand Master Dong too much! They pretend to be respectful to Grand Master Dong on the surface, but secretly they are at odds with Grand Master Dong..." "Wh... what?" Li Ru was startled, his expression tightened, and he asked anxiously, "Could it be that you have found out some of their plots?" On two young men.

The two young men appeared to be brothers, both tall and handsome.Although they were both dressed in Confucian uniforms, they were handsome and elegant when they looked forward to each other.The older man's face was modest, seeing Li Ru glanced over, he quickly bowed to him slightly and gave him a salute; the younger man's eyes were piercing, as bright as a newly formed sword, and he didn't avoid it. He looked at Li Ru openly. "What a pair of handsome young men!" Li Ruping had met many young Confucian scholars in his life, but this was the first time he had seen them with such extraordinary talents, and he couldn't help but secretly admired them in his heart.

"Dong Yi! What's the matter?" Dong Zhuo had already sat back on the Xiangzhu mat in the pavilion, looked at them from a distance, and raised his voice to order, "What are you making noise outside? Come inside the pavilion and report back!" "The general obeys the order!" Dong Yi bowed towards the green bamboo pavilion, stared at the two young scholars in a blink of an eye, and shouted sharply, "You two boys, why are you so dazed! Why don't you go into the pavilion with Dong? Master Taishi confessed to you the crime of escaping without permission?"

Hearing that, the young Confucian scholar's face turned red, and his hair seemed to stand on end. He was about to argue, but the older Confucian scholar grabbed the corner of his sleeve and gave him a quick wink.Seeing this, the young Confucian scholar had no choice but to grit his teeth secretly, snorted, and swallowed the words he was about to blurt out, silently followed behind his elder brother, and walked slowly into the green bamboo pavilion. After entering the pavilion, Dong Yi bowed again to Dong Zhuo, clasped his fists and said, "My lord, these two Confucian scholars are Sima Lang and Sima Yi, the eldest son of Jingzhaoyin Sima Fang. This morning, they The two of them were about to abscond from the East City Gate with more than ten boxes of valuables, but were stopped on the spot by the last general who was guarding there. Now they are being escorted here, and the Grand Master is here to interrogate them!"

"Sima Fang?" Dong Zhuo couldn't help being slightly taken aback when he heard the words, glanced at Li Ru sideways, and thought to himself: This world is really strange and unpredictable!I was still talking about Sima Fang with Li Ru just now, but now Dong Yi came to talk about his father and son.Thinking of this, an indescribable smile could not help but float on his face. After hearing Dong Yi's report, Li Ru frowned, his face turned cold, and his tone was as cold as ice, and he said, "You are the sons of Sima Fang? Hmph! Sima Fang, a famous official who claims to be "loyal, industrious and honest, treats the country like home", has two different ideas and has different ambitions. He wants to send you two to flee to the Kanto to collude with Yuan Shao, Cao Cao and other rebels Mess up?"

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo felt the same way, his complexion sank suddenly, he stared at Brother Sima Lang, with a strong murderous intent in his tone, and asked: "You two ignorant boys! Are your Sima family really like Li Ru? What the adults say is 'the head of the mouse has two ends, and the heart is different'? Hurry up and do it!" Na Sima Lang is the eldest son of Sima Fang, he is twenty years old this year, since he became an official in the county at the age of sixteen, he has served as an official in his father's Jingzhao Mansion for four or five years.Under his father's training and guidance, Sima Lang is far more mature and capable than officials of his age, and he is quite decent in dealing with various matters.Hearing that Dong Zhuo's words were not meant well, he hastily bowed and replied: "Master Dong, Lord Li, the two adults have misunderstood. Xiaosheng and his second brother left the city this morning, but they were actually going to Hanoi County under the orders of their father. From the hometown of Wenxian County, all the clansmen and folks were invited to pack up their belongings together and return to Dong Taishi's wise and mighty virtue, and moved to Chang'an with the imperial court. Xiaosheng and others are familiar with classics and etiquette for a long time, and they have no intention of escaping without authorization. Please also invite Dong Taishi and Li My lord is aware."

"Hmm..." Seeing that Sima Lang's attitude was modest, his words were submissive, and his conversation should be polite, not at all cunning and sophistry, Dong Zhuo couldn't help but feel a little relieved, so he calmed down and said slowly, "Your Sima family Do you really mean this? I'm afraid I'm lying..." Li Ru was not as credulous as Dong Zhuo. He heard Dong Zhuo's heart fluttering, and quickly interjected, still scolding with a straight face: "Hmph! You are a rebellious child! At this moment, General Dong Yi caught me on the spot. But you are still blindly making excuses to cover up your crimes! If you had escaped from the city just now, how would you know that you would not collude with the rebels from the Kanto region? Grand Master Dong, to treat such a tricky child, you have to torture him to extract a confession. !"

"This..." Dong Zhuo was contemplating, but he heard Diao Chan, who was standing beside him, giggle suddenly, and said in a manly voice: "It seems that Master Li really hates the children of the famous gentry! Once he catches others, he will not If you ask indiscriminately, you will be beaten and punished... Doing so, I'm afraid it will chill the respect and support of Grand Master Dong from the famous nobles..." Li Ru heard that Diao Chan's words meant to protect Sima Lang brothers, he couldn't help but secretly startled, his thoughts suddenly changed, but he understood again.Diao Chan's adoptive father, Wang Yun, was originally from a famous Confucian family in the court, so he must have a close relationship with Sima Fang and other Confucian family members; The Sima Lang brothers and other gentry children expressed their support and sympathy!It seems that among the government and the opposition, these famous families are closely connected, intertwined, united, echoing each other, and have already formed a huge potential force, which is really extremely difficult to deal with!When he thought of this, he couldn't help being shocked, and a layer of cold sweat suddenly appeared on his vest!But he also knows that Dong Zhuo loves Diao Chan deeply and treats Wang Yun and other famous scholars and officials as his confidants, even if he advises him in every possible way, he will never listen.Therefore, Li Ru sighed deeply in his heart, and he could only pretend that he didn't hear Diao Chan's sarcastic words, and remained silent.

When Dong Zhuo heard what Diao Chan said, he hesitated even more, but Nian Xu groaned slightly. At this moment, Sima Lang's younger brother, Sima Yi, finally couldn't hold back anymore. He brushed aside Sima Lang's secret dissuasion, took a step forward, looked straight at Li Ru, and argued, "Master Li, don't want to frame our two brothers without evidence and evidence." People! Xiaosheng's father is currently in the position of Jing Zhaoyin, and he is still in the palace today discussing with Lord Situ Wangyun, Lord Sikong Xunshuang, Lord Wei Yang Biao, etc. about moving the capital. ...If our two brothers fled to the Kanto without authorization to join Yuan Shao and other rebels, wouldn't we put our father in danger? Such things that are the most stupid, rebellious, and unfilial in the world are the Sima clan that I have always been loyal and filial to the family. What did the Chinese do?"

Li Ru has always been sensitive and wise, when he heard Sima Yi's words, he was stunned for a moment and couldn't answer for a while.Sima Yi turned around again, pointed to the ten or so large wooden boxes placed under the steps outside the pavilion gate, and said with confidence: "Just now General Dong Yi claimed that our brothers escaped from the city with more than ten boxes of valuables, then Grand Master Dong please check it in person in public - if there are indeed gold and silver treasures hidden in that box, we are willing to plead guilty and receive punishment!" Dong Zhuo, who was born in a wealthy family in Xiliang and was known to be rough and bold, saw that Sima Yi was so young, and his speech and demeanor were so heroic, he felt a little good in his heart, and nodded slightly.He didn't say much, just put his hands behind his back, shy of his big belly, walked slowly down the steps of the green bamboo pavilion, walked to the more than ten large wooden boxes, pouted his mouth at the soldiers guarding around, and said deeply. He said loudly, "Open the wooden box!" There was a deafening noise of "ping pong pong", and the soldiers stepped forward in response to the sound, and lifted the lids of the wooden boxes one after another—Dong Yi stretched his neck beside him for a look, and was suddenly dumbfounded: The stacks of bamboo slips and silk are full of classics such as, "Mencius", "Book of Filial Piety", and "Book of Rites". Seeing those Xiliang soldiers rummaging through the wooden boxes and making a mess of those ancient books, Sima Yi couldn't help shouting out in distress: "Brother soldiers! Take it easy... these It’s not easy to restore a classic that’s broken…” "Well... that's enough, that's enough." Dong Zhuo stared at it for a while, and then waved his hand when he saw that there was indeed no gold or silver hidden in those big wooden boxes.Seeing this, those Xiliang soldiers hurriedly stopped their hands and retreated to the side.Dong Zhuo walked around the dozen or so wooden boxes slowly, then went back to sit down on the mat in the pavilion, waved to Brother Sima Lang, let them go forward, and said with a smile: "You Sima Your family really deserves to be a famous family of "poems and books, and Confucianism"! This Grand Master is above the court, and I have always admired your father's profound knowledge! However, according to this Grand Master, Sima Lang—Your second brother, Sima Yi, is quite resolute, not like a weak scholar from an ordinary scholarly family. How old is he this year? Has he been promoted by the county as a filial piety?" Sima Lang was still sweating secretly for his second younger brother's words and deeds of "a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers", but now seeing that Dong Zhuo didn't seem to think he was disobedient, he calmed down quietly, and when he heard Dong Zhuo's question, he calmed down , replied humbly and politely: "Qi Taishi, the second younger brother Xiaosheng is young and frivolous, and if his words and deeds are inappropriate, I hope the Taishi Lord Haihan. He is only fourteen years old this year. He is just a boy student in the Taixue. Lijun It's too early to recommend him as Xiaolian!" "Oh! Look at how tall he is, I thought he was at least eighteen years old!" Dong Zhuo was slightly surprised, thought for a while, then frowned again, and sighed softly, "What a pity! What a pity! If he is Xiaolian now, my grand master will definitely promote him to the Xicao genus who ranks higher than six hundred officials in the mansion! There is no need to read those scriptures anymore, and my grand master will be able to do so in a few years. Let him go out to serve as the prefect and governor of the ruling party..." "Thank you, Grand Master, for your attention. Xiaosheng, the second younger brother, has not yet completed his studies. When he is a little older and more knowledgeable in the Imperial College, he will come to worship and serve under the command of Grand Master." Sima Lang Borrowing Dong Zhuo's words just now, he hastily opened his mouth and thanked respectfully, "Now, Xiaosheng, please open the way of kindness, my lord, and let me wait for my brother to return to my hometown, and take care of the people for you." "This..." Dong Zhuo's expression froze, he stretched out his hand and slowly stroked the beard under his chin, and pondered deeply.Although judging from the current situation, the Sima Lang brothers have no signs of defecting.However, if the two of them are really let out of this Luoyang city gate, who can guarantee where they will go?Considering this, Dong Zhuo couldn't help hesitating. At this moment, Diao Chan's delicate voice sounded: "My lord...what's so hard to decide? Hanoi County is located at the junction of the rebels from all roads in the Kanto and our imperial army, and it is the place where the battle is intense— —The two brothers are willing to take the risk of arrows and stones to persuade the people to go to Beijing to surrender, and they are actually young righteous men who are loyal to you. You should not shake their loyalty!" "Well... Diao Chan's words are very good." Dong Zhuo listened, nodded again and again, and said to Sima Lang and Sima Yi, "That's good! My Grand Master has allowed you to leave Luoyang and return to your hometown to appease the people." .” Sima Lang and Sima Yi looked at each other, and they couldn't help showing a hint of joy on their faces.At the same time, they both gave Diao Chan a glance of deep gratitude.But seeing Diao Chan's expressionless face, she probably pretended to turn a blind eye to avoid suspicion. "Grand Master Dong can't agree to them so easily!" Li Ru's complexion changed slightly, and he couldn't care less, and hurriedly said, "Once this example is opened, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with the aftermath. If the children of other ministers in the court follow suit This kind of behavior, going out of the city under the banner of 'returning to the hometown to appease', one by one is hard to tell whether it is true or false - I don't know which of them is escaping and which is pacifying... It will definitely make the people of the government and the people fluctuate. But what should I do?" "This... this, Li Junzhi's words are also reasonable!" Dong Zhuo couldn't help but froze when he heard Li Ru's words, and he hesitated for a while after thinking about it. Seeing Dong Zhuo's hesitation, the Sima Lang brothers suddenly felt that something was wrong, and the heart that had just let go couldn't help but hang in their throats again!