When he arrived in Jiujiang, Liu Xingming found that all the cities in the world were the same.

Sifang Street, the square and market divided by the archway, the hawkers on the street, and the crowd of people who are in a hurry to shuttle back and forth.

It's just that the people of Jiujiang seem to have a kind of sorrow in their demeanor, or most of the people under the rule of the Manchus are in this state.

Liu Xingming and his men posted the songs that had been prepared in all corners of the city, and at first the Manchu soldiers and officials of course did not notice a few inconspicuous beggars, and by the time they reacted, the songs had already spread throughout the city.

The speed of word of mouth was astonishing and terrifying, and all of a sudden the people knew that the Ming army was coming and that it would bring them a better life.

Of course, this also includes the merchants in the city.

Tian Ji, the president of the Jiujiang Chamber of Commerce, gathered the businessmen together for the first time to discuss what to do.

"You've probably seen the ballads that spread throughout the city. This should have been spread by the Ming army in advance of the city, otherwise it would not have spread so quickly. ”

Tian Ji paused, glanced at everyone and said, "What do you want to say?" ”

"President Tian, is what Ming Jun said true?"

"I don't dare to say if it's not true, but one thing is certain, what is said in this ballad should be eight or nine or ten."

Tian Ji stroked his beard and said: "Before the Ming army captured Wuchang, the merchants in Wuchang were also very panicked, what was the result?" Didn't the Ming army still protect them and their families? They should be in business or in business, how they should live or how they should live. ”

"President Tian, we don't mean that, we mean that if the Ming army really breaks the city, we will also obey them, what if the Qing army fights back again?"

"Yes, President Tian, the Qing army kills people without blinking, if they know that we are funding the Ming army, then our family will have to fall to the ground."

"President Tian, is this Ming Army really worth entrusting?"

Looking at a person staring at him, Tian Ji only felt funny.

He didn't really have any contact with the Ming army, and all he knew was from Wuchang's old friends.

How the Ming army really is, he doesn't know.

But judging from these sporadic judgments I saw, no matter how bad it is, it will not be worse than the officials of the Qing court, right?

These ten years should be the darkest stage of Tian Ji's life, although the officials were also greedy in the past, but as long as they stuffed the share that should be given to them into their mouths, they at least would not come to you again.

But after the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs, it was good, and the officials appointed were like hungry wolves, eating one and thinking about one, and eating the bowl and thinking about the pot.

Take this Jiujiang prefect Zhao Liben as an example, he pays him filial piety on weekdays, and he will send people to give gifts during the New Year's holidays. But as a result, when the war came, he jumped out again and blatantly demanded that everyone bleed.

The appetite is really not small, a mouth is 50,000 taels, and I am not afraid of supporting myself to death!

"Everyone, be quiet."

Tian Ji raised his hand, and the noisy crowd immediately fell silent.

"No one in this world will give you a package ticket, but as far as Tian is concerned, I choose to go with the general trend. When the Qing army swept in, we had no choice. Now that the Ming army is on the strong side, why should we go against the times? ”

"What does President Tian mean to be clear?"

"It's not clear. It's just that if you push those two handfuls, you don't know it, and others can't notice anything. ”

"Whew..."

The merchants in the room began to whisper, as if to discuss the decision.

Although everyone discussed, Tian had a sentence to say. Today, since Tian called everyone over, and everyone also entered this door, then he can only follow Tian. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to get out of this door. ”

Everyone looked at each other.

Tian Ji is definitely not joking when he says this, if someone disagrees to leak the news again, then the result will be that everyone will die together.

Tian Ji lowered his voice and said, "As for agreeing, it will be easier to do, and naturally there is no need to leave this courtyard." The Ming army's siege of the city is a matter of the past few days, so let's bear with it. ”

Well, it turns out that no matter whether you agree or not, you can't get out of this house, and everyone has no choice now.

"Although the Tian family is not a high-ranking family, the house is still big enough, come on, prepare a set of cross-courtyard cleaning for all of you."

Tian Ji acted resolutely, and these merchants were ordered by him before they even reacted, so they had to follow the servants to their respective residences.

After everyone left, Tian Yu, the son of the Tian family, said worriedly: "Dad, did you really decide like that?" The Ming army didn't give you any promises. ”

"Who said that the army didn't give me a promise?"

Tian Ji glanced at his son and then clapped his hands.

A person walked out from behind the screen, this person was not Liu Xingming, but who was it.

"Let me introduce, this is Liu Xiaogong, the eldest son of the Ming Army and the Duke of Anhui, this is the dog Tian alcohol."

Tian Yu was startled when he saw Liu Xingming, pointed at him and said, "Dad, how are you harboring the Ming army." ”

"It's come to this, and the old man won't hide it from you. Little Grandpa Liu brought a token. ”

Tian Yu took out a letter and unfolded it: "This is the handwritten letter of the president of the Wuchang Chamber of Commerce, your Uncle He. Take a look. ”

Tian Yu took the letter and unfolded it, looked at it for a moment and said in surprise: "Uncle He suggested that you be clear?" ”

"Yes, that's why my father made up his mind so decisively."

Tian Ji stroked his beard and said.

Liu Xingming, who was on the side, added: "The Ming Dynasty will never treat loyalty and righteousness badly, and the He family has now run the royal business, and even intervened in the salt industry." This was unthinkable before. Chairman Tian was a smart man, and when he saw the letter, he immediately decided. ”

Tian Yu muttered, I see.

But he was still a little puzzled: "But Dad, you didn't say that to everyone just now." ”

Tian Ji glared at his son fiercely and said, "It's really an unsuccessful thing, can I say those words on the surface?" The reason why I want to call these people is because they have a lot of families to use, but there are only a few businessmen who can really benefit, do you think those businessmen in Wuchang are like the He family? ”

Tian Yu then understood. It turned out that my father wanted to use these businessmen as stepping stones.

Of course, these merchants will also benefit from this, but not as much as the Tian family.

"For the Father, they tied them to this search boat, and they had to do it if they wanted to. If someone in my field stomps his feet in this Jiujiang City, the earth has to tremble, and they can't help it! ”

Tian Ji turned to Liu Xingming and said, "As for the timing of the siege, we have to make more arrangements on the little grandfather's side." ”

Liu Xingming nodded and said, "It should be like this." ”

In fact, this time he held He Yuanwai's handwritten letter, which was also hidden from his father Liu Tichun, because it was a certain risk, and he was worried that his father would not allow him to enter the city after he knew about it.

Now it seems that it was the right bet.

...

...