On the first day of the lunar month, there was light snow in Yangzhou.

This ancient city, which has been beautiful for thousands of years, is more and more beautiful after being dressed in a layer of silver.

Quiet as a Jiangnan woman, gentle and affectionate.

For ordinary people and ordinary scholars, the first day of the lunar month is a very beautiful day.

But for the upper circle of Yangzhou City, this day is more biting than the cold wind outside the house!

Last night, it was a night of fishing.

The Bai family was broken, and the Yangzhou Salt Courtyard Yamen went first, and many official forces in Yangzhou, such as the Yangzhou Mansion and the Yangzhou Garrison, were all dispatched to watch and witness.

The ancestral treasures of the Huang family, which had been lost for many years, were found from the secret vault of the Bai family, in addition to twenty pairs of strong bows, eight pairs of armor, and fifteen firearms......

Even if you don't count the Huang family's extermination case, just with these forbidden weapons, the Bai family will never be spared.

Of course, these are all incriminating evidence that was collected after taking down the Bai family, and it can be used to show the guilt of foreign affairs.

People with real discerning eyes can see that this is a big move by the Yanyuan Yamen.

It is not a crime to judge with private salt, but to break the situation in this way.

Strong bows, heavy armor, firearms......

Everything can kill the Bai family, which makes it even more terrifying.

Really speaking, although the national law prohibits it, everyone in the eight major salt merchant clans knows that this kind of forbidden weapon is by no means only possessed by the Bai family.

Moreover, in terms of number, even if it is ten times more, it is impossible for the Bai family to rebel.

Therefore, the punishment of the Yamen of the Salt Courtyard has nothing to do with the sin itself.

Qi Garden, Thatched Cottage.

In addition to the Bai family, the remaining six heads of the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou, some of them are even the heads of the old family, all came forward in person and sat here.

There is only one purpose, to ask the Qi family to come forward and uphold justice.

"Seventh Master, this opening can't be opened! If the Bai family lets them succeed this time, in the future, won't we become fish on the chopping board and be cut and killed with them? ”

"Yes, Seventh Master, over the years, several of our families have only looked at the head of the Qi family, and we have also listened to your words from the Seventh Master, and cut off all the tails that are not visible. We've all come to this point, what else do we want? Do we have to die? ”

"It's too much, this time it's too much! They can't find our fault in the salt business, so they come to this set, it's just unreasonable! ”

"I can't figure it out, where did the Mei family get those evidence? Or the Mei family's two-bedroom ......"

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the people in the grass hall were faintly subtle, and their eyes flashed between each other.

However, Qi Taizhong on the rattan chair was still unconscious, lowered his eyes, and sat there quietly.

Seeing this, Shen Cong, the old head of the Shen family, couldn't help but ask: "Seventh Master, yesterday, the eldest son of your family, and the one who came from the capital went to Sixi Mansion together, did the Qi family know about last night's incident in advance?" Or is it that the Qi family has already stood over there? ”

As soon as these words came out, there was silence in the grass hall, and many pairs of eyes were staring at Qi Taizhong.

Qi Taizhong's complexion still didn't change much, he slowly raised his eyes, but his eyes only paused at a few old people with frosty white hair like him, and finally said slowly: "How many years, Yangzhou Mansion, it hasn't been so messy." ”

Shen Cong said loudly: "As long as you are here, Seventh Master, this Yangzhou Mansion will not be chaotic!" ”

Several other old family owners also chimed in.

Unlike most of the younger generation who have only heard the rumors of Qi Taizhong, these old people have really seen the legend of Qi Taizhong.

No one is unconvinced!

For them, this silver fox of the Qi family is like a god and an invincible.

However, Qi Taizhong glanced lightly at the person who had just spoken, and said with a smile: "Old man, I can't hold back ......" said, and said with a bitter smile: "Even if you are not old, in the face of today's great changes, under the general trend, how can a small Yangzhou Mansion compete?" ”

They are all human spirits, and after hearing Qi Taizhong's words, several old men took the lead in changing their complexions.

Chen Qiao, the head of the Chen family, frowned and said slowly: "Seventh Master, has it really come to this point? There was a turmoil in Beijing, Han Bin and others were demoted out of Beijing, hasn't the situation begun to improve? ”

Qi Taizhong sighed and said lightly: "Do you really think so?" ”

"This ......"

Chen Qiao's face changed slightly, and he opened his mouth, but he couldn't say much.

The old head of the Li family looks much younger, with some black hair in his hair, and a pair of eyebrows are only gray, his body looks quite strong, and his voice is also heavy, and he says: "Now I look forward to the longevity of the emperor!" ”

The old head of the Peng family was more understanding, but he was also more pessimistic, he shook his head and said: "The last time the Emperor Taishang left the palace, he solved the last matter in his heart, and then went back to Jiuhua Shen Palace to raise himself. He has ignored the affairs of foreign dynasties for many years, and he will not come out again for a few salt merchants thousands of miles away. At the moment, everything is business as usual in Beijing, just to not disturb the peace of the emperor. But the province doesn't have this worry, and there is no need to taboo anything. What the seventh master said is right, in the end, it is not what he Han Banshan and Lin Ruhai want to do, if they only want to do something, it will be easier to do. However, what wants to reform the big policy is the meaning of the long live Lord in the Qianqing Palace! Under this general trend, what's the use of us looking for the Seventh Master? ”

When the head of the Wu family heard this, he was furious and said, "Then what should I do? can only sit and wait for death, and let Lin Ruhai and Han Banshan kill all of us one by one?! It's not that there is no one in our court, it's a big deal to break the net!! ”

The old head of the Chen family asked curiously, "Wu Ping, how are you going to break the net?" Are you going to rebel? Just the 100 salt pieces under your hand? ”

The head of the Wu family said sharply: "Why rebel? As long as we destroy the salt pans and mix lime in the salt, the two Huai salt fields will be deprived of salt, and the people of the six provinces in the south of the Yangtze River will not be able to celebrate the New Year. Even if there is salt, how many of those mud legs can afford to eat salt? At that time, someone will rise up! ”

The old head of the Peng family said in a deep voice: "You want us all to end up with a full house!" ”

The head of the Wu family said angrily: "Could it be that you can get a good word right now?" ”

Qi Taizhong waved his hand, and the grass hall instantly fell silent, only to hear Qi Taizhong say lightly: "It's not like this...... Yun'er was invited to go to Sixi Lou last night, and she didn't know much about it. However, the old man had already sent his second son to the Yamen of the Salt Courtyard to inquire. Once you get the news, let's see what the reason is. In short, the old man didn't think that one Lin Ruhai would be able to copy all of our families. As for the Bai family...... Let's take it as a lesson from the past, if any of you still have unclean places, you should smooth them out as soon as possible. If you really want people to dig up ironclad evidence, no one will be able to protect you. Is it because of the salt business? The Yanyuan Yamen raided the house in front of the Yangzhou Mansion, and the evidence of the crime was announced to the world, who would say that the Yanyuan Yamen was suppressing the salt merchants? ”

Hearing Qi Taizhong's words, most of the people immediately calmed down.

Since Qi Taizhong said that a Lin Ruhai can't copy them, then Lin Ruhai must not be able to copy them.

As for the evidence of the crime, there are some ...... in every family

While he was talking in the grass hall, he saw Qi Wanhai, the second master of the Qi family, walking inside.

Qi Taizhong didn't know how many children he had in his life, but the only ones who really controlled the power of the Qi family were three sons-in-law.

Needless to say, the eldest son Qi Wannian is a man from all over the world, has a wide range of friends, and is deeply loved by Qi Taizhong, and is responsible for the affairs of the rivers and lakes in the Qi family.

After Qi Wanhai entered the cottage, he first greeted Qi Taizhong, and then with the former heads of several major families, and finally said: "I asked a rough question, but I can't figure out how true it is." ”

Everyone said in unison: "Tell me and listen!" ”

After Qi Wanhai saw his father nodding slowly, he took a deep breath and said, "I thought that the so-called Mei family's report was an excuse, but I didn't expect that there was really something about the Mei family. Mei Zhen, Mei Huai, father and son, the second room of the Mei family, who arrived in Yangzhou Mansion just a few days ago, also went to the Yamen of Yanyuan. The ancestral treasure of the Huang family was invited by the Bai family to look at Mr. Fu Weng and distinguish the authenticity. Because among the three treasures, one is the character of Huang Tingjian, the ancestor of the Huang family. The eldest son of the second room of the Mei family was not angry that the Yamen of the Salt Courtyard only took the Mei family, so he reported it. Moreover, it is not only the Bai family that has something to do. I heard that there are a few more ...... It's just that the Bai family had a holiday with the good minister of the emperor who came from the capital, so he took the Bai family. ”

After saying this, there was naturally a lot of scolding, and the crowd was agitated.

The first to bear the brunt is the Mei family.

As the No. 1 local family, the Mei family is most famous for not getting some salt, so they made some money.

That bit of money, in the eyes of the eight families, is just a small fortune, not worth mentioning.

The reason why the Mei family can win the first place in a local hometown is because the Mei family has produced a Mr. Fu Weng, whose calligraphy achievements are even highly respected by the emperor.

In addition, Mr. Fu Weng himself is arrogant and indifferent to fame and fortune, so the eight major salt merchant clans are more and more associated with him.

First, I want to ask for its ink treasure, and use the town family to move the culture.

Second, like the Bai family, ask him to comment on the Tibetan characters in his home.

Therefore, the Mei family can know that the Bai family has collected the ancestral treasures of the Huang family, and it is clear.

What made others angry was that the Mei family knew not only the Bai family, but also some of the private collections in their family that might not be visible, and the Mei family also knew about it!

If so, doesn't it mean that everyone is in danger now?

Yanyuan Yamen, you can eat whichever you want?

"Fight!"

"If they want to do this again, we'll fight with them!"

"That's right, it's a big deal!!"

Under the shock and anger, the reaction of several family heads was particularly fierce.

However, several old family masters looked at Qi Taizhong, whose face gradually became solemn, and called:

"Seventh Master, just say something!"

"Seventh Master, what the hell should I do, I have to get you to get the charter all the time!"

"Seventh Master, let's listen to you!"

When Qi Taizhong heard this, he slowly raised his eyes, looked at his second son Qi Wanhai, and said word by word: "Prepare the car, the old man wants to see him, Lin Ruhai." ”

……

Yanyuan Yamen, Zhonglin Hall.

Lin Ruhai looked at Jia Qiang, who was full of tiredness, and said gently: "Okay, even if you have retired, go and rest." The next thing is to let me fight the old fox of the Qi family. ”

Jia Qiang smiled and said with concern: "Grandparents, your body ...... Or, or your grandfather and uncle are pointing behind you, and I'll talk to Qi Taizhong? At this point, the Qi family doesn't have much choice. ”

Lin Ruhai waved his hand and smiled: "Forget it, if you don't plan to do things in partnership with the Qi family, you can do this." Since you and his family are not small, it is not good to lose your integrity. Next, how to divide the other three peacefully, and then reform the new deal. It's mainly the Qi family themselves, and I'm just beating a side drum, so I'm not tired a lot. The thing now is to see if the Qi family can keep their hearts and not be stunned by the pie falling from the sky. Qi Taizhong I is famous, if he goes safely this time, the Qi family can be regarded as really established, and although he slowly goes to the salt affairs in the future, he no longer has to be trapped in a small Yangzhou city. Alright, go and rest. I guess Qi Taizhong is also coming soon. ”

When Jia Qiang heard this, she didn't say anything more, got up and said goodbye and left.

There are too many things to do in this, which he doesn't know at all, so don't force yourself to participate.

After he left for a while, the two of them came out of the next ear room, chattering and laughing, it was Aunt Mei and Daiyu.

Daiyu saw that the smile on Lin Ruhai's face was not gone, her starry eyes condensed, and she said angrily: "Daddy, Brother Qiang is only a little older, you just call him hard, and you can't go home to rest at night." I also heard Xiangling say that Brother Qiang seems to have become some kind of knife now, which sounds weird and bluffing. You don't want to bully him, when he was in Beijing, the elders of the Jia family liked to bully him. I don't know what's wrong with him...... "Hit Elder Ke, so it's not happy?"

Lin Ruhai heard that her daughter was upset for Jia Qiang, so she only smiled slightly, and didn't distinguish anything.

Aunt Mei laughed quietly: "Although you are an aunt, you can't just care about the distressed brother, are you willing to let the master go to work all night?" Brother Qiang is still young, the more he works, the more the master can be lighter. Besides, you just heard it, this is all Brother Qiang's filial piety. If you really feel sorry for him, it's about to be the New Year, and your aunt will give him a big red envelope, but you don't need him to kowtow, wouldn't it be good? ”

Daiyu smiled when she heard this, her eyebrows and eyes flowed, as if she saw someone's expression in this scene, and said with a smile: "What aunt, people don't recognize it from the beginning, and say that they have already come out of the five suits." ”

When Aunt Mei heard this, her smile had a little more meaning......

……

PS: It is recommended that you don't directly substitute Daiyu into Mrs. Cheng Qiang at the beginning, it will be a lot less fun. Even if you read the Red Mansion, if you go back and read it again, you will find that there is actually a long way to go, and Daiyu gave birth to the heart of a child.