About two quarters of an hour, Zhao Yun came to report that there were 3,000 Han troops in the camp of Jincheng County, 2,300 young and middle-aged people, and the remaining 700 were all old and weak. Li Mu immediately ordered Zhao Yun to give these seven hundred old and weak some money and food, and send them back to the field.

Li Mu has been on the platform of the generals, watching Zhao Yun and others reorganize the soldiers, preach military regulations and military discipline, and train soldiers. Sure enough, the general is the soul of the army, and it has only been an hour, the Han army with loose military discipline, untidy military appearance, and discouraged military morale. At this moment, there is already a strong military demeanor. Li Mu was overjoyed when he saw it.

Li Mu had lunch in the barracks before returning to Taishou Mansion. Li Mu hadn't reached the Taishou Mansion yet, and saw Diao Chan and a maidservant girl standing at the door from a distance, and Li Mu walked quickly towards Diao Chan. Diao Chan also saw Li Mu, and when Li Mu was seven or eight steps away from Diao Chan. Diao Chan lifted the hem of her skirt, trotted to Li Mu, took Li Mu's arm, smiled, and said softly: "Ah Mu, are you going to sit in the hall (go to work)?" Have you eaten? ”

Li Mu gently pinched Diao Chan's pretty face, and said with a smile: "Cicada, why don't you wait for me at home, I've already eaten." ”

Diao Chan said softly: "Ah Mu, Cicada got up late this morning, and I heard the servant say that you went out early." I wondered if you'd come back at noon. ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "Cicada, I will usually sit in the hall early in the future, you don't have to get up so early, and you don't have to wait for me when you eat." It's been more than half a month of tiring travel, you have to have a good rest, you know? ”

Diao Chan said softly: "Ah Mu, the cicada misses you." ”

Li Mu nodded and said with a smile: "Cicada, we live in the same courtyard and can see each other every day." When the situation in Jincheng County stabilized, I proposed to my aunt and married Cicada into the door. ”

Diao Xiafei had her cheeks and said coquettishly: "Cicada don't marry you, a big pervert, a big villain." ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "That's not up to the cicada, I see, my aunt is quite optimistic about me, a fast son-in-law who rides the dragon." ”

Diao Chan's face was crimson, and he said coquettishly, Li Mu looked at Diao Chan like this, laughed loudly, and Li Mu took Diao Chan's slender jade hand to the gate. Dongmei hurriedly stepped forward, saluted Li Mu and Diao Chan, and said respectfully: "Slave Dongmei has seen adults and madams. ”

Listening to Dongmei's words, Diao Chan's face turned even redder, Li Mu snorted, and said, "You have to serve your wife well, and you can't let your wife be wronged." ”

Dongmei hurriedly replied, "Please rest assured, the slave will serve the good lady." Li Mu hummed and entered the door with Diao Chan.

Li Mu sent Diao Chan to Yang's cross-courtyard, and then returned to the study to look through the files left by the former Taishou. Just when Li Mu was looking seriously, the servant reported that Mr. Xu and Mr. Zhang were asking to see each other outside the door. Li Mu hurriedly put down the file in his hand and invited Xu Shu and Zhang Ji into the door. The three of them sat down, and Li Mu said with a smile: "Yuan Zhi, De Rong, is there anything important?" Next time, the two gentlemen don't have to let their subordinates report, they can come directly. ”

Xu Shu and Zhang Ji replied: "Thank you for your love." ”

Xu Shu groaned: "My lord, there are seven counties under the rule of Jincheng County: Yunwu, Jincheng, Yunjie, Zhiyang, Haomen, Lingju, and Yuzhong. 100,000 people were registered and 200,000 acres of cultivated land were cultivated. Among them, 180,000 acres of land are concentrated in the hands of the four major families in Jincheng County. These four families annexed land, concealed the population, and controlled the price of grain in the entire Jincheng County. It's not a small harm! ”

Zhang Ji continued: "My lord, each of these four major families has only registered 1,000 acres of land in Jincheng County, but Jincheng County is full of tenants, and the people are struggling to make a living, and there are many complaints. ”

Li Mu nodded and said, "This morning, the three people who died in the Taishou Mansion, the two of you should know. In the school camp, I ordered the killing of two lieutenants, the Duan family and the Li family. These five people are the sons of the heads of the Duan family, the Li family, and the Yang family. I thought, soon they won't be able to sit still, and I'll uproot them. These big landlords have fallen, and the small landlords will naturally keep to themselves! ”

At this time, the cries of the Duan family, the Li family, and the Yang family moved the world, and they saw that the three families were all handling the funeral. Three days later, the heads of the four major families, Duan Chang, Li Han, Lin Zan, and Yang Gan, gathered at Duan's house. Duan Chang toasted a glass of wine to the three of them, beat his chest and said: "Li Mu dog thief, kill Lao Yu's two sons, Lao Yu must kill him, the sky of Jincheng County is still ours." ”

Li Han said with tears in his eyes: "Old Duan, I, Li Han, listen to you, my two sons were also killed by this dog thief." ”

Yang Gan touched a handful of tears and said: "Duan Lao, Li Lao, I, Yang Gan, also lost my son, I have nothing to say about what you say to do." ”

Lin Zan groaned: "Although Li Mu has not moved the Lin family yet, our four major families are closely related. The truth of cold lips and teeth, I Lin Zan still knows. ”

Duan Chang glanced at Li Han and the others, a ruthless color flashed in his eyes, and said: "Okay, tomorrow night, we invite Li Mu to Zuihualou, we will ambush the family soldiers in advance, when the time is ripe, I will drop the cup, and I can divide the body of Li Mu, the dog thief, in a moment." ”

When Li Han heard this, he felt that this plan was feasible. Then the four of them drank until the time came.

At noon the next day, Li Muzheng had dinner with Diao Chan Yang, and someone came to report that the official family of the Duan family in Yunwu City asked to see him. Li Mu asked Diao Chan and Yang to eat first, without waiting for him, and then came to the hall. The housekeeper of the Duan family said respectfully, The heads of the Duan family, the Li family, the Lin family, and the Yang family invited Lord Taishou to attend the reception banquet prepared by the four major families for Lord Taishou tonight. Li Mu smiled and said okay, he will definitely go tonight, and he will not disappoint the good intentions of the four family heads. When the Duan family saw that Li Mu agreed, they retired with a happy face.

After the Duan family's official family left, Li Mu instructed the servants to invite Zhao Yun, Xu Shu and others to the Taishou Mansion for discussion. About a quarter of an hour, Zhao Yun, Xu Shu and others came to the hall of the Taishou Mansion. Li Mu saw that everyone had arrived, and said with a smile: "The heads of the four major families invited me to the Drunken Flower Building for a banquet tonight, what do you think?" ”

Xu Shu replied: "Lord, Hongmen Banquet, I have to guard against it!" ”

Zhao Yun groaned: "Big brother, there is no good banquet, Zilong is willing to go with the eldest brother, if the four major families dare to be disrespectful to the eldest brother, I will let them die without a place to be buried." ”

Zhang Liao, Zhang Ji and others listened to it, and rushed to say that they would follow Li Mutong to the banquet.

Li Mu said with a smile: "Don't be impatient, everyone, tonight is a good opportunity, we must seize it." Let Dian Wei accompany me tonight. Wen Yuan, Han Sheng, Gongming, and Shu Zhi each led 300 soldiers to surround the houses of these four families, and no one was allowed to escape. Zilong led 400 soldiers to surround the drunken flower building. Zihu (Zhao Feng's character), Zhang Cheng, Pei Yuanshao, you three lead 500 soldiers to protect the two gentlemen, and protect the families of the Taishou Mansion. ”

Seeing that Li Mu had a plan, everyone prepared separately. In the evening, Li Mu took Dian Wei to the Drunken Flower Building leisurely. When Li Mu and Dian Wei came to the Zuihua Building, the heads of the four major families were already waiting at the door, and the four of them naturally tried their best to flatter Li Mu when they saw Li Mu, and the four welcomed Li Mu and Dian Wei to the second floor of the Zuihua Building. Everyone sat down, Duan Chang Dian Wei did not sit down, but stood behind Li Mu, and invited again, Li Mu said that there was a difference between respect and inferiority, and Duan Chang gave up.

Duan Chang raised his wine glass and said with a smile: "Cao Min Duan Chang respects Li Taishou for a glass, and hopes that Li Taishou will take care of him in the future." ”

Li Muxin said: It won't be a poisonous bar, if it's really poisonous wine, it's really miserable, he hasn't married Diao Chan and Zhen Mi yet, and his desire to sweep away the wolf smoke in the world has not been achieved. Forget it, it's better to gamble.

Li Mu said with a smile: "It's easy to say, if I can't sit in this position too much, I have to rely on everyone who is here." Let's drink this cup together! ”

Duan Chang and the four of them naturally readily agreed. In this way, Duan Chang, Li Han, Lin Zan, and Yang Qian took turns to toast Li Mu, and Li Mu did not refuse. More than half an hour later, Duan Chang Li Mu was already drunk, and he was overjoyed. Duan Chang looked at Li Mu and said, "Since Li Taishou came to Jincheng County, the sky in Jincheng County seems to be changing. Our Duan, Li, Lin, and Yang families are very uncomfortable, and we think it's better than before. Li Taishou, what do you think? ”

Li Mu said with a low smile: "It's okay, just let your memories stay in the past forever." ”

Duan Chang heard Li Mu's voice, picked up the wine glass and threw it on the ground, and said hatefully: "Li Mu dog thief, today is your death." I saw that a group of soldiers armed with knives surrounded Li Mu and Dian Wei.

Suddenly, Li Mu picked up the chopsticks on the table and thrust them into Duan Chang's shoulder. Dian Wei also took out two halberds from his arms at the same time, and instantly turned out the two family soldiers behind him. Immediately afterwards, Zhao Yun led a hundred soldiers to kill from downstairs, and cut down anyone he encountered. Duan Chang wailed in pain, and Li Han and the three of them were also shocked by this sudden change, and the group of family soldiers were also frightened and overwhelmed.

Zhao Yun ordered the soldiers to tie up the group of soldiers and take them out of the Drunken Flower Building. Li Mu looked at Zhao Yun and said with a smile: "Second brother, it's really fast!" The wine in this drunken flower building is very delicious, I haven't drunk enough yet. ”

Zhao Yun replied with a smile: "Big brother, wait until tomorrow to behead these four rebellious ministers and thieves who intend to assassinate the officials of the imperial court, and we will drink the celebration wine again!" ”

Li Mu said with a smile: "Okay, everyone will have to have a few drinks at that time." ”

Afterwards, Li Mu glanced at Duan Chang and the four of them, smiled and went out with Dian Wei. Zhao Yun ordered the soldiers to tie up Duan Chang and the four of them and take them out of the Drunken Flower Building. Li Mu came out of the Drunken Flower Building, and immediately ordered to go down and arrest all the people of the four major families. Li Mu also sent people to invite Xu Shu and Zhang Ji to the Taishou Mansion. About an hour later, Zhang Liao, Huang Zhong, Xu Huang, and Chen returned to the Taishou Mansion to resume their lives, and the four reported that all the people from the four major families were arrested, and none of them escaped the net.

Li Mu said with a smile: "Thank you brothers, after tomorrow, the sky in Jincheng County will be fine!" I don't know what to do with the people of the four major families? ”

Xu Shu immediately replied: "Lord, just kill the three clans of the four major families, confiscate all their family property, and as for the descendants of the four major families, they can be sent home." ”

Zhang Ji hurriedly replied: "Lord, will the three clans be too cruel?" ”

Li Mu nodded and said, "The rest will do what Yuan Zhi said, and leave a successor to each of the four major families, and give them five acres of fertile land!" ”

At three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, I saw a sea of people at the entrance of Yunwu City's vegetable market. Li Mu glanced around the audience and said loudly: "Folks, be quiet." Just last night, the Duan family, the Li family, the Lin family, and the Yang family intended to assassinate the official in Zuihualou and gather a crowd to rebel. Fortunately, God has eyes, so this official's life should not be extinguished. The magistrate has decided to set an example by slaying the traitors who have committed such heinous crimes, and if anyone dares to commit any more rebellion, he will be severely punished. Come on, execute! ”

As soon as Li Mu's words fell, he saw fifty or sixty human heads rolling all over the ground. The onlookers were stunned for a while, and suddenly, they all knelt down and shouted endlessly: "Lord Taishou is wise!" ”

Li Mu glanced around the audience and shouted loudly: "Folks, be quiet, as an official of the imperial court, this official will definitely treat the people of my Jincheng County and the people of the world well." Right now, it's already March, and the official has heard that many people have no food left over and no seeds to go to the ground. Tomorrow, the villagers can come to the west gate of Yunwu City to receive food and seeds. Folks, get up. ”

As soon as Li Mu's words fell, the people fell to the ground and refused to get up, and the mountain shouted: "Lord Taishou is benevolent!" ”