The wind is blowing outside Puzhou.

The wind whined, blowing through the thick walls of Puzhou, sounding like a ghost crying.

Because one of the achievements of the current frontier defense is to plant trees, so the vegetation in Shanxi is very dense at this time, and the wind will not rise when it is idle, but the style of these days is violent, blowing the wind and clouds to change color, and the sun and moon are not shining. The water of the Yellow River crossed by Puban, also with this rare wind, became rampant, the rolling waves seemed to be ready to rush up to the land and sweep everything, the embankment keeper insisted on Xuancheng, he heard the cry from the river at night, some people found that the muddy river water was red, and they thought that this was a warning from God, indicating that there would be a catastrophe.

The people of Puzhou have become nervous and sensitive, the incense in the temple has become more vigorous, and there are always believers kowtowing and praying in front of the statue of Emperor Guan.

Along with the out-of-phase, there are rumors. First of all, some people said that Datong was dividing the fields, and the fields of the Tianhuang nobles were distributed to those lazy and slippery Diao people, and the little prince came out to stop him, and he was beaten to death by Qin Fan Jin, which made the people panic. Later, someone came out and said that the land was distributed to the Zhu family, and the little prince did not die. The people were even more confused, not knowing which to believe. Everyone just confirmed one point, Datong is indeed dividing the land, but they don't know who will give it to whom.

Later, the news brought by some merchants was more complicated, including the correct policy of land taxation in Datong, people did not need to go to the service, and in the future, they only had to pay money, so they did not have to go to the government, and the officials did not have the right to go to the countryside and Latin. Even if it is a war, you can't forcibly recruit a master from the people, otherwise you can be killed.

The common people can't believe this kind of good thing, but they want it to be true, so they pay more attention. Later, some rumors began to point to the old man Zhang of the Shoushan House in Puzhou, and the people of the Zhang family began to intervene, and there were some conflicts between the two sides. These merchants were not idle people, and they did not fall behind in the conflict with the Zhang family, and the army, which had always stood on the side of the Zhang family, chose neutrality this time, which made the local people smell a trace of unusualness.

Later generations said that when it came to Jin merchants, they always deliberately demonized them, like an unwarranted civil and official group, and became a container for the evil of the world, but I don't know if there is a group of people to fight for it. In fact, the Jin merchants of this era are also a group of merchants. Compared with the emblems of the Drill Heaven Cave Garden, their influence is still lacking, but because of the geographical relationship, they have undertaken the task of transporting military food on the nine sides, so they have increased their influence.

They do have their own people in the border army, but if they think that they can call on the border army to rebel because of this, it is purely a thought. Before the collapse of a country's administrative system, the merchants simply did not have the ability to confront the imperial court. The Jin merchants would train their children to study, enter the system, and use power to do whatever they wanted, or buy the border army to seek benefits for themselves. But the above premise is based on the rules.

Relying on the network of relationships built by wealth, they guaranteed that they had room to play with power, but once the court really made up its mind to do it, no businessman would dare to raise the flag against it. Those armies that received money or relied on merchants to provide supplies could usually provide convenience for the Zhang family, or help them deal with some people or even kill people, but it was pure pipe dreams for them to confront the imperial court. Everyone is trading for money, and they won't do this kind of death-seeking thing.

As the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Yunling behaved very calmly, routinely serving flowers and plants every day, and then invited a few shopkeepers to ask questions, as if everything was as usual. Not long ago, I visited the king of Xiangyuan County, who lived in the same city, and after a banquet, he drove to the fields and inspected his land.

The old lion king still maintained his majesty, and in the vast territory, the tenants were deep and sweaty, and no one dared to offend the head of the family, and no one complained about it. When Zhang Yunling walked up to them, the tenant farmers fell to their knees nervously, eager to kiss the boots of the head of the house.

Zhang Yunling helped up the eldest tenants, asked them about the situation of the land and how the harvest was, and asked the housekeeper of the village how they treated them, and once again clarified the tax figures of the Zhang family, so as to prevent the steward from manipulating and overcharging the rent.

The old man jumped out of the carriage, took the hands of the old tenants, went to the field, waved his hoe, and ploughed it himself, sweating all over, but his expression was very pleasant. Together with a few old people, he recalled the process of land reclamation, and how he led everyone to hoe and pick to turn the ownerless wasteland into the fertile field it is today. In the disaster year, how much rice and grain did he give to ensure that no one would starve to death on the ground in Puzhou due to the famine. And after his son became the last assistant, how did he ensure that the tenants of the Zhang family did not need to bear the conscription of the government, even when the situation in Shanxi was the most dangerous, the tenants of the Zhang family did not need to go to the border to serve in the military.

What he said was the truth, and several old farmers were moved to tears when they mentioned the past, and Zhang Yunling's emotions were also extremely excited, and he announced on the spot: All the debts owed by tenants to the Zhang family will be halved and the interest will be waived! In the past, the most powerful stewards and nurses who bullied the tenants and even three children of the Zhang family were pushed into the field by the five flowers, first beaten by Zhang Yunling, and then ordered, thrown into Pubandu, sacrificed the Yellow River! In the future, whoever dares to run rampant in the township behind his back and oppress the villagers will end up like this.

The moved tenant knelt on the ground and praised Zhang Yunling's kindness and justice, but the people of the Zhang family had another feeling in their hearts: the head of the family was afraid!

The lion king is old after all, and he has lost his guts, and he is actually currying favor with these mud-legged people...... This was unthinkable in the past.

On the way back to the house from the field, no one spoke, only Zhang Sixiang said to his father tentatively: "If you do this, I am afraid that the people below will be dissatisfied, and they will not be able to do things well in the future......

"If you can't do it, get out! It doesn't matter who it is! Zhang Yunling made a straight face, "The Zhang family can have today, and they have survived many dangers, every time it is a line of life and death, but every time it can turn danger into a disaster, I believe this time is no exception." ”

"But we can't afford to show weakness...... And the big brother. ”

"Do things well yourself, and then your eldest brother can speak. Don't care about the small profits, as long as this level passes, you can earn back any amount of money. Fan Jin...... Fan retreats! Zhang Yunling chewed on the name repeatedly, as if she wanted to bite it into pieces.

When he returned home, no one in his family dared to talk to Zhang Yunling, so he walked all the way to the inner house, and before he could reach the room, he heard bursts of poignant laughter. The laughter is hoarse and creepy. Laughter was accompanied by a piercing curse. "Chickens and dogs don't stay! Chickens and dogs don't stay! ”

Zhang Yunling frowned and called the head of the house. "Isn't this crazy woman cured?"

Lang Zhong has seen it and said that it is very difficult to do. Otherwise, throw her to ......."

"Enough! He is Langzhong, what does he want to do if he can't cure people! Tell him that he has to find a way to cure it. At this time, you can't make any extraneous branches, in case someone finds out something, you will lose all your efforts. Get some tranquilizers to let her fall asleep first, and don't make a fuss. ”

The dignified Zhang family, don't you even dare to kill a crazy woman? In addition to sanctioning those family members who are extremely angry, the old man did not dare to kill innocents, this is ...... But it never happened. The housekeeper thought in his heart, but only promised in his mouth.

Zhang Yunling asked, "There is still no news from Li Rupei?" ”

"Back to the old lady's words, two letters have been sent, but there is no movement."

"Okay, you go down, let me be alone."

After sending the people away, Zhang Yunling leaned his head back on the chair, and a huge sense of powerlessness hit him, making him too lazy to move. With red top white, a bunch of snobs! He cursed these ignorant people in his heart, as long as he passed this level, he would definitely make them look good.

He knew that Li Rupei was resentful because he couldn't get Menggu's first time, and he refused to lend a hand this time. This is also a mistake of his own, if he can find that slut pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger, he will give her to Li Zhi to enjoy, which is better than raising a tiger. Looking at the secret letter in his hand called Announcement, which was actually a provocation, he felt a pang in his heart.

It's old, it's not good. I must admit that my body and energy are not as good as they were at the beginning, and it is quite difficult to cope with such a crisis. After passing this hurdle, he may want to consider really retiring and letting Siwei take charge of the family business. If he can manage a country well, he will naturally be able to manage a family well, and he can do business for the sake of the prime minister, and the Zhang family may be better in his hands.

He had received the news from the imperial court, Zhang Siwei took the initiative to tell the old man to return to his hometown, and even without waiting for the Son of Heaven to order him to stay, he embarked on the road back to his hometown, and his intention was very resolute. Zhang Yunling doesn't think it's wrong for his son's behavior, and in the current situation, if you don't pay something, you can't get something in return. If you want to save your brothers and several sons, the eldest son is the price that must be paid, and the folk sacrifice to the gods also needs sacrifices, and it is worth sacrificing a phase for the family.

Zhang Siwei just resigned, not dismissed, and there was still the possibility of recovery. As long as this pass passes, with the financial resources of the Zhang family, there is still a chance for Zhang Siwei to restore his power, or cultivate another important minister. This time it will definitely bleed, and it will hurt the muscles and bones. He had already prepared half of the Zhang family's land, not to give it to Fan Jin, but to his in-laws. Wang, Ma, Zhang, and Yang, the four major families of the Jin merchants at present, jointly control the fate of Shanxi. He was going to give these lands to several other in-laws, gather the strength of the four families, and compete with Fan Jin.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you realize the fact that the four are united against Fan Jin, you have already won. No one dares to bear the consequences of the erosion of Shanxi and even the nine sides, as long as the four families can share the same hatred, even if it is the Son of Heaven, they must also consider the consequences. Of course, the face that should be done must be enough, Fan Jin is more terrible than he imagined, and he can't fight with him.

Land ...... He actually came up with this kind of trick, it's a demon! Zhang Yunling cursed in her heart, Zhang Juzheng would marry his daughter to such a demon, she was doomed to ruin, and she would not have to die!

Now we have to curry favor with those mud legs, otherwise these people, with Fan Jin's power, will be enough to overturn their own impregnable mansion. Zhang Yunling's heart is bright, these tenants who are very respectful to him, once they are angry, they are ten thousand times more terrible than the rushing and roaring Yellow River.

I went to the Xiangyuan County Mansion today, mainly to see the woman named Xuemei, God and Buddha bless, she is not dead, but she is blind in one eye, she was originally a handsome girl, and she has become a ghost or a ghost. Fortunately, there are also beautiful women in Shanxi, and he has persuaded the king of Xiangyuan to send this blind woman back, and then compensate five hundred taels of gold and four beautiful beauties to Huang Yili, and promise to give him a good score for exercise, either Jiangning or Yandao. A woman in the courtyard, in exchange for four yellow flower girls and five hundred taels of gold, he should also be content. Those kidnappers would be executed in front of Huang Yili, and if he wanted to be angry, he could kill them with his own hands. It was a misunderstanding after all, and King Xiangyuan was also innocent......

After that, everything will be better.

Zhang Yunling calculated every link and made sure that he had arranged everything in detail, although Fan Jin came with the general trend, as long as he couldn't find his fault, he couldn't help himself. If a few other companies come forward, this level should be passable. If he wants to turn his face, there is still something about Meng Gu to do, which is enough to make him retreat.

The stone in his heart was halfway down, and the feeling of tiredness came over his face, making it difficult for him to concentrate. At this moment, the manager suddenly ran in and said, "Old lady, my grandfather's car has arrived!" ”

"Brother in-law has arrived?" Zhang Yunling looked happy, the tiredness on her face was swept away, and she didn't even bother to change her clothes, she took the housekeeper to the door, and when she went out, she tripped over the threshold and almost fell over.

Wang Chonggu, who has been in charge of the border pass for many years, has prestige in the border army, and is also close to Zhang Ju in the court, is Zhang Yunling's brother-in-law and an important ally of the Zhang family. He is not only a close relative of the Zhang family, but also a friend of Zhang Juzheng, after Zhang Shunqing fell out with Fan Jin, he has been living in the palace. With him here, I think it's enough to restrain Fan Jin.

When people came to the door, Wang Chonggu had already gotten out of the car, a large number of cars were parked outside, there were hundreds of entourage, and there were dozens of sons and nephews of the Wang family, which was really the style of a wealthy family. Zhang Yunling stepped forward to greet Wang Chonggu and saluted each other, and then wanted to lead Wang Chonggu into the courtyard, but Wang Chonggu shook his head and said, "Don't worry, there is someone else who wants you to see." ”

"Who?"

At this time, I only heard the sound of ringing bells, and then I saw two handsome women, one big and one small, supporting a stunning woman dressed as a life wife, walking slowly, bowing down to Zhang Yunling and saying, "Granddaughter Zhang Shunqing, I have seen the old man." ”

Zhang Shunqing! Zhang Yunling's heart was shocked, what was Zhang Juzheng's daughter doing in her house at this time? At this point, does it still make sense to have a false relationship? His mind was spinning, but he still led people towards the house, as if it were a normal visit.

After coming all the way to the study and sitting down with each other, Wang Chonggu looked at Zhang Yunling and shook his head and said, "Sister-in-law, I came this time because I was entrusted by the other two families to tell you." Those fields...... It's better to leave it to the imperial court, we already have enough fields, and we don't need to ask for any more. Be content, not blindly greedy, otherwise you will inevitably leave disaster to your descendants. As for other things, it is enough to listen to Miss Zhang. She can take the place of Fan Jin, as long as you negotiate, I guarantee that the Zhang family is safe and sound! ”

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