In Wu's letter, there are two sentences that summarize the situation in Hedong.

Three mountains, two rivers and a pool of salt

Five villages and hundreds of people share money

Hedong County, composed of Linyi Basin and Yuncheng Basin, the two basins form the belly of the gourd, the north connects Taiyuan Bei'an is the gourd mouth, and the salt pond located in the south is the treasure hidden in the gourd's belly.

In the Linfen Basin, near the official road from north to south, there are several counties such as Yong'an, Pingyang, Xiangling, Linfen and Jiangyi.

However, due to the continuous wars in recent years, the people living in this area could not bear the harassment of officers and soldiers and thieves, and fled one after another.

The Yuncheng Basin, due to the salt ponds, is relatively densely populated.

The above two sentences are about the situation in the area of Yanchi.

Yanchi, located in the center of the Yuncheng Basin.

Sansan refers to the three mountains that surround Shioike, Mt. Nakajo to the south, Mt. Wangwu to the east, and Mt. Gufeng to the north.

Liangshui refers to the river water in the west and south (i.e., the Yellow River) and the water in the north.

A pool of salt refers to a natural salt pond. (now Yuncheng South, Shanxi)

Wuzhai refers to the five forces that control the salt pond.

The five forces occupied all the advantageous positions near the three mountains. They are:

Occupying the western part of the Yuncheng Basin, on the east bank of the Yellow River, the forces of Hou Xuan, Li Kan, and Cheng Yin based in Pubancheng.

Occupying the western part of Gufeng Mountain, Shan Xiongxin and Wang Bodang are the forces centered on Yi City.

Occupy the eastern part of Gufeng Mountain, the Chaogai forces in the area of Anyi and Wenxi in Hedong.

Occupying the southernmost part of Hedong County, controlling Zhongtiao Mountain and the crossing of the Yellow River, the Baibo Army based on Dayang City. The main leaders are Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Hu Cai.

Guo Tai, the former leader of the White Wave Army, was originally a general of the Yellow Turban Army. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion was suppressed, Guo Tai led his troops to revolt in the Baibo Valley, so it was called the White Wave Army.

When the Central Plains Allied forces attacked Dong Zhuo, Guo Tai was killed in battle, and Yang Feng and others led the remnants to flee to Hedong County, where they controlled Zhongtiao Mountain and surrounding towns, and even controlled Hongnong County on the other side of the Yellow River.

Dayang and Shaanxi counties, one north and one south, face each other across the Yellow River. The White Polish army took control of the two cities, as if they had built a sluice gate on the course of the Yellow River. The north and south of the Yellow River, as well as the upstream and downstream ships, must pay money before they can go together.

The Baibo Army is the largest force in Hedong County. Together with their families, there are tens of thousands of people, known to the outside world as 100,000.

In addition to the above-mentioned forces, in the southeast of Hadong County, near Sili Hanoi County and Shangdang County of Bingzhou, there is also a mysterious force entrenched.

This force, to put it bluntly, is bandits and bandits. It's just that, unlike most bandits, this bandit is not the remnants of the Yellow Turban Army. Even the name of the bandit leader is unknown, and it is rumored that the thief chief is known as the "Tiger King".

……

Wu Yong's letter only briefly introduced the situation of Hanoi's illegal salt forces.

The actual situation is more complicated than what is described in the letter.

……

Wu Yong was ordered to take Qin Qiong and others to Hedong County.

Salt is a necessity for life. However, in all dynasties, the salt industry was either controlled by the state or by the family, and the price of salt remained high. Therefore, although the trafficking of illicit salt was a felony in every dynasty, the trafficking of illicit salt never stopped.

Wu Yong knows the rules of the private salt road, trafficking in illegal salt, and is most taboo to deal with the government. Wu Yong and others disguised themselves as businessmen and rushed all the way to Yanchi.

The area around Yanchi is controlled by salt lords of all sizes, and the salt lords have their own armaments. In recent years, the world has been in turmoil, and the princes have no time to take care of the east of the river and the area around Yanchi, which has become a mixed place of bandits and green forests.

For a long time, no officers and soldiers came to make trouble, and the salt lords here were very arrogant and unscrupulous. There are wine shops everywhere, and there are illegal salt dealers everywhere, all talking about the illegal salt business, and Wu Yong and others can easily find out the situation in the area of Yanchi.

The five forces of Yanchi are actually a collection of multiple forces.

Pusaka Houxuan, Bai Bojun Yang Feng, Wangwushan Tiger King and other forces are strong, each dominating one side.

The two forces of Chao Gai and Shan Xiongxin are both alliances of many small forces. Under Chao Gai, there are dozens of smaller gangs of smugglers. Shan Xiongxin and his gang are also composed of small groups of salt sellers. For example, Wang Bodang is also an independent salt seller, has a good relationship with Shan Xiongxin, transports salt from the salt factory controlled by Shan Xiongxin, and takes Shan Xiongxin as the leader.

The salt pond has a long history of private salt.

When the war broke out, the salt prison set up by the imperial court was abandoned, and the illegal salt gangs flocked in.

After several years of bloody struggle, a situation was finally formed in which five forces jointly controlled the salt pond. The five forces finally moved from fighting to negotiations, and finally reached a compromise, each dominating one side.

The five forces, each controlling different areas of the salt pond, also controlled salt farmers ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands, and demarcated their own business scope.

Yang Feng was the most powerful in the Baibo army, controlling the illegal salt business in Hongnong County and south of the Yellow River.

Pusaka was elected and controlled all the private salt business west of Zuo Fengyi.

The Tiger King of Wangwu Mountain, who controlled Hanoi County, Yin in Henan, Shang Dang in Bingzhou, and the private salt business in the east.

Chaogai controlled the private salt business in the northern part of the state.

Shan Xiongxin and his gang had the least power, and only got a share of Jing Zhaoyin and a small part of the illicit salt business north of Yizhou.

……

In the process of learning about the situation in Yanchi, Qin Qiong overheard Wang Bodang's name, inquired in detail, and learned that Wang Bodang was one of the local salt lords, and Qin Qiong was overjoyed.

"Mr. Jialiang, the matter of salt has fallen!"

"Oh?"

"Brother Bodang, Qin Qiong's old friend, this person is the most affectionate, with him, there is no problem!"

It turned out that this Wang Bodang's ancestral home was Jiyang, Yanzhou, and he was also born as a ranger. Chivalrous and righteous, often entrusted by people, escorting merchants. Qin Qiong ranged from all over the world and got acquainted with Wang Bodang.

Once, Wang Bodang took over a large business and invited Qin Qiong to help. Halfway through, he was robbed by a large number of bandits, and Wang Bodang almost died, but fortunately Qin Qiong rescued him, and the two became brothers.

After Qin Qiong returned to her hometown to serve her parents, the two broke off contact, but she didn't expect Wang Bodang to be a salt lord here.

With a righteous friend like Uncle Wang, there is no problem in getting salt!

Wu Yong and his entourage immediately rushed to Baicheng, where Wang Bodang was located.

Located to the south of the Yi clan, Baicheng is a town that is almost deserted.

In the winter sun, the low city walls of the city are dazzlingly colorful!

"It's so pretty!" Hua Rong was young, and when she saw the town so gorgeous, she couldn't help but be curious.

Qin Qiong was a ranger and well-informed, and told Hua Rong with a smile: "That's salt." ”

"Salt?"

If you look closer, it's really salt.

The original earthen walls have long been dilapidated, and all the gaps are filled with rock-like salt stones and salt blocks, which are rich in salt and shimmer in the sunlight.

The minions guarding the city gate saw several people with weapons and shouted and interrogated.

"Brother Lao told you to be in charge, just say that Jinan Qin Qiong is here."

"Stand still and wait."

The minions ran to Tongyu, and the effort was not great, and one person ran out of the city.

This person is eight feet tall, with a thin waist and a shoulder-hugging body!

The face is like a beautiful jade, the eyes are like a star, the nose bridge is high, and the face is heroic!

Wearing a honey locust scarf on his head and a bright purple coat, he is chic!

It was Wang Yong and Wang Bodang.

"Uncle Bao! Miss me! ”

Wang Bodang shouted loudly, strode over, and hugged Qin Qiong.

"Haha, Brother Bodang has made a fortune!"

"What's the matter, it's just a meal with my brothers."

Qin Qiong smiled and introduced Wu Yonghua, Rong Shiqian and others to Wang Bodang.

"Uncle Bao's friend is my brother!" Wang Bodang and everyone greeted each other one by one, and when they saw Hua Rong, Wang Bodang couldn't help but let out a "huh".

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