A carriage creaked to a halt outside the gate of Wenjiabao, and a man of about 30 years old with a calm face got out of the carriage, his cloth shoes spotless.

Wen Qian, the eldest son of the Wen family, is a dignified and dignified man, and he is the mainstay of the five brothers. It was precisely because of Wen Qian that several uncles of the older generation of the Wen family were relieved to hand over the affairs of Zhuangzi to them.

As soon as Wen Qian got out of the carriage, the other three brothers immediately came up.

"Big brother, you're finally back."

The youngest brother Wen Yong was a little anxious, so he hurriedly shouted.

They were born to the same parents, and they had a close relationship with each other on weekdays, and they were united with the outside world, which was also the foundation of the Wen family's success.

Wen Qian said: "Fifth brother, you are still so frizzy. You are writing to me in a hurry to come back, what the hell is the matter? ”

The third Wen Ping lowered his voice and said within the range that only a few people could hear: "The newly appointed Youzhou Assassin sent an envoy to ......."

Wen Qian raised his head and said, "Go in and say." ”

The four brothers, except for the fourth brother Wen Jian, took their seats in the hall, and after the servant served hot tea, he retired. Wen Yong said loudly: "This envoy is clearly targeting us!" ”

Wen Qian turned to the third brother Wen Ping and said, "Brother Ping, you come." ”

So Wen Ping explained the reason.

Lu Fang arrived half a month ago, and he came abruptly. Several people actually met, and they also played football together, but at that time, Lu Fang was dressed as a civilian, and the most prominent ones were Yuan Xi and Zhao Yun, and everyone couldn't recognize them. As soon as this "Qin Mission" arrived, he carefully counted all the properties of the Wen family, and every day he had to be accompanied by someone to wander around the fields under his jurisdiction, which made the fifth elder Wen Yong, who accompanied him at the beginning, cry bitterly, and later replaced him with the fourth elder Wen Jian with a gentle temperament.

After hearing this, Wen Qian said lightly: "It's just to take stock of the fields and register them, all the county officials have done this, it's just for show, what's there to worry about?" ”

Wen Yong hurriedly shouted: "Not only that, but he even knows the heads of the people we hire to work one by one, and he has also contacted many people privately, including Zhang San......"

Wen Qian raised his eyebrows and said, "Zhang San? Is this man still haunted? For the sake of my fellow villagers, I don't care about him, could it be that he is still holding on to that matter? ”

Wen Ping said: "That's right, Zhang San is still thinking about his brother's property. ”

Wen Qian asked, "Is it Zhang San who the envoy is looking for, or is it the envoy that Zhang San is looking for?" ”

Wen Yong said: "It's Zhang San...... who the envoy is looking for."

"That's strange...... Wen Qian said, "How could this envoy know about these things?" ”

Wen Ping said: "I suspect that this envoy is prepared. Or, did this Zhang San go to the county town to complain? ”

Wen Qian said: "No way, I have been sending people to keep an eye on Zhang San, and he has never left Wenjia Village." ”

The four brothers fell silent together, and the atmosphere was very depressing for a while.

After a long time, Wen Yong said: "Otherwise, let's drive this envoy away, stay in the fort, and it's an eyesore to see every day." Even if we offend him, forgive Na Raushzi Assassin Shi and dare not do anything to us? ”

"Don't be rash!" The third brother Wen waved his hand and said, "Even if Lord Thorn Shi has a noble status, he doesn't dare to do anything to us directly." Or listen to what the big brother has to say? ”

Wen Qian muttered: "This time I went out on errands, and when I passed through Yijing, I heard some strange rumors......

"What rumors?"

"It is said that Lord Thorn Shi has not been in Ji County for the past six months, but in Yijing."

Several brothers glanced at each other, a little strange, and asked, "What is he doing in Yijing?" ”

Wen Qian said: "I heard that there is a military camp in Yijing. Occupy all the acres of fertile land and use it to grow grain. On both sides of Yingshui, many people were recruited and reclaimed a lot of fertile land. Many families like ours in Yijing City, who have land on the outskirts of Yijing City, have mostly lost their land. On the way back from Nanpi, I heard that the people's grievances were boiling, and some people wanted to make trouble in Yecheng. ”

Wen Yong snorted: "This assassination history is really perverse, and he also invaded the people's land, thinking that if his Yuan family took Youzhou, he would be able to fish in the township?" ”

If Yuan Xi was here, a mouthful of old blood would spurt out. He did encroach on private land, but those places were originally barren, and they were all reclaimed by his labor. If he doesn't cultivate the land, the owner who really owns the fields won't develop it. Now the boss of the Wen family is just relying on one-sided words, and he believes that this assassin is greedy.

Wen Qian said: "Therefore, I think that this time he is also serious about us. ”

The brothers were shocked this time, and hurriedly asked, "What do you say?" ”

Wen Qian said: "The tree is a big wind. ”

Their Wen family was originally just a local tyrant, but now by fighting a war and annexing land, they immediately became the nouveau riche of the entire Youzhou, only their five brothers themselves know what size they are now, so they were targeted by Yuan Xi, and the boss Wen Qian was not surprised.

Wen Yong said: "What should I do then?" Will he still make us spit out the land? Those fields were clearly bought by us, and we didn't forcibly occupy them. ”

Wen Qian said: "Naturally, I won't spit it out, but what if I want to collect taxes according to the property?" ”

Originally, Gongsun Zhan was two out of ten taxes, while the Wen family tenants were four out of ten, so it stands to reason that they made the difference. But in fact, they took advantage of the loophole that the ownership of the land was unclear and escaped these two shares. Moreover, because the tenants could not support themselves at all, they had to sell some labor to buy grain from the Wen family, and basically became a subordinate of the Wen family, working as slaves and maids, cattle and horses.

It is by sucking the blood of these people that the Wen family lives nourishingly. In fact, many tycoons also became landlords, accumulated capital, and then entered the fields of salt and iron, minerals, animal husbandry, etc., and finally became the largest households. The Wen family is just following the most ordinary path.

Wen Ping said: "What kind of person is this Yuan Ergongzi?" ”

He threw out one of the most critical questions. Sun Tzu said: Knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent will not be defeated in a hundred battles. They still don't know Yuan Xi, aren't their eyes blackened and they can't see the way when they walk?

Wen Qian said: "Good question! This time I went to Nanpi and also met Bohai Taishou, who is also the third brother of Yuan Ergongzi, Yuan Sangongzi. This third prince is arrogant, and he drank alone with a few of us in Youzhou in the past......"

Wen Ping asked, "Oh? What did he say? ”

Wen Qian said: "Speaking of his second brother, the third son couldn't help sighing, and he could see that there was a deep contradiction between the two. ”

Wen Ping said: "I heard that this third prince is expected to inherit the position of Duke Yuan......"

Wen Qian nodded: "Don't mention this kind of thing too much, it's too sensitive." I also asked about this second son during the banquet, he is basically a nerd and has no foundation. ”

Wen Yong hurriedly asked, "Oh? How so? He didn't have a good impression of Yuan Xiben, but when he heard the negative evaluation, he suddenly became energetic.

Wen Qian said: "Have you ever heard of Koji Yi who went to camp first?" The battle was won, and because of his arrogance and arrogance, he was eradicated by Yuan Gong. And the second son is very close to Ko Yi. And being sent to Youzhou is exactly what Yuan Gong meant. ”

"So, it's a soft persimmon?"

The Wen brothers' faces were slightly pale, and they finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.