No one in Jiangning County thought that Zhou An, the second-generation head of the Yixing Zhou family, left Jiangnan to dispose of Yang Qi's mansion, and quietly went to visit Liu Pingshan, the county guard, and also gave a lot of heavy gifts. Of course, compared to what was given to the Yang family, this is actually nothing.

Liu Pingshan met Zhou An in his flower hall. Liu Pingshan didn't look down on businessmen very much, and he didn't value the Yixing Zhou family, which gradually transformed from a scholar clan to a wealthy businessman. Even if Zhou An is the second-generation head of the Zhou family, it is not worth meeting him in person.

But Liu Pingshan was very well-informed, he knew that Zhou An had just left the Yang family, and Yang Qi personally received him, and it is said that the possibility of a marriage between the two families was greatly increased.

This is the key factor in Liu Pingshan's willingness to meet Zhou An. He can look down on Zhou An, but he can't help but give Yang Qi face. If the Zhou family really marries the Yang family in the future, Zhou Chang becomes the son-in-law of the Yang family, and the Zhou family will cling to the first magnate in Jiangnan.

Of course, it is also based on the generous gifts given by Zhou An.

"It's really a shame to let the head of the Zhou family spend so much." Liu Pingshan gave a slight salute: "Please forgive this official for being blunt, this official has no contact with your Yixing Zhou family, and the head of the Zhou family suddenly came to the door to give gifts, and there is no need to be polite, if you have something to say, just say it!" ”

Liu Pingshan is so straightforward that he even saves basic polite greetings, which is actually a kind of contempt and condescension in itself.

Zhou An's head flashed a trace of annoyance, but he didn't dare to show it, hugged his fists and smiled: "Lord County Shou, Zhou came to Jiangning to visit Yang Yuanjun this time, and proposed to Yang Yuanjun's daughter for the dog. ”

Zhou An's attitude was humble and his voice was soft, but his words contained a lot of information. At the same time, it is also hinting to Liu Pingshan, if the marriage between the Yang family and the Zhou family is successful, you will dare to underestimate the in-laws of the envoy under the rule of Yang Qi?

Liu Pingshan raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and smiled indifferently: "Oh? The head of the Zhou family is really bold, and he actually wants to marry Lord Zhijun! I don't know, what will happen to your lordship? ”

"Don't hide it from the county guard, Yang Yuanjun also has a lot of appreciation for the dog, and has agreed to recommend the dog to the court to serve the country. As for the marriage between the two families, the envoy said that he would consider it carefully. Zhou An smiled slightly: "Make the Jun Lord Kangjing difficult, lead the Jiangnan army and civilian forces to resist the thieves and rebels, and keep the prosperity of the Jiangnan region, the Zhou clan admires and gratitude, if the monarch does not allow marriage, the Zhou family is also willing to contribute half of the family's financial resources to fund the Jun to train the army and help the imperial court to calm the rebellion and recover the Central Plains!" ”

Zhou An's words shocked Liu Pingshan's heart, and his gaze at Zhou An was different.

Zhou An is nothing more than hinting at Zhou's strength and determination to join Yang Qi. Half of the Yixing Zhou family's financial resources are definitely an astronomical amount, if he gets this funding, Yang Qi will ...... in the future The indifference at the corner of Liu Pingshan's mouth gradually dissipated, replaced by a pretended eager smile.

"Yixing Zhou's high wind and bright festival helped the national disaster, and this official admires it." The smile on the corner of Liu Pingshan's mouth was even stronger: "In this case, in the future, this official is willing to be closer to the Zhou family master!" ”

The two of them went back and forth, and Liu Pingshan gradually figured out Zhou An's true intention. is nothing more than wanting to borrow a knife to kill people, wanting the Liu family to come forward to kill Kong Sheng, clearing the way for Zhou Chang to become the son-in-law of the Yang family, and at the same time being ashamed.

The problem is that this kind of thing cannot be said publicly, only tacitly. In Zhou An's heart, the dignified county guard, Liu Pingshan's power in Jiangning is second only to Yang Qi, if he wants to deal with Kong Sheng, there are means to make Kong Sheng doomed. Moreover, Kong Sheng and Liu Nian, the second son of the Liu family, are incompatible, and Liu Nian suffered the shame of running naked to the whole city before, and he didn't believe that Liu Pingshan could sit idly by.

But Liu Pingshan had other plans in his heart.

As a magistrate, it was easy for him to "pick up" Kong Sheng, and some methods were to put Kong Sheng on a charge and put him in prison. But Kong Sheng is Yang Qi's former son-in-law after all, and he is the descendant of Yang Qi's old friend, under the premise of Yang Qi's ambiguous attitude, Liu Pingshan will not act rashly.

Liu Pingshan is Yang Qi's hardcore subordinate, he knows too well the hypocritical side of Yang Qi's temperament, he prides himself on valuing love and righteousness, Kong Sheng is the son of his old friend, even if the marriage fails, he will maintain a false impression of loving his younger generations on the face.

Therefore, no matter how Zhou An promised to hint, Liu Pingshan just pretended not to understand. In the end, Zhou An could only reluctantly say goodbye, extremely annoyed.

Zhou An is certainly a shrewd businessman and full of scheming, but how can Liu Pingshan, an old fritter in officialdom, be easy to deal with?

On the occasion of parting, Liu Pingshan also hid a knife in his words to warn Zhou An: "Master Zhou, there are some grievances between juniors, even if there is a fuss, you and I should still strictly control each other, and it is not appropriate to have another incident!" ”

Zhou An's head was cold, and he hugged his fists and saluted: "Zhou understands, say goodbye and leave!" ”

Zhou An'an knew that Liu Pingshan's words were not for anything else, but to warn him: The Liu family can no matter how their Zhou family retaliates against Kong Sheng and what means they use, but they can't involve Liu Nian, otherwise the Zhou family will suffer the anger from Liu Junshou.

Liu Pingshan has always been worried about Zhou Chang's tea party organized by Liu Nian a few days ago, plotting to poison Kong Sheng in tea and wine, and as a result, stealing chickens and rice. Liu Pingshan actually didn't have a good impression of Zhou Chang: his son Liu Nian was certainly a prodigal son, but the young scholar launched by the Zhou clan was actually a Sven scum with a vicious heart.

Zhou An left Liu's mansion depressed, got into his low-key and extravagant carriage, and hurried back to the inn. He didn't know that the news of his visit to Liu's Mansion reached Yang Qi's ears on his way back to the inn.

Yang Qi has been running Jiangnan for nearly ten years, with deep roots, and the turbulent times have suddenly risen, and he has strengthened his iron-fisted control under his rule. In the central city he governs, any disturbance in Jiangning County cannot be hidden from his ears and eyes.

Yang Kuan stood in the flower hall with his eyebrows lowered and lowered his eyes, quietly waiting for Yang Qi's instructions.

Yang Qi's face was slightly gloomy. Yixing Zhou's petition for a petition that cost a lot of money was certainly pleasing to him, but Zhou's sudden true intention aroused his suspicions. Of course, he is an ambitious person, but his ambition is hidden deep in his heart and cannot be exposed, if the Zhou family has bad intentions, he will definitely usher in his stormy suppression.

Less than a day after Zhou An came to Jiangning County, he tried to visit the magnates of the city everywhere, which undoubtedly deepened the suspicion in Yang Qi's heart.

"Yang Kuan, what do you think is Zhou An's intention to visit Liu Pingshan?"

The old man's gloomy voice came into his ears, Yang Kuan's heart was awe-inspiring, and he said respectfully: "My lord, the little one thinks that Zhou An went to Liu Jun's mansion to guard the mansion, it is nothing more than the motive of clinging to the powerful, if the little one is not mistaken, he will go to the mansions of several other adults to give gifts in the next two days." ”

Yang Qi smiled coldly when he heard this: "No, Yang Kuan, Zhou An's motive is on Kong Sheng. ”

Yang Kuan was taken aback: "My lord, Zhou An wants to use Liu Junshou to attack Kong Sheng?" It is very likely to say this, Liu Nian, who guarded the family in Liu County, ran naked and was humiliated two days ago, and it is common sense for the Liu family to hold a grudge. ”

"Zhou Chang and Liu Nian designed to frame Kong Sheng, but they stole chickens and rice, and lost their wives and soldiers, which was self-inflicted." A touch of coldness rose at the corner of Yang Qi's mouth: "Kong Sheng is the younger friend of the official, they use some means to retaliate against him, the official can sit idly by, but if it hurts his life at all, don't blame the official for turning his face and being ruthless!" ”

"This week, Changxin is poisonous and narrow-minded, which is the main reason why this official can't make up his mind to marry Xue Ruoxu to him." Yang Qi waved his hand: "Yang Kuan, you go and send some wine and food to Kong Sheng, just say that it was rewarded to him by the official." ”

A trace of complexity flashed in Yang Kuan's eyes, and he took the order.

Yang Qi sent wine and food to Kong Sheng, which was nothing more than a public expression of a protective and caring attitude, warning all forces to stop in moderation. At the same time, it is also a kind of hypocritical grace, proving Yang Qi's magnanimity and friendship to the people of the city.

At this point, Yang Kuan couldn't figure out the master's true mind at all.

To say that he wants to marry his daughter to Kong Sheng, he has an ambiguous attitude towards Zhou's marriage proposal at the same time; can be said that he has a soft spot for the Zhou family, but he shows some importance to Kong Sheng and continues to act as Kong Sheng's umbrella.