Jinan was formerly known as Qizhou, Song Zhenghe six years (1116) promoted Qizhou to Jinan Prefecture, because Jinan is located in an important place, since ancient times it is a place where soldiers must fight, coupled with convenient transportation, so commerce is also very developed, nearly half of the rich gentry and gentry in Shandong are gathered here, and the people living in the city, a large part of them are households.

Today, in the front yard of Mofu, there are many businessmen gathered. Mofu is one of the best places in Jinan, so the hall in Mofu is spacious and magnificent, and the businessmen in it are also all dressed in brocade robes, showing the atmosphere of wealth and nobility.

These people all sat in the living room and talked and laughed slowly, and the amount that ordinary people could never dream of was often only after a few simple conversations, and the transaction of goods worth tens of thousands of taels of silver was thus concluded. Moreover, most of these businessmen here are grain merchants and salt merchants, and some of them are also engaged in medicine cloth fur, pawnshops, hotels, money industry, tea industry, and warehouse affairs.

Although the Ming Dynasty is poor, this only refers to the imperial court in general, but in fact, the people of the Ming Dynasty are not short of money, especially those businessmen who are all rich and armory. Those who have assets of 100,000 taels do not dare to say that they have silver, and those whose assets reach 1 million taels are average, especially among these merchants, the Jin merchants, the Beijing merchants, and the Hui merchants are the richest.

For these businessmen and wealthy people, even if the Ming Dynasty encounters great natural and man-made disasters, it will not even affect their lives. In their cellars, the gold and silver that had been cast into the shape of gold and silver melons were piled up in the warehouses, and in the huge granaries that belonged to them, enough grain for them to eat for a hundred years was piled up in the warehouses, for them everything was nothing, only silver was worth their pursuit, it was carried by incense and dust, jade dust, and the boasts and glamorous things between merchants and merchants were endless, and they were extremely squandering.

Behind these merchants stood rows of good-looking maids and servants. These merchants sat and next to each other were skilled craftsmen with tables and chairs carefully made of huanghuali, and at the other end of the hall were several famous teams of Jinan Prefecture playing and singing, this kind of life was unimaginable for the poor people who were still struggling to fill their stomachs, but for these merchants it was just leisure. Of course, although the qiē here is already a top-level enjoyment in Jinan Prefecture, compared to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Suzhou and Hangzhou, which are the top wealthy places in the Ming Dynasty, the qiē here is all stuff of soil buns.

While these businessmen were talking and laughing in a low voice, a middle-aged man wearing a long robe who looked like a housekeeper walked out and said to everyone in the hall with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, please don't be impatient, Master Mo is here." ”

As the butler's words fell, Master Mo walked into the hall with the support of Mo Jingqi and saw Master Mo coming. All the businessmen stood up one after another and said to Master Mo: "Master Mo is well!" ”

Today's Master Mo and yesterday's meeting with Ke Zhennan, Ma Ke, Lu Zhili and other three Shandong bigwigs are different, I saw that his face was calm, and his gestures were quite majestic, obviously a figure who had lived in the center of money and power for a long time and was accustomed to giving orders.

However, Master Mo is indeed worthy of everyone's respect, the Mo family has hundreds of thousands of acres of fields in Jinan alone, in addition to grain and oil, cloth, cotton, and animal husbandry. Mining and many other businesses, it can be said that almost all the industries that can make money have his figure. And not only that, the Mo family also has many sons and nephews who serve in various government offices in Shandong, and their influence in Shandong is quite large, when power and money are combined. It will form a force that no one can take lightly.

However, after Master Mo came to the hall, his originally solemn face also became relaxed, and he said softly: "Everyone, everyone can come to the Old Decay Mansion today to cheer." It really made Mofu Peng shine, and the old man thanked you first. ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, Master Mo is polite." saw Master Mo saluting. The businessmen didn't dare to stand in place to accept the salute, they turned their bodies to the side and bowed in return, they are very clear, don't look at this old man is now a group of amiable appearance, but in the dark with the cunning and ruthless means to call him is not an exaggeration, and people are authentic snakes, once offended him, the loss of money is small, once he hates himself, it is estimated that even the belt bones will be swallowed by the other party.

Seeing the respectful appearance of the merchants, Master Mo nodded with satisfaction, he is not a broad-minded person, some people offended him in the past, and in the end they were all miserable by him, and he was regarded as the head snake in Jinan City.

Master Mo's arrogance is really in his bones, and he will not put up any shelf with the merchants, so he greeted everyone with a smile and came to a chair in the center of the hall and sat down.

After he sat down, he said to everyone: "You are all leaders in all walks of life in Shandong, and I won't go around in circles with you." Today's gathering must be clear to all of you. The loyal and brave Marquis Yue wants to collect the land in Shandong to implement the apportionment into the mu, and the officials and gentry pay the grain in one, and the old man summons everyone to discuss a countermeasure, and you can speak freely if you have anything to say. ”

After speaking, Master Mo sat on the chair as if his energy was exhausted and closed his eyes slightly, and did not speak again, but careful people could still find that Master Mo was still not opening and closing his eyes while closing his eyes, obviously looking at everyone's reaction.

Everyone looked at each other and discussed in a low voice for a while, although everyone did not negotiate a charter, but there was one point of unanimous opinion, that is, they absolutely did not agree to apportionment into the mu of the gentry and the integration of grain and errands. Although the merchants who could sit in the hall were all wealthy lords, it would be reluctant for them to take even a copper plate out of their pockets to pay taxes.

Master Mo took in everyone's expressions between opening and closing, and he also had a countermeasure in his heart. Soon, a tall and thin businessman stood up and said to Master Mo: "Marquis Zhongyong's move is to compete with the people for profit, don't you hear about the disaster of the Wanli Dynasty's commercial tax?" The envoy of the conquest, anxious for the spark, and the order of the search, is as dense as a cow's hair. The scoundrel is dead, and the winged tiger wolf is attached. It is not easy for the shopkeepers to do a small business, if they have to be exploited by the imperial court, I am afraid that everyone will have to go to the street to ask for food, and the local evil officials are fierce as tigers and greedy as wolves, once this case is opened, it will be like a dam bursting out of control, pay one hundred taels today and one thousand taels tomorrow, and then you will probably be stripped away by them! ”

"Exactly!"

Another gentry surnamed Liang also stood up and said angrily: "The old man is not talented, but I have never heard of any saying that the gentry are divided into acres, since the three emperors and five emperors, the gentry are the backbone of a country, which dynasty and which generation are not allowed to treat our gentry well, but this loyal and brave marquis has done the opposite." It is unpopular for the Marquis of Zhongyong to openly violate the ancestral system to collect land endowments from us, and he will inevitably be scolded by the people of the world! ”

The nature of the matter was determined by the words of the people, and they were filled with righteous indignation and indignation. Seeing that everyone had made up their minds on this matter, Master Mo slowly opened his eyes and said: "What you said is very true, the actions of the Marquis of Zhongyong are indeed contrary to the words of love for the people taught by the sage, and we have the responsibility to persuade the Marquis of Zhongyong to make him repent and change his ways!" ”

Listening to Master Mo's words, all the businessmen looked at each other and didn't understand what kind of medicine was sold in Master Mo's gourd. A businessman asked tentatively: "Master Mo, you are the leader of the gentry in Jinan Mansion, and you have to take everyone to get through this difficult time at this critical moment." Just tell me what you have statutes. ”

Master Mo smiled faintly: "The old man is just a dying old man, what idea can he have?" It's just that the land of Qilu is the residence of the saints, and the old man can't watch the loyal and brave marquis doing anything here, because the old man also has a humble opinion, I don't know if you are willing to listen to the old man's nagging? ”

The businessman was anxious: "Eh, old man Mo, you are the most respected person in our Jinan Mansion, who else dares to refute what you say, don't hang our appetite!" ”

"Okay, the old man will say it directly!"

Master Mo smiled slightly: "The old man of the Ming Dynasty who is loyal to the Marquis of Zhongyong has also heard of it in Jinan. After he sat in Shanxi, he suppressed bandits and benefited the township, which was indeed a good thing, and the people praised it. Everyone can also buy and sell with peace of mind. In particular, he led the army to break the Tartar army outside the pass, killed the enemy general Yue Tuo, and even killed the enemy chief Taiji alive, which greatly increased the prestige of my Daming, which is a great thing. ”

Hear here. Everyone's faces changed slightly, and everyone rang out, this new loyal and brave marquis and governor was born as a general with troops. has an army of more than 100,000 under his command, and a bad person will turn his face.

A famous businessman immediately said with some concern: "Master Mo, Marquis Yue was born in the army, and his temperament is inevitably a little impatient, so it is better for us to salute first and then soldier, and first offer 'yellow rice' and 'white rice', and see how Marquis Yue reflects our plans?" ”

"Hmmm! Shopkeeper Hong is reasonable! ”

"Exactly, the salute first and then the soldiers look like we are waiting!"

Everyone spoke out in agreement, after all, Yue Yang, as a prince and governor of a province, and more than 100,000 male soldiers, how could such a person be an easy person, if it weren't for these businessmen who were really forced into a corner to curry favor with Yueyang, how could they dare to offend? It's just that this time Yue Yang is too ruthless, as soon as he took office, he was aggressive and wanted to integrate the officials and gentry to pay for the grain as an errand and one person, how dare they be presumptuous. Now it is right to test him first and then the soldiers, and see if this marquis will accept their gifts before making plans.

Seeing that everyone wanted to give a gift to Yueyang, Mo Jingqi, who was standing behind Master Mo, frowned and was about to speak, but heard Master Mo smile and said: "How can the old man you said not know, don't worry, the gift to the Marquis of Yue The old man has already sent someone to the governor's yamen, and there will be news back soon!" ”

"Really!"

The businessmen were taken aback at first, and then they all showed smiles on their faces and complimented: "I said, Master Mo has always been strategizing to win thousands of miles away, and you have already prepared for your feelings, so we can rest assured." ”

Seeing the flattering smiles on everyone's faces, Mo Jingqi couldn't help but feel disdainful in his heart, and spit out an inaudible voice from his mouth: "These wall grasses are really snobbish." ”

"Shut up!" Although Master Mo is old, his ears are still very sensitive, and he can hear what his son said clearly, although the smile on his face has not changed, he has a low reprimand in his mouth.

Just when Master Mo was discussing how to deal with Yue Yang, in the backyard side hall of the governor's yamen located on the southwest street of Jinan City, Yue Yang sat in the center of the side hall, and Wang Yue, Dong Xiaowan and Li Xiangjun sat on both sides of each other, looking at the more than ten boxes standing in front of him and the four slim young girls standing in the hall with scrutinizing eyes.

And Yue Yang, who was sitting next to them, lingered on the boxes on the ground and the bodies of several girls with thoughtful and playful eyes. After a long while, Yue Yang picked up a gift list and said, "Your Master Mo is so generous, five thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, three boxes of antique calligraphy and paintings...... It seems that the rumors outside that Master Mo is the richest man in Jinan Mansion are really not wrong at all! ”

Looking at Yue Yang, who had a relaxed demeanor, one of the four young girls said softly: "It's good that Master Hou likes it, the slave maid said before he came, these things are originally things outside the body, and they are not brought away by life or death, and they are only worth the money in the hands of those who really need them, and these things are just a little little care of the master." As long as the Hou Ye likes it, the old man will continue to have a thin gift. ”

"Huh...... Your lord really has a heart! Yue Yang waved his hand, "Okay, I'll take the things, you can go back!" ”

"Ah......h

The four girls were immediately stunned, and the leading girl hesitated for a moment before saying: "Master Hou, when the slave maid came, the master once said that when you arrive at the Hou Mansion this time, the slave and the maid are your people, how can you go back." ”

"My people?"

Yue Yang was slightly stunned, and then laughed: "What are you kidding, do you say that my person is my person?" Do you think it's so easy to get into the Hou Mansion? Are you kidding! All right. Let's go, when I go back, help me bring a message to your old man Mo, just say that I have accepted the things, and in a few days I will use these things to buy a batch of food relief for the victims, which can be regarded as doing good deeds for your master, so you can go! ”

"Master Hou...... We ......"

The girl at the head wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Yue Yang's cold snort, "Benhou Shicai has already said it very clearly, can't you still hear it clearly?" ”

Yue Yang, who had been in the top position for a long time, once made a straight face. The four girls immediately felt a chill rising from their hearts, especially Yueyang's wooden coffin stabbing at them like lightning, making their skin feel a little numb, and the words they had originally prepared couldn't be said at all.

Yue Yang waved his hand impatiently: "Okay." Go back, and if your lord asks, tell him the truth, and he will know what I mean!" ”

"Yes!"

The four girls were too scared and ashamed to say anything more. Bent down to Yue Yang, said a blessing, and went out.

After the four girls went out, Wang Yue, who was sitting next to Yue Yang, stood up and ran quickly to Yue Yang's side, grabbed his arm, and said with a smile: "Xianggong, I look at the four girls who are quite thoughtful." Why don't you keep them? ”

"Hey...... Are you the kind of person who doesn't choose to eat? Yue Yang glared at her angrily, and reached out to gently scrape Wang Yue's upturned Qiong nose,

"But there are still a few maids in our house, wouldn't it be better to keep them?" Wang Yue blinked with big eyes.

Li Xiangjun on the side saw that Wang Yue was still messing around with Yueyang, so she glanced at her and scolded with a smile: "Okay, Yue'er, don't make trouble, we just came to Jinan, what about the complicated things here, how dare we ask for the maid sent by others, you are from a family of eunuchs, this should be clearer than us, why are you confused now?" ”

Wang Yue spit out her cute little tongue: "Hehe...... Where are people confused, I'm just testing Xianggong to see if he likes other girls, you must know that when she came, Sister Hai Lanzhu told us to watch Xianggong carefully and not let him mess around. ”

"You!" Yue Yang shook his head helplessly, he knew the thoughts of Wang Yue and the women, now he has six wives and concubines, and he will marry the princess next year, which also makes them feel an unprecedented sense of crisis, which is also the reason why Hai Lanzhu supported him to bring Li Xiangjun's three daughters when he came to Shandong this time, after all, a person's energy is limited after all, and one more woman in the house will share more of his feelings.

For the careful thinking of Hai Lanzhu and the daughters, Yue Yang naturally knew that under normal circumstances, he would not provoke other women. What's more, these women were all sent by those scheming local merchants, which is even more unacceptable, who knows when they will bring themselves a cup of tea with ingredients, if they are whimpering and lamenting because of this, then they will be wronged.

Yue Yang accepted the gold and silver, but the news of sending the four girls back quickly reached the ears of Master Mo, who was discussing in the hall, and Master Mo, who was waiting for the news, was so angry that his face turned pale, and his mouth trembled and scolded: "I don't know how to lift!" ”

"What, he said that!"

Not only Master Mo, but all the businessmen in the hall also collectively lost their voices after hearing the news, this Yue Yang is too faceless.

For a long time, Master Mo's eyes flashed with cold light, and he said lightly: "It seems that Marquis Yue doesn't plan to give our Shandong gentry a way to live, and we have no choice but to take some necessary measures." Shopkeeper Liang, your grain store is one of the best in Jinan, if you raise your arms, it shouldn't be a problem for grain stores all over Shandong to stop business for a few days, right? ”

The businessman surnamed Liang nodded: "Of course it's not a problem!" ”

"Shopkeeper Yang, you immediately notify the salt shops everywhere and prepare to close!"

"Cattle shopkeeper, your cloth village ......"

With Master Mo's instructions, a dense net slowly opened up like this, flying towards the Zhongyong Marquis who had just come to Shandong...... (To be continued......)