In the early days of the founding of the Qianyuan Empire, there were eight clans that were famous in the history of the empire, and they were all the founding heroes of the Qianyuan Emperor Feng Qingyuan.

But time flies, and although hundreds of years of time seem to be a flick of a finger, the world has long been a matter of things.

In those crazy years, some families were drowned in the long river of time because of decline and corruption, some families would stand like evergreens in the clan forest of the empire, and still others seemed to rise to the ranks of the great families.

The Xiao family! The Qianyuan Empire, a family that has only been established for 30 years, can already be called the four major families of the Pingxi era along with the three families of Mu, Cang, and Shantai, and even has a faint tendency to become the first family.

This is a miracle for any clan in the family cultural history of the Qianyuan Empire. And the reason why the Xiao family can achieve such achievements is inseparable from Xiao and his deeds.

The current head of the Xiao family is also the first head of the family. He was born into a merchant family and has been dealing with all kinds of merchants since he was a child. When he grew up, he studied civil and military affairs with famous teachers, and wanted to become a career. But I don't want to be disqualified for insulting the examiner in the examination room for favoritism.

In the following year, Xiao He had already abandoned his pen and decided to join the army to fight. By chance, Xiao He saved Feng Yulu, who had not yet become the emperor. The two met like confidants, and they drank and talked happily. The next day, Xiao He became a special diplomat of Fengyulu.

In the next 20 years, Xiao He relied on his talent in the officialdom and the skills he cultivated in the shopping mall, as well as the emperor's appreciation, and it can be said that he has passed the test and made steady progress along the way. In the third year after Emperor Pingxi ascended the throne, Xiao He became a member of the Ministry of Military Affairs and became a powerful minister above 10,000 people under one person.

Since Xiao He became an official, from the ordinary people to the rural villagers, they all said that Xiao He was the most corrupt official in the dynasty. Because in addition to the Ouchi Palace, the Xiao family's mansion is the most magnificent.

If you want to explain how luxurious the Xiao family's decoration is, I am afraid it is not clear in a few words. In a phrase often said by the common people in the city, it is a pillar in the Xiao Mansion that can feed 800 families.

The Xiao Mansion is very large, with five parts: the front and back courts, the east and west courts, and the middle house, and there are more than 1,200 people living in it, including servants.

The front hall, located in the vestibule near the gate of the Xiao Mansion, is the place where Xiao He usually meets guests. Because there are many people coming and going here, the decoration materials are very ordinary. However, it is quite particular about decoration, for example, one of the paintings hanging on the wall is the "Hundred Flowers Fighting for Spring" painted by the great painter Cao Songyun of the previous generation.

"Zhao Changlong, Lord Zhao, what I Xiao said is not clear enough? I let you, hurry up and hand over the money that His Majesty wants, do you hear clearly?"

Zhao Changlong, who was sitting on the side chair, was very dissatisfied when he heard Xiao He's words, and walked up to Xiao He on the main seat and complained:

"I said, Lord Xiao, your approach is a bit unkind. At that time, it was you who made everyone talk and not pay the money, and now it is you who let us pay the money quickly. If you go back on your word like this, it's hard for me to explain it to the people behind you. ”

"Now I remember what I said, what did you eat before, ah!" Xiao He glared at Zhao Changlong viciously, "I'll tell you, you don't want to use the people behind me to press me." As I said before, you all have to go to the South Study today. You'd better use me as a shield. Let me be there alone, do you want me to die! I'm not telling a lie, Lord Zhao, Your Majesty is angry now, the kind that uses knives, understand!"

"But, but...... No, if you want to say Lord Xiao, you can go yourself, I'll ...... I'm not going. ”

"Don't tell me what I have or not, it's not my fault for this, it's you who don't listen to orders. If the money is not in place, then the head is in place, that's the thing. ”

After speaking, Xiao He calmly picked up the tea, and Zhao Changlong was still stunned: "Don't you understand the truth of serving tea to guests?

Zhao Changlong didn't dare to say anything when he saw Xiao He's righteous head, and retreated at a loss.

It wasn't long before I sat in the main chair and covered my forehead thinking about which official to talk to next. A figure outside the front hall hurriedly walked in, sat down on the other main chair without saying a word, and shouted:

"You're not kind, Lord Xiao, let me tell you, you're really unkind. ”

The person who came was Mu Yun, the current head of the Mu family. This year's Mu Yun is fifty-five years old, but his appearance is no different from when he was thirty years old. Black broken hair, delicate facial features, jewel-like eyes, and unruly temperament are all Mu Yun's standard. is really worthy of the title of the first beautiful man in Qianyuan that year.

"What's wrong with my Lord Mu. Xiao He squeezed out a wry smile and walked to Mu Yun's side, "You don't know how to report when you come, you really don't know how to be polite." ”

Speaking of this, Mu Yun was angry, and was about to scold, but when he saw Xiao He's smiling fat appearance, he turned his head angrily and couldn't speak.

Xiao He was not angry, and stroked Mu Yun's shoulder with his hand and coaxed: "Master Mu, don't be like this, you and my brother will talk to me, who made you unhappy again, is it those people." ”

Mu Yun still pretended to be angry, shook his shoulders and shook off Xiao He's hand without speaking. And Xiao He continued to coax: "Master Mu, Mu Yun, can you say something." You say, why am I Xiao someone not kind, I'll change it. ”

Mu Yun glanced at Xiao He in disbelief, then turned his head and continued not to speak.

This time, Xiao He directly grabbed Mu Yun's shoulder and shook it twice, and coaxed: "Mu Yun, Mu Baobao, I beg you to say something, it's not a way for you to be here with me." ”

"I said Lord Xiao. Mu Yun finally spoke, "You have to be kind to be a person and do things, otherwise you will be sorry for your fat body." ”

Xiao He was stunned for a moment, he looked at himself, and said as a matter of course: "I think I'm quite kind." ”

"You're kind, eh. You are kind, and you will not let the doorman stop me at the door, and I will not let me in. ”

"Ah, I don't know about this, these people are really too lawless, and they dare to stop the imperial officials. I'm going to have to punish them!"

"Pretend, you continue to pretend. Okay, then I'll ask you again, Mu Xing was recommended by you to the emperor, right? ”

As soon as these words came out, Xiao He's face turned cold, and he shrunk his neck: "Yes...... It's me, and I can't help it. ”

"You admit it, you admit it. Last time, I was dismissed for the harm you designed, and this time you recommended Mu Xing in front of the emperor. You are a pit for me, and you dare to say that you are kind. ”

"Okay, okay, I had no choice at that time, in that case, if I don't put Mu Xing on top, I will have to lose my skin if I don't die. ”

"Oh, if you're afraid of death, you have to pull a junior on your back, it's still mine. Lord Xiao, you are really the most brazen person I have ever met. ”

"Yes, whatever you want. Just say, what do you want to do about this? ”

Mu Yun stretched out a finger: "One million source stones!"

"What, a million!" Xiao He's eyes widened in fright, "Do you know how much a million is, Master Mu, that's 100 million gold coins! The disaster relief money in the entire South China region is only one million source stones." ”

"Yes, I want the million disaster relief money that you embezzled. ”

"Look at what you're saying. Xiao He suddenly sneered and sat back in his place, "Okay, Master Mu." I can see that you are not here to negotiate peace, but to ask for money. ”

"What's wrong with asking for money, let me tell you, my mental damage fee is really so much. If you don't give it, then I'll tell the emperor tomorrow. ”

"Mu Yun, Mu Yun. Xiao He's tone became slow, "There are some things that are not good for anyone to put it bluntly, obviously everything is in your calculations, and you still come to slander me." You're dead-skinned. ”

"Hey, Lord Xiao, what you said is not right, how can I calculate it. I'm telling you, it's a crime to frame an Imperial Leader. ”

"You calculated that the nobles would not give money, that I would let the ministers ban the parliament, and that Your Majesty would be handed over to you by asking for money, so you took leave in advance.

You are also a quasi-nobleman and a courtier, and I will be a shield at a critical moment, so the task of persuading the ministers that was originally given to you fell to me, cutting my prestige among the ministers.

You calculated that I would use others as a backing, so I asked Mu Fan to let me see Mu Xing. If Mu Xing's appearance solves His Majesty's troubles, you will also follow it.

Not only did you avoid dealing with the nobles and the courtiers, but you also reduced my power, which greatly increased your chances of promotion. Mu Yun, you have a plan to kill three birds with one stone, but you will count everyone to death. ”

Mu Yun pretended to have an expression of disbelief, and clapped his hands "snapped": "Amazing, Lord Xiao, it's the first time I've discovered such a talent for storytelling, it's really a pity that you don't tell stories." ”

"Don't talk about these miscellaneous things, I'll tell you Mu Yun. I didn't get a penny for this incident, and I had to pay a lot of money myself. You want a million, dream, huh!"

"Well, I didn't want to ask you for that million right now, anyway. Because the plan was seen through, Mu Yun could only retreat, "I just came back from outside, it's okay to have lunch at your house." ”

"Eh, eh, slowly, slowly. Xiao He grabbed Mu Yun's sleeve, "As long as you promise Xiao something, you can eat whatever you want with my food here." ”

"Okay, you say, I'll listen. ”

"I'm begging you, Lord Mu, let your group of reformers stop for a while. ”

"Hey, what you said is not right, Lord Xiao, innovation is the emperor's decision, and I never form a gang. ”

"Come on, if it weren't for your ministers, Your Majesty wouldn't have made such a big splash. You can do it, there is really no money in the treasury for you to toss around. In such a large construction project, the people will soon complain......"

"Lord Xiao, I'll tell you about this!" Mu Yun said righteously, "How much money you have in the treasury is not based on me, but on how greedy you are; It's really not speculative to talk to you, I won't eat this meal!"

As soon as he finished saying this, Mu Yun turned his head and left. Xiao He didn't hold back, sat on the chair and took a sip of tea, and smiled secretly in his heart: Obviously, the family has already cooked a meal, and I came over to pretend, see that I don't get angry with you.