If she was still Han Yu's wife, based on how much Jiang Pengji valued Han Yu, she would probably hold back for fear of harming the innocent.
In the end, she left without saying a word. Jiang Pengji had no more scruples. She was afraid that she would not be merciful.
The housekeeper didn't say anything, but judging from his expression, he agreed with Madam Han's words.
It was unwise to leave at this juncture.
The housekeeper sighed. "Now I only hope … that it was not Lord Lanting's idea to leave the First Lady …"
Madam Han was anxious and uneasy.
Now that she thought about it carefully, she couldn't figure out the real reason why she left Han Yu.
Madam Han stayed in the Tao's house. Although she didn't go out every day, she could feel that the atmosphere in the house had become weird.
According to the servant girl's report, carriages were coming and going in an endless stream outside the Tao's house. The frequency of the gentry families who were on good terms with them became extremely frequent.
She smelled the scent of an impending storm.
It turned out that Madam Han's premonition was right. Madam Tao and the other families were discussing to make trouble.
Even though the salt business had always been controlled by the state, Madam Tao and the others had enjoyed the benefits for decades.
Especially after the world was in chaos, they had even taken off the last fig leaf and regarded the salt business as their private property.
How could they be willing to hand over the money tree to an outsider?
Many of them even had a crazy idea — Jiang Pengji was just a feudal lord with a relatively large influence, she was not the emperor yet!
She was not the emperor. What right did she have to ask Madam Tao and the others to hand over the salt business?
In Jiang Pengji's words, one wouldn't feel pity if they lost something that they had never had. However, once they had it, no one would let it go if an outsider wanted to take it away. In order to protect this item, many people would even take the risk out of desperation and go crazy.
Madam Tao and the others were typical examples.
Madam Tao had a big share of the illicit salt business, and the other families had also tasted the benefits. Each family had made a lot of money.
This force was already like a grasshopper on a rope. They were bound together for good or bad!
None of them wanted Jiang Pengji to take away their interests!
However, Jiang Pengji was so powerful that they had to come up with a perfect plan. Otherwise, they would lose everything.
They had thought of many ways, but there were only two ways in front of them.
Or they could bow their heads and become a well-behaved aristocrat, content with a little bit of wealth.
Or they could rise up and resist, using small to win big!
They were not willing to be the former, so they could only choose the latter.
Someone said, "Damn it! If I had known that Liu Xi had such wild ambitions, I would have rebelled against her before the situation in Dongqing was settled. "
The situation in Dongqing was still unsettled. A few feudal lords were locked in a fierce battle. This was a good opportunity for them to fish in troubled waters.
Now, Xu Fei, Xu Bei, and Huang Song had successively knelt down. Dongqing had become Jiang Pengji's sole authority. What could they use to confront her head-on?
The other person thought about it and said, "Even so, it's not like there's no other way."
When Papa Tao heard this, he asked the man, "What do you mean?"
The man reminded, "Gentlemen, please do not forget that other than Liu Xi, there is still a feudal vassal in Dongqing."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and only after a long while did they remember something —
Dongqing's Zhangzhou was still in Yang Tao's hands!
Papa Tao asked, "What do you mean by that? Are you asking us to switch to Yang Tao?"
The man shook his head and said, "No! When we turn to Yang Tao, Yang Tao covets the salt business. Isn't that the same as circling back? It's better to frame Yang Tao and make Liu Xi and Yang Tao fight. This way, no matter who wins or loses, both of them will be greatly weakened and won't be able to take care of us. "
They could also take the opportunity to use their savings, recruit soldiers, and expand their influence.
When that time comes, they would not be held back by others. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?
When they heard this suggestion, everyone was a little convinced … No, they were a little terrified.
A dynasty with a hundred years of history and a thousand years of aristocratic families.
History had proven that the change of dynasties was an unstoppable trend!
The aristocratic families could survive the change of dynasties, but the royal family could not. They would inevitably be treated as the remnants of the previous dynasty and wiped out, let alone continue.
Due to various reasons, although the aristocratic families controlled a lot of resources, they were more inclined to invest in politics rather than take a gamble.
Of course, there might be another reason. For example, they were not capable enough or did they not know what was going on?
No matter what, this conversation ended on a sour note. The balance in everyone's hearts was wavering.
On one side was the lucrative salt business, and on the other side was the risk of occupying the salt business. It was not a good choice.
In the end, their greed won over their reason.
Jiang Pengji was a meticulous person. Since she had set her eyes on the salt business, she would not fight a battle unprepared.
A year ago, she not only sent messengers, but she also analyzed the aristocratic families and planted many spies.
These spies monitored the movements of the aristocratic families led by Madam Tao and passed the news to Jiang Pengji.
She attached great importance to the salt business. Once there was news, it would be passed to her as quickly as possible.
While Madam Tao and the others were hesitating, Jiang Pengji had already received the relevant news.
"Heh … If they really dare to rebel, I respect them as men! You can't even compare to me. Are you still a man? "
Toudu Feiqiu: "Hmph, how can they hide their tricks from Great Sage Jiang's fiery eyes? They are showing their fox's tail!"
Qingfeng Bantui: "Alas, they can only think of provoking the streamer and Yang Tao to fight so that they can reap the benefits."
The salted fish in the streaming room secretly scolded Madam Tao for being insidious. She was so greedy that she didn't even know death was at hand! "
Except for Zhuge Liang who pretended to be a serious strategist, the other salted fish were still eating melon seeds and ridiculing her.
Laosiji Lianmeng: "With all due respect, whoever competes with you in being decisive is a sissy.
You can form an alliance if you want, you can kill an acquaintance if you want. A white knife goes in and a red knife comes out.
Which man in the world dares to compete with her in manliness? "
Nongfu Shanquan Youdianxuan: "Hahaha, sharp criticism. There are no men and women in front of the streamer, only girls and girls with big penises!"
Jiang Pengji habitually ignored the salted fish's daily naughtiness.
Wei Ci asked her, "How do you plan to deal with these people?"
Jiang Pengji said, "I was worried that after a year of cultivation, I have no reason to find trouble with Zhengze. Madam Tao and the others are so considerate and took the initiative to give me a ready-made weakness. Wouldn't it be a pity if I cut the Gordian knot and killed them all at once? "
Make the best use of everything. Even the enemy had value. It would be a pity to waste it.
Jiang Pengji had been eyeing Yang Tao's Zhangzhou for a long time. However, the previous alliance had ended and there was no suitable reason to kill the alliance.
Since Madam Tao had helped her solve this problem, she didn't mind letting Madam Tao and the others live for a few more days.
Wei Ci couldn't help but be speechless.
"You mean … to let them set up a trap and involve the Duke of Zhengze?"
Jiang Pengji smiled wickedly and touched Wei Ci's lips with her index finger.
"Wrong. Not only Zhengze, I want to swallow the whole of Nansheng. Dragging Zhengze into the water is just the first step. "
She was greedy beyond measure. How could she be satisfied with a small Zhangzhou?
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