Hsu Fengnian shook his head and said, "Ten years? Impossible, it's hard to say even five years. The fallen emperor of Southern Tang wanted to be the master of resurgence, he even used the method of skinning the corrupt officials, but the results were still minimal. Of course, this is also related to Southern Tang's long history of corruption. Also, it's definitely not a good thing to give a seriously ill patient too strong medicine. I can't overdo some of the unwritten rules that Xu Xiao has accumulated. Of course, your method is useful, but … "
Halfway through his speech, Xu Fengnian stopped talking. Like a magic trick, he took out a yellow seal that was the same as the one he gave to Li Gongde. The texture was warm and delicate. A flying sword flew out of his sleeve. The blade moved swiftly, carving five characters on each side of the seal. He then threw it to Chen Xiliang and said with a smile, "For you."
A good man multiplies his negative, sitting steadily in peace.
Collecting a daughter at home, becoming an official and a minister.
Chen Xiliang slowly turned it around and looked at it carefully before carefully putting it in his sleeve. He didn't express any gratitude.
Hsu Fengnian asked, "I heard that you've recently been searching for the history of the upheaval of all the noble families in the late Spring and Autumn period?"
Chen Xiliang nodded and said, "Using history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall. Your Highness also knows that I was born a poor scholar and was shy of money, so I developed the bad habit of treating books as my life. I'm also very curious about how these deep-rooted noble families were described in the history books with tens, hundreds, and thousands of words to describe their extreme nobility and extreme decline. "
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "Reading more is always a good thing."
Chen Xiliang smiled playfully.
Hsu Fengnian stared and said, "I've read a lot of books, aren't banned books books?!"
Chen Xiliang didn't expose him and asked, "Where are we going next?"
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "We're going to Lingzhou's Dragon Eye County to see some old friends. Last time, we didn't get along very well. However, it was not necessary for them to meet. The main thing was that Dragon Eye County was still the place where Old General Zhong Hongwu had retired to. Let's see if I can add fuel to the fire. Besides, Xu Beizhi was serving as a military advisor in the county capital, so he decided to pay him a visit. Oh right, it will take quite a while to get to Dragon Eye County. If you're bored, I'll take out some silver and go to the city to invite a few courtesans to relieve your boredom. It's up to you whether you want to eat or not. "
Chen Xiliang shook his head and said, "I won't accept a reward if it's not deserved. If I succeed in the salt and iron business, even if Your Highness gives me ten courtesans, I will accept it with a clear conscience."
Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "Hurry up and return that Huangtian Stone Seal to me. My heart is aching for it."
Chen Xiliang coughed, lifted the curtain and said to Blue Bird, "Let's go to Dragon Eye County."
— — —
Dragon Eye County was famous for producing ink stones that were like the eyes of a dragon. The quality of the stone was gentle like jade, tender but not smooth. If one knocked on it, there would be the sound of metal and stone. If one caressed it, it would be like the skin of an infant. It was regarded as an immortal product by the famous calligraphers of the past generations. It was said that Old General Zhong's only son had a collection of one hundred and eight ink stones. The ink stone had one hundred and eight eyes like the eyes of a dragon. The most legendary thing was that this ancient ink stone had been passed around in the six dynasties and several countries by eight famous dragon painters. Therefore, it was also known as the ink stone that painted the eyes of a dragon. In his later years, Zhong Hongwu had a son named Zhong Chengxin. Before he reached the age of thirty, he had already established a great undertaking and held a high position. As soon as this Old General Zhong retired, Zhong Chengxin would immediately be promoted to Dragon Eye County Chief. This famous son of a general's family had an even bigger family. Not only did he have three wives and four concubines, he also had no less than twenty mistresses in his golden house. He also had a hobby of eating the grass near his nest. He had hooked up with many wives and concubines of Dragon Eye County's high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Of course, Zhong Chengxin himself also often held banquets to reward guests. Every time he met someone, he would send out servant girls and beautiful maids that he had carefully trained.
In Dragon Eye County, other than all kinds of romantic affairs, there were also gangs and sects in great numbers. For the most part, the officials at the top played around with their love affairs, while the people at the bottom of the Jianghu killed them. The well water did not interfere with the river water. Moreover, in recent years, the trend was that if the sects wanted to expand, they would have to compete to see who could get closer to the government. One by one, the well water flowed into the river water. There were very few people who persisted in establishing their own sect and did not observe the situation. Hsu Fengnian's carriage entered the county's Baiba City. From the name of the county, it could be seen that the ancient inkstone in Zhong Chengxin's hand was priceless.
Hsu Fengnian knew the ins and outs of the Fish-dragon Gang very well. Although the Fish-dragon Gang had completed the big business in Beimang worth tens of thousands of taels of silver, the Fish-dragon Gang did not get much money. The several thousand taels of silver that Zhou Ziru, the young master of Ma Guan, paid as compensation were also given to the families of the gang members who died in a foreign land. To make matters worse, the deputy leader Xiao Qiang and the chief guest Gongsun Yang were both dead. This was a loss that could not be measured with money. The Fish-dragon Gang originally wanted to rely on this business to turn their fortunes around. However, they did not expect that the disciples of the military families in Lingzhou City would turn their backs on them after the business was completed. They even ignored the Fish-dragon Gang's subsequent visits. Fortunately, the granddaughter of the old leader connected with the business in Beimang City and was able to do some unique business that allowed them to maintain the gang's operations. However, when Liang Mang started a fight, the Fish-dragon Gang, which had been hanging on by trading at the border, was beaten back to its original state. Many of the gang members began to turn to other sects. When you're rich, you're warm; when you're poor, you're naturally cold.
The barren real estate under the name of Old Master Liu of The Fish Dragons was located in the southwest part of the county. It used to be a long street, but it was sold to the neighbors every now and then. The neighborhood on both sides was getting bigger and bigger. The Fish Dragons, which only had one martial arts club left, was caught in the middle, which was very awkward. Fortunately, the martial arts club where their lifeblood was located occupied a large area. The Fish Dragons was an old gang that had been through a lot. Many of the gang members, including their descendants, had relied on Old Master Liu to make a living. Even if they wanted to leave, no one would take them in. The Fish Dragons were weak, but on the surface, they were still okay. At most, there were only two hundred people left. As for the strong young men who could fight for territory, it was hard to say.
The carriage stopped opposite the dojo of the Fish Dragons. Not many gangs in the city dared to openly hang their banners with their gang's name on them. There were only one or two gangs in the entire Lingzhou, and they all had powerful backgrounds. Dragon Eye County originally had a rival of the Fish Dragons, the Hong Hu Sect. They hung their banners for a few days, but it was said that a young master who was traveling here didn't like them. That young master was very rough and was the grandson of the Great General Yan Wenluan. He threw their banners into the latrine on the same day. The Hong Hu Sect didn't even dare to raise their banners again. Before that young master left, he said that he beat them because he knew that their master was the brother-in-law of that Zhong Chengxin. After that, Zhong Chengxin's brother-in-law went to complain but returned without success. It became the topic of conversation for the people of Dragon Eye County.
Hsu Fengnian hung up the curtain and quietly looked at the main gate of the Fish Dragons. The faint sound of the disciples practicing martial arts could be heard from the other side of the wall.
Chen Xiliang asked doubtfully, "Is this the place?"
Hsu Fengnian nodded and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, I also took in an unknown disciple in this gang. He's very stupid."
Chen Xiliang asked, "Don't you want to go in and take a look?"
Hsu Fengnian put down the curtain and shook his head. "Forget it. I was wearing a mask at that time, so he wouldn't recognize me even if he saw me. Let's go, Blue Bird. "
The carriage slowly drove out of the street. Just as it turned the corner, a large group of strong men rushed into the street with great momentum. They were just short of hanging a sign on their bodies saying that they were gathering for a brawl. Hsu Fengnian opened the side curtain and frowned. He saw the people of the neighborhood pointing and said slowly, "Liangxi, go and ask around."
Chen Liangxi got off the carriage and soon returned to the carriage. He said with a smile, "It's the same old story. There's a girl called Liu Nerong in the Fish-dragon Gang. She caught the eye of a military officer under the command of Yi, who was in charge of the Dragon Eye County. He wanted to take her as his concubine. It seems that the Fish-dragon Gang didn't know what was good for them and rejected him. Perhaps they forgot to give the Rank Seven military officer a way out. Your Highness, there's something I've wanted to say for a long time. Beiliang's military titles are really unreasonable. Officers and military officers are too worthless. They should be changed and simplified. In this aspect, Beimang is much better. "
Hsu Fengnian nodded. Just as he was about to put down the curtain and let the Fish Dragons Gang pass the tribulation, he caught a glimpse of a group of more than thirty armored soldiers in the distance. Chen Liangxi glanced at them and sneered. "Hey, this military officer of Dragon Eye County has some tricks up his sleeve. It seems that he wants to punish both sides fairly and selflessly. However, I think that those who went to cause trouble can definitely bear the punishment, but the Fish Dragons Gang can't. It's really a waste of talent to be a Rank Seven military officer. "
"It seems that if we really want to rectify these Jianghu sects in Beiliang, we'll have to cut off many people's source of income."
Hsu Fengnian lowered his head and put on a root-shaped mask. He said indifferently, "Then let's go and watch the show."
The street that originally had shops and hawkers was now empty. Most of the hundred or so men had broken into the Fish Dragons Gang, leaving seven or eight relatively thin and weak fish outside to keep watch. Among them, a crooked and skinny monkey with sharp eyes saw Blue Bird. He called his friends and ran all the way here while drooling. It was nothing more than the usual three axes used by the scoundrels and ruffians. One couldn't expect these guys who didn't know many words to have any new ideas. When they saw that the delicate and pretty woman in green robes and embroidered shoes remained unmoved, they did not dare to immediately take action. She was someone who would foolishly drive her into trouble, and she might not be someone they could afford to offend. She might not be someone they could afford to offend. She might be a pawn who ran the docks, and her worldview might not be great, but that did not mean that she did not have her own survival knowledge and climbing skills. Even though the thin monkey did not attack, he still had the guts to use his mouth. His mouth was full of obscenities, and his gaze was obscene. His brothers beside him cheered for him.
Then they saw a young man with white hair walk out of the carriage with a smile. They subconsciously took a few steps back.
Hsu Fengnian jumped off the carriage lightly and took the horsewhip from Blue Bird. He twisted it in his hand and asked pleasantly, "Brothers, are you from the Great Tiger Sect?"
The skinny monkey-like man swallowed a mouthful of saliva and asked in a threatening manner, "Which path are you on?"
Hsu Fengnian pointed at the Fish Dragons Gang with the horsewhip. "You can say that I'm from this sect."
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