The three hundred strong spirits brought by Liu Qi and Liu Pan from his hometown Shanyang County were arranged in the mountains and forests far away from the county town. Their brothers were disguised and each team was holding a horse and quietly entered Yicheng.

Yicheng is very close to Xiangyang, located in the middle of the Han River, connecting to Zhangling in the east, Dangyang in the south, and Xiangyang in the north. It is surrounded by mountains on both sides of the east and west, and the central river valley plain, high in the north, low in the south, and open to the south. It is the gateway of Xiangyang in the south.

Liu Qi and Liu Pan found the largest wine shop in the central neighborhood of Yicheng, ordered wine and food, and planned to explore some situations.

In ancient times, wine shops were the most rumored places in a city.

It was noon at this moment, and the meal was counted, but there were no other guests in the restaurant except for the brothers Liu Qi and Liu Pan.

In recent years, wars have surged and productivity has been greatly reduced. In addition to a few large households who can still maintain three edibles a day, most of the lower-class people have changed back to two edibles a day in the late Qin and early Han dynasties. They are big food early and eat more, because they have to do a day's work and snack late, and after eating, they eat less.

The owner of the wine shop was very happy to see two foreigners coming to have lunch today. He personally poured wine for their cups and took the initiative to accompany them, which saved Liu Qi from having to talk to him on his own.

"I heard from the two accents, are they from Yanzhou? Are they from Nanjun doing business?" said the owner of the restaurant enthusiastically.

Liu Qi sipped in a sip of wine and said, "The boss has such a good eye. We are from Juye, Shanyang, and we come to Jingchu to do the lacquerware business."

The owner of the wine shop was in a good mood and said with a smile: "Clasp Pan Diao Shang, many people in Nanjun do this business. The two of them have been here from Yanzhou, but they may not make money."

"Why?" Liu Qi pretended to be surprised and said: "I'm not to hide it from my brother. I'm very different from ordinary lacquerware. Not only is the quality excellent, but also exquisitely carved. I'm the best product."

The owner of the wine shop touched the short beard on his chin and said, "I don't know what the lacquerware looks like, but no matter how good the lacquerware is, it can be sold well in other states, but I'm afraid it won't work in Jingzhou."

Looking at the owner of the restaurant looking confident on his face, Liu Pan next to him was a little unhappy.

But when the boy turned black, he said angrily: "We are doing serious business and we must not pay taxes. How can we do it in Jingzhou?"

The owner of the restaurant smiled and said, "I have not been here for lunch for months. I have been here today. I am very grateful. I might as well give you some clarification. If you want to do business in Jingchu, it is useless even if you pass the approval of the county government, and you must have the consent of the local clan, otherwise the transaction will not last long."

Seeing that the conversation gradually came to the point, Liu Qi said, "Boss, we are foreign tourists. This time we came to Jingzhou to do the lacquerware business to sell the money and do not allow any loss, otherwise the industry would be destroyed. I hope the boss will give people a fish and tell them in detail. We will definitely give a good reward in the future."

Liu Pan was not good at fooling around his lips and tongue. He watched Liu Qi perform with relish and completely forgot that he was also the one in the play.

It was not until Liu Qi pinched his thigh under the long desk that he reacted so much that he felt pain.

"Hiss~~! Please save my brother!" Liu Pan said with a grin.

The enthusiastic wine shop owner saw Liu Qi's words sincere, while Liu Pan was 'emed crying' and sighed: "You don't have to do this. In fact, these things are not a secret in the Nanjun area. I said it to you."

"I hope to hear the details."

The wine shop owner was raising words while slowly saying: "There are many clans in Jingzhou, and they are extremely powerful. They have more private troops. Even if the former governor, the prince, faced them, was humble and compromised."

Liu Qi bowed and asked for advice: "The Jingzhou clan is powerful. When we brothers came, we also knew about this along the way, but what does this have to do with our business?"

The owner of the wine shop smiled helplessly and said, "The relationship is naturally very tight. Jingzhou's big business is controlled by all prominent families. If you are involved in it without permission, hehe, little brother, no matter how good your lacquerware is, you will lose all your money."

Liu Qi nodded suddenly and began to plan in his heart.

The Jingzhou clan has grown to the point where he can control the local economy, which means that the clan must have divided the interests, both strong and weak.

Just like a certain Western Federal Reserve, it is said that it is controlled by certain families, the same principle.

In this way, Jingzhou looks like dozens of sects on the surface, but in fact, there should be only a few leading companies that really play a decisive role.

"I wonder if the boss, how are the big businesses such as salt, iron, lacquerware in Jingzhou now divided? My brothers will also make some money in the future, so don't go the wrong way."

The owner of the wine shop smiled and said, "The transaction of salt and iron was originally an official business, but in Jingzhou, it was run by the Cai family and the county government of Caizhou. The official wine, grain and fodder business was raised by the Kuai family of Zhonglu and the county government. The merchants who made cloth and lacquerware received members every year to Huarong Changbei Yu, and the official boats, carriages and horses of the Nanjun were run by Su Dai, the Zhang family of Nanyang, and the clan leader Zhang Xian was appointed as the governor of Lingling County. The weapons and equipment of the private armies of each clan were cast by their clans."

Liu Qi suddenly realized when he heard this.

Seeing the big one from the small, seeing the small one knows the small one... It seems that the leader of the clan in Jingzhou should be these five families!

Cai Mao, the leader of the Cai clan, Kuai Liang, the leader of the Bei clan, Bei Yu, the leader of the Su clan, Su Dai, and the leader of the Zhang clan, Zhang Fang!

Liu Qi said these five names one by one in his heart, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you, the boss, for your advice, my brother knows what to do."

...

After paying the wine shop owner double the bill, Liu Qi and Liu Pan got up and left, and came to the streets of Yicheng.

Looking at the peddlers and pawns walking back and forth, Liu Pan's face showed a look of confusion.

"Boyu, look at your confident look, can you know something from the boss of the restaurant?"

Liu Qi knew that his cousin was just fond of martial arts and had low political sensitivity, so he explained to him.

After hearing this, Liu Pan suddenly became enlightened and felt admiration for Liu Qi.

When Liu Pan listened to someone's words, he watched the fun after listening to it, but Liu Qi deduced who was the leader of the other party through these.

"According to my cousin, are the five major families in charge of Jingzhou's big business leaders of many clans?"

Liu Qi looked up at the white clouds that were constantly moving with the wind, and said thoughtfully: "Yes, all the salt, iron, chariots, horses, lacquerware and weapons have made these five clans monopolize, and the other clans completely agree! It means that the Jingzhou clan must be headed by these five clans. If so, the situation in Jingzhou will be clear."

"How to make a clear way?"

"These five major clans can represent the attitude of all Jingzhou clans. If the five families are willing to support Yan Jun ascend, they will be friends. If the five families refuse, they will be thieves and enemies... They should be eliminated!"

When Liu Pan heard this, he turned around and left: "I'm going to lead the horse!"

Liu Qi was startled by Liu Pan's actions. He hurriedly caught up with Liu Pan to stop him: "Where are you in a hurry to go?"

"Without any time, let's find out where the five major families are located immediately."

Liu Qi was amused by Liu Pan's serious look and asked back: "What about?"

"And then? Then naturally I send a message to inquire!"

"What's the matter?"

"Inquiry...Inquiry..." Liu Pan was speechless.

Yes, how should we ask about this kind of thing?

I asked my uncle Liu Biao to settle in Xiangyang as the governor, but do you and the five clans still not accept it? Support it or not?

The answer I got must be yes! But what is the truth? No one knows it.

Liu Pan's face turned a little purple, and he didn't think of how to ask these words. In the end, he could only look at Liu Qi for advice.

Liu Qi reached out and patted Liu Pan on the shoulder and said, "I know that my cousin was anxious about the appointment of Jun Yan, and wanted to rush to find out the attitudes of the five major clans. But even if we visit us, we will not get any substantial information. What they think is impossible to ask."

"What should I do if I think this is the case?" Liu Pan said depressedly.

"Go to Yicheng County Government." Liu Qi smiled, and a strategy was brewing in his mind: "There will be someone to help us try out the attitudes of these five clans."

...

The Yicheng County Government Office is not too far from the wine shop where they are located. It is located in the middle of Yicheng County and covers not much land. From the outside, it seems that it is only about acres. The capital of a county has built this scale, which is really not so grand.

Liu Qi presented his official posts and talismans to the county magistrate's official history. The so-called talismans are talismans used by officials to pass through the state, which is the same as the road quotation and talismans.

After confirming Liu Qi's identity, the official from the county government immediately reported to the magistrate of Yicheng County. When he learned that the new assistant officer of the state governor, Li Zheng, was here, did not dare to neglect the situation and came out to greet him in person.

"Li Zheng, the magistrate of Yi County, has seen the official Shi Shi, but he does not know that the official Shi Shi has come here in person. If he is negligent, please forgive me."

Liu Qi told the other party that he was a clerk, but did not tell the other party that he was Liu Biao's son.

After all, the overall situation is not yet determined, and now that you are exposed your true identity may be in danger of your life.

"You are polite to the county master. I am only one hundred stones of history. How dare I ask the head of the county to greet him in person?" Liu Qi said very politely.

Li Zheng smiled kindly and said, "What Liu Zhengshi said is that you are the governor and assistant. Zheng is just a county for the governor Mu. How can you treat it as an official position?"

Speaking of this, Li Zheng looked behind Liu Qi, but only saw Liu Pan and said strangely: "Why do you only get one person when Shi Yuan comes to Jingzhou?"

Liu Qi smiled and said, "I will not hide it from Li County Zun. I am a member of the Liufu Jun clan. Liufu Jun wants to come to take office and orders me to come first to make an outpost. Here I will give you a message to the county Zun. Liufu Jun will arrive soon."

Liu Pan behind Liu Qi was stunned when he heard this.

Arrival soon?

Don’t my uncle arrive in Jingzhou at least three months?

When did it become 'coming soon'?

"Oh?" County Magistrate Li Zheng showed a look of surprise, his eyes became a little erratic for a moment, but soon returned to normal.

However, the slight changes he had just now fell into Liu Qi's eyes.

"Liu Fujun is coming to Jingzhou? He is still coming to Yicheng for a temporary residence?" Li Zheng asked with a smile.
Chapter completed!