On the small hillock behind Changshan Village, a new tomb was raised. Two low pine trees were swaying in the cold wind. The smooth stone tablet in front of the tomb had not yet had time to write the name and life of the tomb owner. Liu Ziqiu bowed deeply.
He bowed three times, raised his head and looked into the distance, and said calmly: "Dapeng, you are still a little unconvinced, right?"
Xiao Dapeng snorted and said nothing. The sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy was in the rebellious stage of youth.
Liu Ziqiu's face suddenly darkened and he said, "Do you still remember what your grandfather said before he left?"
"Elder, the eldest brother is like father." Xiao Dapeng mumbled, "But you are not from our Xiao family."
Liu Ziqiu sneered: "Then what is left of your Xiao family now?"
Last night, Liu Ziqiu invited several older villagers into his home and carefully learned about the history of the Xiao family. The Xiao family has been a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River since the Liang Dynasty, but the population has never been large. The most famous person is Xiao Xin's eldest brother.
Xiao Maha.
Xiao Mohe was originally a general of the Southern Chen Dynasty and was famous for his bravery. His wife died early and he married a stepmother who was young, beautiful and beautiful. At that time, the Sui army was attacking Chen, and Xiao Mohe was fighting hard in the front. Chen Shubao
However, he fell in love with his step-wife, so Xiao Mohe refused to try his best, and was defeated by the Sui army, so he surrendered. After that, Xiao Mohe rebelled with Han Wang Yang Liang, and was eventually captured and killed by Yang Su.
Xiao Xin has never participated in the government affairs. Before the Sui army crossed the river, he chose to live in seclusion in Changshan Village, so he was not implicated by Xiao Maha. Although the Xiao family was a prominent family and had a glorious past, most of their property consisted of fields and houses.
He couldn't turn it into cash, and when he fled to Changshan Village, he actually didn't have much money left. Coupled with the expenses over the years, life became increasingly difficult.
These villagers used to be the slaves of the Xiao family. Some of the older ones are still loyal to the Xiao family, but the younger generation is not. Xiao Xin can still control them when he is alive, but if he is gone, Xiao Dapeng, a young man, will not be able to control them.
No. Xiao Xin is a smart man, he has seen this a long time ago. At this time, Liu Ziqiu "returned to his hometown in fine clothes", so before his death, he entrusted Changshan Village and Xiao Dapeng to Liu Ziqiu.
He knew his own family affairs well. Xiao Dapeng had never enjoyed a few days of happiness since he was born. He just carried the name of a famous family. He couldn't help but lower his head, but soon raised it again and said: "I want to avenge grandpa!"
Liu Ziqiu nodded and said, "Who is the enemy?"
"It's the Yang family!"
"There are many people in the Yang family."
"The one who injured grandpa was Yang Heihu!"
"Oh, are you sure you can beat Yang Heihu?"
When Yang Heihu and Liu Ziqiu competed that day, Xiao Dapeng was also in the crowd watching the battle. Although Liu Ziqiu finally defeated Yang Heihu, he had been hit by Yang Heihu many times before. Xiao Dapeng knew that his kung fu was much worse than Liu Ziqiu's, let alone Yang Heihu's.
Opponent, revenge is easier said than done?
Xiao Dapeng was a little discouraged, but he refused to bow his head easily and said stubbornly: "If you can help my grandfather get revenge, I will truly respect you as my big brother!"
"I will definitely avenge you! But this is not the condition for you to admit that I am your eldest brother." Liu Ziqiu stepped forward to help him up and said seriously, "Dapeng, don't you still understand what the second uncle means? He is letting him
Let me help you. Whether the Xiao family can truly revive depends on you, and one day the Xiao family will still be in your hands."
Although the Xiao family has declined, there are still people there. There are more than 300 people in seventy-eight households, which is the basis for Liu Ziqiu to build his own strength. Therefore, Liu Ziqiu happily accepted Xiao Xin's deathbed entrustment. Of course, Xiao Xin's condition is to
He takes care of Xiao Dapeng.
However, Xiao Dapeng is the young master of the Xiao family after all. If he is not allowed to understand the situation and is not comforted, there will be no way to unite Changshan Village.
Xiao Dapeng felt ashamed and said, "Brother, I was wrong!"
Liu Ziqiu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Okay, let's go back to the village."
On the way back to the village, A'an hurried over and whispered in Liu Ziqiu's ear: "I'm sorry Alang, the salt field didn't let them in."
Liu Ziqiu was not surprised and asked in a deep voice: "Is everyone okay?"
A'an said: "Everyone is fine and has returned to the village."
No one came to the saltworks yesterday to urge them to start work, so Liu Ziqiu expected that the saltworks had hired new people.
Without a hundred salt workers, the output of the salt farm will be reduced by one-third or more. Every day of delay will result in a considerable loss of income. The Yang family cannot afford to wait any longer.
Liu Ziqiu was worried about the conflict between the villagers and the salt field, so before the villagers set out this morning, he repeatedly emphasized that the villagers should exercise restraint. Because Liu Ziqiu knew that the Yang family would definitely prepare thugs at the salt field, and the only ones who would suffer would be the villagers.
.
Even so, Liu Ziqiu was still not at ease, and sent four Kunlun slaves out to follow the villagers. They could grasp the situation in time and provide help when necessary.
Shuanzi, Erzhuang and dozens of young villagers were discussing there. Some looked angry and some sighed. When they saw Liu Ziqiu coming in, they all gathered around.
The villagers all said at once: "Daniu, we are not allowed to enter the salt field, so you have to make the decision for us!"
Although the second strong man was not as tall as Liu Ziqiu, he was stronger than Liu Ziqiu and had the hottest temper. He said roughly: "Brother Daniu, you are very skilled, lead us in. If we don't let us do it, no one can do it."
!Dig the dikes and flood the salt fields, and no one will be able to seek relief."
Although they already knew Liu Ziqiu's real name, the villagers still used to call Liu Ziqiu "Daniu".
Liu Ziqiu smiled and said: "Er Zhuang, if you and your wife quarrel, are you going to dismantle the bed so that no one can sleep?"
Everyone laughed and the atmosphere relaxed.
Liu Ziqiu suddenly said seriously: "Everyone, remember this. The salt farm belongs not only to the Yang family, but also to our Changshan Village! We can't do something that will hurt both sides!"
Shuanzi hesitated and said: "But now the salt field is dominated by the Yang family..."
"He is domineering, let's go and take it back!" Liu Ziqiu waved his hand and said, "However, this matter cannot be done forcefully, it needs to be outsmarted. Didn't we have a contract with the Yang family at the beginning? Go to the government first, Yuan
The county magistrate is the guarantor."
Xiao Dapeng frowned and said: "Brother, you don't know yet, Yuan Tiangang has resigned from office, and now the chief secretary, Ouyang Yu, is temporarily in charge of county affairs."
"Yuan Tiangang resigned? When did it happen?" Liu Ziqiu's main purpose of coming back this time was to see Yuan Tiangang. Now, Yuan Tiangang actually resigned, which caught him off guard.
Xiao Dapeng thought for a while and said: "About half a month ago, I heard that a man named Li Chunfeng brought two pieces of gold and asked him to be his teacher. He took Li Chunfeng to the mountains to teach him skills."
"Yuan Tiangang is not here, and an acting county magistrate will not pay more attention to the dispute between us and the Yang family. The road to seeking help from the government will not work." Liu Ziqiu was silent for a while and said, "No one can care about my return to Changshan Village.
Don't let it out! Shuanzi, Erzhuang, please stay here for a while, and everyone else will leave first."
From the beginning, Liu Ziqiu did not expect the government to come forward for Changshan Village. Even if Yuan Tiangang was still in Yanguan County, he, as a small county magistrate, would never be able to compete with a behemoth like the Yang family. But with the help of the government,
At least Liu Ziqiu can handle it more easily.
Think about defeat before thinking about victory. This is Liu Ziqiu's consistent style. Liu Ziqiu began to assign tasks.
"Er Zhuang, take some people with you and go to the mountain to chop more bamboo and come back. Try to choose the harder ones, chop them into lengths of one to five feet, and sharpen one end."
"Dapeng, you lead the villagers to lay tree stumps around the village, tie up the fence tightly, paste it with river mud on the outside, cover it with rammed earth on the inside, and build a watchtower at each corner."
Shuanzi became excited and asked: "Brother Daniu, what about me?"
Liu Ziqiu said: "Shuanzi, you have been working in the salt field. Do you know Yang Jishan and Yang Heihu?"
"Of course we know each other."
"Then do you know where they live?"
Shuanzi shook his head and said: "Brother Daniu, you also know that when the salt farm was first built, Yang Heihu lived in the salt farm. After the salt farm produced salt, Yang Heihu would go out early and come back late, and Yang Jishan would come back every now and then.
Let’s take a look around. We really don’t know where they live.”
"Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win a hundred battles. We want to take back our rights. How can we do this if we don't even know where Yang Jishan and the others live?" Liu Ziqiu patted the bolt and said, "So, there is something very important but also
A very dangerous mission has to be entrusted to you."
Shuanzi puffed up his chest and said, "Brother Daniu, tell me. I promise to complete the task!"
Although he was born thin, he was somewhat courageous and quite clever, which was why Liu Ziqiu chose him.
Liu Ziqiu's face became serious and he said: "In addition to the salt farm, the Yang family must have a place to stay in Yanguan County. If my prediction is correct, Yang Heihu should live with Yang Jishan. Your task is to find this place to stay.
come out!"
This mission is thrilling and thrilling. Once discovered by the Yang family, they will probably silence them. Shuanzi, a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers, seemed extremely excited and said: "Brother Daniu, don't worry. Even if I search all over Yanguan City, I
We must also find the Yang family’s lair!”
…
It was getting late, and Yang Heihu walked out of the salt field, followed by four of his confidants. When Yang Heihu came from the north, he brought a whole team of cavalry, but after the salt field was built, Yang Xiaogan transferred the cavalry away. However,
, but Yang Heihu was kept. On the one hand, it was to protect Yang Jishan's safety, and on the other hand, he was asked to keep an eye on the salt farm. The salt farm was making money every day and had become an important source of income for the Yang family, so naturally there was no room for loss.
After leaving the salt field, Yang Heihu and his entourage drove five or six miles toward Yanguan City when a carriage suddenly appeared in front of them. The carriage was loaded with firewood, and a young man sat on the pile of firewood with a piece of straw in his mouth.
I don't know what I'm humming.
Yang Heihu rode by and saw that the boy's figure looked familiar, but after a closer look, he didn't recognize him. Looking at the driver, he had dark skin and was dressed as a farmer. He looked a bit like a Kunlun slave from Nanyang, but he was a bit different.