In Heifeng Village, there is no gathering hall, only a meeting hall.
There are nine top chairs in the hall. The bandits in the Song Dynasty did not call them heads. They were just called eldest brother, second brother and third brother in the order of brothers in the family.
The eldest brother is the leader of the village and his name is Yang Jun.
His family used to be tea plantation owners. They were forced to go bankrupt because they offended the "Tea Planters" (the official intermediary after the ban of tea). His father took his family and fled into the mountains. Their tenants also became overwhelmed one after another because they were overwhelmed.
Go and flee.
Later, he simply became a bandit, went out into the mountains to kill the landlords, distributed the land to the villagers, and then robbed the property and hid in the mountains.
The government came to suppress it several times, but all failed, and they could only vent their anger on the farmers on the riverside.
In the end, the peasants were forced to rebel, and they all went to the mountains to join the bandits.
With so many people and strength, the Yang family built walls in the steep mountains and gave the surrounding land to farmers for cultivation. At the same time, the family owned the most fertile land. It gradually developed into what it is now. Yang Jun is both a bandit leader and a big man.
Landowners also acted as government officials to collect taxes from farmers.
The stronghold is too dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Successive county magistrates pretended not to see it and acquiesced in the existence of the bandit village.
The envoy sent by Bai Zongmin was named Huang Chunhe. He looked helpless: "This year's tea harvest in the county has been bumper, and the tea horse manufacturers have severely lowered the price. If the price of private tea does not drop, all the merchants will buy official tea, and there will be no white officials."
Find a way."
The bandit leader who sits in the third position is named Yang Ying. He is the brother of the village owner and is responsible for foreign trade.
Yang Ying sneered and said: "Do you really think I'm a fool? The tea master and the tea dealer are the same group. They don't lower the price all the time. Don't fool me with this statement!"
Although Yao Fang was a foreign defector, he took the second highest position and was responsible for practicing spears and clubs. He also took the lead in charging when he went down the mountain to rob. He shouted angrily: "If you continue to lower the price indiscriminately like this, tomorrow I will order all the soldiers and horses to kill you."
Bai Village has been crushed, and Bai Zongmin is captured to kowtow to Big Brother and admit his mistake!"
Of course this is just a threat and will not be broken easily.
The Zhu Zhuzhu in the county, as well as some businessmen in the county, are all partners of Xiaobai Yuanwai. The tea produced in the cottage and the stolen goods stolen by the bandits all need Xiaobai Yuanwai's help in shipping.
"There are more than one private tea sellers in the county. The tea harvest has been bumper, and all the private teas in each village are reducing their prices. It won't work if I don't reduce the prices here," Huang Chunhe explained the reason, and said in a gentle tone, "Then I will take a step back.
, first-class tea is 80 Wen per catty, second-class tea is 53 Wen per catty, and third-class tea is 40 Wen per catty. How about it?"
This price, excluding tea interest, is slightly higher than the official purchase price. Moreover, you don’t have to go all the way to the tea collection farm, which can save a lot of transportation costs back and forth.
Yang Ying was quite satisfied with this and nodded secretly to her elder brother.
"Then it's settled," Yang Jun, the leader of the village who had been silent for a long time, finally smiled and said enthusiastically, "Mr. Huang is tired from all the traveling, so don't leave tonight and stay in the village to have a drink!"
"Thank you, Brother Yang, for your hospitality." Huang Chunhe bowed his hands.
…
Zhang Guangdao, who ranked fifth, was very drunk in the evening and went to Yao Fang privately: "Second brother, this Bai Zongmin is becoming more and more difficult to serve. Let's just rush into Xiabai Village first, rob his family's belongings, and then raise troops to attack the county!"
Yao Fang shook his head helplessly: "Although I am the second in command, to really make the decision, I have to ask the village leader to come. He is afraid of a real rebellion. If everything fails, he will not even be able to sell tea in the future."
Zhang Guangdao said dissatisfied: "The man surnamed Yang is just a local rich man, how can he be like a mountain bandit? He alone gets the most money from selling tea. He also gets the most from the farmers in the mountains paying for grain. With these two things,
He can make so much money that he doesn't even want to go down the mountain to rob. I think one day, he will join the government and become an obedient citizen, and become a landlord like Lao Bai Yuanwai!"
"Oh, there's nothing I can do." Yao Fang sighed.
Zhang Guangdao suggested: "Simply take our people and find another place to stay."
Yao Fang asked back: "Everyone has finally settled down, how many of you are willing to go with you? Even if you can really take people away, where will they stay? Although there are many wastelands downstream, they still have to be reclaimed, and there are not many
For years, there wasn’t even enough food to eat.”
"It's just a few years of hard work, but it's better than staying in Heifeng Village!" Zhang Guangdao said.
"Let me think about it again."
Yao Fang couldn't make up his mind. He was the leader of the outside faction and had more considerations in his mind. Naturally, he was not as free and easy as Zhang Guangdao.
Moreover, the rebellion a few years ago had sapped Yao Fang's vigor and made him more calm.
In Yao Fang's view, even if he really wants to rebel, he still has to wait for the opportunity.
You have to wait until the government imposes exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, making it difficult for the people to make a living, before you can start a rebellion, and you may even get the support of the landlords.
If you rebel randomly, you will definitely fail, and you are not even worthy of being recruited!
After a few words of comfort, Yao Fang personally sent Zhang Guangdao out.
At the same time, a secret discussion was also going on at the home of the village leader Yang Jun.
When Huang Chunhe explained his true intention, Yang Jun became furious: "How dare you come to provoke me? Do you really think that I don't dare to use swords and guns?"
Huang Chunhe said calmly: "Yao Fang has been a rebel, and he is very good at handling guns and sticks. Who wouldn't call him a hero when he sees him? He has only been in Heifeng Village for a few years, and his prestige is getting higher and higher. That is Yang
You, the leader of the village, have to let him sit in the second position and let his brother take the third position. He is also generous and forthright, and everyone in the village admires him. More and more people listen to his orders. If things go on like this, Brother Yang
Can I really take the position of village leader again?"
Yang Jun still had an angry expression on his face: "Don't say more about this matter. Brother Yao and I are very close, closer than those brothers. Brother Yao is loyal. If he doesn't, he will not be the chief bookkeeper."
Congratulations!"
"How much is loyalty worth?" Huang Chunhe said, "Brother Yang, people's hearts will change. Who can tell if we are talking about loyalty today or tomorrow? Ten years later, Yao Fang will not want to be the leader of the village. Those brothers under him will
, and will help him become the leader of the village. Brother Yang knows who is more popular."
Yang Jun still refused: "You can go away. I'll just pretend I didn't hear what you said tonight."
Huang Chunhe neither left nor spoke anymore, just stood there silently.
After a long time, Yang Jun looked embarrassed, as if he was saying to himself: "We are all brothers. If we are at odds with each other, do you still want my face?"
Huang Chunhe understood that there was something going on, so he did not answer directly, but asked: "Brother Yang, you are indeed majestic as the leader of the village. But no matter how majestic you are, can it be compared to that of a young member? Or can it be compared to an old member?"
Yang Jun said: "I can't compare with you."
Huang Chunhe continued to ask: "Brother Yang has also made a lot of money, but what can he do? He went to the county seat and didn't dare to say anything. You have two sons, how dare you let them go to the county seat to study? If the government doesn't come to suppress you now, what if?
What about changing the county magistrate? You must know that the current Master Zhu was a rebel in the past. If he got the order from the magistrate, he would really dare to lead troops to attack Heifeng Village!"
Yang Jun sneered: "If he dares to come, I will make him unable to go back!"
Huang Chunhe said: "Master Zhu is now an official. If you dare to kill an official, you are considered a rebel if you don't rebel. You can stop the officers and soldiers once or twice, but can you stop them ten or twenty times?"
Yang Jun said harshly: "Don't say ten or twenty times, Heifeng Village has strong soldiers and horses, which annoyed me, so I went straight to the county government and killed all the bird officials in the county!"
Huang Chunhe asked: "After killing all the county officials and state officials. After killing all the state officials, there are other county and state officials on Lizhou Road. You have occupied the entire Lizhou Road. Can you stop the imperial army?"
?”
Yang Jun was silent.
Huang Chunhe added: "Yao Fang, the second most powerful person in the village, has a grudge against Zhu Zhu, the county magistrate. You also know this. In addition to Lao Bai from Shangbai Village, Xiang Zhixian and Zhu Zhu also dislike him very much."
"These are none of my business," Yang Jun said.
Huang Chunhe was still talking: "Kill Yao Fang first. Not only will you do something for Master Zhu, but you will also benefit yourself. If you get rid of the serious troubles in your heart, you will be able to speak out in the village from now on. Then go to plunder Shangbai Village, and you will be able to rob
Not to mention countless wealth, you can still please the magistrate Xiang and Zhu Zhu. With just one word from these two officials, you can turn from a bandit to a country squire."
Yang Jun was silent again.
Huang Chunhe added: "If you become a country squire, you will be able to go to the county town with glory in the future, and your son can also go to the county town to study. After a long time, after a few decades, who will remember that you were a bandit? Maybe your grandson will
You can still take the imperial examination and become an official!"
Every word of these words was full of temptation, and they all spoke to Yang Jun's heart.
"Let me think about it again." Yang Jun was already moved.
Seeing his appearance, Huang Chunhe couldn't help but smile, cupped his hands and said, "I'm leaving."
After sending this man away, Yang Jun returned to the bedroom, and his wife came over to help him undress.
"Don't bother me!" Yang Jun pushed his wife away.
He is also somewhat loyal, and he does have a good relationship with Yao Fang. The two have known each other for more than twenty years.
Even when Yao Fang was hunted down by the government, he only planned to hide in Heifeng Village for a few months and leave with his men after the news was over. At that time, Yang Jun took the initiative to persuade Yao Fang to stay and directly let Yao Fang take the third place.
Subsequent developments made Yang Jun deeply uneasy.
In just a few years, Yao Fang's prestige has risen steadily, winning the heartfelt admiration of countless bandits.
As a last resort, Yang Jun could only rearrange the seats, let his brother be the third master, promoted Yao Fang to the second master, and appointed Zhang Guangdao as the fifth master.
If this continues, he will really be unable to hold it back!
Yao Fang's personal charm is so strong that even Yang Jun himself admires and likes him very much, not to mention other bandits.
Also, his younger brother Yang Ying had a very bad relationship with Yao Fang due to his lower seat.
Sooner or later something will go wrong.
He lay in bed all night, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. When he woke up the next day, Yang Jun's eyes were filled with bloodshot eyes.
After sitting there for a long time, he finally made up his mind and called his brother and said, "I have something I need to plan with you."
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