At Lan Ruoting Restaurant in Guangning Prefecture, Liaoxi Province, the lanterns were just coming on, but the restaurant was bustling with activity.
Over the past hundred years, the aristocratic families in the four northeastern counties have gradually declined from their peak to prosperity under the suppression of the Liaodong Army.
Once upon a time, the eight Northeastern surnames were all over the world. Beyond Yuguan, the world was dominated by the Eight Northeastern surnames. At least half of the officials in the Northeast counties were from the Eight surnames or were related to the Eight surnames. The Eight Northeastern surnames were just like the Seven Jiangnan surnames in the past.
They are deep-rooted local wealthy families.
Although the Eight Northeastern Surnames are not as powerful as the Seven Jiangnan Surnames in terms of financial resources and influence on the court, their control over the four northeastern counties was no less than the control of the Seven Jiangnan Surnames over the Jiangnan region.
But this is all yesterday's news.
After the Liaodong Army was stationed in the four northeastern counties, it did not choose to integrate with the Northeastern aristocrats. Instead, it became more ambitious. It once suppressed the Northeastern aristocratic families and wanted to replace them with the Northeastern aristocratic families and become the true masters of the Northeast.
The clan clan finally lost to the warlord.
As the heads of the northeastern aristocratic families, half of the eight Northeastern surnames have disappeared after being suppressed by the Liaodong Army for many years, and the rest are just lingering. The entire four northeastern counties, large and small, have no choice but to be stepped on by the Liaodong Army.
The soles of the feet depend on the breath of the Liaodong Army.
Naturally, the Liaoxi family also suffered severe suppression.
The You family in western Liaoning was once one of the eight surnames in Northeast China. There were not a few disciples of the You family who were officials, and they had countless properties under their names. Some members of the You family even served as officials in Kyoto and became prominent for a while.
However, under the suppression of Liaodong County, the You family has long lost its former glory, and the land under its name has also been seized by the Liaodong Army in various ways. The family business created by several generations has been wiped out.
However, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Although the You family has lost its former glory, it still has a high reputation in western Liaoning.
The head of the family, You Fushui, was currently chatting and laughing with several heads of aristocratic families.
Tonight's banquet was an invitation from the county governor's mansion. Dozens of heads of aristocratic families in the city, large and small, were invited. Most of the invited heads of aristocratic families have already attended the banquet.
The recent shock in Liaoxi County really made the Liaoxi family feel incredible. No one expected that in a short period of time, Long Rui Army quickly replaced the Liaodong Army and became the controller of Liaoxi County.
The county guard Gongsun Shang committed suicide in fear of the crime. The county captain Qiao Mingshui personally directed the robbery of official silver and was arrested. The Yuguan guard Chun Yubu was also suddenly convicted. In addition, countless officials from western Liaoning were involved. The imperial court even sent out the criminal department, the official department and
Officials from the three major yamen of Dali Temple came to investigate and deal with the incident, causing an earthquake in western Liaoning.
In fact, everyone knew very well that these officials sent by the imperial court were only assisting Long Rui's army to quickly control western Liaoning.
The imperial court was obviously wary of the Liaodong Army entrenched in the northeast, so it sent Qin Xiao's commander Long Rui's army to check and balance. Originally, a troop of troops was suddenly sent from the pass to the northeast. Many people speculated that Long Rui's army would not last long.
He would be forced back into the pass by the Liaodong Army, but the result was beyond everyone's expectations.
Not only did Long Ruijun survive, but he also cut off a piece of flesh from the Liaodong Army and turned Liaoxi County into his own sphere of influence.
Although there seems to be support from the imperial court behind this,
Everyone had to admire Qin Xiao's skill.
This time to seize Liaoxi County, Qin Xiao acted decisively and achieved his goal almost without bloodshed. After taking control of Guangning, he used the imperial envoy's signature to quickly carry out a large-scale purge in western Liaoning. Countless Liaodong officials were convicted and dismissed.
It's crisp and clean.
To everyone's surprise, Yingcaotang, which had been brutally suppressed by the Liaodong Army, actually stood up and joined forces with Long Rui's army, becoming a powerful support for Long Rui's army.
Bai Yulou of Yingcaotang temporarily acted as the county guard, and many vacant positions were filled by the power of Yingcaotang. The county magistrates of nine counties in western Liaoning were all found guilty and were wiped out in a short period of time. Long Ruijun was almost
Use the people from Yingcaotang to fill in the place as soon as possible.
Originally, in the eyes of Northeastern aristocratic families and people, Long Ruijun was definitely an outside force, but almost all of the officials who replaced the vacancies came from Yingcaotang, and Yingcaotang was clearly integrated with Long Ruijun. Long Ruijun was able to reuse the local literati forces in Yingcaotang.
, but the rejection of Long Ruijun by the people of the aristocratic family quickly weakened.
Today, the Governor's Mansion held a banquet to invite many heads of Liaoxi aristocratic families, but it made everyone confused as to the reason for this banquet.
The heads of aristocratic families also have different thoughts.
Some people feel relaxed, especially the wealthy families who have been suppressed by the Liaodong Army, such as You Fushui, who already have a rift with the Liaodong Army. The so-called enemy of the enemy is a friend. The relationship between the You family and the Liaodong Army is not
Okay, and Long Ruijun and the Liaodong Army are fighting each other, so in You Fushui's opinion, Long Ruijun will certainly not point his sword at the You family.
On the other hand, some aristocratic families who had contacts with the Liaodong Army felt uneasy.
There was a great turmoil in western Liaoning, and many civil servants and generals were killed, but Long Ruijun never attacked the aristocratic families in western Liaoning.
Some people thought that there is no good banquet. If there is a banquet today, Long Ruijun will probably start to attack the Liaoxi family.
Some people even thought that Long Ruijun might have used this banquet to exploit the Liaoxi family. After all, Long Ruijun had not taken a single copper coin from the Liaoxi family's pockets after settling in Guangning. This was obviously something wrong.
The world is as dark as crows, and the Liaodong Army exploited and exploited the Northeastern noble families to the best of their ability. Many noble families even suffered severe injuries and their family fortunes declined. If Long Rui's army wanted nothing from the wealthy families, no one would believe it.
Now Liaoxi is under the control of Long Ruijun, with a knife on his neck. If Long Ruijun really wants to force donations, he can only lose money and eliminate disasters.
"Lord County Sheriff, Lord County Sheriff is here!"
There was a sound outside the door, and the heads of the aristocratic families present stood up one after another. Then they saw Bai Yulou and the county magistrate Huo Mianzhi appeared one after another in casual clothes. Everyone immediately bowed and saluted.
Bai Yulou is not only the temporary governor of the county, he is also a great scholar from the Northeast with a very high reputation. The Northeastern aristocratic families also respect this great scholar from the bottom of their hearts.
"Everyone please sit down, everyone please sit down!" Bai Yulou and Huo Mianzhi returned the courtesy and said with a smile: "Don't be polite, everyone, please sit down and talk."
After everyone sat down, Bai Yulou said with a smile: "I invite you to the banquet today. You must be very strange. Maybe some of you are uneasy and don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse."
He opens the door
A few words about the situation actually made some people who were worried feel a lot more relaxed.
"Your Excellency, County Sheriff, I should be the one to invite you to the banquet today." You Fushui stood up and cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency has been promoted to an official in a county. From now on, nearly 100,000 households in Western Liaoning will have to rely on your care. If you are affected, I will
Wait until you have the strength to do your best."
Everyone else also nodded.
"Master You, please sit down!" Bai Yulou raised his hand and said with a smile: "The imperial court's decree has not been issued yet. At the moment, I am only a temporary county governor. I invite you all to come over today. There is indeed a major matter to discuss." Looking at Huo Mianzhi,
Huo Mianzhi had already presented it with a brochure in both hands.
Everyone looked at each other, wondering what was written in the booklet.
Bai Yulou flipped through a few pages and raised his head and said: "This is the document that Hu Cao recently compiled the accounts. Mr. You, according to Hu Cao's records, I found that the You family had 430 acres of fertile land fifteen years ago. However,
Now there are only 80 leanings left, I wonder if that’s true?”
Everyone present was surprised. You Fushui didn't know what kind of medicine was sold in Baiyulou's gourd, so he said cautiously: "The common people are not sure how much fertile land there was fifteen years ago, but there are indeed eighty acres of fertile land now."
"Hucao's records should be correct." Bai Yulou smiled and said: "Fifteen years ago, the imperial court ordered a land inspection in the four northeastern counties to determine the actual cultivated land area. Four hundred and thirty lands were inspected under the name of the You family, and
Your Majesty signed and sealed it, there will be no omissions."
You Fushui forced a smile. The topic that came up in Bai Yulou today directly involved land. Not only You Fushui, but also everyone else was frightened.
Most of the heads of the aristocratic families present were once wealthy and powerful families with a lot of fertile land under their names. However, the Liaodong Army was encircling the four northeastern counties, and almost all the aristocratic families were hit.
At first, the You family was one of the eight surnames in the Northeast, and was the number one wealthy family in western Liaoning. With hundreds of hectares of fertile land, it naturally became a target for the Liaodong army. Over the past decade or so, most of the land under the name of the You family had been taken over by the Liaodong army.
It was taken away by officials.
At this moment, Bai Yulou mentioned the land directly, and everyone's hearts were raised, wondering if Long Ruijun had also taken over the land of the Liaoxi family?
"Is Mr. Duanmu here?" Bai Yulou glanced at the crowd. An old man stood up and cupped his hands and said, "I have met you, Mr. Duanmu, a common man!"
"Master Duanmu, when we inspected the land fifteen years ago, the Duanmu family's land holdings were one hundred and sixty, and now there are only twenty-six, which is less than a fraction of what it was back then. Am I right?" Bai Yulou looked calm and spoke in a calm tone.
Gentle and always with a smile on his face.
Prime Minister Duanmu could only say: "Reporting to your lord, it is indeed the case. But...but last year Gongsun...Gongsun Shang's mother celebrated her birthday. Gongsun Shang sent people to find the grassroots and asked the grassroots to donate a piece of fertile land as a birthday gift.
More than 100 acres of land, so... So now the Duanmu family’s farm property is less than 25 acres!"
As soon as he said this, there was a commotion in the hall, and many people were filled with righteous indignation. After all, almost everyone present had been exploited by Liaodong officials for various reasons. Gongsun Shang used the pretext of longevity to force the Duanmu family to donate land, but instead let
Everyone felt the same way.
It's just that no one can figure it out. Bai Yulou mentioned the property openly and openly today, but he doesn't know what his intention is.