"This is just a personal guess on my part." Qin Xiao said: "As far as I know, Luo Yue has been leading the Queen Mother Association in these years, but Qingzhou Haotian's whereabouts are elusive. I suspect that Qingzhou Haotian will hand over the Queen Mother Association to
After giving it to Luo Yue, did you put your mind on the pawn shop?"
Sister Rong said: "Your suspicion is not unreasonable, but...!"
"how?"
"Do you know when Mr. Da founded the pawnshop?" Sister Rong looked into Qin Xiao's eyes and asked.
Qin Xiao shook his head.
"Actually, I don't know for sure." Sister Rong sighed softly: "I entered a pawnshop when I was fifteen years old and was poisoned by Mr. Da. That was already twelve years ago. It was less than half a year after I entered the pawnshop.
, I was arranged by Mr. Da to go to Wutuo, and he designed it to send me to Bai Jingzhai, lurking next to Bai Jingzhai and becoming a chess piece. I have been with Bai Jingzhai for more than ten years. On the surface, I have the same affection for father and daughter, but privately
In it, Bai Jingzhai's daily movements were passed down from You Xiao to Mr. Da. I can't be sure exactly when Mr. Da entered the pawn shop, but when I entered the pawn shop, it seemed that the pawn shop had just started, and it was developing rapidly at that time.
When I was in Wutuo."
Qin Xiaodao: "In other words, the pawn shop existed at least more than ten years ago, and at that time Luo Yue was still on Penglai Island, and Qingzhou Haotian was still developing the Queen Mother Society in Qingzhou." After thinking for a moment, he said: "If that's the case.
, these two people should not be the same person. There are many things to do in developing the Queen Mother Association, and it was still when the Queen Mother Association was just starting up. Qingzhou Haotian’s energy was focused on it. If he was asked to take charge of the pawn shop, he would not be able to distract himself. Naturally,
I just don’t have that kind of energy.”
"Whether it is the Queen Mother Society or the underground pawn shop, the development of either requires a lot of energy and is definitely not something ordinary people can accomplish. It is not easy to do either of them. It is almost impossible to do two things at the same time.
It's impossible." Tang Rong said in a calm voice, "So in my personal judgment, it is not very likely that Mr. Da and Qingzhou Haotian are the same person."
Qin Xiao nodded slightly, and Tang Rong added: "Underground pawnshops have two huge advantages. One is a steady stream of financial resources. Although I am not sure how many underground pawnshops there are all over the Tang Dynasty, but I am in Suzhou
I have stayed here in Liaoxi, and although I am not responsible for the accounts, I can still check them. Needless to say, the annual income in Suzhou is at least more than 200,000 taels. Although the profit of this pawnshop in Liaoxi is not as good as that in Suzhou, but every day
After deducting all kinds of expenses every month, we can still have nearly ten thousand taels of silver left. Based on this calculation, all the pawnshops under Mr. Da’s combined can have an income of several million taels of silver a year."
Of course Qin Xiao knew what these millions of taels of silver meant.
"The second advantage is intelligence." Tang Rong said: "Pawnshops are everywhere, at least twenty or thirty. Each pawnshop is an intelligence stronghold. Many pawnshops are connected together to form a huge intelligence network.
"After a pause, he said: "If Mr. Da and Qingzhou Haotian are the same person, with Mr. Da's strength and the congregation that Qingzhou Haotian has bewitched, his strength is so terrifying that he will never be able to conquer Jiangnan so easily.
Defeat."
Tang Rong's words hit the nail on the head.
Mr. Da's financial resources and intelligence network are of course extremely terrifying. If such power merges with the Queen Mother Association, the Queen Mother Association's strength will only become more terrifying. Once it really wants to take action, Jiangnan Queen Mother Association will not be the only one.
Such strength.
Qin Xiao originally thought that these two people were probably the same person, but now it seems that there is something fishy.
"Actually, there is a way to find out the details of Mr. Da." Tang Rong whispered: "That is to investigate the whereabouts of the money in the pawn shop. There is a huge amount of income underground every year, where does this money go? If
If we can find out clearly, we can find out Mr. Da's background. However, the flow of this money is extremely secretive and I can't access it." After thinking for a while, he said: "I'll look back and see if I can find out anything...
!”
Qin Xiao immediately shook his head and said: "No. Since he doesn't let you have access to the flow of the money, he naturally doesn't fully trust you. If you pursue it and he finds out, it will be bad. And you are pregnant now, so
Take a good rest and don't worry about these things. Anyway, Mr. Da is not hostile to me at the moment, so we don't have to act too hastily." He held Tang Rong's hand and said softly: "Sister Rong, your belly is getting bigger day by day.
Sooner or later, people in the pawn shop will find out. Last time you said you had a way to deal with it, what was it?"
Tang Rong chuckled and said: "Don't worry about it now, I will take care of it when the time comes." She raised her hand and caressed Qin Xiao's face, and said: "You came back after a long journey. I see that you are very tired. There is still a long time before dawn.
Shichen, do you want to rest here for a while before going back?"
"No need." Qin Xiao said: "There are still many things at hand to discuss with them. Let's go back and make preparations first. Good sister, you go and have a rest first. I'll come back to see you later."
He had met Tang Rong and saw that she looked good and felt at ease.
Back at the General's Mansion, it was already dawn. Bai Yulou and other civil servants had already rushed over and were waiting inside the mansion, but Yuwen Chengchao was still in the barracks outside the city as Qin Xiao expected.
Qin Xiao took advantage of Yu Wen Chengchao's return and asked everyone to wait for a while. He went to take a shower and changed into clean clothes. When he returned to the lobby, Yu Wen Chengchao had already rushed back with Zhao Shengtai and others.
Most people don't know that Qin Xiao left Guangning, but these people here know it.
When Qin Xiao left, he didn't say where he was going and what he was going to do, and no one asked much.
But at this moment, Qin Xiao clearly told him that he had gone to Penglai Island. Naturally, he would not say much about the many details. He only told that after Zun's death, various factions wanted to snatch the Tianzhai treasure, but were ambushed by the Dragon Scale Forbidden Army.
They joined forces to repel the Forbidden Army, and he himself recruited hundreds of Forbidden Army to serve him.
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. They thought that the imperial army came to surrender, which was really unbelievable and could not be explained at all.
The reason is quite simple. Among the officials present, except for Yuwen Chengchao, Qin Xiao did not clearly inform them that Tantai Xuanye had kidnapped the emperor and issued orders.
But now that the situation is here, he no longer hides it.
Moreover, although these people present are not all Qin Xiao's direct confidants, they have all been tied to Qin Xiao's interests and have become an indispensable force in Long Rui's army.
Qin Xiao frankly told him that Tantai Xuanye had already taken control of Kyoto, and all the troops and horses in the capital area had been taken out by Tantai Xuanye. The current situation was that Tantai Xuanye was holding the emperor hostage and giving orders.
The officials present were more or less aware of the changes in Kyoto, but what Qin Xiao said really shocked everyone present.
After being surprised, everyone's expressions became solemn.
"The Dragon Scale Forbidden Army is guarding the imperial city in Kyoto. These people are not stupid. They can all see the clues that Tantai Xuanye controls the imperial city." Qin Xiao said solemnly: "Actually, many people here are against Tantai Xuanye.
Everything they did was suspicious. I told them the truth, and these people actually knew that what I said was true. Although the Dragon Scale Forbidden Army has always been led by Tantai Xuanye, the allegiance of the Forbidden Army is to the emperor and the saint.
Being controlled by Tantai Xuanye, they are naturally not willing to continue to follow Tantai Xuanye and act as an aide."
"The Forbidden Army takes honor very seriously." Song Shilian said: "If they follow Tantai Xuanye and cause chaos, they will be infamy for thousands of years. These Forbidden Army must not be willing to bear such a treasonous charge." After a pause, he said: "General,
Although these Forbidden Army did not want to follow Tantai Xuanye to cause chaos, after all, Tantai Xuanye had led the Forbidden Army for many years, and these people still had awe of Tantai Xuanye. When the general recruited them, they were also forced by the situation, and most of them
People also came over. But are there people with ulterior motives who deliberately take advantage of the opportunity to sneak in?"
Qin Xiaodao: "This is naturally possible. However, most of them agree to move their family members to western Liaoning. I have also arranged for people to handle this matter, so most of the forbidden troops here are still worthy of reuse." He looked at Yuwen Cheng and said.
: "Lieutenant Yuwen, the imperial army is coming to Guangning, and they will be handed over to you from now on."
Yuwen Chengchao smiled and said: "General, these forbidden troops have arrived just in time. After the fire armored dragon cavalry was established, the general was still worried that there were too few troops. Most of them did not actually have the ability of elite cavalry. Nowadays,
It would be great if these 600 Forbidden Army were replenished in time to join the Fire Armored Dragon Cavalry. There is no need to doubt the strength of the Forbidden Army. These people can move their family members here, which is considered to be full of sincerity. Even if there are a small number of Forbidden Army, you can't guess what they are thinking.
, but as time goes by, loyalty and treachery will become clear. I am going to take people to greet them today to show Long Ruijun's sincerity to them."
"Lieutenant Yuwen is different." Qin Xiao laughed and said, "If you greet them personally, they will naturally be moved when they see them. It will be easy to lead them in the future." He added, "By the way, in addition to the Imperial Army, those who I recruited will be safe."
The navy army has also been stationed near Ninghua Port." He looked at the county magistrate Huo Mianzhi and said: "Master Huo, they are sincerely coming to join the army. The Long Rui army will naturally be even more powerful. It is just building the navy port and their logistics supply.
Things are complicated, and I really need your help to take care of them."
Huo Mianzhi cupped his hands and said: "You should do your best as a subordinate. There is an office of Haibosi at Ninghua Port. At that time, some people can be transferred from there to help build the port. The Ninghua County Magistrate is the county governor.
Disciple, he has just taken up the post, so I would like to take this opportunity to give him a good experience and help the navy build the port."
County Governor Bai Yulou stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Zhao Quan was originally from Ninghua County, so we arranged for him to go to Ninghua County to take up his post. These days, he has been actively promoting the land equalization policy in Ninghua County, and everything is going well, to say the least.
He is considered an official. Ninghua Port is within Ninghua County, so Zhao Quan is obliged to garrison the port nearby."
"As for the logistics supply, I will send someone there first to verify the number of personnel." Huo Mianzhi said: "The amount of money, food and equipment must be calculated before transportation can be made. But the general can rest assured that the good strategy proposed by the governor last time will be
The effect of using grain to offset taxes is very good. The merchants in the customs have been transporting grain continuously these days, and the granary is working day and night. Most of it has been completed, and the grain storage is still sufficient. And it is the autumn harvest season now, so next time
The officials have already ordered that all counties should stock up on food and grass as soon as possible to ensure that there is no need to worry about food and grass."
Bai Yulou said: "The general returned all the fields of the Liaoxi aristocratic families to them, and issued a new decree. The aristocratic families also need to pay grain and taxes. In fact, in the past, Liaoxi exploited and squeezed the people to collect enough grain and grass. Now it is reducing the burden on the people.
Taxation has appeased the people's hearts, but the amount of grain collected has actually increased instead of decreasing. Those aristocratic families occupy a large number of fertile fields. They used to pay no more grain, but now the grain collected from them must be much more."
"Preliminary calculations show that if the large and small aristocratic families in western Liaoning paid the full amount of grain, the government would only receive a lot more grain than last year." Huo Mianzhi also said with a smile: "Especially the good policy of using grain as tax offset, so that
Many merchants are shopping for grain in the pass. I heard that the grain stocks of many grain merchants in Youzhou were wiped out by merchants in the trading market and all shipped to us. It is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice. Now there is an abundance of grain here in western Liaoning.
The logistics manager is also much more comfortable.”
Everyone was happy when they heard this. After all, having food in hand is more important than anything else.
Song Shilian saw everyone laughing and laughing, but his expression was a little serious.
Qin Xiao saw this and asked, "Master Song, do you have something to say?"