Jiang Hai's voice was low, as if he was carefully considering every word: "To be honest with Chang, the governor, the villain is familiar with Gu Xiu, the head of the Gu family in Jiangdu..."
"Jiangdu's Gu family." Chang Sui Ning couldn't help but said: "Jiang Dong's family is really not an ordinary person, to be able to have good relations with the Gu family."
Although the Gu family is not as good as the Cui family, who are at the center of the political power, they can still be considered a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River. Most of these families consider themselves disdainful of associating with merchants like Jiang Hai.
From this, it can be seen that the head of the Gu family is not a rigid and conservative person, but one who knows how to adapt.
"Years ago, by chance, the villain and Gu Xiu had a life-long friendship...and because the villain was good at chess, they became close friends over time."
While Jiang Hai was speaking, he was always paying attention to the changes in Chang Suining's demeanor, and he was very cautious.
It is not an exaggeration to say that he came here this time with his life in danger... He originally did not want to take a trip into this muddy water, but last night, Gu Xiu and Gu Changshan hugged him and cried bitterly after being drunk!
While crying, he said something like, "Who knows now, the person who can really make the decision in Jiangdu is the new governor. Although she is young and a girl, she has the recklessness to dare to ask the emperor for an official position... If she If you are willing to come forward, you can definitely protect my Gu family";
"And the wise brother is now in front of the governor, so I think it's okay to say a few words in front of him";
What else did he say, "The hundreds of years of inheritance of my Gu family cannot be destroyed in the hands of me, Gu Changshan. Now I am afraid that the only person who can help my brother is you, brother Xian... Brother Xian is my brother's only connection in front of Chang Sui Ning." ;
Finally, he shamelessly brought up the past events - "My dear brother, please note that the kindness between you and me is life-saving!"
Hearing this sentence at that time, Jiang Hai shouted that it was ridiculous. Although there was a life-saving debt between the two, it was he who saved the other's life! Understand, he is the creditor!
But the friendship between the two for more than ten years is not fake.
Over the years, when he encountered difficulties in business, he often received secret help from Gu Xiu. Without the Gu family, he would not have been able to sit on the throne of Jiangdu's number one salt merchant so smoothly.
Therefore, in addition to friendship, there are also interests between the two. If the Gu family can really be saved, that would be great for Jiang Hai.
The reason why Jiang Hai came to Chang Suining to seek help was because the Gu family was now facing being labeled as Xu Zhengye's accomplice.
Xu Zhengye has been rooted in Jiangdu for a long time, and there are many people in Jiangdu who have colluded with him. These imperial eunuchs who were ordered to investigate and deal with this matter have arrested many of Xu Zhengye's associates, most of whom are local wealthy gentry.
In the past two days, there were faint signs of the fire burning into the Gu family. It is said that among those arrested, someone "confessed" to the Gu family. Whether it is true or not is still being verified.
That is to say, when Li Xian went too far in investigating the Luoyang gentry, he set a wrong precedent that aroused public outrage. This time, the imperial eunuch who was responsible for thoroughly investigating the Jiangnan gentry had to restrain his subordinates - otherwise the Gu family would also be the same. As a prominent family in Jiangdu and related to the Gu family by marriage, the Yu family must have been locked up and imprisoned at this time.
"However, there are indeed many people who can testify that when Xu Zhengye was in Jiangdu, Gu Xiu accepted Xu Zhengye's banquet and visited Xu Zhengye's door." Chang Suining sat there and said softly.
Jiang Hai had his own calculations, so... the governor Chang seemed to have never interfered with the imperial envoy's investigation from beginning to end, but he knew everything very well.
Knowing everything clearly means that she is in control of this matter. The former Jiangdu governor did not dare to tell, but this Chang governor must be the one who is most capable of controlling every plant and tree in Jiangdu.
There was sweat on Jiang Hai's forehead.
Today, he either came at the right time and was able to save Gu Changshan; or he came at the wrong time and had to go in too... Pity his life, which he spent a million taels to buy...!
"Yes, Gu Xiu did accept a banquet from Xu Zhengye..." Jiang Hai said with a big white fat face that was friendly and prosperous, and said carefully: "At that time, Xu Zhengye invited all the famous people in Jiangdu City to a banquet, and he refused to go.
, either his family will be bloodbathed, or he will be isolated and expelled..."
"The Gu family had to go to the banquet to protect themselves at that time... But as far as the villain knows, the Gu family never conspired with Xu Zhengye! If the Gu family is really an accomplice of the rebels, why has the imperial envoy failed to find evidence so far?
?”
"Please ask the governor to investigate clearly. At most, the Gu family..." Jiang Hai lowered his voice and chose the most appropriate wording: "At most, it is just neutrality and self-protection."
"That is ambiguous and unclear position." Chang Sui Ning raised his eyebrows: "But the Jiang family knows that there is never a word of neutrality when dealing with rebellious ministers and traitors."
Jiang Hai felt a chill on his back. Just when he was about to speak, he heard the clear voice again: "However, if you really want to talk about it this way, when Jiang Dongjia faced Xu Zhengye in order to protect himself, he did something like this.
Such an ambiguous act of 'neutrality'——"
Jiang Hai was suddenly startled and hurriedly knelt down, complaining in his heart.
Listening to Jiang Hai's panicked words of defense, Chang Sui Ning remained silent for a while.
Looking at Jiangdu this time, there are too many "neutral" people, and those who can survive are naturally "not simple".
Most of them were indeed forced to do it for self-protection. As for why some people will not be held accountable when liquidated afterwards, while others will be expelled and exterminated...the difference lies only in political needs.
Now, the imperial court and the emperor just want to take the opportunity to rectify dissidents and eliminate the noble clans.
As the Holy Orders are conveyed layer by layer, the boundary between the word "dissident" is sometimes not so clear. In a massacre caused by political turmoil, it is inevitable that someone will be accidentally injured.
Obviously, in Jiang Hai's eyes, the Gu family has never been involved in the struggle for the throne. They just want to live in the south of the Yangtze River and spread the scholarly family. If the Gu family also disappears in this fight, it will be a real accidental injury.
And he wanted to avoid this "accidental injury" for his friend.
But right now... Jiang Hai, who was burning with anger, had only five words left in his mind - I had known he wouldn't have come!
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! What about Gu Changshan, Gu Duanshan... He doesn't have to be saved!
He just came to give it a try. Since something was wrong, he had to get out quickly!
"Today...the villain came here today not to defend anyone, but to state what he knows. As for the decision...of course it has to be made by Chang Jishi Mingjian!" Jiang Hai, who was kneeling there, said with a forced smile: "If
Governor Chang feels that what the villain said is wrong, so he just pretends that the villain has never been here today!"
"The villain is just an inconspicuous fly. If you feel it is noisy, just wave your hand...this fly will not bother you!"
His whole body seemed to have been rolled in oil, his hands were slippery, and his smiling face was flattering and submissive.
Chang Suining stood up from his chair and walked over.
Jiang Hai, who was worried in his heart, was smiling, but actually his breathing stopped.
Until the young girl came to him and stretched out her hand to help him up.
Jiang Hai didn't dare to let her get hurt, but he was so fat that he was so frightened that he was so weak. When he was about to stand up with his hands on the ground, he realized that the girl was very strong and easily picked him up.
With this strength... it must not be a problem to carry half a pig, right?
Jiang Hai's mind was still buzzing when he said this, while he was flattered and thanked him: "Thank you, Lord Governor..."
Chang Suining: "Dr. Jiang's family are not outsiders after all."
Jiang Hai listened intently.
"Therefore, I don't want to hide anything from Boss Jiang's family." Chang Sui Ning said: "I have been busy with affairs recently, and I am really worried. The imperial envoy is investigating the affairs of Jiangdu Xu Zheng's party, and I have no intention of getting involved. Secondly, if these distinguished families who have lived in Jiangdu for a long time,
It would actually be good for me to have them all removed. After all, I am not sure whether they are obedient or not. Without them, it will undoubtedly be easier for me to organize and govern Jiangdu."
The girl's tone was calm and indifferent, but everything she said had clear pros and cons, almost cold-blooded rationality.
Faced with such "confidential" words, Jiang Hai could only respond: "Yes..."
Immediately, I heard the other party change the topic: "But the Jiang family and Jiangdu have a friendship with me that helps me in times of need. Now that the Jiang family has spoken, I still want to help."
This twisted attitude made Jiang Hai dare not show his surprise for a while.
"It's just that I don't want to mistrust others and leave unknown hidden dangers to Jiangdu - how can the Gu family prove that they treat the court and Jiangdu with the same intentions?" Chang Sui Ning asked.
Jiang Hai was overjoyed, and then he dared to accept the words and took out a folded list from his sleeve: "The Gu family also has the intention to help Chang Jishi restore Jiangdu... This was drafted by Gu Changshan himself, and he boldly asked Chang Jishi to review it."
Chang Suining took it and unfolded it. After a rough look, he shook his head slightly disappointedly.
Jiang Hai's heart lifted again.
"Gold, silver, land and houses... I don't want any of these." Chang Suining returned the list to Jiang Hai and said, "If the Gu family really wants to show their sincerity, let them bring two things to see me."
Jiang Hai held the folded list and asked tremblingly: "But please give me the instructions from Governor Chang..."
…
After leaving the governor's office, Jiang Hai went straight to the Gu family.
Of course, this was a troubled time, and he came to see Gu Xiu several times, but always took the wrong path.
"...People don't like this thing about you!" Seeing Gu Xiu, Jiang Hai threw the order over.
Gu Xiu, his two sons, and about ten other tribesmen all changed their expressions when they heard this. Gu Xiu's eldest son quickly asked: "What does this mean? Did she refuse? Does she think there is too little?"
This is already most of their Gu family’s wealth!
"It's not that it's too little, it's that I don't want these at all!" Jiang Hai sat down in the chair and waved to the maid for tea.
Gu Xiu couldn't sit still at this moment, so he stood up and asked: "So, does that mean there is still a chance of improvement?"
"Don't want these", does that mean you want something else?
Jiang Hai poured a cup of tea and then said: "I want you to bring two things to see..."
The Gu family members all treat each other with dignity, what's the difference?
“Books and people!”
The Gu family was stunned.
Jiang Hai further conveyed in detail: "I want you to bring out a hundred volumes of books that have never been circulated in the city! And bring out at least ten talented and famous descendants of the clan!"
Someone in the Gu family changed their expression: "A collection of one hundred books..."
His Gu family could not compare with the Cui family of Qinghe. The collection of books totaled more than 500 volumes. However, if we talked about the unique copies that had never been circulated, they were only a little over a hundred volumes at most. The rest were heavy copies that had been copied for generations... She was afraid that
Didn't I sneak into their library and count them, and just follow this number to get them?
"This is clearly a robbery, why didn't she just go for it!"
Jiang Hai helplessly raised his eyelids and glanced at the man: "Do you think he can't be robbed directly?"
"Of course she can be robbed!" said the old Gu family member: "But if she robs it, does it belong to her? She still has to be handed over to the imperial envoys and taken back to the capital!"
But donating books is different. If they donate them to Jiangdu Prefecture School, they will belong to her as the governor of Jiangdu. She has the final say on how to use them!
"Why do they want to discuss it with us?" Jiang Hai was too lazy to argue with this old-fashioned guy and looked directly at his friend Gu Xiu: "Chang Jishi said, I will give you three days to think about it. If you think clearly, you can go on your own.
Keep the copies of the hundreds of books for future use, and she only needs the originals."
Gu Xiu felt a little relieved. He didn't ask for it immediately, and he gave them time to copy, so it wasn't too bad.
Several clan members were still arguing, and Gu Xiu's second son, who had just turned seventeen, couldn't help but ask about the important person - no one cared about this?
"...Are there any requirements regarding age or appearance?" the young man asked insinuatingly.
Jiang Hai: "As long as you have talent, you can learn!"
The young man breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, if he was a man who was greedy for beauty, as a well-known handsome man in Jiangdu, he might be in doom.
"Anyway, I've brought you the message. You can discuss it among yourselves." Jiang Hai didn't stay any longer. He still had a lot of troubles to do.
But from Jiang Hai's point of view, there was no room for negotiation on this matter. If he wanted to leave it in the hands of the imperial court, he would still have to buy peace with the governor Chang. It was a matter of life and death. Is this still worth considering?
Gu Xiu personally sent him away. On the way, Gu Xiu sighed: "...If this happens, not only my Gu family, but also the Yu family and the rest of the families who are in danger will be plundered by her in this way.
.”
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "What you and I want to do is called buying and selling."
Jiang Hai comforted him: "Chang Shan, you have to think of the bright side. In today's world, you aristocratic families are not only a thorn in the emperor's side, but also a meal for the rebels. As the saying goes, it is a crime to cherish a jade... take this opportunity."
By donating the collection of books that you can no longer protect, you can stop some thieves from coveting it, and you can also get some protection from the Governor Chang, which may not be a bad thing in the long run."
After walking for more than ten steps, Gu Xiu finally nodded. It was he who begged Jiang Hai to knock on the door of the Chang Governor. Naturally, he had thought about the pros and cons many times in the morning.
Gu Xiu was in a complicated mood, but in the corner of his eye, he saw the figure of his friend suddenly stopped.
Gu Xiu looked over and immediately asked: "What's wrong? Is there any omission?"
"No, it suddenly occurred to me..." Jiang Hai's figure seemed to be frozen, and he said after realizing: "Since she is so aware of the situation of the Gu family, she may not know that you and I are good friends... She first forced me and other salt merchants to donate silver, and finally
He first roasted me on the fire, and then gave me a good color. In addition to letting the salt merchants "set an example" for other merchants, he may not have intended to open up my path first, just waiting for me to find it for you today.
Come to the door!"
"From Jiangdu merchants to prominent families like you...she has planned everything early in the morning!" Jiang Hai cried out in pain, pointing to the locust tree on the road ahead: "See, we are just like the leaves of that locust tree.
She had to handle them all neatly and neatly... not a single leaf in Jiangducheng could escape from her hands!"
This little girl is obviously so young, but she has such plans, calculations, and determination... and she has never shown it at all!
Play with her thoughts, if you are not careful, your pants will be lost by her!
Jiang Hai sighed again, his life was already in someone else's hands, why did he care about his pants?