These powerful families in Shandong are very different in terms of their origins.
For example, Xu Ruxian's ancestors had lived in villages for several generations and gathered people to protect themselves. In his generation, he obtained an official position, and thus both black and white took advantage of it. The entire Xu clan occupies a large amount of land between Ye County and Laiyang. Tenants also have private soldiers, who are no different from the local emperor.
The man with the surname Gao was called Brother Gao Yang. His father and ancestors were in ruins due to war. When Taihe conquered the Song Dynasty, Brother Gao Yang was signed by the army to go south. During the siege of Chuzhou, he plundered the place and got some money. Later, He returned to his hometown with dozens of subordinates and occupied some land. Although he was considered a powerful man, he could not change his rogue character. He worked for others and made some money from side projects. His status was far different from that of Xu Ruxian.
Xu Ruxian naturally didn't take Brother Gao Yang seriously, and didn't even bother to talk to him. After giving him a slight hint, someone close to him came out with a strange expression, meaning that even though Brother Gao Yang was used to being a dog, he could only eat shit. The powerful people present Characters cannot imitate him.
How could Brother Gao Yang endure this humiliation in front of everyone? He immediately rolled up his sleeves, opened his clothes, exposed his plush chest, and moved forward violently, shouting that he wanted to fight the man who said he was eating shit. .
Immediately the two of them started fighting each other with fists and kicks. Some people in the hall sneered, some pretended to persuade, and there was a moment of confusion.
In the noisy crowd, someone could be heard shouting and cursing: "Brother Gao Yang, you are such a killer. Brother Xu invited you here to give you face. How dare you talk nonsense and shake people's hearts! We Laizhou powerful people are united with each other." As one body, here you can get the wind and the rain, so why have you ever surrendered to outsiders! But you have to bow your knees to outsiders! Isn’t that dog food easy to eat!"
Someone else said sternly: "In the past few years, we have managed a great situation. Once we succumb to outsiders, we will be gone! By then, will we all farm the land honestly? People are killed by swords, and I am fish and meat. Don't you? Do you understand? Your nonsense is meant to harm people!"
If the powerful were not unruly, they would not be powerful. What's more, most of these powerful people were bandits from the mountains.
Many people originally felt that it was very harsh for Gao Yangge to open his mouth and close his mouth and kneel down to beg for mercy. Now they heard the shouting and scolding, and they became even more angry.
Brother Gao Yang was a rogue who had never been popular. So several people also went up to him, kicked him, and made a fuss for a while.
Seeing that everyone's emotions were about to be aroused, and people were shouting and shouting, saying that they would never give in easily, there were a few people in the corner of the hall who were still sitting still.
No matter how many others shouted to join forces and to make decisions on their own, these people ignored them.
Until Brother Gao Yang was kicked to the ground and screamed like a slaughtering pig, one of them slammed the teacup in his hand on the table: "That's enough! Brother Xu, we didn't say anything, why did you arrange for someone to act like this?" When we put on a play, we are arranging every word of it? That’s almost enough!”
As soon as he said this, at least half of the people in the hall turned to look at him.
When I came back in the blink of an eye, I realized that Brother Gao Yang and the other person who were originally fighting seemed to have punched hard to the flesh, but in fact there was not even a bruise on their face, which was ridiculous. Some people who had been rushing with blood now had their eyes rolled. The child was wandering around, then suddenly turned around and sat down.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Among the people watching the excitement in the outer circle, there were some people who shouted indignantly. After shouting a few times, they suddenly felt that something was wrong, so they shut up angrily.
Xu Ruxian frowned, then laughed.
He is also a veteran of the world. Although he was exposed outright, his face was not red at all, and he could not see the shame of his plan being exposed:
"I invite a few friends to have a little fun. I just want to make some sense and remind you not to give in to outsiders. I can encourage you, but I can't arrange it for Brother Zhou."
The man sitting in the corner shook his head repeatedly.
He stood up and moved forward, standing in the center of the hall, first looking at everyone, and then at Xu Ruxian: "Brother Xu said that we Laizhou powerful people are united with each other and will not be insulted by outsiders. That is right. But when it comes to surrendering to outsiders,
… When Wanyan Chenghui came out to appease the bandits, didn’t you all get various official positions before you came out of the mountains? Isn’t this surrender? Later, Wanyan Salara asked for money and food on Shandong East Road, and I think you all were careful to serve him.
Wait...isn't this surrender?"
He looked around the crowd, frowned and said: "Perhaps I, Zhou, have very little knowledge. I really don't understand. Wouldn't it be better to have a Jiedu envoy who was born in Han'er in northern Xinjiang than to have a Jurchen from a high family? Why can't you guys?
Surrendered?"
He then turned to Xu Ruxian: "Brother Xu, you have always been thoughtful and versatile. I believe that you have thousands of ways to deal with a new Jiedu envoy. If it weren't for your dealings and care in the past few years,
My private port on Fushan Island definitely doesn’t have that many financial resources.”
Having said this, he bowed to Xu Ruxian.
Xu Ruxian came up to support him and said with a smile: "That's because Brother Zhou manages the business well. We all rely on Brother Zhou to make money. However, Brother Zhou, you rely on the sea to make your fortune. You don't understand the thoughts of us Tu people in the countryside...
We are not like you, we can escape by boat as soon as we see something is wrong, hahahaha..."
The man called Brother Zhou is about thirty years old, with a thin build, dark complexion, and rough calluses on his hands. However, his clothes are very luxurious, with a jade belt wrapped around his waist and a jade pendant hanging on his waist.
This person's name is Zhou Keshan, and he is also a local powerful family in Laizhou, but he is not a powerful man with a background of bandits in the mountains, but a maritime business group entrenched in the private port of Fushan Island at the foot of Lao Mountain on the seaside to the east of Laizhou.
Everyone around him was also a sea merchant, some selling smuggled salt, some selling cloth and grain, and some selling ironware.
Zhou Keshan held Xu Ruxian's forearm with his backhand: "What do the Tu people in the village think? I originally understood it, but now that I hear Brother Xu talk about it, I really don't understand it."
"What don't you understand?"
"Don't the Tu people in the countryside seek stability? How can they take the initiative to stir up trouble, lest the situation remains chaotic? Brother Xu, you have the means, money and food, and local influence. It's very difficult to deal with Guo Jiedu.
Is it difficult? If he wants money, food and materials, we have plenty; if he wants us to obey him...as long as he doesn't go too far, it doesn't matter. Why does he have to make such a fuss?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Xu Ruxian reluctantly said: "After all, it is for everyone's benefit, we have to fight..."
Zhou Keshan raised his voice and said loudly: "That Guo Ning kills people at every turn and is extremely ferocious. Everyone has seen it. When he was in Zhongdu, he was ten times more ferocious than here! Why do we have to fight with such a person?
Fight against him? Yesterday, Brother Xu, when your subordinates came back from visiting Haicang Town, didn't they originally say that they would never fight against him? Why, after one night, not only did they still have to fight, but they seemed to be fighting to the death?"
He stared at Xu Ruxian, laughed hoarsely twice, and then asked everyone: "This Guo Ning came across the sea with an army of five thousand, is his strength strong enough?"
"Enough, enough, really strong." Someone replied.
"Did Guo Ning offend us when he first arrived in Laizhou? Did he rob our land? Kill our people? Take our wives and concubines? Or seize the manor and fields without compensation?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"Such a powerful Jiedushi envoy has just arrived and hasn't done anything yet..." At this point, Zhou Keshan paused: "Oh, he killed someone, but he killed an imperial envoy. What does that have to do with us?
relation?"
"That's right, that's right."
"Then, why do we have to fight against him? When Lu Jun saw something was wrong, he took the officials from Jie Zhenzhou and went to Haicang Town. The officials from the five counties saw that Lu Jun
Set off, bring the supplies that should be given to the Jiedu envoy, and follow up day and night. We people have been gathering in Qutai City for three or five days. Looking at this situation, we are going to fight to the end with Guo Jiedu?"
Zhou Keshan asked again in a deep voice: "What are we planning for? In other words, Brother Xu, what are you planning for?"
Xu Ruxian was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "Brother Zhou, you are still wrong."
"What's wrong?"
"Over the past few years, we have been in Laizhou, handling the court officials well, and our lives have been comfortable. Do you really think we are good at flattering? Those Jurchen officials all have big mouths that can't be filled.
, if we are not careful at all, they will swallow us whole, even the bones and dregs will be left! The reason why they dare not touch us is because they are afraid that the bandit rebellion in Shandong will happen again!"
Xu Ruxian said coldly: "Marshal Yang An'er is fighting in Juzhou and Yizhou, while Liu Erzu is ruling the roost in the mountains of Zizhou and Tai'an. These officials in Laizhou are afraid that we will follow the rebellion and affect their promotion and wealth, so they indulge us.
Meat! And what about us? Relying on Marshal Yang and Liu Erzu’s majesty to eat enough meat, shouldn’t there be something in return?”