Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 47 0045 [How much loyalty is worth? 】

In Heifengzhai, there is no gathering hall, only a meeting hall.

There are nine chairs listed in the hall, and the bandits in the Song Dynasty didn't call them masters, they just called them in order of brothers in the family, big brother, second brother, and third brother.

The eldest brother is the owner of the village, named Yang Jun.

His family used to be the owners of tea gardens. Because they offended the "people in the tea farm" (the official intermediary after the ban on tea), they were forced to go bankrupt. His father fled into the mountains with his family.The tenants of their family also went to seek refuge one after another because they were overwhelmed.

Later, he simply became a bandit, went out of the mountain to kill the landlord, distributed the land to the villagers, and robbed the property and hid in the mountain.

The government came to suppress it several times, but all failed, so they could only vent their anger on the farmers by the river.

In the end, the peasants were turned against each other, and they all went into the mountains to join the bandits.

Because of this, the Yang family has a large number of people and builds a wall in the steep mountains, and distributes the surrounding land to farmers for reclamation, and at the same time owns the most fertile land.Gradually it developed into what it is now. Yang Jun is not only a bandit leader, but also a big landlord, and he also plays a guest role in the government to collect taxes from farmers.

The stockade is too dangerous, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

He had served as the county magistrate, but he had never seen it, and acquiesced in the existence of the bandit village.

The envoy sent by Bai Zongmin was Huang Chunhe, and he made a helpless look: "This year, the whole county has a bumper harvest of tea, and the tea and horse department has severely suppressed the price. If the price of private tea is not lowered, merchants will all go to buy official tea, and there will be no such thing as Xiaobai members." There is a way."

The bandit leader who sits in the third position is named Yang Ying. He is the younger brother of the village owner and is in charge of foreign trade.

Yang Ying sneered and said, "Do you really think I'm a fool? The Tea Horse Company and the tea merchants are in the same group. They don't lower the price every year. Don't use such words to fool me!"

Although Yao Fang was a foreign refugee, he took the second position and was responsible for practicing guns and sticks. He also took the lead in charging when he went down the mountain to rob.He shouted angrily: "If you keep lowering the price like this, tomorrow I will gather soldiers and horses, level down Xiabai Village, and arrest Bai Zongmin to kowtow to Big Brother to admit his mistake!"

Of course, this is just a threat, and it won't be easy to tear your face.

The master Zhu in the county, as well as some businessmen in the county, are all partners other than Xiaobaiyuan.The tea produced in the cottage and the stolen goods robbed by the bandits all need the help of the white staff to ship them.

"There are more than one private sale of tea in the whole county. The tea harvest has been bumper, and the price of private tea in every village is lowering. I can't do it without lowering the price." Huang Chunhe explained the reason, and said in a calm tone, "Then I will take a step back. , 80 Wen per catty for first-class tea, 53 Wen per catty for second-class tea, and 40 Wen per catty for third-class tea. How about it?”

This price, if the tea interest is not included, is slightly higher than the official purchase price.And there is no need to send it all the way to the tea collection field, which can save a lot of transportation costs.

Yang Ying was quite satisfied with this, and nodded secretly to her elder brother.

"Then it's settled," the village owner Yang Jun, who had been silent for a long time, finally smiled and said enthusiastically, "Mr. Huang is exhausted from running around, don't leave tonight, stay in the village and eat wine!"

"Thank you Brother Yang for your hospitality." Huang Chunhe bowed his hands.

……

Zhang Guangdao, ranked fifth, got a little drunk in the evening, and went to Yao Fang in private: "Second brother, this Bai Zongmin is getting harder and harder to serve. You might as well enter Xiabai Village first, rob his family's belongings, and then raise your troops to attack the county town!"

Yao Fang shook his head helplessly: "Although I am in the second place, if I really want to make up my mind, I have to ask the village master to come. He is afraid that there will be a real rebellion. If it fails, he will not even be able to sell tea in the future."

Zhang Guangdao said dissatisfiedly, "Yang is a local rich man. How can he look like a bandit? He alone gets the most money for selling tea. He also gets the most food from the farmers in the mountains. With these two things, He can make a lot of money, so he doesn't even want to go down the mountain to rob. In my opinion, maybe one day, he will vote for the government to be a obedient citizen, and become a landlord like an old white member!"

"Oh, I can't help it." Yao Fang sighed.

Zhang Guangdao suggested: "Just take our people and find another place to settle down."

Yao Fang asked back: "It's hard for everyone to settle down, how many people are willing to go with you? If you can really take people away, where will you go to settle down? Although there are many wastelands in the downstream, they still have to be reclaimed. Not many For a year, there is not even enough food to eat.”

"It's just a few years of hard work, it's better than staying in Heifengzhai!" Zhang Guangdao said.

"Let me think again."

Yao Fang couldn't make up his mind, he was the leader of the outsider faction, he had more thoughts on his mind, so he was naturally not as free and easy as Zhang Guangdao.

Moreover, the rebellion a few years ago had drained Yao Fang's spirit, and at the same time he became more calm.

In Yao Fang's view, even if they really wanted to rebel, they had to wait for the right time.

You have to wait until the government imposes exorbitant taxes and the people are in dire straits before you can rebel, and you may even get the support of the landlords.

Rebellion indiscriminately will inevitably fail, and you are not even worthy of recruiting security!

After a few more comforting words, Yao Fang personally sent Zhang Guangdao out of the house.

At the same time, a secret discussion is also going on at the home of the village owner Yang Jun.

When Huang Chunhe explained the real reason for coming, Yang Jun was furious: "You are so brave, you come to provoke me, do you really think I dare not use a knife or a gun?"

Huang Chunhe said in a calm manner: "Yao Fang was a rebel. He was a good gun. Who wouldn't call him a hero after seeing him? He has only been in Heifengzhai for a few years, and his prestige is getting higher and higher. It is Yang You, village master, have no choice but to let him take the second place, and let your brother take the third place. He is also bold, and everyone in the village admires him. More and more people listen to him giving orders. If things go on like this, Brother Yang Can the position of the village master really sit down again?"

Yang Jun still had an angry expression on his face: "Don't talk too much about this, brother Yao and I are very close, even closer than that brother. Brother Yao is loyal, if he doesn't, he is not the master Congratulations two!"

"How much is loyalty worth?" Huang Chunhe said, "Brother Yang, people's hearts will change. Who can tell what loyalty is about today? Ten years later, Yao Fang doesn't want to be the leader of the village, and those brothers under him , and will help him to be the head of the village. Brother Yang knows who is more popular."

Yang Jun still didn't agree: "Go ahead, I just pretend I didn't hear what I said tonight."

Huang Chunhe neither left nor spoke any more, just stood there silently.

After a long time, Yang Jun showed a look of embarrassment, as if he was talking to himself: "They are all my brothers. If you let us fight, do you want my face?"

Huang Chunhe knew that there was something going on, so he didn't answer directly, but asked: "Brother Yang, you are indeed a majestic village owner. But no matter how majestic you are, can you compare to the young Bai Yuanwai? But can you compare to the old Bai Yuanwai?"

Yang Jun said: "Naturally it cannot be compared."

Huang Chunhe continued to ask: "Brother Yang has also made a lot of money, but so what? He went to the county town without daring to say anything. You have two sons, how dare you let them go to the county town to study? If the government doesn't come to suppress you now, if What about another county magistrate? You know, Master Zhu is a traitor in the past. If he gets the magistrate's order, he will really dare to lead troops to attack Heifengzhai!"

Yang Jun sneered: "If he dares to come, I will tell him not to go back!"

Huang Chunhe said: "Master Zhu is now an official. If you dare to kill an official, if you don't rebel, you are rebelling. You can stop the officers and soldiers once or twice, but can you stop ten times and twenty times?"

Yang Jun said stubbornly: "Don't say ten times and twenty times, the soldiers in Heifengzhai are strong and strong, and they annoyed me, so they went straight to the county government and killed all the bird officials in the county!"

Huang Chunhe asked: "If you kill all the county officials, there are also state officials. If you kill all the state officials, there are other county officials and state officials on this Lizhou Road. They occupy the entire Lizhou Road. You can stop the imperial army." ?”

Yang Jun was silent.

Huang Chunhe added: "Yao Fang, the second-ranked member of the village, has a grudge against Zhu Zhuzhu in the county. You also know that. Besides the old white members of Shangbai Village, the county magistrate and Zhu Zhu also don't like it very much."

"It's none of my business." Yang Jun said.

Huang Chunhe was still talking: "You kill Yao Fang first, since you are doing things for Master Zhu, and you can also get benefits. Get rid of the serious troubles in your confidantes, and you will be able to speak well in the village from now on. Then go to plunder Shangbai Village, and you can get Not to mention the countless treasures, but you can also win the favor of the county magistrate and master Zhu. You two officials and lords, you can change from a bandit to a country gentleman with just one sentence."

Yang Jun was silent again.

Huang Chunhe said again: "If you become a squire, you will be able to go to the county town in a prosperous way, and your son can also go to the county town to study. After a long time, after a few decades, who remembers that you were a bandit? Maybe grandson You can still take the imperial examination to be an official!"

These words, every sentence is full of temptation, and they all speak to Yang Jun's heart.

"Let me think again." Yang Jun was moved.

Seeing his appearance, Huang Chunhe couldn't help showing a smile, cupped his hands and said, "Retire."

After dismissing this man, Yang Jun returned to the bedroom, and his wife came 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 20 years.

Even Yao Fang was hunted down by the government, and he only planned to hide in Heifengzhai for a few months, and lead his men to leave when the news passed.At that time, it was Yang Jun who took the initiative to persuade Yao Fang to stay in the third place.

Later developments made Yang Jun deeply disturbed.

In just a few years, Yao Fang's prestige has been rising steadily, and he has won the admiration from the hearts of countless bandits.

As a last resort, Yang Jun could only re-arrange the seats, let his brother be the third leader, promoted Yao Fang to the second leader, and appointed Zhang Guangdao as the fifth leader.

If this goes on like this, he really can't hold back!

Yao Fang's personal charm is so strong that even Yang Jun admires and likes him very much, let alone other bandits.

Also, his younger brother, Yang Ying, had an extremely bad relationship with Yao Fang due to his reduced seat.

Sooner or later something goes wrong.

Lying in bed all night, tossing and turning unable to fall asleep, Yang Jun woke up the next day, his eyes were bloodshot.

He sat for a long time, finally made up his mind, called his younger brother and said, "I have something to do, and I need to make plans with you."

(Thank you, brother Gage, and friends for your rewards and support.)
(Ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a recommendation ticket.)
(End of this chapter)