Han family achievements

Chapter 426 A visit
"Invitation?"

Liu Bian looked back at Tao Ergeng.

When he was in Luoyang, he would only make invitations to show his courtesy, otherwise he could go anywhere without any hindrance.

Tao Er took a step forward and said rather respectfully: "Brother, this is the head of the household in our county. He is a colleague of Mr. Chen Er. Please pass."

"No, no one can come in today without an invitation!" The concierge stood on the threshold, his nostrils pointing to the sky, squinting at Liu Bian, and sneered.

Liu Bian frowned subconsciously. In his impression, Tao Ergen, the so-called 'seventh grade official in front of the prime minister's door', was considered an 'official' in the eyes of ordinary people, but in the eyes of the concierge of the Chen Mansion , worse than ordinary people.

It seems that we have to add him as the county housekeeper.

This also shows from the side that the prestige of states, counties and counties has been lost and their power has been lost.

Tao Ergen turned around naturally and argued with Liu: "Mr. Liu, how about we go back?"

Liu Bian glanced at him and said to the concierge: "Either I go in now, or Chen Yong's county magistrate is gone. It's your choice."

The concierge was startled, as if he was taking a serious look at Liu Bian for the first time. He came out from the threshold and said with a little caution on his face: "Are you the housekeeper, Liu Bo?"

Liu Bian ignored him and walked in directly.

This porter dared to stop him. His expression changed again and again. He told another porter, trotted past Liu Bian, and hurried inside.

Tao Ergen followed Liu Bian and said uneasily: "Master Liu, is it not good for us to force our way in like this?"

Liu Bian didn't care at all. Where could he go in this world?
"This Chen Mansion is not very luxurious?"

Liu Bian looked around as he walked. Everything about the Chen Mansion looked quite "simple". The roads, walls, and courtyards were obviously old, but they were a little clean and tidy. There was no sign of luxury or extravagance, just like an ordinary compound.

Tao Ergeng said: "The head of the Chen family is well-read in poetry and books and advocates frugality, so the Chen family is proud of simplicity."

Liu Bian nodded, there were quite a few such people.

He strolled all the way, quickly bypassing the flower bed and arriving at the atrium.

Liu Bian looked at the small front hall and walked straight over.

Before he had walked a few steps, he saw a group of servants carrying a table, blocking Liu Bian and saying, "Mr. Liu, please stay here. We have you in the hall."

Liu Bian looked at the small table that had been set up, and looked around. He was dressed like this. If he sat down, he would be alone in front of the huge atrium.

Liu Bian touched his chin and couldn't help but smile and said: "You Chen family are deliberately humiliating me. Does Chen Yong's county magistrate really don't want him, or does he have something better?"

"What a big tone for a little boss!"

At this time, a middle-aged man walked out of the hall with an indifferent expression, folded his hands, looked down at Liu Bian and said calmly.

The ones who walked out next were Cui Jun and Wang Cheng, the Prime Minister of Pingyuan County.

Cui Jun's face was expressionless, and his eyes were fixed, giving Liu Bian an unclear warning.

Liu Bian stretched out his right little finger to pick out his ears. Then, with everyone watching, he slowly raised his foot and kicked over the small table in front of him.

"you!"

The middle-aged man immediately pointed angrily at Liu Bian, then turned to Cui Jun and said coldly: "Okay, okay, Lord Cui, this is not a loan, this is a slap in the face of my Chen family!"

After saying that, the middle-aged man waved his hand and walked inside.

Cui Jun's expression suddenly changed, he grabbed the middle-aged man and said: "Brother Chen, misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it's just a trivial matter, don't be angry..."

Cui Jun never expected that he was on all precautions, but he didn't expect it to happen so suddenly and off guard.

Wang Cheng couldn't help but become anxious when he saw Cui Jun being so "groveling".

The Chen family is their last hope. If they can't borrow money, spring farming will be wasted!
Liu Bian didn't take it seriously and listened as Cui Jun and the middle-aged man disappeared and slowly walked into the front hall.

There were two small tables in the hall, and the food and wine on the tables were quite simple, with only two cold dishes.

Liu Bian shook his head. The Chen family's posture made him a little confused. Is it really so strong?

"Brother..."

Chen Yong hurried over from the side and opened his mouth to call his brother. As if he remembered something again, he pretended to be serious and said: "Well, Mr. Liu, you are here."

Liu Bian smiled, walked to the side door, and said, "How much money do your Chen family plan to lend to Fu Jun?"

Chen Yong looked troubled, but he followed Liu Bian and whispered: "Brother, um, I'm just a bastard, I can't decide so many things."

Liu Bian hummed and said, "I remember that your appointment document is still in the hands of the prince, right?"

Chen Yong carefully observed his surroundings and said, "Yes, I won't be able to take office until next month."

Liu Bian had a slightly weird look on his face and said, "Your Chen family seems to have conquered the prince. No, it seems to have conquered me? Did you find out some details about me?"

Chen Yong became more and more confused. Just when he was about to say something, he saw a servant passing by. He immediately raised his head and chest, walking side by side with Liu Bian without squinting.

Liu Bian took a leisurely walk in the court and went directly to the back hall.

Seeing that there was no one around, Chen Yong hurriedly whispered: "Brother, please don't talk too much later, let Mr. Fu handle it. The man just now was my third uncle, and he has a good relationship with the boss."

Liu Bian snorted and said, "He is deliberately making me look bad. Does he not want you to get the county magistrate?"

Chen Yong stopped talking, his expression somewhat gloomy and uncomfortable.

Liu Bian glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and said with a smile: "It seems that your status in the Chen family is average, and you are not as cool as you appear outside."

Chen Yong became more and more entangled, and seemed to be struggling with something in his heart. It was not until he approached the back hall that he couldn't help but pull Liu Bian and whispered: "Brother, if I am no longer the county magistrate, can you take me there?" Luoyang?”

Liu Bian was startled and said, "Why is there no more?"

Can the things he arranged be gone?

Chen Yong looked stiff and answered hurriedly: "I have money, I have 600,000 yuan, I can give it all to my brother."

Liu Bian reached out and patted his shoulder, and said meaningfully: "Don't worry so much. By the way, how much do your Chen family plan to lend to the master?"

"Thirty million." Chen Yong said.

Liu Bian nodded slightly. Thirty million is equivalent to thirty thousand taels of silver. This amount of money is really not a small amount, and ordinary wealthy households may not be able to afford it.

"It seems that I underestimated the Chen family."

Liu Bian went directly to the back hall, wanting to see with his own eyes the bargaining process between Cui Jun and the Chen family.

Chen Yong followed behind, but stopped talking. He is more worried than Cui Jun now, worried that his county magistrate is really gone. When Liu Bian entered the back hall, the middle-aged man who originally treated Liu Bian coldly stood aside. Sitting opposite Cui Jun was a rather refined and elegant middle-aged man.

When the middle-aged man saw Liu Bian coming in, he couldn't help but snorted coldly and said, "These officials are really becoming more and more unruly!"

Liu Bian glanced at him and looked at the man sitting there. If there were no accidents, this man should be Chen Zheng, the current head of the Chen family.

To be able to maintain such a large family business in troubled times, Chen Zheng must have something unique.

Cui Jun ignored Liu Bian, sat upright, and said to Chen Zheng opposite: "Brother Chen, I really can't give you that piece of land. It needs to be approved by Sima Shijun."

Chen Zheng just glanced at Liu Bian with a friendly smile, giving people a feeling of profound cultivation and spring breeze.

This kind of self-cultivation requires many years of cultivation. It has been deeply rooted in the bone marrow and is implicit in every move. It is not a superficial performance like Liu Bian's.

Chen Zhengdao: "Young brother, it's not necessary. Mr. Fu, how about renting this land to me? How about I pay taxes to Mr. Fu every year in accordance with the court rules?"

Cui Jun suddenly became silent.

Chen Zheng's 'flexible approach' worked, but it couldn't keep up. When the word 'rent' was completed, the fertile land actually fell into the hands of the Chen family.

Cui Jun didn't want to give it to the Chen family. Once he gave it to the Chen family, Cui Jun would have to rely more on the Chen family in Pingyuan County, and he might not even be qualified to negotiate.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Chen Zheng's smile became even stronger. His tone was as gentle as the wind and as gentle as jade, and he said: "From now on, all farming tools, grain seeds, farming cattle, etc. purchased from the Chen family will be discounted at 20%."

Cui Jun's expression moved slightly and his throat was dry as he said, "Seriously?"

20% off, the 20% off saved every year, at least millions, is enough to do a lot of things.

Chen Zhengdao: "Of course I take it seriously. However, all transactions involving these must be left to my Chen family."

Cui Jun straightened his face, frowned and thought.

The 'these' Chen Zheng mentioned were the farming tools, grain seeds, farming cattle, etc. According to the agreement, when these things are used up, they will be recycled to the Chen family at a low price.

The most important thing is the output of 'these', which is food.

Chen Zheng demanded that the grain be sold to the Chen family, and at the same time, the price of the grain had to be set by the Chen family!
"Okay, but you have to discuss it with me first and get my permission." After struggling for a while, Cui Jun finally gave in.

He has no other way to go and urgently needs the money from the Chen family. Without this money, a lot of land will be wasted and many people will starve to death.

Chen Zheng's smile suddenly became more sincere. He reached out to pour Cui Jun a cup of tea and said, "Master Fu, this year's salt should be here soon, right?"

Cui Jun's eyes suddenly changed, and he said without thinking: "Don't think about this. Shangshutai has appointed the Qingzhou Governor of Su Su. All matters related to the salt administration are the responsibility of Zhou Mu and the Governor of Su Su. I can't get involved. "

Regarding salt administration, the strategy of the Secretariat was simple: to focus on the monopoly and completely bypass the local authorities.

Chen Zheng put down the teapot and said with a smile: "Fu Jun misunderstood. The Chen family has a big business and needs a lot of salt. I want to buy some first. Fu Jun doesn't have to worry. Buying it at the original price will not make it difficult for Fu Jun."

Cui Jun didn't speak. He knew Chen Zheng's purpose very clearly. He hesitated whether to refuse.

Once rejected, the previous agreement may be invalidated in an instant.

Liu Bian listened for a long time and pondered for a long time. When he came to the salt administration, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised and sighing.

The Chen family lent money to Cui Jun, and Cui Jun needed to buy what he needed from the Chen family, and these 'purchased' things had to be 'recycled' by the Chen family at a low price after the spring plowing.

In fact, this is not a sale, but more like leasing! Not only will the Chen family not lose money, they will also make a big profit from it!

Afterwards, the grain produced in the fields will also enter the Chen family's warehouse.

After this operation, all the people from Pingyuan County Government to important areas worked for the Chen family!
'What a trick! '

Liu Bian was really filled with emotion. This was the first time he had heard of such a method and the first time he had seen it!
However, Cui Jun couldn't refuse. Without the money from the Chen family, he could only sit and watch the land be abandoned, watch the people starve to death, and watch the people rise up.

At that time, you will have to borrow money from the Chen family to suppress the bandits!

From the beginning to the end, Cui Jun was eaten to death by the Chen family without any chance of struggling!

Chen Zheng's "preemptive" purchase of salt is essentially turning official salt into private salt in an attempt to monopolize Pingyuan County's salt!
"Is this Brother Chen's last request?" After a long silence, Cui Jun looked at Chen Zhengdao expressionlessly.

When Liu Bian heard this, he shook his head secretly. Cui Jun had compromised.

Sure enough, Chen Zheng's smile blossomed like never before and said: "This is the last one. The money is ready and can be sent to the government office at any time."

Cui Jun's face moved again and again, but finally nodded without uttering another word.

He had no choice. Even though he knew that the Chen family was exploiting him and Pingyuan County, he had no choice but to agree.

'Take it one step at a time and get through this year's spring plowing first. Cui Jun comforted himself in his heart, and it was also the excuse he had always used to convince himself.

Chen Zheng saw Cui Jun's ugly face, but he didn't care at all.

Cui Jun is not the first 'prefect' of Pingyuan County. Some of the previous ones conspired to get a share of the pie, some refused forcefully, and some were just like Cui Jun.

But no matter what happens to them, come and go, the Chen family still stands and grows stronger.

Chen Zheng was in a good mood after taking down Cui Jun, but suddenly his face turned slightly cold. He turned to Liu Bian and said calmly: "Are you Liu Bo?"

Liu Bian was still thinking about the Chen family's routine and how to solve it. Hearing this, he nodded subconsciously and said, "Yes, Liu Bo."

When you go out, you have to provide your own identity and make up your name.

Chen Zheng's eyes were always on Liu Bian's face, cold and distant, with a hint of coldness and warning, and said: "If I guessed correctly, you bought the second appointment document for yourself, right? In one day , from Pingyuan to Jinan, this kind of nonsense cannot fool me. What is your plan to get close to my Chen family in such a deliberate way?"

Liu Bian was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect that Chen Zheng would suddenly turn to question him.

"A little smart, but not much,"

Liu Bian immediately picked up the teapot, poured himself some tea, and said, "What you said is wrong except that we didn't go back and forth on that day."

Chen Zheng snorted coldly and said, "Which clan do you come from!?"

Cui Jun, Wang Cheng, Chen Yong, Tao Ergeng and others all stared at Liu Bian for an instant with different expressions.

They were all speculating on Liu Bian's origins, and tried many methods to investigate, but after such a long time, there was no news at all, and they could not find out what the background of this 'magical' man was!
This is very abnormal!
There were so many aristocratic families in the Han Dynasty, but they all had traces to follow and did not appear out of thin air.

Liu Bian took a sip of tea calmly in response to the looks from around him, then spit it back out, shook his head and said, "It tastes really bad."

He put down the tea cup and looked at Chen Zhengdao: "I thought about it carefully. Among the doctors named Chen in Liucao, there is only Chen Yi, the elected doctor of Licao. Is he a member of your Chen family?"

Chen Zheng's expression suddenly changed, and his eyes flashed fiercely.

(End of this chapter)