Ji Tang

Chapter 1012 Zhou Ji’s meeting
"If it's convenient, I'd like to ask my uncle to help me find it. My nephew will be very grateful!"

After saying that, he bowed, but Zou Jin, who was opposite him, was dumbfounded, and the atmosphere turned awkward for a moment!

Zhou Yu was very surprised. Did he ask something he shouldn't have asked?

"My nephew knows me. Oh no, Ji Liang?"

Zou Jin almost spilled the beans accidentally, but luckily he responded in time.But he became more and more strange, why did Zhou Yu ask about Cheng Liang this time?I’ve never heard of a relationship between them!
"Uncle Haojiao knows that my Zhou family and Ji family are from the same ancestor but different clans. As the only two Zhou royal families in the world with a complete hereditary inheritance, our two families can be considered to be truly connected by blood."

Then he sighed and said, "But due to some reasons, I have never visited Mr. Xi in person over the years. This time I heard that one of the three direct descendants of the Ji family came to Jiangnan. After asking around, I settled in Hangzhou. But Hangzhou is quite big. , my nephew couldn’t find him for a while, so he just reminded me of my uncle.”

Zou Jin felt even more bitter when he heard this. What a good opportunity he had missed.The Zhou family of Yixing, which was prosperous in Jiangnan for a while, came to make friends, but he offended them because of his bastard nephew. What the hell is going on! .

There was the governor of Qin in the front, the Zhou family in Yixing in the back, and the Duke of Xi behind Cheng Liang.If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have hesitated to break that bastard's legs!

"My good nephew came by chance. If I had been half a day ago, I probably wouldn't have known his whereabouts, but now..."

"Hey, the family is unlucky!"

He knew that he couldn't hide this matter at all. Although the Zhou family's headquarters was not in Hangzhou, he had good friends with many aristocratic families. In addition, the matter was making a fuss today. Sooner or later, he would have to know. It would be better to tell him directly now. .

So, he put aside the stupid things his nephew had done, and then told what he saw and heard in the governor's mansion today.Finally, he sighed: "I saved my life this time, but my bastard nephew is finished."

After speaking, he looked at Zhou Yu who was dumbfounded and said bitterly: "It's a joke for my nephew, but my sister, it's all my fault for my lax upbringing!"

Zhou Yu felt like a beeping dog at this moment, could this damn thing happen to him?

But he had also heard from his grandfather and father that Zou Jin's character was slightly flawed, but his flaws were not concealed. He was not a treacherous person. This time, he was just implicated by his nephew and his sister!
"Uncle, please be patient. Although my nephew has never met Mr. Xi, he has heard people talk about him. Mr. Xi became famous at a young age, but he treats others with sincerity and never bullies the weak."

He thought for a moment and said, "Do you think this is okay? My nephew will go and find out what's going on first. If possible, it would be better to resolve the grudges. But your nephew really needs to be disciplined. My nephew has heard about it in Yixing. his reputation"

After speaking, he shook his head and said nothing after that.

But Zou Jin was really overjoyed after hearing this, and said quickly: "Then I'll leave this matter to my nephew. No matter whether it succeeds or not, I will accept your favor!"

The two talked for a while, and then the housekeeper personally took Zhou Yu and others to get married.

In the conversation just now, Zhou Yu learned that Ji Liang had changed his surname to Cheng. After a little thought, he knew the origin of the surname Cheng.But just because he knew it, he had to admire the determination and methods of Chang'an.

The ancestor of the Ji family was granted a title by Zhou Shu in the land of Ning, which is now Haoji County.But in the end, the country of Yi moved eastward, leaving only one direct lineage in the ancestral land. As time changed and dynasties changed, the lineage that remained in Guanzhong became a large family.

Coupled with the demise of the Tao Kingdom after the eastward migration, this branch became the direct lineage and inherited the genealogy.

And my own lineage is also very similar to that of the Tao Kingdom, except that one chose to live in seclusion, while the other lived in the human world.

Can't tell which one is good and which one is bad.

Although their own family appears to the public, the Runan Zhou family is a famous family in the world, and Yixing is just a branch of the Runan Zhou family that moved south.There have been ups and downs over the years, there have been rises and declines, and sometimes we were almost exterminated. The hardships are not known to outsiders!
Although the Ji family is reclusive, she is not completely isolated from the world after all. There have been many talented people over the years, but most of them are not involved in the court and only study writing.

A hundred years ago, the Qiang people were almost exterminated, but luckily they survived. In addition, in this life, evil talents like Ji Song and Ji Ziyi appeared, and it was unprecedented in ancient times to be granted the title of Marquis at the age of 16.

After that, he went north to destroy the Eastern Turks, went south to rescue millions of victims, and even made a rural treaty in Xuanzhou to restrain powerful families, creating Xuanzhou's reputation as the first state in the south.

In the battle to destroy the country of Goguryeo, he even stole the show. Not only did he recreate the unparalleled record of one Han resisting the Wuhu, but also said that his four disciples were awarded titles one after another. They were three marquises and one uncle. They were unparalleled!
Later, he was named the Duke of the State of Xi, overseeing the Ministry of War and in charge of the military's intelligence rights.

Lord Tan, this title may not mean much to others. After all, it is just a small country, and it was rarely mentioned during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States centuries.

But in Ji's hands, there is no more suitable title than this.

At that time, the ancestor was only granted the title of earl, but Ji Song was now the lord of the country, surpassing his ancestor. For such achievements, the title "郕" was most appropriate.

This shows how much His Majesty attaches great importance to Mr. Xi!

This time, the family sent him here just to meet Ji Liang. It was not that he had not thought about it before, but after all, the Ji family was too far apart at the beginning, and for some reasons, the relationship between the two families was not known to the world.

But now, he has great power and is in charge of the academy, and his disciples and others are all talented people.Such a person has the same blood connection with the Zhou family. It is enough that he was in Chang'an before. After all, the Zhou family has no roots in Guanzhong and does not want to compete with those Guanlong nobles for power.

However, it is different now.

After the Ji family split, many clan members chose places such as Jiangnan and Jiangdong, including many in Lingnan.They also sent people to search, but for some reason they rarely heard of them.

Now he understood that it turned out that people had changed their surnames, and most of them had Cheng and Nie as their surnames. No wonder they couldn't find them.

Soon, under the leadership of the Zou family steward, they arrived at Cheng Mansion. When they saw the large courtyard, they were stunned.

It's not too luxurious, but it's very simple, maybe it has something to do with the fact that the house has just been built.

"Young master, I'm afraid you may have made a mistake. Even though it doesn't look good from the outside, the inside is indeed a nine-curved corridor. It has been carved by Jiangnan's skilled craftsmen. The scenery and the level of detail are among the best in Hangzhou."

The housekeeper said with envy on his face: "These are the reports of the craftsmen who built this house, which made many people jealous."

Zhou Yu was stunned for a moment, glanced at the 'shabby' mansion, and suddenly felt like he couldn't help but laugh.It is said that Mr. Xi is a low-key person. I didn’t believe it before, but now it seems that not only he himself is low-key, but even the clan members are following his example, and everyone is very low-key!
Thinking of this, he said to the housekeeper: "Okay, you go back first, you have nothing to do here!"

The housekeeper, who originally wanted to go in with Zhou Yu to meet the world, suddenly felt depressed. However, as a housekeeper for many years, he was a sensible person. He was asked to go wherever he wanted because he did not want others to know what happened to them today. If he didn't leave, That's stupid.

Seeing the frustrated butler leaving, the boy next to Zhou Yu said disdainfully: "I really don't know, he can get into a family? From my perspective, this Zou family's business is just like that."

"To shut up!"

Zhou Yu frowned and scolded: "When did you develop the ability to look down on others so much? Is this something you should discuss?"

The boy's face turned pale and he wanted to beg for mercy, but was interrupted by Zhou Yu, who said in a deep voice: "I'll spare you this time. If you dare to talk nonsense later, be careful of your bad legs."

"Go back and receive the Ten Whip Family Techniques. This will give you a memory!" The young man seemed to have received an amnesty. The two of them hurriedly promised that there would never be a next time. Zhou Yu relaxed his tense face this time.

"Go and call the door! Remember, be polite!"

The boy didn't dare to neglect, and hurriedly stepped forward to knock on the door, but when he thought of the young master's words, he suddenly lost half of his strength.

Boom!

Not long after Cheng Liang returned home, he heard the housekeeper say that someone was coming to visit, which puzzled him.I had just arrived in Hangzhou and I didn’t know anyone I knew at all. How could anyone visit me?
"Did the other party say who he was?"

"I told you that he is from the Zhou family in Yixing, and the person who came is none other than Zhou Yu, the eldest son of the Zhou family!"

Hearing that it was the Zhou family in Yixing, Cheng Liang was stunned for a moment, thought for a moment and said: "Go and prepare the tea, sir, I will go and greet you personally!"

Of course he knew about the Yixing Zhou Clan. The Yixing Zhou Clan was originally a branch of the Runan Zhou Clan that moved south, and was quite famous in Jiangdong. The clan had produced many great talents over the centuries.

In addition, he also knows that the Ji family and the Zhou family are the only two families in the world that have a complete hereditary inheritance of the Zhou royal family. It can be said that the two families have broken bones and are still connected.

When he came to the door, he saw a jade tree facing the wind, and a young man with an upright temperament looked at him with a smile.

"I'm Chengliang, I've met you!"

Zhou Yu hurriedly stepped forward to support the other party and said with a smile: "Brother, you shouldn't do that. Blood from our two families is thicker than water, but this is an outsider!"

Cheng Liang stroked his beard and glanced at Zhou Yu steadily. When he saw the sincere look in his eyes, he was shocked and said with a smile: "Yixing Zhou family, I have seen a lot, not bad, not bad!"

"Brother, please come in, we have something to talk about!"

Although the two of them didn't say anything, they said everything.

Called brother, called brother, the two families who had been separated for hundreds of years finally stood together again.

Although Cheng Liang is not the main lineage, as one of the three direct descendants of the Ji family, he is qualified to know things that many people do not know.

For example, when the head of the family was an official in Xuanzhou, the Runan Zhou family, the Yixing Zhou family, and even the Xingyang Zheng family all provided help.

Although they have not met formally over the years, they have been close friends for a long time. Today is the first informal meeting between Zhou Ji and his family. It is most likely to set the stage for future meetings between the two families.

When they arrived at the lobby, the two of them sat down as guests and hosts. The maid served tea and water. They waited until all preparations were completed before leaving!
"I heard before that my brother is working in Jinwuwei, what now?"

"How did you become a rich man?"

Before Zhou Yu could finish speaking, Cheng Liang smiled.

Zhou Yu was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "It seems that my younger brother is talking too much. What can I do with my brother's talents that can't lead to a successful career? It's my younger brother who has gone too far."

After saying that, he cupped his fists and saluted.

Cheng Liang waved his hands and said indifferently: "It's okay to tell my dear brother, it's not a shameful thing. Although Jin Wuwei's status is noble, it is not the right path after all. It is just a means for the royal family to manipulate the noble family and to decorate the appearance. .”

"General Li Ji and Duke Li also persuaded me at the time, saying that after a few years of experience, my future was limitless, but I still refused. Many people felt pity for me at that time, but my grandfather praised me for knowing the general outline and knowing how to advance and retreat."

He leaned forward and said, "Do you know why?"

"Brother, please clarify!"

Cheng Liang sighed: "The clan leader is so talented. Whether it is martial arts or cultural governance, he is rare in the world, but he never gets involved in military power. Why do you think that? A big tree attracts wind ears!"

"His Majesty has trouble in his eyes today. Although the Patriarch is in charge of the Ministry of War, he has never exceeded the military power. In order not to arouse royal suspicion, the Patriarch even split up the Ji family and spread it across the country. The huge commercial network in the Western Regions was also handed over to the Empress. . Most of the business in the clan is owned by the clan members. With the split completed, the originally huge Ji clan has long ceased to exist."

Cheng Liang couldn't help but feel a little angry when he said this, but he quickly relaxed.

"Whether it's for Mingzhe to protect himself or not to be suspected. As long as the clan members are safe, everything else doesn't matter."

He glanced at Zhou Yu and said: "From that time on, my Ji clan has basically given up all military power except for some necessary ones. Many of the Ji clan members who joined the army have also been disarmed and returned to their fields. In addition, the family separation happened to happen. , many people have chosen to leave the Ji family and establish separate families."

"You must have heard that even Ji Ze, the second son of the Ji family, has been separated and is preparing to establish a branch in Jiangdong. Now his fiancée has been in Jiangdong for a long time to lay the foundation for it."

Zhou Yu nodded. He did know about this matter. He also knew that the fiancée of the second young master of the Ji family was still a close disciple of Duke Xi. She was said to be very capable, but he never got a chance to meet her!
"The head of the family has already anticipated your coming to see me. He told me not to do anything that is not necessary. Although the Ji and Zhou families have not contacted each other for a long time, after all, blood is thicker than water. But if you ask for anything, Ji will not refuse. !”

Zhou Yu looked serious when he heard this. He stood up and bowed and said, "Mr. Hao is a great righteous man. The people of Yudai thank you!"

"It doesn't have to be!"

Cheng Liang waved his hand, motioning for him to sit down, and said: "The head of the family has long said that the future of the Ji family is not in Chang'an, let alone on land, but on the sea!"

"You must have seen how huge the overseas wealth is over the years, right? A shipload of goods goes to sea, and when it comes back, it is a shipload of treasures. The huge profits are simply terrifying!"

Zhou Yu nodded in agreement. The Zhou family has slowly been involved in sailing in the past few years. With Ji's relationship, they got a seagoing ship very early.At first, it was just a trial trip to the sea, but when the sea encountered a storm and lost the route, he came to a country unknown to the Tang Dynasty.

After investigating, they were shocked to find that they had unknowingly arrived at Shendu in just one month, which would take a year or more to reach from land.

A boatload of silk, porcelain, and tea were exchanged for ivory, agate, jade, and gold.

A mere trip to sea only cost the Zhou family a drop in the bucket.But what he got in exchange was half of the Zhou family's centuries-old wealth.

How can such things not shock them?

(End of this chapter)