Chapter 2 Lingzhou Fangjia

Lingzhou is located in the throat of the southwest into the Central Plains. Whether it is the grain and fodder sent by the court, the reinforcements, or the various war reports sent by the three states in the southwest, and the prisoners of war, they need to pass through Lingzhou, so its strategic position is naturally self-evident. However, because the city is still far from the Central Plains and cannot affect the major policies of the imperial court, it is not much valued by several major families. It was not until the nearly branch of the Fang family moved here 30 years ago that it slowly fell into the hands of the Fang family.

However, because the Fang family has limited power in the dynasty, although the Lingzhou Fang family already has the strength to make the government bow down, they still can't really let their people become the chief pastor of this state. However, this does not affect the control of the Fang family in Lingzhou. If the governors, magistrates and other officials sent by the court want to be officials here safely, many things still have to obey the command of the Fang family, which also makes the Fang family's power sit more and bigger.

On the fourth day of May, when Xu Jinghong and his party were less than a hundred miles away from Lingzhou, in the west of Lingzhou City, there was a thing that was enough to show the power of the Fang family in Lingzhou.

Cao Jin, the classic historian of Lingzhou, stood humbly below and whispered to Fang Zi, the head of the Lingzhou Fang family sitting high above: "Master Fang, this Liu family is also the big family in Lingzhou for a hundred years. Isn't it too difficult for our government to occupy the location of their ancestral tombs now? "

"What, what else does his Liu family have on this?" Fang Ziyao did not speak, and his son Fang Mudan next to him spoke unhappily: "We bought 20,000 silver from them at a high price, but it was enough to find a better place for feng shui in other places to let their ancestors rest in peace. And it has given them enough preparation in time. Can't they make this step?

"But... the truth of being safe..." Cao Jin wanted to say something, but was rudely interrupted by Fangzi: "It seems that you have received many benefits from the Liu family, so you have been talking for them. If you dare to delay like this again, be careful that we write letters to the beam and shake out everything you have done in Lingzhou! At that time, I don't think you have to be so embarrassed anymore."

Hearing the other party's threatening words, Cao Jin trembling all over, and he had no choice but to say with a bitter face: "Since Uncle Fang has made a decision, the subordinate has to persuade him again. I hope the Liu family can understand it in general.

"That's it. Go ahead." Fang Ziyao smiled a little and waved his hand, as if he were ordering a servant in a family to retreat, and did not regard the other party as a local official at all.

But Cao Jin did not leave, but continued: "There is another thing that I want to ask Uncle Fang to accommodate you. The lonely moon building in the south of the city was opened by a subordinate's cousin. I really dare not rob your business. Please..." Before he finished his words, the square curtain interrupted with a calm face: "It's really unreasonable for you, a court official, to dare to interfere in the business! We have already sent out a message to let the Guyue Building be closed before the Dragon Boat Festival, and there is no possibility of accommodation!"

Cao Jin was angry and slandered: "Only state officials are allowed to set fire, and the people are not allowed to light lamps. Aren't you also a relative of the important ministers in the court? Not only do you have so much business, but you can't see others share the cup. This is really unreasonable!" But he could only think about this in his heart. He didn't even dare to show a trace of anger on his face, so he left with a bitter face.

"Well, this Cao is so ignorant that he wants to bargain with us with his own identity. I really don't know!" Fang Mudan spat contemptuously: "I don't think about when our family will talk in this three-acre of land in Lingzhou!"

Fang Ziyao glanced at his son: "Don't go too far with some things. If you really force people, even if our Fang family has a backer in the court, these local officials have a way to deal with us."

"A classic history of his management in field affairs? Give him courage, but he doesn't dare to do it. As for the governor, we support it with money. Will we still have trouble with us on such a small matter? Fang Mudan didn't care.

Just as Fang Ziyao was still waiting to say something, his second son Fang Muping quickly came in: "Father, brother, this is an urgent letter from the capital, sent from my hometown." Although it is a side branch, the Fang family in Lingzhou never separated themselves from the Fang family in the capital, and even called it their hometown, which is also a kind of closeness.

"Oh? In the past two years, although the head of the family has also sent letters from time to time, he just asked about the situation here. Why is he so eager this time? After hearing this, Fang Ziyao did not dare to neglect it. He immediately took the letter and read it carefully.

The two sons did not dare to speak at this time and looked at their father eagerly to see how he reacted after reading the letter. After a while, Fang Ziyao looked up and put down the letter, and then a smile appeared on his face: "It seems that it's time for us to perform again!"

"Father, what makes you so happy?" The two sons hurriedly asked.

"You can also have a look." Fang Ziyao handed over the letter and then said, "My hometown said that one of their opposites would come to Beijing from the southwest and pass through our Lingzhou, let us get rid of them!" Isn't this giving us a chance to perform?"

After looking at it, Fang Mudan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it's just a small team. It's not difficult to kill hundreds of 80 people. It's really a good thing."

But Fang Muping is not as optimistic as his brother: "Father, don't you think there are some doubts about this? With the power of our hometown in the dynasty, it is not a matter to remove a small team in the army. Is it necessary for us to do it? Also, how can his team travel thousands of miles to Beijing from the southwest? Is there something hidden from us in our hometown?

"This..." Fang Zi thought carefully and realized the problem: "But the owner specially ordered it. How can we refuse it? Maybe our hometown is afraid of causing some trouble. As long as we do it cleanly, there should be no big problems. This is also a good opportunity to show goodwill to our hometown. Although we are living a good life in Lingzhou, we can't always be here. We have to think of ways to go further.

"Father is very worried. This is the task given to us by our hometown. We have to do our best to do it." Fang Muping nodded repeatedly, but frowned, "But I'm still worried about something we don't know. Once someone is killed and brings us unnecessary trouble, it's not worth it."

Fang Ziyao also agreed, "Is there any way to kill two birds with one stone?"

At this time, Fang Mudan, who couldn't get a word in, said, "I have an idea that can make us complete the meaning of our hometown without causing trouble to ourselves."

"Tpeak and listen." Fang Ziyao asked immediately.

"Aren't we done it a few days ago? Let's spend some money to make another vote for the horse thieves in Pingmatun. These horse thieves have always recognized money and people, and the target is not a regular frontier army now, and the number of people is not too large. The team of horse thieves of more than 100 people must be able to swallow them without even a little scum.

"And in this way, there is no trouble for us, that is, the imperial court or the southwest army asks, which is also a matter of the local government, but it has nothing to do with our family." Fang Mudan gave his idea and immediately won the unanimous approval of the other two.

Because it is located in the southwest and the emperor is far away, there are still many bandits in Lingzhou. However, robbers like the Fang family still dare not provoke. On the contrary, the two have some unclear relationship. Sometimes if the Fang family can't deal with enemies head-on, they will use this external force to solve it, which is obviously a good means.

"Okay, let Fang Yuan go this trip. As long as their hands and feet are clean, it's okay to give more money." In the end, Fang Ziyao agreed to this strategy.

Two days later, Xu Jinghong and his entourage have come to the official road less than 30 miles away from Lingzhou, but it still looks a little desolate. Except for a few pedestrians along the way, there is only their vast team of people. Looking at this strange scene, Wang Liehai couldn't help saying, "It seems that this war in the southwest has really had a great impact. Even Lingzhou, which is close to the Central Plains, has become so quiet..."

"What, Liehai, have you been here before? Was it lively here before?" Xiong Geng then asked, getting along along the way has made these people have a certain friendship and is much closer in terms of title.

"Of course, I went to Lingzhou two years ago. At that time, there were still many pedestrians coming and going. Unlike now, even in this afternoon, there is no half a person, and I don't know what's going on in Lingzhou City.

Several people talked and laughed. Wang Liehai said what he had seen and heard in the past. Suddenly, everyone's eyes fell on Xu Jinghong, who had been silent and seemed to be thinking. Everyone had noticed his difference: "Team Zheng, what's wrong with you? Why haven't you been talking?"

Xu Jinghong didn't make a sound until this time, and then looked at the surrounding environment and said, "I always have a feeling that someone is peeping around us, but I can't find it for a while."

"How can there be such a thing?" Everyone was stunned. Everyone thought of Xu Jinghong's sudden vigilance when he escorted food and fodder before, and that time it was because of his sudden feeling that he could turn defeat into victory.

"Mao Shun, you can stay behind and check it later." Xu Jinghong was uneasy and gave an order.

"Yes!" After Mao Shun agreed, he jumped off the war horse and immediately hid in the depths of the woods by the roadside...