At the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Sima Rui, king of Langya, was ordered to leave the town of Jiangdong and came to Jiankang. With the support of the northern gentry led by Wang Dao and the Jiangdong gentry, he established the Eastern Jin Dynasty regime.
The northern gentry is dominated by Wang Xie Yuan Xiao, while the southern gentry has four surnames in Kuaiji, Yu (Yu Fan, the Cavalry Commander of the Eastern Wu Dynasty), Wei (Wei Teng, the meritorious Cao of Kuaiji in the Eastern Wu Dynasty), Kong Yu (Kong Yu, a descendant of Confucius). The Chariot and Cavalry Generals of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xie Feng (Xie Feng, General Annan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Guangzhou Governor, and Official Secretary), together with the four surnames of Wu County: Gu (Gu Yong, Suhou of Eastern Wu, Prime Minister, Pingshang Shushi), Lu (Lu Xun, Zhaohou of Eastern Wu, Prime Minister) ), Zhu (Zhu Huan, Marquis of Jiaxing of Eastern Wu, former general, Qingzhou Mu), Zhang (Zhang Wen, Yilang, Xuan Cao Shangshu, Prince Taifu) are the top aristocratic families in Jiangnan.
The eight local clans in Jiangnan are all based on literature. In addition to these eight families, there are also the Zhou family of Yixing and the Shen family of Wuxing. These two families belong to the Wuqiang clan and are known as "the most powerful people in Jiangzuo are not as strong as Zhou Shen". say.
The Yixing Zhou family originated from Zhou Li, the general of Wu State Pi and the prefect of Poyang during the Three Kingdoms period. Zhou Li was the father of Zhou Chu, and Zhou Chu was the father of Zhou Qi and Zhou Zha. The Wuxing and Shen family originated from the Wuxing and Shen family of Shenrong, the Marquis of Haihun in the Eastern Han Dynasty (Shen Rong had three sons, and Shen Qing's branch was the third son of Shen Rong, Shen Jing, while the lineage of Shen Linzi and Shen Tianzi originated from Shen Rong's second son, Shen Hu).
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Shen family of Wuxing, Shen Chong, was a wealthy man. He once cast small five-baht coins in Longxi (southwest of today's Zhongguan Township). They were known as "Shen Chong Wu-baht" and "Shenlang coins" in the world. They are still circulating in the market today.
In addition, the southern gentry at that time included He (He Qi), Sheng (Sheng Xian), Zhang (Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong), Zhou (Zhou Yu), Zhuge (Zhuge Jin), Bu (Bu Zhi), Yan (Jin), Hu (Hu Cong), Xue (Xue Zong), Kan (Kan Ze), Wu (Wu Can), Ji (Ji Liang), Dai (Dai Lie), Ding (Ding Gu), Tao (Tao Ji) ), Gan (Gan Ning) and many other families.
Sima Rui led the northern nobles to the south, and used Wang Dao to win over and suppress the Jiangdong nobles. The eight ethnic groups who were based on literature were excluded from the court. Few Jiangdong gentry served, and the Jiangdong gentry clan gradually became a supporting role. The court was taken turns to be in charge of the northern clans such as Wang, Yu, Huan, and Xie.
At the beginning, Zhou Qi of the Zhou family in Yixing (the son of Zhou Chu who eliminated the three evils) cooperated with Dao Wang and united with Gu Rong, He Xun and other Jiangdong nobles to put down the rebellion of Shi Bing, Chen Min, Qian Juan and others, and was known as "Sanding Jiangnan". Because the northern gentry excluded the southern clans, Zhou Qi was resentful and conspired with the Jiangdong gentry to launch a coup. He died out of anger and anger.
The Wu Xing Shen family, who were also powerful, were attracted by Wang Dun, participated in Wang Dun's rebellion and were annihilated. After the defeat, Shen Chong died, and the Wu Xing Shen family became the Xing family. It was not until Shen Chong's son Shen Jin died fighting in Luoyang that the Eastern Jin Dynasty commended his loyalty and bravery before lifting the confinement of the Shen family in Wuxing. Shen Jinyizhi is the ancestor of Shen Qingzhi.
The local families in Jiangdong had different attitudes towards the Jin Dynasty. After the Jin Dynasty moved south, the Yuyao family used their family's local influence to actively help the Sima family consolidate their power. Therefore, they were reused by the Sima family. Yutan (General Wei, Youguang) Dr. Lu, Shizhong, Marquis of Wuchang County), Yu Xi (a great Confucian scholar, who was given the title of a regular servant on casual cavalry but could not do so), Yu Yu (a regular servant on casual cavalry, Marquis of Pingkang County), Yu You (left general Sima), Yu Xiaofu (Shi Zhong) and many other Yu family's descendants served as officials in the imperial court.
When Wang Dun rebelled, Yu Tan was recuperating in Yuyao. He heard that Shen Chong followed Wang Dun and raised an army to rebel. He recruited more than ten thousand people from the local clan to serve the king. This shows the power of the Yu family. The Yu family in Yuyao is the head of the four surnames in Kuaiji.
However, the world changed and the Yu family, which was prosperous for a while, began to decline because Yu Xiao's father responded to Wang Lian's rebellion. Kong Jing of the Kong family became the first of the four surnames in Kuaiji because of his friendship with Liu Yu.
Liu Yu, the Duke of Song Dynasty, tried to destroy the soil in the land of Sanwu. Yu Liang, the head of the Yu family, hid more than a thousand people in his tribe and was killed by Liu Yu; The sun is fading.
Yu Liang was executed by Liu Yu, and his younger brother Yu Ping took over as the head of the family. At this time, the Yu family was already dilapidated. A large number of tribes were naturalized as citizens from the clan, and more than a thousand hectares of land were confiscated and transferred to the public. Branches of the clan were clamoring to separate their families, secretly carve up the clan property, and some even secretly sold off the clan property they handled.
Even so, an emaciated camel is bigger than a horse. The business money on both sides of several streets in Yuyao City belongs to the Yu family. Nearly a thousand hectares of fields and forests in the west of the city belong to the Yu family. However, countless pairs of blood-red eyes were staring at the Yu family's property, ready to bite the fat flesh and blood from the Yu family's body.
Yu Ping did not live in a house in the city, but in a manor in the west of the city. The weather has been good this year and the rice fields have a bumper harvest. More than 240 kilograms of rice can be harvested per mu. The clan was short of manpower, so Yu Ping had to hire minions to help harvest the rice.
Dong Guang, the magistrate of Yuyao County, sent officials to collect the land tax. He said that Song Gong was recruiting troops in Jingkou. This year, the field tax was three shi per mu. The Yu family had 8,000 acres of land. The total land tax was 24,000 shi. In addition, The various miscellaneous donations and field taxes paid have exceeded 30,000 shi, and including the expenses of hired labor, transportation, etc., it will account for nearly 60% to 70% of the harvest, while it will not exceed 30% when the Yu family is prosperous.
"Sir, this is not an option if we continue like this. Sell some of your land." Yu Zhi, the eldest son of Yu Ping, smiled bitterly and said, "The Xie family sent someone to ask again."
Yu Ping slapped the table hard and cursed: "The Xie family is a vicious dog. They want to buy the Yu family's farmland for 50% of the price. I would rather give it to the Kong family than give it to him."
Yu Zhi said in a seductive voice: "The magistrate Dong is very anxious to ask for money. Even those humble officials dare to ask for money from the Yu family. The sixth uncle (Yu Da) is outside the Yingyang County. These people are paying less and less attention to the Yu family." .”
There was a slight pain on his chin. Yu Ping found that he had broken several beards. He carefully placed the broken beards on the table and said angrily: "Everyone pushed down the wall. Duke Song is dissatisfied with the Yu family. These people will add insult to injury and take advantage of the situation." Already."
Yu Zhi hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir, why don't you ask Kong Jigong (Kong Jing) for help. He was trusted by Song Gong and was recently appointed as the leading general. Although the Yu and Kong families had some discord in the early years, Kong Jigong was a kind man and might be able to ask Song Please say a few good words to the Yu family."
Yu Ping shook his head and sighed: "It's useless. Liu Deyu wanted to learn from Huan Xuan. He was born in a poor family, so he would definitely take the opportunity to suppress the wealthy family. The Yu family offended him when the earth was broken, and put the hilt of the knife in his hand. Liu How could Yu easily spare the Yu family? It's ridiculous that Xie Hu thought that vigorously suppressing the Yu family would please Liu Yu, but he didn't know that after the Yu family fell, it would be the turn of the Xie family and other aristocratic families."
Hearing the words "Yu family's defeat", Yu Zhi's face turned pale and he whispered: "Since you think the Yu family is doomed, you should make arrangements in advance. The fields cannot be taken away, so just exchange them for money."
Yu Ping closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said: "Instead of being embezzled by others, it is better to separate the family earlier. Haven't the people in the clan been clamoring for a separation, so let's go with their wishes and separate."
Yu Zhi heard the pain in his father's words. Once the family is divided, it will be torn apart and it will be difficult to get together again. The Yu family will be completely ruined because of the separation. It is not known when there will be a chance to rise again.
"In October, when the ancestors are in the dark, the heir hall will be opened to worship the ancestors. Zhi'er will notify the elders of each house to arrive and discuss the matter of family separation." After Yu Ping made up his mind, his attitude became more decisive and said: "As a father, I will help you brothers. The four of you prepare some things, and you call your three younger brothers to come and have something to say to your father."
Half an hour later, Yu Zhi called all three brothers to his father's study. Yu Ping was the eldest son, Yu Ce and Yu Wei were concubines, and Yu Fu was the youngest. The four of them stood in front of their father with some uneasiness. Yu Ping took out a land deed and said to the second son Yu Ce, "This is 800 acres of land in Nankang, Luling County. I bought it in the name of your uncle." , Ce'er will be yours from now on."
Yu Ce gave a salute and silently accepted it. Immediately afterwards, Yu Wei obtained 800 acres of farmland in Kangle, Yuzhang County, and Yu Fu acquired a thousand acres of tea mountain in Jianxing, Shaoling County. It seemed that Yu Ping had already prepared. Yu Ce and others left after telling their sons not to speak out or let anyone know about it.
The eldest son Yu Zhi was left. Yu Ping rubbed the deed at his hand and said: "You are the eldest son. In addition to what the clan should give you, my father purchased 500 acres of camellia forest for you in Wuchang, Changsha, as well as Guiyang County." The five hundred acres of camellia forest in Bian County is given to Changer (the eldest grandson)."
Yu Zhi's nose felt sour. Since Xiangyang was able to use camellia seeds to extract oil, the price of camellia forests has skyrocketed. One acre of camellia forest can grow six to seven hundred camellia trees, and each camellia tree can yield twenty kilograms of seeds. One kilogram of camellia seeds on the market can be exchanged for two kilograms of corn. One acre of camellia forest is more than three thousand kilograms of corn. Compared with Fields are much cheaper.
Xiangyang purchased a large amount of camellia seeds, which caused the price of forests in the Jiangnan area to rise sharply, and many farmers went into the mountains to plant camellia trees. The mountain forests where camellias can be grown have also become in short supply, and prices have skyrocketed.
Yu Ping handed the deed to his eldest son, and when he saw Yu Zhi's face looking sad, he sighed: "Dynasties are still going up and down, and aristocratic families are bound to do this. As long as you raise your children well, the Yu family will eventually rise again."
Yu Zhi nodded and suggested, "Sir, Xiangyang Academy is recruiting students from all over the world. Should we send Chang'er to Xiangyang?"
"No," Yu Ping said, "Chang'er is the eldest grandson, and every move he makes represents the Yu family. Someone is watching his actions. If Chang'er is sent to Xiangyang, Liu Yu will think that the Yu family has disobedient intentions, and the family will be destroyed. To. There will be a battle between the Song and Yong families. If Yong Gong wins, the Yu family may be able to revive."
After putting away the deed to the camellia forest, Yu Zhi remembered something and said, "Sir, please listen to the report from the steward Yu Rong. Someone wants to buy our shipyard and wants to meet you."
Yuyao Linhai, as the former head of the four surnames in Kuaiji, the Yu family naturally had business in Southeast Asia. There was a large-scale shipbuilding shipyard in the family, and there were as many as six small-scale shipyards.
In March, Duke Liu Yu of the Song Dynasty requisitioned various large-scale ships in the name of the imperial court. Three ships of the Yu family were requisitioned. In June, the county magistrate Dong Guang sent fifty taels of gold, saying that the ships were damaged by wind and waves. Song Gong ordered people to compensate.
After Dong Guang left, Yu Ping was so angry that he swept fifty taels of gold on the ground. The cost of building a boat was nearly fifty gold. This was clearly robbery.
The Duke of Song recruited troops to train in Jingkou, and the imperial court issued an order to build warships at major shipyards. The Yu family was also assigned the task of sailing ten ships. As for the wages, Magistrate Dong easily agreed to the corvee.
At this time, someone actually came to buy the shipyard. Yu Ping stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know who the buyer is?"
"Yu Rong said that his accent sounded like he was from Jingkou, and the price he offered was quite sincere."
Yu Ping sat upright and said, "Zhi'er, come forward to meet this boat buyer on my father's behalf."
Pointing towards the north with his finger, Yu Ping said softly: "If there is a visitor from the north, quietly lead him to see my father."
Yu Zhi instantly understood what his father meant and whispered, "I understand, kid."
