Government orders come from the top down.
After setting a tax standard.
Officials visited the neutral noble families and country gentry in Jiangjie City respectively. County official Chen Shiyuan is from this county and is a real local snake.
He has friendships with most of the wealthy families and squires in the city. Even if he doesn't have friendships, he is still a familiar face. He left the county government office with two government officials and rode on a small black donkey with a golden bell around its neck.
"Jingle Bell"
Amidst the crisp ringing of bells, he arrived outside the Cheng family mansion. After negotiating with the concierge, the two government servants who came with him were invited to a side room for tea.
Chen Shiyuan was led to the main room by the concierge. After receiving the news, Cheng Ruixiang and his two sons waited in front of the main hall.
"Master Chen." After seeing Chen Shiyuan, Cheng Ruixiang bowed politely with his fists clasped.
"Ji Ren Gong, please kill me." Chen Shiyuan's expression changed slightly, and he quickly returned the salute with clasped fists.
Whether in Chu or Goguryeo, the Juren Master held a certain position in the food chain, while county officials like him were not in the upper echelon.
He only knew Cheng Ruixiang and had little contact with them. In the past, this master who held the title of Juren would not be so polite to him.
Chen Shiyuan felt a little proud in his heart.
It’s really thirty years to the east of Hedong and thirty years to the west of Hexi. I come out to help the general, so I can be so prosperous.
Although the general is now withdrawing his troops and returning to Liaodong, I am satisfied with the glory of this moment.
After the two exchanged pleasantries, Chen Shiyuan gradually became calmer and sat down on an equal footing with Cheng Ruixiang.
The two came to the main room and sat down on the two Taishi chairs on the north side. Brothers Cheng Jiushan and Cheng Jiuhai were sitting on the left and right respectively.
"Ji Ren Gong. As the saying goes, you don't go to the Three Treasures Palace for anything. I am here to visit you this time." Chen Shiyuan first explained the background, and then said: "After my general entered Goguryeo, he did nothing to the common people. For you rich people and country gentry, , and there has never been any robbery."
"Since ancient times, there have been wars and chaos. The one who has soldiers in his hands is King Caotou. Which general or soldier enters a prosperous city like Jiangjie City and doesn't want to plunder it?"
"My general has enforced military discipline. So the rich and the country gentry have to be grateful. Juren Gong, don't you think so?"
At this point, Chen Shiyuan narrowed his eyes, swept away the calmness just now, and his expression became a little dangerous.
Cheng Ruixiang and his son are not ordinary people. How could you not tell that Chen Shiyuan wanted to help Wu Nian collect money? The father and son were not surprised but delighted.
This gentle method is used to collect money. Instead of massacring and looting the city.
This general who assisted the Han Dynasty can be regarded as an end.
He is a good general.
"That's what Mr. Chen said. We, my father and our son, are deeply grateful for the general's kindness." Cheng Ruixiang took a deep breath and saluted with clasped fists seriously.
"Yes. Ju Ren Gong is really sensible." Chen Shiyuan showed a satisfied look, nodded gently and affirmed Cheng Ruixiang, and then said: "Now my general is short of military resources. Please Ju Ren Gong donate three hundred taels of silver. I don't know. Ju Ren Gong, what do you think?"
Cheng Ruixiang immediately said: "Don't worry about it." He turned to look at Cheng Jiuhai and said: "Go to the warehouse immediately and get three hundred taels of silver."
"Yes." Cheng Jiuhai answered with fists clasped, immediately stood up and turned around to leave.
While Cheng Jiuhai hadn't come back yet, the two had another heated conversation. When Cheng Jiuhai came back, he came to Chen Shiyuan with a wooden box in his hand and bent down to offer it.
Chen Shiyuan stretched out his hand to take it with a smile, then stood up and said to Cheng Ruixiang: "Juren Gong. I will go back to resume my life. We will talk when we have time."
"Okay." Cheng Ruixiang agreed immediately, and then the father and son sent Chen Shiyuan out of the door in person. After watching Chen Shiyuan leave on his little donkey, they returned to the main room and sat down together.
"Father. Wu Nian is really going to retreat. This is really great."
"Yes, father. Although Wu Nian invaded Goguryeo and caused a lot of trouble to Goguryeo. But for us, we only lost three hundred taels of silver. After all, we did not surrender to Wu Nian, and our reputation is still there."
Brothers Cheng Jiushan and Cheng Jiuhai looked happy.
"Yes. Congratulations." Cheng Ruixiang was also happy, stroking his palms and smiling. After a pause, he looked at Cheng Jiuhai with a smile and said, "It would be a pity not to have a drink for such a good thing. You go to the kitchen right away and let the cook prepare a table of good food, and we, Master, will have a good drink."
"Yes." Cheng Jiuhai responded with a happy face, turned around and went down.
Word spread.
Everyone in Jiangjie Mansion and Yizhou Mansion knew that Wu Nian was about to withdraw his troops.
This war is about to end.
For the people of Goguryeo, this war did not cause much trouble. For wealthy families and country gentry, it caused huge changes.
Some loyal ministers abandoned their family business and fled to the capital with their families in tow.
Some outsiders and careerists have turned to Wu Nian and are now preparing to run away with him.
Most of them are neutral families like the Cheng family, who have lost money and eliminated disasters.
It's great that Goguryeo will soon become the familiar Goguryeo.
Soon, Wu Nian's withdrawal of troops was confirmed.
Among Wu Nian's five thousand warriors stationed outside Jiangjie City, Longqie's troops began to escort the grain, weapons, military supplies, copper coins, silver, gold, etc. collected in Jiangjie Mansion along the main road. Go to the Yalu River.
............
Beijing.
Li Yunchong's residence, inside the main hall.
Zhao Mancheng was dressed in white clothes with narrow sleeves and sat on the Taishi chair. His eyes seemed to be closed but not open. As his name suggests, he is a snow unicorn. Dressed in white, not stained by dust.
Li Yunchong was very restless, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. After a long time, he stood still and turned to Zhao Mancheng: "General Zhao. What do you think?"
"How about what?" Zhao Mancheng opened his eyes and said calmly.
Li Yunchong smiled bitterly and shook his head: "General Zhao, why do you ask questions knowingly? I am talking about Wu Nian's withdrawal. Is this true? Or is it false?"
"So what if it's true? So what if it's false?" Zhao Mancheng shook his head slightly, then grabbed the armrests of the Grand Master's chair with both hands and stood up, saying.
"General Li. I know what you mean. But we can't gamble anymore. If we lose the bet, we lose everything. If we win the bet, we just get part of the land in Liaodong."
"Gamblers all know that a small gain can lead to a big gain. If we can win two Liaodongs or even more in this battle, then we can bet."
"The current situation is not worth our gamble."
"Losing the bet means the country will perish."
"So I think that no matter what happened to Wu Nian, is it really because of the plague that he wants to withdraw his troops, or is he just trying to make us go to war?"
"We have only one solution."
"It is as immovable as a mountain. As long as I hold the capital, I will be invincible. Why gamble?"
Zhao Mancheng's expression was very calm, but his eyes were a little stern. Although the current domestic situation is still dominated by the Li family.
But the importance of the Zhao family cannot be underestimated. Li Jinzhu and Li Yunchong both trusted Zhao Mancheng's ability and knew that the real backbone was Zhao Mancheng.
Zhao Mancheng has a heavy responsibility and must stay calm. As in the current scene, he must be strict.
Just as Li Yunchong was about to speak, there was a sudden noise outside the door.
