News of Gao Tianshi's "sudden death" quickly spread throughout Guangzhou. This famous "local magistrate" who was even feared by the Jin gentry was still alive and kicking a few days ago, but suddenly died of an "emergency". Gao Tianshi's death immediately became a hot topic in the streets of Guangzhou.
Rumor has it that Gao Tianshi was "possessed by an evil spirit." Many people vividly claimed that Gao Tianshi was actually related to the Maojia Inn case. He practiced sorcery and was refined into a monster that backfired, causing ulcers all over his body and sudden death.
The rumors naturally spread to Liang Cunhou's study. Liang Cunhou just smiled slightly when he heard the news. Ask the boy who is inquiring about the information to step back.
It was early summer, and the sun outside was scorching and extremely dazzling. However, standing in front of the long carved window of the study, it is still cool and pleasant - the sunlight cannot penetrate the deep and wide eaves, and can only cast the shadow of the lower lever in the corridor.
The birds under the corridor have all been hung deep in the corridor to protect them from the sun. Several maids were waiting on the porch, not hearing a single sound.
Although they are still dressed as maids, most of these maids are actually past their prime, and two are already over thirty - the leading maid is a middle-aged woman in her early forties. Cultivating maids is popular in Guangdong, and the Liang family is no exception. The maids who can serve Liang Cunhou will naturally not be the maids who have recently joined the house.
Seeing the master appear at the window, the maid in charge took a step forward, ready to obey orders. Seeing that the master showed no expression, he quietly retreated.
This deep compound surrounded by high walls still did not make Liang Cunhou feel safe. He even felt that the foundation under his feet was slowly shaking.
The Australian's troubles in the city of Guangzhou naturally did not hinder him, and could even be said to be beneficial: in the past, just the "regular silver" expenses of entertaining people at all levels of government offices each year were reduced by thousands of taels of silver. The streets are clean and the roads are smooth. Although he always rides in a sedan when going out, he still feels refreshed and comfortable.
However, the letters sent from the countryside made him feel that the crisis was imminent. The stewards of his rural farms in Nanhai, Panyu, Dongguan and other places wrote letters one after another, saying that the Australians had begun to measure the acres. The large number of "hidden fields" may make it difficult to continue to be "hidden".
This is the second point. The key is that when measuring the acres of land, it will inevitably involve the issue of "donation" of land in the past, because there are rumors that Australians will soon re-issue land titles. According to the policies implemented by Australians in Hainan and other places in the past, land owners who “donate” land will no longer recognize that the original owner has any rights to the land if they do not take the initiative to explain the problem and re-register the land title. In other words, the past model of small and medium-sized landowners and rich peasants evading taxes by "donating" land property rights and then getting back "permanent tenant rights" is no longer feasible.
As soon as the news came out, many landowners and rich peasants who had originally donated money to the Liang family were shaken. The public claim for land deeds had not yet happened, but the call for the Liang family to "find a way" has never stopped. Some people even came directly to Liang's house to inquire.
Although Australians this year's summer Fu still follow the old Ming Dynasty practice of "Xiao Gui Cao Sui", and there will probably be no changes in the Autumn Fu, but "cleaning up Tian Fu" is already an urgent matter!
If I can't come up with a countermeasure quickly, the Liang family's farms in various counties may soon fall apart. This large family seems to be prosperous and prosperous, but without the rent paid by the tenants, it would be a tree without roots and would fall down in an instant.
While he was thinking hard, Suixue quietly walked out from the depths of the study and whispered a few words in his ear. He nodded immediately, turned around and walked deeper into the study.
Deep in the study room, there is a small library filled with bookshelves and bookcases. He fiddled with a bookcase, and the bookcase opened like a door. He walked in, and found a small secret room. Instead of white walls, it was surrounded by strange rocks and a ceiling. It's a thick stone strip - this is the heart of the rockery outside the back wall of the study.
In the secret room is an old man wearing rough clothes and wooden shoes, who is Taoist Mu Shi.
Not only did he change his clothes, but his appearance also changed a lot. He looked very old and looked like an old farmer who had been working for many years.
"It's not appropriate for you to come here." Liang Cunhou's voice was very indifferent, "The trees here are big and attract the wind, and I don't know how many eyes are watching from outside."
Taoist Mu Shi laughed and said, "Don't worry, sir. No matter how capable the Australians are, how can they still see into the Six Meridians Canal? I just escaped from the soil and came to you."
There is a culvert in Liang Mansion that leads to the Liumai Canal. Liang Cunhou had long heard that this canal was as wide as a river and could be used for boating. When I was young, I wanted to go down and have a look out of curiosity, but as soon as I opened the stone slab and went down, I found that the inside was pitch black and full of dirty water and filth. The filthy air accumulated over the years was simply unbearable. It is said that in the past, thieves tried to sneak into the houses of wealthy families through the channels and were suffocated to death by the foul smell inside.
This Wood and Stone Taoist was able to pass through it without any hindrance. It was not surprising that Liang Cunhou knew that he had a "secret skill". Said: "Gao Tianshi is dead now. But Wu Zhiqi was captured by the Kun thieves - he knows a lot of things..."
"It's a pity that he was assigned a purpose at that time and could not get rid of him in time! These urban foxes and rats are more likely to fail than succeed!" Taoist Mu Shi said bitterly, "But don't worry, sir, this country ghost fire Taoist priest still has some good deeds. , can withstand the severe punishment of the thief Kun - not to mention that if I extract his soul, he will have to endure the punishment even if he wants to go to the underworld after death."
Liang Cunhou said: "If that's the case, I'll be relieved. However, Taoist priest, you're not safe in Guangzhou, so it's better to take the best approach."
"If I leave now, what will happen to the important things entrusted by Shi Weng?" Taoist Mu Shi shook his head and said, "Half of the artifacts in the Liumai Canal have been put away. It's a pity that the magic objects can no longer be refined, and this formation also It's only half done! This is because Kun Thief's energy has not been exhausted!" He sighed.
Liang Cunhou also sighed secretly.
"The plan has failed. The Kun thieves are very lucky, but the poor man still has a plan. He just needs your help, Mr. Liang."
"But it's okay." Liang Cunhou said.
"When Shi Weng was in Nanjing, he once heard Master Yun Zhongyue, the master of Kanyu, mention that Guangzhou has always had the aura of an emperor. Although the Zhenhai Tower and Ma'angang were excavated, the aura of the emperor has not disappeared. The bandits occupy Guangzhou, but they cannot become an emperor. , it is not difficult to seize a corner and become a grass-headed king. Nowadays, the court is busy, and the southeast is where wealth comes from. We must not allow the thieves to occupy the magpie's nest and sit on the big side. Only then did Shi Weng send the poor Taoist to destroy this. The royal aura of the city. Master Yunzhongyue said: Baiyun Mountain in the north of the city is connected to the Guangzhou territory. Dig a canal between the Baiyun and Yuexiu mountains and cut off the Ma'anshan area. Then the royal aura will be dispersed, and the thieves will never be able to take away the aura of the Ming Dynasty. You're lucky." Taoist Mu Shi said.
Liang Cunhou nodded. Drilling ditches is a project. It cannot be done by just a few people hiding in secret. Not only does it require manpower and material resources, but it also requires the permission of the thief. This is no easy task.
Taoist Mu Shi added: "Fortunately, Kun Thief is now digging and clearing ditches. If someone whom Kun Thief has always trusted can write to Kun Thief and propose digging the Bei Hao to connect it with the Dong Haoyong, this can be done."
Liang Cunhou understood what he meant and said: "The students have understood what the Taoist Master means. We must try our best!"
"The difficulties and risks involved in this matter are also clear to Pindao. Shi Weng said: He will never forget the risks the young master took in Guangzhou, and he will definitely make up for it in the future!"
"If I covet peace and wealth, why should I be in trouble with the Kun thief? In terms of friendship with the Kun thief, the students are not inferior to Gao Zhi. As long as they add a little color, why not worry about becoming the new rich in Guangzhou!" Liang Cunhou sneered, "It's just that the students know the Kun thief. The goal is to dig out the foundation of scholars like us for eternity! As the saying goes, if there is no skin left, the hair will be attached. How can the Liang family not understand this truth because they have been favored by the emperor for generations. Don't worry, students will do their best. "
After sending Taoist Mu Shi away, Liang Cunhou knew that it was not easy. Although the Liang family has long been in contact with the Kun thieves and has the past of co-founding a charity, it is reasonable to say that they should be the most popular "Australian new rich" besides the Gao family. , the relationship between the Liang family and the Australians has become estranged. In the past few years, it has been just a matter of asking questions and reciprocating courtesy. After the Kun thieves entered the city, the Liang family did not try to get involved, and only responded to the Australians' invitation. Therefore, the relationship between the two parties was not repaired, but became increasingly cold.
After the visit to Chunyuan, Liang Cunhou realized that his family was actually under the "eyes" of the Australians. When he went to submit a letter, in the eyes of the thieves, he was "showing courtesy for nothing." If someone who is proficient in Kanyu sees the clues, our family will be in disaster!
Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to come forward on your own. There must be someone else - not only must this person be trusted by the thief, but he must also have nothing to do with him.
For a moment, he thought of Huang Kunkun, but then he thought about it. Although Huang hated the Kun thief deeply and had an old relationship with the Kun thief, he knew the true face of his rebellion against Kun. If the matter was exposed, he would There is no way he could withstand the torture of the bandits.
He thought hard and suddenly thought of Wu Ji. This man was also a member of Yuyuan Society and was very proficient in Kun studies. Many of his sociology classmates are now working for Kun Ze, and they are the kind of talents that Kun Ze likes.
Although he knew himself, his relationship with him was very shallow. At most, he just thought that he was "disgusted" with Kun Thief. Even if he is exposed in the future, his family will be torn apart.
The most important thing is that Liang Cunhou originally intended to support a group of people from the Yuyuan Society and planned to arrange for him to enter a private school this year and become a scholar. However, because the Australians occupied Guangzhou, this matter was completely ruined. Wu Ji is still unhappy and full of resentment towards Kun Thief.
It would be an excellent choice to use him to provide suggestions. He secretly thought, aren't the Australians about to hold the imperial examination? Just let him go!
