Chapter 489 Roots
After Wang Zi'an finished speaking, he didn't forget to look back at Li Yuan.
"You say so, bro——"
Li Yuanqi glanced sideways at Li Shimin, who was standing there with an awkward look on his face. He felt inexplicably happy, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, stroking his gray beard and saying calmly.
"Zian, please don't brag about Haikou. I'm no better now than when I was in office. Shopkeeper Li has a big business and a powerful eye. He may not like me, a bad old man who doesn't care about anything anymore..."
Li Shimin:...
"I don't dare. Your Majesty's words are too serious. Your words are too serious..."
Now, Li Shimin really wanted to rush up and give the prince a big mouth.
This piece of shit is so deceptive, I won’t mention it!
But when he thought that Wang Zi'an didn't know his identity, he lost his temper again.
What else can be done?
This kid is such a warm-hearted person!
While he was persuading himself there, Wang Zi'an had already pulled them to Ouyang Xun, Li Jing and Hongfu Nu.
"This old man is the current Qingguanglu Doctor, Geishizhong, and Hongwenguan Bachelor. He is highly respected and respected——"
Without Wang Zi'an's reminder, Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji quickly handed over.
"Mr. Ouyang, I have admired you for a long time——"
Seeing His Majesty and the two prime ministers saluting him, Ouyang Xun hurriedly returned the salutes.
Prince An stood beside him, looking sad.
"Have you seen that Mr. Ouyang is so old, and has a respected position and high morals? Even the big shots who are respected by His Majesty today are still so humble and polite to you. You don't need to expect any knowledge. Let's just talk about this. To cultivate yourself as a human being, you have to learn more..."
As he said that, he glanced at Li Shimin and the other three, and finally laid his eyes on Changsun Wuji's face.
"Especially you, shopkeeper Zhangsun. I'm not telling you. In the future, don't rely on your relationship with the parents' family, or your closeness to the current queen, to get you as much as two to five or eighty thousand. I have a bad temper..."
Changsun Wuji:...
What am I?
But——the character cannot be destroyed!
He took a deep breath, snorted, and cupped his hands at Ouyang Xun with a dark face.
Ouyang Xun:......
I didn’t say anything——
This scene made Li Jing, who was sitting aside, couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth and feel his scalp tighten, wishing that Wang Zi'an would treat him like a little transparent person.
However, Wang Zi'an still pulled Li Shimin and others over with a smile.
"Sister, brother-in-law, let me introduce to you. Shopkeeper Li is my close friend, my old friend, and my father-in-law, who does business outside the customs. If you have the opportunity in the future, please take good care of me..."
As he spoke, he bowed to Li Jing and his wife in a serious manner.
Li Jing and Hongfu Nu moved their mouths, wanting to say something, but they didn't know how to say it.
He could only smile bitterly in his heart and repeatedly handed over his hands.
"Easy to say, easy to say-"
After helping Li Shimin to ask for favors, Wang Zi Ancai proudly introduced Li Jing and Hongfu Nu to Li Shimin and others.
"Have you seen this, this is also a great man? When he was the Minister of War, he defeated Xiao Xian, settled in Lingnan, defeated Fugong Er, led a large army, defeated the Turks, and captured Jieli Khan's Li Jing and Li Yaoshi—— "
At this point, Wang Zi'an glanced at Li Shimin with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
"If you can hug his thick legs, your waist will be a little stiffer when you run outside the customs in the future..."
Li Jing felt sweat dripping from his forehead.
Do you want His Majesty to hold my thigh?
"Fourth brother, don't talk nonsense, don't talk nonsense. I, Li Jing, am able to achieve this trivial contribution today because of the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty's wise and capable command. It is all due to the bloody battles of my soldiers and their disregard for their own lives. I dare not Taking credit - what's more, I often feel powerless recently. Even for my current position, I am no longer qualified. I have been considering asking Your Majesty to resign and go home to recuperate. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of - Li, shopkeeper Li..."
Chong Zi'an, Li Shimin and others clasped their fists in return.
Li Jing smiled bitterly in his heart, his wife recognized this little brother, what a trap!
Isn't this putting me on the fire?
"This is my newly recognized sister, Zhang Chuchen, a strange woman from the Tang Dynasty and one of the Three Fengchen Heroes!"
With Wang Zi'an introducing important figures to him so enthusiastically, Li Shimin was at a loss, so he had to bring his two prime ministers to visit him side by side. Not even one of them, including the sisters Li Zhishan and Li Zhiruo, was left behind.
"What did you say about the Three Fengchen Heroes just now?"
After Wang Zi'an finished his work and everyone sat down, Hongfu Nu couldn't help but curiously pulled Wang Zi'an's sleeve and asked aloud. When others heard this, they couldn't help but look over curiously.
When Wang Zi'an heard this, he couldn't help but be startled, and then he remembered that what the Three Fengchen Heroes said was actually a legend from later generations.
I had no choice but to laugh and briefly tell the story of the three heroes in the past life.
A group of people, especially Li Jing and Hongfu Nu, couldn't help but be stunned.
"Where did you hear these nonsense stories from?"
The red-flecked girl didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"However, there is one thing in your story that is right. My eldest brother Zhang Zhongjian is so heroic that he is one of the most extraordinary men in the world. Unfortunately, a few years ago, he went to sea on a boat. We have not heard from him for several years..."
While several people were talking, the chef in the back kitchen had already led the servants and came to serve the dishes in person.
As soon as the lid was lifted, a strange aroma suddenly filled the whole house.
Everyone couldn't help but swallowed a mouthful of saliva and picked up chopsticks subconsciously.
Seeing everyone's index fingers moving, Wang Zi'an couldn't help but feel a little proud.
Of all the memories I have encountered during this time travel, the one that satisfies me the most so far is this cooking skill.
Directly improve your quality of life by dozens of percentage points.
Even martial arts and medical skills are ranked behind this.
…
While Wang Zi'an, Li Shimin and others were chatting, laughing and sharing delicious food, Gao Ting was complaining in his heart.
One wave comes after another.
The Wang family's previous human trafficking incident hasn't ended yet, and a large number of them have come over again!
Is this a natural conflict with the Wang family?
Is that right?
I am just a small Wannian county government here, and I, Gao Ting, am just a small fifth-rank county magistrate. I am not the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, nor the Minister of Dali Temple. You want me to accept such a deceptive case?
But what else can be done?
Gao Ting was heartbroken after receiving the mission. He gritted his teeth and stamped his feet, his handsome face distorted.
"Come here, put them all in prison and keep them under strict guard!"
The Wannian County lieutenant who was following him couldn't help being startled by his expression. He turned around and went out to make arrangements himself.
Before he even went out, he heard Gao Ting's supplementary words behind him.
"Strictly guard, no one is allowed to visit——"
Seeing the county lieutenant looking at him in confusion, he didn't explain, just stared at him and reiterated again.
"I'm talking about anyone! If anyone makes a mistake, I will chop off his head!"
…
And inside the Wang family, it has become a mess.
I heard that the servants I sent to arrest people were all captured by Wuhou's army in Nanya, and they and their goods were detained in Wannian County Yamen. Moreover, the people from the Wang family who went to negotiate in person did not directly block the return.
Don't tell me, if you want the people and goods back, you won't even be allowed to see them.
"Gao Ting, Zhu Zi, my Wang family is at odds with yours!"
Before he finished speaking, the head of the family, Wang Yan, vomited three liters of blood and fainted.
Wang Gui, who was temporarily in charge of family affairs, lost his usual calmness and frowned, pacing back and forth in the study.
"Second uncle, we can't delay it any longer. Please make up your mind on what to do!"
"Yes, second uncle, please get a charter. This is not an option..."
"..."
This time, in addition to those who stayed behind in their hometown in Taiyuan, almost all the leaders of the family rushed back spontaneously.
Everyone is discerning and naturally knows the seriousness of this matter.
First, the power that the family had worked so hard to manage in Nanya was wiped out with a thunderous force. More than a dozen heads are still hanging bloody outside the Nanya gate.
Later, the guards sent by the Wang family were made dumplings on the spot by Wu Houwei's people.
Even the goods and manpower were seized—
Gao Ting also showed unprecedented toughness.
All this reveals an unusual meaning.
There seemed to be a layer of dark clouds hanging over the Wang family, and everyone couldn't help but feel heavy. Even some of the servants couldn't help but walk more slowly.
Wang Gui looked around at everyone, and after everyone's voices slowly disappeared, he looked at Wang Shouyuan.
"Shouyuan, what do the other families say?"
"The companies in Guanlong didn't reply. On the Shandong side, except for the Cui family in Qinghe who said they would help, no one has responded yet -"
Wang Shouyuan looked a little ugly.
Those guys who used to be so affectionate, call each other brothers, talk about being in the same spirit, and have five surnames and one family, all of them are gone after this incident.
Wang Gui was silent for a long time after hearing this, and then nodded slowly.
"Except for farms, salt and pig iron, all other businesses, shops, and other industries should be put away first..."
As soon as these words came out, the crowd suddenly became confused.
"Second uncle, the matter has not reached that point -"
Wang Shouyuan had an incredible look on his face.
"Shujie, do you know what your words mean? Our Wang family's family fortune is not brought by strong winds. It is the ancestors of the family who have overcome all obstacles and accumulated bit by bit for future generations. Every bit of it is It’s all hard-won…”
A skinny old man stood up leaning on the table without waiting for Wang Gui to speak. His beard was trembling and spittle was flying everywhere.
Wang Gui turned to look at the excited old man, his voice slowed down a bit, and he explained harmoniously.
"Then, what does the seventh uncle mean?"
As soon as Wang Gui said this, the old man who was so excited just now suddenly got stuck.
After holding it in for a long time, he waved his withered hands in frustration and said.
"In short, we can't just be like this, just like this..."
Wang Gui couldn't help but shook his head slightly and looked around the crowd with calm eyes.
"Everyone, do you think so too?"
No conversation was made.
The atmosphere was depressing and a bit scary.
After a while, someone asked in a low voice.
"Second uncle, why do we want to shrink the family industry? After shrinking, what will happen to our family's expenses?"
When Wang Gui heard this, he glanced at the middle-aged man who was speaking and recognized that he was a concubine from the second house, but he had some abilities and was now helping with the business at the salt mine.
"If we don't shrink, can we still see it?"
Wang Gui smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"This time, Liuli Trading Company has almost wiped out all the wealth of our Wang family. In order to exchange for hundred steel smelting at the iron mine, there is no room left to supplement the family. You know better than me about the matters at the salt mine. I'm afraid you will also take it in a while. How much money can’t be paid..."
The middle-aged man was silent after hearing the words.
In order to counter the imperial court's salt and iron tax policy some time ago, the salt mine has been suspended for more than a month, and the trading houses have basically stopped selling.
In addition, some time ago, Wang Yan had transferred all the working capital in his hand, and now it is difficult to maintain operations by himself.
The worst thing is not this, but that once production and sales start, not only will you have to bear the consequences of being a rule breaker, but you will also have to face huge salt and iron taxes.
But now in this situation, the Wang family can't stand any of it.
He stood there for a long time before sitting down again with a lonely expression.
Looking at the many tribesmen who were hesitant to speak, Wang Gui looked calm and said calmly.
"As for the family's expenses, when we didn't have these huge industries, weren't they the same as before? What has supported our Wang family to this day has always been not these industries, but people. As long as we people are still there, all the suffering will be gone. It’s all temporary. What’s more, we still have a farm, and we have salt and iron in hand. As long as we manage it properly, our Wang family’s expense problem should not be big..."
Although many people are unwilling to give in, the situation is stronger than others. If the family industry is not reduced, there may be an even bigger avalanche.
The crowd stayed silent and dispersed with their own thoughts.
Only the core elders of the family and Wang Shouyuan were left.
"Second uncle, does our Wang family really have no chance to turn defeat into victory? Our connections are still there, and our heritage is still there, why..."
As soon as the crowd left, Wang Shouyuan couldn't help it anymore.
Wang Gui smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Why do you think our Wang family is here today?"
Wang Shouyuan couldn't help but be startled, with a look of doubt on his face, and he said tentatively.
"Is someone guilty of committing a crime?"
Wang Gui shook his head.
"My father refused to agree to your majesty's request for food and marriage. Did you bring shame on your majesty?"
Wang Gui shook his head again.
At this time, the remaining core members could no longer bear it.
"Second uncle, tell me, why is this happening?"
"Why?"
Wang Gui stood up silently, put his hands behind his back, walked to the window, looked at the sky in the distance, and sighed leisurely.
"The peak will inevitably decline, and the sun will fade and the moon will fade. Our Wang family has grown too fast in the past few years, and we don't know how to restrain ourselves. If we don't take the opportunity to rectify our dormancy, I'm afraid we are not far from overthrowing..."
As soon as these words came out, some of the people in the room were silent, some were stunned, some were thoughtful, and some were puzzled.
Wang Gui also had no intention of talking anymore.
At this time, in the backyard of the Wang family, in the master's bedroom, the master Wang Yan woke up leisurely.
After staring blankly at the purlins on the bed for a long time, he beckoned over to a trusted guard who was always protecting him. He took out the family head's seal from his arms and solemnly placed it in his hand. After whispering a few words in a weak voice, the middle-aged guard nodded, bowed deeply to Wang Yan, and turned away.
Soon, a man and a horse followed the crowd quietly out of the west gate of Chang'an, heading towards the west, and rode away.
…
At this time, Wu Guogong's mansion.
Yuchi Jingde was looking at the drawing in his hand with a shocked expression, a fanatical expression in his eyes.
(End of chapter)
