The so-called hidden family has a long history, and it can even be traced back to the founding of the Great Liang.
The founder of Daliang, the founder of the country, not only had outstanding military intelligence and a group of obedient and proud generals, but more importantly, he also needed strong financial support.
If there is no money in fighting, no matter how many people there are, it will not help. Therefore, during Gaozu's campaign, there was a group of wealthy merchants with extremely far-sighted vision and rich wealth who spared no effort to provide logistical support for Gaozu.
They even did not hesitate to sell off their property, but the return on their investment was huge. Gaozu fought in all directions and finally conquered the huge territory of Great Liang.
In addition to conferring kingships on a group of brothers, he also did not treat these wealthy merchants badly.
These merchants were directly promoted into aristocratic families, and all the children of their families were exempted from the scholar examination and directly participated in the county examination as scholars.
Regardless of this condition, it may seem like nothing, but you must know that since ancient times, the feudal dynasty has determined social status based on scholars, farmers, industry and commerce.
At that time, businessmen and family members could not take part in the imperial examinations and become officials. Even if they had a fortune, it would be of no use. Social status determined everything.
That is to say, it is better now. As time goes by, today's businessmen's children can take part in the imperial examination, but if they want to be high officials, there are still restrictions. The maximum is county governor.
Therefore, judging from three hundred years ago, the status granted by Emperor Gaozu to these wealthy merchants was quite noble.
Think about it, while other businessmen's children are still worried that their descendants will not be able to participate in the imperial examination and become officials, these wealthy businessmen with a long-term vision have paved the way for future generations of the family.
During the three hundred years of development, it has experienced various wars. Naturally, some secluded families died due to the wars. Similarly, there are also some secluded families that survived.
And this life is three hundred years, a full three hundred years of accumulation, and the family's children have produced countless talents, candidates, and scholars.
With this kind of background, even the three local giants and families can't make any concessions.
The most important thing is that these reclusive families are extremely low-key and rarely interfere with anything that happens within their borders.
Regardless of whether they are wooed or threatened, these reclusive families remain unmoved and develop silently like spectators.
The only one who can impress them is His Majesty the Great Liang, and he is only loyal to the Emperor of the Great Liang.
Therefore, such a reclusive family also has another name, the royal family.
Precisely because of his high and noble status, even Tang Feng only dared to win over these reclusive families but did not dare to make any decisions.
And it just so happens that in Xizhou, by coincidence, there are three secluded families that have survived to this day, namely the Wang, Chen and Liu families.
Although these three companies are not well-known, their backgrounds are terrifying, and their experiences are equally legendary.
He was one of the first eighteen wealthy merchants to be granted the title of aristocratic family in the era of Emperor Gaozu.
Their legend is that within a hundred years of the founding of Daliang, civil strife broke out in Xizhou, which caused several major hidden families in Xizhou to be affected or even exterminated. Only a few collateral branches escaped. .
After fifty years of multiplication, the top three Jinshi families reappeared in the family. Then, under the nurturing of generations, the reclusive family that had been eradicated came back to life in Xizhou, and only these three families remained.
This is the legendary experience of the three families. With the efforts of generations, the three families of Wang, Chen and Liu have survived until now.
I thought they would keep a low profile. After all, during the three years of Tang Feng's high-pressure rule, these three families did not take any action and acquiesced to Tang Feng's actions.
But after Tang Feng died and Su Qi'an had just taken over Xizhou, these three hidden families suddenly appeared together, and when they appeared, they were not the current generation patriarchs, but the previous generation patriarchs.
The previous generation of clan heads of the three families, no matter their age or status, all crushed Zhou Qi, the newly appointed county governor.
I think back then, these three people also had the title of Jinshi. Although they had never served in Xizhou before becoming officials, they held official positions in other states.
Before taking up their official positions, all three of them achieved the position of county guards. Among them, it is particularly important to point out that the previous patriarch of the Wang family, Wang Tianfang, and more
He achieved the position of Zhou Cheng.
This is also the reason why the three of them don't pay much attention to Zhou Qi. Not to mention anything else, the three of them have so many connections in the officialdom. If they really make a move to kill Zhou Qi, the new county governor, it will be like squeezing to death an ant. .
Not to mention, the families behind the three patriarchs, if you take them out casually, over the course of a hundred years, there will be not only hundreds of people, but dozens of people, and there are even a few people who are in the top three.
With this kind of background, even the three former giants of Xizhou would not dare to offend.
Zhou Qi had a bad premonition when these three big shots came suddenly. On the eve of the reception, he quickly sent the news to Su Qi'an through the dark network.
During the reception, as expected by Zhou Qi, the elders of the three families spoke directly without mincing words.
Zhou Qi was asked to hand over more than 80% of the business in Sichuandu County to three companies to take over.
This is only Sichuandu County. They don't want much from the remaining five counties, and about 60% of the business is handed over to them.
As soon as this condition came out, Zhou Qi secretly scolded these old men for being shameless, but he still had to keep a calm face.
Zhou Qi's promotion to the position of county governor naturally has his own merits. He reacted quickly and said directly, "80% of the business in Sichuandu County will be handed over, so I can consider it. As for the business of the other five counties, due to my status, I cannot order other businesses." As the governor of the five counties, there is nothing I can do about this matter."
Zhou Qi's words were as expected by the elders of the three families. Wang Tianfang didn't even need to speak. The elder of the Liu family said directly, "You don't need to worry about the affairs of the other five counties. I only care about the handover of Sichuandu County. As long as the business of Sichuandu County Once this is done, the other five counties will be easy to handle.”
Zhou Qi knew very well what the old patriarch of the Liu family had planned. As he said, as long as Sichuandu County takes this initiative, the remaining five counties will not be a problem.
No matter how stupid Zhou Qi is, he will never agree to such a stupid thing. Once 80% of Sichuandu County's business is handed over, the economic lifeline of Sichuandu County will be completely controlled by three families.
This is completely a game of being strangled by someone's neck. Nowadays, the Great Liang states want to control it, or have the strength to shock a state.
In addition to having an identity and having soldiers in hand, more importantly, one must have money.
Controlling the business of one county or even several other counties is equivalent to strangulating the economic lifeline of Xizhou.
Even at its peak, Suji Trading Company barely controlled half of Xizhou.
These three old patriarchs have not only huge appetites, but also want 80% of the food. What is the difference between this and a robbery?
Once it is handed over, wouldn't Xizhou fall into the hands of the three families based on their background?
Although the three families seem to have no soldiers, these four words of "Royal Family" are enough to frighten most of the families.
Once you control the economic lifeline of Xizhou, you can raise your arms at will, but still worry about having no soldiers?
The words "Royal Family" are sometimes even more important than Tang Fengzhou Mu.
After all, it was conferred by the great ancestor himself. In a sense, it represented the recruitment of troops by the royal family.
These four words confuse the uncivilized people of Xizhou, just like an imperial edict, they will definitely flock to them.
It is precisely because of this relationship that Tang Feng has not dared to take action against the three reclusive families for so many years.
"These three old immortals never jumped out, but they jumped out at this time. They obviously want to pick peaches."
Zhou Qi cursed secretly in his heart, but he could only receive him respectfully and delay as much time as possible.
As time passed by, the atmosphere in the room gradually became depressing.
Until half an hour later, Wang Tianfang, who had not spoken and closed his eyes to rest, finally spoke.
"Zhou Qi, I know what you are thinking. You just want to delay time until the person who can make the decision appears."
"Seeing as you have just been appointed as the county governor, I have given you this face, drank wine, and waited. But your master is so ignorant that he really thinks of himself as a person?"
"That's right. Isn't it just a mere waiter who has some soldiers in his hand and can defeat Tang Feng by luck, so he can be arrogant?"
"I'm just saying this here. In Xizhou, it's not his turn yet.
Waiting to take over! Patriarch Chen on the side spoke in agreement.
With the three old patriarchs taking the lead, a group of family members followed behind them, and bursts of noise immediately erupted.
Most of them were ridiculing and disdainful, and in the end, they even started to curse.
This scene made Zhou Qi, who was sitting above, turn pale. He clenched his hands, just when he couldn't help but burst out and wanted to have a big fight with these three families.
Suddenly, a cold voice sounded quietly outside the door, "Hmph, I thought the Hidden Family was different from other families, but now it seems that they are just the same thing, a group of bully turtles."
"Whoever dares to insult us is seeking death. Come out!"
The words outside the door instantly ignited the anger of these juniors. They stood up suddenly and cursed outside the door.
Under their gaze, Su Qian walked in slowly.
Following him, there were a large number of guards behind him.
Su Qi'an didn't say anything. The momentum of the soldiers behind him instantly stopped the noise.
These guards and soldiers immediately separated and stood around the corner of the room, with fierce eyes and knife handles in their hands, radiating bone-chilling coldness.
All of a sudden, these noisy and excited descendants of the aristocratic family couldn't help but step back and stand behind the three old patriarchs, looking at Su Qi'an who appeared with flashing eyes.
Su Qi'an stood in the middle. Zhou Qi, who was above him, stood up quickly and wanted to come down to greet him, but Su Qi'an refused.
Signing to sit down, Su Qi'an looked around, glanced at the three old clan leaders, and said coldly.
"Didn't you scream fiercely just now? Now that I'm here in person, why are you giving in?"
"Are these the children trained by the so-called hidden family? What kind of stuff are they? They are worse than a playboy."
"Marquis Dongshan, you've gone too far!" It was Elder Liu who spoke. His face was gloomy, and he was not afraid of the threat emanating from the soldiers behind Su Qi'an.
If they were frightened like this, there would be no need to go there in person.
If the hidden family was such a waste, it would not be possible for Tang Feng to be so afraid.
