Clear your career.
This is Song Mian's recently built villa. Its name comes from Song Zhiwen's poem, "The autumn rainbow reflects the evening sun, and the river cranes make the clear smoke." It is located north of Yanshi County and west of Huiguo Town. It was originally the residence of Guo Taigong. of Phoenix Garden.
Every time Song Mian came from Shouyang Academy, he could feel relaxed, listening to his beautiful concubine playing the piano and tasting the beautiful lady serving tea.
On the third day of March, he hosted a banquet for Xue Bai.
"Xue Lang, please come here, but I remember that there was originally a heavy stone basin here, which was tacky. I planted a bamboo garden instead, how about it?"
“It’s definitely much more elegant.”
"Quan Shi Zhai, how about digging a spring water feature and decorating it with flowers and trees?
"Brother Song has a ridge in his chest, and everything he does with his hands appears elegant."
If Xue Bairuo is willing to praise others, he can speak to the other person's heart whenever he blurts it out. Song Mian was happy to hear this and became more and more friendly, asking, "Do you know the difference between Luhun Villa and Nongqing Villa?
"One on the mountain and one at the bottom?
"Luhun Villa is the family property, but Qingqing Villa is my private property." Song Mian said with a smile, "Thanks to your help, I should treat you well."
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He was able to obtain this special career because of Xue Bai's great contribution, and Xue Bai was not polite to him.
The two of them took their seats in the hall. Meiji, who was wearing tulle, immediately stepped forward and hugged Xue Bai from left to right. One of the Meijis even burst out laughing and said with a showy face: "I said he is the county captain." If you want to come, I am still an old man, but he is so young and handsome."
She was beautiful, and she leaned towards him with lowered eyes. Xue Bai didn't resist, and generously took the fruit she handed him. His little fingers traced his lips, but she quickly took it back, shyly. He sucked on the ground.
"If Mr. Xue likes it, I can take him away in a moment." Song Mian said with a smile.
As the headmaster of Shouyang Academy, he is usually a bit reserved. Being so free and easy in front of Xue Bai is also an expression of trust.
"It's disrespectful, so I would like to thank Brother Song." Xue Bai did not forget the topic just now, and said: "Brother Song said that Lu Hun Villa is a family property, so I guess it will be your inheritance sooner or later?
"Is that possible?" Song Mian waved his hand and said, "I don't even have the family status. The official position belongs to my brothers, and the ancestral property will also belong to them in the future. I am just a teacher."
"Since they have a future, why should they be attached to the ancestral property in Yanshi County? Brother Song has been worrying about it all these years, isn't it?"
Song Mian's eyes flickered and he said with a smile: "So what if you work hard? It's destiny."
Xue Bai said: "Unlike Brother Song, I believe that everything depends on man-made efforts."
Song Mian thought for a moment and felt that they were getting closer to each other. Before, it might have been just the cooperation between the Song family and the county captain, but after these few words, it was the friendship between the two of them. He can deal with Lu Linghao for Xue Bai, and Xue Bai can also help him win Lu Hun Villa.
However, he actually had other things to question Xue Bai today.
"By the way, I heard that you made an announcement that you want to liquidate the land and household registration and exempt the people of Yanshi from the tax?"
"yes."
"In this case, who will pay the shortfall in taxes?"
When it came to business, Xue Bai raised his hand to signal Mei Ji next to him not to come closer, and said: "How about paying the tax in real terms, how much land does each family have?"
He did not raise the household tax, because only by relying on these measures, wealthy households can still avoid household taxes.
But Song Mian still frowned and asked, "This tax...does the Song family also have to pay?"
"pay."
"Xue Lang, you are making it difficult for me to do this." Song Mian shook his head.
Although the two had a close friendship a moment ago, there was a possibility of falling out in an instant.
Xue Bai said: "The Song family can use copper coins to pay taxes."
"The copper coins are not for nothing."
Xue Bai said: "I plan to rebuild an official road from Yanshi County to the upper east gate of Luoyang. This road passes under Shouyang Mountain."
Of course riding a carriage is more comfortable than riding a horse, but it is too bumpy. The problem is not only the car, but also the road. Except for Chang'an and Luoyang, most local carriages are two-wheeled, because although four-wheeled carriages are more stable, there are no suitable roads.
If there was a smooth and straight road, the noble families could take their luxurious carriages from Luoyang to Luhun Villa. This will naturally greatly enhance the reputation and status of Luhun Villa.
"The Song family set an example and responded to the county office to clear land and pay rent and taxes, but in fact they used fake copper coins to build roads for their own family.
It gained not only fame but also benefits. Xue Bai said: "Food will become moldy if stored in the warehouse for a long time, and silk will fade. Why not use it to do something that can increase the price of Luhun Villa?" I can guarantee that if you use this money to pay rent and taxes, the return will be higher than any other business. "
Song Mian was still thinking, but he was obviously tempted, and said slowly: "I need to go back and ask..."
"What matters is what Brother Song thinks. We are two young people, and the elders may not be able to accept our ideas. But sooner or later, it is up to us to take control of the world of Yanshi County."
"Xue Lang, don't worry, this is a big deal, let me think about it."
"How can we be indecisive when doing big things?" Xue Bai said: "I have declared war with Lu Linghao head-on, vowing to fight for the power of a county, and there will be no retreat.
Originally, Song Mian was the master, and it was up to him to question Xue Bai and choose whether to continue to support Xue Bai. After a conversation, he became passive and decided to see if he had the courage to continue cooperating with Xue Bai.
"I know what the old people will say. The Song family started this way, and it will inevitably offend other wealthy families with hidden fields. The old people always think that only by staying together can we get rich together. But listen to them, Brother Song worked hard, and Lu Hun Villa finally It won’t be yours. At most, I will become the master of this small business, and I will be able to see all the achievements in my life.”
Song Mian nodded unconsciously, raised his glass and took a sip.
Xue Bai finally said: "In their eyes, you are just a pawn; only with me, you are a companion."
He knew how much impact his words had on Song Mian, so after he said it, he stopped ordering, picked up the wine glass, and drank the only glass of wine at the banquet that day.
It was night, Xue Bai was not drunk, but Song Mian was, very drunk.
"County Lieutenant... I shouldn't call you County Lieutenant again. You are the head of a county in Yanshi County. I will be the owner of Luhun Villa. The fields and people under Mang Mountain belong to you and me, Yiluo The boats on the river are all carrying your and my belongings... They are all ours."
Xue Bai could imagine the picture he painted.
In the Peach Blossom Spring of Shouyang Mountain, chickens and dogs chatted with each other, and the families of Lao Liang, Jiang Hai and others could live there; a steady stream of copper coins was shipped out and transported along the Yiluo River to Jianghuai to purchase exquisite goods; There was laughter in the autumn harvest fields; merchants in Chang'an and Luoyang also used Fenghui's flying money...
That night, Xue Bai also received a thick stack of letters from Chang'an.
Opening it, I saw Li Jilan's collection of poems.
When he saw that there was a poem in it that read, "After parting, I miss you like the moon, and the water in the clouds reaches the city." Xue Bai avoided his eyes and turned to the back to talk about business.
Li Jilan mentioned that she and Li Tengkong planned to go to Wangwu Mountain to practice with Princess Yuzhen.
Princess Yuzhen now lives in Lingdu Temple on the top of Xiangu Mountain in Yuyang Mountain, located in the Wangwu Mountains, due north of Luoyang, and belongs to Jiyuan County north of the Yellow River.
Li Jilan and Li Tengkong must have passed by Yanshi. But they planned to leave from Luoyang, where they would meet some friends, and then go north to Mengjin Ferry to cross the Yellow River.
The letter was sent in late February, when winter was over and spring was in full swing, making it a good time to travel. Today is the third day of March. Xue Bai received the letter, and driving by car is much slower than delivering a letter by horse. Counting time, they should be able to reach Luoyang in a few days.
At the end of the letter, Li Jilan asked: "Can I meet my husband in Luoyang?"
Xue Bai thought about it and didn't reply immediately. He didn't know if it would be convenient to leave the country recently.
"Song Mian agreed. This is the Song family's land register. After verification, the Song family's tax will be determined based on the actual acres.
When they arrived at Weilang the next day, Xue Bai handed a field register into Yin Liang's hand and said, "In two days, the Song family will transport a batch of money and grain into the warehouse in public to set an example for everyone."
"Okay, with the support of the Song family, this matter is mostly settled." Yin Liang was overjoyed, "Even if any family still wants to oppose it, it has no backbone."
Xue Bai said: "I have a new staff member recently, please meet him too."
"oh?"
Yin Liang turned around and saw an old man with white hair and a round face walking in awkwardly. It was Guo Huan.
"What happened to Guo Lu?"
"Yin Lu, don't be so polite. You are the one recording things now."
Guo Huan still smiled whenever he saw people, and his round cheeks were full of enthusiasm, but there were many wrinkles on his face and his behavior became more reserved. Originally, the county office was his territory, but now it's like he's a guest.
He was released from prison in mid-February. After waiting for half a month, he could hardly support his livelihood, and finally couldn't help but come to see Xue Bai.
Yin Liang was very free and easy, and said openly: "Mr. Guo, don't worry, the Shaofu's ambition is not only Yanshi. Since you are here today, you will gain more than you lose."
"I hope so." Guo Huan didn't have much confidence in this comforting statement, so he smiled a little and said, "I hope I can do my little bit for the young master."
He said it was a small effort, but based on his understanding of Yanshi County, a few words could have a huge impact.
"Right now, the Shaofu has divided various high-ranking families and gained the support of the Song family. The next step is to seize Lu Linghao's power, right?" Guo Huan said, "The young man brought some evidence, these are He embezzled money and food from the county department’s accounts in 2016...
Even this link was completed, and Xue Bai's entire plan to divide the large households, evacuate the county magistrate, and dominate Yanshi was launched.
So far, he has used some official methods, using power to pressure, driving by interests, and using words to impress. If possible, he also hopes to put the power struggle at the level of officials and gentry as much as possible to make the entire situation peaceful and calm.
All games were resolved within the rules without disturbing the court, which would help him make ironware, mint copper coins, open a bank, etc. in Yanshi in the future.
In addition, it is best to reduce damage when solving field problems, not to delay spring plowing, and to avoid too intense conflicts that cause losses to farmers.
Seeing that the progress was going so smoothly at this time, Xue Bai felt a little bit uneasy.
He was also thinking in his mind, could this gentle approach really solve the long-standing problems in Yanshi County?
If it is possible in Yanshi, what about Henan? What about Hebei?
The answer does not lie with him. It depends on whether the 60,000 farmers are living well.
By Luoshui.
Qiao Erwa was carrying grain. He committed murder and was imprisoned. Diao Geng kidnapped him from the prison and prepared to follow him to Yancheng.
Fortunately, the county captain also sent his mother-in-law and Liu Cui. Today they will transport the grain they bought across the river and set off.
Before leaving, he was very sorry that he could not kneel down to thank the county captain for his life-saving grace.
"Okay, the last batch is here." Diao Geng stood on the boat and shouted: "I will cross the river with the grain first, and you will bring the laborers over."
"good."
Qiao Erwa stood there waiting for the workers to gather. She turned around and saw a notice on the pier. He couldn't read, but he had heard that this was the county captain's new policy. From now on, he would not have to pursue death, and the annual rent payment would be reduced by half. In short, it was good for the farmers.
To be honest, he didn't want to follow Diao Geng to Tieshan. A farmer is a proud status nowadays. If he has dozens of acres of farmland, it represents stability, duty and dignity. It is not a coolie's ability to mine in Tieshan. Than.
Qiao Erwa only recognized the word "field" on the notice, so he kept standing there and staring, imagining that if he paid half the tax, saved for a few years, got married to Liu Cui, and had five children, slowly You can make a living by being slow.
He then wanted to memorize this notice so that he could tell them when he met a fugitive in the future. Unfortunately, the clerk who originally read the notice was no longer here.
At this time, a middle-aged man came upstream from the Luo River in a small boat.
This man seemed to be about thirty years old, with a tall build and northern appearance. He had a handsome face, bright and sharp eyes, and a short beard on his upper lip. He looked very smart and capable. Behind him were two followers, both strong men, who were pulling the horses from the ship.
There were three people, but they brought six horses, all of them horses.
The middle-aged man walked to the notice alone and looked at it. His profile has a distinctive feature, the bridge of his nose is straight and straight as if it were carved out.
"That." Qiao Erwa said, "Nian Nian?
It's not that he's rude, it's just that he's bad at speaking. So the steward of the Cui family farm was still nagging, so he immediately beat him to death with a rake.
Asking for help at this time, Qiao Erwa smiled.
"Yes." The middle-aged man nodded, opened his mouth and read: "Xue Bai, the county captain, told the people of Yanshi that because the Qingmiao and Seyi books have not been compiled for a long time, there are many discrepancies in the tax amounts collected by renting Yongdiao...
It was very difficult for Qiao Erwa to memorize such plain talk.
The middle-aged man glanced at him sideways and sighed: "Don't remember it, it's useless."
"Why?"
"They all say that they want to reduce the burden on the people, but the imperial court reduces rents and increases household taxes. Can the burden be reduced? The imperial court said that He Lai is to subsidize the people and give money to the poor. Can the burden be reduced?
At this point, Qiao Erwa no longer understood, but the middle-aged man didn't care at all whether he understood or not, he just said what he felt.
No matter what the notices from the court say, the officers will not show mercy when they come to your house to collect food. Don't believe it.
"I am Xin County Lieutenant."
"oh?"
Only then did the middle-aged man look squarely at Qiao Erwa, staring at him with a pair of see-through eyes, and asked, "Do you know Lieutenant Xue County?"
Qiao Erwa felt uneasy when he saw him and said, "I don't recognize him, but I trust the county captain."
"Then let me ask you, if he is transferred away in a year or two, how do you think this tax can be collected?"
How could Qiao Erwa answer these questions? Seeing that the laborers over there had been assembled, she hurried over.
Two days later, the Song family failed to transport money and grain into the county warehouse in public as promised, which made Xue Bai slightly lose face.
He asked Song Mian about this, and Song Mian still looked very close to him. He smiled and said that the Song family's money and food were not ready yet.
"Did anything else happen?"
"What can we do in this small county town?" Song Mian smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I asked Bo Weng and I will send it to him in a few days."
"Is Mr. Song worried about causing dissatisfaction with other families?"
"Maybe, I don't know. Don't worry, and wait patiently."
That night, Xue Bai talked about this matter with the Du sisters.
Du Shi said: "If you are temporarily afraid, it is possible to regret it."
"I'm not afraid of his hesitation." Xue Bai pondered and asked, "Is it the seventh day of March?"
"yes."
"More than four months have passed since Gao Chong's accident."
Xue Bai had a guess, but it had not been confirmed yet.
"Is there still enough manpower?" He asked Du Wei, "Assign some guys to keep an eye on Lu Linghao, Song Mian, Cui Zao, Zheng Bian and others."
The next day, when he arrived at the county office, Yin Liang hurried over.
"Young Master, some fugitives have sold the land we allocated to them."
"From Jimin Society?"
"No, it was a fugitive who came back not long ago and sold 16 hectares of the 43 hectares of hidden land we demarcated from the Guo family in the south of Mang Mountain."
Xue Bai actually nodded, a little relieved. At least it was not done by the poor farmers of Jimin Society. After all, he had spent a winter telling them the truth.
"Sold to whom?"
"Song family." Yin Liang said: "But it was taken over by one of Song Mian's younger brothers."
Xue Bai was silent for a moment. Those fields he distributed to the fleeing households had not yet been deeded, but were leased to them by the county office. The lease was only for twenty years and agreed to charge a tax of two shi of grain for every thirty acres. It is to make them more confident that heavy taxes will not be levied this year.
No one else, except the Song family, could buy this lease, because Xue Bai needed to take advantage of the Song family the most.
This incident made Xue Bai feel a provocation, or a test. The Song family was testing his attitude.
"Where are the fugitives?"
"Still chasing."
"Ask Xue Xin to chase him and bring him to the field if he finds it."
Xue Bai then left the city and went to the field to see for himself.
March is a busy time for farm work. Farmers have to plow, sow, irrigate, weed, fertilize, and grow some vegetables in addition to grain. Along the way, from time to time, you can see farmers walking swaying with their burdens and two wooden barrels. When they get closer, they find that the inside is full of dung and smells very bad.
"Young Mansion, it's all those acres in front."
Xue Bai looked up and said, "Is someone planting?"
"Xu is a tenant of the Song family." Yin Liang said: "This is fertile land, and now the seeds have been sown. When the autumn harvest comes, there will be at least three thousand shi of grain, so it is natural to send tenants to take care of it.
Xue Bai knelt down and took a look. The soil had been turned over, and dung water was poured on it. There were insects wriggling their soft bodies in the gaps, which showed that it was indeed fertile land.
He looked at a farmer who was weeding not far away and asked, "Is this your field?"
"Alang called me to plant the seeds."
“How much do you get per acre?”
If he can eat well and farm well, Alang will also find a wife for his children. "
It can be felt that the Song family may receive less than the imperial court, and these people speak with different energy.
Xue Bai did not embarrass them. After asking clearly that they were all sent here today, he let them go.
Xue Xin finally came back with a few fugitives, cursing and cursing all the way. When he got in front of Xue Bai, he pressed him down hard and said, "Brother! I brought these ungrateful things back."
Several fleeing households hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowed like pounding garlic, and said very sincere but completely useless words.
"County Lieutenant, I can't help the County Lieutenant..."
Xue Bai recognized several of them, and two of them were fugitives who had blocked the road to petition him when he was building a canal. He didn't actually say much at the time. He just saw the pleading in their eyes, and they were so desperate. The begging was just moved by the hope of living.
They hope to have a field to farm without charging too much mediocre rent, mixed colors, and low wages... He knows that this is a reasonable request, so he has been working in this direction.
Unexpectedly, they escaped first.
"Guan Amai, let me tell you, the fields were just plowed and the seeds were sown. You sold the land? How much did you sell it for?"
"Ten... ten passes."
Xue Bai was not angry at first, but now he was angered by his timid character, and asked: "Ten guans per mu, or ten guan in total for more than 30 acres of land?"
Guan Amai felt ashamed, knelt there, lowered his head and said, "Yes... it's a total."
"Don't kneel to me."
Lao Liang noticed Xue Bai's anger, stepped forward and kicked Guan Amai down, cursing: "I told you to stop kneeling."
"I know my mistake." Guan Amai quickly got up again and continued to kneel.
"Eating dog intestines." Lao Liang kicked him again, "Tell your mother to stop kneeling.
"The county captain forgives me." Guan Amai got up and knelt there again.
Xue Bai asked: "You can't grow sixty shi of grain a year?"
"Sow... you will reap..."
"Then you sold all the land for less than a year's harvest?!"
Guan Amai was frightened and hit his head on the ground.
Xue Bai said: "This is the second time you have sold land. Last year you only sold three stones of grain. Have you become more capable this year?"
"Villain... villain..."
Lao Liang couldn't stand Guan Amai's cowardly look, so he picked up his baggage and threw it on the ground, splashing copper coins all over the ground. This money has been spent a lot, far from ten thousand dollars, but still a small pile.
"County Captain!"
Guan Amai quickly stepped forward and hugged the copper coin, crying: "Please ask the county captain to give this villain a way to survive!"
"Please ask the county captain to give you a way to live. If I give it to you, are you going to leave?" Lao Liang knelt down, picked up a copper coin, broke it off, threw it in front of him, and cursed: "You're a coward, look at it clearly."
Xue Bai then asked how the Song family persuaded him to sell the land, but Guan Amai said that the other party did not persuade him, and he decided to sell the grain when he saw the copper coins.
"Why?"
"The county's tax collection adds up to more than ten guan a year. When the harvest comes, there will be no more than seven or eight guan left. If the year is bad again... I want to do a small business in Luoyang..."
Xue Bai asked: "In other words, you don't believe that I can reduce taxes for you?"
Guan Amai trembled and said nothing, only snot and tears flowed down as a reply to Xue Bai.
On the way back that day, everyone accompanying him, including Yin Liang, was disappointed.
Xue Bai suddenly said: "Although these farmers are illiterate and not very good at talking, they are actually very smart."
"I only see their short-sightedness and ignorance."
"You need to have a long-term vision and be qualified to do it. You can't criticize people who fall into the water from the shore for not learning to swim.
"The people are so stupid that you care too much about them." Song Mian arrived at the county office very early the next day. When he met Xue Bai, he said: "If it hadn't been for this, I wouldn't have known that you had divided the Guo family's fertile land for more than forty hectares. Go out, why bother?”
He said this obviously just to clear things up, but actually there was a slight mockery in his eyes, laughing at Xue Bai's failure because of a few stupid people.
Xue Bai smiled bitterly and said: "I first came to Yanshi, and if I want to surpass Lu Linghao in terms of reputation, I should do some practical things.
"If you offer treasures, the court will remember your merits; if you build a temple, the people will pass on your merits. There are many ways to gain prestige, and you have chosen the most troublesome one."
"Everything has been done."
"What are Xue County Lieutenant's plans for those sixteen hectares of land?" Song Mian looked at Xue Bai, as if observing his reaction, and asked with a smile: "You won't be able to tolerate even this trivial matter of the Song family, right?
"I bought everything, it's yours."
"Thank you."
Xue Bai was also observing Song Mian's attitude and asked, "By the way, are there any guests at Luhun Villa recently?"
"Guest?" Song Mian was stunned for a moment, then shook his hand and responded casually: "There are no guests, why do you ask like this?
"Nothing." Xue Bai answered the question and said, "I want to visit Princess Yuzhen in Wangwu Mountain, north of the Yellow River.
"A time like this?"
Xue Bai immediately asked: "What kind of time is this?"
Song Mian paused for a moment and responded: "Now is the critical time for you to deal with Lu Linghao. It is not appropriate to leave the country without permission."
Both of them spoke with a hint of temptation, and the atmosphere was no longer as harmonious as it had been not long ago.
Xue Bai had a premonition in his heart that became stronger and stronger.
When he saw Du Shi, he immediately asked: "Have you sent someone to investigate? Did you find anything?"
"Today, all the officials and gentry in Yanshi County have only one action." Du Shi said: "Cui Suo has a grandson, and each family sent people to give gifts. By the way, I gave you a pair of jade Ruyi."
"Lu Linghao went there in person?"
"Yes, but it doesn't prove anything. Luhun Villa only sent one steward with eight people."
Xue Bai asked again: "Cui Soo only has his sixth son's wife who is expecting childbirth, right?
"Yes." Du Shi suddenly thought of something and muttered: "I remember last time...it was about Luo Bin's case."
"Yes, Cui Liulang got pregnant by a prostitute, killing two people." Xue Bai said: "His wife returned to her parents' home in Luoyang.
"Did you give birth in Luoyang?"
"How can we have a big banquet for guests if we haven't even picked them up yet?"
"You mean... Gao Shang is here."
"It may not be noble, but someone from Fan Yang should have arrived." Xue Bai murmured to himself: "The other boot finally landed."
That night, Xue Bai thought a lot alone in the yard.
He was thinking about the farmers he saw today, and then thought about whether he was right or wrong in wanting to solve the long-standing shortcomings in Yanshi through a power struggle.
He even thought further... If there hadn't been the Anlushan Rebellion, could the prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty have been maintained?
There is obviously no answer to this question, after all, nothing has happened yet.
Xue Bai only made one thing clear. No matter how difficult or dangerous it was, he had to make changes so that he would not be ashamed of God's kindness.
The reason why Xue Bai suddenly told Song Mian that he wanted to visit Princess Yuzhen in Wangwushan was to deceive him.
Originally, it was only a struggle within Yanshi County. If Fan Yang reaches out, he will also need power from outside Yanshi County.
The reason why Wang Wushan was used to deceive the other party was because of Xue Bai's personal affairs.
After thinking about it, Xue Bai picked up his pen, sharpened the ink, and then began to write a reply to Li Jilan... He just confirmed his itinerary today.
In the letter, he said that he was busy with business recently and could not go to Luoyang or even Yanshi. He had to ask them to go to Wangwushan after meeting their friends in Luoyang. If there was a chance in the future, he would visit Wangwushan again.
After writing this letter, Xue Bai folded it, thought about it, and handed it to Du Wulang.
"Go to Luoyang to see your grandpa. Stay for a few days. When the two Miss Lis arrive in Luoyang, hand the letter to them."
"Should I go?" Du Wulang was very surprised. "How could I not be there at the critical moment of seizing power? Am I not your most important aide?"
"Who said that?"
"Mr. Guo said it."
Xue Bai said: "He always smiles and talks flattery, you don't have to believe it. It will be very helpful to me if you go to Luoyang."
Du Wulang rolled his eyes at him, very unconvinced, and said: "My absence will help you, right? It's really..."
But no matter what, Xue Bai can rest assured if this matter is left to Du Wulang.
Instead, Du Wulang was worried about him and asked, "Is Gao Shang here?"
"How do you know?"
"I didn't know, but everything was going smoothly, but you were suddenly so cautious and wanted to spare me to protect me. I can't think of any other reason..."
Xue Bai didn't bother to correct a lot of Du Wulang's misunderstandings, and mused: "The problem is not that Gao Shang is coming, but that our opponents realized that I was dividing them, and they started to unite."
"Isn't that what I said? You have to make it more complicated."
"This is important because it allows us to identify who our enemies are."
"Who is the enemy?"
Xue Bai knew that those families who held on to ill-gotten gains and refused to let go, and who united to resist whenever there was any trouble, were all his enemies.
