Guo Binchang, who was sitting on the main seat, said: "The bosses should not listen to the unfounded rumors outside. If the imperial court wants to deal with the Tiger Character Flag, how could I, as the magistrate of Lingqiu County, not know, and the Tiger Character Flag I have never done anything treacherous, so why would the imperial court take action against the Tiger Flag?"
After speaking, he took a sip of tea.
"Sir, there is a saying that there is no wind without fire, not to mention the situation of the tiger flag. I think none of us here are clear about it. It is not an exaggeration to say it is treason." Li Lidong replied to Guo Binchang.
He did not give the county magistrate Guo Binchang any face.
"Master County Magistrate, don't hide anything from us at this time." Yang Yuqian on the side agreed.
Master Jia, who was next to the county magistrate, smiled and said to them: "This is not deceiving the proprietors. It is really a matter of no concern. Think about it, if the imperial court really wants to deal with the Tiger Flag, it can be solved with the decree of the imperial court. How can a trade name called Tiger Flag still resist the imperial court's will?"
However, he just finished speaking.
Fatty Xu suddenly said, "It seems like the eldest master is just like us, he really doesn't know anything."
"It's Boss Xu that you are too worried." Master Jia said with a smile.
Fatty Xu smiled softly when he heard this and said, "I haven't had a good rest these past two days! I heard that I no longer have the interest to write or write."
As soon as he said these words, the expression of Guo Binchang, who was in charge, suddenly changed.
With the new Lingqiu garrison taking office, the county magistrate never visited him. Coupled with the turmoil in the Datong officialdom, he began to become worried and did not think about food and drink every day.
Unexpectedly, even the local squires knew about his affairs in the county government.
Compared with Guo Binchang's surprise, Master Jia seemed very calm.
County government offices are like sieves in that they can never hide secrets. The six government officials are also closely related to the local squires.
"Big Master, it's been up to now, so let's be honest. We and the Big Master are like grasshoppers on the same rope." Fatty Xu said, looking into Guo Binchang's eyes.
Among the squires in the back office, Fatty Xu was obviously the main one. As soon as he opened his mouth, the other squires stopped talking.
Master Jia, who was standing aside, winked at Guo Binchang.
Speaking of this, he knew he couldn't hide it anymore. The squires in front of him obviously had their own sources of information and knew the court's attitude.
Guo Binchang put down the bowl in his hand and said: "Now that we have said this, I will not hide it from you. There are indeed rumors that the imperial court will take action against the Tiger Flag, but I can guarantee that the imperial court has not issued an order. Deal with the Tiger Flag."
What the other party said is right, they are all grasshoppers on the same rope.
Compared with other officials in Datong, he, the magistrate of Lingqiu, has an inescapable relationship with the Tiger-Character Banner. After all, Lingqiu is the place where the Tiger-Character Banner first appeared, and it was also the home base of the Tiger-Character Banner before it went north to the grassland.
The local squires in front of them all have deep cooperation with Huziqi. Once Huziqi is accused of treason, these squires will at least be charged with treason.
"So the imperial court is ready to take action against the Tiger Flag?" Fatty Xu frowned.
Although I had already guessed this before coming here, now I heard the affirmation from Lingqiu County Magistrate, and my heart was shrouded in gloom.
Guo Binchang nodded.
Master Jia next to him said at this time: "The Tiger-Character Banner has conquered the Tumote tribe. It can be seen that the strength of the Tiger-Character Banner cannot be underestimated. Maybe the imperial court will recruit the Tiger-Character Banner. After all, recruiting the Tiger-Character Banner is equivalent to gaining soil in vain." The land of Merte's tribe expanded the Ming Dynasty's territory."
"Will the imperial court recruit him?" Yang Yuqian said hesitantly.
Master Jia looked over and said with a smile: "It's not like Tiger Character Banner has never been recruited before. That Liu Dongzhu was the guard of Xinping Fort a few years ago and is a fourth-grade guerrilla general."
"I'm still hiding on the grassland now." Li Lidong said at the right moment.
As his words fell, the scene suddenly became silent, and the embarrassment on Master Jia's face flashed across his face.
Regarding Liu Heng's trip to the grassland, many people believed that Liu Heng was worried that the imperial court would take action against the Tiger Flag, so he hid on the grassland in advance.
Although many people outwardly felt ashamed of Liu Heng's behavior of hiding in the grassland, they knew in their hearts that if it were them, they would have made the same choice as Liu Heng.
Fatty Xu didn't want Master Jia to be too embarrassed, so he took the initiative to explain to him: "I heard that the Tiger Flag also has its own business on the grassland. As the proprietor of the Tiger Flag, Liu Heng should go to the grassland to work on business matters."
"Hmph!" Li Lidong snorted.
Fatty Xu spoke up for Master Jia, but he couldn't refute Fatty Xu's face.
Local squires like them know what the situation of the Tiger Flag is in Lingqiu now.
It is true that Lingqiu is the foundation of the Tiger Flag, but that was all in the past. As early as last year, the Tiger Flag had already brought some of Lingqiu's industries to the grassland.
The workshops that made armor, cannons, and guns all moved away from Lingqiu.
The only things left in Lingqiu are some workshops for making ordinary iron goods, as well as the iron yard on Dongshan Mountain and a few villages.
Nothing that really matters to the foundation of the Tiger-Character Flag is left in Lingqiu. They have all moved to the grassland. Even the soldiers of the Tiger-Character Flag have all gone to the grassland. Those who stayed in Lingqiu were those who were established later. The heavy equipment, both in quantity and quality, was not as good as the original army.
"Liu Heng can hide, but we can't." Yang Yuqian said, "Our family fortunes are all in Lingqiu. If the imperial court really wants to use troops against the Tiger Flag, we will be implicated, and you, the eldest sir, will be implicated. In the future, he will also bear the serious crime of rebellion."
As he said that, he glanced at Guo Binchang.
Hearing this, Guo Binchang's face sank.
Even though he knew in his heart that what Yang Yuqian said was likely to come true, he was unwilling to listen to such words.
He just accepted some money from Tiger Flag. If he was being rebellious, he would feel aggrieved for himself.
"We are here this time. One is to confirm whether the imperial court is really going to take action against the tiger-character flag. The other is that we hope that the great master can give us a clear path in case one day the tiger-character flag is taken. When the imperial court launches a campaign of suppression, we people cannot follow the tiger-character flag and die together." Fatty Xu said to Guo Binchang.
"Yes, we can't accompany the Tiger Flag to die."
"Hu Ziqi's rebellion has nothing to do with us. Tiger Zi Qi and I just have ordinary business dealings."
Yang Yuqian and Li Lidong echoed.
Guo Binchang, who was sitting in the main seat, frowned.
He couldn't even control his own life and death, so how could he control the lives and lives of these local squires.
Master Jia on the side took a step forward, stood at Guo Binchang's hand and said: "Several proprietors, whether you are innocent or not with the Tiger Flag, I believe that the court will definitely give you justice. As long as it is a pure business transaction, I want to come here." It won't be a big deal, not to mention that the imperial court has not issued an order to deal with the Tiger Flag, so the worries of the proprietors are unfounded."
