Three days and nights have passed, but the door behind him has never been opened. Song Hongfeng looked back with a worried expression.
It was a perfect fit, so he couldn't see anything when he looked inside like this. However, thinking that the person inside was Zhang Suiguang, the slightest hesitation in his heart was instantly wiped out.
But I saw him relax his clenched fists and straighten his back again.
"There's nothing in the world that he can't do!"
After leaving Hongshiwan, Zhang Suiguang did not stay too long in Ruozhou City. After the Xu family's uprising, the elite forces of the Dahua court and various factions gathered in the city. The arrival of the Yan Gang was not a big deal, and it was difficult to influence the overall situation. He always acted cautiously and steadily, and would not put himself in danger. He rode to the branch of the Salt Gang in Hanzhou that night.
The Yan Gang is known as the largest gang in the world. In addition to the main hall in Danyang City, it has also set up branches in twenty-two other state capitals. Among them, the strongest one is the Hanzhou branch.
Everyone knows that the biggest business of the salt gang is private salt trading, and the east-west salt road must pass through Danyang, and the north-south salt road must pass through Hanzhou.
It goes without saying that Hanzhou attaches great importance to salt matters.
Three years ago, the salt trading business of the Southern Band expanded northward to Hanzhou, and He Zan wanted to set up a branch here to serve as the basis for the Southern Band to expand northward. At that time, the Southern Gang was already the second largest gang in the world after the Salt Gang, and its power should not be underestimated. However, even if He Zan mobilized all the best players in the gang, he was still restrained in every aspect and could not shake a mere branch of the Salt Gang.
Why?
All because the leader of the Hanzhou branch is Song Hongfeng.
Given Hanzhou's weight in the Salt Gang, the person Zhang Suiguang sent to take charge must be his most capable and trustworthy subordinate. Although there are many talents in the Yan Gang, no one except Song Hongfeng really catches Zhang Suiguang's eye.
Speaking of which, I have to bring up a past incident.
At that time, Zhang Suiguang fell in love with Shi Yinheng due to a drinking incident. From then on, he rose through the ranks in the Salt Gang and was promoted to elder in less than five years, which made many famous seniors in the gang very dissatisfied. At that time, the Salt Gang had many factions and numerous hills. Although Shi Yinheng was the gang leader, he could not speak for himself, so they had to turn a blind eye to Zhang Suiguang's difficulties and constraints.
Just when Zhang Suiguang was isolated, excluded, and suppressed by the gang elders, Song Hongfeng was the first to stand up and make friends with him.
Song Hongfeng is the only grandson of Song Hangqing, the giant of the Salt Gang. He has the most upright family background among the Salt Gang. Although Song Hangqing has never been a gang leader, Zhang Suiguang's three previous gang leaders were all his apprentices and nephews. More than half of the elders and hall leaders in the gang were his former subordinates, and one-third of the branches of the Salt Gang were under his control. built in.
With Song Hongfeng's mediation, the elders gradually accepted Zhang Suiguang until he married Shi Yinheng's daughter and then took the position of gang leader...
As for why he spared no effort to help Zhang Suiguang ascend to power, Song Hongfeng only told people once: He was helpful to me.
However, the specific reason has never been mentioned by the two, and this has become a secret that everyone in the Salt Gang has always been curious about.
"Creak~~~" With a sound, the door opened from the inside. Zhang Suiguang held on to the door with a slight bow. The unwiped blood stains at the corners of his mouth were even more beautiful against the backdrop of his pale face.
... ...
"how was it?"
Facing Xu Qianye who was limping towards him, Mei Yuanchen felt very guilty. He supported him with one hand and whispered back: "Second Young Master, this matter involves too many things. General Ran wants to help but dare not take over his power. I still have to go to the capital to ask for a decree."
Although he and Ran Jiangong recognized their relationship and the two had a pleasant conversation, however, if they were to pardon more than 3,000 prisoners in one fell swoop, Mei Yuanchen's words alone would not suffice. What's more, these prisoners are not ordinary criminals. They were caught in rebellion with weapons and were sentenced to be cut in half according to Dahua's criminal law.
"Uncle, there are three reasons for not killing them: First, the foundation of the emperor's throne is not yet stable when he first ascends the throne. Nowadays, many benevolent policies should not cause mass killings to prevent public resentment; second, the Xu family has been a century-old family, and the depth of its foundation can be seen in this rebellion. Although they were suppressed this time, most of them are still on the run. If the evil cannot be eradicated, once the masters of the Xu family risk their lives to counterattack, the emperor and the royal family will not be safe; thirdly, Duanmu Yu sneaks into Ruozhou at this time, and the Xu family may rebel. It was the conspiracy of Jue State, with the intention of causing turmoil in the martial arts world of Great China and thus causing trouble for the imperial court. All three of them have reasons not to kill for any reason."
After Ran Jiangong listened, the pros and cons immediately became clear.
After Xia Chengxuan came to power, he continuously introduced new policies, including building water conservancy, promoting agriculture and mulberry, building medical centers, promoting official education, reducing taxes, promoting births, encouraging industry and commerce, and opening post roads. Listen, work together, and watch to strengthen the country. Nowadays, the people's minds are somewhat settled and people want to be at peace, and the prestige of the court is gradually increasing. In terms of the situation, it is really not appropriate to add more branches and create a lot of killings.
The three Xu brothers are all world-renowned top masters. They are still on the run. If their clan is destroyed and their escape route is cut off, assassination and revenge will be inevitable in the future. Although the defense of the imperial palace is strict, it may not be a piece of iron barrel, let alone the palaces of various princes and the official residences of important ministers? Not to mention that there were hundreds of named and unnamed masters among the outer sect of the Xu family and the second-generation descendants of the Xu family. It was difficult for the imperial court to prevent them for a while, and the bloody murders of the dead soldiers of the Jue Kingdom who sneaked into the capital were still vivid. Head.
All civil and military officials in Great China know that although there is no war with Jue at the moment, the enemy's desire to destroy us has never died, and there must be a battle of life and death between the two sides, both near and far. Duanmuyu is willing to take risks and go deep into the hinterland of China, so he must have a big plan. When he came to Ruozhou on the occasion of the Wulin Alliance, he probably wanted to take the opportunity to create civil strife to consume Dahua's national power. It was not as simple as instigating the Xu family to rebel. The last move has not been made. In the great power of China, the power of the world is unfathomable, and if it is not grasped accurately, it may become a disaster. The three thousand prisoners in the prison may be a trigger for the conflict between the martial arts world and the court. It can be triggered at a moment's notice, and it will be destroyed by pouring water on it. It depends on how to deal with it.
Those were just superficial principles. As soon as Mei Yuanchen said it, Ran Jiangong understood. However, the matter was serious and he could not make his own decision without receiving the Holy Will.
After Mei Yuanchen finished speaking, Xu Yanye forced a smile and comforted him in a low voice: "Yes, I'm afraid such a big matter cannot be decided by his words."
Although he was smiling, a sense of disappointment surged out of his eyes, and even his entire body instantly lost some power.
"Second Young Master, please rest for a few days. I will leave for the capital early tomorrow morning. Don't worry, when I see Chengxuan, I will explain to him the reasons for this. There will be no reason not to deny it." Mei Yuanchen comforted him again, "General Ran I have promised that before the decree comes, I will not punish or question the people in the prison, nor will I pursue other members of the Xu family who are hiding. The seriously injured will be sent to medical officers for care and treatment, and the old and young women will be kept in separate cells every day. The food will not stop and the clothes will keep you warm, so you can relax."
In Hongshiwan, if Xu Suye hadn't risked his life to save him, Mei Yuanchen would have died. This was a huge favor. Therefore, he believed that he should take full responsibility for the Xu family's affairs. And in his opinion, enough people have died in the Ruozhou Huimen this time, and further investigation will do no harm to the court, the people, and the Xu family. Publicly or privately, this matter cannot be ignored.
"You have only been awake for a day. I am afraid that your injuries are much more serious than mine. How can you get around?" After hearing this, Xu Jinye's face finally showed a hint of joy, he raised his eyebrows and chuckled. He said, "I'm very grateful that you are willing to mediate, but if it costs you your life, that's not your fault."
Although he said that, what he was thinking in his heart was: The Xu family has lived in Dahua for a long time. Although their ancestors were from the royal family of the previous dynasty, after all, they were separated from each other for more than three hundred years and separated the ancestral hall for more than ten generations. Thousands of lives are lost, which is more than absurd.
"Going back a few hundred years, maybe the Duanmu family and the Xia family have the same origin. Why should uncle and the others cling to the grudges of the old dynasty?"
Mei Yuanchen had no intention of guessing what he was thinking, and replied seriously: "Oh, I never told you. I have learned a profound mental method, and it has the effect of self-healing the sick body after practicing it for the first time. After these four days After recuperating, the injury has been greatly healed. Although I still cannot use my inner strength, walking and riding are not difficult. The trip to the capital is only a thousand miles away. I rode in an official stagecoach all the way and walked a small distance a day. It would only take four days at the latest. arrive."
The official post is always equipped with carriages to meet the needs of the commanders and envoys. According to the speed and duration, the steps are divided into three categories: large, medium and small.
The journey of the Big Foot is in the morning at Mao, Chen, and Si, at dusk at Wei, and at night at You. It travels for seven hours in one day, and the journey is four hundred.
The middle part of the journey is to travel in the morning at Chen and Si, at dusk at Wei and Shen, and at night at Youxu and stay at Chuxu. The journey lasts five hours a day and covers a distance of three hundred miles.
The short journey is to travel in the morning at Chen and Si, at dusk at Wei and Shen, and at Chen Qi and You rest. If you walk half-hurried and half-rested, you can travel two hundred and fifty miles in one day.
"No wonder, it turns out you are capable of such miraculous feats. Well, I'll go with you." Xu Suzhi was from a family background, and after hearing Mei Yuanchen's explanation, he no longer pretended to be polite.
... ...
Looking at Zhang Suiguang with a tired look on his face, Song Hongfeng became a little nervous and asked quickly: "Gang Leader, what kind of powerful poison did you take that made you so tired? Can you get rid of it?"
Unlike other gang members, he never felt as awkward as Vivenono in front of Zhang Suiguang. The two of them were more like good friends who had known each other for many years.
"It's not poison, it's a poison, a heart-eating poison."
Song Hongfeng's face turned cold and she read to herself: "Heart-eating Gu?"
Zhang Suiguang showed a wild look on his face, put his right hand on his left shoulder, and said with a grin: "Well, that is a very powerful poison, a kind of insect poison that can be used to deal with the old Taoist priest of Zhenwu Temple."
After saying that, he suddenly bent down, picked up a jar of aged wine that Song Hongfeng had prepared at his feet, tore open the seal and drank heavily.
