Patriarch Lin took a deep breath, took another sip of wine, and became more bold. He glanced at Patriarch Wang with complicated meanings.

Old guy, you have always been the leader of the clan leaders, but today I will take over your position with my words! This is called establishing prestige!

Although he is taking some risks, Xiao Feng speaks first and the speaker is not guilty; secondly, he speaks for the clans in the world and holds the highest moral position. Judging from the information collected, Xiao Feng is not an unreasonable person!

So, what seems dangerous is actually as stable as an old dog! This is called wisdom, old guy, do you understand?

"Sir, you just said that there are many aristocratic families in the coastal areas. You cannot stay in one place for a long time. If you want long-term peace and stability, you have to rely on me.

In other words, your Excellency recognizes the benefits of clan power to local security. What’s more, judging from the actual situation, although there are Japanese pirates in the Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian regions, their harm is smaller than in other places.

Why? It’s all because the clans in these places are strong and the people are united and dare to fight against the Japanese pirates!

And your Excellency insists on going your own way and pushing the court to weaken the power of clan governance. Doesn’t this indirectly increase the management pressure on the court and disrupt local security?”

These words were well-founded and sonorous. Chief Wang's face was very ugly, but he seemed to think that what he said was reasonable and did not stop him any more. The other chiefs secretly looked at Xiao Feng and secretly applauded in their hearts.

Xiao Feng took a sip of wine and looked at Patriarch Lin: "If the power of the clan is greater than the laws of the court, then the people in the clan will naturally think that the authority of the patriarch is greater than the local officials of the court.

If a clan member breaks the law, the clan leader punishes him. If the clan leader breaks the law, who will punish him?

Do you want the patriarch to punish you?"

Patriarch Lin shook his head repeatedly: "The patriarch is jointly elected by the clan members. If the clan leader violates the clan rules, he will naturally be abolished and re-elected by the clan members!"

Xiao Feng smiled: "What if the clan leader only violated the Ming law but not the clan rules? The clan rules of each clan are different, so it doesn't necessarily mean that breaking the rules means violating the clan rules, right?"

Patriarch Lin was stunned for a moment and hesitated: "Then the government will naturally intervene..."

"What if the government doesn't know? What if the clan members dare not report it? A clan leader who has not violated clan rules has the power of life and death in the clan. Who dares to make a mistake?

What's more, if the court doesn't understand that laws are greater than clan rules, how can local officials take the initiative to investigate clan affairs?

In this way, if the law does not enter the clan and the clan ignores the law, wouldn’t it mean that they all become a kingdom within a kingdom?”

Patriarch Lin was a little confused by Xiao Feng's consecutive blows, and said in the confusion: "If clan autonomy can make the people live a better life than under the jurisdiction of the court, why can't clan autonomy be allowed?"

There was silence on the entire table. As soon as Chief Lin spoke his words, he immediately realized that something was wrong and looked at Xiao Feng in panic.

Xiao Feng sighed: "What are you afraid of? I said that those who spoke at the wine table today are not guilty. I also know that if this matter is not made clear, there will be many clans in the world who will go against their wishes.

So let me borrow your words and explain it in depth. What you actually want to say is that if clan autonomy can make the people in the clan live a good life, then let alone a country within a country, it can become a country of its own, so why not?

Right?"

Patriarch Lin did not dare to speak. No matter how he spoke, he did not dare to say this. Xiao Feng could say what he thought.

But can't admit it.

Xiao Feng poured himself a glass of wine and said while drinking: "The Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and a large population. If you walk from south to north and from east to west, you will inevitably have such thoughts.

The land of fish and rice in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, a prosperous land, has always been the basis of taxation for the imperial court. It pays more taxes than other regions. If we can stand on our own as a country, wouldn't all the people be rich?

In the land of Henan, the Yellow River floods every three years, and refugees are everywhere; in the land of Shandong, the land is covered with red land when locusts pass by. These places often rely on the government to allocate food, and most of this food comes from Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

In the coastal areas, relying on the benefits of shipping, one could become rich, but the imperial court banned the sea, so everyone could only secretly cooperate with pirates for smuggling. If you can stand on your own, the first thing to do is to open the sea ban and do business.

So some people would think, why? Why do these places where you can obviously live a good life have to be burdened with all the drag and baggage just because they are all under the banner of Ming Dynasty?"

Patriarch Lin nodded slightly to express his approval. These words were said by Xiao Feng, not him. It was safe for him to express his approval.

What's more, Xiao Feng's words were really clear, and he might not be able to explain it so clearly if he had to say it himself.

Xiao Feng looked at the clan leaders in front of him, drew a circle with his hand, and included them all.

"Take Fuzhou as an example. If Fuzhou becomes a country on its own, I believe that with this land by the sea, all the people in Fuzhou will become rich and become the richest place in the world!"

Just when several clan leaders looked proud and sighed that the adults were indeed reasonable and regretted that this was just a beautiful thought, Xiao Feng suddenly drank his wine glass.

"What happens after that? Have you ever thought about what will happen next?"

Several clan leaders looked at each other, and the boldest and drunkest clan leader, Lin, stepped forward and said, "Everyone will live a good life from now on!"

Xiao Feng laughed loudly: "The Japanese pirates will come to rob you later. Because you have money, what can you do?"

Patriarch Lin gritted his teeth: "We will fight them tooth and nail! We Fuzhou people are not easy to bully!"

Xiao Feng smiled faintly: "Okay, suppose you rely on your desperate spirit to defeat the Japanese pirates. Where are the pirates?

Do you really think that if you can make money by doing business, they won’t rob you? Can you defeat Japanese pirates or pirates?"

Patriarch Lin is a little tired. The combat effectiveness of the pirates is not comparable to that of the Japanese pirates. They have a large number of people, including not only Japanese but also red-haired ghosts. It is definitely not enough to rely on the few people in Fuzhou.

"Then why don't they rob us now? Pirates have always preferred doing business. They hope to make long-term profits. Robbery is a one-time deal!"

Xiao Feng nodded: "Pirates want to do business, but pirates don't necessarily need you to help them do business.

Isn't it better for them to rob you all, kill you all, occupy this treasure land of Fuzhou, and do business directly than to let you have a hand?

Why don't they rob you now? Because if they come to rob you now, Ming's army will fight them!

Because they know that even if they kill all of you, they will not be able to occupy this place! The Ming Dynasty will send troops to fight and relocate the people to continue living!"

Patriarch Lin shook his head and tried to wake himself up: "Sir, as you said, the rich land

, should we take money and food as a matter of course to help those poor places?"

Xiao Feng pointed to the table: "Stretch out your right hand! Put it on the table."

Patriarch Lin did not dare to disobey, so he stretched out his right hand and put it on the table. Xiao Feng reached out and pulled out the Xiuchun knife, and smiled at the people at the table with earth-colored faces.

"Tell me which finger you don't want. Choose one."

Patriarch Lin's face was covered with sweat and he shook his head desperately: "No, no, no, sir, I want every one!"

Xiao Feng said in surprise: "These five fingers are of different lengths and have different strengths and weaknesses. It should be easy for you to choose. Just keep the strong ones. What's the use of the weak ones?"

Patriarch Lin's free left hand swung wildly: "No, no, no, sir, no matter how strong or weak it is, it is best to have it in your hand. If you chop any one, I will bleed."

And it will be inconvenient to take things in the future. Ten fingers are connected to the heart. This analogy is not appropriate, sir!"

Xiao Feng nodded: "You are right, this analogy is indeed inappropriate. How many children do you have in your family? How about I kill the least promising one for you?

In this way, your other children will be able to get an extra share when the family property is divided. Wouldn't it be a good thing? I think they must be willing."

Chief Lin was horrified and jumped up: "Sir, if you really piss off the villain, you'd better choose a finger. You can't kill any of the villain's children!"

Xiao Feng frowned and said: "Even if you discuss national affairs, you can still talk eloquently and think clearly. Why are you so confused when it comes to a mere child?

I'm talking about the most useless ones. Children like this are not only useless to your family, they will also waste your food and consume

It’s a waste of your money!”

Patriarch Lin knelt down with a plop. At this time, he was no longer sure whether Xiao Feng was just making an analogy or if he was really angry, but he could never take this risk.

"Sir, the villain talks nonsense without restraint. The villain is convinced by what the adults say. Please stop scaring the villain!"

Xiao Feng sighed, put away the Xiuchundao, and poured a glass of wine for Patriarch Lin, looking lonely.

"Dude, your fingers and your family, no matter how long or short, strong or weak, smart or stupid, you won't give up.

Because as a human being, you know that each of the five fingers has its own use, and as a father, you know that each child has its own merits. But fingers and children may not think so.

They may dislike each other and dislike them for taking up their own wealth and resources but doing nothing to themselves. They may fantasize about how great it would be if they could monopolize these benefits.

Because you stand higher than them and can see farther. A country is like a person and a family. For thousands of miles in the fertile land, one must not lose a single grain of sand; with thousands of people, one must not abandon one person to the enemy."

The whole table was silent, and they all raised their glasses and toasted Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng stood up with a smile, and helped Zhang Wuxin to leave unsteadily.

Two days later, Patriarch Wang brought news that he had made contact with Wang Zhi, and the meeting place was set at Wanghai Tower outside Fuzhou City.

As the name suggests, this sea-viewing tower is quite close to the sea, but not very close. Standing on the top of the three floors, you can just see the sea in the distance.

The choice of this position proves that Wang Zhi is indeed sincere and vigilant enough.

Very sincere because Xiao Feng would never risk going to the beach to meet Wang Zhi

We met. But Wang Zhi took the initiative to get off the boat and land on the beach. It was like a shark stranded, very dangerous.

If Xiao Feng betrays his trust and sets up an ambush in advance, with the speed of Xiao Feng's cavalry, it is possible to quickly surround him. The risk he takes is greater than Xiao Feng's.

The reason for being vigilant is that this place is not far from the sea, and he must have a fleet of ships to meet him at the seaside. As long as he finds that something is wrong, as long as his men can resist him for a while, he can escape to the seaside and sail away.

There is no need to worry about the Ming army's ships going to sea to pursue them. Once at sea, the Ming army is no match for Wang Zhi's fleet. This has been proven many times.

Chief Wang carefully explained Wang Zhi's conditions: "Captain Wang said that he can trust you, but you must also trust him. That's why he chose this place.

At the same time, Captain Wang said that in order to avoid misunderstandings, both sides only brought thirty people to the scene. He has already notified the pirates and Japanese pirates along the coast not to attack, and please do not restrain them and prevent more people from appearing."

Patriarch Wang looked at Xiao Feng's expression as usual, and plucked up the courage to make his final request: "Captain Wang said, General Yu, please don't come."

Xiao Feng raised his eyebrows: "Why is this? Does Yu Dayou have any grudge against him?"

The royal family leader smiled bitterly and said: "My lord, I don't know. General Yu is well-known in the coastal area and has fought against Captain Wang's subordinates many times.

Firstly, the atmosphere in the meeting between the two parties was not good, and secondly, General Yu’s martial arts skills are too high. Zhang Wuxin will definitely go with you, and Captain Wang only has one person with such a master."

Xiao Feng said with a smile: "This Wang Zhi is really thoughtful. Anyway, promise him. He is willing to come ashore to see me. I still have to give him this face."

royal family

Changqi smiled and said: "Captain Wang said that it would be best to ask you to leave now. He will wait for you at Wanghai Tower for an hour. If you don't arrive within an hour, he will leave."

Xiao Feng nodded and did some mental calculations. He set off now and rode to Wanghai Tower as usual. It took exactly an hour. Wang Zhi didn't leave any time for himself to make arrangements. He was indeed very cunning.
To be continued...