Not yet outside the county government office.

Chen Sheng then saw from a distance the second generation of four families, headed by Zhang Ji, standing outside the gate of the county government, talking together about something, surrounded by a large circle of guards with swords hanging from their waists.

Zhang Ji had sharp eyes and saw Chen Sheng from a distance. He walked out of the crowd and shouted: "Brother Sheng, why are you coming so slowly? Brothers have been waiting for you for a long time!"

Chen Sheng quickly quickened his pace, smiled and said with a cup of his hands as he walked: "It's my fault, my brothers have been waiting for a long time!"

Among the four families, the heads of the Zhang family, a grain merchant, and the Tian family, an oil merchant, both died during the rebellion at the Taipingdao branch in Chen County, and the second generation Zhang Ji and Tian Dian took over as heads of the family.

The heads of the Chen family and the salt merchant Liu family of Huaian Hall escaped. However, Chen Sheng also had many contacts with the young heads of the two families. Chen Sheng waited several times, and the young heads of the two families treated him as an elder brother.

Reception Chen Sheng.

Among the five, Tian Dao is the oldest, Zhang Ji is the second, Chen Sheng is the third, Liu Geng is the third son of the Liu family, and Chen Xi is the youngest of the Chen family.

The five alliances were originally just a loose alliance that reluctantly came together under the pressure of the Yellow Turban thieves.

If there were no accidents, this loose alliance with neither deep friendship nor deep interest ties would have naturally dissipated in the next four or five years.

However, less than a month after the Taiping Road branch rebellion in Chen County ended, famine hit us again, and the world was about to be in chaos...

At this juncture, who would be foolish enough to betray their allies?

It’s not too late to hug together for warmth!

…

Under the guidance of the county government servants, the five people stepped into the county government gate together.

As soon as they entered the door, a servant came and guided the guards behind the five people to sit in the side hall.

The five people continued to go deeper under the guidance of the servants.

This was the first time that Chen Sheng walked into the gate of Chenjun County Government. As he walked forward, he looked around at the official temples on the left and right.

He discovered that the county government office was not composed of open office halls as he had previously thought.

Rather, like a house, it was composed of independent courtyards. In these courtyards, he even saw a group of children riding bamboo horses and having fun... It was a bit like the Soviet-style gardens he had seen in his previous life.

If there is any difference between the buildings in the county government and the houses outside, it is that the houses in the county government are all very tall and square, and the shape is more square and simple. There are also some paintings on the cornices and brackets of many houses.

Strange monster patterns...

"At this time of year, I almost don't dare to go out without a guard."

"Yes, two more warehouses in my house were ransacked last night. In my opinion, we will no longer be able to live in this county. If we continue to live here, sooner or later we will die at the hands of those mobs!"

"Brother Ji, the name of your grain dealer Zhang's family is so eye-catching. If you say that your family has no grain, let alone others, even I won't believe it!"

"Don't tell me about you, I don't believe it myself, but my father left me such a mess, what can I do...Brother Sheng, how is your family situation?"

Chen Sheng, who was looking around the county government office and listening to their chat, suddenly heard them bring the topic to him. When he turned around, he found that the four of them were looking at him with burning eyes.

He thought for a while, then chuckled clearly and said: "Brother Ji, why do we have to play around with each other... My family owns a comprehensive place. I bring my own rations. Each person has a thousand catties of food. Just follow the arrangements.

I guarantee that no one will be able to hurt your family members until all of my family, the Hongshang Chen family, are dead!"

"this……"

Zhang Ji hesitated and looked at each other with Tian Shou, Liu Geng and others, and then whispered: "Brother Sheng, are there too many?"

Tian Dao nodded his head: "Yes, Brother Sheng, you know the situation in my brother's family. If there is still some left, I would have given it to you earlier. Why wait until now?"

Liu Geng and Chen Xi also said yes again and again.

It's not that they don't have guards at home, but those guards are nothing compared to the guys from the Chen family!

Moreover, no one can say how bad the famine will get this year.

If it really gets worse and collapses across the board, no one can guarantee whether those guards will still be guards.

In contrast, the Hongshang Chen family has been based in Chen County for two hundred years, and their reputation and family tradition are well-known. In addition, they are blood-based allies. If they can seek the protection of the Hongshang Chen family, it will naturally be better than entrusting their hopes to those who use money to protect them.

The escort that comes is even more reassuring.

Chen Sheng looked around and whispered: "Brothers, I won't hide it from you. Your family has prepared food. Naturally, my family has also prepared a lot of food. That's why I asked brothers for food last time.

The reason why I am standing in front of you is because my family still has to support people... a lot of people!"

He spoke very vaguely.

The four of them understood it instantly.

After Zhang Ji pondered for a few breaths, he said in a deep voice: "Forty people, but only food and fodder, I have to trouble my uncle Sheng's family to get it by himself!"

When Chen Sheng heard this, he felt unhappy instead of sad. He muttered in his heart, "It's a loss, it's a loss, it's time to open higher."

The Zhang family, a grain merchant, was almost wiped out by Li Yuan's gang, but now there are less than twenty people in the whole house.

But Zhang Ji asked for a quota of forty people!

What does this mean?

This shows that Zhang Ji asked for quotas for some of his confidants!

He had long known that the Zhang family must still have a large amount of food in their hands.

But I know that at this juncture, it is difficult to buy it... let alone borrow it!

At this time, even if he pays fifty times the original price to buy grain, that is still bullying!

"There's no rush with this!"

Chen Sheng whispered: "Brother Ji, you might as well go and see the environment first before making a decision!"

Zhang Ji smiled and nodded: "Brother Sheng is still thoughtful in his work."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Dao hurriedly said: "Brother Sheng, as a brother, we need ten people, food and fodder... what about oil cakes? Don't worry, it's definitely edible, but it's just not easy to eat!"

When Chen Sheng heard this, he knew that the Tian family really didn't have much food. He nodded and said, "Okay, make one out of five!"

Tian Yan said happily: "No, no, as long as Brother Sheng is willing to accept it, I can make one out of twenty!"

Oil cakes are indeed edible, but they are extremely unpalatable and slightly toxic. If you eat too much, you will get seriously ill!

Chen Sheng: "No need, I said five for one, so I will use five for one. But if brother Dao still has more in his hands, I can exchange grain and fodder for brother Dao in the ratio of twenty to one!"

He also knew that it could not be eaten as food, but it was excellent when used as livestock feed.

Furthermore, if a person is really hungry to a certain extent, he can even eat dirt and rocks, let alone oil cakes?

Tian Miao praised: "As expected of a family that has been doing business for a hundred years, it really lives up to its word... If you don't bully my brother, I can't make you suffer as a brother. Don't change it. You can take care of the food and drink of my brother's family."

You take all the oil cakes that my family has hoarded!"

Zhang Ji also sighed and nodded, not feeling at all that he was at a disadvantage because his own family produced food, but the Tian family produced oil cakes and could get the same treatment as himself.

This is a special period, and there is no other way. Naturally, we should understand each other if we can.

Besides, a humane ally is always more reassuring than an ally who puts interests first.

Chen Sheng thought for a while, then sighed: "Then thank you so much to Brother Dao!"

After speaking, he looked at Liu Geng and Chen Xi.

The two hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Brother Sheng, I have to report this matter back to Gaotang before making a decision!"

Chen Sheng nodded with a smile and said: "Don't worry, since we are members of our own family, the door of the Chen family of my business family will always be open to my family members!"

After a pause, he turned back and looked ahead. It suddenly became clear that there were forty or fifty short tables arranged around him, and a crowded banquet venue in the center. He paused and whispered: "Speaking of which, do you know what the banquet will be tonight?

What's the matter?"

The young people in the center of the banquet, dressed in rich clothes and hanging beautiful ornaments on their waists, could tell at a glance that they were all the second generation of wealthy families in the county.

Zhang Ji, Tian Dao, and Liu Geng all shook their heads.

Chen Xi, the youngest, hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "I heard Gao Tang mention it... It should be Mr. Shi Lu, the chief pian of the state capital, who came to Chen County and hosted a banquet for us."

"Dian Nong Changshi? Mr. Lu?"

Chen Sheng asked in a low voice, slightly surprised: "Why are you entertaining me? Even if the state capital has urgent matters and needs help from the heroes of Chen County, it should also entertain the heads of each family."

Chen Xi looked around, stretched out his hand to pull Zhang Ji and Liu Geng around, and said in a low voice: "Brother Sheng doesn't know something. Although the state government governs a state, it can only issue government orders."

As for the county government, according to the rules, the state government cannot directly bypass the county government and directly intervene in county affairs. This is inconsistent with etiquette!"

"As an official, Mr. Lu cannot hold a banquet, but as the eldest son of the Lu family branch, it is justifiable to entertain us... Oh, by the way, Brother Sheng probably doesn't know yet, Mr. Lu is the eldest son of Zhou Mu Bu Wei Gong!"

The Chen family of Huai'antang is the leader among people with the surname Chen in Chen County. Many members of the clan have served as officials, and there was also a fake county magistrate in the clan. In Chen County, it can be regarded as an evergreen family in the political arena.

Therefore, at a young age, Chen Xi was able to know all the important things about these leaders in the officialdom.

"Oh I got it!"

Chen Sheng nodded with sudden realization, but then his mind suddenly froze again, and he asked in a daze: "Brother Xi, what did you call Mr. Zhou Mu just now? Lu... Lu Buwei?"

Chen Xi looked at him blankly, nodded and said, "Yes."

Chen Sheng asked again in a daze: "Then what is the name of Mr. Lu who is hosting the banquet today?"

Chen Xi: "Lu Zheng!"

Chen Sheng:……

Gan, history are you kidding me again?

He scratched his head, scratched his head hard, and asked in disbelief: "Are you sure Mr. Lu's surname is Lu, not... Ying?"

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Oh, so Brother Sheng has also heard of this rumor?"

Chen Sheng: "Huh? How should I say it?"

Chen Xi: "It's true that Mr. Lu is the son of Bu Wei Gong. Although some people have said with certainty before that when Ying Zi Chu gave Zhao Ji and Bu Wei Gong, Zhao Ji was pregnant and tried to use him to Qin Ying.

The bloodline of the Lu family in Yanzhou replaced the Lu family in Qi, but Gao Tang once had the opportunity to meet Bu Wei Gong and said that Mr. Lu is very similar to Bu Wei Gong and he should be the son of Bu Wei Gong!"

"It's just this kind of thing, hehehe..."

"But Mr. Wei doesn't care, so why should I be surprised?"

Although he lowered his voice, there was a look of indifference on his brows. It was obvious that this matter was exactly what he said, and it was not a secret in their circle.

Chen Sheng:……
Chapter completed!