When I arrived in Fengtian Hall, the lights were brightly lit, and I saw shadows inside through the door.

Hou Xuanyan pushed the door open, and the chaotic crowd suddenly calmed down, his eyes flashed with complicated gazes, staring at him in unison.

A middle-aged man with a fair face and a wealthy figure stood up and said, "I have met Lord Hou."

In Jinling, businessmen who work together more, they will inevitably have their own small group. Since there is a small group, there will be a person with the highest prestige. This person is the middle-aged white-faced man in front of him, named Wu Jikun. As soon as he spoke, the others bent down and said, "Go to Mr. Hou."

Hou Xuanyan walked straight to the top, took the tea cup handed by his personal soldiers, moistened his voice, and said, "You are all gentry and businessmen in Jinling, and their industries are spread all over the south of the Yangtze River. Today, we will gather everyone together, and we may also understand what happened." After that, he blew the tea leaves and looked up at the people in the hall.

Wu Jikun smiled and lowered his head and said, "We are stupid and guessing, is it because of the matter of commercial tax?"

Hou Xuanyan blew for a long time, raised his head and drank the tea in one go, and said with a smile: "Yes, you are Wu Jikun, aren't you?"

"It's the little people."

Hou Xuan acted as Zhan Yan and said, "Don't be humble to the shopkeeper Wu. You are not a commoner. I heard that shopkeeper Wu's industries are spread all over the south of the Yangtze River, and even Suzhou has many weaving workshops. No wonder shopkeeper Wu saw through the purpose of his official's visit at a glance. In Suzhou, you are the weaving workshop first to respond to this official, and I remember it all in my heart."

Wu Jikun's industries are spread all over the south of the Yangtze River, how could he not know about the Ye family in Kunshan? It is said that the whole family didn't even have half a living left. Changzhou, which is close to him, even the city was burned. The smiling governor in front of him was kind-hearted and cruel. Hou Xuan was famous for his evil spirit, so these people naturally did not dare to touch his bad intentions, just wanted to get more benefits.

Wu Jikun said carefully: "I heard that Suzhou merchants have obtained many conveniences of opening sea trade after paying taxes..."

Hou Xuanyan interrupted, "Haha, this matter is easy to say. As long as you are willing to set an example and show the other prefectures in Yingtian, you are your own people. I, Hou Xuanyan, have never treated my own people unfairly. Suzhou is under our Ming Dynasty, so why would I treat it differently?"

Wu Jikun and others were overjoyed. As long as there was convenience at sea and could be escorted by the navy, paying some commercial tax would not hurt the bones.

After sending these God of Wealth away, only one person left yet, Hou Xuanyan asked, "What else do you have?"

"When I go back to my son-in-law, the villain is responsible for the Gu family's property in Jinling. The boss wrote that he had already packed up for his son-in-law in Jinling and asked his son-in-law to live in the yard for a while."

Hou Xuan Yanxi said: "It is rare that Taigong is thoughtful. The temple is disrepair and dilapidated. A few days ago, he was wantonly destroyed by the Tartars. The hall is full of horse urine. I have long wanted to change the place."

The Gu family's villa was indeed comfortable to live in. The exhausted Hou Xuanyan woke up and felt refreshed. The chefs in the house were all masters invited from Yangzhou before. After enjoying a table of breakfast, Hong Yizhuo sneaked into the house.

Hou Xuanyan looked at him in black and couldn't help but joke: "The world is bright and bright, you're just thief in the middle of the night, but you're still thief-like. What's the point of making a fuss?"

Hong Yizhuo sat down and chuckled while eating: "This is all used to it."

"What's wrong with coming so early?"

Hong Yizhuo whispered: "Brother, Hong Chengchou is dead."

Hou Xuanyan's hands holding chopsticks shook and asked, "How did he die?"

"In the battle of Changzhou, he led a army to Jiangyin and defeated Zhang Huangyan. After winning, Hong Chengchou committed suicide by the river. He must have known that we were a great victory. This old traitor was afraid that he would be killed by his master, so he did not dare to cross the river."

Hou Xuanyan was speechless, sighed and said, "You underestimated him. I think he chose to commit suicide when he saw the dawn of anti-Qing. Let's take down Jinling, the strength of the Qing Dynasty was frustrated. If they want to consolidate the north, they must rely more on the Han generals. In order to win over Kong Youde, Wu Sangui and other commanders of the Han Eight Banners, Dorgon would only pretend to be generous and protect Hong Chengchou even if he hated him.

What a person Hong Chengchou is? How could he not see this? He chose not to cross the river because he saw hope for the restoration of the Han family's country.

This man has been immersed in the officialdom for many years and has long seen through the terminal illness of the Ming Dynasty. He became a traitor himself, thinking about turning all the Han people in the world into Manchu slaves. Now that we are opening up the situation in Jiangnan, this traitor is afraid. He is afraid that he will be infatuated for thousands of years, and others will be nailed to the pillar of shame, so he dare not cross the river and continue to serve Manchu again."

Hong Yizhuo seemed to understand but Hou Xuan laughed and said, "I'm just a guess. Let's not talk about him anymore. I will follow me to the outside of the city to welcome the people from Qinglong Mountain into the city."

Hong Yizhuo was attracted by the deliciousness of the table, and his appetite was wide open. He sucked the porridge and said, "Okay, I'll listen to my brother."

Facing the morning sun, the cool breeze outside Jinling City was blowing, and a group of beggar-like people slowly walked towards the city gate in the distance. Several old oxen carried the old, weak, women and children, while others were walking.

Zhou Wenwu looked around his subordinates on the only thin horse, frowned and said, "Everyone has tidy up his clothes. In a while, it's time to stop Xiao Hou and the officials in Jinling from laughing at him." After saying that, he pointed to the boy who was escorting the Tartars and cursed, "Risen, especially you. On such a grand day, you are wearing open-crotch pants. I can see your crotch swaying around when I ride on the horse. What does it look like?"

The thin black boy grinned and said, "Captain, I'm just this pair of pants."

"Shame!"

Risheng felt ashamed and angry, and turned to the Tartars. He whipped Duoduo with a whip and scolded: "Grandpas are short of clothes and wear, they are all caused by your dog Tartars. I think I was also a young master at the time. You savages are dressed gorgeously,"

Suddenly his eyes rolled and he said, "Chief, let's strip these Tartars naked, which makes them even more embarrassing. Lord Xiaohou and the people of Jinling will not notice us."

"Yeah, a good idea."

Duoduo could understand Chinese, and he had a cloth stick in his mouth, and struggled with his eyes. Seeing his master's crazy appearance, the other Tartars also stared at him. The rough and tough life scared Risheng to death.

The people behind him rushed forward, stripping off a dozen Tartars naked and snatching their clothes.
Chapter completed!