"In this situation, what choice should we, a large southeastern family, make? It is of great importance. Take my Gu family as an example. Nowadays, there are two views in my Gu family. One view is that we should make friends with wealthy people with overseas surnames.
Strive to make progress. Another view is to keep a low profile and not forcefully intervene in the battles between the northern clans of the imperial court. Be tenacious and self-defeating and wait and see. How you choose is related to the rise and fall of the entire clan and the future of tens of millions of tribesmen and tenants.
You must be cautious." Gu Qian's voice was low, with a hint of hoarseness and weakness.
Li Hui nodded slightly, frowned and thought.
"Li Hui, if it were you, what choice would you make?" Gu Qian asked in a deep voice.
Li Hui smiled bitterly and said: "The common people below don't understand this."
Gu Qian glared at Li Hui and said: "There is no need to pretend to be confused in front of me. I still have a good eye for recognizing people. Why do you think I am telling you this? I know that although you are young, you have your own ideas in your heart. Xu Touba
Needless to say about the brain. If you also learn these arrogant and conciliatory habits, I will have nothing to say to you."
Li Hui hurriedly stood up and bowed: "Thanks to Dong Weng's respect, I will be brave enough to say a few words."
Gu Qian picked up the tea and drank it, looking out the window.
"In my humble opinion, the Gu family is rooted in the south of the Yangtze River, with a high county prestige and a deep foundation. There is no need to change itself due to a temporary setback in the family. Just now Dong Weng said that the Gu family has gone through many ups and downs since the Han Dynasty. Let's face it calmly.
Yes, don't be discouraged in adversity, don't be arrogant in good times, and stick to yourself, so it can be passed down for hundreds of years and still be a famous family in Jiangnan. This is the best way to deal with it. There is no need to befriend a wealthy family with overseas surname just for the sake of quick success and instant gain."
Li Hui said in a deep voice.
"Oh?" Gu Qian turned his head and glanced at Li Hui, his eyes filled with praise.
"Tell me, why can't you make friends with wealthy people with the surname Qiao? Isn't this the fastest shortcut?" Gu Qian's eyes flashed and he asked in a deep voice.
Li Huidao: "Dong Weng, I dare to speak nonsense. If there is anything inappropriate, Dong Weng will turn a deaf ear."
Gu Qian said: "But it's okay to say it, there are no taboos."
Li Hui nodded and said: "Since the imperial court came south, overseas Chinese with surnamed wealthy families took turns in power. When the Langya Wang family was in power, people at that time said that 'the king and the horse share the world', and they were so powerful that no one could match them. However, the family was in a powerful position.
, there are always drawbacks. Wang Dun's Rebellion was caused by excessive power and ambition, so he had the intention of tampering. Although it was eventually eliminated, the consequences were not unserious. Related comrades were implicated, and their clans were exterminated and executed.
There are so many people. This incident is a warning to people. If the Gu family wants to make friends with wealthy people with overseas surnames, they may have to bear risks in this regard. If the wealthy people they make friends with have evil intentions, it may be difficult to escape from the relationship and be implicated in the future. Even if
There is no evil intention, but it is unwise to intervene in the vortex of the struggle for power among overseas Chinese. For the sake of thousands of people in the Gu family, and for the Gu family's century-old family business, we must not use such radical and risky methods.
It is a huge move. It is irresponsible to the thousands of Gu family members and ancestors who have worked hard. Is it necessary for the Gu family to risk annihilation to maintain their position in the court? I think this is the next best thing."
Gu Qian looked at Li Hui with bright eyes and said in a deep voice: "Okay, okay. Well said. Sure enough, you didn't disappoint me, and I didn't make a mistake."
Li Huidao: "Dong Weng is so complimentary, does Dong Weng think so too? Do you also agree to keep a low profile and be tenacious and self-defeating?"
Gu Qian nodded slowly and said: "This is the difference of opinion between me and the young master of the family. Both the master and the young master of the family believe that our Gu family and the Jiangnan clan should take the initiative to befriend the Heng family. Now in our Jin Dynasty, Huan
The clan leads the two states of Jing and Yang, and is very powerful. Sima Huan made several northern expeditions, which shocked the world. Now he leads his army for the third northern expedition. If the expedition to Yan is successful this time, his reputation will be unparalleled. Therefore, the head of the family and the young head of the family think that
, we should actively make friends and prepare for rainy days. When Huan Wen returns from the Northern Expedition, my Gu family and the Jiangnan family will benefit from it and get a share of the pie. Therefore, the young head of the family took the initiative to express his gratitude to Huan Wen, willing to contribute 50,000 shi of military rations. The Lu family and several other families
They also promised military aid and bet on Huan Wen."
Li Hui nodded and said: "That's it."
Gu Qian sighed softly: "But what I am worried about is what you just said. By clinging to the Huan family, you are betting on the fate of my Gu family, which is extremely risky. The young family master is eager for quick success and quick gain, and is carrying out a conspiracy.
It’s a huge gamble. But the problem is, in my opinion, there is no chance of winning in this huge gamble.”
"Does Dong Weng think Huan Da Sima will be defeated this time when he sends troops?" Li Hui asked.
Gu Qian shook his head gently and said: "It has nothing to do with victory or defeat. If you lose, the Huan family's reputation and strength will be lost, and other wealthy families with overseas surnames will attack together. The Huan family will probably do whatever it takes to save the situation. By then, I, the Gu family, will
It will be affected. It will be bad if we win. Once we win, the Huan family will be more powerful and prestige, and I am afraid that he will have more ideas. I am just afraid that he will follow in Wang Dun's footsteps. And where will my Gu family and the Jiangnan family go? That's it.
It's what I'm worried about. Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears, and the young master also acquiesced in what he did. But I was helpless."
Li Hui secretly admired him. He knew something about the future, and Gu Qian's judgment was basically correct. Huan Wen was defeated in the Northern Expedition. After the defeat, he did make shocking moves, risking everything to regain his lost reputation and majesty.
.Gu Qian came to the conclusion based on his judgment, which shows his brilliance.
"In this case, why did Dong Weng accept my suggestion to divert water to Zhuangtian during the severe drought? If Zhuangtian failed to harvest anything, wouldn't it be a good reason not to fulfill the promise? After all, natural disasters are caused by nature, not man-made." Li
Hui said.
"It's silly to say that you are smart, but you are confused. Since the young master has made a promise, how can he break his promise? If Sima Huan is defeated, won't all the blame be placed on our Jiangnan nobles and we will use military rations and military resources to make matters? Isn't that right?
Are you a scapegoat? If we win, our master will not be able to break up with us after he returns to the court. Once we make a promise, there will be no way out, do you understand?" Gu Qian frowned.
Li Hui reached out and slapped his head, cursing himself for being stupid. He didn't think of such a simple truth. It was really stupid.
"However, as Dong Weng said before, the eldest young master and the others are not targeting me, but Dong Weng. Is it related to the disagreement between Dong Weng and the young master of the family?"
After going around and around, Li Hui finally brought the topic back to the previous topic.
"That's just one of the reasons." Gu Qian sighed, pondered for a moment and continued: "The heads of my family, the Gu family in Wu County, have been rotating, and they are all occupied by virtuous people. In the year of Yongjia, the ancestor of my lineage, Gu Rongwei
The great ministers of the Yuan Emperor were responsible for the establishment of the country by crossing to the south. The ancestors played a great role and had a high reputation inside and outside the court, so they were naturally the head of the Gu family. The later uncle Gu Hede was highly respected in the court and the public, and was appointed as the Secretary of the Central Committee. The position of the head of the family was naturally that of his great uncle.
Take responsibility. Our Gu family has always been like this, and this is how we ensure our family status."
Li Hui understood that it turned out that the position of the head of the Gu family was not inherited from one line, but whoever has high reputation, high official position, high reputation, can become the head of the family. This is a smart approach. It is a bit like a concession system.
The advantage of doing this is that it can ensure that each head of the family is the most powerful person in the family, which is of great benefit to ensuring the status and reputation of the entire family.
"I, the Gu family, originally did not have a north house and a south house. The reason why we divided the north house and the south house was because of the compromise in the choice of the head of the house. When the first head of the house, Gu and Master Xian, passed away, the position of head of the house was originally supposed to be held by my uncle Gu Pi.
It was appropriate for my cousin to serve as a prestigious official position. However, due to various reasons, my cousin failed to become the head of the family. The current head of the family inherited the position of head of the family. This has actually broken the rules of my Gu family. I once proposed it back then.
He questioned, but to no avail. Because of this, my cousin Yue Zhi left Wu County and went to live in Wuxi County, Jinling, and has not returned to Wu County for decades." Gu Qian said solemnly.
Li Hui didn't dare to interrupt. His previous worries had become a reality. As expected, it was involved in the disputes within the Gu family. Although Gu Qian said it in a vague way, it was obviously a matter related to the dispute between the heads of the Gu family, and it was not something that could be explained to outsiders.
's secret.
"Because I and my cousin Yuezhi hold a larger share of the estate property, once they are divided, it will greatly weaken the Gu family. For the sake of the Gu family, I represented my cousin Yuezhi in discussions with the family owner, and we made a compromise and divided the north and south houses.
I live in the south house and manage the property of the village. As for the position of the head of the family, I will not mention it again. However, on the surface, there is a harmonious atmosphere, but it is hard to hide the grudge. My doubts back then and my disagreement with my Gu family's current strategy have caused a lot of unhappiness. It's just that
Due to the huge property that I and my late cousin Yuezhi share, we live in peace and harmony." Gu Qian continued with a sigh.
Li Hui suddenly understood. Gu Qian and Gu Yuezhi controlled a large amount of land. Naturally, the head of the family, Gu Chun, would not quarrel with each other. Because once the property was divided, the Gu family's status would be greatly weakened. Therefore, the two parties compromised, and Gu Chun divided the power.
For Gu Qian, form an internal compromise to keep the Gu family's industry intact and the family as a whole strong.
However, this situation is only a temporary solution, and both parties must have grudges in their hearts. They are just tolerating each other for the sake of the overall interests of the family.
Who would have thought that the Gu family in Wu County, under their peaceful and majestic appearance, would actually hide such secrets. Just like exquisite ceramics, they look gorgeous on the outside, but actually have a big crack inside.