Suddenly there were more officers and soldiers coming in and out of Shangwu City.
However, the people were no longer surprised, Wu did not close the city gates tightly, and the officers and soldiers naturally did not besiege the city. They usually came in an aggressive manner and then left in a friendly manner.
"You must be careful in the future." The official warned kindly and sincerely, "At this time, you must be careful in everything."
A certain master of the Wu family, usually a different master, would either respond gratefully, "I understand, thank you, sir.", or nod angrily, "I will definitely teach them a lesson!"
But no matter whether you are grateful or angry, a cart of gifts will be delivered to the government office afterwards.
People were watching the excitement on the street and smiled and pointed out, "Now it's free to go in and out of the city. They all come to ask for money."
Of course, in order to refute this statement, the government posted many notices at the city gates and outside the government offices, to the effect that fighting, fighting, cheating, and abduction were strictly prohibited, and if found, they would be severely punished.
As a local wealthy family with many children, the Wu family would inevitably act tyrannically and cause trouble, so they were frequently sought out by the government.
Of course not many people believed what the government said, it was just a disguised claim to ask for money.
The people no longer paid attention, Wu was so rich anyway.
But no matter how rich you are, having too many people is still a problem. Although you are no longer frightened by the officers and soldiers, there are many more complaints in Shangwu City.
"This is unfair. Why should some money be paid by the public, while others should be paid by each family?"
"The clan has said that whatever is done now is the responsibility of the clan, and what happened in the past was everyone's fault. This is only fair."
"How is this fair? I don't understand."
"Because the government is targeting us now. In the past, would these things have mattered?"
"Whether it counts as a matter or not, things are done by people. How can we favor one over another?"
"The clan has always favored one over the other, but you only found out today."
These discussions are filled in the streets and alleys, and they have nothing to do with their own family's fussing over their own family's enjoyment.
"Don't say that, it's all your own family's business." Wei Dao corrected, "I think this government is serious about it. Things that can be solved with money are only trivial matters. Everyone should be careful."
The people gathered around Weiwei were all casual people, and there were no taboos. Some people were curious, "Are there any problems that cannot be solved with money?" Or are there any problems that the surname Wu cannot solve?
Although they are just the most ordinary people in the Wu clan and are not as wealthy as Shifang, they still enjoy the preferential treatment of the Wu clan when they go out.
Wei Wei smiled and said: "Is the emperor older than you?"
Of course it’s big!
"When faced with swords and guns, the emperor cannot protect himself." Wei Hua said, "These are troubled times, and nothing is impossible. Everyone, please be careful. Although Han Xu is a civil servant, his hands are stained with a lot of blood.
I have to remind Mr. Qi again that the family members must be careful and don’t commit a crime that will lead to death, as there is really no way to save him.”
After saying that, he stood up and walked away shaking his head, leaving behind a murmur.
"People in this city all have big families. If something goes wrong, what will happen to the family property?"
Watching the eunuch leave, a group of people standing in the corner looked at each other and said, "Is he too timid?" "He has never seen the world." "That's wrong, he is a eunuch who came from the palace. He has never seen the world.
"I passed." "I came back after I obviously left, just because I didn't trust Han Xu." "Then it seems that the situation is really tense." Everyone was talking about it.
"Then everyone, please be careful." Someone said, "There is nothing wrong with being careful in this troubled world."
"Yes." Someone patted their hearts, "Our family business can't afford it."
This remark made the others laugh again.
"What are you worrying about? How many beds are there in your three or two rooms? What you should be worried about are those with big families, such as the people in the tenth room. If something happens to them, what will happen to their family property."
"You are just worrying blindly. If something happens to my family's big business, the family fortune will not be shared between you and me."
Then who can get it? Everyone flashed this thought and immediately laughed, what are you thinking! You are thinking too much!
Master Wu Qi also smiled after hearing the unfinished advice: "Mr. Yu, you are thinking too much!"
This eunuch, who had obviously left, inquired about some news about Han Xu on the way, came back and said he was worried and insisted on staying at home for a while.
Of course he didn't mind. Ever since he learned that the emperor would come to Songzhou, he felt that he could prepare for both things, either placing this eunuch next to the emperor, or they would contact the emperor themselves when the time came.
Wei Su Rong said: "Han Xu is actually a butcher. Also, Master Qi, don't forget that this Han Xu has a close relationship with Mrs. Chu."
Mrs. Chu is the wife of Wu Yaer.
Master Wu Qi was slightly startled. Yes, if you want to say that, the enemy of your enemy is your friend... If you can make Wu Ya'er and Han Xu fight.
Wei Wei didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Master Qi, you are overthinking. What I mean is that Han Xu learned from that Mrs. Chu, or was greedy and cruel in order to support and please Mrs. Chu."
Mr. Wu Qi was already distracted and said: "What good will he do if he continues to treat our Wu family brutally? He will harm others to his own benefit, so don't worry."
For Han Xu, being cruel to the Wu family is harmful to others, but for the people in the Wu family, hurting others is most likely to benefit themselves. Although Mr. Wu Qi has not thought of it, nor does he want to do this, I believe that there are already people in the Wu family.
Many people started to think about it.
The work was almost done, so he stopped before it was done: "Then I'll take my leave for the next few days. Master Qi, you must be careful not to cause big trouble or ruin your reputation. Your Majesty is a very suspicious person."
Master Wu Qi smiled and sent each other off, spending more time thinking about how to use Han Xu to deal with Wu Ya'er.
...
...
Carloads of gifts kept coming one after another. Han Xu frowned and looked at Zhong Qi. The young general understood what he meant. Is this what he understood?
Is this to ruin Han Xu's reputation?
"A gentleman should do things in a proper way." Han Xu said, "We need money now, but we can't act recklessly and deliberately intrude on others."
Zhong Qi's big eyes widened, he was surprised and aggrieved at the same time: "Sir, I didn't do it. Someone really complained."
He said and took out a stack of letters.
"Some were thrown in front of the government offices, and some were thrown on the streets where soldiers and horses patrolled. They were all about the evil things Wu had done."
Han Xu took it and looked at it. Of course he did not doubt that these letters were forgeries...
Zhong Qi immediately raised his hand again and said, "The officials from the government personally investigated, and I only went to arrest the person after they inquired."
Han Xu then read the letter and saw that it was not a big deal. It was nothing more than seizing people's land, lending money, beating civilians, and other things that powerful people often do, bullying men and dominating women. Looking at it, most of them were old things before the troubled times, so Han Xu just
Relieved.
When they saw soldiers and horses surrounding Shangwu City once, those who had been bullied became moved and wanted to take the opportunity to use the soldiers and horses to cause the Wu family to suffer.
You can’t suffer a big loss, but it’s not bad to suffer a small loss.
"Sir, although this is a trivial matter, it can be seen that Shangwu City is harboring filth and evil." Zhong Qi Surong said, "If this kind of family is not investigated carefully, when Your Majesty comes here in the future, it will either be harmful to Your Majesty, or it will be harmful to His Majesty."
I will threaten His Majesty."
Han Xu understood what Zhong Qi meant. The danger is naturally those who hide evil and have evil intentions. After all, in troubled times, rebels and spies are rampant. This is not Linzhou after all. What if someone from the Wu family accepts a heavy bribe and assassinates the emperor?
.....Look at what happened to Xiang Yun and others when they entered Beijing.
As for threats, such a family has great business and wealth. Although it is said that under the sky, it is the king's land, the land is on the shore, and it is the king's ministers. But in fact, everyone knows that if the emperor comes to Songzhou now, he will stay overnight.
When you are a customer, your confidence is weaker.
Han Xu had read about this kind of thing being bullied by aristocratic families and had seen it with his own eyes.
The purpose is to suppress the aristocratic family's momentum first, just like Mrs. Chu did.
He smiled at the thought.
If Mrs. Chu was here now, she would be afraid of ransacking all the houses in Shangwucheng with a knife in her eyes.
"Sir, why are you laughing?" Zhong Qi asked curiously.
After being in contact with him for so long, this is the first time I have seen this adult smile. He looks like a different person when he smiles, and there are even faint dimples on his face...
Zhong Qi couldn't help but look closely at it.
Han Xu stopped laughing and coughed softly: "If someone files a complaint, investigate it. Only when there is evidence can we judge the crime and punish it. We are here to restore order, otherwise wouldn't we be like rebels?"
Zhong Qi Surong responded: "Don't worry, adults, I will never disobey you!"
...
...
Zhong Qi jumped out of the official office in three steps and was about to gather his troops to go around Shangwu City when he saw a truck hanging the flag of Lian's Trading Company, and the man driving the truck shouted, "Hurry up, hurry up." Slowly and leisurely.
Walked over.
Zhong Qi then led his guards to a restaurant and started eating and drinking in a lively manner.
"Why are you suddenly looking for me?" Zhong Qi entered the private room on the second floor and looked at Wei Wei who was standing inside, "Don't worry, things are going smoothly. I wrote these complaint letters after checking the evidence.
Han Xu can’t see it.”
Wei Wei smiled: "Don't worry, there will be a real complaint letter soon."
Zhong Qi shrugged: "I don't mind what you do."
Wei said: "I've basically finished what I have to do. Infighting within the Wu family is bound to happen sooner or later. I'm leaving now, and I'll leave this place to you."
Zhong Qi smiled and said: "Madam asked you to go back? Help me bring a gift to Madam."
This little cunning guy didn't mind his interrogation in the end, and said gently: "I want to go to Taiyuan Mansion to investigate a very important matter. Madam has told me, I want to confirm it myself."
Taiyuan Prefecture, that's where Ankang Mountain is. Zhong Qi immediately looked solemn and clasped his fists with concern: "Sir, please take care of me."
Before thanking him, he added: "General Xiao Qi, please remember that no matter how much the Wu family does, please do not let them leave Songzhou."