ps: Thanks to book friend Mi Shui for the reward of 18,000 starting coins
The entire Nanyi County was in dire straits, and during the time when Fang Zhenhai was in control of Nanyi County, he actually did not make any contribution to the development of Nanyi County, and even plundered a lot of things.
And now that Gu Cheng is the acting commander, he can't achieve any results either.
It's not that Gu Cheng is incompetent, it's that it's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
Now, all of Gu Cheng's subordinates were surrendered soldiers of the Rebellion Army. There were only three people who had reached the sixth level, including Taoist Mengshan, and Gu Cheng was barely included in the four.
There are more than ten state capitals in Nanyi County. People like him can only take care of half of them. They really don't have the energy to do anything else.
Therefore, Gu Cheng could only take the safest approach for the time being. He would take charge of Guangling City himself and let Taoist Mengshan and Lan Caidie take charge of the surrounding state capitals. Because Huang Laojiao was a naval force, he moved very quickly on the Qulan River, so
He can take care of the three state capitals close to the Qulan River by himself.
As for the outermost state capitals, Gu Cheng could only send some people there to keep an eye on them so that no problems would arise.
After arranging these things, Gu Cheng originally planned to stay in seclusion for a while.
He had seen Song Zhenqing and Qiu Erniang team up to fight Fang Zhenhai before. The fight between these three master-level beings gave Gu Cheng some insights, and he wanted to find time to digest them.
But before Gu Cheng could start retreating, Taoist Mengshan came to see Gu Cheng. The reason was simple: they had no money now.
Gu Cheng frowned and said, "Didn't Fang Zhenhai forcibly collect taxes from a large sect's competition before? It was a full 30%. How long did it take before it was gone?"
Taoist Mengshan smiled bitterly and said: "Master Gu, you are not a rich man and don't know that money, rice, oil and salt are expensive. Have you forgotten how many wars the rebel army fought after collecting the taxes from those sects?
All troops were mobilized to attack Zhang Xian, advancing both by land and water. The rewards, casualties, and consumption of various resources were huge.
Later, the rebel army fought among themselves, and Fang Zhenhai spent a large sum of money in order to calm people's hearts.
Then a rebel alliance was held. Although there was no fighting, the ostentation also cost a lot of money, so now we don't have much money in our books, and we can't even pay next month's monthly salary.
We don't need much money, but the ordinary soldiers under our command were all lacking money when they followed Fang Zhenhai. Now that they have turned from rebels to officers and soldiers, they end up starving. I'm afraid they will cause trouble."
When he said this, Taoist Mengshan looked at Gu Cheng strangely.
Whether it was the attack on Zhang Xian, the civil strife of the Wu army, or the rebel alliance later, it was all caused by you, Gu Cheng.
Although the mess you made killed Fang Zhenhai, the trouble returned to his own hands in the end. I don’t know what Gu Cheng is thinking now. Is there a natural cycle of retribution?
Feel.
In fact, Gu Cheng didn't think much about it, he just felt a little headache.
I have never even managed a state capital, but now I suddenly jumped to manage a county. This is a lot of trouble.
"Okay, I know this matter. I will find a way before next month."
After sending away Taoist Mengshan, Gu Cheng thought about it and could only decide to go to the Wulin sect in Nanyi County.
"Come here, help me make an appointment with people from the Wang family and the Siji Sect."
Gu Cheng wrote two posts and threw them to Jiang Yuandong, asking him to deliver them to the Siji Sect and the Wang family.
Five days later, in the general's mansion, Gu Cheng personally hosted a banquet for the two brothers Wang Yuan and Wang Lin, as well as Xiao Binggong, the deacon elder of the Siji Sect.
In the past, as long as the people of the Wang family and the Siji Sect sat together, they would definitely be hostile to each other, but this time they only focused on looking at Gu Cheng and had no time to be hostile to each other.
Originally one of the Eight Great Vajras under Fang Zhenhai, the most valued confidant of King Luanwu suddenly became a member of the imperial court and the commander-in-chief of Jingyesi in Guangling City. This change made them all
Can't react.
Wang Yuan was relatively good. After all, he had been in contact with Gu Cheng before and was mentally prepared. However, the Siji Sect was still a little uncomfortable with it.
Seeing the appearance of these two people, Gu Cheng couldn't help but smile and said, "Why are you two looking at me like this?"
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Of course I want to take a closer look at Mr. Gu who overthrew Fang Zhenhai.
My father told me before that Mr. Gu is not an ordinary person, but now it seems that we still underestimate you, Mr. Gu."
Wang Lin interjected at the side: "Well, can someone who has the same preferences as me be an ordinary person?"
"Shut up!"
Wang Yuan glared at Wang Lin fiercely, regretting that he had brought him here this time.
It would be fine if it was just Gu Cheng. After all, he knew what kind of virtue Wang Lin was.
But there are still people from the Siji Sect here, and Wang Yuan doesn't want to embarrass himself in front of his old rival, the Siji Sect.
Xiao Binggong, the deacon elder of the Siji Sect, also sighed: "Master Gu suddenly became a member of the imperial court, but he deceived us so hard. Why did Master Gu come to us today? The imperial court is preparing to settle accounts after the fall.
Already?"
Gu Cheng shook his head and said: "The imperial court's promise is very valuable. When we first said we would only kill the evil leaders, we will only kill the evil leaders.
Moreover, to put it bluntly, the Nanyi County court cannot defend itself, so of course it will not force everyone to side with the court.
I came here today to discuss the future development of Nanyi County with you two.
Fang Zhenhai is dead, the court is still there, and I am still here. In fact, nothing has changed, and it will even become better than before.
For example, Fang Zhenhai forcefully collected 30% of the tax revenue from Wulin in Nanyi County, which I feel is very unreasonable."
Although this matter was brought up by Gu Cheng, only the Eight King Kongs knew about it.
Now the Eight King Kongs are dead and surrendered, and Gu Cheng has put the blame directly on Fang Zhenhai's head. No one knows.
Knocking on the table, Gu Cheng said solemnly: "So I decided to reduce the tax from 30% to 10%."
As soon as these words came out, Wang Yuan suddenly frowned.
Xiao Binggong said directly: "Master Gu, with all due respect, even 10% is impossible. There has never been such a rule in Nanyi County Wulin. 30% and 10% are the same for us."
Gu Cheng waved his hand and said, "Elder Xiao, please be patient, I haven't finished speaking yet.
This percentage is for the other martial arts sects in Nanyi County. The Wang Family and the Siji Sect don't even need to pay this percentage. When the time comes, my people will only go to the Wang Family and the Siji Sect for a briefing.
In addition, both the Wang family and the Siji Sect have their own businesses selling elixir materials, and they also have their own caravans.
After leaving Nanyi County, especially away from Nanjiu County, the reputation of Siji Sect and Wang family is not very useful, but I can write an official letter to your two caravans in the name of Jingyesi.
, if you are in trouble, you can ask the local Jingyesi for help."
Wang Yuan and Xiao Binggong looked at each other, and Jing Yesi took the initiative to help them. This was something that had not happened in many years. It was very strange.
Xiao Binggong said in a deep voice: "Master Gu, you promised us these conditions, then what do you want?
Let me explain in advance, if you want our Siji Sect to help you persuade other martial arts sects in Nanyi County to agree to this 10% condition, it is absolutely impossible.
Although the reputation of our Siji Sect in Nanyi County is not very good, if we do this, I am afraid that we will become a public enemy of the martial arts in the entire Nanyi County."
Wang Yuan coughed and said: "The same goes for my Wang family. Although my Wang family is somewhat thin-faced in Nanyi County, this matter is equivalent to betraying the martial arts power of the entire Nanyi County. I'm afraid this thin-facedness is not enough.
of."
Gu Cheng picked up the wine glass, smiled and said: "You two are worrying too much, we are all friends, how could I do something to harm my friends?
I just want to ask you two for a little help.
In a month's time, I will invite the entire martial arts forces in Nanyi County to discuss matters again. By then, you two only need to do one thing.
That is, silence."
Wang Yuan and Xiao Binggong looked at each other and immediately understood what Gu Cheng meant.
A snake cannot move without a head. The martial arts forces in Nanyi County are not united, and the Wang family and Siji Sect are the leaders.
Just like when facing Fang Zhenhai, only the Wang family and Siji Sect spoke out against Fang Zhenhai first, and then other sects dared to take action.
When Gu Cheng discusses matters a month later, if the two of them don't open their mouths, the martial arts forces in Nanyi County will be a mess and cannot become a great weapon. Gu Cheng only needs to deal with them.
Wang Yuan and Xiao Binggong didn't resist this kind of thing. Anyway, they didn't pay anything. They just pretended to be deaf and dumb and could get benefits.
As for whether this matter can be accomplished, it depends on Gu Cheng's methods.
However, these two people did not agree immediately. Instead, they said that they would have to report to the head of the family and the sect leader before they could make a decision.
Gu Cheng smiled and cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll wait for the good news for you two."
He believed that the Wang family and the Siji Sect would not refuse such a simple condition and such an obvious benefit.
In fact, it was pretty much what he guessed.
After Wang Kaizhi learned about Gu Cheng's plan, he agreed without thinking.
The Wang family had been friends with Gu Cheng when he was still Fang Zhenhai's confidant. As for the Wang family, what they invested in was Gu Cheng. As long as Gu Cheng still had influence in Nanyi County, it didn't matter that he was Fang Zhenhai.
His subordinates are still members of the imperial court, so it is always right to maintain a certain friendly relationship with them.
Moreover, they can also gain certain benefits from this incident.
After learning the news, Su Xuanji, the leader of the Siji Sect, also sighed and nodded in agreement.
The Siji Sect previously sided with Fang Zhenhai, but before he could really benefit from it, Fang Zhenhai was killed by the court.
So now the Siji Sect is also worried that the imperial court will settle accounts in the future.
Although there is currently no action from the imperial court, people like them cannot trust the imperial court.
At present, Gu Cheng is in charge of Nanyi County. He is considered an acquaintance after all. The Siji Sect is willing to give Gu Cheng this face if it can.
After receiving the replies from these two families, Gu Cheng already felt confident and immediately began to contact the martial arts sects in Nanyi County to discuss the matter.