Chapter 1286 Xin Zijuan The setting sun and the grass and trees are handy

The public opinion of the gentry is not so easy to manipulate. These people have deep-rooted local influence and are connected with officials in the DPRK and the Central Government. Anyone can tie up a certain official in the DPRK. With the slightest move, someone can wave the flag and shout, and this is also The basis of the scholars of the Great Zhou Dynasty was that even the emperor had to be wary.

However, Feng Ziying aroused public anger and criticism last year. Even if Qi Yongtai, the leader of the Beizhi scholars, suppressed her, it only helped her barely get through. How could it be possible to completely silence everyone like this?

This is clearly what kind of threats Feng Ziying used to silence these gentry. If so, that would be too bad.

Zuo Guangdou felt that he had found Feng Keng's weakness, which was that he was too strong. Coming from a local martial arts background, he was too superstitious about force and violence, thinking that he could use this method to intimidate these gentry into silence, but he wanted to Understand that the world of the Great Zhou Dynasty is based on scholars. If warriors are allowed to bully the gentry, the country will not be a country.

Zuo Guangdou also knew very well that the scholars in the central and northern areas of the DPRK were bent on praising Feng Keng in order to suppress Jiangnan scholars such as Huang Zunsu and Zhou Yanru. He also admitted that Feng Keng did have some skills and abilities, but the barriers were clear. He has the handle, and of course he will not let the Northland scholars succeed.

"Yi Zhi, your judgment is just a conjecture with no evidence..." Hui Shiyang protested.

"I, your words are too biased." Zuo Guangdou's tone became more and more sharp, "Although we have talked one by one in the past two days, in fact, everyone understands that it is difficult to keep anything we talk about confidential. With Feng Ziying's methods, this front foot If I go out, I'm afraid the news will reach his ears..."

Hui Shiyang was furious, "Yi Zhi, are you suspecting that I've leaked the secret?"

"I didn't say that, but there are many people in and outside the mansion, as well as the officials we brought. Can they withstand the temptation of local officials?" Zuo Guangdou said calmly: "Except for them, those who are sent here The officials who assist us will also use various means to spy, and the people we meet are not just one or two. There are always some who are not so cautious and want to reveal something, and they will spy on them."

Being silenced by Zuo Guangdou, Hui Shiyang gritted his teeth with hatred, but he was helpless. In fact, he also had some doubts in his heart that Feng Ziying might have used some despicable means to force these gentry to silence. In fact, this situation happened in other situations. It is not uncommon in places, but Feng Ziying's reputation is too great, and being targeted by these Jiangnan scholars will inevitably lead to some trouble.

Fang Zhenru doesn’t quite believe it.

As a classmate of Feng Ziying for several years, he knew very well that although his relationship with Feng Ziying was not very close, he knew that Feng Ziying always made decisions before acting, and it was rare for him to leave such a big loophole for others to take advantage of, and as a Yongping Mansion I know that he should have more perfect means to deal with these gentry.

This can be seen from the conversations in the past two days. The gentry in Lulong, Luanzhou and Qian'an that were making the most noise were almost silent, but the gentry in Leting and Changli counties still made some noise. This is too strange. Well, if Feng Ziying was really as Zuo Guangdou said, then the gentry in Leting and Changli should have shut up at that time.

"Brother Yi Zhi, Ziying is not like this." Fang Zhenru put forward his own opinion, "There are probably other reasons here, and we should also analyze and understand why these gentry criticized Ziying, instead of just looking at him Staying on the issue of criticism itself, there are many powerful and evil gentry among the gentry in the North. If they are such evil gentry, then naturally we cannot support such people..."

Fang Zhenru's fight against injustice made Zuo Guangdou a little embarrassed. He didn't expect that this fellow villager would actually stand opposite him. Besides, the other party was a disciple of Qingtan Academy, but the township party is the most important, isn't it?

“Hai Wei, what do you think is going on here?” Zuo Guangdou suppressed his inner dissatisfaction and asked in a deep voice.

“I’m afraid we need to conduct a detailed investigation to understand this, but based on my understanding of Ziying’s character, he will definitely disdain to use any sneaky means.” Fang Zhenru said solemnly.

“Hai Wei, I didn’t expect you to have such trust in your classmate.” Zuo Guangdou couldn’t help but sneered.

"I have been classmates for several years. I still know Ziying's character well. I dare not say anything else, but I am confident in this aspect." Fang Zhenru simply put the words aside to avoid being caught between the two of them and said, "I must have left something behind." Brother Nao also has the means to find out the truth..."

While the three of them were bickering, they heard an official from outside reporting that Lord Tongzhi was visiting.

"Oh? If you say Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be there soon?" Zuo Guangdou sneered, "I wonder if you are guilty of being a thief? Or do you just want to see one of us?"

Hui Shiyang and Fang Zhenru were both a little unhappy. Zuo Guangdou was too aggressive.

Although Zuo Guangdou said sarcastic words, he still asked the officials to invite Feng Ziying in.

Although the "Big Plan" assessment team works independently, it is not forbidden to meet with local officials to exchange opinions. However, according to the rules, they must meet in groups. This is allowed. Similarly, the assessment team can also choose to meet with one of them collectively. An official verified the situation.

"Master Feng is here at this time, but do you have anything to report..." Zuo Guangdou's tone became much calmer in person. He can be harsh and harsh in front of his companions, but in person, he still needs to pay attention to the necessary etiquette. , this is the basic style of scholars.

"No, no, the three adults misunderstood. I was entrusted by the palace master to invite the three adults to participate in an event..." Feng Ziying said with a genuine smile.

“But the local poetry or literary society in Yongping Prefecture?” Zuo Guangdou suddenly realized, is this a way to prove the prosperity of local moral education?

“No, it’s not.” Feng Ziying didn’t feel embarrassed at all, “It’s an industry that combines mining, charcoal burning and iron smelting…”

Zuo Guangdou's face was slightly gloomy, "Oh? What does this have to do with us?"

“This mine and workshop were jointly established by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi, local gentry from Yongping, the Lu family from Songjiang in the south of the Yangtze River, and the villagers from Foshan in Guangdong. Ziying worked very hard to facilitate this grand event.” Feng Ziying said with a smile.

 The three of them were all shocked by it.

It's nothing more than cooperation between Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants and local gentry. Guangdong Zhuangji Zuo Guangdou and Fang Zhenru also know that they are large iron smelters. Foshan accounts for more than half of Guangdong's iron output, and Zhuangji accounts for half of Foshan's iron output. They can be said to be rich. But the three families cooperated with the enemy country. No wonder these local gentry changed from their previous hostile attitude and were actually "bought and surrendered" by Feng Ziying using this method.

But why did the Songjiang Lu family get involved again?

Songjiang Lu family is not simple. Not only is it one of the top three high-ranking families in the south, but it also has a good official reputation. It is also famous in the north and is even more famous in the south of the Yangtze River.

The two brothers of the Lu family, Lu Shusheng and Lu Shude, were important ministers during the reign of Emperor Yuanxi. Lu Shusheng served as a cabinet minister for ten years twenty years before Yuanxi. Lu Shude served as the minister of the Ministry of Rites. Lu Shusheng lived a long life and did not die until the early years of Yonglong.

Lu Shusheng had a son, Lu Yanzhang, who is now the right minister of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing. When Lu Yanzhang was young, Lu Shusheng hired Dong Qichang, a local native, to teach him. Now Dong Qichang is involved in politics in Henan. When Dong Qichang taught in the Lu family, he and Lu Yanzhang were both members of the Lu family. There is also a famous figure Yuan Keli. He was studying in the Lu family at that time, and is now a doctor in the Ministry of War's military selection and purification department.

The three of them were all Jinshi in the 30th year of Yuanxi, and they were also famous in that subject, causing great shock.

As scholars from Southern Zhili, Zuo Guangdou and Fang Zhenru had visited Lu Shusheng when they were young, and they were also very aware of the influence of the Lu family in Songjiang, Southern Zhili, and Jiangnan scholars.

Even the stubborn Zuo Guangdou couldn't help but asked in a deep voice: "Why did Mr. Feng invite the Jiangnan gentry to Yongping Mansion? Logically speaking, there are Shanshan and Shaanxi merchants and Guangdong Zhuangji, plus the local gentry, there is no need at all. Are you inviting the gentry and merchants from the south of the Yangtze River to go north?"

"Brother Yi Zhi is wrong. Although there is no shortage of monetary capital in the North, and there is no shortage of technology with the cooperation of Zhuangji, the iron materials and iron tools produced by iron smelting also need to find suitable sales in the south of the Yangtze River. The Lu family is in Songjiang and Suzhou. , Changzhou, Huzhou, and Hangzhou are very well-connected, and now that Yuguan has opened a port, a large amount of iron materials can be continuously transported to the Jiangnan prefectures by sea. Isn’t it the best of both worlds?”

Feng Ziying smiled slightly and said, "Brother Yi Zhi, don't think so narrowly of us northern gentry. Businessmen from Shanxi and Shaanxi can also take root in Yangzhou, and Yongping Mansion also welcomes merchants from the south of the Yangtze River to come to our northern land to seek common development."

Zuo Guangdou and Fang Zhenru looked at each other in confusion. They both knew that Shanxi merchants had always been cliquey and exclusive, but now they were so generous and open-minded? For example, trade with the Mongols and Jurchens outside the border wall was completely monopolized by merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi. Even merchants from Shandong and Beizhi found it difficult to get a share of the pie. This is clear evidence.

Seeing Zuo Guangdou's face full of doubts and disbelief, Feng Ziying smiled calmly: "Brother Yi Zhi, if you don't believe it, you might as well go and have a look and find out. The Lu family is quite famous in Songjiang and Nanzhi. I believe this situation can be known by asking." ,how?"

Feng Ziying was so frank that Zuo Guangdou actually believed it in his heart. There was no point in lying about this kind of thing. Moreover, even without the Lu family, the local gentry in Yongping Prefecture was being bribed with such benefits. This problem actually no longer existed. .

However, Zuo Guangdou is still very satisfied. At least Jiangnan merchants can penetrate into the hinterland of the North. This is a good start. You must know that even in Shandong on both sides of the canal, if Jiangnan merchants want to settle down and develop, they often have to be restricted. Merchants from Shanxi and Shaanxi, places like Beizhi, have almost no place for merchants from the south of the Yangtze River to get involved, but now there is such a breakthrough in Yongping Mansion, which is really a surprise.

"Okay, since Mr. Feng is so kind, we must go and take a look. It is said that Yongping Mansion has changed a lot this year. The income of the Ministry of Industry's Jieshen Treasury has increased significantly. We also want to know the reason for this. It's mysterious." Zuo Guangdou agreed enthusiastically.

 (End of this chapter)