poor family prodigal

From Dawangzhuang to Fuxian, he stopped for a while in the county seat and met with the county magistrate Sun Baichuan and the county captain Xu Dayou to express his greetings. Wang Yuan continued on his way and arrived at Tongmu Town at night. He walked sixty miles a day and stopped to rest for the night.

After breakfast the next day, the group rushed to Qinglong Gorge and passed by without any obstruction.

The team had just gone five miles when six fast horses caught up with them and hung far behind the team!

Wang Yuan winked, Dahu slowed down the car, and soon the six people caught up.

Hong Ye rides a maroon horse and wears a red cloak, floating over like a flame.

The hunchbacked master Zhao Boxiao came down the mountain tiger carrying an axe, holding the short gun Tian Qi, the little Tai Sui Xu Shanwu, and the black-faced King Kong Zhang Wenfei followed closely behind.

The five people looked at Wang Yuan with excitement.

That night, listening to the military counselor's lecture on dragon-slaying skills opened up the two channels of their rebellion, Ren and Du.

They were overjoyed to hear the news that the imperial court would not allow military advisors to take scientific examinations and would never use them!

I look forward to a complete falling out between the military advisor and the imperial court, and leading them to rebel as soon as possible!

Taking a look at Hongye's pretty face, Wang Yuan was startled: "Are you too tired from worrying, not eating well or sleeping well? You look a little thinner?"

The original Hongye melon face looks a little baby fat, a little cute!

Now, he has a standard oval face, which makes people feel a little pitiful.

"Don't tell me, the boss really seems to have lost some weight!"

This statement immediately caused four people, Tian Qi, Xia Shanhu, Xiao Tai Sui and Black Face King Kong, to nod.

The hunchbacked master Zhao Boxiao seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

"I want you to take care of it!"

Hong Ye's heart felt sour and she felt like crying. She raised her head arrogantly and said, "Being fat or thin has nothing to do with you!"

Taking over Qinglong Gorge, a team of more than [-] people and a lot of miscellaneous matters!

The bosses on the mountain all belong to the Green-faced Beast, Little Tai Sui, and Black-faced King Kong, but she doesn't dare to use them with confidence.

You have to do everything personally, try to be fair and just, and train your own people.

After worrying about it for more than a month, even with the help of Master Zhao and Xia Shanhu, as well as the cooperation of Tian Qi, Xiao Tai Sui and Black Face King Kong, I was still exhausted and haggard.

Also, Master Zhao said last time that she likes this little thief, and she will be sure when she comes back to think about him!

She missed this little thief, but she wanted to hit him, not anything else!

Every night, when I think about beating this little thief, I toss and turn and can't sleep!

Due to multiple factors, my appetite is not as good as before, my face has become thinner and my waist has become slimmer.

It's a pity that none of the rough old men in the cottage noticed it!

This little thief had sharp eyes and could see it at a glance.

"Then pretend I didn't say it!"

Wang Yuan didn't care about such a child's temper, and went straight to the topic: "Come to me this time, what's the matter?"

For safety reasons, it is no big deal if both parties have a tacit understanding and try not to meet each other.

"Last time you sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that someone might come looking for Leng Yun, and that person came yesterday!"

Hong Ye was so angry that he recounted what happened yesterday afternoon.

The middle-aged man killed ten brothers and fled south on horseback!

The brothers who were halfway up the mountain immediately rode on horseback to chase him, and they didn’t catch up until dark!

After Wang Yuan frowned and listened, he took out two gold coins: "Those who have family members, give them some money, and those who don't have family members, make the funeral more grand!"

Hong Ye was startled and waved his hand: "No need, the person has been buried!"

Tian Qi, Xia Shan Hu, Xiao Tai Sui, and Black-faced King Kong trembled at the sight of them.

One hundred taels of gold banknotes and two thousand taels of silver for the ten dead bandits.

When the bandit dies, he just throws it into the ravine and buries it casually. No one treats the dead bandit as a human being!

Wang Yuan turned his hand and thrust it at Zhao Boxiao: "Master Zhao, it's up to you to handle this matter!"

These bandits were killed after doing what he ordered, and he must play a role in the aftermath!

Zhao Boxiao put away the gold banknotes, took out a portrait and said: "This is the portrait I made of the man based on what the brothers with good eyesight said halfway up the mountain. It seems to be [-] or [-]% similar. Military advisor, please let your subordinates take a look. Look, be careful when you meet him, his martial arts skills are extraordinary."

"Thanks!"

He took the portrait and handed it to Dahu. Seeing that the tiger was about to stop talking, Wang Yuan hummed: "If you have anything to say, just tell me!"

"gentlemen!"

The tiger descending from the mountain seemed to be taking credit: "The Green Forest Trade Road Alliance has basically opened up the two counties of Jiushan and Longnan. The number of merchants coming and going has gradually increased, and the tolls are increasing every day. Now I can collect more than fifty taels a day. I am going to go south, and then take Qingshan If the county is also connected, more tolls can be collected.”

For more than a month, he has been running around, using the reputation of Yixiantian and Qinglong Gorge, as well as the temptation of Guangzong Yaozu, to persuade many bandits to join the Green Forest Trade Road Alliance. He feels a sense of accomplishment that makes him unhappy!

Wang Yuan patted Shan Hu on the shoulder: "Well done, keep up the hard work!"

Xiashan Hu patted his chest as if he had been given a shot of chicken blood and said, "It's all thanks to my teacher's teachings. I will definitely continue to work hard and open up the entire Chengzhou trade route as soon as possible!"

Wang Yuan nodded, returned to the carriage, took out a food box, handed it to Hongye and said: "Here are the beef balls and fish balls I brought. You can cook them and eat them with the sesame sauce and chili oil inside. They are very delicious!" "

"……what!"

Hongye was stunned for a moment!

What the hell is this little thief doing? He has kidnapped her as a hostage and threatened her in various ways. He has never treated her favorably.

Now I’m giving her food!

What are these beef balls and fish balls?

Every time this little thief takes action, there is a conspiracy behind it. These beef balls and fish balls are anything but simple!

Little Tai Sui and Black-faced King Kong were shocked: They usually send so much food, but the master doesn’t react at all. Now the military advisor only sends meatballs, and the master has such a reaction! That's right, with their status, how can they compete with military advisors! The last time they came back from Fu County, after being ordered by Master Zhao, they gave up their pursuit of the boss. But when I saw it, I still felt a little bit disgusted in my heart!

The hunchbacked master Zhao Boxiao took it and said, "The master is so happy, I will carry it for her first!"

Wang Yuan nodded, got on the carriage and left.

Hongye watched the carriage leave, and frowned: "Master Zhao, what do you think he is doing? What are the plans of these beef balls and fish balls!"

"Master, I feel that the military advisor really feels sorry for you because you have lost weight, so I will give you something delicious!"

Zhao Boxiao smiled slightly: "If the military advisor really has an agenda, it is because of you!"

"what?"

Hongye's beautiful eyes widened, and she shook her head repeatedly at the next moment: "Impossible, impossible, impossible, he must have other conspiracies, there must be something wrong with these beef balls and fish balls, you, you throw them away!"

Zhao Boxiao smiled narrowly and said: "Master, then I really threw it away, threw it into the ravine!"

"...I don't want you to throw it, I'll throw it myself!"

After grabbing the food box, Hongye rode up the mountain quickly.

The hunchbacked master Zhao Boxiao smiled and said nothing!

Hongye returned to the bedroom, put an iron pot on the stove, boiled water and poured the meatballs into it.

Wait until the meatballs float, dip the red leaves in chili oil and sesame sauce, grit your teeth and stuff it into your mouth.

She was already prepared, this cow pill had plans and was even prepared for poison.

But in order to find out Wang Yuan's plan, she decided to give it a try!

Puchi!

When you bite into the beef balls, you will feel the chewiness of the teeth, the spiciness of the sauce, the deliciousness of the beef, and the grease of the fillings, which will saturate your mouth, causing a large amount of body fluids to be secreted.

Hongye narrowed his eyes and said with a look of enjoyment: "It's delicious, it's so delicious. This little thief has bullied me for so long, and he finally did something good. Woohoo, it's so delicious! Stinky little thief, bad little thief , I forgive you half of the bad things you did to me before!"

……

That night, Wang Yuan checked into He County.

The green-faced beast was killed, Qinglong Gorge promised not to plunder again, and some bold merchants came back!

The new county magistrate took office, the subordinate staff were re-elected, and the Yamen was reopened!

The county has regained some vitality!

The group stayed in the county town for one night and set off for Ping County town the next day!

In the afternoon, we entered the boundary of Ping County.

Dahu took out his binoculars, looked back and forth and frowned: "Brother Yuan, there is someone following us on horseback, a bit like the man painted by Master Zhao. He hung up our convoy in Hexian County, and followed us all the way to Pingxian County. He was always there A mile away!"

Wang Yuan frowned and asked: "Are you riding a rogue horse? Do you have a sword?"

In this era, many people travel and are willing to hang behind a large group of people.

Mainly just want to be safe!

"It's a rogue horse, and he also carries a sword. His costume is exactly the same as what Master Zhao painted!"

Dahu looked solemn.

With a telescope to explore the road, he can clearly see things six or seven miles away!

"That!"

Wang Yuan's eyes darkened: "Let Uncle Tieshan take the black-armored veteran and capture him for questioning. Don't hurt anyone first!"

Everything has a coincidence, so arrest the person first to see if it is related to Leng Yun!

It’s not too late to make a decision!

With two veterans in black armor, Yu Tieshan fell behind the team and galloped away!

A mile away, the middle-aged man's pupils shrank. The instinct he had developed over many years of life and death made him feel the danger. He slapped the horse's butt and ran towards the road.

When he found out that Wang Yuan's guards were extraordinary, he didn't dare to follow him too close and kept following him from a mile away!

How could he be discovered by his people? Do his people have the eyesight of a sharpshooter!

Yu Tieshan and the three men are chasing after him!

On a horse, Wang Yuan held up a telescope and looked at a group of figures chasing each other.

It seems that this person is the one who killed the bandits in Qinglong Gorge and came to find Leng Yun!

Looking at such superb riding skills, he is also a battle-hardened figure!

Could it be that he was sent by the rebel King Fukuyama!

The four of them disappeared from sight!

The caravan stopped and waited!

An hour later, Yu Tieshan took two black veterans and galloped back!

Two veterans in black armor, their chests and clothes were torn, and the iron lining was exposed.

Wang Yuan stepped forward and asked, "Are you injured?"

Two veterans in black armor held up the iron piece and smiled: "Thank you, sir, for inventing the inner armor."

Wang Yuan smiled bitterly.

This is what inner armor is, it means that all the way to the state city, the team cannot be allowed to wear armor.

He was also afraid of encountering bandits, so he imitated the Ming Dynasty cloth face armor and put iron pieces under his clothes.

The defense is not as good as fish scale armor!

However, it is easy to disassemble and difficult to see!

Yu Tieshan looked guilty and said: "Sir, we chased into the woods, and he ambushed us in the woods. Fortunately, we have the inner armor you invented, otherwise the two brothers would have gotten in. But he didn't feel well either, and I slashed him I felt red, but he knew how to use concealed weapons, so I didn’t dare to pursue him anymore, for fear of being plotted by him and capsizing him in the gutter.”

"Uncle Tieshan, you did the right thing! No matter what we do, our safety comes first!"

Wang Yuan chuckled: "With the telescope, let's take the initiative and catch him sooner or later! Let's go!"

A group of people move on!

We arrived in Pingshan County before dark, booked an inn, and started eating, washing, and resting!

Early the next morning, after Wang Yuan had eaten at his stand, the chariots and horses were just getting ready to set off.

A luxurious carriage drove up, and a middle-aged man with a big belly got out of the carriage.

Longnan County City!

Last night, a group of cavalry rode straight to the government office, led by Wei Cheng, a general in bright light armor.

He turned over and dismounted, walked quickly to the backyard of the government office, saluted the official in a vermilion robe embroidered with landscape patterns, and said hurriedly: "Sir, I have received news that Wang Yuan's son has come to Longnan County to do business!"

Years ago, the imperial court not only issued an edict to scold him for his incompetence, but also demoted his generals to partial generals!

He was promoted from general to general in five years and spent [-] taels of silver.

There are so many rebels in various places, and there are so many rebels in one county that the generals in one county cannot defeat them!

If Wang Yuan'er hadn't led the soldiers to capture the green-faced beast, how could he be demoted due to his incompetence?

These days, he has been holding back this breath, looking for an opportunity to take revenge!

Not only him, the prefect was also demoted, from the fourth rank to the fourth rank.

Pei Xian, the magistrate of Longnan, said with a smile: "I have also received the news, what are you going to do?"

"Simple!"

Wei Cheng's eyes darkened: "His people are all armed with weapons. Send people to set up checkpoints to intercept and inspect him, stuff a few sets of armor and crossbows into his goods, and then we can justifiably arrest him. When we get to the prison, there will be one Kill him in a hundred ways!"

"you're right!"

Pei Xianzheng, the prefect of Longnan, hummed: "But what good will this do to us!"

"Of course there are benefits!"

Wei Cheng said excitedly: "Sir, you and I were both demoted due to him. Only by getting rid of him can we take revenge!"

Pei Xianzheng, the magistrate of Longnan, hummed: "Then what's the use of revenge!"

"..."

Hearing the profound meaning in the words, Wei Cheng clasped his fists and bowed his head: "Please tell me, Lord Magistrate!"

"I know you hate that kid, and I hate him to death, but what's the use of just killing him to vent your anger!"

Pei Xian, the magistrate of Longnan, said with a serious face: "It's useless. If we want to reinstate the official, we still have to send money to the higher authorities and find someone to help us speak!"

Wei Cheng came to his senses: "What do you mean, sir?"

Pei Xianzheng, the prefect of Longnan, smiled slightly: "I heard that that kid made a lot of money during the Jiushan County War and made millions of dollars at a time. Now that he has caused us so much trouble, we should let him shed some blood to apologize. ”

Wei Cheng's eyes lit up: "I'll make arrangements right away!"

"Your methods are a bit extreme. Don't use them unless absolutely necessary. Someone in the court is optimistic about him!"

Pei Xianzheng waved his hand: "I have already arranged it. If he is sensible, he doesn't have to make it so bloody!"

Wei Cheng frowned: "But I heard that boy has a bad temper, and he doesn't seem to be a sensible and obedient person!"

Pei Xianzheng squinted his eyes with a cold light: "If he doesn't know what's interesting, then use your method to make him know what's interesting!"

……

The middle-aged man who came down from the carriage was wearing a satin robe, a military hat, a white jade hanging around his waist, and a pair of bright eyes, giving him a very shrewd look.

The innkeeper bent forward and apologized: "I wonder why the magpies were chirping on the branches early this morning. It turns out that Mr. Fang is here. Please come in and invite me!"

The middle-aged man didn't answer anything and threw out a greeting card: "Give it to the prince who came to stay at your hotel last night!"

The shopkeeper took the invitation and trotted into the courtyard to the door of Wang Yuan's room.

"Fang Buddha moves!"

Looking at the name on the greeting card, Wang Yuan was slightly surprised: "Who is this Master Fang?"

I came to stay at night last night, and this person wanted to visit early in the morning, and I didn’t even know him yet!

The shopkeeper hurriedly said: "Master Fang is a great philanthropist in our Ping County. He is good at charity, builds bridges and roads, gives rice to disaster relief, adopts orphans and widows, builds temples, and does good deeds. Even the county magistrate respects him!"

Wang Yuan frowned: "I want to hear the truth!"

Dahu on the side took out an ingot of five taels of silver.

The shopkeeper happily took the money, but he was still very conservative and said: "Master Wang, Mr. Fang is a powerful man in our Ping County. He is known as Fang Bancheng. He owns less than half of the houses in Ping County. Even the county magistrate wants to avoid him." I heard that they are related in the county and city, but I don’t know about other small ones!"

It turned out to be a powerful person from the county. Wang Yuan said expressionlessly: "Then invite him over!"

The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief and ran out the door.

Not long after, two servants carried food boxes, and Fang Fodong came in with clasped fists: "Master Wang, your Majesty is coming to Ping County. Why don't you send someone to inform Fang to let him show his loyalty to the landlord? It's not worth it to be early." It’s expensive, but it’s all made by a master chef, and the taste is quite decent!”

The two servants immediately opened the food boxes and brought them out in plates and dishes. The aroma was overflowing.

"Master Fang is interested!"

Wang Yuan's face was expressionless: "No reward for no merit, it seems we don't know each other!"

No matter what you are doing, you are either a traitor or a thief!

Judging from the reaction of the shopkeeper, this Fang Fodong is not a good person!

"Young Master Wang, you have a big family and a big business, but you didn't take this little person like me to heart!"

A flash of sullenness flashed in his eyes, and Fang Fo said with a smile: "I am a salt merchant in Ping County. I also buy salt from Feicang Salt Well, so I am begging for food under the prince's hand!"

This arrogant boy actually pretended that he had never heard of him. He was so arrogant!

No wonder the imperial court decreed that it would not be subject to scientific examination and would never be used.

Give him three points of face, he really treats himself as a person, and he doesn't know how to behave at all!

"Salt merchant!"

Wang Yuan's face was serious: "My cousin is taking care of the salt industry and I am not involved. If Mr. Fang wants to talk about this, you can go to Jiushan County to find him."

Fang Fodong rubbed his hands: "Young Master Wang, who doesn't know that your cousin is just a guise, and you are the one who really makes the decision. I won't mince words with you anymore. It costs more than [-] yuan to transport salt from Jiushan County to Pingxian County. Here, the Fang family is losing money every year, please lower the price to give the Fang family a way to survive!"

Wang Yuan chuckled and said: "Since the Fang family is losing money every year, I will write a letter back immediately and ask Feicang Yanjing to stop giving salt to the Fang family, lest the Fang family lose money and go bankrupt!"

The salt produced in Feicang Salt Well is distributed in Jiushan, Longnan and Pingding counties!

In the beginning, when Wang Yuan took over the salt industry, all the salt merchants in the three counties were honest and no one dared to say anything.

Then the imperial court issued a decree of punishment, and these salt merchants became restless!

During the New Year, Wang Sihai went back and said that these salt merchants sent people to demand a reduction in salt prices!

Among them, the salt merchants in Longnan County jumped even more!

Nowadays, the salt produced in Feicang is refined salt after an extra step of filtration.

For fear of increasing the burden on the people, the salt was wholesaled to these salt merchants at the rate of twenty-five cents per pound.

Salt in Ping County sells for seventy cents per catty!

Not to mention these salt merchants, after getting the refined salt, they mix it with [-]% sand and sell it to the people.

He actually saw the court's popularity and came to force him to lower the price. He was so greedy!

Fang Fodong's expression changed, and he said with a smile but not a smile: "Master Wang, it seems that you haven't understood clearly yet, what's the change in form now?"

Wang Yuan sneered: "Then I'd like to hear it, what's the current form?"

Fang Fodong said: "The imperial court deprived you of the right to conduct scientific examinations because the cabinet was attacking the Wang family behind you. No official in Jiushan County dared to support you. During the war in Jiushan County, you scooped up the property of the county magistrate and made a fortune. They have countless money, they will definitely counterattack, you can’t keep Feicang Yanjing!”

"Ha ha!"

Wang Yuan sneered.

Wu Ling left and Chaotian issued another decree. The county commander would definitely want to counterattack.

But he believed that the government office in charge of Yan Fuhu, Zheng Fabei, Wu Yuan, Huang Cheng and the border troops who had been promoted to commanders would make the county commander's memory longer!

"Years ago, you destroyed the rebellious green-faced beast in He County. You looked majestic but actually caused great trouble!"

Fang Fodong seemed to be smiling but not smiling: "Do you know that the Longnan military commander and the magistrate were all demoted because of you? The last time the Wei military counselor withdrew his troops and returned to the county, I met him when I passed by Ping County. He said that he would meet the prince one day. You, I will entertain you well. I also heard that the prefect wrote your name in the government office for three days in a row, and then threw away the brazier and burned it after writing it!"

Wang Yuan was startled!

I really didn't expect that taking down the green-faced beast would have such a chain reaction.

However, the reaction of the two of them, Fang Fodong was so clear, is a bit intriguing.

Or it's a piece of cake!

or...

I originally thought he was here for the salt industry, but it seems this is the real deal!

Play with grass and play with rabbits!

"I know that Prince Wang, you are not a timid person!"

Fang Fodong hummed: "But now that you have entered Longnan County, if you want to expand your business to the state capital, you will not be able to bypass Longnan County, nor can you avoid the generals and prefects."

Wang Yuan narrowed his eyes: "Are you sending a message to threaten me on their behalf?"

"Young Master Wang, these words are serious!"

Fang Fodong smiled slightly: "I want to help you resolve the conflicts with the generals and the prefect, so that you can go to the city to do business without any hindrance!"

Wang Yuan smiled half-heartedly: "Then tell me how to resolve our conflicts!"

"It's hard to say it's hard, but it's easy to say it's easy!"

Fang Fodong hummed and said: "Being an official is nothing more than four words: promotion and wealth. Now, Prince, you have demoted the generals and prefects. You only need to give them a sum of money to reinstate the officials and make up for some energy." I think the two adults will not care about this matter anymore!"

Wang Yuan narrowed his eyes: "So you are a lobbyist, how much money do they want!"

"Young Master Wang, you are overthinking. I am not a lobbyist for the two adults. I just want to do something for you."

This straightforward approach made Fang Fodong startled. He turned his head and said again: "Now in the imperial court, it costs [-] taels of silver to fill the vacancy of a fourth-grade prefect! It costs [-] taels to fill the vacancy of a fifth-grade general. Silver. Just for the two adults, it will cost [-] taels of silver to restore the officials to their original positions. With a little compensation, [-] taels of silver should be enough!"

Wang Yuan frowned: "One hundred thousand taels!"

Don't look at one hundred thousand taels of silver, it is nothing to him now!

In fact, one hundred thousand taels is a huge fortune.

The annual tax revenue of a county is usually only two to three thousand taels. The annual tax revenue of a county is mostly just over one hundred thousand taels!

Many tycoons have accumulated two to three hundred thousand taels of silver through plunder and plunder over generations. There can only be three or four such tycoons in a county at most.

"One hundred thousand taels is a lot, but it's nothing to you, Mr. Wang!"

Fang Fodong chuckled: "You must have made at least several million by bargain-hunting in the county and city. And your soap, sugar, and Tang knife business, which one of them is not making a lot of money every day! You two adults only need a little, but It’s just a drop in the bucket, just waste money and eliminate disaster!”

"Ha ha!"

Wang Yuan chuckled and changed the topic: "They want one hundred thousand taels of silver, so what do you want?"