Zhu Nao

Wu Liang couldn't figure out why the grain merchants in Langzhou suddenly refused to supply him any more.He could only attribute the mistake to the person he sent to negotiate. It must be that this person said something wrong, did something wrong, and offended the businessman in Langzhou.

So he scolded the man head and face.Of course this person was wronged, he explained over and over again that he absolutely did not talk nonsense, and he did everything according to Lou Yi and Wu Liang's orders.However, even if he opened his mouth ten times, he still couldn't explain the matter far away in Langzhou. Wu Liang insisted that he was not good at handling things, so he dismissed him from his position immediately, and ordered someone to beat him up and throw him out.

Except for that unlucky ghost, Lou Yi also suffered a bloody scolding.After all, Lou Yi came up with this idea in the first place, if he hadn't come up with the idea, such an accident would never have happened.

Lou Yi also complained again and again.No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why the grain merchants in Langzhou had gone crazy and pushed thousands of taels of business out.

In the end, because Lou Yi had made a lot of contributions and helped him earn a lot of money, Wu Liang just scolded Lou Yi and fined him a few months' wages, but he still kept his shopkeeper. duty.And another team was sent to Langzhou again to negotiate with merchants in Langzhou again.

——For this reason, it is second best not to cut off the supply of non-traitor grains in Langzhou. He must keep his supply in Langzhou!At first he thought it was someone else's desire for him, but in a blink of an eye it has turned into his eagerness to beg others.

=====

Lu Lianshan was approving official documents in the main office when he suddenly heard a commotion outside, including noisy footsteps and voices.The sound disturbed his tranquility. He couldn't read the official document after reading it for a long time, so he could only ask the little official beside him: "Go and see why it's so noisy outside?"

The little official ran out, and came back after a while: "Master Lu, Wu Liang brought a group of people to give gifts, and they are chatting with people in the state government office opposite."

Upon hearing Wu Liang's name, Lu Lianshan quickly rolled his eyes to the sky: "It's him again! Where does he think this state capital is?!"

The little official also muttered: "Isn't he just like this... let alone our state capital, in the whole Yuzhou, he does whatever he thinks..."

Lu Lianshan looked irritable, but there was nothing he could do.After all, the other party was Wang Zhoumu's brother-in-law, and he just wanted to drive him out, but he didn't have the ability.He asked: "What's the matter with this guy? Why has he been running so much in the state capital recently?"

In the past, Wu Liang would also come. This person is obviously not an official, but he treats the state capital as his own home.After he came, he often ordered people to do things for him at will.For high-ranking officials with real power and background, he would give gifts to win them over, calling them brothers and flattering them. The ultimate goal, of course, was to let the other party do things for him.

As the head of the state capital, Lu Lianshan should also be the target of Wu Liang's win over.Wu Liang had indeed wooed him before, but he really didn't like Wu Liang's behavior, and he was always perfunctory about it.After a long time, Wu Liang also understood in his heart, so he didn't approach him very much.

But in the past, even if Wu Liang liked to run to the state capital, he didn't run often, at most once or twice a month.I don't know what kind of evil has been caught recently, this is the third time he has come here in ten days.

The little official said: "Why else? It must be for the grain store!"

Lu Lianshan glanced at the little official: "The grain shop? What happened to the grain shop? I went to the south of the city yesterday and saw that his Zhengda grain shop has closed. Has he not given up yet?"

"Give up?" The little official exaggerated, "Master Lu, are you kidding me?! How could Wu Liang give up!"

It is true that the Zhengda Grain Shop has not been open these days, for no other reason, because there will be no business if it is open.And there are so many guys in the grain shop, and they have to be paid when they start working.What was originally a profitable business turned into a loss-making business.

It seems that Wu Liang has no chance of winning under the menace of the non-traitor food company. At this moment, he must either close his business, or adjust his business model and regain his strength.However, if he would do this, he would not be Wu Liang.

This little official is clever, often active in various yamen, and is very well informed.He leaned close to Lu Lianshan's ear and whispered: "He is buying people everywhere, and he wants to cheat the traitor!"

Originally, Wu Liang could solve this kind of matter just by looking for Wang Zhoumu.But this time Mrs. Zhou came in to stir up trouble, and Wang Zhoumu had already been harassed by the wives crying, making trouble and hanging himself, so he avoided them and left.Wang Zhoumu was too lazy to take care of it, so Wu Liang thought of another way. Anyway, even if Wang Zhoumu didn't help him, he wouldn't come out to obstruct him.

Lu Lianshan frowned: "What is he going to do?"

The little official shook his head: "I don't know, I just know he has this plan."

There are hundreds of officials in the state capital. If there are too many people, there will naturally be factions.Some people are willing to form a gang with Wu Liang, such as Liu Ruhu, the governor of the state opposite him, while some people look down on Wu Liang's behavior and keep him at a respectful distance.Lu Lianshan was the latter.

Lu Lianshan was born in a wealthy local family. He studied since he was a child. It's not that he is very noble, but he still has some backbone and bottom line.In his eyes, a person like Wu Liang is simply a shit stick, whether it is to the people's livelihood, to business or to the administration of officials, it has a hundred harms and no benefit.It's a pity that his power is not high enough, and an official has a lot of helplessness, one of the biggest helplessness is that there is a necessary prerequisite before doing anything: he must first protect his position before he can decide what to do.Otherwise, even the official position will be lost, and nothing can be done.

The little official is still gossiping: "I heard that Wu Liang sent people to Langzhou a few days ago and suffered a big loss in Langzhou... I don't know exactly what happened, but the businessmen in Langzhou are amazing... "

Hearing the word "Langzhou", Lu Lianshan's eyebrows twitched.The name of Langzhou Mu Zhunao popped up in his mind instantly.

Yuzhou and Langzhou are adjacent to each other. If there is any trouble in Langzhou, it will be the first to spread to Yuzhou.Thinking back to when Zhu Nao first took up the post of shepherd in Langzhou, Yuzhou was lively for many days because of this, and everyone in the streets and alleys was talking about this wonderful person.

Lu Lianshan didn't know whether Zhu Nao was the prince or not.But whether it is or not, he is not disgusted.He only knew that after Zhu Nao took office, the weather in Langzhou was completely new.What made him envious and respectful was that Zhu Nao actually rectified the government of Langzhou Mansion!You must know that before this, the government of Langzhou Prefecture was chaotic, but it was no better than the current Yuzhou Prefecture!

How rare this is, Lu Lianshan, who has been an official for several years, knows very well.Such a person, no matter whether he is a fool or not, at least one thing is clear - he is the most needed official in today's government under the current situation!

The people outside didn't know what topic they were talking about, and suddenly became excited.The sound of laughter continued to spread into the room, accompanied by some obscene vocabulary dialogues, "Goulan", "Xiaoguan", "Muhu"...

Lu Lianshan didn't want to hear it at all. He still had a lot of things to do.However, the other party's voice was so loud that he couldn't stop it even by covering his ears.

Distraught and irritable, he thought of Junao from the neighboring state...

He has a secret in his heart, and he has never told anyone, and he dare not tell anyone.

——If there is such a chance, he hopes that he can become a delusional person like Jun Nao.Replaced that bullshit chief, dismissed those wretched subordinates, drove away bastards like Wu Liang, and reorganized a clean and tidy Yuzhou Prefecture.

however……

He sighed.

However, he doesn't have that ability, nor does he have that courage and opportunity...

=====

After finishing his official duties in the evening, Lu Lianshan changed into his normal clothes and went to a tavern for a drink.This is the tavern he goes to most often, whenever he is depressed, he comes here for a few drinks.

Not long after he sat down, there was suddenly a person on the opposite chair. He was taken aback for a moment, then raised his head, and saw a man in his thirties sitting opposite him. passed.

The man whispered: "Master Lu, it's a coincidence to meet here. Can I treat you to a drink?"

Lu Lianshan stared at him for a while, then remembered his name: "You are... Li... Li Xiang!"

A smile appeared on Li Xiang's face: "Master Lu recognizes me?"

Lu Lianshan frowned and said, "What do you want from me?"

Now that there is such a big dispute over the grain stores in the city, Lu Lianshan certainly knows who Li Xiang is.Although the two were not familiar with each other, Li Xiang would deal with officials in the state capital because of his business, so they had met before.

The other party said it was a coincidence, but he knew in his heart that it was definitely not the case.He liked the wine in this tavern very much, so he came here often.Although the common people in the city may not recognize him, some crooked people will often come here to guard him when they find out about his habits.Li Xiang is not the first, nor will he be the last.

The other party got straight to the point, and Li Xiang stopped pretending. He laughed dryly twice, and said in a low voice: "Master Lu, there are so many people here, can you find a clean room, I invite Master Lu to have a drink and chat Gossiping?"

Lu Lianshan said lightly: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

The reason why he sat in the lobby was to save someone from having a relationship with him in private.

Seeing that he was indifferent, Li Xiang was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice, "Master Lu, what kind of person do you think Zhu Zhoumu of Langzhou is?"

Lu Lianshan was taken aback, very surprised: "What?"

Li Xiang said again: "If you have the opportunity, you can also become Zhuzhou Mu, or Lu Zhou Mu, would Master Lu be willing?"

Lu Lianshan's heartbeat suddenly missed a few beats, his face changed "shua", and the hand holding the wine glass was shaking so much that he almost spilled the wine: "You, you, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Li Xiang touched his face with a smile: "Hey, I drank too much wine and talked nonsense. In fact, I just wanted to chat with Master Lu casually. What did I just say?"

Lu Lianshan: "..."

He looked at the other party in surprise, Li Xiang's eyes were clear, and he didn't look like he had drunk too much.The other party seemed to be talking nonsense, but his fingernails were lightly digging at the table, and he looked a little nervous.

Lu Lianshan was stunned for a moment, and a terrible idea suddenly flashed in his mind.This thought made him gasp, and his whole body froze in place as if he had been hit by a hold spell.

After a while, he said coldly: "Drunkard, go back to your own home and don't pester me here!"

While speaking, he scraped his finger across the rim of the glass, dipped some wine, wrote a few words on the table, got up and walked away.

After Lu Lianshan returned to his residence, not long after, his servants came to report: "Master Lu, there is a man surnamed Li who came to see him outside."

Lu Lianshan said, "Let him in."

Not long after, Li Shen entered the house, bowed his hands and saluted: "Master Lu."

Lu Lianshan pointed to his nose with a dark iron face: "You, who are you? No, who else is behind you? What did you mean by those words to me just now?!"

Li Xiang didn't answer Lu Lianshan's question directly, but asked straight to the point: "Master Lu, do you want to take charge of Yuzhou?"

Lu Lianshan: "..."

What's with the tone of whether you want to buy a chicken and cook it back? !He heard something incredible! !

His fingers trembled even more: "So you...really...are you Zhuzhou Mu?"

What he said was messed up, but Li Xiang understood it.He was noncommittal, just acquiescing.

Lu Lianshan took another breath of cold air, his heart almost jumped out of his throat: "My God..."

Li Xiang smiled and asked again: "Master Lu, do you want to take charge of Yuzhou?"

Lu Lianshan waved his hand, signaling him not to speak yet.Stimulate it again, and he will pass away.

After a long time, Lu Lianshan finally suppressed his shock a lot, and asked with a complicated expression: "Why are you looking for me? What do you want to do with me?"

Li Xiang confirmed with his eyes that Lu Lianshan did allow him to ask questions, so he asked for the third time: "Master Lu, do you want to take charge of Yuzhou?"

Lu Lianshan: "..."

He hesitated to speak, feeling complicated.Reason told him that he should go to remind Wang Zhoumu, and even write a letter to Chengdu Mansion.But an inexplicable force pressed his shoulders, making him unable to get up from the chair.

He didn't know whether what Li Xiang said was true or not, but he was inclined to believe it.He felt a little strange about the opening of the non-traitorous food store.Li Xiang was just an ordinary businessman in Yuzhou in the past, and his business was not even very good.And such a food store, despite its small size, actually spends a lot of money, just to maintain the fast delivery of the caravan, and to arrange various gifts for Mrs. Zhou and the officials, the cost is very high.Without strong financial support, it is impossible for this shop to open.If there is another person behind Li Xiang, many things can be easily explained.

He asked slowly, "Why are you looking for me? I mean, why, is it me?"

Li Xiangdao: "Because Master Lu is competent. He is more competent than any official in Yuzhou Mansion."

"Competent for what?"

"Competent in managing Yuzhou."

"..." Is there anything else to say!

In fact, Zhu Nao finally chose Lu Lianshan after going through many considerations.He has been investigating the officials in the Yuzhou Mansion recently, and made a decision after learning about everyone's temperament, faction and many other situations.Even Li Xiang didn't know what the basis for this decision was.But the facts have proved that Zhu Nao's vision of seeing people is indeed very accurate.

Lu Lianshan's expression was complicated.He didn't know whether what Li Xiang said just now was to coax him or what, no one doesn't like to be praised, so he couldn't help being a little happy in his heart.But it was more frightening.

"I'm in charge of Yuzhou? Do you know what you're talking about?"

"I know. Do you want Master Lu?"

Lu Lianshan didn't speak.

Li Xiangdao: "Master Lu, don't worry. I dare to come to you and say such a thing. Is it possible that I can sell what you said to others?"

Lu Lianshan resentfully said: "What if you are sent by Wang Zhoumu and want to test whether I have any intentions?"

Li Xiang: "..."

Lu Lianshan pouted.He himself knew that this possibility was very small.What Li Xiang said earlier should be the truth.It's just that it came too suddenly, and he couldn't catch his breath for a while.

But he didn't deny it, he actually admitted it.

After a while, Lu Lianshan said: "Since the person behind you is Zhuzhou Mu, he wants to overthrow the Yuzhou government? Then why didn't he come forward in person? Why did he come to me?"

Li Xiang replied: "Zhuzhou Muzhi is not here, so he can't."

Lu Lianshan frowned: "Then what is his ambition?"

As soon as the question was uttered, he himself had the answer: "The world?!"

Li Xiang also gave the answer: "Do business."

Lu Lianshan: "..."

To overthrow the rule of a state, just to do business? ?What kind of fairy business are you doing!

But it is true that Zhu Nao's ambition is not in Yuzhou, or in other words, his ambition is not limited to this.So he really can't do it himself.Now that he is in charge of Langzhou, the Chengdu government can still tolerate him, because Langzhou is only one of the eight states in Shu, and the space is limited, so it cannot cause a big storm.But if Zhu Nao takes Yuzhou again, his ambition will be revealed, and the Chengdu government will probably eliminate him at all costs!

Moreover, he has no power base in Yuzhou, and Yuzhou is not like the original Langzhou, which has not been fragmented, but still has many serious illnesses.If he wants to take up the post, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public.

Lu Lianshan hesitated for a long time, and finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Li Xiangdao: "No need for now. If there is any difficulty in the future, Master Lu is willing to help. I am grateful. The most important thing is that when the time is right in the future, I hope Master Lu can stand up and take over Yuzhou Prefecture .”

Lu Lianshan frowned again and again: "I don't do anything, you give me Yuzhou for nothing?? Then what are you going to do?"

Li Xiang did not answer.

Lu Lianshan said displeasedly: "You came to me, said some inexplicable things, and didn't say anything clearly, how can you make me believe you?"

But Li Xiang said: "Master Lu, it's a good thing that you don't know anything. If we can't do something, this matter has nothing to do with you; if we can do something, you won't be implicated in whether you are guilty or not in the future, and you can do it." Sit back and reap the benefits of the fisherman."

Lu Lianshan still didn't quite believe it: "Is there such a good thing in the world?" After speaking, he thought of a possibility, and immediately said vigilantly, "Or Zhu Zhoumu wants me to take over Yuzhou Mansion, and then obey him and become his puppet? "

Li Xiang asked back: "Will you know?"

Lu Lianshan remained silent.Although he does admire Jun Nao, he also has ambitions and does not want to be controlled by others.

Li Xiangdao: "Zhuzhou Mu said that he would not do what is difficult for others."

Lu Lianshan thought for a while, and stopped talking.If Zhu Nao was the shepherd of Langzhou, and he wanted to intervene in the management of Yuzhou, he might not be happy.But if one day, Zhu Nao takes a higher position, such as taking the position of Chengdu Yin, then he will not oppose Zhu Nao.

Li Xiang said that he didn't know anything to protect him, but Lu Lianshan didn't believe it.To put it bluntly, I still don't trust him.But the truth of these words is also correct.He doesn't know anything, so this matter will not implicate him.

After a while, he said: "This matter needs to be discussed in the long term... It's a bit sudden today, I'm afraid I need to think about it."

Li Xiang said with a smile: "It's time to think about it. It's getting late, and there will be a curfew any later. I'll go back first, Mr. Lu, take my leave."

He turned around to leave the wing, but Lu Lianshan looked at his back and suddenly said, "Li Xiang."

"Huh?" Li Xiang turned around.

"Wu Liang has been active in the state capital these days..." Lu Lianshan rolled his eyes, "I don't know what his plans are, so be careful."

Li Xiang hurriedly said, "Thank you, Director Lu, for reminding me."

Lu Lianshan nodded and motioned him to go.

……

After Li Xiang left, Lu Lianshan didn't fall asleep all night.If you can fall asleep, you will be called a ghost.Fortunately, the next day was a holiday, so he didn't have to go anywhere, so he just stayed at home and continued to think about his thoughts.

In the morning, Lu Lianshan kept thinking about Zhu Nao.

In the past, he only heard about Zhu Nao's deeds, and he was a little bit admiring and envious in addition to being surprised.But now that it happened to him, he really felt how daring this person was.

He thought to himself, how big is Zhu Nao's ambition?How does he plan to win Yuzhou?What is the purpose of his food business?Is it to secretly plant people into the city, to rebel?But how many people can he arrange for a grain store to enter the city?Does he know how many forces there are in Yuzhou City?How to overthrow these forces?

The more I think about it, the more nervous I become, and the more I think about it, the more disturbed I become.But besides being nervous, there is also excitement, anticipation and frustration.

He couldn't understand other things, but he did understand one thing.He has admired Jun Nao for a long time, and he had secretly thought that he could become the same person as Jun Nao.Now that I have experienced it, I realize that a foolish person is a foolish person, let alone other things, with this courage alone, even if he flatters him, he will not be able to catch up...

After taking a nap at noon, Lu Lianshan didn't come out of the house until the afternoon.As soon as he went out, he saw several domestic servants gathered together in the yard, chatting in whispers.I don't know what was said, but everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

Lu Lianshan said, "What are you talking about?"

A servant hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Master, I went out to buy things just now, and I heard that something happened to the non-traitor grain shop!"

"What?" Lu Lianshan was taken aback, and immediately asked, "What happened?"

The servant said: "In the morning, a food delivery team entered the city. When they were checking at the gate of the city, for some reason, the officers and soldiers found several weapons from the goods of the food delivery team! The officers and soldiers immediately detained the caravan. , All the goods were returned to the government.

Lu Lianshan opened his mouth in disbelief, and after a while he said, "This...does Li Xiang know about this?"

The servant said: "It's more than just knowing... As soon as Mr. Li heard the news, he went to the government to redeem his goods and caravan. As a result, he had just entered the government, and he didn't have time to say anything." , was tied up by the officers and soldiers. The officers and soldiers said that he was smuggling weapons and intending to rebel, and he has already thrown him into prison!"

Lu Lianshan was dumbfounded.

This accident is too... In the morning, he was still thinking about Zhu Nao's grand plan, but Li Xiang was arrested in the afternoon?This... can this matter go on?

Several servants didn't notice his strangeness, but they all knew that Lu Lianshan had always disliked Wu Liang, so they began to discuss in front of him with righteous indignation.

"It's too much! It's fine for Wu Liang to do evil in his daily life. In business disputes, he actually used the method of framing! He even made a treason charge... If Mr. Li is really convicted, it will be a big deal. Sentenced to death!"

"Wu Liang is cruel and ruthless, did you know that on the first day? Last time someone in the city made up a jingle to scold him, so he found a few people and beat him to death in the street. If Mr. Li didn't have some powerful background, I'm afraid it would have been too early." was killed by him."

"It's really lawless...Why does this city of Yuzhou allow that man surnamed Wu to behave like this? Is there no one who can control him?"

The more Lu Lianshan listened, the more complicated his mood became.

No wonder Wu Liang has been running to the state capital all day long recently, giving gifts to Zhou Cheng non-stop. It turned out that such a poisonous plan was arranged... He has always looked down on Wu Liang, and everything this person does is deepening his contempt .

Now even the servants could see that it was clearly Wu Liang who set things up.The funny thing is, even if everyone knew about it, no one could do anything about it.

I don't know how Junao will respond...

He was in a trance when suddenly a servant came to report: "Master Lu, there is someone asking to see him outside, and he is said to be a servant of the Li family."

"Ah?" Lu Lianshan was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said, "Let them in."

……

After a while, several people carried a box into the yard.After seeing Lu Lianshan, they saluted Lu Lianshan.

Lu Lianshan said, "Are you Li Xiang's servants?"

"Yes. Master Lu, my son was framed by a traitor today and is already in prison!"

Lu Lianshan sighed silently: "I heard. What do you want me for?"

Those few people hurriedly opened the box, and what was inside was a box of silver.Lu Lianshan's eyelids twitched, and then he frowned.

His mood began to be complicated again, with both sympathy and disappointment, and he said slowly: "You have found the wrong person. I can't save Mr. Li."

It's not that he doesn't want to help, if Zhu Nao wants him to help with a little effort, he is willing to help.However, the incident Li Xiang was involved in, although it happened suddenly, was a very serious matter.

Possessing weapons privately with the intention of treason is an extremely serious crime.Wu Liang dared to use such a crime to frame others at will, it only shows that he is unscrupulous and lawless, but it does not mean that this matter is irrelevant.It is very easy to make this charge a reality, as long as you bribe the guards.But it is very difficult to reverse the case for Li Xiang.

Now in this matter, the guards and soldiers have caught individuals and got all the stolen goods. If they want to overturn the case, it means that the guards and soldiers must be accused of dereliction of duty, planting and framing.In this way, the scope of the involvement is very wide, and the favoritism and fraud in the Yuzhou government is very serious. It is normal for officials and officials to protect each other. , the resistance during verification is simply unimaginable.A careless move, throwing away his own black hat is also expected.

Not to mention that Lu Lianshan was unwilling to pay such a high price for Li Xiang, even if he was willing, he might not be able to rescue him.

Before the servants asked for help, they were rejected by Lu Lianshan, and they couldn't help being stunned for a moment.

The head servant said: "Don't dare to embarrass Master Lu. Today we have the courage to come here because Master Lu is in charge of prison affairs. Young Master Li was imprisoned for offending someone. We are worried that Wu Liang will bribe the jailer. Venting personal anger in prison. Therefore, I implore Master Lu to help take care of Mr. Li’s safety in prison, and not let him be lynched. A small gift is not a respect, please accept Master Lu.”

Lu Lianshan was stunned: "Huh? Just to help take care of it?"

The servant said: "Yes."

Lu Lianshan was speechless for a moment.Those who dared to be in love did not expect him to save them, and he even pretended to be affectionate.

After a while, he reminded with mixed feelings: "Your son committed a capital crime."

Several servants looked at each other in blank dismay and asked in confusion, "Isn't Mr. Li's safety in prison safe?"

"……no."

"Then what does Master Lu mean?"

"..."

Lu Lianshan didn't know what he meant.It is true that he can't save people, but people don't ask him, and he is worried that these people don't realize how serious the problem is.

After a while, he waved his hand: "You guys should take it back."

After a pause, he said again: "I can still do this little thing. Don't worry, I will take good care of Mr. Li."