The Maojin knife from the late Jin Dynasty

Chapter 208 Lu Chen’s fate

Liu Tai was very satisfied with this meeting of the aristocratic family. He showed his attitude towards the aristocratic family and set the tone of his relationship with the aristocratic family.

The most important thing is to get the aristocratic family on board through the Grand Canal project. No matter what, at least he has found a way to get along with the aristocratic family.

No matter whether the Aristocratic Family needs more in the future, or whether he wants to suppress the Aristocratic Family, at least now the two sides have a channel to seek common ground while reserving differences.

The family was also very satisfied. After all, they were really frightened by Liu Tai's attitude all the time.

Although the conditions proposed by Liu Tai this time are harsh, for the aristocratic family, as long as there are rules in such troubled times, even if the rules are not conducive to the aristocratic family, it is much better than the aliens who have no rules at all and purely use their swords to speak.

If there is a choice, who doesn't want to be a Han, but a dog for the barbarians?

After all, the aristocratic family plays by the rules. Could it be that I am still afraid that Liu Tai will not play by the rules with me? I am afraid that Liu Tai will not play by the rules!
As long as there are rules, the family said that even if they can't find loopholes now, they will definitely find loopholes as long as they study hard. Even if there are no loopholes in the rules, people are the ones who enforce the rules, so there are loopholes!
Therefore, the family also accepted the olive branch offered by Liu Tai.

After all, taking a step back, Liu Tai represents the interests of the Han group in the Xiongnu Han Kingdom.

When given a choice, they would still prefer Liu Tai to Shi Le.

Even though Shi Le wants to be reasonable, not all Jie people under Shi Le are reasonable.

Except for a few people, the vast majority of Han people are basically second-class citizens in front of the Jie people.

Not to mention, a man named Guo Rong married his sister to Shi Hu, but Shi Hu killed Guo Rong's sister because of a few words from his concubine Zheng Yingtao.

Doting on concubines and destroying wives is simply unthinkable in Han culture.

Even if the concubine is favored again, it is only the owner's property and can be disposed of at will by his wife.

But the problem for the Jie clan is that they have no such idea at all, and Shi Hu doesn't even feel that there is any difference between the wife he is marrying and his concubine.

In addition, the Jie tribe itself is too rare, even among miscellaneous people, they are not famous at all.

Even with the emergence of outstanding people like Shi Le, Shi Le wanted to increase the number of his clan, but found that he could not even form a pure Jie clan army.

So Shi Le changed his mind and changed the Jie clan from an ethnic group to an identity.

Simply put, as long as the miscellaneous people do outstanding work, they can be absorbed into the Jie clan and become a member of the Jie clan.

As for the Han people, as long as they have made meritorious deeds, they can also transform from Han people to Jie people.

However, this kind of thing has not been done yet, because at this time, although the Han people are second-class citizens under Shi Le, at least they still have to face it. But when Shi Le became Hou Zhao, the Han people began to change from Han people to Jie people. situation arises.

All in all, at least at this time, the family felt that it was better to join Liu Tai's force than to join Shi Le's force.

After all, under Liu Tai's power, both sides are more or less equal, but under Shi Le's power, except for a very small number of Han people, the vast majority of Han people are born to be dwarves when facing the Jie tribe.

At this time, the Han people were not being reared remotely, nor did they experience the confusion of backward civilization when encountering advanced civilization in the late Qing Dynasty.

To be honest, every Han family looks down on the Jie people from the bottom of their hearts and regards them as barbarians.

If there is no force to compete with Shi Le, then you will give in even if you give in a little. There is no shame in giving in to reality.

But now Liu Tai and Shi Le obviously don't want to deal with each other. As long as the family in Liu Tai's world really can't survive, who would be willing to be Shi Le's dog!

Of course, apart from Liu Tai and Shijia, even Wen Qiao felt that he had gained a lot.

Not to mention, with the smooth implementation of Liu Kun's strategy of befriending Liu Tai, I can be sure that Liu Tai is sincerely willing to befriend Liu Kun.

In particular, Liu Tai was willing to take the initiative to provide armor. For Liu Kun, this was a resource he desperately needed.

Wen Qiao just wanted to return to Jinyang quickly and tell Liu Kun the good news.

Liu Tai is willing to exchange armor for supplies and even talents, and he must hold on to it no matter what.

Everyone won, and no one suffered a loss. Only Chen Yuanda, who hurried back to Qingzhou, missed the family meeting.

By the time he came back from Pingyang with Liu Tai's reward, the family meeting was over.

Each of those aristocratic families has also hurried home. Although they did not get specific figures, they have also obtained an estimated figure from Guo Pu.

Even if these numbers of money and food are divided into the hands of each family, it is not a small amount.

The only good thing is that Liu Tai's collection of gold, silver, grain, and even corvee can be counted as money and grain investment.

Therefore, these aristocratic families should go back and make careful calculations to avoid being unable to come up with money or food.

However, Chen Yuanda arrived in Linzi and announced Liu Cong's reward to Liu Tai.

He still had no intention of making Liu Tai the king, and the Duke of Laiyang remained unchanged.

However, two additional counties were given to Liu Tai, and he was given the title of General Zhendong, governor of Qingzhou, military governor of Youzhou, Qingzhou, and Pingzhou, and governor of Jizhou. rights.

Obviously, Liu Chongming and Liu Tai completely became an independent force after defeating Wang Jun.

As long as Liu Cong's IQ is normal, Liu Cong will not force Liu Tai, but choose to appease Liu Tai.

The right to open a mansion and build a tooth that Liu Tai wanted was legitimately granted to Liu Tai, allowing Liu Tai to handle the affairs of these four states with full authority.

Of course, Liu Cong knew that although Liu Tai was given the status of governor of Jizhou, the position of governor of Jizhou was going to be handed over to Shi Le.

Jizhou was the point of contention chosen by Liu Cong for the two of them. If Liu Tai lost Jizhou, then Youzhou and Qingzhou would not care about each other. If Shi Le lost Jizhou, there would be no foundation at all.

Liu Cong maintained checks and balances between the two sides, but this kind of checks and balances seemed a bit ridiculous to Liu Tai.

Because I don’t know whether it is intentional or unintentional, my Grand Canal plan itself has the effect of breaking the situation.

When Youzhou's North Canal is successfully constructed, he will be able to successfully contact Youzhou City through the Bohai Sea, and the impact of the loss of Jizhou will be minimized.

Even under a pincer attack from the north and south, Shi Le's main force might be completely wiped out in Jizhou.

Anyway, Liu Tai has always positioned Jizhou as a battlefield, and has long been prepared to destroy the entire Jizhou and build it from scratch.

If the progress of our canal reaches the point of connecting the north and the south, then it will not be Shi Le who comes to fight us, but we will go to Shi Le to fight him ourselves.The grain he produces can be transported to Nanpi through this canal, so Shi Le is afraid that he will never sleep well in Wei County.

Chen Yuanda finished reading Liu Cong's imperial edict, and Liu Tai respectfully completed the procedure.

Chen Yuanda looked at Liu Tai's meticulous posture, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

To be honest, if he hadn't worked in Liu Tai's political group, it would be difficult for Chen Yuanda to believe that he had no disrespect for the Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty in his behavior, and that Liu Tai, who upheld the procedural justice of the Han Dynasty, even had thoughts of rebellion.

After these things were done, Chen Yuanda looked at Liu Tai and said:
"When I came to Linzi, I heard that the county magistrate convened aristocratic families from several Youqing and Hebei states to discuss building a canal from Youzhou to the Yellow River, but I don't know the truth?!"

Although Chen Yuanda could not see the pros and cons clearly, after all, even the wisest man in the world would find it difficult to imagine the impact of such a large project.

Needless to say, Yang Guang alone connected the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The Grand Canal was truly utilized in history. It was not until after the Anshi Rebellion that the Tang Dynasty court understood the life-sustaining role of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

So now Liu Tai's proposal to build the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal seems to Chen Yuanda to be a waste of manpower.

"It's true!" Liu Tai nodded, "Uncle Cao has already gone to survey in the north. At least the section from Youzhou to Jinkou leading to the Bohai Sea can start this year.

Next, it depends on whether the aristocratic families in Youzhou are willing to donate generously. If they are willing, I hope it will be completed next year.

If you don’t plan to join, then in three years at the latest, there will be results! "

Chen Yuanda looked at Liu Tai's calm look and couldn't help but ask, "Are these aristocratic families really so easy to talk to?"

"It's naturally hard to talk at first, but after this section of the Grand Canal is built, I believe they will be easy to talk to!" Liu Tai looked at Chen Yuanda's confident answer.

Because Liu Tai understands the significance of this section of the canal better than anyone else.

The entire waterway project is carried out section by section, and the construction projects are basically determined according to the two major water systems of the Haihe River.

Construct corresponding canals section by section, instead of directly asking the family to take out all the money and food.

So when the value of the North Canal from Youzhou to Jinkou in the north was successfully demonstrated, and after seeing the benefits brought by ships being able to reach Youzhou City directly from Linzi, Liu Tai, who was still hesitant at first, was afraid that they would take out a loan. The whole family is coming!

After all, as long as something like the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal comes out, it will be a golden waterway destined to become the lifeblood of China.

It would be okay if the benefits brought by the construction of the canal are not obvious at the beginning, but after seeing the benefits brought by the Northern Canal, the only question left is how much to invest.

To be honest, the aristocratic family actually has a very strange character, that is, stubbornness and conservativeness.

Especially if the ancestor in their family who founded the family set up a thousand-year plan, their descendants would definitely push forward the plan stubbornly and regardless of the cost.

As for the reason, this is a plan passed down by our ancestors. Our family spent thousands of years and finally realized it, thus comforting our ancestors!
Yes, it is so outrageous, but it is also so in line with the family's values.

For example, the story of Yu Gong Moves the Mountain.

This story comes from "Liezi", but the literary style of "Liezi" is different from that of the Warring States Period. According to textual research, it is more likely to be believed that people in the Wei and Jin Dynasties gathered and combined the Qin and Han classics, and added the Weishu and Buddhist scriptures to form the eight chapters of "Liezi" , Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains is the fifth chapter.

For aristocratic families, they should respect heaven and earth first, and then their ancestors. As for the monarch, he should take a back seat.

Especially after the Sima clan, "Fuwei Holy Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety." Without the trouble of loyalty, they were even more motivated to advance their ancestors' plans.

Therefore, as long as the aristocratic family that has not yet completely fallen finds that the benefits of this thing are enough for their family inheritance to continue to reap profits, the terrifying gesture of burning out will definitely make the world truly realize what a noble family is.

In this section of the North Canal, to be honest, Liu Tai didn't think any aristocratic family would contract the construction costs of a county.

But when this section of the North Canal is opened, ships can directly enter Youzhou City from the Bohai Jinkou. Then the aristocratic families in the future are not blind, and they will definitely know the profits that they will bring by occupying a Jinkou.

When the time comes, these guys may be more aggressive than themselves in attacking private ports along the coast.

For aristocratic families, grabbing money from the court and grabbing food from their own mouths are two different concepts. Anyone who dares to underestimate aristocratic families in this era is kidding with their lives.

However, at this moment, Fan Yang, Lu and Wen Qiao were on the road together in a boat.

Because the area Liu Kun is currently in charge of is still bordering Liu Tai in the Youzhou part, this is also the basis for Liu Tai and Liu Kun to conduct transactions.

At the same time, this road was also the safest for Wen Qiao, so they went with the Fan Yang Lu family.

Since he was free on the ship, the head of the Lu family in Fan Yang got Lu Chen to talk to each other.

The most important thing is that the head of the Fan Yang Lu family revealed to Lu Chen intentionally or unintentionally that since Liu Tai values ​​you, can you stay with Liu Tai?

As long as you stay with Liu Tai, although the Fanyang Lu family has little money, they are absolutely willing to contract Liu Tai's canal expenses in Fanyang County as your entry step, allowing you to bring funds into the group and become Liu Tai's side Political Rookie!

Yes, in Fan Yanglu's view, Fan Yanglu would definitely not dare to directly invest money into the Grand Canal. Where did he get so much money and food from his family of scholars?

But if Fan Yanglu has a political investment target around Liu Tai, then he can take advantage of Fan Yanglu's reputation.

One is to contact local aristocratic families, and the other is to encourage local people to raise funds for the construction of the canal. When the time comes, the people's money... ahem, I'm a little used to it.

All in all, the Fanyang Lu family can take care of the money, food, and even manpower in Fanyang County. The only question is whether it is worth it, and that is whether Lu Chen is willing to defect to Liu Tai.

After all, families in this era were influential. More importantly, it would be fine if Lu Chen did not participate in the transaction between Wen Qiao and Liu Tai, but he participated in the transaction between Liu Tai and Wen Qiao.

Under such circumstances, Lu Chen felt that it was not impossible to sell himself to Liu Kun in exchange for armor.

After all, there were too many conflicts of interest, and it was difficult for Lu Chen to make up his mind for a while.

Regarding this, the head of the Lu family in Fanyang also told Lu Chen not to mind it and think about it after returning home.

This time Fan Yang Lu is willing to invest in you, not only because Liu Tai values ​​you, but more importantly because you saved Fan Yang Lu's life.

So it doesn't matter even if you don't agree. Although it is the family's wish, I hope you can think it through before making a decision.

The head of the Fanyang Lu family is also a sensible person. He knows that Lu Chenruo chooses Liu Tai because of family interests, and chooses Liu Tai out of his own wishes. It is completely different.

Even if the former brings money to join the group, he may only be considered an official of about two thousand dan, but if it is the latter, Lu Chen may be able to get into Liu Tai's inner circle.

Liu Tai, who has already taken control of the three states and drawn a red line with the family, has investment value for the family.

(End of this chapter)