On this day, Jia Qiang stayed in the Qijia Cottage until the beginning of Yinshi.

First, he talked about Zi Shi with Qi Taizhong, and then Qi Taizhong recruited the old housekeeper of the Qi family, who was in charge of foreign affairs, to the thatched cottage.

After talking for an hour, Qi Wannian, the head of the Qi family, was summoned. The discussion ended at Yin Shi, and Jia Qiang left Qi Garden and returned to Yanyuan Yamen.

It's time, it's almost time.

However, at this time, Lin Ruhai had not yet fallen asleep. As soon as Jia Qiang's carriage entered the Yanyuan Yamen, he was invited to Zhonglin Hall by Butler Wang, who was waiting at midnight.

Jia Qiang saw Lin Ruhai wearing a coat. If there was no heater, it would be even more difficult. He quickly said: "Uncle, how could you wait until this time?"

Lin Ruhai smiled when he heard this and asked Aunt Mei to bring his crutches. He stood up and looked at Jia Qiang and said, "I didn't expect that you and the old fox from the Qi family could talk about it at this time. It seems that there is a result."

?”

Jia Qiang took a step forward, helped Lin Ruhai get up from the bed, walked to the table and sat down. After he sat down himself, Fang smiled and said: "Qi Taizhong is a very far-sighted person. He understands in his heart that at this point, even if

Ban Shan Gong and the others encountered a big setback in the capital, but after passing this level, the New Deal would be unstoppable. What's more, the turmoil in the capital was a victory for those in the capital, but when Ban Shan Gong arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, it would be difficult for the forces in the south of the Yangtze River.

, On the contrary, it was a direct blow. If the Qi family remains stubborn and insists on following the old path, in three to five years, it will become more difficult every year. Therefore, the Qi family is willing to hand in a certificate of nomination. However, Qi Wannian still has the courage

It’s not enough. He is only willing to help secretly and refuses to come to the forefront. The old man of the Qi family is not easy to force..."

Hearing this, Lin Ruhai smiled lightly and said, "The Qi family and the Bai family have a lot in common. The Bai family may not have any leverage over the Qi family. Besides, if the Qi family dares to come forward, what should the officials behind him think?

"I'm afraid all kinds of attacks and difficulties will come at once. It's not easy to help each other secretly. It's just a pity... If the Qi family really has this courage, it may not be impossible for them to come ashore."

Jia Qiang smiled and said: "It will take a lot of energy to go ashore, but it is just to start over again. Moreover, life will probably not be as easy as before."

Lin Ruhai was surprised and said, "What do you mean by Brother Qiang's words?"

Listening to Jia Qiang’s words, if you join the New Party, life will be more difficult than before?

Is this a denial of the New Deal?

Jia Qiang hesitated for a moment, but chose to speak bluntly: "Uncle, in my opinion, even if the Qi family is willing to serve the New Deal, if Banshang Gong takes charge of the military in the future, all the officials below will inevitably be rotated, especially in an important state like Yangzhou.

Government. Are all the officials who can be replaced as incorruptible as Banshan Gong and great-uncle? No. Throughout the ages, the biggest mark of famous officials in history is that they are incorruptible. Why is this? It is because officials are truly incorruptible.

It is so rare that it is rare in ancient and modern times. Therefore, even if honest officials like Banshan Gong and my uncle are in charge of the government in the future, it will still be difficult to prohibit the officials below from accepting bribes. In fact, these newly promoted officials have been unable to achieve their goals because of their previous failure.

, so once he takes office, he will probably be more greedy and ruthless than the previous corrupt officials. At that time, the Qi family will have to feed them with money again from top to bottom, and feed them more. And the unlucky old ministers of Jingchu will also

I won’t let them go. So, even Qi Taizhong, not to mention Qi Wannian, can’t do this with such courage.”

Lin Ruhai frowned when he heard this, stared at Jia Qiang and said: "If you are so unfavorable about the new deal, why did the Qi family agree? What promise did you make to them?"

Jia Qiang smiled and said: "Uncle, I am a young boy. What promise can be so valuable that the Qi family is willing to pay such a high price? I just pointed out a way for the old man of the Qi family, maybe it can save the Qi family.

The path of tens of thousands of years.”

Lin Ruhai frowned even more when he heard this, and said in a deep voice: "Even the country and the state of the past dynasties have been difficult to preserve for tens of thousands of years. Do you have a way to preserve the Qi family for tens of thousands of years?"

Jia Qiang laughed dryly and said: "Ten thousand years is naturally a naughty joke... But my uncle, what the Qi family is most worried about now is that in the future, the Qi family will be in the same situation as the Mei and Feng families.

So I told him that he could change his mind, give it a try, and get out of this circle. Although the whole world is not a royal land, there is actually a broader world overseas. There are so many small countries in Nanyang, and with the strength of the Qi family, there is no place where they can’t

Establish a foothold? Divide one branch out and work outside for three years to establish a foothold. As long as what I say is correct, Mr. Qi is willing to help reform the salt policy. If it is true as I said, overseas places can

Raising people is not a land where wild beasts roam, so the Qi family will hand over all the salt fields and salt shops within a few years, so that they will no longer be contaminated by salt affairs and drink salt blood."

Lin Ruhai was stunned for a while when he heard the words, then he suppressed his shock, looked at Jia Qiang and said slowly: "I have also heard about overseas places. However, there are many miasmas there, snakes and insects are infested, and malaria is rampant.

The army of the previous dynasty went there, but before the army arrived, three of the ten pavilions had been destroyed. How could we stand? Qi Taizhong would not be unaware of this matter."

Jia Qiang looked at Lin Ruhai and said softly: "Uncle, aren't you cured of the malaria you suffered from?"

Lin Ruhai took a slight breath when he heard this, looked at Jia Qiang and said solemnly: "Do you still have golden pheasant in your hand? When the doctor Wang asked the Western monk to pay tribute to the palace, why did he say there was no more?"

Jia Qiang hurriedly said: "Not yet, but I have already thought of ways to buy it, and even tried to get the seeds of the secret medicine. It may take a few years, but at least this is a way out!"

Lin Ruhai's frown never relaxed and asked: "Even so, are the courts of the Nanyang countries better than Dayan? Will they treat the Qi family well? Don't think too good!"

Jia Qiang twitched the corner of her mouth and whispered: "Nanyang countries are small countries with few people. The Qi family has been developing in a low profile for a few years, using merchant methods to bribe officials in exchange for time. After it develops and grows, whoever dares to bully them will come to the door again.

There’s no need to hold back anymore…”

"..."

It was as if Lin Ruhai had met Jia Qiang for the first time. After all, his worldview was composed of the four words "loyalty", "filial piety", "section" and "righteousness".

No need to hold back...rebellion?

This is something Lin Ruhai has never thought of!

However, Jia Qiang's idea for the Qi family was to slay dragons.

Seeing Lin Ruhai's eyes getting sharper, Jia Qiang felt helpless and explained carefully: "Uncle, if we could live a peaceful life, who would be willing to leave their hometown? Who would be willing to leave their country? Who would be willing to separate from their ancestral homeland? But there is no way!! Merchant

They are also common people, aren't they human beings? In Dayan, it is too difficult for them to live stably and with dignity! The Qi family can be regarded as a rare wealthy merchant in ancient and modern times, and Qi Taizhong is even more worthy of being called the best in the world.

Jie, but such a family and such outstanding people live in fear. Every time something happens, they are worried about impending disaster. Of course, I know that if they are allowed to become powerful, the consequences will be even more disastrous. Therefore, the system for merchants in Dayan is not perfect.

Before that, let’s just let them out.”

Lin So said in a deep voice: "Are you looking at this from the perspective of a merchant?"

Jia Qiang shook her head and said: "Standing from the standpoint of the common people, it is just as difficult, and only more difficult. How many decent parents and officials can a common person meet in a lifetime? It is ironic that the imperial court is more relaxed at the top, but the people below may be harsher.

It will be lighter. The top of the imperial court is stricter, and the bottom will try their best to scrape the land. Otherwise, they will eat and drink from whomever. Even the officials cannot feed them, is it possible to want them to treat the people well? My uncle, maybe

Did I read the wrong history book? Why did I read the history books and see that every word I read was filled with the blood and tears of the common people?"

Lin Ruhai couldn't answer this question, and couldn't answer it well.

He coughed twice and looked pale.

Aunt Mei on the side couldn't help but persuaded: "Brother, please stop saying a few words... Let me tell you, although your talent is amazing, in my opinion, it is not as good as the master. Don't you know that the world is difficult? If

He also thought like his brother, with the master's four generations of princes and Tanhualang's background, what kind of immortal life can't he live? But the master knew that it was so difficult, but he never gave up his ambition to help the world and bring peace to the people. This is the real

Man, there are many corrupt officials in this world and the people are suffering, but if there were no upright officials like Mr.

"..."

Jia Qiang's face was as shameful as a monkey's ass, her face was red and she couldn't laugh or cry and said: "Auntie, it's not like I want to go overseas to do this trick for the Qi family. Isn't it just to help my uncle and Han Banshan? I'll do it right away.

If we want to make money, we will lower the price of ice, and in the future we will lower the price of cloth, and give more books to poor children. In addition, we will form a theater troupe to enrich the empty lives of the people..."

"Pooh!"

Aunt Mei laughed angrily and said, "You have the nerve to talk about this and boast about it?"

Jia Qiang chuckled, looked at Lin Ruhai carefully, and said with a smile: "Auntie, if there are more little people like me in this world, it will definitely be better for the people than if there are more big people like my great-uncle, Ban Shanggong and others. They are

Officials are in charge of the people and herdsmen. But I do my best to make the people live a better life."

Aunt Mei was too lazy to respond and said: "I'd better save your argument to deceive your Aunt Lin. In my place, only the master like this can be considered a great husband who has a heart for heaven and earth! You can at least help me more.

It’s not in vain that the master and the girl love you so much.”

Jia Qiang smiled bitterly and said: "My aunt doesn't know that the road pointed out to the Qi family was originally reserved for myself. I thought that the Jia family would not tolerate me. In a few years, I would go overseas to live freely and become a barbarian king.

That's right. Now... I just think about the situation that my great-uncle will face after he returns to Beijing. I can't just slap my ass and walk away. It would be fine if my great-uncle had such a life-loving temperament like me, but he is an old man who does not hesitate to serve the country.

My body. If something happened, Aunt Lin...and my aunt, what should I do? I couldn't feel at ease as soon as I left. So I just stamped my feet and showed the way to the Qi family. Return.

After Beijing, life and death all depend on destiny."

"You kid..."

Aunt Mei was obviously moved by Jia Qiang's words and was at a loss. Her eyes were red and she didn't know what to do.

Not to mention her, Lin Ruhai was extremely shocked and moved after hearing this.

Originally, when he heard Jia Qiang's gloomy words, the disappointment in his heart was almost beyond words.

A gentleman can choose different paths if he is determined. Even if he does not want to be an official, it does not matter.

However, if your heart is so dark, you can only see the darkness ahead but not the slightest light, and choose to abandon yourself in self-exile without any responsibility for the justice of the family and the country...

The teenage boy didn't even have a trace of energy or ambition.

What can such a person do even if he makes all the gold and silver in the world?

No matter how smart or amazing the talent is, he will still look down upon him.

Not a man!

It's not that it's difficult to become a great person, it's that he doesn't even have the basic pride and ambition to stand up.

If everyone thinks like this, the world will truly fall into perdition!

Fortunately...

Fortunately, there were those words with Aunt Mei later, which made him both happy and moved.

After all, he was still a good boy. At least, his pure filial piety moved him very much!

Especially when his heirs were cut off and all serious relatives were withered, Lin Ruhai was really moved to the bottom of his heart when he heard these words on such a winter night...

"Don't worry, there are differences between me and Ban Shanggong. I can't be as straightforward as him, and my temper is not that upright. However, it will be easier to have you as a disciple to help me. I can't say it, but I can do it.

Better."

Jia Qiang: "..."
Chapter completed!