Chapter 36 Henchmen

Chapter 36 Henchmen

In the He Basheng Mansion in the south of Huazhou City, on a well-maintained horse, a horse galloped back and forth, bowing left and right, and hit seven or eight out of ten arrows.

"Uncle, what do you think of this strong man's bow and horse skills?"

Li Tai pointed at Zhou Changming, who was still galloping on the small school field, and smiled and asked He Basheng who was sitting beside him.

"You are indeed very brave and impressive. I am envious of you in your prime!"

He Basheng himself is a world-famous brave general, and his vision is naturally high, but he also gave a high evaluation to Zhou Changming. After observing for a while, he asked: "This is what you choose in the countryside to compete with the local tycoons for power." Candidate?"

Li Tai nodded: "Although Daxingtai loses rewards and selects scholars based on their qualifications, the country today is not peaceful and trouble-free. All candidates selected must also be based on their talents. Zhou Changming, the garrison leader of his hometown, has a brave and brave ambition. I can’t bear to see good people lying idle in the wild while mediocre people come to the fore, so I want to help them invest in them and develop them.”

The township tycoons in the county unanimously believed that they would not strive for the position of the township league. Although Li Tai was depressed, he had to admit this fact. The rural situation in Kansai is such that it is really difficult for him as a foreigner to directly control the rural regiment. Even if he controls the army with his trusted followers, it will still be a huge obstacle.

Therefore, he made this compromise choice to help Zhou Changming, a friendly garrison leader, compete for the position of the township league. In short, he could not allow those township tycoons who were at odds with him to be elected.

"Before, I invited several villagers in the county to talk about this matter. The people also expressed their approval for this. The Zhou garrison leader is both talented and has the respect of his hometown. Uncle, how do you think this matter can be accomplished?"

There are more than a dozen large households in the county, but not all of them have the strength and confidence to compete for power. Previously, because of the variable existence of Li Tai, the nostalgia was quite boiling. But after Li Tai clearly expressed his support for Zhou Changming, the enthusiasm of these big business owners also cooled down and they began to assess the situation.

Zhou Changming was not rich in rural resources, so he was able to serve as the garrison commander of Shangyang. One was that he was brave and impressive, and the other was that he was loyal to the village and helped the poor and weak.

For the various families in the county, there is no direct conflict between them based on local assets. Compared with the wealthy and aggressive wealthy families in the county, Zhou Changming is indeed the best one besides them. A choice.

In addition, Li Tai, who had a large amount of capital, contacted and lobbied through them, and several inferior rural tycoons in the county also expressed their willingness to support Zhou Changming in competing for the township league position.

"Since you have already made up your mind, why bother asking me again? If I don't prepare to meet the enemy, I will just be an idler."

He Basheng smiled and waved his hand. He indeed had deep qualifications and a high status in the Western Dynasty, but he had to hide his power and bide his time. Apart from forming formations to kill the enemy, he hardly interfered with other major military and political matters.

After being defeated in Jingzhou and fleeing to Nanliang in his early years, He Basheng not only lost his own foundation, but also missed the opportunity to take control of Kansai.

When he just returned from Nanliang, He Basheng did have the ambition to summon his old troops and rebuild his career. However, when he saw that the personnel were in trouble and Daxingtai had managed the military and administration of the Western Dynasty in order, he gradually became willing to accept his fate and He no longer has ambitions, but he has gained some open-mindedness and detachment from desires and desires.

After Li Tai heard this, he smiled and said: "Uncle, if you don't blame me for being willful and reckless, he is already the biggest guide for me."

When he made this little move, he was also worried about whether it would violate Daxingtai's taboo bottom line. Since He Basheng said this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I scold you, will you obey? I originally thought that your thoughtfulness was brought up by Shu Hu, but after this incident, I feel that Daxingtai's previous evaluation of you was accurate. Your courage and strategy are indeed not Shuhu can accommodate it.”

He Basheng pointed at Li Tai and scolded with a smile: "It has been several years since the imperial family moved westward, and there are not a few celebrities from the old dynasty and powerful people from all walks of life gathered in this dynasty. The sentiments of Guanxi are entangled, and there are many people who suffer and tolerate it. You are the only one who tolerates it. , the offense you suffered is not a major life and death crisis, but you dare to take advantage of the situation above and search for goods from below, and you can actually make it happen!"

"I only think that my uncle is just complimenting you. Dongzhou is new and weak. If you don't use your strength, how can you have a foothold?"

Li Tai chuckled after hearing this. He and He Basheng became more and more familiar with each other, and they were no longer as cautious as before when talking.

"Am I praising you? I'm teaching you! Don't take dangerous measures unless it's a big danger. It's not easy for parents to raise this body. There is no need to waste this body in the struggle of spirit and spirit. This time, you used a clever plan. Violating the criminal order can also relieve the resentment of the locals in time. But if you are addicted to it and take it for granted, it will only happen sooner or later!"

He Basheng straightened his face and said seriously to Li Tai.

"I must remember my uncle's teachings! To make a living in troubled times, everyone must use their intelligence to the fullest. I am not a super human, and I have a few lives to test the restricted areas of humanity. After this incident, I can be regarded as having little local capital and can run my business with peace of mind. , Waiting for the timely reward, no longer fighting against others. "

Li Tai quickly lowered his head and said that this time the dispute based on the rural fight has not been completely resolved. Even if it is completely ended, he still needs to carefully digest the results. Indeed, he has no need to actively provoke others for the time being.

After skipping this section, He Basheng continued: "Your Situ Gong may join the Taiwei Gong after the Autumn and participate in the Autumn Parade."

Li Tai couldn't help but smile after hearing this. Half a year of reorganizing the army has hardly achieved any remarkable results. This autumn's grand parade is obviously to wipe away the dejection of the defeat at Mangshan. Putting Gao Zhongmi, He Liuhun's cheap second uncle, on the stage can also have a slight effect of boosting morale.

When he thought that he and Gao Huan had gone around and become a family friend, Li Tai suddenly felt that he was also a person.

"Whether this can be accomplished or not, Zhou San will definitely remember your kindness! I am just a weak talent in the village, and my muscles and bones are not as good as the huge materials. If it weren't for your kindness, I would never dare to hope to be famous in the village..." On the way back to Shangyuan from Huazhou City, Zhou Changming repeatedly expressed his gratitude to Li Tai. "Changming, if you say that again, it will be difficult to get along with you in the future! The reason why friendship lasts is that kindness is not as good as righteousness. Talents and materials have their own strengths and weaknesses, and only by helping each other can the righteousness be fulfilled. I used this plan because the village tyrants hate me. If your talents are humble and difficult to compete with, I will not use goods to benefit you. If you think I am evil and difficult to work with, you will not conspire with me. Since we both get what we need and gain, let's talk about righteousness instead of kindness in the future!" Li Tai frowned and corrected Zhou Changming's statement, and did not boss him around because he gave him a lot of goods. This was the first time he tried to form a clique and interfere with the military organization structure of the Western Wei after he came to the Western Wei. He had made sufficient considerations beforehand and trusted Zhou Changming's character and morality. Of course, he hoped that this relationship could be maintained for a long time.

Before his own position could legitimately suppress Zhou Changming, unilaterally emphasizing favors would inevitably make this friendship gradually deteriorate and become a moral demand.

"That being said, if you don't have me, you can still be protected. If I don't have you, my life will only be a future of an old soldier in the village!"

Zhou Changming said with emotion: "If this succeeds, I will be honored to be your confidant. If it doesn't succeed, I will definitely serve as your claws and teeth, and I will never betray my friendship!"

The villagers have already communicated with each other. This time, Heba Sheng also understood that this matter did not violate taboos. After returning home, Li Tai began to sort out the family's treasury and donated ointment to the government in the name of Zhou Changming.

When facing the wealthy people in the village before, Li Tai did not lie. He only collected more than 300 hu of sesame oil. First, there was a limit on the inventory in the nearby village, and second, the price of sesame oil was too high.

Although there was financial support provided by Heba Sheng, Heba Sheng's family did not have a mountain of gold and silver. Li Tai also had to reserve a part of cloth for futures, and of course he had to make careful arrangements for the purchase of materials.

Although the quantity of sesame oil was insufficient, Li Tai also purchased other oils. In ancient times, there were many crop seeds that could be pressed for oil. Sesame was only famous for its high oil yield and good quality. Other crops such as turnips, rapeseed, soybeans, and even flax seeds were also common oil-pressing crops.

The main vegetable oils in later generations were peanuts, soybeans, tea seeds, etc., but peanuts have not yet been introduced to China. Soybeans in later generations have become the main oil crops after years of breeding and improvement.

The oil yield of soybeans today is less than one-tenth, which is much lower than sesame. It is mainly used as food rather than oil.

There are various miscellaneous oils, with varying quality, prices and uses. Li Tai has purchased more than 600 hu of various oils. After deducting the 500 hu that the officials have to pay, there are still more than 100 hu left.

In mid-July, the reward has been officially announced for half a month, and the competitors in the nearby villages have basically become clear. Specifically in Shangyuan Township, there are only two competitors, the historian and Shangyang Garrison Lord Zhou Changming.

In this reward, Wuxiang County has three governors in the reward list. In principle, the local village leaders are in charge of the village group. This is particularly tempting for the village tycoons. The combination of status and village resources is extremely convenient for both being an official and running a business. It is precisely for this reason that the village tycoons are eager to compete.

The titles of governor and commander-in-chief have long existed, but they are often given as additional titles to the governors of prefectures and counties, giving them the power to command the village group. Now that this title is specially listed for reward, it is naturally one of the steps to punish the rich and powerful and formally incorporate their troops into the army, and conduct more systematic dispatch and management.

After the competition became fierce, the historians took an aggressive and determined attitude. The carriages and horses transporting materials from Shangyuan to Huazhou continuously, and some convoys even deliberately circled outside Li Tai's manor, which was clearly a demonstration.

Let alone how Li Tai felt about this, the Grand Executive Yuwen Tai must be happy to see the local tycoons donate so enthusiastically: If you don't roll up, I won't be able to sleep well!

As the local tycoons donated enthusiastically, there were several competitions for a position in one place, and the Grand Executive also made some adjustments to the reward: in principle, it was still awarded after the full payment, but a certain amount of room for maneuver was given in the selection of the land, and the village's most prominent position was given priority to the village, and the others were given elsewhere.

As for what counts as the most prominent position in the village, the Grand Executive naturally has the right of interpretation. In short, the materials that have been collected will not be returned, but you will be assigned a position in another county. What if you don't want it?

Just when Li Tai was still lamenting Yuwen Heita's evil heart and evil hands, and considering whether to add a hundred hu of ointment, Wuxiang County, as an important place attached to the city, had already received the result of the selection.

"My dear, something bad has happened! County Magistrate Shi has been selected as the county governor, and the order of the Grand Secretariat has been issued!"

Zheng Man rushed into the manor with sweat on his face, and the first thing he said was such bad news.