Yangzhou City, Xiejiabao.

Unlike the bustling everywhere in the city that has become a large construction site, Xiejiabao is still quiet. Only the faint shouts from afar can the Xie family members who are in it feel that Yangzhou is changing.

Xie Muyun, Xie Muchan and other younger generations in the family were full of worries and annoyance. After looking at the people in front of them who were still busy building houses and opening up fields for a few glances, they finally made a decision: "Let's go, let's see the head of the family now. We must not let the whole Xie family stand by and watch, otherwise we will not even have any majesty!"

As he said that, the few people turned around and headed deep into the Xiejiabao. Finally, they came to a temple made of bamboo. They saw Xie Wenruo who was happily playing chess with his brother Xie Wenbin while chatting and drinking tea.

Although several young people came in a hurry, they quickly stabilized after seeing their fathers and bent down properly and bowed down to salute: "I have met the head of the family (father)!"

Xie Wenruo didn't raise his head, his eyes still fell on the chessboard. His Baizi was in a very bad situation at the moment. Several big chess pieces were trapped by black chess and could collapse at any time. But he didn't care at all on his face, and he said with a smile: "Third brother, your chess power has really increased. You have beaten me two games today. Are you planning to win this game again?"

"Master, you have a lot of things to do every day and don't have time to think about this kind of path on weekdays, but I am different, so it's time to make progress." Xie Wenbin also replied with a smile, but his eyes glanced at the younger generation outside.

Xie Wenruo sighed: "Everyone comes in and talk. You guys are still too young and can't hold back. Just a little bit of a sudden change will make you panic. If you really encounter something big in the future, wouldn't it be that my Xie family will be in chaos before the enemy arrives?"

The young people walked in gently, with different expressions. It was not until they heard the head of the family that they realized that all the heads of the family outside saw it and seemed to be in mind.

Only Xie Muyun relied on his father's favor and said, "Dad, since you know that such a big incident has happened in Yangzhou City now, how can we keep standing by and watching? If this continues, wouldn't it be a loss of people's hearts for our Xie family?

"I heard from others that now everyone in the city only talks about the prefect Li's father, and no one mentioned that our Xie family helped them in the first place. If this continues, we will lose the people's hearts. When Li Ling really wants to attack us, I'm afraid, I'm afraid..."

"Where did you come up with this?" Xie Wenruo looked up and glanced at him, "When did my Xie family need any support from the public? Have you forgotten your identity?"

"Our identity... hasn't we always been the Changxing Marquis Mansion and Xiejiabao, which are highly supported by the people?"

"Take the burdens ahead. We are just the hereditary Changxing Marquis Mansion enfeoffed by the imperial court, and have nothing to do with the people." Xie Wenruo's face suddenly became serious. "Only by keeping this, my Xie family can last forever, otherwise... what people love and what people like will only become the reason for the destruction of my Xie family."

"Ah..." The children were stunned again, a little confused.

They have always been proud of being the Xie family and the people of Yangzhou respect and worshiping them. Why is it not so true now in the mouth of the head of the family?

Seeing this, Xie Wenruo's expression became more and more serious, and he said earnestly: "Yangzhou is Yangzhou of the Dayue court. My Xie family just happened to be enfeoffed here, but it has no right to govern the local area. What the local people really should respect are local officials, not our Changxing Marquis Mansion. You must keep this in mind, and you must not have thoughts that should not have because of some past things.

"Now that the prefect has brought the people of the whole city to rebuild their homes, it is a great good thing for our Yangzhou. Our Xie family should be happy. As for helping us, as long as the government office does not come to pass the message, there is no need to take the initiative to step forward. Of course, what we cannot do is to be enemies with it. As I said before, the government office will deal with external affairs, and my Xie family will not interfere!"

Seeing that he was speaking solemnly, the children became serious and claimed yes in unison. Only Xie Muyun frowned, completely disapproving.

His son's thoughts naturally could not escape Xie Wenruo's eyes. He immediately focused on his eyes and said, "I have said this twice and I don't want to say it for the third time. Also, if someone dares to go against my wishes and make things difficult for the government office, as long as it is found out, it will be severely punished. Some people should not think that they are special. If they really want to do it, the position of the future head of the family will be without him."

Such a direct warning made Xie Muyun's expression change immediately, and he knew that his father was determined not to let him and others harass the government office this time. Although he was still a little frustrated and a little confused, he did not dare to contradict him before such a heavy word. He could only say yes and then retreat with everyone.

"Master, your words are still a little heavier. Mu Yun is just a little younger and more energetic, and it is also for the sake of my reputation as the Xie family." Xie Wenbin only persuaded with a smile until everyone went far away.

"If you don't say that, I'm afraid that he will always make trouble at that time, which will cause great harm to my Xie family. This Li Ling is indeed not simple. The strategy and courage of using labor for relief alone to rebuild Yangzhou will be comparable to ordinary officials. If we bump into such a person, what will happen if we hit him head-on, it's hard to say." Xie Wenruo's eyes fell back to the chessboard again, and suddenly his fingers moved, and a white piece fell down.

Xie Wenbin nodded first, then shook his head: "But Mu Yun and the others' concerns are reasonable. This time the government office actually excluded my Xie family and only attracted the rich businessmen and gentry. You must be careful of such obvious targeting, right?" As he spoke, he fell into the trap, and the situation was very good, so he naturally didn't think about it for so long.

Xie Wenruo followed another son and said, "Not only our Xie family, but also the Lu family was excluded by him? They are not in a hurry, why are we anxious? After all, our status is higher than them. After all, we have the title of Changxing Marquis, what do they have? Lu Zhen's left prime minister or Lu Xu's official position at the time?"

"The head of the family means that the Lu family will fight with the prefect Li, so can we watch it on the wall?"

"They may not be able to move. No one is fool. The situation in Jiangnan is now in chaos. It is hard to say what the court is. Can we tolerate our continued control of a considerable power and a lot of wealth. If we become the first to be a leader and become an enemy of the government office, we will give people a handle."

"But this is not a solution. Li Ling's momentum has already risen. Next, even if we don't provoke him, it's hard to guarantee that he won't cause trouble for us. I remember there were rumors before that the tax this year was not reduced by half, but with the current embarrassment of the people, this money and food will probably fall on the rich."

"Yes, that's why those wealthy businessmen handed over the money and grain to the government office as he said. Many people should have received news and wanted to please the Prime Minister Li." Xie Wenruo sighed, "After all, compared to the tax, the Prime Minister Li asked for less money and grain."

The two of them were talking while playing chess. In a while, there were nearly twenty more pieces on the chessboard. At this time, it was Xie Wenbin's turn to do it again, but after carefully watching the black and white situation on the chessboard, he showed a strange expression, and this piece was a bit difficult to play.

Xie Wenruo smiled: "I had guessed the plan of the prefect Li in the morning. At the beginning, he was a newcomer, with an unstable status and a low status, so he naturally could not speak with us. So he could only use a strange move and find another way to win the hearts of the people by rebuilding Yangzhou City, and enhance his reputation and voice in Yangzhou.

"He did a good job. He was an unprecedented success as a local official, especially a new magistrate who was not young and was promoted from a county magistrate. Yangzhou was naturally grateful to him because of his regaining vitality. Even the wealthy households who were threatened by him now have no complaints about him, only awe.

"At this point, I think he should have officially come to meet with my two families and express his real thoughts. Just like in this game of chess, your black pieces have already gained the upper hand and will soon enter the official closing stage."

His last metaphor made Xie Wenbin smile bitterly and shake his head. The situation on the chessboard just now was indeed like this. But now, the world suddenly turned around. After more than ten of them came down, his advantage was gone, and instead he was trapped by Bai Zi and the largest black spoil in the middle.

But then, he understood and looked at Xie Wenruo: "Head of the family, do you want to say that you have already had a way to break the deadlock, and then Li Ling's methods can no longer threaten us?"

"Haha, sometimes playing chess, the focus cannot be on the key points of the heart. The idle pieces in some corners can also be able to determine the world with one piece." As he said that, he gently tapped the chessboard and pointed out the key to the chessboard.

Xie Wenbin immediately understood as soon as he reviewed the game in his heart. But in addition to feeling that his elder brother's chess skills were indeed amazing, he also understood something.

It is obvious that in some places that Li Ling had not noticed, the Xie family had already made seemingly idle arrangements, and this was the key to the struggle between the two sides. The Xie family could stabilize the pressure on the Li Prefect, who had already won the hearts of the people. Although he didn't know which idle step it was, it was enough to make Xie Wenbin feel relieved, and he was even looking forward to Li Ling coming to the door quickly.

And at this moment, Xie Jiang, the foreign manager of the family, ran over with a strange expression: "The head of the family, the prefect is looking for a meeting outside..."
Chapter completed!