I will be the master of Xuande

Chapter 330

Speaking of the Zhou family in Shu County, like Yuan Shu, they are all well-dressed and well-dressed families, one of the top wealthy families in the world.

In the last two generations of the Zhou family, there are also people who are among the three princes, and among them is Zhou Jing, the father-in-law of the previous generation, who once lived in Taiwei.

Among the fathers-in-law of this generation, there was Zhou Zhong who became an official in the court, and also served as a Taiwei, and later moved to the position of Jiuqing.

It can be said that in the land of the Jianghuai River, the Zhou family, a powerful family, can be called the gate of the leader.

With the influence of the Shu County Zhou family in the Jianghuai region, since they sent someone to explain to Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu couldn't be ignored.

As the four generations and three lords, if the Yuan family wanted to be stable in the local area, the most important thing was to use these aristocratic families who had common interests with them, to reach political and interest alliances with them, and to maintain local hegemony.

Moreover, the Yuan family in Runan and the Zhou family in Lujiang belong to family friends in a sense.

Back then, when the two families had just risen, they had communicated with each other in the court.

The most direct manifestation is that Zhou Yu's great-grandfather Zhou Rong was conquered by Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu's great-grandfather Yuan An.

Therefore, even though the Zhou family is prosperous now, four generations back, the Zhou family in Lujiang is actually the family of former officials of the Yuan family in Runan.

And in the four subsequent generations between Yuan An and Zhou Rong, the cooperation and interoperability of interests between the two families is also uncommon.

Especially from the political and personnel perspective of the court, the two families have exchanged and exchanged important personnel appointments in the center over the years.

Therefore, when he heard that the Lujiang Zhou family helped the Sun family escape from under his nose, Yuan Shu was actually very angry.

However, due to the relationship between the Yuan family and the Zhou family for many years, even though Yuan Shu knew that the Zhou family had helped the Sun family, he had no intention of doing anything against the Zhou family for a while.

He was still thinking of a way to go to the Zhou family to find out this matter, but before he thought about it, the Zhou family took the initiative to send envoys to communicate with Yuan Shu.

This is a good thing for Yuan Shu.

At least he didn't have to worry too much about how to talk to the Zhou family.

This time, the person who came to meet Yuan Shu on behalf of the Zhou family in Lujiang was Zhou Shang, a hero from the original generation of the Zhou family.

And accompanying Zhou Shang, there is another young hero who is the next generation of the Zhou family——Zhou Yu, who is only 14 years old.

Among the Zhou family's generation, the three most promising people are Zhou Yu's father, Zhou Yi, and Zhou Yi's two brothers, Zhou Shang and Zhou Zhong.

Now, both Zhou Yi and Zhou Zhong are working in Luoyang.

Although Zhou Shang was also in Luoyang before, after Dong Zhuo came to Beijing, Zhou Shang gave up his official position and returned to his hometown, taking on the responsibility of stabilizing the clan affairs in the local area.

In fact, if you think about it carefully, you can figure it out. Like the Yuan family in Runan and the Xun family in Yingchuan, the Zhou family is also full of vicious people. The family seeks the best way out.

But anyone with a discerning eye can see that it is extremely unwise to place all the elites of the clan in Luoyang.

The Luoyang Chaotang led by Dong Zhuo is extremely unstable politically. Once there is a coup in Luoyang, the elites of the Zhou clan will be lost in the court. This cannot be afforded by the Lujiang Zhou Clan.

However, they would definitely not be reconciled if the Zhou family were to give up the political structure established over the past few generations.

For the family, eggs should be put in different baskets.

The Zhou family left Zhou Yi and Zhou Zhong in Luoyang's court hall, while Zhou Shang returned to his family.

In addition to protecting the family and revitalizing the family affairs in the local area, he also used the influence of the Zhou family in the local area to take advantage of the chaos in the world to expand his strength, increase the number of apprentices, secretly practice soldiers and horses, hoard grain, grass and military equipment, and ensure that the Zhou family in Lujiang can Find a place in troubled times.

Another very important thing is that Zhou Shang wants to cultivate outstanding talents in his own family to lay the foundation for the future of the Zhou family.

After meeting Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu, Yuan Shu showed a very displeased expression.

After all, the Yuan and Zhou families were close friends of four generations. Yuan Shu had known the three brothers of the Zhou family since he was in Luoyang, and now he spoke directly to Zhou Shang.

"Brother Zhou, you and I are old acquaintances, and our family has four generations of friendship. What is your intention behind using a knife behind my back this time?"

Zhou Shang knew Yuan Shu's dog temper when he was in Luoyang.

"Why did Gonglu say that? When did my Zhou family do something that I'm sorry for you?"

Yuan Shu narrowed his eyes: "At this time, you still pretend? Tell me, did you secretly help the members of the Sun clan to escape from the Lujiang River to the west?"

Zhou Shang showed a surprised expression.

"That's right, I was indeed the one who helped the Sun family to donate the boat so that they could leave Lujiang smoothly... But, isn't that what your Yuan family meant? How could it be said that they secretly helped escape?"

When Yuan Shu heard this, his head hurt from anger.

"When did I arrange for you to let them escape?"

Zhou Shang showed an innocent expression: "I'm not talking about you, this is what Yuan Benchu ​​wrote to ask me to do it, the road, the road, your brothers are fighting, it has nothing to do with our Zhou family, you are the Yuan family, I was also from the Yuan family at first, and I can't afford to offend anyone."

"you……"

Yuan Shu left Zhou Shang speechless.

If someone else dared to talk to him like that, Yuan Shu would have killed him without saying a word.

But the Zhou family is different from other families.

Based on Yuan Shu's current position, as long as he wants to continue to be the overlord in Shouchun, he'd better stand on the same front as the Zhou family.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, you are making things difficult for me. Now Mu Shou in your Zhou family's territory is me, not the son of Yuan Benchu's little servant girl. Don't you even understand this?"

Zhou Shang smiled helplessly: "Road, oh, the current situation is not the same as before. Haven't you seen clearly the pattern of the court and the pattern of the world? Now is not the time for you brothers to fight."

"Why did I agree to Benchu ​​to send Sun's family away? It's not because I don't want you and Benchu ​​to have too much trouble. There will be no room for maneuver, and others will take advantage of it."

Yuan Shu was very unhappy when he heard this.

"Joke, how can I let others take advantage of me?"

Zhou Shang heaved a long sigh.

He glanced sideways.

It was at this time that the young Zhou Yu, who was led by Zhou Shang to meet Yuan Shu, stepped forward.

Zhou Yu saluted Yuan Shu very respectfully.

"A certain Zhou Yu, the son of Zhou Yi, pays his respects to the envoy."

Yuan Shu raised his eyebrows lightly.

"My nephew."

Zhou Yu said: "Recently, Shi Jun has been busy with suspicions with Yuan Jingzhou, but has neglected the situation in Luoyang Chaotang. Yu's father and Cong Shu are both in Luoyang. Does Yuan Shijun know or not?"

Yuan Shu said: "If you have any news, it's okay to say it, don't make it up."

Zhou Yu laughed and said, "Just as Yuan Shijun was fighting with Yuan Jingzhou's brothers, Dong Zhuo had withdrawn his troops from Luyang and returned to Luoyang, and Yuan Jingzhou's soldiers and horses also returned to the interior of Jingzhou in order to fight with the envoy. Dong Zhuo The pressure has eased, and I have other plans."

Yuan Shu heard this and asked curiously, "What's Dong Zhuo's plan?"

"To tell you the truth, Mr. Yuan, Dong Zhuo is currently in Luoyang to enforce two new policies."

"And it is said that these two new policies have already been approved by His Majesty and Queen Mother."

Yuan Shu disdainfully said: "What new policy? What's so strange about it? Which emperor newly ascended the throne, which minister newly gained power, wouldn't they all have one or two new policies to show their merits? What's the big deal?"

But Zhou Yu shook his head and said, "Mr. Yuan, the problem is that according to Jun Yan and Uncle Cong, these two new policies are related to the lifeblood of a well-dressed family like you and me. Once these two new policies are implemented, it will be like your Runan The efforts of the Yuan clan, as well as our Lujiang Zhou clan, within 30 years, the efforts made by the four generations in the court, may all be wiped out."

This sentence was no small matter, and immediately stunned Yuan Shu.

"It's so serious, what is the New Deal?"

Zhou Yu turned to look at Zhou Shang beside him.

Zhou Shang stroked his beard and half closed his eyes.

"Just tell Mr. Yuan, don't worry about me."

"only."

Therefore, Zhou Yu roughly told Yuan Shu about the news that his father and his congshu had passed back from Luoyang.

Of course, there are also some content about the New Deal.

After hearing the news, Yuan Shu was immediately dumbfounded.

It never occurred to him that Dong Zhuo would promulgate new policies starting from the two areas of taxation and the abolition of inspections.

"Old thief Dong Zhuo, is he crazy?!"

Yuan Shu roared angrily.

"Does he want to be an enemy of the whole world? Isn't he afraid of cutting off his children and grandchildren? Is he going to kill the whole family?"

Zhou Yu said: "I'm afraid things are not that simple. According to Yiyu's analysis, what happened in the past few years seems to be that someone is constantly pushing behind Dong Zhuo and the emperor. It seems that there is no trace, but in fact they are intertwined."

"And what he is plotting is the profit accumulated by our rich and well-dressed family for a hundred years. His malicious thoughts are unprecedented. At this time, Yuan Gong should not fight with his brothers again. He should join hands with Yuan Jingzhou. Get rid of the cocoons and carefully find out Dong Zhuo or the driving force behind today's emperor, otherwise, once the power is over, it may be too late to regret it."

Yuan Shu was still very angry at first.

But after hearing what Zhou Yu said, his expression changed a little.

Yuan Shu narrowed his eyes: "Naturally, Dong Zhuo cannot be allowed to succeed in the matter of the court, but we don't need to join hands with Yuan Shao, besides, all the gates of the world have the power of a hundred years of precipitation, how can he just casually do one or two things?" Policy can be overthrown?"

"However, I also thank you uncles and nephews for being able to tell me the news, so that I can take precautions."

When Zhou Shang heard the meaning of Yuan Shu's words, it seemed that he still didn't want to reconcile with Yuan Shao.

He was greatly surprised.

"Gaolu, don't be so willful. The matter is of great importance. Now is not the time for you brothers to conflict."

However, Yuan Shu's eyes are higher than the top, and he is supercilious. No matter how Zhou Shang persuades him, he still doesn't want Yuan Shao to reconcile.

However, the 14-year-old Zhou Yu aroused Yuan Shu's interest.

He felt that although this child was young, he was extremely alert, and he was very generous in his gestures. He would definitely be a talent in the future, so he wanted to recruit him.

However, Zhou Yu refused on the grounds that he was still young and needed to sharpen his studies.

The uncle and nephew of the Zhou family then walked out of Yuan Shu's mansion and went to the post house to rest for the time being.

After going out, Zhou Shang looked at Zhou Yu.

"Nephew, what do you think of Yuan Shu?"

The young Zhou Yu said decisively: "Withered bones in the grave, short-sighted, not a long-term person, it seems that it will be very difficult to point to him to find the black hand who promotes reform."

Zhou Shang sighed: "In your opinion, what should our Zhou family do now?"

Zhou Yu said: "Uncle, my nephew said something that shouldn't be said. Although the world is in great chaos, no matter how the world changes in the future, the benefits of a wealthy family will not change!"

"No matter who the pusher behind the imperial court's tricks is, we must find him out, and with the power of the clan, destroy him."

"As for who will be in charge of Yangzhou in the future, it's not a big problem. The Zhou family's talents are at their peak, and no matter who they assist, they can achieve great things."

(End of this chapter)