Struggle in the early Tang Dynasty

And the other five positions scattered on the left and right sides are naturally the five hall masters of the Salt Gang.

As for Chen Lang, the leader of the Salt Gang, there is no doubt that he must be the one sitting at the top of the table.

Chen Lang, about the same age as Su Dingfang, was barely 40 years old. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a Chinese-character face, with thick beards growing across his cheeks, giving people a rough and thick impression.

At this time, all the eyes of Juyi Hall were focused on Guo Ye, but Guo Ye's eyes were always looking at Chen Lang, and did not disperse to anyone else.

He and Chen Lang looked at each other expressionlessly, and neither of them spoke first to break the silence.

In the end, the shady Deputy Gang Leader Ruan couldn't help but asked, "I didn't expect the new governor of Yangzhou to be so young, tsk tsk, he is really young and promising. Although we are all living on the river. People in the middle, but the word Longxi Guoye is like thunder. Tsk tsk, it is better to meet each other than to be famous, but at such an age, it is said that it is so mysterious, hehe..."

The soft and feminine voice of Deputy Gang Leader Ruan was extremely harsh in Guo Ye's ears. How could he not understand the meaning of the other party's words?It's nothing more than secretly ridiculing that it's hard to live up to his famous name, and exaggerating his words is a waste of his name.

But harshness is harshness, Guo Ye knows that the most direct way to deal with a person surnamed Ruan is to ignore him, it is best not to even look at him, let the other party know that he does not take him seriously at all .

That way, he will be more awkward and uncomfortable.

Immediately, the corner of Guo Ye's mouth twitched slightly, and his eyes continued to look at Chen Lang who was at the head of the hall.

As for Deputy Gang Leader Ruan, he was really annoyed by Guo Ye's ignorance, gnashing his teeth and frowning, as if he was going to pounce on Guo Ye at any moment and tear him to pieces.

Guo Ye looked at Chen Lang, arched his hands, and asked straight to the point: "Master Chen, you must have read the letter between me and Big Brother Su. I wonder if you are interested in my invitation?"

As soon as Chen Lang heard Guo Ye mention Su Dingfang, he couldn't help but smile innocently on his face. He said in other words, "It's been a long time since I saw Brother Dingfang. Although I often communicate with each other, I still really miss him. Mr. Guo." Since it's brother Dingfang's friend, then it's my Chen Lang's friend, come, please sit down!"

Guo Ye heard secretly that Chen Lang was really a bit of a prostitute, and he actually played with me to change the subject.

Immediately, he declined and said: "Chen Gangzhu, let's open the skylight and speak clearly. As I said in my letter, as long as Chen Gangzhu agrees to serve as the captain of Yangzhou Zhechong, your gang will help me pull out the Yangzhou Zhang family. Guaranteed, in the future, I will allocate a number of salt farms to your gang and issue salt quotations to your gang. Master Chen is a sensible person. As long as your gang has its own salt farms and salt quotations issued by the salt transport yamen, then your Brother, you don’t need to hide your head and show your tail under the pretense of selling illegal salt anymore, right?”

Because in the Tang Dynasty, both iron and salt were monopolized by the imperial court, and they were not allowed to be sold without the permission of the imperial court.Therefore, if individual traders or non-governmental organizations want to sell salt openly, they must obtain a salt guide issued by the imperial court, otherwise it is considered to be selling illegal salt.

Selling private salt is a felony, ranging from ransacking your home to losing your head, who made you compete with the court for profit.

Seeing Guo Ye's question, Chen Lang said with a smile: "Guo Inspector Guo's intention and conditions for coming here are written in the letter, someone from Chen can read it very clearly. It's just that the Zhang family in Yangzhou is too powerful, so it's not so easy to take over." Except. Hehe, why don't we talk about this matter another day, how about it?"

Guo Ye was a little confused, so he asked strangely, Chen Lang hesitated to speak, and repeatedly tried to evade, what's going on?

Immediately, he asked stubbornly: "Master Chen, could it be that the conditions I offered you were not good enough? What are you hesitating about? Have you forgotten those brothers who died at the hands of the Zhang family in Yangzhou over the years? I am I heard that the Zhang family in Yangzhou not only hates your Yan gang because you competed with them for profit; I also heard that the Zhang family had established such a rule in Yangzhou that anyone who holds a head of a Yan gang disciple, You can replace it with five catties of official salt at Zhang’s salt shop in Yangzhou City, right?”

Bass~

Chen Lang stood up in a rage when he heard the words, his face was full of ferocity, and his eyes could almost burst into flames.

The other five hall masters were also filled with righteous indignation, and they all scolded the Zhang family for dying, cutting off their children and grandchildren, and so on.

But from the beginning to the end, no one responded and supported the cooperation with Guo Ye.

After standing for a while, Chen Lang sighed again, and slowly sat back on the top chair.

Still did not give Guo Ye an answer.

At this time, Guo Ye wanted to try to persuade and lobby again, when he suddenly heard a soft sneer coming from the mouth of Deputy Gang Leader Ruan.

He turned his head and took a look, and found that this guy stood up slowly with a proud expression on his face, and taunted Guo Ye: "This Guo Inspector, I see you, it's better not to waste your efforts in lobbying my clan leader. Hehe, I Let me tell you why Chief Chen is not interested in your offer, and why he has been refusing to answer you for so long..."

Chapter 748

"The reason is simple, and it doesn't hurt to tell you..."

Deputy leader Ruan continued his feminine and disgusting tone with a gloomy face, and said: "To tell the truth, Governor Guo, Ruan was invited to Yangzhou City today. Hehe, the one who invited Ruan was none other than Guo. The governor said that he wanted to eradicate the destroyed Zhang family in Yangzhou. Zhang Yuanxin, the second master of the Zhang family in Yangzhou, personally hosted a banquet for me. Besides, Zhang Yuanzhi, the third master of the Zhang family, and of course, some outstanding figures from the Zhang family’s generation. Tsk tsk, I’m here today It can be regarded as gaining knowledge, the Zhang family really deserves to be the No. 1 family in Yangzhou, with profound accumulation."

As soon as this remark came out, Guo Ye suddenly realized that on the one hand, the Zhang family in Yangzhou secretly wanted to mediate the conflict between himself and the Salt Gang, and on the other hand, in order to deal with him, he tried his best to win over the Salt Gang.

And the first target of the Salt Gang they want to win over is Ruan Dan, the deputy leader of the Salt Gang.

Guo Ye could hear from Ruan Dan's words that this guy was flattering and flattering the Zhang family, and he seemed to have been corrupted and won over by the Zhang family.

It turned out that Chen Lang, the leader of the Salt Gang, was reluctant to answer him for a long time, and the real reason for his prevarication and hesitation was still due to this person.

He suddenly remembered what the two Law Enforcement Hall gang members had said to him before, claiming that Gang Leader Chen and Deputy Gang Leader Ruan were arguing endlessly in the Juyi Hall.

Could it be that Chen Lang really didn't want to cooperate with the Zhang family?

Thinking of this, he was relieved a lot. If this is the case, then there is still room for mediation.

Immediately, with a smile on his lips, he looked at Ruan Dan with some disdain, and jokingly said, "Vice-guildmaster Ruan, I'm curious what promise the Zhang family in Yangzhou made to you to make you, the dignified vice-guildmaster of the Salt Gang, so The compliments and flattery. Look at your nodding and bowing smile, maybe you have forgotten that the Yan Gang and the Yangzhou Zhang family have a blood feud that is as high as the sky and as deep as the sea?"

Unexpectedly, this sarcasm and ridicule not only did not anger Ruan Dan, but instead attracted him to laugh and complacently, Ruan Dan laughed and said: "Guo Cishi, Ruan knows what you want to say, hehe, don't you just want to say that I am cold With a ruthless conscience, not only do you not seek justice for the countless disciples of our Yan Gang who died at the hands of the Zhang family, but also shake hands with your old enemy?"

Speaking of this, Ruan Dan said in a loud voice with full confidence: "So what if you are ruthless and have no conscience? At this time and at that time, the dead are gone, and everyone is dead. Why do you care about so much? Let me tell you the truth, Yangzhou Zhang My family agreed to Ruan that as long as the Salt Gang is willing to submit to them, not only will they not blame the past, but they also promised to recommend my family's gang leader to be the post of Zhechong Captain, and arrange for the salt gang leaders to go to the counties under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou to serve as county lieutenants, Headhunting and other duties.

Hey, from now on, we will no longer be people in the rivers and lakes, and we don't need to be afraid and hide all day long, but we will become real people in the government.Governor Guo, do you think your promise is worth a thousand dollars in Yangzhou?It is still the promise of the Zhang family in Yangzhou that works.As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a tree to live in, and a famous minister chooses a master to serve.Governor Guo, do you think your promise is worth a thousand dollars in Yangzhou?Or is the promise of the Zhang family in Yangzhou working? "

Guo Ye was taken aback. He didn't expect the Zhang family in Yangzhou to spend a lot of money to prevent him from wooing the Salt Gang.

However, his face was still calm, and he asked indifferently: "Vice Chief Ruan, how did the Zhang family in Yangzhou arrange it for you?"

"I?"

Ruan Dan was even more proud now, and said with some high spirits: "To be honest, Mr. Ruan is also tired of the days of fighting, killing and hiding in Tibet all day long. Fortunately, Mr. Ruan studied for a few years before, Zhang Yuanxin, the second lord of Yangzhou, thinks highly of this subordinate. Not only is he willing to marry a young lady from the Zhang family to him, and recruit me as his son-in-law. If you did it, I wonder if you can do it?"

Guo Ye glanced at Ruan Dan in surprise, he was even recruited by the Zhang family, no wonder he worked so hard.

Seeing Guo Ye's surprised expression, Ruan Dan remained silent for a long time, thinking that he was also frightened by the conditions imposed by the Zhang family, and felt even more elated.

Immediately, he cupped his hands at Chen Lang who was sitting at the head of the hall and shouted: "Brother, you have also seen that what the Zhang family can give us, Guo Shishi can't give at all. It is clear at a glance which is good and which is bad, so there is no need to argue. I hope that the leader will remember brotherly loyalty." , I agreed to the Zhang family early. I want to find a clear way for the brothers in the gang to live a carefree and happy life."

After Chen Lang glanced at Guo Ye hesitantly, he shook Ruan Dan and said, "Second brother, let's consider this matter before making a decision, how about it?"

Seeing that Chen Lang was still hesitant, Ruan Dan couldn't help being anxious, and urged him again and again: "Brother, what are you thinking about? Even if you can't let go of the feud with the Zhang family, you still have to take care of your brothers, right? You You can’t just think about your own feelings, can you?”

Chen Lang suddenly became angry, and shouted: "Second brother, if I didn't think of you and my brother's loyalty, I would still let you say good things for the Zhang family in front of me? On the boundary of Yangzhou, who doesn't know me, Chen Lang Although I am reckless, I am famous for my loyalty. It is precisely because I care about brotherhood that I did not blame you for your private contact with the Zhang family, nor did I refuse your lobbying for the Zhang family. I have already chopped off his head with a single knife, and you still allow him to whisper in my ear?"

Chen Lang is not a sick cat, so when he gets angry, he is very powerful, making Ruan Dan slightly weaker.

Guo Ye observed that after Chen Lang sent out the fire, the other five hall masters all nodded in unison, seeming to agree with Chen Lang's words.

Guo Ye vaguely guessed the reason for Chen Lang's hesitation, but he didn't dare to be 100% sure.

At this time, Ruan Dan's face was already full of resentment because of being scolded by Chen Lang in public, and he looked at Guo Ye like he could eat people.

Guo Ye automatically ignored it, sneered, and said sarcastically: "It turns out that Vice-Chairman Ruan is in a hurry and wants to become the son-in-law of the Zhang family? I understand and understand. It's not difficult to understand the heart of climbing the dragon and the phoenix."

"fart!"

Ruan Dan was finally irritated by Guo Ye, and no longer gloomy, but yelled out of embarrassment: "Ruan is trying to find a way for all brothers."

Guo Ye said with a smile: "I'm worried that what you have found for everyone is not a bright road, but a road of no return to the underworld!"