Realm of Power

Lu Yangyu walked into the Bai family hall, and met Bai Lie, the head of the Bai family, as the imperial envoy. When he was in Liucheng Port, the Bai family was a major patron of foreign trade. For this Bai Lie, who was over sixty years old, but as cunning as a fox, This was not the first time Lu Yangyu had dealt with the head of the family, but the scene in front of him still made Lu Yangyu narrow his eyes slightly.

Not only Bai Lie, the head of the Bai family, is present in the entire hall, but there are also more than a dozen core figures of the Bai family. It can be said that the entire top management of the Bai family is here. Since the Imperial Capital West Road incident broke out, the name of Imperial Bank Deacon Lu Yangyu is like Zhenlei. Generally spread throughout Central Asia, the Lu family has become second only to the Li family in the Dijing West Road area.

For Lu Yangyu, the empire in the north even went south with its army. Even the prime minister Yu Fenglong, who wanted to curry favor with the Aden people, could only respectfully send Lu Yangyu back to the empire after detaining him for a month without daring to do so. It can be seen if it is harmed at all, Lu Yangyu's identity at this moment is already someone he doesn't want to mess with in southern China. The person coming from the empire is Lu Yangyu. This alone makes the head of the Bai family, who used to laugh at everyone, now with his hands behind his back. On the steps outside the door, eyes as sharp as knives penetrated Looking through narrowed eyes, I could see that my whole body exuded some kind of indescribable aura. "When I heard about the fall of Linhang that day, I thought Yangyu had died for his country, and I felt very sad for a while. I didn't expect that it had only been so long before Yangyu fell. It’s already a height that we need to look up to. It’s just a matter of raising one’s stupidity. As a Biya, he defected to the Western Barbarians and abandoned his homeland. Did he ever think about how he would meet the ancestors of the Lu family after his death? "Bai Lie looked at Lu Yangyu's walking steps, and he was completely calm about the pressure from the entire Bai family. Expression, the corner of the old bark-like mouth suddenly sighed.

"I don't think there is anything to be ashamed of my ancestors. The empire was not the Aden that ravaged Luzhou. When the empire came to the west, there was no record of massacres of Central Bians. It was also the empire that urged the Yelu family to release tens of millions of Central Bians in the north. "Asian people return to the south, this alone, I, Lu Yangyu, am enough to face anyone." Lu Yangyu met his gaze without giving in, with a smile full of challenge at the corner of his mouth, he laughed, and said proudly

"Okay, well said!" Bai Lie gave a thumbs up. Unexpectedly, after not seeing each other for several years, Lu Yangyu was already an outstanding figure who showed his sharpness and had the upper hand in every aspect. "They all said that you, Lu Yangyu, abandoned your homeland and fell into the arms of the empire. You are a traitor. But just what you said, tens of millions of Central Asians returning south is enough to negate everything. Come on, your coming this time should not be as simple as reminiscing about the past, but if it involves asking me, the Bai family, to become The empire's hidden line, that's fine too Needless to say, you know, the Bai family has been neutral for decades, and even Long Po was rejected by me just now. Why do you think you can impress me? ""I'm not here to make the Bai family become the empire's secret line, just Let me tell the Bai family that times have changed. If the Bai family still maintains its previous neutral stance, the final result will be that they will be surrounded and killed by the Southwest Long family, the Song family and the Lu family. Lu Yangyu stopped in the hall and looked at the Bai family with sharp eyes. Everyone in the family smiled and said:

"That's nonsense. Our Bai family has stood in Xupu for more than a hundred years, and is guarded by tens of thousands of flying bear troops. Who dares to surround and kill our Bai family!"

As soon as Lu Yangyu said these words, the entire hall immediately exploded. The Bai family stood up and accused each other. The head of the Long family, Long Po, didn't even dare to say such words just now. Who does this Lu Yangyu think he is? The three families besieged the Bai family, what a joke! Although the Bai family is neutral, they are not weak to be bullied. The more than 10,000 flying bear troops under the Bai family are well-equipped and composed entirely of descendants of the Bai family. Anyone who wants to attack the Bai family must consider whether they can afford the Bai family. counterattack"

"Yangyu, what you said is a bit too much. For the sake of our original love, you can go, I won't embarrass you!" Bai Lie waved his hand to suppress the curses of everyone, and turned to look at Lu Yangyu , face cold

Lu Yangyu glanced at everyone, sighed, stared at the majestic mountains in the distance, and slowly said that the Bai family was able to be neutral and have been able to get along for decades between the Central and Eastern courts and the southern mountains because the imperial court was there. In order to support the Bai family, the Dragon level and the Song clan need the Bai family as a trade transit station. Naturally, they are polite, but now the court cannot protect itself and cannot take care of it. As for the Bai family, now that the empire has intervened in the south, the Bai family's only trading identity has lost its effect, and the Lu family has expressed its willingness to unite with the Long family, which leaves the Bai family with no support. It would be okay to join the camp, but they still have to be neutral. , anyone else would immediately regard the Bai family as the target that must be eradicated. Since the Bai family is unwilling to listen, then just pretend that I didn't say it."

"I don't know what the so-called guy is, but he is not afraid of flashing his tongue when he says this. My Bai family has been neutral for more than a hundred years. Everyone knows this. The other three families only attacked us after eating too much," said a Bai family member "Besides, the Bai family doesn't have any interests worthy of the three families' attack. Even if the Bai family is really captured, the gain will not be worth the gain!" "Haha, the Bai family is really in Baoshan and doesn't know it, and they say there is nothing worthy of the three families' attack." Place, will it take you until you die to wake up? "

Lu Yangyu suddenly laughed, his expression full of contempt made everyone in the Bai family confused.

Bai Lie looked confused and murmured in a low voice, "Is the Bai family in Baoshan?" As the head of the Bai family, how could he not know that the central court can tolerate the neutrality of the Bai family, but in fact, it needs the Bai family to act as a check and balance. The balance lever between the Southern Mountains and the Southwest Long Family. The Bai family is located in the Southern Mountains. It is like a point of strength between the two forces of the Southwest Long Family. For many years, if the Southern Mountains rise, the court will let the Bai Family join hands with the Southwest Long Family to suppress the Southern Mountains. , If the Long family rises in the southwest, the court will unite the Song family through the Bai family. The Bai family is far from being as simple as it seems from the outside. The Bai family not only uses the help of the court to own its own smuggling fleet, but is also the largest arms dealer in the south. One of the transfer stations. Because of the neutral status of the Bai family, both the Song family in the south and the Long family in the southwest, which were under blockade, used the Bai family line to obtain high-quality weapons from the Central Biya region before the imperial merchants intervened.

But it would be nonsense to say that the Bai family has enough resources to make the three families interested.

But looking at Lu Yangyu's expression, it doesn't look like he is exaggerating. The situation in the south is now quite clear. The Long family is the largest, and the Song family is second. Although the Lu family suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Lu River, they later launched an army of 30,000 to retake Luzhou. , also showed considerable strength. The three major forces vaguely took charge of the entire south, and the soldiers The total force added up, I am afraid it is more than 300,000. When I think of the 300,000 troops attacking the Bai family at the same time, according to the current strength of the Bai family, I am afraid that they will not be able to sustain it for three days. The back of Long Po hurried away just now, in the Bai family A flash passed through Lie's mind. He didn't think it was anything at first, but now it seems like it was more like he had made some kind of decision!

Are you really going to start a war against my Bai family? Bai Lie's pale hair stood up a little. He waved his hand to silence everyone and looked at Lu Yangyu with a sincere face. When it came to the future of the entire Bai family, how could he be so arrogant at this time? "Yangyu, if you have anything to say, just say it." "You and I have an extraordinary relationship. No matter what you say, I, Bai Lie, will never blame you."

"Since the head of the Bai Lie family has said so, I will say it directly."

Lu Yangyu Yuyuan stood proudly in the prison, and said calmly, "The Long family lost two hundred thousand troops in two wars with the empire. In the southwest battle, the Song family suffered heavy losses. Although it is said that the Long family's army is still 200,000, in fact, it has already The troops are depleted and the logistics are tight. In the past few months, the Bai family has never seen the Long family recruiting soldiers! "

"That's true. The Long family has never recruited new soldiers since the court retreated to the southwest!"

"But what does this have to do with the crisis of our Bai family? Could it be that the Southwest Long family will attack our Bai family if they don't recruit troops? It's so absurd, a joke!" There was a burst of enunciation, interspersed with these disdainful chuckles,

Bai Lie glared before calming down again. Bai Lie said in a deep voice, "Based on this alone, it is far-fetched to say that the Long family will attack us, let alone the Song family and the Lu family."

Lu Yangyu glanced at Bai Lie and continued, "The Song people were defeated miserably in the southwest, and Song Que was almost involved. In addition, the rebellion in the southern mountains, although it was suppressed, all the decades of accumulation were wiped out. This time, when they march north again, they can mobilize The 20,000-strong army was actually trying its best. If the logistics problem could not be solved, they would eventually have to retreat to the southern mountains and follow Song Que's plan. How could the 20,000 Song army make useless moves with his behavior? The Song army has always taken the northward route in the direction of the Lu family, but this time, it chose the side of the Bai family. Haven't you ever thought about it? It goes without saying that the Bai family should be able to think of the nearest material storage place on the route of the Song people's northward march, which is enough to support an army of 20,000.

"Materials that can support an army of 20,000 people?"

In the hall, senior members of the Bai family looked at each other. This time, the Song family was indeed uncharacteristic and passed by the edge of the Bai family's control area. Logically speaking, now that the three families are united, it is obviously better and more appropriate to go to the front line of the Lu family. This The strange things inside immediately changed the faces of the Bai family. Could it be that the Song family really came to the Bai family? This kind of thing is unthinkable. The more they dare not think about it, the more this idea pops into the minds of the Bai family, "Twenty thousand troops is not a small number. Is there really such a place in the Bai family?" Where is it! I can’t think of it! "

Bai Lie's old fingers clenched suddenly, his eyes flashed, and his face was so gloomy that he wanted to drip water. He suddenly said, "It's the Heyang Ji of my Bai family. On the route of the Song people's northward march, it is indeed from Heyang Ji." "Yes, Baiyangji!" "Oh my god, why did I forget about Baiyangji?" The surroundings were filled with shock. Baiyangji is the Bai family's largest trading market in the south. Although I don't know whether the 20,000-strong army is true or false, judging from the judgment, if the Song family's 20,000-strong army marching northward wants to gain a foothold, it still needs to be There is really only one way to occupy Baiyangji. After hearing this, most of the Bai family has already believed it in their hearts.

"What about the Lu family? Why are the Lu family..." Someone has already asked impatiently, obviously panicking. In the blink of an eye, the genocide will be wiped out, and no one can bear it. "The last one is the Lu family."

Lu Yangyu glanced at Bai Lie, whose face changed color. "The Lu family lost many troops in the Lushui battle, and the Lu family's headquarters was completely destroyed by the Aden people. Although Luzhou was finally recaptured, it is impossible to recover in a short time. The three families united this time. Together they control the south and want to take the opportunity to expand. Soldiers and supplies are their biggest weaknesses, and these are exactly what the Bai family has now. In terms of soldiers, there are millions of refugees in the north. Entering the land of the Bai family, they are the best soldiers for the three families. In terms of materials, the Bai family has been neutral for more than a hundred years and has not been affected by the war. The materials accumulated are enough to support the expansion of the three families. If the Bai family joins the camp, the three families will You can get help from the Bai family, or you may not be able to launch it, but the Bai family actually chooses to be neutral, so the three families naturally don't need to be polite. How can they support the expansion of the three families if they don't take over the Bai family!"

"Hiss" There was a sound of gasping in the hall, Bai Lie's body swayed, and the entire Bai family's senior management collectively lost their voice. There was only the sound of the cold draft blowing through the hall.

"Tell me, if you tell the Bai family this, what do you need the Bai family to do?" Bai Lie took a deep breath. His previous tough attitude towards the empire has softened a lot. Facing the three major military groups in the south, the Bai family seems too powerful. With little strength alone, even the Bai family must adapt to the situation when faced with the danger of annihilation.

"Of course I hope that the Bai family will declare to join the Southern Alliance. As long as the Bai family declares to join the Southern Alliance, the other three families will have no reason to go to war against the Bai family. If the Bai family is taking the initiative to supply supplies, then everything will be safe!" Lu Yangyu shrugged. "Yang Yu persuades me, the Bai family, to join the Southern Alliance. What benefits will it bring to the empire?" Bai Lie His eyes became brighter, and he said word by word, "As the head of the Bai family, I don't believe that Yangyu, as a representative of the empire, would come to the Bai family to persuade because of the interests of the Southern Alliance." Lu Yangyu sighed secretly. , Jiang is indeed still old and hot. Bai Lie's words can be said to be a straightforward discussion, and he has no room for ambiguity.

Lu Yangyu pretended to be embarrassed and said, "It's very simple. Our Majesty hopes to establish the Southern Branch of the Imperial Bank within the Bai family. To put it bluntly, we just hope to use the expansion of the Southern Alliance to expand trade routes." That’s all?”

Bai Lie's pupils tightened and he looked stunned, "That's all!" Lu Yangyu said decisively, "Okay, deal!" Bai Lie laughed and said, what the Imperial Bank is, the Bai family in the south have only heard a little about it. I heard that it was an organization that borrowed money from everywhere. It was considered a new industry in the empire, so I didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it. , On the contrary, it is puzzling that Lu Yangyu is just setting up a so-called branch, but he has no idea how much trouble will be caused once the entire capital giant of the Imperial Bank is involved in southern China. The Bai family is in the center of three companies. It is also the largest trade distribution center in the south. It is the best choice in terms of geographical location and commercial location.

After coming out of Bai's house, Lu Yangyu walked towards the parked carriage. The attendant opened the door. Lu Yangyu bent down and got in. He immediately sat on the sofa that almost covered half of his body.

Putting the document he had just signed on the table, Lu Yangyu rubbed his swollen temples and looked at the reversed mountain scene outside the carriage. In his heart, he was filled with unparalleled admiration for the emperor. It was really amazing. Just Just from the northward route of the Song people, we can see the intention of the three southern families to raid the Bai family. I wonder what the expressions of the three families would be like if they received the news that the Bai family declared to join the Southern Alliance.

It shouldn't be happiness. This feeling is as aggrieved as being cut off midway. As long as the news of the Bai family's declaration of joining the Southern Alliance spreads, no matter how much the three families covet the Bai family, they will never do anything to the Bai family. Move it, because once the Bai family is moved, who in the other southern provinces will believe in the unification strategy of the three families? Once the unification of the south turns into a melee, it will be quite embarrassing.

The expansion of the power of the three families originally had the Bai family as a great complement. The three families may have already planned it long ago. They were waiting for the Bai family to declare neutrality, that is, to make a full-scale invasion and carve up the Bai family. Now they are flying, and they want money for the war. It costs money to recruit troops, money to buy grain, and money to win over the forces in other southern provinces, and those who can provide such funds are afraid that Only the Imperial Bank can do this. When the time comes, as the three companies expand and integrate in the south, various resources in the south will become collateral. According to the characteristics of the Imperial Bank, if the three companies want to obtain war loans, they will have to pay a considerable amount. The so-called Southern Alliance is actually working for the Imperial Bank!

The emperor's move, it is estimated that even if the three families knew that they would vomit blood, they could only endure it." The Bai family of Xu Pu announced that they would join the Southern Alliance! "The news from the south shocked the city in front of them. For the civil servants in the court, The betrayal of the chess piece of Xu Pu's Bai family made the civil servants feel as if their faces were Being slapped hard in the face, as unruly and rebellious as the Long family, just mobilizing the Bai family can make them trapped in the southwest for decades, using the Bai family as an important chess piece to balance the southern mountains and the Long family. , has always been the most proud thing for the civil servants in the court. Who would have thought that the Xu Pu Bai family He immediately fell into the arms of the rebels, "I shouldn't have tolerated the Bai family's neutrality in the first place, but now I've shot myself in the foot!" "The Bai family has been established for more than a hundred years, and this time they also threw themselves into the rebels." Is it true that all luck has been lost? "The civil servants discussed it at the court meeting. The fight between the rebels of the Bai family in Xu Pu was even more intense than last night when the Fifth Army raided the left-line camp of the Aden Army. Prime Minister Yu Fenglong couldn't bear to look at it, and he coughed dryly before the officials stopped arguing. , Yu Fenglong stood up from inside and loudly reported last night's victory to the emperor.

"Another great victory?'

The emperor of Zhongbia looked at Yu Fenglong with an indifferent expression. The so-called great victory of hundreds of people in Xian County in front of him had already made the emperor wary. This time Yu Fenglong stood up to report the victory again. He didn't believe it anymore and just nodded. After a moment of shaking his head, he neither rewarded nor said what to do. Instead, he asked about Xu Pu's defection from the Bai family. It was really different from the previous personal inspection.

Tang Yu, the head of the military cabinet, stood in the first position of the military minister with a livid face, and his heart ached. What kind of world is this? Tens of thousands of troops fought hard, severely damaging the people of Aden, and burning 60% of the left line of the Aden army. Food and grass, three thousand assault troops died in the battle, and more than two thousand were killed, which was even less than the defection of one Xu Pu Bai family.

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