What a lucky world!

Chapter 198 The person behind Frost Moon Mountain is...

After the New Year, spring comes, the cold gradually subsides, and the birdsong becomes more frequent.

A special guest came to the village today.

It was Bai Jingqi, the young master of the Bai family in Sucheng.

Bai Jingqi came this time mainly to deliver the income from the first batch of Huang Gang's goods to Zhang Mu.

"This is 30,000 taels of silver. Don't think it's too little." Bai Jingqi pushed a stack of silver notes to Zhang Mu and said with a smile, "It should have been more, but Zhang Taiyue went on a killing spree before the New Year, which affected us."

Zhang Mu accepted the banknote calmly and asked curiously, "What's going on?"

This is the limitation of Wuzhai.

Because it is isolated outside the imperial city, the source of information is very limited. Even though some inns and restaurants have been set up as spies, they are more concerned about information related to Wuzhai itself. As for major events in other states and even the imperial court, except for those that are open to the world, most of the others are hearsay and are not timely.

Bai Jingqi took a sip of tea and said, "Ever since the Silver Tax Law was enacted, the tax frauds that were previously carried out in various places can no longer be hidden."

"The people sent by Zhang Taiyue conducted a thorough investigation."

"Before the New Year this year, he killed everyone from top to bottom, even beheading one of the six ministers and dismissing two."

"These officials used to be our big customers. Now that they're gone, our business has naturally declined."

Zhang Mu raised his eyebrows.

Harsh punishments are used to govern chaotic times. When a regime tries to reform and govern itself from top to bottom, its first reaction is to kill a group of people in power.

The person who presides over this work is often given the title of "Iron-Blooded".

But is it useful?
Zhang Mu was not optimistic.

From what Zhang Mu learned on Blue Star, if the reform is to succeed, it is necessary to artificially support a new class through the reform, and then use the power of this class to replace the original ruling class, so as to inject new vitality into the country.

For example, Shang Yang's reforms replaced the aristocratic class with the military merit class.

Even though most of the beneficiaries of the military class were themselves aristocrats.

But it changed the power structure of a country by opening up a path for ordinary people to rise.

On the other hand, Zhang Taiyue, no matter how many officials he killed, was only treating the symptoms and not the root cause.

That's right, when the position becomes vacant, a group of good officials who care about the country and the people can be selected to take office, and perhaps there will be a temporary political clarity.

But human nature cannot stand the test.

The ruling machine of the Dayun Dynasty has been running for a long time, and it has accumulated many problems. Many existing rules are tied to too many interests and can no longer be saved by conventional means.

If Zhang Mu were in that position, his first thing would not be to focus on people's livelihood and administration, but to hold the military power, then secretly instigate various rebellions, clear out the original ruling class in the process of controllable suppression, and then go back and establish new rules.

Do you think the US is really fighting terrorism in the Middle East?
Maybe the leader of their organization is Commissioner Smith!
Forget it, he is just the young leader of a small martial arts village, why should he care about the prime minister!

"I'm really just sitting in the mountains, oblivious to what's happening in the world." Zhang Mu smiled and said self-deprecatingly.

Bai Jingqi shook his head: "What kind of big deal is this? Once these people are beheaded, few people will remember them."

"After a few months, it will be just music and dancing."

“It’s still a peaceful and prosperous time.”

"The real big news hasn't come out yet."

Zhang Mu heard this and saw Bai Jingqi's expression that said, "Come and ask me quickly," so he chuckled and said, "Oh? Is there something bigger than this?"

"Brother Bai, can you tell me something?"

A hint of pride flashed across Bai Jingqi's face. He moved closer and said, "I heard that the court is planning to appoint a crown prince."

Zhang Mu hadn't expected this news: "Crown Prince?"

As far as he knew, the current young emperor had not yet taken power, so why was he in such a hurry to appoint a crown prince?

Seeing Zhang Mu's expression, Bai Jingqi spoke again, saying, "My mother said that this Crown Prince might have been pushed out to ward off disaster."

"But now that the flag has been raised, there will naturally be people who want to speculate." Zhang Mu nodded. What Second Mrs. Bai said made sense.

Not to mention the legitimate Crown Prince, even around the vassal kings there would be a group of warmongers who were keen on the Jingnan Rebellion.

As the saying goes, a real man, if he cannot eat from five tripods while alive, he should be cooked in five tripods after death.

Even if one guessed that it was used to ward off disaster, it would not stop people from rushing up.

Bai Jingqi took a sip of tea and continued, "So, my mother sent me here specifically to tell you to be careful."

Zhang Mu was puzzled: "Does this have anything to do with me?"

"As far as we know, Shuangyue Wuzhai has always wanted to integrate the Wuzhai forces in Taiping County, and they are not on good terms with Guiwuzhai." Bai Jingqi said, "Isn't that correct?"

Zhang Mu nodded.

Bai Jingqi continued, "It is said that the Crown Prince has chosen Prince Duan."

"Prince Duan's mother's surname is Yang. Although not prominent among the royal family, they are still a wealthy family."

"The head of the Yang family has three sons, the youngest of whom is named Yang Lingchuan."

"He is the commander of the Taiping County garrison."

"This Yang Lingchuan has a son named Yang Sun, who was born with heterochromia and possesses a strong martial arts talent. He is nicknamed 'Master Dumu'."

After listening to Bai Jingqi's introduction, Zhang Mu was still confused.

What does this have to do with him?
"A year ago, Yang Xuan had a maid named Qiao'er by his side. Qiao'er was originally the daughter of a convicted official in the capital. She was abducted by the Shuangyue Martial Village during her exile!"

Zhang Mu's eyes suddenly became sharp.

Bai Jingqi was telling him that the backer that Shuangyue Wuzhai had currying favor with was most likely the Governor-General Yang Xuan!
You can’t go wrong!

Then, Zhang Mu understood what Second Lady Bai meant when she asked him to be careful.

If the previous incorporation of Wuzhai was just to serve as a dog for the Yang family and there was no rush, then now that Prince Duan is in power, the Yang family has no choice at all and has been tied to Prince Duan's boat. Therefore, the entire Yang family will definitely regard this as the top priority and must gather enough momentum in a short period of time to support Prince Duan and cheer for him.

Even though the many martial arts camps in Taiping County are not in the eyes of those bigwigs, a mosquito is still meat, and at worst it can be used as cannon fodder.

So the people over at Frost Moon Mountain will also speed up their actions!

Zhang Mu stood up and bowed to Bai Jingqi: "Thank you very much!"

If Bai Jingqi hadn't come to explain the relationship, Zhang Mu and Wei Wuyou would probably have misjudged the situation!

Bai Jingqi waved his hand and said, "Young Master, why are you thanking me? I was just being a chatterbox and saying a few idle words."

"Okay, it's getting late, I should go back."

"My mother said that the next time the young leader goes to Sucheng, he must go to the Bai family for a drink."

Zhang Mu also said seriously: "I must meet Second Madam Bai in person!"

……

Frost Moon Mountain.

Sha Tonghai was in seclusion, and two soldiers were guarding the door. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and the door was blown open from the inside. The huge air wave blew the two soldiers several feet away.

Sha Tonghai walked out with red eyes, holding scraps of paper in his hands, and shouted angrily, "Fake!"

"is fake!"

At the same time, at the foot of Frost Moon Mountain, a carriage stopped at the mountain gate. The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a graceful woman of about seventeen or eighteen years old walked out of the carriage.

Yun Zhonghe, who had been waiting here for a long time, saw this and hurried over to greet her, saying in surprise, "Qiao'er? Why are you here in person?"

Na Qiaoer glanced at Yun Zhonghe indifferently and said, "Take me to see my adoptive father!"

"The Master has given instructions."

(End of this chapter)