Folk sayings, collusion between officials and businessmen is not without cause.

The government and the Shang gentry were together only because for both parties, only by binding each other could the interests of each other be guaranteed to the greatest extent. The Shang gentry needed the government to issue a series of powerful policies to them so that they could gain huge benefits from them. If the government wanted to be stable in one place, it must be supported by the local gentry family. Whether in terms of economy and prestige, or even in the implementation of various orders, local governments needed the strong help of the Shang gentry.

Chu Huan understood this truth.

He knew very well that no matter how high his martial arts and his wisdom were, he would not be able to gain a foothold here without the support of local gentry.

If a person is not able to do so, no matter how great a person's ability is, without the support of a huge force, he will not be able to do anything at all without a head but without the body and hands and feet.

The seven surnames of Xiguan came tonight, and Chu Huan knew that they should have come to show kindness to him. In fact, when he was in Beiwang Tower, Chu Huan already felt a strange clue.

Now the real power is in the hands of Dongfang Xin and Dong Shizhen. The president of the chamber of commerce in Yuezhou is not any of the seven surnames of Xiguan, but a gentry from Beishan. This is already a very abnormal thing. Chu Huan knew very well that without the support of Dongfang Xin, Gao Lian would never have become the president of the chamber of commerce in Yuezhou. It is said that it is not just Gao Lian. There are many merchant gentry sweeping from Beishan. These people have formed an external force. Chu Huan has already felt that this foreign force has been colluded with Dongfang Xin, the official force.

The seven surnames of Xiguan are local forces in Xiguan. During this turmoil, Zhu Lingyue's Tianshan faction can be said to have taken advantage of the situation and attacked the officials in Xiguan. The official forces in Xiguan can almost be regarded as collapsed and have undergone a reshuffle from top to bottom. In addition to the official forces in Xiguan, the other one is the local gentry power headed by the seven surnames of Xiguan.

The official forces and the gentry forces are complementary and coexist. Once the official forces fall, local gentry will be in danger. Gao Lian, the foreign gentry forces, seeking opportunities to enter Xiguan, are naturally with Dongfang Xin, the foreign official forces, and colluding with the local gentry forces in Xiguan.

Chu Huan even felt that the local gentry in Xiguan was full of joy for his arrival.

There is no doubt that the local gentry forces in Xiguan represented by the seven surnames of Xiguan are at the most steepest time. Their financial resources that were once turbulent were beyond the control of the other two gentry. However, the gentry of Xiguan, which suffered a fatal blow in the war, are now incomparable with foreign gentry. Without the support of the government, the next path for the seven surnames of Xiguan will be extremely difficult, and it is very likely that they will disappear into the gentry group soon.

If they want to exist, they must have the support of the government. However, the official forces represented by Dongfang Xin and Dong Shizhen regard them as enemies. In this case, Chu Huan, who was parachuted to Xiguan, was undoubtedly a life-saving straw in the eyes of the Xiguan gentry. Although Chu Huan himself is an outsider, because Chu Huan helped the Xiguan gentry before, Chu Huan became his own person in their hearts in the eyes of the Xiguan gentry, and they really need such a "person".

For them, Chu Huan is their last hope.

On the other hand, Chu Huan, since entering Shuoquan City, he has been rejected by the official and gentry group formed by Dongfang Xin and Gao Lian. The foreign group regards Chu Huan as an enemy. In this case, Chu Huan can be regarded as a one-man. He does need the support of the local gentry group. Therefore, whether it is Chu Huan himself or the local gentry represented by the Seven surnames of Xiguan, they all understand their interests and understand that the other party is an ally who must form an alliance. Therefore, the Seven surnames of Xiguan come to show their kindness tonight and open their hearts, which is a frank expression of the meaning of forming an alliance.

The tea was already cold, but no one moved the tea. Chu Huan was not very clear about the situation in the northwest before, but after talking to the seven surnames of Xiguan, the outline in his mind gradually became clear.

"Old master, I don't really understand how Gao Lian became the president of the Chamber of Commerce?" Chu Huan asked his previous question again, "The election of the president cannot be decided by the government. It requires the joint election of the Chamber of Commerce members. The position of the president of the Yuezhou Chamber of Commerce naturally requires the approval of all the members of the chamber of commerce...!" He glanced at the heads of the four major families present, "You are naturally undisputed members of the Chamber of Commerce..." He said this, Chu Huan did not ask any further, but the meaning was already very obvious. Since he was electing the president of the Yuezhou Chamber of Commerce, the local merchant gentry in Yuezhou must participate. With you four major families as the leader, although the local gentry is now in decline, the power and connections are still there. As long as the four major families oppose it, it is impossible to let an outside gentry ride on the head of the local merchant gentry.

The old man stroked his beard and sighed: "There are many gentry coming from Beishan. They used to think of renting grain and renting land, and taking out our land in the name of renting land. Later, this plan failed, so they changed their ways. They did not start with our seven surnames in Xiguan, but started with others... There were also many small landlords in Xiguan. These people fled and could not take away the land, so they could only take away the land deed... Gao Lian's group of people took the opportunity to buy a lot of land at an extremely low price...!"

Qian Boyi also smiled bitterly and said, "Eating was a problem at that time. Although he could not bear to exchange land for food, he had no choice but to do so. Therefore, many gentry in Beishan bought a lot of land in Yuezhou and planted crops. Now they claim to be from Xiguan, and the land in their hands is indisputable."

"We went when the chamber of talks was held." Hong Shengtao continued: "It was just a matter of not long ago. The chamber of talks was held. Since Dong Shizhen and Dongfang Xin also participated, and the name was that it was to protect the meeting smoothly. The troops surrounded the guild... Several consecutive elections were elected, and the first two times were elected by Mr. Su. Gao Lian and his group shouted unfairness, and Dongfang Xin would not let the meeting dissolve... The meeting was stalemate for a day and a night, and everyone could see that if Gao Lian was not elected, no one would be able to leave the guild, and finally...!" At this point, a little indignation appeared in his eyes.

Chu Huan understood that Gao Lian became the president, but he used such despicable and shameless means.

At this moment, suddenly, Sun Zikong's voice came from outside: "Master, someone is asking for a visit!"

Chu Huan frowned and said, "Who is it?"

"He claimed to be a member of the Ministry of Justice." Sun Tzukong said, "It was said that he had urgent matters to ask for a meeting."

Chu Huan thought for a while and said, "Call him here." He stood up and said, "Several seniors, I'll take a look, come here immediately." After leaving the door, he arrived outside the yard and saw that Sun Zikong had already brought someone over.

When the man saw Chu Huan, he hurried forward and bowed: "Governor General, Chief Ai sent a villain to report to you that he would kill a serious criminal in the East City at 3 noon tomorrow. At that time, please ask the Governor General to go to watch the execution!"

Chu Huan looked expressionless and asked with his hands on his back, "Are you Lord Ai very busy? Why didn't he come to report it himself?"

"The resolute criminal will be executed tomorrow. The chief lord made arrangements overnight. There are many things to do, so he sent a villain to come." The man looked up at Chu Huan, "I wonder if the Governor will be able to be present tomorrow?"

Chu Huan said lightly: "Tell Ai Zong that not only is the Supervisor present, but other officials will also be present to watch the execution!"

"Don't worry, Governor, the governor, General Dongfang, and officials from all departments and yamen will be present." The man immediately said: "Master Ai said that those who were executed were all important criminals in the court, and they were executed in public, to kill one to warn a hundred!"

"What a killer to warn you." Chu Huan said expressionlessly, "You go down, I will be there at noon tomorrow."

When the man stepped down, Chu Huan returned to the side hall and told the people about this. Fu Yusheng had already clenched his fists and said, "Sir, Ai Zong is so bold. He should come to report this to the Lord in person, but he sent a minor official, who was deliberately humiliating the Lord... and asking the Lord to observe the punishment is also a bad intention."

Chu Huan smiled and said, "Actually, I really want to see what they want to do." He touched his chin and thoughtful, then smiled and said, "I'm afraid they will regret inviting me to participate in the inspection of the execution." He stopped talking about this, looked at Mr. Su and asked, "Mr., do you know that the plague occurred in Xiguan?"

The old man nodded immediately and said, "It is known that the situation is actually very bad. It is said that many people have died of plague... In Shuoquan City, Dongfang Xin sent people to patrol everywhere. Whenever he saw someone with a ulcer, he would be taken to a temporary camp thirty miles outside the northern city, and all the gates of Shuoquan City would be strictly inspected to prevent plague-infected people from entering the city..."

Chu Huan frowned and said, "Dongfang believes that they can come up with a way to deal with the plague?"

"I didn't hear that they came up with any good way." The old man also browned, "I just heard that Dong Shizhen ordered all prefectures and counties in Yuezhou to strictly investigate the sick people, and search for plague-infected people in every prefecture, county and village. Once found, they will be locked up in a temporary shelter camp...!"

Qian Boyi hurriedly said, "I just heard that many people die in the shelter camp every day. After death, the body will be burned immediately...!" Frowning said, "It will be useless to do this. More and more people are infected with the plague every day... If the government does not think of other ways, it will just throw the patients found in the shelter camp. This is to treat the symptoms but not the root cause, and it cannot stop the spread of the plague..."

The old man looked solemnly and looked at Chu Huan and said, "Governor General, it is the most urgent thing. It's not anywhere else, but the plague. If this plague cannot be stopped, it will be very unfavorable to the sir..."

Chu Huan nodded slightly, knowing what the old man meant, but he was thinking that Pei Ji was stepping up the development of the formula, but he didn't know when Pei Ji would come here.
Chapter completed!