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Compared to the various major events that have occurred in Hangzhou recently, the death of Qi Yuankang, the return of Li Tianrun, and the conflict on Pingchang Street, the Lou family, as merchants, should be considered another system that has not been involved. Search:\(¨Wan¨Ben¨Shen¨Zhan¨) to read fine literature for free.

Although it is already one of the largest merchant forces in the entire city, the Lou family is still confined to a corner and not paid much attention to when it comes to the real stage of power. But for the slightly mid-level forces in Hangzhou, it is now a behemoth with tentacles reaching into all aspects. Of course, since it has only recently infiltrated the entire system, there is no need to give it too many positions in the power struggles in various aspects. This seemingly huge force is actually still alienated from the crowd in the Fang La court.

This is not surprising. Throughout history, this has been the state of the merchant class, both in the Wu Dynasty and the Yongle Dynasty. Compared to the past, the Lou family can at least be considered one of the largest imperial merchants in the Yongle Dynasty. Of course, the prospects of the Yongle Dynasty are currently the most worrying issue. Whether the Lou family will profit or lose in the end still depends on this issue.

For the Lou family, staying in Hangzhou and joining Fang La was more than half out of necessity. But there were also some rational considerations by Lou Jinlin. At that time, the Lou family already had some rifts with Qian Xiwen and others. Merchant families are inherently sensitive. If they left Hangzhou, Qian Xiwen and others, with their connections in the officialdom, could make a comeback whether they went to other places or returned to Hangzhou later. However, the Lou family's assets were all in Hangzhou. Leaving here would mean that the foundation he had built over the years would be gone.

In any case, Lou Jinlin was unwilling to accept this result, as the foundation he had built for half his life would be destroyed in one fell swoop. Moreover, the Lou family had already been targeted by Fang Qifo at that time, and it was already unrealistic to leave. After Hangzhou was occupied, Lou Jinlin had a period of bewilderment, but soon, he also showed the profiteering nature he had built all the way, trying to carve out a broader and more secure path for the Lou family in the days to come.

Simply being law-abiding or waiting for death were not his character. Letting the Lou family simply become the largest merchant in the Yongle Dynasty or waiting for the imperial court to come south and break through Hangzhou to be captured were not the future that Lou Jinlin wanted to choose. For this old man in his fifties, there was still the shrewdness and ability in his body to seize every opportunity and constantly expand the benefits on the practical level. The flame of pioneering was still burning in his body.

Simply being a merchant and relying on others would not work. Even if the Yongle Dynasty could withstand the imperial court's offensive and open up a large situation, he would no longer be satisfied with becoming the largest merchant. At this time, the situation was turbulent and chaotic. The Lou family had money, and with the support of Fang Qifo, they also had the power not to be bound by most forces. At this time in Hangzhou, the most practical path was laid out in front of them.

For more than a month, the Lou family began to try to recruit troops and expand their power.

Fang La himself was an uprising and rebellion in nature. Although Hangzhou had been established as the capital, it was a mixed bag, with troops gathering and weapons unrestricted. Wanting to pull a group of people here to have their own power was, in principle, allowed. However, the various forces in the city were already saturated. If someone really wanted to get a share of the pie and compete with others, they would not be able to beat those who had been following Fang La from the beginning.

The Lou family did not fall into this category. They had money and food, and many businesses to run. It was reasonable to hire guards for the family and thugs for the business, and they could afford it themselves. Now, there was no limit on the number of people. If this war taught the Lou family anything, it might be that weapons must be held in their own hands. Of course, even with this awareness and convenience, everything could not be done too excessively. If they revealed their ambition to control military power from the beginning, they would definitely be beaten to death halfway.

Lou Jinlin was a steady person, and there were difficulties on the road, but these difficulties were not significant to him. Although a group of mud-legged people who rose up in rebellion were not fools, they could not compare with an old fox like him in various operations. After deciding to do things, he purchased a large number of sophisticated weapons and a small number of military horses, recruited servants, hired guards, and recruited some martial arts people with real skills who had been missed by others. For more than a month, he maintained the operation of various materials in the city and extended his own power.

During this period, there would certainly be some problems. For example, the Lou family could afford to support people, but it was ultimately impossible to train them into an army. There were many refugees in Hangzhou right now. He could recruit one or two thousand people who could not afford to eat, but what was the use without barracks or training grounds? Under such circumstances, Lou Jinlin paid more attention to supporting some small street forces, such as small groups of ten or twenty people, small gangs of twenty or thirty people, and various gangsters who lived in the streets near the Lou family. For more than a month, the Lou family recruited nearly two hundred guards, and the power they controlled externally was several times that number. If they really wanted to show off, this number was no less than the base of some mid-level generals in Fang La's army.

Of course, these people did not have much real combat power. In the past, you could say that this was a large gang, but it was still far from being an army. But even so, some rebel leaders who had not taken the Lou family seriously in the past did not dare to easily provoke the Lou family anymore.

In the past, as one of the merchants designated by Fang Qifo, although they would not be too harassed in Hangzhou, there were still many people who, like leeches, clung to the Lou family to make a living. As long as there was a general with a hundred or so people, they would dare to come to the Lou family to ask for food and drink and collect protection fees. Even after the Lou family was sheltered by Bao Daoyi, they did not restrain themselves, because everyone knew that Bao Daoyi could not stand up for the Lou family for such a thing. Everyone was brothers, your family was big and your business was big, and people came to share a little, and they didn't smash your house, so what was there to say? It was just a merchant.

In the past, the Lou family treated these people well and never lost their etiquette. Now, they were still like that. However, as time went by, although the Lou family did not do anything to establish their prestige outside, these kinds of visits became increasingly rare. For people like Bao Daoyi at the upper level, the Lou family had not changed at all, but had simply developed normally. But for some mid- and lower-level leaders and generals, they could still keenly feel the Lou family's constantly expanding power and momentum.

"That Lou family is not easy to mess with now..."

After tea and dinner, these generals who had not taken the Lou family's merchant status seriously in the past could not help but sigh. This also proved that the Lou family's strength had quietly expanded to the point where it could be compared with these people.

But the identity of the merchant still caused people to underestimate them in such evaluations. When others thought that the Lou family's power was entering the middle and lower levels, the Lou family was actually quietly dividing and wooing some leaders with about a hundred or dozens of people under their command.

Other than that, the Lou family's resources and economic capabilities were enough for them to control some slightly inferior forces after they had their own power. Under Lou Jinlin's repeated operations, there were now two groups of such forces who, after losing in the power struggle with others, were willing to join the Lou family to obtain protection. For Lou Jinlin, this meant that the first few steps in the early stage of power development had been taken steadily.

"If we want to have a say among these people, it will take some time. Next, let's explore the situation of that Tang Bingzhang. He himself worked under Qi Yuankang. Although he was not in trouble this time, he must have been greatly affected..."

In the morning, in the study of the Lou family's main residence, Lou Jinlin was talking to his eldest son, Lou Shuwang, about the expansion. There was no need to recruit any more guards for the Lou family. His subordinates did not have many experienced veterans, so it was the most affordable choice to win over this type of force. If a few more groups joined, the Lou family would truly be able to get on the stage and become one of the mid-level forces in Hangzhou. And because of Fang Qifo's protection in the past, Lou Jinlin was also confident that the Lou family's rise would not be too rejected, at most people would think that he was a bit opportunistic and took advantage of the situation to rise. However, once he had the strength, who could really be unhappy with himself?

"...This place in Hangzhou will continue to develop step by step. But the retreat to the west and south must be prepared early. In a few months..." Lou Jinlin turned the thumb ring on his hand. When he said this, he fell silent again. His hair was gray, but it was neatly combed. His eyes were sharp and his spirit was still abundant. He was still full of the momentum of a lion. Although he was also anxious about what Hangzhou would become in a few months, there could still be a retreat. Of course, another thing he thought of soon after made him a little depressed.

"By the way, how is your younger brother doing recently?"

Compared to the eldest son, Lou Shuwang, Lou Jinlin actually loved his youngest son, Lou Shuheng, more. Some time ago, when Hangzhou was captured, Lou Shuheng was depressed. However, Lou Jinlin had his eldest son to help him anyway, and he could understand the impact on his youngest son, so he let him rest for a while. But if he continued to be so lazy to this extent, it would be too much. Lou Jinlin hoped that his youngest son would learn more about the family's affairs, especially when the Lou family was experiencing such a change, so that he could play his talent, and in the future, this family business could be handed over to him with more peace of mind.

He did not have the idea of giving the entire family business to Lou Shuheng. The relationship between the two sons was actually not bad, but the eldest son was talented, and if each of them received half of the family property in the future, the second son's family would inevitably have rifts. This was naturally the mood of hating iron for not becoming steel. Lou Shuwang also cupped his hands.

"My younger brother has been quite diligent in visiting people recently, but he has been looking for the wrong people, so he has not been able to find out the situation he wants to know. However, he knows more and more people, and I believe he will soon be able to finish what he wants to do and come back."

Lou Jinlin sighed, "Do you know about his affairs?"

"I know that he is still a little bit hung up on that Miss Su, but what he cares about most is probably Ning Yi's humiliation of him in the past. I also know Ning Yi's situation now. I told my father before, but this time I did not take the initiative to help my younger brother. I hope he can take the initiative to accomplish this matter, which has special significance for him."

Lou Jinlin waved his hand dismissively, frowned and remained silent for a moment, and finally said, "It's okay for a real man to seek revenge, but he must have a broad vision. I also remember that Ning Yi, but in the current situation, what is there to be hung up on! My Lou family is now encountering such a change, and once it passes, the entire Hangzhou... The struggle between the Yongle Dynasty and the Wu Dynasty will involve my Lou family. In the past, some small things can be crushed like insects... Alas, forget it, you watch him for now. When he is done, let Shuheng come back to his senses and focus on the main business. Also, how is Shuwan doing recently?"

Hearing his father ask about his sister, Lou Shuwang's expression was a little complicated, "Actually... My younger sister has some relationship with that Ning Yi..."

"Hmm?"

Lou Jinlin frowned, and Lou Shuwang explained that his younger sister probably had a good impression of Ning Yi, "In my opinion, this Ning Yi has some skills and is also very good at taking advantage of the situation. In the past, as a Son-in-Law, he was very low-key. When he was with scholars, he was gentle and refined. When he was in the Tyrant Blade Camp, he pretended to be bold and generous. With the current status of my Lou family, it is beneficial for him to deliberately approach my younger sister, but my younger sister cannot control him..."

He finished his opinion. In fact, Lou Shuwang was busy with things recently. Although he cared about Ning Yi, he was still looking down on him. Someone like this fell into the bandit camp, and Li Tianyou was hostile to him. No matter how hard he tried to survive, in Lou Shuwang's eyes, it was just a good performance.

Lou Shuwang did not care about Ning Yi. His younger brother and younger sister were involved with him. He ultimately cared about his younger brother and younger sister. He did not care whether such an outsider lived or died or lived a life worse than death. In a sense, if his younger sister could really live well with him or just be happy as before and finally dump him, he could also persuade his younger brother to be lenient and enlighten him. But his younger sister could not control such a person after all. His younger brother was determined to vent his anger, so he could only die.

Lou Jinlin naturally understood what he meant. After thinking for a moment, he said to him, "You have to keep an eye on this matter." Lou Shuwang nodded to show that he knew.

After talking to his father, he went to Four Seasons House at noon to have dinner with Bao Daoyi and others. He was just an accompaniment and did not have much to say. Recently, he also heard that Bao Daoyi had a conflict with the Tyrant Blade Camp over a woman, and there had been friction for the past few days. He did not care about this matter. The Lou family was sheltered by Bao Daoyi, but the foundation was Fang Qifo. The various materials in the city still needed to be turned over by the Lou family. Others could not reach the Lou family, but the Lou family could wait and see what happened. In a few days, they could also reap their own benefits in such political struggles.

It was unintentionally that he saw Ning Yi and the maid Xiaochan eating downstairs.

During the meal, serious topics were naturally just a little bit, and then they started to joke. Lou Shuwang knew that Bao Daoyi liked all kinds of women, so he led the topic to that. Bao Daoyi also smiled and talked about the benefits of all kinds of women. When the host and guests were happy, Lou Shuwang pointed to Xiaochan downstairs and asked Bao Daoyi for his opinion. Bao Daoyi really had some skills. He stroked his beard and took a look, then smiled and said that she was a maid who had been well trained by a wealthy family. She had recently been taken as a concubine by the man next to her, and she was at her most charming time.

With such a question, Lou Shuwang's purpose was achieved. He knew Bao Daoyi's hobbies, and a woman like Xiaochan was exactly what he wanted. Now that he had asked such a question, someone might take Xiaochan away later. This was also a problem that he gave to Ning Yi casually.

However, Bao Daoyi was busy fighting recently, and there were many girls at home who were having fun. After arguing with the Tyrant Blade Camp a few days ago, he finally had a little restraint about randomly grabbing girls on the street. This time, he finally did not touch Xiaochan.

This matter was just something that Lou Shuwang did casually and did not pay too much attention to. Of course, it did not matter whether Bao Daoyi would catch her in the end. If things happened, he could see how he would deal with it before his younger brother took action against Ning Yi. And even if he did not see it, Ning Yi's life was destined to be lost. He had many things to do next, and this kind of small problem would not take up too much of his time.

The next two days passed like this. He heard his servants say that Lou Shuheng had met a woman at a poetry meeting recently and was impressed by her poetry and demeanor. Lou Shuwang thought that since he had a new reliance, he should let him know about Ning Yi's affairs as soon as possible and come back to his senses. However, when he found his younger brother at noon this day, Lou Shuheng's progress shocked him.

It was in a small restaurant near Pingchang Street. Lou Shuheng was sitting there with a few servants. He had been looking for Ning Yi's traces everywhere in the city these days, but he had been looking for the wrong relationship and had not received too much information about Ning Yi. At this time, his beard had already grown out, and he looked unkempt. But when his elder brother came up, he shook two fingers and was very excited.

"Do you know who I found? Brother, do you know who I found?"

"Who?"

"You can't guess... hehe, you definitely can't guess..."

"..."

Lou Shuwang looked at the scene below in confusion, not understanding what was going on. Lou Shuheng laughed for a long time, stood up and walked back and forth, rubbing his hands together excitedly, and lowered his voice nervously, "It's Su Tan'er... It's Su Tan'er... I found Ning Yi the day before yesterday, and then... then I asked someone to find a way to monitor him. Yesterday, I found that he actually came here. Do you know what I saw... haha, it's Su Tan'er. She is really amazing. Ning Yi is trapped here, but she secretly sneaked back to Hangzhou with a batch of cloth. Isn't it? Too amazing, haha... She's back, she actually ran back for that Ning Yi, too amazing... This woman..."

Lou Shuheng laughed until tears almost came out of his eyes. Lou Shuwang frowned and looked at his younger brother who was a little too excited. After a while, Lou Shuheng stopped his dancing in his elder brother's gaze and took a breath. His expression was like a student being stared at by a teacher, and he restrained himself.

"I want to keep her." He raised his right index finger and emphasized, and after a while, he shook his finger vigorously again, revealing a smile, "She's leaving tonight, but... I want to keep her... haha... ha—"

******************

Juan'er arrived at the Tyrant Blade Camp at about two quarters of Shenshi, a little after four o'clock in the afternoon. Autumn comes early, and it was already close to evening. The elite of the Tyrant Blade Camp were all out, quietly going to the strongholds of Bao Daoyi distributed in the city that had been predetermined from different directions. As one of the leaders of the matter, Ning Yi, Liu Xigua, Liu Tiannan and others had just left Xiliu Street. Juan'er was received by Xiaochan, who had just learned that she was about to be sent away. Her eyes were still red, and she was hiding in the kitchen crying alone. When she learned the news, she quickly pulled Juan'er and chased her all the way out... (To be continued.) Vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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