Chapter 1710 The Greed of the Family
In Guanzhong, the autumn wind has rustled and all the grass has withered, but in the south of the Yangtze River, there are still willows and drizzle, but the thin raindrops are drifting in the wind, without the sultry heat of summer, adding a bit of coolness and comfort...
The drizzle is rustling on the slender leaves of the purple bamboo forest in the "Golden Bamboo Garden". The bamboo forest is swaying in the misty rain. The river outside the fence flows gurglingly. The simple and heavy wooden buildings hidden among the bamboo forest are elegant. There is a hint of being out of the dust.
"The king thanked Yuan Xiao" Jiangzuo's romantic family, but today only the Lanling Xiao family stands out, enough to look down upon the Jiangzuo gentry and look down upon the overseas Chinese in Wujun.
There were several old men sitting across from each other on the smooth floor above the main hall. A short table was placed in the center, and several people were sitting on the floor. A small stove on one side of the table was boiling mountain spring water and pouring it into a teapot. , the emerald green tea leaves were rolled up and down by the boiling water, and an aroma as light as an orchid came out.
There is a faint fragrance of tea in the hall, drizzle is drizzling outside, and the air is moist and cool. Several old people have white heads and white beards, wide robes and loose belts, and they look like famous officials...
A letter was quietly placed on the low table. The old man with white hair and boyish face sitting in the north position stroked his beard and said calmly: "What do you think of Lao Qi's letter?"
The other old men didn't say anything when they heard the words. They were silent and just lowered their heads and sipped the tea...
After waiting for a while, he was not surprised when he saw that no one spoke. It seemed that these were normal phenomena. He looked at an old man sitting next to him who was hunched over and asked softly: "Eight What do you mean, uncle?”
"Uncle Eighth" squirmed his mouth, pursed his toothless lips, and said feebly: "Me? I'm old and confused. You just have to make up your mind."
The old man is helpless, you are indeed old and out of shape, but who dares to say that you are confused?
Those who think you are old and confused are really confused...
Those who are too old to die are those who are thieves. I am probably talking about Xiao Cen, who once served as a Taiwei in the Sui Dynasty...
But as he is older and senior, he likes to act crazy and act stupid. What can you do to him?
Even if he says it nicely at this time, "You just have to make up your mind," but if the final idea is not to his liking, it is light to curse someone because of his seniority. It is also common to hit someone on the head with a cane. Everyone here They are both seventy and eighty years old. Although there is a gap in seniority, who wants to be knocked on the head by him?
The sound of rain hitting bamboo leaves could be heard outside the window, and the hall was a little quiet for a while...
The old man with a glowing red face on the right said: "Fourth brother, you are the elder brother of Lao Qi. Although you are not a direct relative, you are the clan leader of our Lanling Xiao family. If you come up with a charter, I don't expect Lao Qi to follow it either." .”
The old man sitting in the true chair is Xiao Jing, the current patriarch of the Xiao family.
This man is the great-great-grandson of Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty, the fourth son of Xiao Kui, Emperor Ming Dynasty of Western Liang Dynasty, and the only living brother of Duke Xiao Yu of Song Dynasty.
And the old man who "does not die when he is old is a thief" is Xiao Cen, the younger brother of Xiao Kui, Emperor Ming of the Later Liang Dynasty, and the eighth son of Emperor Xuan of the Later Liang Dynasty.
In terms of seniority, he can be regarded as the ancestor of the Xiao clan...
The Lanling Xiao family has been a famous family since they settled in the south of the Yangtze River, and became even more prosperous after entering the Southern and Northern Dynasties. For nearly two hundred years, since Emperor Xiao Daocheng of the Qi Dynasty established his country under the dictatorship of the Qi Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, the Lanling Xiao family has always been king and hegemony in the south of the Yangtze River.
It was only after Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty, Xiao Yan, "replacing Qi and building the Liang Dynasty" that the evidence in Jiangnan changed and became turbulent.
Since ancient times, the position of patriarch has been held by the direct descendants of the eldest family member, with the exception of Gaimo.
Emperor Wu of Liang's prince Xiao Tong died young before he could succeed to the throne and was canonized as "Prince Zhaoming". However, Emperor Wu of Liang did not appoint Xiao Tong's son Xiao Huan as "Emperor's grandson", but passed the throne to his third son. , "Prince Zhaoming" Xiao Tong's half-brother Xiao Gang. Later, the "Hou Jing Rebellion" broke out, Emperor Wu of Liang starved to death, and Xiao Gang succeeded to the throne as Emperor Jianwen of Western Liang.
But the good times did not last long, and it was not easy to be a puppet emperor. Two years later, he was killed by Hou Jing, and he forced Xiao Gang's younger brother Xiao Yi to become the emperor...
When the Western Wei Dynasty captured Jiangling, killed Emperor Xiao Yi of Liang Yuan, and established Xiao Tong, the third son of Prince Zhaoming, as emperor, the Liang Dynasty finally returned to Zhengshuo and returned to the lineage of Prince Zhaoming again.
Xiao Huan, the eldest son of Xiao Tong, the "Prince Zhaoming", died without an issue, and Xiao Yu also had no issue. The genealogy was passed down to Xiao Tong's third son, Xiao Qi, who became Emperor Xuan of Zhongzong of the Western Liang Dynasty. His eldest son Xiao Yi died early, and his second son died in infancy. The throne was passed on to his third son Xiao Kui. This was the eldest son of Emperor Wu of Liang Xiao Yan, who inherited the throne and presided over sacrifices.
In the ninth year of Emperor Kaihuang's reign, Xiao Kui's son Xiao Cong died after being sent to Chang'an by Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. His son Xiao Xuan was then the general guard of Xiangcheng and had no heirs. He died of illness.
The direct lineage of this branch was passed to Xiao Cong’s younger brother Xiao Jing...
Although Xiao Yu was given the title of Duke of the Song Dynasty and was worshiped as Shangshu Youpushe, he was by no means the leader in the family. Even if he was noble, he had to be ranked behind Xiao Jing when offering sacrifices.
It's just that Xiao Jing's health has been deteriorating in recent years, and she has gradually left major family affairs such as sacrifices to Xiao Yu. On the one hand, she is really lacking in energy, and on the other hand, she hopes to use Xiao Yu's official title to enhance the Xiao family's reputation in Jiangnan. Influence.
But in the end, the position of clan leader still has to be passed on to his own son, and nothing will happen to Xiao Yu...
Like the Lanling Xiao family, a famous family with endless inheritance, the power of the patriarch is no less than that of the emperor over the people. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is life and death. He has absolute authority in the family, even if Xiao Yu is a high-ranking official. , in the family, one must also be lowered.
Xiao Jing is both the elder brother and the clan leader. Xiao Yu will never dare not listen to his words. Of course, it is another matter to go against the will...
Another person on this matter said: "This letter says that we should restrain our actions and cut off overseas smuggling channels. It is really easy to say. His seventh brother is a popular drinker in Chang'an, and he has nothing to do with it. As he became more successful, his son even married With the princess, he is naturally different from the country bumpkins like us... He can lose the profits from smuggling, but if we lose these profits, what will the thousands of people in our family eat and drink? "
Xiao Jing said with a sullen face: "Before the rise of sea trade, did your family suffer from the northwest wind?"
In the seventh year of the founding of the Emperor, Xiao Jing, her brother Xiao Cong, the empress of the Western Liang Dynasty, her younger brother Xiao Yu, and other members of the Western Liang clan and officials were taken to Chang'an. After entering the Sui Dynasty, Xiao Jing successively held official positions such as serving as a court official and serving as an imperial minister. He was headstrong and impulsive by nature, but fortunately, he was protected by the Xiao family, whose sister married Yang Guang as his concubine, and he did not make things difficult for him. Later, he followed Xiao Yu into the Tang Dynasty. During the Wude period, he served as the Minister of Huangmen. He was transferred to the Secretary's Supervisor and was granted the title of Duke of Lanling County. He later became an official and returned to his hometown.
People like him, who have a headstrong character and have witnessed court battles, naturally cannot listen to such nonsense.
He did look down on Xiao Yu's cautious character, but he also knew that everything Xiao Yu said and did was for the sake of the family. Even if it was wrong, his intentions were good, so how could he let others slander him?
The man blushed at what he said, but he didn't dare to refute. He could only lower his head and drink tea to hide his embarrassment...
Xiao Jing was about to speak when she suddenly heard the "old fool" Xiao Cen next to her sigh quietly, and said with his toothless mouth: "It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality...Old man Si, you are right to protect Lao Qi. This family relies on Lao Qi a lot, but as a clan member. Elder, I have to think more about everyone. Who can go back to eating braised vegetables when they are used to eating fine food? I am old and about to die, but if I see my children and grandchildren going back to the past to dig food in the soil, I will collect a lot of money every year. For a few days of land rent, I am afraid that even if I die, I will not be able to rest in peace..."
The flesh on Xiao Jing's cheeks trembled, and she was speechless for a moment.
You keep saying that you are going to die of old age, but why don't you really die?
It’s really uncomfortable to have such an ancestor on your head, and you can’t beat him or say anything...
Xiao Jing complained in her heart, but she had to agree with Xiao Cen's words.
The huge profits from sea trade in the past few years have driven the family almost crazy. Even though Xiao Yu said in his letter that he might still be hit by Fang Jun, who can really let go of such huge profits and return to the old days of collecting a few kilos of grain? A day when everyone has to fight in and out of big fights?
Farming and reading family heirlooms sounds very elegant and beautiful, but I still have no money...
If he wants to maintain such a large family, he cannot rely solely on the output of the fields, and the meager profits of the shops cannot be compared with those of sea trade. Even if he wants to stop now, these people in his family will definitely not allow him to stop. This old immortal will be the first to stand up.
What's more, he never thought of stopping...
"Wealth and wealth can be found in danger. This is true. Our Lanling Xiao family has long been the leader of the Jiangnan gentry since we settled in the south of the Yangtze River. We have a deep foundation of status and respect. Even the emperor has to follow us and expect us to donate food and money to help him fight. Win against Goguryeo? But the seventh brother’s warning cannot be taken lightly. It is better to prepare early.”
Xiao Jing said in a deep voice.
He somewhat disagreed with what Xiao Yu said in his heart, but since Fang Xuanling was about to go south, it would be great if he could get through Fang Xuanling's connections. (End of chapter)