Longevity: Beginning from Becoming a Clan Leader

The seventh year of Yuanzheng in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Seven years have passed since Chen Nuo launched the expansion plan, established the Youth Camp, and taught geniuses.

During these seven years, the Great Zhou Dynasty has undergone earth-shaking changes.

Yuzhou.

Compared with seven years ago, Yuzhou at this time is no longer the tragic scene of cannibalism. As a large plain and a large granary, refugees from wars from all over the country have flocked here in recent years, especially Bingzhou and Jizhou. After a few years, farming has restored some vitality.

And people, after meeting basic food and clothing, will naturally seek opportunities to climb up.

In this world where officials are the most important, where is the best place to climb up? It goes without saying.

However, this point has been somewhat different in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the farmland.

An old farmer with dark skin and a straw hat is vigorously shaking the granular gray powder, and holding a wooden barrel in his other hand, which is full of these uneven particles.

In front, an old cow is snorting and watching quietly.

The scorching sun was baking, but the old farmer squinted his eyes, with a smile on his dark face all year round.

With these things in hand, this year's harvest should at least be guaranteed. If God gives face, there will be no problem with a good harvest!

I don't ask for a big harvest like last year, just don't lose money...

After a while, a young man with a naked upper body ran over sweating, "Dad! Go and see, the people from the Chen caravan are here!"

The old farmer "came to life" in an instant, carrying a wooden barrel and ran away, "You idiot, you are not so fast."

The father and son ran towards the center of the village.

Don't mention it, although the old farmer is old, his legs and feet are quite agile. In the countryside, he is actually counted as a strong laborer!

After a while, the father and son arrived at the center of the village. At this time, the center of the village was surrounded by people, young and old, men and women, all holding various things, money and agricultural products.

In the center, there was a caravan of dozens of people, wearing ordinary clothes, with several carriages, which were densely packed with things, but there was one carriage that was empty and had nothing on it, which looked like someone was inside.

At this moment, the transaction had already begun.

The old farmer looked carefully and found that most of the guys were buying something called fertilizer, which was different from the soil fertilizer they made themselves, with better effects and soluble in water.

However, there were other things on it.

Like the two-wheeled car, it is said that it is very popular among the dignitaries in those big cities.

Kerosene lamps, looms, scissors, pots and pans, bruises and ointments... everything.

The old farmer took a few more glances. He heard that some of the larger Chen caravans also sold boiler rooms, which seemed very convenient. The big guys in big cities all had one, but it should be very expensive, right?

The transaction ended quickly, but the caravan did not leave. This was also an unspoken rule. Generally, they would stay in one place for a few days so that people from nearby villages could come to exchange things.

In the past, this kind of business was actually the work of small caravans and vagrants, but in recent years, because of the prosperity of the Chen family, the Chen family Chamber of Commerce has become larger and larger, and there are countless caravans under its command.

And Yuzhou, because there is a branch of the Chen family, has received certain resource bias, and many caravan members are from that branch.

Because Chen's goods are good and cheap, and there are often amazing things, such as this new fertilizer, so it is very popular in Yuzhou, a grain-rich state.

And the influence of the Chen family has spread throughout the lower class of Yuzhou.

As for the middle and upper classes?

Naturally, it is no exception.

Although, it is not this way...

After a few days, the caravan began to leave.

At this time, the carriage that had not been loaded with goods was opened, and two people walked out.

Compared with farmers, the clothes on these two people are luxurious, but they can only be considered ordinary in the upper class, but the temperament of both of them is very extraordinary.

"Brother Sheng, this is the most border county in Yuzhou. What do you want to do?"

The person who spoke had a scholarly temperament, but more of an official and businessman's flavor.

In fact, the work he did in the past few years was really similar to that of a businessman or an official.

"A Guang, it's been seven years. I have been tempered in Yuzhou for seven years. From a small businessman at the bottom to the current branch president, it seems that I am already very good. Even if I am a businessman, my surname is Chen. No official dares to look down on me. It seems that I have already achieved wealth and honor."

Chen Sheng said so.

Wu Guang next to him looked puzzled. This was exactly what he was confused about. His elder brother was a member of the Chen Youth Camp back then, and now he can barely be regarded as a direct descendant.

In addition to the large amount of wealth accumulated as a branch president, it can be said that wealth and honor have already been achieved, but why should he join the small caravan and explore this border area now?

Chen Sheng glanced at this brother of a different surname who had been following him since the Youth Camp.

Shaked his head.

"A Guang, you don't understand. I, Chen Sheng, am no weaker than anyone!"

"Who do you think I'm competing with? The mediocre children of the Zhou Dynasty? Ha, they don't deserve it!"

"I want to compete with the heroes in the clan!"

"It's Chen Tang! Chen Ping!"

Wu Guang was horrified. These two are the leading figures of the middle-aged and young generation!

Chen Tang is in charge of the clan soldiers. His strength and power are all powerful. It is said that he has broken through the internal organs.

Chen Ping is even more amazing. There are rumors within the family that it is better to provoke a ferocious beast than to provoke Chen Ping. He is called a poisonous snake in the family.

"A Guang, I want to fight for it. I don't ask to suppress them. As long as I can compete with them, the family may support me to build a branch and become the ancestor of the whole branch. At that time, I can include you, A Guang, in the family tree of my branch."

! ! !

As soon as these words came out.

Wu Guang's breathing became rapid.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Okay!"

Wu Guang agreed immediately.

For these children of other surnames who grew up in the Chen family, being included in the family tree is their biggest dream.

"If you become rich and powerful, don't forget each other!"

Then, Wu Guang began to ask about Chen Sheng's plan.

"I have written to the clan leader, and he did not oppose my plan. I even got a token from Longyuan."

"There is no chance in the Great Zhou. I can only go to those chaotic places. However, Jizhou and Youzhou have already competed for the princes, which is very difficult. Yunzhou and Bazhou are isolated, and the chieftains and cults are prevalent there, which is also difficult. The key is that it has also entered a strange state of balance."

"So, my goal is Bingzhou."

"Bingzhou is now the most chaotic place in the world. Warriors are in power, beasts are rampant, and the lower class has repeatedly overthrown the upper class. The people are living in dire straits. All they need is a fire."

Wu Guang seemed to see some kind of ambition in his elder brother, which seemed to be a power that infected people's hearts.

Did the elder brother also practice spiritual cultivation?

Without time to think about it, he had already bowed to Chen Sheng, "I am willing to help my elder brother!"

"Okay!"

...

Chen County.

Chen Qun and Chen Qingzhi stayed together.

Although the two were a generation apart, the age difference was not big, and they were getting along like friends at the moment.

"Haha, Ziyun, these people are really trying their best to get to the top."

Chen Qun threw the gift list in his hand.

Chen Qingzhi caught it casually, looked at it expressionlessly, and shattered it.

"Return them all."

"Hey, why return them? We'll take them all, and then we won't do anything." Chen Qun said so.

Chen Qun, who seemed to be extraordinary, made such a rogue statement.

But Chen Qingzhi seemed to be used to it, and shook his head helplessly, "It's a loss to my Chen family."

"Heh, a group of dying people, what reputation can they affect."

?

"Emperor Zhou has become more and more tyrannical recently. For those officials who actively leaned towards us but were not accepted, they will not give any good results."

Chen Qingzhi hesitated, "Not really."

He felt that an emperor's mind should not be so narrow. After all, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Isn't it always like this in the officialdom?

If you deal with these people, you may not be able to deter them successfully. Instead, you may make these people and people with similar ideas hate them. It is better to deal with them gently like water moistening things silently.

"Alas, the situation is different. The current official selection system of the Great Zhou Dynasty has been controlled by our Chen family. In recent years, Brother Zideng has made great efforts."

"You can become a scholar without a teacher who is a former official of my Chen family."

"You can't pass the imperial examination without a great scholar from my Chen family as a teacher."

"If you don't turn to my Chen family, you can't take the palace examination, let alone become a Jinshi!"

"Let me ask, in this case, who in the world will not vote for Chen?"

"No matter how crazy and cruel he Zhou Rong is, it will only make those old officials and powerful families fear and hate him. As time goes by, the hatred will become stronger and stronger, completely covering the fear. At that time..."

Chen Qun suddenly laughed, as if he had foreseen something interesting in the future.

Chen Qingzhi, who was standing next to him, suddenly felt a little numb on his scalp. It felt strange and creepy. This was a bit like boiling a frog in warm water, slowly making the hearts of the people of the entire Great Zhou turn to the Chen family. In this case, the more the Zhou emperor struggled, the more he accelerated that possibility...

In fact, Chen Deng has done more than just this in recent years. This is just to prevent the selection of officials from the literati.

In terms of military personnel, Chen Deng also faithfully completed the tasks assigned by Chen Nuo.

When the court conducts military examinations, only the children of the Chen family can get on the list. At the very least, they are people who are closely related to the Chen family.

If the court wants to recruit, the result will not change.

Because of the existence of the blood explosion realm, it seems obvious what the military families will do. Only those small families or wild geniuses will try, but in front of the Chen family, which has become a behemoth, it is useless.

On the first day of entering Beijing, you will die in the wilderness on the second day.

As for selecting from the army, Chen Deng also considered it.

Therefore, Chen Deng directly cut off the firewood from under the cauldron, and the ministers forced the emperor to abdicate, delegating military power from the emperor's hands, and adding a procedure for the ministers of the Shangshutai to manage it together.

So far, the military power has fallen into the hands of others, and the army without a direct controller is just an object for Chen to slowly encroach on.

In the past seven years, it has almost been encroached.

From the supply of military rations to the provision of military equipment, as well as food and wages, etc., using the huge economic strength gained from the dumping of powerful factory products, the army and the aristocratic families have been completely bought off!

More than 90% of the army in the country has to listen to Chen.

I don't know what the emperor's order is!

During this period, the emperor did not think about resistance and made many small moves, such as summoning loyal ministers and generals under the pretext of celebrating his birthday, and making a lot of kings as a hidden reward, etc., but all of them were resolved by Chen Deng with various means. In the end, the emperor would only find himself like a spider, cocooning himself, and any action would only accelerate his pace of losing power.

Unless, he chooses to resist by force.

But that's the problem.

Does he... dare?

"Wait, how did you get the news of Emperor Zhou's tyranny? We are far away from the center, could it be..." Chen Qingzhi suddenly realized this problem belatedly.

Has the family infiltrated the palace?

Chen Qun shook his head helplessly.

You just realized it now?

After seven years of working together, he knows this branch patriarch very well.

His martial arts talent, military tactics and strategies are all first-class strong.

In the previous two years, Wu Dao had already broken through to the internal organs realm, and was summoned by the clan leader, who seemed to have taught him something. As for military tactics, it was some of the things he had done in recent years to eliminate mountain bandits and disobey the family. The other party perfectly met the essence of military tactics: fast as wind, slow as forest, aggressive as fire, and immovable as mountain!

He felt that if he really went to a large battlefield, he would definitely be a famous general.

But, his political sense was a little...

Let's put it this way, he is not like a clan leader of a big family, but just a little better than the children of ordinary aristocratic families.

Forget it, anyway, I am just assisting him, but I am still unwilling...

Chen Qun's eyes flashed a ray of light.

Among the Chen family, the highest literati is Chen Deng, and the highest position is the governor of Hexia County and the magistrate of Tianhe County.

Any Chen family literati who is famous for government affairs or strategies will covet this.

So, he still has some ideas.

But Chen Deng's position is too stable. He has been in charge of government affairs for more than ten years. He has a deep foundation, sophisticated means, and outstanding wisdom. It is really difficult to win him in this circle.

If Chen Qingzhi can go to the battlefield, I will assist him to get credit...

Such a thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Qun began to explain to Chen Qingzhi.

"Don't forget what I told you at the beginning. There is a senior in the family, who is the same generation as you, named Chen Ping."

"He is in charge of the family intelligence organization."

Chen Qingzhi's eyes gradually became clear. Chen Qun hesitated for a moment and continued.

"Let me tell you the truth. You know Concubine Zhao, right?"

"That woman is not a law-abiding person."

"The women in the harem don't care about your national affairs. They only think about the harem and the power of the mother of the world."

"So."

Chen Qun showed that smile that made Chen Qingzhi feel a little creepy again.

Wait!

This should be Longyuan's information, right?

Chen Qun knew about it and revealed it to me. Does this mean that Chen Qun...