Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

The money Li Ying earned

It was more than all the money he had earned in the previous ten years combined.

This soaring eagle naturally didn't want to be involved because of the Zhu family village.

Just like that, they gave up a gold mine!

However, the three families in Dulonggang formed a joint defense.

It was those three villages again, something they had agreed upon long ago.

Li Ying wasn't stupid either.

The proverb "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" applies here.

He knew perfectly well what was going on in his mind.

If Liangshan really manages to capture the Zhu Family Village this time,

Next goal

It must be Hujiazhuang and Lijiazhuang.

Although Li Ying made his fortune through business...

But there are also thousands of acres of fertile land in Lijiazhuang.

It is the foundation of our ancestors.

Naturally, they were unwilling to easily give it up to others.

The Sky-Soaring Eagle is caught in a dilemma.

Du Xing, who had just finished reading Wen Huanzhang's letter, was now in a daze.

He then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Han Bolong.

"Brother, this matter is of great importance. May I discuss it with my master before making a decision?"

finished,

Du Xing then raised his hand and called over a servant.

He led Han Bolong to the guest room.

Good wine and good meat should be served.

After only the master and servant remained in the room,

Du Xing hurriedly asked Li Yingde for his thoughts.

"This matter is indeed difficult to decide,"

"I'm having a headache," said the Sky-Soaring Eagle.

"On one hand, there's the dilemma of mutual dependence; on the other, a mountain of gold. Alas, how can one choose..."

"Our master believes that our Li Family Village and the Zhu Family Village are interdependent, like lips and teeth,"

Du Xing said in a deep voice,

"But the three Zhu brothers, and Zhu Chaofeng, may not think so."

"What do you mean?"

Li Ying asked, puzzled.

"Two days ago, after learning about the marriage between Zhu Biao and Hu Sanniang, I sent people to Zhu Family Village and Hu Family Village to find out the details."

Du Xing said slowly.

"What's the point of finding out?"

Li Ying frowned.

"Hu Sanniang and Zhu Biao were engaged half a year ago. Is there some hidden reason for their marriage now?"

"Master, you are unaware of this,"

Du Xing, with his ghostly face, looked around and said in a low voice.

“When I went to Liangshan to do business before, I heard a rumor that the Third Sister of Hu Family Village had already gone to Liangshan and was a leader of that marsh.”

"How can this be?"

Li Ying asked in surprise,

"Wherever Liangshan went, they would seize the land from landlords and wealthy families. The Hu Family Village, while not as large as the Zhu Family Village, was similar to our Li Family Village, with at least five or six thousand acres of fertile land..."

"Has Hu Sanniang lost her mind, which is why she willingly joined Liangshan?"

Because of the land distribution issue,

Liangshan had long become a common enemy of landlords and gentry throughout Shandong.

As long as it belongs to a landlord or gentry family.

Liangshan in advance

They all hated him so much they gritted their teeth.

Li Ying naturally didn't believe it.

Hu Sanniang was actually a member of Liangshan.

“Master, besides that, there are actually some rumors circulating,”

Du Xing replied,

"Many of them say that Hu Sanniang had an affair with Zhao Dalang, the leader of Liangshan."

"That's why she was able to sit in a seat on Liangshan Mountain."

"I never believed in such rumors before, but doesn't it seem a bit strange, Master, that Liangshan is suddenly going to attack the Zhu Family Village?"

Du Xing asked,

"Why did they choose to attack Zhu Family Village at this crucial moment, precisely when Hu Sanniang is about to marry Zhu Biao..."

"You mean, the leader of Liangshan was worried about being cuckolded, so he couldn't wait to send troops to take Hu Sanniang back?"

Li Yinghao laughed.

"That Zhao Dalang from Tokyo is a man of some stature; he shouldn't be so sentimental."

"Master, don't forget, Hu Sanniang didn't marry Zhu Biao willingly,"

2.0 Du Xing reminded,

"If the Zhu Family Village hadn't captured Hu Cheng, Hu Sanniang would probably have disappeared again, just like before the New Year."

"That's true,"

Li Ying nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said...

"If Hu Sanniang really had connections with Liangshan, wouldn't the joint defense of the three villages of Dulonggang have been wiped out long ago?"

"Master, this is not just a problem of the Hu Family Village,"

Du Xing sighed.

"The Zhu Family Village has been arrogant and domineering on Dulonggang for quite some time now, relying on its large population and vast territory."

"Then the three sons of the Zhu family had long ago planned to merge the three villages into one, so that all of Dulonggang would belong to the Zhu family village."

"If Zhu Biao really marries Hu Sanniang this time, I'm afraid it won't be long before Hu Family Village will belong to Zhu Family Village."

"By then, our Li Family Village will be unable to hold on alone, and I'm afraid we won't be able to last much longer..."

Chapter 397 Being a fence-sitter isn't easy either

"So you're saying that the Li Family Village shouldn't have participated in the battle against the Zhu Family Village?"

Li Ying suddenly asked.

"I just feel that even if we help the Zhu Family Village out of its predicament, we won't get a good outcome in the end,"

Du Xing replied.

"But don't forget, if Liangshan breaks through the Zhu Family Village this time, then next time, it might be the Li Family Village's turn!"

Li Ying said with a headache.

"Master, there is something I am unsure whether I should say."

Du Xing suddenly asked cautiously.

"Since I trust you and have made you the steward of Li Family Village, what is there that you can't say?"

Li Ying said somewhat unhappily.

"Master, since we started doing business with Liangshan, in just three or four months, the manor has made a profit of over 40,000 strings of cash by reselling refined salt and white sugar to other places,"

Du Xing said cautiously,

"Although Li Family Village has more than a thousand acres of fertile land, after deducting the land tax paid by the government and the food rations paid by the tenants each year, the remaining amount is only two or three thousand strings of cash."

"Compared to trading with the land, doing business with Liangshan is where the real profits lie. Since that's the case, why not..."

"Outrageous! You want me to voluntarily join Liangshan and even offer up my family's fertile land?"

Li Ying said angrily with a dark face.

“Master, the power of Liangshan is growing stronger and stronger. Even if the imperial court will eventually wipe them out, before that happens, Liangshan will have already brought all of Shandong under its control.”

Du Xing forced himself to persuade him.

"Instead of waiting for Liangshan to break into the manor and forcibly seize the land, why don't we take the initiative? This way, we can avoid the manor being destroyed and people dying..."

"No! Absolutely not!"

Li Ying slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"This fertile land in Li Family Village was accumulated by our ancestors over generations; how can we give it away so easily!"

"But......"

Du Xing wanted to say something more,

Li Ying, however, was no longer willing to give him another chance.

"I understand what you mean, but have you ever thought about how long Liangshan's business, which seems to be thriving now, can last?"

"If we hand over the land and then the business with Liangshan falls through, how will we feed the dozens of mouths in this manor?"

Land is the foundation of agricultural societies.

Even if they are already able to profit from business,

But in the eyes of agrarian peoples,

Even more profitable businesses

Sometimes it's not even as good as a few acres of farmland.

Because the business is not stable enough

And the fields,

But it can be passed down from generation to generation!

"So, how does the master plan to deal with the upcoming battle at Zhujiazhuang?"

Du Xing asked, puzzled,

"Neither Liangshan nor Zhujiazhuang are people that Lijiazhuang can afford to offend."

"What else can we do but swallow our pride and become fence-sitters?"

Li Ying sighed in frustration.

"Go find that messenger from Liangshan now and tell him that Li Family Village will not get involved in the war between Liangshan and Zhu Family Village."

.......

After Du Xing followed Li Yingde's instructions,

After Han Bolong left,