After the pirates and merchant representatives left, Yin Zheng summoned leaders above the "pioneer" level in Zhentang to discuss the next countermeasures.

Yin Zheng's attitude has been made very clear, and it is inconvenient for everyone to say anything more. The Tiandihui still uses the traditional patriarchal system as its organizational model. The decisions made by the leader must be implemented by the subordinates.

Despite this, Yang Xuan couldn't help but put forward his own opinion: "Opening up trade is the general trend. Xu Guangjin's move is not advisable. It will only accelerate the decline of Guangzhou and deepen the conflicts between China and foreign countries."

This point of view is quite novel. Everyone here looked at Yang Xuan curiously, waiting for him to elaborate further.

Yang Xuan was encouraged and said:

"As far as I know, many officials in the current dynasty have realized the gap between China and the West and believe that they should actively learn from foreign technology. For example, Tao Yu, the governor of Guangdong, Qiying, the former governor, and even important ministers like Lin Zexu all have this

experience.

"However, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has been suffering from long-standing shortcomings. Although they had that knowledge, they did not dare to publicly promote their views and could only choose to be wise and protect themselves. Xu Guangjin refused to change his past and recruited militia groups in the city to try to prevent foreigners from entering the city.

"The foreigners have strong ships, powerful guns, and high-quality and cheap goods. Xu Guangjin cannot stop the foreigners."

People have never cared about such national affairs. They only know how to prevent foreigners from entering the city, but they do not understand the principle of opening up trade.

Seeing that they were a little confused, Yang Xuan had no choice but to change direction and said:

"Before, we operated the opium trade in Guangzhou and made a lot of profits, but this situation could not last long. Xu Guangjin had a militia of 100,000 people, which could deal with foreigners and us.

"I think we should take precautions against attacks by the army. The enemy in Guangzhou is too strong, there are many troops stationed, and the military pay is sufficient. Although we can make money in Guangzhou, it will be difficult for us to develop and grow. If there is a slight sign, the army will

Send troops to attack us.

"Just now, the merchant comprador suggested that we go to western Guangdong and eastern Guangdong to open up markets and get in touch with the Ping Ping Army. This suggestion makes sense.

"Recently, I watched the sky at night, and all I saw was the dim purple stars in the north, and the royal aura in the south. I'm afraid that Emperor Daoguang of the Manchu Qing Dynasty will die soon, and the fourth son of the emperor, Yi Chi, will ascend the throne.

"The kingly spirit in the south is strongest in Guangxi. In recent years, the Tiandihui in Guangdong has been repeatedly suppressed by the government and the army, and they have continued to pour into Guangxi. God-worshipping societies and vegetarianism have also emerged one after another.

"Nowadays, civil unrest is raging in the country, and foreigners are roaming across the sea. The signs of the Qing Dynasty's subjugation have appeared. The person who can replace the Manchu Qing may be in Guangxi. Why not lead the Zhizhen Hall into Guangxi to find the real master and realize the anti-Qing movement?

great cause!"

Yang Xuan naturally didn't know anything about celestial phenomena, but he was familiar with the history of the Qing Dynasty and understood that Emperor Daoguang was about to die. He spoke impassionedly for a long time, but the reaction of about ten people present was indifferent, and some even had a bit of ridicule on their faces.

However, there was a middle-aged man in his early thirties who had some courage and echoed a few words:

"What Mr. Yang said is quite true. The Tiandihui's original purpose is to fight against the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. There are 58,000 banners and green camps in Guangdong, as well as more than 20,000 naval troops and more than 100,000 militia groups. They are like a powder keg. Sooner or later, there will be

explode.

"There are not many officers and soldiers in Guangxi. There are 100,000 mountains to hide in. It is the place where the incident took place and the place where Longxing was established. If our Zhizhen Hall wants to grow stronger and compete with the officers and soldiers, we must go to Guangxi."

This person's name is Chen Hong, who is from Xiangshan, Guangdong. He is well-educated, talented and ambitious. He currently serves as the "White Fan" in Zhizhentang and is responsible for planning work.

Yang Xuan heard that Chen Hong was a scheming person and had some differences with Yin Zheng. He was not favored by Yin Zheng, so he did not interact with him much.

Chen Hong said something for him, and Yang Xuan also cast a grateful look at him.

Yin Zheng was quite dissatisfied. As the leader of the hall, he always spoke the truth, but now Yang Xuan and Chen Hong were singing the opposite tune one after another. He felt that he had lost his authority. He smiled and said sarcastically:

"Unexpectedly, Young Master Yang actually understands celestial phenomena. Twenty years ago, when I was as young as Young Master Yang, I also had great ambitions and was determined to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty.

"Ten years ago, I joined the militia and was commanded by Master Lin Zexu. I killed a foreigner with my own hands in the Battle of Sanyuanli. But what's the use of it? The people's wisdom is not yet enlightened, and the people are like a dream.

What's the use of a few of us?

"Although we have more than a thousand people in the Zhizhen Hall, how many of them are willing to endure hardships and fight? Most members join the Zhizhen Hall just to avoid being bullied, to have enough food, to wear warm clothes, and to have a roof over their heads.

A place protected from wind and rain.

"You said you would go to Guangxi to fight against the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. Do you think anyone is really willing to go? Have you asked your brothers? Are they willing to have food and clothing in Guangdong, or are they willing to go to Guangxi to drink the wind and rain?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately understood what the hall master meant, and they did not dare to say anything more.

Yang Xuan glanced at Yin Zheng and felt that he seemed to have changed.

When the two first met, Yin Zheng valued Yang Xuan's identity and worked hard to win over Yang Xuan and introduce him to various heroes in Guangzhou.

Normally, in front of everyone, Yin Zheng also likes to criticize current affairs, scolding the incompetence of the government, and hating the foreigners for wreaking havoc on China.

However, when Xing Shang proposed to open up a market in western Guangdong, Yin Zheng did not dare to try, for fear of offending Ping Jun.

Only then did Yang Xuan realize that the hall leader in front of him, like other Tiandihui hall leaders, usually talked a lot about "resisting the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty", but when he really wanted to take action, he immediately gave up.

Perhaps, under the guise of "anti-Qing and restoration of Ming", they recruited heroes just to do illegal things and to make money by distributing cigarettes.

The Tiandihui in history was just like this. It did not have high political pursuits and did not play a big role on the historical stage of the late Qing Dynasty.

When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom launched an uprising in Jintian, Hong Xiuquan had no regard for the armed forces of the Tiandi Society and refused to join them many times.

Just like Zhizhentang, in Guangzhou, they had plenty of money and a comfortable life. When they arrived in Guangxi, they lost the tobacco business that they relied on for survival. Not to mention that they couldn't compete with those fierce boat troops. I'm afraid even the militia and the green camp couldn't do it.

Even basic food, clothing, housing and transportation are a problem.

Yang Xuan was greatly disappointed, and at this time he had the idea of ​​leaving Zhizhen Hall.

Yin Zheng was an old man in the world. Although he did not have the courage to rebel, he was very scheming and very wary of those who might threaten his position as the leader of the hall.

When he saw that Yang Xuan had a distinguished status, extraordinary courage, and was supported by the congregation, he unconsciously became very wary.

Yang Xuan was jealous of Yin Zheng, and many people in Zhizhen Hall understood this and ostracized Yang Xuan.

After more than ten days of this, Yang Xuan felt that Yin Zheng was short-sighted and weak-minded, and expected that it would be difficult for him to become a great weapon in Zhentang, so he prepared to go to the mouth of the Xunjiang River to pay a visit to the leader of the boat army, Luo Gangyou.

Just at this time, a woman named Su Sanniang came to Zhizhen Hall and asked Zhizhen Hall to help her take revenge.

It turns out that Su Sanniang's original name was Yang Yuniang, a native of Lingshan County, Lianzhou Prefecture. She was originally a street artist, good at darts, and hit the target with perfect accuracy. She later married Su San, and was known as Su Sanniang.

Lingshan was remote and poor, so Su San and his wife came to Guangzhou to make a living. Su San worked as a dock worker in Sanshui County on the north bank of the Xijiang River. He was a generous man and was the leader of nearby dock workers and boatmen.

Recently, business travel in Guangzhou has been cut off, and the dock workers and boatmen in Sanshui County are having a hard time making a living. The local evil gentry organized a militia and took the opportunity to lower the wages of dock workers and boatmen.

Su San stood up for the workers and sought arguments from the evil gentry. The evil gentry instead accused Su San of colluding with pirates and instigated the militia to brutally murder Su San.

Su Sanniang petitioned the government, but the government colluded with the evil gentry and threatened Su Sanniang not to make unreasonable troubles. Su Sanniang had no choice but to come to Zhentang for help. She said:

"Hall Master, Su San was your right-hand assistant during his lifetime. When Zhizhen Hall brought any goods to Sanshui County, Su San would always arrange loading and unloading as soon as possible. Now that he has been brutally murdered by the evil gentry, please hall master, please make the decision for your little daughter.

Su San avenges bloodshed."

Yin Zheng was quite hesitant. Logically speaking, he should allocate troops to avenge Su San. But now the opponent was a Jin gentry, with two hundred people's groups under his command, and he was colluding with the government. Is it necessary to mobilize troops and offend the government for Su San?

Yang Xuan happened to be present. He knew that Su Sanniang was unusual. She later became a female general of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and led female soldiers to fight many vicious and tough battles, which frightened the Qing army.

After the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom captured Jinling, Su Sanniang served as the deputy general manager of the women's camp, assisting Hong Xuanjiao in managing the women's camp, and later married Luo Gangyou.

Su Sanniang asked for help. She was also suspected by Yin Zheng in the Zhizhen Hall. Why not take the opportunity to leave the Zhizhen Hall?

Thinking of this, Yang Xuan said:

"Hall Master, Tiandihui has always advocated mutual support. Since Su San once served for Zhizhen Hall, we should also avenge him. I would like to recruit a team to avenge Sanniang and let the militia know the majesty of our Zhizhen Hall.

.”

Yin Zheng looked around and found that everyone was looking forward to it, hoping that Zhizhentang would help Su Sanniang.
Chapter completed!