Looking at Sun Tu, who strode into the hall, the businessmen and gentry except Su Mao couldn't help but show nervousness, and then they all subconsciously got up to salute. This is not only because they have learned the identity of the person who came, and they know that this person has mastered their own life and death, but also because the domineering momentum exuded by Sun Tu has put a lot of pressure on them.

Sun Tu met these Suzhou land snakes one by one under Su Mao's introduction, and he seemed calm and confident. It wasn't until he came to the throne and sat down that he smiled and waved his hand, "You don't have to be so restrained, just sit down and talk." ”

When everyone sat down with apprehension, he smiled again: "It's really a bit rude to invite all of you to meet today, but the situation is urgent, in order to settle everything as soon as possible, I can only wronged you, and I hope you don't see it." ”

"Don't dare...... Since General Sun has summoned him, how dare we not come? Everyone said politely.

Sun Tu nodded with satisfaction, and then got to the point: "I heard you talking about some concerns outside just now, and there is indeed some truth, since I want to ask for your help, it must not be difficult for others, you must be made without worries, and you must be willing." ”

"What General Sun said is that as long as the general can solve some of the difficulties raised by us, we are still relatively thin and have money, and it is not impossible to contribute money and food to help defend the city." A middle-aged businessman sitting at Su Mao's hand had the courage to say that he was Huang Zhengyang, the head of the Huang family, one of the four major families in Suzhou.

With the first one to speak, the others were also a little bolder, and they immediately echoed one after another, and then they fell on Sun Tu with expectant eyes, watching what he said.

The smile on Sun Tu's face became more cordial, and he smiled at Huang Zhengyang and said, "What Huang Yuanwai said is, then let this official come and give you a few reassuring pills first." Your biggest concern should be that if you really help my Shandong army, what will happen when Fang La's army is killed? In fact, you can rest assured, since I, Sun Tu, dare to lead my troops into Suzhou, I naturally have a way to defend here. The city of Suzhou is already high and deep, even if the 100,000 army attacks day and night, as long as the city is defended and the law is obtained, it is a year and a half without thinking of breaking the city. Although I don't have enough manpower for the time being, the people in the city can be of great use, plus the thousands of defenders who have been captured, as long as they are properly commanded, there should be no problem in guarding him for a few months.

"Moreover, I don't think it will take any more months for the rebels to storm Suzhou. Because it won't be long before the good news of my capture of Suzhou will reach the north, and at that time, the imperial court will inevitably launch a large army to the south, and the only choice for the thieves is to retreat south and hold some other important cities and passes. Otherwise, with their military morale, coupled with the impact of the multi-day campaign, as well as the shortage of food and grass, they would inevitably be defeated and lost under the city of Suzhou. I don't know if you still agree with my statement? ”

Everyone looked at each other, and after muttering for a long time, they all nodded subconsciously. In fact, they didn't know that Sun Tu only brought 300 people into the city this time, otherwise they really wouldn't dare to believe his statement.

Sun Tu naturally couldn't break through this point, so he smiled: "So I can say now, as long as I have your help, I can hold Suzhou." And then all you think about is what you're going to get in the aftermath, right? I also know that you are all merchants, and you all need to support your family, and you can't provide me with money and food for free. So I will also repay the favor, as long as the matter is successful, I will play the court, and ask for credit for you, even if I can't let you wait for a real official to enter the court as an official, but it is not difficult to seal a loose official and glorify the ancestors. And with an official position, it will be easier for you to act in the future. ”

For these businessmen and landlords who have long wanted money and land, and are also a figure in Suzhou, if they can have a serious official body, they will have no regrets.

Seeing this, Sun Tu smiled again, and continued to give more benefits: "And as long as the Jiangnan Rebellion can be pacified this time, this official will also think of asking the imperial court to stop the flower and stone gang, so that the people of Jiangnan will not suffer such exploitation again, and will also tell the people that this is all due to you......"

The people who could have endured it really couldn't help it this time, and shouted one after another: "Is this true? ”

"General Sun, you can really make the imperial court stop the ...... of Huashigang"

The harm of this flower stone gang not only made ordinary people suffer, but even these giant business landlords were also miserable. Not to mention anything else, as long as there are flowers and trees in the garden at home, you have to worry about it every day, for fear that when the government will hit your own head. And every year, in order to prevent Zhu Mian from doing it to themselves, they will spend a lot of money to dredge up the dots, and the previous cost of this alone was tens of thousands. This is also the key point why when the rebels entered Suzhou, they all did not hesitate to fall into the past, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the people of Jiangnan have suffered for a long time.

"As long as the chaos is pacified, this official will definitely report to the imperial court to cancel the Huashi Gang. And after this chaos, I think the monarchs and ministers of the court should already know how deep the harm of Huashigang is, and with the wisdom of the officials, they are bound to be as good as the stream, and return the people of Jiangnan to a bright blue sky. Sun Tu replied categorically.

Although everyone still has some doubts, can he, a fourth-rank military attaché, really do this? But since he had said everything about this, he naturally didn't dare to doubt it anymore, and they all nodded in agreement. However, there was one last question that remained unsolved, so until this time they had not promised to give money or food.

Of course, Sun Tu understood what they were most worried about, so he took a sip of tea first, and then said: "As for your worries that Zhu Mian will settle accounts after he comes back and find trouble with you, this is really embarrassing. He is the most powerful official in Jiangnan, and he is deeply favored by the officials, and there are many henchmen in the court, if he is bent on bringing disaster to Jiangnan, regardless of the life and death of the people, even if I really make a lot of contributions, I am afraid it will be difficult to deal with it. ”

Everyone who was already a little happy frowned again at this time, indeed, if Zhu Mian's problem is not solved, no matter how much Sun Tu promises, it is useless, after all, Jiangnan is not something he can call the shots.

"But what if he dies?" Sun Tu's sudden words immediately stunned the atmosphere in the hall, and everyone showed a look of surprise and inexplicability.

Sun Tu completely ignored everyone's strange and frightened eyes, and said to himself: "Zhu Mian has been in trouble for a long time in Jiangnan, it can be said that this Fangla Rebellion also started by him, shouldn't such sinners die to calm the hearts of the people?"

"And as far as I know, as early as two years ago, when Fang La raised his troops, he had already played the banner of killing Zhu Mian, and because of this, he was able to gather tens of thousands of people in a short period of time and conquer several state cities. Since he deserves to die so much, this official, as an official of the court, should share the worries of the king, eliminate harm for the people, and cut it off! When he said the last sentence, Sun Tu's body had already revealed a palpitating killing intent, which made it difficult for many people to breathe.

After a long while, they suddenly came back to their senses and said in a low voice: "General Sun, is this true?" Can you really get rid of this thief? ”

It can be seen that these people really hate Zhu Mian to death, and they can't wait for him to die in front of him immediately, but because his status is too high, they don't have the slightest way to take him. Sun Tu smiled indifferently: "I won't tell you anything, this official will take such a risk and appear in Suzhou City, everything is thanks to Zhu Mian." He originally planned to kill people with a knife, and wanted to use the rebel army to annihilate all our Shandong army in Changshu City, so I have long been out of the same sky with him Zhu Mian, and it is inevitable to kill him!

"Moreover, as long as we can hold Suzhou, and when he returns, I will be sure to eradicate it and eliminate harm for the people. But I don't know if you have the courage to gamble with me? ”

Speaking of this, Sun Tu stood up again: "I know that you still have a lot of doubts in your hearts, so let's think about it here, the stakes are very high, and I can't force it." With that, he walked out of the hall.

When Sun Tu went out, everyone who was still barely restrained instantly couldn't help it, and they all got together to discuss, guessing how credible Sun Tu's statement was. After Su Mao said something to them, he smiled and said, "Everyone, are you still unwilling to let go of the fight at this time?" General Sun was able to compete with 100,000 rebels with only one line of soldiers and horses, and this alone is enough to prove that he is indeed very comparable. What he lacks now is nothing more than money and food, and it will be of great benefit to us to make friends with him at this time.

"Moreover, I think this person has great ambitions, but it is not all the way, and it is not even a place that can be satisfied, once he has made great achievements in the future, you and I are all meritorious ministers, and the harvest will be more than a hundred times this? You and I are both in business, don't you even have this vision and courage? It's just some gold and silver and money, and he will always earn it back one day. ”

After a pause, he said loudly again: "No matter what you think, my Su family has decided to fully assist General Sun in defending the city, and all the hundreds of thousands of money and food in my family will be taken out for his use!" ”

These words shook everyone's hearts even more, but some people still said without concern: "Is General Sun's words really credible?" After all, he is not from my Jiangnan clan, and he doesn't know the roots, so he wants me to spend all my family property to help him......"

"I wonder if my thanksgiving promise will give you more confidence?" As he was talking, a person walked in again, and it was Xie Mo who appeared on the stage. With a smile on his face, he only said a word, and the faces of these businessmen and landlords suddenly changed: "Gongzi Xie, are you still alive?" ”

And Huang Zhengyang, who was at the top, suddenly laughed at this time: "My Huang family also relied on a lot of hard work to earn the Wanguan family property back then, since Brother Su said so, what if my Huang family keeps up!" As soon as Xie Mo appeared, he was already tempted, and he no longer had any worries, and expressed his position directly.

And with his opening, he naturally brought other people ......

It was only at this time that Sun Tu had truly seized control of the city of Suzhou, and he was able to carry out his next plan.