"General, there's something going on over there!"
Late at night, a man in black quietly walked into Li Dingguo's tent and respectfully reported.
Li Dingguo, who was lying on the bed, immediately turned over and sat up. He stretched out his hand and a letter was immediately delivered to his hand.
When he opened it and looked at it, the corners of Li Dingguo's mouth curled up slightly. At this time, the Zhao family wrote a letter to Wang Kai, the prefect of Huangshan Prefecture. The content of the letter was to instigate him to instigate the people in Huangshan Prefecture to prevent Zhou Lin from repairing the embankment.
"Can you guarantee that it will be packaged back intact?" Li Dingguo asked.
The man in black nodded: "We are professionals, it's a small problem."
Li Dingguo immediately handed the letter back: "Okay, let's deliver it to the person it belongs to!"
The man in black asked with some confusion: "Why not intercept this letter, so that we can delay Zhou Shilang for a while."
Li Dingguo shook his head: "We are here to help Zhou Lin this time, but the prince also gave us another task.
Feiyun Chamber of Commerce encountered obstacles when it expanded to Bian'an County. The problem lies with the Zhao family. The Zhao family has almost monopolized all industries in Bian'an County. Other chambers of commerce are unable to intervene if they want to. Feiyun Chamber of Commerce also in this way.
We should take advantage of this opportunity to at least put our hands into Huangshan Mansion.
As for Minister Zhou, we will help him solve the problem, but we must also use him to complete the matter. "
The man in black suddenly understood and nodded: "I understand!"
Immediately, the man in black withdrew from the camp. Li Dingguo looked at the camp that was once again plunged into darkness, his eyes flashed and he fell into deep thought.
The next day!
They had just finished eating early in the morning and the prisoners had just started working when suddenly there was a huge noise at the construction site.
Several officials responsible for guarding the construction site ran to Zhou Lin out of breath and said hurriedly: "Shilang Zhou! Huchi...huchi, no...it's not good. Someone is causing trouble outside and has surrounded our construction site. We won't let you." Let’s build a dike!”
An official with two mustaches took the lead in telling the situation.
"What!"
Zhou Lin was startled, stood up from the ground, and said angrily: "Who dares to obstruct the imperial court from doing its work? Don't they know that this is a dike ordered by the imperial court to be built? What right do they have to obstruct it?!"
The eight-character Hu official scratched his head when he heard this, but he couldn't explain it.
Seeing this, Zhou Linneng snorted heavily, then put on his cloak and strode outside.
…
"Drive them out! Don't allow these criminals to stay in Bian'an County, drive them out!"
"Yeah...kick them out!"
There were bursts of noise, and some people were holding big flags in their hands. Maybe they were illiterate and didn't understand what the flag meant?
However, they still followed without hesitation to cause trouble!
"Brother Li, Brother Li, can we do this? Isn't this deliberately looking for trouble?
If the court pursues us, won't we be dead? "
Someone in the crowd said worriedly.
When the brain named Brother Li heard this, he shook his head indifferently and said: "Don't panic! We are not the only ones doing these things. Don't we all do the same thing when writing like this?
We blend in with the crowd and are inconspicuous, so what is there to be afraid of?
Besides, this job was arranged by the county government, and we were specially asked to come here to cause trouble. It is already obvious who is the real mastermind behind this.
Do you dare to go against the Zhao family? "
Hearing this, the person who just asked the question immediately shut up and continued to protest along with the others.
…
I hurriedly came outside the construction site and saw that the entire construction site was surrounded by people, and they were shouting to drive the prisoners away.
Looking at this turbulent scene, Zhou Lin knew that they were not opposed to the prisoners coming to build the river embankment.
They were clearly ordered here by the Zhao family and they were not allowed to build the embankment.
Faced with this situation, Zhou Lin frowned deeply. The officials around him were about to step forward to drive away the people, but Zhou Lin waved his hand and strode forward.
"Everyone! Listen to me!"
Amidst this noise, Zhou Lin's voice using a trumpet was unusually conspicuous.
Everyone fell silent for a moment. When they turned around, they immediately saw Zhou Lin wearing official robes.
As soon as they saw the official robes, they, who had been influenced by the idea that the people should not fight with the officials for a long time, wanted to retreat, but there were specially arranged people in the crowd who stabilized the situation.
"Who are you? Why are you stopping us! Don't think that just because you are an official is a big deal. There is royal law in Huangshan Mansion, and everything must be done in accordance with royal law!"
This sounded fine, but the people who were driven here understood it instantly.
This is clearly using the power of the Zhao family to tell everyone that this is Bian'an now, and the Zhao family is the king here. So what if they are wearing official uniforms?
As long as you go against the Zhao family, even if the King of Heaven comes!
The people who understood the hint immediately put away their fears and calmed down their panicked hearts just now.
After listening to what the person in charge said, Zhou Lin in front replied: "I, Zhou Lin, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry of the Song Dynasty, have been ordered by the emperor to repair and strengthen the Bianhe River embankment in Bian'an County to prevent spring floods. When the embankment breaks, the entire Bian'an County will be reduced to Zeguo!
And according to your demands, you are opposed to me using prisoners to build embankments. If I don’t use them, who will I use?
I believe many of you know me. I have also gone to various towns and counties to recruit people to build embankments, but no one was willing to give them.
Now, I have found manpower, but you are here to cause trouble again. What does this mean? "
Speaking of this, Zhou Lin was already a little angry:
“Is it possible that the embankment was built for me?
It’s not because the imperial court was afraid that you, the people living here, would not be able to survive if the embankment collapsed, so why did you not only refuse to help, but also come to stop it?
Everyone, I would like to speak from my heart today. Don’t you feel guilty? ! "
The people who were noisy just now fell silent in an instant. Many people had guilty looks on their faces, and some had helpless expressions on their faces.
Everyone is not stupid. They naturally know the benefits to them after the river embankment is repaired. They also know that it is for their own good and they should not stop it.
But the higher-ups have spoken, the yamen in charge of them have spoken, and they have no choice but to do it.
After all, the local yamen are still in charge of them on weekdays. If they don't follow the yamen's wishes, they may not be able to bear it if the yamen randomly puts some shoes on them in the future!
And the yamen here undoubtedly listen to the Zhao family!
Not only because of the great power of the Zhao family in Bian'an County, the Zhao family also almost monopolized the officialdom of Bian'an County.
Nearly half of the officials in the entire Bian'an County are descendants of the Zhao family.
Under such circumstances, how dare these officials in Bian'an County not listen to the Zhao family's wishes?
Gritting his teeth, he was cruel.
After considering the reality, the people still chose to bow to reality.
"Drive away the rioters in Daxing County. We cannot let them stay in Huangshan Prefecture. They are all unstable elements. They will pose a threat to Huangshan Prefecture!"
"Drive away the rioters! Drive away the rioters! Drive away the rioters!"
…
The people of Huangshan Mansion who had just been quiet for a while became noisy again. No matter what Zhou Lin said, they waved the messy farm tools in their hands to rush in and drive away the prisoners who were building the river embankment.
Zhou Lin tried his best to persuade him, but these people were completely unmoved.
They all understand the truth, but the reality forces them to do things against their conscience!
suddenly!
thump!
After a simple sound, the originally noisy scene instantly became extremely quiet.
Everyone looked at the same place in disbelief.
The place where Zhou Lin knelt straight down!
Zhou Lin, a dignified left minister of the Ministry of Industry, actually knelt down in the direction of the people of Huangshan Prefecture!
These people could clearly hear the voice of Zhou Lin introducing himself just now, but now everyone was shocked when they saw this scene!
This is a member of the imperial court!
The left minister of the Ministry of Industry!
He actually knelt down! Kneel down before the people!
What an amazing thing!
It was like a bolt from the blue!
Everyone stared blankly at this, stopped all movements, and focused all their attention on the kneeling middle-aged man.
"Shilang Zhou? You! What are you..."
The officials following Zhou Lin looked at the scene in disbelief.
After being stunned for a long time, he suddenly came back to his senses. After subconsciously asking this question, he wanted to step forward and help Zhou Lin up.
However, Zhou Lin waved his hand and directly prevented them from approaching. Zhou Lin made an even more unexpected move.
He actually knocked hard in the direction of the people of Huangshan Mansion!
boom!
The sound of the collision between the forehead and the ground seemed to resound in the hearts of everyone, it was inexplicably shocking!
Then I heard him say:
"Everyone! I beg you, please! Stop obstructing the embankment construction. There is not long before the spring flood. If the river embankment is not repaired before the spring flood comes, then the entire Huangshan Prefecture and the entire Bian'an County will be ruined!
I also know your difficulties, but which one is more serious?
If you continue to block it, it will not harm me, but the millions of people in Bian'an County. Don't you understand how many families will be displaced if the river bursts its banks and water and fire are ruthless?
If you can stop me today, who can stop the torrential flood when the embankment breaks tomorrow?
Who can save Bian'an County that is about to be flooded at that time? "
The place was extremely quiet and no one spoke. I don't know whether it was because Zhou Lin's words or his actions shocked everyone, so no one dared to speak at this time.
suddenly!
Someone violently threw the big flag in his hand to the ground.
"Damn it! I quit! This is clearly forcing us to kill ourselves!
When the time comes, those who are officials will run away on their own, and those with big families and businesses can start over at any time after the water recedes!
What about us?
If we are flooded, who cares about our life and death!
I quit! Love so and so! "
"Yes! Quit!
Damn it! The Zhao family has delicious food and drink, but why should we do this thing of giving birth to a son without an asshole? "
"But...but if we don't follow the Zhao family's instructions, we won't be able to survive. Everything in this city belongs to the Zhao family. If we don't follow the Zhao family's instructions, our embroidery needles will be lost." None of us can buy it.
I have nowhere to spend my money! "
These words immediately calmed down the people who had been so excited just now, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on them.
Yes, this is reality.
If they weren't afraid of this happening, who would be here?
Zhou Lin listened to everyone's words with a tragic smile on his face.
This is indeed an unsolvable problem. If there is no way to solve this problem, the people will continue to follow the Zhao family's path into darkness.
And there is no way that I will let the Japanese army suppress the people. These are the people of the entire Huangshan Prefecture. If I really do that, I will repair the river embankment and go back.
It is not surprising that he was captured by His Majesty in front of the court!
Just when everyone was in trouble, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out from the audience:
"Don't panic, everyone, it's not just the Zhao family that does business in this world!
If the Zhao family doesn't do your business, then we, Feiyun Trading Company, will do it! "
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked and hurriedly turned their heads to look in the direction of the voice.
At this time, everyone discovered that at some point, a luxurious carriage came behind them, and a fat man jumped out of the carriage with a smile on his face like a Maitreya Buddha.
This fat man is covered in silk, his fingers are covered with rings, and the big gold chain around his neck is as thick as a man’s thumb!
There are seven or eight big gold bracelets on each wrist, covering the entire arm. He is dressed like a rich man!
This outfit alone blinded everyone in an instant, and his words just now also made everyone look at him with puzzled eyes.
The fat man chuckled and took two steps forward, bowed his hands to everyone, and said loudly to everyone in his rich and clear voice:
"Good morning everyone, I have a fortune in Xiatian, and Tian is the head shopkeeper of the Huangshanfu branch of Feiyun Trading Company!
Anyone who has been to prefectures and counties recently should know that in each county and prefecture, a place has been surrounded and a huge three-story building has been built.
That's right! That is the Feiyun Mall newly launched by our Feiyun Trading Company!
Starting today, Feiyun Mall in Huangshan Prefecture has officially opened. Feiyun Mall has everything from rice, flour, grains, oils, needles, threads, and all kinds of large furniture!
If you are worried that Zhao’s shop will no longer sell anything to you in the future, you might as well come to my Feiyun Mall!
Not only is the mall full of everything, you can buy everything you need just in the mall, and the prices are cheap and reasonable.
All items are at the same market price as the surrounding counties, and the profit is extremely low. You make money by relying on small profits but quick turnover. You will definitely make money if you buy it!
…”
Tian Youcai introduced everything about Feiyun Mall to everyone. Everyone's eyes were bright when they heard it, they all felt fresh, thinking that there is such a place.
But looking at Tian Youcai's rich appearance, he felt that this fat man wouldn't lie to him if he was so rich, right?
Thinking like this, I felt confident, and I was no longer afraid of the Zhao family.
Everyone began to surround Tian Youcai and ask about various matters about the mall. Tian Youcai had already prepared for this. With a wave of his hand, a trained specialist immediately answered everyone's questions.
Others dispersed one after another, some went home, and some went to the nearest county to see if there really was such a shopping mall.
Dozens of people with embarrassed faces and flags in their hands were left standing there at a loss. They were all specially recruited to guide the crowd and make trouble. It could be said that they were specially sent by the Zhao family to cause trouble.
As soon as the common people ran away, it was so obvious that Zhou Lin showed no mercy. He stood up and waved his hand, and a group of officials immediately stepped forward to control these people and pushed them back to the camp.
At this time, Tian Youcai, who had just relieved Zhou Lin, also walked towards Zhou Lin with a smile.
Zhou Lin frowned when he saw Tian Youcai's attire, but thinking that he had just helped him, he suppressed his prejudice against businessmen and greeted him with a smile.
"Shilang Zhou!"
"Shopkeeper Tian!"
…
(End of chapter)
