When Hai Rui got on the sedan, the expression on his face instantly became solemn. What he didn't expect was that the situation here would be so serious. There were many problems in the granary of Kaifeng Mansion alone.
"It seems that Liu Yuan, the previous inspector, was right when he said in the memorial submitted to His Majesty. The actual amount of grain stored in the local granaries in Henan is very different from the amount recorded in the account books."
Thinking of this, Hai Rui couldn't help but clenched his fists and muttered silently to himself.
"These damn moths, wait for me, I will never let you go!"
After Hai Rui calmed down, he quickly made corresponding plans. He was looking for an opportunity to have contact with Inspector Liu Yuan so that he could learn more information from Liu Yuan.
"Don't they always want to invite me to dinner? In that case, I can also take advantage of this opportunity!"
In this way, Hai Rui returned to the inn in a sedan chair.
…
On the other side, Xiao Er, who had previously received orders from Hai Rui to investigate the situation nearby, made a major discovery.
On the way, he and several guards met several people carrying sacks and walking in a hurry.
When the people saw them, they ran away like a rabbit seeing an eagle.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Er quickly ordered his men to stop these people. After his men stopped them, they immediately stepped forward and asked.
"Why are you running?"
Seeing this situation, the few people knew that they could not escape. After exchanging glances with each other, they saw an old man with white hair, skinny bones, and dressed in tattered coarse linen clothes kneeling tremblingly on the ground.
A pair of withered hands grabbed Xiao Er's trouser legs and choked with sobs.
"Sir, our family only has this little food. If we pay more, our family will lose a grain of food!"
"Without food, the five members of our family will starve to death. I beg you, sir, if you have plenty, please let us go!"
When Xiao Er heard this, his face was full of surprise, and he asked immediately.
"What kind of grain should I pay? Didn't the imperial court just collect land taxes not long ago?"
"Besides, now is not the time to collect food!"
After Xiao Er finished speaking, his eyes like an eagle swept over the common people present one by one. Those who were caught by Xiao Er's gaze did not dare to look at him and lowered their heads.
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Er seemed to have thought of some possibility, and the expression on his face became particularly ugly. He helped the old man up from the ground, and his tone gradually softened.
"Old man, what do you mean by what you just said?"
After being lifted up from the ground by Xiao Er, the old man patted the dust on his body and then spoke.
"Looking at the accent, you are not locals, are you?"
Xiao Er heard this and immediately responded subconsciously.
"Well, no."
After getting the answer he wanted, the old man nodded and said to himself.
"These police officers are from other places, so it's no wonder they don't know the situation here."
When the old man said this, he paused for a moment and then continued.
"Here, all kinds of taxes emerge all year round. Today it's land tax, tomorrow it's land tax, and from now on I don't know what tax it is. Anyway, those who are officials can always come up with new words!"
“In the end, it’s us ordinary people who suffer!”
Seeing that the old man had a tendency to talk at length, Xiao Er immediately spoke and brought the topic back on track.
"By the way, old man, what did you mean by handing over food?"
Hearing this, the old man let out a long sigh, his expression became depressed, and he said slowly.
"Oh, don't mention it!"
"I heard that the imperial court recently sent an imperial envoy to investigate the case. After the officials learned the news, they panicked and used all means to seize the food from the people!"
"Tomorrow in Shiqiao Village, those officials responsible for collecting grain will have to collect grain again!"
"I see, most of them are holes that have been created in recent years and cannot be closed."
Xiao Er frowned when he heard this, with a look of confusion on his face.
"hole?"
Seeing this, the old man withdrew his gaze from Xiao Er, and then explained to him.
"There are rumors that those officials have been secretly selling off the grain in their official warehouses!"
Xiao Er heard this and continued immediately.
"After all these years, has no one thought of filing a complaint?"
The old man seemed quite disdainful of this and responded without thinking.
"Yes, why not? But all those who complained, without exception, died in an ugly way!"
"As time goes by, no one dares to mention this matter anymore."
Seeing that he was almost rested, the old man leaned down, put the sack of food on his shoulders again with great effort, and said goodbye to Xiao Er.
"Master Cha, we still have some things to deal with, so I won't bother you!"
After the old man finished speaking, he greeted the remaining people and wanted to return the same way.
At this moment, Xiao Er called out to the old man and said.
"Old man, we are actually the bodyguards of the imperial envoy sent by the imperial court to investigate the case. Can you..."
Before Xiao Er finished speaking, the old man stopped, turned around, smiled sadly, and said slowly.
"Hey, Mr. Cha, to tell you the truth, you are not the first batch of officials to come here to investigate the case, and you will not be the last batch!"
"Over the years, the officials who came to Henan to investigate the case have changed one after another, but in the end, nothing has changed. None of the crimes we ordinary people deserve have been left behind!"
"You don't need to say anything anymore. I only have a few years left to live. I just want to live my life quietly and don't want to cause any more trouble."
After the old man finished speaking, he greeted the remaining people and embarked on the return journey together.
Xiao Er looked at the old man's hunched back in silence, his lips moved but he didn't make any sound.
…
Kaifeng Mansion, inside the inn where Hai Rui stayed.
At this moment, Xiao Er was standing respectfully in front of Hai Rui, reporting the situation he had found out.
"My lord, this little spy has heard so much!"
"Well, that's good. You were able to find these things in such a short period of time, which is already very good!"
Hearing this, Hai Rui nodded, looked away from Xiao Er, and spoke words of encouragement.
Immediately afterwards, Hai Rui seemed to have thought of something, the look in his eyes dimmed suddenly, and he sighed.
"I never thought that the local people in Henan would actually live like this."
"I have worked hard for a year, but I can't even fill my stomach. What's even more hateful is that this group of insects still keeps plundering people's wealth and money from the people. I can't wait to dispatch the soldiers from the guard station to kill these dog officials now. Get it clean!”
Seeing this situation, Xiao Er quickly stepped forward and spoke out words of admonishment.
"Sir, you have to calm down. You are the hope of the people of Henan now. You can't make any mistakes!"
"Otherwise, the people here will no longer have any hope."
After venting his emotions, Hai Rui gradually calmed down, then turned around and confirmed to Xiao Er.
"Didn't you say before that tomorrow in Shiqiao Village, there will be officials confiscating food from the people?"
When Xiao Er heard this, he nodded and felt a little puzzled by Hai Rui's sudden mention of this matter.
"Sir, what are you..."
Hai Rui nodded and immediately gave instructions to Xiao Er.
"Early tomorrow morning, let's go to Shiqiao Village to check out the situation!"
(End of chapter)
