Zhejiang, Ningbo Port.
At this moment, Zheng Michang looked gloomy as he walked out of the Yamen of the Maritime Trade Department.
The development of the matter did not go beyond his previous expectations. After the officials of the Maritime Trade Department learned of his intention, they not only rejected him without hesitation, but also ridiculed him.
"Damn it, you bunch of dog officials, don't fall into my hands, otherwise, let's see how I deal with you!"
I saw Zheng Michang turning around, looking at the Sea Trade Department Office behind him, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.
Seeing Zheng Michang coming out of the Yamen of the Maritime Trade Department, the guards responsible for protecting his safety hurriedly came up to him and asked Zheng Michang: "Sir, let's go next..."
However, before the guard could finish his words, he was coldly interrupted by Zheng Michang.
"Let's go back to the Governor's Palace!"
"Yes, sir!"
…
After three days of traveling around the clock, Zheng Michang finally returned to the Governor's Mansion.
Soon after Zheng Michang returned to the Governor's Mansion, he ordered his subordinates to summon He Maocai and others to the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion. He wanted to tell them the news face to face.
The subordinates quickly took the order and left. Soon after, He Maocai, Ma Ningyuan, and Gao Hanwen came to the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion together. When they saw Zheng Michang sitting in the main seat, exhausted, they had suspicions in their hearts. .
Seeing the three people coming, Zheng Michang pointed to the empty seat beside him and immediately spoke.
"Sit, everyone, sit down!"
Everyone quickly sat down in their respective seats. After that, Zheng Michang cleared his throat and spoke slowly.
"As you can see, after hearing about my intention, the officials of the Maritime Trade Department flatly rejected my request!"
When Zheng Michang said this, his tone was full of helplessness: "It seems that we have to think carefully and see if there is any other way to overcome the current difficulties."
As soon as Zheng Michang finished speaking, everyone immediately fell into silence, and the current situation was almost unsolvable.
After all, food cannot be produced out of thin air. If the food is transported from the capital, time will not catch up. Even if time can catch up, Qingliu will definitely hinder it and prevent the food from reaching Zhejiang.
At present, several provinces adjacent to Zhejiang do not have much food available for mobilization.
Moreover, even if there is extra food, based on the current character of Zheng Michang, He Maocai and others, they cannot persuade others to help. After all, those who have the power to mobilize food are the governors of a province, and they are veritable frontiers. Big officials.
In other words, Zheng Michang, He Maocai and others do not have this qualification at all!
Seeing that things were about to fall into trouble, Zheng Michang reluctantly withdrew his gaze and said with emotion.
"Oh, if only the Governor had not set off to suppress the Japanese!"
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, Ma Ningyuan on the side quickly added.
"It will take at least ten days to get to Jingning from Hangzhou. If we include delays on the road and the time it takes to exterminate the Japanese pirates, if nothing else happens, the teacher should be on his way back with his army."
After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, He Maocai and Gao Hanwen on the side also expressed their agreement.
"Yes, the Governor will not be able to come back in a short period of time. We have to find a way on our own!"
After that, Zheng Michang suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart and immediately asked everyone.
"By the way, has anything happened in recent days while I was away?"
He Maocai, who was on the side, heard this and after thinking about it for a moment, he immediately responded: "After the relief grains were distributed, those mulberry farmers stayed calm for a few days and did not gather together to make trouble for the time being!"
After that, He Maocai frowned as if he remembered something, and then added: "But in recent days, there are two rumors that have been widely circulated in the city."
"The first is that people from the government gave the relief grain that should belong to those farmers to Tan Mo, and the second rumor is that there is not that much relief grain in the warehouse at all!"
When He Maocai said this, he was so angry that he turned to say in a deep voice: "These unscrupulous people are really hateful. The government kindly distributes relief grains to them, but they actually spread rumors and slander the image of the government. It's really His heart can be killed!"
"This group of unruly people don't understand the difficulties faced by the government at all. Who cares about their little relief food?"
After listening to He Maocai's narration, Zheng Michang keenly sensed something was wrong, and immediately faced the crowd and spoke.
"The relief food distributed to those farmers last time could only last for five or six days at most."
"And when the time comes, those farmers will start to make trouble if they see that they are going to starve. When the time comes, coupled with the incitement of this rumor, I am afraid there will be big trouble!"
After Zheng Michang's analysis, everyone present understood the seriousness of the matter, especially Ma Ningyuan, whose face was full of panic and asked quickly.
"Then what should we do next? It's impossible, let's just let things happen like this?"
Zheng Michang waved his hand to Ma Ningyuan, telling him not to panic, and then gave his proposal unhurriedly.
"Since those farmers think that people from the government have embezzled the relief food that should belong to them, then we might as well make use of this matter and actively introduce a scapegoat to appease their anger!"
"In this way, the whole matter can be controlled within an acceptable range, and the grievances accumulated by those farmers in recent days can be vented on the scapegoat."
When Zheng Michang said this, he paused for a moment, then looked at everyone and asked.
"In this way, no one will pay attention to whether there is enough food in the warehouse?"
As soon as Zheng Michang finished speaking, He Maocai on the side immediately expressed his agreement. He slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes full of excitement: "Well, this is a good idea!"
After that, Ma Ningyuan turned to raise his own doubts: "But where should I find this scapegoat?"
When Zheng Michang heard this, he looked confident and said, "Don't worry, I already have a specific candidate!"
Gao Hanwen on the side moved his lips slightly when he saw this situation, but after thinking about it, he finally chose not to speak.
Zheng Michang, who was sitting at the top, seemed to be aware of Gao Hanwen's behavior, and immediately comforted him: "Don't worry, the scapegoat I pushed out is definitely not innocent!"
When Zheng Michang said this, he couldn't help gritting his teeth and said: "Before this, I have told them many times not to do anything with the relief grains, but they just didn't listen. In this case, don't blame me. The officials are ruthless!"
Seeing that the matter had almost been discussed, Zheng Michang turned his eyes to everyone, with a look of exhaustion that could not be concealed on his face, and immediately spoke.
"If that's the case, then you can also spread the word and say that the government has caught the person who was greedy for Mo Sannong's relief food!"
"If anything happens, just let me know."
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, He Maocai stood up and said, "Old Zheng, we won't disturb you anymore. You have a good rest."
Hearing this, Zheng Michang nodded slightly and responded feebly.
"Um."
(End of chapter)
