As a member of the aftermath bureau, Luo Yangming is most aware of the current situation in Wuzhou. Food shortage is second, and the key problem is the interruption of trade. Before Guangxi was captured, this was a dead end.
Wuzhou's prosperity depends entirely on trade. Without trade, many urban residents would be unemployed. In order to stabilize the situation, Xie Erren did not allow shops to close, nor did he allow tailoring workers. He also forced shops and workshops to open every day, saying that it was to "maintain the market."
Luo Yangming naturally understood Xie Yuan's difficulties - this was to maintain stability. However, this kind of stability is very reluctant, and it is maintained by the continuous blood transfusion of the Senate and the aftermath bureau.
The merchants in the city were tortured by Xiong Wencan, and a series of measures to deal with the aftermath after Xie Erren entered the city cost a lot of money and food. In addition, everything is so expensive. In and outside Wuzhou, except for those who are homeless and rely on relief , the people in the market all have complaints. Luo Yangming saw it in his eyes and felt anxious in his heart.
However, the Senate in Wuzhou could not solve this fundamental problem even if it had all kinds of skills and clever strategies. At the moment, there is no other way but to maintain as much as possible and wait for the situation to improve.
The two discussed some more details. Zhu Fuyuan then left.
"...Should we go back to Sanshui now, or..."
"I will stay in Wuzhou for a few more days." Zhu Fuyuan said, "I will stay at the Maoyuan Inn in the west of the city."
Luo Yangming knew that Zhu Fuyuan most likely had other tasks, so he couldn't ask more questions, so he sent him out.
Yi Haoran was doing the accounting in the accounting room, but he was thinking about what the guests of Dachang Rice Shop were doing here. Regardless of the background of this rice shop's thief, since it is a rice shop, it is naturally in the grain business. Boss Zhu came to the local area probably for food.
When it comes to food, Yi Haoran knows that there is currently a shortage of food in Wuzhou and the people in the city are unstable. The arrival of Zhu Fuyuan is probably related to this.
Could it be that the Kun thieves in Guangxi have made great progress? Yi Haoran's heart suddenly lifted. Xiong Wencan is now at the end of his rope. Even if he can conquer Wuzhou immediately, the court will probably not be able to forgive his division's loss of territory. Wouldn't Governor Xiong surrender in this desperate situation? !
It's not impossible if you think about it carefully. Yi Haoran is familiar with the military and territorial requirements and knows that Wuzhou is not only the gateway to Guangdong, but also one of the key points of Guangxi. The transportation between the Xijiang River Basin and the mainland mainly relies on the Wuzhou-Lijiang River-Lingqu Canal-Hunan water transport line. After the Fubo Army occupied Wuzhou, it actually directly cut off the main transportation artery between the Ming Army in the interior and the Ming Army in Guangxi. Although there were still several roads from the interior to Guangxi, they were far less convenient and cheap than this water transportation line. If the Ming army in Guangxi cannot recapture Wuzhou, even with an army of 100,000, they will be trapped in Guangxi and unable to move.
Xiong Wencan was in a desperate situation with no future for himself and Guangxi. If he refused to commit suicide and sacrifice his country, he would indeed have only surrender.
Yi Haoran's heart tightened immediately. If so, Guangdong and Guangxi will be doomed!
However, he was unable to do anything about Xiong Wencan's movements and the overall situation of Guangdong and Guangxi. Yi Haoran felt a strong sense of frustration in his heart at this time. Even if I can kill a real Kun with my clever calculations, what will it do to the overall situation?
Thinking of this, he felt a little irritated. Suddenly he had an idea. He had long heard Chang Qingyun say that Zhenkun's status was extremely noble, even more prominent than the princes of the Ming Dynasty - after all, princes were not allowed to participate in politics, but the Australian Zhenkun could actually manage and discuss politics. If we could capture Wuzhou's true Kun alive and bring him to Guangxi. The thief will definitely throw a rat weapon into his trap. No matter whether the court is in war or peace, it has bargaining chips in its hands.
If he wanted to capture Zhen Kun alive, the second person would probably think that he was just thinking out of the blue. Although Xie Erren did not live in seclusion, he was closely guarded. Because of Cai Lan's assassination, he also knew that he was not so loved by others. Not only did the number of outings decrease significantly, but he also had to be equipped with multiple guards every time he went out.
Yi Haoran felt there was a chance. Because he has already mastered Cai Lan's line through Jiang Qiuchan.
Although Jiang Qiuchan knew nothing about his intentions, he also didn't know what Cai Lan was really thinking at the moment. But with this line, he now has eyes and ears that can reach Xie Erren directly.
Just to do this, Qiu Chan must be "joined". He couldn't get to Cai Lan himself, and he couldn't understand her thoughts.
Thinking of this, he felt a little hesitant. After all, this is a matter of great risk. Regardless of the success or failure of the matter, the Australians will definitely investigate. He, Jiang Suo and others can run away, but Qiu Chan cannot run away. In all likelihood, he will lose his life.
After thinking again and again, Yi Haoran raised his head.
Whatever! Although Qiuchan is pitiful, her husband is dead and she has become an heir to her husband's family. She was originally a dishonest person, but now that she has the opportunity to be loyal to the court, she will be indispensable for the honor of honoring her in the future... The sorrow and honor behind her will be enough to compensate for this.
Thinking of this, Yi Haoran suddenly felt relaxed. Jiang Qiuchan is a very suitable person: she has studied and is a sensible and honest woman; whether she was almost humiliated or her husband was killed, it was all caused by the siege of the city by the thieves; in the end, she was calm and calm when she killed the defeated troops, not A timid person. Not to mention that he had saved her back then - by the way, Chang Qingyun had also saved her.
As long as Xiao shows great righteousness and avenges his country and his family, he can convince her.
"Old friend, I have to trouble you today." Yi Haoran was still dressed like a bookkeeper going to the countryside to collect accounts.
Chang Qingyun smiled bitterly and said: "Repay my old friend, I'm going to be an old ghost." He looked at Yi Haoran's gray beard and "awe-inspiring" righteousness, and couldn't help but secretly curse in his heart, how could he provoke such a lunatic! It doesn't matter if you want to die yourself, you don't want to support others!
"Old friend, you have forgotten your roots when you say this." Yi Haoran didn't take it seriously. "If I didn't save you in the city, you would have died at the hands of the wolf soldiers. How can you be a leader here? A mediocre book office?"
"Okay, it's all my fault." Chang Qingyun said with a bitter smile, "Sanhezui used to be a school ground, but now it's an Australian prisoner camp. There are only houses inside, so what's so good about it?"
"Sanhezui is the key to the outside of Wuzhou City. Naturally, I want to take a closer look." Yi Haoran said, "Just lead the way."
After Yi Haoran took control of Chang Qingyun, the first thing he did was to ask him to lead the way to the Sanhezui school grounds. In Yi Haoran's view, the prison camp in Sanhezui is the biggest hidden danger to Australians. Such a place where thousands of people gathered was only a few miles away from Wuzhou. Once a riot broke out, it would immediately spread to Wuzhou and threaten the Xijiang waterway.
The Australians must know this, so the first thing they do after entering the city is to repair the pontoon. In case something changes, troops can be quickly dispatched to quell it.
"It's okay for me to take you in, but you have to listen to my instructions and don't talk or move. So as not to arouse suspicion." Chang Qingyun said helplessly, "The Australians are guarded by a squadron of the National Army here at Sanhezui. ——It doesn’t matter. They only guard the outer gates and don’t care about the things inside. But there is also a detective team in this camp. Most of these people are old gangsters from the past yamen, with sharp eyes and dark hearts. If you show them If there is a flaw, I will turn around and sell you!"
"I don't have to." Yi Haoran nodded.
"It's just that your status is embarrassing..."
"It's okay, I'll just go in using the identity of Mihang's accountant. There are many people in Wuzhou who know me. If I make up a random identity, it will easily arouse suspicion."
"Why did you go in?"
"How about catching up with you?"
"I can't do it! I can't do it!" Chang Qingyun shook his hands wildly. He rolled his eyes and said: "Old Yi, did your boss ever provide military rice for the officers and soldiers in Wuzhou?"
"There is no grain merchant in this city who hasn't done this before." Yi Haoran heard Li Wensheng and his wife talk about this many times. He knew that not only the Luo family, but also the grain merchants in the city had suffered huge losses, and he hated Xiong Wencan and the government to the core.
"Then you should know who specifically did it at that time, right?"
Of course Yi Haoran knew that the name of the person in charge had already been cursed thousands of times by Ding Atao and said he would not die well.
"I know, I know, but even though his life or death is unknown, Governor Xiong's confidant has probably run away a long time ago..."
"That's it. Since you are Mr. Accountant, then say that you heard that this person was captured by the Australians and came here specifically to demand the account."
Yi Haoran was stunned for a moment, then raised his hands and laughed: "Old friend! You are indeed a bit clever!"
"Where, where," Chang Qingyun sneered, "You are almost turning into a ghost, why don't you be smarter?" He warned, "It's easy for me to take you in, but you have to adapt to the situation inside and don't mess up!" Then he asked: "Have you prepared any personnel or things for you?"
"Personnel affairs? I heard that Australians are not interested in this..."
"The Australians are not happy, but the kiddos in charge inside are all local government gangsters. I brought you in because you were not allowed to see the light. If you don't take care of things, don't do anything wrong."
"My old friend is very considerate. I have some money with me."
"If you want it to be useful, I will naturally give you some advice, as per the old rules."
The two of them made it clear, then walked across the pontoon and headed towards the Sanhezui school ground.
Sanhezui was originally a sandbar created by the impact of the Guijiang River. After the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi was established in Wuzhou, a large number of troops were stationed all year round in order to "fu Yao". Therefore, a school ground was set up in Sanhezui, which not only facilitated the review and training of the garrison, but also served as an important camp for the local garrison. Thousands of troops are stationed all year round.
Therefore, there are not only a martial arts performance hall, a grand parade and a school field, but also many barracks and living facilities. After Wuzhou was captured, it became the main prisoner camp on the Guangxi front line. Prisoners transported from various places gathered here for detention and transit.
With the resources in Xie Erren's hands, it was naturally impossible for him to conduct very thoughtful and detailed management of the prison camp. They can only "manage themselves" with the help of surrendered personnel, including maintaining law and order, distributing rations, organizing labor, etc., all of which are handled by old officials in the prefecture and county yamen. The internal guards are mainly retained personnel from the Kuaiban and Zhuangban yamen.
