"Where's the food?!"
"Give us food!"
"If you don't give it, Grandpa will smash this Yamen for you!"
A group of people gathered in front of the Yamen of Jinhua Mansion to cause trouble. Several government officials held undrawn long knives in their hands to stop the people.
"Prefect Li!"
"Prefect Li!"
An anxious voice came towards Magistrate Li's official business office.
Then, an official wearing a purple official uniform ran in, with a yellow face and a very anxious look on his face.
"Yin Tongzhi, stop shouting." Magistrate Li shouted from the chair.
Magistrate Li, surnamed Li and given name Jianyuan. Now in his forties, he is a good official in the eyes of the people of Jinhua Mansion, but in fact, Magistrate Li is also very corrupt behind his back.
At Magistrate Li's words, fellow magistrate Yin Feizhang looked at Magistrate Li with an anxious and panicked face.
"Prefect Li, the people are making a big fuss, what should we do?" Yin Tongzhi asked.
"Let them continue to guard the yamen and don't let them cause trouble."
"good."
Just as he turned around to leave, Yin Tongzhi turned around again.
"Prefect Li, this is the second time today. If we stop them again, will it happen...?"
"What are you afraid of? Just stop them and don't allow them to approach the government office. The relief food hasn't arrived yet, what can I do?"
After hearing what the prefect Li Jianyuan said, Yin Tongzhi left.
As he hurried towards the yamen gate, he saw the yamen's head catcher walking over.
"Yin Tongzhi, these people are too difficult to deal with. I'm afraid something will happen." The head catcher said.
"Wei Captou, since the soft ones are different, let's use the hard ones." Yin Tongzhi made the decision.
"Yin Tongzhi, is this... possible?" Wei Captou was a little worried.
"When the people make trouble, the government has the right to stop it. Go and tell them that if anyone dares to make trouble again, they will be served with twenty boards."
"yes."
After answering, Capt. Wei hurried to the yamen gate and saw that the commotion was getting worse.
"Where's the relief food?!"
"Give us food!"
"We won't go back today without food!"
"Give us food!"
The yamen servants’ ears were almost calloused by the shouts.
"That's enough!" Captain Wei shouted loudly.
As soon as Capt. Wei shouted, the people's shouts stopped, but their bodies didn't stop and kept rushing towards the government officials.
"Yin Tongzhiyou said: Before the disaster relief food arrives, if anyone dares to come forward to cause trouble again, they will be served with twenty boards!"
As soon as Capt. Wei said it, the people did not dare to be arrogant anymore, stopped shouting and dispersed.
At this moment, the prefect Li Jianyuan, who was sitting in the yamen, was writing a letter to the prefect of Lenan Prefecture in Huguang Province.
After finishing writing, the prefect Li Jianyuan shouted: "Here comes someone!"
With a word, a yamen servant walked in.
Magistrate Li hurriedly put the letter in the envelope, stood up, walked to the yamen servant, and explained.
"This is a letter written to Magistrate Yan of Lenan Prefecture. You make a trip and be sure to deliver this letter to him. Also, when you go, take the official road. If you encounter a vehicle escorting disaster relief food, ask if it is If they are the Lenan Prefecture's disaster relief vehicle, they don't need to send this letter. Follow them, and if they don't meet them, give this letter to me."
After listening to Magistrate Li's instructions and receiving Magistrate Li's letter, the yamen servant nodded and responded: "Don't worry, I will do as you say."
"Okay, go quickly."
After collecting the letter, the servant went to the horse breeding place and picked an obedient and fast horse.
He hurried away with a "drive" sound.
…
"What happened?" A small but heavy voice sounded in the wooden room.
This is a small wooden house in a small alley in the city of Hung Nhui Province in the south of Gang Lai Province.
The speaker is sitting on a round chair, with a green ring in his left hand and a teacup in his right hand.
This person is slightly fat, wearing an emerald green robe, with tied hair, and a yellow face. The nose on his face is indeed a bit big, and he has a thick beard. There are two long beards on his chin. The eyes are a little scary to look at.
There was a person standing in front of him, a little thin, with his hands crossed in front of him, his eyes looked a little nervous, and his mind was still thinking about how to express his words.
"What? Did it go wrong?" An accusing voice rang out again.
Seeing the leader in front of him looking at him with his eyes, he became a little panicked and hurriedly spoke.
"Yes...not really."
"How do you say this?" the leader asked.
"The relief grains have been blocked, but the shopkeeper who collects them doesn't dare to collect them. This... I can't do anything about it."
"Then you won't switch to another one? If you switch to a bigger one, I don't believe there is anyone who won't accept it."
"Yes, yes, I will tell them now, little one."
"You've done your job well, but if you don't do it well... next time it will be your head." A threatening voice said.
Hearing this, the men in front of him were horrified: "Yes, yes, yes."
At night, most of the people in Jinhua Prefecture were hungry, waiting for the relief food from the court. No one knew whether they would see the relief food tomorrow. The prefect of Xingyi Prefecture in the south was also concerned about the relief food. But it is different from the people of Jinhua Mansion.
"master."
Hearing his own words, the man in exquisite robes turned around and looked at the men walking in front of him with a serious face.
"how?"
"Back to the master, the disaster relief food has been looted and is being transported to the big grain store."
At first glance, this person is the leader who stays in a wooden house in an alley during the day, drinking tea and saying harsh words.
"Okay. You have to move quickly and don't let anyone find out. Otherwise, my official position will not be guaranteed." said the prefect of Xingyi Prefecture. ,
This man's surname is Ding and his first name is Wei Ang. He has a figure that is neither thin nor fat. Just from the look of his clothes, he is a very powerful man.
"yes."
"Okay, go down. You can't stay here for too long, lest you be discovered." Magistrate Ding said.
Upon hearing this, the servant responded, picked up the bamboo hat from the table on the side, put it on his head, pulled the towel and walked out.
"Master, what will happen if they discover that the relief food has been stolen?" asked the steward on the side.
In the Great Mo Dynasty, officials serving in local areas could bring their families and live locally.
The man on the side is the housekeeper of Magistrate Ding and the most trustworthy person.
After listening to the butler's words, Magistrate Ding looked at him, still looking serious.
"What are you afraid of? The worst case scenario is that the imperial court will send an official to investigate. If a good official is good, he will fight him to the end. Otherwise, it will only make him guilty."
After hearing what the master said, the butler on the side stopped asking any more questions.
This is an inn not far from the Xingyi government office. Prefect Ding comes here almost every evening to have a few drinks and eat a few dishes.
The butler's surname is Ye, Kai Chang. He has been Master Ding's butler since he was seventeen or eighteen years old. He has been with Master Ding for more than twenty years now.
The next day, in Jiangfuzhong, Nanzhong Province, a carriage carrying grain was transported to the city.
The soldiers guarding Jiangfu City Gate did not see anything strange and let him go.
"Fei! How much silver do you think this cart of grain sells for?" asked a man in civilian clothes sitting on the carriage.
Looking at the young and strong man from the side, he said: "Why do you ask so many questions? Let's get things done first."
"Hush!"
With a shout, the carriage stopped in front of a grain store.
He raised his head and looked at the plaque in front of the store, which clearly read "Li's Grain Store".
When he saw the carriage parked at the door, the shopkeeper who was settling accounts inside quickly put down his abacus and hurried out.
"Are you coming to this store to sell or buy food?" The shopkeeper looked at the three thick men in front of him with a smile.
"Save food." The leader said.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper smiled even more cheerfully.
At first glance, it seems that there is not much business in this store.
"How much grain is this per stone? Here." The leader asked, looking at the carriage behind him.
Looking at the people walking around on the street, the shopkeeper couldn't say it bluntly: "A few of you are willing to talk to me. Please come in."
"Waiter!" The shopkeeper shouted and someone jumped out.
"Go and show the guest the horse."
"Eh."
After the explanation, a few bold characters followed and he walked in.
After pouring warm tea, the leader still asked: "Shopkeeper, how much does this cost per stone?"
"This is the number." The shopkeeper made a gesture.
Seeing the shopkeeper making a six sign, a few people who had never seen the world mistook the number.
"Six taels?" one person said.
"A few guests, six taels, then I will no longer be able to do this business. Six hundred coins."
Upon hearing it, this number is not small.
In the Mo Dynasty, this chicken cost thirty or forty cents, which was enough to buy hundreds of chickens.
But the leader was not satisfied yet: "Shopkeeper, it's too little. Let's go up to the next level. Eight hundred coins, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's heart was already bleeding. There was no such bargaining.
"Shopkeeper, if it works, there will be more than just this cart of food." The leader said.
Hearing what this man said, the shopkeeper was a little surprised: "What do these guest officers do?"
The leader smiled slightly and made up a reason: "My father is from a wealthy family in Guangnan. Doesn't it mean that the court will collect a large amount of relief food for disaster relief? My father is afraid that the court will forcefully ask for this food from our family in the future, but he doesn't want to work hard to collect it." When we get to the capital, I'll take a look at you first. Just think about it, eight hundred coins is not much. If you go to the capital, you can get two, three, or one stone."
Listening to this man's words, the shopkeeper was really moved, but he was also afraid that Liang Duo would be oppressed by the government.
"Didn't you just say that my father is afraid that the government will forcefully ask for food in the future? I am also afraid. If all this is taken away, wouldn't I lose a lot of money?"
The leader smiled slightly and continued writing: "Don't be afraid, shopkeeper. I only have to worry about my family. Besides, no matter how unreasonable this is, it will not rob the people of their food. Don't you think so?"
"How many do you have?" the shopkeeper asked.
"I'm not satisfied with what you said, seven carts of grain. This cart is in front of your store, and there are six more carts on the road."
At this time, the shopkeeper finally accepted the price: "Okay, eight hundred coins, just eight hundred coins."
"Okay, let's tie this car first, and then we'll tie the rest slowly."
"Sir, what are you doing? Why don't we get married together?"
"To be honest, this is a lot of food. If the government keeps an eye on it, will they not take my food? This is also my father's intention."
"good."
The shopkeeper was dubious and settled the bill for the first car first.
