The head of the Zhang family, who was about to leave, took back the foot he stepped out, turned around slowly, and said with an ugly face: "What does the county minister mean by this?"
"It's not interesting. I heard the rumors too. I can't take them as true. They are probably all fake. Thieves are good at robbing things. They don't know how to allocate land to the people. The head of the Zhang family just said it casually as if I were the official." Zhou Shouchi laughed. Hehe said.
Not only the head of the Zhang family looked ugly, but also the other big families looked very ugly.
Datong is connected to Taiyuan, and Nao County is separated from Shanyin County in Datong by Yanmen Pass. Moreover, Datong does not prohibit business. Even though Xuanda is no longer part of the Ming Dynasty, it still attracts many businessmen to do business in Xuanda.
Some of their families even sent caravans to Datong.
After all, Datong can get goods from the north, and as long as the tax is paid in full, there is no need to worry about being embarrassed. As long as the purchased goods from the north are sent to the south, a lot of money can be made.
Naturally, the matter of dividing the land in Xuanda cannot be hidden from the big households in Guo County like them.
They are very supportive of Xuanda's business environment, but they are very unhappy with Xuanda's land allocation policy. If the land is divided, the only beneficiaries will be the tenants below, and the losses will be the interests of these large households who control a large amount of land.
"The Zhang family can double the number just now. I hope the county minister can hold on to Nao County." The head of the Zhang family said looking into Zhou Shouchi's eyes.
The other companies around him also offered to increase their money and food supplies to the county government, and the least one person also increased their income by 50%.
Zhou Shouchi said: "Each family will increase it three times. I know you can take it. If you are reluctant to part with it, just think about how much land your family can leave after the bandits take over Nao County. I believe you can figure it out."
"Don't go too far." The head of the Zhang family said with an ugly expression.
Zhou Shouchi chuckled lightly and said: "If Guo County is lost, the worst I can do is become a thief. I believe that a scholar like me will be welcomed by thieves. As for what will happen to your families, I can't guarantee it."
When the head of the Zhang family heard this, his expression changed several times.
"Report." The Yamen servant ran in from outside, bowed to Zhou Shouchi and said, "Report to the eldest sir, Deputy Inspector Qian is here and said he has something important to see you."
Zhou Shouchi turned his head and looked at the patrol inspector Zhao Xing who had no presence in the room.
"I don't know, even the lower official." Zhao Xing shook his head.
Zhou Shouchi withdrew his gaze and said to the officer who delivered the letter: "Bring him in!"
The officer retired.
Soon, Deputy Inspector Qian was taken to the back office.
"I have met the county magistrate." As soon as Deputy Inspector Qian came in, he saluted Zhou Shouchi.
The deputy inspector is a ninth-grade military officer. It can be said that apart from the low-grade clerk, this position is the lowest, and the power is not as good as that of a clerk in the sixth floor.
Zhou Shouchi asked in a calm tone: "Why are you so anxious to come see me?"
"Reporting to the county magistrate, a group of cavalry has just arrived from outside the city. There are twenty or thirty people in number. They said they are from Zhenwuwei. The leader is the commander of Zhenwuwei. They said they want to meet Deputy Yuan Qianhu in the city." Deputy Qian The patrol officer reported back.
Zhou Shouchi frowned and said: "The commander of Zhenwu Guard is not in Daizhou, why did he come to Nao County? Are you sure you read it correctly?"
"I have never seen the commander of Zhenwu Guard before, but the clothes of those who came here look like the personal servants around the generals of Zhenwu Guard." Deputy Inspector Qian described.
Zhao Xing, who was sitting aside, scolded: "Just because the clothes are right, doesn't mean the person is right. It could also be a bandit pretending to be a bandit trying to sneak into the city."
"Isn't Deputy Yuan Qianhu in the city? We can ask Deputy Yuan Qianhu to meet him at the top of the city, and we will know whether the people outside the city are bandits in disguise." Deputy Inspector Qian said.
Zhou Shouchi nodded while stroking his beard.
"The Zhang family is willing to pay three times. I'll go home and have someone prepare it, and I'll send it to the county government later." The head of the Zhang family suddenly said.
Zhou Shouchi glanced at the head of the Zhang family thoughtfully, and said with a smile: "Then I will just wait for the Zhang family's money and food."
"The county magistrate is busy with official duties first, I won't disturb you later." The head of the Zhang family cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Several other large households agreed when they saw the Zhang family, and they all agreed to Zhou Shouchi's request.
Zhou Shouchi watched these big businessmen leave. He looked away and said to Deputy Inspector Qian: "Since they know Deputy Qianhu Yuan, let Deputy Qianhu Yuan identify him and see if he is the commander of Zhenwu Guard."
"Yes." Deputy Inspector Qian agreed and then asked, "What if they want to enter the city?"
Zhou Shouchi thought for a while and said: "If it is really the commander of Zhenwu Guard, then put down the hanging basket and take the person into the city. The city gate must not be opened."
"I understand, I'll handle it here." Deputy Inspector Qian bowed and left.
Zhou Shouchi looked at Zhao Xing, the patrolman in the house, and said: "Those big households should send money and food soon. You should hurry up and train young men to defend the city. As long as you can persist until the reinforcements arrive, I will send you money and food." The imperial court recommends you."
"I will obey the county magistrate's instructions in everything I do." Zhao Xing said with a happy face.
His inspection was bought with money. If he could be recommended by the Nao County Magistrate, he believed that he would have no problem becoming a Hundred Household or Deputy Thousand Household.
"Hurry up and get ready!" Zhou Shouchi waved his hand and signaled to retreat.
Zhao Xing bowed and left the back office.
On the other side, the head of the Zhang family walked out of the Yamen with several large households in Nao County and came to the street outside.
The servants of the Zhang family who were waiting outside the Yamen hurriedly came over and helped the head of the Zhang family to his carriage.
Several other large households hurriedly followed.
One of them said: "Master Zhang, why did you ask so quickly about County Lord Zhou's request when you were in the Yamen just now? Although we don't care about that little thing, we gave you too much this time. There is no guarantee that he won't ask for more next time. More."
The head of the Zhang family who walked to his carriage slowly turned around, looked at the people in front of him and said: "Daizhou City is lost, the next target of the bandits will be Guo County. Once the bandits capture Guo County, Our losses are much more than just a few things."
"The bandits haven't just attacked Daizhou. They shouldn't come to our Guo County so soon. It will take a while anyway. Daizhou has Zhenwu Guards with thousands of soldiers and horses." The man said.
After hearing this, the head of the Zhang family snorted lightly and said, "You didn't hear that Qian just say that the commander of the Zhenwu Guard is riding outside the city of Guo County with dozens of horses at the moment."
"Could it be that the thieves were pretending to be bandits? The bandit army only arrived at Daizhou City yesterday. There is no way they could have captured Daizhou City so quickly." The man did not believe that the person outside the city was the commander of Zhenwu Guard.
The head of the Zhang family said: "Whether it's true or not, we can't afford to gamble."
After saying that, he stepped on the square stool put down by the coachman and got into the carriage.
