PS: Thanks to book friend Dadongjing for the tip.
The prefect, He Shuiqing, was furious.
He shouted excitedly: "Catch, catch all those people who wantonly spread rumors and spread rumors and put them in jail."
"It's easy to arrest people, but arresting people in the city at this time will only make the situation in the city more chaotic, which is not conducive to defending the city." The judge on the side looked worried.
Ran Yuncheng, a colleague on the side, echoed: "Even if we want to arrest people, we still have to wait until the thieves outside the city are driven back. What we need to do now is how to get more people in the city to defend the city."
Several other officials in Luoyang City nodded and agreed with the two people's words.
"Then what should we do?" Magistrate He Shuiqing saw that neither of his subordinates supported arresting the person, so he had to suppress his anger.
Tongzhi Ran Yuncheng said: "We should still find ways to let more young men defend the city."
"The lower official agrees with Ran Tongzhi's proposal." Tongjian nodded in agreement.
Hearing this, the prefect He Shuiqing rolled his eyes and said coldly: "You just said that the people in the city are being deceived by rumors. How do you ensure that the people defend the city instead of opening the city gates to let the thieves into the city."
"Here, there are always some people in the city who don't believe the rumors." Ran Yuncheng, a colleague, said hesitantly.
Seeing this, He Shuiqing slapped the table with his palms and said with an ugly face: "How do you distinguish the people who are bewitched from the people who are not bewitched? Do you still have to distinguish them one by one? Nowadays, the city There is an army of rebels outside, and they may attack the city at any time. Even if you want to distinguish who is a traitor, will the rebels give you this time?"
All the officials present lowered their heads and endured his anger.
"Let me tell you, once the rebels enter the city, the people in the city may be fine, but I and you may not have a good end." The prefect He Shuiqing warned the officials in front of him.
He grabbed the tureen on the side, took a sip of the tea inside, and suppressed his dry throat.
"Excuse me, I have an idea." The Luoyang County magistrate looked at the prefect He Shuiqing nervously.
Magistrate He Shuiqing looked at him and said, "What can you do?"
"Use, use silver to smash it. I don't believe there are people who don't like silver." Luoyang County Magistrate said with a slight stutter.
Hearing this, Magistrate He Shuiqing frowned.
"The official thinks the Luoyang County Magistrate is right. Since we can't tell which people are seduced by the rebels, we should give them money. As long as the people are willing to defend the city, the money will be divided." Ran Yuncheng, a colleague, said.
The general judge next to him said: "The method is a good one, but how can there be so much money? Unless we don't give out the money first, and then we can give the money to the people guarding the city after we have defended Luoyang City and repelled the thieves outside the city."
"It won't work to give money in the end. The people may not believe what the government says. The money must be given first, or distributed during the process of defending the city." Ran Yuncheng, a colleague, knew that the government had long lost much credibility in the hearts of the people, and it would be difficult to convince the people if they expected to draw cakes to satisfy their hunger. believe.
Magistrate He Shuiqing said: "If you give money to the people, the officers and soldiers guarding the city should also give money. Where does the money come from? Will you pay it or will I pay it?"
As he spoke, his eyes swept over everyone in front of him one by one.
However, he was greeted by colleagues who lowered their heads.
"Can you get some from the government office?" the judge asked.
However, before the magistrate could speak, his fellow magistrate Ran Yuncheng said, "The magistrate can't afford such a huge expense. It's too much."
"Then there's nothing we can do." Tong Juan looked disappointed.
Luoyang City is the Luoyang City of the Ming Dynasty. As a Ming Dynasty official working in Luoyang, naturally he will not spend his own money to defend Luoyang City.
If you want to spend money, the Ministry of Household Affairs will spend it, or Lao Zhu's family will pay for it themselves. Anyway, as officials, it is impossible for them to pay for it.
"Yes, there is a way!" the Luoyang County Magistrate said cautiously.
All the eyes of the people around him were turned to him.
Magistrate He Shuiqing asked: "What can you do?"
"I have a way to get the money, no, but I need the prefect to come forward." The Luoyang County Magistrate said nervously.
Hearing this, He Shuiqing raised his eyebrows and said in an unhappy tone: "What's wrong with me here? Is it possible that you want me to use your own money to defend the city?"
"No, no, no, I never meant this." The Luoyang County Magistrate was so frightened that he quickly stood up from his seat and waved his hand to deny.
Magistrate He Shuiqing snorted coldly and said, "I'm sorry you don't dare either."
The Luoyang County magistrate standing in front of the chair smiled sarcastically.
At this time, fellow acquaintance Ran Yuncheng said to He Shuiqing: "It's better to listen to what he has to say first."
"If you have a bad idea, I will definitely not give you mercy." Magistrate He Shuiqing glared at Magistrate Luoyang and picked up the bowl on the table again.
The Luoyang County Magistrate raised the corners of his sleeves and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and then said cautiously: "The government and the county government cannot afford the money to defend the city, but there is someone in Luoyang City who can provide the money, and this person used the money to defend the city. The city is something that should be dealt with."
Correct
"Are you talking about the big families in the city? Are they willing to spend money to defend the city? This amount of money is not a small amount." Magistrate He Shuiqing said with a frown.
Several big families in Luoyang City do have a lot of wealth, but such families are closely related to the officialdom. Local officials like them are not willing to mess with such big local families.
As the prefect, he was not optimistic about asking these large households to use money and food to support the defense of the city.
The Luoyang County Magistrate shook his head and said: "What the official is talking about is not the wealthy families in Luoyang City. What the official wants to talk about is His Royal Highness Prince Fu in the Palace of Prince Fu."
"Yes, why didn't I think of this His Highness?" Ran Yuncheng, a fellow acquaintance, slapped his thigh excitedly and said, "This King Fu is the uncle of the current Holy Emperor, and the country of Ming Dynasty also belongs to their family, so he should pay this money. "
"Yes, His Royal Highness Prince Fu should provide the money."
"Let His Royal Highness Prince Fu provide the money."
"His Royal Highness the Blessed King will spend money to defend the city. He will definitely be able to defend Luoyang City."
Several officials on the seats spoke one after another.
The richest person in Luoyang City is not officials like them, nor the big families in the city, but King Fu, who is doubly favored by Ming Shenzong.
Although King Fu failed to inherit the great treasure, in terms of wealth, he was much richer than Ming Guangzong who inherited the throne.
The prefect He Shuiqing, who was sitting on the main seat, was not as happy as the others.
He frowned and said, "You should have some understanding of His Royal Highness Prince Fu. It's true that he has money, but His Highness is also a manipulative person. I'm afraid he may not use this money to support the defense of the city."
"His Highness might not be willing to give up the money for other things, but this time it is different. Once Luoyang City is destroyed, the rebels will not care whether he is a vassal king or not, whether he is using the money to buy peace or whether he will lose both his money and his life. I think His Royal Highness Prince Fu will make a wise choice," said Ran Yuncheng, a colleague.
I don't think King Fu would be so stupid as to risk his life for money.
