"Please come in, Magistrate Chen, and I will take you to see the commander." Cheng Tongzhi personally led the way for Magistrate Chen.
The commander of Xuanwuwei and his two colleagues lived in the area near the middle.
With Cheng Tongzhi accompanying him, County Magistrate Chen successfully arrived at the courtyard where the Xuanwuwei commander was located.
There were officers and soldiers guarding the door. Cheng Tongzhi said a few words and then led County Magistrate Chen into the main room behind the courtyard.
"Commander, Magistrate Chen is here." Cheng Tongzhi, who entered the room, greeted Commander Huang who was in the room.
Magistrate Chen, who followed him into the house, clasped his hands and said with a smile on his face: "Commander, it's been a long time."
"County Magistrate Chen, you are a rare visitor. This is your first time here since I led my troops into Kaifeng City." Commander Huang, who was sitting in his seat, didn't even move his buttocks. He only raised his eyelids to watch. He glanced at County Magistrate Chen.
Hearing this, a trace of embarrassment flashed across County Magistrate Chen's face, and he said: "I have always wanted to visit Commander Huang, but I have too many official duties and have been delaying it again and again. I hope Commander will not mind."
This time he came to ask for help, so he had to force himself to lower his profile.
"Don't say it so nicely. You are a night owl who comes to the house for any reason." Commander Huang put an arm on the back of the chair and looked directly at County Magistrate Chen and said, "Tell me, it was Yang He who sent you Are you here, or was Chen Yongfu asking you to come?"
It is no secret that County Magistrate Chen has taken refuge in Yang He. Regarding Magistrate Chen's arrival, he subconsciously thought that he was sending a message for Yang He's group.
"None of them." County Magistrate Chen shook his head and said immediately, "I am not here to deliver a message for anyone. I am here solely to give you instructions."
As soon as he finished speaking, Commander Huang and Cheng Tongzhi looked at him almost at the same time.
"That's interesting." Commander Huang took off his arm from the back of the chair, sat upright, and said to Magistrate Chen, "Go on, I'd like to hear what new tricks you can come up with."
County Magistrate Chen heard the sarcasm in the other party's tone.
However, he didn't pay attention and said: "I came to see the commander for one thing, to solve the food and grass problem for Xuanwuwei."
"You can take care of Xuanwuwei's food and fodder!" Cheng Tongzhi couldn't help but say.
Commander Huang also looked a little more solemn and said, "So Chen Yongfu is willing to give Xuanwu Guard some food and grass?"
"No, no, no." County Magistrate Chen waved his hand and said, "General Chen will not give Xuanwuwei even a grain of food, but I have a better way to raise food."
"What can we do?" Commander Huang asked hurriedly.
The problem of food shortage in the army has become a haze over his head. If this continues, he is worried that he will soon be unable to suppress Xuanwuwei's troops.
Seeing the anxious look on the other side, County Magistrate Chen laughed and said, "Xuanwuwei can do what he did about the Yun family again. In this way, the problem of food and grass can be solved."
"Did Commander Yang ask you to come?" Commander Huang couldn't help but ask.
Magistrate Chen smiled and said, "If I say yes, will the commander be willing to take action?"
"Do you have a warrant from Governor Yang?" Cheng Tongzhi interjected and asked.
After hearing this, County Magistrate Chen shook his head with a smile and said, "There is no warrant."
"For such a big matter, if there is no order from the Superintendent, I need the Superintendent to personally give the order to this general." Commander Huang said.
County Magistrate Chen shook his head again and said: "The Superintendent would not personally give this order to the commander."
Hearing this, Commander Huang frowned.
Without Yang He's warrant, he, the commander of the Xuanwu Guard, would need to take the blame in the future liquidation.
"You didn't do this without telling Governor Yang, right?" Cheng Tongzhi suddenly asked.
Hearing this, County Magistrate Chen just smiled and said nothing.
hiss!
Seeing this, Cheng Tongzhi took a breath.
I didn't expect that the other party was so bold that he wanted to raid the major grain merchants in the city without telling Governor Yang.
At this time, Commander Huang also reacted and said: "I will not mess around with you."
He rejected Magistrate Chen.
"Commander, don't be too busy to refuse." County Magistrate Chen said, "Given the current situation of Xuanwuwei, I'm afraid it won't last long before it runs out of food! Of course, the commander can also wait for relief from the prefect's Yamen, but there is one The information commander may not know yet that Lin Futai has decided to sell all the last bits of grain in the official warehouse to the Chen family grain store."
"What you said is true!" Commander Huang's face turned ugly.
Even though the prefect Lin Kaiyang kept shirking on the issue of food and grass, he did not fall out with the government office. Part of the reason was because the prefect office held a batch of grain. As long as this batch of grain could be obtained, it would be enough for Xuanwu Guard to stay in the city for a long time.
Now this batch of grain is suddenly going to be sold to a grain merchant, how can he accept it?
County Magistrate Chen said: "I can guarantee to the commander that this matter is conclusive,"
Snapped!
Commander Huang punched the table with his fist and cursed with an ugly face: "These worms deserve to be damned."
Xuanwuwei had no food to eat, but the prefect's Yamen sold the military rations that should have been given to Xuanwuwei to grain merchants, which made him hate these civil servants in his heart.
"Commander, be careful what you say." Cheng Tongzhi reminded Commander Huang. At the same time, he winked at County Magistrate Chen to indicate to Commander Huang that there was an outsider present.
Of course, when he did this action, he turned his back to County Magistrate Chen so that he could not be seen by the other party.
At this time, County Magistrate Chen said: "You can't count on the command from the government office. If you want to solve the food problem of Xuanwu Guard, unless I tell you the way, the only way is to ask General Chen to show mercy and be willing to give food to Xuanwu Guard. "
"County Magistrate Chen, you think you've got us!" Cheng Tongzhi looked at Magistrate Chen with a bad expression and said, "Aren't you afraid that we will go to Mr. Chen to ask for food? No matter what, we are our common enemy. They are rebels outside the city, there is no way he could see Xuanwuwei running out of food."
After hearing this, County Magistrate Chen smiled lightly and said: "Cheng Tongzhi, feel free to go and give it a try. I think what General Chen hopes most at this time is to see something happen to Xuanwu Wei."
"Then give it a try." Cheng Tongzhi replied.
"No need." Commander Huang interrupted Cheng Tongzhi, turned to County Magistrate Chen and said, "Give me some time to think about it."
Cheng Tongzhi on the side looked at Commander Huang with wide eyes and said, "Do you really want to do what he said and imitate Chen Yongfu in raiding the grain merchants in the city? This is a private operation, and no one can cover it up if something goes wrong."
"Then I won't disturb the commander. I'll wait for news from the commander before dark." County Magistrate Chen cupped his hands and turned to leave.
"Come here, send Magistrate Chen off." Commander Huang asked his soldiers to see Magistrate Chen off.
Cheng Tongzhi did not go to see him off this time. He wanted to stay and continue to persuade Commander Huang to prevent him from going further down the wrong path.
