A sharp sword is often the scariest when it hangs over your head and is about to fall.
Because if you can know the moment when it falls, you can make up your mind to either close your eyes and wait for death, or resist stubbornly, or die together.
However, the sharp sword above his head was obviously raised, but it was shaky, making the lamb under the sword unsure of its intentions. Every second he breathed, the butcher knife might fall, or he might be safe... He wouldn't even give him a happy death. .
In short, it makes people unable to let go of their fantasies and prepare for struggle.
This is the most torture.
Right now, the squire and aristocrats in the first box of Zuixian Building are falling into this kind of torture. They are like being PUA by the scumbag county magistrate. They are all wandering in the box and sighing, worrying about gains and losses.
The delicious food on the table was so delicious and delicious that no one even touched a single chopstick.
"What are your plans, Lord Magistrate? Didn't you hear that you won't audit the accounts? Why are those military masters still hanging around the door of our house every day?"
"Hmph, who said we won't investigate anymore? I heard someone said that on the night of the audit, a demon sneaked in to burn the accounts. The county magistrate was so angry that he even beheaded a scribe who had colluded with outsiders. Maybe there is no need to investigate the accounts now. It’s possible to confiscate your home in the name of apprehending a demon!”
"This... brothers, you are so bold. It's better now that you have directly angered the county magistrate."
"What do you mean, Mr. Cheng? Our Chen family is a good and law-abiding citizen of Zhou Dynasty. How could we do such a thing of decapitation?"
"Ha, who doesn't know that the Chen family is indeed a good old citizen? I heard that last night they secretly sent someone to Meiluyuan to deliver a gift to the county magistrate. The funniest thing is that they were rejected... I was puzzled. , why don’t such good people pay up all the missed business taxes in the past? Why don’t you donate more at the last fund-raising banquet when you respect the county magistrate so much? Why do you follow the same tone as everyone else? Oh, it turns out that you are cowarded, and the good people’s doorsteps are also following We are also patrolled by elite soldiers."
"You...you old fish seller..."
"Okay!" Liu Ziwen, who had been sitting at the table with his eyes down and blowing tea, suddenly put down the tea cup with a "clunking" sound.
The quarrel in the box stopped, everyone sat down and drank tea with their own thoughts in silence.
A tall, round-faced young squire frowned and said, "Gentlemen, please stop arguing. Don't forget what we are here to do today."
There was a seat at the back, an old landowner wearing a futou and a wrinkled face said with a grimace:
"What if the county magistrate doesn't come to this table of apology wine? How about we send the money directly to Meiluyuan and come to apologize. The county magistrate wants money for disaster relief. Let's collect some from each family and give it. If we can Matters solved with money are not matters. I have already said it, why should we secretly confront the officials..."
The frowning old landowner suddenly stopped talking, because Liu Ziwen stood up, picked up the teapot, and poured him tea politely. The Liu family head's tone was gentle, but the words he spat out were anything but gentle:
"Uncle Wu, thanks to everyone's praise in the past, we unanimously recommended our Liu family to take the lead. We also endured the same situation in the previous Longcheng County magistrates. After seeing the results, everyone was very satisfied. Uncle Wu didn't say anything at that time. Now we are experiencing some setbacks. , Uncle Wu just said this, isn’t it appropriate?”
"No...not appropriate." Uncle Wu smiled uglier than crying, and hesitated: "But the county magistrate has soldiers..."
"Liu knows."
Liu Ziwen lowered his eyelids, gently pushed the tea in front of the old landlord, and gently patted the back of his old hand:
"This fight is nothing more than an exchange of interests and a mutual offer of conditions. Mr. Ouyang didn't immediately lead his troops to overturn the table, which means there is still a chance to talk, so that everything will not be ruined. Aren't we hosting a banquet today just to treat guests and apologize? In addition, I will donate a sum of money in the name of repairing the Yamen and see if Mr. Ouyang is satisfied."
"Everyone thinks highly of Liu, and Liu will naturally consider everyone's overall interests, but..." Liu Ziwen changed the subject, "Don't kneel down and surrender like Uncle Wu just did. This will not only harm the interests of our Liu family, but also For the benefit of everyone here.”
"Okay...okay."
Liu Ziwen smiled relaxedly at everyone, as if he was still mastering it, and the latter relaxed.
However, Liu Ziwen's heart was not at ease at all, and the quarrel just now made him aware of the weakness of these landlords and wealthy people, as well as their own hidden agendas.
If he knew the term "pig teammates", it would definitely be plastered on these people's foreheads at this moment.
The box became quiet again, and Liu Ziwen drank tea calmly. Others saw this and regained some confidence.
But at this moment, Liu Ziwen felt a little heavy.
I don’t know what the outcome of yesterday’s incident in the east warehouse was, and I don’t know if the chess pieces sent there burned any relevant accounts.
Liu Ziwen's people only found out today that that night, after Xie Lingjiang chased the infiltrated Qi practitioner, the Ouyang County magistrate arrived in the east warehouse in time and took out the head of an old scribe. After dawn, It was hung on the top of the city, and the east warehouse was immediately blocked with heavy troops. It seemed that there was no more checking of the accounts, but the soldiers of Zhechong Mansion were rewarded at dawn, which seemed to be some major action.
In the past two days, Lieutenant Guo Yi led his soldiers around the streets and alleys of Longcheng. He seemed to be searching for the Qi practitioners who broke in that night. He also seemed to be ready to break into people's houses and ransack them at any time, especially those with special attention. The squires and wealthy people in the house made everyone panic.
Did you succeed that night? What does Ouyang Lianghan want to do?
Liu Ziwen frowned inwardly, feeling that the situation was vaguely out of control made him very uncomfortable.
At this moment, the footsteps of a group of people going upstairs were heard outside the door.
Liu Ziwen and the other squires and rich men immediately put down their teacups and stood up to greet him at the door.
However, when the concierge opened the door, the figure standing outside was not the young county magistrate, but a young head catcher in blue.
"Master Xiaoyan? Why are you here? Where is the county magistrate?" someone asked doubtfully.
Yan Liulang walked into the door without squinting, walked to the middle of the box, casually raised his hand to everyone and said:
"The Ming Dynasty is busy with official duties and has no time to come over. Please let me come and have a few words for him."
Liu Ziwen and others immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Although no one came, as long as they didn't talk about it at all, and if there was something to say, it meant that the conditions were negotiated, and if they were negotiated, there was room for maneuver.
"Master Xiaoyan, please take a seat. Come, serve tea."
"No, it won't take more than a few words. I'll leave after I finish speaking." Yan Liulang shook his head.
"Don't you want to sit down and discuss it?"
"The Ming Dynasty has said that there is nothing to discuss about these matters, and you will definitely agree." The detective in blue glanced meaningfully at the curious squires and rich men in the box.
Liu Ziwen and the people behind him looked at each other, then turned back and handed over their hands:
"Please tell me, Mr. Magistrate, what orders you have, Mr. Magistrate!"
Yan Liulang first raised two fingers and then lowered one:
"First thing. The seven hundred and eighty guan raised at the last fund-raising banquet, plus what you have to donate for this apology banquet... how much is it approximately?"
Liu Ziwen continued: "I have heard that the back house of the county government was destroyed by the flood and no one can live in it. Everyone is worried about their parents and officials. This time, we decided to donate 100 guan per family, totaling 1,300 guan, to the county government for repairs. It's an official residence, I hope the county magistrate will accept it..."
"Okay, one thousand three hundred guan, right?" Yan Liulang interrupted, and continued to give instructions: "You should convert all of this money into food and send it to the disaster relief camp in the suburbs, and it must be ten fen per dou, before the flood. Converted to normal market price.”
"this……"
Liu Ziwen couldn't help but discuss with Cheng Yuanwai, Master Chen, Uncle Wu and others. Now that food is in real short supply after the disaster, ten cents per dou made men cry and women cry. Everyone looked hesitant until Yan Liulang calmly calmed down. Overweight:
"The officers and soldiers of the Zhechong Mansion came to Longcheng this time on the orders of Lord Shen, the supervisory envoy, to assist in the investigation of the rice embezzlement case in Jimincang. The investigation has been almost completed in the past few days. The Ming Mansion will let them return to Jiangzhou soon. Cross over.”
Liu Ziwen immediately agreed, "Okay, two thousand and eighty guan, Liu will make up a small amount and exchange it for food at the price of ten guan per dou. It can be sent to the disaster relief camp in the suburbs early tomorrow morning. I hope it can relieve the county magistrate's worries." .”
Yan Liulang nodded, as if he was not surprised, and put down the last finger:
"The second thing. The Ming Dynasty said that the Dragon Boat Festival is coming. This is an important custom in our hometown of Wuyue. In previous years, we would race dragon boats, eat rice dumplings with mugwort, and worship Quzi. Although there is flooding this year, it is no exception."
"But none of the surrounding counties seem to be doing it..." Mr. Cheng hesitated.
"Other counties in Jiangzhou won't hold it, but our Dragon City has to hold it, and we have to hold it in the biggest and best way, so that everyone can have a good Dragon Boat Festival."
Liu Ziwen and others were stunned, but even if they were vigilant, they asked, "Isn't the county magistrate asking us to raise money for the festival again?"
Yan Liulang shook his head and continued:
"There is no need for everyone to donate. The Mingfu said that when he first came to Longcheng, he should not just care about the refugees, but also give some care to the squires, landlords and wealthy households in the county. He should not favor one against the other. This Dragon Boat Festival event is for the people of the whole county. For those who participated, the Longcheng County Yamen Association actively organized the event and enjoyed it with the people."
Liu Ziwen and others looked at each other in confusion. No one responded immediately. They were probably thinking about what kind of medicine a certain young county magistrate was selling.
It wasn't until Yan Liulang nodded and said "No," that all the old foxes in the room said in their hearts, "Here we come."
"But this Dragon Boat Festival, our county is going to make it the largest and most lively one in the entire Jiangzhou, and it is going to attract businessmen and tourists from all over to come and celebrate the festival. Dragon City is already connected by water transportation, and as long as the news spreads, there will definitely be a lively gathering. .”
Yan Liulang pointed in the direction of Butterfly Creek:
"But before holding the grand event, we have to repair Longcheng County, both sides of Butterfly Creek and Penglangdu. Don't you think so? And with this flood, you should also have many old houses collapsed. , damaged ships can be repaired together."
Liu Ziwen asked tentatively: "Cultivation is necessary, but how to repair it?"
"Of course, your donations will not be in vain. The Ming government has decided to let young people from the disaster relief camp outside the city come into the city to help repair these facilities. However, since it is your house and pavilion, naturally the county government will not pay for it. , each family pays the labor themselves, and the county government assists by organizing manpower.
"In addition, during the Dragon Boat Festival, if you want to hold any activities or banquets, you can come to the Yamen to apply for refugee status. No credit is required."
Hearing this, Liu Ziwen and other squire and wealthy men fell into a brief silence.
In fact, the purpose of the plan proposed by Ouyang County Magistrate is very obvious and not hidden. Everyone in the box is a thousand-year-old fox, and they can see clearly; this is "relief for work", where the rich provide food and the poor contribute their efforts. , the government issued a letter, and everyone took what they needed.
In addition, Longcheng County's developed transportation linking Yunmengze and the Yangtze River is also a source of wealth for these country gentry wealthy people. Using a Dragon Boat Festival event to attract businessmen and tourists from all directions can indeed reduce the negative impact of floods and promote Butterfly Creek. Cross-strait trade is beneficial to them.
Liu Ziwen, Cheng Yuanwai, Master Chen, Uncle Wu and others were all surprised. They didn't expect that the new county magistrate who had set off the table and ransacked the house before today, which made them troublesome, would suddenly throw out a document that took into account the interests of all parties. A mild solution comes.
This... is a leap in the ideological realm from fighting and killing directly to the sophistication of human nature.
Is this really done by the same person?
During the banquet, several squires secretly sighed.
However, maybe he was frightened by Ouyang Rong, maybe he was worried about a trap, or maybe the family business was sidelined and did not involve this interest.
Liu Ziwen and others did not reply immediately.
Yan Liulang was not in a hurry, and walked around in the luxurious box of Yuanming Building with his hands behind his back. Occasionally he glanced at the expressions of Liu Ziwen and others, they looked careless...
Well, this is actually what he recently learned from Mingfu. In the words of Mingfu, it is... to let these people fall into the trap, you have to be calm and elegant, and let them make up for it on their own. powerful.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Yan Liulang turned around and asked, "What do you think?"
Liu Ziwen did not speak, silently looking at the expressions of Yan Liulang and others. In fact, he had no interest in the Dragon Boat Festival. The Liu family did not rely on water transportation and trade to reap profits. The swords that should be sold by Guyue Sword Shop were sold as usual. , Even if Longcheng is flooded, it will not worry about sales.
But although there is no benefit, there is no harm either. It is feasible or not.
At the moment, Liu Ziwen has to temporarily stabilize the new county magistrate who has troops in his hands, and wait for the distant water... So it doesn't hurt to sell face. Besides, the other squires and wealthy families in the box seem to be very excited about this plan. Although the Liu family is Although he is the leader, he cannot block his followers' financial path. It is better to go with the flow.
Liu Ziwen took a sip of tea; Mr. Cheng, Master Chen, Uncle Wu and others took the initiative and asked some questions about the pit. Yan Liulang also followed the words of a young county magistrate and answered them one by one. The two sides talked harmoniously. .
Seeing that everyone else agreed, Liu Ziwen put down his tea cup and took the lead in making the final decision:
"The county magistrate loves his people as his own children, so it is natural for him to have such a plan that is beneficial to Dragon City."
"Okay, I'll go back and report to the Ming Dynasty first. Master Diao and other colleagues will contact you for follow-up matters."
"Master Xiaoyan, let's go slowly." Everyone who had relaxed said goodbye one after another.
Yan Liulang nodded and turned to leave. However, as soon as he reached the door, he seemed to remember something. The detective in blue stopped and turned around:
"By the way, there is a little thing I forgot to mention. Mingfu said that if the talks with you today go well, as a show of caution, he can relax the county's grain price limit."
Liu Ziwen was slightly startled, thinking he heard wrongly, "What do you mean?"
"Literally, from today onwards, the government will no longer limit the price of food in Longcheng County. After you go back, you can feel free to increase the price and sell as you like."
A tall, round-faced young squire covered his mouth and coughed: "Ahem, these are market prices. They are not controlled by us. They are prices determined by the supply and demand relationship in the market. The catcher is joking, hahaha."
Yan Liulang imitated the expression on Mingfu's instructions and smiled lightly, "Okay, let's believe in the market together. See you all."
He went downstairs and left neatly.
Only a group of squires and landowners were left staring at the scene, as if they were still in surprise.
