Huang Zhixian kept kowtowing: "The humble minister is guilty."
Chang Feng couldn't help but persuade Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your dragon body."
Emperor Hongzhi sat on the dragon throne and forced himself to calm down.
After using the incense stick, he told Chang Feng: "Pick up the copper for me."
Chang Feng picked up the copper caps, stood up, came to the dragon case, and laid out the copper caps.
Poor Tongqing suffered a bloody crime at the hands of Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Huang Boren, you are so courageous. You dare to resist the order and disrespect it, and use 13,000 stones of sand to fool the patrolling imperial envoy."
"For the livelihood of the people in your county, you are willing to risk your head. Is it worth it?"
Huang Zhixian kowtowed: "Your Majesty, Wei Chen has been reading "Mencius" for decades. There is a sentence in it that Wei Chen regards as his motto."
Emperor Hongzhi became interested: "Oh? Which sentence?"
Huang Zhixian replied: "Even if there are thousands of people, I will go!"
After hearing this, Emperor Hongzhi slapped the dragon case and said, "Bang!"
Huang Zhixian was so frightened that he shrank his neck. Like a naive fat bastard.
Chang Feng really wanted to remind Emperor Hongzhi: Your Majesty, Huang Boren was bitten by a dog when he was a child, so he is timid. Don't scare him to death in the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Hongzhi took pictures of the Dragon Case not to express his anger, but to impress him!
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Although there are tens of millions of people, I will leave. Well said! Officials all over the world have been promoted by reading the Four Books and Five Classics. But the vast majority of them have read the books into the belly of dogs."
"But you are different. As a county parent, we regard the livelihood of the people as our top priority. We will not hesitate to resist the decree for the sake of the livelihood of the people."
"I need 1,138 people like you to serve as county magistrates!"
County Magistrate Huang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty has given you such praise!"
Chang Feng gave Huang Zhixian the icing on the cake at the right time: "This is for your Majesty. When others become officials, the more land they own, the more they do."
"Huang Boren is an official, but the land property under his name is getting less and less."
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Oh? Why?"
Chang Feng said: "I have investigated clearly. Huang Boren has a thousand acres of ancestral land in his name. He served as an official for two terms, and 500 acres of it were sold by him one after another and converted into money and grain to help the poor people in Rongcheng County."
Emperor Hongzhi Longyan was delighted: "Huang Qing, I must reuse a good and upright official like you! I think I will promote you to the prefect first!"
Huang Zhixian was stunned!
A prefect usually oversees more than a dozen counties and holds the fourth rank.
The county magistrate is only the seventh grade.
Emperor Hongzhi gave him five levels in a row!
Chang Feng reminded: "Huang Zhifu, oh no, Huang Zhifu, why don't you quickly accept the order to express your gratitude?"
Huang Boren kowtowed: "I would like to thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
Emperor Hongzhi sighed: "Well, it's me who should thank you. It's you who let me know that there are rare good people like you among local officials. Not everyone is greedy."
"That's all. You go down first!"
This is truly a blessing and a curse. Eighteen days ago, Huang Boren almost scared Chang Feng to death.
Eighteen days later, he was summoned by the emperor and was promoted to five levels in a row.
Huang Boren stood up with excitement, bowed his hands and walked back out of the hall with small steps.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Chang Feng, you were right just now. Killing people cannot solve the problem. In the final analysis, the law does not punish the public."
Emperor Hongzhi was actually very confused. What he faced was a problem that had troubled emperors of all dynasties. That is the game between China and local governments.
Chang Feng echoed: "The emperor has learned from this. All the court can do is to give local officials as few opportunities as possible to exploit the people in the future."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "But I don't want to bear this bad breath. You just reported that there is a Runde grain businessman in Tongzhou who has great supernatural powers. Can he eat the stolen grain of corrupt officials all over the world?"
"Check it out! I want to see who the boss is and punish him severely!"
Chang Feng cupped his hands: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Chang Feng left the palace. I thought: It is said that Xiaojiu is the number one selling broker in Beijing. Compared with Runde Food Store, she is not even a little ant.
I'm afraid Rundeliangxing's winding hair is thicker than hers.
He returned to Beizhen Fusi. Fatty Xu and others were already waiting for check-in.
Qian Ning looked expectant: "What does the emperor say? Do you want our royal guards to capture all the local officials in the world?"
Chang Feng shook his head slightly: "No. The local officials will not pursue it. The emperor only asked us to check Runde Food Store."
Fatty Xu said: "Then let's set off for Tongzhou now?"
Chang Feng said: "If you don't go to Tongzhou, go to Yihong Tower."
Fatty Xu's eyes shone: "Let me tell you, after being out for more than two months, Mr. Chang, you must be exhausted!"
Chang Feng said, "What are you thinking about? I'm looking for your Hong'er!"
Fatty Xu curled his lips: "Do you really want to be a brother-in-law with me? That's right, friends' wives should not be bullied, and friends and concubines can be used by everyone! Besides, my Hong'er is not even a concubine."
Chang Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I have a business deal with her! Didn't you tell me a while ago that she was doing grain and rice business with Tongzhou Runde Grain Company?"
Everyone came to Yihong Tower.
When in a country, do as the Romans do. It is still the old rule to change into your slip-on boots before entering the house.
An enchanting woman walked up to Chang Feng and said, "Oh, Master Chang."
Fatty Xu's eyes were as wide as bells: "Master Chang, do you know Xiaoyun?"
Chang Feng said perfunctorily: "There are many people in the capital who know me."
In fact, Chang Feng knew more than just her.
Liu Xiaoyan and Miss Jiu's affair happened on the same date.
It happened that during those few days, Feng Feng came here to discuss with Sai Tanghong about setting up the eyes and ears in Yihong Building.
A place like Yihong Building is a mixed bag, so it is perfect for collecting intelligence in the capital.
Before leaving, Chang Feng accidentally bumped into Xiaoyun when he went out. The blood surged for a moment and I couldn't hold it back. He went to her bedroom and beat her hard to vent her anger.
Everyone changed into slip-on boots, and Chang Feng found Sai Tanghong.
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said: "Master Sai."
Sai Tanghong was surprised: "Am I in trouble again?"
Chang Feng explained: "Master Sai misunderstood. I came to you to handle serious matters."
Sai Tanghong was stunned: "Four people at once? This serious matter is too big for me to handle!"
Qian Ning laughed out loud: "I said Miss Sai, where are you thinking? Our Master Chang wants to discuss something important with you."
Chang Feng sat on the chair: "Master Sai, I heard that you have been in the grain and rice business recently, and you have made a lot of profits. How did you do it?"
Sai Tanghong said: "Ahem, that's the thing. It's simple, the water flows to the lower place, and the goods flow to the upper place."
"We have a senior fellow from the Miaoshou sect who went to Liaodong a few years ago. After more than ten years of work, he has become famous. He became the head of the Dusi Yamen in Liaodong."
"That place in Liaodong is a bitter cold place with a shortage of food and high food prices. Food prices in Beizhili are low, and they have been frighteningly low in the past two months. I bought food from Tongzhou and shipped it to Liaodong for my senior brother, earning a profit A price difference.”
Chang Feng asked: "Did you buy grain from Runde Grain Store in Tongzhou?"
Sai Tanghong nodded: "Yes."
Chang Feng said: "So you are familiar with Runde Grain Store? Can you introduce me to him?"
Sai Tanghong asked: "Master Chang is also interested in the grain and rice business?"
Chang Feng leaned into Sai Tanghong's ear and muttered for a while.
Sai Tanghong said: "Okay. You have spoken, I will definitely help you."
Chang Feng said: "Then let's go to Tongzhou now?"
Suddenly, Chang Feng discovered that Fatty Xu was missing.
Chang Feng asked Qian Ning: "Where is Mr. Xu? Why did he disappear in the blink of an eye?"
Qian Ning couldn't hold back her smile: "Master Xu seems to have gone to find that Xiaoyun."
Chang Feng said angrily: "Damn it, he really wants to be my brother-in-law!"
Everyone rode out of Beijing and rushed to Tongzhou.
Tongzhou is the end point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Grains from various provinces are unloaded here.
This is the largest grain transportation inner port and grain trade center in the Ming Dynasty.
There were two official warehouses in the Ministry of Household Affairs of the Ming Dynasty. One is Jingcang and the other is Tongzhoucang. Jingcang is the inner warehouse of the emperor, and Tongzhou warehouse is the outer warehouse of the emperor.
Sai Tanghong led Chang Feng and others to the gate of Runde Grain Store.
This grain store is a large house with four entrances.
The concierge stopped everyone.
The concierge asked: "Shopkeeper Sai, do you want to come in to discuss business?"
Sai Tanghong took out a piece of broken silver from her sleeve and gave it to the concierge: "Yes. Excuse me. Next time you go to Yihong Tower to play, I'll find someone with good skills to accompany you."
The concierge weighed the money and said: "The rules of our grain store. The shopkeeper can enter, but the followers cannot."
Chang Feng wore silk and satin and looked like a shopkeeper. Fatty Xu and others were dressed in civilian clothes and pretended to be his followers.
Sai Tanghong pointed at Chang Feng: "Sure. This shopkeeper Lu is my friend. He asked me to help introduce people from your grain store. He followed me in. These followers stayed in front of the door waiting."
The concierge nodded: "Go in."
Chang Feng and Sai Tanghong entered Runde Food Store. There are people coming and going inside, and you can tell that business is booming.
Chang Feng lowered his voice: "A concierge at a grain store is almost as good as a janitor at a government office. When entering a grain store, you have to stuff your doorstep with a bag."
Sai Tanghong said: "I don't know how many grain merchants have made money by pointing to Runde Grain Store as a cash cow. Their concierges naturally have a market."
Chang Feng asked: "Why did you make up the surname 'Lu' for me instead of Zhao Qian Sun Li?"
Sai Tanghong covered her mouth and smiled softly: "Xiaoyun told me that you are as big as a donkey."
Chang Feng was stunned: "Why does she say everything?"
Sai Tanghong said: "If a bunch of horse fleas gather together, they can say anything."
Sai Tanghong led Chang Feng to find her contact person in the grain store.
This person is a counterman, his surname is Su, and he is in his forties. The eyes are small but very expressive. At first glance, you can tell that he is a business veteran.
Sai Tanghong introduced: "Mr. Su, this is shopkeeper Lu from the south."
Mr. Su said: "Ah, I have admired you for a long time."
Chang Feng pretended to have a southern accent: "Ala is Jiangnan Yin. I came to Guiliang Store because I have a big deal to discuss."
Mr. Su smiled slyly: "Judging by your accent, you are from Songjiang Prefecture, right?"
Changfeng deliberately kept it secretive: "Ah, no, no."
Songjiang people always pronounce "no" when they say "no". Chang Feng deliberately confirmed Mr. Su's guess.
Mr. Su asked: "Tell me, are you here to buy food or sell food?"
Chang Feng said: "Ala naturally sells grain. What he sells is the best rice from Jiangnan. The rice from our Jiangnan is soft and waxy, and when steamed it is fragrant and sweet, don't you know?"
Mr. Su was naturally a little wary when he saw Chang Feng for the first time.
Mr. Su smiled and asked: "The good rice from Jiangnan is shipped to Tongzhou, and the transportation cost is too high. Why don't you sell the rice to Shandong? Shandong is closer to Jiangnan, and the transportation cost can also be saved."
Chang Feng was trying to be mysterious, covered his mouth with a fan, and said in a low voice: "Alat's rice is transported to Tongzhou on official ships, and there is no shipping fee."
Mr. Su looked like he understood immediately: "I understand. You are not the shopkeeper. You should be the guest of a local official in Jiangnan, right?"
"Otherwise, how can we use the water to transport the official ships of the Yamen in vain?"
Chang Feng waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no."
Mr. Su smiled and said: "Master Lu, you don't have to be shy. We at Runde Grain Store always receive more than a dozen officials and guests like you a day. Tell me, how much rice do you have?"
Chang Feng stretched out five fingers.
Mr. Su asked: "Five thousand stones?"
Chang Feng shook his head slightly.
Mr. Su is obviously a person who has seen the big world: "Fifty thousand stones?"
Chang Feng nodded: "You are right! Can you afford fifty thousand shi?"
Mr. Su smiled slightly: "Don't say 50,000 shi, even 500,000 shi can still be eaten!"
Chang Feng said: "Don't brag." (Don't brag)
Mr. Su frowned: "Shopkeeper Sai, have you ever told this dear friend about the financial resources of our Runde Grain Store?"
Chang Feng said: "Even if you can afford the money, where do you keep the five hundred thousand stone grain?"
Mr. Su pointed his finger at the ground: "This is in Tongzhou! The outer warehouse of the imperial court is located!"
Chang Feng was surprised: It seems that the grain of Runde Grain Store should be stored in Tongzhou Warehouse under the jurisdiction of the User Department!
This is not surprising. When he first inspected Wantong's mansion, Chang Feng discovered that the grain, pepper, and sappan wood that Wantong obtained through corruption were all stored in the granary of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Borrowing official warehouses to store personal belongings is not a secret in the official circles of the capital.
Chang Feng said: "It's wonderful, it's wonderful. It's really a heifer's menstruation at Gui Liang Store - the blood is awesome! Since we can afford it, let's discuss the price, okay?"
Mr. Su said: "We don't bargain here. The prices are all set. Jiangnan's fine rice, today's price is four cents of silver per stone."
Chang Feng's expression changed: "Don't be nice, don't be nice. Alas, I've heard about it. The market price of good rice in Beizhili is five cents per stone."
Mr. Su patiently explained: "That is the price sold to ordinary people. Can ordinary people eat 50,000 kilo of rice at a time?"
"With all due respect, the lord behind you, as well as a group of subordinates under your lord, are all eager to turn rice into silver and share the profit."
"The entire capital, no, the entire Beizhili, no, the entire Ming Dynasty. Only our Runde Grain Store can eat so much rice at one time!"
Chang Feng pretended to be extremely troubled, and after thinking hard for a while, he said: "Okay. Ala will take charge of Dong Weng for once. Four coins is four coins."
Mr. Su and Chang Feng high-fived and said, "Deal!"
Chang Feng said: "The official ship carrying rice will arrive in six days, and the money and goods will be cleared by then. Tonight, Ala wants to invite Mr. Su to come to Yihong Mansion for a prostitute. Shopkeeper Sai's place is wonderful!"
Mr. Su excused himself: "I have other entertainment in the evening."
Chang Feng was a little worried: "Don't hide it from me. Ala's Dong Weng is the prefect of a well-known and wealthy government in the south of the Yangtze River. He has many colleagues, but he has not yet found a way to sell rice."
"Let's discuss together at night to expand the business. By then, it won't be a fifty thousand stone deal, but a hundred thousand stone deal, you know?"
Chang Feng planned to lure Mr. Su to the capital and provide one-stop services including arrest, execution, and interrogation. Then follow the clues and dig out the boss behind the scenes.
Mr. Su thought for a while and said, "Okay. Then you go first. I'll go to Yihong Building in the evening."
Sai Tanghong smiled and said: "That's good. I'll have a few red brand girls waiting for you tonight."
Chang Feng cupped his hands towards Mr. Su and said, "Farewell."
The two of them came out of Runde Food Store.
Fatty Xu stepped forward and said, "What's going on? Are the people inside being trapped?"
Chang Feng nodded slightly: "I'm hooked. Let's go back to the city and wait for the fish to take the bait at Yihong Tower."
Fatty Xu said: "Don't wait quietly! Waiting for someone is the hardest part. I have to move and wait."
Sai Tanghong poked Fatty Xu's temple with her finger: "Death sign."
Everyone returned to Yihong Tower. Chang Feng deployed the arresting warriors, and it was still very early before dark. He took the time to go back to his house.
Huang Boren still lives in his house. Fat, he is packing his bags.
Chang Feng asked: "Brother Huang Shi, are you leaving so soon? Has the official department put up a sign for you?"
Huang Boren said: "Yes. I went to the Ministry of Civil Affairs with the imperial edict in the afternoon. The magistrate of Laizhou Prefecture in Shandong Province happened to be vacant. Wang Butang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs hung up a sign for me and issued an official certificate."
"I will leave Beijing early tomorrow morning to take up my post. Thank you very much for taking care of me these days, Chang Qianhu."
Chang Feng said: "That's right. Oh, by the way, there are a few words I don't know whether to say or not."
Huang Boren said: "Please enlighten me."
Chang Feng said: "My brother Huang Zhongren has just been promoted, and he talks about getting promoted and getting rich. You must strictly restrain him. Otherwise, you may not be able to fall into the hands of our Jin Yiwei one day."
Huang Boren looked embarrassed: "My younger brother is indeed useless. I will definitely reprimand him severely."
Chang Feng smiled and said: "We are destined to be together. I wish you, a great upright official, to rise to the top and be honored as a feudal official one day."
Huang Boren cupped his hands and bowed: "Thank you very much."
After saying goodbye to Huang Boren, Chang Feng went to Liu Xiaoyan's room to see his son again.
Zhuang Zhuang is taking a nap.
Liu Xiaoyan sniffed: "Why do you smell so much of powder?"
Chang Feng did not hesitate: "Don't mention it. Today's errands have to be done in Yihong Building. I just went to Yihong Building to make arrangements."
Liu Xiaoyan smiled and scolded: "God knows whether you went to Yihong Building for business or personal matters."
Chang Feng directly pushed Liu Xiaoyan down on the couch: "I handed over the weapons first, so you don't have to worry about me doing private business in Yihong Building?"
Liu Xiaoyan quickly pushed Chang Feng away and pointed at Zhuang Zhuang, who was sleeping on the small bed: "Wake up our son carefully. If you want to hand over the weapons, go to Sister Ninth."
At night, Yihong Tower.
Guests came in in an endless stream, and it was like a bustling crowd.
Now everyone in the capital knows that the backer of Yihonglou is the crown prince Dingguo. Almost all the people who came to make trouble were gone, and business was naturally booming.
Chang Feng and others were waiting for Mr. Su at the door. From the time of lighting the lamp to the time of Haishi.
Fatty Xu complained: "I've been waiting for an hour and a half. Isn't that guy not coming?"
Chang Feng said: "Probably not. I told him that there are still several businesses I want to introduce to him. The bait is so big, I'm not afraid he won't bite the hook."
Fatty Xu said: "According to what you said, Runde Grain Store has strong financial resources and controls the official warehouse in Tongzhou. Let's make a bet. I guess the official standing behind the grain store is at least a third-rank official."
Chang Feng said: "I'm not sure which second-grade official it is?"
The imagination of these two people is not rich enough.
At this moment, Mr. Su arrived belatedly riding a donkey.
Chang Feng and others greeted him with smiles.
Mr. Su got off the donkey and said, "Shopkeeper Lu."
Chang Feng smiled and put the iron chain around Mr. Su's neck: "Mr. Su, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Mr. Su was stunned: "What are you doing? Who are you?"
Qian Ning put a dagger against Mr. Su's waist: "You will know when you get to the place."
(End of chapter)
