Chapter 357: Open the door! Let me borrow something from this county!
Outside Chenliu County.
The common people looked over because of the laughter of the county magistrate and the general who came from the capital.
Seeing the county magistrate finally laughing in the face of this disaster, the people of Chenliu County who had been working all morning also had smiles on their faces.
"I would like to thank you, General, for your help."
Pei Benzhi shook his arms, waved his robe, folded his hands in front of his chest, and bowed respectfully to Tang Bi.
Tang Bi raised his brows: "I will support the three battalions of soldiers and horses in front, left and right, and Pei County for disaster relief. At present, I need to return to the camp to reorganize the military affairs, set up camp, and wait for my order to take charge of the disaster in the six prefectures and supervise the country.
His Royal Highness the Emperor Taisun has arrived."
Pei Benzhi lowered his head and moved his eyes slightly.
Tang Bi had done his best to help Chenliu County within his own power rules.
Pei Benzhi cupped his hands and said, "I would like to thank you, General. Everything in the army is complicated. General, please forgive me."
Tang Bi waved his hand, turned around, and glanced at Pei Benzhi blankly.
"The grandson will probably arrive in Kaifeng Mansion in the near future. Pei County must stick to his heart."
After sending out three battalions and three thousand troops and horses, and hinting, Tang Bi finally headed towards the camp he had selected not far away.
Pei Benzhi straightened up after a long time, looked at Tang Bi's back walking towards a high ground not far outside the city, and smiled slightly.
"Come here!"
He shouted loudly.
Then the county clerk who was waiting not far away rushed over.
The clerk bowed and said, "What are your orders from the county magistrate?"
Pei Benzhi's eyes were shining brightly, and his aura was full of awe: "We have summoned the county magistrate, the chief registrar, and the officials to come here. This county wants to borrow something from the wealthy Chenliu gentry family for the use of the Chenliu people!" The county magistrate is the deputy to the magistrate of a county, the chief registrar is in charge of the clerical affairs of the six offices of the county government, and the clerk is in charge of three classes of officers in the county.
As soon as the clerk heard what the county magistrate said, he realized that his county magistrate was really going to do something big.
The clerk immediately accepted the order, turned around and went to find the nearby police officer, and found three adults from the county.
And Pei Benzhi had already taken his long entourage to find the general of the third battalion left behind by Tang Bi.
It seems that Tang Bi had already spoken to the generals in the army before arriving in Chenliu County. When Pei Benzhi came with his long followers, the three leading generals did not wait for Pei Benzhi to explain why.
One of them had already clasped his fists and said: "County Magistrate Pei, my general has already said that I am waiting for you to come to Chenliu County.
Just to see if I can do something for Chenliu County."
Another person echoed: "County Magistrate Pei, we are all vulgar warriors in the army and don't know how to deal with disasters. But we eat a lot of food and receive a lot of royal rations. Magistrate Pei has no strength to do anything, just take care of it."
Tell me to wait."
Pei Benzhi just opened his mouth at this time, but was interrupted by two people, and for a moment he didn't know how to speak.
At this time, the last general in charge had already spoken: "Magistrate Pei, just give me your orders. In the boundaries of Chenliu County, anything that is not treason is a matter of Magistrate Pei's word!" It was only then that Pei Benzhi sorted out his thoughts.
….
Looking at the three people in front of them who were already murderous.
Pei Benzhi discovered that his plan seemed to have been anticipated by the other party.
He couldn't help but shook his head and said: "This county is very grateful to the three generals for their help. This time, I hope that the three generals can help me take my soldiers and horses to help the county go to the houses of the good and wealthy gentry in the city to borrow some things."
It’s just to relieve the plight of the people in this county.”
Just as Pei Benzhi finished speaking, one of the generals was shaken.
"Since you are borrowing something, you have to see the blood and use the knife to borrow the full amount."
This person has spoken clearly.
I haven’t waited for Pei Benzhi to react.
This person raised his arms and shouted: "Sons, swords
Have you sharpened your teeth yet? I and I will go to the city with Magistrate Pei to borrow some things!"
Pei Benzhi was surprised and happy.
He stretched out his hands in a hurry, only to see that the three generals were already calling for the three thousand troops and horses outside the city to assemble.
"The former military camp blocked the gate of Chenliu County. To enter and exit the city gate, you need to hold an official document written by County Magistrate Pei before entering or exiting."
"The left army camp blocked the streets in the city, and no one was allowed to roam. Anyone with bad intentions could be arrested and detained to inquire about military intelligence."
"Each of the right military camps is led by a hundred households, leading Pei County's orders to enter the city to borrow some things!"
Before Pei Benzhi could react, the three thousand troops and horses that had just gathered scattered like snowflakes again.
Some rushed to the other three gates of Chenliu County.
Some people poured into the city to blockade various streets and alleys.
There were more people who drew their sabers and sharpened them, waiting for Pei Benzhi’s order to go and borrow things.
Chenliu County's magistrate, chief registrar, and clerk rushed over in a hurry, sweating profusely and panting heavily.
The three of them looked at the soldiers and horses who suddenly showed murderous intent and drew their swords at each other, charging into the county town like a charge before the battle. They couldn't help but feel uneasy in their hearts.
Arriving in front of Pei Benzhi, Chenliu County Magistrate hurriedly said: "County Lord, what are you going to do?"
Pei Benzhi finally calmed down.
He looked at the frightened county magistrate, and then at the general registrar and clerk, knowing that this was not the time to be discouraged.
Pei Benzhi said in a deep voice: "It will take several days for the imperial court's relief to be delivered. The Ming government has no food to support it. The people in this county are crying for food. Now there is a direct army stationed in this county. We have specially borrowed military horses for use in this county. Everyone listens."
This county orders us to go to the city to borrow food!"
Borrow food?
To borrow food, you need to use the imperial army and horses!
The county magistrate, who has been busy borrowing grain from the wealthy gentry families in Chenliu County these past few days, was so anxious that he clasped his hands and stamped his feet.
"It can't happen, it can't happen."
"If you do this, the County Lord, something big will happen. Chenliu County can't live without the County Lord, and the people can't live without the County Lord. If the County Lord does something today... and borrows food, you, the County Lord, will be doomed!"
”
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The chief bookkeeper and the clerk on the side also looked eager and started to persuade him.
"Your Majesty, we have borrowed a lot of food. If we bear with it these days, relief from the court will arrive sooner or later. You must not do this. They will definitely impeach the county in court.
Respect yours."
….
"I'm going to borrow food! County Lord, please don't interfere. Today, my subordinates will kneel down one by one to borrow food for the County Lord and the people of Chenliu County!"
Pei Benzhi looked at the three people in front of him with a heartfelt smile on his face.
These three people were all promoted little by little during the eight years that he was an official in Chenliu.
The common people all say that they have a strong neck in Chenliu County and are not afraid of superior officials or the gentry.
But my iron-necked confidence was given by these people and the people of the county.
Faced with the eagerness of the three people, Pei Benzhi waved his arm: "This county has made up its mind! Afterwards, there will be all kinds of criticisms, and this county will bear them all! Now, we have to trouble the three of them to bring the troops and horses borrowed from the county."
, go into the city to find those people to borrow food from."
After finishing speaking, Pei Benzhi no longer cared about the anxiety of the three of them, and together with the generals of the right army camp waiting in front, led a group of soldiers and horses straight into the county town.
All that was left were Chenliu County's magistrate, bookkeeper, and clerk. They were so anxious that their faces turned pale.
In the end, they had no choice but to stomp their feet bitterly, turned around and looked for soldiers and horses, and with a look of risk-taking, they led the people into the blocked town of Chenliu County.
……
In Chenliu County.
The floods destroyed the houses of the common people, but did not destroy the courtyards of the wealthy families.
The tall and thick courtyard wall blocked all the disasters. After the water receded, only the yellowed wall roots and the quietly growing moss were left, still telling how big the flood was at that time.
Big.
A large area, only two streets away from the county government office, is occupied by a family's house.
At this time, in the courtyard with green branches and flowers, taking advantage of the warm weather, a banquet like the past quietly gathered half of the gentry and wealthy families in Chenliu County.
Unless there are thousands of acres of fertile land, no one is allowed to enter. Unless there are dozens of shops, no one is allowed to enter.
The host surnamed Chen is an old man over fifty years old. He is holding the cup and tea cup of the former Song Dynasty master in his hand and looking at the gentry of Chenliu County in front of him.
In this era where people over forty may call themselves old men, the owner of the family named Chen has sufficient status and prestige.
"Today the county magistrate came to borrow grain again. I can't refuse, so I promised a hundred shi of grain to be delivered to the county government tomorrow."
The old man surnamed Chen spoke calmly and took a sip of tea calmly.
Someone on the spot snorted coldly: "The county magistrate really thinks that my family and others have gold and silver, do you really think that we have endless food?"
"No, after all, we have given three to five thousand shi of food to the county government these days. How can so many people want to eat?" Some people became more and more dissatisfied, with a hint of deep meaning on their faces. The old man surnamed Chen gave this man a dull look: "Pei County is incorruptible. This is something that everyone in Chen Liu knows. Don't talk nonsense. Although I and others are not rich and powerful, we can get some food."
It is also appropriate to give it to the old parents in Peixian County."
Someone is anxious.
I stopped drinking tea and suddenly stood up.
"Mr. Chen, just tell me. I'm afraid it will take some time for the government's relief to arrive. There are so many people in Chenliu who need to eat. Do you think it's enough? If the county government still comes to ask for food every day, should we give it or not?
?」
….
The old man surnamed Chen looked worried as he looked at the old friends in front of him who were all unwilling to give food to the county government.
Sighing softly, the old man surnamed Chen closed his eyes slightly: "Just wait, when this disaster passes, everyone will think of ways to take care of Pei County. After eight years of magistrate, Pei County's achievements are obvious to all.
”
This is to donate money and food, and to clear the officialdom for Pei Benzhi so that he can be promoted.
When everyone present heard this, they couldn't help but feel a little pain in their hearts.
It costs a lot to manage officialdom.
But now, regarding Pei Benzhi's way of serving as an official in Chenliu County in the past eight years, no one here will feel sorry for the money and food for dredging and management.
For a while, they couldn't come up with a solution, so everyone had to drink tea and chat with the people around them in twos and threes.
But they have no idea what will happen in Chenliu County at this moment.
In Chenliu County at this moment.
Pei Benzhi got a knife from nowhere, and he and the general of the right army camp rushed to the door of Chen's mansion with a team of horses.
When the county magistrate came to the door, the servants at the door of Chen Mansion saw it from a distance.
Looking at the military horse behind the county master, it was obviously not from Chenliu County. The servant was shocked, and regardless of the fact that the county master was coming over soon, he turned around and got into the small door and ran towards the mansion.
"It's not good!"
"It's not good!"
A burst of shouting came from the Chen residence.
Pei Benzhi's face was gloomy, he held the knife in his hand and snorted coldly.
The general of the right army camp who accompanied him smiled slightly: "It seems that I am not very popular with people in the county."
Pei Benzhi remained silent and took three steps at a time to reach the closed door of Chen's mansion.
Just as he stretched out his hand, Pei Benzhi frowned and took his hand back again.
Then Pei Benzhi raised the long knife in his hand and pointed it at the gate of Chen's mansion.
Dongdongdong.
The back of the knife knocked heavily on the red door of Chen's mansion, making a dull sound.
The general of the right army camp led the people and stood behind Pei Benzhi. Seeing that the door had been knocked for a while and no one came to open the door, he immediately turned back and signaled to the officers and soldiers behind him.
Immediately, half of the officers and soldiers drew their sabers and moved toward the gate of Chen Mansion.
Pass the side courtyard wall.
Pei Benzhi, who was currently supported by the Yulin Guards and holding a knife in his hand, saw that the door of the Chen Mansion had not been opened for a long time, and he couldn't help but feel murderous intent in his eyes.
The knife in Pei Benzhi's hand knocked on the door of Chen's house again.
"Open the door!"
"This county wants to borrow something from the Chen Mansion!"
Behind the door, footsteps were finally heard.
The general of the right army camp immediately came forward with his soldiers, protecting Pei Benzhi behind him, and had already raised the knife in his hand.
Before the door was opened, the voice of the Chen family came from behind.
"Oh my, these damn bastards!"
"President Pei County is here, and these bastards didn't know how to open the door to welcome County Pei into the mansion. I will definitely punish these bitches severely today!"
The door of the Chen Mansion was finally opened, and the head of the Chen family was already angrily scolding the few servants who were following him.
[It has been running stably for many years, it is comparable to the old version of the book chasing artifact, and is used by old bookworms, huann.]
….
When the head of the Chen family crossed the threshold and turned his head to look at Pei Benzhi, he was already smiling, and his eyes were indifferently glancing at the officers and soldiers blocking Pei Benzhi.
"The presence of your Majesty Pei County really makes this mansion shine. Pei County, generals, please come into the mansion quickly."
The head of the Chen family was standing in front of his house, using polite words. As he spoke, he kept looking at the house from the corner of his eyes.
Pei Benzhi's face was silent, and the tip of the knife in his hand fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
"This county came to Chen Mansion today for one thing only."
With a smile on his face, the head of the Chen family kept nodding: "Pei County, please tell me, as long as it is a matter for Pei County, I will use the whole family to handle it for Pei County!"
The general of the Right Army Camp who was guarding Pei Ben in front of Pei Ben couldn't help but snorted when he heard this.
If these people really help each other with their whole family, would Pei Benzhi still need to rely on the power of their Yulin Guards to borrow food?
Pei Benzhi also cursed secretly in his heart, then said with a smile: "This time Chenliu was hit by a disaster, our county is fortunate to have the great efforts of the county people, and we are now providing work instead of relief to clean up the siltation and restore people's livelihood.
The Chen Mansion is the leader of the good people in this county, and this county cannot ask the Chen Mansion and his family to contribute. Today, I am just borrowing three thousand stones from the Chen Mansion on behalf of the people of this county, and waiting for the relief from the court to be delivered to this county.
I will repay you in full."
"It turns out that the county magistrate wants to borrow food. It's a good time..." The head of the Chen family nodded repeatedly, then his face suddenly changed. He lowered his head in surprise and whispered, "Three thousand shi of food?"
Not to mention whether the county government will repay the borrowed grain in due time, even if the three thousand shi of grain are kept at home, how many acres of land can the Chen family get back in exchange for it?
The head of the Chen family wanted to refuse immediately.
But looking at the eagerly watching officers and soldiers in front of him, the head of the Chen family was extremely conflicted for a moment. In the end, he could only stand there grumbling, unwilling to speak.
Pei Benzhi raised his eyebrows: "The Chen Mansion has 7,000 acres of farmland outside the city. Three shi of grain per mu is equivalent to 21,000 shi. The county only borrowed 3,000 shi of grain."
Pei Benzhi directly told the Chen family's family background in public.
However, this is a bit exaggerated. After all, some of the 20,000 dan of grain must be left to the tenants and some sold, and what is left is probably only a few thousand dan.
But the head of the Chen family was not happy anymore. He took a step back and stared cautiously at the officers and soldiers in front of the house.
"Pei County, the old man's family really does not have so much food. There is not so much land. Where did these seven thousand acres of land come from? The old man's family has the most... the most..."
The head of the Chen family was mumbling, but he was constantly thinking in his heart. Now that the county magistrate has mobilized troops, it is impossible to return without success, but it is also impossible to borrow three thousand shi of food.
Just when the head of the Chen family was still struggling with how much food he should give.
There was a burst of noise in the alley outside the house, and Master Chen's face couldn't help but change.
Less
After a while, a group of officers and soldiers were seen escorting the group of wealthy gentry who were about to escape from the back door of Chen Mansion.
The officers and soldiers leading the team didn't care about these people's cries.
He went straight to the right army camp general and Pei Benzhi.
….
"Report! Report back to General and Magistrate Pei. I'll take these people at the back door of this house."
"After investigation, it was found that these people were colluding with the family in this house, intending to take advantage of the disaster year to seize the people's fields in Chenliu County at low prices, drive up prices, and exploit the people."
With two clicks, the officers and soldiers leading the team convicted the wealthy gentry who were caught before they could escape.
Suddenly the crowd became excited.
"I can't wait!"
"Absurd! This is a frame-up! This is a slander!"
"You are farting! I am going to Kaifeng Mansion to file a complaint!"
"I want to write a letter to the capital to let the court know that you are doing such a bold thing in Chenliu County."
Standing in front of the mansion, the head of the Chen family looked at the excited old friends, feeling anxious and his face became a little ugly.
He looked at Pei Benzhi and said in a deep voice: "Pei County, we have been a kind family in Chenliu County for generations. Pei County asked himself, in the eight years he has been in Chenliu, have we ever oppressed the people? Today, Pei County is bullying
When the soldiers arrived, they asked about borrowing food, but the old man never said no. However, Pei County acted like this, arrogantly indulging the soldiers and horses, and slandering the good people in this county. What on earth do you want, Pei County? You still have royal laws in your eyes!
”
The general of the right army camp glanced blankly at the chattering head of the Chen family, then turned slightly to look at Pei Benzhi.
Pei Benzhi's eyes sank, and his heart became fierce.
"General, the Chen Mansion's granary is built in the courtyard to the east of the mansion. General, please lead someone to count the grain!"
The general of the Right Army Camp received the letter and immediately gave a low shout.
"Did you hear what Magistrate Pei said? Go in and borrow some food for me!"
With a bang, the impatient officers and soldiers who had been waiting for a long time immediately rushed into the Chen Mansion in a swarm.
The head of the Chen family was knocked aside. He was worried and his face turned pale.
"Pei Benzhi! What on earth do you want to do!"
Pei Benzhi picked up the knife in his hand and put it on the neck of the head of the Chen family.
At this moment, the head of the Chen family could no longer see County Magistrate Chen Liu, who had always been friendly with them in the past eight years. Now, only the iron-necked Pei Benzhi with a strong murderous look in his eyes and a ferocious face.
Pei Benzhi sneered and spat at the head of the Chen family.
"What does this county want? Do you think this county doesn't know what you have done over the years? Do you think this county doesn't know what you have done since the imperial court implemented the issue of dividing people into acres?"
"Today, this county provides a way for the people of Chenliu to survive..."
The head of the Chen family was already panicking, his legs were weak, but he was also afraid of the knife on his neck.
"You...you want..."
Pei Benzhi sneered: "If I borrow food today, I will also lend you your head!"
Zeng.
The sound of a knife.
In front of the Chen Mansion, it finally became quiet.