Witnessing the situation inside and outside the capital with his own eyes, Li Dongyang also gnashed his teeth in hatred towards these grain merchants. These profiteers were not just making money, but he was so smart that he also saw a pair of huge black hands behind them.
If it were just a case of greed for money, it wouldn't be so hateful. After all, who doesn't like the free money? Appropriate price increases in times of famine are something that has happened since ancient times.
Now these grain merchants have raised prices too outrageously and at the same time restricted sales, deliberately adding fuel to the flames and turning this famine, which was not actually too serious, into what it is now.
"The capital is already a huge powder keg. If this continues, something big will happen, and we must act as soon as possible."
Without further wasting time, Li Dongyang and Zhou Jing hurriedly entered the palace to report the situation in Tianjin to Emperor Hongzhi, and also discussed the detailed next step strategy.
Just an hour after the fish transport convoy returned to the capital, the marine fish transported back from Tianjin began to be transported in batches to various sales points inside and outside the capital.
At the same time, in order to maintain order during the sale of marine fish, the most important thing of course was to prevent anyone from disrupting the sale of marine fish. Emperor Hongzhi even directly mobilized the imperial army to the scene to maintain order.
At the same time, in various places where people gathered inside and outside the capital, there were groups of people wearing official uniforms beating gongs and drums, and at the same time they kept shouting, "At noon, there are fish and meat for sale at the vegetable market in the capital, and it only costs one penny a pound."
.”
"At noon, fish meat is sold in Langfang, the capital, for only one penny per catty."
"At noon, fish and meat are sold at Xizhimen for only one penny per catty."
Following the shouts of these officials, everyone inside and outside the capital soon knew that fish meat was sold in various places in the capital for only one penny per pound of meat.
People who heard the news swarmed towards the place where they heard it almost immediately. One penny per pound of meat, whether it was sea fish or any other kind of meat, as long as they could eat it, as long as they could
Just fill your stomach and that's it.
You must know that the current price of food has been driven up by these profiteers to nearly 200 Wen per pound. Even these people living in the capital are somewhat wealthy, but they are already unable to bear it, especially the people at the bottom. What's more?
That's true.
Now when I heard about the price of one penny for a pound of meat, regardless of whether the news was true or not, I immediately rushed over.
At Caishikou outside Xuanwu Gate, numerous Imperial Guards wearing armor and holding sharp knives stood with solemn expressions, which made the people who were swarming towards them unable to help but stop in their tracks.
Fortunately, everyone soon discovered that there were signs erected here, which read: Fresh sea fish, one penny per catty, each person is limited to three catties, please queue up consciously, please do not queue up repeatedly, and violators will be punished with a 20-point penalty.
At the same time, there was a manager from Xishan Coal Industry nearby, holding a tin trumpet and shouting to the crowds of people swarming over: "Fresh sea fish, one penny per catty, each person is limited to three catties. Please queue up consciously, please do not repeat
Stand in line and those who violate the rules will be punished with twenty rods."
Hearing this voice, and then looking at the Imperial Guards who were waiting around them, people who were originally restless and worried that they would not be able to buy meat quickly began to line up.
Caishikou was originally an execution ground, used to execute prisoners, but now it is filled with sea fish, basket after basket of sea fish, which are very big. There are many people busy nearby, constantly cutting the big sea fish, according to the
Cut into portions of three kilograms.
If the fish has less meat, cut it more. If the fish belly and other places have more meat, weigh it accurately and mix it evenly so that no one suffers a loss.
“Where did all the sea fish come from?”
"Who knows, no matter where it comes from, one penny per pound of meat, whether it is sea fish or any other kind of meat, it is still meat and can be used to fill the stomach."
"Yes, the food has already increased to 200 cents per catty. The meat costing this cent per catty is impossible to obtain in normal times, let alone the current famine."
The people lined up in a long line, smelling the smell of sea fish, and then looking at the baskets of sea fish piled up in front, waiting anxiously, and discussing with each other.
"Start~"
Everyone did not wait too long. The guards in charge finally started to let people go, and the people at the front almost rushed over at the speed of a 100-meter race.
"This is three cents, give me three pounds of meat~"
The man hurriedly put the three pennies on the meat board, looked at the sea fish next to him, and couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
"Give~"
The person in charge of selling directly handed over a whole piece of meat. It was a piece of meat cut from a sea fish. It actually weighed a little more than three kilograms. But at this time, there was no time to care too much. Anyway, as long as it was not too far apart, it would be fine.
Can.
The first person happily bought three kilograms of sea fish meat for three pennies, and immediately walked back impatiently. The children and mother-in-law at home were all hungry. This three pennies could buy three kilograms of meat. It was unthinkable.
No matter what I don’t dare to think about, it’s important to eat the meat first.
The sales speed is very fast, because all the people transferred to handle the work are from Xishan Coal Mining, and they also use an assembly line-like working method, which is extremely efficient.
The long queue continued to advance at an extremely fast speed, but more and more people gathered after hearing the news. Not only did the entire queue not shrink at all, but on the contrary, it grew longer and longer.
"Bring me a hundred pounds of meat!"
Niu Er is a well-known scoundrel and lazy man. He has always been domineering and bullying men and women because of his family members in Shuntian Mansion. He is considered a ruthless character who is feared by everyone in the Caishikou area.
After waiting for a long time, it was finally his turn. He threw out a handful of copper coins in his arms and said very arrogantly.
"The purchase limit is three kilograms per person, and you have one hundred coins?"
The man in charge of selling fish looked at Niu Er with a smile on his face. He came out to make trouble at this time and just killed the chicken to show to the monkey.
"I don't care if you break any rules. I've already given you the money. Hurry up and give me a hundred catties of meat. If you look back, I'll have someone beat you to death."
Niu Er glanced at it and said very arrogantly, if it weren't for the guards around him, according to his past character, he wouldn't have queued up at all. Why would he be so nonsense? He would just let people take out these baskets of sea fish.
Moved away.
"General Yuan, this man is causing trouble!"
The person in charge of selling fish did not continue talking nonsense with the cow, and said to a guard leader not far away.
"Pull it down, stick twenty!"
The man named General Yuan saw it and immediately said indifferently.
"Yes~"
Upon hearing this, several soldiers immediately grabbed Niu Er like an eagle catching a chicken, and dragged him to the open space aside.
"Let me go, let me go, do you know who I am?"
"If you dare to touch me, believe it or not, I will kill your whole family."
Although Niu Er was being held down, he was still very arrogant, roaring angrily while struggling.
"Stand fifty~"
When the man named General Yuan heard this, he immediately said indifferently.
"Pa~"
Soon, Niu Er was pinned down on the bench by several soldiers. Two soldiers hit him hard with big sticks, making a dull sound.
"Ah~"
After being hit hard by the stick, Niu Er suddenly let out a scream like a slaughtered pig. Before he could continue shouting harsh words, the stick began to fall with thunder, making Niu Er's eyes open in pain.
It burst into tears and burst into tears.
The people queuing around all looked at Niu Er who was being beaten with a paddle. They watched helplessly as Niu Er's skin and flesh were torn apart by the beating. He fainted and was thrown aside like a dead dog.
This made many people couldn't help but laugh, and at the same time, those who wanted to cause trouble became extremely honest in an instant, lining up obediently, waiting to buy sea fish.
