Chapter 55 Three Questions from the Prefect’s Yamen
Author: Juechen Yanke
Chapter 55 Three Questions from the Prefect’s Yamen
After listening to Ye Chengguan's words, Wen Yuming looked at the people everywhere who were about to move. He felt that the grass and trees were all covered with soldiers, and he quickly took two steps back with a trembling figure.
But before he could say anything, all the people at the door immediately knelt down: "Please, the magistrate, please make the decision for us and the people who are suffering in Yuezhou, so that the relief food can be sent to Baling County as soon as possible."
"Our Jingzhou Prefecture has a small land and a sparse population. The grain produced every year cannot even feed us. How can we transport it to Yuezhou Prefecture?"
Wen Yuming said perfunctorily without a red face and a heartbeat: "You should also be considerate of our government's difficulties. As the official of our government in six counties and two scattered prefectures, we have to consider the livelihood of the millions of soldiers and civilians in the government. You will all put food in your hands."
After it is shipped to Yuezhou, if there is a famine in Jingzhou Prefecture, how will I explain it to everyone, and how will I explain it to the court?"
After a moment of silence, he continued to persuade: "Everyone, please disperse. At this time, we can only sweep the snow in front of our homes and take care of our own one-third of an acre. As for the famine in Jiangnan, we can save it when it is a last resort."
The government and the imperial court are trying to find a way to prevent us, the people in the north of the Yangtze River, from transporting grain in the opposite direction."
Hua Rujin was still thinking about what Ye Chengkuan had just said. When she heard Wen Yuming's high-sounding advice, she stood up:
"There are disputes among countries and there are immigrants moving millet. How can the unified China be divided into the south and the north?"
Facing Wen Yuming directly, Hua Rujin asked in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "The daughter of the people boldly asked, in order to stabilize the price of goods and the people's hearts, the Yuezhou magistrate replaced the food from various places with salt and tea. Firstly, he wanted to reduce the burden of disaster relief for the court, and secondly, it was
In order to solve the urgent needs of Yuezhou, the magistrate has issued an order prohibiting rice merchants from all counties in Jingzhou Prefecture from transporting grain into Yuezhou. Once a greater famine breaks out and a large number of refugees flood into Jingzhou Prefecture, will the prefect please resettle them or not?"
Wen Yuming's expression was shocked when he heard this, and he suddenly fell into deep thought.
Hua Rujin continued calmly: "The daughter of the people asks again, there is no rice available in all parts of Yuezhou right now. As a city of brothers, Jingzhou Prefecture and Yuezhou Prefecture are across the river and are closest to each other. If something bad happens in Yuezhou
Rice merchants hoarded rice and deliberately drove up prices, causing widespread riots. The governor of Yuezhou learned that Mr. Wen deliberately failed to help and left millions of soldiers and civilians in Yuezhou in dire straits. He impeached Mr. Wen. Mr. Wen thought that his majesty would punish him severely.
For you?"
Panic gradually appeared on Wen Yuming's calm face.
He ignored this.
That old man Tang Ji is worried that he can't find a reason to blame him. If there is a famine in Yuezhou and people starve to death, he will not be able to blame himself.
On the way here, Hua Rujin heard Hua Minze say that when Hua Junyao was buying rice at the Meng family, the Meng family rice store deliberately increased the price of rice by 10%, and now it has started buying rice at a 20% lower price.
I had a rough idea of who was causing trouble.
She glanced deeply at Mr. Meng and Hua Junxu, who were hiding in the crowd watching the excitement, and then looked back firmly at Wen Yuming, who had a pensive look on his face:
"Lord Wen has always been far-sighted. I feel that with the wisdom of the magistrate, it is impossible not to see the benefits and disadvantages. The third question is, who has such a deep hatred against you and wants to put you in a place of eternal destruction?"
Hearing this, Wen Yuming finally raised his head and angrily searched the crowd for the figures of the old man Wai of the Meng family and Hua Junxu and his son-in-law.
"Now that the autumn harvest is approaching, the price of rice in Jiangling City has fluctuated seriously, and the discounts have been severe. It can be seen that the supply of grain in Jingzhou Prefecture is oversupply. This will only cause all rice merchants to follow suit and sell at lower prices. If the rice merchants lose money, Jiangling City will lose money in the future.
Who else goes out to transfer rice and grain to benefit the people and relieve the worries of the adults?"
Hua Rujin turned her gaze again and looked meaningfully at Hua Junxu and Mr. Meng in the crowd: "Or if one family dominates and controls the price of rice in Jiangling City, how can the government stabilize the people's hearts?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Wen Yuming immediately made a decision in his heart and shouted to the crowd: "Pass the order from the government to release grain immediately to the south. The inspection division offices up and down the river will do their best to escort the Jingzhou government grain team to Yuezhou.
If there is any mistake, I will severely punish you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he looked at Yuanmeng Wai and Hua Junxu and his son-in-law, and roared angrily: "Meng Yanli, as the head of the Jiangling City Rice Traders Guild, if the price of rice in Jingzhou Prefecture is higher this time,
If there is even the slightest fluctuation, I will raid your entire house."
"Master Magistrate, this matter has nothing to do with old age."
Meng Yanli was so frightened that he knelt down in panic and pleaded with all his strength: "The magistrate has opened this way, and the rice and grain supply in Jiangling City will definitely be in short supply. Even if the common people go bankrupt, they will not be able to cope with the people in Jiangling City."
"That is your business and has nothing to do with me."
Wen Yuming glared at Meng Yanli with sharp eyes: "From today on, the price of rice in your rice shop will be the price of rice in my Jingzhou Prefecture. If you dare to raise your duty, you will look good on me."
After scolding Meng Yanli, he slowly looked at Hua Junxu, who was shivering: "Hua Xundao, it seems that you are quite dissatisfied with my house. Just go back to the county school. This house teaches you
You don’t have to worry about the threshold anymore.”
"Prefect."
Before Hua Junxu could even utter the words of begging, Wen Yuming led Master Mu Xian angrily back to the government office.
The father-in-law and his son-in-law had no choice but to eat Coptis chinensis in silence, hid in the crowd with a lonely look on their faces, and left quietly in disgrace.
The crowd immediately burst into cheers, and they all gathered around Hua Rujin and kept saying thanks: "Thank you, Miss Hua, for saving our lives."
Lu He also didn't expect that his usually unknown niece could convince the magistrate of the state to let him go with just a few words, and even ordered someone to escort him on a special trip, which saved him a lot of trouble.
Surprised and moved, she quickly took out a handful of silver notes from her arms and handed it to Hua Rujin: "Rujin, this is the three thousand taels of silver that my aunt and everyone collected. It seems that Miss He's family earned
If you can’t get it, my aunt really can’t make it with eight thousand taels, so just accept these reluctantly.”
"Auntie, you're welcome. You had good intentions and wanted to help our family. Now that something has happened, I should step forward and do my best."
While Hua Rujin replied, she did not forget to secretly look at Shu Jinxuan who was silent on the side.
Shu Jinxuan complained secretly: I wanted to help my uncle, but I never wanted to almost put him in jail.
If her cousin hadn't convinced Wen Yuming, I might have regretted it for the rest of my life.
Thinking of this, he silently glanced at Hua Rujin with admiration.
"Miss Hua, just accept these banknotes. It's your skill anyway. Without you, we don't know what to do."
At this time, the merchants around Lu He came out one after another and echoed: "Miss Hua, we are convinced that you have earned this money. Just accept it. Don't refuse anymore."
Looking at everyone's sincere eyes, Hua Rujin slowly took out three banknotes from Lu He's hand, held them in her hand, and said with a faint smile: "Then I will take these three hundred taels, and the rest will be paid back to my aunt."
Let me tell you, this errand is not easy, and you don’t have to hang around here. Go home as soon as possible and tell your family the good news so that they don’t have to worry."
"Okay, thank you, Miss Hua."
Everyone thanked him again and then dispersed one after another.
Lu He still had a lot of things to do, so he collected the remaining banknotes and quickly took Hua Minze to say goodbye.
It can be recalled that it was the cousin of the Shu family who helped Liufang in the first place, because he had a quarrel with Hua Junyao a few days ago.
At this moment, when she thought about it, she was filled with guilt. Before the carriage left, she still stuck her head out and said: "Rujin, you have time to go home and see your cousins."
Hua Rujin's heart trembled when she heard this.
The last thing anyone wants to see these days is a widow. The fact that this aunt is willing to invite her to her home shows that she recognizes her from the bottom of her heart.
While she was happy, she quickly replied with a smile: "My niece has made a note of it, and she will definitely visit her uncle and auntie when she has free time."
Watching the Lu family's carriage leave in a hurry, Hua Rujin came back to her senses and found that the only people left in front of the huge state government office were her elegant cousin and the jade-white figure leading a black horse not far away.
The two masters and servants were looking here in awe, and when they noticed Hua Rujin's gaze, they looked at each other and smiled.