Before leaving, Hu Xiaotian asked Liang Yinghao and Xiong Tianba to stay. With their force, they could temporarily overwhelm the guards to prevent the samurai from forcibly sending the refugees back to the ship. Seeing the shabby strips of Xiasha Port
Ships, I am afraid that many ships will be capsized by the rough waves before they can return halfway. In fact, many shipwrecks have occurred during this period, and as many as a thousand refugees have died as a result. This kind of bad
The situation is still going on.
Li Chengming accompanied Hu Xiaotian to the Yamen. The prefect's mansion was also left by Dayong's side in the past. The building was not small in size, but the gate was deserted. There were not many people coming in and out of the prefect's mansion in Nuo Da. Li Chengming explained to Hu Xiaotian on the way that he was in Dongda.
Liangjun was only in name but not in reality. Except for a few civilian officials under his command, he could not command anyone else at all.
The current masters of Dongliang County are actually several wealthy local businessmen. The leader is Hu Zhongyang, a well-known shipping businessman. In his glory days, he owned more than 200 large and small merchant ships. After Dongliang County returned to Dakang,
, he massively reduced the scale of shipping, and there were still as many as fifty. It was also his idea to organize wealthy businessmen in the city to raise funds and form a escort team. In fact, before Dongliang County returned to Dakang, most of the wealthy businessmen had already moved to Dayong.
Most of the people left behind were unable to leave their homeland, and of course a large number of them believed that Dayong would definitely take back Dongliang County in a short time.
Hu Xiaotian didn't bother to settle down, and asked Li Chengming to invite several prominent figures from Dongliang County to the Yamen. Logically speaking, today was the first day Hu Xiaotian arrived, and these local businessmen should have lined up to welcome him. However, these people all chose to avoid it.
Obviously, Hu Xiaotian, the new city lord, was not given any face.
Li Mingcheng was also in a dilemma. He knew the local situation very well and knew that even if he went to invite him personally, these people might not be willing to give him face. However, he had to obey Hu Xiaotian's order and could only bite the bullet and do it.
As expected, it didn't take long for the prefect Li Mingcheng to come back dejectedly. No one was willing to give him face. They all either said they had something to do or simply stayed behind closed doors.
Li Mingcheng said with a bitter face: "Master Hu, there is really no way to do this."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. When he first arrived in your land, this group of merchants actually twisted the rope to give him a warning. As the new city lord of Dongliang County, I invite you to come and you will not come. This is simply a toast and a penalty drink.
ah.
Li Mingcheng thought to himself, although you, Hu Xiaotian, are the future prince-in-law of Dakang, the situation in Dongliang County is special. With just the few of you, there is probably nothing you can do, and you will end up like me in the end.
Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally wanted to discuss the refugees with them. In this case, there is no need to discuss it. Li Mingcheng, go and pass my order to release the refugees who have arrived at Xiasha Port. No one can stop them.
Otherwise, it will be treated as treason."
"What?" Li Mingcheng's eyes widened in shock.
Hu Xiaotian said: "Didn't you hear what I said? Also, those so-called escorts are not a Dakang establishment at all. How can the private sector organize armed forces privately? As a local official, you actually turned a blind eye to this. If we were to investigate
, I’m afraid you’re in a lot of trouble, right? Pass my order and immediately disband the so-called escorts. If anyone dares to call themselves the escorts, they are treason!”
Li Mingcheng took a breath of air. He had no choice but to reach a tacit agreement with the businessmen in this regard. The court would not send troops. He and a few staff alone could not manage such a large Dongliang County. Hu Xiaotian had just
When he came to Dongliang County, he pretended to be reasonable, but he didn't expect that his first decision would be so arbitrary. Li Mingcheng could only sigh secretly. If he does what Hu Xiaotian does, Dongliang County will definitely fall into chaos in less than three days.
among.
Li Mingcheng could only go to Xiasha Port to deliver orders. The two orders given by Hu Xiaotian were like thunder on the ground. He first disbanded the escort team, and then allowed these refugees to enter Dongliang County. In the eyes of the people of Dongliang County, this newcomer
The city lord simply wanted to add fuel to the fire and make things worse, fearing that Dongliang County was not chaotic enough and would forcefully destroy this good city.
In the afternoon, Xiong Tianba and others came back. Hu Xiaotian asked about the latest situation. Xiong Tianba said cheerfully: "Li Mingcheng came over and sent an order to disband the escort immediately and let the refugees into the city. The whole Xiasha Port was filled with cheers.
, those refugees called you Lord Qingtian, and some of the guards tried to stop you, but I kicked you into the river."
Liang Yinghao stood aside but did not speak, his face looked extremely solemn.
Hu Xiaotian knew that he was mature and prudent, so he smiled and said: "Yinghao, just say what you have to say."
Liang Yinghao said: "Master, there are no troops stationed in Dongliang County. Although the thousand guards are private organizations, they are the guarantee of maintaining public order. You disband them all. This Dongliang County must be in chaos. Also,
, Although those refugees are pitiful, if they continue to swarm in like this endlessly, I am afraid that the local people in Dongliang County will also be affected, and Dongliang County is not far from collapse."
Hu Xiaotian laughed, how could he not think of these obvious things?
Xiong Tianba said: "Hey, brother Liang, don't worry, my third uncle will definitely have a way."
Liang Yinghao glared at this guy. This guy made sure to call him Brother Liang. In terms of seniority, he should be a generation above him.
Hu Xiaotian said: "I have no choice. I wanted to discuss it with a few local businessmen, but none of these guys gave me face. Since I won't eat the toast, I can only give them a glass of fine wine first."
Before Hu Xiaotian finished speaking, Li Mingcheng hurried in and said breathlessly: "Master Hu, Master Hu... There are dozens of businessmen outside, and they want to see you."
Hu Xiaotian said calmly: "I asked them to come, but they refused to come. Now they come on their own initiative. Are these people being mean?"
Li Mingcheng said: "Sir, do you want to see me or not?"
Hu Xiaotian said: "See, I don't have to be as knowledgeable as these snobbish businessmen, but let the leader come in. I'm not interested in seeing the others, and I don't have the time to see them."
Li Mingcheng now began to understand the original intention of Hu Xiaotian's two orders. It was the indifferent attitude of these businessmen that angered Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian used some tricks to get these businessmen to come to see him obediently. Although he achieved his goal, Li Mingcheng
Mingcheng always felt that something was wrong. After all, these businessmen controlled the economic lifeline of Dongliang County. If they were angered, what would happen if they were not protected? Seeing that Hu Xiaotian looked calm and composed, as if he had a plan in mind, could it be that this young man already had a plan to deal with it?
?
Hu Zhongyang walked into the middle hall and saw the new city lord Hu Xiaotian sitting there alone and quietly drinking tea. Li Ming became Hu Zhongyang's introduction and said: "Brother Zhongyang, this is the new city lord Mr. Hu!"
Hu Zhongyang is thirty-nine years old, with a strong build, purple complexion, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He walks with a strong spirit, clasping his hands and saying: "Hu Zhongyang, a common man, comes to see Mr. Hu!"
Hu Xiaotian smiled slightly, looked at Hu Zhongyang, pointed to the seat that had been prepared for him and said: "Please sit down!"
After thanking Hu Zhongyang, he sat down and looked at Hu Xiaotian quietly. Although he had heard of Hu Xiaotian's name a long time ago, he did not expect that Hu Xiaotian was so young. He couldn't help but feel contempt in his heart. You, Hu Xiaotian, are nothing more than a dandy from the capital.
Don’t you understand that a strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake? Do you think that since the imperial court gave you Dongliang County, you can really take over everything here?
Hu Xiaotian asked someone to serve tea, looked at Hu Zhongyang with a smile and said, "Why did Hu Caidong come to me?"
Hu Zhongyang said: "Sir Hu, the common people have just heard that Mr. Hu came to Dongliang County and issued two orders. One is to disband the escort team, and the other is to allow refugees who sneak across the river to enter Dongliang County freely without anyone blocking them?
"
Hu Xiaotian took a sip of tea, nodded and said, "It's true!"
Hu Zhongyang said: "Don't you know the situation in Dongliang County, sir?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I'm new to your place, so I really don't know what's going on here."
Hu Zhongyang secretly sighed, you don't understand anything, why are you giving random orders? Of course, you can't say this directly. He sighed and said: "Sir, since Dongliang County returned to Dakang, Dakang has only sent officials and
No soldiers were sent, and there was not a single garrison in Dongliang County, let alone any garrison. The people in Dongliang County have always been simple and honest, and the people did not close their homes at night without picking up leftovers on the road. The situation has always been relatively stable, but in the past six months, there has been a large number of people.
Kang kept having refugees crossing the Yongjiang River into Dongliang County, and the situation here gradually became worse. We applied to the government many times, asking the court to send troops to assist in management, but the court never took any action. In desperation, we
We can only donate our own funds to form a security team to maintain public security in the city and protect the legitimate interests of the people."
Hu Xiaotian said: "Does the court agree with you doing this?"
Hu Zhongyang said: "Master Li said that he has already reported it to the court."
Li Mingcheng said awkwardly: "I have indeed submitted a letter to the court, but the court has not approved it."
Hu Xiaotian said calmly: "That means the imperial court does not agree with you to organize an army privately!"
Hu Zhongyang said: "Master Hu, we are not an army, but a team that guards the security of the city and ensures the safety of property."
Hu Xiaotian said: "What's the difference? Without the consent of the imperial court, you privately formed an army. Even if you have no intention of rebellion, at least you will be punished for contempt of the imperial court!"
Hu Zhongyang argued: "Master Hu, without this escort team and with the continuous influx of refugees, Dongliang County would have collapsed long ago. We can't bear to see our hometown reduced to this, so we did this."
Hu Xiaotian said: "There are a few things you must be clear about. First, Dongliang County is the land of Dakang, not any of you. You have no right to refuse the people of Dakang to appear here, let alone turn them away.
Outside the gate. Secondly, the emperor gave this place to Princess Yongyang as a fief, and I was appointed as the city lord of Dongliang County, which means that only I have the qualifications to decide whether the escort is necessary or not." (To be completed.)
