The more Li Mu talked about it, the sadder he became, and his eyes turned red. Humanity is that men do not shed tears easily, but they are not sad yet. The more he behaved like this, the more the people watching became suspicious of what had happened to Mr. Hou.
, to be forced into such a situation, to cry in public?
Looking at the looks in the eyes of everyone, Li Mu thought to himself, "Whatever happens, I have to arrange a few caretakers, and expecting the people to respond spontaneously is really a waste of time." He raised his sleeves to cover his face, and stared.
Looking at Li Tai next to him, Li Tai still had some tacit understanding and guessed what Li Mu was thinking, and said: "Brother, you can tell me how those evil people forced you. The people all know what you are like, and they definitely don't agree.
If they misunderstand you, please speak out quickly and expose their crimes to the world!"
With Li Tai in the lead, the people finally knew what they should say, and they all started asking questions. Li Mu still didn't say anything at first. The more he didn't say anything, the more people asked, and finally they were "forced to have no choice".
, Li Mu had no choice but to tell the 'truth'.
"Everyone really wants to ask, so I won't hide it. Some people know it, some don't know it, so I'll tell you all today. I started my business by making wine. When I was in Chang'an, I made my first profit by making wine.
money. When I arrived in Luoyang, I moved the winery here. Food was needed for wine making, so I ordered him to go down and put a notice at the door of the winery to buy food every day. But before the locust plague came, it took more than ten days.
It’s something.”
"At that time, there was no sign of a locust plague. Logically speaking, Luoyang City should not be short of food. But it was strange. I asked for three thousand kilograms of grain, but I could only receive about one thousand kilograms every day. For several days in a row,
If this is the case, I wonder, why can’t I buy food even if I have money?”
"So, I sent someone to check." Li Mu said, and became angry: "It doesn't matter if you don't check. This investigation made me very angry! It turns out that as early as a few months ago, someone was buying up grain reserves.
, they collected all the grain stored in Luoyang within a radius of 800 miles! How much grain Luoyang City has every day is completely under their control. How much they release, how much can we buy, want to buy more? No!"
Li Mu said angrily: "Eight hundred miles of grain, what a big deal! At that time, I just thought they were trying to prevent me from making money by brewing wine. Although I was angry, I thought that after all, it did not affect the people's lives and they would not let me make money.
No more profit. At worst, when the new grain comes, I will buy it in advance and prepare the grain for next year’s brewing. I tolerated this without saying a word."
"But I didn't expect that the target of their purchase of stored grain was not me!" Li Mu gritted his teeth: "Less than half a month after this happened, the locust plague broke out. Only then did I understand why they purchased stored grain! They wanted to make a fortune from the disaster!
It’s just that I don’t understand, how did they know in advance that the locust plague would occur? But in any case, they predicted the natural disaster, but did not inform the court officials, but purchased grain in advance with the intention of making huge profits. Their intentions are punishable! But there are
What can I do? Although I have seen through everything, they have not broken the law after all. If that is not what they mean, there is no excuse for wanting to incriminate them! I can only endure it and continue to endure it!"
Li Mu said sadly: "The only thing I could do at that time was to strictly prohibit the price increase of food in Luoyang City. It is said in the market that it was my refusal to bow my head that made Luoyang City run out of food. God has mercy on me.
See, what an injustice this is! If those merchants are willing to help purchase grain, let alone bow their heads, even kneel down and kowtow, for the sake of the people in the city, I will not say a word! Even if they are killed at the provocation, I will
Hou will not frown! But is the matter really that simple? My original intention is not to let the people suffer from natural disasters and man-made disasters. Who would have thought that those behind the scenes who failed to succeed would join forces to
If I don't let the price increase, they will let Luoyang City run out of food! It's them who threaten me with the lives of people all over the city!"
"Common people!" Li Mu's tears had been prepared for a long time. With this sad cry, they flowed down his cheeks: "You think, what should I do? Of course I can compromise and collude with them. My status is
Here, how much money they make, at least I can share it with you! But if you do this, you will all be cheated! Think with your toes to how high the price of food will rise! I checked the county annals and found out
During the first locust plague, food prices soared thirty-two times. How many of you can afford such expensive food? Even if you can afford it by selling your houses and land, what will happen when the locust plague is over? Are you willing to be slaves and maids to be driven by others?
A lifetime?"
"I can't bear it, I can't bear it!"
"Therefore, even though I knew that I could only store enough food for ten days, I refused to give in. During these days, I asked the court for help while actively providing disaster relief. Ma Zhou, the chief minister of the Hou Mansion, was killed on the first day of the locust plague.
I arranged to collect grain along the canal, but my opponent was already prepared. He went all the way north along the canal, but he couldn't collect any grain!" Li Mu burst into tears: "Last night, I sat in the courtyard and looked up.
Sky, I really want to die! Maybe the sky has eyes, and the Golden Immortal came to the world and gave this life-saving incense. Now it's better, at least half of the autumn grain can be saved, we people in Luoyang City
There’s help!”
"Common people!" Li Mu straightened his waist and shouted: "As soon as the autumn grain comes, tell me, do you think I should be low on this? Are you willing to bow your head and eat dry food that you can't afford for a few days, or drink?
How many days will it take for the gruel to wait for the new grain to arrive? Tell me what to choose!"
The atmosphere has been heightened. When the common people heard these details, their eyes were red with anger. If the shopkeepers of several grain stores hadn't run away quickly when they saw something bad, they would have been eaten alive! When they heard Li Mu's cry
, everyone shouted at the top of their lungs: "Don't bow your head while drinking porridge! We can't let them succeed!"
"Okay! Let's get out of the city first and burn all the locusts to death!"
"Let's go!"/"Let's go together!"
The Jin Yiwei led the way, and the people who had been calling for an explanation from Li Mu now seemed to have become his dead soldiers, and they all ran out of the city howling. Li Mu raised his hands and rubbed them, crying for a long time, but only
With tears streaming down his eyes, he nodded happily and winked at Li Tai and Dugujiu beside him: "Let's go, let's go back too."
"Brother, why don't you come over and take a look?"
"What are you looking at? What's so interesting about burning locusts?" Li Mu climbed on the horse's back and stretched his waist: "Your sister-in-law is about to give birth. Now that the matter has been resolved, I am not allowed to accompany her?"
…
Tai Chi Palace.
Li Shimin was discussing with Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji about allocating food relief to Luoyang.
"Report——" A young eunuch ran directly into the palace gate without reporting. But everyone was not surprised, because looking at his clothes, they knew that he was from the Dongchang. It must be that the Dongchang had an urgent report, otherwise it would be wrong
Wouldn't be so rude.
Li Shimin signaled Fang Xuanling to wait a moment and signaled the young eunuch to bring up the urgent memorial.
Li Shimin checked the paint and opened the envelope. He took out the secret report and took a look at it. He couldn't help but feel happy. He waved his hand and dismissed the young eunuch. He couldn't help but smile and said to Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji.
: "My dear friends, don't worry. Li Mu has already solved the locust plague in Luoyang."
"Has the locust plague been solved?" Fang Xuanling's eyes widened: "Your Majesty, this is not a joke. How to solve the locust plague? I have never heard of any dynasty that solved the locust plague since ancient times. How did Li Mu do it?
"
"We still don't know how to do it, but the news from Dongchang will never be wrong." Li Shimin seemed to have a hidden secret and was unwilling to say it clearly. He just said: "This news was sent urgently from 800 miles away. The specific details will be released in the past two days."
There will be eyebrows."
Fang Xuanling was doubtful and said: "Your Majesty, I still can't believe this. I think we should make preparations."
"I know what's going on, so please step back first."
After Li Shimin said this, Fang Xuanling was naturally inconvenient to ask any more questions, and the two of them bowed and left. When they turned to leave, Li Shimin winked at Changsun Wuji, who nodded slightly, and followed Fang Xuanling out.
After a while, he turned back from the secret passage.
"Look at this." Li Shimin handed the letter to Changsun Wuji. Changsun Wuji lowered his head to read carefully and frowned. He returned the secret letter to Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, is the news false?"
"Absolutely not." Eunuch Gao answered. He had just read the secret letter: "This secret letter was delivered all the way from Luoyang back to Chang'an. The ink, seal, and secret code on the letter were not passed through the hands of anyone else on the way.
The records are all correct and there will never be any falsehoods.”
"But this is too bizarre. The Taibai Venus has even appeared -" Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly and said, "I think it's very ridiculous."
"I also think it's ridiculous, but that incense does work. Didn't you see what's written on it? A stick of incense can attract locusts for miles around. A fire can burn hundreds of pounds to death. If it weren't for the secret method of the immortal family,
How to explain?”
Changsun Wuji thought for a moment and said, "Li Mu is used to inventing strange things. Maybe he invented this by accident."
"Even so." Li Shimin asked again: "Then how do you explain the flames that appeared on his palms when he hit the 'Heavenly Master' on the high platform? The letter was clearly written in class. He raised his hands to follow the fire, and the flames floated
On the palm prints, it burned the man's clothes!"
"This, this may be a cover-up -" Changsun Wuji didn't know what to say, but he still didn't believe that Li Mu would be the reincarnation of the Golden Immortal. No normal person would believe such nonsense, right?
At this moment, the secret passage's mechanism sounded again, and Yuan Tiangang came out of the secret passage. Li Shimin saw him and immediately said: "Look at this."
Yuan Tiangang did not dare to neglect, and read the letter from beginning to end, but did not express his attitude immediately, but looked at Eunuch Gao. This happened in Luoyang yesterday, and his bad guy has not yet sent back the news.
, but Dongchang has already sent the news to Li Shimin’s desk. Is Dongchang’s efficiency already so high?
"Ai Qing, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, I think it may be true or false."
When Eunuch Gao heard this, of course he would not let go of the opportunity to ridicule, and said with a sneer: "Master Yuan, it seems that this is not said. It is either true or false. How can it be true or false? It is hard for people to understand."
Yuan Tiangang ignored it and explained to himself: "Your Majesty, I have reported to your Majesty that Li Mu, known to the locals in Mayi, was originally a simple and dull character, which was completely different from his current appearance. But when he changed,
About a year and a half ago, something strange was discovered. There was a comet crossing the sky. I believe that it was not only me who saw it, but also His Majesty, Eunuch Gao, and my uncle. Counting the time, it coincides with each other.
"
"There have long been rumors in the community that the Marquis is gifted and intelligent. He was born with wisdom and was a banished immortal to the earth. If you go by what is said in this letter, it will be correct. Therefore, I said that this matter may be
Really. It’s just..." Yuan Tiangang pursed his lips and did not continue.
Li Shimin asked: "What are you hiding and hiding at this time? But what, you are telling me?"
"Your Majesty, the image of Taibai Jinxing in Taoism is that he is the special envoy of the Jade Emperor, responsible for conveying various orders, so he is loved by people. However, the Yin and Yang family believes that he is the god of war, in charge of war, and the master of killing. Taibai Jinxing is in special
The appearance of time and area is a symbol of "change in the sky", which means that something big is about to happen. "Hanshu Tianwenzhi": "Taibai Jingtian is the revolution of the world, and the people are king." Yuan Tiangang ignored it and explained to himself
: "Your Majesty, I once reported to Your Majesty that Li Mu, known to the locals in Mayi, was originally a simple and dull character, which was completely different from his current appearance. And when he changed, it was probably a year and a half ago. At that time
A strange thing was discovered. There was a comet crossing the sky. I believe that I was not the only one to see it. Your Majesty, Eunuch Gao, and my uncle also saw it. Calculating the time, it coincides with each other."
"There have long been rumors in the community that the Marquis is gifted and intelligent. He was born with wisdom and was a banished immortal to the earth. If you go by what is said in this letter, it will be correct. Therefore, I said that this matter may be
Really. It’s just..." Yuan Tiangang pursed his lips and did not continue.
Li Shimin asked: "What are you hiding and hiding at this time? But what, you are telling me?"
"Your Majesty, the image of Taibai Jinxing in Taoism is that he is the special envoy of the Jade Emperor, responsible for conveying various orders, so he is loved by people. However, the Yin and Yang family believes that he is the god of war, in charge of war, and the master of killing. Taibai Jinxing is in special
The appearance of time and area is a symbol of "change in the sky", which means that something big is about to happen. "Hanshu Tianwenzhi": "Taibai Jingtian is the revolution of the world and the king of the people." "Your Majesty, the role of Taibai Venus in Taoism
The figure is the special envoy of the Jade Emperor, responsible for conveying various orders, so he is loved by people. However, the Yin and Yang family believes that he is the god of war, in charge of war, and the master of killing. Taibai Venus appears in a special time and area, which is a sign of "changes in the sky".
" is a symbol, representing that something big is about to happen. "Hanshu Astronomical Chronicles": "Taibai Jingtian is the revolution of the world, and the people are king."