Zhurou

How could Zhao Mingzhi guess what the two of them were thinking, but even if he could guess, he wouldn't pay much attention to it.

She has always put stability first, so of course she would not just find two agricultural officials to do such an important matter.

After sending people to the street to investigate the turmoil, Zhao Mingzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that it had subsided temporarily and the yamen was packing up.

She was busy with a few more things, and when she saw that the time was almost up, she called shopkeeper Li into the palace.

This person came a little later, holding a thick booklet in his hand, as soon as he entered the door, he just saluted in a hurry and presented the booklet without saying anything. , and the number of grain and fields recognized by it.

Zhao Mingzhi flipped through the book, and the first page had already totaled the numbers, which was unexpectedly better than expected. When he turned to the book and browsed one by one, and then asked questions, the shopkeeper Li answered it even more properly. Memorize its contents by heart.

After he finished reporting the number, how many were there in the Jingzhong Grain and Grain Group, how many of them responded, how many could not be contacted, and how many still had to be answered, he continued: "Because I am a little anxious today, there are still some The grain shop failed to contact..."

"Some grain merchants have already moved to the south, and only the shopkeepers or family members are left. They all say that they can't make decisions, and they have to send letters to ask. of……"

To be able to come up with such a sum, it is natural that Pei Yong donated to her Hengsheng and other several food companies that gave up their family resources, recognized the land and donated the most food.

However, except for a few places in Hengsheng, the bottom is sparse.

For example, Changlong Grain Store, which is the largest in scale and has the most branches in Beijing, counts it carefully. It recognizes that the land is only a hundred mu, and the grain donation is only a hundred stones. It is really unsightly.

Zhao Mingzhi had done some research a long time ago, and seeing that many of the names were very familiar, he asked, "Is this Changlong Grain Company owned by Han Chengxian?"

Shopkeeper Li replied: "Your Highness remembers well. Han Chengxian only said that he wanted to return to his hometown. There is not much left, either sold or transported away, everything is here..."

Zhao Mingzhi nodded noncommittally.

Seeing another familiar name, she asked again: "Isn't the owner of the Huiliang line Xu Qiong? Why are there two numbers written under his name?"

Shopkeeper Li hurriedly said: "I was just about to explain this matter to Your Highness. There are two numbers in the book of Dehui Liangxing. The first one was reported together with everyone, and the second one was added by him alone. , and specifically asked not to be seen by others.”

Zhao Mingzhi lowered his head to look, and saw that the grain offerings listed in the first item were only a few dozen shi, and the recognized land was only a dozen or so hectares, which was only a little better than Han Chengxian and his ilk. Thousands of stones, and thousands of hectares of farmland, which is hundreds of times more than that publicly claimed by Dehui Grain Bank.

"Is this the folk custom?" Zhao Mingzhi stared at the book in his hand, and then whispered after a long time.

It is a good thing to donate food and recognize the land, but one day someone will do something good so afraid of making it public, and looking at Xu Qiong's performance, the reluctance to make it public is not just out of being humble and mediocre, and obviously more afraid of being caught in a group regarded as traitors.

Looking at the leopard in the pipe, one can imagine what the situation is in the eyes of everyone at this time, and what the image of the Zhao family is, and they don't even bother to give face.

Shopkeeper Li opened his mouth and said: "Although there are selfish people who are greedy for life, there are also people like Xu Qiong who have righteous hearts..."

Zhao Mingzhi shook his head and said: "Who is not greedy for life, who is not selfish? It's just the nature. In fact, it's not just an act, let alone blame. It's just that at this time the righteous people want to dodge and betray others. In the final analysis, it is naturally the court's fault, the emperor's fault." responsibility."

She could criticize Chaotang and Zhao's family at will, but shopkeeper Li didn't dare to listen, let alone agree, so he had to pretend to be dumb and stand with hands tied.

But shopkeeper Li was very flexible in his mind, he was silent for a while, and then said again: "It's better to go and persuade the younger ones. The grain companies dare not admit it. In fact, there is no one to take the lead. Our family has acted in a low-key manner these years. It is difficult to be the leader, but as long as someone takes the lead in the leader, it will be useful..."

He said again: "In addition, people are also sent to the south to deliver letters..."

Answering like this means that you don't want to, so why bother?
Zhao Mingzhi closed the booklet in his hand, and said: "It doesn't have to be like this, whether it's to recognize the land or donate food, it should all be voluntary, and it won't go to the point of persuasion."

At this time, I sent a letter to ask, given the current situation, I don’t know that it will be the year of the monkey when the letter comes back. If there is no answer in the reply, I will ask again and again, and I will not give an answer when the rice is ripe. Meaningless.

She thinks that no matter whether she recognizes the land or donates grain, once she takes a long-term view, as long as Da Jin can breathe, the gains will definitely outweigh the losses for the grain merchants in Beijing.

And if the capital falls and the imperial court really moves south, there will be a result of the country being ruined in the end. The so-called overturned nest will have no eggs.

What's more, the theory of losing money is just that the profit is not as much as when it is unconscionable, but it is actually a lot of profit.

However, based on what the Zhao family did in the past, who dares to believe it, and is willing to believe it?
Today's fruit, yesterday's cause, no wonder others.

She said "Thanks for your hard work", and after a few words of encouragement, she revealed the matter and asked someone to take out the pattern of rice seeds she had prepared.

Shopkeeper Li took the picture, listened to what Zhao Mingzhi had to say, and then carefully read the text description above, then checked the picture, and finally said: "Just look at this picture, although it looks familiar, but I always look at the seedlings and ears of rice. It's better to be a specialist, I don't dare to identify it at once, I wonder if I can take this picture to the grain store, so that people can engrave a few more copies, and distribute it everywhere, I can get some news within three days return."

He added: "It's really not possible. If it's not appropriate to publicize it in the name of the imperial court, you can also hand it over to the head of the grain store to put up a notice. Whether it's rewarding silver or grain in the store, it can be used as a reward... "

Zhao Mingzhi couldn't help nodding when he heard the words.

And no matter how the errand is handled in the end, it is really difficult to be picky with such an attitude.

When the two sides were talking about it, Zhao Mingzhi couldn't help asking again: "I heard that there are many people rushing into the grain store in the city today. How did it spread outside, in your opinion, what is the situation?"

Shopkeeper Li said: "When I entered the palace, it was very quiet outside. First, the government of the capital was dispatched, and then many officers came. It seems that there is no difference from usual."

He didn't dare to look at Zhao Mingzhi, he just stared at the big brick on the ground in front of him and said: "So that His Highness will know, there are actually signs of this matter, every grain shop is hoarding grain and waiting for a high price, selling it under pressure every day, That’s all for three or five days, but today, many shops don’t even have a few stones and grains in stock, and the buyers lined up outside for half a day, so how can they not be angry? It’s not entirely to blame for the trouble.”

He also said: "There are all kinds of rumors out there. Most of them think that Liangxing deserves it. Some think that although Liangxing has a big mouth, they say that those refugees are not good things. It's like a dog biting a dog. It's best to punish Liangxing first and tell them to honestly keep the money they have hidden. The food is sold, and the refugees should be beaten and locked up. We can’t leave them running around and causing trouble everywhere..."

Speaking of it, the two don't help each other.

Zhao Mingzhi asked again: "How many people in the city have gone south recently?"

Shopkeeper Li said: "Don't dare to lie to Your Highness, those who are able to leave have already gone a long time ago. His Majesty already followed a group when he traveled south that day, and another group ran away when Xuzhou was besieged. Yes, it’s actually much better than before—thanks to His Highness’s timely arrival, it can be regarded as stabilizing the hearts of the people.”

Zhao Mingzhi paused slightly, but he knew it was just flattery, and he didn't take it seriously.

She asked a few more questions about the grain and rice seeds in the warehouse list that Pei Yong gave the day before yesterday, and then let him go.

After the shopkeeper Li left, he first sent the blueprint to be printed, but he himself was not in a hurry to go back to the grain store.

He was about to turn to the west of the city, but before he was halfway there, he heard someone shout from a restaurant beside the road: "Shopkeeper Li, wait!"

He is a familiar boy.

Shopkeeper Li turned his head to look, feeling strange, just as he was about to ask a question, he heard someone from the restaurant shouting: "Brother Li, please come up quickly!"

He looked up, and the person sticking his head out of the window was Yuanwai Han whom he had only seen in the afternoon.

Shopkeeper Li cupped his hands and said: "I still have something to do, but I don't know what orders the staff have, why not later..."

As he said, the horse under his crotch did not stop, and was about to start the horse again, but a person ran out from the gate of the restaurant, which was another person in the group that he saw in the afternoon.

As soon as this person showed his head, he didn't care about others, he ran all the way to pull shopkeeper Li off his saddle, and said: "I had a banquet with Han Yuanwai, I really need you urgently, I don't need to delay, I just need to give you a cup of tea!"

Speaking of this, shopkeeper Li couldn't refuse anymore, so he quickly got off his horse and said, "Why do you ask the two of you to set up a table..."

While talking, he was dragged into the restaurant.

The man did not exaggerate, as soon as he entered the box on the second floor, there was already a table of dishes in it.

That Han Yuanwai actually came to greet him in person, first he asked about his health, and before the shopkeeper Li refused, he said: "I know Brother Li is busy with things, so I won't delay you, but one thing happened really suddenly, we asked around for a while. In the circle, no one knows the inside story, fortunately there is Brother Li who is no better than ordinary people, now I have no choice but to ask you..."

He straightened his sleeves and said, "My family has a warehouse in the west of the city, in which some other people's grains are stored. According to the original arrangement, it will be sent to the south today, but for some reason, it is at Xinzheng Gate. He was detained by the officer."

Shopkeeper Li looked surprised, and said, "Why did you get stopped when you went out of the city?"

Han Yuanwai wryly smiled and said, "If I knew what was going on, I wouldn't have come to look for Brother Li in such a hurry."

As he spoke, he winked at his side, and the attendants at the side immediately turned to guard the door, blocking Xiao Er who was about to enter the door.

Han Yuanwai poured tea for shopkeeper Li himself, and said earnestly: "If the food is all from my own family, it's fine to donate it to the court directly, but it's a pity that it's all other people's things—the family in Jinling City is named Qin, and I belong to the Han family. That’s good, the ones used to save the lives of a whole family really can’t be detained here, they have to be transported to Jinling earlier.”

Apart from the staff member Han, the other person beside him also hurriedly interjected: "The grain shipped out from my store went to the south of the city, and it was also deducted. It was all ordered by a big family years ago, and it's almost time for delivery. The goods were suddenly seized, how to explain this??"

"Brother, you are also in business, so you naturally know that the word 'letter' is important. I have asked someone to search for it. In the past, there were a few people who knew me well in the capital government office, but they all said that the gate of the city had already been handed over." , not under the control of the yamen, and was replaced by Pei Yong, the Jiedu envoy from the west."

"I've searched and searched, but no one is familiar with that Pei Jiedu. I want people to go to his door to inquire, not to mention me, it's hard to get close to you, let alone ask questions. Fortunately, someone saw you going in and out. In the military camp in the west of the city, I heard that several military lords in the same camp were also close, and because they were desperate, they had no choice but to embarrass you, brother..."

Shopkeeper Li quickly shook his head and said, "How can I find out about things like guarding the city gates? Instead of staying close and seeking far away, you two, why don't you just ask the officers and soldiers who withhold food what they mean? Don't you give me any?"

"I gave the words, but I didn't..." Han Yuan suddenly paused in the middle of speaking.

The person next to him continued: "It is said that a notice has been posted in the morning, and the whole city will prepare for war from noon today. Food, fodder, ordnance, gold and silver, etc., can only enter and cannot exit."

He paused and said, "It's only given such a short time, and the city is in such a mess today, how can people react in time?!"

He also said: "It is also said that those who have been detained have to go to the camp in the west of the city to search for them, and act according to the instructions - I am afraid that once I ask, it will be difficult to change the tone, so I want to ask someone to help me in the middle Be flexible."

Han Yuanwai also said: "That's the reason. I have no way to go, so I can only trouble my brother. This matter is not just related to our family. I don't know how many people will be affected. If you can help, others I dare not say, my place will definitely be rewarded in the future!"

Shopkeeper Li hurriedly got up and said: "You two are too considerate of me, I am just an errand runner, how can I get in this way."

He said again: "Although I have been to the camp in the west of the city, but for business..."

He wanted to say more, but Han Yuanwai had already got up and saluted: "My brother, don't shirk, just help to try, we have no difference whether it succeeds or not - besides, Hengsheng has changed its owner, everyone knows When the princess entered the city that day, what was Pei Jiedu's attitude, and what was the attitude of the Western Army, and in your capacity, the Western Army should give some face."

Shopkeeper Li said helplessly: "With my status, how can I get the honor of His Highness... Forget it, since I am going to the west of the city, I will go to the camp with you to ask."

The two were overjoyed, and they didn't inform that the rest of the grain was being detained, let alone show any signs of expression. The other grain merchant had planned to send someone to follow shopkeeper Li, but seeing that Yuanwai Han was going there in person, he hurriedly followed .

When a group of people arrived at the camp in the west of the city, they gave their names first, and the defenders heard it and pointed to the opposite side.

There was another place outside the camp, and it was surrounded by a courtyard with no visible edge. There were people driving cars in a steady stream. The cars were full of grain and baggage. I don't know which family was confiscated. thing.

After entering the outer hall, there were three or two people standing sparsely inside. Among them, an officer in light armor clicked on the bulletin board hanging on the wall and said: "No gold or silver is needed, and it's not confiscated, but it's just temporarily detained." , if you want to take it out, just follow the instructions above."

He said again: "Didn't you give a briefing to all the tour groups in your city in the morning? The nearby merchants are all fine, why are you only one or two grain merchants asking repeatedly?"

There were two piles of foot-high manuscripts piled up on the table in front of him, and he pointed casually at this moment and said, "Take it and read it."

Shopkeeper Li and the other two took a few steps forward, and also took a document. They only scanned it once, but they had different expressions.

"But I don't know where the pass was sent? Why don't we all know." Another grain merchant in the room asked.

The officer said: "Your regiment will give it wherever it is - the writing must have been delivered, and someone has made a red sign, and you will know when you go back."

Naturally, all the people expressed their thanks repeatedly, holding the documents and reading them at that time.

It turns out that according to the document, the control of the city will be strict from now on, food and luggage should not go out at will, and one person can only carry two buckets of rice with him. If there is more than that, it needs to be notified in advance.

In the past, those with less than [-] shi need to submit the signed contract to the city defense army for record, and then the buyer will issue three acknowledgments of purchase, one to the city defense army, and the other two to the Kyoto government and the local yamen of the buyer. .

If the quantity of the transaction is more than [-] shi, a letter from the local business group or yamen is required to show that they are aware of the matter, in case the buyer gets the grain and hoards it locally.

"Even if the letter is sent at this time, it will take ten days and a half months before the letter comes back...how can we make it in time!!" Someone couldn't help muttering.

Another person asked in a low voice: "I negotiated a deal a year ago, but because I am a regular customer, I didn't sign any contract. If the buyer knows it's such a troublesome thing and doesn't want it anymore, what if they force us to pay?"

The officer asked back: "There is no contract for such a big deal? Are you grain merchants so careless?"

The man was speechless for a moment.

Someone next to him helped to talk: "We are all over the world, and the current situation is not good. Since we are regular customers, we have to do business with just a word of mouth when we are inconvenient."

"Since there is no contract, why do you need to pay for it? Don't take me for a fool if you are bluffing, right?" It’s been a few months, how can there be a fool in the north who will not buy cheap food in the south, and come all the way to buy your expensive food?”

All the people in the room were embarrassed at once, and after a while, someone finally asked cheekily: "Leave aside this, if you can't get the deed for a while, and you are really anxious, is there any way to accommodate?"

The officer said: "You want to be flexible, he wants to be flexible, who will listen to this order?"

He added: "However, if you are really in a hurry, the government office in Kyoto can also collect grain on your behalf. If you don't want to wait too long, you can sell it to the imperial court at a price-the money must be earned. After taking the money, go to the local place to buy it." You can earn another fortune by sending grain to buyers.”

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, and asked what the price was.

This time the officer pointed to the wooden sign hanging on the wall, and sure enough, the price was written on it. Brown rice, paddy, millet, white rice, white flour, etc., are very clear about how much each is a stone.

Only one dry grain merchant looked at the price, but all of them changed their faces, and all of them said it was too low.

The officer sneered and said, "It's not low. Don't you know how much it has increased compared to the original purchase price? Haven't you made enough wealth this year? The things are already deducted. If you want to take it, you can take it away. If you want it, you can take it away. Sell ​​it, sell it, it’s all up to you to choose, don’t get entangled with me here!”

For a moment, everyone was speechless, but they didn't dare to talk anymore, so they had to disperse slowly.

Han Yuanwai and another person were left to hide in the corner, and when they were gone, they turned their heads to wink at the shopkeeper Li.

Shopkeeper Li went up to say hello to the officer. When the other party saw him, he changed his face and said with a smile, "I don't know who it is. It's Lao Li. What are you doing here?"