Daming Yinghua

Chapter 216
Zheng Haizhu's boat docked at the Fanjiabang tributary channel in Shanghai County that she was familiar with back then.

It's been three months since Songjiang Mansion was under the shadow of the pox epidemic.

In the silence, there were occasional cries and cries. It was the hooligans robbing the shop where the male shopkeeper had just died. The old, weak, women and children could not resist at all.

On the banks of the Moon River lie countless miserable people suffering from illnesses.

They are not all refugees from the north this spring, or beggars lingering in Songjiang, more of them are young people from surrounding villages who come to Songjiang to find food.

When they were healthy and vigorous, they exported considerable manpower to Songjiang Prefecture, and their families who worked hard in the countryside contributed rice, grain, silk and cotton to this Jiangnan prefecture, which already had the embryonic form of a future city.

But when the disaster of the plague strikes, it is the bottom layer where bridges and roads are built, where houses are most likely to collapse, and even there are no bones left.

Zheng Haizhu put on a veil wider than a mask that Fan Polu sewed for her overnight, and led Xu Yilong's two servants to find Huang Zunsu who was commanding the tolerance to distribute the soup by the Moon River.

Zheng Haizhu ordered two attendants to carry the sack containing the medicinal materials to the stove, and he walked quickly to Huang Zunsu: "That's great, Mr. Huang, you are in good health. Where is Mr. Yao? Where are Zong Xi and his brother? They how?"

Huang Zunsu's complexion was gloomy and he looked tired. He turned his head to see Zheng Haizhu, his eyes were even a little dull.

When he recognized the person from the voice and the eyes on the veil, he waved his hands with a wry smile: "We both had acne before, so it's okay. Zong Xi and the others are hiding at home with the nanny, and my wife is at school. The steward and some older children who have had acne help out, and take care of the dolls who can’t go home.”

He paused, and then said: "Furthermore, the school is spacious, with several classrooms set aside to accommodate the sick. After all, there are some inside. If you don't lie like this and let the wind and rain blow, there is a room to keep warm and stutter, maybe I can get through it. This matter will occupy the place of the school, and I don’t have time to write to Chongming to ask you, so I will let my wife handle it first, Miss Zheng, please forgive me.”

Zheng Haizhu hurriedly said: "Master's words, how can I deserve it! It is my duty to save the people from danger. It's just that when I go back to Songjiang this time, I really have something urgent to check, so I can't go to school to help Mr. Yao. Instead, I ask the master to help Mr. Yao." While you're busy, send someone to help me."

Zheng Haizhu asked Huang Zunsu to move under the tree, and said in a few words that there might be doubts among the Liao people that there might be meticulous work. Huang Zunsu thought for a while, and said: "Liu Catcher is still alive and well, and you are familiar with him, but Catcher comes forward, and his movements are conspicuous." If it’s too much, I’m afraid I’ll scare the snake away. I’d better send you an unrecognized inspector, how to use it, you can figure it out.”

Immediately, he called a tolerance and told him, "Take Mrs. Zheng to the yamen, and find the inspector Qin."

The position of procurator is not a high-grade official in the government office, but this Qin procurator is already a person with a reputation as a scholar, and he is also a member of Donglin's sect. After Huang Zunsu was promoted to a general judge, he often took him to handle it. State affairs, especially rely on the port, sea trade and Sifang business hall.

This time, due to the epidemic, non-combat downsizing in the yamen, and the rest are as busy as mules.

But Procurator Qin is well-versed in human relations. Although he met Zheng Haizhu for the first time, knowing the background of the person in front of him, he immediately put down his official business, wrote down Zheng Haizhu's confession, and hurried out.

This trip is two hours.

When the sun was getting to the west, the Procurator Qin came back to report: "According to Madam's order, under the pretext of investigating the caravan involved in the epidemic, I asked the Shandong merchants who came and went in the guild hall in those few days, Madam, please take a look."

Zheng Haizhu took the paper and read the information recorded by Qin Jianxiao.

Most of them were Shandong people who came by the canal to bring cotton and buy silk and satin.Land mergers in Shandong have been very serious in recent years. After the land was merged, the gentry did not divert water to irrigate and grow grain, but instead planted cotton, and then transported it to the south of the Yangtze River, where the weaving and dyeing capabilities are strong and a large-scale chemical workshop has formed, to supplement the shortage of cotton in the Susong area. gap.

Zheng Haizhu's eyes fell on the last word "Hai".

"What's the situation here?"

Procurator Qin seized the opportunity to show off: "I'm about to talk to my wife in detail. This company came by sea from Dengzhou, selling mink fur and ginseng from Liaodong."

Zheng Haizhu pretended not to hold back his sullen anger, and said with a snort, "I think this is the company that competes with our trading company for the business of buyers of Liao goods."

Although Qin Jianxiao is Huang Zunsu's subordinate, when Zheng Haizhu sent him to work, he still put on a cover, saying that because his shopkeeper and his staff complained that the business was stolen, he wanted to find out this colleague who dared to compete with him .

Qin Jianxiao accompanied him with a smile and said: "That's right. Madam explained her thoughtfully, and the subordinates did not dare to slack off, so they found a reason to ask carefully. The head of the shop said that this family lived in the shop according to the rules of Songjiang Customs. After one night, I wrote down the ship’s number, cargo owner, and guide’s response from the hall, and then went to the carriage and horse shop by the river. Presumably, I was afraid of Mrs. Qi’s edge in Songjiang, so I dare not discuss business in the city’s guild hall.”

Seeing that the frost on Zheng Haizhu's face did not show signs of fading, he hurriedly added: "Ma'am, I just went to the Jiangbian carriage and horse shop to check, and there is indeed a team of Shandong merchants, because Madam said that it is not allowed to make a big battle." , the subordinates did not go in for questioning."

Zheng Haizhu turned his eyes away from the lintel of the public house, and finally showed a three-pointed warm look, and said to Qin Jianxiao: "Thank you, you are so capable, no wonder Mr. Huang appreciates it so much."

When she stood up, she took out a wax-sealed envelope from her bag: "A little thank you. Later, our trading company has a new mountain product, and I will ask the staff to deliver it to Mr. Qin's house."

Qin procurator was very happy.Since Songjiang was opened, he often ran errands for Huang Zunsu and dealt with businessmen, and he felt more and more that the seats of scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen were not trustworthy-these businessmen were comparable to those in Wuxi who talked about national disadvantages all day long. That's a lot.

The little official who betrayed his teacher in his heart, took the envelope generously, put it in his arms, and said more earnestly: "If Madam wants to beat that family, just tell the subordinates."

Zheng Haizhu showed a tired face: "I'm tired of traveling today, let's talk about it later. We won't delay Mr. Qin's appointment."

In the dim light of twilight, and with the fact that everyone is wearing a veil to prevent the epidemic, these walking creatures in the sky and the earth all look the same. They don't know where they came from or where they are going. They seem to be in a hurry, but they are actually at a loss.

Zheng Haizhu was fortunate to be covered by a veil.

She brought two of Xu's family servants to the riverside chariot and horse shop pointed out by Qin Jianxiao.

Several mule carts were parked sparsely, the chimneys were still burning, and lanterns were lit at the door. There were figures of men, busy inside and out.

Xu Jiajia Ding stepped forward and asked, "Is there any room left?"

The man turned around, but he was dumb. He pointed to his lips, shook his hand, pointed to his ears, made a gesture of thumbs up, and then changed to a gesture of please come in.

Zheng Haizhu said to his servant: "Go and have a look, if it's dirty, we won't be able to live."

The servant nodded and followed the man into the courtyard.

After a while, suddenly there were several loud bangs, and firecrackers exploded in the sky.

After arriving in Songjiang today, Zheng Haizhu has listened to firecrackers several times in a sudden.

When the ancients encountered the plague, they set off firecrackers every day to drive away the plague god.

A few mules not far from her and her family neighed uncomfortably.

Zheng Haizhu turned her head and saw two fellows who were feeding hay just a moment ago suddenly pulled the mule towards her.

Her heart suddenly jumped to her throat.

The thought of regret and carelessness just flashed, and the servant next to him just said "Madam, run" in a low voice, and Zheng Haizhu was strangled by someone from behind.

The brute force forced her to look up her eyes, and she saw that in the night sky, several more firecrackers rushed up and exploded.

The sound of sharp knives piercing the flesh came from the ear, and the servant groaned in pain, which made Zheng Haizhu realize that he was not harmed immediately.

She was dragged into the yard of the carriage shop.

After her mouth was stuffed with a piece of cloth and her arms were bound, the captors threw her next to the corpse of another Xu family member.

Losing her ability to support herself, she could only lie on her side on the cold soil.

Big feet wearing embroidered shoes appeared in her sight.

A strange female voice with a Jiaoliao accent said coldly: "It's her, sneak into the room to watch, and we'll go out when it's late at night."

Another male voice asked: "Master, are the two in-laws and the guy in the store going to be killed?"

The woman thought for a while: "Keep it for now. After all, there are still three or four hours. Didn't Ah Ying say that this bitch's best friend in the government is also very good. If I come here today to see what's going on, let the lady in the store go out to deal with it." .”

The male voice said: "As a civil servant, it's easier to cook."

The woman said: "Idiot, if you can trick him into leaving, what's the point of killing him? We're not here to rebel. The movement will be so loud that it will be troublesome to run."

As soon as she finished speaking, the subordinate who was watching the movement at the door said anxiously: "Master, there is really a sedan chair coming to us."

(End of this chapter)