I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 366 Severe situation

When Hai Rui boarded the sedan chair, the expression on his face instantly became solemn. What he didn't expect was that the situation here would be so severe. There were many problems in the granary in Kaifeng Mansion alone.

"It seems that Liu Yuan, the procuratorate, was right in what he said in the memorandum submitted to His Majesty. The actual amount of grain stored in the local granaries in Henan is quite different from the amount recorded in the account book."

Thinking of this, Hai Rui couldn't help clenching his fists, and said silently to himself.

"This group of damn moths, wait for me, I will never let you go!"

After Hai Rui calmed down, he quickly made a corresponding plan. He wanted to find an opportunity to contact Liu Yuan, the inspector, so as to learn more information from Liu Yuan.

"Didn't they always want to invite me to dinner? Since that's the case, I can also take advantage of this opportunity!"

Just like that, Hai Rui returned to the station in a sedan chair.

……

On the other side, Xiao Er, who had received an order from Hai Rui to investigate the situation nearby, made a major discovery.

On the way, he and a few guards met a few people carrying sacks and walking in a hurry.

When those people saw them, they ran away like a rabbit seeing an eagle.

Seeing this, Xiao Er quickly ordered his subordinates to stop these people, and after his subordinates stopped them, he immediately stepped forward and asked.

"What are you running for?"

Seeing this situation, those few people knew that they could not escape. After exchanging glances with each other, they saw a white-haired, skinny old man in tattered coarse linen clothes kneeling tremblingly on the ground.

With a pair of dry hands, he firmly grabbed Xiao Er's trouser legs, and choked up.

"Master, my family only has this little food. If we pay more, our family will lose a grain of food!"

"Without food, the five members of our family will starve to death. I beg you, you have a lot of food. Please let us go!"

When Xiao Er heard this, his face was full of surprise, and he asked.

"What food to pay? Didn't the court just collect the land tax not long ago?"

"Besides, right now is not the time to collect grain!"

After Xiao Er finished speaking, his hawk-like eyes swept over the few ordinary people present one by one, and those who were caught by Xiao Er's gaze did not dare to look at him, and lowered their heads one after another.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Er seemed to have thought of some possibility, and the expression on his face became extremely ugly. He saw him lift the old man from the ground, and his tone gradually softened.

"Old man, what do you mean by those words you just said?"

After being lifted up from the ground by Xiao Er, the old man patted the dust on his body, and then said.

"Listen to the accent, you are not locals, are you?"

When Xiao Er heard the words, he immediately responded subconsciously.

"Well, no."

After getting the answer he wanted, the old man nodded and said to himself.

"The poor men are from other places, so it's no wonder they don't know the situation here."

When the old man said this, he paused for a moment, then continued.

"Here, all kinds of taxes are emerging all year round. Today is land tax, tomorrow is land tax, and after that, we don't know what kind of tax it is. Anyway, those who are officials can always come up with new words!"

"In the end, it is we ordinary people who suffer!"

Seeing that the old man was tending to make long speeches, Xiao Er immediately opened his mouth and brought the topic back on track.

"By the way, old man, what is the matter of paying the grain you mentioned earlier?"

Hearing the words, the old man let out a long sigh, his expression became depressed, and he said slowly.

"Oh, don't mention it!"

"I heard that the imperial court recently sent an imperial envoy to investigate the case. After hearing the news, those officials panicked and used all means to confiscate the grain from the common people!"

"Tomorrow in Shiqiao Village, those officials who are in charge of grain collection will have to collect grain again!"

"I think it's probably a hole in recent years, and it can't be plugged anymore."

Hearing this, Xiao Er frowned, with a look of doubt on his face.

"hole?"

Seeing this, the old man withdrew his gaze from Xiao Er, and then explained to him.

"There are rumors that those officials have been secretly selling off the grain in the official warehouse!"

Xiao Er heard the words, and then continued.

"After so many years, has no one thought of suing?"

The old man seemed to be quite disdainful about this, and responded without thinking.

"Yes, why not, but these people who complained, without exception, all died ugly!"

"As time goes by, no one dares to mention this matter anymore."

Seeing that he had almost rested, the old man bent down, put the sack containing grain on his shoulder again with great difficulty, and bid farewell to Xiao Er.

"Master, we still have some things to deal with, so I won't bother you!"

After the old man finished speaking, he greeted the rest of the people and wanted to go back the same way.

At this moment, Xiao Er called out to stop the old man, and said.

"Old man, we are actually the bodyguards of the Imperial Envoy sent by the imperial court to investigate the case, can you..."

Before Xiao Er finished speaking, the old man stopped, turned around, smiled miserably, and said slowly.

"Hey, sir, to tell you the truth, you are not the first batch of officials who came here to investigate the case, nor will you be the last batch!"

"For so many years, the officials who came to Henan to investigate the case have changed one after another, but in the end, nothing has changed, and none of the crimes we ordinary people deserve have been left behind!"

"You don't need to say any more, I don't have a few years to live, I just want to live my life in peace, and I don't want to cause any trouble."

After the old man finished speaking, he greeted the rest of the people and embarked on the return journey together.

Xiao Er silently looked at the bent back of the old man, his lips moved, but he didn't make any sound.

……

Kaifeng Mansion, inside the inn where Hai Rui stayed.

At this moment, Xiao Er was standing in front of Hai Rui respectfully, reporting what he found out.

"My lord, this little one has heard so much news!"

"Well, that's right, it's pretty good that you were able to find these things in such a short period of time!"

Upon hearing this, Hai Rui nodded, turned his eyes away from Xiao Er, and spoke encouragingly.

Immediately afterwards, Hai Rui seemed to have thought of something, and the expression in his eyes suddenly dimmed, and he said with emotion.

"I didn't expect that the local people in Henan actually lived this kind of life."

"I have worked hard for a year, but I can't even fill my stomach. What's even more hateful is that this group of insects is still searching for the people's fat and people's ointment from the people. This officer can't wait to dispatch the soldiers of the guard right now to kill these dog officials. Get clean!"

Seeing this situation, Xiao Er hurriedly took a step forward, and said admonishingly.

"My lord, you have to calm down, you are the hope of the people of Henan now, you can't make any mistakes!"

"Otherwise, the common people here will never have any hope."

After venting his emotions, Hai Rui gradually calmed down, then turned around and confirmed to Xiao Er.

"Didn't you say earlier that tomorrow in Shiqiao Village, there will be officials sending grain to the people?"

Xiao Er nodded when he heard this, and felt a little puzzled by Hai Rui's sudden mention of this matter.

"Sir, you are..."

Hai Rui nodded, and immediately gave orders to Xiao Er.

"Early tomorrow morning, let's go to Shiqiao Village to see the situation!"

(End of this chapter)