Lonely non-good minister

Chapter 302
Mu Wantang didn't say a word, she couldn't understand Song Yuan's concerns, but seeing Song Yuan thinking so seriously, she couldn't bear to disturb him.

"You are doing business in the Northwest, so no one makes things difficult for you, right?" Song Yuan let Zheng go, and began to care about Mu Wantang.

For Mu Wantang, she felt guilty.

Mu Wantang shook her head with a smile: "No, many things are going well. The lord who made it easy for me said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given instructions, so don't make things difficult."

"Brother ordered?" Song Yuan smiled: "He will indeed arrange it like this."

Mu Wantang tentatively took her hand: "Your Highness, I have heard about Jingzhao, but my background is too humble, so I can't help you to win the Duke's support."

"It has nothing to do with you. You don't have to think about it. The loss of this marriage is not a bad thing for me. I am weak. If I really marry the granddaughter of Duke Mu, I am afraid that everything will be subject to the arrangements of the Duke's mansion. The Duke’s Mansion is so prominent, how could they be willing to be subservient to others? If they are competitive, they will definitely make me confront my brothers, this is not what I want.”

Her explanation made Mu Wantang breathe a sigh of relief: "Although I don't have the power of the Duke's Mansion, I will definitely do my best to help His Highness."

These words made Song Yuan laugh: "Don't think this way, you just need to manage your own life well. My life seems to be beautiful, but it is precarious. If one day your life is in danger, you also have the ability to protect yourself. That's the best way."

"Your Highness, don't say such unlucky words. I believe that His Highness is rich and powerful, and it will never be like this." Mu Wantang looked serious.

Seeing that she took it seriously, Song Yuan hurriedly changed his words: "Yes, it will never be like this, you can rest assured, since you are here, you will stay for two days, I am busy with things, you can take care of me, don't worry about me."

"En." Mu Wantang agreed, she just wanted to see Song Yuan, and she didn't dare to ask for anything extravagantly.

"Your Highness, Commander Zhangye please see me."

Song Yuan was waiting for him, heard the words and hurried to the front Mingtang, Zhangye Junwei was a burly man with a beard, saw Song Yuan coming in, and hurriedly greeted him.

"My subordinate, Chen Bingzhen, serves as Zhangye County Lieutenant, and pays homage to Lord Inspector." His voice was rough, stabbing like a rusty knife being rubbed against a stone mill.

Song Yuan looked up at him in shock, and was speechless in his heart: Oh my god, it's almost on the roof beam.

"Mr. Chen is busy with personnel affairs. I should have gone to the yamen. I just took office yesterday. There are many things to discuss. I really can't leave. Please forgive me." Song Yuan sat down: "Please sit down."

She was very polite, Chen Bingzhen was very surprised, and sat down politely: "I wonder what your lord has arranged?"

"I heard that people in Northwest China are imprisoned every year for fighting over water and weapons. I would like to ask Mr. Chen if this happens frequently?" Song Yuanming asked knowingly.

Talking about the business, Chen Bingzhen's expression became more serious: "My lord, this kind of thing happens every year. The most serious one was a fight between hundreds of people on both sides, and there were casualties. At that time, it was reported to the court for ruling. , but I don’t dare to be so bold anymore, but water grabbing and fighting with weapons have been banned repeatedly, and many people are imprisoned every year.”

"There will be a fight over water. In the final analysis, the yamen's actions are not thorough. If the water source is sufficient, such a fight will not happen. I am trying to figure out a way with you adults. I asked Mr. Chen to come over and see if it can happen again. After the fighting, will the troublemaker be detained?"

Chen Bingzhen thought for a while: "Delay the detention?"

"Yes, strong laborers are sent to prison. The lack of strength of the old and weak women and children will delay the farming season. Even if it is wrong to fight with weapons, but putting strong laborers in prison for confinement and self-reflection will not teach them a lesson. What's more, I'm afraid they will use this to avoid laziness. Therefore, Is it feasible to postpone the detention and punish them when the farming is slack?"

Chen Bingzhen pondered for a while: "The lower officials have heard of such precedents, but the lower officials think that the purpose of sending the fighters to prison and confinement is to deter and warn them so that they will not cause trouble again, but the imperial court is lenient, and such punishment is not enough. Let them learn any lessons, otherwise the fighting will not be repeated again and again."

"Then can you think of an individual method?" Song Yuan asked patiently: "I remember that in the Great Wei Law, there are many levels of punishment for fighting with weapons. Fighting with weapons due to lack of water, the imperial court thought about the suffering of the people, so they sentenced them to confinement, but if repeated prohibitions persist, the county captain has the right to increase the punishment."

Seeing that she was familiar with the laws of Great Wei, Chen Bingzhen breathed a sigh of relief: "That's true, but it's just like what your lord said, because it's the people's fault to grab water and fight with weapons. If there is a heavy punishment, I'm afraid there will be people's resentment."

"In the case of armed fights, there must be one party who provokes the matter first, and will not change after repeated admonitions without heavy punishment. Moreover, sometimes judging the two sides in armed fights is often suspected of making peace. I think that under heavy punishments, right from wrong can be distinguished. Severe punishment is more popular with the people than blind peace."

Chen Bingzhen was silent for a while: "My lord is right."

"The judiciary is not within the power of civil affairs, but this matter involves civil affairs. I have to take care of it. Of course, this is my humble opinion. How to deal with it is up to Mr. Chen to think about it."

Chen Bingzhen clasped his fists: "Your Excellency's opinion will be considered by the lower officials, but the lower officials need to discuss with the other county lieutenants, so that they can unify their opinions."

"Okay." Song Yuan stood up and cupped his fists: "If that's the case, I won't delay Mr. Chen."

Chen Bingzhen bid farewell and left, Song Yuan also asked the guards to take a look on the street.

According to the memorial, only Zhangye has harvested grain this year, and such news must not be hidden from the people. Whether the grain is rich can be known on the street.

It was still early, and there were quite a few people on the street. Song Yuan found out the locations of several grain stores, and deliberately passed by to have a look. Although the market price of grain was much higher, the goods in the stores seemed to be sufficient.

"Your Highness, it doesn't look like there is no food?" The guard was very confused: "Did those people make the situation serious on purpose?"

Song Yuan shook his head: "It doesn't look like it."

At this time, it is most reasonable to think more about the disadvantages.

If the merchants know that there is a shortage of grain in the Northwest, then the market price is a little bit deceptive. The common people will place their hopes on the fall of the grain price after the autumn harvest, so they will not buy too much. When the autumn harvest arrives, the grain price will suddenly rise , the common people are hard to guard against, and the merchants can make a lot of money.

If the merchants don’t know about the shortage of grain in the Northwest, it can only mean that the news has been blocked. The person who did it is likely to be the dignitaries who want to replace the cotton with grain. Only in this way can they take advantage of the crisis to lower the price of cotton. This move is to squeeze the interests of the people and merchants in the Northwest.

"Subordinates go down and ask." The guard entered the grain store, and Song Yuan was waiting outside. After a while, the guard came out with a small bag in his hand: "Subordinate bought some round-grained rice. I don’t have much grain left, I’ve been waiting for the autumn harvest to refill the storehouse.”

(End of this chapter)