I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 321 Su Liang enters Laizhou, and Bai Rushui, the magistrate of Yecheng, injures himself

The second day of May, afternoon.

Su Liang and his party finally arrived at Jingdong East Road, Laizhou Ye County.

The main street of Yexian County is very noisy with numerous shops and dragon-like cars and horses.

Ye County is the administrative seat of Laizhou, and is generally called Ye City locally.

This place belonged to the Gulaizi Kingdom in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. It belonged to the Qi Dynasty in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it was established as a county in the Han Dynasty.

Later it evolved into Ye County.

Counties in the Song Dynasty were generally divided into six levels: Jing, Wang, Shang, Zhong, Zhongxia and Xia.

Ye County ranks second and is Wang County.

The reason why it is so prosperous.

These people have settled in many golden caves, and they never leave the golden caves to eat or drink.

Gold panning is a business that is easily missed by thieves.

Most gold diggers are good at smelting, so they are all equipped with weapons.

They are very smart and always wander on the edge of Song Xingtong.

For the soldiers of the Long Yu Army, this is a rare experience.

Relying on the weapons in their hands, these people are fully capable of confronting the local officials.

For example, in Bianjing City, there are also weapon societies such as the Bow and Arrow Society, the Spear Society, and the Broadsword Society.

As long as you do not privately manufacture armor or powerful crossbows, you can possess other types of weapons as long as they are registered with the local government office.

Taiwan admonishers have the responsibility of supervising the local area. It is normal for Su Liang to be sent like this.

Su Liang was not in a hurry to go to the gathering place for gold diggers - Luofeng Town, twenty-five miles east of the county.

They also said that if the court did not agree to those two conditions, they would block it with their lives, making it impossible for anyone to mine gold.

soon.

On the other hand, the fishery, jade carving and stone carving here are also quite developed, and because the north is close to Laizhou Bay, there is a lot of maritime trade, so there is no need to worry about the outlet of the goods.

On the one hand, it is due to its rich mineral deposits, especially gold mines.

By then, it will be even harder for the court to deal with them.

I only knew that the imperial court had sent Taiwanese admonisher Su Liang to monitor the situation, but I did not know that Su Liang had brought 500 Long Yu troops.

More than 1,300 people gathered on Luoshan Mountain in Luofeng Town.

If the imperial court does not remove them from the mining industry, they can even use the resources around them to create wind, fire and thunder.

As far as Su Liang knows, in addition to simple knives, short knives, and long spears, they also have hundreds of hard bows.

in this business.

present.

At night, in the inn room.

……

I have never been afraid of these officials who will be transferred after working for a maximum of three years.

And the households in these remote places.

Officials from Laizhou Prefectural Government and Yexian County Government.

These people also have weapons in their hands.

Relying on his local influence and work skills, he sucked the blood of the imperial court and the blood of the people at the bottom.

The imperial court's control was also relaxed.

Su Liang put a thick stack of documents aside, and he already had a seventy-eighth understanding of the situation in Ye County.

They cherish it doubly.

Many low-level gold diggers only earn hundreds of dollars of hard-earned money every day.

present.

At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, the imperial court banned people from holding weapons. However, after Zhenzong, the martial arts among the people gradually became stronger.

Except for more than a dozen Longyu troops to protect Su Liang's safety, everyone else spread out to find out the news.

Instead, he found an inn and stayed there.

Making a lot of money is simply a cancer in the industry.

Su Liang was sitting in the room, carefully studying the information sent back by the soldiers in the past few days.

The real money makers are the gold miners who organize gold miners to mine gold caves.

……

These gold mining businessmen.

Su Liang then locked on two names: Luo family and his son, Luo Zhong, and Luo Manman.

The largest gold mining businessmen in Luofeng Town are the Luo family father and son.

Luoshan can gather more than a thousand people, and it is absolutely inseparable from these two people.

Three generations of the Luo family have been gold diggers.

In addition to gold mining, the Luo family is also involved in various industries such as inns, restaurants, pawn shops, and goulan.

It can be said that he is a wealthy person.

This father and son are both civil and military.

Luo Zhong was good at strategy and was known as Luo Daguan.

In the past, gold panning in Luoshan was achieved by taking sand along the stream and using wooden pans. The results were very little and it was very laborious.

It was Luo Zhong who improved the gold mining method.

"Choose a big piece of wood, cut it open with a saw, leave the blade marks, throw sand on top of it, cover it with water, and the sand will go away, and gold will be found in the saw marks, which is very easy to find."

Luo Manman is a ruthless man who is good at shooting and has the courage to fight one against ten.

When the local people mentioned him, they were all afraid of him.

Mentioning his name can almost scare all children over three and under ten in Laizhou to tears.

Currently, Luo Zhong is still at his residence in Yecheng.

And Luo Manman was on top of Mount Luo, and he was the leader of the group of gold diggers.

Su Liang felt that the key to the problem lay with the father and son.

……

Early the next morning.

After Su Liang had breakfast, he went for a walk on the streets of Jecheng, accompanied by Xu Mang and others.

There are many foreign merchants here.

Although Su Liang and Xu Mang have foreign accents, they are not unusual.

Not long after.

The two of them sat down in a teahouse.

Teahouses are the main place for locals to chat, and the Luoshan gold mine conflict, which resulted in more than ten deaths and injuries, will definitely be the focus of discussion at the moment.

soon.

Su Liang heard three people discussing.

"The essential reason for the conflict in the gold mines is that the imperial court wants to eat alone, and the gold diggers have lost their livelihood. How can we not make trouble? It is really ugly for the imperial court to compete with the people for profit!"

"Brother Liu, your arm can't twist your thigh. When the entire Song Dynasty is undergoing political reform, who dares to go against the imperial court's policy?"

"Why don't you dare! The imperial court goes against the will of the people. If they really force those gold diggers to rebel, I'm afraid the losses will be even greater. I think the imperial court will compromise. After all, competing for profits with the people is unpopular. Why should it prohibit civilians from mining? !”

Hear this.

Su Liang's face couldn't help but turn livid.

Since the reform of the Song Dynasty, the sentence he hates most is: competing with the people for profit.

In the past three years, the imperial court has adopted various new laws and measures.

Some competed for profits with wealthy merchants, some competed with scholar-bureaucrats, and some competed with relatives outside the clan, but none of them competed with the people.

Because the people's support is the guarantee for the success of the reform.

However, many opponents of the reform always denigrate the reform by saying "competing with the people for profit".

In their eyes, profiteers, bullies, and corrupt officials are the people.

Su Liang couldn't help but turned around and asked: "Three of you, why do you think that the imperial court is trying to gain profits from the people by prohibiting mining?"

"Isn't it?" a young man in a long gown asked.

Su Liang shook his head. "The imperial court prohibits civilians from mining privately for three reasons."

"First, most of the profit makers from private mining are miners. It has become a bad trend for miners to hide gold grains and evade taxes. If local taxes are low, they can only increase taxes on the people at the bottom. If things go on like this, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. , This is a great harm to the country, and is of no benefit to the people or the country."

"Secondly, merchants mine in a disorderly manner, destroying cultivated land and trees, which can easily cause disasters and accidents. The compensation for a human life in private mines in Laizhou is only 3-10 thousand yuan. Human life is so cheap that it is not as good as A meal for the rich. As far as I know, no less than people die in the mines every year. These people are all the breadwinners of their families. Shouldn't this mining method, which destroys people's families and destroy their lives, should Abolition?"

"Third, gunpowder blasting is efficient and orderly. It will inevitably replace the manual mining model among the people and help consolidate local wealth. If the state government has more money, it will build bridges and roads and implement the teachings of Xiangxu. From a long-term perspective, isn’t it a good thing?”

The three young people were suddenly in a daze.

Judging from their expressions, they felt that Su Liang's words made some sense.

At this time.

A young man added: "Gold diggers also know the dangers of gold mining, but aren't they also doing it to support their families? The people of Ye County have only been panning for gold for generations. The imperial court's ban on private mining has cut off their livelihoods. Is this true? This is really causing harm to the people!"

Su Liang shook his head again.

"Currently, mines need to dig more than 20 feet of ground to dig for gold. If gunpowder is not used for mining, it is estimated that in ten years, it may be necessary to dig 30 feet of ground."

"The deeper you dig, the harder it is to get gold. Even if there is gold in the ground, the efficiency will become lower and lower. One day, the people of Ye County will not be able to support themselves by gold mining."

"Ye County is offshore and has a humid climate, which is not only suitable for farming, but also suitable for business. If all the people of Ye County hug a Luoshan and sit on it, then in twenty or fifty years, Ye County will definitely become the worst county in the Song Dynasty. "

"Because all the counties in our Song Dynasty are moving forward, but Ye County is still resting on its laurels!"

"How will the descendants of Ye County live? Ye County has so many resources, but everyone has to guard a mine. Isn't it sad?"

……

"well said!"

Someone suddenly praised not far away.

The three young men were all in a daze. After thinking about it carefully, they felt that there was indeed some truth to this statement.

After Su Liang said these words, he and Xu Mang left quickly. It was not a good thing to attract too many people's attention.

After Su Liang walked out of the teahouse, his face still ashen, he went straight to some bookstalls and bookstores on the corner of the street and bought recent issues of Laizhou Prefecture Newspaper and folk tabloids.

The streets of Yecheng.

After Su Liang finished flipping through these newspapers and periodicals, his expression became even more gloomy.

Since the Prospecting Department was established on April 3, Su Liang has conveyed some mining details to various state capitals.

The detailed rules all contain what Su Liang just said in the teahouse.

For example, what caused the earthquake, and what was the fundamental reason why the court banned private mining.

However, in Laizhou's official newspapers and private tabloids, there is not only no text about these contents, but some people even slander this policy.

Su Liang was certain that Laizhou Prefectural Government and Yexian County Government would definitely be able to see this information before April 15th.

It's early May now.

Even if you send someone to copy a copy and post it at the gate of the prefectural and county government offices, it will still be done.

But Laizhou did not implement it at all.

Su Liang couldn't help but be very dissatisfied with the chief official of Laizhou.

Sometimes new laws cannot be implemented because the information is not uploaded and distributed.

……

at this time.

Suddenly someone shouted: "Baizhi County has gone to Luoshan with more than ten government officials. I heard that they are going to negotiate with gold diggers. Do you want to see anyone? It's still too late to drive forward now!"

Baizhi County refers to Bai Rushui, the magistrate of Ye County.

In October last year, Bai Rushui was appointed magistrate of Ye County.

Judging from the information Su Liang has learned recently, this Baizhi County is pretty good among the people.

However, due to the short time he took office, he has not made any political achievements yet.

Immediately, Su Liang and Xu Mang rushed to Luo Feng Town, twenty miles east, with more than ten Long Yu troops in plain clothes.

……

About two quarters of an hour later.

Luoshan, at the foot of the mountain.

There were hundreds of people surrounding him.

And this moment.

On a large rock directly ahead.

A burly young man, about thirty years old, was leaning on a big chair, with a bright silver gun standing next to him.

Who can show off his guns like this on Luoshan Mountain.

Of course it was the fierce and ruthless Luo Manman.

Behind Luo Manman stood hundreds of gold diggers, each carrying a weapon and looking gloomy.

Opposite Luo Manman stood a middle-aged man with a fair complexion wearing official uniform.

This person is Bai Rushui, the magistrate of Ye County.

The two were about two feet apart.

Bai Rushui was the first to speak: "Luo Manman, prohibiting private mining is a policy of reform throughout the Song Dynasty. I advise you to leave as soon as possible. The imperial court has sent a special envoy. If you continue to be stubborn, you will be punished." You are punishing me with rebellion!"

Luo Manman looked at Bai Rushui with disdain.

"Baizhi County, don't waste your breath anymore. We have two conditions. One is to open the mines to the public for purchase; the other is that gunpowder is not used to mine the mines. If you can agree to these two points, we will withdraw immediately. "

"Aren't you afraid of losing your lives? The Qingzhou Forbidden Army is only a few days away from Laizhou!"

"Losing our lives? To destroy our wealth, we have no choice but to fight tooth and nail!" After saying that, Luo Manman stood up and picked up his bright silver gun.

Bai Rushui continued: "Luo Manman, your death is not a pity, but the more than a thousand gold diggers behind you are all people with families. If they go to jail and their families are destroyed, who will bear the responsibility? "

Swish!

After Bai Rushui took two steps forward, he raised his spear, and the tip of the spear appeared on Bai Rushui's chest.

The officer behind Bai Rushui was about to draw the knife, but was stopped by Bai Rushui's words.

"Get back, he doesn't dare to hurt me!"

Bai Rushui stared at Luo Manman, and then said: "Luo Manman, I am ordering you again to let all these gold diggers go down the mountain. If you have any grievances, you can report them to the special envoy after he arrives!"

"Bai Rushui, do you think I really don't dare to hurt you? Since I dare to gather people up the mountain and hurt those Xiang soldiers, I am going to rebel. As long as the court does not agree to my two conditions, I will rebel. !" Luo Manman said loudly.

Due to the existence of the policy of recruiting peace in the Song Dynasty, there were many people who verbally declared rebellion.

"Are you going to retreat?" Bai Rushui glared.

"Don't retreat!" Luo Manman held up the silver gun and pressed it tightly against Bai Rushui's chest.

at this time.

Bai Rushui suddenly grabbed the tip of the spear. Just when Luo Manman thought that the other party was about to push the spear away, he never thought that the other party would actually pull the sharp tip of the spear and plunge it directly into his chest.

"Puch!"

Blood flowed out instantly.

Bai Rushui pulled out the spear, looked at Luo Manman with a smile, and said: "Luo Manman, do you know why it is a crime to assassinate an official of the imperial court?"

Hearing this, Luo Manman suddenly panicked.

"I...I...I didn't stab him, it was...he stabbed himself."

After saying that, Luo Manman ran away, and the gold diggers behind him also ran towards the mountain.

And this moment.

The officer behind him was the first to understand and said loudly: "Hurry, prepare the carriage and go to the hospital!"

Immediately.

Bai Rushui was taken away by a carriage.

The scene just happened so suddenly that Su Liang was in a daze, and it took him a long time to wake up.

He looked at Xu Mang aside and asked, "Brother Xu, what do you think of what just happened?"

Xu Mang thought for a while and said: "This Bai Zhixian is a good official. He doesn't care about life and death and makes Luo Manman compromise, and great things will happen!"

Su Liang frowned slightly.

He always felt something was wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.

Immediately, they returned to Yecheng.

this moment.

Everyone in Ye City was talking about Bai Rushui injuring himself and forcing Luo Manman to retreat.

Some people praised him for his loyalty to the court, some praised him for his courage in times of trouble, and some said that he wanted to use this trick to make Luo Manman compromise.

In short, they are all words of praise.

(End of this chapter)