Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 88: The Landlord Has No Surplus Food [ Words Chapter]

Government office.

Bright lights.

Even at night, Wang Ren still couldn't sleep.

Having just washed the mud off his body and changed into soft and dry clothes, Wang Ren couldn't help but think of the disaster victims he saw outside the city.

"Ugh……"

Wang Ren sighed, not knowing when the relief grain from various places could be delivered to Suzhou City!
"Has your Excellency gone to bed?"

"What's the matter?"

"Your Excellency, Jin Yong is outside the government office asking to see you. He said that Master Su Chen from Chang'an City has come here to deal with the flood on the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"...?"

Su Chen?

Someone from the East Palace?

Why have I never heard of this person's name?
Wang Ren frowned and thought carefully, but he did not find such a person in the list of people on the Eastern Palace list that he knew.

However, since he was here on behalf of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to deal with the flood, he naturally did not dare to delay.

Wang Ren put on his shoes and hurried to the front hall.

"Su Chen greets the governor."

"Mr. Su, you are too polite."

Wang Ren supported him with a smile, looking at Su Chen.

Looking at Su Chen's appearance, he seems like a scholar, but there is a kind of solemn and murderous aura about him.

Very strange.

"Master Su..."

As soon as Wang Ren opened his mouth, he saw Su Chen smiling and handing him a badge.

Wang Ren looked at it carefully and found that it was indeed from the East Palace.

"This is the badge the prince gave me before I left, ordering me to handle the flood issue."

Su Chen explained, "I hope the governor can cooperate with me, so that I can give the crown prince a satisfactory answer before he arrives."

Wang Ren smiled and returned the badge to Su Chen. "Mr. Su, you are joking. Since it is the order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I will naturally cooperate."

"But where did His Royal Highness go?"

"Looking Pavilion."

Wang Ren smiled even more.

Wangting is only two or three days away from Suzhou!

but.

Su Chen said quietly, "But the road is so muddy and slippery along the way, Your Highness may not arrive in Suzhou within five days."

"..."

The smile on Wang Ren’s face suddenly froze.

Su Chen: "But Lord Wang, don't worry. Before coming to the government office, I had already ordered people to transport some food from Changshu County. It was sent in my name."

Wang Ren breathed a sigh of relief. "Even so, I would like to thank Mr. Su on behalf of the people of Suzhou."

Su Chen smiled and waved his hand, "It will take at least three to five days."

Wang Ren froze in his position as he cupped his hands. The muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably, and his eyes became increasingly fierce.

He had reason to believe that Su Chen did it on purpose.

"I need a detailed map of Suzhou, available manpower inside and outside Suzhou, and a list of the illegal merchants who hoarded grain this time."

"Have."

Wang Ren nodded, "Please follow me."

Following Wang Ren into the study, Su Chen saw a topographic map of Suzhou filled with annotations.

There are places where the dam has burst and where the river is raging, all clearly marked.

Wang Ren: "A few days ago, the river burst its banks, and I led a group of people to chase and intercept it. Although it cost a lot, it did block many of the breaches."

Wang Ren pointed to a spot on the map and said, "This is the largest breach. It is now over a hundred feet wide and is continuing to expand."

"If the breach cannot be repaired as soon as possible, the flood will continue for a long time."

"By then, it won't just be the people around Suzhou who will suffer, it could spread to all directions."

Su Chen pondered and looked at some other breaches. Wang Ren explained, "Most of the other places were filled by Wu Canjun and his men. The speed is very fast. It should be possible to block all the breaches within two days."

Now the only question left is how to plug this big breach.

Houses, fields...

All are shrouded in its shadow.

"Can we change the route?"

"I have thought about it, but the water flow is strong right now and we can't keep up with the progress."

Wang Ren shook his head. He had already thought of all the possible solutions.

If they could have controlled the river channel, they wouldn't have been under so much pressure facing the river bursting its banks.

Su Chen touched his chin and said, "So now we can't stop the breach at all, and we can only relocate the people?"

Wang Ren: “That’s true.”

"And the most important problem right now is that there is not much food left in the granary!"

Su Chen waved his hand, "Food is a small matter. We should now decide which one to deal with first."

Wang Ren frowned: "If you don't block the breach, what do you want to do?"

"There is an old saying that if you save the people and lose the land, both the people and the land will be saved; if you save the land and lose the people, both the people and the land will be lost."

"...?"

This……

Never heard of it!
Wang Ren frowned and thought for a moment, but still couldn't remember this ancient saying.

"Then what do you mean?"

"First, ensure the safety, food supply, and medical care of the victims."

"Ah? You're not going to block the breach?"

"You've been blocking it for so many days, but it hasn't been blocked yet. Instead, it's getting bigger and bigger. Why are you still wasting your time on this?"

Su Chen's rhetorical question immediately made Wang Ren's face turn red.

Although the results are limited...

"But if the breach is not blocked, the situation will worsen."

"As long as people are safe, houses can be rebuilt and fields can be cultivated again."

Su Chen didn't care and asked casually: "How many illegal merchants are there who hoard food?"

“Like flies, they come to you when they smell the smell of blood.”

Wang Ren took out a list, and several names were specially marked by Wang Ren.

"Please contact them. I will invite those illegal businessmen to be my guests tomorrow morning."

Most of the merchants here are engaged in grain business.

There is no doubt that it was these people who openly or secretly raised the price of grain in Suzhou, leading to a food panic crisis in the city.

"???"

Wang Ren frowned, "Do you have a way to get them to take out the food?"

"No."

"...?"

……

Early the next morning.

Su Chen got up in the wing room of the government office.

Compared to him, the governor Wang Ren had disappeared early in the morning.

I heard from people in the government office that he was busy entertaining businessmen and handling affairs in the city.

After drinking the porridge, Wang Ren came back panting, wearing a bamboo hat.

"It's been arranged."

The first thing Wang Ren said when they met was that he had invited those businessmen.

Su Chen smiled and handed over a bowl of porridge.

Wang Ren shook his head, "No appetite."

Su Chen: "Eat something, there may not be anything to eat later."

Wang Ren: “……?”

What's wrong?

You don't think I'm waiting for the feast with an empty stomach, do you?
Wang Ren drank it all in one gulp.

"Where is the location?"

"Half an hour later, in the Tingyu Pavilion in the city."

Su Chen nodded, "There is still some time, why not go and see how the shed is being built."

"it is good."

As temporary residences for disaster victims, sheds are naturally designed to provide shelter from wind and rain and be quick and efficient.

Wang Ren and his team did an excellent job in this regard.

But in terms of sanitation, it is clearly insufficient.

After a round of walking, Su Chen gave his opinion, "The shed is built in an orderly manner, but the sanitation needs to be improved."

"for example?"

“We can temporarily add some public toilets, which can be located farther away from the shed area to facilitate centralized treatment.”

Su Chen pointed to the shantytown area and continued, "Although you have arranged patrols, now that a large number of disaster victims are pouring in, the pressure on the shantytown area will double."

"I suggest that we arrange some doctors here. The government will pay for the consultation fees and the amount of money to be paid every day should be clearly stated." Wang Ren nodded after pondering, "This is easy, but the people affected by the disaster don't have any money at all. Even if they have doctors to treat them, they don't have the money to buy medicine."

Su Chen: "All the medical expenses of the people will be paid by the government."

"what?"

"If you don't have money, buy it on credit. Pay when you have money."

"..."

Wang Ren was silent for a moment and said, "You can give it a try."

Su Chen: "Doctors are kind-hearted. I believe they will agree. If they don't, Lord Wang will take care of it."

Wang Ren: “…”

Are you going to use force?
"It's almost time to go to Tingyu Pavilion."

"Well, come with me."

Wang Ren glanced at the sky and left with Su Chen.

Not long after the two men left, an old man with white hair and a youthful face, carrying a bamboo basket and holding a walking stick, staggered towards the shed area.

Tingyu Pavilion has an elegant name, but if we consider the current situation in Suzhou, it becomes a bit ironic.

Horse-drawn carriages and merchants holding oil-paper umbrellas arrived one after another.

"Boss Liu."

"Boss Xu."

"Boss Wang..."

Familiar faces kept greeting each other.

After a brief greeting, they began to discuss quietly with each other about the invitation from the governor today.

Most of the merchants who came to the appointment were grain merchants in the city. Although there were some cloth merchants and medicine merchants, they did not account for a large proportion.

How could everyone not understand the Governor's intention?
Everyone's heart is as clear as a mirror.

Knowing each other well, they smiled at each other.

It is impossible to reduce the price.

They have finally raised the price of grain. If they lower the price, what profit will they make?
"I heard someone is coming from Chang'an City."

"It doesn't matter. As long as the food doesn't come, there's nothing they can do!"

"But I heard that it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who came to provide disaster relief, and he brought with him a large number of troops including the General of the Guards!"

"What? We haven't violated any law, so can they just arrest us?"

"Boss Liu is tough!"

A group of people walked into Tingyu Pavilion, talking and laughing.

As the organizer of this banquet, Wang Ren was naturally extremely enthusiastic and greeted all the businessmen who came to show their support.

As for Su Chen, he looked at the unfamiliar faces with a smile, and determined the identity of each businessman through their conversations.

Although it was impossible to identify them one by one, it was enough to recognize those big grain merchants.

"Who is this?"

Wang Yun took a curious look at Su Chen, who was sitting at the table, and asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

Wang Ren smiled and said, "Come, come, let me introduce you to everyone. This is Mr. Su Chen from the Eastern Palace. He has come to Suzhou City this time to handle all matters on behalf of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Oh?"

Wang Yun raised his eyebrows, feeling that the name was somewhat familiar.

suddenly.

Wang Yun bowed and asked, "Is it Master Su Chen from Chang'an City who came here to smell the fragrance?"

"Exactly."

"I have heard of your name for a long time. It is like thunder in my ears."

Wang Yun immediately smiled and complimented him.

The other businessmen also looked at Su Chen in surprise. It turned out to be him.

Wang Ren looked at Su Chen strangely, then looked at Wang Yun and others. Have they heard of Su Chen?
"Boss Wang, you are so polite. Please take a seat."

"Thank you."

Everyone took their seats one after another.

Wang Ren then explained the purpose of this invitation.

Just two words: food!

Although Wang Ren was very humble and hoped that everyone would sell him some grain at a low price to solve his urgent problem for the sake of their fellow Suzhou citizens, the businessmen led by Wang Yun did not give Wang Ren any face at all.

Even though he was the governor, in charge of Suzhou city.

"Sir Wang, it's not that we don't want to help, but the official roads have been submerged by the river, so the food can't be delivered!"

“We are also powerless!”

"Master Wang, we understand your difficulties, and you should also understand us. These days, even landlords don't have any surplus food."

Wang Ren looked very unhappy.

As the governor of a state, these people normally have no way to see him.

now.

He sought their help so humbly, but they were so perfunctory that he became angry.

"Do you really want to watch the people outside the city starve to death right before your eyes?"

"Ugh……"

Everyone had a sad look on their face, but they refused to let go.

There are even many people who sneered in their hearts, thinking, what does their life or death have to do with me?
It's not like I killed them!
Anxious.

Su Chen glanced at Wang Ren, smiled and said, "You all are wealthy people in the city. At this time of year, we should face this flood together."

"Since the dam burst, Lord Wang has been working very hard and has lost a lot of weight, but he still hasn't been able to solve the problem of the victims, so..."

Su Chen's tone suddenly turned colder, "Everyone, please stop forcing Lord Wang."

Wang Yun cupped his hands and said, "Master Su, it's not us forcing Lord Wang, it's Lord Wang forcing us."

"We have the will but not the strength, and we can't conjure food out of thin air, so how can we help?"

"That's it."

"It's difficult for us too!"

"Lord Wang, please don't force us."

As soon as Wang Yun finished speaking, he was immediately recognized by everyone.

Everyone was talking at once, with one goal in mind: to get food. But there was none!

Wang Ren's eyes were bloodshot, and Su Chen said faintly: "Suzhou City still has a lot of soldiers."

Wang Yun raised his eyebrows, sensing the threat.

"Su Chen, we respect you and call you Master Su. If we don't respect you, what are you?"

A hot-tempered businessman suddenly stood up and said in a cold voice: "What's the matter? Are you planning to rob it?"

"Is it that the Governor is breaking the law knowingly, or is it that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to take human lives?!"

Wang Ren's breathing stagnated and he clenched his fists.

Su Chen said calmly: "Why is Boss Liu so impulsive? Aren't we discussing this?"

"What the hell are you talking about? I think you're just planning to rob me!"

Boss Liu sneered and left with a wave of his sleeves, "No good banquet, I'm leaving now!"

"Boss Liu..."

Wang Yun hurriedly called out twice, but Boss Liu didn't turn around. He couldn't help but sigh, "Master Su, Master Wang, why are you doing this?"

"We are all tightening our belts to get by, and everyone has their own difficulties!"

"If Lord Wang and Master Su want to use force, I'm afraid the caravan escort teams will not agree."

Oh hoo.

There is also a merchant escort team.

Threaten me with the caravan?

Su Chen smiled and said, "Boss Wang is right. We are too impatient."

"Master Wang, what do you think?"

"We were reckless and offended everyone. We are very sorry."

Wang Ren suppressed his anger and stood up to apologize, "The stability of Suzhou City still depends on everyone's joint efforts."

"Lord Wang, you are too kind."

The goal was achieved, and Wang Yun smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, Lord Wang. In two days, food from all over the country will be delivered, and the danger in Suzhou will be resolved."

"I still have some unfinished business, so I won't disturb you all. Goodbye."

After Boss Liu and Wang Yun left one after another, the other bosses no longer had the idea of ​​staying and stood up to say goodbye one after another.

In just a cup of tea, the merchants left one by one with various reasons.

Bang.

"Bastard!"

"A bunch of selfish bastards!"

Wang Ren slammed his fist on the table, furious, "Master Su, are you inviting me to a banquet today just so I can be humiliated with you?"

"Humiliated?"

Su Chen smiled and shook his head, "I prefer to call it showing weakness to the enemy."

Wang Ren: “……?”

"Do you have an idea?"

"Please listen carefully..."

(End of this chapter)