nanming man

Chapter 327

Seeing that a grain store in the city was closed down, Fan Yongdou knew that he could no longer fry it.

The increase in food prices in Huguang and the panic among the people in the city finally attracted the attention of the government. Once the government wanted to make a move, the merchants were generally unable to resist.

This is the normal state of society in the past dynasties, and it is also the main reason why merchants are keen on the collusion between officials and businessmen. Because ordinary merchants, no matter how powerful they are, if violent agencies want to punish you, it is like killing an ant. Look for a backer.

Fan Yongdou had a strong backer in the Qing Dynasty, but in Huguang, he was just an outsider, so naturally he had to be careful.

At this time, in Yuezhou City, Governor He Tengjiao was walking in the courtyard, and Beifu Yang Wenyue sat in the hall, frowned and said to He Tengjiao who was tasting tea above: "Governor, these grain merchants are really outrageous. The price of grain per stone is actually given by them It was fired to 12 taels, completely disregarding people's livelihood, and the lower officials thought that they should be severely punished, and used thunderous means to crack down on hoarding and price gouging."

He Tengjiao put down his cup, but his face was very calm, and he said with a smile: "Yangfuyuan, there is no rush, let them fire first, and when they are finished, the governor will send people to catch these profiteers, which can just solve the problems of Huguang towns. The military pay!"

Yang Wenyue was slightly taken aback, his brows were furrowed, He Tengjiao's calculations were clinking, it was tantamount to letting the profiteers sweep away the people's wealth first, and then he copied these profiteers. The government solved the problem of lack of money, but it suffered from the people and lost the hearts of the people.

Although the Nanjing court got rid of the burden of the north, the southeast officials and gentry still dominated the court.

Gao Mingheng put forward a tax system reform bill, hoping that the court would learn from the lessons of the Chongzhen Dynasty, reduce the burden on the common people, and increase business taxes. As a result, Gao Mingheng was squeezed out of the court by the southeast officials and gentry before the bill was passed.

At present, because the tax system has not changed, the financial situation of the Nanjing court has not improved, and it is unable to maintain the operation of the entire Nanming court, and often defaults on official salaries and food.

Not long ago, Huguang wrote several times, asking the imperial court to allocate a sum of food and salaries to supplement the towns in Huguang. Half a year's salary owed.

Although Yang Wenyue was also very anxious about food and pay, he felt a little contemptuous of He Tengjiao using this method to collect money.

Yang Wenyue said with a sullen face: "Governor, the government servants of Yuezhou Prefecture have already sealed down several grain shops. The officials think that the price of grain must be stopped, otherwise the people will not be able to bear it."

On the side of the pier, Fan Yongdou saw the government's move, so he knew that he would accept it as soon as he saw it, and he couldn't be greedy anymore.

When officials become black, they are much more powerful than bandits. If you find any crime, you can deal with merchants who have no power or relationship.

Fan Yongdou had a strong relationship in the Qing Dynasty, but he didn't have much relationship in the Ming Dynasty, especially the local officials in Huguang, all of them were like the Tu Emperor, and there was no reason to kill him.

At this time, he was just about to have someone sell the grain, and was about to cash out and leave the market. After the grain price fell back, he would take back the grain sold at a high price and at a low price, when there was a sudden commotion on the pier.

Fan Yongdou frowned slightly, walked to the window and looked out, at some time, hundreds of people had already gathered on the pier, pushing and shoving some of the Fan family's men noisily.

"What's going on?" Fan Yongdou couldn't help frowning, feeling an ominous feeling in his heart.

At this time, a guy suddenly stumbled into the house, "Boss, a group of helpless people came up on the pier, saying that we robbed their jobs, not only beat our people, but also drove away all the coolies we recruited." .”

"What?" Fan Yongdou was shocked when he heard it. He was also a person who had seen the scene before, so how could he not see that someone was playing tricks.

At this time, a group of people suddenly came to block him, and the other party obviously had a purpose.

"Not good!" Fan Yongdou exclaimed, "They want to prevent us from throwing grain."

At this moment, a clerk stumbled in and said in a panic, "Master, it's bad, the price of food in the city has started to fall!"

Fan Yongdou's liver and gallbladder were broken in an instant. He started to receive 12 taels and kept receiving [-] taels. Once the grain price fell to [-] taels, he would not make any money. If it fell to [-] taels, he would vomit blood at a loss. He has to jump into the lake.

"Quick, quick! Go and inform the yamen servants, let them drive away these scoundrels, and sell the grain immediately."

In the city, the people queuing up to buy grain soon discovered that the grain shops sold more rice grains, the speed of grain sales was greatly accelerated, and grain prices in various places were slowly falling.

The common people were frightened by the previous price increase, fearing that the price of food would rise again, and they were still rushing to buy it, but for those small businesses that followed suit and hoarded food, they smelled danger.

Some of them, because of their early participation, started buying at 12 taels, and now it has risen to [-] taels, which has quadrupled. To be on the safe side, they began to follow suit.

Some people who started to be attracted by profits from five or six taels, or even around ten taels, and couldn’t help but participate in speculation, saw that others made four times as much money, but they themselves earned too little, and felt that the price of food had not yet been raised to a high point. He was unwilling to ship, but continued to eat, betting that the price of food would rise again.

But soon, their illusions were shattered. As the rate of grain output became faster and faster, and the amount of grain put into the market increased greatly, they found that the price of grain was plummeting, and soon fell from 12 taels to [-] taels. It dropped to six taels, and it continued to drop, and they had used up all the money in their hands, and they couldn't take the plate at all, so they could only flee in panic, causing the price of food to avalanche.

Fan Yongdou asked someone to report the case to the government, and asked the yamen servants to drive away the troublemakers.

About half an hour later, the clerk came back in a hurry, "Boss, Butou Chen said, this is our private matter, let us negotiate and resolve it."

Fan Yongdou couldn't help sweating on his forehead, and was instantly furious, "I can solve it, so what else do I need from the government?"

After all, Fan Yongdou was from the north, so it was impossible to bring hundreds of fellows here. He only had a dozen or so in Yuezhou, and the rest of the coolies were mainly hired with money.

As far as he is now, there is really nothing he can do to face the local hooligans.

Hearing people's report that food prices continued to drop, Fan Yongdou couldn't help but look ashamed. He didn't expect the local merchants to be so rascal.

When he was angry, the shopkeeper Qian who went out to negotiate came back with a bruised nose and a swollen face, and said with a frightened face: "Boss, something is wrong, the grain depot is on fire!"

Fan Yongdou was stunned for a moment, and then he flew into a rage, "Who? Who did it?"

(End of this chapter)