Because the people made trouble and smashed the grain shops, the grain shops that were still open in the capital were closed one after another.

Food shortages have become even more severe.

And at this time.

In a Shandong guild hall in the capital, a big man with a beard walked up to an elegant scribe: "Master, the little one is back?" ”

The scribe didn't raise his head, but still admired an ancient wrench in his hand, and asked, "The Ministry of Punishment released you so soon?" ”

"The people petitioned outside the Criminal Department, but the officials of the Criminal Department could not resist the pressure and had to release us first," said the bearded man.

The scribe smiled faintly and continued to ask, "Are all the grain shops in the capital closed?" ”

"It's all closed! It is estimated that the people in the city will not be able to survive for a few days! The bearded man replied.

"Very good, Mr. Kong's plan is half successful, if this one is earned, it will be a profit of more than five million silver dollars, and your benefits will be indispensable at that time, to ensure that you will not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life, you continue to play the mob outside, make a fuss, our majesty has always loved the people very much, will not treat you like this, the more fierce you are, the more anxious Your Majesty and the court will be, and when the time comes, it will naturally be how much we shout, how much price!" The scribe commanded.

"Yes!"

The bearded man said, thought about it and couldn't help asking: "However, master, do you say that Your Majesty will not buy it with money, but directly rob it, and even instigate the people to rob the grain store!" ”

"If Your Majesty wants to break the rules, it is so bad that it is the foundation of his Ming Dynasty, it is all the merchants in the world who offend, it is not illegal for us to sell at a high price, and there is no reason for his court to forcibly take away our grain, as long as Tongzhou is not caught!"

Soon after the scribe spoke, another monk walked in: "Master, the matter over there in Tongzhou has been successful, most of the two million stone grains have been burned by us, and the sergeants who were bought by us have also been killed. ”

"I know, I will send 100,000 silver dollars of sesame oil money to your temple when the time comes!"

As he spoke, the scribe added, "Now let's see how Mr. Kong talks with Yuwen Zhong of the household!" Immediately, he laughed again, and could not help but look out the window, at the poor people, who were already weakened by hunger, as if he were admiring a masterpiece of his own creation.

But just as the scribe was appreciating, the sound of horses' hooves was heard, and many officers and soldiers appeared, and carts of sweet potatoes came in with wagons, and they were directly placed in the square of Daming Gate, and an official of the household department in Tsing Yi was erecting a porridge shack.

After a while, the scribe saw the sergeant pour a sack of rice into a pot under the command of the household officer, and pour in more of what resembled taro.

The scribe couldn't help but ask with some seriousness, "What is that?" ”

"Sweet potato! I heard that it was brought back from outside by the Marquis of Jianchang, and now it is only promoted in the Gyeonggi area, and most of them are planted by farmers in Huangzhuang and the suburbs of Beijing", at this time, one person replied.

The scribe muttered to himself, "Sweet potato!" For a while, I was a little worried.

……

And this time.

Officials of the household department have begun to give sweet potato porridge to the poor people in the capital one after another, sweet potatoes can withstand hunger and cheap, even if it is not a problem to give alms for a few months, it is completely possible for the imperial court to have enough time for these poor people to regain a stable life, and a small amount of porridge can be regarded as not too miserable for the poor people, so that they will not be able to eat even half a grain of rice.

In addition, sweet potatoes are also sold in the main crowd settlements of the city gates, and they are sold at a price of one dollar and one stone, which can be said to be a free gift compared to the price of grain, which has risen by nearly three yuan and one stone.

Of course, one penny and one stone was higher than the price that the Ming court bought from the people.

And the people did not complain, because the cost of sweet potatoes itself is also low, and the cost of growing in some barren mountainous areas that cannot be cultivated at all is lower than the cost of cutting a bundle of firewood for the people.

At all costs.

The selling price of sweet potatoes for one stone for one stone, for the people of the capital, even the lowest-level people can buy one stone and go back for a few days.

Of course.

This kind of new grain, the people of the capital are still somewhat resistant.

Fortunately, Zhu Houzhao directly took the initiative to eat sweet potatoes first, and the cabinet and officials from various ministries took the lead in eating sweet potatoes first, which made it easier for the people to accept sweet potatoes as crops and began to eat sweet potatoes one after another.

"Your Majesty has a decree, because of the two million stone grain water, so that the price of grain in the capital has skyrocketed, but fortunately, Your Majesty has already stockpiled 10 million stone (exaggerated with political purposes, in order to calm people's hearts) sweet potatoes, the people do not have to worry about hunger, first use sweet potatoes to survive the famine! His Majesty has ordered the Grain Industry Bureau to transfer another 3 million stone Zhancheng rice into Beijing, and then sell it at the parity price of Zhengde for 12 years! ”

The royal literati in the chamber began to convey the latest arrangements of the imperial court to the people at the gates of the city.

Because of this, the people of the capital are at ease.

……

The scribe, who was secretly colluding with Mr. Kong, darkened his face and said angrily: "Ten million stones! When did the imperial court prepare so many sweet potatoes that could be cooked and eaten? ”

"Yes, sir, it's no problem to be hungry," replied one of his men.

"In this way, will not the grain we have hoarded be able to be sold at a high price, and this will not be in vain!" The scribe said with exasperation.

"Master, why don't we burn the grain again," suggested one of his men.

"How can it be so easy, wait for Mr. Kong's arrangement," the scribe couldn't help but say.

……

At this time, the royal family's special dining place in the Royal Xiyuan, when Zhu Houzhao came in after dealing with the government, there were already many imperial concubines sitting in the whole house, and the Queen Mother Zhang was still sitting in the middle, Zhu Houzhao was still sitting on the queen's head, looking at a bowl of sweet potato rice, and couldn't help laughing: "This is the first time I have eaten this sweet potato rice in Daming, and it is rare to have this oral administration!" ”

The queen couldn't help but smile and said: "There is also this potato beef, Your Majesty, you can also taste it, the imperial dining room is made according to your instructions, it is also very delicious, and the concubine said that this potato is even more delicious than this sweet potato, not only can you cook but also cook, why don't Your Majesty let them promote potatoes first." ”

"No conflict, it's the same for sweet potatoes to be harvested and then planted with potatoes", Zhu Houzhao said and tasted it first, it was very decisively delicious, only Liu Jin couldn't help but act on the side, wiped his tears and said: "I don't know which god-damn thief burned so much grain, so that the Queen Mother, Your Majesty and Her Royal Highnesses in the palaces can only eat sweet potatoes and potatoes!" ”

Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help glaring at Liu Jin: "You go outside and stand outside, cry enough before coming in, the royal family eats sweet potatoes first, it is to set an example for the subjects, what do you know!" ”

"It's rare that Gonggong Liu is loyal, Your Majesty, you shouldn't blame him", Queen Xia said with a smile and said: "After all, people followed you to Liangguang once, and let you have two more maids, right?" ”

Soon after Empress Xia said, Liu Jin, who had just gone out, walked in: "Your Majesty, Yuwen Zhong, the waiter of the warehouse, asks to see you." ”

Zhu Houzhao saw that it was Yuwen Zhong, and remembered that he had said before that Yuwen Zhong had recently asked to raise food and could meet him directly, but now when he saw Yuwen Zhong asking to see him, he put down his chopsticks and ordered: "Let him come here and move the screen!" ”

After a while.

Yuwen Zhong stood behind the screen: "Chen Yuwen Zhong has seen Your Majesty!" ”

"It's already noon, have you eaten?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

Yuwen Zhonglian said no.

"In that case, give him a bowl of sweet potato rice, a bowl of potato roast beef, you can taste it, it tastes good, the new product of the imperial dining room, you can't eat this dish even if you go to the best restaurant in the capital now!"

Zhu Houzhao said.

Yuwen Zhong has been worried about his head falling to the ground now, and he has no appetite at all, so he has to say: "Please forgive your majesty, the minister really has no appetite!" ”

"In that case, let's get down to business, do you have a way to raise food?" Zhu Houzhao asked.

"Your Majesty is wise, there is a merchant surnamed Kong who has two million stone of grain in his hand, which is going to be transported to Liaodong to exchange for salt, and now he sees that the price of grain in the capital is quite high, and he intends to sell it," Yuwen Zhong said.

"For those who know how to do business!"

After Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, his expression turned cold, and he thought to himself: "The merchant surnamed Kong, luck Liaodong for salt?" ”

Immediately.

Zhu Houzhao still behaved quite calmly, and after a sigh, he asked again: "At what price does he plan to sell?" ”

"Three dollars and five coins for one stone, a total of seven million silver dollars!"

Yuwen Zhong replied.

"It's very good at starting the price, which is five cents higher than the current grain price in the capital, seven million silver dollars for two million stone grain, even if the treasury is full, I can't stand such consumption, you continue to talk to him, and strive to talk about about five million, I may be able to agree!"

Zhu Houzhao commanded.

……

Night.

Zhu Houzhao called Gu Dayong from the West Factory and instructed: "You West Factory keep an eye on Mr. Kong who contacted Yuwen Zhong, and find out where his grain is, these businessmen are very energetic, and they can actually control the price of grain in the capital to three yuan and one stone!" If it weren't for the timely appearance of sweet potatoes, I'm afraid that I would really have to spend seven million silver dollars to buy grain! ”

"The ministers obey!" Gu Dayong retreated.

……

And this time.

More and more sweet potatoes and potatoes are being shipped into the city.

More and more people are beginning to accept the sweet and delicious sweet potatoes and potatoes they already eat.

"The price of sweet potatoes will be reduced to seven tenths of a stone, and the price of potatoes will be reduced to one stone again!"

A treasurer of a government-run grain bureau shouted loudly.

Thereupon.

The people were crazy to buy, and the problem of food shortage was solved, even if they were not tired of eating sweet potatoes and potatoes, it didn't matter, the household department began to mobilize some grain into Beijing one after another, and sold it at a fair price in batches, although it was small, but it also allowed the people to at least guarantee the taste of rice and noodles.

Mr. Kong, who had already returned to the Shandong Guild Hall, couldn't help but darken his face: "The grain we bought for two million silver dollars, plus the cost of bribery, was supposed to wait until the price of grain in the capital was high, and now this imperial court suddenly made such a move, wouldn't we fall short!" ”

"Yongchanghou can't bear the pressure anymore, and he has reopened to sell grain, and the price has been reduced to two yuan and five dollars and one stone!" The scribe who appeared before the Shandong Hall said.

"This Marquis of Yongchang, regardless of him, let's wait and see, I don't believe that the imperial court will not be able to eat all this sweet potato! It is said that it is 10 million stones, and only a foolish people will believe it! ”

Mr. Kong said with a sneer.

Ten days later.

In addition, the household department also transported a batch of 200,000 stone of grain from Shanxi to Beijing, forcing the grain merchants who had opened grain shops one after another to lower the grain price to two yuan and one stone.

After all, grain also has a retention period, and the longer it is aged, the faster it will depreciate.

And Mr. Kong, who had two million stone of grain, had to agree to Yuwen Zhong and was ready to sell it to the imperial court for five million silver dollars.

But Zhu Houzhao repented again and said:

"Now that the price of grain has been reduced to two yuan and one stone, it is naturally not cost-effective to buy two million stones for five million silver dollars, tell him that for three million silver dollars, the imperial court will buy him two million stones of grain at one time, otherwise, his two million stones of grain can only depreciate to the level of Zhengde for twelve years!"

This Mr. Kong naturally refused, after all, his psychological expectation was to make more than five million silver dollars by hoarding Juqi this time, and if he only sold three million silver dollars, he would not make much, which was equivalent to working in vain.

However, ten days later, another batch of sweet potatoes and potatoes was shipped into Beijing, and the price of sweet potatoes was reduced to one-third of a stone, and the price of potatoes was also greatly reduced.

Even the lowest workers can buy a stone of sweet potatoes for a day's wages.

Moreover, in addition, the imperial court also relieved itself and transferred another batch of grain into Beijing, prompting the price of grain in the capital to be lowered again at the level of one yuan and seven yuan.

This time, Mr. Kong found Yuwen Zhong again and offered to sell it for three million silver dollars.

Zhu Houzhao refused because of the bumper harvest of grain in the fields outside the Saiwai, and the cabinet had already transferred 500,000 stone grain from outside the Saiwai to Beijing, and it was no longer a problem to support the grain into Beijing, saying that if Mr. Kong wanted to sell 2 million stone grain to the imperial court, he could only sell it at a price of 2 million silver dollars.

"No! This is absolutely not good, two million silver dollars means that we have not earned anything, plus the cost of bribery, and we have also lost! This, this will not work! ”

At this time, without waiting for Mr. Kong to speak, the scribe Sun Juren who followed him first rejected the proposal of the imperial court.

"Burn all the old grain you bought! When the time comes, the new grain will be transported to the capital and sold for three yuan and one stone, and the dignitaries in the capital will not be able to eat sweet potatoes and potatoes all the time, because they can afford the grain of three yuan and one stone," said Mr. Kong.

Thereupon.

Three days later, in a manor in Fengrun County, hundreds of thousands of old grain stones were transported out of the warehouse and began to be piled on firewood stacks to be burned.

One of Mr. Kong's shopkeepers named Yin Mo couldn't help but be shocked when he saw this, and asked, "Mr. Kong, why do you want to burn these grains!" ”

"If you don't burn it, it will only bring down the price of food!" Mr. Kong said.

"Mr. Kong, this is against the way of heaven, although these grains are old grains, but it is also a merit to give to the people," Yin Mo said.

"Shopkeeper Yin, I didn't expect that when you also had the kindness of a woman, 500,000 stone of grain, even if you burned it, you couldn't give it to those untouchables!"

As soon as Mr. Kong spoke, he ordered his men to set fire to the stacks of firewood, and began to burn the bags of grain, and the bags of grain flowed into the fire like a flood, and the whole flame began to fill with the smell of grain.

"What a wreck! These big families would rather burn their grain than sell it at a low price! ”

The people in the vicinity couldn't help but sigh when they saw this.

At this time, a team of brocade guards rushed in and cut off the arms of the people who were about to burn several other stacks of grain on the spot, while a brocade guard named Shen Wenqi pointed at Mr. Kong with an embroidered spring knife on the spot, and said, "Who gave you the courage to dare to burn so much grain!" ”

This Mr. Kong couldn't help but be surprised, he didn't expect a brocade guard to appear suddenly, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

……

"These profiteers are excessive! The people of the capital are short of grain, and all localities have to squeeze out grain and transport it into Beijing, even the grain from the border towns is transferred into Beijing, but these profiteers would rather burn the grain than sell it at a lower price! It's disgusting! ”

The Prime Minister of the Cabinet was furious when he learned of this.

And the second assistant Wang Qiong couldn't help but sigh.

Zhu Houzhao was relatively calm, and only asked Gu Dayong: "Can you find out who is burning this grain, and in addition, who is behind the grain price in the capital this time, can you find out?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, at present, Xichang only inquired and learned that the mastermind of this manipulation of grain prices was Kong Wenyun, this person is the Holy Ancestor, as well as the Marquis of Yongchang and the hussar general Zhu Jing, who participated in this case!"

"Arrest immediately, no matter who dares to intend to damage my Ming foundation, and will never be spared, this Kong Wenyun, as a descendant of Confucius, can also do such ugly things, or is it the mastermind?" Zhu Houzhao couldn't help asking.

"Your Majesty, presumably the Holy Father of Yan doesn't know about this, and it is inevitable that there will be such unvirtuous sons and descendants!" Kang Hai saw that the matter involved the Yan Shenggong Mansion, and he was afraid that His Majesty the Emperor would take advantage of this to anger the descendants of the saint, so he hurriedly came over to help the Yan Shenggong say a good word.

……

Zhu Hou glanced at Kang Hai, and also knew Kang Hai's purpose, so he only smiled faintly and said: "Then he Kong Yan Holy Father is also educationless, and the descendants of saints have this kind of profiteer, which is really despicable!" In order to ensure the reputation of the descendants of the Holy Master, it is strictly forbidden for the descendants of the Holy Prince's Mansion to engage in business, otherwise they will be guilty of unfilial piety! ”

The cabinet ministers couldn't help but be surprised, they didn't expect that the emperor would ban the right to do business in the Yansheng Mansion, but they couldn't say anything, because the reason of the emperor was to ensure the reputation of the descendants of Confucius.

Nie Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, was even more anxious at this time, he could see that His Majesty was using this matter to suppress Yan Shenggong, and he also knew that this showed that His Majesty was really dissatisfied with Confucianism, especially the Yan Shenggong lineage, and now Kong Wenyun of the Yan Shenggong Mansion was not angry and wanted to hoard Juqi to make a windfall, wouldn't this give His Majesty the opportunity to crack down on Yan Shenggong, once the status of Yan Shenggong is not guaranteed, it means that the status of Confucianism is even more unprotected, once this matter is publicized, it will only make the world blame Confucianism for the corruption and degeneration of Yansheng Gongfu.

"Go to Shandong quickly and give this to Yan Shenggong", Nie Zhen wrapped a bag of grain and handed it to his cronies.

Meanwhile.

Nie Zhen said to Emperor Zhu Houzhao that the criminal case was the responsibility of the Criminal Department, so the suspects involved in the manipulation of grain prices should be transferred from the West Factory to the Criminal Department, and the Criminal Department should try them.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't refuse, after all, this is indeed very in line with the current judicial procedures of the Ming Dynasty, and it is indeed the responsibility of the Criminal Department to try suspects.

But Zhu Houzhao also understood that these civil officials must have the idea of defending Yan Shenggong, so he also suspected that Nie Zhen was nominally legally exercising the power of his criminal department to ask the criminal department to be responsible for the interrogation of Kong Wenyun and others, whether he wanted to secretly protect Kong Wenyun.

……

"Gu Dayong, do you say that anyone from the Criminal Department will know this Kong Wenyun?" Zhu Houzhao suddenly asked.

"Back to Your Majesty, according to a bearded man named Sun Tietou who once stayed in the Criminal Department, even if this Kong Wenyun asked his Qing guest Sun Juren to come forward to deal with the people in the officialdom, he thought that he should not know him," Gu Dayong replied.

Zhu Houzhao nodded after hearing this, and asked Gu Dayong to use it, so Liu Jin and Zhu approved the request of Nie Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, to transfer the suspect to the prison of the Criminal Department.

this day.

Gu Dayong of the West Factory personally brought a group of suspects to hand over to Nie Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, Nie Zhen first glanced at several prisoners behind Gu Dayong and asked, "Dare to ask my father-in-law, who is Kong Wenyun?" ”

"This is!" Gu Dayong pointed to a prisoner and said.

Nie Zhen nodded and didn't say anything more.

……

However, a few days later, as soon as Zhu Houzhao had finished lunch, Nie Zhen came to the Royal West Garden to plead guilty: "The minister is incompetent!" Please punish Your Majesty! Last night, Kong Wenyun died suddenly! ”

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but smile after hearing this: "Yes, Nie Qing, let me ask you, are you my minister of the Ming Dynasty, or the minister of his Confucian family, or are you the real mastermind, why did you want to destroy the mouth of Kong Wenyun!" ”

"Your Majesty, why do you say this, the minister is naturally the minister of the Ming Dynasty, and the minister does not dare to manipulate the price of grain," Nie Zhen said.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head, thinking that this was annoying in this era when there were no professional judicial officials, even the officials in charge of the judiciary were all Confucian civil officials, and it was no wonder that these scholars and Confucian ministers could avoid the constraints of the law.

"Bring Kong Wenyun up!"

When Zhu Houzhao said this, Nie Zhen couldn't help but be shocked, he suddenly understood, and couldn't help but secretly regret why he didn't personally ask Kong Wenyun who was brought to his criminal department by Xichang at that time, and now, he seemed to have been played by His Majesty.

"Your Majesty, the minister, the minister is just, I just think that this matter is not suitable to be widely implicated!" Nie Zhen said with some confidence.

"Someone came, took off Nie Zhen's black gauze hat, and escorted him to the East Factory Inspectorate first! This Kong Wenyun will continue to be detained in the West Factory and interrogated strictly! ”

Zhu Houzhao originally thought that Nie Zhen would be able to find out that Kong Wenyun was fake, and then understand that he was not easy to deceive as an emperor, but he didn't expect Nie Zhen to still despise him, and he couldn't help but shake his head for a while.

But Zhu Houzhao still felt a little resentful, and said in his heart: "What benefits did this Confucian family give to these civil officials, and a Shangshu really dared to shield him like this!" Or is there a place in this Confucian family that can threaten these civil officials? ”

Zhu Houzhao can only bury this doubt in his heart for the time being, but in any case, this incident made Zhu Houzhao realize that if he wants to abandon Confucianism, he must pull down a family that has been highly respected since Confucianism became the orthodox position, and that family is the Yansheng Mansion.

Now, in Zhu Houzhao's view, Kong Wenyun may be a breakthrough.

However, what Zhu Houzhao didn't expect was that just when he was sure that Kong Wenyun was the culprit who burned the grain, Zhu Houzhao received a note from Kong Yan Shenggong, which stated that Kong Wenyun's father asked his son to hang himself for doing such a hurtful thing, and he had already taken the initiative to ask for the removal of the people in his house from the family tree of Yan Shenggong before hanging himself! He also took the initiative to ask himself, the emperor, and expressed his willingness to donate 300,000 grains to Beijing to save the capital's urgency!