At this time, in northern Shaanxi, the price of grain soared, and it was already four taels of silver and one stone, and one hundred thousand stones of grain was 400,000 taels of silver. And if you really want to talk about it, 400,000 taels may not be able to buy 100,000 stone of grain.

After hearing this number, the fat old man immediately fell silent, and the others followed suit. However, those sitting outside, because they were a little far away from Hong Chengchou, whispered. As he spoke, a few words reached Hong Chengchou's ears.

"So many ......"

"yes, it's too much......"

“……”

The fat old man saw that the smile on Hong Chengchou's face disappeared, and his face became gloomy, so he said, "Lord Zhongcheng, it's not that we don't want to. It is really a year of great famine, although we have a bit of a family business, but the expenses are also large. Filial piety in the court should also be taken care of, food is silver, and I really don't have that ability! ”

When the other squires heard this, they all nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Lord Zhongcheng, we are powerless!"

"In these years, the landlord's family has no surplus grain!"

“……”

Hong Chengchou could hear that they had needles in their words, implying that there were also people in the court, so don't force them too much.

He sneered in his heart, trying not to be angry, but his voice was a little colder and said: "If you don't have food to send troops to suppress the thieves and let the thieves plunder, don't you worry, will the thieves grab you?" At that time, your money and food, your wife, children, and daughters will all be thieves, can you keep them? ”

This was quite intimidating, and after he had finished speaking, all the squires were silent again, and did not dare to say that there was no food.

After being silent for a while, the fat old man said first: "What Lord Zhongcheng said is extremely true, Yan should do his best!" ”

Speaking of this, he groaned slightly and then said, "Yan donated 500 stones!" ”

Hearing him say this, the squire beside him followed: "I will donate a hundred stone of grain!" ”

"Fifty stones!"

“……”

Hong Chengchou was not too little, after listening to one, his eyes turned to the next, and he didn't continue to look at the next one until he donated it. After the hall was reported, he waved his hand and asked the guards to go to the hall to count the amount of food donated.

"My lord, the hall donated a total of 2,000 stones!" The guard replied loudly with a hint of anger on his face.

Hong Chengchou listened, stood up, looked around at the squires present, and said coldly: "A total of 5,000 stone of grain will be donated." If it's not that there are too few officials, aren't you really afraid that thieves will attack your villages and towns and slaughter all your doors? ”

No one replied, so Hong Chengchou said again: "Since this official has invited you to come, I have made statistics in advance, and all of you here have the ability to afford these military rations, but the donation of military rations is so small. Or if you still don't know the situation in northern Shaanxi, then this official will report to you the situation you just learned. ”

Speaking of this, he slowly explained the situation of the civil unrest in various places. The sheer number and the wide range of places made many people worried, and their faces were a little ugly.

“…… Ladies and gentlemen, one of the most worrying of this officer is the rogue group of the Shen Yiyuan brothers, which is mainly composed of border troops, and they have about 2,000 cavalry troops alone, and they have been in the army for a long time, and they are familiar with the method of siege battle formations. According to the official's estimate, in these places in northern Shaanxi, except for the county seat and above, it is difficult for other villages and castles to defend against the attack of Shen Yiyuan. If this official does not send troops, even if it is a county seat, I am afraid it will not be safe. ”

When Hong Chengchou said this, his tone suddenly softened a little and said: "I guess you have heard about the matter of Jin Shang." The court has money, and it has made a clear decree, and the military salaries of the border army are about to be repaid, so you don't have to worry about donating food in the future! ”

As soon as he heard this, the squires present couldn't help but whisper. With such a large-scale action in the next province, these squires are naturally more informed than ordinary people's ears and eyes, and of course they know some about the situation. Although they didn't believe it, even if the imperial court paid a salary, how much money would be able to reach northern Shaanxi. But there will be some of them, and they will have to reconsider.

Hong Chengchou is also good-tempered in the face of these squires. Because he knew that he could offend ordinary people in Daming, but he definitely couldn't offend these squires. Otherwise, in his original history, he would not have ignored Yang He's advice to kill and surrender. Because he knew that if the squire did not give out food, just relying on the relief of the imperial court, even if the thieves were defeated, they would definitely rebel when they had no food.

Seeing that these squires were thinking about it at this time, Hong Chengchou persuaded again: "The army has no food, and when you can't wait for the military pay to be paid and you can't stand it from hunger, I'm afraid there will be more mutinies." If the official is weak, he can only keep the town of Yulin, and it will be too late for you to regret it! ”

Either they were moved by his words, or their previous discussion reached a conclusion, and the squire led by the fat old man began a new round of food donations. The total amount of grain was about 50,000 stones.

After the donation, the fat old man stood up and saluted Hong Chengchou and said: "Lord Zhongcheng, the daughter-in-law at home is waiting to give birth, the little old man is really worried in his heart, he has to go back and watch, and please Lord Zhongcheng Haihan!" ”

"Then the official congratulates Elder Yan first!" Hong Chengchou replied with a slight smile.

As soon as the fat old man left, another squire next to him stood up: "Lord Zhongcheng, the old mother is seriously ill, and the students really have no intention of feasting, so please ...... Lord Zhongcheng."

Before he finished his words, he saw Hong Chengchou and said with concern: "Since this is the case, it is not the official's, you should go back quickly!" ”

This person was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly said deeply: "Thank you Lord Zhongcheng for your understanding!" ”

After walking another one, the other squires saw that Hong Chengchou was still not angry and very considerate, so they found reasons to get up and say goodbye. Hong Chengchou is also the same as at the beginning, very considerate of them, as long as you want to leave, he will not stay.

It didn't take long for all the squires to come up with all sorts of reasons, and they were all gone.

Looking at the empty hall up and down, Hong Chengchou's guards said indignantly: "My lord, if they have anything, they are afraid that they will donate food and run away again!" ”

"How can this official not know!" Hong Chengchou's face returned to gloom, and he glanced at the empty table and said, "This official is poor, and he can save the money and food for this banquet, hehe, it's very good!" ”

In fact, whether Hong Chengchou has food or not, as the highest official of Governor Yansui, he has the heavy responsibility of suppressing thieves, and he will definitely send troops. It's just that the difference between having food and not having food will determine the way he commands his troops.

If there is food, he will strictly enforce military discipline, and the thief is the thief, and there will be no other thing. But if there is no food, then he can't do anything, the first thing is to suppress the thieves, and as for the matter of replenishing the army, it can only be solved on the spot when the army is marching and fighting.

Originally, soldiers were more troubled than bandits in history, but in this plane, because of the butterfly effect, these squires donated the greatest possible food, which also allowed Hong Chengchou to restrain military discipline to some extent, which allowed many people to escape.

At the same time, Emperor Chongzhen of Jingshi was still considering the matter of repaying military salaries, and the progress was behind the previous estimate.