Chapter 32: The Maison's Reaction

After a month, the new county order has made another move, and the officials in the county government have attacked in all directions. It was announced in various townships that Li Sheng's first decree when he came to Qinghe County was the decree of returning the cultivation to the people.

When the people heard this, they rejoiced. Especially in the famine year, the farmer who sold the land was even happier. They had already received money and grain in the famine, but now they redeemed the fields they had sold for free. In addition to going to the county government to record and receive the fine, the others don't have to pay anything at all.

As for the punishment, the officials also announced it according to the law, and the punishment of ten lashes per acre. Although the punishment was a bit severe, they could still bear this little drunkenness compared to getting land.

Since the government officials announced the decree, more than 1,000 people from various townships have gone to the county government to receive punishments. Li Sheng asked the officials to collect back the deeds they had sold, and all of them were registered. In this way, after all the registration was completed, I was busy for nearly a month.

This month, in the Qinghe County Ya, not only the officials who registered and made the register worked hard. The hardest work was the execution of more than a dozen officials, who beat people every day until they were soft. At first, they were able to carry out the execution in earnest, but after a day, they also played tricks, and all of them lost their strength.

All the farmers who have sold their fields have basically exceeded 20 acres, and 10 acres per acre will be doubled to 20 acres. According to the calculation of twenty acres, it is four hundred. What is the concept of more than 1,000 people, even if they are tired to death of these dozen officials, they can't finish fighting. If you're not lazy, do you think you can do it? (Flogging is generally a spanking with bamboo chips, and Li Sheng is also a bamboo slice for people to use.) ）

In this way, the comedic execution appeared. There have never been people in the entire Tang Dynasty who are so willing to be tortured, and more than 1,000 people are waiting in line to be beaten. And he still took the initiative to explain that he was going to take a few beatings, and he didn't have to go to ask the officials himself, he climbed on the bench and reported the number himself. Whenever the official heard the number of hundreds, his face was very ugly. What's even more bizarre is that the people have been flogged hundreds of times, and they can walk with their pants on, as if nothing is wrong.

"Li Sheng really has you, now you don't need to investigate, you can figure out how many fields have been sold out."

Cheng Huaimo and Li Sheng sat in the pavilion at the back of the ya, and Li Sheng didn't know when he got another recliner, lay on it leisurely, and chatted with Cheng Huaimo.

"Big brother, wait a minute, run an errand for me, and let Lord Li inform all the squires who sold the land, saying that I will have a treat in Yipinju tomorrow. Invite them to come to the feast. ”

Cheng Huaimo looked at Li Sheng and said, "Li Sheng, are you calling me, you are used to calling me." Do you know what I do? I was sent by His Majesty to protect you, not your subordinate. I'll forget it today, and if you dare to tell me in the future, you know the consequences. ”

Cheng Huaimo and Li Sheng have been together for a long time, only to find that Li Sheng, this kid, is too lazy, and all the business is handed over to Li Hongcai and Cui Mingchuan. In addition to the necessary opening of the Ya Shengtang, he himself is to go out for a walk. Cheng Huaimo was also very bored with the call, either running errands or supervising the affairs of the officials, and Cheng Huaimo was also a little unbearable.

"Big brother, aren't they all at home, Lu Kui? It's not easy for me to go in person with a prefectural order, right? You can do your little brother a favor! Li Sheng hurriedly licked his face and said.

Cheng Huaimo said: "You too, aren't you just asking for news?" San Lang, why don't you stay, all of them are sent out, and if you call me again, I already knew that I would also go out. ”

"Big brother, you also know that this time it is still ploughing for the people, and the family will not hand over the land happily. We just came to Qinghe County, and we don't know anything about the relationship between them. We don't know who has conflicts with whom, and who has a good relationship with whom. If we don't inquire, isn't it the same as turning our eyes open? If I can figure out the relationship between their interests, wouldn't it be easy for me to start? ”

Cheng Huaimo sighed and said, "Okay! I'll go. ”

Li Sheng then lay on the recliner and said, "I'll thank the eldest brother first." ”

Cheng Huaimo looked at Li Sheng's smiling appearance and wanted to beat him. Thinking that this was his future brother-in-law, he suppressed his anger and didn't start.

In the evening, among the four Lu Kui, only Li Sanlang returned. Li Sanlang entered Li Sheng's courtyard and saw a light on in Li Sheng's study. He pushed the door open and went in.

"Master Hou, Lu Kui asked me to report to Master Hou, the Cui family has a total of four groups of people today. Zhang Wenshu of the Zhang family in the east of the city, Gu Huaiyuan, Lu Ming, Lu Ming, and Cui Qingyuan, who we met outside the customs clearance when we came. ”

When Li Sheng heard Cui Qingyuan's name, he interrupted Li Sanlang's words and asked, "If you don't mention it, I forgot, when did this Cui Qingyuan come back?" ”

Li Sanlang heard Li Sheng's question, and said mysteriously: "Master Hou, let me tell you, this Cui Qingyuan, you are a little evil. ”

Li Sheng looked at him and said with a smile: "What's so evil? Tell me about it. ”

"Master Hou, how long have we been in Qinghe?"

"It's been more than two months." Li Sheng frowned.

"This Cui Qingyuan's caravan has only been back for less than three days, Master Hou, think about it, he has been walking from Tongguan to Qinghe for nearly three months, do you think he is a little evil?"

Li Sheng looked at Li Sanlang and said, "That's it?" ”

"Hmmm! That's it! ”

"What's so evil about this, maybe he encountered some eye-catching business on the road, and it was possible to delay the journey."

Li Sheng didn't think much about it, it was very possible for businessmen to make profits, and to do some good business on the road. Li Sanlang didn't think so, this ancient's business was not as good as that of later generations, mainly because there were too few business opportunities. There are too few economic commodities and materials, and the ancients mainly bought and sold some living materials, such as grain, cloth, porcelain, etc., and some minerals such as salt, iron, and copper were state-owned and were not allowed to be bought and sold. In ancient times, caravans had a fixed trade, and the chances of picking up a good deal on the way were very small. That's why Li Sanlang said that Cui Qingyuan came back late, because he was full of evil energy, and he must have his own plans.

"Master Hou, you don't know, this caravan merchant is exchanging transactions between the two places, and it is impossible for him to receive business along the way. Besides, Cui Qingyuan is just a caravan shopkeeper, and the caravan he leads cannot do business privately without the permission of the head of the family. ”

After Li Sanlang said this, Li Sheng fell into deep thought. If that's the case, Cui Qingyuan must have other plans. He knew my identity, and he came back so late to avoid himself, didn't he want to get involved in the Cui family's affairs? Doubts rose in Li Sheng's heart, but he couldn't grasp the main point.

"It looks like I'm going to Cui Qingyuan's house."

Li Sheng secretly felt like he had caught something at this time. Li Sheng felt that as long as he caught Cui Qingyuan, he might be able to open up the situation in the entire Qinghe. If Li Sheng grasped one thing, if he didn't figure it out, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

"San Lang, go, come with me to Cui's house."

Li Sanlang was defeated by Li Sheng's nervousness, this Li Hou Ye really remembered that one play is another, it's all dark, you go to visit people, people don't sleep.

The ancients went to bed early, and generally when it was dark, they no longer saw visitors. So it's not a matter of urgency, and I don't usually visit people at night. Xiang Li Sheng said that he would leave, but Li Sanlang still hadn't seen it.

Cui Qingyuan's home is not in Cui's mansion. Li Sanlang took Li Sheng around and walked to a small courtyard in a small alley in the west of the city. Inform Li Sheng that this is Cui Qingyuan's home.

Li Sheng looked at it, and saw that Cui Qingyuan's small courtyard was only at the level of a medium family. Li Sheng said suspiciously: "A caravan shopkeeper of the Cui family lives in this kind of courtyard?" ”

Li Sanlang said: "Cui Qingyuan moved out to live, and there used to be an independent courtyard in Cui's mansion. I don't know why, he moved out of Cui's Mansion and bought a yard here. If Master Hou wants to know the reason, give the villain a few days, and I will definitely be able to find out. ”

Li Sheng waved his hand and said, "No need, I'll go in and ask." ”

Li Sanlang saw that after Li Sheng finished speaking, he motioned for him to call the door. I didn't know what to say, so I walked to the door and called for the door.

"Is there anyone in the house?"

Li Sanlang shouted loudly, and he heard someone in the courtyard talking: "Dad, someone outside the door called the door?" ”

Li Sheng could guess that this must be Cui Qingyuan's daughter, and she would be eleven or twelve years old when she heard the voice.

After a while, Cui Qingyuan's voice came from the courtyard and said, "Who is outside the door?" Knocking on the door at night, not afraid of disturbing people's dreams? ”

Cui Qingyuan's tone was a little unhappy.

Li Sanlang looked at Li Sheng, and when he saw Li Sheng smiling, he knew that Li Sheng was not unhappy, so he said: "Shopkeeper Cui, Hou Li of Xianyang County visited Shopkeeper Cui." ”

"Oops, hey!"

Li Sanlang could hear Cui Qingyuan take a few steps tightly, looking very flustered.

"Hou Ye Li, come here, the villain is rude, please Hou Ye Haihan!" Cui Qingyuan is not for what he said just now.

Li Sheng said with a smile: "Those who don't know are not guilty, won't Shopkeeper Cui invite me in?" ”

"Master Hou, please!"

Li Sheng was also not polite, and walked into Cui Qingyuan's house with his legs raised.

"Xia'er! Boil water to make tea, buy wine and food. ”

Cui Qingyuan walked into the courtyard and shouted to the side room.

"Master Hou, the family is simple, wait for Master Hou."

Li Sheng waved his hand and said, "Don't be polite, shopkeeper Cui. I was also born in a villager, and the house I lived in before was not as good as Cui's shopkeeper. ”

As the three of them spoke, they entered the lobby of Cui Qingyuan's house. Cui Qingyuan invited Li Sheng to the main seat, and invited Li Sanlang to sit on the left, and he sat on the right. Only then did he speak: "Master Hou came to visit late at night, there must be something." I don't know what happened to Master Hou? As long as the villain can do it, he will do his best. ”

"Shopkeeper Cui is polite, I also heard that Shopkeeper Cui is back, so I came to see you."

Li Sheng said nonsense, Cui Qingyuan definitely didn't believe it. But since Li Sheng is here, sooner or later he will say what he wants, and he is not in a hurry.

"Hou Ye is very loving, the villain is a businessman, and the villain is very grateful." For polite words, as Cui Qingyuan, who traveled from south to north, he came as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Shopkeeper Cui, there is a good saying, everything in the world can only show its value if it is circulated. If there are no merchants in the world, then how can this commodity be circulated? I won't say anything about the others, but take me as an example, I treat businessmen and ordinary people equally, and I don't have any contempt. Please also ask the shopkeeper Cui not to be humble. ”

Li Sheng's words made Cui Qingyuan very comfortable to hear. Cui Qingyuan got up and saluted Li Sheng, and said, "Thank you, Master Hou!" ”

Shinong businessmen, the lowest status of merchants, are still under the craftsmen. Although Li Shimin shouted the integration of agriculture and industry, he also treated everyone equally, but it was only a political slogan. For thousands of years, the common people still looked down on merchants in their bones. Take Li Sheng's family as an example, he opened a wine shop with the Cheng family, but Cheng Yanjin did not let Li Sheng come forward to preside over the business of the wine shop, this is also because Li Sheng has a knighthood, and it is not in line with Li Sheng's identity to do business again. But as a later generation, Li Sheng really does not reject businessmen, but likes businessmen. This is also the influence of later generations.

Li Sheng said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Cui doesn't have to be like this, I also have a person who buys and sells, and I can be regarded as half a businessman." The five steps that are popular in Chang'an are drunk with immortals, that is, I sold them, you and I are the same people, no one is high or low. ”

The more Li Sheng said this, the more Cui Qingyuan couldn't figure out what Li Sheng meant. Li Sheng is like this, and his condescension is a little too obvious. If there is no attempt, Li Sheng must not believe it himself.

"Master Hou, you condescend to humility, which makes the villain very frightened. Master Hou, just say it directly! Let the villain do, as long as the villain can do it, he will definitely be crushed. ”

Cui Qingyuan didn't bend with Li Sheng anymore, which was really unbearable. Cui Qingyuan simply stopped circling around, and came straight to see what Li Sheng said. As long as Li Sheng was not too excessive, he agreed.

Li Sheng wants this effect, Lao Tzu crushed you to death with a high hat, my identity is here, I don't believe you can stand it. To be honest, Li Sheng is a bit of a bully, how can he have such an uneasy routine.

"Shopkeeper Cui is really not what you think, I did come to see you. Although there are some small things to trouble you, I don't have the sincerity to see you. Li Sheng is really shameless, he said it with a cheeky face, and even Li Sanlang on the side couldn't get used to it.

"Master Hou, just say something!" Shopkeeper Cui's expression was a little generous to death.