It wasn't until after dusk that the big families in the city who were invited by the county government came late one by one. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 Just looking at the reluctant smiles on their faces, Jiang Chong, who was in charge of greeting them, knew that they were very reluctant to come here.

These people are not stupid, and they know that at this time, the county government must have asked them to come and wanted to get some benefits from them. And at this time, everyone only wants to take care of themselves, so how can they be willing to donate their property?

However, they still dare not refute the face of the county government. Although they learned that the Li family was not invited, they knew that the power gap between their own family and the Li family was too far, and they did not dare to offend the yamen in the same way. What's more, this time, the Xuan family sent the second master Xuan Weisen to come, and they didn't dare to come.

After sitting down in the second hall of the county government, more than a dozen county leaders began to discuss in a low voice. One of them, Yu Changfeng, who has always been outspoken, asked Xuan Weisen carefully: "Second Master Xuan, we will definitely get some blood when we come to the Yamen this time, I don't know what you or the Xuan family uncle think?" ”

Xuan Weisen just smiled dryly: "What Yu Yuanwai said, I don't know what the yamen wants us to do, how can I have an idea?" ”

"Ahem, judging from the current situation, the county government came to us for just two things, money or food." Yu Changfeng pursed his lips and said, "Judging from the number of refugees who have avoided the city in the past two days, the food in our county really can't support it for a few days." Right, Boss Wang? As he spoke, he looked at a chubby middle-aged man diagonally opposite.

This Boss Wang is also a grain seller like the Li family, and he runs two grain and rice shops in the county. However, when it comes to getting home, it is naturally far inferior to the Li family. When he saw Yu Changfeng asking so directly, he couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Who said it wasn't?" In our two shops, there is less than half of the grain left in the three warehouses. Now the outside of the city is flooded by the river again, and it is difficult to buy goods outside. ”

"You see, even Boss Wang, a grain seller, is worried about this, and it is even more difficult for the county government to manage so many mouths. Therefore, I think that today's county Yabacheng is coming to us for food. Yu Changfeng looked like he was in his chest.

But his inference was only exchanged for a speechless wry smile or disdainful gaze from the people around him. Everyone here can guess this, so why bother to tell it?

But his words still had some effect, at least to help Yang Chen, who had just walked to the front of the hall. He was still thinking about how to make an opening statement in his heart, but when he heard Yu Changfeng's words, he responded: "What this outsider said is good, this official invited you to come today just to let you share your worries for our county government." As he spoke, he stepped into the hall.

When the big families saw that Yang County's order had arrived, they didn't dare to hold it up, so they quickly stood up and saluted: "I've seen the big master." ”

Yang Chen smiled very gently, and while bowing half a salute, he said politely: "You don't have to be so polite. Today is the official who asks for you, and it is I who should bow to you. ”

"Your Excellency is serious." Several people laughed wryly, and their hearts beat even more. The so-called courtesy must be demanded by others, Yang Chen, as a county commander, has put his posture so low, if they can't satisfy him, these big families may not be able to go back calmly.

After ending this meeting ceremony, which was very different from the usual, Yang Chen said straight to the point: "You must be able to guess the purpose of the official inviting you here today. This year has indeed been an eventful year in my Zhuji County, and in a short period of time, there have been many disasters -- heavy rains, fires, and bursting embankments. Now, the city has taken in many people who have been affected by the disaster, and this official is a county magistrate, so naturally he can't watch any of the people under his rule starve and freeze. Therefore, they can only provide for them with everything that the government has.

"However, you also know the situation in the county right now, Chang Ping has been destroyed, and there is not much grain in the official warehouse, so it is not easy to satisfy so many people. Therefore, this official hopes that all of you can help the government and help the townships in the same county to tide over the difficulties together. ”

After hearing his words, these big families all looked strange, but no one spoke. Everyone knows that this is difficult to say, and if you agree to be a little reluctant to eat, after all, the number must not be too small to give an explanation to the government. But if you don't agree, it's even more wrong, who knows if this Yang County Commander, who looks very kind now, will suddenly turn his face and deny people.

"Why, can't you all make up your mind?" Yang Chen asked again.

At this time, they could no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb, and one person suddenly opened his mouth: "Do you want us to provide food?" It was Yu Changfeng, who was the most unbreathable. After receiving Yang Chen's affirmative reply, he couldn't help but say: "But my lord, you should also know that when it comes to food, no one in our county can compare to the Li family, and we can't get much food together." ”

"This, the official is naturally saved." Yang Chen didn't expect this person to be so direct, but it was not easy to attack for a while, so he had to smile bitterly: "But the Li family hasn't been able to get much food recently, so this official has to ask for help." What do you say outside the preacher? Since everyone refused to take the initiative to express their position, and the first to speak was such a statement, he had to take the initiative to ask someone.

He chose Xuan Weisen, in addition to thinking that this person is the head of these big households, as long as he nods, everyone else has to follow, but also because he believes that the Xuan family's wealth will not be too stingy.

Sure enough, Yang Chen's bet was right. After being named by him, Xuan Weisen gritted his teeth and said: "Since the adults have talked about this, our Xuan family can rely on the help of the Zhuji villagers and elders to have today, so we can't stand idly by." ”

"Good!" Yang Chen smiled with satisfaction: "But I don't know how much food the propagandists are willing to donate?" ”

"Please also ask for forgiveness, our Xuanjia is not engaged in selling grain, so we can't take too much of this grain, so we can only donate 2,500 catties of grain to the county government. However, we can also donate 5,000 taels of silver to help the affected villagers. Xuan Weisen said. This was discussed with his brother Xuan Weixin before he came, so he didn't hesitate too much.

In fact, if it was placed at other times, five thousand taels of silver was not a small number, and Yang Chen would be happy if he heard it. But now it is not ordinary, at this juncture, even if there is silver, you can't buy food. But he also knew the difficulties of the Xuan family, at least the other party was willing to take out 2,500 catties of grain, which had already brought a good start. He smiled and arched his hand: "It is said that the Xuan family is the head of my big merchants in Zhuji, and what he said is true." In this way, I thank you on behalf of the people who have been affected by the disaster. ”

"Don't dare to be, this is what the grass people's family should do." Xuan Weisen hurriedly replied modestly.

Now that the Xuan family has made such a good start, the next thing has become simpler. Although those big households are still very painful about taking out food, it is still 800 catties for you, 1,000 catties for me, and he has an attitude of 500 catties. After such calculations, Yang Chen got more than 15,000 catties of grain from these big households, plus nearly 10,000 taels of silver donations.

Although this number is still far from enough for the current situation, Yang Chen is still a little moved in his heart. He hugged his fists and said: "Everyone is willing to contribute money and food for the people in the county, and this official must remember it." And you can rest assured that these money and grain officials will never ask for you in vain. When the flood subsides, the government will definitely compensate you. ”

Hearing him say this, those big families were really a little ashamed in their hearts. In their opinion, officials are always on high and high, and even if they are asked for it, it is only a temporary use. Since they have all pledged to donate, they naturally dare not go back, so Yang County Order does not have to be as low as before. But now it seems that this Yang County Commander is completely different from what they thought. This made several of them suddenly have an idea, can they donate more food to help this county magistrate?

In the study in the backyard of the Li family.

Li Chenggang listened to the report of the people under him with a smile: "Those outsiders have already left the county office, and looking at their appearance, it seems that they have indeed pledged a lot of food. ”

"Really?" Li Chenggang said disdainfully: "How much food can they donate?" Ten thousand or twenty thousand? For the people in the county town at present, this grain is just a drop in the bucket, and it can only last for five or six days at most. And what about after that? ”

"Isn't this that he has no other way to make Yang County? Otherwise, where would you tell him, a scholar who only knows how to read, to make food? The man said playfully.

"Humph! I said it a long time ago, this time I must let him Yang Chen lose his position. As long as there is no food in the county, both the victims and the people in the city will inevitably settle the accounts on his head, and I want to see what else he can do. Li Chenggang was full of pride.

"But eldest brother, I heard that Yang Chen intends to send someone to the mansion to ask for food. Do you say that the Shaoxing Mansion will help him solve this dilemma? Li Chengjin asked with some uneasiness.

Li Chenggang shook his head disapprehantly: "If it weren't for this heavy rain, he might be able to do it." But with this heavy rain, where will our Shaoxing Mansion not suffer from disasters, even if the government is willing to give food, I am afraid that it will not only be given to the Zhuji County Ya. Wolves have more meat and less meat, do you think it can solve the fundamental problem? ”

"Then what if he begs for food in the province to solve this urgent need?"

"It's even more unlikely. Because the surplus grain is in our warehouse, not to mention that he Yang Chen doesn't have much silver, even if he does, he can't buy food. Li Chenggang smiled darkly. How can he not be happy when he sees that his arrangements for the past few months are about to succeed?

Li Chengjin didn't say anything more. But somehow, he always felt that something had been ignored by them this time, and a vague uneasiness lingered in his heart. But for a moment, he couldn't think of it. Seeing that the eldest brother was in high spirits, he naturally didn't want to say anything depressing.