The next day, a notice was posted in the market near the barracks: As the New Year was approaching, the county government had brought a batch of salt from other places and sold it at a price of 10 yuan per catty, with a limit of 2 catties per person. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info soon this news spread all over Dangyang County and reached the ears of several masters. Everyone's eyes soon focused on the Chu family, wanting to see how the Chu family, who controlled the Dangyang salt industry, responded. It's a pity that the Chu family didn't make any moves.

"This is just a temptation of the county to the Chu family, and it has little impact on the Chu family's business," the head of the Zhao family said to his son, "The key is the people's heart, which is what the county respects most." ”

"Is the head of the Chu family just watching the county lord put his hand into the Chu family's territory and be indifferent?"

"The Chu family master is the smartest one to do nothing now." The head of the Zhao family looked at his son and said, "The battle between them has just begun. We can secretly support the county honor, but we can't work against the Chu family. ”

"If you do this, won't the county resent the Zhao family?"

The head of the Zhao family looked at his son and said, "County Zun is a smart person, he won't make too many enemies." ”

Chu Yuan wandered around the barracks for a while, then went to the Chu family's shop to look at it and came back and told the Chu family master: "Today, the people are buying salt in the market, and the store has not sold a pound of salt." ”

The head of the Chu family said: "This is salt, not rice, how much salt does a person eat in a year, these people can eat a pound of salt for a month, even if the Chu family lowers the price of salt, it can't sell much, but it is not good for the reputation of the Chu family." The Wang family kid is just trying to make some money. ”

Chu Yuan looked dazed, not knowing what his father was talking about. The head of the Chu family explained to him: "After the boy of the Wang family came to Dangyang, he recruited soldiers, recruited craftsmen, retired the barracks, and renovated the river, and he had already spent a lot of money, and he also had to appease the bandits, and also diverted Zhangshui and water to Dangyang. In addition, the previous mayors of Dangyang have lost all their money, and the Wang family can only borrow money to live. But the borrowed money will always have to be repaid, and then the Wang family boy will also be at the mercy of others. ”

"So the county lord wants to find a few more ways to make money to avoid being controlled by others?"

The head of the Chu family did not answer, everyone only saw Wang An spending money like flowing water, competing with local wealthy clans for the hearts of the people, but forgetting that Wang An came to Dangyang to quell the bandits, and now the court has not urged Wang An to do it, just because Wang An has been in office for a short time, and he can find a reason to shirk it, but the opponent of the Wang family will definitely not let him go, will not give him time to train enough soldiers, and will definitely let him go into the mountains to suppress bandits after the beginning of spring.

Wang An didn't go to the market to check the situation, he, Shi Duan and the soldiers of the second tun stood at the gate of the barracks to welcome the first tun who had returned from training. Wei Xuan, the head of the first tun, led all the soldiers to pay tribute to Wang An, and then led the first tun to salute each other with the second tun led by Shi Duan. After the two sides finished saluting, Wang Ancai stood up and said loudly: "Today, in order to celebrate the successful completion of the first camp field training, the camp has prepared wine and meat for everyone. The soldiers cheered.

Ten soldiers at a table, under the leadership of the team leader, sang "No Clothes", after singing, Wang An stood up and said loudly: "Let's eat." The soldier feasted to his heart's content. Wang An, accompanied by Shi Duan and Wei Xuan, toasted each team from table to table. Wang An did not wear an official uniform today, but wore the clothes of a soldier to show his closeness. Twenty tables were drunk, Wang An didn't know how much wine he drank, and finally returned to the county office, and fell asleep until he was woken up by the eldest girl.

Wang An drank a few bowls of sobering soup, shook his head and asked, "What time is it?" Are they all here? ”

While serving Wang An to dress, the eldest girl replied, "It's already noon." Shi Duan, Wei Xuan and Kong Xun arrived at the time, and now they are reading the materials of those bandits in the study. ”

Wang An sat at the top: "The information provided by Zheng Rongshi and Li Tong, and the information collected by Kong Xun, everyone has already read it, can you tell me your opinion?" ”

Shi Duan first asked: "How much time will the imperial court give to the county honor?" ”

"According to the usual practice, after the beginning of spring, the imperial court should urge the officials to go into the mountains to suppress bandits on the grounds of protecting spring ploughing. Even if the officer shirks, he must send troops into the mountains in March. ”

Wei Xuan said: "By March, the first tun may have the strength to fight, the second tun may be able to defend the city, if you go into the mountains to suppress bandits, you will send food to the door." Wei Xuan looked at Wang An, "Didn't Taishou promise the county to recruit four soldiers?" Why didn't the county transfer the Zhuang Ding of Wangjiazhuang? It is also possible to transfer the first 100 Zhuang Ding to be recruited. ”

Wang An thought about it for a while: "The official will write a letter to Yin Lu later, asking him to transfer Zhuang Ding after the New Year." ”

Shi Duan said: "Even if another hundred Zhuang Ding are transferred, there are only three hundred people, but the bandits in Dangyang should be no less than a thousand according to what Zheng Rongshi wrote." Even according to the information collected by Kong Peng's officials, these bandits are not subordinate to each other, but they should not be underestimated. ”

Wei Xuan immediately asked, "Does Shi Junhou think that Kong Peng's news is wrong?" ”

Shi Duan nodded: "I read the news collected by Kong Peng, all of them were obtained from the nearby villagers and merchants, how could these people know about the bandits?" Unless they have been bandits or have been bandits, in this case, the county is recruiting bandits, they should go to the yamen to turn themselves in, if they are exposed in the future, it will be a capital crime. ”

Wang An asked, "Does Shi Junhou mean that someone gave us fake news?" ”

Shi Duan replied: "It's not all fake news, it should be true and false, for example, Zheng Rongshi's news said that the leader of the bandits in Dangyang is a woman, but there is no news about Kong Peng, according to Zheng Rongshi, the biggest bandits in Dangyang have about 600 people, but the three bandits in Kong Peng's news are evenly matched. ”

"Who put the fake news?" Wang An asked.

"The first task of the county lord here is to quell the bandits, sooner or later he will meet with the bandits, and he must take the easiest to start first? Whoever is the weakest, of course, is this female bandit leader. If the county fails, who is the most beneficial, the five wealthy families. ”

Kong Xun retorted: "The female bandit leader is not necessarily weak, you see that Miss Xia's side is not weak." ”

Shi Duan said: "But if Miss Xia wants to be good, the whole cottage will fall apart." ”

"What does Shi Junhou mean to let this official recruit this female bandit leader first?" Wang An looked at the few people seated, "Who of us here is willing to show off the beautiful man's trick?" Only Wei Xuan and Kong Xun were seated who had not yet married. ”

Wei Xuan and Kong Xun heard this and hurriedly refused: "I'm not suitable, I'm not suitable." ”

"This official will not push you into the fire pit casually, we must first understand the situation of this female bandit leader, understand her preferences, and then discuss who to send." Wang An looked at Shi Duan and said, "How sure does Shi Junhou think that Zhao'an is a bandit?" ”

Shi Duan shook his head: "At the moment, we can't find a way to contact this female bandit leader, we don't know much about her situation, judging from Zheng Rongshi's materials, she is the weakest of the bandits, after all, few men are willing to make a living under women." But there must be a reason why she has survived until now. ”

Wang An thought for a while and said, "This official has a charge for her, and this person is wanted." ”

Kong Xun asked, "Do you still want to collect news about the bandits in Dangyang?" ”

"To reassure others, let's keep collecting."