In the hearts of the people of Shengdou, they are afraid of the official yamen, and they dare not offend the official master. Therefore, when Su Qinghai, the county commander of Xintai County, appeared in the market wearing an official uniform, the people who were originally noisy around the grain store gradually quieted down.

Looking at the hungry faces in front of him, Su Qinghai's heart was indescribably heavy.

Food prices began to rise in early March, and by mid-March they were several times higher than in previous years. Theft, robbery, and all kinds of cases emerge one after another. As a parent official, how can he not be anxious when he sees it in his eyes? But what can I do in a hurry, a seven-pin county magistrate, there is no food in his hands, although he knows that it is the harm of burning pots, he sent a lot of articles to the prefect about the proposal to limit the burning of pots, but they are all sunk into the sea, and there is no movement at all.

The affairs of the world do not suffer from the lack of wealth but suffer from unevenness. Even if no one said it to Su Qinghai, he knew why the people who had always been kind suddenly had a strong arrogance like robbers, and it was not the announcement of the political secretary in Dongyan Dao who made trouble.

Xintai County is in the north of Yimeng Mountain, and Mengyin County in Dongyandao is in the south of Yimeng Mountain. Although there is a mountain road in the middle, there are still many people who come and go to visit relatives and do small business.

Mengyin County sealed the pot Zhuangzi and sealed the grain shop, and the people of Xintai County have heard of it.

After Mengyin County posted a notice from the Yamen of the Political Secretary on 24 March, the people of Xintai County waited and looked forward to it, thinking that even if there was a delay in Tai'an Prefecture, the announcement to stabilize grain prices would soon arrive in Xintai.

In the past ten days, how many families have pawned cotton clothes and utensils, how many families have empty rice jars and noodle pockets, and how many families have children who are so hungry that they wake up crying in the middle of the night.

When hope is gradually shattered, it brings deeper despair to the people, as if falling from the clouds to the abyss, leaving only endless darkness and misery. After a deep struggle in their hearts, more and more people realized that if they obeyed God's arrangement, they would even watch their relatives die of hunger.

Where is the food? Even if I didn't know it earlier, now the big guys know it all. There is food in the pot Zhuangzi! There is grain in the grain shops in the county towns! Full of despair, and turned into full strength, the big guy went to the pot Zhuangzi.

In front of the hungry people, the clamoring Zhuangzi stewards and the pretentious village guards have become decorations.

Where is the grain? Everyone poured into the granary of the pot Zhuangzi. Looking at the backs of these poor people, the Zhuangzi steward who was pushed aside and trampled on two feet couldn't help but sigh, who is the fool? Not to mention that due to the closure of the East Yandao Burning Pot Zhuangzi, these Zhuangzi are stepping up their efforts to seize the share of the grassland trade; It was the forced "parity sale" of Dongyandao Zhuangzi that also made them vigilant.

Which Zhuangzi still dares to keep grain? He called on his hands to work all night and night, steaming the grain, mixing the koji, and waiting for it to ferment.

Looking at the food that could no longer be eaten, the desperate people were extremely angry. The wine vat was broken, the smell of wine was permeated, and the people who filled their stomachs half full with spirits and sake lees remembered their parents, wives and children who were waiting for the rice grain to be put into the pot, and they poured into the county seat and flocked to the grain store.

Su Qinghai raised his arm, and wanted to persuade the people to retreat, so as not to touch the law of the country, and regret it. One of the officials who came with him whipped him because he was disturbed by this sudden incident.

The face of the person who was drawn was covered with blood, red and shaking, stabbing people's eyes, making everyone forget their fear of the court and the government, and the scene was immediately chaotic.

Su Qinghai shouted, who would hear it? The door of the grain shop was slammed open, and the people, smelling the aroma of rice, shouted loudly, squeezed forward vigorously, pulled down the pockets on their shoulders, and filled them with grain.

With a small disappointment and endless hope, the people who did not squeeze into the front to load the grain poured down to another grain store and did the same.

The grain from one grain store to another has been divided, but the crowd is getting bigger and bigger. Like the epidemic, people who got the news came from all over the world to participate in this army of "food distribution".

In just four days, the civil unrest has swept from Xintai County to Laiwu County and Feicheng County. Tai'an Mansion has already received the news, and the whole city is on alert, although there is no matter of the grain store being robbed, but the pot Zhuangzi outside the city is not spared, and it bears more of the anger of the people without food.

* Yizhou, Daotai Yamen, study.

When Cao Hao hurried back from Baoquan Temple, Mr. Zhuang stood in front of the window, not knowing what he was pondering. Seeing Cao Hao coming back, he turned around and pointed to the letter on the case with a little difficulty, which was sent by Liang Shunzheng, the commander of Mengyin County, to send some news about the civil unrest in Taizhou Mansion.

However, the two pages were fluttering, but Cao Hao felt that it weighed hundreds of pounds, so he carefully held it in his hand, and kept praying in his heart that there would be no numbers on it, and even if it did, it should be as few as possible.

Xintai people rioted, destroyed five pots of Zhuangzi, robbed more than 10 grain shops, plundered more than 30 landlords and wealthy households, and killed and injured more than 50 people.

Cao Hao's heart was so tight that he only felt that he couldn't breathe, and after a while, Fang opened his mouth and asked, "What if the 'disaster of burning the pot' is directly reported to the imperial front?" ”

"Long live the benevolence, the hundred officials are afraid of the head, and there are countless enemies, but it can't be done!" Mr. Zhuang replied.

"If there is no plan for the Seven Days, what if there is a flat grain notice?" Cao Hao paused and asked again.

"Now, ten households of the people, three households are hungry, and there is chaos in one place at one time, and the knife is quick to cut through the mess, and it is easy to return the people to purity; In the next ten months, seven out of ten households are hungry, and the rebellion is just for the sake of the face of the court, and it will also be suppressed with thunder and wake up the world with blood! Mr. Zhuang said slowly.

Cao Hao's face was pale, he sat down in a chair, his eyes were a little confused, and he didn't know whether to ask himself or Mr. Zhuang: "In this way, since I didn't do anything wrong, why am I so weak and so guilty?" ”

Mr. Zhuang sighed in his heart, faintly giving birth to a little self-blame, if he didn't help the trouble, what would have happened? Thinking of this, he asked, "Fu Ruo regretted it?" ”

Cao Hao's mood gradually calmed down, and his eyes became more and more determined: "Regret? No regrets! If it's just for the sake of feeling comfortable, watching coldly, and picking myself clean, then I'd rather choose to feel guilty! ”

Although the words are magnificent, the inner turmoil and torment are only known to Cao Hao himself. Perhaps, as Mr. Zhuang said, without his "Seven Sayings Strategy", the Burning Pot Rebellion would have broken out for half a month and a month, but he could not calmly think that the death of Su Qinghai in Xintai County and the casualties of more than 50 people had nothing to do with him.

Whether it's guilt or anxiety, Cao Hao doesn't have time to care about it at the moment. In order to prevent the civil unrest from spreading to Dongyandao, it was not only necessary to order all prefectures and counties to be on strict vigilance, but also to notify Andongwei's side and send additional officers and soldiers to Mengyin County to station. In addition to preventing mountain bandits, it is also preparing to respond to the request for help from the Taizhou government.

After finishing these, Cao Hao and Mr. Zhuang speculated on the reaction of the Jinan Mansion, and now that it is the fourth day of the civil unrest, the news should be able to reach the capital in two more days.

"Prosperous Tianding, never endowed" of the edict of the world, so far not more than a month, close to the direct Shandong such a mess, up to the Kangxi Emperor, down to the courtiers and officials, how will it be handled?

*Beijing, outside the Yongding Gate.

Wanyan Yongqing, who was wearing prison clothes, looked at the younger brother in front of him, and said with a slight shame: "Second brother, the eldest brother is not filial, Ama and Eniang will be entrusted to you!" ”

Yongsheng looked at his brother, who had gone through vicissitudes in just half a month, and listened to the "bang" of the chain on his wrist, his heart was very sour, but there was a little smile on his face: "Big brother is really, these are still up to you, even if the sister-in-law and Ying'er are there, there is no need to worry, now Eniang treats the sister-in-law very closely!" ”

Yongqing saw that his younger brother did not see any blame and contempt on his face, and was as calm as if he was sending himself to a foreign assignment, and patted him on the shoulder, although there were thousands of words in his heart, and when the words came to his mouth, he couldn't say a word, but his eyes couldn't help but redden.

Yongsheng couldn't help but reply to his brother twice, and quipped: "Big brother, what's going on?" It's like a girl, but it's just going to Shengjing for a year, why is it here? If you really miss your sister-in-law, send someone back to deliver a letter to see if you can send your sister-in-law over to reunite with you when the weather is good! Speaking of this, he couldn't help but whisper: "If you just want to be a woman, it's a big deal to come back next year and bring a little sister-in-law!" It is said that the girl in Shengjing is very good at riding and shooting, and her body is very strong! ”

A joking remark dispelled the gloom in Yongqing's heart, and he couldn't help laughing. Looking at his younger brother's slightly smug appearance, Yongqing remembered the situation when his brother got along for two hours. Both of them are competitive surnames, one grandmother is spoiled, and the other is used to it, and they both grab the top when they get along with each other...... The rebellion and resentment of the young man seem to be a matter of his previous life, and when Yongqing thinks about it now, he only feels ridiculous.

Yongsheng saw that his brother's brows were loosened, and he no longer looked gloomy as before, he slowly put away the smile on his face, and said solemnly: "Big brother, don't blame Amma, Ama is old, and the old man will inevitably have a time when he is timid and confused!" In the past half a month, he has been sick and his spirit is not very good, although he said that he didn't want the eldest brother as a son, but he always intentionally or unintentionally inquired about the situation of the eldest brother! ”

Yongqing shook his head vigorously: "How come?" It's just that the eldest brother is reckless for a while, and Ama and Eniang are worried, where do they still have the face to complain? Xiao Cao scolded right in the letter, the eldest brother is a son of man, a brother, a husband, and a father! Even for Ning Chun, he relied on a moment of blood fever to fulfill his righteousness, but he didn't care whether he could really wash away his grievances! ”

Cao Hao's words were mean, but they were true. Yongsheng agrees with most of them, but the eldest brother has always been the person he admires and respects the most in his heart, and he is the most heroic and righteous, how can he let others reprimand? Therefore, I couldn't help but be a little annoyed and complained: "He doesn't have a backache when he stands and talks!" The same best friend, Brother Ning treats him more kindly than his eldest brother, how does he repay? The eldest brother worked so hard for his friends, and he still had to be ridiculed by him? ”

Yongqing heard the meaning of protection in his brother's words, and his heart was moved, but he didn't want him to have a problem with Cao Hao because of this, and said with a smile: "Xiao Cao is a foreign official, and he is not allowed to leave his office at will, let alone enter Beijing at will!" Your brother and I are elm heads, if there is no Xiao Cao's scolding, Eniang and Yongjia's ...... I'm afraid that I won't be able to turn the corner for a while, so I will continue to compete with the Metropolitan Procuratorate! Although he is young, he is not a person who is not responsible, even if he does not return to the capital, he is not as poor as his eldest brother, and he does not promise revenge, but he will still take Ning Chun's matter to heart! This point, the eldest brother never doubted! ”

These words were loud and loud, and I couldn't help but yearn for Yongsheng when I heard it. The eldest brother's righteousness towards Ning Chun, the eldest brother's trust in Cao Hao, and the people of the Cao family were ordered by Cao Hao to mediate for Yongqing in the capital.

Yongsheng was envious and jealous, and finally couldn't help but tell the truth: "Big brother, this time you came out early and exiled Sheng Jing, all relying on the power of the Ping Wangfu and the Chun Wangfu!" ”

When Yongqing heard this, his face gradually became solemn, and he asked, "Yongjia is not in a good situation in King Jian's Mansion?" The Fourteenth Master's ......"

Thinking that he had always been closest to the fourteenth elder brother, Yongsheng was a little speechless. It's King Jian's mansion, and this kind of inaction is also cold. Originally, I didn't want my eldest brother to know this, but I was also afraid that he would be sad and sad.

Seeing his younger brother like this, Yongqing knew in his heart, laughed twice, and said: "Prince Chun and Prince Ping are the most nosy, and Xiao Cao is somehow begging for favors in vain!" This favor, big brother, I owe a lot of money! Second brother, don't forget to go to the two palaces for the eldest brother to thank you! ”

Yongsheng nodded in response, Yongqing looked up at his head, it was not early, and he waved goodbye to his brother.

Yongsheng took the burden from the entourage, handed it to Yongqing's long-term follower seven catties, and instructed: "There is some wound medicine here, stay at the post station, give the eldest brother more!" ”

According to the law, before Yongqing was exiled, he had to be punished with a hundred boards. Fortunately, because Kangxi has always governed the country with "benevolence", the punishment is light, and only 40% of a hundred boards need to be executed. In addition, Yongsheng found someone to make the money, and the forty boards were much lighter when they fell on Yongqing. Even so, skin trauma is inevitable. This is about to leave for Shengjing, and the weather is getting hotter, if it is not well treated, it is also worrying.

Yongqing looked at the package and asked in a low voice, "Your sister-in-law is here?" ”

Yongsheng nodded, gestured with his hand to the forest not far behind him, and replied, "Well, E-niang is here too!" Although they all wanted to send their eldest brother, they knew that the eldest brother had always been strong, and they were afraid that they didn't want to see them like this, so they stopped over there! Big brother, do you want to send someone to invite them over! ”

Yongqing only felt that his eyes were sour, and immediately turned around, waving his hand with his back to Yongsheng: "Second brother, it's not early, big brother will go first!" ”

(To be continued)