There is a granary eight miles north of Gusu, which is the official granary of Suzhou.

Due to the southern crossing of the victims from the north of the Yangtze River and the events of the past few days, the granary was covered with soldiers transferred from the yamen at all levels in Suzhou.

Five steps and one post, ten steps and one sentry, will protect this granary tightly.

Today, food has become the key to the situation.

Xiao Jing, Du Kang and Wei Chengmou had to be cautious.

Not only did they check the numbers in the books, but they ended up making a visit themselves.

This granary is under the responsibility of Suzhou Cangcao Army, and this person's name is Du Ze.

At this time, this person was holding a scroll and said: "Xiao Thorn History, Lu Chang History, Wei Sima, I have 12,000 stone of surplus grain in Suzhou last year. By June, a total of more than 70,000 stone of summer grain was collected, totaling 82,000 stone. Among them, 40,000 stones have been transported to Jiangning Prefecture and escorted to Kyoto by Jiangning Prefecture, another 10,000 stones have been transported to the yamen at all levels in Suzhou for expenses, and 5,000 stones have been transported to the Taihu Army as military resources. In March this year, the Yangzhou Governor's Office transferred 5,000 stone of military rations; In May, in order to level the price of grain, the Assassin Mansion transferred 8,000 stones. Three days ago, the Taihu Army opened up and transferred 10,000 stone of military rations. The rest of the losses are not calculated, and now the grain stored in the official warehouse in Suzhou is less than 4,000 stones. ”

After speaking, Du Ze closed the scroll and kept silent.

What he said was the truth, and the coherence was very clear, and Xiao Jing and the three of them heard it clearly.

After he finished speaking, Xiao Jing said, "Okay, we all know, you go down." ”

After listening to his orders, Du Ze immediately retreated, and there were only three of them in this official warehouse.

The place where the three of them were located was the front of the official barn.

The elevated shelves on both sides were full of bulging grain bales, if it weren't for Du Ze's explanation just now, the truth inside would not have been visible to others for a while. But after all, this is a waste of gold and jade, and these 4,000 stone grain is really a drop in the bucket.

Looking at the sack on the wooden shelf, Xiao Jing sighed.

The people are in such poverty, and Jiangdong is already like this, so the situation in Jiangbei can be imagined.

Wei Chengmou looked at this vain granary and said with emotion: "Everyone in the world says that Jiangdong is rich, but even if there is a grain mountain in Jiangdong, it has been eaten up now." ”

"If you complain, let's keep it for it." After Lu Kang finished speaking, he looked at Xiao Jing, "According to the current situation, the gap should be 16,000 stones, and this mouth is not easy to block." ”

"That's not too much." After Lu Kang finished speaking, Wei Chengmou said, "Now that the disaster in Jiangbei has just begun, more victims will definitely pour into Suzhou in the future." If these people are not properly accommodated, the looting of grain shops will surely happen again. As soon as the victims of the disaster become chaotic, then Suzhou will be chaotic and the situation will be unimaginable. ”

Wei Chengmou's words made the atmosphere even heavier.

His words were not alarmist, and the other two also saw such a possibility.

After being quiet for a long time, Xiao Jing spoke: "Since this is the case, then we must resettle these disaster victims, and we must not let the situation worsen." How much food do you estimate will be needed to resettle the victims? ”

"It's hard to say." Du Kang pondered for a moment and said, "If you look at the current situation, if you have 20,000 stones, you should be able to survive until winter and November." At that time, the autumn grain should be harvested, and the situation will be better. However, if the number of victims increases, or if it will continue to be the case next year, then it will be difficult to say. ”

As soon as these words came out, Xiao Jing said: "Don't think about the future, after the current level, it is the most important." ”

"That's what Ziyu said." Wei Chengmou nodded, "Then let's follow the thirty-six thousand stones." ”

"Thirty-six thousand stones?" Lu Kang repeated, looking at the two people around him, "With such a number, are those big families willing to come out?" ”

He asked knowingly that food is so expensive that no one would want to take it out.

"I am afraid it will be very difficult for large households in Suzhou to come up with so much grain at one time." Then, Wei Chengmou said a way, "Maybe we can collect taxes in advance, or collect next year's taxes as well." He said it very lightly and helplessly.

"No." Xiao Jing listened and shook his head, "Although the imperial court has set up a place to provide disaster relief on its own, the people will not agree." Doing so can easily lead to popular unrest, and if that happens, things will be even worse. ”

Seeing that Xiao Jing categorically refused, Wei Chengmou didn't say anything more.

At this time, Lu Kang suddenly opened his mouth: "Since the people are no longer powerless, they may be able to engage in business." ”

There was something murderous in his deep voice.

After hearing this, Xiao Jing said: "If Brother Ji Ning has an idea, it is better to say it, and everyone will refer to it together." ”

"Now that the price of grain in Gusu is increasing day by day, there must be someone behind it. Who it is, the two of them naturally know it. Lu Kang said, sneering, "Since we are short of food, they have food, so it's better to find them to find a way." ”

Merchants seek profits, and every time there is a mutation, someone will hoard them.

Now, there is a group of such people in Gusu City.

These people thought that in this year of famine, they would exchange their food for the fields of the victims.

There are eight hundred lords in the thousand-year field, and there is no unchanging field, and there is no unchanging master.

And the price of land in this world has been determined since ancient times, 50 stone per mu in a good year, and 30 or 40 stone an acre in a normal year. But in this year of great famine, the price of this field is only ten stones per acre, and even worse, there are not even ten stones.

The landed victims sold their land or could earn their lives, while those who had no land could only sell their children or themselves, and thus became tenants of large households.

The families of the world do not produce, but sit on the throne, because they have many such tenants to produce wealth for them.

Xiao Jing and the three of them are all from families, and they are naturally clear about these things.

Today's Great Zhou is like a pond, families like Xiao and Lu are the big fish in this pond, and those families who can't get on the stage are those immature little fish, and the rest of the ordinary people are the soil at the bottom of the pond.

Although it is a calm scene on the water, it is a cannibalistic world underwater.

And Lu Kang's meaning is to target those hoarding grain merchants, these people are the small fish in this pond.

Xiao Jing did not agree, nor did he refuse.

He thought for a while and said, "The business of Shang Jia is originally to chase usury, if this is the case, I am afraid it is not enough to be guilty." ”

Xiao Jing's temperament is like this, there are some things he can't do.

"It's not easy to get proof." Lu Kang said with a smile, "Go to their mansion and check the account books, and the evidence will come." ”

He said it simply, but it was true.

It's just that acting like this is too rough, although Xiao Jing has the heart to do things, he doesn't want to sit things down to such a point.

"It's better to ventilate first." Xiao Jing said, thought for a while, and continued, "A few days later, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I will come forward to entertain the merchants of Gusu." At that time, let's decide according to the situation. ”

"That's fine." Lu Kang nodded, but then he changed his words, "However, we still have to make some preparations, these people are very cunning." ”

Hearing his words, Xiao Jing nodded.

The matter was settled, and the three of them left the granary, where much remained for them.