Xu Minzhi and Tao Gui, the two big proprietors, were so shocked that their chopsticks fell to the ground, 'Plop! Kneeling on the ground, trembling like chaff, some of the guards who came up took them to the ground, and stomped on their faces, looking for the best position on their necks with their swords.

"Spare your life!"

Tao Gui screamed like a pig, but Xu Minzhi didn't say a word, the guards thought he was hard, and was about to repress, but found that he had fainted with fright, a pot of wine splashed on his face, Xu Minzhi slowly woke up, and shouted weakly: "Spare my life!" ”

There was silence in the hall, everyone's faces were pale, dumbfounded and motionless, the heads of the people on the table seemed to show a hideous smile, staring at them directly, Taishou Wu Qing's legs were weak for a while, he wanted to speak several times, but he didn't have the courage.

"You two listen!"

Li Qing'an finally spoke, he held a cup of tea, and said coldly: "Within two hours, except for the 2,000 people I recruited, all the other workers went home, and a quarter of an hour later, I will convict you of gathering a crowd to rebel, and the whole family will be beheaded, have you heard?" ”

Xu Minzhi and Tao Gui just kowtowed, Li Qingan waved his hand, and several guards dragged them down, and the guards covered the heads on the table, and there was a slight glimmer of life in the lobby.

"Officials of Bianzhou, local elites, little brother, I was appointed by the Holy Lord to come to Henan Province to coordinate the drought situation, investigate and deal with corruption and dereliction of duty, I entered Xuzhou five days ago, what I saw and heard along the way, except for the officials who saw active drought resistance in Xuchang County, the rest of the places basically did not see any movement, I don't understand, since you are local parents and officials, you are responsible for the survival and safety of the people, but the drought has been four months, nearly a thousand dollars of rice, you actually ignore it, do not actively consider fighting the drought, do you have to wait until people starve to death? Do you start to get anxious when people eat people? ”

Li Qing'an's tone became slightly wider, but his words were very heavy, he glanced at everyone sternly, saw that all the officials lowered their heads, and said: "Of course, I haven't been to most of the states and counties in Henan Province, maybe I've gone a little too far, but at least there is no movement in Bianzhou, I want to know why you don't move, who is holding your hand?" Or is there something unsightly about you?

"It's not as simple as you think."

Wu Qing finally couldn't sit still, he stood up and arched his hand and said: "We all understand the painstaking efforts of the observation envoy, but drought relief is not said to be saved, money, food, and manpower are needed, and these must be solved by the imperial court. ”

Li Qingan squinted and smiled, "Wu Taishou, if I come up with a way, are you willing to carry it out?" ”

"It also depends on whether the method is reasonable." Wu Qing said-for-tat.

"What does it mean to be reasonable? What does it mean to be unreasonable? Drought fighting is a big matter, and human lives are at stake, even if it is unreasonable, it must be reasonable. ”

Li Qing'an pointed to the local virtuous and famous people present, and said: "The lack of money is paid by them, how much money should be paid by each family, you must know better than me, open the list, let everyone supervise each other, the government's grain is used for porridge relief, from now on, every county will set up a porridge shed to give porridge, just open a warehouse, I asked the court if the food is not enough, in addition, the government should encourage businessmen to go to Jianghuai to buy grain, and the matter of stabilizing grain prices will be done by businessmen, there is no need for the government to be busy, what the government wants to do is to fight drought, I wanted officials from all states and counties to go to Xuchang County to have a look, Look at how the Xuchang County Order fights drought, but there is no time, I have ordered the Han County Order to write a detailed drought-fighting measures, not to mention that it will be sent to every state and county, and all officials must refer to these measures to implement. ”

Wu Qinggang wanted to speak, but Li Qingan interrupted him, glanced at him and said coldly: "As for the lack of labor, I don't think it's a problem, since Wu Taishou can convene a gathering of 20,000 workers, can't he gather them to fight the drought?" ”

Wu Qing's face suddenly swelled into the color of pig liver, and he said angrily: "Li Yuanjun said that I will gather 20,000 workers, but what evidence is there?" ”

Li Qingan snorted disdainfully and said, "Isn't it simple to ask for evidence?" I now ask Xu and Tao to write a letter of accusation, saying that you called the Cao Gong to rebel, and they will also write it honestly, does Mrs. Wu believe it? ”

Wu Qing was stunned and couldn't say a word, Li Qingan smiled, and continued: "I advise Wu Taishou not to dwell on this matter, I don't care about the Caogong gathering, nor do I care about the assassination in Bianzhou, as long as Wu Taishou fights the drought wholeheartedly, I will show your credit to the saint, Wu Taishou, you are a smart person, you don't need me to say more!" ”

Wu Qing's heart was in a mess, Li Qingan was actually assassinated in Bianzhou, what was going on? His heart was blank, and he didn't know how to answer Li Qing'an's words, at this time, Bianzhou Governor Shi Sun Changyun stood up and arched his hand: "Please rest assured that Li Yuanjun will do our best to fight the drought and will never let the drought spread." ”

Celebrities and celebrities in various places have also expressed their attitudes, they will vigorously support the drought fight, Li Qingan saw that the heat was almost over, so he waved his hand, the guards took the head dishes away, and the restaurant guys began to officially serve the food, he picked up a glass of wine, and smiled at everyone: "I, Li Qingan, am not a person who does not talk about human feelings, as long as everyone does things well, so that the disaster can be smoothly transitioned, the promotion that should be promoted, even if I make a minor mistake, I will be punished lightly, and now the banquet is officially opened!" ”

．．．．．． In less than two hours, nearly 20,000 Cao workers gathered at the Caoyun Wharf in Bianzhou, under the guarantee of Xu and Tao, two big shipowners, embarked on the road home one after another, and the new observer made Li Qing'an's Hongmen banquet spread all over the prefectures and counties of Henan Province as if he had grown wings, under the pressure of Li Qing'an, all the prefectures and counties of Henan Province began to fight drought and provide disaster relief, giving porridge, collecting donations, digging wells, planting beans, collecting water, and building canals. Li Qingan also ordered 500 militia groups to form a grain protection team to protect the merchants to go to Jianghuai to buy grain.

Three days later, Li Qingan led 1,500 members of the People's Brigade to Songzhou to inspect the serious incident of the rebellion of the people in Songzhou.

．．．．．． In the Bianzhou Prefecture Ya, a government official hurriedly ran into the inner hall, and was stopped by two officials at the door, "The master is meeting guests, and no one is allowed to enter." ”

"Brother Li, I have important news about Li Qing'an, and my lord has instructed me to report it in time."

"Okay, you wait, but I'll tell you." The official walked briskly towards the inner hall.

In the inner hall, Wu Qing was receiving an important guest, Shao Ziping, the staff of Li Yan, the king of Di, strictly speaking, Shao Ziping was only one of the staff of the king of Di, he only arrived in Bianzhou City this morning, and did not catch up with Li Qing'an's Hongmen banquet last night, but as soon as he entered the city, he heard many people talking about the excitement of the Hongmen banquet last night, cooking with forty-eight heads, Shao Ziping couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Wu Taishou, I don't know how the things explained by His Royal Highness King Di are doing?"

"Mr. Shao, please rest assured, I have destroyed all the documents related to His Royal Highness King Di, no matter how Li Qingan checks, he can't find any evidence, and I am returning those lands to the farmers one by one."

"Is that time in time?"

Originally, the disaster year land collection has always been the best means for the magnates to annex the land, this year's drought in Henan Province, it is a great opportunity, the king of Di in Bianzhou also took the opportunity to collect thousands of acres of land, but the prince was suddenly deposed, the king of Di stared at the position of the East Palace, in order to gain reputation, he changed his mind, not only to return all the land that has been collected, but also ordered Shao Ziping to come to the disaster area for disaster relief, Shao Ziping has ordered his men to go to Jianghuai to buy grain, and he himself came to deal with the matter of retreating the land, although the official documents were destroyed, But what about the land purchase contract in the hands of the peasants, if they are strictly traced, it can still be found that it was done by the king of Di, he asked worriedly: "I am worried that he got the deed of land sale from the peasants, and will track down His Royal Highness the king of Di." ”

Wu Qing smiled bitterly, and said with some palpitations: "In order to prevent him from investigating this matter, I used the Caogong troublemaking case to divert his attention, and wanted to drag it out for a few days and give me a little time to deal with the retreat, but this person is really powerful, and a Hongmen banquet will solve the Caogong troublemaking case, fortunately, I heard that he is going to Songzhou today, so that he has no way to check the matter of His Royal Highness King Di." ”

Shao Ziping breathed a sigh of relief, he remembered something, so he asked quietly: "I heard that he put forty-eight heads on the Hongmen banquet, are you sure it's not fifty?" ”

"Not fifty, certainly forty-eight, five at each table, two of which were empty."

Speaking of this, Wu Qing suddenly realized something sensitively, he glanced at Shao Ziping vigilantly, and asked tentatively: "According to Li Qing'an, he was assassinated in Bianzhou, did Mr. Shao hear about it?" ”

"Nope! I just came to Bianzhou, how would I know about such a thing? ”

Shao Ziping flatly denied it, and at this moment, a report from the official came from the door, "Taishou, Sun Hai said that there is news about Li Qing'an." ”

"Let him report quickly."

After a while, a servant walked to the door and bowed and said, "Report to the Taishou, Li Qingan has left Bianzhou and entered the territory of Songzhou. ”

Wu Qing and Shao Ziping glanced at each other, and the two of them breathed a long sigh of relief at the same time, Shao Ziping got up and said with a smile: "I have sent someone to Jianghuai to buy grain, and I am about to make a large-scale porridge relief in Bianzhou for His Royal Highness, and I hope that Wu Taishou will strongly support it." ”

"Definitely! Certain! King Di cares about the people of the disaster area, is kind and kind, and I wish His Royal Highness King Di another step up as soon as possible. ”

The two knew it and laughed together.

．．．．． Li Qing'an went south along the Bianhe River, still dusty, the land cracked, the hot sun shone on the Great Plains, at this moment they are located in Xiangyi County, Songzhou, and they can't see a pedestrian on the official road for dozens of miles, although the drought in Songzhou is more serious than that in Bianzhou, but Li Qing'an still found that the trees along the road have not been peeled, that is to say, the famine here is not serious enough to dig grass roots and peel off the bark, the Bianhe River also has shallow water, and there are occasional large woods in the distance, which makes Li Qing'an feel confused, it stands to reason, The Chinese people will never embark on the road of rebellion until they are unable to survive, and they can also choose to flee to Jianghuai, why do thousands of people flee into the mountains to occupy the mountains and rebel? What's the mystery in this?

He asked the judge Liu Sisong, Liu Sisong couldn't say a reason, but he revealed that this is very likely to be related to the forcible occupation of land, according to rumors, someone is buying the land in the hands of the victims at a large scale and low price, this rumor Li Qingan also heard, but the local government is secretive, everyone avoids talking about this matter, asking too much but startling the snake, Li Qingan decided to go to Songzhou to investigate the matter thoroughly, in the instructions given by Li Longji to him, there is a reason to find out the reason for the rebellion of the people in Gushu County.

After walking more than ten miles, there began to be farmers on both sides of the official road to replant beans, villages appeared in the distance, and pedestrians appeared one after another on the official road, most of them were merchants who went to the village to pick up the burden and sell goods, these merchants saw the arrival of the mighty brigade of people and horses, and they all stopped and stood on the side of the road, Li Qingan was trying to find someone to ask about the situation, at this moment, there was a sudden confusion in front of him, and he saw dozens of people kneeling on the side of the road, and picked a white cloth on a bamboo pole, and the white cloth was written with blood A huge 'injustice!' The word is particularly shocking.

"Wronged! We have been wronged! Dozens of people shouted in unison, all of them old and weak, women and children.

"Stop!" Li Qingan waved his hand, and the team stopped.

Li Qing'an's personal guards brought the two old men to Li Qing'an, "Please ask the master to make decisions for us!" The two old men knelt down and kowtowed.

"Lift them up!"

Li Qingan gently comforted them and said: "You don't have to be afraid, I am the new Henan Provincial Observer Envoy, if you have any grievances, just say it, I will call the shots for you." ”

"Master, we are the villagers of Wangwu Village in front, there was a drought this year, the wheat seedlings almost died, we changed to beans in time, but two months ago, the government sent people to say, not allowed to plant beans, the government wants to send relief grain, forcing us to pull out the beans, but the disaster relief grain is not visible, we are looking for the county official to reason, the government is dragging back, saying that it is waiting for the will of the imperial court, seeing that every household is going to run out of food, at this time someone came to buy land at a low price, at first everyone refused, and then the government came forward, saying that whoever does not sell the land, the relief grain will be gone, and after escaping the famine, the land will be regarded as ownerless land all confiscated, many people can't stand it, so they sell the land one after another, we are here are the land is rich in the field, usually an acre of land can be sold for ten times, but now buyers are only willing to pay three times......"

"Who is buying your field?" Li Qingan interrupted them and asked.

"We don't know, how many people came, their accents are all from the capital, and they are all housekeepers and deacons, the real buyer did not show up, and it is rumored that it is the royal family in Beijing."

Chang'an magnates took advantage of the famine to buy land in the hands of farmers at a low price, and Li Qingan also heard of it, like Qingwang Li Cong, his Yongye field is only a hundred hectares, but he occupies more than 10,000 hectares of fertile land all over the country, dozens of large estates, where do these fields come from? Not only Li Longji's dragon sons and grandsons, but also those dragon claws and dragon scales, dragon tail and dragon hair, the Tang Dynasty was founded for a hundred years, and there are thousands of children of the clan, they live all over the country, and they live by sucking the people's fat and people's ointment, the Tang Dynasty is not as developed as the Song Dynasty, the commodity economy is developed, basically it is still based on agriculture, and the people live on the land, and the financial and military system of the Tang Dynasty are closely related to the land.

Li Qingan pondered for a long time, in fact, he had already guessed why Wu Qing tried his best to obstruct himself, because the most serious problem was Songzhou, and he would have to go to Songzhou sooner or later, as long as he had no time to ask about Bianzhou, he would have achieved his goal.

Although he didn't know what problems Wu Qing was hiding in Bianzhou, Li Qingan knew that it was important to do things with priority, and the top priority at the moment was not to investigate the case, but to calm the confrontation between the people and the government.

However, some people blocked the road and complained about their grievances, and Li Qingan wanted to find out how serious the land annexation was.

Thinking of this, he waved his hand and said, "You guys wait here, I'll take a look." ”

Dozens of guards followed Li Qing'an to Wang Wuzhuang not far away, Wang Wuzhuang is a large village with more than 100 peasant households, close to the Bianhe River, the transportation is developed, the land is fertile, five miles away from the village, there is a manor covering an area of 5,000 acres, originally the manor of Princess Taiping, after Princess Taiping was killed, this manor was rewarded by Li Longji to the eldest brother Li Chengqi, and now it is owned by Li Chengqi's daughter Xiangyi County Lord, Xiangyi County Lord's husband is Cui Qiao, who has just been promoted to the Ministry of Rites, and Songzhou Taishou is Cui Qiao's brother Cui Lian, The relationship is worth playing.

The land claimed by the villagers is located in the west of the village, about 1,500 acres, belonging to more than 100 households in Yongye Field, and like other places, the land is empty, the wheat seedlings have withered, no other crops have been replanted, and in many fields, there are dazzling red poles, which are the land that has been bought, about 1,000 acres, stretching for miles.

"They buy the land and don't plant it, it's just there, what will we eat next year?" An old farmer said sadly to Li Qing'an.

Li Qing'an took a contract for the sale of land and bought 15 mu with seven buckets of rice per mu, on the grounds that the current price of rice is 700 yuan, and seven buckets of rice is equivalent to five guan money, and the original ten guan one mu of land has been discounted by half, and the harvest year bucket rice is only 30 wen, that is to say, the land worth ten guan yuan was bought with 200 yuan, and the buyer was called Tian Yi and pressed his handprint.

"Who is this Tian Yi?" Li Qingan said with a frown.

Li Zheng next to him hurriedly bowed down and said, "This Tian Yi, we call him Tian Er, he is the deacon of the county lord's manor, and he lives there." ”

Li Qing'an followed his finger and looked into the distance, only to see a small white three-story building in the distance, surrounded by a wall, and next to the small building were several large granaries, which stood out from the crowd in the bare land.

"That's where Tian Yi's family lives, and there are dozens of dogs."

"Look at it!" Li Qingan urged the horse to rush towards Xiaolou, and before he arrived, more than a dozen vicious dogs rushed out of the wall, a vicious giant dog roared and pounced on him, Li Qingan turned on one side, backhanded a knife, the cold light flashed, and the vicious dog was split in half, and the rest of the big dogs whimpered and turned around and fled, at this time, more than 30 men rushed out of the compound, carrying iron rods and swords, and the first big man pointed at Li Qingan and scolded: "Where did the dog thief come from, dare to hurt our dog!" ”

Li Qing'an's guards were furious, and they were about to make a move, but Li Qing'an waved his hand to stop them, arched his hand and smiled: "I will compensate you for the dog, but I want to discuss one thing with your Tian manager, is he there?" ”

"Who's looking for me?"

A middle-aged man walked out of the courtyard, tall and fat, shaking a pu fan, he looked Li Qingan up and down, and saw that he was wearing an ordinary robe, which he had never seen, but his subordinates were quite vicious, so he said: "Who are you, what are you looking for me?" ”

"I am King Qing's person, and I want to buy the land of Wangwu Village on the order of King Qing, and I heard that you bought it first, so I came to discuss with the Tian steward whether it can be transferred to us."

"Transfer?" The middle-aged man named Tian Yi snorted coldly and said, "Your King Qing is enclosing land in Gushu County, and our well water does not interfere with river water, why do you come to rob our business?" ”

Li Qingan also snorted, raised his voice and said, "We are King Qing's people, do you understand?" It was King Qing who took a fancy to this piece of Ueda. ”

"What about King Qing!" The middle-aged man's voice was also an octave higher, and he said in a vicious voice: "Do you know who my housewife is? The county lord of Xiangyi, let the emperor's daughter, do you know who my lord is? Saying it scares you to death, it's today's Xiangguo, Cui Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, do you hear clearly? ”

Halfway through his words, he stopped abruptly and looked behind Li Qing'an in horror, only to see hundreds of strong men in black carrying knives surrounding his residence.

Deacon Tian and his men were so frightened that they retreated, "You, you... What are you going to do? ”

They turned around and fled, hundreds of strong men swarmed up, pressed them to the ground, tied them up, and threw them all into the cellar, Li Qing'an ordered: "Search me thoroughly, don't let go of every corner, every piece of paper!" ”

Hundreds of people rushed into the small building, began to search the earth-shattered, almost the entire small building turned upside down, countless land deeds and land sales contracts piled up a large box, Li Qingan checked in the warehouse with his hands behind his back, the three large warehouses were full of grain, bags were neatly stacked, more than ten zhang high, each warehouse had at least hundreds of stones of grain, and the soldiers successively brought dozens of large boxes of copper coins and some gold and silver, all of which were searched from the basement, Li Qingan smiled, these money and grain were just paid for the men he recruited.

"Envoy, we've found this!"

A personal guard hurriedly ran over and excitedly handed a letter to Li Qing'an, Li Qing'an opened the letter and looked at it, his eyes slowly narrowed, this was actually a handwritten letter written by Cui Qiao to his younger brother Cui Lian.

(To be continued)