Raozhou City.

Fei Chun came here to inspect the situation, and by the way, he called the grain merchants of Jiujiang, Nanchang, and Nankang to give a lecture.

These grain merchants are now headed by Li Fenglai, although they are not the biggest in business, but everyone knows that Li Fenglai is Zhao Han's person.

Moreover, Nanchang Mansion has successively divided the fields, and Li Fenglai, as the son of the concubine, has successfully established himself, attracting many concubines, family side branches and professional treasurers to follow suit. They are all beneficiaries of the division of the field and the family, and they can only choose to support Zhao Han, and even help Zhao Han suppress his own family.

"Meet Master Sicai!" The grain merchants gave up.

"Sit down." Fei Chun's face is very ugly, or he hasn't looked good this year.

The grain merchants sat down in panic, inevitably feeling weak, for fear that Zhao Han and Fei Chun would turn their faces.

Fei Chun was physically and mentally exhausted all day long, and he was not in the mood to go around the bend, so he said directly: "What are you doing in private, what are you doing, everyone knows very well, so you don't need me to talk nonsense." ”

The grain merchants were terrified.

Li Fenglai defended: "Lord Sicai, we have not hoarded in Jiangxi, and even took the initiative to increase the purchase price of grain this year. ”

Fei Chun sneered: "The general town borrows grain at an annual interest rate of two cents, if you don't double the price of grain, can you buy grain from the farmers?" ”

The annual interest rate of two cents is very high, which is equivalent to Zhao Han borrowing 100 stone of grain from the people, and he will return more than 240 stone after five years. But this was a year of great calamity, and the price of grain was rapidly raised, and after five years, it was more than twice as much, but in fact, from the point of view of silver, it was not a loss.

In Jiangxi, grain merchants can buy grain at a double price and still make a lot of money by transporting it to the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River.

Because of the Jiangnan Prefectures, the price of one stone of rice has risen to two taels of silver, more than four times higher than last year. When the green and yellow are not harvested next year, the price of rice will continue to rise!

Another grain merchant surnamed Tu said, "Master Sicai, but we also have to do business." ”

Fei Chun said: "I directly conveyed the opinion of the general town, you can make money, but don't go too far." Although the people of the Jiangnan provinces were under the rule of the imperial court, Zhao Zongzhen still couldn't bear to see them starve to death. At this time, the grain will be enough for you to make money. How many people will have to starve to death if they sell grain again in the spring next year? ”

The grain merchants looked at each other, this Zhao Han was too lenient.

They are afraid of Zhao Han's force, and they operate in absolute integrity in Jiangxi, just to make some money in other places, and Zhao Han even cares about the affairs of the Jiangnan Prefectures?

Everyone did this, and the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, including Anhui in later generations, did not produce much grain from the middle of the Ming Dynasty, and all relied on grain transportation from Jiangxi and Huguang. After this year's catastrophe, Huguang grain merchants are also hoarding, releasing goods little by little, and invariably planning to sell grain again next spring.

Li Feng said: "Si Cai, even if we sell grain honestly, the grain merchants in Jiangnan will sit on the ground and raise the price, and the people in Jiangnan will also not be able to afford to buy grain." ”

"Food prices are always going to be low." Fei Chun sneered.

The grain merchants in Huguang and Jiangxi mainly wholesale grain to the south of the Yangtze River, and at most retail a small amount. Jiangnan grain merchants are the main force of retail, they buy grain from Huguang and Jiangxi merchants, and they also release the goods little by little, waiting for next spring to make a lot of money.

Zhao Han can get stuck in the grain transportation channel and forcibly collect heavy taxes. However, these heavy taxes will inevitably be passed on to the people of Jiangnan, causing grain prices in Jiangnan to become higher.

The land of wealth in the south of the Yangtze River has the most developed industry and commerce in the country, and Zhao Han wants to use this to develop industry in the future. If it's made ten rooms empty, then it's still a fart? Therefore, Zhao Han could not levy heavy taxes on grain that went abroad.

Zhao Han also can't occupy Jiangnan in advance, otherwise it will bring two results:

First, the financial collapse of the Ming court led to the early breach of Beijing, and the Tartars must have entered the customs ahead of schedule;

Second, before the complete collapse of the Ming Dynasty's finances, the imperial court will attack Zhao Han frantically, and even leave the rogues to attack Zhao Han!

Zhao Han needs time to develop, Nanzhili and Zhejiang must be kept, and at the same time he can't occupy it.

Damn, a thief, he broke his heart for the court, for fear that Chongzhen's side would not be able to hold on.

Li Fenglai asked again: "Even if we sell grain to Jiangnan, what if Jiangnan grain merchants hoard and fail to ship?" ”

"Wait and wait, the general town has sent someone to meet the emperor and join hands with the imperial court to suppress the grain price in Nanzhi and Zhejiang!" Fei Chun said, "I remind you to act as soon as possible, otherwise you may be forced to sell grain at a low price next spring." It was not forced by Mr. Zhao, but by the court! ”

The grain merchants were stunned, and the thieves sent people to meet the emperor and work with the court to stabilize the price of grain?

There are strange things every year, especially this year, I have never seen such a thief.

……

Wang Tiaoding, who has been engaged in the study of Datong theory, took the initiative to ask for help this time, and after Hong was relieved, he set off for Beijing.

After arriving in Beijing, he went straight to the official residence of the first assistant.

Because he didn't give the money to bribe the porter, the doorman didn't even accept the prayer post.

"Boom!"

Wang Tiaoding pulled out the scribe's sword, pointed at Menzi's throat and said: "I am under the command of King Zhao Tian, a giant in Jiangxi. Don't even think about running away, you janitor! ”

Anti-thief?

Menzi's head was blank with fright, and he wanted to kneel, but he was afraid of being hurt by the sword blade in the throat, so he trembled and said, "Okay...... Heroes spare their lives! ”

"Tell the story!" Wang Tiaoding collected the sword and returned it to the sheath.

Menzi instantly collapsed to the ground, struggled twice, and had no strength to stand up.

"Go!" Wang Tiaoding scolded.

The doorman took the prayer post and crawled in a panic, and the other gatekeepers had already hid far away.

After entering the door, the door was immediately closed, and the door was struggling to get up, staggering to report. reported one by one, and the greeting post was finally handed to Shoufu Zhang Zhifa.

Hearing that the Jiangxi Jukou who was recruited was sent to come, Zhang Zhifa didn't dare to see it, and he didn't dare not see it. He came to the gate in a panic and asked through the door, "What is the matter with the Venerable Driver coming to Beijing?" ”

Wang Tiaoding replied: "Tongzhi, the former military governor of the Ming Dynasty, General Zhaoyong, and Zhao Yan, the general of Ji'an, have written a handwritten letter and sent me to hand it over to Your Majesty in person. Hurry up and report to the palace, go now, delay things, your head will not be protected! ”

Zhang Zhifa thought that something big had happened, and with Chongzhen's character, if he was delayed because of him, there was a great possibility that his head would be lost.

"Prepare the car!"

This Shousuke was so frightened that he immediately went out and ran to the Forbidden City while it was dark.

When he came to Dong'an Gate, Zhang Zhifa said to the guards guarding the door: "Please inform Your Majesty, the cabinet has an urgent matter, and there are 100,000 urgent matters!" ”

Seeing that Shousuke was in such a hurry, the guards thought that the Tartars were calling again, so they were so frightened that they immediately ran to report, but they didn't care about the cashier.

Passing layer by layer, Chongzhen immediately summoned him, and when Zhang Zhifa saw the emperor, the sky was already completely dark.

"What's going on?" Chongzhen hurriedly asked.

Zhang Zhifa said: "Your Majesty, Zhao Yan, the chief soldier of Ji'an, Jiangxi, sent a messenger to the minister's residence. said that it was Zhao Zongbing's personal letter, asking him to present it to His Majesty in person. The minister didn't dare to let him in, and this person was still waiting at the door of the minister's house. ”

Chongzhen's brows furrowed, and at the same time he was curious, and immediately ordered: "Take this person into the palace!" ”

Wang Tiaoding was searched for weapons and went straight to the Qianqing Palace.

Seeing the emperor, Wang Tiaoding immediately knelt down and said: "King Tiaoding of Luling Zhixian County, knock to see Your Majesty!" ”

Chongzhen was puzzled: "Are you the magistrate of the Ming Dynasty, or the magistrate of Zhao Yan?" ”

Wang Tiaoding replied: "The minister is a great Mingzhi county, and soon after taking office, the thieves came to attack the city, and there were no soldiers available under his command. The ministers had the grace of the king, causing the Ming Dynasty to lose the city and land. In the past few years, the minister has not really been a thief, and has been lecturing at Bailuzhou Academy. ”

Chongzhen didn't feel angry, or he was numb. At least this magistrate did not choose to be a thief official, but only taught under the rule of anti-thieves.

Moreover, Luling County is attached to Guofu City, and the real responsibility should be the Ji'an Prefect.

If Chongzhen knew that two of the articles in "Datong Collection" were written by Wang Tiaoding, I am afraid that he would have to drag them to Ling Chi on the spot.

The eunuch handed over a letter, which was searched from Wang Tiaoding's body.

"This is Zhao Han's handwriting?" Chongzhen asked.

Wang Tiaoding said: "Exactly. ”

Chongzhen opened the letter curiously, and his first reaction was that the words were not bad, and it seemed that he was indeed a literate thief.

After the content is translated into the vernacular, it is roughly as follows: "Chen Zhao Yan, a poor scholar in Jishui." Corrupt officials and corrupt officials exploit it, and the gentry are forcibly oppressed, and they serve the mantis arm in order to survive. Now that the whole country is in a big disaster, the officials and people in Jiangxi are united, and the disaster is not very serious. After years of drought in Nanzhili and Zhejiang, fathers and sons, brothers, and husbands and wives ate each other, and a large number of hungry people came to Jiangxi to beg. Jiangxi, Nanzhi, and Zhejiang grain merchants colluded, hoarded and were powerless in Jiangxi. It is necessary for officials from Nanzhi and Zhejiang to join forces to stabilize the price of rice in the south of the Yangtze River. Please ask Your Majesty to send a special grain inspector to order officials from Nanzhi and Zhejiang to supervise the matter of raising grain for disaster relief. ”

"Bastard!"

Chongzhen was furious and scolded: "He, a general soldier of Ji'an, actually wants to be involved in the disaster relief in Zhizhi and Zhejiang. Do you want to replace him as emperor? ”

Wang Tiaoding arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Zhao Yan's original intention is really just disaster relief." ”

Chongzhen sneered: "You say! ”

Wang Tiaoding said: "General Zhao wants to occupy Zhejiang, like probing for things. It is enough to send troops from Guangxin Mansion, how can there be officers and soldiers in Zhejiang to resist? Take Zhejiang, and then attack Nanzhi with a naval division, and under the attack from both sides, the south of the Yangtze River is in its hands. Why did he bother to ask His Majesty to send the governor to Jiangnan for disaster relief? ”

Although these words are ugly, they are true, and they are also the most worrying thing for the imperial court.

Chongzhen asked, "What does Zhao Yan want?" ”

"Disaster relief, saving people." Wang Tiaoding replied.

The more Chongzhen listened, the more confused he became, and he didn't even hide his title: "He is a thief in Jiangxi, what does the disaster in Nanzhi and Zhejiang have to do with him?" ”

Wang Tiaoding's forehead touched the ground, and he knelt down and said, "Minister, don't dare to say it." ”

"Say!" Chongzhen scolded.

"Zhao Yan, a great man, has the heart to annex the universe and the ambition to help the world," Wang Tiaoding said, "There is also a catastrophe in Jiangxi this year." Under Zhao Han's rule, the officers and soldiers worked together, and although there was a disaster, it was not serious. Under the rule of the government, floods and droughts were raging, the people were miserable, and there were hungry people in Raozhou and Duchang. Zhao Yan not only reduced the amount of money and disaster relief under his own rule, but also went to the government to help the people, and even ran out of money and food because of this. ”

Chongzhen sneered: "This invitation to buy people's hearts is also!" ”

Wang Tiaoding continued: "Your Majesty, the ministers said bluntly that Zhao Yan regarded himself as an official. Although the hungry people of Nanzhi and Zhejiang were not under Zhao Yan's rule, they were also regarded by Zhao Yan as their own people. He was a wonderful ...... to the people."

Chongzhen was not angry this time, but felt ridiculous and at the same time endlessly sad.

What kind of emperor is he doing?

Under the rule of the hungry people, they can't be relieved, and they have to frantically urge taxes, so they let a thief worry about the people's livelihood.

Chongzhen said expressionlessly: "I have heard many people talk about Zhao Yan, and they insist on one word, and it is difficult to distinguish the truth from the false. You can also rate this person. ”

(Thanks to the Penguin boss, another Silver League.) Also, ask for a commuter pass. ）