The King of the North Sea, who has always been known for his mildness and good temper, did not get angry at this time, and his tone was quite kind.

One of the grain merchants boldly replied: "Back to the prince, there is really no grain in the grass people's house. ”

Another grain merchant also chimed in: "These words, the grass people have said many times. There are indeed a few stones of grain in the grass people's homes, but there are more than 20 people in the grass people's family, which is enough to eat for half a year at most. Ask the prince to leave a way for the grass people to live. ”

The King of the North Sea smiled and waved his hand, and saw four soldiers with expressionless faces and cold eyes coming. dragged out two grain merchants who were dying and didn't know what to do.

The two grain merchants were still shouting, shouting "what the grass people say is true" and so on.

Then, he was tied by his own soldiers, pressed to the ground, and beheaded with a knife.

Blood splattered like a spring, and the head gurgled to the side.

The expression stopped forever in a moment of disbelief.

The three people who remained in the room all trembled and trembled like chaff, and their faces turned pale. No one expected that the King of Beihai would kill two grain merchants without saying a word.

A foul fishy smell wafted over suddenly.

The King of Beihai's eyes fluttered, swept past the grain merchant who was so frightened that his clothes were wet, and asked very kindly: "Come here, this king asks you, do you still have grain stored at home?" ”

The grain merchant was so frightened that his legs trembled, and his mouth moved a few times, but there was no sound at all.

The King of the North Sea smiled again and waved his hand again. Immediately, another soldier came.

The grain merchant didn't know where he got the strength, so he rushed over and knelt down, and shouted in a terrible voice: "The prince has mercy! There is food in the grass people's homes! The grass people don't want a penny of silver, and they are willing to give all their stored grain! Ask the prince to leave the grass people a cheap life! ”

While crying and kowtowing hard, after a few knocks, his forehead turned red and bloody.

The King of the North Sea asked gently: "Have you thought about it?" He was really willing to give up his stock, not forced by this king! ”

The grain merchant nodded frantically: "It was the grass people who were willing, and the prince never persecuted the grass people." begged the prince to send people immediately, and the grass people led them to the granary. ”

The King of Beihai nodded: "For the sake of your sincerity, this king will reluctantly respond." ”

He turned around and called a steward in. The forty-year-old steward gave up his orders and helped the grain merchant with his legs as soft as noodles out of the house.

Now, there were only two grain merchants left in the house.

Before the king of Beihai could speak, the grain merchant rushed over and knelt down, kowtowing again and again: "The grass people should be damned, they lied before." In fact, three of the grass people's grain depots are full of grain. Ask the prince to give the grass people a chance to change their ways. The grass people are also willing to give all their food. ”

The King of Beihai sighed: "There are more than 10,000 bandits attacking the city outside, once Beihai County is broken by bandits, I don't know how many people will suffer." Under the nest, there are no eggs. This king has asked you to sell grain at a reasonable price, and you have to play tricks with this king. Now I'm finally sensible. ”

With a wave of his hand, a steward came over and helped the grain merchant out.

In the end, only Huo Hengwen remained.

At this time, Huo Hengwen was not afraid. However, he believed that he and Xie Junshou were in-laws, and he and the king of Beihai were also in-laws. No matter how much the King of the North Sea is, he has to leave a few thin noodles for Xie Jun.

Therefore, Huo Hengwen refused to let go: "Ask the prince to see clearly, there is really no food in the grass people's homes." ”

The King of Beihai said lightly: "Huo Hengwen, if it weren't for Xie Junshou, the first person this king would have killed today would be you." ”

"Not only did you secretly store grain, but you also united with all the grain merchants to refuse to sell grain, wanting to take advantage of the war to make a fortune. The two people who died today were all affected by you. When you get to Huangquan Road, when you get together with them, don't forget to make amends to them. ”

Two pro-soldiers came over, one on the left and one on the right, twisting Huo Hengwen's arm and dragging it out.

Huo Hengwen was so shocked that he forgot his anger, and turned his head with great effort and shouted: "The prince killed innocents indiscriminately, so he is not afraid of retribution in the future?" ”

The king of the North Sea said unhurriedly: "If there is any retribution, this king will follow." If you want to take revenge, come when the king closes his eyes. ”

The sturdy rope tied Huo Hengwen's wrists tightly. The soldiers who had cut down the two grain merchants before, and came over with a long knife that had not dried up with a blank face.

Huo Hengwen finally determined that the King of the North Sea was not scaring him, but was coming for real. For a while, his soul was scattered, and he screamed with all his strength: "The prince spares his life!" I have food at home, and I give it all to the king! The prince spares his life! ”

The long knife had been raised.

Huo Hengwen was wet under his body, tears flowed down his face, and he shouted hysterically: "The prince spares his life!" ”

The King of the North Sea finally ordered: "That's it, spare him for his life." Then he instructed left and right: "Go and ask Xie Jun to guard it." ”

Half an hour later, Xie Junshou hurriedly stepped into the Beihai Palace.

The two corpses with different heads have been pieced together and sent back to the grain merchants. The blood on the ground was also washed away by the water, and everything was safe except for the lingering smell of blood in the air.

Xie Junshou stepped forward to salute the King of the North Sea, and the King of the North Sea said kindly: "No need to be polite, the grain merchants have already offered their grain. This king is making people count them one by one. Huo Hengwen is your in-law, you will take him away. ”

Xie Junshou didn't ask much, and gave up.

When he saw Huo Hengwen with an embarrassed face and no ashes, Xie Junshou only wanted to say one word: Shou!

It's been like this, and I'm still thinking about making a fortune with grain. I really thought that the king of the North Sea was a soft persimmon, and he couldn't be a good man!

……

The death of two big grain merchants is like two small stones thrown into the water, and after a slight splash, they disappear without a trace.

When the people of Beihai County heard about this, they only applauded.

What's so strange about the dead? Many corpses were carried down from the walls every day. They are all good men in the army who fought to the death to defend the city and the bandits. When he died, he didn't even have a thin coffin, so he wrapped it in a straw mat and hurriedly buried it. In troubled times, human life is as cheap as mustard.

The king of the North Sea gave an order, and each family produced an adult male. That's 4,000 people combined. As soon as there were not enough men at the city gate, the men had to go up. It's a matter of life and death, who cares about the life or death of the grain merchants.

In Zhaojiafang, the atmosphere is equally heavy.

Zhang washed his face with tears, and I don't know how many times he cried.

Zhao Yuanxiu Zhao Yuanming led more than a dozen sons and nephews to the capital, and on the way back, I don't know if they encountered bandits. In short, there was no news after the city gates were sealed.

The Zhao family is a large family, and according to the rule of one male per household, there are more than 120 males in total. These Zhao family sons will be dragged to guard the city gate at any time.

The seventh great-uncle was very optimistic, and often sat in front of his house basking in the sun: "Don't be afraid, everyone. When the prince is in the capital, he will find a way to let the imperial court send troops to suppress bandits. The prince is a person who does great things, and he will definitely be able to defend Beihai County. ”

(End of chapter)