Zhou Fuan was overjoyed when he heard this, it really took no effort to break through the iron shoes and find nowhere to get them. Now that there is a famine in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there is food in hand, that is, gold and silver! Sure!.

He wanted to buy this batch of grain at the market price of three taels of silver per stone.

However, how could Huang Qianshan miss this great opportunity to rip off the bamboo? He told Zhou Fu'an with a calm face: "These 200,000 stone grains are not ordinary goods, they are high-quality wheat from Kaifeng, with full grains, and each stone gets six taels of silver." ”

Zhou Fuan frowned a little embarrassed after hearing this. Now the grain he sells is ten taels of silver per stone, and if he buys it for six taels per stone, the money he makes is greatly reduced.

Huang Qianshan noticed Zhou Fuan's hesitation, and his face sank: "If Boss Zhou is unwilling to buy it, then please do it." I believe there are people who are willing to take over the business. ”

Zhou Fuan weighed the pros and cons in his heart, and he knew that cooperating with Huang Qianshan could bring a stable supply of goods and profits, but at the same time, he had to pay higher costs.

Eventually, in the battle between greed and reason, greed prevailed. He gritted his teeth and stomped his feet: "Good! Just do it at the price you say! ”

With Qin Hui's order issued, the household department began to get busy.

The task they faced was to distribute the 300,000 stone of grain according to the proportion of the population of each state and county.

However, this seemingly fair plan gradually changed its flavor in the process of implementation.

Officials at all levels, like greedy hungry wolves, regard the food that was originally used for disaster relief as their own. Under various pretexts, they deduct and embezzle, leaving a part of each level.

In this way, the food that should have been used to save the lives of the victims was lost in the hands of officials at all levels.

By the time the grain finally reached the affected areas, it was less than 100,000 stones.

In the face of the people who are waiting to be fed, this food is a drop in the bucket. Inside and outside the city of Xuanzhou, the hungry people wandered around, their faces were yellow and thin, and their eyes were full of despair.

On October 20, Zhao Yingluo disguised herself as a man and quietly came to Xuanzhou with Xia He, Dong Xue and a few guards.

She witnessed all this, and her heart was filled with anger and helplessness. She had thought that the relief food from the imperial court would alleviate at least some of the starving people's plight, but the scene in front of her made her completely disappointed.

At the disaster relief food distribution office, officers and soldiers held whips to maintain order. Those who dare to rush forward to crowd are often beaten severely.

When she saw that there were hundreds of victims here, but there were only a dozen sacks of relief food, she couldn't help but go up to ask why.

"Why is there so little food for disaster relief?"

When the officers and soldiers saw that she was dressed well, they thought it was the son of an official eunuch, so they politely told her: "This gentleman doesn't know that this relief grain was originally going to be distributed to more than 100 sacks. But those officials are corrupt layer by layer, and there is only so much left of us. ”

After Zhao Yingluo heard this, her heart was full of anger, and her eyes became more and more cold, "These corrupt officials and corrupt officials are so bold and reckless!" They don't care about the life and death of the people, they only care about their own selfish interests! ”

Xia He has followed Zhao Yingluo for many years, and the calmness she has experienced allows her to remain calm at this time.

"Your Highness, the official family may really be kept in the dark."

"Xia He, do you think the official family really doesn't know anything about this?" There was a hint of tiredness in Zhao Yingluo's tone, she was well aware of the power struggles and entanglements of interests in the court.

"With someone as weak and incompetent as Qin Hui and insatiable as greedy, how can he expect all 500,000 stone grains to be distributed to the victims?"

"Then what does Your Highness think should be done?" Xia He asked softly.

Zhao Yingluo was silent for a moment, as if thinking about the best strategy, "You go and arrange someone to go to Zhu Shengfei's mansion and let him investigate this matter." Qin Hui's actions must be known to the imperial court. ”

After Zhu Shengfei learned the news from Zhao Yingluo, his anger was overflowing, "The people of the world are now in dire straits, but those corrupt officials don't care about the lives of the people, and they are corrupt and corrupt for disaster relief food, and they really deserve to be killed!" ”

Five days later, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Zhu Shengfei handed over a detailed slash in front of hundreds of civil and military officials. There was an irrepressible anger in his voice, "Your Majesty, the minister has checked the account books of the household department in the past few days and compared the amount of grain sent to each county, and found that the two do not match. There is serious corruption in the disaster relief food funds. ”

Zhao Gou's face was pale, although he was soft on the Jin people, he was still a benevolent emperor, after seeing Zhu Shengfei's report, he asked Qin Hui angrily: "Qin Qing!" How do you explain it?! ”

Qin Hui pretended to be innocent: "Your Majesty, the minister swears to heaven that there will be no corruption." This must be someone slandering the ministers in an attempt to sow discord between His Majesty and the ministers. ”

His sly eyes wandered around, trying to find an excuse to escape his guilt.

"You keep saying that you have been wronged, then find out this matter and clear yourself! If not, your position as the left minister will be given to Zhu Shengfei! ”

Zhao Gou's angry rebuke echoed in the court, and every word hit Qin Hui's heart like a hammer.

Qin Hui's face was pale, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he could only bear the order of the official family.

"The minister must find out the truth and return his innocence."

At the same time, Zhao Gou turned to Huang Qianshan again and scolded him sternly: "Huang Qianshan, as a household servant, you don't know anything about the corruption of disaster relief grain, which is really a dereliction of duty!" I removed you from your official position as a household servant and demoted you to retention. If the matter is clarified, you can prove your innocence and be reinstated. If you can't find out, take your family back to your hometown to farm! ”

Huang Qianshan's legs were weak and he almost fell to his knees.

After the next dynasty, he immediately came to Qin Hui's mansion.

Seeing him so flustered, Qin Hui couldn't help but complain: "Huang Shilang, you are so bold!" In such a special period, you still come to visit, aren't you afraid of being targeted? ”

Huang Qianshan smiled bitterly: "Qin Xiang, I am also forced to do so!" This matter really needs to be investigated, not to mention losing office, it is possible to lose your life. We have to find a way to deal with it. ”

Qin Hui's face was gloomy, and a trace of fierceness flashed in his eyes: "Don't worry, I have my own arrangements." However, you also need to be prepared. In case the matter is revealed, you have to learn to protect yourself. ”

After Huang Qianshan heard this, he felt a chill in his heart. He knew he was caught up in a power struggle, and it was too late to get out. He could only hope that Qin Hui would be able to settle the matter, and at the same time, he silently prayed in his heart that he could escape.

Qin Hui gently patted Huang Qianshan's shoulder, and his tone revealed a bit of reassurance, "Don't worry. Although this matter is tricky, it is not without a solution. ”

Huang Qianshan nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the panic in his heart.

"Xianggong is right. The most important thing now is to find out how much evidence Zhu Shengfei has in his possession, and whether we still have room for maneuver. ”