Emperor's Grace

Huyang City was very uneasy during this period. In just a few days, together with the chairman Zeng Jinnan who had just returned to the city, several big merchants at the top of the chamber of commerce were thrown into prison. , the bustling Golden Street on weekdays has become abnormally deserted.

Immediately after the news of the war in the northeast came again, all kinds of alarmist rumors spread wildly in the city, merchants took the opportunity to drive up prices, and the price of food more than tripled, but at this time the Qiongguan army who was ordered to go to war was in the city A grain requisition announcement was posted, and 30 shi of grain was collected on the spot, but all registered merchants had to deliver the grain collected to the magistrate's office within three days.

The Dayan Dynasty had a law since the founding of the country. In case of emergency military situation, the army can force the local people to collect grain at the market price, and the money will be paid, but the people whose land is expropriated do not have the right to refuse to pay the grain.

30 shi of grain sounds like a lot, but for Huyang City, where wealthy businessmen gather, the amount allocated to the merchants is actually not much, and it can even be said to be a drop in the bucket for those big merchants. To send food, the army has to buy it from them at market prices.

Zhu Yunjing sat in the back hall of the magistrate's yamen and drank tea slowly. The vague noise coming from the front did not spoil his interest, but Jiang Yan, who was ordered by He Huailing to accompany him to handle the grain requisition, was a little fidgety Uneasy, he hesitated and asked Zhu Yunjing: "Master...Young Master, His Majesty has ordered to send food to the front line, and the current food reserves in the army are enough to support the army. Why do we need to collect food separately? ... use money to go to the front line. Buying from those merchants, where do we get so much money?"

"It's not a bad thing to have enough military rations. It's just preparedness." Zhu Yunjing didn't explain too much, and put down the tea bowl, "Don't worry about the money. If you want to buy it from those merchants, they may not be willing to sell it."

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Liuren, the magistrate Zhang who had been greeting people at the front, came back sweating profusely, and reported to Zhu Yunjing with a mournful face that he had called all the merchants in the city as ordered, asking them to prepare food as soon as possible. They all said that they would fully cooperate, but it was not easy to collect so much food in a short period of time. Of course, if you have money, everything is easy to say: "You said that the market price is the market price three days ago, and they disagree. It is said that today is different from the past, why is today's grain requisition not calculated according to today's market price..."

The short-tempered Jiang Yan became angry when he heard this: "Are these fucking merchants trying to take advantage of the fire? They raised the price of food by more than three times overnight, and now they are talking to us lions. How can there be such a reason? "

Zhang Liuren wiped his face: "But the current market price of rice grain outside is like this, what they say is not unreasonable..."

Jiang Yan stared at him fiercely, but Zhu Yunjing laughed: "It seems that Zeng Jinnan and others have been sent to prison, but they haven't been too afraid."

Zhang Liuren bit the bullet and explained: "Zeng Jinnan is suspected of collaborating with the barbarians and treason. They think they have never done such a thing, so they are not afraid. What's more, the law does not blame the public. You can't throw them all in prison." .”

"I haven't sold ironware and gunpowder to the barbarians. Haven't I sold other things that can't be sold? How many of them have completely clean hands and feet?" Zhu Yunjing changed the subject and signaled Jiang Yan: "A few days ago The merchant who was seized by Vice President Ding at the gate who trafficked smuggled salt and those contraband products admitted that everyone in the chamber of commerce was doing the same business as him. The merchants in the Yang Chamber of Commerce should be sent to prison for interrogation first."

Zhang Liuren: "..."

Jiang Yan slapped his hands: "Let's do this! Few of these people are good people, and they need to be taught a lesson!"

Zhang Liuren looked embarrassed: "Madam, would it be bad to do this..."

Zhu Yunjing said coldly: "Master Zhang, it is the duty of Lord Hou to guard Qiongguan. Some people have ulterior motives to transport things that cannot be sold out of Qiongguan. It is related to the safety of Qiongguan. Lord Hou should not investigate clearly Is it? If the court pursues it in the future, can you help Lord Hou bear the responsibility for this crime?"

Zhang Liuren immediately changed his words: "How can a lower official afford it... Ma'am, you are too serious."

Zhu Yunjing curled her lips: "Of course, it's really not easy to convict based on one side of the story, so let them report each other. Whoever gives more valuable information can be guilty and meritorious."

Zhang Liuren still hesitated: "They are huddled together now, it may not be able to do what Madam wished..."

"The few people Mr. Zhang brought last time seemed to be aware of current affairs. Mr. Zhang might as well remind them if he has time. Since they are doing big business, they should not worry about the trivial gains and losses. They should take a long-term view. They are doing things for the imperial court, and the imperial court will naturally think of them. This time, the Huyang Chamber of Commerce headed by Zeng Jinnan has made such a big mess. Afterwards, the Chamber of Commerce must be rectified. Instead, it’s up to them to have the final say, a great future is in front of you, if you miss it, it’s gone.”

Zhang Liuren's mind moved slightly, and his small eyes rolled a few times: "I don't know what madam is talking about...?"

Zhu Yunjing smiled slightly: "Master Zhang may not know that the Huyang Chamber of Commerce is getting bigger and bigger, and it has already registered with His Majesty. Your Majesty is re-business. Although something happened to the Chamber of Commerce this time, after the disposal that should be done, The old man still has expectations for this Huyang City, and he has revealed his intention to become an imperial merchant here, of course, the number of places is limited, who will have the honor to serve the imperial court, now no one can say for sure."

"really?"

"Can I still deceive you about this kind of thing?"

Zhang Liuren suddenly became excited. It is not only a great honor to be named an imperial merchant, but also a great opportunity. It is a beautiful thing to have both fame and fortune, not to mention the people he brought to see Zhu Yunjing a few days ago. There are his own clansmen and cronies, this Huyang city has entered the eyes of the emperor, and he, the magistrate, also has a long face.But it doesn't matter what he says about this matter, whoever is sealed and not sealed, I am afraid that only the words of Dingyuanhou, who can reach the heavens, have weight.

After thinking about it, Zhang Liuren became even more obsequious: "Ma'am, what the lady said is that the official understands, don't worry, the official will help you get things done!"

Zhu Yunjing raised his chin at Jiang Yan: "Go and watch for yourself, it's nice to greet them."

That night, the officers and soldiers who had been quiet for only two days began to arrest people from house to house. For a while, complaints arose. The performer blows his beard and stares, and angrily reprimands: "You don't even wash your butt, and you still want to sue! First fucking explain what you have done, and then sue if you can walk out of the prison alive!"

Overnight, nearly a hundred businessmen were all imprisoned, and the city was full of disturbances. Zhu Yunjing, who had returned home, slept peacefully until dawn with her son in her arms.In the morning of the next day, Jiang Yan sent someone to report that four or five businessmen had surrendered after being hinted by the magistrate, and actively reported other people, regardless of whether he was a partner or a competitor, as long as they could say anything, they could not say anything. Everything they knew was exhausted, and they said that they would contribute to the country and donate food voluntarily!

Zhu Yunjing smiled and told people: "Since they have this awareness and are willing to donate, then they will keep it, record it one by one according to the amount of donation, and report it to the court in the future, so they can't treat them badly. Go and tell Jiang Yan, who took the lead last night. For the ones who made the most noise, take good care of them, and let them go and be company with Zeng Jinnan and others."

The same treatment as Zeng Jinnan and those people would not be as cheap as temporarily imprisoning them, but the shops and houses would be sealed up on the charge of adultery with the barbarians, and all the family members from top to bottom, from old to young, would be thrown into prison to wait for punishment, without any change. room.Which of these businessmen has never dealt with barbarian people, if you say you have an affair, you have an affair, and it is useless to complain.The one who took the lead in reporting was released safely, while the whole family of the one who took the lead in causing trouble was imprisoned. Compared with the two, who can sit still and wait for others to report themselves if they don't report others?

As soon as this move came out, more and more people began to turn against each other. You report me, I report you, and no one is clean. Except for the first few people, others still can’t get out, but they donated Food, if you lose money, you can get rid of disasters. No matter how painful you are, you have to grit your teeth, cut your flesh and let blood. I don’t know how many people beat their chests and feet. Now I have to donate food.

Those who donate a lot of food and donate early have a chance to be named an imperial merchant by the court. This kind of news spread quietly among these merchants within a day, and the words came from Zhang Zhifu, who has always been a fool Didn't you see his relatives taking the lead in donating food?It was for the quota of the Imperial Merchant, and as soon as the news spread, some people who were convinced and hot-headed were not at all unwilling, and immediately sent someone to send a message to Jiang Yan that they wanted to donate food!They are going out!

Naturally, some people doubt the authenticity of this matter, but they would rather believe it. Others have donated food, so why don't you donate?You can't get out without donating!As soon as this opening was opened, people who donated food became eager to rush, as if if they were late, all the benefits would be taken away by others. Those who reacted slowly were afraid of losing the opportunity, which meant that they donated money directly!

Carloads of food and silver were sent to the barracks non-stop, and by the night of the second day, the amount raised had far exceeded the figure that Zhu Yunjing had set before.

He Huailing returned to the mansion on the eve of the expedition, and Zhu Yunjing was looking at the account book presented to him by Jiang Yan. It was a thick stack, and he sighed as he read it: "The businessmen here are really rich, and they can easily sell tens of thousands of taels of silver. It's nothing to worry about."

Zhu Yunjing said to give him three days, but he didn't expect him to prepare all the food and payment in three days, He Huailing said with a smile: "Tens of thousands of taels are not worth mentioning to those merchants, but you take the imperial business If you lie to them once, aren't you afraid that they will find out that they have been cheated and trouble you later?"

"It's not entirely a lie. They volunteered to donate food and money, and after submitting to the imperial court, His Majesty issued an imperial decree and a certificate of commendation. It is already a great favor to them." Zhu Yunjing took it for granted, "More What's more, they are breaking the law by selling things they shouldn't sell to the barbarians, and this is their life money."

From the very beginning, he didn't plan to buy food from those people. As long as one person does the food donation, he will have to do it later. Zhu Yunjing thinks that he is generous enough, so he let them buy this little money dog life.Of course, if he dared to sell iron gunpowder like Zeng Jinnan, even the Heavenly King and Lao Tzu would not be able to save him.

He Huailing reminded him: "After I leave, you don't want to provoke the people in Huyang City any more. Try to go out as little as possible. I will come back as soon as possible."

Zhu Yunjing put down the account book in his hand, looked up at He Huailing, feeling uncomfortable: "Is three months enough?"

"I try my best."

Relatively speechless for a moment, Zhu Yunjing went over to pull He Huailing's hand, and lowered her voice: "Then... tonight, shall I accompany you?"