Chapter 39: From fighting and killing to being humane (4,000 words, Qiuzhu
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A sharp sword is often the scariest when it hangs over your head and is about to fall.
Because if you can know the moment when it falls, you can make up your mind to either close your eyes and wait for death, or resist stubbornly, or die together.
However, the sharp sword above his head was obviously raised, but it was shaky, making the lamb under the sword unsure of its intentions. Every second he breathed, the butcher's knife might fall, or he might be safe... He wouldn't even give a happy death.
.
In short, it means that people cannot let go of their fantasies and prepare to fight.
This is the most torture.
Right now, the squire and wealthy people in the first box of Zuixian Tower are falling into this kind of torture. They are like being PUA by the scumbag county magistrate. They are all wandering in the box and sighing, worrying about gains and losses.
The delicious food on the table was so delicious and delicious that no one even touched a single chopstick.
"What are your plans, Lord Magistrate? Didn't you hear that you won't audit the accounts? Why are those military masters still hanging around the door of our house every day?"
"Huh, who said we won't investigate anymore? I heard someone said that on the night of the audit, a demon sneaked in to burn the accounts. The county magistrate was so angry that he even beheaded a scribe who had colluded with outsiders. Maybe there is no need to investigate the accounts now.
It’s possible to confiscate your home in the name of apprehending a demon!”
"This... brothers, you are so bold. It's better now that you have directly angered the county magistrate."
"What do you mean, Mr. Cheng? Our Chen family is a good and law-abiding citizen of Zhou Dynasty. How could we do such a thing of decapitation?"
"Ha, who doesn't know that the Chen family is indeed a good old citizen? I heard that last night they secretly sent someone to Meiluyuan to deliver a gift to the county magistrate. The funniest thing is that they were rejected... I was puzzled.
, why don’t such good people pay up all the missed business taxes in the past? Why don’t they donate more at the last fund-raising banquet when they admire the county magistrate so much? Why do you follow the same tone as everyone else? Oh, it turns out that you are cowarded, and the good people’s doorsteps are also following suit.
We are also patrolled by elite soldiers."
"You...you old fish seller..."
"Okay!" Liu Ziwen, who had been sitting at the table with his eyes down and blowing tea, suddenly put down the tea cup with a "clunking" sound.
The quarrel in the box stopped, everyone sat down and drank tea with their own thoughts in silence.
A tall, round-faced young squire frowned and said, "Gentlemen, please stop arguing. Don't forget what we are here to do today."
An old landowner with a wrinkled face and a turban sitting in the back seat said with a grimace:
"What if the county magistrate doesn't come to this table of apology wine? How about we send the money directly to Meiluyuan and come to apologize. The county magistrate wants money for disaster relief. Let's collect some from each family and give it. If we can
Matters solved with money are not matters. I have already said it, why should we secretly confront the officials..."
The frowning old landowner suddenly stopped talking, because Liu Ziwen stood up, picked up the teapot, and politely poured tea for him. The Liu family leader's tone was gentle, but the words he spat out were not gentle at all:
"Uncle Wu, thanks to everyone's support in the past, we unanimously recommended our Liu family to take the lead. We also endured the same situation in the previous Longcheng County magistrates. After seeing the results, everyone was very satisfied. Uncle Wu didn't say anything at that time. Now we are experiencing some setbacks.
, Uncle Wu just said this, isn’t it appropriate?”
"No...not appropriate." Uncle Wu smiled uglier than crying, and hesitated: "But the county magistrate has soldiers..."
"Liu knows."
Liu Ziwen lowered his eyelids, gently pushed the tea in front of the old landlord, and gently patted the back of his old hand:
"This fight is nothing more than an exchange of interests and a mutual offer of conditions. Mr. Ouyang didn't immediately lead his troops to overthrow the table, which means there is still a chance to talk and it won't be a dead end. Aren't we hosting a banquet today to treat guests and apologize?
In addition, I will donate a sum of money in the name of repairing the Yamen and see if Mr. Ouyang is satisfied."
"Everyone thinks highly of Liu, and Liu will naturally consider everyone's overall interests, but..." Liu Ziwen changed the subject, "You are not allowed to kneel down and surrender like Uncle Wu just did. This will not only harm the interests of our Liu family, but also harm the interests of the Liu family."
For the benefit of everyone here.”
"Okay...okay."
Liu Ziwen smiled relaxedly at everyone, as if he was still mastering it, and the latter relaxed.
However, Liu Ziwen's heart was not at all relaxed, and the quarrel just now made him aware of the weakness of these landlords and wealthy people, as well as their own hidden agendas.
If he had known the term "pig teammates", it would have been plastered on these people's foreheads at this moment.
The box became quiet again, and Liu Ziwen drank tea calmly. Others saw this and regained some confidence.
But at this moment, Liu Ziwen felt a little heavy.
I don’t know what the outcome of yesterday’s incident in the east warehouse was, and I don’t know if the chessmen sent there burned the accounts with evidence.
Liu Ziwen's people only found out today that that night, after Xie Lingjiang chased the infiltrated Qi practitioner, the Ouyang County magistrate arrived in the east warehouse in time and took out the head of an old scribe. After dawn,
It was hung on the top of the city, and the east warehouse was immediately blocked with heavy troops. It seemed that there was no more checking of the accounts, but the soldiers of Zhechong Mansion were rewarded at dawn, which seemed to be some important action.
In the past two days, Lieutenant Guo Yi led his soldiers around the streets and alleys of Longcheng, seemingly searching for the Qi practitioners who broke in that night, and also seemed to be ready to break into people's houses and ransack them at any time, especially those with special attention.
The gentry and wealthy people in the house made everyone panic.
Did he succeed that night? What did Ouyang Lianghan want to do?
Liu Ziwen frowned inwardly, feeling that the situation was vaguely out of control made him very uncomfortable.
At this moment, the footsteps of a group of people going upstairs were heard outside the door.
Liu Ziwen and the other squire and wealthy men immediately put down their teacups and stood up to greet him at the door.
However, when the concierge opened the door, the figure standing outside was not the young county magistrate, but a young head catcher in blue.
"Master Xiaoyan? Why are you here? Where is the county magistrate?" someone asked in confusion.
Yan Liulang walked through the door without squinting, walked to the middle of the box, casually raised his hand to everyone and said:
"The Ming Dynasty is busy with official affairs and has no time to come over. Please let me come and have a few words for him."
Liu Ziwen and others immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Although no one came, as long as they didn't talk a word, if there was something to say, then the conditions would be negotiated, and if they were negotiated, there would be room for maneuver.
"Master Xiao Yan, please take a seat. Come, serve tea."
"No, it won't take more than a few words. I'll leave after I finish speaking." Yan Liulang shook his head.
"Don't you sit down and discuss it?"
"The Ming government has said that there is nothing to discuss about these matters, and you will definitely agree." The detective in blue glanced meaningfully at the doubtful and curious squires and rich men in the box.
Liu Ziwen and the people behind him looked at each other, then turned back and handed over their hands:
"What orders does the magistrate have? Please tell me, Mr. Magistrate!"
Yan Liulang first raised two fingers and then lowered one:
"The first thing. The 780 yuan raised at the last donation banquet, plus the donation you have to donate at this apology banquet... how much is it approximately?"
Liu Ziwen continued: "I have heard that the house behind the county government office was destroyed by the flood and no one can live in it. Everyone is worried about their parents and officials. This time, we decided to donate 100 guan to the county government for a total of 1,300 guan. It will be used for repairs.
It's an official residence, I hope the county magistrate will accept it..."
"Okay, one thousand three hundred guan, right?" Yan Liulang interrupted and continued to give instructions: "All of this money should be converted into food and sent to the disaster relief camp in the suburbs, and it must be ten fen per dou, before the flood.
Converted to normal market price.”
"this……"
In addition to Liu Ziwen and Cheng Yuan, the head of the Chen family, Uncle Wu and others couldn't help but discuss it. Now that food is in real short supply after the disaster, ten cents per bucket made men cry and women cry. Everyone looked hesitant until Yan Liulang calmly calmed down.
Overweight:
"The officers and soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture came to Longcheng this time on the orders of Lord Shen, the supervisory envoy, to assist in the investigation of the rice embezzlement case in Jimincang. The investigation has been almost completed in the past few days. The Ming Prefecture will let them return to Jiangzhou soon.
Crossover."
Liu Ziwen immediately made the decision, "Okay, two thousand and eighty guan, Liu will make up a small amount and exchange it for grain at the price of ten guan per dou, and it will be sent to the disaster relief camp in the suburbs early tomorrow morning. I hope it can relieve the county magistrate's worries."
."
Yan Liulang nodded, as if he was not surprised, and put down the last finger:
"The second thing. The Ming Dynasty said that the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. This is an important custom in our hometown of Wuyue. In previous years, we would race dragon boats, eat rice dumplings with mugwort, and worship Quzi. Although there is flooding this year, it is no exception."
"But none of the surrounding counties seem to be doing it..." Mr. Cheng hesitated.
"Other counties in Jiangzhou won't hold it, but we in Dragon City will hold it, and we will hold it in the biggest and best way, so that everyone can have a good Dragon Boat Festival."
Liu Ziwen and others were stunned, but even if they were vigilant, they asked, "Isn't the county magistrate asking us to raise donations for the festival again?"
Yan Liulang shook his head and continued:
"There is no need for everyone to donate. The Mingfu said that when he first came to Longcheng, he should not just care about the refugees, but also give some care to the squires, landlords and wealthy households in the county. He should not favor one against the other. This Dragon Boat Festival event is for the people of the whole county.
Those who participated, the Longcheng County Yamen Association actively organized the event and enjoyed it with the people."
Liu Ziwen and others looked at each other in confusion. No one responded immediately. They were probably thinking about what kind of medicine a certain young county magistrate was selling.
It wasn't until Yan Liulang nodded and said "No," that all the old foxes in the room said in their hearts, "Here we come."
"But this Dragon Boat Festival, our county is going to make it the largest and most lively one in the entire Jiangzhou, and it is going to attract merchants and tourists from all over to come and celebrate the festival. Dragon City is already connected by water transportation, so as long as the news spreads, there will definitely be a lively gathering.
.”
Yan Liulang pointed in the direction of Butterfly Creek:
"But before holding the grand event, we have to repair Longcheng County, both sides of Butterfly Creek and Penglangdu. Don't you think so? And with this flood, you should also have many old houses collapsed.
, damaged ships can be repaired together."
Liu Ziwen probed and asked: "Cultivation is necessary, but how to repair it?"
"Of course, your donations will not be in vain. The Ming government has decided to let young people from the disaster relief camp outside the city come into the city to help repair these facilities. However, since it is your house and pavilion, naturally the county government will not pay for it.
, each family pays the labor themselves, and the county government assists and organizes manpower.
"In addition, during the Dragon Boat Festival, if you want to hold any activities or banquets, you can come to the Yamen to apply for refugee status. No credit is required."
Hearing this, Liu Ziwen and other squire and wealthy men fell into a brief silence.
In fact, the purpose of the plan proposed by Ouyang County Magistrate is very obvious and not hidden. Everyone in the box is a thousand-year-old fox, and they can see clearly; this is "relief for work", where the rich provide food and the poor contribute their efforts.
, the government issued a letter, and everyone took what they needed.
In addition, Longcheng County's developed transportation linking Yunmengze and the Yangtze River is also a source of wealth for the country gentry and wealthy people. Using a Dragon Boat Festival event to attract businessmen and tourists from all directions can indeed reduce the negative impact of floods and promote Butterfly Creek.
Cross-strait trade is beneficial to them.
In addition to Liu Ziwen and Cheng Yuan, the head of the Chen family, Uncle Wu and others were all quite surprised. They didn't expect that the new county magistrate who had set up the table and ransacked the house before today, which made them troublesome, would suddenly throw out a document that took into account the interests of all parties.
A mild solution is coming.
This... is a leap in the ideological realm from fighting and killing directly to the worldly sophistication.
Is this really done by the same person?
During the dinner, several squires secretly sighed.
However, maybe he was frightened by Ouyang Rong, maybe he was worried about a trap, or maybe the family business was sidelined and did not involve this interest.
Liu Ziwen and others did not reply immediately.
Yan Liulang was not in a hurry, and walked around in the luxurious box of Yuanming Building with his hands behind his back. Occasionally he glanced at the expressions of Liu Ziwen and others, they looked careless...
Well, this is actually what he recently learned from Mingfu. In the words of Mingfu, it means... to let these people fall into the trap, you have to be calm and elegant, and let them make up for you spontaneously.
powerful.
Seeing that it was almost time, Yan Liulang turned around and asked: "What do you think?"
Liu Ziwen did not speak, silently looking at the expressions of Yan Liulang and others. In fact, he had no interest in the Dragon Boat Festival. The Liu family did not rely on water transportation and trade to reap profits. The swords that should be sold by Guyue Sword Shop were sold as usual.
, even if Longcheng is flooded, it will not worry about sales.
But although there is no benefit, there is no harm either. It is feasible or not.
At the moment, Liu Ziwen has to temporarily stabilize the new county magistrate who has troops in his hands, and wait for the distant water... So it doesn't hurt to sell face. Besides, the other squire and wealthy families in the box seem to be quite excited about this plan. Although the Liu family
Although he is the leader, he cannot block his followers' financial path. It is better to go with the flow.
Liu Ziwen took a cup of tea and sipped it gently; apart from Mr. Cheng, the head of the Chen family, Uncle Wu and others took the initiative and asked some questions about the pit. Yan Liulang also followed the words of a young county magistrate and answered them one by one. The two sides talked harmoniously.
.
Seeing that everyone else agreed, Liu Ziwen put down his tea cup and took the lead in making the final decision:
"The county magistrate loves his people as his own children, so it is natural for him to have such a plan that is beneficial to Dragon City."
"Okay, I'll go back and report to the Ming Dynasty first. Master Diao and other colleagues will contact you for follow-up matters."
"Master Xiaoyan, let's go slowly." Everyone who had relaxed said goodbye one after another.
Yan Liulang nodded and turned to leave, but as soon as he reached the door, he seemed to remember something. The detective in blue stopped and turned around:
"By the way, there is a little thing I forgot to mention. The Ming government said that if the talks with you today go well, as a show of caution, he can release the county's grain price limit."
Liu Ziwen was slightly startled, thinking he heard wrongly, "What do you mean?"
"Literally, from today onwards, the government will no longer limit the price of food in Longcheng County. After you go back, you can feel free to increase the price and sell as you like."
The tall, round-faced young squire covered his mouth and coughed: "Ahem, these are market prices. They are not controlled by us. They are prices determined by the relationship between supply and demand in the market. I am joking, hahaha."
Yan Liulang imitated the expression on the Mingfu's instructions and smiled faintly, "Okay, let's believe in the market together. See you all."
He went downstairs and left neatly.
Only a group of squires and landowners were left staring at the scene, as if they were still in shock.
It was too rushed to divide it into two chapters. I was afraid that writing it too quickly would cause plot problems, so I combined two chapters into one chapter... It should be on time at twelve o'clock from now on, bro!