After sending the two local wealthy families away, Chen Qing asked Pei Xiangjun with a smile: "What has Magistrate Pei been busy with these two days?"
Pei Xiangjun is currently only serving as the prefect of Taiyuan temporarily. Although the prince is joking, he still feels warm in his heart. He actually likes the title of prefect Pei.
"In my humble position, I have spent the past two days mainly checking supplies, helping hungry people, and cooperating with military control to restore order."
"Are all the civil servants here?"
"Reporting to the county king, basically all the clerks and archers from the county government came, but none of the clerks from the government office came. In fact, the government office is still empty, and the humble official now also serves as the county magistrate."
"Why didn't anyone from the government office come?" Chen Qing asked unconsciously.
"Actually, the prince also saw it. The key is the two people just now. Of course, it's not just them, there are other Jin gentry. They are just representatives. The prince dismissed all the officials of Taiyuan Prefecture, which violated their interests. They are also
Resisting the prince in disguise."
“Then why didn’t the county government boycott?”
Pei Xiangjun sighed and said, "All the county government officials are here, but none of the government officials are here. Isn't this a hint to the county king? They are willing to cooperate, but they can also resist completely."
Chen Qing's face darkened, and he snorted coldly. He dared to threaten himself. These people were impatient.
Chen Qing then said to Pei Xiangjun: "Close the gate of the government office and put a seal on it. You will temporarily serve as the county magistrate. All thirteen kinds of people's livelihood materials will be sold according to the Jingzhao price, especially the price of rice and salt, which must be based on unified pricing.
Violators will be investigated by the military, and this matter will be implemented today."
"I humbly obey orders!"
Wang Lianqing and Zhang Yang left the Marshal's Mansion in a carriage. Inside the carriage, Wang Lianqing said worriedly: "We don't allow officials to return to the government office. Isn't it a bit too much?"
Zhang Yang snorted, "He said it himself, everyone is for profit, but he only considers his own interests, why doesn't he consider our interests?"
"But. He is a warlord after all. We may have pissed him off, I'm afraid."
"Brother Xian, if you don't fight for profit, it won't come to your bowl by itself. If he fully implements the pricing system in Hedong and Taiyuan, within a few days, all our businesses will be destroyed. Wang's rice
, the salt from the Zhang family, and the camellia cloth from other companies, how do you do business?"
"But, how can we defeat him? Brother Zhang, the risk is too great."
Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes and said: "He himself said that his opponent is the imperial court. If he must harm our interests, there is no guarantee that we will cooperate with the imperial court."
"I'm afraid the imperial court won't tolerate our relationship with Jin Bing."
Zhang Yang said coldly: "Then you are wrong. If we can control Hedong Road, the court will never care about our trivial matters and will only praise us for taking the overall situation into account."
After a pause, Zhang Yang said proudly: "Don't worry, there is someone in my court who is in a high position. I have already written to contact him."
Wang Lianqing did not expect that Zhang Yang had secretly contacted the court, and he was silent for a while.
Chen Qing returned to the military camp and immediately sent someone to find the person in charge of the Intelligence Agency in Taiyuan Prefecture.
Half an hour later, Zou Hong, the manager of Sanyuan Restaurant, was taken into the Chinese army's tent by soldiers.
"Zou Hong, a low-ranking official, is the head of the Intelligence Agency stationed in Taiyuan Mansion. See the Prince of the County!"
Chen Qing saw that this short, fat, middle-aged man looked familiar, so he smiled and asked, "Have I met Mr. Zou?"
"In my humble position, I was responsible for the intelligence of Jingzhao Mansion and reported the situation of Jingzhao to the prince."
Chen Qing was a little impressed. He nodded and smiled: "Thank you for your hard work. Most people can't see your achievements, but I know very well that without your contribution, the casualties of the Western Army's officers and soldiers would have increased by at least 10,000 people.
"
"This is a humble duty."
Chen Qing liked the intelligence officer's humility very much, and he added: "Do you know Wang Lianqing and Zhang Yang?"
"You know a thing or two about humble positions."
"Tell me about them!"
Zou Hong thought for a while and said: "Wang Lianqing and Zhang Yang are the leaders of dozens of wealthy gentry in Taiyuan Prefecture. The officials of Taiyuan Prefecture have more or less connections with them. The Kingdom of Jin also relies heavily on them. Wan Yanchang hosted a banquet for guests.
Both of them sit at the main table, so it can be said that they are indispensable for Jin Guo's ability to secure Taiyuan Prefecture."
"Their influence on Taiyuan is limited to officialdom?"
"Of course not. Almost all the profitable industries in Taiyuan Prefecture and Ping'an Prefecture are controlled by the gentry like them. Almost everyone in Taiyuan Prefecture knows that the Wang family's rice tea, Zhang family's oil and salt, Xue family's cloth and silk,
Most of the grain shops that the prince saw on the street were opened by the Wang family, and the oil and salt shops were controlled by the Zhang family. The current price of rice in Taiyuan City is 120 wen per dou, and the price of salt is 400 wen per household. If
If the prince promotes cheap rice and salt in Taiyuan, it will definitely violate their interests."
Chen Qing walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked, "Do these two families have any evil deeds in Taiyuan?"
Zou Hong thought for a while and said: "The Wang family is a century-old family and pays more attention to reputation. I have never heard of any evil deeds. However, the reputation of the Zhang family is not very good. To be precise, the food and appearance are ugly. Our Sanyuan Restaurant was taken over by the Zhang family."
The original owner took it by force and then resold it to us at a high price."
"Isn't the Zhang family a century-old noble family?"
Zou Hong shook his head, "The Zhang family is powerful. During Renzong's time, they made a fortune by reselling the salt of the Western Army. Later, the Zhang family had a close relationship with Tong Guan. It was Tong Guan's recommendation that Zhang Yang was appointed as the general magistrate of Taiyuan Prefecture. After the Jin Kingdom captured Hedong, Zhang Yang was appointed as the general magistrate of Taiyuan Prefecture.
The prefect of Taiyuan took the opportunity to appoint a large number of confidants to serve as officials in various counties in Taiyuan. In the years of Jianyan, Zhang Yang was the most powerful man in Taiyuan. Later, Wan Yanchang also thought that he was too arrogant and forced him to retire due to illness, but he still used his
The eldest son Zhang Ming served as general judge, while Zhang Yang has been hiding behind the scenes."
Chen Qing nodded, "It seems that Zhang Yang is the official leader of Taiyuan Prefecture. Today he and Wang Lianqing came to visit me. I thought Wang Lianqing was the leader of the Jin gentry."
"The Wang family has a profound heritage. It has been a famous family since the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Although it is no longer available, it is still very prestigious in Taiyuan. The Zhang family has established a relationship with the Wang family through marriage. Wang Lianqing's mother is Zhang Yang's aunt, and the two are cousins.
, but after Zhang Yang became the prefect of Taiyuan in the Jin Kingdom, Wang Lianqing seemed to have kept a distance from him."
Chen Qing raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why do you see that?"
Zou Hong said with a smile: "Zhang Yang's eldest son Zhang Ming originally married Wang Lianqing's eldest daughter, but later died in childbirth. Zhang Yang wanted his son to marry Wang Lianqing's youngest daughter again, but Wang Lianqing refused. This happened during Jian Yan's third year.
Years were also the time when Zhang Yang was most popular. At that time, there were a lot of rumors in Taiyuan City, and there were various theories. One theory was that Zhang Yang had too much collusion with the Kingdom of Jin, and Wang Lianqing wanted to keep a distance from the Zhang family. This theory was also recognized by Bei Shi.
"
"What excuse did Zhang Yang use to refuse?"
"The horoscopes don't match!"
Chen Qing laughed. It was really interesting. Incompatibility was originally a euphemism for rejecting a marriage proposal. It seemed that the Wang family was really unwilling to marry the Zhang family.
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said: "You just said that your Sanyuan Restaurant is the Zhang family occupying other people's property. What exactly happened? Did anyone die?"
"Beizi only knows that it was Zhang Yang's youngest son Zhang Tie who did it. It happened the year before last, and someone died. The son of the original proprietor died. But what exactly happened? Beizi needs to contact the original owner."
"Is the original proprietor still there?"
Zou Hong nodded, "The original owner heard that he had returned to his hometown of Wenshui County. He contacted me at the beginning of the year. He opened another restaurant in Wenshui County and wanted me to give him the Sanyuan Restaurant brand."
"Go and find out. I want conclusive evidence of the Zhang family's murder. Once it is done, I will recommend you to be the magistrate of Yangqu County."
Zou Hong was overjoyed and bowed: "I will definitely do my best to investigate this case!"