Chapter 243 Investigate and deal with illegal food
Chapter 243 Investigate and deal with illegal food
Food can meet the daily needs of the people and can also be used for marching and fighting. This is an indispensable material every day.
Tang Hao's expression changed slightly and he quickly asked: "Has this Gong Heng had any contact with Bai Chengfu on weekdays?
"As far as my subordinates know, there is no such thing. Although they are both in Congxing Mansion, they are separated by mountains. There may be some trading of tea and sugar, but the two of them have not interacted with each other in public, and I have not heard of any private meetings.
."
Tang Hao frowned and thought thoughtfully, "The Gong family has been a tea merchant for generations. The Gong family's grandfather also has a tea mountain in Lingzhou. It's so good. He is a big tea merchant, why did he turn to a grain merchant for no reason?" Even if you want to change careers as a whole, why not use your own name?
Moreover, not long after the war ended, the states did not have much food reserves. Where did he get such a large amount of food?
"If you go by what you said, then how come you didn't find out until now that such a large amount of grain was transported into Lingzhou!" Tang Hao asked.
"We borrowed several commercial houses to transport the goods in batches, and they were distributed in various counties in Lingzhou. My subordinates just thought it was a normal business, so they didn't investigate carefully. I was negligent and asked the general to punish me." The deputy general quickly knelt down to plead guilty.<
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Although Tang Hao is usually a bit of a gangster and doesn't pay much attention to rules when talking and doing things, he is very strict in running the army.
"Forget it, I have been investigating Bai Chengfu's affairs for the past few days. I know you have worked hard." Tang Hao rarely blamed the deputy general and said while looking through the inspection book: "Now that Gong Heng's abnormal behavior has been discovered, you will
The merit is over, get up."
"Thank you, General."
After the deputy general got up, he saw Tang Hao checking the inspection book, so he said nothing and just stood quietly aside.
This inspection book is still recorded very carefully. Basically, starting from Tang Hao's order half a year ago, Gong Heng's every traceable move has been recorded. However, there were not many records before because he rarely went out.
Only in recent days, in order to negotiate business, his activities have begun to increase.
Tang Hao slowly looked forward, then suddenly stopped moving his hands and asked: "Ten days ago when Gong Heng started going out to discuss business?"
"Yes, General. It was the second day when Bai Chengfu disappeared."
Although Gong Heng and Bai Chengfu had no contact with each other, they behaved in the same way. They had been living in seclusion for half a year. Apart from occasionally visiting shops, they had almost no other social activities.
But on the second day after Bai Chengfu disappeared, Gong Heng began to go to various counties to discuss business, and the talks were about grain business.
Bai Chengfu's death was an anomaly, and Gong Heng's opening of the granary was an anomaly. Where in the world could there be such a coincidental anomaly.
Tang Hao suddenly closed the inspection book and ordered: "Keep an eye on him. I want to know who he sees and what he does at all times."
.......
Outside Congxing Mansion, inside Pingfan County.
Pingfan County is more than thirty miles away from Congxing Mansion. It is the only way out of Lingqian Prefecture, and business is more prosperous than elsewhere.
Gong Heng was smiling and saluting the middle-aged man in front of him.
"If Boss Wang thinks the price is fair, can we consider this matter settled?"
This middle-aged man is a wealthy family in Pingfan County. He has his own porcelain business, and two relatives are in the rice and flour business.
"Since Boss Gong is so generous and the price is so low, of course Wang is willing. However, so much grain..." The middle-aged man couldn't help but asked curiously: "The seeds have just been sown this year. , it’s not the autumn harvest time, where did you get it from?”
Gong Heng's cheekbones twitched slightly, and he said with a smile: "They are all collected by people in other places. I thought that due to the food shortage caused by the war, I could make a fortune at least, but I didn't know that I would stop this. Isn't it because I was afraid of losing money? I have it on hand, so I simply take action to withdraw the funds as soon as possible. But don’t look at it as last year’s old grain, the quality is excellent.”
The middle-aged man waved his hand casually, "Of course I believe what Boss Gong said. Then when will these grains be shipped?"
"It has arrived. Someone will take you to pick it up tomorrow."
"That's it, Boss Gong is really happy!" The middle-aged man looked very happy. Not to mention the low price of food, he even saved on shipping costs. It seems that he will make a lot of money this time.
"Haha, where are you doing business? We want a win-win situation."
The two chatted happily and signed the sales contract immediately.
Gong Heng breathed a sigh of relief after looking at the contract, exchanged a few words and left the restaurant.
"Hurry up!" Gong Heng hurriedly got on the carriage, urging the driver hurriedly.
It was already dark, the long street was extremely quiet, and the coachman drove much faster.
"Master, where should we go next?" the butler asked.
Gong Heng lost his composure just now, his face was extremely gloomy, and his head was covered in cold sweat.
"Have you visited the granary?"
"I've seen it, please rest assured, boss, the manpower in the granary is all hired from outside. I only know that the person who rented the granary is named Wang, and we will never be able to find out that it is us."
"That's good, but don't take it lightly. Such a large amount..." Gong Heng took out the handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Master, we still have more than 90,000 stones." The butler reminded that this amount is too large.
Gong Heng shook his teeth and said resentfully, "If Bai Chengfu hadn't committed suicide, I wouldn't have had to bear all the 100,000 stones on me!"
The original plan was for Bai Chengfu and Gong Heng to distribute 50,000 shi each, but now that Bai Chengfu was directly killed, all the food was handed over to Gong Heng.
Gong Heng is afraid to talk about his suffering now, but as long as he shows reluctance, he will definitely end up like Bai Chengfu.
Not long after the Gong Mansion's carriage left Pingfan County, a column of people came rushing towards them without stopping at all. They rushed directly to a granary in the county. Everyone got off their horses and rushed in.
The gatekeeper was startled and shouted: "Who are you? It is against the law to break into private houses!"
"Go away!"
The captain who led the team kicked him away and led the soldiers straight in.
The gatekeeper saw clearly that they were all soldiers in armor, and was so frightened that he ran away crawling.
There are hundreds of sacks neatly arranged in the granary, and they are almost full.
The soldier stepped forward and opened one of the sacks, and the white rice flowed out.
"It's really rice!"
"With so much grain, the government did not receive any report."
"You are too courageous."
The captain interrupted everyone's discussion and said, "Okay! No one should talk too much. Someone should quickly count the food here."
The recording officer who came with the army immediately took out the recruitment bag and booklet, and followed the soldiers to start counting.
The same scene also happened in the other five counties in Lingzhou.
Three days later, the sum collected from all parties was finally delivered to Tang Hao.
In the Zhizhou Yamen, Tang Hao and Yang Anguo were sitting in the hall, listening to the report of joining the army.
Tang Hao specially invited Yang Anguo here just to let him know the seriousness of the matter.
"There are three grain merchants in Pingfan County, five grain merchants in Liehong County, two grain merchants in Bancheng County...three grain merchants in Beheng County, and three grain merchants in Congxing Prefecture, totaling
A total of 100,000 shi of food was confiscated."
"One hundred thousand stones, where did this much food come from?" Yang Anguo's eyes were dull, and he was extremely shocked.
How powerful is it that it can transport 100,000 shi of grain into Lingzhou silently?
"The amount of grain is huge, the source is unknown, and the granary is rented in the name of others. It is not unusual for merchants to hoard grain for themselves, but our local main warehouse, transfer warehouse, and army warehouse may not be able to easily produce 100,000 dan!
These two items require detailed interrogation."
"Master Yang, it's up to you to give the order on this matter."
According to the law of this dynasty, if you want to arrest a repeat offender and determine the crime, the prefect and prefect must make the decision together.
"Catch!"
Yang Anguo did not dare to hesitate for a moment and immediately ordered: "These rotten insects are eating my people's rice and grain, so they should be caught!"
Tang Hao smiled faintly and looked at the deputy general: "Go ahead, don't let anyone get away!"