Zheng Canghai glanced at the group of gentry who came to visit him, and a bad premonition came into his heart. These people wanted to see him as soon as they came in, and even called them by name to send them to the study for a detailed discussion.
Now when we meet, everyone is silent, as if waiting for someone else to speak first. Zheng Canghai is almost out of breath due to this weird atmosphere.
Finally, someone broke the dead silence.
"Mr. Zheng, didn't you receive their letter?"
Hearing this, Zheng Canghai's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly who they were, but hadn't the government already taken control of the situation?
Even if the city was set on fire and all the food was burned, so what? Judging from Zheng Canghai's decades of ups and downs in officialdom, this was just a counterattack before his death and would not affect the overall situation.
Letter, the problem must be with this letter!
"What letter? What's the content in the letter?" Zheng Canghai narrowed his eyes and asked. It didn't matter. All Shenjin present looked at him with ghostly eyes, making Zheng Canghai stand on his back.<
/p>
They all received the letter, but I didn’t?!
At this time, a gentleman stood up tremblingly and said: "Since Mr. Zheng has not received the letter, we will not disturb him."
After saying that, he was about to turn around and leave. How could Zheng Canghai do as he wished and immediately stop the person and question him?
He will have trouble sleeping and eating without knowing the content of the letter!
A group of gentry did not expect Zheng Canghai to be an exception. They were originally frightened after receiving the letter, so they thought of coming to Zheng Canghai to discuss countermeasures, but who knew that this would be the case.
If he didn't say anything, Zheng Canghai might inform the government, which would save the government from looking for them one by one, because they are all here.
So, after everyone complained, Zheng Canghai sat back on the chair, his face as black as a carbon ball and extremely ugly.
"Brother Zheng, this is what happened. You don't know what they are like. The government hopes that Brother Zheng will negotiate more."
"Yes, yes, brother, let's go first."
When a group of gentry saw Zheng Canghai's expression, they all immediately understood it. They stood up one after another to apologize and say goodbye, and then left the Zheng Mansion as if they were running away.
Zheng Canghai was like an abandoned child, watching helplessly as everyone left, with the words that made his hair stand on end still echoing in his ears.
Mr. Zheng, didn’t you receive their letter?
I got a shit!
Zheng Canghai stood up suddenly and walked back and forth in the study. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. He always felt that danger was approaching him.
After thinking for a moment, he hurriedly opened the door and went out, called his loyal servants at home and rushed towards the Yamen. At the same time, he asked the housekeeper to ask the manors outside the city to strengthen their defense and keep an eye on the food.
It didn't take long for Zheng Canghai to arrive at the magistrate's office and express his eagerness to see the magistrate. The clerk who received him did not dare to neglect and quickly took him in.
When Yang Anguo heard that it was Zheng Canghai who was coming, he felt strange. It wasn't until he saw him that he understood why he was here.
"Lord, the situation is critical. I heard that the price of food has risen in the past two days. Unsurprisingly, this must be the plan of the thieves. Many gentry in Lingzhou have been threatened and are not allowed to send food to the government. Once the thieves' plan succeeds, Lingzhou will
Chaos in the state is imminent!"
It can be said that the relationship between Zheng Canghai and the government is not as close as this, but the current situation is that Pi Xiu and his group sent letters to other gentry, but he did not receive them.
This kind of special treatment gave Zheng Canghai chills in his bones. He had never been a maverick because he knew he didn't have that ability.
That's why he immediately came to the Yamen to find Yang Anguo. Since he was identified as being on the side of the government, Zheng Canghai had a chance of survival only by trying to get closer to the government.
"Sir, we should issue an order as soon as possible to forcibly purchase the grain from the gentry and landlords, so as to stabilize the price of grain and prevent the thieves from succeeding!"
Zheng Canghai expressed his opinions anxiously, but Yang Anguo remained unmoved. It was not until Chen Ping came over after hearing the news that he took any action.
"Here, say what you just said again."
Yang Anguo said with a serious face, while Zheng Canghai was stunned. What's going on? This is a major matter related to Lingzhou's safety. Can't he still make the decision?
Although he had doubts, Zheng Canghai did not hesitate. The matter was urgent, and Chen Ping, the leader of the Chunwei Huiyuan, might be able to make some useful suggestions. He immediately restated what he had just said to Chen Ping quickly.
"How about it? Do we need to make countermeasures?"
Yang Anguo turned around and asked, Zheng Canghai felt anxious after seeing this scene. What do you mean by taking countermeasures? Can he still watch Pi Xiu doing things?
Chen Ping lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time, "No, Pi Xiu has made his attitude clear, otherwise how could Mr. Zheng come to report the news? What we want is to let us know through him."
"If we suddenly ask the gentry to pay for grain, we will fall into Pixiu's trap. Not only will the gentry not agree, but everyone will be in danger and grain prices will be even more uncontrollable."
He was originally investigating the causes and consequences of the arson in the granary. After all, the granary was still very tightly guarded. If someone could set the fire without anyone noticing, there must be someone inside to help.
This shows that Yang Anguo did not clean up the subordinate officials in the yamen before, and there were still fish that slipped through the net.
It's just that before the mole has finished dealing with Pixiu, he has made a new move, and this trick of attacking in the east is very smooth.
"That makes sense. It seems like this person is not willing to give up until he turns Lingzhou upside down."
Yang Anguo felt a chill in his heart. After all, he was the magistrate of Lingzhou, and his parents were thousands of people in Lingzhou. Pi Xiu and his gang were causing trouble in Lingzhou again and again, and they seemed not to take him seriously.
"Sir, Mr. Chen, I would like to ask what should I do now? The price of food on the market has doubled compared with normal times. If there is no food to stabilize prices and stabilize people's hearts..."
Zheng Canghai couldn't help but ask, if we go by what Chen Ping said, wouldn't it be a dilemma now?
"Master Zheng, don't worry. When the soldiers come, the water will be blocked and the earth will cover it up. Pixiu has his tricks and we have our own methods."
Chen Ping spoke to comfort Zheng Canghai and then asked him to go back first. The government would contact him if necessary.
Zheng Canghai actually wanted to stay in the Yamen to spend this dangerous period, but thinking that the prefect would not agree to such a ridiculous request, he walked out of the Yamen without looking back.
"Chen Ping, if you don't apportion grain to the gentry, then you will have to ask neighboring states for assistance."
"But this is not easy. Even if the governor of Jiangnan agrees to help, the governors of other states will not be willing."
Yang Anguo looked at Chen Ping, held his forehead and said with a sad look on his face. Chen Ping naturally knew that coordination between local officials at the same level was extremely difficult.
Even if there is a superior to take charge, it will not be much better, which means that this road is probably impossible.
"You have to give it a try, it will help more or less."
"If it really doesn't work, I have other options. I just don't know how much food I will have, but I definitely won't be able to completely fill the hole. The rest is up to Master Yang."
In the past, it was not very smooth to ask neighboring states to cooperate in investigating smuggling cases. Now it is even more impossible to ask for food aid. Chen Ping also knows this.
However, whether we can get assistance or not is another matter. As long as we can first stabilize the people of Lingzhou, that will be enough.
"What can you do?"
Yang Anguo didn't understand why, not just anyone could fill the hole of one hundred thousand stones of grain!
Chen Ping smiled. He had even given up the opportunity to take the imperial examination. Now that Pi Xiu was risking his life, what else could he not give up?
"Mr. Yang, could it be that he despises students? If you don't have any means, don't say you know how to take the exam. You can't even try to pass the county exam."
He didn't say it clearly, he just covered it up with a haha, and then started talking about it in his heart.