"Young Master, we have confirmed that the caravan heading towards Suzhou in front of us is from the Northern Chamber of Commerce, Chu Huairen."
Lu Xin led the team back to the camp and asked about the military cards and people at the inns along the way before reporting back.
This was Fang Jue's deliberate arrangement.
Just because when crossing the Baishui River, I discovered that there was food spilled on the bridge, and then I discovered a large number of carriage and horse marks in front of me.
Fortunately, it didn't rain outside Ganzhou in those days. The traces were clearly visible, and the bridge deck was damaged to a certain extent, so Fang Jue felt some worries.
"It seems that the young master is right to worry. Someone went to Suzhou before us and deliberately blocked our way." Dian said.
Lu Xin said: "Just when they were crossing, something happened to the bridge. We spent half a day repairing the bridge and delayed our trip... I'm afraid it's not such a coincidence, right?"
"That must have been done deliberately. At this time in Suzhou, everyone is crying for food. If there is a large amount of food, we can naturally make a lot of money."
Fang Jue was not worried about this, but that someone was deliberately blocking the road, probably not just to sell his own grain before the court provided disaster relief.
But sell it at a good price!
"Young Master, we are still two or three days away from Suzhou. There are many twists and turns along the way. If we are delayed for a few more days... I am afraid that many people in Suzhou will starve to death." Lu Xin also became serious.
"According to the time that Chu Huairen is one step ahead of us, he should be arriving in Suzhou soon..."
"The Suzhou government has no money and it is impossible to purchase his grain, so his targets are the wealthy families in Suzhou city and the people who have some savings."
Fang Jue thought for a moment and could already see what this person was thinking.
Along the way, Chu Huairen did not sell grain along the way. Judging from the traces of carriages and horses, he went straight to Suzhou.
He even looked down upon the villages and towns in Suzhou and headed straight for the main city of Suzhou.
It's obvious if it's revealed.
"Young Master, when we left, An Baili seemed to have reminded that Chu Huairen had asked the Tai'an Chamber of Commerce to purchase all the grain..."
After Lu Xin finished speaking, Fang Jue also said: "I also have this suspicion. This person should have a good background. If Suzhou gets anxious and takes action against him, they may cause a big mess."
"When the time comes, the Yulin Army's military exploits in the northern border will be gone, and they will still be charged."
"No, I have to take the first step."
Fang Jue looked at Lu Xin: "You escort the grain and grass, and I will go to Suzhou to take charge of the overall situation."
"Young Master, what's the use of going first? We can't solve the disaster in Suzhou City without food." Lu Xin said.
“Don’t Chu Huairen have food?”
Fang Jueleng said: "If he wants to sell it at a good price, I will give him a good price."
"..." Lu Xin wanted to persuade him, but after thinking about it, no matter how big Chu Huairen's background was in the capital, he probably couldn't be more than a young master.
So I didn’t persuade him.
"Dianyi, let's go!" Fang Jue stopped his horse.
Dianyi and one hundred cavalrymen from the Musket Bureau also immediately brought some supplies, followed closely by their fast horses.
…
Suzhou.
As soon as the grain team entered the city, Chu Huairen personally came to visit the military camp.
Lin Bei naturally wanted to see him too.
"The common people have seen the general." Chu Huairen was polite.
In the military camp, Lin Bei only brought Zhang Feng to see Chu Huairen. Cai Yan was too emotional and was not conducive to negotiations.
Yes, Lin Bei still had a glimmer of hope, thinking that this Chu Huairen might be able to sell face.
"What's the matter, Mr. Chu?" Lin Beixiao asked.
Chu Huairen expressed his intention: "The general knows that the food from our Northern Chamber of Commerce is being shipped to Suzhou one after another. In the near future, a warehouse will be opened in Suzhou to sell food. However, the grassroots are afraid that the victims will be starved, so they hope that your army can
Give help.”
Inside and outside Suzhou City, there were disaster victims everywhere, and many people were hungry and anxious.
If the Northern Chamber of Commerce sells food, they will be robbed. Will they really dare to kill people wantonly?
Therefore, military assistance is needed to suppress those hungry people who may rise up.
"How can Mr. Chu help?" Lin Bei asked, signaling Chu Huairen to drink tea.
Chu Huairen opened the tea cup and saw that it was old loose tea, so he closed it again and said:
"The common people are brave and ask the general to send a team of sergeants to assist our chamber of commerce and maintain order at the grain sales site."
"The dispatching of the military camp is a major matter. You cannot go out without the order of the soldiers. I am afraid that the Yulin Army will not be able to help Mr. Chu." Lin Bei said with some embarrassment.
Unexpectedly, Chu Huairen said:
"Don't worry, General, we are absolutely grateful..."
The underlying meaning is already obvious.
Lin Bei frowned: "This is military law, who dares to violate it?"
"My lord, don't be too embarrassed. According to Daxia's military law, more than a hundred people are not allowed to leave without military symbols. I don't need a hundred people, just about eighty people."
After saying this, Lin Bei and Zhang Feng looked at each other.
You actually know military law.
In fact, many generals have done such things.
Without an order, the total number of people leaving the camp at a time cannot exceed one hundred... Then I will send ninety-nine people out?
And today's Yulin Army, as the maintainer of order in Suzhou, can deal with it cheaply in special times whenever something unexpected happens in Suzhou.
It's just that Lin Bei said this so that he could negotiate a good price with Chu Huairen.
"More than eighty people..." Lin Bei slightly nodded hesitantly.
Zhang Feng cast an approving look, his acting skills were good.
"But the army is short of food and grass, and our Yulin Army officers have not had enough to eat for many days. I am afraid it will be difficult to contribute to Mr. Chu." Lin Bei said regretfully.
Hearing this, Allen Chu's eyes lit up and he knew that things were about to be done.
This is asking yourself to be "sincere"!
So, Chu Huairen smiled and said: "I understand the rules. As usual, our Northern Chamber of Commerce is willing to give compensation twice the salary to the soldiers who go out to camp."
"What's the use of asking for money? No matter how much money you have now, you will starve to death." Zhang Feng sneered at the right time.
Chu Huairen understood and rolled his eyes: "How about converting it into food?"
Zhang Feng: "Haha... Nowadays, the price of food in Suzhou has risen to a terrifying level. Even if you have money, you can't buy more than a few full meals."
"Your Majesty, you are right. I have always admired the generals in the army. The Habayashi Army should be treated kindly when they fight for the country... Can I use the pre-war market food prices to convert them into food to supply the soldiers?"
"I wonder if General Lin thinks it's okay?"
Lin Bei frowned and felt a little relieved. This Chu Huairen seemed to understand.
"Then let's do it." Lin Bei agreed after a long while.
Chu Huairen was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, General..."
After the matter was settled, Chu Huairen immediately took the people away. Before the disaster relief food from the court arrived, he had to arrange the market.
If done correctly, the profit within a few days can be enough to empty half of Suzhou City.
"General, Chu Huairen left, but left behind a cart of food." the deputy general reported.
Lin Bei nodded and looked at Zhang Feng aside: "This guy is quite sensible. Mr. Zhang, is this considered a bribe?"
"General Lin, don't worry. I won't interfere with you. I also want to eat..." Zhang Feng was not a stubborn and brainless person, so he immediately shook his head with a smile.
"Then accept it and give the soldiers a full meal." Lin Bei sighed.
The lieutenant general said: "That cart is worth at least four or five dan. We are short of food right now, so we'd better use it slowly."
Lin Bei nodded and said with a smile: "They all say that being a soldier is for food, but who would have expected that even if you become a soldier, you still won't have enough to eat. It's really difficult for ordinary people these days."
"Who says it's not..." Zhang Feng shook his head.
Suddenly, Zhang Feng thought of something and looked at Lin Bei:
"General, if Chu Huairen comes from Ganzhou, doesn't he know that the young master is also raising food at Tai'an Company in Ganzhou?"
"Huh?" Lin Bei didn't come back to his thoughts for a while.
Zhang Feng frowned: "He knew that the imperial court's disaster relief grains were not far behind, so why did he come to Suzhou to sell grains... He wouldn't be able to sell for two days, and the market would be taken away by the disaster relief grains. Then no one would
Buy his food?"
"yes?"
Lin Bei was also stunned and asked in shock: "Does he know that the food for the court's disaster relief will not be available for a while?"
"I'm a little worried." This is what Zhang Feng had in mind. He already suspected that Chu Huairen had any means to hinder the arrival of the disaster relief team.
"Immediately send someone to go to Ganzhou along the way and report the matter to the young master."
…
"Master, our people came to report that the bandits in Baishui Village did not have the guts to destroy the bridge."
"What?"
As soon as Chu Huairen returned to the Northern Chamber of Commerce, he heard reports from his confidants at his base in Suzhou.
"Doesn't that mean that the disaster relief food team will be here soon?"
"Don't worry, sir. Our people have removed some stones from the bridge, which can block it for at least a day or two. We will also arrange people to try to block the way to Suzhou later."
The man said: "It will be at least five or six days before the disaster relief food from the court arrives."
"That's good, it's been a good run these days, we can at least make several times the profit!" Chu Huairen breathed a sigh of relief and laughed again.
"But sir, if the Beiliang army burned, killed and looted Suzhou City, can the people in the city still have money?"
Chu Huairen said coldly: "What do you know? Who will hand over all their money? Especially the rich people are very cautious and put their money in different places. It is impossible for them to go bankrupt completely."