Lu Xuan called Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang over and said in a deep voice: "I met with the shopkeepers of the four major families and asked them to lower the prices. These people said that the cost of food was high and the prices could not be lowered. They said that they came to Shu County to do business. For the sake of my benevolence and righteousness, otherwise, I would not be willing to wade into troubled waters."
Zhang Zhao said: "These people really have no shame at all."
Lu Xuan continued: "Lu Tong and others said that in view of my benevolence and righteousness, they are willing to reduce the price by three cents and sell the grain at twenty-two cents per catty."
Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang looked at each other with cold expressions.
Both of them were very restrained towards their large families.
However, the actions of big family shops such as the Lu family and the Gu family make people angry.
Kuai Liang looked sternly and said: "I think these people must be taken down. Not only do I want to make them miserable, but I also want to kill them all. If they are killed directly, it will be true and people will accuse the lord. I suggest you give They charge one crime and then arrest them all."
Zhang Zhaodao: "I second the proposal due to my humble position."
Lu Xuan said solemnly: "Next, let's do this... I not only want to keep the price of food down and stabilize the people's sentiments. The four major families must spit out everything they eat. The four major families must take all the food. .I will take them down step by step. Without killing people, I will have the means to take them down."
His words were filled with murderous intent.
Lu Xuan was not so angry when he met the bosses of the four major families. After listening to these people's high-sounding words, he felt no mercy at all.
After hearing this, Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang both agreed and quickly went to make arrangements.
…
Shu County, west of the city.
A wine shop.
The wine shop is very close to the market in Xicheng, Shu County. There are many people coming and going, and it is quite lively. Most of the people drinking in the wine shop are coolies carrying goods in the cold weather, as well as some traders.
There are also a few people who come shopping and have a drink in the wine shop when they are tired.
A not-too-old young man walked over. The young man had dark skin and an ordinary appearance, except for a pair of clear eyes.
The young man is clearly Pang Tong.
Wearing very ordinary clothes, he sat down, looked at the shopkeeper, and ordered: "Shopkeeper, bring me a pound of mutton and half a pound of wine."
"okay!"
The shopkeeper replied, quickly served the wine and meat, and then stepped aside.
Pang Tong drank wine and ate meat, looking very pleased with himself.
After eating for a while, Pang Tong put down the wine bowl in his hand and listened to the discussions of the people around him. Many people were talking about the price of food. The price of food for the four major families had reached twenty-five cents per catty, which was very expensive.
When many people mention the price of food, they gnash their teeth with hatred.
They all scolded the four major families for cannibalism.
When Pang Tong heard someone talking about the price of grain, he took over the conversation and said directly: "You guys don't know the real news. Do you know that the governor of Lujiang, Lu Xuan, has returned from Jingzhou?"
"What will happen if he comes back?"
Opposite Pang Tong, a young man was also talking.
It was Lu Meng.
He came later, sat not far away, and said loudly: "The Lu family and the Lu family are one. Lu Xuan said it was to help the refugees, but his shop made a lot of money. If you don't say that Lu Xuan is okay, Whenever I talk about him, I get very angry."
Pang Tong shook his head and said: "Brother, you are wrong. The Lu family is different from Lu Taishou. Both Lu Taishou and his son are upright officials. They are in Shu County. The Lu family is from Wu County, and the shopkeeper of the Lu family is named Lu Tong, I saw that Governor Lu was all arrogant and acting like an elder."
"The brother-in-law of my second uncle's third aunt works as an errand in the prefect's mansion."
"He overheard the news."
"I heard that Governor Lu came back from Xiangyang and learned that the price of food was high. He was very angry and summoned Lu Tong directly. He also met with the shopkeepers of the Gu family, the Wei family and the Yu family. He hoped that the shopkeepers of the four major families would lower their prices. Guess what?
thing?"
Lu Meng asked: "What's going on?"
Many people around looked over with curiosity in their eyes.
Pang Tong sighed and explained: "Prefect Lu said that the price of food in Lujiang County cannot be so high, and asked the four major families to lower the price. Unexpectedly, Lu Tong made a show of talking about seniority. He was the uncle of Prefect Lu, and said that the Lu family
Prefect Lu cannot interfere with the sale of grain."
"Otherwise, the Lu family will rebel against Governor Lu."
"At that time, the Wei family, the Gu family, and the Yu family's shopkeepers also expressed their stance, saying that the prefect Lu could not control it, otherwise the four major families would take action, and the prefect Lu would not be able to bear the consequences."
"The attitude of these people is very arrogant and domineering. They completely ignore Governor Lu."
"Prefect Lu was furious and said that after taking power for one day, he would never allow high-priced grains to appear. Think about it, after Prefect Lu took power, did he ever increase taxes and corvee services, all for the benefit of the people?
"
Pang Tong said: "Prefect Lu was forced by Lu Tong and others, but he refused to give in. He forcefully said that the government would not sit idly by and would open warehouses to sell grain and keep the price of grain down."
Lu Meng curled his lips and said, "Are you saying this on purpose to shirk Lu's prefect? He can't lower the price, so he does this on purpose. In fact, it's just lip service, and he won't actually open a warehouse to sell grain."
Pang Tong shrugged and said, "I have nothing to do with Governor Lu, so why are you bragging?"
As soon as this was said, others started talking.
"Speaking of which, Governor Lu is indeed a good person. He is an official in Lujiang County, and we all have a good life. These big families deserve to have people come to do business and disrupt Lujiang County."
"These people should be killed."
"Prefect Lu is not very old, so he is indeed in trouble. The key is that these big families are so hateful."
Public opinion was stirred up by those who criticized the four major families and criticized these major families for their evil deeds. However, many people still hesitated to hear the news that Lu Xuan was going to open a warehouse to sell grain.
"The government sells grain. There is a shop in the five areas of east, south, west, north, and middle. The grain is eight cents a pound."
Suddenly, loud shouts came from a distance.
As soon as this shout came out, the wine shop exploded. Many people started talking and left as fast as they could, running towards the shops in the west of the city.
Eight cents a pound is a fair price.
worth buying.
Pang Tong and Lu Meng looked at each other and left. They were only responsible for the west of the city. In fact, Lu Xuan's people were spreading and guiding news everywhere in the city, spreading the news that the four major families were forcing Lu Xuan and driving up food prices.
The news spread like wildfire, and the people throughout Shu County were extremely excited.
Countless people thanked Lu Xuan.
People from the four major families are evil people.
Lu Xuan was dedicated to serving the people.
Countless people in Shu County went to buy grain, and the news that the government was selling grain quickly reached Lu Tong's house.
Lu Tong didn't care at all, but had a sneer on his face. Lu Xuan asked people to smear the Lu family, the Gu family, the Wei family and the Cao family, so what could he do?
Can't solve the problem.
The key is that he can buy food in large quantities and make Lu Xuan suffer.
Lu Tong called his confidant Lu Dashan and ordered: "When you go to buy grain, order five thousand catties first. If five thousand catties doesn't work, change it to three thousand catties. If three thousand catties doesn't work, just one thousand catties."
"Here!"
Lu Dashan left in a hurry.
Lu Tong sat leisurely, looking very relaxed.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Lu Dashan came back quickly, with a sad face and loudly said: "Shopkeeper, I can't buy food. The food sold in government shops is limited to ten kilograms per person."
brush!
Lu Tong's face turned cold.
Is there a purchase limit?
What a powerful method.
This arrangement cut off his opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity to buy.
At this time, an attendant came in and reported: "The shopkeeper, Gu Lie, Wei Shan and Yu Xiang are here to see you."
"please come in."
Lu Tong gave an order.
Not long after, Gu Lie, Wei Shan and Yu Xiang entered eagerly, all of them looking ugly.
Gu Lie sat down and said urgently: "Shopkeeper Lu, the people outside are scolding us for being evil and for driving up grain prices. It's okay to be scolded, but Lu Xuan really opened a warehouse to sell grain for eight cents a day.
It’s not good for us to buy a pound of grain, and each person can only buy ten pounds.”
Wei Shan rubbed his face and said, "We have allocated countless amounts of food. If we can't sell it, it will be wasted."
Yu Xiang said: "My Yu family has sent 1.5 million kilograms of grain one after another, but not much has been sold yet. If Lu Xuan does this, everyone will be in trouble."
Everyone was crying and looking like their parents had died.