Early the next morning, Su Jin parted ways with the group. This time Xiao Sui'er and Huan Niang did not follow, and Zhao Hu and Xiao Zhuzhu also stayed in the capital. They only took Chao Chao, Ma Han, and Zhang Long with them, but Yan Biyun's
There were only five guards, and none of these soldiers were familiar. Su Jin was a little worried, so he ordered Zhang Long to follow the group to protect Yan Biyun and Xiao Xian'er.
Yan Biyun refused at first. When Su Jin went to Yangzhou, it was even more uneasy to have two people, Wang Chao and Mahan, by his side. However, Su Jin insisted, and Yan Biyun had no choice. He really wanted to ask Xiao Xian'er to follow him to take care of the daily life, but
Su Jin flatly refused; it would be unrealistic to fly with Xiao Xian'er for a few days.
Su Jin galloped straight to Yangzhou Prefecture. Along the way, he saw dust and weeds all over the sky, rivers dried up, and fields as chapped as tortoise shells. He couldn't help but be surprised. This severe drought seemed serious.
Two days later, Su Jin and three other people, who were exhausted, finally arrived at the gate of Yangzhou City. They saw that the gate of Yangzhou City was tightly closed, and the soldiers on the city were patrolling back and forth in groups, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
There is definitely no peace in Yangzhou city.
Outside the west gate of Yangzhou, Su Jin Ming Dynasty stepped forward and shouted, asking the city gate guards to inform Song Xiang, the prefect, and said that the capital's food envoy had arrived. Half an hour later, the city gate opened wide, and a group of people went out to greet them. The leader was wearing four t-shirts.
He is a tall and thin man in official attire, about forty years old, with fair complexion and handsome face, and three strands of beautiful beard floating under his chin, giving him a feeling of elegance and elegance.
Su Jin knew that this was Song Xiang, and hurriedly dismounted from his horse, cupped his hands, and stepped forward to salute. Song Xiang couldn't help but be startled when he saw Su Jin. He looked behind Su Jin and asked strangely: "Where is the special envoy? How come you are the only ones here?"
How many people?”
Su Jin was also stunned, and then he understood that Song Xiang might have regarded him as the lead follower of the food collector. It is no wonder that he would think so, a young man riding a horse in short clothes without official uniform.
How could Lang be the food envoy sent by the capital?
Su Jin smiled and said: "Prefect Song, please don't look for me. I am the food envoy you are looking for, Su Jin."
Song Xiang tugged at his beard in surprise, opened his eyes wide and said, "You...are...the special envoy?"
Su Jin chuckled, took out the document from his arms and handed it to Song Xiang, saying, "If it's true, it will be replaced."
Song Xiang read the document, shook his head repeatedly and said: "I can't believe it, I can't believe it, I am really a special envoy. I just offended you."
Su Jin smiled and said: "What's the point? Not only you, I'm afraid no one will believe it if I tell you."
Song Xiang tugged at his beard and said, "Your Majesty, the special envoy is a young man with a bright future. Are these the only people accompanying the special envoy?"
Su Jin said: "It's just the three of us traveling together."
Song Xiang frowned and said, "The envoy didn't bring anything?"
Su Jin thought for a while and understood what Song Xiang was referring to, so he said: "I have nothing to offer, I am disappointed."
Song Xiang was a little disappointed, and he couldn't help but blame the imperial court. Although he appointed a special envoy for grain affairs, he came to Yangzhou without even a grain of grain. What's the use of coming? But disappointment is a disappointment, and etiquette cannot be neglected, so
Extending their hands to greet each other, the group entered the city gate side by side.
Yangzhou City is also a big city. Before coming here, Su Jin learned that there are about 100,000 households in Yangzhou Prefecture. Counting seven people per household, there are about 700,000 residents. Except for some living in counties and villages under its jurisdiction, Yangzhou City alone has
More than 400,000 people.
Now that we have entered the city, we can see the density of pavements on both sides of the streets, the luxury of the houses, and the width of the streets. It is obvious that this city is extremely prosperous.
Of course Su Jin knew that the city of Yangzhou was a gold-selling cave. Since ancient times, there has been a saying that "with a hundred thousand guan in your pocket, you can ride a crane to Yangzhou", which shows that Yangzhou is not only a gold-selling cave, but also a place where rich people are willing to spend money.
It is a place of bliss; it is not difficult to understand why. Yangzhou is a place where merchants gather and the fireworks are gorgeous. No matter how much money you bring, you can always spend it neatly here.
But when I looked around, I saw that the streets were empty, the shops were tightly closed, and the sparse pedestrians were walking in a hurry, hunching their heads in the cold wind and running fast. However, there were patrol soldiers lining up on the streets from time to time.
Patrols come and go.
Su Jin wondered: "Sir Song, is Yangzhou a place where fireworks flourish from time to time? How did it become like this? Why were the city gates closed just now?"
Song Xiang sighed: "I can't do anything. Civil unrest has continued in the past few days, so I have to implement a strict ban. Many rioters have also been arrested. Many shops on the street have been smashed, so even if I send troops
Patrolling, but still not daring to open."
Just as he was talking, a soldier came galloping forward on horseback. When he got close, he got off his horse and reported: "Master Fu Zun, there are refugees gathering on the small stone bridge in front of you. Sir, please take a detour back to Fu Yamen. Wei Dutou is leading people to drive them away."
Go and disperse.”
Song Xiang turned his head and looked at Su Jin apologetically, and said to the soldier: "I know, just call the guards to disperse, there is no need to hurt anyone."
The soldier agreed and turned around. Su Jin said: "I had imagined the situation here before coming here, but I didn't expect the situation to be so bad."
Song Xiang sighed and said: "This government is incompetent and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to control. It's hard to explain in one sentence. We will elaborate on it when we return to the government office."
The group turned right onto an alley, from here they could bypass the small stone bridge where people were gathering in front of them. After walking for about an hour and burning incense, the alley reached the end, and there was a cross alley. Two figures were carrying these items on their shoulders.
Two cloth bags walked through the side alley, talking as they walked.
"Damned by these people, they only paid for their love by going back to buy medicine. In this world, the whole family has worked so hard that they can't even fill their stomachs..." the tall man cursed.
The woman next to her with her head wrapped in a scarf said quickly: "Master, please speak softly. There are officers and soldiers everywhere. It's a big deal to hear you."
"Why are you afraid of them? Am I wrong? I work hard as a coolie and earn more than a dozen bucks all year round. In the end, my wife and children can't even afford rice. Isn't this the way of the world? Look at it.
Such a bag of rice will cost us two thousand dollars. How many of our families can afford to go through such trouble? It’s only October, and we can’t even get through the New Year this year. Let’s see, after eating this little rice, we’re going to go
Fleeing."
The woman was speechless, sighed, and the two of them walked away.
Su Jin stopped and lowered his head in thought; Song Xiang said: "My lord, please don't take the people's grievances seriously, and don't pay attention to them. If you can't listen to a few grievances, wouldn't it mean that the people have no way to live."
Su Jin smiled and said: "That's natural." He turned to Wang Chao beside him and said: "Go, follow the couple, find his house, remember the place and come back, be careful not to disturb him."
Wang Chao agreed and turned around to follow the two couples.
Song Xiang was a little unhappy. He looked at Su Jin and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. I just told you that the people's complaints are not true, yet you send people to keep an eye on them. I'm afraid you are acting like this." It’s inappropriate.”
Su Jin laughed and said, "Sir Song, I'm afraid you may have misunderstood. I didn't ask people to follow them to accuse him."
Song Xiang said: "Then why should we follow them?"
Su Jinfu whispered in Song Xiang's ear: "Didn't your Excellency hear what they said? I'm afraid they all bought their food from the black market."
Song Xiang said: "What can you say?"
Su Jin frowned. This Song Xiang was still the number one scholar in the second year of Tiansheng. He seemed to be a nerd. He had to analyze this matter to him, but if he didn't clear the mind of the prefect, he would ask him to help him in the future. I'm afraid this nerd will refuse.
"Do you know where the black market is?"
"Since it's a black market, it's naturally a secret place. I haven't investigated it clearly yet," Song Xiang said honestly.
"Then do you know where the food on the black market comes from? There is a shortage of food outside, so where does the food come from to be sold on the black market?"
"This...naturally, the family has food."
Su Jin rolled his eyes and said, "This envoy is here to rectify the hoarding of merchants among the people. I don't know if you have received the imperial edict."
Song Xiang said: "What official document has never arrived?"
Su Jin said: "It's coming in the next few days. I'll leave Beijing, and messengers will go to various states to deliver the edict. I guess they will go to Huainan East Road first, and then to our Yangzhou City. I will dig out these moths when I come back. If If you don't follow those two people and ask them where they bought the rice, how can you follow the clues and dig out the merchants who are hoarding the rice?"
Song Xiang suddenly realized that he couldn't help but take another look at this hairless envoy. He thought he was just here to mess around, but he didn't expect to enter the role so quickly, and he could immediately understand it from the conversation between the two common people. After tracing the clues, it seems that this special envoy is not simple.dd