Everyone came to the government office and sat down. Song Xiang told Su Jin the specific situation. Originally, Yangzhou Prefecture was in a good situation of stability and unity, but since the meal reduction order was promulgated, for some unknown reason, all the grain shops that were operating normally in the market have closed down.
Now, people can't buy food everywhere. At the same time, a black market has emerged, and the price of rice is frighteningly high.
The people have been patient for a while, hoping that the state government can take some measures, but after half a month, the situation has not improved at all. The price of rice on the black market is getting higher and higher, the grain stores are still closed, and everyone's pockets can no longer bear it.
A normal diet is required.
It doesn't matter if it's other things, but there is no food, which is a real problem. You can wear ragged clothes, drink boiled water, don't go to Fireworks Willow Alley, or walk instead of taking a mule cart, but no matter what method you use
It can't fool the empty belly.
As the situation developed, more and more refugees appeared on the streets, and people's anger grew stronger. Finally, violence broke out with beatings, smashing, looting, and burning.
Song Xiang did not realize the seriousness of the problem at first. When he realized the deterioration of the situation, all he could do was to send troops to enforce the ban and arrest the mob who led the trouble.
After listening to Song Xiang's narration, Su Jin sighed inwardly. Being good at reading does not necessarily mean you will be a good official. Although Song Xiang was the top scholar in high school and once served as deputy prime minister for political affairs, he seemed to have little knowledge about managing government affairs.
He is a layman.
Just like some people in later generations, who studied and became postdocs, their spectacle lenses were as thick as the bottom of wine bottles, but in the end they couldn't even take care of basic life. Such people are not useless. They are good at learning and researching cutting-edge technology.
He was able to calm down very well. If Song Xiang were to be the head of the Imperial Academy, or to be a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, he would be a fish in water in a position such as editing and compiling history. It seems that it would be difficult for him to be a shepherd and guardian.
"I dare to ask Mr. Song, have you ever investigated why the grain shop doesn't sell grain?"
"This... I haven't asked yet. I think merchants' business is their own business. If merchants open or close, the government has no right to interfere."
Su Jin raised his hands and surrendered. Song Xiang actually had such an idea. Could it be that Song Xiang was a time traveler? He was engaged in a market economy in the feudal era? Even if he did not interfere in business, at this juncture, how could he let the merchants do whatever they wanted?
Song Xiang saw Su Jin's depression and said: "Your Excellency, our government has always adopted an open policy towards business affairs, and there has been no mistakes in the past two years. I don't know what happened this time. I, Yangzhou Prefecture, originally had rice and grain."
It's sufficient. Even if the court is in a hurry to collect food this year, it won't be like this. I really can't figure it out."
Su Jin said: "Don't you know that there is a severe drought in the south this year? Go and see for yourself. Even the canals have become small ditches, and water transportation has been changed to land transportation. Didn't you make preparations in advance?"
Song Xiang frowned and said: "Of course I know, but last year my Yangzhou Prefecture had a great harvest. The total harvest exceeded tens of millions of stones. After excluding the amount turned in, the remaining food should be enough to make my Yangzhou Prefecture seventy years old."
How could such a situation happen when tens of thousands of people have been fed for two years? This is exactly what I cannot understand."
Su Jin was really speechless. As a parent official, he didn't even know that merchants from all over the country gathered in the south to collect grain a few months ago. Who could explain this matter? Seeing that he couldn't talk to the Lord of the Palace, Su Jin didn't want to
No more wasting your saliva.
"Your Excellency, please don't worry. This envoy is here under the emperor's order to solve the current food shortage crisis in Yangzhou Prefecture. I just want to ask you to assist me in doing things. You don't have to worry about other things for the time being. I will take care of everything.
"
Song Xiang's expression was one of relief, as if a piece of shit had been stuck on his own face, but now it was thrown into someone else's face and stuck to him, and he felt relaxed.
"Then I would like to ask you, Sir. If you need any assistance, I will do my best, but I have a question. How will you solve the current situation?"
"That is my envoy's business. Don't worry, sir. Are you a little disappointed because I came empty-handed? To tell you the truth, I have hundreds of thousands of stones of food that can be transported to Yangzhou within half a month. By then,
It can ensure sufficient supply for Yangzhou Prefecture at least for two months."
Song Xiang put his hands on his hands and smiled and said: "I see, the special envoy is really timely. I didn't expect that so much food could be mobilized at once. On behalf of the people of Yangzhou Prefecture, I would like to thank the special envoy."
Su Jin waved his hand and said: "Don't thank me yet. Have you ever thought about what will happen in two months? What will happen if the food is finished? By then it will be the first month of the new year, and there are still four or five months before the new food is launched. These four months
How to spend five months?"
Song Xiang was stunned, rubbed his hands and said: "This is a problem. The situation may be even worse than it is now. Does the envoy have any tips?"
Su Jin spread his hands and said: "There is no magic formula in the world that will work immediately, but from now on, I will start thinking about it in two months. This is my mission here."
Song Xiang looked at Su Jin in a daze. This sixteen-year-old boy looked fair and tender, but compared with him, he seemed so incompetent and mediocre. These things could keep him awake for days and nights, and he was so worried.
Even though he couldn't figure out the key to the problem, the little envoy seemed to be fine. This made Song Xiang envious, blamed himself, and worried; but in any case, the envoy was the only one he had at the moment.
Seeing the hope, we must help him properly and grasp this life-saving straw.
…
In the north of Luzhou City, a group of people and horses walked slowly on the official road. It had been four days since they left Majiayi in Bozhou. Majiayi was only two days away from Luzhou. Under Long Zhen's instruction, they had to walk for four full days before arriving in Luzhou.
Suburbs.
Yan Biyun sent servants several times to urge Long Zhen to hurry up, but Long Zhen always used various reasons to shirk it. One moment, a soldier pretended to be sick and delayed medical treatment in a small market town. Another moment, he said that the weather was too cold and the wind was too strong on the road.
There were too many gravels, and I was afraid of hurting the horse if I ran too fast. In short, there were many tricks, but they just refused to speed up.
Yan Biyun vaguely felt that something was wrong, but then thought about it, these were the bodyguards and soldiers who had been ordered by the emperor to go on errands, so they were not playing any tricks. And anyway, after all, Luzhou was getting closer, so it was
He didn't say anything, he just secretly told his guards and Zhang Long to be more careful.
Long Zhen's little eyes always wandered around his carriage with malicious intent. For this reason, Yan Biyun and Xiao Xian'er never left the carriage. They even changed into ordinary blue clothes, and their veils were always with them.
Face, even when staying at night, he only ate the dry food he brought from home, and did not touch any of the wine, meat and food sent by Long Zhen.
Seeing the faint shadow of Luzhou City, Yan Biyun breathed a long sigh of relief. She called Zhang Long and asked him to hurry up and rush to Luzhou City to inform the Su family and the steward of Hefeng Tower, asking them to prepare for the reception.
The team entered Luzhou City in a mighty manner. The people of Luzhou who had never seen so many cavalry teams gathered around to watch and discuss. The news soon spread throughout the city. Zhu Shiyong, the prefect of Luzhou, learned that the Beijing Guards came to Luzhou for business.
The response was quite quick and someone was immediately brought to greet him.
Long Zhen had never enjoyed such treatment. The fourth-grade prefect was considered a high-ranking official. Commander Long followed him and chatted with Commander Long, just like his master. This sense of vanity made him feel proud.
Yan Biyun saw this and asked someone to invite Long Zhen to discuss the handover of grain transportation. Long Zhen refused and said: "Mother, our brothers traveled seven or eight days to get to Luzhou. You have to give me something."
Let's take a breather, even if the envoy is here, he won't be in such a hurry."
Yan Biyun said: "What do you mean, Commander Long? The situation in Yangzhou is like a fire. Otherwise, would the envoy rush to Yangzhou in such a hurry? This batch of food is life-saving food. In case of a civil commotion, Commander Long may bear the responsibility."
Are you up?"
Long Zhen sneered and said: "How can I, the commander, take on such a big responsibility? I only know that the emperor is not short of hungry soldiers. Since my brothers follow me on errands, I have the responsibility to make them full and rest their strength."
; Moreover, transporting grain is not something you just talk about. You are here to hurry up. How can we transport it without vehicles? Just a few hundred vehicles are enough to keep our brothers busy. This is not something that women can do in a hurry.
It’s done.”
Yan Biyun was shaking with anger, and the Yan family companion couldn't help but stepped forward and yelled: "Keep your mouth clean, do you know who you are talking to?"
Long Zhen squinted his eyes and said: "Why, is there still a fight? The men are not afraid of this. I advise you to calm down and calm down. I will give him three points of face in front of the envoy. Who are you? You are here to reprimand the men. It's so hard to wait.
My letter, I know very well when to do things, and it’s not your turn to say anything yet.”
After Long Zhen said that, he left with his guards like a gust of wind. Yan Biyun was furious, but there was nothing he could do; he had to tell everyone to rest temporarily and wait for news about Long Zhen.
When everyone in the Su family learned that Yan Biyun had arrived in Luzhou, shopkeepers Zhang Lao and Zhao Da came with Rou Niang and others to greet them. Yan Biyun received everyone in the elegant hall in the backyard of Hefeng Tower. Everyone was tacitly aware of the relationship between Yan Biyun and Su Jin.
, the topic of conversation when we meet is always about Su Jin.
When he learned that this trip was to transport the 500,000 shi of grain that Yan Biyun had hoarded to Yangzhou Mansion, Mr. Zhang's brows instantly knitted into knots.dd