Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

The blue waves were rippling, and a awning boat floated on the river.

"Sir, this is the rice store."

The old man punting the boat pointed to the pier in front of him.

Near the pier, there were people walking back and forth carrying heavy rice bags.

"Um."

An indifferent response came from the cabin.

Jiang Xinghuo still pretended to be a cold and aristocratic young man, stepping ashore on the moss-covered stone steps. The ripples of the awning boat behind him immediately crushed the spring sun in the water with the gentle tap of the bamboo pennant.

He was not in a hurry to enter the rice store, but sat down with Wang Bin at a tea stall along the river not far away.

Sitting across from him were two middle-aged men chatting.

"You said we are carrying rice every day. When will the price of rice come down? Although we know that there is rice, even if we are reluctant to sell it, we are not panic. It is better than not having rice in a disaster year, but it is still a bit too expensive. ”

"Who knows, but the people in the city are still somewhat rich after eating a bowl of rice from businessmen all these years. The rice is more expensive, so they won't starve to death. But I heard that many of my relatives in the countryside are still alive. starving!"

"How is that possible? Don't you transport food to the countryside? Furthermore, what about the food you store in the countryside?"

"The heavy rain has just stopped, and I heard that it will rain again in the next two days. Now the major grain merchants are rushing to transport grain to the city by waterway, and it is too late to collect it and sell it at a high price. How can they waste transportation capacity and transport grain to the countryside by land? There is no food. Worry about selling."

The two middle-aged men paid and left, leaving them alone in the huge tea stall.

Jiang Xinghuo shook the folding fan clearly. These are the people in the countryside who have money and can afford expensive food. Most of their families have no shortage of food and have no shortage of access and transportation capacity to go to the city to buy it. However, those in the countryside who are in urgent need of food cannot afford it. Food is expensive and there is no way to go to the city to buy food, so we can only wait to die.

In other words, these rural farmers, the original producers of grain, are not the target customers of the big grain merchants in the city.

This is why, in several villages near Qingpingbo that he passed before, there was such a tragic situation that they were starving of food.

"Still not right."

Wang Bin lowered his voice and asked doubtfully: "What about the relief grain from the Changpingcang of the government? Where is the grain from the countryside?"

"This is what I call tricky."

The two of them were sitting by the water, and they could clearly see that the entire bustling waterway showed a spindle-shaped outline. In order to meet the need for more buildings to be built near the river, the buildings along the river generally have narrower bays and are facing away from the river. The street forms a 'street-house-river' layout, so their place is actually quite hidden, located halfway between the back door of Midian and the river.

As if having a normal conversation, Jiang Xinghuo said softly.

"The government has Changpingcang. The logic of Changpingcang is different from that of these profit-seeking grain merchants. Emperor Taizu Gao stipulated that in times of disaster, the government must open warehouses to stabilize grain prices or lend grain to farmers regardless of land transportation costs. .”

"If people starve to death, it means Chang Ping Cang is ineffective. Why is it ineffective?"

Jiang Xinghuo sneered.

"There are only two answers. Either the government was inefficient and did not have time to distribute the goods, which led to the tragedy, or the food inside was corrupted and could not be distributed at all."

Recalling the tragic scenes he saw in the countryside, Jiang Xinghuo said the harshest words in the softest voice while holding the folding fan.

"If it's the latter, our national division will definitely bleed the officialdom of Changzhou Prefecture into a river of blood."

Wang Bin looked stern. He believed that the Imperial Master must do what he said, but Wang Bin thought of another point.

"What about the grain that we have stored in the countryside? Last year was not a disaster year, and the Jianwen Dynasty did reduce taxes for Jiangnan. It stands to reason that we should be collecting grain. If we have food ourselves, we won't starve to death."

"If it's the former, then it's possible that the gentry and grain merchants took it away at a slightly higher price when grain prices were lower in autumn, and then hoarded it to sell at a higher price in disaster years."

"If it's the latter, then it was expropriated by the government to fill the hole in Chang Pingcang."

"Which kind it is, you will know once you check it."

After saying that, Jiang Xinghuo stood up, paid the tea doctor at the tea stall, and then walked into the main entrance of the rice store.

This is a large-scale rice store, with three shops connected in front.

Next to this rice store, there are also several large rice stores, and the whole street sells grain.

Jiang Xinghuo stood at the door of the store and looked up, only to see the door of the internal warehouse open and filled with rice bags. The tops of the rice bags had been frayed, revealing the bright white rice.

The shopkeeper of the rice store, whose surname was Chen, saw a moon-white brocade robe suddenly appearing at the door. He then estimated the value of the pendant on the noble young master and immediately rushed to greet him.

"Hey, you are such a rare visitor. What brought you here today?"

Although he didn't know him at all, shopkeeper Chen still graciously invited Jiang Xinghuo into the rice shop because of his appearance.

The interior hall of Mi Nei is spacious and simple, with tables, chairs and benches all wiped clean, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall, which is obviously the work of a master.

In addition to shopkeeper Chen, there were several clerks who were busy. When they saw Jiang Xinghuo, they all stopped what they were doing and saluted Jiang Xinghuo and said hello. They were very polite.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I hope it won't disturb the shopkeeper's business."

Jiang Xinghuo cupped his fists and slightly cupped his hands, and said in a gentle tone.

Shopkeeper Chen quickly waved his hand and said: "Oh, what are you talking about? My surname is Chen. It is a great honor for our store that you can patronize our store."

Jiang Xinghuo got straight to the point: "I'm from the Ningguo Mansion. My father asked me to come here to explore and do some business."

Shopkeeper Chen took a closer look, and seeing Jiang Xinghuo's extraordinary demeanor, he became more and more cautious in his words: "I can tell, what kind of business do you want to do?"

With a "pop" sound, Jiang Xinghuo unfolded his folding fan and said calmly.

"Coming here after a long journey, I naturally know that our Changzhou Prefecture is a waterway hub and a goods distribution center for the five prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River. The business I want to do is none other than grain, or in other words, rice."

"I know the price of rice. It's because I know it that I came to you first."

After hearing this, Shopkeeper Chen was naturally happy. This was a big deal.

However, he was happy and he did not let down his guard. He asked cautiously: "How much rice do you want to buy?"

"The first batch, at least 20,000 stones."

"Hiss—!" Shopkeeper Chen took a breath.

With an amount of 20,000 dan, that’s a really big deal.

You must know that the amount of grain collected by the imperial court in Changzhou Prefecture each year is only about 650,000 shi (data from the 26th year of Hongwu). Twenty thousand shi of grain is really not a small amount.

"Then I dare to ask you, how are you going to receive this food? Ningguo Mansion can't completely use water."

"First take the water route, then the land route. I have my own way on the land route."

Jiang Xinghuo put away the folding fan, stared and asked, "I wonder if the shopkeeper can handle this business?"

"If you don't do it."

Jiang Xinghuo raised his eyes and looked outside the door. The meaning was obvious. Maybe there is a tacit understanding between you rice shops, but the most is about the price of food. But if I can afford the price, I guess no one will have trouble with the money. Rushing to sell mine.

Shopkeeper Chen saw this and knew that the other party had a lot of money in his pocket, so he was naturally adamant, so he changed his perspective and said: "The situation in Jiangnan is special. The price of food has soared this year. Although every rice store has stocks, but 20,000 There are so many stones, except for my family, I am afraid that no one can collect them in one go, but you have to know that the price changes every day, and for some transactions, if it is later, it may be too late."

Jiang Xinghuo frowned when he heard this, and he didn't seem to agree with Shopkeeper Chen's point of view.

Shopkeeper Chen had finally completed the necessary negotiations. He took a sip of tea and moistened his throat.

Jiang Xinghuo's brows widened and he asked instead.

"How do I know your family has so much food?"

"Don't worry, there will never be any mistakes in our food."

Shopkeeper Chen assured with a pat on his chest.

Jiang Xinghuo raised his eyebrows slightly. Shopkeeper Chen seemed to be overreacting. Is there something wrong here?

"Shopkeeper Chen, don't be excited. I came here just now after hearing that shopkeeper Chen has connections. It's just that what you hear is false and what you see is true. If you don't take a look, you will always feel uneasy."

Jiang Xinghuo went straight to the point.

"Uh... ahem, what are you talking about? I'm just a rice merchant, so I don't have any connections."

Shopkeeper Chen choked and coughed twice, denying it.

Seeing the other party's performance, Jiang Xinghuo's lips curved into a mocking arc: "Shopkeeper Chen, we are also peers, why do you need to hide it from me?"

"This...I really have no way..." Shopkeeper Chen still insisted on refusing.

Jiang Xinghuo suddenly stood up and looked down at the other party, "Shopkeeper Chen, let me ask you again, do you have any way to get the food together for me?"

His eyes were slightly narrowed, and there was a sharp glare in his eyes, which made Shopkeeper Chen's heart beat fiercely.

At this time, this place became his home court.

Shopkeeper Chen's expression changed several times, and finally he sighed deeply.

"Well, I'm not afraid to tell you. There is indeed a way, but this way is not easy for others to see. Pay a deposit first, otherwise I can't take you there, and this business is not mine alone."

"That's right, isn't it just a deposit?"

Jiang Xinghuo chuckled and took off a heavy money bag from his waist.

Shopkeeper Chen took a look and his eyes lit up.

It's all gold! A bag of golden beans!

"You are generous."

Jiang Xinghuo said calmly.

"Remember, this money is a deposit, you can't be greedy, otherwise you won't be able to bear the consequences."

"I understand! I understand!"

Seeing Jiang Xinghuo's confident look, Shopkeeper Chen felt relieved.

Sure enough, there was official support, otherwise how could he know his path? I just don't know who is behind it, but the relationship between civil servants born in Jiangnan is complicated, so it is neither necessary nor difficult to delve into it.

But since the big man behind the other party showed him his path, he thought he was sensible, so he could mention some things to the other party in a subtle way.

The two chatted for a few more words, and shopkeeper Chen respectfully sent Jiang Xinghuo out of the rice store.

After leaving Midian, Jiang Xinghuo and Wang Bin took a detour and then went straight to a temple.

On the way, Jiang Xinghuo told Wang Bin the information he just learned.

"Are they crazy? Are they so brave?!"

Wang Bin looked surprised.

There is no other reason. Shopkeeper Chen's path is more wild than he imagined.

It's not just Chang Pingcang. Although shopkeeper Chen said it very cryptically, he just nodded lightly. After all, this is a big deal that may lose his head. Without Jiang Xinghuo's deposit of a bag of gold, he would never have met an outsider for the first time. He said that even if he said something very cryptically now, he would not reveal the people and things involved at all.

But we still drew a conclusion from this key piece of information.

They were also involved in the transfer of military rations from Changzhou to the Xuzhou camp, and even to Shandong to prepare the Japanese army!

PS: [Important reminder (there is no charge for this content)] Chapters 316 to 356 are about the rectification of officialdom and the suppression of rebellions in Jiangnan. They do not contain any theoretical knowledge. They are all practical content. If you are not interested, you can jump directly to Chapter 366. "Class" will contain theoretical knowledge content from now on.