Chapter 1275 The truth about the flood in Taizhou Prefecture
In the 31st year of Jiajing period, at the end of autumn, the sun was just right in the morning.
Taizhou Fucheng, Chengxifang.
Xu Hai and others have changed into casual clothes and, accompanied by Taizhou magistrate Tan Lun and Zuo Zhen, visited Chengxifang on the spot. Chengxifang is the largest square in Taizhou Fucheng, and its transaction volume accounts for about three-quarters of Taizhou Fucheng. This is also the largest grain sales place in Fucheng, Taizhou, with all grain merchants of all sizes in Fucheng.
In order to deal with Zhu Pingan urgently, the Jingnan investigation team only chose Chengxifang as a typical investigation site.
"The city is orderly, clean and tidy, which is rare during the flood period. Magistrate Tan is very good."
After Xu Hai entered Chengxifang, he visually inspected the environment of the city and gave Taizhou Magistrate Tan Lun's approval. .
Their inspection was almost a surprise attack. Taizhou Magistrate Tan Lun had basically no time to prepare. This is the most real situation in Chengxifang. It is orderly and clean. Taizhou Magistrate Tan Lun is very capable.
"Mr. Xu's false praise, Tan really doesn't dare to take it seriously." Tan Lun, the prefect of Taizhou, said humbly, his face flushed.
Xu Hai and others have the important task of inspecting and investigating the floods in the south of the Yangtze River. Now that they can get their approval, when they complete their mission and return to the capital, it is possible that their achievements in governing Taizhou Prefecture will be spread to the ears of the emperor. If this caught the eye of the Holy One, wouldn't it be possible for him to rise to prominence? !
Therefore, although Tan Lun was modest on his lips, the excitement and excitement in his heart were beyond words.
Xu Hai and his party saw a grain shop not far into Fang City. The grain shop was large and powerful.
“Let’s go and have a look at this grain store.” Xu Hai moved and said softly. If you want to understand the disaster situation in Taizhou Prefecture, the grain store is a must-see. Through the grain store, you can get a glimpse of the disaster aspect.
"Please come to me." Tan Lunli, the magistrate of Taizhou, asked.
While inviting, Tan Lun explained to Xu Hai, Zhang Wenbo, Peng Cheng and others, "This is Fujia Grain Store, named after the word 'Fujia Tianxia'. It used to be our Taizhou Prefecture The second largest grain merchant is now the largest grain merchant in Taizhou Prefecture. ”
"Oh, who was the largest grain merchant in the past? Was it poor management and was surpassed by Fujia Grain Company?" Wang Meng asked casually. He was very satisfied with Tan Lun's "Even though" Zhu Ping'an fixed the evidence, so at this moment He was very considerate and willing to talk to Tan Lun more to show his closeness and friendliness.
"No. The original largest grain merchant was Mi's Grain Store. Twenty days ago, Mi's Grain Store drove up grain prices to undermine disaster relief and make money from disasters. Its owner was killed by a certain street person. "That's why Fujia Grain Store became the largest grain store." Tan Lun gently shook his head and recounted his achievements in strictly controlling grain prices with thunderous means. Show your merits to Xu Hai and others.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Magistrate Tan's courage in carrying out his duties is truly admirable." Peng Cheng nodded.
"Thank you, Mr. Peng. Tan couldn't help it. These profiteers did not care about the life and death of the people and drove up food prices. The people were miserable. In order to strictly control food prices, Tan could only kill chickens to scare monkeys. A total of 100 people were killed that day. Only then were the heads of the two big grain merchants shocked. A group of profiteers, the price of food in our Taizhou Prefecture has finally stabilized. The price of 1,300 yuan per stone raised by grain merchants has stabilized at 500 yuan per stone."
Tan Lun explained modestly, The information that food prices in Taizhou Prefecture have stabilized was revealed without any trace.
Sure enough, when Xu Hai heard this, he praised Tan Lun's deeds and criticized Zhu Ping'an. "Only when food prices are stable can the people be stable. Magistrate Tan is what an official who asks for orders for the people should look like. Unlike some people, In the current flood disaster, people are in dire straits , He actually colluded with grain merchants to drive up grain prices in the name of the government for his own personal gain! Such officials are really a shame for us, and we are ashamed to be associated with them!"
As he said this, Xu Hai and others were talking. Step up and step into Fujia Grain Store.
Before they even touched the ground, they saw several angry people walking out of Fujia Liang.
“Bah! How can we open a shop when there is no food at all!”
“That’s right, yesterday we said there would be food today, but today we came with money and actually told me Are we out of food?”
"Bah! They had no food at that time. They thought the price of food was low, so they secretly sold it on the black market! The price of food on the black market was sky-high! Last time, the family really couldn't get over it, so we went to the black market. Mom Yeah, not to mention the price of death, food It’s so little. If we go too late, it will be gone. Let’s go quickly.”
Several people cursed angrily and walked out of the Fujia Grain Store. After going out, they felt uncomfortable and turned around to wash the grain. I spat a few mouthfuls of phlegm.
What's going on? Is there no food in the grain store?
Xu Hai and others walked into the grain store. Before they asked, they heard the grain store clerk say to them indifferently, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, the store has no food. You guys Let's go check it out."
"I see your store has just opened. Why are you running out of food so quickly?" Xu Hai asked curiously.
"I'm really sorry. The store's grain stocks were sold out five days ago. The reason for opening the store today is to tidy up the store. The store will be closed now. When the store has grain, it will open again. "
As the store clerk spoke, he was sorting out the things on the counter of the grain store, packing them and filing them, really looking like he was preparing to close the store.
“I wonder when our store will have food?” Xu Hai asked again.
“It’s hard to say. It may be ten days and a half, or it may be one or two months. Who can say for sure.”
The shop assistant replied without raising his head. He said in a very cold tone, as if he was deliberately driving the guests away.
"I wonder how to sell the grain in our store?" Wang Meng asked.
"Five hundred coins, of course, five hundred coins per stone. This is the price set by the government official. The shop abides by the rules very well." The grain shop clerk seemed to have been trained. When someone asked about the price, Reflexively, I quoted the price.
Hearing this, Tan Lun, the magistrate of Taizhou, nodded with satisfaction and glanced at Xu Hai and others, as if to say, look, what I said is right. The price of food in our Taizhou Prefecture has stabilized. At the price of 500 yuan per stone.
"But it's a pity that there is no food for the price." The shop clerk twitched his lips, his tone full of laughter.
"Guys, please go to other stores and have a look." The store clerk said as if seeing off customers.
When Xu Hai and others turned around, they were about to go to other grain stores to take a look, but they heard the shop assistant behind them say: "Actually, if you go to other stores, it is probably in vain. Other stores are like this, with prices but no grain. ”
“If you really want to buy food, you might as well go to the black shop Go to the market and take a look. There should be food there. How do I know? Haha, don’t ask. I won’t tell you if you ask me. It means I don’t know anything.”
The store clerk looked mysterious. He said to Xu Hai and others, after saying this, he would say nothing if asked again. (End of this chapter)