Chapter 546 The prophecy is as silent as the snow falling (Part 2)
In the past, if the disaster area was not large and there were relatively determined disaster relief officials above, the government could use some more drastic means and measures. . Generally speaking, if you go directly to the homes of wealthy families to persuade and threaten them, if anyone refuses to listen, kill a group of them, and the price of food will be somewhat curbed. Officials who have such means and decisions and are not afraid of retaliation afterward are often regarded as cruel and good officials.
At the beginning of this disaster relief campaign, Qin Siyuan also made such a decision, wanting to save more people. But at the time, he also understood that given the scale of the rise in food prices this time, relying on this method was actually a drop in the bucket and not much could be done. And if the method is used, it is even more likely that the prime minister himself will be liquidated before the disaster relief is completed. Because of this consideration, he decided to use Ning Yi's opinion after weighing it for a long time.
But this does not mean that no one can move the power of Youxiang Mansion.
The big families participating in the grain harvesting this time, such as the Qi family, the Zuo family, and the Cai family, can basically compete with Qin Siyuan on the stage. On the stage, it was impossible for Qin Siyuan to break up with these people directly, because no one would dare to offend so many parties at the same time. But things like disaster relief and making money are operations under the table. Even if they can't touch these big gentry, there are always some small households, and the Prime Minister's Office is qualified to take care of everything.
Before it snowed, Ning Yi and others had been restraining the use of this force. Except for some who wanted to incite civil unrest or take action directly against officials, the rest were just lobbying to let them wait and see quietly. thing. Secretly, they made a foreshadowing: "We are very determined this time, you will know it when you see it."
The moment it snowed, everything started to move, and the officials had already collected some of the villagers. Information on small and medium-sized landowners of grain. After giving the order, the door was broken down immediately and he was tried and convicted. For some of the serious cases, the Prime Minister's Office had already obtained the emperor's approval, but he would not wait until the end of the autumn to directly execute the sentence. This end was to be killed for other small grain farmers to see.
In the capital, Qin Siyuan's methods gained Zhou Zhe's understanding. As people were arrested, imprisoned, and beheaded, a batch of food that had been waiting for them rushed into the market, and the porridge for disaster relief reached its most generous level at this moment of snow. And the counterattack of the big players also started.
Ambitious large households quickly consumed the grain put into the market. If it was relevant, the rice grain put into the market was intercepted through official circles or various channels. In response to the government's soup kitchen, they began to try to cause chaos. In some places, even granaries were secretly set on fire. The conflict between large grain farmers and foreign businessmen became increasingly fierce. Public security in the disaster area suddenly declined rapidly.
Due to the heavy snowfall and the deterioration of public security, some vendors from other places chose to leave. Some people who had been incited to passion no longer stayed here after realizing the cold reality. Only a small number of young people stayed and became more united. The passage of food roads has become difficult, which means that the total amount of food in the disaster area will basically only be so much. However, the first round of drastic measures caused some small households to collapse psychologically. They began to sell grain, and this trend is still increasing.
These are all conventional confrontations that occur in disaster areas. But what is really dangerous and determines the overall situation is actually above the court.
The rhetorical criticism of the two prime ministers has become increasingly fierce at this time. Almost every day, there are many excerpts posted. They are not aimed at Li Gang and Qin Siyuan, but at the officials working under them, especially the officials responsible for disaster relief, who have received the most criticism. Emperor Zhou Zhe was extremely troubled, but basically he still supported the prime minister's efforts in disaster relief. As an emperor, he could probably see some of the current situation clearly. Only those whose participation was supported by solid evidence would be ordered to be strictly investigated and dismissed. .
Li Gang and Qin Siyuan also participated in the fight against some lower-level officials in a similar way. Some minor officials who hindered the disaster relief were the most involved. Some people were fired almost every day, which was regarded as a return of favor. While maintaining the tendency to cooperate, the emperor also complained to Li Gang and others: "Don't make too much trouble, lest you get angry one day. I have been annoyed by all aspects recently and can hardly stand it, not only at court." "On the hall."
However, in December, the biggest loss suffered by the Xiangfu group was Lin Chuting, the transfer envoy of Jinghu South Road, who was a general under Qin Siyuan. He managed Jinghu South Road, and his investment in maintaining business roads and disaster relief was originally the most powerful. The only problem was that the largest aristocratic family on Jinghu South Road was named Han, and this was... the natal family of the Empress Dowager.
When managing Jinghu South Road, Lin Chuting had tried his best to avoid direct conflicts with the Han family, but all kinds of frictions were still inevitable. In November, some members of the Han family came to Beijing to file a complaint against the Queen Mother. They, Luo Zhilin and Chuting, filed various charges of domineering, corruption and dereliction of duty on Jinghu South Road. They prepared witnesses and evidence and kept running. The participation of some officials became increasingly fierce, and eventually the Queen Mother was also persuaded, feeling that her family was being greatly bullied there. Zhou Zhe also began to examine these things, and finally became furious and prepared to kill Lin Chuting.
After the court made such a decision, Lin Zhongtai, the minister of official affairs and who had a good relationship with Lin Chuting, cried bitterly and asked Zhou Zhe to take back his life. Finally, he said: "If Lin Chuting resigns at this time, countless people affected by the disaster on Jinghu South Road will no longer have a chance to survive..."
He is an official of Li Gang and Qin Siyuan, but he is also confused at this time. . These words made Zhou Zhe furious. He slapped the table and cursed: "Asshole, you think there are no good officials in the world except Lin Chuting! You think you are the only honest officials. Apart from you, none of my men want to save the people from misery." What a good person!? I will kill Lin Chuting! You! You should go home and think about it——"
Qin Siyuan was unable to save his life after losing two of his men. Although it was snowing heavily at this time, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the mountains and roads were completely closed, and the court's decree was quickly sent to Jingnan. Lin Chuting was dismissed and asked to go to Beijing for investigation. He was also impatient and cursed. He contracted a serious disease on the way to Beijing, and in the end only bad news came.
Lin Chuting was only forty-nine years old. As an important member of the party, he was in high spirits and in the prime of life. Although leaving his job at this time was a huge blow to him and it was such a cold winter, there are still many doubts about whether he really fell ill and died. However, it has been difficult to find out whether this matter is true or whether it was a secret act of the Han family in Jingnan.
During the disaster relief at this time, some small groups had problems. The Prime Minister's Office was patching it together and organizing backup personnel. The loss of senior officials like Lin Chuting would directly lead to The journey is half the result with twice the result, and similar situations happen every day.
The white-haired Qin Siyuan responded to various situations with strong mental power, and would often discuss with Ning Yi and others to make decisions. Ning Yi had his own methods for shopping malls and people's hearts. At this time, he was not very familiar with the officialdom of the Wu Dynasty. The strategies he proposed were often said by Qin Siyuan to be too powerful. In this fierce battle, food prices finally fell steadily, but no one knew what the final result would be and how many people they wanted to save would die. Because in the disaster area at this time, a large number of people died every day, either from starvation or freezing to death. The places where disaster relief is provided by the government and large households are better, but there are always some people living in remote mountainous areas. After eating the food prices, they either died alone or with their families in remote mountain villages, silently.
Far away on Hedong Road, Shishi has been staying here for a month. During the initial period of time, she traveled around, participating in disaster relief, giving porridge, distributing grain, and selling grain, and she also felt the passionate generosity in her heart. But now, the tremendous fatigue and psychological pressure have come down. Sometimes she still wears a cloak and a headscarf and goes out to give soup to the city. But more often, she will look at the victims from a distance and cry quietly. .
The tears were there at the beginning, but they stopped soon after, and started to come out again these days. In the first few days, she cried for the victims. Recently, part of her crying was for others as well as for herself.
Over the years, it’s not that she hasn’t seen tragedy, nor has she never seen death. However, when she really got involved and wanted to do something, and there were many people around her who wanted to do something equally enthusiastically, the frustration she finally experienced was extremely strong. The words Ning Yi said to her when he was in the capital gradually became reality after arriving here.
“We are not asking big investors to lose money.”
"We just let them earn less."
"If they are less greedy, many people can survive..."
But...every day, there are many people It's dead...
Food prices have indeed begun to fall. Sometimes she wanted to return to the capital immediately to find Ning Yi and ask: "Did we succeed? How many people died? Is it less than 50,000?" But she knew that no matter whether this was the case or not, in her heart, It's hard to calm down. The government's food reserves are constantly dwindling, and the porridge is getting thinner and thinner. Some places may be more troublesome than here.
Sometimes she thought that the death of so many people just meant that those wealthy families would make less money. So many people died, but each of their families was still making money. With so many people working so hard, who can they defeat...
In the capital, Ning Yi didn't know whether he could achieve the expected goal. In fact, after the heavy snow began to fall, the efficiency of intelligence from various places began to stagnate. Everything depends on the original plan and the officials in various places have been arranged. As for Beijing, they can only try their best to maintain the overall situation.
With the death of Lin Chuting, the overall situation is not maintained perfectly.
The time is about to enter late December, and New Year's Eve is approaching in ten days. Every household in the capital is decorated with lights and colorful decorations, and places like the Ning Family and the Prime Minister's Mansion are no exception. Even though the men in each family are working hard to maintain the disaster relief work, the New Year still has to be celebrated in every household. Ji Kun had returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion at this time, Yao Zunian had returned to his home, and monk Jueming was still running around. Ning Yi comes to the Prime Minister's Mansion every day, sums up the numbers with everyone, and handles many other things that need to be handled. After dinner that night, everyone did not go home. They were still discussing some matters related to disaster relief. Regarding the matter of a batch of grain in Huainan that could be diverted, they discussed the legitimacy of the process with a group of staff.
The night was not yet deep, and the lights were lit in the study. Qin Siyuan put his hands behind his back and talked to Ning Yi, Ji Kun, Wen Renbuer and others about allusions in the political arena and what they could use in the name. His beard and hair are all white, but his eyes are clear, he is in good spirits, and his words are quite humorous. During this period, Mrs. Qin came in to see him once and gave everyone a set of refreshments. After she went out, Qin Siyuan continued to tell the story, and a subordinate ran in, holding a piece of information: "Sir."
Qin Siyuan took it and read it.
The information was only half the size of a piece of paper. Qin Siyuan read it once, then frowned and read it again. He stood there, looking to the side of the study, and blinked, but there was some confusion in his eyes. After a moment, he stretched out the note. Ji Kun and others were about to reach out to take it. Qin Siyuan kept his hand out and sat down on the chair behind him. He grabbed the back of the chair with one hand and his veins popped out. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end he only said two words: "Zhang Jue..."
Wenren Buer rushed out of the room: "Come here! Call Doctor Xu! Quick!" "
Ji Kun rushed over, holding Qin Siyuan's pulse with one hand, and trying to pinch Qin Siyuan's middle with the other hand. Ning Yi went over and said: "Relax, relax, Prime Minister Qin, relax, we have everything...relax, no matter what, you can do it, take a deep breath, come, follow me, breathe...breathe..."
< br>While talking, he took the piece of paper from Qin Siyuan's hand and read it Once again, the paper was held in his hand, but he suddenly squeezed it tightly. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything. He just gritted his teeth and said: "Breathe... breathe..."
Doctor Xu in the Prime Minister's Mansion almost flew away. He ran over, glanced at Qin Siyuan, and said, "You guys go out." He took out the silver needle and pricked him. Ji Kun took two steps back. Ning Yi pulled him out of the room and handed him the note. Ji Kun looked at it and saw that Wenren Fujian had also come over.
No one spoke as that would disturb the people in the room.
From October to November, outside Yanmen Pass, Zhang Jue fought three battles with Wanyan Mu. He lost the first two battles, but turned defeat into victory in the third battle, repelling Wanyan Mu's army. . After that, the Jin people replaced Aguda's second son Wanyan Zongwang to lead the army and defeated Zhang Jue outside Nanjing. Wanyan Zongwang was one of the strongest generals in the Jin army at this time. Zhang Jue knew he was outmatched and led his army to retreat south to Yanjing. At this time, those guarding Yanjing were Guo Yaoshi and Xuanfu Wang Anzhong of the Ever Victorious Army. Wanyan Zongwang led his army south. It was difficult to attack the city in winter. Guo Yaoshi advocated defending the city and fighting, but he did not know that Wang Anzhong had received a secret order from the capital at this time.
Wang Anzhong hid Zhang Jue. When Wanyan Zongwang asked for it, he only said that there was no such person. Wanyan Zongwang demanded more urgently, saying that if the Wu Dynasty did not hand over Zhang Jue, he would go to war with the Wu Dynasty. Wang Anzhong found a substitute who looked like Zhang Jue, killed him, and sent his head away. However, some of the Jin people knew Zhang Jue and saw that it was not Zhang Jue's head. Under repeated pressure, Wang Anzhong finally brought Zhang Jue out, denounced Zhang Jue's crimes, and accused him of lightly starting the conflict between the Wu Dynasty and the Jin people. Zhang Jue cursed the Wu Dynasty for being intolerant. Wang Anzhong then killed Zhang Jue. The head was given to Wanyan Zongwang.
The Jin people finally retreated.
The lights were hung high to welcome the end of the year, and Bianliang City was still bustling. Only the winter night wind whimpered and became colder. The people in the courtyard walked aside and remained silent. Not long after, Ning Yi went outside the courtyard and punched a big tree. With a bang, the tree shook and its bark split.
In the winter of the eleventh year of Jinghan's reign in the Wu Dynasty, many people worked hard to accomplish something, and finally, many people worked hard to complete a perfect backstab for this country...
It’s hard to describe how I felt when I was writing this chapter...
In any case, after I finished writing the chapter, I didn’t want to put it on my hands and wanted to show it to everyone, so the two of them The chapters will be updated continuously.
Well, one week from the end of the month, please vote for it. Asking for a monthly ticket.
(End of this chapter)