The price of grain is three taels or thirty taels, and 50,000 people die in a winter or 100,000 people, which is still too far away for this part of the capital.

After Li Pin left, there was another continuous autumn rain in the capital. However, this autumn rain could not stop the noisy and festive atmosphere of the capital, and in the midst of the gatherings and feasts, it suddenly gave people the illusion that the raindrops had never wet the ground. Guo Yao's teacher captured Alu Taishi and seized the honorific title of Liao Taizong Yelu Deguang's treasure inspection and the big seal, which spread in the capital. The civilians in the capital were talking about triumph, sacrifice of prisoners, and so on, and they were thinking about whether we were now invincible in the world, when would the ultimatum with the Jin State completely recover the sixteen states be issued, and so on.

In such an atmosphere, the right prime minister's mansion also held several banquets in a row, one or two of which also invited Cai Taishi, Tong Shumi, Wang Hao, Liang Shicheng, Li Gang and other Beijing officials to attend, so it was not lively.

On the other hand, at this time, there are many fireworks venues in the capital, and business is also booming. The alum building was extremely busy, Ning Yi originally wanted to make an appointment with Master Li to meet, but then he repeatedly delayed - mainly because it was not urgent - and later heard that the master girl was running for an unjust case in the Qinglou in the capital:

It is said that it is said that there is an Oiran named Tong Shuer in the Qinglou in the capital, who used to be in love with a poor talent, and often used his own money to subsidize the other party for food and shelter. This was originally an ordinary negative matter, but just recently, Tong Shu'er met a short-tempered official when picking up customers, and she was killed by mistake because she didn't know why. When Qinglou asked Tong Shu'er's old friend to come forward. Only then did I know that the other party had already taken a heart, and on the other side, the officials were looking for a relationship outside the department, and they were passing the buck, and the things on both sides added up, and there was a lot of uproar. The two officials were all angry, and a group of Qinglou women made trouble in the yamen to come out, and many literati also coaxed them, and wrote articles condemning these two officials for a while. It has also become a lively topic in the capital.

The best place in the capital. Every once in a while, it's easy to have this kind of topic. The tragedy that comes from the romance is best touched on human nature and resonates with the onlooker. In the midst of this bustling hustle and bustle. Ning Yi and the others were secretly in full swing. It's more like an underground job in the shadows of society.

Qin Siyuan had already negotiated carefully with Cai Jing and the others. In a sense, the other party's approval has been obtained—the meaning of this certain meaning lies in the other party's approval. In fact, it is meaningless - the helmsman or spokesperson of the big family is like this, Qin Siyuan has at most said hello to some people who need to say hello: On the issue of food prices, I am going to do it, if there is anything to offend next, don't be surprised. After having said that, the friendship between the two sides can be retained, and the real victory or defeat depends on the hands of the people below.

Almost at the same time as Li Pin left, Yao Zunian, Monk Jueming and others also left the capital and began to lobby for the Quartet's itinerary. Qin Siyuan had already repaired the book to the south and told Kang Xian the whole plan. And Ning Yi gathered the eighteen carts from all over the world of Zhuji Traveling Merchants once, and then sent them to various places.

At this time, it is close to August 15.

****************

August 13, one hundred and fifty miles away from Bianliang, Heng County.

“…… As for the general situation, that's what I'm talking about below, Hedong and Huainan are now short of food, and there is too much shortage, so this time the Right Prime Minister's Office took the lead in doing this. To be honest, as long as the Hou Yuan can produce grain, the people in charge will accompany him, and when he arrives at the place, the price of the first batch of grain will be at least ten times the price, just in the hope that the price of that place will be lowered, so that some people can have a way to live. ”

In the hall where the landlord surnamed Hou was entertaining, the person who spoke was still young, but his words and face were sincere, his hands were slightly folded, and he nodded and took a sip of tea while looking at the old man over there.

“…… Our owner is a kind-hearted person, and we also know that the Hou Yuan outside the road is also a kind person, the archway at the entrance of the village, the bridge and road construction near here, have the name of the Hou Yuanwai, so I let me come early in the next day. After hearing about the situation in the disaster-stricken place, he said that he would donate grain directly, and sell it at a low price and distribute it for free when he arrived in the local area, but our owner said, this is not good, this cannot be lowered, and the truth of this is believed to be understood by Hou Yuanwai. So the most important thing is to let people do business, and the several routes set by the government are like this......"

The young man who spoke took out a map: "Our side, it is relatively close to Hedong Road, your old side, it is to transport the grain to Qiaoxi first, and when you get there, the government will deploy it uniformly, the ships are arranged by the government, and the freight is only the current market price. Now that this matter has been clearly written on Qiao Xi's side, you can always go and inquire, we are just a Chinese person......"

At this point, the member nodded and smiled with empathy: "Xiao Luo, what you said is a great good deed, and the old man will definitely give food." However, the old man's family lives in Heng County, two stewards in the family, three sons, and have never been to any big places, listen to you, this journey is so long, I heard that the disaster area, the security is not good, if there is really something wrong on the way, the government side, we have no way to ask for help. Since, as you said, there is a shortage of grain in both the north and the south, why not let the government collect it in person and then transfer it in a unified manner......

"Hou Yuanwai said it very well." Hearing him say this, the young man named Luo Luo nodded with a slight smile, recalling the words that Ning Yi had taught when he left Bianliang, "But what we know here is that if the government comes forward with full authority, first, the reputation is not good, and secondly, Prime Minister Qin said that disaster relief is a great good and a big battle, and if there are many people who support it, we will win." Frankly speaking, if the government had intervened directly, the situation would have been different......"

He lowered his voice, "Someone else will intervene too." ”

After saying this in a low voice, Luo Luo looked outside the door before continuing: "As for what Hou Yuanwai said, if something happened. To be honest, the yamen is open, and if something really happens, it will be troublesome, but this time things are different, Hou Lao. I'll tell you about it, and you can send someone to inquire. Before the first batch of grain was shipped away, if the grain reached more than 1,000 stones, the Xiangye personally held a banquet to receive him, and a handwritten note would be issued. ”

"Oh?" The old man was moved for a moment, and then thought with some embarrassment, "A thousand stones......

"Outside the Hou, this thousand stones, it doesn't mean that one person can make up. For example, in this Heng County. If your Hou clan has enough 1,000 stones, there will be one person who can be personally received by Xiangye. You can also go and tell some other people about it, they are all doing good deeds, and one person is not enough. A group of people are also mindful......"

Whispering. It's overcast outside. It always looks like the rain is going to fall. After more than an hour, when Luo Luo and the accompanying tailor came out of the courtyard, the cart with the Suning mark also came. The companion asked, "How's it going?" ”

"Oops, oops, oops." Luo Luo tapped his forehead, "It's still the same, I said I had to think about it, but I bought something for more than thirty taels of silver...... Zhilu said, like the previous ones, what they want is to sit at home, someone comes to collect grain, and then the money and goods are cleared. Let them send people to Hedong or Huainan themselves, they are reluctant. These people are not short of money...... But this one looks like it can be done. ”

"Then Brother Luo, what did you say about moving him?"

"Hey, hey." Rollo laughed, "He has three sons, and I told him that there is such an opportunity to let the family go out and see the world, and the book doesn't say anything...... Well, it's better to walk thousands of miles than to travel thousands of books. By the way, I also know some officials, which is also what the owner has taught. Anyway, I'll just say I'll come back in a few days. ”

As he spoke, he took out a small notebook from his bosom, took out a charcoal penil, and drew a line in the crooked handwriting on the notebook. When the notebook was put away, he looked back and sighed.

It has been three days since he left Beijing, and he has sold a lot of expensive things here, but there has been no progress in moving others to sell grain. Before that, he was the best of the treasurers cultivated by the owner, and at this time, he was worried in his heart that he might be surpassed by others......

In fact, in the first few days, all the people who were tasked with lobbying could get was intentions. This is not the beginning of any bad problems, the real problem is in other places. When more than a dozen groups of people gradually lobbied outward with Bianliang as the center, and various intentions were brewing, Luo Luo's side almost lost the business of Hou Yuanwai.

It was a few days later, when Hou Yuanwai personally went to Qiao Xi to inquire about the situation, the matter of the government's unified centralized grain escort and transfer was not implemented, and the master in the government drove him out directly: "My county yamen is a state official weapon, how can you participate in this kind of businessman's stinky thing, you are already old, and it seems that you are not a fool, how can you suddenly faint and participate in such a trader's trip, are you not afraid of losing your reputation!" ”

At this time, although the style of business was already very popular, and there were many big merchants in various places, the position of merchants in books and official faces was still very low. Hou Yuanwai was building bridges and paving roads in the local area, and his identity was already among Shinong, when he was suddenly scolded for being a trader for profit, and he almost became angry at once.

On Qiao Xi's side, the original county order was also received by the right minister's note, this county order is a quite literary reader, and it also has something to do with Qin Siyuan. Qin Siyuan arranged a few trade routes this time, the impact could not be too great, and he was arranged in, originally believing that he could understand, but after the county order came back, he thought about it and discussed it with the master, and finally decided not to do it, and wrote a letter of advice to Qin Siyuan, Yan Chen The resources of the imperial court cannot be used as public weapons, and the merchants are profit-seeking, which is a popular way, which violates the education of the saints, and the court should also use the law of the court.

In the first few days, this kind of feedback was transmitted to the prime minister in more than one place. The first wave of obstacles began to appear. And the Prime Minister's response also came down vigorously in the next few days!

Ning Yi's so-called strategy of complementing the economy and administration in disaster relief is actually similar to the macroeconomic regulation and control of later generations. The original idea was casually said at a party, but Ning Yi himself knew that it was troublesome. After realizing the seriousness of this high food price, it took Qin Siyuan and the others more than a month before they officially decided to adopt it.

This old man understands Confucianism best, but it is also because of this that at the moment when he really raised his hand, it was impossible for him to be swayed by this little obstruction.

At the same time, Li Pin had already arrived at Hedong Road.

The carriage clattered along the uneven dirt road, and the scenery on both sides of the road was bleak, and occasionally a ragged passerby could be seen heading in the opposite direction to him, towards the south. When approaching the party, there are more and more such people, some are on the road, dragging their families and mouths, walking like walking corpses, when they see the carriage coming, they stretch out their hands to this side to beg, some will cry twice, say a few words, and more will not make a sound.

When the price of grain rose, in fact, it was not yet the autumn harvest, and the places that were really affected along the way to Hedong were not extensive, but the sharp rise in grain prices led to the sloppiness and chaos of the autumn harvest, and it is said that in some places, people were killed. Up to now, the inflation of grain prices here has lasted for two months, from the original two and a half per stone to the current thirty per stone, and everything has become what is in front of you. According to what Ning Yi said, the price of grain will probably be stable for a period of time, and the expansion will not be very fast, and this situation will continue until winter, when the real fatal moment will come.

Occasionally, he lifted the curtain to see the scene outside.

Approaching the city, on the road ahead, there was a faint commotion, and people's cries, shouts, and beatings rang out. The carriage came to a stop near there, Li Pin could see from the inside of the car, there were wounded ragged people on the side of the road, blood was flowing all over the ground, a cart fell to the ground, the man who seemed to be the owner of the cart was slightly better dressed, and three or five men with sticks surrounded the cart, angry eyes, but the owner of the cart was also crying.

After a few glances, Li Pin realized that the car was towing some things and was going to the city. Due to the recent world, the owner also invited a few men to follow to avoid being robbed. But when I got here, the wheels were suddenly broken, the car fell over, and some vegetables and rice grains carrying a small amount of vegetables and rice grains fell down, this time, the people on the side of the road began to rob, and several men who followed first blocked, and then started to beat people with sticks, but even so, most of the things on the car were still robbed.

Some people on the side of the road grabbed things and were beaten away, some people were beaten to the point that their heads were bleeding, and they also knew that they were wrong, and they did not entangle, but they had to fall on the road and cry, they cried, and the owner of the car was also crying. The woman in his family had a serious disease, and this car was originally going to be taken to the city and sold at a high price, and by the way, she went back to the doctor, but this time it was also in vain.

Li Pin and the master and guards who followed watched this scene. Not far from the carriage, a dirty and thin little girl fell on the road, her mother hugged her and cried and shouted, the little girl was beaten, her head was already bleeding, and she was clutching two rotten vegetable leaves in her hands, she was probably very hungry, and she was injured again, and she opened her mouth, and the sound of crying could not be heard.

Master Chen, who was following him, was a little speechless and stopped, Li Pin glanced at it a few times, and finally spoke dryly, asking the guards who followed him who were proficient in bone-setting to quickly take the medicine to heal the person. The people around him turned their attention to this side.

Li Pin sat there and remembered a few words of conversation with Ning Yi when he left Beijing: "This disaster relief, did Liheng go to the south or the north?" ”

"I'm not going, that's your business, I'll stay in the capital."

"Oh, Liheng knows this best, and he should be in the middle."

"Oh, not really, it's just out of sight."

"Huh?"

"Because ......" he remembered at that time, Ning Yi paused for a while before speaking, "because this time you go over, you will see many people, and you will pass there in order to keep them alive." But the moment you see them, you will understand that many of them will be starved to death next. Sure...... There will be that part of the people, and you can't do anything about it......"

At that time, he sighed for this passage, but at this time, he really knew what Ning Yi was talking about.

He watched for a while, and Master Chen told him not to get out of the car, for fear that it would cause some trouble, but he finally went down, looked at the little girl whose head was bandaged, secretly put two steamed buns in her clothes, and then returned to the car. At this moment, he knew that it didn't mean much.

Then the carriage clattered and set off towards the city...... (To be continued......)

PS: Well, I revised it a little, and it was ^_^ before twelve o'clock