Chapter 393 On the night of the food crisis, Shen Mo went to see Mao Haifeng.

Tie Zhu arranged it in a remote hotel, which made Mao Haifeng, who had come all the way, quite unhappy.

Shen Mo frowned and explained to him, "Now that the matter of opening the port is in trouble, I have to keep a low profile. ”

"What's the trouble?" Mao Haifeng jumped up and said, "Do you want to change your hexagram?" ”

"Of course not, Your Majesty's golden mouth, how can you change the hexagram?" Shen Mo shook his head and said, "It's something wrong down here." He said in a sad tone: "The silk worth millions of dollars of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau was robbed by the Japanese invaders, which made the court very angry, if they can't recover it, they will not agree to the mutual market again." This is not a fool, the conservative politicians are indeed making a fuss about this matter.

This time, Mao Haifeng did not volunteer, but scratched his cheeks and said: "The goods are in the hands of those guys, and it is unlikely that they want to come back." ”

"Who?" asked silently.

"What's this...... Mao Haifeng said: "It's okay to tell you, it was done by the Japanese Xin Goro." "Now Mr. Mao thinks that he has broken away from low-level interests and has drawn a clear line with the Japanese Kou.

"Listening to this name, it seems to be a real widow?"

"Well, a defeated daimyo who led his men to flee to the sea and went with us." Mao Haifeng said with some contempt: "But these people are good at fighting, but their brains are not good, if it weren't for colluding with Xu Hai, I would have played them to death a long time ago." ”

"Xu Hai......" said silently.

"Yes, it's Monk Xu," Mao Haifeng said with a look of jealousy: "That guy is ruthless and fights hard, and he eats people without spitting out bones, and I don't dare to offend him easily." He said apologetically: "So I can't get involved in Xin Goro's affairs, but I can talk to my godfather and ask his old man to help you come back." ”

"Does he listen to the old shipowner?" Shen Mo asked softly.

"Of course." Mao Haifeng said proudly: "When my godfather partnered with Xu Qianxue, he was still chanting scriptures in the temple. "This guy's logic is strange, and I don't know what the inevitable connection between what he answered and the silent question.

However, Shen Mo didn't have much hope, because he believed that with Xin Goro's help, Xu Hai could suppress Ye Ma and take power alone, and it was impossible to buy Wang Zhi's account anymore.

But Shen Mo still expressed his gratitude, and then asked him about the situation of the attack on Zhoushan.

"That's not a piece of cake!" Mao Haifeng foamed and boasted: "When my godfather came out to mix, those boys were still breastfeeding, and as soon as they saw our Wufeng Banner, they had already fled," said with a low face: "It's really not fun." ”

"And then?" Shen Mo asked, "What did Hu Butang say?" ”

"It's really interesting to say that Governor Hu!" Mao Haifeng raised his thumb and said: "He personally brought many people to the dock to greet him, beat gongs and drums, and brought me big red flowers," said with a happy face: "He was very happy that I won the battle, and said that he would give me credit!" ”

"Really?" Shen Mo also said happily: "Congratulations to Brother Mao." "But he sighed secretly in his heart: 'How can you play with Hu Zongxian's old fox?' said with a smile: "It seems that Governor Hu is very interesting." ”

"That's," Mao Haifeng also nodded: "Governor Hu is righteous and generous!" I don't want any loot, and I have given a lot of extra rewards, and I have to give me a thousand households. ”

Shen Mo felt Mao Haifeng's sense of happiness all over his body, and it seemed that Hu Butang's generosity completely made him dispel his guard...... I really want to think of myself as an 'official army'.

This is undoubtedly a good sign, and asked with a silent smile, "Then what are you going to do next?" ”

"I've been out for almost a year, and I've achieved so many results, I can go back to my godfather." Mao Haifeng said: "I'm going back to Kyushu Island." ”

"Does Hu Butang know?"

"I told the Governor," Mao Haifeng nodded, "He agreed, and prepared a gift for my godfather, so I can bring it to him." He felt that as Wang Zhi's godson and number one general, he should be regarded as very valuable, and if Hu Zongxian wanted to play tricks, he would definitely arrest himself and lock him up with Wang Zhi's own son.

But Hu Zongxian happily agreed, which also completely made Mao Haifeng let down his vigilance, full of good feelings for the political axe, and asked when the port could be opened.

Hu Zongxian said I can't control this, the city department is responsible to the emperor, if you want to know Zhun Xin'er, you have to go to Suzhou to find Lord Shen.

"So I came." Mao Haifeng said to Shen Mo: "Don't worry, I guarantee the smooth passage of the sea!" I will try my best to help you recover the silk from the Weaving Bureau. ”

"Very well, I'm waiting for your good news." Although this guy was leaving, Shen Mo still wanted to take advantage of him and said: "If you can ensure that Suzhou City is not disturbed, I can guarantee that the port will be opened in July and August!" ”

"No problem," Mao Haifeng patted his chest and said: "From now on, Suzhou Mansion will be a friend of our Wufeng fleet, and whoever dares to approach will not be able to get along with our old shipowner!" His knuckles clicked, and his eyes lit up.

"Then let's make a decision!" Shen Mo stretched out his palm and said.

"It's a deal!" Mao Haifeng high-fived him.

Before leaving, Shen Mo asked, "Will Shen Jing go back with you?" ”

"Well, he will once again be the messenger of the Governor, and he will go back with me to the old shipowner." Mao Haifeng nodded.

"Please take care of him." Shen Mo said softly, he felt that he should think of a way to get Shen Jing out of this dangerous activity, so as not to have three longs and two shorts.

"Of course, we are brothers who are closer than brothers." Mao Haifeng nodded, sent Shen Mo into the carriage, and waved vigorously.

Aside from anything else, this Mao brother is indeed quite likable.

The next day, Shen Mo and his right-hand men, that is, and only Gui Youguang and Wang Yongji, consulted with him all morning, repeating that he was going to propose a plan to discuss the feasibility of the name.

To his disappointment, although both said the plan was great, neither had much hope for a viable surname. Or Wang Yongji said it well: "My lord, if they really bothered to plan, and now they are about to pick peaches, but you say that they are not allowed to move, even if they dare not oppose it in person, they will disobey the yang and the yin." Gui Youguang also nodded and agreed: "My lord, they are also part of Suzhou City, if there is chaos, they will not be able to escape." The subordinates think they should also have a number, right? It should be done in moderation. ”

When even his right-hand man was against him, Shen Mo was not as angry as ordinary people. He remained calm. Because he firmly believes that the truth this time is in his own hands, even if he becomes an absolute minority, it will not change the fact that 'a financial crisis is about to break out in Suzhou City'.

Only paranoia can succeed, and there is truth to this statement...... Of course, paranoia tends to lose worse than anyone else, and this is also possible.

At this moment, Shen Mo could even smile and say: "It's up to people, how can you know if you don't try?" He stopped the discussion, put on the face of his boss, and asked Gui Youguang: "Explain how you have done?" ”

"I only gave the order yesterday, so I don't have a letter until tomorrow." Gui Youguang smiled bitterly.

"Could it be that Wu County and Changzhou will not know until tomorrow?" Shen Mo asked angrily, and Wang Yongji on the side could only smile bitterly, obviously, the adult was taking revenge on the two of them.

"Of course there is no problem with Wu County," Gui Youguang said: "But over there, I haven't been able to find the Haixian order, and the people in the county government are all afraid of repairing it by him, so they don't dare to make their own claims, so they have to delay it until now." ”

"What did he do?" Shen Mo asked, "Going to the countryside again?" ”

"Yes, there is too little rain this year, and the crops are not worrying." Gui Youguang said: "He went down to organize people to dig ditches to divert water to water the ground." ”

Glancing at Wang Yongji silently, Wang Xianling was a little embarrassed and said, "I also sent someone to do it." "He was born in a big landowner's family, and his fingers have not touched the mud since he was a child, so he naturally does not have the consciousness of Haida.

Wang Yong Jiman thought that the adults would blame him, but he was silent and said: "There is no one right or wrong in this matter, the style is different, as long as you can do the errand well, I don't care how much sweat you have shed, whether you are tanned or not." ”

Wang Yongji was deeply touched and said, "Your Excellency will not be disappointed. ”

Before noon, there were 38 pawnshops and 21 ticket numbers in Suzhou, holding invitations, entering the prefect's yamen and being led to the second hall of flowers.

Ten tables of eight immortals were set up in the flower hall. There are a variety of dishes on the table, fresh melons and fruits are piled up, and the cooks are serving back and forth with large plates, one by one they are busy sweating.

There was good wine on the table, and the dishes were good, but they couldn't enter the eyes of these rich men who had to eat and eat, but everyone was still very excited, and it was really an unprecedented grace for the lord to feast on them.

Soon after everyone sat down, Shen Mo appeared in the flower hall accompanied by the two adults, and the rich man got up to say goodbye, and said more neatly: "Meet your lordship." ”

Shen Mo smiled heartily and clenched his fists and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's been a long time, and it's been a little delayed." ”

Everyone didn't even dare to say it, they sat in a row of the main guests, and silently made the main seat, and sat Pan Gui, the owner of the largest pawnshop in the city, 'Renhe', and Wang Dezhang, the boss of the largest ticket number.

After everyone sat down, Shen Mo got up with his wine glass and said: "All the shopkeepers and bosses of Suzhou City, I am very pleased that I can take time out of my busy schedule to come to attend the luncheon of this official," he raised his glass and said: "On behalf of me and the entire Suzhou government, welcome to you." ”

Everyone hurriedly got up in unison, bowed their waists and clinked glasses with Lord Fuzun, and drank the welcome wine.

After drinking three cups, Pan Gui and Wang Dezhang toasted to the adults on behalf of their respective industries, and then returned the wine, then toasted, and then returned, and the staggered planning was not lively.

But everyone knows that there is something to do later, so they are very restrained, except for the wine that should be drunk, not a drop is too much, and after the five flavors of the dish, all of them are very sober.

At this time, the cooks put a plate of shortbread on each table, and the golden appearance was produced by Wanfutang at a glance, which is also a small noodle dish that Suzhou people like very much, regardless of whether they are high or low, so it has not attracted special attention from people.

But in Gui Youguang's view, this is the signal for the beginning of the action!

Although he felt that there was little hope for Lord Fuzun's plan, as a subordinate, and he was a subordinate who had a request for the adult, he was still obliged to be this pawn.

Adjusting his mood, he twisted up a shortbread, looked left and right, and the expression on his face was full of reluctance and nostalgia, as if he was facing a lover who wanted to know forever. After repeated autosuggestion, a tear finally flowed out.

This surprised the people at the table who had noticed his strange behavior for a long time. "Zhenchuan Gong," the people around him finally couldn't help but ask, "How could this little shortbread attract you to be so ...... What about grief? ”

Gui Youguang took a deep breath, wiped his tears and said, "It's okay, I'm just a little reluctant." ”

"Reluctantly?" The whole flower hall gradually quieted down, and they all looked at Lord Gui and the shortbread in his hand, but Gui Youguang didn't notice it, he was immersed in his own world, and muttered: "Since I came to Suzhou, I fell in love with it at first sight, ate it early, and ate it at night; I ate it when I was hungry, and I ate it when I had nothing to do, and I ate it for more than ten years, and I really ate my feelings. ”

Everyone couldn't help but wonder, "Why can't I eat it?" Are you going to be transferred? ”

"What do I have to transfer as a lifter?" Gui Youguang laughed at himself: "It's like this for a lifetime, you can't be poor and you can't be rich, you can still afford to eat this shortbread when it's cheap, I'm afraid it won't take a few days, and you can't afford to eat it." ”

"How could that be?" The people around him smiled: "This kind of snack food, after all, is not a staple food, even if it is a box of silver or two, it is no problem to satisfy your cravings." ”

"I can't afford it." Gui Youguang put down the shortbread, clapped his hands and said: "In less than half a month, the price of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea in Suzhou City will all have to rise several times......

The room is quiet, everyone is not stupid, and there is a ghost in their hearts, how can they not understand the sound of Gui Youguang?!

Quiet, awkwardly quiet, suffocating.

After Gui Youguang finished speaking, no one answered, no one spoke anymore, and he couldn't even hear the sound of coughing, and a room full of people sat silently, like clay sculptures.

Silent and silent, he sat there quietly, holding his teacup, until people were about to be suppressed and couldn't stand it, and then said leisurely: "Zhenchuan Gong, you have to be responsible for speaking, it's not good for you to feel like this, look at it, everyone's wine is stirred." ”

Gui Youguang smiled bitterly in his heart, and said with sadness and indignation on his face: "My lord forgives my sins, but now the situation is indeed very dangerous, my Suzhou City is facing an unprecedented catastrophe, when prices soar, silver money depreciates, the common people can't afford anything, and the merchants are losing money more and more, except for a few people who have fattened their private pockets, all will become destitute!" ”

"Alarmist, huh?" Shen Mo said unhappily: "Do you have evidence?" ”

"Yes!" Gui Youguang clapped his hands, and the two officials came in from outside carrying a blackboard, he got up and walked to the blackboard, pointed to the curve on it and said: "This is the rice price change table in Changshu from last year's wax moon to today, each point on it represents the price of a day, the higher the point, the higher the price, and vice versa." ”

Everyone followed what he pointed out and saw a curve that was gently raised at the beginning and sharply raised at the end, and listened to a deep voice: "From the month of Layue to the beginning of March, in three months, the price of rice only rose from one or two to one or two six, an increase of less than fifty percent, but after entering March, in just sixteen days, it rose from one two seven to two two six!" The increase is more than 60%! Saying that, he looked at everyone gloomily, and said in a deep voice: "Our grain merchants in Suzhou City are all going to Changshu and Taicang every time they go to Changshu and Taicang to enter rice, today is sixteen, and they will come back at the latest ten**, do you know what it will bring to Suzhou City?" ”

Still no one answered, but fear was written on everyone's faces.

"It's the price of rice that has risen directly from one or two eight to two or two!" Gui Youguang slapped the blackboard heavily, and looked at everyone angrily: "When the time comes, rumors are flying all over the sky, all kinds of prices are rising, the people are panicking, and they are crazy to buy all the things on the market, but because of the soaring prices, it is better to use coupons to buy things, and the rush to buy materials will become a rush to buy all kinds of tickets. Gui Youguang asked loudly: "But have you thought about it, the people have become poor, the business has been forced to close down, who else will admit it with those coupons?" It's too hard to wipe your ass! ”

Only then did everyone know that it turned out that Lord Fuzun was setting up a Hongmen banquet!

But what Gui Youguang said is indeed very reasonable, what if the development of the situation is uncontrollable, the people make trouble, the shops go out of business, and the tickets become waste paper? The people who were still there finally couldn't sit still, and they turned their heads and ears one after another.

Shen Mo glanced at Gui Youguang, who was tired and panting, and gave him an approving expression, it should be said that in addition to being a little contrived and his expression was too exaggerated, he still performed very well.

(To be continued)