Lonely non-good minister

Flooding in Leping in summer is not a new thing. Song Yuan has read it in the brochures, reporting floods every year, and the court will ask for money to repair it, but every year it has not been received. No one knows where the money is used.

"Is the field flooded?" Song Yuan was most concerned about this.

Wei Yan shook his head: "That's not true. The land where Leping can farm is high and there is no water accumulation. Mr. An called the surrounding villagers to dig ditches in advance, so it's all right, but the flat places outside the city are flooded. The sheep were all soaked in the water, and the rich gentry ordered the cattle and sheep to be driven into the mountains, but the villagers were not happy about it, fearing that the crops would be trampled, so the two sides confronted each other."

"My lord." While talking, the yamen servant also rushed over: "Someone reported to the officials that there was a conflict outside the city. Please go and have a look."

Song Yuan glanced at Wei Yan, and then he put on a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat and followed. The water had reached his knees, and the people moved their things to higher places, fearing that they would be swept away by the water of the moat, and few people left the city.

Wei Yan carefully helped her get into the boat at the gate of the city, and several people accompanied her to row the boat. Song Yuan looked around. The fields that were green a few days ago were now covered with ocean, and the lush weeds were all flooded.

"Even if they give up the land, it will be difficult to guarantee food production in such a situation. The flood problem must be solved first."

When the water was shallower, the boat couldn't get through, so they had to get out of the boat, and then rushed over with one foot deep and one foot shallow. When they arrived, even though they were wearing coir raincoats, they were all soaked.

On the hillside, cows and sheep were huddled together, and the villagers stood in a row with farm tools in their hands, blocking the way. Fushen's servants also held wooden sticks and whips. People and horses persuaded loudly, but no one listened to him.

"Master Juncheng is here." Wei Yan roared, which calmed down the two sides who were about to clash.

Seeing Song Yuan, many people were surprised. It is rare for Jun Cheng to come here in such bad weather.

"My lord, my lord." A middle-aged man who could speak among the rich squire's servants came over immediately: "The fields are flooded, and the cattle and sheep will drown if they are soaked in the water. What if we don't drive the cattle and sheep to the mountains?" Do it?"

A strong and strong man also rushed out from the villagers, and rushed directly to Song Yuan with a hoe: "My lord, the food for the little people is planted in the mountain. How can these animals keep the food when they go up the mountain?"

"If the food is destroyed, our master will naturally lose money, and you will definitely not be missing." The middle-aged servant promised.

But the man gave a 'bah' directly: "Losing money? The grain in this mountain is enough for my family to feed for a year. How much money will your master give my family to buy grain for a year? My lord, the price of grain in Leping is too expensive. The little people can't afford it, if their cattle and sheep go up the mountain, the whole family of the little people will starve to death."

"You're lying." The middle-aged servant didn't agree.

Song Yuan raised his hand to stop their noise, and walked up the mountain through the obstacles of the villagers, and the county magistrate hurriedly chased after him.

"My lord, there are thousands of cattle and sheep around the county. If they are all drowned, it will be a big loss." Hearing what he meant, he still wanted to herd cattle and sheep up the mountain.

Song Yuan squatted down and looked at the bean sprouts that had reached the calf: "Have you ever thought about it? These grains are what the mountain people depend on for survival. If the cattle and sheep are destroyed, what will they eat? According to this situation, Food prices in Leping will continue to skyrocket, are they willing to give each family 100 taels of silver to survive a year?"

"This..." the county magistrate didn't dare to speak.

Song Yuan got up and looked at the cattle and sheep that were about to rush up the mountain: "The wealthy gentry who raise cattle and sheep can live without cattle and sheep, but the farming people have no food but a dead end. Who do you think is more important, cattle, sheep or food?"

"My lord." The county magistrate's face changed: "There are tens of thousands of cattle and sheep in Leping, and now the floods, is it possible that all these cattle and sheep will be drowned?"

Song Yuan glanced at him, walked away without saying a word, came to the villagers blocking the way, looked at everyone and said: "Cows and sheep are not allowed to go up the mountain, and anyone who allows cattle and sheep to trample on the crops will be severely punished."

With her words, the villagers immediately became full of confidence, but the servants turned pale one by one.

The county magistrate rushed to catch up until Song Yuan boarded the boat and left. He was stopped by the guards and did not catch up, but he still knelt by the water and shouted to make Song Yuan think twice.

"Master, will this cause a civil uprising?" Wei Yan was also a little scared.

Song Yuan leaned against the side of the boat, looking at the boundless ocean: "There will be no civil uprising, but I'm afraid that the papers for impeaching me will be sent to the emperor's desk soon."

"Then what should we do?" Wei Yan's heart ached: "I'm afraid the prince won't help the young master at all."

Song Yuan smiled: Look, even Wei Yan knows the face of King Zhongshan.

"I didn't count on him either."

After returning to the yamen for half a day, the complainants came to the door, all looking for Mu Lin, and it happened that Huo Ying was also there, talking to him about a case involving the military, so he stopped by to listen.

"Lord Mu, is it true that the people's food is valuable, but our cattle and sheep are not? With such a heavy rain, where else can we escape the flood when we go up the mountain? I beg you to make the decision." A group of wealthy gentry cried Sad.

Mu Lin was in a dilemma for a while after hearing them finish talking.

"This matter is a matter of civil affairs, the governor of the county should think twice." Huo Ying reminded.

No matter what Song Yuan did is right or not, they can't confront her at this time, otherwise they will lose her prestige. Moreover, the county guard is in charge of military affairs and cannot interfere in civil affairs. No matter how pitiful these people are, they can only do it in private Discuss with Song Yuan, but cannot make any decisions for her in public.

Mu Lin pondered for a long time, and decided to ask Song Yuan, the two walked a little further, and Mu Lin asked: "Master Huo was just worried that I would speak for those people?"

"Master Mu has a kind heart, but Mr. Juncheng is too rigid in his dealings, so I am worried"

Mu Lin shook his head: "I know right or wrong in my heart. These people know that cattle and sheep can be raised in the mountains, but they want to occupy large tracts of fertile land, so that the people can only open some land scattered in the mountains and forests. Farming in the mountains is difficult. , Just watering can exhaust people to death, and now the food is growing well, and they want the cattle and sheep to go up the mountain, completely disregarding the life and death of the people, it is clearly selfish, it is impossible for them to take all the benefits."

"It's good that Master Mu can think so."

They came to Song Yuan's yard, but they saw her and Huang Yueweiyan gathered around a map and looked again. Seeing them coming, Song Yuan straightened up and asked, "Are the two adults here to Xingshi to inquire about crimes?"

"No." Mu Lin came over and looked at the map: "It was the rich gentry who sued me, so I came to ask Mr. Juncheng, is there anything I can help you with?"

He didn't have any malice, and Song Yuan's attitude became better: "Not for now, those people only know now that it's too late to worry."