Follow Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the country

Chapter 67 Li Shanchang’s Backstab
  It is now the end of June for the Fourteenth Righteous Thought.

It's still hot.

But after Zhang Cheng opened an official night school and let the older and weaker ones among the poor people who were recruited take charge of the literacy class, the volunteers were very motivated and would come to study every night regardless of the heat, even if there was no turn that night. To someone, someone has already learned what they learned that night, but someone still has to come.

This means that every day in the official night school, in addition to those who sit and read because it is time for class, there are also many people who stand and learn to read.

Of course, there are also lazy people who are only willing to complete the set cross-cutting tasks, but those who can take the initiative to come to night school and study standing are definitely not lazy people.

"bristle!"

"bristle!"

……

At this time, Zhang Cheng and Li Shanchang also came to the courtyard where the government-run night school literacy class was located, and went up to the second floor where only officials could go. They watched the soldiers shouting words through the railings.

"Food prices are still falling and show no signs of stabilizing."

"Now our government-run commercial banks have to start absorbing the food of many ordinary businessmen, and money is getting tighter."

"If this continues, my subordinates are not afraid of anything else but your life. After all, looking at the situation, they are not willing to let it go. They are here for your life."

At this time, Li Shanchang told Zhang Cheng about food prices.

Because Li Shanchang was a fellow acquaintance and was in charge of the government-run trading company's purchase of grain and cloth, Li Shanchang took the initiative to mention Zhang Cheng at this time.

Zhang Cheng glanced at Li Shanchang in surprise. He didn't expect that Li Shanchang would take the initiative to remind him.

However, Zhang Cheng just smiled lightly and said: "It's okay, my life is not that easy to take."

"Should I send someone to raid some profiteers who are maliciously selling grain at extremely low prices?"

"They are now giving away the price of grain to the people for almost free. There is no need to ask about the purpose. It is all to destroy our government-run commercial banks, so that our government-run commercial banks only have food but no money."

Feng Guoyong also started talking from the side.

After hearing this, Zhang Cheng also looked at Feng Guoyong in surprise, and then said: "This is inappropriate. If they hoard food without selling it or deliberately sell it at a high price, we still have reason to punish them and say that they are hoarding. But now they are Selling food at a low price is equivalent to giving it away for free, which is equivalent to benefiting the people, and taking the initiative to benefit the people at a loss, so we have no sufficient reason to copy them, and if we copy them, they will not be understood by the people."

"That's what Mr. Zhang said."

"But now I'm worried that not only will the government-run commercial bank not be able to open, but they will also kill you."

"After all, the current panic caused by the continued decline in food prices has caused many rebel brothers and ordinary businessmen to take out all the food rations stored in the cellars, sell food, and speculate in food. Once they continue to lose money like this, If they can't make any profit, they will blame it on the government-run trading companies that have monopolized the grain market, and then blame you, Mr. Zhang, who established the government-run trading companies."

Li Shanchang spoke worriedly for Zhang Cheng.

Feng Guoyong echoed: "Yes, in order to appease the anger of the army and the people, I'm afraid the superiors will have to kill you, Mr. Zhang, if they don't want to kill Mr. Zhang."

"fine."

“It’s still unclear who will win.”

Zhang Cheng said and glanced at Li Shanchang and Feng Guoyong: "Don't worry, you two, you will be fine even if we get to that point."

"So, this government-run commercial bank must continue to operate."

"Besides, it's not a bad thing to get all the food into our hands in this way. We can do more things."

"For example, if we transport grain to other places where grain prices are high to sell, we can use our rebel brothers to escort it. On the contrary, it is a government-run commercial bank. It is not a violation of discipline to have the army escort it. It can only protect the overall interests of our rebel army."

Zhang Cheng said: "Don't just focus on one Chuzhou city."

"This is a solution, but I am afraid that someone will deliberately cause trouble at this time. In addition, there are many profiteers who hate our rebels. They may do something extraordinary."

Li Shanchang continued.

Zhang Cheng nodded: "I know this, I have my own strategy." Because Zhang Cheng said so, Li Shanchang stopped trying to persuade Zhang Cheng.
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  "He said he had his own strategy?"

After Li Shanchang left Zhang Cheng, he met Ren Qiande and told Ren Qiande about the results of his persuasion to Zhang Cheng to compromise.

Ren Qiande couldn't help but pinch the forehead of his fat head and asked Li Shanchang in surprise.

It turned out that Ren Qiande said this to Li Shanchang in the name of caring about Zhang Cheng's safety because food prices were still low.

Therefore, after Li Shanchang said this, Ren Qiande smiled and said: "It seems that our Mr. Zhang is really persistent, which is admirable and admirable."

Li Shanchang didn't say much, just looked at Ren Qiande and smiled.

Ren Qiande said here again: "But if this continues, it will really arouse the resentment of the merchants and people, and then endanger his life! After all, transporting grain to places outside where food is scarce in exchange for money can certainly stabilize the money, but profiteers How can we give up and lose a lot of food in vain?"

"So be it."

"I've already advised you."

"I believe that Mr. Zhang, as a superior officer to you and me, has his own wisdom."

Li Shanchang said with a smile.

Ren Qiande said: "I pity Mr. Zhang's talent, so I can't bear to see him end up in a different place. After all, no matter how you say it, the people of Chuzhou City can have such a stable atmosphere today, and he deserves the most credit." .”

Li Shanchang nodded: "Even so, we still have to believe Mr. Zhang."

Ren Qiande asked: "I just don't know what life-saving strategy Mr. Zhang has when someone really wants his life."

"Who knows."

Li Shanchang replied.

After hearing this, Ren Qiande pondered for a moment, and then said: "I have an old relationship with you because of official duties, so I boldly said that Mr. Zhang is young and sometimes too impulsive. As soon as he enters Chuzhou City, he has to confiscate his property to pay for the army. Government-run commercial banks should be set up to clear out the land."

"To be honest, it was too hasty!"

Ren Qiande emphasized again as he spoke.

"Well, I can't say anything about Shangguan behind his back."

Li Shanchang said with a smile.

Ren Qiande nodded his head and said: "I am also taking the liberty to say that if you care about it, you will be in trouble. However, I think that if the public is the governor of the state, there will be no such trouble. In any case, with the public's stability, I will change it." He is suitable for the position of governor of the state."

Li Shanchang twirled his beard: "Mr. Ren is joking."

Ren Qiande stood up and bowed to Li Shanchang, saying, "I am not the only one who thinks so. Several officials and gentry in Chuzhou, including Li, Guo, Yang, etc. all think so. In terms of virtue and reputation, Mr. Zhang is not as good as you, Mr. Li Gong and Li Tongzhi." "

Ren Qiande said: "It's just that we don't understand why the Duke doesn't fight for the position of knowing the state. Although the Duke is indifferent to fame and fortune, he doesn't care about personal gains and losses in order to calm down the troubled times, but he also wants to bring peace to the world as soon as possible. Therefore, important positions should be given to more capable people. This is a good thing for the world, for the superiors, for the people, for the public, and even for Mr. Zhang!"

"It's rare for a public servant to value me, but this must be considered in the long term."

Li Shanchang said with a smile and then put the tea away and sent Ren Qiande away.

When Ren Qiande saw that Li Shanchang was interested in fighting for the throne, he secretly left with joy.

But Li Shanchang came to Zhang Cheng quietly in the blink of an eye, reported the matter to Zhang Cheng, and said: "This Ren Qiande wants to provoke internal strife between me and Mr. Zhang. He is either stupid or bad. Mr. Zhang must be on guard." , I even think that this person should be the one who wants to harm Mr. Sir! If Sir, I would like to inform the superiors about this matter and ask for a ruling from the superiors."

Zhang Cheng was not surprised by this. He knew from his understanding of ancient history that these scholar-bureaucrats from the landlord class were famous for provoking internal strife, and many even continued to fight among themselves when internal and external troubles were extremely serious.

But Zhang Cheng did not expect that Li Shanchang did not choose to fight with Ren Qiande, but informed him about the matter.

Therefore, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but be surprised by Yue Li Shanchang: "Shanchang, tell me, why didn't you agree to him and let him help you fight for the position of Zhizhou?"

(End of this chapter)