A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 51

Coming out of the prefecture, Wang Dou exhaled: "After a lot of work, uncle's business is finally done."

Just now, Wang Dou and others were brought into the prefecture by Qi Guan, and they found Li Ju, the ambassador who was in charge of the waste storage. Hearing that Wang Dou wanted to donate money, Li Ju naturally praised him a lot. There are fewer and fewer people.The amount of grain and rice stored in this warehouse is related to the political achievements of the master Zhizhou. On weekdays, the superiors are pressed hard, and Li Ju is also under great pressure.

This time, after Wang Douna donated 30 taels of silver and gave Li Ju some benefits, Li Ju immediately issued a document, and graciously led Wang Dou to find Chen Yuwen, the official of Baoan Prefecture.Chen Yuwen also quickly processed the transfer and promotion documents for Zhong Zhengxian, and things were almost done at this point.

After Chen Yuwen finally reported to Zhizhou Li Zhenzhen, it must not be long before Zhong Zhengxian's confession papers will come down.

At this time, Zhong Tiaoyang was still guarding the horses outside the state government office. After hearing Wang Dou's words, he showed a shameful expression on his face. He made a deep bow and said to Wang Dou: "Father's matter, I really bothered you. Father, he... oh..."

Having said that, Zhong Tiaoyang shook his head and sighed.

Zhong Tiaoyang is a steady man, he has fists, feet, guns and sticks, and he is good at shooting arrows. He is very good at leading the soldiers. In addition, he is his cousin, Wang Dou is very easy to use.

At this time, Wang Dou looked at Zhong Tiaoyang's thick and dark face. Since his father's incident, his behavior has become more silent. What about my Wang Dou? Don’t mention it later.”

Zhong Tiaoyang nodded silently, with an even more grateful expression.

The two of them were talking privately at home, and Han Chao, Han Zhong, and Gao Shiyin consciously walked away.

……

Right now, Wang Dou has completed two of the three things that Wang Dou came to Baoanzhou City, and the last thing is to go to the Medical Department to invite some doctors back to the castle.However, I have no acquaintances in the Department of Medicine, and I only know Guan Qi in Baoan Prefecture, but it is a pity that Guan Qi has no friendship with anyone in the Department of Medicine.This matter, you have to figure out your own way.

It was almost noon, and Wang Dou felt a little hungry. He remembered that Gao Shiyin said that there was a new hotel in the Drum Tower. The food tasted good, and the atmosphere in the building was condescending.He said: "Look at noon, let's find a place to eat. Brother Gao, the restaurant in Gulou really tastes good?"

Gao Shiyin said: "My lord, don't worry, the little one will definitely not lie to you."

Han Zhong was very happy, and he called out: "Gao Manzi, you agreed to treat me."

Gao Shiyin stared and said, "Han Er is stunned, don't make my old Gao poor."

Several people chatted and laughed, led the horses, and headed to the west of the state government office.

The Yongxing warehouse, the grain depot in Baoanzhou, is located not far from the west of the state government. There are ambassadors, deputy envoys, and Zandian in the warehouse. It was established in Jingtai five years ago.

Although most of the food requisitions in the Ming Dynasty were converted into silver, in recent years, the food shortage has become more severe, and many places still collect both the original color and the folded color, and the same is true in Baoan Prefecture.It's just that paying the real grain is heavier than paying the silver tax.

However, there are still many people who are greedy for convenience, and still come to pay the real taxes and food.

At this time, in front of the gate of Yongxing warehouse, there were many grain-loading carts and horses, all of whom came to pay the summer tax.

There, there are several dendrobium buckets, which are much larger than those used in ordinary people's homes.

Wang Dou glanced at it, and there was a household paying taxes and grains at this time, and the wheat on the hudou had risen high and piled up to the point, but one of the people who looked like a warehouse ambassador was still directing the next one. People who look like small officials who collect codes, keep adding carefully.

Finally, when it was too late to add any more, Ambassador Nacang yelled to the person next to him: "Deng Yijiao, it's up to you!"

A thin middle-aged man next to him was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed. Hearing this, he stood up and didn't speak. He just walked up to Hu and held his breath for a while. On the bucket of dendrobium, a large piece of wheat on the bucket of dendrobium immediately scattered out and fell to the ground.

Ambassador Na Cang and Zan Dian praised at the same time: "It's so strong, it's worthy of being called a kick."

After the kick, Deng went back to rest his eyes and closed his eyes.The householder had a bitter expression on his face, while Zan Dian was smiling and directing a strong man to sweep up the scattered wheat on the ground. According to the unspoken rules of Ming Dynasty, all the scattered wheat on the ground belonged to them legally.

Next, Na Zandian instructed the household to continue to add wheat to the Dou, and the household did not complete the grain payment until it came to the fore again.

Wang Dou couldn't help shaking his head. The intelligence and wisdom of these petty officials were all placed in these crooked ways. He had read some historical materials. In order to obtain these "waste surplus", most of the small granary officials in various parts of the Ming Dynasty practiced hard on their legs since the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. , Some people can even practice to break a small tree with one kick.

In addition to these "surpluses", the various consumption and miscellaneous expenses paid by those households have not been counted. The additional distributions of states and counties in various places in Ming Dynasty are often several times as much as these regular taxes.In this way, how could the people not suffer in the late Ming Dynasty.

Seeing the kick just now, Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin were also amazed, Han Zhong said: "This guy, I'm afraid he can kill a cow with one kick."

Gao Shiyin also said: "If there is a chance, I would like to ask him for advice."

The two discussed heartlessly, while Han Chao and Zhong Tiaoyang had serious faces, especially Zhong Tiaoyang, who must have experienced such scenes many times in Weizhou.

……

The five continued to walk west along the East Street. Along the way, the street was full of people carrying grain and rice to pay for it.

Most of the rice shops along the street are full of people who come to sell grain for money.

When many people came out, their faces were bitter. It was obvious that the price of food was so cheap that they were far beyond their expectations.Last year, the price of a stone of rice in Baoanzhou soared to five taels of silver. Now everyone is selling grain and rice, but no shop is willing to buy it for even one tael. They have traveled all over the city, and every rice shop is like this.

Apparently, the rice shops in the city have reached a consensus and all have unified prices.

There was a lot of moaning and sighing, and suddenly a voice came: "Wanshenghe Rice Shop on West Street is willing to buy our grain at the price of one stone and one tael, everyone go quickly."

Immediately there was a group of voices: "Is what the little brother said true?"

"Is this true? Could it be a lie to us?"

The man said: "Heaven and earth conscience, how could I lie to you? I just sold food from that store, and I told you all because I wanted to benefit everyone. Why don't you believe me?"

A voice said: "So, let's go quickly."

Immediately, a large group of people were carrying loads and driving cars, and they all went there.

Wang Dou and the others were also very surprised. Wang Dou murmured: "Wan Shenghe? When we bought grain in the fort, we bought grain at this rice shop. I heard that the manager of this rice shop is a woman, and the price is very fair."

Han Chao's eyes also flickered, and he said: "Indeed, when she sold rice to us, the price of rice in the shop was two cents cheaper than other rice shops. The owner of this shop is indeed a kind-hearted person."

Zhong Tiaoyang suddenly said: "The rice shops in the city have obviously unified the price of grain. Wanshenghe collects grain at a higher price than other rice shops. I'm afraid it will annoy other merchants."

Everyone was startled. After listening to Zhong Tiaoyang's words, Han Chao seemed to have lost his former composure. He said to Wang Dou, "My lord, let's go and have a look?"

Wang Dou glanced at Han Chao and said with a smile, "That's fine, don't be in a hurry to eat, so let's go and have a look."

Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin also looked at Han Chao strangely, it seems that Han Chao is a little weird today.

……

There are three avenues in the east, west, and south of Baoan City. Most of the west streets are groceries, cooked food shops, pawn shops, rice shops, etc., and Nawansheng and rice shops are located in the middle of the west street.

At this time, Wansheng and the rice shop were already crowded with people, all of them were people who came to sell food, and a few guys were just busy, and there were some idlers watching from a distance.Some of them were obviously the bosses and employees of other rice shops, and they just looked at the situation in this shop with angry eyes.

Inside the rice shop, there are two women who are busy non-stop, telling the waiter to do this or that from time to time.There are two women, one big and one small, the older one is dressed as a young woman, aged 24 or [-], wearing bijia, with a rather capable look, and the other is a younger girl, aged [-] or [-], wearing a skirt.

Seeing Wang Dou and the others coming in, the two women were taken aback for a moment, and then the young woman saw Han Chao among them, and couldn't take her eyes off him, she said in surprise: "Han...Han Zongqi, Why do you have time to come to the shop today, you want to buy rice?"

Han Chao's eyes just looked at the air, his face was a little red, and he said hesitantly: "I, I am... this..."

Wang Dou looked at Han Chao amusedly, he did not expect that he, who is usually quiet, would have such a shy day.

Han Zhong also looked at his brother strangely, not understanding what was wrong with him.

The girl said softly in front of the young woman: "Sister, is this the Han Zongqi you often mention? He is indeed an honest man, hehe."

The young woman's face was a little red, she took a peek at Han Chao, reached out and slapped the girl lightly, and cursed: "Go, pour water for the guests, no big or small."

The girl went away with a smile.

Gao Shiyin behind Wang Dou was also in a daze after seeing the girl, just staring at her.

Only then did Han Chao think of the topic. He pointed at Wang Dou and said to the young woman, "Miss Zheng, this is Mr. Wang Dou from Jingbian Fort. This time, Mr. Han came with you when he came to Zhoucheng."

The young woman Mrs. Zheng was taken aback, and hurriedly stepped forward to give Wang a blessing, and said: "It turned out to be Mr. Wang, and I have been negligent and rude."

Wang Dou smiled and said: "Little lady, you don't need to be too polite. It's our impoliteness that Wang came here in a hurry."

Lady Zheng asked Wang Dou and the others to sit down, while Zhong Tiaoyang was still watching the crowd's horses by the side of the street.

Mrs. Zheng said some polite words to Wang Dou, and looked at Han Chao from time to time, while Han Chao looked like a shy little girl, just lowered her head to study the upper of her shoe.The girl came up to pour water for everyone, when Gao Shiyin took the tea, he just stared at her blankly, the girl blushed and ran away shyly.

Wang Dou looked at Han Chao, then at Gao Shiyin, and laughed in his heart: "These two guys are collectively yearning for spring."

After talking for a while, Mrs. Zheng asked Wang Dou and the others to eat in the shop. Wang Dou smiled and said, "If that's the case, I will trouble you little lady."

At this moment, suddenly a middle-aged man hurriedly ran into the store, and he shouted from a distance: "My niece, you are too rough, you have caused trouble!"

(End of this chapter)