The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Su Jin's strategy worked. Within three days of leaving Beijing, as soon as the imperial court's edict on the purchase of private grain storage at official prices was promulgated, Liu Shuijie, an urgent messenger of [-] miles, shuttled from the four cities to various prefectures to deliver the edict. The state is far away and has not received news, but Jingdong Road, Hebei East Road, Hebei West Road, Hedong, Yongxing, and Jingxi roads near the capital got news one after another that day and night.

The state capital where the edict arrived acted quickly, posting a notice to make the content of the edict public, a single stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the content of the edict immediately caused an uproar.

Not to mention that the official price of the imperial court is [-]% higher than the market price, and the price of rice in the shops that are still selling grain in the market has risen to [-] per shi. , Such a price is unique, more than double the price of grain five months ago.

What is even more exciting is that the imperial court not only purchased at a high price, but also provided greater benefits. The series of incentives attracted these wealthy but statusless merchants. Some people who are timid and careful After carefully studying the content of the imperial edict, he keenly felt a trace of ominous feeling.

The imperial court used November 20th as the boundary, and the difference in the price and treatment of grain before and after harvesting was simply worlds apart. Obviously, the merchants who could last until November [-] were unwilling to sell grain, and the imperial court was at this time. The price after the limit completely blocked their channels for selling grain. Wouldn't this violate the original intention of the court?

Careful and sensitive people will naturally consider the mystery in detail. Could it be that the court will allow them to stockpile food for huge profits?Intuition told them that after November 20th, what the imperial court will hold up will not be bait, but boards and butcher knives.

After weighing the pros and cons, small merchants with no backing and little food storage moved. On the third day after the edict was announced, Mengzhoufu on Jingxi East Road, Shanzhou on Yongxing Road, and Zezhou on East Road were the closest to the capital. , Hebei West Road, Weizhou and other state capitals rushed to Beijing to report.

The yamen of the third division is brightly lit, and the envoy of the third division, Yan Shu, sits in the yamen together with two judges of the third division and a cadre of officials, constantly receiving reports from nearby states and counties. After being busy for two more days, I finally counted the amount of grain purchased by the official warehouses of 27 counties in Yashu near the capital one after another.

Yan Shu ordered the people to continue to wait at the Yamen, and he hurried into the palace to face the saint with statistics; Zhao Zhen, who had already fallen asleep, heard Yan Shu begging to see him, and he didn't even put on his clothes, so he pulled his shoes and asked someone to bring Yan Shu to him He completely ignored the concubine who was still sleeping on the bed. Things like etiquette were simply negligible compared to the big thing of raising food.

"How? How's the situation?" Zhao Zhen hurriedly pulled up Yan Shu who was kneeling on the ground and asked.

Yan Shu stood up and said in a deep voice, "I am overjoyed, Your Majesty, this afternoon, after waiting in vain for two days, the news from the counties and prefectures near the capital finally arrived. So far, 27 counties in the eight prefectures near the capital have purchased a total of 66 shi of grain. Thinking that such a feat can be built in one day, if it continues like this, the situation will be very good."

Zhao Zhen raised his eyebrows with joy, stretched out his hand to take the statistical paper, glanced at it again and again, and shouted in his mouth: "Okay, it's really great news; Yan Aiqing, according to your speculation, according to this trend, how much grain can be collected across the country, and it is possible to get through this period. Is there a famine?"

Yan Shu pondered and said: "Your Majesty, I have made an estimate. According to this trend, the whole territory of the Great Song Dynasty can get at least 900 to 6000 million shi of grain. The grain purchased online needs at least [-] million stones to last until next year’s summer grain market, and the gap is not small at present.”

Zhao Zhen's enthusiasm immediately cooled down, and said: "Currently, the government has less than 4000 million shi of grain in stock."

Yan Shu said: "The latest reported figure is 300 million, of which 1000 million are absolutely untouchable. This is military rations, and people eat horse chews. This 1000 million may not be enough; it seems that we need to increase our efforts." .”

Zhao Zhen said: "Do the folks have so much grain in storage? I'm worried that the folks don't have so much grain at all."

Yan Shu said: "According to Su Jin's estimate, the folks store grain at least 5000 million shi, it depends on the means."

Zhao Zhen was surprised and said, "So much? But didn't you tell me just now that according to this trend, the entire Song Dynasty is only 900 million shi?"

Yan Shu pointed to the statistical booklet and said, "Your Majesty, look, the 27 counties in the eight prefectures have collected 66 shi of grain, but there are as many as 320 households for sale, and there are only [-] households with more than [-] shi, and the others are all [-] shi." Most of them are two thousand shi, so it can be seen that these are small retail investors, and the big households that are actually stockpiling grain have not yet moved."

Zhao Zhen read the booklet again, nodded and said, "If that's the case, what are they waiting for?"

Yan Shu said: "These people either have a backer, or have a huge amount of grain stored. When the grain is stockpiled, the price is too high and they are unwilling to sell it at a low price. Moreover, the more grain they hoard, the greater the profit will be in the future. Next year's spring shortage, grain The price is definitely more than two guan, think about it, one stone of grain earns one guan, and if you hoard hundreds of thousands, you can earn hundreds of thousands of guan at once, and the huge profits are rolling in. I am afraid that if you are famous and rich, the court's severe punishment will be ignored."

Zhao Zhen threw the booklet on the table, and said: "It depends on how long they can carry it, and the decree will be passed on. The rewards for the households who take the initiative to sell grain will be verified by the Zhongshuhui and the Ministry of Rites immediately. The local county officials will beat the gong Beat the drums and come to the door to congratulate in person. It will be very lively and lively, so that everyone will know that it is an honor to share the worries of the court. We must also step up efforts to preach the imperial edict, and clearly inform the policy after November NO.20. The profiteers with a fluke mentality used coercion."

The internal waiter Nuo hurriedly delivered the decree, Zhao Zhen said to Yan Shu: "Su Jin's method is quite effective, he is really a talent."

Yan Shu said: "That's natural, otherwise, would the old minister dare to recommend a 16-year-old candidate who has no official title and no fame?"

Zhao Zhen said: "The first step is easy, but the second step is the biggest test. Speaking of which, they have been away from Beijing for a few days, and they may have arrived in Yangzhou Prefecture."

Yan Shu said: "It's been three days, and the Yangzhou government may take another two or three days. He has to arrange for Luzhou's grain to be delivered to Yangzhou first. Song Xiang in Yangzhou must be in a state of desperation right now."

Zhao Zhen said: "Look at Su Jin. When the food arrives, there is room for maneuver. I hope it will never lead to a civil uprising."

Yan Shu said: "Can you let the Yangzhou government open a warehouse to release food relief first, so as not to make things worse."

Zhao Zhen said: "Is there any food in Yangzhou Mansion? Will such a thing happen if there is food?"

Yan Shu cupped his hands and said, "In fact, there are. The [-] shi of military rations have not yet been dispatched, and they are still in the official warehouse in Yangzhou."

Zhao Zhen squinted at Yan Shu and said, "Stupid words, how can the army rations be moved? Do you know the consequences of no army rations? No matter how chaotic the army is, not a single grain of the army rations can be moved. I will never forgive anyone who touches the army rations."

Yan Shu hurriedly said, "I know, but I'm ignorant."

Zhao Zhen said softly: "You have to remember this, don't make any mistakes on this, after Lu Xiang takes office next year, I intend to ask you to take over the position, so this matter must be done well."

Yan Shu knelt down on the ground and kowtowed: "The old minister should do his best to serve His Majesty Long En."

"Get up, you also go back to rest. I heard that you have been nailed to the Yamen for three days and have not returned, so you should be careful."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. Your Majesty also rested earlier, so I have to disturb your Majesty these few days."

"That's natural. If you don't come, I will go to find you. I hope that the ancestors will bless you, and this fundraising will be a success."

……

When Yan Shu walked out of the palace in the dark, two hundred guards Sima Jun in the station thirty miles north of Bozhou were surrounding the commander Long Zhen and listening.

Long Zhen lowered his voice and said: "Brothers, we brothers have always been responsible in life. If we are kind to us, we will treat him well. If we are harsh to us, we brothers will not give him a ball. Since the Lord is so special We don't need to be polite to him because he doesn't know his face."

"Yes yes yes, Commander Long, what shall we do?"

Long Zhen coughed and said in a soft voice: "This kid is relying on the emperor's order to run an errand, and also relying on the power of the third envoy, if he insists on it, he will cause trouble, so he has to use his brain."

Zhao Dutou said: "Commander Long, don't be fooled, just say it."

Long Zhen glanced at the crowd and said: "Everyone here is my good brother Long Zhen, but I, Long Zhen, also have a family and a small family. I am finished, and the whole family will starve to death. Today, for the sake of my brothers, I am willing to make a idea; but the ugly words are in the head, if anyone of us here runs to inform, then I, Long Zhen, will fight him red and white."

Everyone hurriedly said: "Absolutely not, the commander told you to rest assured, we are all brothers who got here together, and we will never do this."

Seeing that Long Zhen's face was still hesitant, Zhao Dutou said, "Everyone, what Commander Long said is reasonable, but each of you's buttocks are not clean. Everyone knows that everyone will be punished by the military law, and I will not call names, but just remind everyone that if Commander Long leaks half a word of what he said today, I will completely expose all of you. Property, what piaoji drinking flower wine, what gambling for money, what pretending to be thieves and prostitutes, wives and daughters, whoever you do knows about these things, don't treat me as a fool."

All the soldiers became nervous and did not dare to look at him, obviously something happened.

Long Zhen patted Zhao Du's head on the shoulder and said: "Old Zhao, my brother, what are you talking about? We are all brothers, I believe you will not go out of your way."

Zhao Dutou said: "Commander Long, these things should have been taken precautions. In case some bastard lard got caught up in his heart and ran to poach the corners of all of us, can we guys give up on him? Not only him, but his family members The little ones will all suffer accordingly."

Long Zhen laughed and said: "No, no; my idea is that we will not be tough with him. Since he doesn't treat us as human beings, we don't care about him. He is a Shangguan, and he ordered us to Agree to all, but let's give him a dead dog that can't be moved on the errand--drag, won't everyone be good at the matter of obedience and infidelity?"

"It's a good way, let's hold him back everywhere, so that he can't do his errands..." Someone echoed.

"That's right. He is the emperor's order. Once the errand fails, what do you think will happen to him? Not only him, but also Yan Shu will be in trouble." Long Zhen laughed.

Fang Du suddenly said: "But Commander Long; if the errand is messed up, won't we be unlucky too?"

Long Zhen glanced at him contemptuously and said: "If I am unlucky, I, Long Zhen, are unlucky. What's wrong with those of you who follow orders? I'm not afraid, but you are."

Fang Du blushed and said, "That's not what it means. What the subordinates mean is to worry about the commander. The commander will be punished for us. How can we live in our hearts?"

Long Zhen said: "Don't worry, I have my own way to deal with it. I will take care of the big things for you. No matter what, I have to express my anger for the brothers. I even withheld our hard-earned money. I simply don't take us men seriously." If you don't show him some color, he won't know the heights of the heavens and the earth, and he won't know that Lord Ma has three eyes."

All the soldiers yelled and seriously agreed with Long Zhen's plan. Long Zhen stood up with a smile and said, "Don't make noise, don't make a fuss, just pretend nothing happened, let this kid go to Yangzhou to wait for food, let's take care of the errands slowly, no one needs to rush .”

Amidst the roar of laughter from the crowd, Long Zhen went away with a smile on his face.