Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 249

Chen Qingsi looked at the door.

Walking in was a somewhat reserved commoner wrapped in a fur coat.

The person who came was short in stature, rather strong, with big hands. He could tell at a glance that he was a commoner doing farm work. At this moment, his face was slightly red, and his expression was a little excited.

During the New Year celebrations, Chen Qingsi not only prepared mutton soup and mutton dumplings for them, but also warm milk wine.

In this area of ​​the North, it is more than enough to be self-sufficient in food, but it is not enough to make wine.

Goat milk wine and horse milk wine are local specialties.

Chen Qingsi specially arranged milk wine, also hoping to use it to strengthen his courage.

Now it seems that it does have some effect.

"Come, sit down and talk!"

Chen Qingsi's warm hospitality was intended to use her attitude to wear away the other party's restraint.

But obviously failed.

Chen Qingsi is not a seventh-grade county magistrate now, and can easily mingle with the people.

"Caomin Zuoqiu, let's talk standing up!"

Zuoqiu announced his name and saluted respectfully.

Chen Qingsi didn't force himself and said, "Okay, come forward. There will be a charcoal fire to dispel the cold."

Hearing this, Zuoqiu took two steps forward. He was five or six steps away, but he didn't dare to get closer.

Chen Qingsi patted the napping Cheng Boxian and motioned him to move the brazier in front of him towards the direction of the visitor, and then asked: "Don't panic. I have one head, two eyes, and two ears. There is nothing to be afraid of. Four or five years ago, Just like you, he is an ordinary person."

Zuo Qiu didn't believe it. This northern land was remote, and ordinary people only heard about Chen Qingsi as a good official. They obviously didn't know enough about his past.

However, as the charcoal fire dissipated the chill from his body, Zuoqiu thought about the grievances he had suffered over the years and became drunk. Without thinking, he blurted out his request: "I beg Chen to please demolish the mill on the upper reaches of Sheyan River..."

Chen Qingsi and Di Renjie looked at each other.

Chen Qingsi said: "Don't rush, just tell me slowly!"

Zuoqiu's lips trembled and he said: "There is a Sheyan River in our Xiazhou... This river is just like our mother, it is very important to our people in the southwest of Xiazhou."

Chen Qingsi nodded. He had read Xiazhou's county annals, and it was indeed the case.

Lingzhou and Xiazhou belong to the temperate arid zone. There is little rain all year round and they are suitable for farming. They are all irrigated and nourished by the terrible passing water of the Yellow River.

Therefore, the truly prosperous places in Lingzhou and Xiazhou are gathered on both sides of the river.

The southwest of Xiazhou is far away from the Yellow River and does not enjoy the irrigation of the mother river.

However, there is a tributary of the road that originates from the northern foot of Baiyu Mountain in Dingbian County. The upper reaches is called Hongliu River, and after flowing through Xinqiao in Jingbian County, it is called Sheyanshui.

This Sheyan River is actually the later Wuding River. Because after the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, the vegetation in the basin was severely damaged, the flow rate was irregular, the depth was irregular, and the clarity and turbidity were unpredictable. Therefore, it was named Huandu River, Huangmudu River, and Wuding River.

However, the vegetation of Sheyanshui has not been destroyed now. Compared with the Yellow River, people in southwestern Xiazhou prefer to call Sheyanshui the mother river.

Zuoqiu's face was a little distorted, he seemed a little confused, and he seemed to have thousands of words that he didn't know how to say.

Chen Qingsi didn't urge her, she just listened quietly.

"In the summer six years ago, the Yuan clan, a wealthy family in the state, built a large waterwheel on the upper reaches of Sheyan River. They also built a water mill and water hammer workshop nearby. They used the water wheel to pull the stone grinding hammer. , very rare.”

"This is nothing, but just after the Yuan clan, in just three years, ninety-three waterwheels were set up on the upper reaches of the Sheyan River. They used the waterwheels for their own benefit. The Sheyan River became shallower every year. , our downstream started carrying water for irrigation two years ago, and this year there is no water for irrigation..."

The more he spoke, the angrier and more excited he became:

"We really had no choice, so we recommended a person to discuss with them whether they could reduce a few water trucks to give us some water for the fields downstream and a way to survive." "This, this request is not too much. But, but they, it's not like that." When I found the Zhao family, I demolished the Hu family. When I found the Hu family, I said, "If the fifth house is demolished, we will demolish it." They pushed and pushed. None of them were demolished, but thirteen more were built.”

When Zuoqiu said this, he felt aggrieved, angry, and helpless as an ant.

"I, the mayor of our village, am really angry and will file a complaint."

"result……"

Tears rolled down Zuoqiu's face, and his body couldn't help but tremble:

"As a result, as soon as the case was accepted, one of his legs was broken and he died on the way back to the village."

The more Chen Qingsi listened, the angrier she became. She clenched her fists tightly and asked, "When did it happen? Do you know who did it?"

Zuoqiu burst into tears and said, "It's said that he is a fugitive on the run..."

As he spoke, he knelt down and said, "I beg the Envoy of Comfort to make the decision for us."

"Okay!" Chen Qingsi quickly stepped forward to help Zuo Qiu up and said, "I know about this."

He rubbed his stiff hands and said, "Huaiying, take Zuoqiu back."

As he said that, he looked at Zuoqiu and said, "I haven't been here tonight. You drank too much and fell asleep against the stable while looking for a place to relieve yourself."

The biggest reason why people are reluctant to report to the government is fear of retaliation. Even if they encounter county magistrates and governors who enforce the law impartially, they will handle matters according to regulations.

But the retaliation afterwards is something ordinary people cannot afford.

A powerful person trying to fool a common person is like a cat playing with a mouse.

Chen Qingsi wanted to make the decision for them, so she naturally wanted to protect their identities.

Di Renjie's eyes were also flashing with anger. He looked at Zuoqiu, whose face was full of tears, and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Chen will definitely uphold justice for you."

"It's abominable!"

Cheng Boxian was gearing up and said angrily: "These people have gone too far. Mr. Chen, if you have any orders, just feel free to arrange them."

Chen Qingsi thought for a while and said, "No rush, no rush."

He suppressed his anger and said: "This group of people relied on their power as local tycoons to completely ignore the livelihood of the people. It is really hateful. Since they like to bully others with power, let them have a taste of being bullied by power."

"If I don't have a good time this New Year's Eve, they won't have a good time this year."

Not long after, Di Renjie returned with a gloomy face.

"It's done?"

Chen Qingsi asked.

Di Renjie said: "The students have made special arrangements, so no one will doubt Zuoqiu."

Chen Qingsi didn't ask any more questions. Di Renjie couldn't make mistakes on this trivial matter.

"What do you think about this matter? Are you asked to investigate? Or what?"

Facing Chen Qingsi's interrogation, Di Renjie thought for a while and said: "There is no need to investigate. Only by using thunderous means can we deter the treacherous gangsters."

Di Renjie knew that this matter could not be investigated. With more than a hundred waterwheels, it was not just one or two wealthy families involved.

Once something strange is discovered, the car will be abandoned to protect the commander, and a scapegoat will be found, etc., and you will be in a mess.

This kind of tyranny, which has no regard for the livelihood of the people, can only be deterred by thunderous means.

(End of this chapter)