Under the sky

Chapter 281

The chaos continues and shows no signs of getting better.Although Arien Palace promised to purchase grain at a price higher than the market price, without financial assistance from Prince Hugen, they could only issue IOUs to the nobles and wait for the taxes to be returned in the coming year.The nobles do not accept this trick. They only flatter themselves and sell a small amount of grain to grain merchants on the pretext of lack of food. After all, they have nearly twice the profit in the black market.

Half of the salary of the prison department and the palace guards was converted into food. It was originally a measure to encourage the prison department to arrest black market traders, but it caused dissatisfaction among the people - why do they have cheap food, but we have to endure hunger? Hungry?Public dissatisfaction gradually increased, and the graffiti on the walls became more and more disgusting.

Princes Mejia, Rosh, and Zhan were summoned to Arien Palace. Although they met each other, they did not have much time to say hello.This is the method used by the Prison Department to interrogate prisoners, and it was also done deliberately by Gao Leqi, although he was very polite to them.

Yang Yan was responsible for questioning Mejia, the cowardly Mejia. As the son of God, he asked Mejia: "Father God is watching everything you do. Do you want to fall into an ice prison after death?"

Mejia was taken aback and forced himself to calm down: "Honorable Son of God, we have not done anything against God Sa's will."

"Is it also the will of God the Father to let His people starve?"

"Sa Shen Mingjian, the drought is not caused by us."

"I'm not talking about drought, I'm talking about famine. Are you going to explain to Father God how the famine is caused?" Yang Yan asked.

Mejia hurriedly said: "This has nothing to do with me! The intrusion of refugees and drought are the reasons for the rise in food prices!"

"Nonsense! As long as you tell who instigated you, I can forgive your sins." Yang Yan said, "Otherwise, I will punish you first before Father God punishes you. I told Tucker that the best way to scare the monkeys is to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Good way, do you want to be that chicken?”

Seeing Mejia's hesitation, Yang Yan's tone became more serious: "Have you seen Luo Xu and Zhan En? At most, only one of the three of you can walk out safely. If you tell the truth, we will arrest the mastermind of the crime and bring him to justice." His reward for your business will be given to you.”

It was Gao Leqi who was responsible for questioning the greedy Zhan.This was a gentle conversation. Gao Leqi did not have the power of the Son of God or Arien. He just told Zhan that as long as he betrayed, he would get all the property of the prince, and even if he didn't say anything, Luo Xu would Even poor people will betray you.Zhan En was not an idiot, and asked if Luo Xu could really say something, there would be no need to find three princes to ask.Gao Leqi asked him to consider interests. They would eventually restore order. Is this windfall worth a long-term business?

Tucker complained endlessly to the poor Rosh, complaining about what he had done to fight against the priesthood and for the benefit of the prince, and how these distant relatives of his brothers betrayed him.He promised that not only the traitor's business, but also more business could be handed over to Luo Xu.

"You don't want to sell pears either, right?" he asked Luo Xu.Poor Luo Xu only sells pears. This is a fruit that only people with at least some money can afford. Sales volume is small, and Batu's pear production is sufficient. As a prince, he is too poor to compare with a wealthy tax collector. He was also the prince who benefited the least from this wave of food price increases.But poverty has cultivated his fearful character. He just shook his head and said that he didn't know anything and that he only followed the price increase when he saw it.

In the end, the three princes were given three different names - Prince Bailey, Prince Fell, and Prince Hash.According to them, there was more than one prince coming to lobby, and they didn't know who was the mastermind. They just wanted to follow the price increase.

They also revealed another secret.

"Some princes hid food." Gao Leqi said, "They hid food on the way, especially highland barley, barley, and wheat. They waited for the price to increase and then sent it to Batu in batches for sale, mainly into the black market. ." The prices on the black market are much better than those at grain merchants.

"Bailey! He actually exists!" Tucker stroked his forehead, in disbelief, "He has been very strong since he was a child. When he was a kid, I always let him beat me in horse racing. I have always been very good to him and gave him the valuable wheat business. , he should be facing me, why was he deceived?"

"He was not deceived. Prince Bailey is most likely the instigator. People from the Prison Department saw him meeting with Hilidegg." Gao Leqi pondered, "Wheat is an important food, and the portion is sufficient, and Bailey Li is your biological brother..."

"He actually did this to me!" Tucker was heartbroken, "Does he see me as a brother in his eyes?"

"I mean, he has the qualifications to succeed Arion. Perhaps this is why Hillidegg convinced him."

"Kuda! Cut him!" Tucker, who felt betrayed, roared, "No! Sink him into the Naib River and let him taste the pain of ice prison!" This paper-like brotherhood really can't stand the slightest bit. test.

"We still need more evidence." Gollach said, "We can't find Hillidger like this."

"Why?" Tucker shouted loudly, "He must have instigated Bailey. As long as Bailey confesses, that's enough!"

"We have just arrested Hilidegg once. If we cannot completely solve the food problem and there is sufficient evidence, we cannot arrest him casually. Otherwise, the people will only think that we deliberately targeted the priesthood and blamed the lack of food. Woe to Hillidg."

"They hid the food. As long as they find the food, they can solve the problem in Batu, and it will be considered a conclusive evidence." Wang Hong said, "Is there any other way?"

Yang Yan stood up, walked to Gao Leqi, and said, "Go to the sheep dung pile and see the people there, and then come back and tell me to take your time."

There is really no other way. Gao Leqi said: "Let the Prison Department arrest the three of them and ask them who is the mastermind. Although I guess Bailey colluded with Hillidegg, more clear evidence is needed." .”

Tucker sent Warden Sisi to arrest and imprison three princes on charges of monopolizing food. Gao Leqi specially ordered Bailey to be thrown into the dark cell. He wanted to interrogate the other two princes. If there were more testimonies from the princes, he would He can identify Bailey as manipulating food prices and kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Tucker summoned the princes again, this time without a good face. He roared loudly, accusing everyone of colluding with Bailey to increase food prices, and demanded that food prices return to normal and food supply be restored.Bailey's arrest did have a deterrent effect. Only then did the prince reveal that Bailey persuaded the other princes to collect and take away the grain, leaving only half of it in Batu. The rest was hidden by Bailey, and then only the interrogation Bailey, just ask him where the food is hidden.

Yang Yan traveled again to listen to the people and appease them.

"Son of God, when will there be food?" "Son of God, when will the Sri Yanabhata Festival come?" "Son of God, why hasn't it rained yet?" "Son of God, have mercy on me, my child is starving to death!" "Son of God, I'm so hungry, Son of God..."

There were overwhelming calls of prayer, with some holding children and others supporting the elderly. Yang Yan looked at the prostrate people and listened to them crying for mercy from the Son of God.

The prince who hoards food and raises food prices is certainly hateful, but the real initiator is the Priesthood.Why can the priests ignore the lives of these people?Aren’t they taking care of the people according to God’s will?Just to compete with Arien Palace for power, they can just watch so many innocent people die?
Is it so difficult for ordinary people to just want to live under the feet of the powerful?Even if you lie on the ground and beg, you still can't get a trace of mercy?Yang Yan raised his head and looked at the magnificent Arien Palace and the towering spiers of the Priesthood in the distance, his eyes full of disappointment and anger.

"False gods!" Someone suddenly shouted, "We worship false gods, that's why it doesn't rain!"

"This is a test from God the Father. Do you believe in God the Father?" Yang Yan numbly said lines that even he didn't believe.He remembered what Xuanxu had said. This was a test given to him by God. The difference was that Xuanxu really believed in the way of heaven and the test, but he didn't believe it. They would starve because those nobles who were only interested in profit had nothing to do with the God of Sa. .

"I believe Father God will have arrangements!" What arrangements did God Sa have?he asked himself.

"False gods, blind believers!" There were stones flying.Gao Leqi ordered everyone to drive away the believers who threw stones and arrange for the Son of God to return to Arien Palace as soon as possible.

Many people gathered outside Arien Palace, lying down or lying down, cursing, begging, and roaring, making the Son of God's tour a bit embarrassing.

"One more month!" Yang Yan couldn't hold it any longer, stood up abruptly, and shouted to the crowd around him, "I promise in the name of the Son of God that everyone will be fed before October!"

Gao Leqi was shocked. Although he couldn't say he was unsure, Yang Yan's promise was really hasty and he hadn't interrogated Bailey yet.What if food supply cannot be restored by October?Gao Leqi could not imagine what would happen.

At this moment, a soldier hurried into Arien Palace, and shocking news came from the Prison Department.Bailey was poisoned to death on the second day in the black cell, and Collegiate didn't even have a chance to interrogate him.With Bailey's death, the jailor guarding him disappeared.

Bailey died, but no one knew where he hid the food. Gollach immediately realized that he had been tricked and that Bailey might just be a cover.He kept pacing back and forth, and Tucker had never seen him so anxious.

Tucker was also anxious.

"No one knows?" Yang Yan asked loudly, "This is impossible? Such a large amount of food..."

"Pele convinced the princes to hand over the grain to him for safekeeping." Gao Leqi said, "Only Bailey knows where the grain is hidden."

"Torture Bailey's men." Wang Hong said, "There must be someone responsible for this." Gao Leqi said: "I have already arrested all Bailey's cronies and put them all in prison."

"Find nearby villages to buy food as soon as possible." Wang Hong added, "As long as we provide assistance."

"It can't be done." Gao Leqi said, "Bailey bought all the grain before the drought. Now that there is a drought, the villages don't have so much grain in stock. We have to go further to buy it. It will take two or three months or more." It will take longer to restore order." This sudden drought undoubtedly helped Hillidegg a lot.

"It's not that the princes are hoarding food now, there is really no food. I can't imagine how many people will starve to death." Gao Leqi said worriedly, "A disaster is about to happen."

However, Gao Leqi could not find out the whereabouts of the grain at all, because it was not Bailey's men who took away the grain, but other people. Hillidegg didn't know how he deceived Prince Bailey and asked him to take the grain away. Leave it to these people for safekeeping.The grain officer who transported the grain said that when they brought the grain to a certain place, it would be taken away by another group of people, and they did not know those people.

Those people may be from the Weiji Army Station, but if the Weiji Army Station mobilizes such a large force, Gao Leqi will definitely notice it.Another possibility is the Mount Holy Guard, which was under the jurisdiction of the House of Priests.The last possibility is the food transport teams of other princes, who can usually enter and leave Batu without suspicion.

No matter which possibility it was, Gao Leqi couldn't touch it and couldn't start.

Although the princes later restored food supply, the problem could not be solved. The main food was still not available, and the price of food in Batu rose instead of falling.What's even more serious is that food can no longer be found even on the black market.

■

Someone once asked a question: How does the priest's house listen to the "insect sound"?In fact, it is impossible for Hilidegg to listen to every insect report. If, if there is such a person, he coordinates all the information and then hands it to the priest Hilidegg, then who is this person?How is he going to hear other people's voices?

Of course, there isn't just one person responsible for the bug noise.The people responsible for the insect sounds are naturally the priests under Hilidegg. They leave the priest's courtyard every day openly and only come back in the afternoon. There are so many priests in the priest's courtyard. Where do they go to listen to the sounds of insects, and how do they get useful information? ?
Useful information can be exchanged for money, and people will occasionally see a priest whispering to a beggar, or talking to a fruit vendor, or whispering to a mysterious businessman in a dark alley.

What if the owner of the insect voice wants to hear very important information and has to come forward in person without being discovered?There is a small secret passage in the priest's courtyard, very small, only a few dozen feet long. Very few people know this secret passage, only the priests responsible for the insect sounds and a very few people.It is connected to a seemingly ordinary hut outside the priest's courtyard, where an equally ordinary priest lives. Hillidegg can listen to important messages in this room.

In fact, the sound of insects is not complicated. As long as they are willing to spend money, there will be people who contribute useful information, including killing people. As long as the jailer is paid enough money, many people are willing to escape after killing people.

Of course, if the escape can be successful.The body of the jailer who poisoned Bailey was found three days later, thirty miles outside Batu. Apparently he had not made it far.

As early as when Weide died, Hillidger had bribed him to take over as jailer.A bag of poison. In that kind of stinking place, the smell of poison can be easily covered up. He has been in that place and knows it very well.

"Is this a portrait of Tarich with a hair braid?" The person standing in front of the portrait asked the same question.

"Yes, he sacrificed himself to lead the enemy down the wrong path." Hilidegg also poured a glass of wine and handed it to the person in front of him.

"Do you like this painting? His Excellency Prince Hugen." Hillidegg asked.

"I don't want this portrait," Prince Hugen replied. "I want Nadia, her family, and the slaves who are still in Gulthas, and who Lotharion took from me. Those slaves who killed my son. And I will burn that damn Nadia on the stake."

"Of course, there is also a place for Arien prepared for your son Dai Zhuo." Hillid raised his glass, "To Saint Talish. To Prince Bailey." He touched the wine glass to his lips and Put it back on the table.

Hillidegg knew that Gao Leqi would definitely monitor him, so there was no need to guess.He deliberately kept close contact with Bailey, but secretly used a secret passage to meet Prince Hugen, and as expected, Gao Leqi fell into the trap.

Another difficulty is the prestige of the Son of God. Hillidegg knows the importance of the Son of God to Gulthas, and he must not damage the prestige of the Son of God in this struggle.

So not long after, Nabu Baduli spread the news that Tak Yarian, because he could not solve the food problem, blamed all the crimes on Prince Bailey and assassinated him in prison. Otherwise, how could Prince Bailey be arrested? Die the next day?

Another news is that the reason why Sa God did not rain was because the Son of God was deceived by others, and the drought was to remind the Son of God not to be deceived, so that he could see the truth as soon as possible.

As for who is the person who deceived the Son of God...

There is another kind of portrait on the wall of the dark alley, which is the image of the Son of God. Behind him stands a woman, covering the eyes of the Son of God with her hands.Not long after, people heard on the street that this woman had a name, identity and story. Her name was Nadia, she was born a slave. She brought the Son of God back from the pass, so she was highly valued by the Son of God. The Son of God did not want to return to the priesthood.

■

Meng De was grading official documents. Usually at this time he would drink a cup of butter tea to refresh himself. In the afternoon, he would visit the priest's courtyard and listen to the classes of the priests.He is now the vice-president of the Priesthood. Although his nickname is Meng De of Yijin, this vice-president is not an empty title. It is true that this position is far away from the center of power, but the president of the Priesthood is Gulthas, and the vice-president is He became the person who truly managed the homework of the school priests.

The priests who manage the priesthood are also very hardworking. He is not leisurely. He has always been very serious about everything he does.

A letter signed by Sardin sandwiched in the official document caught Mengde's attention.

Sardin was his classmate and served as a small priest in a tribe in the south. The two were quite close to each other when they were students in the priesthood more than [-] years ago.After Sardin put on his sacrificial robe, he went to the village to take up his post, and he was fortunate enough to become Gultha's penman. The distance did not interrupt the friendship between the two. Every once in a while, the two would exchange letters. In addition to saying hello, Sardin I would also ask for his opinion when I encountered a problem. Looking back, the last time I corresponded with him was half a year ago.

Mengde opened the letter, thought for a long time, wrote a reply, and called his entourage: "Send this letter to the inn." He added, "Tell Karls to send a letter back saying that I will go home tonight."

In the evening, a carriage with sixteen followers drove back to Meng De's residence.He lives in a manor not far from the priest's house. In addition to his relatives, there are 26 servants and 47 nurses in the manor, but he usually only goes back two or three days a month.

He had a simple dinner and said to his family: "I'm going to study in the study, don't disturb me." Then he went to the study, lit the oil lamp on the desk, picked up another unlit oil lamp and jumped out of the window, and then put With the windows closed, I walked towards the backyard in the dark, climbed over the wall, made sure there was no one around me, then lit the oil lamp and moved on.

He turned two alleys and saw a carriage parked at the entrance of the alley. The driver was wearing a cloak, and the shadow of his coat covered his chin.He carefully made sure there was no one around him before getting into the carriage.

The curtains on the car windows were lowered and the car was dark, but he turned off the oil lamp, plunging the car into darkness.After a long time, a little light came through the gap under the curtain. The carriage stopped for a moment, and the creaking sound of the iron door moving was heard outside the carriage. Then it continued to move forward. After a while, the carriage finally stopped.

The door opened and the coachman took off his cloak. It was a young girl. She touched her heart with her left hand and bowed to signal Meng De to get off.There were no guards around. They entered the palace through the back door and saw no one else until they entered the room.

The girl knocked on the door: "It's me."

The door opened, and the person standing at the door was very familiar to Meng De. He was Gao Leqi: "I'm glad you are willing to come here. Please come in."

There were four people in the room, Tucker, Gao Leqi, and Shenzi.As for the young woman...

"Hello, Priest Meng De, my name is Nadia." Wang Hong said, "It's an honor to meet you."

What a courtesy.

The task of picking up the officiant Meng De was very important. Gao Leqi had to ensure that no one saw it and only true confidants could perform this task.Maier was originally a good candidate, but unfortunately he was targeted by Hillidegg, so Wang Hong took on the task.

"Let's talk about the most important thing directly." Yang Yan stepped forward.As the son of God, he is more suitable than Gao Leqi to lead this negotiation.

"I hope you can help Arien Palace expose Hilidegg's conspiracy. In return, you will be the successor of Gulthas, and Tak Arien will fully support you."

(End of this chapter)