Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

The Dai family is the largest grain merchant in Jinzhou.

A completely deaf old man, immersed in reading the black and white words on the paper, sat in shock for a long time and finally said: "Prefect Zhu really rebelled?"

Dai Chengsi wrote: "We have killed the magistrate, Tongpan and Silu, and are about to divide our troops to occupy the remaining four counties."

Not only was the old man deaf, but his eyesight was also bad. He used a magnifying glass to stick to the paper and his eyes to the magnifying glass. After reading what Sun Tzu had written, he muttered: "It's over, it's over. Regardless of whether Zhu can succeed or not, Jinzhou will be plagued by war. If soldiers come from the east, Jinzhou will bear the brunt. I don't know how many people will die." people."

Dai Chengsi continued to write: "Jinzhou has great mountains and rivers, and it is difficult for officers and soldiers to capture it."

The old man watched for a long time and said: "Since he has raised troops in Jinzhou, he will definitely occupy the entire Hanzhong. How can he not have the victory of mountains and rivers? If the officers and soldiers want to quell the chaos, they can only come from Shaanxi, Shuzhong and Jingxiang."

After thinking carefully for a moment, the old man added: "It's good that the officers and soldiers can quickly quell the chaos, but I'm afraid that people named Zhu will take advantage of the terrain and fight against the court for more than ten years. By then, we will have to levy grain and fight every year. Our Dai family's grain business But what to do?"

Dai Chengsi wrote: "Grandpa, do you think Mr. Zhu can succeed?"

The old man read it carefully: "The person named Zhu is not Fang La. His father and his son have been operating in Yangzhou and Jinzhou for a long time. If they don't cause trouble, it will be difficult for the officers and soldiers to break in. I heard that the imperial court sent all the best soldiers to conquer the Liao Dynasty. I'm afraid The Zhu family and his son can still occupy Shu, and then it will be a situation of separatist rule."

Dai Chengsi also wrote: "There are three subordinate officials in Jinzhou City who have been appointed as county magistrates. My grandson wants to follow Mr. Zhu in starting a rebellion."

The old man lay down and read again and again, as if he didn't recognize the passage.

After a long time, the old man finally said: "Well, I am too old. You can make up your own mind. There is only one thing to remember. There must be a way out in everything. Once the Zhu family and his son seem to be defeated, they should immediately contact the court secretly, maybe You can still serve as an official."

Dai Chengsi wrote: "My grandson, please remember this."

After the old man finished reading, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest: "Burn it, I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse."

Dai Chengsi lit the oil lamp, burned all the words he had just written, and helped the old man go to the yard to bask in the sun.

Not long after, a servant came running in: "Mr. Zhu, Mr. Zhu... has been summoned by Mr. Zhu."

Dai Chengsi said goodbye to his grandfather and hurried to the state government office.

Observing the situation in the city along the way, I found that the security was good, as if nothing happened.

There were not even robbers taking advantage of the chaos. The gangsters in the city had already experienced Ju Ming's methods and knew that those who caused trouble today would definitely be beheaded.

When I arrived at Zhouya Huangtang, I found that three other grain merchants had arrived.

Dai Chengsi bowed his hands in greeting, then sat down and waited.

After waiting for about two-quarters of an hour, Ju Ming came from outside, raised his hand to indicate that he did not have to stand up to salute, and went straight to the point: "To make a long story short, the four of you are big grain merchants in Jinzhou. Now that grain prices have skyrocketed, we can't continue like this. Based on white rice, the maximum price per stone is 800 wen."

A grain merchant named Song Jue said: "Too...well..."

"Just call the general." Ju Ming said.

Song Jue wondered: "General, most of this year's summer grain has been confiscated by the government. We are all selling last year's grain reserves. The market price has already exceeded 1,200 Wen. It is really difficult to support it by selling only 800 Wen per stone."

Ju Ming glanced at the four major grain merchants and did not dare to speak for a moment.

Dai Chengsi was not only a merchant, but also a local scholar. He often went to listen to Ju Ming's lectures.

But he had never seen Ju Ming look like this, as if there were knives hidden in his eyes, ready to kill people at any time.

It seemed that the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees.

Ju Ming said in a cold tone: "Everyone, please don't forget that I am a rebel now, and I am engaged in beheading business. In fact, I don't have to call you guys to come and directly lead troops to raid the house. Wouldn't it be easier? The food stored in your house is all from farmers. What you harvested in your hands, or was grown by your own tenants. There was no disaster in Jinzhou last year. No matter how much the price of food rises, when you harvest food, it is absolutely impossible for you to pay more than 300 Wen per stone. Are you allowed to sell 800 Wen? Am I not kind enough?"

That's true, but it's not the case at all.

Last year and this year, the four grain merchants were allocated the most money for buying and selling by the government. They had to sell grain at a high price to make money back.

Ju Ming's meaning is very clear. The money and food allocated by the government have nothing to do with him, a rebel!

Dai Chengsi quickly expressed his position: "The Dai family will strictly follow Mr.'s order. The price of food will never exceed 800 yuan per stone."

The other three families also agreed, fearing that Ju Ming would directly raid their homes to steal food.

If you hit a stick, you have to give a sweet date.

Ju Ming put on a friendly expression and said with a smile: "As long as you are honest and obedient, you will benefit from it. After the other four counties are conquered, each county will choose a grain merchant. From now on, there will only be eight of you in the five counties of Jinzhou. Domestic grain merchants can go to the countryside to buy grain. Only eight of you grain merchants can open grain shops in the city. The rest of the merchants are allowed to open shops in towns to sell grain at most!"

Several people looked at each other, excited and worried.

They have finally obtained a grain franchise license. As long as Ju Ming can survive, each family will definitely be able to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fortune.

But what if Ju Ming is wiped out? If they are so deeply bound, they may be liquidated by the court.

Dai Chengsi had already decided to follow Ju Ming in revolt, so he didn't have to worry about so much. He immediately stood up and said, "The Dai family is willing to help you achieve your great cause. All scholars in the family can work for you!"

"Very good," Ju Ming smiled in approval, "Just stay with me. The rest of the literate members of the Dai family will be sent to serve as clerks in the various armies first. If you have a little merit, you will definitely be promoted."

Another grain merchant gritted his teeth and said, "The Chen family is also willing to help the prefect achieve great things!"

It’s all tied up anyway, so why not do it more thoroughly?

In this damn world, even if you are not a thief, you will still be tricked by the government and it will become increasingly difficult for you.

Moreover, if Ju Ming was really destroyed by the court, he would be the same as never being a thief. They are the largest grain merchants in Jinzhou. When the officers and soldiers come, they will definitely extort money, just like they looted the southeast when Fangla was pacified.

The remaining two families looked at each other and expressed their willingness to send disciples from the clan to work - they were afraid that if they continued to do so, they would be jealous and retaliated by Ju Ming.

Ju Ming was very satisfied. He drew a big cake and said, "I will never forget your efforts. It is unknown whether you will be granted a title in the future."

No matter how much he said, it was just talk, and no one could be trusted. Ju Ming still had to withstand the conquest of a group of officers and soldiers.

Even their grain business license, when the external environment stabilizes in the future, Ju Ming will turn his back on them.

It would be too ugly to cancel the license directly, but you can add more licenses. If one is issued every year, it will become worthless in a few years. Anyway, it is impossible for anyone to monopolize the grain trade.

At this stage, monopoly is beneficial and makes it easier for Ju Ming to control food prices.

Regarding the big landowners, big businessmen, and the subordinate officials who control the prefectures and counties, Ju Ming does not intend to touch them for the time being.

The top priority is to quickly expand and occupy Sichuan. Landless farmers are all high-quality soldiers!

Those landless farmers who flocked to the city to work have been recruited as soldiers. It not only solves the employment problem, but also alleviates the public security problem, and can quickly fight out the troops.

Ship after ship of weapons were transported from Iron Hat Village.

The weapons were simple and crude, consisting of numerous iron spear heads, which could be turned into spears by whittling bamboo or wooden sticks. This kind of ordinary spearmen did not even have leather armor. Although they could not defeat the elite officers and soldiers, they were more than enough to deal with the local troops.

The next day, notices were posted inside and outside the city, announcing that the price of white rice would be reduced to 800 yuan per stone, and that other grains and old rice would be sold cheaper.

However, purchase restrictions are fully implemented. When buying grain, you must bring your household registration book. Those who do not have a household registration should apply for it as soon as possible.

The common people rushed to tell each other, and there was a cheerful atmosphere everywhere. They all thought that it was a good thing for Governor Zhu to rebel.

This is really a strange phenomenon. Rebellion elsewhere will only cause food prices to skyrocket, gentry to flee, and hungry people everywhere. However, Ju Ming's rebellion quickly stabilized food prices. Not to mention the people at the bottom, even the gentry and merchants were too lazy to run away.

Of course, there are always those who disobey.

Pingli County is the closest to Jinzhou City. When the county magistrate and chief bookkeeper heard the news, they ran away with the gold and silver, not even taking care of the copper coins and iron coins.

Zhang Jin and Yang Anshi led a thousand newly recruited soldiers and took over Pingli County without any effort.

The gangsters in the city took advantage of the fire and robbed them. After Zhang Jin occupied the county government office and the military staff warehouse, he immediately asked Yang Anshi to lead troops to maintain law and order.

Yang Anshi didn't want to do anything else, he just completed the task honestly.

But when a wealthy family was fleeing, they accidentally knocked over the box containing their belongings. A group of soldiers were so obsessed that they killed a wealthy businessman, robbed the money and divided it privately, and even occupied a house and hid the money inside.

Yang Anshi learned of the situation and planned to punish him severely, but the soldiers offered their belongings to beg for mercy.

A total of more than four thousand guan, Yang Anshi's eyes were wide open. He would never earn so much in his life.

Yang Anshi took out a few hundred guan and distributed them to the soldiers who knew about it. He kept 4,000 guan for himself and warned: "Don't tell anyone else, otherwise with Mr. Zhu's temper, we will all lose our heads!"

The soldiers said yes again and again and happily distributed the money.

The two Xiang army commanders, when Ju Ming distributed the troops, deliberately did not allow them to continue to command the Xiang army, in order to prevent the army from losing control.

Yang Anshi's men were all newly recruited young men.

It is inevitable that there are timid and smart people who are not willing to take risks with only more than ten dollars and quietly go to Zhang Yuan to report.

Zhang Jin used to be a blacksmith in Xuzhou and a leader of thieves. He was a very loyal man. After living in Tienmao Village for a few more years and training under Yang Zhi for more than a year, his ideas were completely different from Yang Anshi's.

In the name of discussing military affairs, Zhang Jin called Yang Anshi over. As soon as the latter entered the door, he heard an angry shout: "Take this guy down!"

Yang Anshi exclaimed: "You are the chief general and I am the deputy general. What qualifications do you have to arrest me?"

Zhang Jin said: "Mr. Zhu repeatedly warned not to rob the people or hide money secretly, but you didn't listen at all."

Yang Anshi still didn't think he was wrong and said: "The worst thing is, you will get half of the money. We have all rebelled. What kind of rebels are we if we don't plunder money?"

Zhang Jin sneered: "I am a rough man and don't understand any big principles. I have only met two good officials in my life. One was Prefect Xu of Xuzhou, and he wanted to behead him when he was caught. I also admire his character. The other is A good official is Mr. Zhu. Mr. Zhu does big things and will be the emperor in the future. We are all ministers of Conglong, and it is inevitable that we can be princes. Your eyes are too small and you can only see wealth. But I can’t see the princes from generation to generation.”

"Being a bastard prince, you and I may lose our heads one day when officers and soldiers come to kill you," Yang Anshi said. "Why don't you get more money and women, and enjoy yourself while you are still alive, and your rebellion will not be in vain."

"I can't explain it to you," Zhang Jin ordered. "Take the soldiers who have been given the money and this guy, take them to the street, and behead them all in front of the people. From now on, whoever robs and hides personal wealth will all be like this." Such an end!"

Yang Anshi finally panicked: "I am the deputy general here. If you kill me, you are overstepping your authority. You will be punished by Mr. Zhu!"

Zhang Jin roared angrily: "Drag him down and chop him down!"

Just after the county town was captured, the general killed the deputy general and sent someone back to inform Ju Ming, requesting that a new deputy general be sent over.

(Thanks to Mailin Benlin and the leader who has reserved a few points for the time being for the reward, O(∩_∩)O~)