I

  Chapter 124 122 [Borrowing food] (addition for the lord "Wardrobe Keqing Bald Song")

  Li Banghua's influence is amazing among local scholars.

  Once he stated his position, many scholars and children who were unwilling to follow the thief also stood up to follow.

  Anyway, Li Banghua is famous, and he is responsible for the sky falling!

  In a few days, the grain team was formed, mainly consisting of Li Banghua and local scholars. Of course, Fei Chun also participated in the whole process, mainly following the study, and at the same time responsible for supervising the accounts.

  It is really a helpless move due to the shortage of talents to entrust such an important matter to a group of local scholars.

   Once Zhao Han has trained his own people, then he can start killing. The exact number of kills depends entirely on Li Banghua's restraint, and how many people will act recklessly after eating the bear's heart and leopard.

   "Alas, Mr. Meng An's presence really makes the humble house flourish." Xiao Wanquan greeted him with a big smile.

  Li Banghua clasped his fists and said: "My friend Xiao is too famous, I'm just an old man."

   "Where, where, Mr. Meng An, please come in." Xiao Wanquan said with a smile.

  Compared to the past, Xiao Wanquan's family is very deserted, with only a few maids left. Not to mention all the changes to the employment contracts, the wages have to be raised, because the previous wages were too low.

  The two exchanged a few words of pleasantries, and Li Banghua explained his intentions.

  Xiao Wanquan said: "Dare to ask, what is the annual profit of storing grain in this grain store?"

   "One profit." Li Banghua said.

   "It's only one cent?" Xiao Wanquan was quite disappointed. He used to lend grain to tenants, but it was all at a profit.

  Li Banghua said: "It is not bad to have interest. The grain bank stores grain for you, and the storage fee is not charged for various losses."

   "That is, that is," Xiao Wanquan asked again, "If the grain bank lends grain to tenants, what is the interest?"

  Li Banghua smiled and said, "One cent and two cents."

  Xiao Wanquan was extremely surprised, and said, "Isn't the grain business going to lose money?"

  Li Banghua said: "Zhao Zongzhen opened the food store not to make money, but to leave a way for the small people in Shengdou to survive."

   "Mr. Zhao is benevolent, that is..." Xiao Wan looked hesitant.

  Li Banghua got up and cupped his hands: "Since friend Xiao is in trouble, I will not bother you. Farewell!"

  Xiao Wanquan stood up abruptly, and quickly said: "No embarrassment, no embarrassment."

   "Friend Xiao is indeed a smart person." Li Banghua smiled.

  Xiao Wanquan thought too much. He knew that Zhao Han was short of food, and he was afraid that Zhao Han would be in a hurry, so he immediately came to kill and grab food.

   No matter how well-behaved a rebel is, he is still a rebel after all!

  The more indifferent Li Banghua behaved, the more frightened Xiao Wanquan became, fearing that he might be lured out of the hole and stabbed at him.

  Xiao Wanquan was willing to borrow food because Zhao Han held the knife.

  Letting Li Banghua come forward in person is nothing more than to reassure the landlords that the grain will not be repaid, and Comrade Li is still very creditworthy.

  Li Banghua visited several villages in a row, and most of them were willing to borrow food.

   Then, Lao Li’s coquettish operation came...

  Because the warehouse of the grain bank is not enough, it will stay at the landlord's house for the time being.

  If the people in any town lack food, the household department of that town will come forward and contact the grain bank personnel to go to the landlord's house together. As much as you need to borrow, you can take as much as you want from the landlord's house. Starting from the date of borrowing grain, you will issue food stamps to the landlord, and at the same time issue grain loan stamps to the farmers.

  The grain store is like a white wolf with empty gloves. There is no warehouse. Only the staff are provided, and the left hand is replaced by the right hand, earning a difference of 2% interest for nothing.

   However, this middleman is very important.

  If the landlord borrows grain directly, how can the annual interest be only 1.2%? A monthly interest of three cents is a benevolent price, and a monthly interest of five cents or seven cents is possible!

  Why did every village and town in the late Ming Dynasty have money and grain shops?

  One is to lend usury.

  The second is to exchange silver for farmers. One whip method only accepts silver, and huge profits can be made from it.

  Of course, the one-whip law was not strictly enforced, and miscellaneous taxes in many places are still collecting grain directly from farmers. This is also one of the important means for officials to make profits.

  Landlords hated Li Banghua for doing such a thing, and don't even think about lending usury in the future.

"Brother, this Mr. Li is really amazing," Fei Chun said cheerfully, "I still have a headache, where can I find a warehouse to store grain. Hey, Mr. Li will directly store the grain at the landlord's house as soon as he goes out. It doesn't need so much in the first place." manpower, secondly, there is no loss of grain storage, and thirdly, it saves a lot of interest on grain storage.”

  Li Banghua rectified the Tianjin New Army, and then the Beijing Army. Although he offended countless dignitaries, he managed all the people in order to be obedient.

  What are a few rural landlords?

   It's like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer.

"Mr. Li does have means," Zhao Han praised, and immediately added, "but this is just a stopgap measure. When we have free hands in the future, we still have to build our own granary and money bank. No money or food."

  Fei Chun said with emotion: "It would be nice to have an expedient plan. A few days ago, I was almost worried to death!"

Zhao Han took out a few letters and said, "It's the time of employment. I didn't want you to go, but I don't feel relieved to send someone else to do things. This letter is given to the family of Mr. Jishui Li, and you bring back the other letters." On the Qianshan Mountain, help me and Ruhe go back and visit."

   "That's great." Fei Chun also missed his parents a little.

  Fei Chun took a few followers and went straight to Jishui by boat.

  Fei Ruhe and Huang Yao also led troops and set off by boat, going south and north to find the government to borrow food.

  In order to facilitate dealing with the county magistrate, Zuo Xiaoliang followed to Taihe County, and Xiao Huan followed to Anfu County.

  …

  The magistrate of Taihe County is called Liu Taiyuan, and he was a third-ranked Jinshi in the fourth year of Chongzhen.

   This official was not bought, but was officially appointed by the court, so there is no need to rush to repay the loan to buy an official.

  In general, Liu Taiyuan's reputation as an official is not bad, he only embezzled a few incidentally, and did not frantically exploit the people under his rule.

  Unexpectedly, there were rebels in Luling County, and the governor even went to clean up the rebels, forcing the rebels south of Heshui into bandits, and rushed into Taihe County to plunder.

  These guys killed the landlord, occupied the mansion of the landlord, robbed the money and food, and they didn't leave. It seems that they have a tendency to become bandits.

   "The county lords, gentry and villagers, jointly request the recruitment of village braves to suppress bandits." County magistrate Zhang Huainan said.

  As a novice magistrate, Liu Taiyuan didn't even invite his master. He complained endlessly: "The governor Xie suppressed the thieves, and he was defeated and killed. How can I suppress the thieves? Let's wait until the new governor arrives."

  Zhang Huainan reminded: "The county lord, as long as there is money and food, the rebels can be suppressed."

  Liu Taiyuan asked in surprise: "Could it be that brother Zhang is actually a man who knows how to fight?"

Zhang Huainan felt very tired. The novice magistrate was not experienced enough, so he had to explain the matter clearly: "Master, the money and food can be collected first, and the township can also be practiced first. As for suppressing bandits, you can wait for the opportunity. In case the new governor, He is also capable of suppressing thieves, the county lord has made preparations early, and he can be appreciated by the governor."

  Liu Taiyuan was stunned, and suddenly realized: "So that's the case, thank you Brother Zhang for reminding me!"

  After studying hard for ten years, once he became a county magistrate, and then encountered rebels and made troubles for the first time, he really needed to accumulate experience.

   Money-making experience!

   "Master, it's not good, the rebels are coming!" The old official ran to report in a panic.

  Liu Taiyuan was so frightened that he trembled all over, he hurriedly asked: "Has the rebel gone outside the city?"

  The old official replied: "The one who came by boat is still soaking in the Gan River, and sent a thief officer to call the city."

  Liu Taiyuan hurried to the tower, and sure enough there was only one scholar outside the city, and there was only one rebel boat on the river.

   "Hang him up!" Liu Taiyuan ordered.

   Zuo Xiaoliang climbed the city in a basket, cupped his hands and bowed: "Late-born Zuo Xiaoliang, pay homage to the county lord."

  Liu Taiyuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency is also a scholar?"

  Zuo Xiaoliang's family has few members, so he simply used his real name to be a thief. He said: "I'm ashamed, Wansheng is just a scholar."

  Liu Taiyuan grieved and said: "Since you are a scholar, why should you be a thief?"

  Zuo Xiaoliang said: "I can't eat enough."

   "Uh..." Liu Taiyuan didn't know what to say, the reason for being a thief was too nonsense, and at the same time it was too righteous.

   County magistrate Zhang Huainan suddenly asked: "Since you are a traitor, who is the leader of the thief? And why did you come to Taihe County?"

   "My lord Zhao Yan." Zuo Xiaoliang said.

   "Zhao thief?"

  The county magistrates were shocked.

  That was the giant bandit who captured Fucheng, killed dozens of officials, and defeated the governor to death!

  Liu Taiyuan felt his throat dry, swallowed his saliva and asked, "Zhao thief... What did Zhao Yan send you here for?"

  Zuo Xiaoliang cupped his hands and said: "My lord heard that there are refugees in Taihe County. It's freezing today. I can't bear them to freeze to death and starve to death. Therefore, I want to take these refugees away and resettle them."

  Liu Taiyuan and Zhang Huainan looked at each other, but they couldn't understand the situation.

  Is there such a sensible rebel?

  Liu Taiyuan couldn't help asking: "Is this true?"

   "Really," Zuo Xiaoliang said, "It's just that my lord is short of food. In order to appease the refugees, I ask the county lord to borrow 200,000 shi."

   "How can I lend you 200,000 shi?" Liu Taiyuan looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

  Zuo Xiaoliang smiled and said: "For business, ask the sky for the price, and pay back the money when you land."

   Not only Liu Taiyuan was furious, but even Zhang Huainan felt incredible.

  Zhang Huainan was born as a scholar, and has been a master for many years. He relied on his benefactor to buy officials at a discount, and finally got a county magistrate. He traveled all over the world and was well-informed, and this was the first time he encountered such a rare thing. The rebels were short of food and came to the county magistrate to borrow, and they could bargain for how much they borrowed.

   But it seems that this deal can be done!

  Zhang Huainan said in a low voice: "Master Xian, there are many people here, let's go to the county government to talk about it slowly."

   "Alright." Liu Taiyuan was still in a daze.

  Thus, the rebel Zuo Xiaoliang became the guest of honor of the magistrate.

  The two sides bargained, and Liu Taiyuan was only willing to lend 30,000 shi of grain, and he needed Zuo Xiaoliang to take the thief away before paying.

  Finally, 50,000 stones were sold, with an advance payment of 5,000 stones!

   Of course it is impossible for the magistrate to provide food, everything has to be provided by the gentry and landlords.

  First send people to spread the news that the thieves in the county are short of food and may rob other big clans at any time.

   Immediately afterwards, Fei Ruhe marched day and night, leading 500 soldiers to kill the landlord and grab grain. This goal was provided by the county magistrate, and it belonged to the kind of local rich man who would have no trouble after killing him.

   Robbed two landlords in a row, and the other landlords were scared to pee.

  Liu Taiyuan immediately called a meeting of the squires, saying that he could persuade those thieves to return with food. As long as the gentry collect five thousand stones, they can send the thieves to the border of Taihe County. At that time, another 50,000 shi will be collected, and the thieves will be able to return to their hometowns to farm.

  These squires can only try. Anyway, five thousand stones are not much, so it is easy for each family to pool a little.

  Fei Ruhe took the advance payment and immediately went to the thief's territory to recruit people.

  Hearing that "Mr. Zhao" was going to preside over the division of land, ordinary rogues escaped from the camp one after another, and several rogue leaders couldn't stop them.

  In just a few days, Fei Ruhe recruited more than 8,000 people, and there were more than 300 gangsters left.

  Fei Ruhe immediately launched an attack, killed the disobedient guy, and snatched 20,000 stone thief food. More than 8,000 refugees helped to transport food, and they walked slowly north, stopping at the junction of Taihe County and Luling County, waiting for the county magistrate to send the final payment.

  During the waiting period, more than 2,000 people came to seek refuge with their families.

   Moreover, they are all local tenants in Taihe County. When they heard that the "Mr. Zhao" next door was going to divide the land, they came here to gather their friends to pack up their belongings.

   Continue to wait for a few days, but still no final payment.

  Fei Ruhe was furious, killed two more landlords to grab food, and threatened to kill all the landlords in Taihe County if they didn't give them food. Immediately afterwards, he led his troops for a walk outside the county seat, and circled the county seat several times.

  The magistrate was frightened and angry, and the gentry was frightened.

   After half a month, the final payment was delivered and the transaction was completed.

   This trip, although the gentry only collected 50,000 shi of grain, Fei Ruhe brought back a whole 110,000 shi, and the rest was robbed of landlords and bandits.

  By the way, more than 11,000 people were brought back.

  The food problem is actually easy to solve.

   (Ask for a guaranteed monthly pass.)

  (end of this chapter)