mtlumby2d Chapter 294: Chen County Magistrate
Chapter 294: Chen County Magistrate
Of course the grain merchants were not happy. They came here in the cold weather to make a lot of money, not to help the poor. Even if you are the county magistrate, you cannot rob people and force them to pay compensation, right?
At worst, they can just ship it back. Anyway, they don't want to do this business at a loss. Just like Mr. Jin said, the beginning of next spring will be a time of shortage of food, and anyone with grain will have no trouble selling it.
County Magistrate Chen was not good at speaking, and was a little dumbfounded when he was squeezed by the grain merchants. It turned out that the county magistrate's authority was useless and he left too quickly.
Just as he was about to go to Master Yang for help, a messenger came in and reported, "Master Yang's housekeeper is here. Do you want to ask him to come in and help? He said that Master Yang arranged for him to come."
"Yes, please hurry up."
Young Master Yang is such a good man. He sent people to help me again. I will definitely repay Young Master Yang in the future.
Shen Huai'en came in, but he didn't use this name. He was just a manager and he was too lazy to choose a name.
"This is Steward Yang, from the prefect's Yang family. He has come to help me solve the disaster. His words represent the prefect's opinion."
County Magistrate Chen knew that the fox was taking advantage of the tiger's power, so the grain merchants said politely: "Hello, Manager Yang, we admire your great efforts for the disaster victims, but we also have a family to support, and we are also citizens of the court. We can't let us pay compensation just because they suffered a disaster, right?"
"Yes, no one's money comes from the wind. We have to pay for the grain we collect, the storage costs, the staff expenses, and the transportation of food and necessities. It's a huge expense. We are not doing charity to help the poor."
"Manager Yang is a reasonable man. He will definitely sympathize with our difficulties, right?"
This group of people are all good at talking. They first blocked Shen Huai'en's excuse to make them bleed heavily. They are also trying to survive. Those disaster victims are pitiful, but they have nothing to do with them!
The imperial court can provide disaster relief, but it cannot use their money to serve the imperial court.
After Shen Huai'en listened to them, he said, "Everyone has their own reasons, and I understand. I will tell you two pieces of news. The first is that the mountain was blocked by heavy snow, and some people went up the mountain to cut firewood, which caused an avalanche and blocked the official road.
The second one was that Jin Changsheng, the largest grain merchant in the county, had just heard that the grain merchants entering the city would cause grain prices to plummet, and he couldn't bear the shock and died. "
Everyone shut up instantly and looked at each other. They all had a bad feeling that everything was fine when they came here, but they couldn't go back.
Besides, Mr. Jin is dead, and the grain merchants in this county are leaderless and fighting each other. Plus, since they are transporting so much grain, they will definitely start a price war. I wonder how low the grain price will fall.
Shen Huai'en said: "You are all right. The court has no right to control how much you sell. So today's meeting ends here. Everyone go back and think carefully. Let's go, County Magistrate Chen."
"Ah, you won't say that?"
"gone."
Shen Huai'en deeply understood Shen Nanzhi's speechlessness. This kind of person is suitable for editing books and doing academic research in the Hanlin Academy, rather than coming to the local area to harm the people.
What a bunch of idiot teammates.
"Oh, okay, let's go."
County Magistrate Chen is not that stupid. What Manager Yang said must have his reasons. Young Master Yang looks different and has a good temperament.
Going back to the county government office, Shen Huai'en told him, "Don't worry about the grain merchants. Ask Madam Chen to adjust the grain prices and keep lowering them. The grain prices will return to their previous levels without you having to do anything. As for Madam Chen's losses, you can get them back from the Jin family."
"Is Master Jin really dead?"
"You can go and see. He brought this upon himself. He got himself angry to death. Such unscrupulous merchants who manipulate grain prices and profit from disasters should be severely punished. Take this opportunity to confiscate their property."
"Search the family's property? This... is inappropriate, right? They're seizing the family's property just for raising the grain price. Master Jin is dead too. Isn't this just adding insult to injury? Besides, the Jin family has people in the capital. If they mess with some big shot, we won't be able to handle it."
County Magistrate Chen was afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, which made Shen Huai'en look down on him even more. "You are a very contradictory person. You want to be an honest official and be loved by the people, but you don't want to offend anyone. You take action against the rich gentry, trying to get the benefits of both sides.
I gave you the opportunity, if you don't do it, then let someone else do it."
County Magistrate Chen's face turned red. He wanted everyone to be well. Was there anything wrong with that?
Shen Huai'en's words made him feel a little uneasy: "What do you mean? What do you mean by replacing someone else?"
"You'll know soon enough. Goodbye."
"Hey, you're just leaving like that?"
"What else? I'm not your subordinate, can you still control me?"
County Magistrate Chen did not dare to watch him leave, feeling uneasy, and asked the master: "What does he mean?"
The master also had a bitter look on his face and said, "Sir, confiscating property is a good job, who wouldn't be happy to do it? Not to mention a wealthy family like the Jin family. If we confiscate the Jin family's granary, will we still worry about not having food for disaster relief?
Who wouldn't be jealous of so many properties, shops, and lands? Now is the easiest time to confiscate the Jin family's property, since there is no one in charge and the family is in a mess. You must make a decision quickly."
"But the Jin family has people in the capital. If they come back to make decisions for the Jin family, can I still keep my official hat?"
After all, he was doing it for himself. What was it for the people? It was all for the sake of his official position and not to offend the rich. He was really a good person on both sides.
It's a pity that such people are destined to have a bad ending. No one can have the best of both worlds.
The master wanted to resign, thinking that he would be pissed off by him sooner or later, so he continued to persuade him: "The capital is thousands of miles away, and by the time someone comes from there, it will be too late.
Besides, we are conducting a house search and seizure in accordance with the law. The Jin family is an unforgivable criminal who has monopolized grain prices and disregarded the lives of the people. This is a serious crime. We have evidence and we are in the right, so we will just deal with it impartially. What are we afraid of?
The one in the capital is just an aunt of the Jin family. How capable can a daughter who is married off be? It is a threat if her husband's family is willing to stand up for her. If her husband's family does not want to wade into this flood, the aunt of the Jin family has no other choice. "
A strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake. The capital may not come all the way to help Mr. Jin, not to mention that Mr. Jin has indeed committed many evil things and deserves to be put to death.
Even so, County Magistrate Chen still couldn't make up his mind to confiscate the property. "Why not wait until Mr. Jin has finished his funeral? It would be too cruel to confiscate the property now."
The lawyer stopped talking. He wanted to resign and wait until the weather cleared up after the New Year. He would never stay to serve this old man who looked like a winter melon.
Since Shen Huai'en knew that Magistrate Chen could not be relied upon, he did not count on him. He had already made arrangements when he arrived. The next day, the imperial edict was delivered early in the morning. Magistrate Chen brought his men to receive the edict, feeling uneasy. What was the reason for the imperial court to issue the edict at this time?