Nanhai Prefecture, Ke County.

morning.

As the heat of summer passes, the weather gradually cools down. There is no need to worry about drinking water. However, the people in the city are not happy at all.

Zhangjiaxiang, Zhang Menban's house, in the kitchen. Zhang Menban and his wife lowered their heads, looked at the rice vat without a grain of rice with a sad face, and sighed together.

"Dad. I'm hungry."

"Dad, I'm hungry too."

The five children stood in a row and looked at their parents eagerly. The eldest and the third child spoke.

They are both thirty years old this year. Zhang Menpan earns a living by working as a carpenter, and his wife weaves cloth to support the family. Their life is pretty good, and they are not starving to death.

But now the labor price has not changed, and the price of rice has become frighteningly high.

Moreover, many grain and oil shops have closed.

I heard that there were profiteers who started to hoard food. They planned to wait for higher prices before selling the food.

"I'll go take a look on the street. If this continues, our whole family will starve to death." Zhang Menban sighed, then took off the rice bag hanging on the wall, went back to the bedroom, gritted his teeth, and took it

A lot of copper coins went out.

"This is money reserved for the boss to marry a wife." Zhang's wife looked on and shed tears.

But now that the world is like this, why does it matter if the boss marries a wife? If the whole family doesn't starve to death, it's considered Amitabha.

After Zhang Menban left the door, he immediately rushed to the nearest grain and oil store, but it was closed. The streets were filled with people looking for the grain and oil store like headless flies.

Soon, Zhang Menban's heart felt cold. All the grain and oil shops in the city had been closed. Either there was really no food, or some big businessmen had hidden the food.

"It's over!!!"

Zhang Menban grabbed the rice bag in his hand and his eyes suddenly turned red. The memories passed down by his ancestors orally came to his mind. If there was no food, he would have to become a refugee.

And how could the refugees do so well? They starved to death on the road and countless of them were killed.

Liaodong Governor's Mansion, inside the hall.

Qian Neng was wearing a formal official uniform and a black veil on his head, sitting on the main seat. He looked like an ant on a hot pot, his face was ugly, and his right leg was shaking.

There were more than a dozen officials on the left and right, and their faces were ugly.

"Open a porridge factory. Open a porridge factory immediately. The situation has been maintained. I will submit a statement immediately and ask for rescue from the imperial court. Nanhai Mansion cannot cause chaos."

Qian Neng made a palm with his right hand, slapped it heavily on the coffee table, stood up and said loudly.

"But sir, we don't have much food reserves. According to this situation, we can only give out thin porridge, and it won't last long."

An official smiled bitterly, shook his head and said.

"Immediately go to the big households and rice merchants. Whether you beg or rob them, let them provide some grain. If there is a real chaos in Nanhai Mansion and the people rush into their homes, their families will be destroyed."

Qian Neng said categorically, then stood up and walked out, saying aggressively: "I'm going to find Wang Zhongbi and get some military rations."

The officials all looked at each other.

If these big grain merchants were so easy to exploit and easy to talk to, then they wouldn't be called big grain merchants.

Although Nanhai Prefecture is small, every big household and grain merchant may have connections with the imperial court. Who are they looking for to exploit?

As for threatening them, saying that the refugees have attacked big households, grain merchants?

If they were not greedy, how could they get rich? They would not really take out the food unless a knife was put to their necks.

As for Wang Zhongbi.

That's the Iron Rooster. You want to get military rations from him? It's just a fantasy.

The officials looked at each other with great frustration.

The commander-in-chief and the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan were fighting each other, let alone guarding Nanhai Mansion. After losing Nanhai Mansion, the court held them accountable, and everyone had to lose their official positions, or even their heads.

Qian Neng left the Governor's Mansion in a sedan and came to the Yamen of the General Military Mansion. The guard guarding the door recognized Qian Neng and did not dare to stop him, so he let him in.

"Where is General Wang?" Qian Neng asked first, and after learning that Wang Zhongbi was in the study, he immediately came to the study.

Wang Zhongbi was sitting on the imperial chair, reading a book, with a casual posture. There were two beautiful Jiangnan maidservants serving beside him.

He has gray hair, a majestic face with Chinese characters, and a majestic body, but he has a double chin and a big belly. If you don't look at his face or resume, he looks like a salt merchant from Jiangnan with a big belly.

Seeing Wang Zhongbi like this, Qian Neng became angry.

Why did the imperial court equip me with such a bastard? Although Xiong Wuwo was defeated, he was still ten times stronger than Wang Zhongbi.

On a daily basis, the two of them did not deal with each other and fought for power and profit. Although Wang Zhongbi was a military commander, his backstage was very tough. Money could not stop him.

But at this time, money can ask for help from others, so he endured the anger in his heart and said politely: "General Wang, I want to discuss something with you today."

"Hey, Master Qian. What a rare visitor." Wang Zhongbi pretended to be surprised, put down the book in his hand, and then asked Qian Neng to sit down and then asked the maid to make tea.

When the tea came, they both picked up the tea cup and took a sip before putting it down. Wang Zhongbi asked: "Sir Qian, if you have anything to say, just tell me. As long as I, Wang, can do it, I will definitely do it."

Qian Neng was patient and said to Wang Zhongbi: "General Wang, this year's autumn grain harvest is not bad, but it is almost there. Farmers still have grain in their hands, but the people in the city are in dire straits. If we don't do something, I'm afraid we will have to go out."

It's a big deal. I'm asking the general to open the granary and release military rations so that I can use them to make porridge and open a porridge factory."

Wang Zhongbi shook his head quickly and said with a serious face: "Master Qian, please forgive me. I cannot make the decision to hand over the military rations entrusted to me by the imperial court to you without permission."

"Otherwise, I cannot bear the guilt imposed by the court."

Having said this, Wang Zhongbi was very polite and apologetic and said to Qian Neng: "Sir Qian, I'm so sorry. You'd better go elsewhere and think of a solution."

Qian Neng couldn't suppress his anger at all and said loudly: "Wang Zhongbi, your duty is to guard Shanhaiguan and Nanhai Prefecture. If the people of Nanhai Prefecture get into chaos and Wu Nian attacks us outside, can you defend the city?"

"Hurry up and hand over the food, and let me go and help the people. Otherwise, I will make excuses and accuse you of reselling military supplies, including military rations."

"My surname is Qian. Don't think I don't know. You've already been cheated. But I, Wang Zhongbi, am still alive and well. You can't do anything to me."

Wang Zhongbi also put aside his pretense and said with a sneer. Not to mention giving money for food, not even others.

All this military rations are mine.

I want to collect grain, and then take all the wealth of the entire Nanhai Mansion into my arms at a high price.

Make a fortune.

Ha ha ha ha.

As for Wu Nian, in terms of food, he himself was like a clay Buddha crossing the river, and he could not protect himself. Before the troops and horses were moved, food and grass went first.
Chapter completed!