Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 502 Qingzhou Crisis
Qingzhou government office.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, the heavy snow finally showed signs of abating. This year was definitely not a good year for the entire Qingzhou officialdom.

Such a big thing happened in Qingzhou Prefecture, and the entire Qingzhou officialdom will probably be held accountable.

After the turmoil last night, Qingzhou has returned to its former peace today, and the people who originally worshipped the White Lotus Sect have also come to their senses.

Early this morning, Prefect Zhao, accompanied by several civil servants and military officers dressed in blue and green robes, found Chen Ce in the second hall.

Chen Ce sat in the main seat drinking tea. There were many officials standing in the hall. They didn't dare to breathe and occasionally glanced nervously at the young man sitting in the main seat drinking tea.

The young man's face didn't look very good, and it was unclear whether he was angry or just in poor health. Although he was young, the aura he exuded was chilling.

The transfer, promotion, and punishment of all the officials in Qingzhou Prefecture all depended on a word from the young man in front of him.

Prefect Zhao finally mustered up the courage to speak to Chen Ce: "Sir Chen, you saved the people of Qingzhou Prefecture yesterday. We would like to host a banquet for you today..."

Chen Ce looked up at him, and seeing how nervous these people were, he probably knew what they were thinking, and said, "Let them all go back."

Prefect Zhao hurriedly bowed to Chen Ce and said, "I have failed in my duty. Please punish me, sir."

Then the officials of Qingzhou Prefecture bowed their heads and apologized to Chen Ce.

Chen Ce waved his hand and said, "Okay, you were all busy last night. The court will not hold you accountable for this matter. Don't worry, just go back."

After hearing what Chen Ce said, everyone felt relieved.

However, Chen Ce continued: "If something like this happens again, all members of your Qingzhou official team should voluntarily retire."

Their hearts, which had just been relieved, suddenly became anxious again, and they hurriedly said, "Thank you for your vigilance!"

"Master Zhao, please stay."

After the crowd had left, Chen Ce asked Prefect Zhao, "What did you find out during the interrogation last night?"

Prefect Zhao said to Chen Ce with a serious expression, "Sir, we followed the clues to arrest people last night, but the White Lotus Sect members had already heard the news and fled, so we didn't catch anyone else."

"Last night, we interrogated the White Lotus sect evildoers who were caught. They said that Qingzhou was just a branch of their White Lotus sect, and that they were funded by the Oirat people."

After a pause, he continued, "In the two capitals and thirteen provinces, there are many organizations like theirs in secret."

"The Mongols obviously want to revive and use them to create unrest within the Ming Dynasty!"

Chen Ce nodded in agreement.

Prefect Zhao still looked unhappy. He looked at Chen Ce with a worried look and said, "Sir, there is something more serious."

Chen Ce asked suspiciously: "What?"

Prefect Zhao said, "Qingzhou...is out of food."

"Ok?"

Prefect Zhao said, "Originally, I had borrowed food from the surrounding areas, but it was robbed on the official road into Qingzhou!"

In the whole of Shandong, the granaries were located in Jinan Prefecture. Generally, there was not much grain stored in the local warehouses. If there were natural disasters or man-made disasters, the local government would apply for grain from the Shandong Provincial Government in advance, and then Jinan Prefecture would release the grain, and people from all over the country would be sent to pick up the grain and bring it back to their local areas. The White Lotus Sect in Qingzhou had planned everything long ago. Knowing that the snow disaster in Qingzhou Prefecture had led to an increase in the number of refugees, they deliberately intercepted the grain halfway. In this way, as long as Qingzhou could not release the grain, it would inevitably cause unrest among the people.

Chen Ce was silent for a moment, then asked Prefect Zhao, "How long will the food we have now last?"

Now the winter snow has subsided. If we hold on for a few more days, once the snow on the official road melts, we can transfer food from Jinan Prefecture, which will be enough to solve Qingzhou's food shortage crisis.

Prefect Zhao said worriedly, "Yesterday I hastily counted the number of refugees, and now it has increased to more than 5,000."

If it were just these refugees, Qingzhou Prefecture's stored grain would be enough for them to eat, but the problem is that grain prices in the market have begun to rise, and people are frantically scrambling for food.

Food prices have been raised to a level where the poor simply cannot afford them. If this continues, in two or three days it will probably cause unrest among the poor people.

Chen Ce stared at him and said, "Why don't they go to the big grain merchants to borrow grain? As long as the Qingzhou merchants release grain, the grain price will stabilize... Are they going to make money from the national crisis?"

Without waiting for Prefect Zhao to explain, Chen Ce questioned with a stern look on his face.

Prefect Zhao sighed and said, "Yes, but the government has no excuse to cause trouble for these big businessmen."

"What do you mean there's no excuse to go find them? Go and call them over! Let's talk at the Qingzhou government office and ask them to release the grain. Go now!"

Prefect Zhao hurriedly said, "Okay! I'll go right away!"

……

Chen Ce stood on the street in front of the Qingzhou government office with his hands behind his back. Li Zhen and several masters from the inner factory stood guard in front of Chen Ce.

Almost all the grain shops on the street were closed, and people were crowding in groups of three or five in front of each grain shop.

Looking at this scene, Chen Ce couldn't help but frown.

"Sir," Li Zhen said, "I went out early this morning to check. There are only a few grain shops open now. The grain prices are ridiculously high. More grain merchants are waiting for the price to rise, all ready to make more money."

"If the heavy snow outside Qingzhou blocks the roads for a few more days, I'm afraid the people of Qingzhou Prefecture will be in chaos."

The plan of this White Lotus sect is truly one thing after another!

The group of Mongols outside the Great Wall still have evil intentions towards the Ming Dynasty. The more turbulent the Ming Dynasty is, the more opportunities they have. These traitors have become running dogs of the Mongols. They are unworthy of being Han people!
"Sir." A clerk came out from the Qingzhou government office and came to Chen Ce and said respectfully, "Sir Zhao has summoned the grain merchant representatives."

Chen Ce said "oh" and followed the other party to the back hall of Qingzhou government office.

There were several middle-aged men standing in the back hall. When they saw Chen Ce, they said respectfully, "We are honored to see you, sir."

Prefect Zhao quietly introduced the group of people in front of him to Chen Ce.

The largest grain merchant in Qingzhou Prefecture was named Li Bushi. His businesses included grain, silk, tea, and porcelain. He could be considered the richest merchant in Qingzhou Prefecture.

His industries are spread across all prefectures in Shandong. To be able to develop them to such a large scale, it is obvious that he has connections in Jinan.

Chen Ce stared at Li Bushi and said, "Qingzhou Prefecture is currently short of food. You can give some of the food to the government, and we will buy it at the market price."

Li Bushi said hurriedly, "Your Excellency is too serious. The market price is too high. How dare I? I am willing to contribute to the country. I am willing to pay the government one stone and two taels of silver."

When Chen Ce heard this, his face suddenly darkened!
In Peking, the price of rice is only eight or nine hundred coins per stone, and the normal price of grain in Qingzhou is only one ounce per stone... Why don't you go and rob?
One stone and two taels of silver, and you dare to ask for it so shamelessly?
(End of this chapter)