The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 389 Takeover
Zhou's Grain Shop.

The number of thugs in the shop has decreased significantly, but two more constables have been added.

"roll roll roll."

The constables cursed fiercely and occasionally struck the ground.

The disaster victims, dressed in tattered clothes and begging on the street, quickly moved away. Those who were slow to avoid them would be beaten, which made the area in front of Zhou's Grain Shop much quieter.

It's even less safe outside the city.

Most grain was stored in the city. City dwellers were busy with various things, and it was not safe to store grain anywhere. Grain merchants would usually store their grain in the granary behind their own grain shop, where many employees would look after it.

Zhouji Grain Shop has been closed for seven or eight days and shows no signs of reopening, so of course they don't want a lot of people at the door.

"I live over there, why can't I leave?"

Someone was scolded by the constable as he passed by, and, not to be outdone, retorted with a curse of his own.

"Yo."

The two constables immediately perked up.

One of them pulled out an iron chain and swung it over the man's head, causing him to bleed profusely from his head, and then the chain wrapped around his neck.

“You dare to obstruct Grandpa’s work and even insult the officers. Your attitude is extremely bad. Come with us to the jail and you will be fined twenty taels of silver. We will release you when your family brings twenty taels of silver.”

The young man was stunned.

An average farmer's family only earns six or seven taels of silver a year. Even city dwellers, who earn more, would need to save for more than two years without eating or drinking to earn that much.

"You guys are being unreasonable!" The young man clutched his head, blood streaming down his face, and stammered in panic.

"Now you know fear?" the older constable said viciously. "What kind of thing are you to talk to your grandfather? I represent the law. Let me tell you, if your family doesn't pay up the money right away, you can just wait to die in there."

"Let's go, why waste so much breath on him?"

Another constable gave a heavy tug, and the young man was dragged away like an animal.

Along the way, people came and went, and the young man was surprised, ashamed, afraid, and confused.

After a while.

Zhou Gui arrived in a sedan chair, accompanied by a group of people. After getting out of the sedan chair and entering his own grain shop, he suddenly stopped, frowned, and asked, "Where are the people from the yamen?"

"It was just here a moment ago."

The guy didn't know.

Another worker said, "The blacksmith at the street corner, his son offended the constables and was taken to the yamen by them."

Ignoring all that, Zhou Gui cursed, "They've paid the yamen so much money, and they can't even get one thing done. They're a bunch of useless bastards. Take my letter to the yamen and find Registrar Li. Ask him what the job is and whether the people he sent are even capable of doing their jobs."

Zhou Gui felt he had made enough trouble lately and decided to tone it down.

In any case, Wang Xin would definitely be too embarrassed to come to the Zhou family for free again in the near future. It's not about money or food, and it's not like the Zhou family hasn't given him anything. But there has to be a limit to how much they give; they can't go without a bottom line.

The Zhou family was not wealthy either.

"They promised to send some constables to help maintain order, but they've disappeared after only a few days," Zhou Gui complained as he entered the house. "We'll have to make an example of one or two of them so they won't dare to be careless."

Hearing their young master's words, the men were all filled with admiration.

Normally, food isn't a big deal, but at this time of year, it's a matter of life and death. Zhou Gui knew this all too well; making money was one thing, but food could be a matter of life and death.

Having stayed at home for several days, fearing something might happen down below, he rushed over to inspect his own granary.

The Zhou family's granary was the largest in Datong besides the official granary, but the official granary was empty, while the Zhou family's granary was full.

Upon entering the backyard, one is greeted by a layout resembling a continuous mountain ridge, with a series of granaries. Each granary has underground drainage channels for moisture and flood prevention. Some granaries are built within brick walls, with a row of air vents at the base of the walls. These air vents can be sealed to change the humidity and temperature inside the granary.

After entering through the door.

There are six large rooms in each row, and twenty-four rooms in total on all four sides. Each room is separated by an alley, and each alley is densely packed with rows of water vats, which are filled with water. In the middle is a huge flat area.

Although it was land, it was naturally compacted and became incredibly flat.

The newly harvested grain is first dried in the sun and then sent to the granary. The grain is also turned over regularly.

The twenty-four large row houses were specially built for storing grain. Unlike ordinary houses, they used bulk storage, which allowed for a larger storage capacity. Each house was not to be filled to capacity, and the storage capacity was generally eight thousand shi (a unit of dry measure).

If all twenty-four warehouses are filled with grain, they can hold over 192,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). If they are fully stocked, they can hold up to 200,000 shi.

Over the years, apart from the old man saying that he had filled the Zhou family's coffers when he was young, the most the Zhou family had ever stored in the last thirty years was 120,000 to 130,000 shi. Last year, the inventory was the lowest, less than 40,000 shi, while in previous years it was mostly 70,000 to 80,000 shi.

With 40,000 shi of grain, Zhou Gui dared to say that no other family in Datong had as much grain as the Zhou family.

"That guy surnamed Wang doesn't know anything."

After checking each water vat to make sure they were full, Zhou Gui finally felt relieved. Reflecting on how perfectly he had handled everything, he couldn't help but exclaim indignantly, "How long can the grain be kept after the government has taken it all away?"

Upon hearing this, the steward, recalling the government's reputation, shook his head. "I'm afraid it won't even last a month."

"A month? Half a month is giving them too much credit."

Zhou Gui looked at him with disdain, saying that the government was full of good-for-nothings who only knew how to exploit merchants. He coldly said, "No matter how miserable the disaster victims are, as long as there is still food in the grain shops, there is still hope for the world. Otherwise, if even the grain shops run out of food and people lose hope, then the end times will have arrived."

Forty thousand shi of grain seems like a lot.

But it was only enough to feed 12,000 to 13,000 people for a year. Because of Wang Xin, the population of Datong has now more than doubled.

Food is the real hard currency now; you can't buy it even if you have money.

They can also bring back all the land that they couldn't buy at high prices in previous years. On the contrary, other businesses can be put on hold now. Land is a wealth passed down through generations, and there's no need to rush into business. They can do it whenever they want.

Outside.

A line of soldiers came forward and, under orders, took control of all the entrances and exits.

The inspection team sealed off the entire Zhouji Grain Shop with a note.

Subsequently, the Xue family dispatched helpers to assist, and provided accountants to count and record the items. The inspection team was responsible for spot checks and inspections, while the Jiedushi's office monitored the results and issued orders.

Each has its own duties and specializes in its own area of ​​expertise.

Everyone in Zhouji Grain Shop was gathered in one room and was not allowed to leave or come out at will. They were also required to cooperate with the inventory and provide account books, etc.

Zhou Gui stared blankly at everything.

"When can we leave?" the steward asked incoherently at the end.

"After you have taken inventory of the supplies and successfully taken over the operation, you can leave or stay to help out. However, we will need to recruit new people who meet the requirements to stay, and they will be going elsewhere. They cannot stay."

The inspectors were very polite.

The Xue family members were only responsible for inventorying and receiving the merchants, while the soldiers were only responsible for maintaining order.

Zhou Gui stood silently in the corner, while the other men all kept their heads down. He hadn't revealed his identity yet and didn't know what was going on. Was Wang Xin going to raid the Zhou family?
Why should he?

Datong wasn't his territory, so the prefect wouldn't agree.

Unless he even confiscates the prefect's property.

Wouldn't that be tantamount to rebellion?

"Does he really dare to rebel?" Zhou Gui's face darkened. He thought Wang Xin was a smart man, and smart men know their limits. Had he made the wrong bet?

The ledgers are readily available.

The warehouse grain was to be inventoried according to the ledgers. However, with so much grain, all in bulk, it would take quite a while for everyone present to weigh it all.

An experienced manager only needs to randomly check whether the grain in each warehouse is genuine and whether there is any counterfeiting. Then, based on the storage situation in the warehouse, he can estimate the approximate amount. If it is close to the figure in the ledger, it is correct.

Therefore, in less than two days, the largest private granary in Datong was inventoried and registered.

The soldiers did not withdraw.

The inspection team didn't leave either.

They will not leave until a new business is established and officially takes over the area.

As for the original clerks and managers of the grain shop, new businesses soon came to inquire about them, especially the experienced managers. These experienced managers were recruited immediately, or they could go elsewhere if they didn't stay.

Who is Zhou Gui?

The evening of the first day.

Zhou Gui didn't eat or drink a drop of water, squatting in the corner without saying a word. The men around him were still afraid of their young master, and no one revealed his identity. Moreover, they didn't ask about the random people who had suddenly barged in during the day.

Just then, two members of the inspection team pushed open the door and came in. No one spoke; Zhou Gui kept his head down.

Xu Ning approached Zhou Gui and said, "Young Master, do you remember me?"

Zhou Gui looked up, not recognizing the person in front of him.

“You think you can cover up everything just because you killed someone? I spent two whole months running around for your sake, you know that? The guard who died in jail was from Henan, and I went there too.”

Xu Ning, who had nearly died on the way, calmly said, "Come with us now."

"Why?"

Now that he had been recognized, Zhou Gui stopped hiding and stood up without fear.

"The Censorate oversees everything. Human life is of paramount importance, and every murder case must be solved. The regulations, personally signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the General's Office, stipulate that the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, and no one can be an exception."

"Does Wang Xin's word become the law?" Zhou Gui, in a fit of despair, sneered, "Does he want to become a traitor?"

"Let's go."

Xu Ning was too lazy to waste words. "A murderer must pay with his life. Reason prevails everywhere. Don't even mention the regulations of the Jiedushi Prefecture. If you really want to bring up the laws of the Great Zhou, according to the laws of the Great Zhou, your behavior would be punishable by confiscation of your property and execution."

Zhou Gui was stunned.

He doesn't know anything about the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. When did this thing come into existence?

Whether something is illegal or not, isn't that decided by the officials?
When everyone saw the young master being taken away, they became even more panicked. Fortunately, some thin porridge was delivered that evening. Although they weren't full, having something in their stomachs made them feel a little more at ease.

"It's over."

The grain shop manager shook his head. It seemed even the young master could miscalculate. He wondered what was happening outside.

Disasters and illnesses are classified into four levels.

Life is dead!

Under the slogan of "Invincible in battle, defending the country," the Datong Military Governor's Office sealed off all grain and meat supplies within Datong.

Each household can only retain one shi, six dou, and nine sheng of rice.

The rest were confiscated.

The price of grain was restored to one tael of silver for two shi of rice.

The grain coupons were distributed by the Jiedushi government on a per capita basis, including women, children, the elderly, and the young. On average, each person received 20 catties of rice coupons per month, plus 5 catties of mutton with bones and 1 catty of offal coupons. Only by holding an equal number of grain and meat coupons could one buy grain and meat.

All grain shops in the four prefectures and seven counties purchased grain at a price of one tael of silver for two shi of rice and sold it at the fair price, minimizing losses for merchants in the face of matters of life and death.

At the same time, Xue Tang Grain Store was renamed Xue Tang Grain and Vegetable Store, taking over all grain stores in the four prefectures and seven counties, totaling fifty-five stores.

Of these, fifteen are open to the public, and businesses that meet the price adjustment requirements and are willing to take on the contract can apply.

The plan is to be implemented within three months.

This has created a situation where Xue Tang grain and vegetable sales are the main business, with other grain and vegetable sales as secondary businesses. There is also an inspection team to conduct spot checks and supervision. Once private sales are discovered or other regulations are violated, appropriate penalties will be imposed.

One after another.

Each point is very detailed, indicating that the Jiedushi's actions were not taken out of spite or as a temporary measure.

Especially Xue Tang Grain Store, this inconspicuous store that originally provided grain coupons to soldiers, was actually waiting here.

The grain coupon system has been in operation for two or three years, accumulating sufficient experience and talent.

As Zhou Shiming sat in the sedan chair on his way home, he thought about the lively scene in the governor's mansion during the day. Everyone was stunned, some admired him, some were dissatisfied, some hated him, some opposed him, and some supported him.
The Jiedushi Mansion remained in the same style as before.

Leave business matters to business.

Moreover, even the Xue family cannot achieve a monopoly; they will inevitably leave an opening for other merchants.

Everyone wants a monopoly, but if you can't achieve a monopoly yourself, you naturally don't want others to have one.

But with 20 jin of grain coupons and 6 jin of meat coupons per month, how could we possibly have enough to eat?
Zhou Shiming, inside the sedan chair, couldn't help but ponder.

We're not getting enough to eat, absolutely not enough, but not to the point of starving to death. We'll probably have to figure out a way ourselves, like digging for wild vegetables or something. Otherwise, who could stand being this hungry?

Everyone could see what Wang Xin was thinking.

By concentrating all the grain, encouraging everyone to tighten their belts, and then focusing all their efforts on reclaiming wasteland to save themselves, it was essentially extending the methods previously used for the army and disaster victims to everyone.

Therefore, Wang Xin was not targeting the Zhou family.

Rather, he had planned to do this all along and had been working on it in advance, taking it one step at a time, each step very steadily.

No matter what you do, you have plenty of experience and talent.

I remember when Wang Xin first came to Datong, he was just an ordinary general, but he managed to bring down Feng Yong, the military governor who had been stationed in Datong for twenty years. Now he's even more formidable.

When Zhou Shiming returned home, he learned that his shop had been sealed off.

The people in the manor couldn't find the young master either.

Finally, someone came to deliver a message: Zhou Gui had been arrested.

Zhou Shiming stared blankly at his panicked family members in the room, when suddenly everything went black.

"master!"

"Old Master."

"Quickly, call a doctor."

The Zhou family compound was in complete chaos.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night; throughout Datong, everyone from the wealthy to the common people is discussing it.

Wang Xin did not expect to be able to collect all the grain.

Big players can still target [them].

It's impossible for the people to go door-to-door to collect the grain. Unless a commune is established, the only way to collect the grain from the people's homes is to rob them. Wang Xin would never do that.

Moreover, the people did not have any extra food at home.

These days, only the wealthy have surplus food at home; ordinary people can't do that, and even if there's an occasional lucky one, it doesn't affect the overall situation.

"General Jie".

"The inspection team has sent over a case concerning Zhou Gui's murder." An official approached, looking troubled, and suggested, "The Zhou family is too conspicuous; it's not advisable to touch them. Perhaps we should let them go and do them a favor to better ensure the smooth operation of the grain and vegetable distribution."

Wang Xin glanced at the clerk and said calmly, "Act according to the law."

The official lowered his head and retreated.

outside.

In the inspection team's courtyard, in a storage room.

Zhou Gui waited for several days.

Aside from a few inspectors interrogating him, new evidence was being presented every day. Although Zhou Gui remained silent, knowing that the more he spoke, the more mistakes he would make, he knew that there was no use in not speaking when faced with such overwhelming evidence.

Am I going to be beheaded?
According to what Xu Ning said during the day, he would be publicly tried and then publicly beheaded.

Zhou Gui's hands and feet were ice cold.

How could this be? Logically, shouldn't Wang Xin have come to me as the victor and then made exorbitant demands?

Zhou Gui couldn't sleep; he was filled with fear, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Although no one in the Inspectorate mistreated him, the Inspectorate's attitude of treating him the same as everyone else, which made him even angrier and more terrified.

"I want to see my father!"

Zhou Gui suddenly shouted at the window.

With so many connections behind the Zhou family, and the Minister of War, Li Yuan, we need to mobilize them as soon as possible, or it will be too late.

We must demonstrate the Zhou family's power in the court to intimidate Wang Xin, or at least prevent him from acting recklessly.

"What are you yelling for?" someone said, annoyed, after being woken up. "You've been very well-behaved these past few days. If you were to become unruly and noisy, we'd move you to the dark room."

Zhou Gui held back.

The less important a person is, the less likely you are to offend them.

(End of this chapter)