I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 330 Forced Buying and Selling
Zhu Bing hurriedly arrived at the front office and bowed to Jiang Tian, ​​who was sitting in a chair waiting for him. "I am Zhu Bing, the magistrate of Binhai County. May I ask who you are?"

Jiang Tian stood up and returned the greeting, "I am a steward in Princess Zhaoshan's household, and I have come to Jiangnan with salt on Her Highness's orders."

Princess Zhaoshan? Zhu Bing was startled and glanced sideways at the registrar. Wasn't she supposed to be the Salt Commissioner?
Jiang Tian continued, "Her Highness the Princess instructed me to obey the command of the Salt Commissioner. The Commander ordered me to transport 100,000 catties of fine salt to Binhai County. The convoy is currently parked outside Binhai County. Please, Lord Zhu, open the city gates and allow the convoy to enter the city."

Zhu Bing adopted an air of authority, saying, "Unless it is absolutely necessary, the city gates should not be opened once they are closed; this is against the rules."

"Oh?" Jiang Tian asked in surprise, "Then a year ago, when Hu Sheng, a salt merchant from Suzhou, entered the city late at night, why were the city gates of Binhai County opened?"

"Could it be that in Magistrate Zhu's eyes, a dignified third-rank salt commissioner is inferior to a mere merchant?"

"I had no such intention!" Zhu Bing's face twitched. "Since the commander has given the order, I will immediately order the city gates to be opened."

Jiang Tian smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Magistrate Zhu."

Zhu Bing followed Jiang Tian to the west gate. The gate guards opened the gate without saying a word when they saw their official.

Outside the city gate, torches burned fiercely as far as the eye could see.

Jiang Tian urged, "Hurry up! The market opens at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow, so make sure the salt is delivered to the designated shops before Maoshi (5-7 AM)!"

Upon hearing this, the driver cracked his whip, and the men guarding the sides quickened their pace.

The sleeping people were awakened by the sound of cart wheels. Looking out the window at the street, they saw that it was as bright as day, and strong men with bare upper bodies were walking with great strides. Their imposing manner could be mistaken for that of bandits.

Some timid people kept their doors and windows tightly shut, while the bolder people took whatever they could find and quietly followed behind. When they saw the men stop at the entrance of the county government office and the county magistrate himself waiting to greet them, their hearts, which had been pounding, were finally at ease.

Even the most unscrupulous officials wouldn't dare to respectfully welcome bandits into the county government office.

But then I thought, given how heartless and cruel our officials are, it's not surprising that they would do such a thing, and my heart jumped again.

Zhu Bing was unaware of the complex inner thoughts of the people under his jurisdiction. He dared not ride in the official sedan chair and could only follow Jiang Tian, ​​barely managing to escape with his life, before finally returning to the county government office.

Zhu Bing, panting, asked, "Manager Jiang, which shop should this salt be delivered to?"

Jiang Tian pulled a thin piece of paper from his pocket. "Hu's Clothing Shop, Hu's Grocery Store, Hu's Wine Shop, Hu's Pastry Shop, and Hu's Paper Shop."

Zhu Bing: . . . . . . .

"All of them, all of them belong to the Hu family?"

"That's right!"

"But to the best of my knowledge, the Hu family is unaware that the Commander intends to sell salt in a shop under his name?"

“You’re mistaken, sir,” Jiang Tian shook his head. “The commander doesn’t want to sell salt in the Hu family’s shop, but in a shop under the government’s name.”

Huh? Zhu Bing was completely confused.

While directing the men to move the fine salt into the county government warehouse, Jiang Tian took the opportunity to explain, "The commander's intention is for the government to pay to buy back these shops and then sell fine salt exclusively."

Putting aside whether the county government can afford the money, even if it could, the Hu family wouldn't agree to sell!

Jiang Tian said confidently, "The Hu family will agree, so please rest assured, sir."

Zhu Bing, though puzzled, dared not refuse any longer. "Then I will go to the Hu family to buy the shop when it is dawn."

Jiang Tian shook his head, "It will be late by dawn, please go now, sir."

Zhu Bing looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky and took a deep breath.

The registrar tugged hard at Zhu Bing's official robes from behind: "My lord, you must hold back!" Jiang Tian said casually, "Before I left, Princess Zhaoshan specifically instructed me that the commander is a close friend of hers. If anyone dares to make things difficult for or disrespect the commander, you must inform the princess. She will make that person regret being born."

Zhu Bing said quickly, "I'll go to the Hu family right away."

Jiang Tian bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your trouble, sir!"

Zhu Bing, feeling utterly humiliated and seething with anger, went to the Hu family's house and pounded on their gate, making a deafening noise.

"Who is it in the middle of the night!" the gatekeeper cursed. "Knocking on the door so late at night, can't a man get some sleep?"

The servant had just opened the door when he was kicked and sent flying two meters away, his whole body aching from the fall. Just as he was about to start cursing, he heard a roar.

"How dare you! I'm here to greet you! Go tell your master to come out and welcome me!"

The servant stared wide-eyed and saw, illuminated by the torchlight, Zhu Bing, dressed in a blue official robe, his hair standing on end in fury, his eyes wide like copper bells, looking extremely terrifying.

The servant was so frightened that he ran as fast as he could towards the back of the house.

Zhu Bing acted as if he were at home, and without needing any servants to lead him, strode to the front hall.

"Master! Master!"

Mr. and Mrs. Hu, who had finally fallen asleep due to their worry and anxiety over the capture of the river bandits, were awakened by the wailing and howling of ghosts.

Master Hu sat up and frowned, asking, "Who's making a scene outside?"

Madam Hu summoned the maid on night duty, "Quickly drag that unruly fellow away and tie him up in the woodshed to starve him for three days and three nights!"

The maidservant hurried away, and a moment later rushed back, "Master, Madam, something terrible has happened! The gatekeeper says that Magistrate Zhu has come to the door!"

"What?" Master Hu, who was about to fall asleep, was suddenly awakened. "Magistrate Zhu?"

"Yes!" the maidservant said in a panic. "The servant said that Magistrate Zhu's expression was very unpleasant when he came to the door, as if he was furious!"

Master Hu threw off the covers, got out of bed, and changed and washed with the help of Madam Hu and the maid. Then he strode to the front hall.

Madam Hu's heart pounded. She ordered, "Go! Tell the kitchen to immediately prepare the finest tea and snacks and send them to the front hall!"

The maidservant hurriedly went to make arrangements.

In the front hall, Zhu Bing sat at the head of the table with a frosty expression. Upon seeing Hu Sheng, he looked at him with disdain and said in a sarcastic tone, "Master Hu, you have quite the airs. It's one thing that no one greeted me when I arrived, but you've made me wait for so long."

"It seems the rumors were true. Master Hu has powerful backers, so naturally he doesn't take me, a mere seventh-rank county magistrate, seriously."

Hu Sheng knelt down and repeatedly begged for forgiveness.

Once he had vented most of his anger, Zhu Bing finally relented and said, "Alright, you can get up now."

Hu Sheng stood up and stood respectfully to the side, personally offering the freshly brewed tea, "This is this year's newly picked pre-rain Longjing tea, please enjoy it, sir."

The aroma of tea soothed Zhu Bing's anger. "I have come here on the orders of the Salt Commissioner to purchase several shops for you on behalf of the Binhai County government."

Upon hearing the words "Commander of the Salt Bureau," Hu Sheng felt a chill run down his spine. "May I ask which shops you intend to buy, sir?"

Zhu Bing handed over the thin paper.

Hu Sheng opened it and nearly fainted.

I wasn't feeling well the past couple of days and didn't update, but I'll resume updates starting today!