Chapter 94

When Lin Bei asked Zhen Ding to talk about the Central Plains, Cui Lan pulled Feng Niangzi, who had not even had time to sit down, and stood up to take her leave. However, Lin Bei gestured for them to sit down, saying it was fine to listen.

This place was far in Nanyue, thousands of miles away from the heart of the Central Plains. The saying "the mountains are high and the emperor is far" applied here. Discussing such matters was harmless. Moreover, it was good for Cui Lan to hear about these things. Girls didn't have to be preoccupied with household matters all the time; they could also care about national affairs.

Zhen Ding felt a bit bitter inside. It was one thing to talk about these matters with Lin Bei, but for women to listen as well? However, Zhen Ding didn't dare to show any dissatisfaction to Lin Bei. He thought it was fortunate that only a few people were here, and the laborers hadn't gathered around. Otherwise, if the news spread, he would be implicated. The charge of discussing state affairs without authorization was no small matter.

After some thought, Zhen Ding decided to speak about what he could, and if there were things he couldn't or shouldn't, he would remain silent.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhen Ding slowly began, "Does the大人 know what the Zhen family does for a living?"

Without waiting for Lin Bei to answer, Mr. Bian said, "All grain merchants in the world are led by the Zhen family. Your family naturally deals in grain."

Zhen Ding's face showed a hint of pride, "Mr. Bian is right. The Zhen family started with grain and has now been in the business for three generations." Three generations to become the leading grain merchants in the world, the Zhen family was indeed extraordinary.

An Zhongzhi then asked, "I've heard that the Central Plains have suffered from drought for years, with many counties having no harvest at all. Your business must be difficult, right?"

Zhen Ding nodded, "That's exactly the case. The Zhen family has nearly a hundred trading posts in the thirteen states, trading with each other. In recent years, the Central Plains have suffered from continuous drought, leading to poor harvests in many areas, especially in Ji, Yan, and Yu states."

An Zhongzhi asked, "How much have grain prices risen there?"

Zhen Ding glanced at Lin Bei and finally said, "Taking millet as an example, three years ago, a stone of millet cost 300 coins, but now a liter costs 3,000 or 4,000 coins."

A stone is ten liters, so three years ago, a liter of millet cost 30 coins. This meant that the price had increased by about a hundred times in three years, which made everyone draw a sharp breath.

In fact, the price of rice in Nanyue had also risen sharply, now costing about 2,000 to 3,000 coins per liter. However, because the increase was gradual, the people of Nanyue had become somewhat accustomed to it. But when summarized and compared to three years ago, the difference was stark. Everyone exclaimed in their hearts: the grain prices had risen so much in just three years.

"No wonder there are more and more displaced people in recent years," Bian Ji sighed.

Matters of people's livelihood are of great importance to the state, and no ruler can deny this. Now, with grain prices so high, farmers could buy a liter or two, but not for long. In just three years, even some wealthy families had been brought to their knees. Of course, if one delved deeper, grain prices were secondary; the root cause was the corruption of the government.

If the government were clean, even disasters could be overcome. But the infuriating thing was that farmers had no income and still had to pay various heavy taxes. This was a death sentence. The high grain prices were merely an extension of the corrupt government.

Cui Lan, who didn't understand these matters, asked, "How do those displaced people survive?"

Bian Ji said, "The weaker ones will flood into the cities and beg on the streets. The stronger ones will take to the mountains and become bandits."

Feng Niangzi, curious, asked, "Does the court not provide disaster relief?"

Bian Ji and Zhen Ding could only smile bitterly. One was well-informed, and the other was well-read. They knew the answer to this question but didn't want to explain it to a young lady.

An Zhongzhi, however, said bluntly, "Feng Niangzi, the court doesn't have enough money and grain."

Feng Niangzi said "Oh" but didn't believe it. The court couldn't come up with money? It was said that even the minor officials in Hepu County feasted on fish and meat every day. If minor officials were so well-off, the high officials must be even richer. She suspected that the high officials didn't want to spend the money, which was actually close to the truth. There were too many corrupt officials who lined their own pockets and cared nothing for the lives of the displaced people.

Zhen Ding looked at Lin Bei and continued, "Last year, in Xindu County of Ji State, more than ten thousand displaced people stormed the county office, beheaded the county magistrate, opened the county treasury, and distributed the grain and money. This incident caused a sensation and even alarmed the governor, who sent troops to suppress and behead all the displaced people."

Cui Lan and Feng Niangzi covered their mouths in shock. Beheading more than ten thousand displaced people? How much blood must have flowed?

Zhen Ding sighed again, "This news eventually spread, and similar incidents occurred in several states, causing unrest."

Bian Ji then looked at Lin Bei, remembering what Lin Bei had told him. It seemed that such incidents were already happening, though on a small scale. Suppressing the displaced people could only deter them temporarily. As their situation worsened, they would take desperate measures. If someone raised the banner, many would follow.

The others, though they hadn't heard Lin Bei's words, could also sense that the situation in the Han Dynasty was not good. Cui Lan and Feng Niangzi were worried about the displaced people, who couldn't even afford food and had to resort to killing officials. How desperate must they have been to have such courage?

In the silence, Lin Bei wrote a few words: "Don't worry about those things. Let's eat first. Cherish the present."

Lin Bei had known about these matters for a long time. He was not heartless, but there was nothing he could do. He could take care of a few hundred people, but not the entire Han Dynasty. So, he could only focus on the present and improve the situation in Xishan Township. Perhaps in the future, the situation in Xishan Township would spread and reach the displaced people, allowing them to come to Xishan Township and avoid starvation. This would be Lin Bei's good deed.

After all, the Central Plains and Nanyue were too far apart. After Lin Bei spoke, everyone put the matter aside and began to eat. In Lin Bei's pot was beef tripe, the tenderest part of the cow's stomach. When cooked, it was crisp, tender, and flavorful, and very chewy, making it a delicacy. Once everyone started eating, they forgot everything else. After all, filling their stomachs was the most important thing.

While they were eating, several laborers suddenly walked out of the crowd, came to Lin Bei, and knelt down with a thud. Lin Bei, who hadn't noticed, was startled and at a loss.

The laborers knocked their heads on the ground nine times before raising their heads. A man in his forties with a dark complexion spoke sincerely, "Sir, we don't understand big principles. We are here to thank you for giving us meat to eat. We are truly grateful to you and wish you a long life."

Lin Bei was about to ask Mr. Bian to help them up, as he was not used to this way of showing gratitude. Before Mr. Bian could speak, hundreds of people knelt down one after another, bowing to Lin Bei, as if they had planned it. Cui Lan quickly pulled Feng Niangzi to kneel down as well, and the atmosphere left Lin Bei deeply moved.

Mr. Bian sighed, "Sir, this is the sincere gratitude of the laborers. You deserve it. Think of the dire situation in the Central Plains. Without you, Nanyue might be in the same state in a few years. It is a great fortune for Xishan Township to have your protection."

With that, Mr. Bian lifted his robe and knelt down, "Bian Ji and Bian Xuezhi bow to you, Sir."