Qingzhou Prefecture, Second Hall.
Zhu Huaizhang, his forehead drenched in sweat, was reviewing official documents when Li Xiao stood beside him and kindly advised, "Sir... you should buy a Cooling Talisman Paper. If you keep going like this, I'm afraid you'll get heatstroke."
Zhu Huaizhang wiped his forehead. "I won't buy it... Twenty taels a piece, that's half a month's salary for me."
Li Xiao was feeling unwell from the heat. "I heard that Constable Wang's grandfather only spent Five Hundred Wen. Why don't we ask him to buy it for us?"
"No way... I can't bring myself to ask someone for help."
"Then I'll go buy it."
Zhu Huaizhang glanced at him and scoffed, "Go ahead... I'll take five hundred taels, then you'll shut up."
Li Xiao was speechless. How could he be blamed? Who knew Jin Shanyao had such real skills? If he had known this, he shouldn't have offended her so badly when he first arrived in the prefectural city.
Now things are different... Other people in the government office buy talismans for one tael of silver, but he and the magistrate pay double that.
Li Xiao wiped his sweat and was about to offer some advice when Zhu Huaizhang said, "The price of grain in the prefectural city has already doubled; the granaries will be opened and grain distributed tomorrow."
Li Xiao exclaimed in surprise, "Sir, it's September now, and the autumn harvest is just around the corner. We don't know how the harvest will turn out yet. If the yield is low and the farmers can't pay their taxes, the grain in our warehouse can still hold out for a while."
Zhu Huaizhang's sweat splattered onto the desk, spreading the ink. He hurriedly tried to wipe it away... but this movement caused another three or four drops of sweat to fall, and... this page was written in vain again.
He felt a pang of heartache; another sheet of paper was wasted.
"I've calculated it. After deducting taxes, we can still manage..." Zhu Huaizhang got up, walked to the basin, washed his face, dried it with a handkerchief, and put it back on the shelf.
"At first I thought Su Wenqian was being ridiculous, making the people plant drought-resistant crops, but now it seems I was inexperienced."
Fortunately, I had accidentally stockpiled some food, otherwise there might have been scenes of people selling their children, and then...
"My lord..." Zhu Huaizhang's voice was interrupted by the gatekeeper, Wu Zhuangzi stood outside the door. "The Prefect of Jing'an Prefecture is waiting in the main hall of the prefectural government office."
Zhu Huaizhang was momentarily stunned, wondering to himself why the prefect of Jing'an Prefecture wanted to see him when he had no dealings with these officials from the north. As he thought this, he walked into the main hall.
A man in his fifties, dressed in the same official robes as him, quickly stepped forward to greet him, "Greetings, Lord Zhu. I am Zhou Yan, the Prefect of Jing'an Prefecture."
Zhu Huaizhang returned the greeting, " Lord Zhou... may I ask what brings Lord Zhou here?"
Zhou Yan was slightly taken aback, thinking that it was inappropriate to ask the other party what they wanted right away, but Zhu Huaizhang's firm and unwavering gaze, he hesitated to speak.
Zhou Yan chuckled and laughed it off, "I heard Lord Zhu came from the south. I wonder how he's doing in the north."
"Fine..."
After he finished speaking, the air fell silent.
Zhou Yan wiped the sweat from his brow and got straight to the point, "I heard that Lord Zhu received a batch of grain before the New Year. I wonder if some could be shared with Jing'an Prefecture?"
Zhu Huaizhang, "We still have a month until the autumn harvest, and we don't know how much grain we'll get. I'm afraid the little grain I've stored won't be enough."
Zhou Yan had anticipated his attempt to evade the issue, and his smile remained undiminished as he said, "The imperial court doesn't only require grain for taxes; silver can also be paid. I've heard that Anzhi Hall in Qingzhou Prefecture is quite the money tree..."
He paused slightly, carefully observing Zhu Huaizhang's expression, "Whether it's paying taxes in silver or grain, isn't it all up to Lord Zhu?"
Zhu Huaizhang's pupils contracted, his fingers rubbing his cuffs, and he stared directly at Zhou Yan. " Lord Zhou, what do you mean by that?"
Zhou Yan's smile deepened. " Lord Zhu is young and promising, but..." He deliberately drew out the last syllable, "These three prefectures in the north have always been of one mind and have overcome difficulties together."
In previous years, without mutual assistance, no one could have survived such a disastrous year. I have come here today on behalf of the people of Jing'an Prefecture to beg Lord Zhu for a way to survive.
This is also to leave you a 'way' in the officialdom of our northern region, Lord Zhu."
Anzhi Hall was a major taxpayer in Qingzhou Prefecture, and his assets had probably already attracted the attention of those in power.
Zhou Yan gave him a choice: if he chose the official position, the three prefectures would join forces to swallow Anzhi Hall. At that time, he could either put the money into his private treasury or pursue an official career.
If he chooses Anzhi Hall, he's probably done being a prefect for the rest of his career.
Zhu Huaizhang's face turned cold. " Lord Zhou, I'm afraid you've made a wasted trip. The people of Jing'an Prefecture need grain, and so does my Qingzhou Prefecture. As for paying taxes, that will be done according to the court's regulations, so there's no need for you to worry about it, Lord Zhou."
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Zhou Yan's eyes flashed with anger. " Lord Zhu... you'd better think carefully about the interests of the merchants versus your career in officialdom."
Zhu Huaizhang stood up and said, " Lord Zhou, I have served as an official for many years and have never done anything to wrong the people. Please pretend I didn't hear what happened today."
After saying that, he called out to the door, "Show the guest out..."
Wu Zhuangzi was eavesdropping outside the door, was startled and hurriedly went inside to bow to Zhou Yan, " Lord Zhou... this way please."
Zhou Yan angrily flung his sleeves... "You don't know what's good for you... You think you're an honest official just because you're wearing a tattered official robe? This guy from the south is even worse than Su Wenqian, at least Su Wenqian at least gives you a smile."
And look at him... he had a long face the whole time, he's going to go back and impeach him.
That evening, the government posted a notice announcing the distribution of grain. A group of people gathered around the notice, chattering, " Lord Zhu is distributing grain, so why is there a purchase limit?"
Someone nearby chimed in, "It's a purchase limit. Didn't you see you need your household registration document? It's based on the number of people; each person can only buy one pound a day. They won't sell you any more."
"I don't care what they bring, as long as it's enough to store grain. Five catties of rice a day is enough for my family of five."
The price of grain in Qingzhou Prefecture dropped within half a month due to Zhu Huaizhang's distribution of grain.
That day, Wu Zhuangzi came to the Anzhi Hall to pick up the cooling balm.
He looked around but didn't see Jin Shanyao, so he asked Qing Yang behind the counter, "Where's Shopkeeper Jin? I can't see her."
"Did you need something from me?"
Before Qing Yang could answer, Jin Shanyao walked in from the backyard.
Wu Zhuangzi stuffed all the cooling ointment into a bag, picked it up, and followed her to the table.
He glanced around and whispered, "A few days ago, the prefect of Jing'an Prefecture came asking for grain... Lord Zhu didn't give it to him and even offended him."
Jin Shanyao in surprise, "How much did he borrow?"
Wu Zhuangzi snorted, "They didn't say how much, but I think they're going to take at least half, saying it's for the people of Jing'an Prefecture..."
The text also mentions Anzhi Hall, suggesting that Lord Zhu increase taxes on the Anzhi Hall to fill the tax shortfall. Lord Zhu did not agree.
"You know, this person... is so mean..." Wu Zhuangzi sat down and didn't want to move. Anzhi Hall was so cool, especially when he was near the Jin Shanyao.
Jin Shanyao thought to herself that this old-fashioned man was quite principled, and since he hadn't tricked her, she decided to offer him a plan.
" Wu Zhuangzi, please pass on a message to Zhu Huaizhang for me."
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhuangzi sat up straight. "You said..."
Jin Shanyao considered carefully and said, "Although Qingzhou Prefecture's harvest this year is meager, it's enough to make ends meet. Why not use the stored grain in the warehouse to exchange for farm tools from Jing'an Prefecture, and then sell the farm tools to them at a higher price next year after the drought has passed?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she said in a sinister tone, "In this way, Jing'an Prefecture will be unable to recover for three years... At that time, Zhu Huaizhang's achievements will stand out, and a promotion will be just a matter of time."
Wu Zhuangzi stared blankly at Jin Shanyao, oh my god! How could he forget that this guy looks all smiles, but inside he's a wicked and despicable scoundrel?
This isn't a plan, it's tantamount to wiping out the entire family line... and a promotion? If Lord Zhu heard this, he'd probably be the first to die! Then the people of Jing'an Prefecture would have no farming tools to cultivate the land, missing the planting season...
Wu Zhuangzi didn't dare to think any further. He picked up his bundle, turned around, and left, leaving Jin Shanyao bewildered. "Hey... Zhuangzi, I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you leaving?"
" Zhuangzi, please pass on a message to Lord Zhu for me: 'No poison, no man'..." He stopped mid-sentence.
Jin Shanyao frowned in thought, "What's the next line? 'A petty person is no gentleman'? No, no, 'The most poisonous heart is a woman's'? That doesn't seem right either..."
Seeing Wu Zhuangzi walking further and further away, she shouted anxiously, "Better to die than let my fellow Daoist die... Just kowtow and it'll be over..."
Wu Zhuangzi stumbled and almost fell.