The Song Dynasty on the Sand Table

Chapter 70 Master Yue is here again
To simply understand this urbanization rate, it means that more than 20% of Jimo County’s population is crowded in the county seat.

Such a high urbanization rate means that there are many people who belong to the "non-agricultural employment population" and the food they eat depends entirely on the supply from the surrounding rural areas.

But Jimo County has experienced nearly a year of anarchy, and agricultural production has suffered great damage. The farmers themselves cannot even get enough to eat, so where will the food come from to supply the non-agricultural employed population?
This situation was not obvious when the population did not flow back into the county town. However, once the non-agricultural employed population returned to the county town on a large scale and gathered together, the food problem became prominent.

This is not Wu Jialiang's responsibility, but a problem that the county magistrate and the chief clerk need to deal with. Cui Weihua now has to face tens of thousands of county residents crying for food every day when he opens his eyes. He is going crazy.

Cui Weihua: "County Lieutenant Wu, have you recruited too many archers? I have to provide food for all of them, which is really too much to support. How about laying off half of them first? Then recruit again after the autumn harvest."

Wu Jialiang was shocked. He had come to discuss expanding enrollment, but the county magistrate wanted him to reduce staff? Wasn't this the opposite of what he wanted?
"County Master, I've finally managed to gather over a hundred people. After diligent daily training, we've finally gained some fighting power, but it's still not enough. Facing the gang of villains like Prince Gong, I'm helpless. How can I reduce our numbers by half?"

Cui Weihua: "But I can't do anything about it. You know how food is scarce in the county right now. I'm almost going to hang myself."

Wu Jialiang: "How about asking the local gentry to share the burden?"

Cui Weihua: "Almost all the gentry have died. Only a few are left. I caught them and asked them to pay their taxes twice. Now they are complaining bitterly. I cannot ask them to pay their taxes again, otherwise they will lead a rebellion."

Wu Jialiang: “…”

Well, Wu Jialiang actually knew that the gentry would rebel if they were forced into a corner, because he had a good brother named Jiu Wenlong Shi Jin, who was originally a gentry and was forced to rebel.

"What should we do?" Both members couldn't help but sigh.

In most places, those who manage the military only want to recruit more soldiers, without considering the difficulties of managing money and food. And those who manage money and food only want to save money, without considering the difficulties of managing the military.

It is rare for these two officials to sit together and consider each other.

At this moment, one of Cui Weihua's servants ran in from outside, his face full of joy: "Master, happy news, great happy news."

Cui Weihua: “?”

The servant said, "Yue Yanei, who lived in seclusion on Mount Laoshan, has come into the city and brought a large amount of food."

Cui Weihua was delighted: "A large amount of food? How much?"

He cared about food, but Wu Jialiang next to him cared about the three words "Yue Yanei".

In the Song Dynasty, "Yanei" was generally used to refer to the second generation of officials. When Yue Wenxuan came to the county town last time, Wu Jialiang didn't know what his family background was, so he didn't call him Yanei, but called him Master Yue.

Now, I was not surprised to hear Cui Weihua's subordinates call him Yanei.

The manners and bearing of Master Yue were extraordinary, and in the eyes of the servants he seemed unattainable. He must be the son of an official, so they couldn't help but call him "Yanei", which was indeed reasonable.

Wu Jialiang said happily, "Oh, Master Yue is here again. Take me to meet him quickly." The two officials ran out. When they arrived at the gate of the county town, they saw a convoy entering the city.

There were more than twenty vehicles in the convoy, each of which was fully loaded with food, and the total weight was probably tens of thousands of pounds.

Cui Weihua was overjoyed and was about to step forward to greet him, but he saw Wu Jialiang rush forward first and bowed to the newcomer: "Master Yue! Ahem, Yue Yanei, long time no see."

Yue Wenxuan bowed to Wu Jialiang and said, "Hello, Mr. Jialiang. I heard that you have made great contributions in suppressing the bandits. The villages around the county have all returned to peace. This is truly a cause for celebration. The word 'Yanei' gives me a headache. Please just call me Young Master."

The Yanei that left the deepest impression on Yue Wenxuan was Gao Yanei, who harmed Lin Chong's family in "Water Margin". He didn't like the title of Yanei very much.

Wu Jialiang's face was devoid of pride. "Thanks to Master Yue for lending me Brother Ye and Nephew Li, it was thanks to them that we were able to hold up our reputation and suppress a few minor bandits, which are really not worth mentioning. As for the most powerful one, Prince Gong, I am now completely helpless. Last night, Prince Gong's spies entered the city and actually tried to trick innocent people into surrendering to the bandits. I led the troops to capture them, but they escaped again. Sigh."

Yue Wenxuan laughed secretly in his heart. The porters who transported grain into the city were actually rebel soldiers in disguise. They were all laughing secretly.

Zhang Dashu almost laughed out loud, and Zhang Dalang next to him quickly covered his mouth and dragged him to the back of the car.

Zhang Wazi, a soldier in the team, couldn't help but whisper, "If we suddenly launch an attack now, we can capture several officials in one fell swoop and take over this county immediately."

Zhang Dalang whispered, "Hush! Don't mess around. The True Lord has his own plans. Don't mess with him and ruin his plans."

Zhang Dalang is the son of the head of Zhangjia Village. He is from a good family. Although he has only been educated for a few days, he is knowledgeable and has done mass work. He knows very well that the rebel army is considered a bandit army in the eyes of the people. If he suddenly launches an attack and takes down the officials now, it will only lead to chaos in the county. Tens of thousands of county residents will flee in all directions, crowding and trampling on each other. The vagrants in the city will take the opportunity to smash, loot and burn, which may cause a tragedy and deal a heavy blow to the rebel army's already bad reputation.

Then the True Lord will definitely be unhappy.

Yue Wenxuan smiled and said to Wu Jialiang, "Mr. Jialiang is dedicated to maintaining public order and is a true role model for us. I thought I should do something for the people, so I took out the grain stored at home and sent it to the county town, hoping to alleviate their urgent needs."

Wu Jialiang's attention then turned to the grain cart.

At this time, Cui Weihua also stepped forward, putting on the etiquette of a scholar, but without any airs: "Wu County Magistrate, it turns out that you and this young master are old friends. Why don't you introduce them to me..."

Wu Jialiang quickly introduced them: "This is the new Jimo County Magistrate, Cui Weihua. This man over here is the hermit of Laoshan, Master Yue, whose ancestors produced many kings, dukes, generals and ministers. I recently wiped out many gangs of bandits, all thanks to the two old subordinates that Master Yue lent me."

Cui Weihua's eyes swept over Master Ye and Bruce Lee, and he thought: So that's how it is. I was wondering why there were no two people behind you when you took office, but recently I see these two people following you every day. It turns out that they are the people lent to you by this young master.

Cui Weihua had long heard how skilled these two men were at fighting. Now that he knew they were Yue Wenxuan's men, he was immediately filled with respect. He had a better idea of ​​Yue Wenxuan's strength. "Young Master Yue first sent people to help the people suppress the bandits, and now he's sending food to alleviate their suffering. He's truly a wise man. I just don't know what the price of this food is..."

He deliberately let out a long tone because he was a little worried. What if this young man said he was here to help the people, but actually wanted to make a fortune in the national crisis and take the opportunity to sell the grain at a high price?

Cui Weihua has seen this kind of tricks many times. Many dignitaries and grain merchants like to play this trick.

(End of this chapter)