In mid-December, Juyang City, Shanggu County, after the first snowfall, the weather was cold and frozen. Under the flat eaves, the figures of pedestrians and vendors on the streets were still bustling with each other. There will be no less. The price of food in the city changes every day and gradually rises. For the people in the city, it is related to whether they can live a good year. It is not difficult to starve thousands or tens of thousands of people to death in one winter. The time for the food price to rise is not long. Although there are people who cannot eat, they will not starve to death.

Places like wine shops also raise prices. When it snows in winter, wine shops of all sizes in the city become the most lively and noisy places. When food and wine prices rise, these original merchants already have some money, so they don’t make a big fuss, so they naturally have complaints.

"...The three wealthy families of Wang Suzhao in Shanggu County really regarded themselves as wealthy families. They wanted the government to give up the trade in the north to them. If they had only a few hundred people at home, they would dare to make a decision with the government. They were not afraid that Gongsun Prefect would be angry and kill all their whole family. The Xianbei who could kill on the grassland, would the Huns kneel down and beg for mercy to admit defeat?"

Almost noon, the restaurant was at dinner, and it became lively as usual. In the hustle and bustle, the man who spoke was a northerner and was not polite. Most of the people around him were businessmen who were used to traveling around, clamoring to echo the table and argue.

"Then the brother should not say that. Killing the local clan will have a bad impact. According to my days in Shanggu County, I also know that in these three families, there are so many people in each county, who really want to use their knives... The one who suffers is Gongsun Prefect. At that time, the government orders are different and people are looking outward, but it will be difficult to deal with."

On another few cases, someone clapped his hands: "I said, do you know what happened recently? A great thing happened in Gongsun Prefect's family? Do you think it was the secret action of these big families in Shanggu County... After all, everyone is jealous of the cattle, sheep and horses transported from the grassland. This is not a small number."

"Don't cause trouble... Don't cause trouble, drink and drink!" Someone next to him waved his hand to dissuade him.

Speaking of this, the businessman named Yu who had spoken before stood up excitedly, "I'm afraid they're so afraid. The government already wants us to be the merchants. If these big-name merchants hadn't been interfering with each other on the way, this matter would have been decided long ago. I came from Bingzhou thousands of miles away, and I couldn't let me carry the goods back intact... Let's just choose one person first, take everyone together and go to the government office to prepare a name. If those big-name merchants dare to stop them, we will not be afraid..." As he said that, he took the initiative to curse the wealthy families.

In the noisy atmosphere, a man watched everyone talk loudly, smiled casually, and picked up the wine drunk. Before he could put it to his mouth, ripples appeared on the water surface. He shook his head and ripples spread out in circles.

"Uh...my hands are not shaking..."

The sound of talking in the wine shop suddenly stopped, and the ground under his feet vibrated. The crackling sound of whips whipped in the air in his ears. The sound of horse hooves roared along the street at the door of the wine shop, booming... The horse hooves churned for a long time, and the armored cavalry had finished passing the street.

On the whole street, countless heads and figures hurriedly poked out of the eaves to see what was going on. A discussion of whispering in the crowd: "Depending on the situation, is it going to fight?"

"The first snow has fallen, why are you still fighting..."

"...It is also possible that Brother Yu has argued that the prefect is going to take action. Maybe that assassination is really related to the three major families."

"It's all light to search the house..."

...

The vendors and foreigners in the street were probably speculated that the disasters that the three rich families were about to face were more fortunate and gloating. After all, many of them delayed their trip home because of these wealthy families. They walked through the Taihang Mountains in heavy snow, which was a waste of time. After a while of discussion, the crowd gradually dispersed, and they returned to their seats to continue eating and drinking, talking about the north and south.

***************

December and 16th, Juyang Prefecture.

Li Ru's name is Li Wen to the outside world. His identity as killing the emperor was quite sensitive. It would cause great trouble to listen to people outside. Even if he was placed under the command of other princes in various towns, he would be very suspicious of such an identity. However, the affirmative words that Gongsun Zhi said when he got on the horse that day made the middle-aged scholar sigh in his heart.

The lifelong life... dies for those who deserve to be close friends.

He put down the bamboo slips, reached out to put out the wick, got up and walked out of the room. The atmosphere outside was a little different from usual. Three gentry and nobles from Shanggu County visited several times, from gentle words to indirect words, and now the bad tone is threatening, but most of the words were still persuading: General Baima has gone, and his foundation is all in Youbeiping. It is inconvenient for Gongsun Prefect to sit in Shanggu for his son. He said that at the beginning of the year, Gongsun Prefect was moved here, and so many people in Heishan were moved here, they all sold some land for the government to repair the village and resettle it, and there was no difficulty in making it. Now the prefect settles his home here, and at this time, the transactions on the grassland must be considered first, such talents are reasonable.

In addition to these three outdoors, many small portals of local forces have come to persuade people, goods, and land to put pressure on them. Most of these people are privately vented, and the smaller ones are dependent on the bigger ones. In the past two months, they have been blamed by Dongfang Sheng and Li Ru and blocked each other and then the food price is raised.

The scribe walked through the long eaves and in the main hall of the talks, Dongfang Sheng discussed with the three people at the helm of the helms, and his words were already very intense.

"...Mr. Dongfang County Magistrate, it's not that I'm waiting to come and cause trouble. The New Year is coming. No matter how troublesome this troublesome matter is, no one can live well this year. Gongsun Prefect is a capable man, and you are also a capable man, but you always have to eat. Now Jundu Mountain and Yanmen County have blocked the business roads. The goods are scarce and the prices of grain are rising day by day. You have to find a way to lower it, otherwise the people who can't afford to eat will be troublesome."

On the right seat, the middle-aged man wearing a crown and a hat, fox fur and a robe in Shu brocade was whispering. Dongfang Sheng behind the long case could naturally hear the tone of the other party's words, but kept smiling and responded to a few words. Then he saw the door opening, and the scholar with a gloomy smile came in.

Then the door was closed, and a team of soldiers came over to guard the hall door with weapons. The three people in the side table saw Li Ru coming in, and turned their faces.

"Mr. Prince, you are the government official of Shanggu County. Why did you ask an aide to join in? I'm sorry we don't want to continue talking, so say goodbye!" The three of them stood up, brushed Li Ru's shoulders, pulled open the door, and rushed over one after another. Someone turned around and shouted angrily: "Li Wen, what do you mean?"

Li Ru walked to the seat, knelt down with a robe, poured wine for himself, and said in a plain tone: "You don't want to talk, Wen wants to talk to you."

Pour the wine, put the wine pot down the table, and he raised his eyes: "...The assassination of the prefect is what you three do."

"You are just catching and biting"

******************

In the suburbs outside Juyang City, there are almost all the villages connected here, forming a huge crowded area, and goods are often distributed and sold here. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are a relatively large town. The Su family in Zhuangzi was the largest, followed by the Wang family, and finally the Zhao family. But today, a soldier entered the Zhuangzi and fenced the houses of the three families. The head of the family went to the city to do business, leaving behind the eldest son or housewife in the family to deal with the officers and soldiers. In the north, there were soldiers passing by taking the opportunity to cause trouble. Often they sent some money and sent some food and clothing.

However, the door that was opened could no longer be closed.

"According to the prefect's order, the Su family, Wang family and Zhao family, the three households were poor and unkind. They wanted to raise the price of food first, and they were intentionally assassinated by the prefect. They were suspected of plotting rebellion. Therefore, they ordered the Feng family to take down their parents, wives, concubines and children. They were investigated at a date. The family property and land should not be moved without any action, and the servants and maids were not allowed to leave the courtyard. Violators were punished as theft."

The silk cloth issued by the order was put away, and the cavalry leader waved back: "Catch the person"

"You guys are catching and biting!"

In front of the courtyard, the servants at home saw soldiers like wolves and tigers coming, so naturally they did not have the courage to resist the other party. The woman in charge or the eldest son in the family struggled with shackles and shouted: "I am unfair... My family wants to be kind and have never done such a thing. Please be kind and let us wait until the head of the family comes back and make it clear to you."

"No chance!" The leader turned around and shouted loudly: "Take it away!"

The sky is so gloomy that it is about to start the second snow.
Chapter completed!