in2ebook Chapter 400 People are in dire straits
Chapter 400 People are in dire straits
Chapter 400 The People Are Living in Misery
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Yu Tao knocked on the door.
Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Brother Yu, this is going too far! Even though I'm your hostage right now, you still have to let me get enough sleep! Why are you waking me up so early to leave?"
Yu Tao said with a wry smile, "Lord Wang, I am not in a hurry to get on the road, but many people are gathered at the entrance of the county government office, waiting for you to receive me."
Wang Wenzhou curled his lip and said sarcastically, "Brother Yu, I'm not in control of my own life right now, how can I meet with the people? Don't tease me, just send someone to drive them away, you're very good at that!"
"Lord Wang, there are thousands of people outside. I'm really afraid something might happen," Yu Tao said helplessly.
"Okay! Wait a minute, I'll go out and take a look!" Wang Wenzhou got dressed with the help of the babies.
Fearing that Wang Wenzhou might take the opportunity to escape, Yu Tao led several bandits and followed closely behind Wang Wenzhou.
"Lord Wang is here!" the yamen runner at the gate announced loudly.
When the people heard that Wang Wenzhou had arrived, they all knelt down on the ground.
"Greetings, Wang Qingtian!"
"Wang Qingtian, you must do justice for me!"
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, please rise quickly."
The common people looked up at Wang Wenzhou, somewhat surprised. Shouldn't ordinary people kneel down when speaking to officials? This imperial envoy is telling us to stand up. Does he not want to seek justice for us?
"Gentlemen, please rise! I presume you have come regarding the extra taxes. I hereby make a promise to you all. The extra taxes collected by the corrupt official Shen Zizhen will be returned in full by the yamen. I have already reported this matter to the imperial court, and the silver will be distributed immediately upon the arrival of the new magistrate of Gaoling County," Wang Wenzhou said.
"Thank you, Your Excellency, Lord Wang!"
"Lord Wang, justice has been served!"
"Lord Wang is wholeheartedly devoted to the people!"
Upon hearing that there was silver to be received, the people praised it highly.
Wang Wenzhou nodded with satisfaction. Although there had been some unexpected events, his reputation as Wang Qingtian was already deeply etched in the hearts of the people of Gaoling County.
Wang Wenzhou said righteously, "Yesterday, Yu Tao, Li Lin, and others committed treason and were executed on the spot by me. Because they are already dead, their past crimes, even if they caused great losses to the victims, cannot be compensated. On behalf of the yamen, I apologize to all the victims. I'm sorry! I'm late!"
After speaking, Wang Wenzhou bowed deeply to the people.
"Lord Wang, you mustn't do that!"
"Wang Qingtian, Yu Tao and the others have committed numerous evils and deserve to die. You need not blame yourself. We, the elders of Gaoling, will always remember your great kindness and virtue for standing up for us and upholding justice!"
Yu Tao quickly pressed down his straw hat to cover his face; he didn't want to be recognized by the people, as he was still alive.
Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and said, "Fellow villagers, please rise. Although Yu Tao and the others have been executed, justice is delayed, and I feel very guilty. If I had come sooner, many people would not have been bullied by Yu Tao and the others."
"Woooo..."
"Wang Qingtian!"
The people were moved to tears; even justice delayed was justice served. The victims' families, in particular, were overcome with emotion, tears streaming down their faces—their enemies had finally been brought to justice.
"Gentlemen, please return! I have official business to attend to and cannot linger in Gaoling. I must depart today," Wang Wenzhou said.
"Lord Wang, are you still buying girls?"
"Wang Qingtian, I beg you, please buy my daughter!"
"Wang Qingtian, if you don't buy my granddaughter, I will kneel here and never get up!"
Wang Wenzhou frowned deeply. What was going on? "I spent three thousand taels of silver yesterday to buy Qi Siyan, and you all think I'm stupid and have too much money? Little Yan Yan is a top-notch little tiger girl; that's why I spent so much silver. Is it really okay for you to sell girls like this?"
"Gentlemen, fellow villagers! My purchase of Miss Qi Siyan yesterday was not for real! It was for investigating a case. I have always been honest and upright, how could I have so much money?" Wang Wenzhou cursed inwardly. They all say the people are simple and honest, simple and honest my ass! They are all cunning to death, trying to swindle me? You are too green, I am a professional swindler.
An old man, tears streaming down his face, cried out, "Justice Wang, please give me a way out! My family is truly starving! My granddaughter is only sixteen years old. I don't want your money. I'll give her to you, whether she's a maid or a concubine, as long as you give her food and let her live, I will never be able to repay you in this life. In the next life, I will be your servant in the name of justice."
"Wang Qingtian, I don't want any money, please just accept my daughter!"
"I don't want any money!"
Because of Shen Zizhen's extortionate taxes and the oppression and numerous evil deeds committed by Yu Tao and others, the people of Gaoling County were so poor that they couldn't afford to eat. Girls in families were unwanted, not even if given away for free, let alone sold. But keeping them at home meant another mouth to feed. Starvation in Gaoling was no longer news; people frequently died of starvation in the streets.
So when the people saw so many girls in Wang Wenzhou's entourage, they wanted to give their daughters to him. No matter what, it would at least give their daughters something to eat and prevent them from starving. Moreover, it would mean one less person to support in their families, while the others might survive until the extra three-fold salary was paid.
Wang Wenzhou truly hadn't expected so many people to offer him girls for free. It seemed the people were truly starving; no wonder the bandit army kept rising up after each wave of suppressions.
Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment, then pointed at the brave man kneeling on the ground and asked, "Grandpa, how much grain do you have at home?"
The old man said with a bitter smile, "Wang Qingtian, to tell you the truth, my family has been without food for more than half a month. My 80-year-old mother starved to death. These days, my family has been surviving on tree leaves."
Wang Wenzhou could no longer suppress his anger; Shen Zizhen truly deserved to die. A county magistrate who allowed the people under his jurisdiction to starve to death—killing him would be letting him off too easily.
Wang Wenzhou bowed deeply to the people and said sincerely, "It is all my fault. I really did not know that you, my fellow villagers, are so hungry. I will order the granaries to be opened and the grain distributed."
"Waaah..." the old man cried, "Wang Qingtian, you are a good man! And an honest official! But you don't know that the granaries in Gaoling County have been empty for a long time."
"Huh?" Wang Wenzhou frowned and asked, "Grandpa, every county has granaries, why is there no grain in the granaries of Gaoling County?"
The old man said helplessly, "Last year there was a great disaster, and grain prices soared. Shen Zizhen colluded with Yu Tao and others to sell all the grain. This year, the new grain has not yet been harvested, so the granary is empty of a single grain!"
Wang Wenzhou turned around and glared fiercely at Yu Tao, saying coldly, "Yu Tao! If I weren't in your hands right now, I would kill you right now!"
Yu Tao said helplessly, "Lord Wang, you don't know this. I didn't sell any grain; it's all been eaten by my men. The court has been in debt for a long time; we can't let our men starve to death, can we?"
Wang Wenzhou shook his head with a bitter smile. No wonder Emperor Chongzhen was a ruler who brought about the downfall of his country. Now he truly understood what it meant for the people to suffer.