Chapter 38 talks about transporting food to where it is most needed. "Why do you say that if you have a good harvest, you should pay more taxes? Are you just being eloquent? Or can you replace the imperial decree?"

No one expected that Mao Youfu, who had been dumbfounded just now, suddenly became sharp in his words.

Tu Jie was so angry at this wave that he pointed at Mao Youfu and blew his beard and glared, "You are stupid."

At this time, Chen Ning also stood up and accused: "Prefect Mao, even if Kaiping County has not paid less taxes and grains, you colluded to hide a full 200 ​​million shi of grains. This is already an unpardonable crime. Don't do it." Sophistry here!”

Mao Youfu's expression dimmed again, and he bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, concealing these 200 million stones of grain is really the crime of the minister! The guilty minister will never make excuses!"

"But if someone tries to throw dirty water on us, I will never accept it!"

"I am willing to crash to death in this hall today to atone for my sins and clarify my will!"

After saying that, Mao Youfu stretched out his head and hit the big red pillar next to him.

"Quick! Stop him!"

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted hurriedly.

Several generals quickly stopped Mao Youfu.

"Mao Youfu, you can't die now. I still have questions that I haven't asked clearly!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said loudly.

Mao Youfu was a little confused, "Your Majesty, I have already answered everything that the guilty minister should answer. I wonder if you have any more questions?"

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and asked in a deep voice: "Mao Youfu, I ask you, what do Ouyang Lun mean by hiding these 200 million stones of grain?"

Forehead. Mao Youfu became more and more confused. He didn't quite understand the purpose of His Majesty the Emperor in asking this question. Did he want to pick out Ouyang Lun? After all, Ouyang Lun is Zhu Yuanzhang's son-in-law. Ouyang Lun is very good. He always has many novel ideas that can bring tangible benefits to the people. If he died because of this incident, what should the people of Peiping do? Mao Youfu knew very well that according to Zhu Yuanzhang's character, he and Guo Zi would definitely die. In this case, it was better to sacrifice himself to save him.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw through Mao Youfu's thoughts at a glance and said first: "Mao Youfu, I can warn you, don't try to play tricks in front of me, you must answer truthfully!"

Being warned by Zhu Yuanzhang, Mao Youfu had no choice but to answer truthfully, "Your Majesty, this is indeed Ouyang Lun's idea, but it was agreed by the guilty minister, and the actual operation was arranged by the guilty minister! Sell out 200 million shi of grain, just The county magistrate alone can’t handle it.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and continued to ask: "Does Guo Zi know about this?"

Mao Youfu shook his head, "Envoy Guo Bu does not know. He only knows that Kaiping County has good harvests and dividends every year. The details are all arranged by the minister."

Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more confused and asked the question that he couldn't figure out the most, "Since you didn't take the 200 million shi of food from Tan Mo, why are you so secretive? If it were reported to the court, your political achievements would probably be promoted by at least two levels!"

"Let alone the "Kaiping Grain Case"!" When he heard that the 200 million shi of grain sales money fell into the hands of the people in Kaiping, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly lost a lot of anger in his heart. As long as he is not a corrupt official and does not cause harm, People, there is still hope! Now Zhu Yuanzhang is mainly angry because Mao Youfu and Ouyang Lun did this without telling him. To put it mildly, it was a personal act, and to put it seriously, it was deceiving the court! Mao Youfu said helplessly: "Your Majesty, actually the guilty minister asked Ouyang Lun the same question, but he told me a reason. After listening to it, I agreed to this approach. From now on, this is the right thing to do. Yes, I’m worth it even if I die!”

"What's the reason?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked hurriedly.

Mao Youfu raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang, and then said word by word: "Ouyang Lun said that too much food harvest is not a good thing for the people."

As soon as he said this, Hu Weiyong, who was already impatient, sarcastically said: "Everyone in the world is looking forward to a good harvest, but you are here to say that it is not a good thing. What nonsense!"

"Your Majesty, this Mao Youfu is a eloquent man. I suggest that he be handed over to the Ministry of Punishment for trial and executed at a later date. All Mao Youfu and Ouyang Lun's associates will be dealt with strictly. This will serve as a warning to the officials of the Ming Dynasty!"

If it were earlier, the suggestions made by Hu Weiyong were exactly what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, but now Zhu Yuanzhang's inner thoughts have changed.

As a former farmer, he deeply felt that it was not that simple.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang did not like Hu Weiyong, but looked at Mao Youfu, "Continue, I would like to know what harm an excessive harvest will do to the people!"

Mao Youfu also calmed down. They were all going to die anyway, and he had no intention of hiding anything. He said frankly: "Ouyang Lun told me that if the grain harvest in Kaiping County is normal and the people's income increases, they will naturally be able to live happily. Have a good year!”

“But Kaiping County’s grain output per mu is almost double that of other counties, far exceeding what people have harvested in the past. Naturally, what people think of with the excess grain is to sell it and exchange it for money to buy other daily necessities. "

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, this was reasonable and reasonable, and there was nothing wrong with it, but he said in a deep voice: "You still haven't made it clear why too much harvest is not a good thing for the people?"

Mao Youfu continued: "Since every household has a large amount of surplus grain, they have paid taxes, bought seeds and farm tools for next year, and want to exchange the rest for money. This will inevitably lead to a large amount of grain appearing on the market and selling it. There are more people buying and fewer people buying it. If you want to sell it quickly and repay the money, you have to sell it at a lower price. The price of food continues to fall, and the food in the hands of the people becomes less valuable. If you encounter unscrupulous merchants secretly adding fuel to the fire, then the price of food will There will be a big collapse, and in the end it is obviously a good harvest year, but the money in exchange for the food in the hands of the people will be less. In this way, good things will turn into bad things!"

"Oh, by the way, Ouyang Lun also named this principle that the valley is cheap and the farmer is hurt!"

boom! Zhu Yuanzhang's head suddenly seemed to be hit by thunder, and his head was buzzing.

Zhu Yuanzhang can still sympathize with what Mao Youfu said. After all, he was also born as a farmer. If he thinks about what Mao Youfu said, he will understand it immediately.

The last doubts disappeared.

Most of the anger in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart dissipated.

Mao Youfu continued: "Ouyang Lun suggested that in order to avoid the disorderly influx of large amounts of grain into the market, a grain caravan can be set up to purchase half of the grain from the people at normal market prices. Send this food to where it is needed most.”

"In the tenth year of Hongwu, there was a famine in Huguang and Shaanxi, and 30 shi of grain was transported. In the 11th year of Hongwu, there was a great famine in Jinan, Dongchang, and Laizhou. The grass was full of bark and all the food was eaten. 60 shi of grain was transported. This year, I heard that Suzhou , Yangzhou, Zhending, and Yan'an, we are going to transport the excess grain to these places. Calculating the time, the grain should have arrived."

(End of this chapter)