In the evening, the Marquis' Mansion.

Li Mu leaned on the main position, rubbing his swollen forehead, and was listening to the report of the Chief Ma Zhou.

"... I have received a letter from flying pigeons from Chang'an. No signs of locust plague have been found near Chang'an City. In addition, I have received news from nearby counties that there are signs of locusts at present, and there are signs of locusts in the seven counties of Lingye, Xiangcheng, Jiacheng, Lushan, Longxing and Linru. The locusts that were first discovered were already adults. Xiaguan has just checked the records of locust plagues over the years. Linru County is one of the sources of locust plagues. The locust plagues originating in Linru County are usually not very wide due to the terrain. Most of them are restricted to the north of Funiu Mountain, south of Zhongtiao Mountain, east of Wushan, and east of Xionger Mountain. They can only cross these four peaks—"

Ma Zhou looked at Li Mu's face, his voice became a little lighter, and said, "This is the best news at the moment.

Li Mu had no choice but to smile bitterly. He understood what Ma Zhou meant. Luoyang City is a basin with mountains on all sides. The source of the locust plague is in the basin. Experience of previous locust plagues shows that this is a small-scale locust plague that will only rage in the basin. In other words, this locust plague is tailor-made for Luoyang. If there is nothing else, it will only harm the surrounding areas of Luoyang.

Targeted strike!

Li Mu gritted his teeth, looked at Dugu Jiu, and said, "Is there any news about the matter I asked you to investigate?"

"Brother," Dugu Jiu said: "There is some news. I have visited some old farmers. According to the old farmers, the locust plague in Linru County will be once every few years. However, this interval is difficult to judge, and it is related to the amount of rain. In the years of drought, the interval will be shortened. People who understand the weather can grasp this interval. There have been examples of grain merchants hoarding grain and making money when they are plaguing locusts. But no one expected that there would be a locust plague this year, and the old farmers did not see it."

"Are there any masters?" Li Mu took a deep breath and suppressed the fire. The matter was basically clear. It was either a magical method or a master's help. People saw earlier that there was a locust plague this year, so they collected all the food stored around Luoyang, just to see your joke.

Dare to see my jokes?

Li Mu was angry and said ruthlessly: "Didn't the people who found Jisitang? Didn't they say they were in Beimang Mountain? Are they holding on?"

"No," Dugu Jiu shook his head and said, "I led the troops in the palace to cut into the forest. I did find a manor, but the building was empty and no one was found."

"Then I'm buying grain at a high price, right?" Li Mu looked at Ma Zhou and said, "The wharf, the warehouse, and the north and south cities, post a notice to me. Luoyang Prefecture collects grain. As long as there is grain, the price is easy to negotiate, it will cost as much as you want!"

Ma Zhou glanced at Li Mu and said in a stern voice: "Mr. Marquis, the notice has been sent out long ago, but the grain merchants in the city all said that there is limited grain storage and there is no way..." Ma Zhou glanced at Li Mu and did not dare to explain it. It's because you are too arrogant and domineering in normal times, and offend people to death. If something happens, there is no one to help. This is like living a life. You have passed the "death gate", so what else can you blame others?

Li Mu was so angry that his fingers trembled and his voice trembled: "This ** Shang, I'm laughing at me, right? Good thing, Xiaojiu, took people to search the house, and arrested me if there was no food, and whipped it down to see if he had food or no food!"

"Okay!" Dugu Jiu turned around and was about to leave, but was pulled tightly by Ma Zhou: "Marty, think twice! The disaster is coming, and it is time for people to panic. Those merchants did not break the law. At this time, they were searching their homes and beating people. What do the people think? Don't act irritably. To solve the problem of food, you have to rely on these merchants!"

"Don't depend on them?" Li Mu was so angry that he jumped: "These grandsons clearly wanted to see me laugh at me. They are joining hands to deal with me! How can this marquis let them get what they want? OK, you can't search your house without any crime, right? I won't let them get what they want! If the order is delivered, the locust plague is coming, and everyone will work together to overcome difficulties. Based on yesterday's food price, from today on, no grain merchants are allowed to sell grain at a higher price, and they will not be able to do anything. Those who violate the order will be killed without mercy!"

"Mr. Marquis, this doesn't work!" Ma Zhou stomped his feet and said, "What we are anxious about now is not the price of grain, but the food! Merchants are pursuing profits. If you limit the price, no one is willing to transport grain to Luoyang. I just calculated that the food stored in Luoyang City is only enough for ten days at most. After ten days, the existing food stored will be exhausted and no food is transported in, and the people in this city will starve to death!"

"They don't transport grain, so I will transport it myself! I don't believe it. I can't buy food with money! Ma Zhou, you don't have to do anything. I will bring you money with money and collect grain north along the canal. I will bring you enough money. As long as the price is reasonable, you will collect it for me, collect a ship, transport it back, and accept it for me, but I must not swallow this tone. I am a marquis who is in the world, so how can these merchants take control of it for me?"

"Far water cannot quench near thirst, Marquis, think twice——"

"Stop fart!" Li Mu stared at Ma Zhou and said word by word: "Luoyang is the fief of this marquis. This marquis is here, and his words are imperial edicts. A great disaster is imminent. Who dares to say more? I recognize you, Shangfang Baojian doesn't recognize you! Whatever you ask you to do, you will do what you do. If you really have no food in ten days, I will definitely die in front of the people of the whole city!"

"You..." Ma Zhou was so angry that his lips turned blue, and he said angrily: "Marty, Ma Zhou has always admired you, but he didn't expect that you would do such an unwise move today. It seems that what you saw in the past is not true! There is no food stored within 800 miles, and even if you receive the food, it will be too late for ten days! If the Martyr insists on his own actions, Ma Zhou will receive the order. At worst, he will die with the people and go to the underworld. I will sue you in front of the judge!"

After Ma Zhou finished speaking, he left without looking back. Dugu Jiu glanced at Li Mu and said, "Brother, the show is a bit over."

"Has it been passed?" Li Mu shrugged and said, "It's okay, it won't affect the overall situation. Fei Ge sent the letter. Please confirm it again, don't let the mistakes besides the mistakes."

"Don't worry, I put three pigeons together, so it's OK."

"That's good." Li Mu stretched out his waist and said, "This day is shocking and scared me very much. I have to take a hot bath and have a good sleep. When I get up tomorrow, I have to see how they perform. You should also take a break early, as I'm tired enough today."

"Well," Dugu Jiu responded, opened his mouth, and stopped talking. Li Mu saw it and asked, "What's wrong? Is there anything wrong?"

"Brother, where I found the manor on Beimang Mountain, there is a small courtyard. I saw the footprints of animals in the courtyard, which looked like Fatta."

"Ah," Li Mu was stunned for a moment, then smiled, and said, "Pixiu is not uncommon, it is not necessarily Pangda, maybe the one from Jisitang also has a Pixiu."

"Brother, it is said that Wang Ou's sister-in-law and the eldest lady of the Lu family have a close relationship, and they are as good as Jin Lan..."

"Okay, I understand." Li Mu waved his hand and said, "The disaster is coming, it's all a trivial matter. No matter what, she is my woman, your sister-in-law, and a family member. This cannot be changed. And..." Li Mu paused for a moment and said, "Don't treat the people of Jisitang as enemies. They are all people of the Tang Dynasty. They have different ideas. They are born from the same roots. Why not fight each other? We must win over others with virtue and influence first-"

Before he finished speaking, Li Tai hurried in: "Brother, something happened!"

Li Mu glanced at him and said, "My great writer, what's wrong, you know the food is cold, you know, locust plague, right? I've known it a long time ago, don't worry, there is an arrangement--"

"Oh, no!" Li Tai was so anxious that he stumbled, saying, "When I came here, I walked through Nanshi and saw many signs hanging at the entrance of the grain store, saying that the grain store was limited..."

Without Li Mu's expectations, he looked at Li Tai and said calmly: "Isn't this normal? They also told me this to me."

"Oh, no—" Li Tai breathed heavily and said, "They said that the food stored is limited, so they simply stopped selling it. Leave their own food rations and handed over the rest to the Hou Mansion, so that the people can buy food from the Hou Mansion. They have no food!"

"Ah?" Li Mu was stunned and immediately understood the opponent's trick. Don't you want food? You give it to you. Anyway, you have enough food for ten days. If you have more than ten days, there will be no food in the whole city, so you can only ask him for it.

The plan to play this farewell, and I really look down on me. Li Mu smiled angrily and gritted his teeth and said, "Isn't this a good thing? I posted a notice. I thank everyone. The disaster is coming and I will see my heart. I have memorized them. I will give them all the food at the price. I will never let you all the charity suffer. When the locust plague passes, I will hold a banquet to thank them!"

...

Luoyang, Yanqingfang.

Yanqingfang is located on the east side of Luoyang City, next to the east wall, close to Luoshui, and has a wharf. Most of the people living here make a living on the wharf, and people coming and going are mixed with fish and dragons, with accents everywhere, and the news is also very well-informed.

Zhang San is now in the Jinyi Secret Guard, specializing in collecting information. Such a well-informed place will naturally not be spared.

This is a foot shop specially designed for Liba, a few tables and a shed, and the food is not very particular. Most of them are soup cakes, Hu cakes, and rich wine, or a bowl of mutton soup made with mutton. It is considered excellent.

Zhang San has been traveling around the world for many years, and this kind of place has been very familiar. He found a table with no one, sat down, put the package aside, called a friend and asked him for a bowl of mutton soup and two cakes. Seeing that he was dressed like a little money, the guy asked him if he wanted wine. Zhang San waved his hand and took out a small jar of wine from his package. The guests brought his own wine. It was common in this shop. The guy was not annoyed, and even brought him an empty bowl, served him with mutton soup and turban, and went to serve other guests.

Zhang San turned the seal of the wine jar, poured a bowl, and took a sip of it happily.

The wine he brought was just three cups, which was brewed by the winery a few days ago. The winery had just resumed production, but the three cups had not yet been spread out. For Liba on the dock, the wine was extremely rare. For them, the three cups were like nectar and jade liquid. The wine was filled with the aroma of wine, and Liba, who was eating in the shop, looked at it subconsciously and sniffed his nose.

"Uncle, your wine-"

A Liba came to Zhang San with her face licked her face, and she was about to drool to the front, and she almost wrote the 'Give me a sip' on her forehead. Zhang San looked at him and smiled and said, "Brother, what is this wine made, do you want to drink?"

"Think about it!" Liba swallowed, shrank back, and said embarrassedly: "But there is no money in his pocket..."

"What are you talking about? I don't have money," Zhang San said with a warm look, "All of you are people who love wine. I have just arrived in Luoyang. I am not familiar with the place. I just want to find a local person to ask about it. I think my brother is a local. I wonder if I can tell me if I drink this wine together."

"Uncle, you're asking the right person." Liba sat down without hesitation and patted his chest, "Little Lai Wu, five generations of family are in Luoyang, and there is nothing I don't know about big or small things." His eyes stared at the wine bowl, Zhang San smiled, pushed the wine bowl to him, and asked the guy to bring a bowl over. When the people nearby saw it, they all slapped their mouths secretly, all because of their thin-skinnedness, otherwise it would be his turn to do this good thing?

"I just arrived in Luoyang this afternoon. I just got off the boat. Why do I feel something is wrong when I walk back and forth?"

Lai Wu had already drunk half a bowl, and poured three cups for the first time. He didn't know the alcohol was so spicy that he couldn't speak. It took him a while to suppress the alcohol. He didn't hesitate to take it. He grabbed Zhang San's cake and asked for a sip, and chewed it while saying, "You are talking about the Jinyiwei on the street? Hi, isn't that master in our city?"

Zhang San pretended to be confused with his understanding and said, "Who is that man?"

"Don't you know?" Lai Wu said in surprise. Seeing Zhang San's face was puzzled, he felt energetic and said, "I won't ask you to treat you for free. I'll tell you. This master is the marquis from Chang'an. He used to be Zhulu Marquis, but now he is called Luoyang Marquis. I heard that he is the emperor's illegitimate son--"

Zhang San was startled and quickly covered Lai Wu's mouth and said, "Brother, you have drunk too much, can you talk nonsense?"

"Oh," Lai Wu pushed Zhang San's hand away and said, "How can this be nonsense? It's all clear, no one knows. My cousin of the third uncle's family met in Nan City a few days ago. The emperor's son, His Highness, the King of Wei, called him eldest brother, what did you think it was?"

"Is that..." Zhang San is the Jinyiwei. How could he not know about this? But in order to find out the news, he had to pretend to be surprised: "What happened?"

"What's the matter? Haha, that man is too crazy!" Lai Wu sipped in his stomach with another sip of wine, his cheeks flushed, and he opened his conversation: "As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake. Our master, relying on the emperor's favor in Chang'an, is arrogant and domineering, and he doesn't take anyone seriously. He comes to Luoyang, and he is still in the same style. On the first day of his arrival, all the prominent figures in Luoyang lost their majesty. How can something happen? Now, there is only 10 days of food to eat in Luoyang. Some people have spent a lot of money to make him lower their heads!"

Zhang San poured another bowl of wine and induced him slowly: "Who is this big deal?"
Chapter completed!