Chapter 1071: Chapter 907: Grain Carts Enter the City

Since we know these two are related to that organization, there’s no need to examine the situation with the female corpse any further.

It’s just that previously, Ming Mo discovered that Lian Xiang had been residing in the mansion for two years and had only been promoted from a third-class maid to a first-class maid in these past two days. Does Lady Li of the Li Mansion know about Lian Xiang’s affairs?

Otherwise, how come Lady Li of the Li Mansion happened to fall ill? Or are these two people actually in cahoots?

Something seems suspicious, and Gu Chengyu feels that the interpersonal relationships of Lian Xiang might be a breakthrough.

Gu Chengyu contemplated in his heart that this matter still requires someone to investigate.

Ming Mo had already been sent out by him, and Ding Shiliu and the others were busy searching for evidence. He did not bring many people to Jiangnan, and there were only a few competent individuals among those Ding Generation guards.

It seems that he needs to find a couple of useful ones among the C Class, you can never have too much talent! Gu Chengyu sighed this way.

Just returning to the study, Ding Shiliu came to report the progress in searching for evidence against Li Taixing.

"Reporting to the Lord, these are the letters and account books we found in that courtyard, please take a look. We also seized about two hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver, and silver notes worth two hundred thousand taels. There are also numerous gold, silver, jade pieces, jewelry, furnishings, and renowned artworks, these have yet to be appraised for value but have been logged, here are the account books!"

Ding Shiliu presented the tray in his hand, which contained not only account books but many letters as well.

Gu Chengyu understood that the letters had already been screened. Gu Chengyu rubbed his forehead; indeed, a lot of affairs to deal with.

Affairs on that side have not yet been resolved, and here comes more.

Ignoring the letters, he took the account books from the tray and glanced at them.

Ha! Li Taixing is indeed a big corrupt official. Even without other evidence, this silver and the valuable items alone could convict him.

Li Taixing came from the marketplace, his ancestors were not from an official family, and his family was not affluent.

How could he obtain so much silver without embezzlement?

Over four hundred thousand taels, such a considerable sum of silver made even Gu Chengyu secretly exclaim in surprise, not to mention all the valuable items.

"Get some accountants to check the books, you pick something as a reward for yourself!"

The court ransacks homes, and those officials still dare to embezzle, not to say such a great opportunity in front of you.

The guards who went to collect evidence must have hidden some; it’s not surprising. Gu Chengyu believed they knew their limits, and they wouldn’t dare touch those especially precious items.

It’s not surprising to let subordinates take one or two items, as long as it’s not excessive, Gu Chengyu would naturally turn a blind eye.

Ding Shiliu gratefully thanked with delight, knowing his lord had always been so understanding.

"This matter is considered done. Hand your current tasks over to the subordinates. I have other instructions for you about Lady Li..."

After Ding Shiliu left, Gu Chengyu picked up the account books and looked at them carefully; he wasn’t interested in silver, but these precious items were worth a good look.

By then, he would select one or two from them as gifts for his mother and teacher, oh! And also his fiancée.

Now that she became his fiancée, he must make a good impression.

Coming to Jiangnan, not only didn’t he gain any advantage, but also had to expend significant effort and lose more silver.

He had to find a way to compensate a little and comfort his wounded soul, right?

Two days later, Gu Chengyu was standing on the city tower, watching the porridge distribution below. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The disaster victims were queueing in an orderly manner, each holding a large bowl, eagerly looking at the steaming porridge pot up ahead.

A victim was walking back with more than half a bowl of porridge, "Alas! The porridge is getting thinner day by day; at least there were two buns a day before, but since yesterday, only thin porridge. In another couple of days, there might be no porridge to drink at all, right?"

"Who would say otherwise? The lord mentioned hiring strong men for river work, but why is there no response these past two days?"

Two people edged closer and joined the conversation.

"I heard it’s because there’s no grain, river workers get two meals a day, how do you work without grain? Can’t work on an empty stomach, can you?"

One took a sip of thin porridge, feeling it slightly better than rice soup.

"Without grain, they could use copper coin to buy grain, can’t they? After all, Lord Imperial Envoy said daily wages would be given! Didn’t he say the court’s disaster relief silver had arrived?"

One gulped down two sips of thin porridge, and the bowl was empty.

"Are you stupid? I heard the grain was monopolized by the big households in the city; even the common people don’t have food to eat or drink. They have silver but nowhere to buy grain. Those rich folks just refuse to sell, waiting for us and the city folks to starve; wouldn’t we have to pay several times or even dozens of times the silver coin to buy their grain? So, even if money is issued, we still can’t buy grain."

One clearly had more informed sources and knew some inside information.

"What? Those people are simply inhumane, aren’t they making heartless money? Rich and unkind, rich and unkind!"

"Alright, who knows where this Lord Imperial Envoy got his grain from. Survive one day at a time, who knows what the situation will be in a couple of days. Alas! The world is so unfair!"

Gu Chengyu was quite far from these disaster victims, how could he hear what they were saying?

In the past two days, he had sharply reduced the grain supplies; after all, the granary couldn’t be used indefinitely. In another couple of days, he would definitely provide dry food for these disaster victims.

Looking at the road ahead, Gu Chengyu counted the days, Ming Mo should be back today.

People truly cannot be mentioned without appearing, just as Gu Chengyu was about to descend the fortress, he suddenly saw a convoy approaching the city gate from the distance.

Seeing a long line of wagons, Gu Chengyu knew it must be Ming Mo returning.

To say Gu Chengyu wasn’t worried would be impossible. After all, plans can’t keep up with changes; if anything unexpected happened on the way, his plan would be for naught.

Without court orders, opening the warehouse to use grain privately could lead to a flood of memorials against him if those Imperial Censors found out.

Even if the Emperor favored him, many officials in the court were against him, and the Emperor couldn’t show him excessive favor, right?

Now that Ming Mo had returned, it marked the first step.

Ming Mo looked at the bags on the wagon behind him, feeling no excitement, only unease.

As the convoy drew nearer, Gu Chengyu could see Ming Mo riding a tall horse.

"Open the city gate! Let the grain carts in!" Gu Chengyu commanded, and the government officials hurriedly opened the city gate.

This convoy loaded with grain was like walking meat in the eyes of the disaster victims.

"It’s grain, so much grain?" Some disaster victims saw the bags, their eyes practically glowing.

"Yingnan Mansion finally has grain, we no longer have to starve!"

Some started cheering, estimating there must be at least five hundred stones of grain on such a long line of wagons.