Chapter 348 On the Road

When he walked into Henan Mansion, the face of the head of the guard looked better. The earth rejuvenated, the buds sprouted, and the snow on both sides of the road began to melt slowly. The people affected by the disaster were busy repairing the collapsed houses, and the injured were receiving treatment For free treatment, some people distributed relief food and cotton clothes between cities and towns, and received them with household registration.

And these are not done by the Yamen, but spontaneously organized by good people from the people.

The chief guard followed behind Li Baolu, watching her take over the account books from these people, and only then did he know that these relief supplies were bought with money from selling military books.

He also inquired about the prices along the way, and found that the supplies they donated were much higher than what the money could buy, which should be because they had special purchase channels.

Perhaps influenced by this good deed, local gentry and businessmen are also willing to open porridge sheds to gain a good reputation.

Although the porridge water provided by the porridge shed is very limited every day, it also feeds some people.

Gu Jingyun said sharply: "Why is this so? They have to be sincere and kind. Lowering the price of food is the greatest kindness."

All the guards remained silent, it was good to keep such words in their hearts, why bother to say them?

The chief guard stared at the people who made Pai Mi Pai cotton coats, Li Baolu floated to his side, interrupting his fantasy, "Don't think about it, these people don't know about our Lingtian Sect."

The head guard's face tightened, he pursed his lips and remained silent.

Li Baolu said casually: "There are still many good people in this world, and they don't need money. As long as they put in a little effort, they can get a good reputation. Most people are willing to make this deal."

The head of the guard looked cold, and the guards sent out at night came back to report, "Those who came forward to help the victims really didn't know about Ling Tianmen. The people in the medical center said that they received a sum of money before the heavy snowfall, and entered according to the wishes of the customers." A lot of medicinal materials, after the snow disaster, the customer came to the clinic to see the victims for free, he would give a consultation fee, and the required medicinal materials were bought from the ones he bought, and the poor victims could not be charged.”

"Some of the people who distributed relief food and cotton-padded quilts at the gate of the city came to help free of charge. They are all well-known local benevolent people. According to the investigation of my subordinates, they also received a batch of supplies after the snow disaster and helped the victims according to the benevolent people's wishes. Building houses, distributing relief food and cold-proof items; and some are merchants. They also collected a sum of money before the heavy snowfall and prepared food and cold-proof supplies according to the customer's wishes. After the snow disaster, the customer entrusted them to provide relief on their behalf Disaster victims, this is a good deed, and if it is done well, the people in the city will remember their good deeds. It only needs to contribute and does not cost money, so many businessmen are willing."

The head of the guard's face sank like water, "Then the customer is not afraid that someone will be greedy for supplies and money?"

"The subordinates have also asked. Those people said that every expense should be recorded in the book, and no one knows whether the person will send someone to watch. The customer is very shrewd. Didn't he fail to pay for the flood relief six years ago? People have done this before, but he knows all about it, not only will the person who is greedy for ink pay back twice, but it will also ruin the person's reputation, and he can't even stay in Henan Mansion, so no one dares to do anything."

The chief guard frowned, "This indeed looks like the handwriting of Lingtianmen, but Lingtianmen only has one disciple from generation to generation, so where do they get so many people?"

The guards looked at the chief guard, but they didn't know either.

After thinking about it, the guards comforted: "Brother, let the adults in the court worry about this kind of thing. As long as we safely send the account book and people back to the capital, it's over, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes," the round-faced little guard nodded repeatedly: "We have become friends with Mrs. Gu, so it's not easy to target her sect, she is the head of the sect now, and Lingtian sect is indeed not What bad things have you done? Shouldn’t those corrupt officials be punished? Just steal some money from them.”

The chief guard glared at him, "Corrupt officials should be punished, but that's also the court's business. Use them to intervene? Don't forget your identity!"

The head guard paused and said again: "Also, don't go to her to ask for dried pork anymore, you are so fat, can you still run if you eat it again?"

The round-faced little guard pouted, his already round face became even rounder, and he muttered, "Didn't you eat it too?"

The head guard stared, "What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything," the round-faced little guard turned and ran away, shaking his hands and said, "Brother, I'll help you go undercover at Mrs. Gu's place, lest they do bad things behind our backs again."

The guards were angry: "Brother, he must be begging for food again. It's really embarrassing to our guards. He must be severely punished!"

"Yes, put him in confinement and let me go undercover!"

"Let me go. After all, I am the second youngest, and I have more common language with Mrs. Gu."

"But you and Mr. Gu must not have a common language. Just because you dare to say this sentence, you can't walk to Mrs. Gu..."

...

The head guard burst out with blue veins and roared, "Get out of here, all of you!"

All the guards immediately scattered like birds and beasts, bickering while running outside, "Look, it's all your fault, I made big brother angry."

"Little Six, you messed everything up here, otherwise we would be so angry with Big Brother? Brothers, beat him up!"

"Yes, beat him."

"Oh, fifth brother, don't think that I dare not hit you because you are older than me, but you dare to kick my ass!"

"You still slapped me in the face!"

There was a crackling outside, obviously a fight.

The chief guard rubbed his forehead with a headache. He had only left Beijing for only three months. What if this group of subordinates are getting more and more stupid?

Do they think they won't be held accountable if they don't talk about those ministers in the court?

Ling Tianmen has such a big secret resource in their hands, it's not that if they don't say it, the emperor and the officials in the court will not remember it, and the investigation he is doing now is also for their Lingtianmen's benefit.

Otherwise, he wouldn't do such a thankless job, and the credit may not necessarily fall to him in the future.

They like Lingtianmen, and he knows how Bai Yitang is a master and disciple, but they can't just close their eyes and be blind like this, when the time comes, not only will they stumble, but they will also bring down the people behind them.

The chief guard took a deep breath, rolled up his sleeves and rushed out. There were too many things to worry about, so let's fight first.

During dinner at night, Li Baolu stood in front of them holding an abacus, and all the guards lowered their heads to pick up the meal, as if they didn't see her.

Li Baolu ignored them and only stared at the head guard.

The head guard twitched his eyes, glared at his subordinates secretly, and resignedly took out his money bag.

Li Baolu found two pieces of silver from the money bag, threw the money bag back to him, and said with a snort, "If your hands and feet are really itchy, go out of the city to beat them. Don't you know it's shameful to waste them? The store has a good temper and only accepts you." Eight taels of silver, if it were me, I would punish you as pants."

Gu Jingyun on the other table couldn't help coughing lightly. He felt that his little wife became more domineering as she grew older. Recently, her temper has grown and her mouth has become more and more fierce. She really dares to say anything.

After receiving the money, Li Baolu went to the innkeeper and returned the money.

The group did not stay longer in Henan Mansion, but went directly to the north, and received money or bank notes from various sects along the way, and Li Baolu no longer kept the secret from the chief guard, and in front of him Just take care of it, carry the banknotes with you, and donate the silver when you encounter a village or town seriously affected by the disaster.

Li Baolu always seemed to know which people were good people and which people could be entrusted to. She often left after giving the money and didn't stay much, as if she was sure that the other party would not dare to play tricks.

The head of the guard asked someone to conduct a secret investigation. Those people or businesses entrusted by her were indeed innocent and had a certain reputation in the local area. The follow-up investigation also showed that those people did their best to use the money to help the victims. There was no appropriation or shoddy thing happened.

The chief guard's eyes darkened. Li Baolu obviously didn't choose the candidate randomly, so who gave her the information?

The chief guard aimed at Yuan Shanting who was in Wenyuan Pavilion. It is said that Wenyuan Pavilion is for buying and selling news, so it can't be provided by him for free, right?

The chief guard told himself no, he knew that it must be the secret force of Ling Tianmen.

Getting closer and closer to the capital, Li Baolu spent 240,000 taels without a penny, all of which were used on the victims of the disaster. It will take some time for the accounts to be returned, but she did all these things in front of the guards. It can be regarded as an explanation to the emperor.

The chief guard was speechless for a long time, "You can't trust the court so much, you have to spend all the money before returning to the capital?"

Li Baolu gave him a strange look, "Where did you come to this conclusion?"

"Isn't it? Otherwise, why do you spend the money in such a hurry?"

"Of course not." Li Baolu frowned and said, "If it was the time of the first emperor, I would certainly have such concerns, but the new emperor has already registered, and the officials dare not say it is clear, but it is much better than the time of the first emperor. Confidence has also increased a lot. Although there will be this concern, it is not the main thing."

Li Baolu said: "I don't think this amount of money is enough. Along the way, should my money be spent?"

The chief guard was silent, really not, and Li Baolu didn't even look at the survivors who were still alive. She helped those who couldn't survive or were on the verge of ruin.

Just need someone to pull you through the difficulties.

"So the money should be spent, and how long will it take to transport it back to the capital into the treasury, pass through the hands of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and then transport it out for disaster relief? The manpower, time costs, and various loss costs are all It’s very high, during this period of time we’ve walked this road, countless lives that we could have saved have died. This consequence can be avoided, so why don’t I avoid it?”

The chief guard was silent for a long time before agreeing with her words, "But you can't take a single penny back, so your Majesty doesn't care, the courtiers will definitely have objections."

Li Baolu snorted coldly and said, "Are they qualified to have opinions? Those books belong to my master. The emperor promised to print them for my master. The money from the sale originally belonged to my master."

That's true, but your master used the Royal Bookstore, and the original book was stolen from the Zhang family.

Although the Zhang Boying branch of the Zhang family is gone, the Zhang family is still there.