Chapter 358 Grain and Fodder Robbed
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!" Li Ke, who had just taken a nap late at night, was awakened by a scream and was startled.
"What happened?" Li Ke looked up and saw that the person who came was his trusted guard Han Dong. Li Ke asked hurriedly.
"Your Highness! The soldiers and horses we sent to escort the grain and fodder were intercepted and killed. Even the civilians who transported the grain and fodder were killed. No one was left alive." Han Dong said.
The grain transport team sent out to fetch grain from nearby areas had not returned, so Han Dong took people to investigate and found that all his people were killed on the way back and on the way to Qingxi County.
"What about the food?" Li Ke asked. Although he already knew that the food was definitely gone, he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart.
"All the food was looted! Not a single grain was left." Han Dong said.
"Did all the food transport teams that were sent out die?" Li Ke asked. He sent out a total of eight food transport teams.
"No, there is still one food transport team that hasn't returned yet. According to the time, they should enter Qingxi today." Han Dong said.
"The bandits dared to rob the food transport team, they must have been prepared in advance. This last team of food transport must not have any mistakes. You immediately take the elite and go to protect it. You must ensure that this last team of food transport arrives safely in Qingxi."
"We don't have much food left. If we lose the food transported by this last team, we will not be able to hold on. I don't care what method you use, you must safely transport the food back to me." Li Ke said.
With this batch of food, Li Ke can hold on for a while longer.
"But if I go, what will you do, Your Majesty? Who will protect you?" Han Dong said.
"Just go ahead. I, Li Ke, am not a coward. No matter how daring they are, they dare not do anything to me. They dare not kill me."
"If I die in Qingxi, His Majesty will be furious and they will be buried with me. You don't have to worry about me. Food is important. Go quickly." Li Ke said, and he shouted the last two words with all his strength.
"Take care, Your Majesty!" Han Dong clasped his fists and saluted, took two steps back, turned around and left, assembled a team of elite cavalry, and left directly.
Li Ke did not expect that this group of people was so crazy that they dared to go after the disaster relief food, and even did not hesitate to kill everyone to cover up their crimes.
Although he had guessed that it was these local officials who did it, Li Ke had no direct evidence to prove that they did it.
Even, maybe these wealthy merchants in Qingxi were involved, colluding with officials and businessmen, and then bribing robbers, or it was even possible that they did it themselves.
These were all Li Ke's guesses. Without evidence, he could not do anything to these suspects. Without evidence, there was no way to prove whether his guess was correct.
If he ordered all these Tang Dynasty parasites to be arrested without distinguishing right from wrong, as long as someone was determined to spread rumors, Qingxi would soon riot.
The emotions of the people of Qingxi were not only calmed down, but there must not be any mistakes. Therefore, Li Ke could not do this, even if he knew in his heart that they did it, he could not do anything to them without evidence.
Qingxi cannot be in chaos now. Once it is in chaos, it will be like a flood that has broken through the dam and cannot be controlled.
This group of guys saw this clearly, so they dared to do evil without restraint.
Li Ke pondered how to find evidence to prove the crimes of this group of parasites, and then lead the people to publicly judge these sinful parasites.
Just when Li Ke was worried, the corrupt officials and wealthy businessmen in Qingxi were celebrating. There were refugees who were starving everywhere outside, while these parasites were enjoying fish and meat.
The table in front of them was filled with delicacies from mountains and seas, fine wines and delicacies. One table here must be no less than fifty taels.
How much food can be bought with this fifty taels, how many disaster victims can be rescued, but this group of people are unwilling to give out a single cent.
They would rather feed the food to dogs than to rescue the bums in their eyes, whose lives have nothing to do with them.
"Mingfu! Your plan is really great. Not only do we get a lot of food, but we also solve the current unfavorable situation for us. Li Ke can't do anything to us, which is really gratifying." A fat, big-eared, and white-faced wealthy businessman named Zhang said to the Qingxi County Magistrate with a smile.
"Without food, these refugees will riot. Then, we can help them and fan the flames."
"This situation is out of control. Those bastards outside will hate Li Ke to death. If he rebels, Li Ke will be blamed." A wealthy businessman named Ma with a pointed face said with a smile. "When the time comes
, as long as the governor can take the opportunity to lead troops to suppress the rebellion and eliminate these rebels, the governor will have done a great deed and will be able to rise to prominence in no time." The county magistrate of Qingxi County said with a smile.
"In this case, we wish the governor a promotion in advance!" The chief clerk of Qingxi County raised his glass and toasted the county magistrate.
"Congratulations to the governor on his promotion!" People raised their glasses to congratulate the county magistrate, and they really thought that if the county magistrate could be promoted, their conspiracy would succeed.
"Come on! Let's drink, and we won't go home until we are drunk tonight!" The county magistrate was very happy, especially after drinking a lot of wine and hearing a lot of compliments.
Now he is already in high spirits!
The county magistrate imagined that the gang of villains would rise up in anger out of shame, and Li Ke would leave Qingxi in disgrace because he failed to complete his mission, while he suppressed the rebellion for the court, and naturally received the court's reward, which promoted him and made him rich.
The more he thought about it, the happier he became, and he couldn't help but drink a few more glasses, and his whole face was flushed.
The food transport team sent by Li Ke was killed by this group of people, and even the food was robbed by them.
They cannot allow outsiders to interfere in the affairs of Qingxi County, even if the person is a royal relative.
Now the court has exempted Qingxi from taxes for three years, which means that they do not have to pay taxes to the court for three years.
But they can make up excuses and collect taxes from below. Qingxi is rich in products, and how much benefit can be collected in a year.
How could they give up this piece of fat meat and let Li Ke "do whatever he wants" here, disrupting their plans and blocking their wealth.
"Bang!" The gate was suddenly opened, and everyone was scared to death. They thought that what they did was exposed, and Li Ke was coming with troops to arrest them.
Everyone looked at the gate in panic, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The person who came was the head of the Qingxi County Police.
"Guosan, are you crazy? You scared us, what are you doing in such a panic?" The county magistrate roared in dissatisfaction. His good mood was ruined by him like this. How could he not be angry!
If Gou San didn't give him a satisfactory explanation, his career as a constable would be over.