In Weishi County, the sun is scorching.

In the fields, countless farmers were looking into the distance.

The crops in the field lowered their heads and gradually turned yellow on the outside.

"Here you..."

Large trucks came slowly, and the old cow pulled the truck was panting and foaming at the corners of his mouth.

The cart was filled with containers for water, various wooden barrels, and jars.

"This is my home! Don't rob it!"

As soon as the waterwheel arrived, the farmers began to compete.

"This is mine! Get out of here!"

The two big men fought together, and finally the jar fell down and splashed...

"Stop fighting!"

An old man stamped his feet and shouted: "It's better to pull water if you have this skill!"

Everyone started watering in numbness.

Scoop a spoonful of water and pour it down. The land that had cracks sucked greedily. In an instant, the water disappeared and the land gradually returned to its dry state.

Another spoonful, it's still the same.

After all the bucket of water was watered, the field was still dry and cracked...

The old farmer looked up and shouted in despair: "It's gone...it's gone!"

He tapped the bottom of the empty bucket with a water spoon, raised his head and cursed: "God, why doesn't it rain? Why doesn't it rain?"

The farmers looked at the blue sky, and their despair was spreading.

"Weng Weng!"

An old farmer fell heavily to the ground, and his grandson went over to hold him and shouted, "Weng Weng."

The old farmer clenched his teeth and finally pried open the water and woke up slowly.

“This year…it’s not possible.”

The old farmer shouted: "Don't pull the water, it's useless, it's not enough! Go and invite someone to dig the well!"

"We are on the edge of Huimin River and can dig wells."

The advantage of the surrounding Bianliang is that the water system is developed, but the disadvantage is that everyone is not prepared for drought, so that after encountering drought, they cannot come up with the most effective response.

The farmers went to look for people like headless flies, but those who could dig wells had long been invited away, leaving only despair.

"What to do?"

Everyone was a little panicked, but there was no way to deal with it.

It's time for the villagers and gentry to play their role.

"Look for the government!"

The villagers gave this standard answer for thousands of years.

"But the government is very busy."

The government was very busy. Before the drought, the officials in Weishi County were not prepared at all, so they were helpless after the drought broke out.

Where are the gentry?

Should they have a way?

The gentry still sings and dances in the high courtyard, and the lives of the gentry are good.

"They have invited people who drill wells long ago, and now there is no need to worry about watering the crops in the fields..."

The old farmer sighed: "You want to study! Look, look, the scholar will know that he will ask someone to dig a well in secret..."

"Yes! It's so good to read."

"Where are those craftsmen who drill wells?"

Since that's the case, let's dig the well too.

"They eat and drink well in those stores, saying yes... and they still have to dig wells."

"Stop it!" the old farmer said angrily: "This is a manpower stuck and we are forcing us to borrow money from them."

This is a routine. When encountering famine, it is a good opportunity for these gentry to make a fortune.

"As long as we borrow their money, we will never pay it back for the rest of our lives. In the end, we have to give the land to them, and the whole family will plant their land... or the whole family will go to the city to find a way out."

In business, capital accumulation is never clean. But among the private sector, agricultural capital accumulation seems more direct and bloody.

The emperor of the mountain is always practical. The gentry showed their hideous faces during the disaster and exploited the people through usury, and all this was absurdly protected by the law.

Yes, usury was legal in the Song Dynasty. Those who had a lot of money had no place to invest will find a lending leader and then invest the money in and let him operate it.

This kind of person is called Qianmin.

The money people in the countryside are gentry and rich peasants, and those who lend money are all big men who are similar to rascals. They have collusions with the government, and whether they are public or private, they can leave borrowers with no way out.

So unless you can't survive, no one dares to borrow money.

But now is the moment of despair.

"What should we do?"

"The government has to give an explanation, right?"

"There is no explanation, the magistrate is enjoying himself in the county government!"

"I really want to rebel!"

"No, now the rebellion will not be recruited, and will not be organized into a wing army..."

"What should I do?"

"have no idea……"

"It seems that someone in the village has dug a well with someone before and asked him."

"That man is a son-in-law and has been invited away long ago."

A group of farmers looked in despair at the direction of the county town, and only vaguely saw a few riders galloping towards them.

"Who is it?"

Someone raised his hand to cover his eyes and squinted his eyes, "It's the three riders... the one who led it was an old man... here, they came."

Three riders galloped and dismounted from the horse near and behind.

The beginning was an old man, and two big men followed closely.

"What's going on?"

The old man walked in along the ridge of the field and asked, "Why didn't you dig a well?"

The old farmer looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I don't understand if I don't have a craftsman."

From ancient times to the present, many droughts have been caused, and most of them are helpless.

"Where are craftsmen? It's not difficult to dig wells, where are people?"

The old farmer lowered his head and rubbed his eyes, "They were all invited away."

The old man squinted his eyes at these farmers, and the blue veins on his forehead jumped: "Why don't you go to the government office?"

The old farmer looked at him suspiciously, "The government... the government is busy."

"Um?"

The old man was furious and turned around and shouted, "Go to the county town and bring Chang Mi."

A follower responded to the promise and got on his horse.

The old farmer said in shock: "You are..."

Chang Mi is the magistrate of Weishi County. The old man mentioned him casually, which means he was not an ordinary person.

"I am Bao Zheng!"

Bao Zheng stood there, his anger rushing in his heart.

"It turned out that Mr. Bao was here..."

The old farmer's body was trembling, and he couldn't help but burst into tears, and he slowly knelt down, "Mr. Bao, please make the decision for the villain!"

Bao Zheng was stunned. When he was about to help the old farmer, the farmers all knelt down one after another.

"Please ask Mr. Bao to make the decision for the villain."

Bao Zheng said anxiously: "All up, let me say something, I will make the decision for you."

The old farmer was helped up by him, wiped away his tears, and said, "Bao Gong, we are not short of strength, but the craftsmen who can dig wells have been invited away. We have no choice!"
To be continued...