Chapter 167: Let everyone suffer together

Let the fellow Daoist die, not the poor Daoist.

As long as no one dies in the A-block cells, and as long as he isn't made the scapegoat, the two Master Fans can do whatever they want to cause trouble. Chen Guanlou accepted the task with peace of mind and started the vigorous hunger action before the end of the year.

He urgently convened a meeting of the Company Commanders of the A-block cells, and the attendees had full tacit understanding, understanding the meaning from the song.

"Starving, this matter is simple. What if the superiors still don't allocate grain?"

"That's not something we should worry about. We are just prison guards; even if we hold the status of Company Commander, we are still prison guards. We just need to execute the orders from above."

"With Chen Tou's words, everyone can rest assured. Everything will be done according to the orders, and even if we can't end it in the end, it won't be our turn to stand out." Company Commander Wu smiled. He muttered in his heart, one meal a day for the prisoners—can he have a chance to get a share of the saved grain?

Alas, this benefit is estimated to fall into the hands of Master Fan and the officials in charge above.

Forget it, forget it, he'd better not have delusions about benefits that don't belong to him.

What a pity.

The meeting ended, and the prisoners in the Heavenly Prison ushered in ultimate darkness, changing from two meals a day in the past to one meal a day. Not only that, in the past, it was white rice; the imprisoned officials were also officials and couldn't eat too poorly. Now, it was all changed to brown rice. In the past, the soup water could at least see some oil stars; now, it was all clear soup and light water.

Dislike it?

Don't drink it!

Fine!

Next time you want to drink water, I'll give you swill directly and see if you drink it or not.

People can go three days without eating, but they can't hold on for a day without drinking water.

How to choose between swill and clear soup—anyone could think of it with their toes.

The imprisoned officials complained endlessly; what kind of ghostly life is this! Everyone says the Heavenly Prison has good treatment; even this dares to say it has good treatment. What's more excessive is that they are doing this near the New Year—are they trying to force everyone to death?

"It's not that we want to force everyone to death. We also hope that you are good, I am good, and everyone is good, drawing dumplings and lifting each other up. However, it is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice!"

Chen Guanlou looked helpless and heartbroken, explaining to the imprisoned officials in the cells.

"The real reason is actually very simple: the Heavenly Prison has run out of grain. You are all important officials of the imperial court and must know that the imperial court hasn't allocated funds for a whole year, and our prison guards' salaries all rely on the little money in the public account. Forget about money; the imperial court hasn't even allocated a grain of rice this year.

Now, at the end of the year, the little money in the Heavenly Prison's public account has been spent, everyone's salary has no place to fall, and there is no money to buy grain. We have submitted reports to the superiors no less than ten times, and every time they have sunk into the sea. Without money and without grain, what can we do? We can only tighten our belts and live a bitter life. Not just you, even we prison guards don't have money to buy meat for the New Year this year. Miserable!"

"For every prisoner who comes in, at least six hundred taels, at most one thousand taels of silver—the Heavenly Prison has no money? You prison guards have no money? Chen Tou, even if you want to make up lies, at least make them round; don't let people see through them at a glance."

Chen Guanlou coughed lightly, without the slightest shame of being seen through.

He was as steady as a mountain, his face as usual, and he said heartbrokenly, "Yes, I admit, you all paid money to sit in prison. However, there is a situation that you obviously didn't understand: in the middle of the year, the rules were changed. The superiors increased the deduction quota, and the money left for the Heavenly Prison is less than one-tenth. With so many people sharing it, everyone tell me, what is that little money enough for? It's barely enough to eat a mouthful of rice.

In these few months, the Heavenly Prison has been moving around, barely maintaining the situation. However, there is really no money on the account, and the price of grain has risen. Helplessly, we can only wrong you all to suffer a bit. I guarantee that once the imperial court allocates grain, we will definitely restore the previous treatment, ensuring two meals a day and seeing oil stars every day, how about that?"

"When will the imperial court give grain?"

"I am just a prison guard; I really don't know about the affairs in the court. If you all have connections, why not inquire about it? I also want to know when the imperial court will allocate grain so that we can at least eat a full meal on New Year's Eve."

"You don't even give food on New Year's Eve; are you still human?"

"I can't eat brown rice for a day anymore! I paid money, so you must give me white rice, preferably with a few slices of meat."

"Exactly, everyone paid money; why should we eat brown rice?"

"Most of the people here are scholars. You Heavenly Prison are humiliating scholars like this—what exactly are you trying to do? Could it be that the Heavenly Prison has been bought by that thief, Jiang Tu, and you have all become Jiang Tu's running dogs?"

"Master, words cannot be spoken indiscriminately! The Heavenly Prison has always been an imperial court yamen, maintaining the imperial court's laws and holding the imperial court's bottom line. We are absolutely not anyone's running dog, and even less a tool for any official to seek private revenge. If you want to wear hats, don't wear them on the Heavenly Prison's head. We have small heads and can't wear them. What kind of place is the Heavenly Prison, and what kind of treatment does it have in the imperial court—you lords know it in your hearts, don't pull east and pull west."

Chen Guanlou was unhappy.

Why say he is Jiang Tu's running dog?

Does Jiang Tu deserve it?

He is surnamed Chen, and he is a descendant of a famous family in the capital, and he is related to the Marquis Prefecture. He would rather be the Marquis Prefecture's running dog than Jiang Tu's running dog!

Truly outrageous!

You can humiliate his appearance and humiliate his integrity, but you cannot humiliate his vision and character.

"Just tell me whether you will give food or not?"

"Without money and without grain, how can I give it? I am not an immortal, I don't know the method of moving things with five ghosts, and I can't change things out of thin air or create something from nothing. I am just a prison guard, only responsible for conveying the decisions from above. If you have any opinions, please show your magical powers; I guarantee I won't stop you."

After leaving the words, Chen Guanlou hurried away. He left the remaining mess to Xiao Jin and the others.

He was impatient to serve these official masters.

Because of one meal a day, poor food, and the approaching New Year, the entrance of the Heavenly Prison instantly became lively. Many families of imprisoned officials and families of prisoners arrived one after another, sending food and clothes, and exchanging information.

Chen Guanlou gave the order, "Don't stop them, let them communicate. We must send the news that the Heavenly Prison lacks grain to the court; we are counting on these families of imprisoned officials."

"Chen Tou is not worried about trouble?"

"Fear a fart!" Chen Guanlou snorted coldly, "Jinzhou won a great victory, His Majesty is happy, and the officials in the court are happy. No one will stare at the small Heavenly Prison at this time. Even if these imprisoned officials want to take the opportunity to cause trouble, they can't make any waves right now. Half a year ago, the officials in the capital had a big connection, and a large group of people died; this matter only passed half a year ago, and they are deeply absorbing the previous lessons and will not take risks."

Even if they really cause trouble, the Heavenly Prison will at most be punished verbally. It's a great victory, a joyous day; no one will make a big fuss at this time and add blockage to the old Emperor.

The imperial court officials are all very shrewd; whoever makes the old Emperor unhappy will have to suffer together. It's the New Year, why make trouble. ===== CHAPTER 168 =====