The garden is full of greenery, and potted plants are placed on both sides of the open space of Mingli Hall. The eunuchs carried basins full of ice cubes and placed them in the four corners of the hall to dispel the heat. The courtiers under the eaves waiting for the summons were sweating from the heat, but they could not lose their respect, so they could only endure the sweat to wet their robes.
The bamboo curtain of Mingli Hall was lifted, Fengquan came out with a whisk, bowed to the courtiers, and said softly, "The heat is unbearable, all the adults are working hard, so Your Highness specially instructed the servants to prepare mung bean soup."
The little eunuchs hurriedly served the soup, prepared the tissue paper flowers in advance, Fengquan saluted again, and retreated into the Mingli Hall.
"Your Highness is sympathetic and humble," said the official from the local area, drinking the soup, "I am so grateful."
The soup spoon lightly tapped the porcelain bowl, and the official said to Jiang Qingshan, who was beside him, "Can Wan Xiao still be used to living in the inn?"
Jiang Qingshan drank the soup and nodded slightly. He was somewhat inconsistent with the rumored swift and resolute behavior, and his demeanor was gentle. After half an hour, the eunuch called his name, Jiang Qingshan lifted his robe and entered, knelt in the hall and saluted.
"Chen Juexi's political envoy Jiang Qingshan sees His Highness."
Li Jianting said: "Wan Xiao, please get up, it's hot today and you've been standing outside for a long time. Yuan Fu and I are talking about Juexi's government affairs, and I read in your book that there has been no rain in Yongcheng for more than a month, and the supply of local granaries is insufficient. , want to borrow grain from Huaizhou?"
"Juexi was responsible for the grain levied by the imperial court last year, and the granary of the Thirteen Cities has bottomed out." Jiang Qingshan didn't look up, "I don't think there will be a drought."
Kong Qiu said to Li Jianting from the side: "Yongcheng is also a granary in the southwest. If the drought is severe, I am afraid that it will be difficult to support it by borrowing grain from Wanxiao alone, and it will still have to rely on the court to lower the relief grain."
On Li Jianting's forehead, Huatian was red and beautiful, she pondered for a moment, and said, "Xiande Nian, you offended local businessmen for disaster relief, and made it difficult for them to be blocked in the yamen. This year, it is very difficult to negotiate with Huaizhou in various ways to borrow food. The city is in disaster, this is no small matter, but don’t worry, Yuan Fu and I will give you a charter as soon as possible, and the food will definitely be adjusted.”
Jiang Qingshan was used to hearing excuses. The previous Emperor Tianchen and Emperor Xiande did not have such a straightforward attitude. When he heard Li Jianting say this, he couldn't help but stern and kowtow, saying: "I know that the court will take care of it this year. In the Qidong war, military rations were the most important, and Juexi was willing to pay off his debts with silk and exchange food with Huaizhou."
When Kong Qiu said this, he got a little angry: "The official grain adjustment can be implemented after His Highness approves it. Why does Tao Ming, the prefecture of Huaizhou, resist the decree? He can give this relief food."
"The edict has been issued a few days ago," Li Jianting said. "Fengquan, go outside and ask if Tao Ming has arrived in Huaizhou Prefecture. If he does, call the court to clarify."
Before Fengquan stepped out of the door, Fuman rushed to the door and said, "Your Highness, the letter from the other end of the inn says that Tao Ming from Huaizhou Prefecture ran away with a family!"
Li Jianting was stunned: "Where did he go? The court called him here for negotiation. What is he running for?"
Fuman stomped his feet lightly and said, "I went to Zhongbo Shen Zechuan!"
There was an instant discussion in the hall.
Chen Zhen frowned and said, "Borrowing food is a common occurrence. What is he running for? There must be a reason!"
"His Royal Highness does not know," Fuman said anxiously in a thin voice, "the officials who went to summon them went to Huaizhou to open the granary and found that there was not much food left, and there was simply not enough food for relief. Tao Ming and Shen Zechuan were in sympathy and sold all the food to When I came to Cizhou, when I heard that Juexi wanted to borrow food, I was so frightened that I ran away that night!"
There was an uproar in the hall, and Cen Yu stood up and said, "This... the local censor didn't say a word!"
Huaizhou is out of food, Hezhou is also empty, and the eight major cities cannot be counted on. What about Yongcheng? And Jue Xi has to tighten his belt to save himself from the gap between his teeth!
The atmosphere in the hall plummeted, and the ice basins in the four corners were filled with cold air, which made Kong Qiu’s heart aches. He covered his mouth and nose and coughed for a while. After he recovered, he stood up and saluted Li Jianting, saying, "Disaster relief is a top priority, and it should not be delayed. The monthly salary of the officials can be reduced as appropriate, so just start with the ministers, and the common people cannot be starved to death!"
The courtiers outside looked at each other in dismay, followed by kneeling, and echoed: "The ministers are willing, and I hope Your Highness will be fulfilled."
The cicada between the trees was glued off by the eunuch, Li Jianting also stood up, and in the short silence, he said with emotion: "You are like this, how can I stop it? Since it is for the common people of Yongcheng, the palace should also reduce the cost appropriately. Wan Xiao, the food is what you came to ask for, so you will arrange the relief."
Jiang Qingshan kowtowed and thanked him.
* * *
In the evening, the tulle in the flower cage, the rice is set with chopsticks in the courtyard, and only the dumber is waiting on the side.
Xue Xiuzhuo, dressed in his regular clothes, poured tea for Jiang Qingshan and said, "I have wronged you at my house."
Jiang Qingshan took the tea and sighed: "Since I entered the capital, there are a lot of things to do to entertain, and the delicacies of mountains and seas are not as good as the rough tea and light rice here."
"Poor life," Xue Xiuzhuo put down the teapot, making a rare joke, "Which frontier official is like you? You don't even have a decent carriage when you go out."
"I'm really poor, you're fake poor," Jiang Qingshan said, "but we both smell the same, and we're all poor and sour!"
The two touched tea and laughed.
"I think Chu Jun is smart, he is very measured, and he does things neatly. He has the demeanor of Lord Guangcheng." Jiang Qingshan picked up the chopsticks and ate tofu mixed with shallots.
"She is young and bumpy, so she is naturally different from ordinary girls." Xue Xiuzhuo watched Jiang Qingshan eat, "I read your letter at the beginning of the year, Niang Liu is pregnant?"
Jiang Qingshan slowed down the speed of swallowing, glanced at Xue Xiuzhuo, his smile faded, and said, "It's the same."
Xue Xiuzhuo did not continue to ask.
Jiang Qingshan has a wife but no children. His wife is from the Liu family in Baimazhou, and he is not a very rich family. He has a very good relationship with Jiang Qingshan, but the two have not had children for a long time. Liu Niang was not in good health. The first child was conceived when Xiande was four years old. At that time, Jiang Qingshan was running around to borrow food. The merchants came to ask for debts and scared Liu Niang. After that miscarriage, it was difficult to conceive again.
"Why are you so depressed?" Jiang Qingshan put down his chopsticks, "If I'm destined to have no children, then that's all, don't force it." He said, looking at the flowers beside him, and paused for a moment, "It's just that my mother is pressing hard, It is inevitable that you will be a little bit towards Liu Niang... alas."
Jiang's mother begged her grandson eagerly, and treated her daughter-in-law quite harshly.
"My mother is old and has a stronger nature, and Liu Niang was wronged to serve on the side. I have been busy with government affairs and neglected my family all these years. In the end, I have lived up to the oath I made to her." My niece also took it over and said it was a temporary stay, but I haven't left yet. I went back several times to see Liu Niang standing under the eaves, and my mother had to match me and that woman... "
"If you are reluctant, you should say no," Xue Xiuzhuo stored tea for him, "so as not to make the old lady think it is feasible and hurt Liu Niang's heart."
Jiang Qingshan blocked Xue Xiuzhuo and said, "Change the bar."
"I have to do errands tomorrow morning." Xue Xiuzhuo said, looking at Yan'er and motioning for him to get the wine.
"You live in this house alone, it's empty," Jiang Qingshan raised his arm and waved, "it's time to find someone."
"Han Cheng just got rid of it, the land tax hasn't been checked yet," Xue Xiuzhuo took the wine and poured it for him, "Marrying a wife is just leaving her alone in this empty house and delaying other people's youth, why do you have to do this?"
"Official duties can never be finished," Jiang Qingshan said. "Are you doing it like this until you grow old and die?"
Xue Xiuzhuo nodded seriously, and then began to talk about official business: "The drought in Yongcheng is not serious compared with the year of Xiande, but it has already made you devastated. If the rain still does not come after July, or the other twelve cities also start to dry. , then it is useless to cut the monthly salary just by Qidu, Juexi will still die."
Jiang Qingshan took a sip of wine and said, "The cabinet has more than enough energy, and if there is a surplus of food, Yuan Fu will not make such a decision. I also want to ask you, is the eight cities really empty?"
"It's empty, the food I copied from the Pan Clan in Dan City," Xue Xiuzhuo raised his hand and nodded, "Even the people in this palace can't feed."
"In the past, we were short of money," Jiang Qingshan shook his head, "now we are short of food. If the order could be given early to reorganize the six states of Central China and Bozhou, and restore thousands of hectares of fertile land, then Shen Zechuan would not become a local lord, and Da Zhou would not have one. today's predicament."
Xue Xiuzhuo said in a slow voice, "The most abundant granary in the world is now in Zhongbo. If the drought in Juexi worsens after July, I will consider buying grain from Shen Zechuan."
"I'm afraid it's hard to do," Jiang Qingshan said. "Who would have thought that Shen Ba would be able to conquer the six states? The battle at Duanzhou made him a favorite of the people. If this person holds grudges, he will not easily sell you food. ."
Xue Xiuzhuo put the jug aside and said, "If he wants to walk the world in the name of benevolence and righteousness, he cannot stand by and watch the drought in Juexi."
They talked about some official business again, and when the time was almost up, Xue Xiuzhuo asked dumber to help Jiang Qingshan to rest. When Jiang Qingshan was about to leave, he pointed to the front hall and said, "I met your eldest brother when I arrived at the inn, and he went to pay homage to him. I think he was promoted, and he must have borrowed your light. Yanqing, he used to be because of his relationship with him. You are a surname, making things difficult for you in every possible way, and eventually clinging to your life, but you won't even say a good word."
Jiang Qingshan was a little drunk, and his feet were fluttering.
"I think he's so proud, I'm afraid he will implicate you in the future... You should pay more attention."
Xue Xiuzhuo agreed.
* * *
Ge Qingqing stepped on the stool, rolled out the dice like a conjuration, and said, "Master, you lose!"
Xue Da was flushed with a drink, touched his pocket, and said, "Oh, I forgot to bring my purse before going out! Qingqing, remember it!"
Ge Qingqing blew the dice, looked at Xue Da and said with a smile: "Why are you being polite to me, Uncle? It should have been put on my account. The tea delivered to the mansion a few days ago was still successful? The goods from Qinzhou have also arrived recently, Uncle. If there's anything interesting, just mention it."
"No, no." Xue Dazui said that he couldn't, but he sat aside and lit his cigarette, "I have all of them in my house, and there is no shortage of these gadgets, that is, the Ministry of Personnel has recently changed the errands in the court, listening to the palace. The meaning of the father-in-law here is that there is a fat difference."
Ge Qingqing moved down, sat next to Xue Da, and said, "Then our uncle is going to be promoted. Congratulations, congratulations."
"But the father-in-law in this palace all serve the emperor. He sees a lot of them, and he doesn't like ordinary things." Xue Da hesitated slightly, "Do you have any seafood here?"
"Yes, yes, I will call Xiao Wu to bring the booklet in a while, and the uncle looks at it and picks it up," Ge Qingqing leaned closer, "Which one you order, I will honor it for you, you're welcome!"
"Good brother!" Xue Da laughed immediately and pointed to Ge Qingqing, "If this errand is really done, I promise to give you a double gift for your brother in the future."
When Ge Qingqing threw the dice, he knocked on the low table next to him inadvertently, and Jin Yiwei, who was disguised as a servant, nodded lightly, and gave Xue Da everything to prepare, not forgetting to lay a layer of gold underneath.
It was even more late at night outside, and Xue Da didn't notice it, and he had long since stopped thinking about Shu.