When the memorial written by Chang Lian was sent to the capital, the capital had already received urgent memorials from two states, saying that the food in the two states was almost gone.
Zhou Shuren was worried about his son and also about the medicinal materials. The emperor needed medicine for his wounds, and the flood-stricken areas also needed medicinal materials, as they needed to save lives on both sides.
The emperor is the one who gives the orders, but it is the ministers who are in trouble.
Zhou Shuren was worried about silver. The gold had not been shipped back to the capital, and he needed silver to buy medicinal herbs.
When he got home, Zhou Shuren said, "Oh, the floods in the south have reduced the food supply, and there are floods in several places across the country. The grassland tribes must be gloating over this misfortune!"
"Greave them now, and they will cry later."
There is a food shortage and the grassland tribes have no chance of buying food. They will be the ones crying then.
"This year's weather is abnormal and grain production has decreased. Coupled with the flood, our country will be short of food. For the ambitions and for survival of the grassland tribes, this inevitable war will become even more brutal."
Macro-climate change affects the overall environment. He has sent people to inquire with merchants from various countries. Several surrounding countries with good grain production have experienced more or less reduction in grain production this year due to weather conditions, but the severity varies.
Zhulan, "The south is short of medicine, and war also requires medicine to save lives. Do you have any idea?"
Zhou Shuren's face wrinkled. "Now the prices of medicinal materials from all drug dealers have increased. Purchasing medicinal materials costs a lot of money. The treasury is very careful with its money now, and we really can't afford to spend too much money. The result of the current discussion is to use medicinal materials from other states."
Zhulan said, "This year we are storing all our food and not selling it."
"Okay, if there's a real need, we'll donate some food."
"good."
When it comes to big things, neither of them is the kind of person who would stingy with money.
In Qizhou, Chang Lian came home very late and saw the light in the house. "I told you not to wait for me, why are you still not asleep?"
Mrs. Dong stood up and helped her husband change into his official uniform. "I will feel uneasy if you don't come home."
Her husband had difficulty walking, and she was afraid that he might suffer secondary injuries if he wasn't careful. Her heart was in her throat whenever she walked from her husband to the yamen.
Chang Lian's stomach growled, and Mrs. Dong asked distressedly, "Didn't you eat?"
"Well, the prefect didn't eat it, and neither did we."
Mrs. Dong, "I asked the kitchen to make chicken soup for you. It's just right to cook some noodles. You can eat and rest after you are full."
Chang Lian smiled and said, "Now I can still eat chicken. My wife really knows how to live."
"I learned the habit of hoarding things from my mother!"
Chang Lian thought of his own medicinal herbs and touched his nose guiltily. His wife had stockpiled a lot of them, and his parents would send some over every year. So his family had quite a lot of them. He secretly told the prefect about the situation.
The prefect was an upright official and could not afford many medicinal herbs. He wanted to give the prefect some inexpensive herbs privately, but as expected, the prefect did not take them and told him not to worry about it.
If someone else had said this, he would have thought about it for a while, but he believed what the prefect said.
The result was that he donated a large amount of medicinal herbs and only kept some for backup at home. Even so, the herbs he donated did not get a number.
Chang Lian didn't want to be in the spotlight, so the middle position was good enough.
The next day at Zhou's residence, Zhulan received Mingrui's letter and said to Qingxue, "He's finally leaving for Beijing."
Qingxue smiled, "Master Liu's wife must be very happy."
Zhulan laughed out loud, "Yeah."
These days, Mrs. Guo visited the house very frequently and was very worried about her son.
Zhulan put the letter away. Now the only one missing was her son.
After a while, Zhao came in with a smile on her face, "Mom, Mingrui is leaving for home."
"You can rest assured now."
"Well, mother, I'm thinking of arranging a marriage for Yudie after Mingrui comes back. Do you think it's okay?"
Zhu Lan, "Okay, Mingrui's return is just the right time for me to test Mr. Liu personally."
Zhao felt sympathy for her future son-in-law. As a mother, she knew her son's temper best. She knew that when he came back, he would definitely find fault with Liu Yuanbo.
Zhao said again: "Then I will let my husband and Master Liu tell them."
She was too embarrassed to tell Guo about his concern for her during her illness, and she couldn't open her mouth.
Two days later, Mr. Wen was dismissed from his official position, and the Wen family was completely quiet this time.
When Zhulan heard the news, she thought that the emperor had almost done enough to control the Wen family and would not easily touch them in the future, and the Zhou family should also follow suit and keep a low profile.
Zhulan thought about Mingrui's contribution. He had made a great contribution in saving the emperor, and the gold mine was too eye-catching. The Wen family was silent, which was a mistake for her grandson!
In the palace, the emperor put his hands behind his back and asked, "Are you sure you don't want anything?"
Zhou Shuren, "Yes, even if I didn't say it, the emperor would have thought of continuing the excavation. I dare not take credit for it."
The emperor smiled and said, "I thought you would want gold."
Zhou Shuren lowered his head, "I love money but I only take what I deserve. I will not covet what is not mine."
The emperor was not testing Zhou Shuren, he really wanted to reward him, but Zhou Shuren refused directly, "If all of you are like me, I can rest assured."
Zhou Shuren sneered in his heart, thinking that everyone was just like him, the emperor was always suspicious.
The emperor raised his hand, "Shu Ren, stand up."
Zhou Shuren was also unwilling to kneel. The older he got, the less he kneeled. It was very uncomfortable for his knees to kneel once. "Yes."
The emperor touched the beads and said, "Your grandson is still a commoner. The credit of this child will be counted as your son's."
Zhou Shuren cursed the ancestors of the Wen family in his heart. If the second branch of the Wen family had not acted up, the emperor would not have dealt with them quickly and would have waited for the prince to return to Beijing.
Now, the second branch of the Wen family has been stripped of their official positions and will have no chance to rise again in the future. The emperor has been ruthless this time and has hurt the Wen family deeply. The Wen family has been obedient, but the Zhou family and the Shangguan family have become eye-catching.
Zhou Shuren got angry every time he thought about it. It was obviously a great achievement, but he could only reluctantly refuse it. He knelt down again and said, "Mingrui's duty is to protect the prince. The gold mine was not dug by the emperor's order. Mingrui only found an empty gold mine. He dare not take the credit."
The emperor looked at him with a deep gaze, "Are you speaking from the heart?"
Zhou Shuren raised his hand and swore, "I am speaking from the heart."
The words are sincere, but my heart hurts.
The emperor said quietly, "You know that your second son's career is limited. This is an opportunity. If you miss this opportunity, no one can predict whether you will have another chance in the future."
Zhou Shuren has analyzed this with his son, and his son hates the second branch of the Wen family. He silently said that it is a blessing to suffer a loss. The Zhou family is already eye-catching enough. The Wen family is honest, and the Zhou family should be more low-key. "I know, but my son is a man of blood. He will get a chance with his own ability."
The emperor reached out his hand and helped Zhou Shuren up, "My dear minister, I already know what you are thinking."
Zhou Shuren cursed the Wen family in his heart, but he had to smile on his face. It was so hard for him!
After Zhou Shuren left, the emperor got up and went to see his father.
The emperor smiled and said, "Zhou Shuren understands the way of balance very well. This is very good. The Zhou family will be a sharp sword in the emperor's hand."
The emperor also laughed, "Zhou Shuren must be heartbroken."
The emperor laughed, "Yeah, I don't know how this old man cursed the Wen family in his heart!"