In the governor's mansion of Wuwei County, Zhou Jun and other officials from Liangzhou stood in the hall, looking in the direction of the gate.
Not long after, a military guard sang and announced: "We are all here to protect you!"
Wang Zhongsi led the military envoys and walked into the gate. He was wearing dazzling bright armor, and he could still vaguely smell the smell of blood and rust.
Xue Sima and Li Changshi, as senior assistants, stood at the forefront of the official team. When they saw Wang Zhongsi coming towards the palace, they all bowed and saluted.
Wang Zhongsi didn't even look at the two men, he walked straight past the front row and came to Zhou Jun.
Zhou Jun lowered his head and looked at Wang Zhongsi's chin. He was about to salute, but he didn't expect the latter to laugh loudly and hug him.
Wang Zhongsi was over forty years old and in his prime. He had great strength and a louder voice. Zhou Jun was instantly shocked by the former's laughter and his head was buzzing.
After a while, Wang Zhongsi let go of Zhou Jun, looked back at the officials in the hall, and said, "The food shortage in Liangzhou almost caused a catastrophe. This is by no means a natural disaster, but someone deliberately doing evil!
We should investigate this matter strictly and never tolerate it!"
When Li Changshi and other officials heard this, they were trembling all over and their legs and feet were unsteady.
Wang Zhongsi ignored others and took Zhou Jun to the side hall of the Governor's Mansion.
Entering the side hall, Wang Zhongsi sat in the upper seat, Zhou Jun was placed in the side seat, and Li Guangbi, An Sishun and other military envoys and military Sima were also present.
During the subsequent introductions to each other, Zhou Jun and others did not pay attention, but they remembered only one person - Ge Shuhan, the deputy commander of the Great Dou Army.
Ge Shuhan was a native of Qiuci, Anxi, from the Tuqishi tribe. He was a man of wealth and justice, and was brave in battle. He was a general in the Northern Fan of the Tang Dynasty.
When Wang Zhongsi saw everyone sitting down, he said: "Tubo has been defeated and Tuyuhun has captured all its prisoners. The war in Longyou and Hexi has come to an end, and there will be no more troubles in a short time. A certain person has been sent to the army to record his merits, and he has written to the court.
Please give me a reward for you."
After hearing this, all the generals in the hall thanked him one after another.
Wang Zhongsi turned his attention to Zhou Jun, who was sitting on the side table, and said: "I am afraid everyone here has heard of the name of Zhou Jiancheng. He has solved the food shortage in Liangzhou this time, which is also a great achievement."
After Zhou Jun heard this, he quickly stood up and said: "You are all serious about your words, I just did what you should do."
Wang Zhongsi shook his head and said: "You still don't understand the significance of this matter... Relieving the food shortage will not only help to protect the people and stabilize their hearts, but more importantly, in this battle with Tubo, Hexi and Longyou
The army rations were gradually bottoming out, and nearly 30,000 more prisoners were added. There was still a month left for the summer grain to be put into the warehouse. Wang was still worried about how to raise food this month. Now, the price of grain in Liangzhou is low, which is just the right time.
It can supplement the army’s lack of food and grass.”
Hearing this, all the military envoys in the hall nodded.
This wave of grain price cuts in Liangzhou City is really timely for them. Otherwise, just after the war, they would have to cut back on food and clothing and raise food everywhere in the month before the summer grain is put into the warehouse.
There was another thing that Wang Zhongsi did not say in public. Zhou Jun stabilized the price of grain in Liangzhou City, preventing the Hexi Prefecture's public criticism of the former from worsening. This was very important for Wang Zhongsi to govern the place.
At this point, Ge Shuhan who was standing aside suddenly raised his hand and said to Wang Zhongsi: "Protector, this food shortage is caused by the merchants in the city driving up food prices. The army is fighting outside, and the merchants are causing trouble in the rear. They should be punished severely.
!”
As soon as these words came out, An Sishun, who was sitting next to Ge Shuhan, looked embarrassed.
The An family where An Sishun lives is one of the nine surnames of Zhaowu. It is more or less responsible for the food shortage. It is understandable that An Sishun is embarrassed.
Zhou Jun on the side was a little surprised to see this situation. Ge Shuhan actually revealed the matter in the hall without any concern for his colleagues. You must know that the chief envoy of the Great Dou Army is An Sishun, and the deputy envoy is Ge Shuhan.
The two of them have a superior-subordinate relationship as chief and deputy.
When Wang Zhongsi heard what Ge Shuhan said, he frowned and waved his hand and said: "The war has just concluded, so this matter will be postponed."
Ge Shuhan still wanted to speak, but Li Guangbi, who was sitting not far away, winked and the former closed his mouth.
In the following meeting, Wang Zhongsi made a series of military and political arrangements, leaving Zhou Jun alone to speak.
When there were only two people left in the hall, Wang Zhongsi said first: "Zhou Lang was the first to contribute to the food shortage in Liangzhou. I have written to the court and plan to recommend you to be the supervisor of Huxi City in Hexi and the governor of Wuwei County."
When Zhou Jun heard this, his eyes widened and he was so shocked that he forgot to speak.
Compared with Hu Shi Jian Cheng, although there is only one missing word "丞", the former is from the sixth rank, while the latter is from the eighth rank, which is equivalent to jumping three levels in an official position.
Moreover, the Hushi Supervisor only manages the government affairs of a single Hushi point, while the Hushi supervisor coordinates and arranges all the Hushi towns and mutual market points in many prefectures in Hexi.
In addition, Wang Zhongsi also said just now that Zhou Jun should be appointed as the governor of Wuwei County, which is even more unbelievable.
The Hushi Supervisor is a city official, subordinate to the affairs of the Nine Temples and Five Supervisors, and is not an official position in the state. Logically speaking, he has no right to act as the governor of Wuwei County.
Thinking of this, Zhou Jun said to Wang Zhongsi: "There is a long history and a Sima in the state, so there may be something wrong with the governor's move."
Mentioning Chang Shi and Sima, Wang Zhongsi snorted coldly and said: "I already know about the relief to the warehouse. I am afraid that these two people will return to the capital soon to investigate. There is a vacancy in the state. I will appoint the deputy.
Why not?"
After hearing this, Zhou Jun was silent for a moment and said hesitantly: "This official rank has been promoted too quickly. Jun is worried that it will attract criticism."
Wang Zhongsi patted Zhou Jun on the shoulder and said: "This Wuwei County is a key point in Hexi. Farming and taxation support an army of hundreds of thousands. I am not worried about handing this place into the hands of others. If it is Zhou Jun,
Erlang will take care of it, and I can sit back and relax."
Zhou Jun was quite moved. He stood up and bowed to Wang Zhongsi and said, "Thank you, Protector, for your appreciation!"
Wang Zhongsi smiled and asked Zhou Jun to sit down and talk.
He asked Zhou Jun: "The food shortage in Liangzhou was caused by the nine surnames of Zhaowu driving up food prices. Logically speaking, we should take serious measures to rectify it now. But just now, I don't want to cause trouble, and I plan to postpone the discussion of this matter. Do you know
Why?"
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Zhou Jun vaguely knew the answer in his heart, but he still handed it over and said: "Please make it clear."
Wang Zhongsi: "The power of the Sogdians is deeply entrenched in the city, and most of Liangzhou's business depends on them. If they are all eradicated, it may cause chaos in the city and be detrimental to the governance of Hexi. The best way is to divide the nine surnames and make them
The best strategy is to attack each other internally and then look for opportunities to control them."
Zhou Jun nodded and took this opportunity to tell Wang Zhongsi about the An family's actions to help during the food shortage.
Wang Zhongsi said: "Although An Sishun is a Sogdian, his heart is towards the Tang Dynasty and he is loyal. His father An Bozhen is the head of the An family and has always been on good terms with the Tang Dynasty. Starting from the An family, the nine surnames of Zhaowu are divided.
This should be the right path. Zhou Lang can contact the An family more and deepen their friendship, which will definitely be beneficial to the governance of Liangzhou in the future."
When Zhou Jun heard this, he responded. Then he remembered something and said to Wang Zhongsi: "Guardian, this time I returned to Hebu to help with food supplies. Jun promised to pay with cloud tea, but I am afraid that he will not be able to supply Shuofang in a short time..."
Wang Zhongsi waved his hand: "The Huihe Ministry can help solve the food shortage in Liangzhou, but a little cloud tea is nothing. Although the cloud tea is extremely profitable, the output is too low. For the military pay of the four towns, it is just a drop in the bucket. I still
Didn't notice it."
Hearing Wang Zhongsi mention military pay, Zhou Jun asked cautiously: "Do you still plan to raise commercial taxes?"
Wang Zhongsi sighed and said: "I also know that raising business taxes will offend many people, but right now, the military pay deficit in the four towns is serious, and it has reached the point where it has to be done."
Zhou Jun also sighed when he heard this.
Wang Zhongsi: "I have already written to the court about the business tax and clarified the interests. I believe it won't be long before there is a result."
Zhou Jun nodded.
next chapter
This chapter has been completed!