The first year of Jian'an, summer.

Luoyang City, in the back house of the Grand Sima Mansion.

Zhang Xiu stood in the corridor, raised his head with a gloomy face and looked at the sky.

There was no thunder, but the dark clouds were covered, and the rain was as heavy as beans, and it was flying down. The raindrops fell on the tiles, like the death talisman of the King of Hell, making Zhang Xiu's head buzz.

"Please be happy, the rain will stop soon." Mrs. Cai moved to Zhang Xiu and comforted her with gentle words.

"Maybe." Zhang Xiu smiled faintly, and then said to Mrs. Cai: "Although man conquers nature, sometimes God will joke with people."

After saying that, Zhang Xiu left with her sleeves.

For people of this era, Zhang Xiu's words were a bit terrifying.

Heaven is the supreme. The emperor calls it the "Son of Heaven".

However, Mrs. Cai was not an ordinary woman. She looked at Zhang Xiu's departure back and couldn't help but sigh slightly.

This rain has been falling for half a month, and the heavy rain has almost never stopped. This is a huge blow to agriculture.

"Junhou is full of confidence. When the autumn harvest is full, it is time for Chang'an, Xizhen. Now this heavy rain...ah."

Mrs. Cai sighed and shook her head gently.

Mrs. Cai’s hope was not realized, and the rain lasted for more than twenty days.

Because the heavy rain is not easy to investigate, but after the heavy rain stopped, the news from each county gathered like snowflakes.

Now the power of the court is concentrated on the Shangshutai.

The former general, Shangshu Ling Xizhicai, took a pile of materials and sat on the carriage with a worried look on his face. After leaving Shangshutai, he went to the Grand Sima Mansion.

At the gate of the Grand Sima Mansion, he saw Chen Gong's entourage. Then he got off the carriage, and under the guidance of the minor official, he came to Zhang Xiu's study and walked in.

He looked up and saw only three people. Zhang Xiu, Chen Gong, and Jia Xu.

In fact, the [prime minister] of the entire court and the highest power are concentrated here.

"Ming Gong, General Chen, Changshi Jia."

Xi Zhicai stepped forward to greet him and sat down.

"How is the situation?" The rain disrupted his plan. Zhang Xiu couldn't help but ask.

Xi Zhicai sighed slightly and said, "The Yellow River broke its dam, and the heavy rain has been magnificent. Hedong, Hanoi and Henan counties have all suffered great disasters. This year's food, I'm afraid..." Speaking of this, Xi Zhicai shook his head and said, "And the flood has caused many people to be displaced and even lost their grain storage. At present, there are many victims in various places."

When Zhang Xiu heard this, his heart fell to the bottom of the valley, but after thinking about it, it was not all bad news. At least, except for the three counties, the other seven counties did not suffer any major disasters.

However, the only seven counties are Nanyang County, Lueyang County, Zuo Fengyi, You Fufeng, Jingzhao Yin produces grain, and the rest of Hongnong and Anding County do not produce grain.

Moreover, Henan is located in a plain and was originally a grain-producing area. Hedong and Henoi are similar. Especially Luoyang has hundreds of thousands of people.

These are real urban residents, few farmers.

The disaster alone was enough for the imperial court to drink a pot of money.

Zhang Xiu sighed, thought for a while, and said, "Immediately order the counties and counties to open warehouses and release grain to provide food for the victims. Then order the rest of the counties to transport food. The court's major policies should be people-oriented. Do your best to prevent a person from starving to death."

"In addition, we ordered all counties and counties to resettle victims. Not to mention building a good house for the victims, at least we should give them a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

"Finally, the Ministry of Industry has established a [Water Control Department] to find capable and experienced officials to manage and clear river channels in various places, especially the gaps on the Yellow River. There is no way out this year, and the Yellow River will not be allowed to burst the dam next year."

All three of them were moved. Jia Xu wanted to speak, but he didn't say anything again.

"promise."

The three of them all agreed and went down together. The center of the court was them, and only from top to bottom could the government orders work.

After Xi Zhicai returned to the Shangshu Desk, he first issued an order to "rescue victims, open warehouses and release grains", and then he came Wang Ding, the Minister of Works.

In the room, after hearing Xi Zhicai's order, Wang Ding couldn't help but say, "The Grand Sima is truly benevolent and righteous."

Xi Zhicai nodded slightly, and his face showed a look of approval.

Since Emperor Ling of Han, Emperor Huan of Han and Dong Zhuo, the imperial court's government orders have been very chaotic. The world has suffered great disasters and the people have been displaced.

So the tragic things like "changing children and eating" happen from time to time. So the saying "The sky is dead, and the yellow sky should stand."

The Zhang Jiao brothers led the Yellow Turban troops and almost overthrew the Han Dynasty.

Now Zhang Xiu is not only a strong army, but also a general, rectifying the administration of officials, revitalizing business, etc., but also very concerned about disaster relief. He is not only a "heroic ruler," but also a "benevolent and righteous ruler".

Wang Ding is a decades old. Since he became sensible, he has never seen such an efficient and determined court. His words were completely inspired.

Xi Zhicai was originally a morally noble person who was "worrying about the world". He naturally admired Zhang Xiu very much, affirmed and respected.

Not only Xi Zhicai, but Zhang Xiu advocates only talent.

However, most of the core civil servants appointed are talented and virtuous people. Chen Gong, Tian Feng, Ju Su, Shi Guangyuan and others are all like this.

But Jia Xu and Li Ru are very utilitarian and ruthless.

Immediately, the entire Shangshu Station started to operate with all its strength. It not only treats the victims, controls floods, and punishes, and rewards officials who have made merits and demerits in this flood.

In normal times, everyone seems to look the same and it is difficult to distinguish between male and female. However, in the face of major events, it is clear that officials do not have the ability.

This also had additional benefits for Zhang Xiu to rectify the administration of the government.

With the full operation of the Shangshutai, the disasters in the entire Hanoi County, Henan County and Hedong County were quickly calmed down. The victims did not have a good life, but at least they had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and they drank a mouthful of rice porridge.

They did not starve to death due to displacement, eat or become refugees.

This gave Zhang Xiu's court a huge prestige.

The system of the Shangshutai and the power it exudes made the court and the people look at it.

The people's hearts of the entire ten counties further affirmed the court of Zhang Xiu.

The outstanding officials in the court certainly became more determined to support Zhang Xiu.

Although the disaster caused a lot of difficulties, Zhang Xiu was not completely unreaped on the other hand.

Now it depends on how much food can be collected this fall. How many of them can be used as military supplies.

This determines whether Zhang Xiu can prepare to conquer Ma Teng, Han Sui, Liu Yan and others after the autumn harvest.

However, before this, Zhang Xiu was not without gains at all.

On the morning of that day, Zhang Xiu asked Dian Wei to lead more than a thousand personal soldiers to form a "thousands of iron cavalry" and personally rode out of the east of Luoyang City and came outside the Tongquetai.

The towering bronze croaker platform is tall and majestic and majestic.

"Okay, it's so good." Zhang Xiu couldn't help laughing and rolled over and dismounted. Although he encountered some setbacks, he still moved towards his set goal.

He will hold a wedding in the Tongquetai and marry Cai Yan and Cai Zhaoji.

Immediately, Zhang Xiu entered the Tongquetai and visited. The Tongquetai has been completely built, but the paint smell is still very strong.

At present, the imperial court has an army of 1,000 people, guarding the Tongquetai, and hundreds of maids living in it.

On that day, Zhang Xiu spent the night in the Tongquetai, and early the next morning, he led Dian Wei and others back to the Grand Sima Mansion.

It is already autumn now. Ten days later, Shangshutai received the autumn harvest of food from various places. He couldn't help but gathered Xi Zhicai, Chen Gong, Jia Xu, Li Ru, and military advisors Xun You, Ju Su, and Fa Zheng who joined the army.

There are no other civil servants, and there is no military general.

This group of people are all luxurious strategists, and they are all top military figures who can take charge.

There is no need to say more about Zhang Xiu’s intention.

Zhang Xiu had already received the news first, so he had a smile on his face. He sat in the main seat and watched the civil servants below, feeling proud.

It is not easy to get such a luxurious group of advisers.

Zhang Xiu exhaled, turned to look at Xi Zhicai, and said, "Zhicai. Tell everyone about the current situation of the autumn harvest of the imperial court."

"No." Xi Zhicai responded with a serious expression and then informed everyone of the situation.

Simply put, except for the three unlucky guys in Hedong, Hanoi and Henan, the rest of the counties have good harvests. If these two pairs of dollars are offset, the current food of the imperial court can still use troops, but it cannot support large-scale military use.

Everyone was an excellent military theorist and couldn't help but think about it.

"According to the current food storage in the imperial court, it can support 30,000 to 50,000 people in battle, but it can't last long. Now, it depends on how to use these 30,000 to 50,000 people to carry out an effective and rewarding military operation."

Zhang Xiu smiled and looked at the people who were in deep thought. It was better to have luxurious strategists, so let them want to go.

Although everyone is top-notch, Zhang Xiu did not expect that the person who scored the first place was the "little ghost" Fa Zheng.

The young army joined the army and asked Zhang Xiu: "Dare you ask Ming Gong. What is the harvest of grain in Bashu and Hanzhong this year?"

All the top figures here, and they understood Fa Zheng's intention when they heard this. Zhang Xiu's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but nod.

The major policy of the court was very simple, which was to rectify the administration of officials and stabilize the territory of the ten counties.

The purpose of the imperial court to use troops was also very clear. To wipe out Western princes such as Ma Teng, Han Sui, and Liu Yan, and to be free of worries, you can send troops eastward and wipe out the princes of Guandong.

Even if you are sure of who to use troops first, you will know exactly what to do.

Ma Teng!

One way to go into Hanzhong is difficult to walk, and it is a place that is conducive to defense. If you attack Liu Yan, Ma Teng might send troops to attack Zhang Xiu's rear.

On the other hand, if he attacked Ma Teng, Liu Yan might be on the sidelines, and even if he sent troops, there would be no great threat.

It is difficult to get in and out of Hanzhong.

Look at Prime Minister Zhuge, you can tell if you work so hard in the Northern Expedition.
Chapter completed!