The next morning, Meng Chang was lazy and in love with the couch again. In late autumn, the morning and evening were very cold. With the warmth of the fragrant couch and the beauty in his arms, why should he suffer the pain of getting up early? Unfortunately, there are always people who don't understand. Li Hao, Wu Zhao
Two prime ministers came to ask for an audience.
Meng Chang was unhappy, complaining that it was still early and not allowing him to sleep more. Concubine Xu Hui persuaded him with good words, so she reluctantly got up to wash up and left the Peony Garden.
It was already three o'clock in the day, and Meng Chang saw the two ministers, and his attitude was actually good. He had always been tolerant of his ministers, especially the civil servants and talented people.
"The two ministers came together to see me, what happened?" Meng Chang asked, looking at the two ministers.
Wu and Li were both veterans of the Shu Kingdom. Wu Zhaoyi had followed Meng and his son for decades, and he was highly respected in his youth and had always relied on them. Li Hao, on the other hand, had a deep connection with Shu and was extremely talented. He became an official in Shu in his early years.
After the establishment of Hou Shu, he was promoted by Meng Chang and became the prime minister.
At this time, seeing the emperor's relaxed state of mind, Wu Zhaoyi coughed lightly, holding a memorial in both hands, and reported: "This autumn, there will be a great harvest in Sichuan. This is reported by the state governments, and the autumn taxes are put into the treasury."
Condition......"
Meng Chang took it and browsed it quickly, describing Shu Zhang and happily saying: "God bless me, Shu!"
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"There was a flood in Yuzhou, and the government requested that the people be exempted from paying taxes for two years!" Wu Zhaoyi said.
"When the people suffer from disasters, they should provide relief for themselves. You can decide on your own if you want to avoid disasters!" Meng Chang said: "For the victims of the disaster in Yuzhou, please contact the local government to comfort them, and don't forget the 'Inscription on the Stone'!"
"Yes! Your Majesty loves the people, and I admire you!" Wu Zhaoyi complimented, and then said: "The price of food in Chengdu has always been high. I would like to ask you to release the grain from the official warehouse and stabilize the price of food to relieve the people's worries!
"
Hearing what he said, Meng Chang couldn't help being surprised and asked: "What is the price of food in Chengdu now?"
"Eight articles for a bucket of rice!" Wu Zhaoyi replied.
In recent years, the Shu Kingdom has had many good harvests, which has led to the price of grain. In the past two years, when the price of rice in Chengdu was the lowest, it dropped to three cents. Compared with the price of grain in the Northern Han Dynasty, it can be said to be extremely cheap. You know, even now
, the price of grain in Tokyo is between twelve and fifteen cents per bucket.
"Why is it so expensive?" Meng Chang frowned slightly.
Prime Minister Li Hao explained: "Your Majesty, the price of grain has risen for two reasons. First, the grain prices in the past were cheap and merchants were unprofitable. In the past, there were fewer grain transporters in Chengdu. Second, the imperial court has recently
Preparations for war became more intensive, and more grain was transported northward, causing Chengdu to be short of food."
After speaking, Li Hao glanced at Yan Wu Zhaoyi and continued: "That's why I think that we can reduce the amount of official food to calm down a little. When business travelers hear about Li Jia's food and come in, the price of food will depreciate...
"
Nodding, Meng Chang said: "The two ministers can discuss and make decisions on this matter. But one thing is to relieve the people's worries!"
"yes!"
"Is there anything else, Second Minister?" Meng Chang asked after looking at the two of them, clearly meaning "seeing off guests".
Li Hao cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, please ask Li Tinggui to send the imperial court to Qin, Feng and Xingyuan Mansion to continue to deploy more troops, horses, grain, grass, and ordnance!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Chang was a little unhappy and said: "In the past year and a half, the imperial court has mobilized more than 50,000 elite troops to the north, with enough food and equipment to last half a year. Li Tinggui is still not satisfied? With so many soldiers and horses,
Isn't it enough to prepare the Northern Han Dynasty? What does Li Tinggui want to do? Do you want me to put all the soldiers and horses in the country into his hands? Whether the Han army will attack or not is a question!"
"Your Majesty, calm down!" Seeing this, Li Hao hurriedly tried to persuade him: "Li Tinggui is defending in the north and knows the situation between us and the enemy best. Since he has requested something, he must have concerns."
"As for the Northern Han Dynasty, in my opinion, we must not take it lightly!" Li Hao said: "Since the founding of the country, our dynasty has been defeated by them. But when I look at the Northern Han Dynasty today, it is extraordinary, not like the Tang or Jin Dynasties.
, the desire to annex the world is no longer restrained.
The current Emperor of the Han Dynasty is young and vigorous, and can be called a wise man. After conquering the Tang Dynasty, he temporarily gained peace in the four realms. Now he is deploying his troops in the southwest, and his troops are pointed directly at the front. In our land of Qin and Feng, war will begin sooner or later. Your Majesty must not lose vigilance!
"
Among the civil and military officials of the Shu Kingdom, Li Hao was the first to see the "extraordinary" nature of the Northern Han Dynasty, and he was the first to propose the need to organize troops and prepare for the imperial defense. Of course, at the beginning, Li Hao suggested that Meng Chang submit to the Central Plains and pay tribute to protect his security.
Rather, seek a long-term solution.
However, Wang Zhaoyuan, the ambitious envoy to the Privy Council, insisted on dissuading him. Instead, he organized the army and practiced martial arts in order to expedition to the north. When the Northern Han Dynasty attacked the Tang Dynasty, at the request of the Southern Tang Dynasty, it was Wang Zhaoyuan who also made suggestions, and Meng Chang also had achievements at that time.
Heart. Send troops to invade the Northern Han Dynasty again. What will be the result? Traces of the battlefield in Donghe Village are still there in Fengzhou, on the Sanguan Road...
At this time, after listening to Li Hao's speech and admonishment, Meng Chang felt a little impatient for no reason. He thought for a while and said: "It's the end of autumn now, and I don't expect the Han army to make any move! I think Li Tinggui is defeated.
After one battle, the Han army was as fearful as a tiger!"
"Your Majesty, the Northern Han Dynasty's attack on the Tang Dynasty two years ago was also launched in late autumn!" Li Hao reminded.
When Meng Chang heard this, he frowned deeply, touched his thin short beard, thought about it for a long time, and then said in deep thought: "We will wait until Wang Zhaoyuan comes back to do anything else!"
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wang Zhaoyuan, the privy envoy of Shu, was ordered to go north to inspect Qin Feng's imperial equipment, adjust the defenses, and inspect the movements of the Northern Han Dynasty. For this confidant general who had followed him since childhood, Meng Chang both recognized his loyalty and admired his talents.
, it can be said that you don’t know people well...
"Second Minister, please step aside first!" Meng Chang sighed and said to his second minister, a little unmotivated.
"Your Majesty, please retire!" Seeing that the emperor was obviously not interested, the two ministers bowed and retreated.
As soon as he left the palace, Wu Zhaoyi couldn't help but said to Li Hao: "Your Majesty, you have the intention of neglecting the government..."
Li Hao looked helpless and sighed: "We, as ministers, can only do our best in the king's affairs in order to have a clear conscience!"
"Mr. Wu, our dynasty is currently worried about two things. One is the invaders from the Northern Army, and the other is the corruption of officialdom. Public morality is high and respected, so we need to pay more attention to it!" Li Hao looked at Wu Zhaoyi and complimented: "Recently, the nobles of Chengdu have
"Official officials often break the law and occupy people's fields. The trend of expropriation becomes more and more popular. I am deeply worried!"
After hearing what he said, Wu Zhaoyi raised his eyelids, smiled awkwardly, and responded a bit perfunctorily: "Prime Minister Li is worried about the country and the people, so he should give advice to His Majesty to eliminate the ills..."
The group of people Li Hao mentioned included Wu Zhaoyi. Although he was virtuous and had a good reputation, he could indulge his family, relatives, and old officials...
As for Meng Chang, the Lord of Shu, Li Hao's worries were not within the scope of his vigilance. Although the officialdom gradually deteriorated, the country was stable and the treasury was abundant. As long as the Northern Han Dynasty did not invade.
So far, the only thing that worries Meng Chang is the Northern Han Dynasty, which is busy sharpening its sword.
After five days, Wang Zhaoyuan, the privy envoy who went north for inspection, returned to Chengdu. He was immediately called into the palace to consult with him on border affairs. After returning from the border patrol, Wang Zhaoyuan was in high spirits and as confident as ever, which made Meng Chang feel at ease.
"Your Majesty, I have inspected Qin, Feng, and all the cities and fortresses, and carefully inspected them. All the omissions have been adjusted by me. Now as long as the officers and men do not slack off and defend the dangerous points, they will be able to defeat the Han army. If the Han army comes,
, will make it return without success!" Wang Zhaoyuan said to Meng Chang confidently.
In fact, although Li Tinggui's ability to use troops cannot be said to be top-notch, he is still quite satisfactory. Taking advantage of his geographical advantages, the Shu army's military deployment in Qin and Feng at least did not have too many loopholes. If the Han army attacked, it could withstand it for a while.
After the adjustments made by Privy Council Wang, who was a "knowledge of soldiers and good generals", the Shu army's defense deployment had actually been disrupted...
After listening to his words, Meng Chang nodded: "Li Tinggui asked for more troops, horses, money and food, do you agree?"
Wang Zhaoyuan shook his head directly and said firmly: "No need!"
"Why?" Meng Chang also seemed to feel that Wang Zhaoyuan was a little overconfident!"
"This year, the Han army will definitely not use troops!" Wang Zhaoyuan explained to Meng Chang: "I found out in the north that there are constant natural disasters in the Northern Han Dynasty, and they are busy providing disaster relief and rescuing the people. How dare you use troops against our court at this time! If not!
Now that winter is approaching, I want to personally lead my troops to the north and seize Guanzhong for Your Majesty!"
Meng Chang was not interested in Wang Zhaoyuan's "ambitions", but was concerned about the disasters in the Northern Han Dynasty and asked him to elaborate. Wang Zhaoyuan explained the situation to Meng Chang. It was probably a severe drought in Huainan, and dozens of states in the Northern Han Dynasty were suffering from severe drought.
Floods, floods and droughts have affected half a million people.
Hearing this, Meng Chang was overjoyed and breathed a sigh of relief. He lamented that God had blessed Shu, but condemned the tyrants...
It looked like he could live a happy life for a while.