Solving the drought cannot be accomplished by one person's efforts.
Even though Li Qinzai had great power, he had to seek help from outsiders in the face of great disasters from the power of God.
The county magistrates hurried back to their respective counties to preside over the digging of canals for drought relief. The 30,000 soldiers and horses Li Qinzai transferred from the Ningshuo Governor's Mansion were of great help. With the help of the army, the canal digging project progressed smoothly, and in just ten days
, the main canal from Jinyang County to Fenhe River has been dug.
And Li Qinzai was not idle either. He sent troops to rush to the south urgently to procure food from the south in the name of the imperial court.
Only in times of great disaster like this, Li Qinzai had to secretly thank Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty for opening the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
There are various rumors in the past life, whether Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty did it to satisfy his selfish desire to travel around the world, or to connect the public will of the north and the south, people may have disputes, but this canal has benefited thousands of generations, and it still remains today more than a thousand years later.
used by people.
With this more than 3,000-mile-long canal, food from the south can be quickly transported to the north. Every shipment of food is the hope for thousands of people to survive.
Li Qinzai was not relieved when Buqu was sent to several Shangzhou areas in the south.
Counting the days, it would take at least two or three months for the food from the south to be transported to the north via the Grand Canal, and then to Bingzhou by land.
It would be impossible to maintain the grain reserves in Bingzhou's official warehouse for two or three months. If food was cut off for just one day, it would be a large-scale civil uprising.
Therefore, if the people of Bingzhou were to survive, they had to target the grain merchants. Li Qinzai had to set up a trap as soon as possible to let the grain merchants get in.
…………
Li Qinzai, who was busy working for food, never touched the ground. He was so busy that he no longer looked like a salted fish.
When he was about to leave the city to see the progress of the army's canal digging, he was stopped by the officers of the governor's office as soon as he left the city.
The officer reports that His Highness Prince Teng is here to visit.
Li Qinzai was quite surprised. He was just about to meet Prince Teng, but Prince Teng actually came to visit him.
"Ah Si, send the order to prepare a banquet." Li Qinzai ordered.
King Teng arrived very quickly, and within an hour of burning incense, King Teng's guard of honor arrived outside the governor's mansion.
Before the attendant maid could help him out of the carriage, Prince Teng jumped off the carriage and landed with his feet on the ground. There was a loud bang and a puff of smoke and dust rose up.
Li Qinzai's eyelids twitched as he stood at the door to greet him. His Highness, Prince Teng... was a bit skinny.
Prince Teng, whose feet landed perfectly, showed a satisfied look, and then raised his eyes to look at Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai stepped forward and saluted: "Your Majesty, Li Qinzai, pays homage to His Highness King Teng."
Prince Teng said nothing, and looked at him up and down with a pair of small eyes, looking at him carefully from head to toe, from his hair to the Qingyun boots he wore.
Li Qinzai was so stared at that his whole body felt hairy and goosebumps appeared on his back.
What does this guy mean? He stared at me when we first met. Is there any intention? It is said that royal nobles often have hobbies that are different from ordinary people, such as masculine style and so on...
Li Qinzai's complexion changed, and he tightened his sphincter as if reflexively.
"Your Majesty, Li Qinzai, pays homage to His Highness Prince Teng." Li Qinzai repeated again.
Prince Teng finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and forced a smile on his face: "I have heard for a long time that Uncle Li County is a good person among people and is highly regarded by His Majesty. Haha, I have admired you for a long time."
Li Qinzai breathed a sigh of relief.
This is right, since we are not familiar with each other, it would be nice to maintain the superficial flattery of each other and be harmonious.
After the two parties met, Li Qinzai turned to greet him, and King Teng also showed courtesy and humility.
So Li Qinzai stepped half-shoulder into the threshold of the Governor's Mansion, but Prince Teng kept staring at his feet and his cheeks twitched sharply.
"You actually stepped forward with your left foot first, oh, how could my daughter be allowed to marry a married man who stepped in with his left foot first when he entered the house!" Prince Teng secretly gritted his teeth and sneered.
He quietly walked into the Governor's Mansion, where a banquet had been prepared.
The way of hospitality in the Tang Dynasty was to banquet. Regardless of whether it was a meal or not, as long as a guest came to the door, wine and food must be served. As for the band kabuki and so on, it was a luxurious and high-end version.
Li Qinzai was not familiar with Prince Teng, and the governor's office did not support kabuki, so he had to simply give him a standard version, with wine and vegetables, but no kabuki.
After raising three glasses of wine to Prince Teng, the atmosphere between the guests and the host in the hall was quite harmonious.
However, Li Qinzai always felt uncomfortable, because Prince Teng's eyes were a bit scary. Sometimes he stared at him sullenly, and sometimes he showed a look of disgust and resistance. The expression on his face was gnashing his teeth from time to time, or putting on a fake face.
Social smile...
Li Qinzai was worried, this guy was coming from an evil person. But what made him confused was, when had he ever offended him?
"His Royal Highness Prince Teng, are you passing through Bingzhou or planning to stay in Bingzhou?" Li Qinzai greeted with a smile.
Prince Teng blurted out: "Can you control it?"
Li Qinzai:???
King Teng didn't change his expression and quickly changed his words: "Oh, what I mean is that I might leave Bingzhou as soon as possible."
As he spoke, Prince Teng added in an accentuated tone: "...Take your daughter and leave Bingzhou as soon as possible."
Li Qinzai snorted and said politely: "We are in such a hurry, why not stay a little longer..."
Prince Teng blurted out again: "You have a beautiful idea..."
Li Qinzai:???
"Ahem, this king is saying, no more, no more, just get on the road quickly to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune."
Li Qinzai sighed. This legendary emperor's uncle didn't seem to be normal, he spoke strangely, and he always felt that he had an inexplicable hostility towards him.
As the governor of Bingzhou, he had just suppressed the grain merchants. If King Teng was hostile to him, there was only one explanation. Those grain merchants who were suppressed were closely related to Prince Teng and had touched other people's interests, so they were naturally hostile to him.
Li Qinzai thought for a long time and tried to speak tactfully: "His Royal Highness, Prince Teng, should know that there is a severe drought in Bingzhou this year. People in and outside the city are in dire straits. The people need food to survive this crisis. I am working for the livelihood of the people. Just like the Buddha subduing the devil, he will inevitably roar a few times..."
"
Prince Teng was absent-minded and didn't know what he was thinking. After hearing the words, he responded politely: "Okay, okay, good roar, good roar. The roar was loud, I heard it..."
Li Qinzai:???
Then Prince Teng paused and said very tactfully: "I heard that Mr. Li was newly married and that your wife has been my daughter's best friend for many years. I would like to advise Mr. Li to be content with what you already have.
Cherish it and don’t be too greedy..."
Li Qinzai's eyes twitched and his brows furrowed deeply.
So, is this a warning to me to stop it and not to interfere with his interests anymore?
Haha, what are you thinking? The life and death of millions of people are at stake. How can I stop?
Li Qinzai's face darkened: "Your Highness, I forgive you. Although what I did was a bit drastic, I have a clear conscience. Not only that, I will continue to do it until I achieve my goal."
Prince Teng was stunned for a moment and then became furious.
In front of me, you can honestly say that you have achieved your goal without hiding it at all? It is too much to deceive others by openly thinking about my daughter.
His face quickly darkened, and Prince Teng said with a sinister expression: "Uncle Li, please don't forget that you have just been newly married. Wouldn't such actions make the newlywed lady feel chilled?"
Li Qinzai narrowed his eyes, his eyes showing a cold light.
What the hell, threatening me is not enough, you also want to threaten my mother-in-law who is far away in Weinan?