The next day, porridge shacks were set up in every county in Beidi County. Although the porridge in the bowls was so clear that people could be reflected, the people did not complain at all, because the magistrates of each county were right next to the porridge shacks, drinking the clear porridge.
Rice porridge and eating thick and dry bread.
No matter how frugal they are, Beidi County's rice can only last four days. The entire Beidi County is completely out of food. Now Beidi County's warehouses are empty, and all the grain and rice are sent to the counties. At this time, Mi Zhu has not yet spread the news.
No news has been received, and the soldiers sent to nearby counties to ask for food have not returned. Are all the soldiers and refugees living on the northwest wind?
When Zhang Li heard Jia Rong's summons, he put down his affairs and hurried over. Seeing Jia Rong sitting on the chair looking calm and composed, Zhang Li couldn't help but admire him. If he were faced with such an embarrassing situation, the shoes on his feet would be damaged.
He could twist several pairs to pieces, and remembering that Jia Rong mentioned that he should be prudent in handling things a few days ago, Zhang Li straightened his sleeves, saluted, and sat down at the bottom of the table at Jia Rong's signal.
It seemed that Jia Rong was extremely relaxed, but in fact he was already anxious inside. He got straight to the point and said, "Zirong, now that there is no food in the city, what should Zirong do?"
Zhang Liluo thought for a while and replied: "My lord, my lord should know about the four major families in Beidi County, right?"
Jia Rong asked in confusion: "It wasn't Zirong who mentioned those aristocratic families before, but they were actually on the opposite side of us. Why do you mention the four major aristocratic families now?"
Zhang Li said slowly: "Master, so far, we have no conflicts with the four major families. As long as the master is willing to lower his profile, the four major families will still sell him a favor, and then we can wait for Mi Zhu's grain and rice to arrive.
.”
Jia Rong picked up the teacup in front of him and turned it around repeatedly in his hands. After a long time, he gently put the cup on the table and sighed: "In Zirong's opinion, as long as we can save those victims, no matter how much we pay,
The price will not be spared."
Zhang Li was deeply moved. If all officials of the Han Dynasty were like this, there would be no need to worry about the instability at home and the dissatisfaction of foreign barbarians. Zhang Li also understood that the Han family could not be shaken by the current Beidi County. The officials of the Han Dynasty were basically members of the family.
The aristocratic family is an important class in the Han Dynasty. Jia Rong's series of governance plans have greatly weakened the interests of the aristocratic family, but there is no conflict between the two. Zhang Li, who is well aware of the influence of the aristocratic family, naturally hopes that the relationship between Jia Rong and the aristocratic family will ease.
, it will be easier for me to talk after I return to my family.
A sedan carried by four people left the prefect's mansion and walked slowly toward the area where the four aristocratic families lived not far away. The four aristocratic families lived in the east, west, north, and south directions of the city. Jia Rong was sitting in a black official uniform.
In the sedan chair, Jia Rong stroked the green sword in his hand repeatedly with an expressionless face. Jia Rong didn't know when he developed the habit of stroking the green sword whenever something happened.
Jia Rong went first to the Wang family, one of the four major aristocratic families. The Wang family was the eldest of the four major aristocratic families in Beidi County, and was superior to the other three aristocratic families in terms of financial resources and connections.
The four aristocratic families have been rooted in Beidi County for generations, and any disturbance cannot be hidden from the eyes of a few family heads. After receiving the news, Wang Gu, the head of the Wang family, was waiting outside the door and opened the middle door to welcome Jia Rong.
Jia Rong is a prefect and a feudal official, and the Wang family is just a family in Beidi County. Although the edict issued by the former Jia Rong harmed the interests of the Wang family, the two parties still get along very harmoniously. Now that Jia Rong comes to visit in person, this means
Seeing that the prefect had already sent He Jie's signal, Wang Gu, the head of the Wang family, was naturally extremely happy.
The sedan moved very slowly, and the fifteen-minute journey took half an hour.
Jia Rong opened the sedan curtain and walked out. The guards had already informed Jia Rong of the Wang family's actions.
"Wang Gu respectfully welcomes the prefect!" With a thumping sound, dozens of members of the Wang family knelt down on the ground. Looking at the people kneeling down, Jia Rong was also a little confused. No matter how awesome you are in the Wang family, this prefect is still here.
It’s not about kowtowing three times and bowing nine times.
Jia Rong pretended to lift Wang Gu up and said with a smile: "Master Wang, you don't have to be so polite!"
Wang Gu enthusiastically welcomed Jia Rong into the house. The layout of the courtyard was unique, and the architectural style was quite reminiscent of a house with a small bridge and flowing water.
After welcoming Jia Rong into the house, Wang Gu immediately ordered his family to hold a banquet.
The Wang family's banquet was so sumptuous that Jia Rong, who had not seen fish for a long time, ate so much that his mouth was filled with oil without realizing it. All the Wang family members proposed a toast, and Jia Rong also refused to refuse anyone who came.
A junior member of the Wang family made a toast, took a bite of the chicken leg in his left hand, picked up the cup in his right hand and drank it all in one gulp, smashing it with his mouth, looking like he still had something to say. Seeing Jia Rong's appearance, the Wang family members all put down their hands.
With the chopsticks in his hands, he quietly watched Jia Rong perform alone.
Jia Rong didn't feel embarrassed. Having enough food was the most important thing. These aristocratic families were not at odds with him anyway, so just eat more and drink more to make them feel distressed. Jia Rong thought of a weak reason to comfort himself.
The banquet was finally over. Except for Wang Gu and Jia Rong, everyone else quickly fled the banquet scene. The Han Dynasty claimed to be a country of etiquette, and it was difficult to find another top governor like this in the Han Dynasty.
Jia Rong seemed to have passed out from drinking, and his words were incoherent. Wang Gu happily chatted with Jia Rong on the sidelines, with a respectful tone that made it impossible to find any fault.
Suddenly, Jia Rong took Wang Gu's hand and said, "Master Wang, does your family hate me as the prefect?"
Looking at Jia Rong's drunken and hazy look, Wang Gu smiled vaguely and said: "The governor is joking, the family supports the governor!"
"Really?" Jia Rong asked.
"It's absolutely true! It's just..."
"Just what?"
Wang Gu sighed and said, "It's okay not to say anything!"
The drunken Jia Rong was aroused by Wang Gu's curiosity. How could he give up? He grabbed Wang Gu's clothes tightly and said: "I can't do it unless I say it. You and I are both from Beidi County. We should support each other. What's the point?"
Just say what you said." General Jia Rong showed his temperament.
Wang Gu felt secretly happy in his heart, and he hesitated and said: "The edict of the governor... makes it difficult for us... these aristocratic families... to move forward in Beidi County..."
Jia Rong staggered on his feet and shouted: "This matter is easy to handle! The Taishou Palace will not be involved in your family's business in Beidi County and other matters, as long as you don't go against the Prefecture." Jia Rong finished.
The wave of his hand was extremely heroic, but the smell of alcohol coming out of his mouth made people dare not compliment him.
Wang Gu breathed a sigh of relief. The family's recent shrinkage was because he was afraid that Jia Rong would take the opportunity to attack the family. People under the eaves had to bow their heads. The Wang family was no better than those big families, it was just a small family in the border county. When Jia Rong first took office, the North
The county is an empty frame, and there is no trace of aristocratic families among the officials. This is the only special thing about the Han Dynasty.
The phrase "people under the roof" also applies to Jia Rong now. Now Beidi County is short of food. Recently, these aristocratic families learned that if they raise prices on the ground, they may pay a greater price, so they have to compromise for the time being. Jia Rong also said vaguely, what?
Don't go against the prefect's government, just punish them, just give them any reason.
Wang Gu thought that Jia Rong had drunk too much, and he couldn't explain it clearly. He was so surprised that he lost his previous shrewdness and kept flattering Jia Rong. Seeing Jia Rong's constant laughter, Wang Gu
A look of contempt flashed in his eyes. Everyone said that this Lord Prefect was arrogant and unreasonable. But now he looked at it and saw that he was nothing but a piece of cake and a reckless man.
"If you have any requests in the future, the Grand Administrator, please feel free to mention them. The Wang family will definitely support the Grand Administrator!" Wang Gu said with a smile.
Jia Rong took Wang Gu's shriveled hands and asked, "Is this the head of the Wang family seriously?"
Wang Gu hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Jia Rong said: "The loyalty of the Wang family is commendable. Previously, there was still a shortage of food and grass in Beidi County. I wonder if the family master can provide some funds?"
The four major aristocratic families are involved in grain and rice transactions, so there will naturally be no shortage of rice. However, they cannot let Jia Rong catch the pigtails. Wang Gu said awkwardly: "The Wang family has hundreds of people, and they can't come up with too much grain."
…”
Jia Rong laughed and said: "Now there are still a few meritorious officials in the Prefecture..."
After hearing this, Wang Gu was very excited. It would be of great benefit to the family to allow members of the family to hold positions in the prefect's mansion. He immediately said: "Don't worry, sir, the Wang family will do their best!"
"How much rice does the Wang family want to donate to the prefect's mansion?" Jia Rong asked drunkenly.
Wang Gu thought for a moment and replied: "The Wang family is willing to donate five hundred dan of rice and grain!"
Seeing Jia Rong looking at him blankly without saying a word, Wang Gu thought that Jia Rong was dissatisfied with donating too little. For the future of the family, Wang Gu gritted his teeth and said, "The Wang family is willing to donate a thousand dan of rice and food!"
Jia Rong was not dissatisfied with Wang Gu's donation of too little, but was surprised that Wang Gu had donated so much rice at one time. When Wang Gu said that he had donated a thousand stones of rice, Jia Rong still didn't react.
Wang Gu said with a grimace: "Sir, the Wang family can only donate so much."
Jia Rong patted Wang Gu on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Master Wang's generous donation is commendable for his loyalty. In a few days, the master of the family can ask the younger members of the family to report to the prefect's mansion."
Wang Gu knelt down excitedly and said, "Thank you, Lord Prefect!" He became more and more pleased with Jia Rong as he looked at him.
Jia Rong deliberately swayed from side to side a few times and said with a smile: "I drank too much today."
With the help of the Wang family's maid, Jia Rong climbed onto the official sedan with three steps. Four big men carried the sedan to the prefect's mansion. When Wang Gu saw the official sedan go away, he turned around and walked into the house with a happy face.
Jia Rong's eyes in the sedan were clear, but he was still stumbling drunkenly, speaking incoherently, and frowning, constantly thinking about the trip to the Wang family just now.
After this trip to the Wang family, Jia Rong's heart once again stirred up turmoil. The power of the family was so powerful that it was unimaginable. Just a family from a border county could export a thousand stones of grain and rice.
If you go against these aristocratic families, even if you unify the world, it will be difficult to govern. Ninety-five percent of the local governance officials of the Han Dynasty are from aristocratic families. In the Han Empire where there are many aristocratic families, if you win the aristocratic families, you will win the world;
Thinking about it, cold sweat soaked his clothes. This situation made it difficult for Jia Rong to resist the family.
