Yang Hao and Ye Zhixuan boarded the Baiweiju, enjoying their wine. They looked over the railing and heard the sound of silk and bamboo faintly coming up from downstairs, like the sound of fairy music.
This building is the tallest building in the "Qianjin Yixiao Building", which is ten feet taller than the Fan Tower. It is shaped like a tower, with eight exquisite sides. The eaves of each floor are decorated with copper bells. When the wind blows, the sound of the bells becomes clearer. The tallest building
The first floor is just a rooftop with a radius of several feet, and the surrounding fence is only up to the waist. As you look around, you can clearly see the grand scene of Kaifeng.
I saw a forest of sails and rafters up and down the Bianhe River, flowing in and out of Kaifeng Mansion along with the Grand Canal. The Daxiangguo Temple was so crowded and bustling that one could feel its liveliness and prosperity even from such a distance; the Yamen of Kaifeng Mansion was majestic.
Standing there solemnly and quietly; the golden walls of the Ouchi Imperial Palace are splendid. Although it is small, it still shows the royal style. The beautiful scenery from far and near is infinite. From a high place, the autumn wind blows slowly, and the clothes are flying, making people feel like they are flying in the clouds.
.
"Sir, I've been in Kaifeng for a few days. Thanks to your hospitality, I've been treated to fine wine, delicious food, and acrobatic singing and dancing every day. I'm not tired of watching them. But... what Mr. Mu and Mr. Lin said, I don't know what kind of person you are, sir.
Everyone is waiting for your thoughts, shouldn’t you also be familiar with it?”
Yang Hao didn't answer, he looked at the beautiful scenery of Kaifeng with a smile, took a deep breath, opened his mind slightly to the autumn wind, and said on the railing: "Young Master Ye, how about the scenery when you go far away from the heights?"
Ye Zhixuan walked up to him, and Yang Hao pointed out: "Look, the Bianhe River is like a jade belt, meandering, and the eaves of Daxiangguo Temple are fighting. What a sight. Look over there, where there are sparse flowers and trees, that's me.
The house is here, haha, isn’t it beautiful?”
"Beautiful, very beautiful, its beauty can be seen in a painting. Uh... Sir, Mr. Mu, Mr. Lin and the others are waiting..."
"Yes, it's beautiful."
Yang Hao interrupted him and sighed: "Master Ye, I don't understand. We are obviously in the beautiful scenery, why do we have to climb up to the rooftop with sweat all over the place, just for
How about appreciating how beautiful the place you were just now is?”
Ye Zhixuan rolled his eyes and said helplessly: "Is it possible that your Excellency is drunk? Why don't you insist on forcing me to go upstairs to see the scenery? I don't want to come up at all..."
Yang Hao smiled and said: "Master Ye, there are better places in higher places. Come and take a look. The trees downstairs are planted according to the directions of the Nine Palaces. They are even more beautiful than those in my house. You are in good shape."
When you are in it, you can't see how beautiful it is. Come and take a closer look."
Yang Hao said excitedly, grabbed Ye Zhixuan's arm, and suddenly leaned half of his body out of the building. Looking down from the top of the building was dizzying, and Ye Zhixuan was so frightened that he clasped his hands tightly.
Standing on the stone railing, he screamed: "Go back quickly, go back quickly, I'm afraid of heights, my lord... let go quickly, we just drank wine, if we can't stand and fall down, we will be shattered into pieces, no matter how beautiful the scenery is."
It’s so beautiful, how can you admire it even after it’s been smashed into a pulp?”
Yang Hao laughed loudly and pulled Ye Zhixuan, who was pale-faced, back: "As the saying goes, the infinite scenery is on the dangerous peak, not on it. How can you appreciate the beauty in it? It's a pity that you are too timid..."
Ye Zhixuan stood firm, still holding the stone railing firmly with both hands, fearing that Yang Hao would get excited and play a deadly game with him again: "Sir, this has nothing to do with your courage, it's just that you really can't do it, so I'm still here
I don’t want to have a wife and children, but I don’t want to meet the King of Hell in a daze..."
Yang Hao chuckled and said: "You have been in Kaifeng for a few days. Now prepare to pack your bags and return to the northwest. I have prepared some gifts for my adoptive father and Mr. Lin. You can take them back to me and tell my adoptive father that I will give them to you."
He takes care of himself. I miss them very much, but I can’t help myself and can’t get away to see them..."
Bisu was overjoyed: "Are you going back today? Okay, okay, but...what do you mean, you have to explain it to me first."
Yang Hao smiled and said: "You go back and tell your adoptive father and Mr. Lin about all the things we have been doing together for a few days, and they will understand."
Ye Zhixuan was confused and said: "Ah? What did you say? What can they understand?"
Yang Hao gathered his clothes and sighed: "When I first came up, I felt refreshed. After a while, I felt that the wind was getting stronger. Alas! It's very cold at high places. It's windy here, so let's go down."
"
Ye Zhixuan looked at Yang Hao's back in confusion, then turned to look at the dizzying scenery from upstairs. She felt that the autumn wind was really lustful, and her steps were sloppy after drinking, and she felt like she couldn't stand.
Busy followed him downstairs...
As soon as Zhang Dejun returned to the palace, Zhao Kuangyin immediately asked: "How is the grain reserve in the official warehouse?"
"Back at the official's house, I have just visited. There is an endless supply of grain on the Bianhe River and it is still being transported. Now the grain storage in the official warehouse is enough to last until the river transportation resumes next year. According to the official's instructions, Bianliang City will continue to be transported from now on.
There must be at least three to five years of grain storage, so grain is still being transported.
As for the market, as Yang Shaoqing said, from the first day of the new year, the imperial court opened the sale of rice grains, and the people rushed to buy it. The official warehouses were really struggling. However, after three days, the official warehouses were running out of grain, and the people felt at ease.
, so they stopped buying in large quantities. The grain gentry who transported grain to Beijing couldn't bear it, so they wanted to sell grain to the people.
But strangely, the more they acted like this, the less the people wanted to buy grain. As a result, the price of grain was suppressed again and again, but they still couldn't sell it. In the end, they had to sell it to the official warehouse at a price that was 40% lower than the market price. Hehe, they
There is really a lot of grain in hand. Not only has the official warehouse been replenished, but the shortfall in the government's high-priced grain purchases in the past few days has also been made up."
Zhao Kuangyin laughed loudly: "Okay, such profiteers should be punished in this way. Well... river transportation is the lifeblood of the capital, and it is especially important after this incident. I want the Ministry of Industry to prepare, next year
Begin to build permanent dams and sluices in sections to ensure more stable and rapid water transportation."
Zhao Kuangyin was inspired by what he said and couldn't help but praise: "Yang Hao still has some real abilities. He seems to have wasted his talents in Honglu Temple. Hmm... Where are the envoys of the Tang Dynasty? Wait until they enter Bianliang
, let Yang Hao host the reception. When this matter is over, I want to change his office."
"According to the orders of the officials, only grain ships can travel unimpeded on the water transport. All other ships must give way. Even the envoys of the Tang State must not make an exception. Their journey is not very fast. Let's estimate the distance. The envoys of the Tang State must give way.
I should have just passed Sizhou now, and there is still some time before arriving in Beijing, so there is no rush in this matter."
Zhao Kuangyin nodded disapprovingly and said: "Yes, if the envoys from the Tang Dynasty come, if there is any big event, let them follow the grain ship slowly."
Zhang Dejun smiled and said, "That's what the officials said."
His eyes flashed slightly, and he said in a casual tone: "Now the officials everywhere also know that the officials attach great importance to grain transportation, and few people dare to make things difficult for grain ships and seize their passage. Today, I have been ordered to go
While inspecting the water transportation and grain storage, I saw several businessmen from the land of Wu and Yue on the dock. They were complaining that the grain ships were blocking the road and the journey was too slow. They brought several jars of seafood as a gift to Xianggong Zhao, but along the way
Even the river officials refused to make it easier for them and let them go first."
"Food is the first priority for the people, and the country is based on the people. Only when you have food in your hands can you not panic. Haha, it's good if the river officials can prioritize and not bend the law for personal gain. Hmm...huh?"
Zhao Kuangyin's laughter suddenly stopped, and he pondered for a moment and said: "You said...are there any merchants from Wuyue who brought some jars of seafood to Zhao Pu?"
Zhang Dejun said respectfully: "Yes, that's what those merchants said. I don't know if they are just insincere words to exaggerate their own worth."
"Oh..." Zhao Kuangyin stood up, walked back and forth in the palace for a few steps, and suddenly stopped and said: "The autumn air is crisp now, it's time to go out for a walk. Go, get some casual clothes, call the guards to change into civilian clothes, and follow me out of the palace.
visit."
Zhang Dejun bowed and said: "Yes, I don't know if the officials are going to the west camp of the Forbidden Army, the cavalry army, or the east camp of the infantry army?"
"If I don't leave the city today, I... will go to Zhao Pu's house for a walk."
The house that Zhao Pu lives in now is actually quite nice, but it's just a little smaller than the new house being built.
Zhao Pu has his own houses in Kaifeng, Tokyo, and Luoyang, Xijing. The houses he built have very ordinary facades. They look similar to the entrances of middle-class families in Kaifeng. For the prime minister of a country, such an ordinary house seems too frugal.
A little. But is Zhao Pu’s house really that simple?
The courtyard wall is the least expensive part of a house. The Zhao Pu family's house looks very ordinary, but when it was built, it was made of hemp mixed with mud. It cost one thousand and two dollars just to buy hemp.
One hundred guan of money, plus the foundation bricks and roof tiles, every seemingly ordinary thing is very particular. The Zhao family just built a courtyard wall, and the total cost was around 5,000 guan, which was a total of 5,000 guan.
Silver, who can be so generous in building a yard?
The courtyard where he lived, with seven entrances and seven exits, became more and more prosperous as he went up. The first courtyard he entered was no different from that of an ordinary house. By the time he entered the last courtyard, the luxury and style was already catching up with that of a prince. It was really a gradual process.
In the prime minister's residence, there are not many guests who are qualified to go to the third courtyard. Therefore, people who have been to the Zhao family praise Mr. Zhao for his clean sleeves and diligent and thrifty housekeeping.
Zhao Kuangyin often went out of the palace, and he often came to Zhao Pu's house. With his status, the Zhao family could only open the middle door and welcome people into the back house to entertain them. Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin knew what the Zhao family was like.
of.
When he first arrived at Zhao's house, he was shocked when he saw the front door. When he entered the courtyard for the third time, he felt like a prime minister. When he entered the courtyard for the fifth time, the expression on his face became strange.
When they finally entered the courtyard, Zhao Kuangyin burst into laughter, pointed at Zhao Pu, who was blushing with shame, and said, "You old man, you are not pure after all."
Zhao Pu was full of remorse, fearing that Zhao Kuangyin would be dissatisfied with him, and he has always been worried about this matter. Later, when he and Zhao Kuangyin were chatting about some ministers of the previous dynasty, he mentioned Sang Weihan, the prime minister of the later Jin Dynasty. Sang Weihan was very talented and capable.
Yes, he is just extremely greedy for money. Zhao Pu took the opportunity to say: "Sang Weihan is talented and knowledgeable, but he is too greedy for money. When he was the prime minister, he accepted countless bribes. For such a person, even if he is still alive, I believe that the officials will never
Will use him."
Zhao Kuangyin said disapprovingly: "As an emperor, there is a string of jade in front of the crown to blind the eyes; there is a curly earband on the side to block the hearing. Because when the water is clear, there will be no fish, but when people come to see it, there will be no fish."
Wu Tu. Since you want to use his strengths, you have to tolerate his shortcomings. Sang Weihan is just a poor man, how much appetite can he have? If I want to use him, are I afraid that he will be greedy for money? I will give him one hundred thousand dollars.
So what, it’s enough to fill his shabby house.”
After hearing this, Zhao Pu understood the official's intentions, and then he felt relieved. From then on, he no longer pretended to be in front of Zhao Kuangyin. Instead, he regretted that he had chosen too small a homestead because of too many scruples. At that time, he wanted to
He was planning to build another big house, but it was only recently that he started working on it.
Zhao Kuangyin arrived at Zhao Kuangyin's house in a light carriage. When the guard guard saw that an official had arrived, he hurriedly went inside to report. Zhao Kuangyin smiled and said, "No need, lead the way. I will go visit Zhao Qing myself."
In the central hall, Zhao Pu was sitting on a chair, stroking the secret letter in his sleeve, looking at the ten altars of seafood under the hall and pondering in silence. The people who gave the gifts to King Qian Chu of Wu Yue had already left, and they brought the gift of King Qian Chu of Wu Yue.
A letter and ten altars of seafood. The seafood was transported thousands of miles from Wuyue, and it came from the hands of King Qian Chu of Wuyue. Naturally, it couldn't really be any kind of seafood. What Zhao Pu guessed was what the letter was about.
This is not the first time that King Qian Chu of Wu Yue gave him a gift. Every time he gave a gift, it was just a greeting in a letter without any clear requirements. When people at the level of King Qian Chu of Wu Yue and Zhao Pu interacted with each other, they did not need to pay attention to one person.
A clear purpose, not to mention improvising for a clear purpose. Every time Qian Chu, the king of Wu and Yue, sent generous gifts, Zhao Pu smiled and accepted them. Regarding the Song Dynasty's policy towards Wu Yue, Zhao Pu was in front of the officials and in the court.
, as long as the attitude is inclined, it will always have a huge effect and be rewarded.
But this time, Zhao Pu had to be cautious. Nowadays, good news is spreading from southern Fujian, and the fall of Han is imminent. Once the fall of Han, the power of Song Dynasty surrounded Tang and Wuyue. Except for the sea on one side, the three sides were surrounded by Song.
Under the gaze of the tiger, Tang Guo and Wu Yue were obviously shocked. Facing such a dangerous situation, they would definitely be restless.
The envoys of the Tang State are now on the way. The envoys of the Tang State are sent to meet with officials, but Wu Yue... they once again sent envoys to see them privately. Giving gifts at such a delicate moment may not be as simple as in the past when they only asked him to take care of them.
Simple. What will they ask for? After giving so many gifts, do they have to ask for interest this time?
Zhao Pu sighed in distress. The official's attitude towards Tang was very clear, but he had never made it clear what he thought about Wu Yue, who had no threat to Wu Yue in terms of force and had always been respectful to Song Dynasty.
attitude. So he, the prime minister, was a little unsure.
Once the Han Dynasty is in control, the imperial court will undoubtedly continue to implement the national policy of sweeping the world from the south to the north. What will it do to Wu Yue at that time? Zhao Pu doesn't know the official's intentions, so he can't help but feel a little bit concerned about the generous gift given by the King of Wu Yue at this time.
hesitate.
After hesitating for a long time, he slowly pulled out the letter from his sleeve. Just as he was about to open it, he heard Fu Qiu, the old housekeeper in the courtyard, shout: "Oh, the official family is here. Fu Qiu, the old servant of the Zhao family, has met the official family."
"The official is here?" Zhao Pu's expression suddenly changed. He quickly put the letter back into his sleeve. As soon as he raised his head, he saw Zhao Kuangyin walking in with a big smile...