Zhuge Guanqi said: "Three cities and 200,000 stones of grain can ensure that they can survive this severe winter and last until next autumn harvest. Dongliang County itself still has grain reserves. Although Dayong has been plagued by disasters, the towns in Jiangbei have not been affected by natural disasters.
I think there is a good harvest around Dongliang County next year. No matter how much food is stored, it will only be empty, and it will also cause too much unnecessary hatred. Why don't you transfer the pressure to the court, and still get a reputation of being loyal to the emperor and loving the people. The Internet is worth it
Your collection..."
After listening to Zhuge Guanqi's words, Hu Xiaotian felt suddenly enlightened. Yes, he really shouldn't be short-sighted and care too much about the grain storage in Dongluocang. No matter how much grain storage there is, it is impossible to feed and clothe these soldiers and civilians for the rest of their lives.
However, the only solution is continuous production. This common man is not guilty of harboring the jade. His current situation is indeed not suitable for him to be an enemy of others. If he refuses to distribute grain and grass to the capital, then what consequences will arise from this?
It’s unimaginable. People who don’t have long-term concerns must have short-term worries. Zhuge’s perspective on chess is indeed far-sighted.
Hu Xiaotian said: "According to Brother Guanqi's wishes, I will provide 300,000 shi of food to support the emperor." At this point, he remembered another thing: "Previously, the surrounding cities had asked me to borrow food. Since I agreed to give
If the emperor is dead, should he lend them some? He told Zhuge Guanqi this idea.
Zhuge Guanqi shook his head and said: "My lord has no such obligation, and it will not help if I give it to them. My lord only needs to give these 300,000 stones of grain to the imperial court, and leave it to the imperial court to decide how to distribute it."
Hu Xiaotian said: "With the emperor's temperament, I'm afraid he won't care about their life or death."
Zhuge Guanqi said: "Maybe someone will take the risk and steal the food."
Hu Xiaotian’s eyebrows moved: “What if this is really the case?”
Zhuge Guanqi smiled and said: "If this is the case, my lord's opportunity will come. The emperor may give you a high-sounding reason to use troops against other cities. Maybe in the near future, your lord will control more than just these three cities."
Zhuge Guanqi undoubtedly sees further. If the five hundred thousand stones of grain are left in Hu Xiaotian's hands, he will become the target of public criticism. It is foreseeable that the crisis has just begun. As long as the grain is still with him, trouble will follow one after another.
Hu Xiaotian's current strength does not have the appetite to swallow so much food and grass in one go. In this case, it is better to pass the conflict to the court. It can be predicted that this batch of food and grass will definitely cause shock within Dakang, and many forces will focus on this in order to survive.
A batch of grain will even be taken for oneself at all costs, just like a ball of fish suddenly thrown into an originally calm pond. It can be predicted that the pond will inevitably boil before long. Using three hundred thousand stones of grain to stir up the world
Kang's internal situation, Hu Xiaotian can take advantage of this opportunity to seek development and expand his own strength. This is a truly wonderful move.
Hu Xiaotian suddenly understood that perhaps Dayong's original intention was to be the bait thrower. If he gave away these 300,000 stones of grain, he would be able to gain the power to control the fish pond before Dayong did.
Fan Zongxi had given up hope on whether he could successfully get the food. Although Hu Xiaotian was warm to him on the surface, he always chose to evade when it came to asking for food. Fan Zongxi was not a fool. Of course he would not believe that Hu Xiaotian still didn’t know anything about him until now.
How much grain is stored in Luocang? Although Fan Zongxi doesn't know how much wealth Dongluocang has, he firmly believes that Dongluocang, one of the seven major granaries in Dayong, can definitely get 100,000 shi of grain. He has also heard that
There have been reports that many local officials came to borrow food but were rejected by Hu Xiaotian, but since he was the emperor's imperial envoy, Hu Xiaotian couldn't refuse to pay for the emperor's face, right?
When Fan Zongxi thought about this problem, he shook his head first. Hu Xiaotian now has considerable strength. Maybe he no longer has to give the emperor face, and will be subject to foreign military orders. What's more, there is famine everywhere in Dakang, and food is
Precious.
Just when Fan Zongxi was suffering from a headache, Hu Xiaotian came. Seeing Hu Xiaotian's springy face, Fan Zongxi's heart suddenly began to have some hope. Even if Hu Xiaotian was reluctant to part with 100,000 shi of food, he could offer a discount of 50,000 shi. Really,
If you don't want to, it would be good to give you 30,000 dan. It's better than letting yourself go back empty-handed and unable to explain it in front of the emperor.
Fan Zongxi carefully invited Hu Xiaotian into the room and said with a smile: "Sir Hu, the reason why I'm looking for you tonight is because I need to return to the capital as soon as possible on business."
Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's go now? Why don't you, Eunuch Fan, take this opportunity to play here for a few more days, and let me, my brother, do my duty as a landlord?"
Fan Zong said happily: "The Zajia family is deeply moved by the deep friendship between brothers. However, the sacred order cannot be violated. The emperor asked me to return to Beijing immediately after delivering the oral message. I really don't dare to delay."
Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "In this case, it is not convenient for me to force you to stay. In this way, if you stay for one more day, I will hold a banquet for the father-in-law to see him off tomorrow."
What Fan Zongxi cared about was not a farewell banquet. When he saw that Hu Xiaotian never mentioned the food issue, he finally couldn't help but said: "Master Hu, about the food issue..."
Hu Xiaotian said: "How much do you want, father-in-law?"
Fan Zong said happily: "The emperor's intention is that Mr. Hu can come up with one hundred thousand stones..."
Hu Xiaotian deliberately coughed a few times when he heard this. Fan Zongxi thought he was unwilling and quickly changed his words: "If you find it difficult for me, fifty thousand dan is also good."
Hu Xiaotian shouted: "Fifty thousand stones!"
Fan Zongxi was shocked by his voice, and couldn't help but feel secretly worried. Looking at Hu Xiaotian like this, he probably couldn't even think about fifty thousand dan, yes! In this situation, who would be willing to give the food he got to others? Unless he is a fool.
That's how you do it.
But I heard Hu Xiaotian say: "You're kidding!"
Fan Zongxi's scalp tightened. He was about to say that you can't always come up with 30,000 dan if you have 50,000 dan, right?
Hu Xiaotian said: "How can fifty thousand stones be enough?"
Fan Zongxi thought he heard wrongly: "What?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Eunuch Fan, to be honest, I have just investigated the grain seized in Dongluo Cang. Except for some that were burned by the fire, there are still a total of 400,000 shi of grain left."
Fan Zongxi was overjoyed. Hu Xiaotian seemed to have said before that he would give half of the food to the court. Did this guy really want to fulfill his promise? Half of the food would be 200,000 shi. If he was really willing to give 200,000 shi of food, then he would be the best this time.
It was a great achievement.
Hu Xiaotian said: "I am going to give 300,000 shi of grain as tribute to the emperor to help the people and alleviate the food shortage in Dakang."
Happiness came so suddenly that Fan Zongxi felt as if he was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that what he heard was all the truth. After a while, he said in a trembling voice: "Master Hu... you... everything you said is true."
of?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded: "A gentleman's words are hard to follow! When have I, Hu Xiaotian, ever done anything contrary to my word?"
Fan Zongxi grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm excitedly and said: "Master Hu is really the pillar of the country, and he shows his true colors as a loyal minister in times of crisis. When the Za family returns to the capital, he will definitely report to the emperor and vigorously demonstrate Master Hu's patriotism. The emperor will definitely be very careful."
A reward for you."
Hu Xiaotian said hypocritically: "What I want is not a reward. As a minister of Dakang, I should share the emperor's worries and relieve Dakang's difficulties. However, Eunuch Fan, I will prepare the food for the court as soon as possible. I still hope the court will transport the grain."
Take it upon yourself, Dayong is eyeing me and may send his troops south at any moment, I cannot take it lightly and must be prepared for the danger."
Fan Zongxi was so happy that he had received the promise of 300,000 shi of grain. How could he dare to ask for anything else? He nodded repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, Master Hu. Don't worry, Master Hu. I will send a message to the imperial court immediately to send someone to transport the grain."
An eagle swooped through the vast night and swooped into Kangdu Mingyue Inn. Li Chenzhou stretched out his hand, and the eagle stopped on his left wrist. Li Chenzhou took out a copper tube from the eagle's paw and unfolded a note from it.
, he couldn't help but frowned when he saw the contents clearly.
Light footsteps sounded behind him, but it was his wife Jian Rongxin who came quietly behind him in the moonlight. Li Chenzhou turned around with a smile: "Rongxin, aren't you asleep yet?"
Jian Rongxin sighed softly and said, "Aren't you the same?"
Li Chenzhou took off his cloak and put it on his wife's shoulders, and said softly: "It's a cold night and the wind is cold. Let's go back and talk."
Jian Rongxin nodded and held her husband's arm. The couple came to the room leaning on each other. Jian Rongxin brought the freshly stewed ginseng soup to Li Chenzhou and watched him drink the ginseng soup.
Showing a knowing smile: "Shen Zhou, has the matter here come to an end?"
Li Chenzhou nodded and said: "They have rejected the conditions for peace talks."
Jian Rongxin raised her eyebrows and said slightly: "Does Emperor Kangxi not consider the people at all? He saw the people in dire straits but still refused to give in?" She has rarely interfered with state affairs, and this time she came with her husband as an envoy.
Also at her husband's request, Jian Rong felt infinite sympathy in her heart when she saw the displaced, hungry and cold people of Dakang along the way. She did not understand the political game between the two countries, nor did she understand the true purpose of her husband's mission.
In her opinion, it is best to hope that the two countries can reach peace talks. No matter what, the people are innocent.
Li Chenzhou said: "Your Majesty has made a lot of concessions for this peace negotiation, but I didn't expect that Dakang was completely sincere."
Jian Rong thought to herself: "Will there be a war?" What she was most worried about was the war between the two countries. The war would ultimately harm only the people. And if the two countries started a war because of this, her husband would probably be ordered to go to war again.
Li Chenzhou knew what his wife's concerns were. He smiled and shook his head: "No!"
"Since they have rejected the peace talks, when will we go back?"
Li Chenzhou cast his eyes on the flickering candlelight and whispered: "It will take some time, I still have some things to do." (To be continued)
