The severe drought in Jiangdong that Chen Caozhi was worried about has really come!
Since the autumn of the first year of Longhe, three of the nine states under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Jin Dynasty have suffered from drought. These three states are Yangzhou, Xiangzhou and Jiangzhou. Among them, the drought in Yangzhou is the most serious, with half of the ten counties in Yangzhou experiencing drought.
There has been no decent rainfall in the above counties for six consecutive months. Many tributaries of the Taihu Lake system have stopped flowing. Fish and shrimp are condensed in the dry and cracked river mud. Occasionally there is a low shallow puddle, which is full of muddy mud. Mountain animals and
People are fighting for water. Not only is there no water for farmland irrigation, but it is also difficult for people and animals to drink. The land of Sanwu, which has always had abundant rain and is crisscrossed by rivers, has become thousands of miles of bare land. According to the elders of the village, this drought is worse than during the Huanglong period of the Eastern Wu Dynasty.
That drought was even more severe!
Yangzhou was the largest state in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and its registered private households also ranked first among the states. Nearly half of the imperial court's taxes came from Yangzhou. A severe drought in Yangzhou resulted in a sharp decrease in taxes and an increase in disaster victims. This was bound to shake the foundation of the state's affairs. Therefore, from the beginning of April, Shangshu
Tai, together with Zuo Min, Du Zhi, and Ke Cao Shangshu, sent officials to the counties where the drought was most serious to supervise drought relief. Zhu Yingtai, who joined the army in the Xifu, asked for orders to go to Kuaiji County to recruit civilians to fight the drought. The reason was that she served as the deputy envoy for inspection last year.
After staying in Kuaiji for three months, he and Chen Caozhi went around Jian Lake to inspect the hydrology and topography, and became familiar with Kuaiji's canals and water conservancy——
Kuaiji County has received very little rainfall since last autumn, and was the first major county in Yangzhou to suffer from drought. However, due to a heavy snowfall at the end of the year, the drought was slightly alleviated, and because of Chen Cao's efforts, soil breakage was used for inspections.
With the 35 million donated by wealthy households in counties and counties, large-scale construction of water conservancy projects, dredging of waterways, and return of farmland to lakes in ten counties of Kuaiji began last winter, which improved the ability of Jianhu Lake to store water and fight drought.
, Kong and Yu in Kuaiji also built canals to divert water from the Cao'e River, Yongjiang River, and Yuyao River into the manor for irrigation. Therefore, although Kuaiji County suffered the drought first, the drought was not the worst. However, if it doesn't rain, no matter how good the water conservancy irrigation is,
It's useless. The Cao'e River first stopped flowing, and only a shallow line of water remained in the Yongjiang and Yuyao rivers. The water was coming out, and it was no longer possible to sail -
Xie Daoyun, whose pseudonym is Zhu Yingtai, left Gushu for Shanyin in early May when the drought in Kuaiji became increasingly serious. She first returned to Jiankang and rested for two days at Xie's Mansion in Wuyi Lane, and reported to her uncles Xie An and Xie Wan.
When Huan Wen went to Hefei, the Yan army retreated. Huan Wen had no reason to stay in Hefei for a long time. Although Yuzhou was very important, it was still Yuan Zhen and Yu Xi's sphere of influence. Huan Wen still could not influence the military and political affairs of Yuzhou. Haste makes waste, so Huan Wen
In mid-April, he returned to Zhengu and recruited Xu. Thirty thousand people from Yan Min built Guangling City in preparation for moving the town to Guangling. Because Huan Wen was the shepherd of Yangzhou, taking Yangzhou into his own hands was an important step for Huan Wen to threaten Jiankang.
—
In the evening of midsummer, in the small hall of Xie's mansion, there was a potted impatiens on the desk, with long and narrow branches and leaves, and red petals. The single-petaled impatiens swayed in the evening breeze. Xie Daoyun knelt down beside the small table with potted flowers and talked with Xie
Uncles An and Xie Wan talked.
Xie An shook his palm fan and asked, "When A Yuan left Hefei, was there any news about Chen Caozhi?"
Xie Daoyun is now accustomed to dressing up in men's clothing. He did not change his skirt when he returned to the mansion, but he was not very popular. He replied: "Zizhong has a secret message from Yingchuan to the Grand Sima Huan. Also delivered with it is the letter of Gao Prefect of Yingchuan."
The reason for the urgent document is that the Di Qin people lobbied the Huaibei Zhuwu, but fortunately Zi Zhong discovered it, otherwise the Zhuwu would rebel, and Luoyang would be even more isolated."
Xie Wan smiled and said: "This Chen Caozhi will find someone to help him. Gao Rou is my general, so he will do his best to help him."
Xie An said: "King Jinglue of Di Qin is very aggressive. It will be very difficult for him to make this trip to Chang'an!"
Xie Daoyun said: "What's strange about my niece is that Chen Zizhong knows Fu Jian and Wang Meng very well about their temperaments, preferences, talents, and talents. My niece will definitely be able to return with meritorious service, not just to exchange weapons for horses."
Xie An nodded and said: "Cao is really very knowledgeable, but I don't know where he got it? He stood out in Jiangdong with his Confucianism and metaphysical eloquence. This mission will test his cunning. If he can capture Wang Meng's
It’s so cheap, so there’s no limit to how far you can go!”
At this point, Xie An suddenly frowned and said, "Recently there are rumors in Jiankang that the Lu family will enter the palace to serve the emperor, and is expected to become the first queen from the Sanwu family."
Xie Daoyun was shocked. This Lu girl was obviously Lu Weirui. The only girl from the Lu family's direct family was Lu Weirui of the right age. Moreover, Lu Shi and Lu Qin had always been firmly opposed to Lu Weirui marrying Chen Caozhi. Now they wanted to take advantage of Chen Caozhi's mission to the north.
Lu Weirui was sent to the palace and asked quickly: "Is Miss Lu willing to agree?"
Xie Wan's eyes widened and he said, "Why wait for Lu's daughter to agree to your parents' orders and the matchmaker's words? Do you think all the parents and elders in the world will indulge you like your uncle?"
Xie Daoyun bowed his head in silence, put his left hand against his lips with a fist, coughed lightly, and his fair cheeks turned red due to the cough.
Xie An stopped talking about Lu's daughter and said with concern: "A Yuan, you have such a cough, have you ever delayed medical treatment? My uncle seems to have lessened your cough this time."
Xie Daoyun caught wind and cold after seeing off Chen Caozhi at the foot of Bagong Mountain in Shouzhou at the end of March. Because he was dying from hair loss, it was inconvenient for him to go to hospital. So he just boiled some medicine and took it according to the doctor's prescription. It took ten years.
After half a month, he recovered from his illness, but he still had a cough. He immediately said: "It has been hot recently and I have some dryness in the lungs. My niece has also taken medicine. It will naturally get better in a few days."
Xie An said: "Kuaiji is a thousand miles away, and the carriages and horses are very tiring. Why do you have to take on the hard work of supervising drought relief alone?"
What Xie An didn't say was, if Chen Caozhi doesn't accompany you this time, why should you go?
Xie Daoyun coughed twice again and said: "My niece grew up in Dongshan, Shangyu. There was a severe drought in Shangyu. After all, my niece is also an eighth-rank official with a national salary. She is willing to do her part. Moreover, she also built water conservancy projects in Kuaiji last winter.
I know very well that it is most appropriate for my niece to go. After this severe drought is over, my niece will return to Jiankang and work as his assistant in accordance with what the third uncle said. By then, the third uncle should be promoted to a minister."
Xie An smiled and said to Xie Wan: "Look at A Yuan, he sounds like a court official. It's really funny."
Xie Wan also smiled and said to Xie Daoyun: "I don't believe that A Yuan can become a county magistrate. Even if that day comes, she will still be a white-haired old aunt."
Xie Wan always spoke rudely, but Xie An didn't want to embarrass his niece Xie Daoyun, so he said, "Ah'e sent a letter from Nanjun in Jingzhou a few days ago. Huan Youjun wanted to marry his daughter to Ah'e, and Ah'e asked the elders in the capital for their opinions. Ah Yuan,
You are sister A'er, what do you think?"
Huan Youjun was Huan Huo, the governor of Jingzhou. He defeated Yan general Murong Chen in Xinye the year before last and was promoted to General You, hence the name Huan Youjun.
Xie Daoyun said: "Of course, the two uncles will make the decision for Ah Wei. As for Ah Wei, just don't feel too wronged."
Xie An said: "It's okay for a man to feel wronged. He can take a few concubines to comfort him, but a woman cannot feel wronged."
Xie Daoyun did not dare to answer. He sat for a while and then left and returned to his small courtyard. He thought to himself: "Looking at the tone of my third uncle, he is going to agree to the marriage between A'ai and the Huan family. Our Xie family in Chen County is still not as good as the Wang family in Taiyuan."
, Wang Shu dared to refuse to marry Huan Wen, but I, Mrs. Xie, have no such confidence."
At that moment, Xie Daoyun wrote a letter to Xie Xuan and ordered it to be sent to his third uncle Xie An. When his third uncle replied to Ah Li's letter, he also sent someone to Nanjun, Jingzhou.
Dusk was falling, and the maid Liu Xu went into the study to light a lamp. She saw Mrs. Daoyun in a turban and undershirt sitting alone in the dim light, leaning on her forehead with one hand and tapping the small case in front of her with the other.
After coming to his senses, he asked LiuXu: "LiuXu, do you think I have been wronged?"
This was nonsense, and Liu Xu didn't understand what it meant, so she replied: "Who dares to suffer the injustice of Mrs. A Yuan? Well, is it——"
Liu Xu wanted to say if they were Mrs. A Yuan's two uncles? Xie Daoyun quickly shook his head and said: "No, my uncles and aunts love me so much. Otherwise, how could I still travel south and north? I'm asking if I feel a little aggrieved to be like this now.
, No, no, it’s just looking at me - oh, I can’t explain, you don’t understand Liu Catkin.”
Liu Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Madam Daoyun always spoke calmly and calmly. It is rare to see such a childish attitude. Liu Xu smiled and said: "Madam A Yuan is proud and arrogant, how can she feel wronged? Liu Xu understands. Liu Xu feels that the only grievance I have is that my lady is aggrieved.
You can't be a man, otherwise you can be sent as an envoy to Beihu. Oh, there is another grievance, but I won't mention it——"
Xie Daoyun laughed, raised his delicate eyebrows, and pretended to be angry: "I have to say it today, let's say it!"
Liu Xu looked at Xie Daoyun's face, then quickly looked around the room. There was no one else there, so she whispered: "My wife is just a step behind that girl from the Lu family."
Xie Daoyun gave a slight "hum" and said: "What are you talking about? Are you picking up treasures? You're a step too late!" He stopped Liuxu with a gesture and ordered Liuxu to tell the cook to bring dinner -
Because of the question and answer with Liu Xu, Xie Daoyun decided on one thing. She wanted to help Lu Weirui. Although she didn't know Lu Weirui's temperament, Lu Weirui must be quite strong when she could face the pressure from her family and wait for Chen Caozhi. If the pressure suddenly intensified,
Lu Weirui couldn't bear it, but she refused to give in, so the only way was to destroy it. She just didn't know about it. If she knew it, if she stood by and watched, with her arrogant temperament, she would probably not have peace of mind for the rest of her life, and she would not be able to do anything in the future.
She faced Chen Caozhi calmly because she thought of a way to help Lu Weirui get out of trouble. She had to tell Lu Weirui, otherwise she would have wronged herself——
"Looking at the pines on the mountain from a distance, they cannot wither in the middle of winter. I wish I could swim down and rest, and look at the thousands of trees there. I couldn't get up in the air, but I stopped until Wang Qiao came to my feet. I am not with you at this time, and the great fortune is flying."
This is "Poetry on Traveling to Immortals" written by Xie Daoyun at the Tianque Mountain Elegant Collection last year. Although he cannot travel with the immortals, he has no regrets.
That's all, even if it's a step too late, how can I wrong my original intention!
