Inside the official post, Xiao Chen was lying on the Datong bunk, chatting with Xiao Lizi about the search for external water sources in the past few days.
"Actually, Gongchang Prefecture is surrounded by mountainous areas, and the streams in the valley can irrigate a lot of fields. As long as we determine the direction of the ditches and canals, we cannot irrigate all the fields. Most of the fields can be irrigated.
The drought situation can still be alleviated."
Pointing to his temporary drawing of the water source layout of Gongchang Mansion, Xiao Lizi explained with a serious look.
"You should discuss this matter with Wei Tongzhiduo from the government office. I am also a layman when it comes to water conservancy. During the actual operation, I should also listen to the opinions of the people. After all, they deal with the land all day long, so this aspect is more important.
The right to speak." Staring at the map, Xiao Chen expressed his opinion.
"I'm talking to Eunuch Li, the injury on Xiao Chen's back is still very serious. He still needs to be in charge of the overall situation of Gongchang Mansion. Can you let him rest for a while?" Duan Tianming held a kettle in his hand and pushed
The door came in.
"I didn't want to let him rest, but he pulled me and insisted that I tell him about the water source and check the situation in the past few days." Xiao Lizi said a little embarrassed.
Duan Tianming stared at Xiao Chen and grinned: "Gong Changwei's thousands of households are still in the prison waiting for you to deal with them. And Ding Xihou's crime of rebellion still needs you to reveal it to the world one by one. You
Do you just want to lie here like this?"
"Lying here all day long and not being able to go anywhere, I feel so depressed. But the water conservancy construction in Gongchang Mansion is also urgent. Let Xiao Lizi say, I have something in my heart." Xiao Chen chuckled,
I found a very "righteous" reason for myself.
"In two days, the captain from Dongchang will arrive in Gongchang. At that time, we will go to Dingxihou's house to search the house. Don't lie on the bed and worry." Duan Tianming laughed maliciously.
"Okay, okay, little plum, put the map away and let me recover." Xiao Chen lay on his arm and slowly closed his eyes.
Just at the stall where Xiao Lizi put away the map, a school captain came in, looked at everyone, and stopped at Duan Tianming: "Captain Duan, the shopkeeper Wang from Jingcheng Zhongzhen Inn is at the gate, saying that he is looking for
You have something to do."
"Shopkeeper Wang?" Duan Tianming was stunned and looked down at Xiao Chen, who was lying on the bed pretending to be asleep: "The healing medicine has been delivered, what is he doing here again?"
"I have met Shopkeeper Wang a few times, and we are considered acquaintances. Maybe he wants to come and see my injury." Xiao Chen said without raising his head.
Duan Tianming raised his head and looked at the captain: "Just tell him to wait, I'll come right away."
"What are you waiting for? I already have my hand at the door, so I won't let you in yet." Xiao Chen said lazily.
Although I suspected that Wang Zhongzhen might be in the same group as his master, it was just a suspicion.
If he could come in, he might be able to make some observations from his words.
"But he is an outsider after all. Now that you are injured like this, we have to protect you." Duan Tianming frowned due to his natural vigilance.
"I told you that he and I are acquaintances. Besides, it's not like you haven't seen the effects of the healing medicine he sent. If he really had any ideas, what he sent was not healing medicine, but poison." Xiao Chen
said with a smile.
"Okay, I'll ask him to come in." After a moment of silence, Duan Tianming agreed.
"What's his name? Go and invite him in." Xiao Chen added.
Once a teacher, always a father. If Wang Zhongzhen is really in the same group as his master, then he and he will also have the blessing of knowing each other indirectly.
This should still be a courtesy.
"Okay, okay, I'll go and invite him." Duan Tianming shook his head and walked out of the room.
I really don’t know what kind of medicine Xiao Chen took wrongly to be so respectful to a businessman in the capital.
As he walked, Duan Tianming kept thinking in his heart.
Not long after, Duan Tianming led Wang Zhongzhen into the room.
"Shopkeeper Wang, it is really a fate to meet you in Gongchang Mansion. I am injured and cannot salute you. Please forgive me." Lying on the bed, Xiao Chen bowed with both hands and said a little embarrassedly.
"What are you saying, Master Ziyi? You were thinking of the people, and you attracted the attack of gunpowder arrows, so you were seriously injured. As a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, I admire you from the bottom of my heart. I came to see you, how can I ask you to get up and salute."
Wang Zhongzhen said, cupping his fists and bowing deeply to Xiao Chen.
This bow is partly due to the admiration in my heart. More importantly, it is out of my love and affection for my young master.
"Sit down, sit down." Xiao Chen hurriedly greeted Wang Zhongzhen, "In this Datong shop, shopkeeper Wang can sit wherever he wants."
"Hey." In response, Wang Zhongzhen sat down in front of Xiao Chen.
"There is a drought in Gongchang Mansion, why did Shopkeeper Wang come to Gongchang?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
"The villain not only opened an inn in the capital, but also had a caravan on the northwest trade route. The goods of the caravan were ready, but the drought in Gongchang left hundreds of miles without anywhere to rest or provide food and accommodation.
Question. I heard that the imperial court sent adults to provide disaster relief, so I wanted to come over and have a look. If the disaster in Gongchang Mansion can be alleviated a little, the villain's caravan can set off early." Wang Zhongzhen said politely with a smile on his face.
"It turns out that Shopkeeper Wang still has a caravan." Xiao Chen chuckled, "The drought in Gongchang has indeed affected the flow of goods between the imperial court and various countries in the Western Regions. However, now that the drought in Gongchang has basically been alleviated, we are preparing to start building water conservancy projects permanently.
At the stage of resolving the drought problem, Shopkeeper Wang’s caravan can set out with confidence, and the court’s disaster relief food funds also have the obligation to provide convenience to the caravan.”
"Isn't that right? I'm really grateful to Mr. Ziyi." Wang Zhongzhen said and bowed deeply to Xiao Chen. "In previous years, the disasters in other places would not be able to see results for less than three to five months. Unexpectedly,
As soon as Master Ziyi came, the drought in Gongchang was relieved within half a month. With Master Ziyi's ability, I am afraid that the entire Ming Dynasty will not be able to find another person."
"The drought can only be partially alleviated when the construction of water conservancy projects begins. What has been solved now is just the living problems of most of the victims." Xiao Chen's face, which was still smiling just now, gradually turned gloomy. "The reason why the people are relieved so quickly
Life is difficult because most of the people in Gongchang Mansion have died. The old, weak, sick and disabled have already left their relatives early."
"What do you mean, Master Ziyi, before you came, the victims had been struggling in misery for a long time?" Wang Zhongzhen looked surprised.
According to the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, if there was a drought in Gongchang Mansion, disaster relief would be a piece of cake. How could it be that by the time Xiao Chen arrived, more than half of the victims had already died?
Is this responsibility due to the irresponsibility of the local government or the government's delay in providing disaster relief?
"Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang Prefecture, depleted all the grain reserves of the government office. He was afraid of being held accountable by the court, so he refused to report the actual situation of the famine. When he couldn't hold it in anymore, he asked the court for disaster relief. When I came, they had just
We started to open a warehouse to provide porridge. However, the food in the official warehouse could not even sustain three days of gruel."
"There is such a corrupt official." Wang Zhongzhen gritted his teeth, "Such a corrupt official should be killed by the Nine Tribes."
"Cough cough cough." Duan Tianming on the side coughed a few times.
Wang Zhongzhen reacted immediately.
He hurriedly bowed and said, "These are government affairs. I am just a common man, so I shouldn't ask so many questions."
"What are these words?" Xiao Chen raised his wrist and shook it hard: "The healing medicine sent by Shopkeeper Wang is very effective. I, Xiao Chen, will always remember this kindness. Besides, what we said
It’s not some secret matter of the imperial court. I am preparing to report these matters to the imperial court and let the emperor inform the world as a warning. Shopkeeper Wang just heard about it earlier, so it won’t cause any trouble.”
"Master Ziyi is absolutely right." Wang Zhongzhen nodded, "But after all, this is something you haven't announced yet. Although it is no longer a secret, it's better for me not to listen."
With that said, he took out the wine bottle that Mr. Zhang gave him from his arms and put it in front of Xiao Chen: "I forgot to tell Commander Duan that this healing medicine will be more effective if it is mixed with soju.
Considering that Gongchang’s resources have been exhausted, I brought a bottle of wine to Lord Ziyi.”
Wang Zhongzhen said something, but Xiao Chen didn't listen at all.
His eyes were fixed on the oval animal skin flask in front of him, and he could no longer move away.