Fenghou

"What's the matter with you?" Chen Qing looked back.

"Your Highness hasn't eaten lunch yet! Let's have a drink together."

Chen Qing said happily: "Go to Taibai Restaurant, I'll treat you!"

The three of them took a carriage to Taibai Restaurant, which is the largest restaurant in Jingzhao, and the proprietor behind it is Jingzhaowei's family.

The three of them asked for an elegant room and ordered Taibaiqing, which is unique to the restaurant. It is a well-known sake in Jingzhao. It is known as the first wine in Jingzhao. Chen Qing and his family also like it. drink this wine.

Jiang Yan first filled Chen Qing and Zhou Kuan with wine, and said with a smile, "I heard that His Highness experienced an interesting incident in Yuchi County..."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Qing waved his hand, "This matter is over, don't mention it again!"

Jiang Yanxian and Zhou Kuan looked at each other and laughed, "Okay! Don't mention it, let's talk about other things. Your Highness feels that Henan Road has been captured for half a year. How has it changed there?"

"It will take five or six years to see what kind of changes will be compared with the Xuanhe years, but compared with half a year ago, the changes have been great, and a positive cycle has begun."

Zhou Kuan was puzzled and asked: "What is positive circulation? Can Your Highness explain it?"

"Positive circulation means to develop in a good direction. For example, businesses have opened up and started to hire a large number of assistants. With income, employees can buy daily necessities such as grain and oil. If they pay a little more, they can also have a drink. Yes. The demand for wine has increased. I have a deep experience in Yuchi County. The sales of wine are booming. With the purchasing power of the people, all kinds of goods will flow. Especially after I widen the Cai River, the river is very busy. There was a thriving scene.”

"So that's the case, that's a good thing! As long as the measures are effective, it will only take a few years to fully recover."

Chen Qing smiled and said: "It will take at least one generation to fully recover, and it needs population breeding. I just hope that after five or six years of development, the people on Henan Road will have food and clothing, and they will no longer be displaced. "

Jiang Yan raised his wine glass and asked, "I heard that His Highness is going to negotiate with the imperial court?"

Chen Qing understood, probably this is what they wanted to know, Chen Qing nodded, "I just expressed an intention to the court, the emperor wants to return to Bianliang, and I want to legally occupy the entire Jing South Road, both sides If you have needs, then you can sit down and talk, tomorrow! I will hold a meeting in the internal affairs hall to discuss this matter."

Since the matter will be discussed tomorrow, the two will not ask any more questions.

"Come on! I'll make a toast for us to win Jing South Road as soon as possible."

……

In the afternoon, Chen Qing brought the pumpkin home. He cut the pumpkin open and took out the pumpkin seeds inside. This is a treasure. He washed the pumpkin seeds carefully.

Aunt Wen, the housekeeper at the side, asked in surprise, "Master, what is this?"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "This is called a pumpkin. It was brought from Nanyang. It is the only one in the world. It can be used as food in a disaster year. I plan to use melon seeds to grow it. The front and back of the house can be full."

"Is it the same as winter melon?"

Chen Qingxiao asked, "Has Madam ever planted wax gourds?"

Mrs. Wen nodded, "My old man knows how to plant. The wax gourd he planted when he was young was famous for hundreds of miles. Of course I will plant it too. Now that the weather is warm, it is just the time for planting, but the seeds need to be dried first, and then planted in the sun. Let it germinate in the warm house, and then plant it.”

Hearing that what she said was absolutely correct, Chen Qing couldn't help being overjoyed and said: "Pumpkins are planted the same way as winter melons, and they are planted behind my study. Just plant a few plants first, and let the melon vines climb the wall."

"The master will leave it to me, and I promise to handle it properly. In addition, there is one more thing that I would like to ask the master to agree to."

"It's behind the study room. It's very easy for Wangpan to dig a canal. Let the female guards dig it by hand, and then install a water truck by the lake. In this way, it will be much more convenient to plant corn and water it."

Chen Qing smiled and shook his head, "I only plant corn and pumpkins for this season in the back garden. If I succeed, I will promote the planting in a large number in the official fields outside the city. I will still plant flowers in the back garden, or plant something else. Water is inconvenient, so we can put two large water tanks under the wall and find two rough maids to fill them up at one time, so that’s all right? There’s no need to dig a special canal.”

Aunt Wen was stunned for a moment, and said with a wry smile: "I'm really confused, just put a few big water tanks, why dig ditches! I'll go and ask them to buy some."

"Ma'am, pack up the pumpkin seeds! I remember that there are more than a dozen water tanks in the treasury warehouse. They are all water tanks from the former Bianliang Palace. They are of high quality. I arranged for my soldiers to move them here."

"Okay, I'll pack the pumpkin seeds right now."

Mrs. Wen took away all the pumpkin seeds with a dustpan, and Chen Qing asked the maid to send the pumpkin to the kitchen, and asked the cook to cut it into pieces, steam it and send it with dinner.

For dinner that day, Chen Qing's family ate the first pumpkin in history, the steamed old pumpkin, which was extraordinarily sweet, and everyone was full of praise.

Chen Qing also sent his own soldiers to pack five servings in food boxes and send them to the residences of the five counselors, so that everyone can taste it together. In autumn, there will be a harvest.

Chapter 96 Plan

In the morning of the next day, in the meeting hall of Chen Qing's study, Chen Qing asked his subordinates to hang up the map of the Central Plains and the map of Jingnan South Road, and he immediately summoned five counselors from the internal affairs hall to discuss the matter.

The five counselors had already received the notice and came one after another, Guan Shigu asked with a smile: "What kind of melon did His Highness give Weichen last night, have you never seen it before?"

Zhou Kuan gave a thumbs up and praised: "I really haven't seen it? The taste is very good, sweet and glutinous."

Chen Qing smiled and said to everyone: "I call it a pumpkin. Chao Kun brought it back from Nanyang, but there is no such kind of melon in Nanyang. There is only one in the world far away. You all tasted it last night. I have already planted it at home, and if it is successful, I will spread it out, the yield is large, it does not take up land, it can be used as a staple food, and it can save many lives in a disaster year."

Zhang Miao said with a smile: "Your Highness, I also like to grow vegetables at home, can you give me some seeds, I will try to grow them too."

"No problem, I'll wait for the housekeeper to pack up the seeds, and I'll bring some to everyone, try it out, plant it like wax gourd."

After chatting with everyone, Chen Qing clapped his hands and laughed, "Let's start!"

After everyone quieted down, Chen Qing said slowly: "Hu Yun got the exact news from Lin'an that one of the real purposes of the Son of Heaven's Northern Expedition was Lin'an. He wanted to capture Li Qiong and use Xuzhou, Suzhou, Pizhou, Haizhou and other four The state and I exchanged Bianliang, and everyone knows another purpose, which is to cut down the vassal and completely remove Han Shizhong's military power."

Jiang Yanxian was puzzled and said: "Bianliang City is just a small piece of land in Kaifeng Mansion. Even if they get Bianliang, how will they manage it? It's unrealistic!"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "I guess the emperor himself didn't think about this problem, or he took it for granted, thinking that I can allow him to cross the border at any time, but if I just give him Bianliang in name, so that he can get face, then I will Use this face to exchange lining with him, and take all the remaining seven or eight states on Jinghu South Road into the bag, and our border will be pushed to Ezhou in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, encircling Jinghu North Road, and annexing Jinghu North Road for the next step The foundation was laid."

Zhao Kai said: "So His Highness wants to take advantage of the emperor's eagerness for Bianliang, and give him Bianliang in name, in exchange for the remaining seven states on Jingnan South Road?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Qing said lightly: "Bianliang is the foundation of the emperor's ancestors. If he wants to explain to his ancestors, he must recover Bianliang. I understand his mentality very well."

Zhou Kuan sighed and said: "The Son of Heaven is not stupid at all, he is smart! The Kingdom of Jin once expressed that it would return the Central Plains to the Song Dynasty, but the court unanimously opposed it and refused to accept the Central Plains. The reason was that the financial burden was too heavy. The burden, in the end, we took over, and then the emperor wanted Bianliang, and at the same time, he didn’t have to bear the heavy financial pressure of Henan Road, so he was very shrewd in his planning!”

Everyone nodded, Zhou Kuan said it was right, it was indeed the case, Chen Qing said with a smile: "But the more this is the case, the more successful the conditions I put forward for Jingnan Road, anyway, Jingnan Road has already been controlled by us He can't even get a penny of finances and taxes, so why not be a favor, and he will also get the nominal ownership of Bianliang, I believe he will settle the account."

Jiang Yanxian asked: "How do you consider the title ownership of Your Highness?"

"I will give him two positions at most, Kaifeng prefect and Tokyo left-behind. Whether he sends people to Bianliang to serve is the same thing. These two are empty positions. The actual control is the prefect of Kaifeng prefecture appointed by me. In addition, the imperial court I can't garrison in Bianliang. Of course, I can also promise not to garrison in Bianliang. I will instead garrison in Chenliu. Without a garrison, staying in Tokyo is also a vain job. As my sincerity, I can return the palace and ancestral temple to him. There are also the tombs of the emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty, and they were handed over to him, and he promised so much, which is already enough to be benevolent and righteous."

These concessions did not involve the immediate interests of the Western Army, and no one had any objections. Jiang Yanxian asked, "Who does Your Highness plan to involve in the negotiations?"

Chen Qing said slowly: "I have already written a very detailed letter to Hu Yun, telling him what I want to achieve, as well as my bottom line concessions. He can negotiate with the imperial court on my behalf. It can be placed in Lin'an."

Zhang Miao, who has not made a statement, reminded: "Your Highness still needs to consider some details. For example, since the other party owns Bianliang in name, they will definitely restrict our presence in Bianliang. Some they may allow, such as the county government. I guess they will only allow the county government to exist, which is also understandable, since it belongs to them in name, but in name we can’t exist too much in Bianliang, just like Xuan Fushi’s government office, magistrate’s government office, and transfer envoy’s office , Defense Envoy, etc., has your Highness considered how to deal with it?"

"Does Counselor Zhang have any good suggestions?" Chen Qingxiao asked.

Zhang Miao bowed slightly and said: "The humble official has considered three plans. The first plan is a tough one. Maintain the status quo. At most, the commander's office will be moved to Chenliu to ensure that there will be no soldiers stationed in Bianliang, while the Xuanfu envoy and the magistrate's office will still be released. In Bianliang, they just don't interfere with Bianliang affairs.

The second plan is called a compromise plan, which is to limit the other party's reputation ownership to within the Bianliang city wall during the negotiation, but we can arrange the relevant government office outside the city, so that it has nothing to do with the other party.

The third plan is a compromise plan. The magistrate and command envoy move to Chenliu County, and the appeasement envoy moves to Luoyang. Your Highness can consider these three plans. "

Chen Qing nodded, "The first plan is too strong, the third compromise plan is too weak, they are all different, but the second compromise plan is very clever, changing the soup without changing the medicine, and restricting the other party's nominal ownership within the county seat , This idea is very good, do you have any comments?"

Guan Shigu said with a smile: "Your Highness, the county government must have soldiers from the countryside. It is necessary to maintain law and order! You don't need too many people. It is enough to select [-] elites from the scout battalion. Appoint a commander as a county lieutenant to directly command the [-] villages. Soldiers."

Chen Qing said happily: "It's a very good plan, and I support it very much!"

The final plan was finalized after everyone said something to each other. Chen Qing immediately ordered a team of cavalry to ride three horses and send the finalized plan to Lin'an in an expedited way of [-] li.

……

After the discussion was over, everyone went back separately, Chen Qing stopped Jiang Yanxian, he still had something to discuss with Jiang Yanxian.

In the official room, Chen Qing asked Jiang Yan to sit down first, and asked with a smile: "The imperial examination will be held in ten days, is the examiner confirmed?"

Jiang Yanxian replied: "The princess recommended Lu Cunyi, a doctor of Taixue, as the examiner, and the internal affairs hall voted unanimously. At present, Lu Cunyi and many examiners are isolated in the examination institute. The examination questions are the ones determined by His Highness last time."

Chen Qing nodded, took out a note and handed it to Jiang Yanxian, Jiang Yanxian opened the note, on it was written the words 'Bianliang Yushou', he couldn't help but startled, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"

"This person is Xu Xiantu's third son. According to the political conditions I have reached with Xu Xiantu, we will admit his third son as a Jinshi. The ranking can be a little lower, but he must be admitted, no matter how he is in the exam, and then he will be sent to the public. Yuchi County in Kaifeng Prefecture is the county captain, and this is also the condition for me to agree to Xu Xiantu."

"I understand, I will definitely arrange it properly!" Jiang Yan bowed first and left.

While Chen Qing was deep in thought, someone came to report, "Your Highness, please see Chao Kun!"

"Let him in!"

Not long after, Chao Kun walked in quickly, bowed and saluted, "See Your Highness for the humble position!"

"When are you going back to Quanzhou?"

"Beizhi is leaving tomorrow morning. Zhang Dujian said that I will issue an [-]-guan counter ticket for [-] guan from Chengdu Baoji Counter, and then Baoji Counter will be responsible for cashing in Quanzhou. All cash will be paid within two months." complete."

"Very well, this is safer than carrying [-] copper coins on the road."

After a pause, Chen Qing said, "There are a few things I want to tell you. You must go to Nanyang again this summer to implement some of my ideas."

As he said that, Chen Qing handed him a letter, and told him: "The letter is confidential, keep it!"

Chao Kun took over the channel: "You must be cautious in humble positions!"

Chapter 97 Three subjects

On Sanxian Street next to Dadong Wazi in Jingzhao City, there is a small inn called Sanxian Inn. It is relatively close to the Examination Institute, and it has already been full of scholars who came to take the imperial examination.

The scale of the imperial examinations this year is unprecedented, and major reforms have been carried out. In the past, there were only Jinshi subjects, but this year there are three subjects, Jinshi subjects, Mingjing subjects, and engineering calculation subjects.

The brochures for the examination were distributed to all states last year. The idea is very clear. The Jinshi Department mainly recruits civil servants, the Mingjing Department mainly recruits civil servants, and the Engineering and Computing department mainly recruits full-time officials. four years.

In the past, Jinshi subjects were not passed, and then admitted to Taixue based on their grades, so that many admitted scholars were unwilling to study in Taixue, and most of them gave up after one year of study.

The major reform this time is to put the Taixue admissions examination and the imperial examination side by side, allowing candidates to choose voluntarily, so that scholars who are really willing to study in Taixue can be recruited.

It is also the first time this year that Ming Jing Ke appeared. Because it is relatively easy to pass the exam, those who pass the exam are engaged in civil servants, and there are clear regulations. Promoted to civil servant or full-time official.

Therefore, most of the scholars who participated in the Mingjing Division this year are serving civil servants. If they want to climb up and become officials, they must have fame.

In the room at the far end of the second floor of the Sanxian Inn, there lived three scholars. The three of them did not come together, and they happened to live together. One was a scholar named Xu Pei from Yang'an County, Jianzhou, Sichuan Road, and the other It is Wang Pu, a scholar from Qi County, Taiyuan Prefecture, Hedong Road, and Yu Shou, a scholar from Bianliang County, Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan Road.

Yu Shou is Xu Xiantu's third son, Xu Shou, who changed his name to Yu Shou. He originally had a household registration in Bianliang, but it didn't change after he arrived in Lin'an, so he registered in Kaifeng Mansion, but he didn't take the autumn exam last year, so he shouldn't be eligible to come. Jingzhao participated in the imperial examination, and was recommended by Zhang Xiaote as an examiner. He hurried to Jingzhao to take the imperial examination, and signed up on the last day. Fortunately, he found an empty bed in the Sanxian Inn.

"Let's go out to eat!" Xu Pei suggested.

Among the three, Xu Pei is the oldest. He is 30 years old. He entered Yang'an County as a civil servant at the age of 20. He has been a civil servant for ten years. , There are two abbots and Dutou above Liucao, and the three of them are first-level officials.

Of course Xu Pei wants to make progress. If he passes the Ming Jing test this time, he will be promoted to be a prison officer. There happens to be a vacancy for a field security officer in their county, and another security officer is in charge of litigation. case, the attorney for the trial sits beside him to assist in the trial.

If you're lucky, you'll have a chance to be promoted to the master book after you've been in charge for another three years.

In fact, not every scholar who participates in the Mingjing Department is ambitious and wants to abandon officials and become officials. They are very realistic, and the official position is too far away from them. As a deputy county magistrate, I want to be promoted to section chief.

"Yu Shou, let's go eat together!" Wang Pu, a scholar from Taiyuan Mansion, responded.

"Let's go! To Dawazi, or Sanxian Restaurant?"

Xu Pei smiled, "Go to Dawazi!"

Among the three, Xu Pei's family is the poorest. He has a wife and children, and he relies on a meager salary to support his family. Fortunately, he still has [-] acres of ancestral land, so last year's rent became a burden for him to come to Jingzhao to take the imperial examination. Not much, so save it.

Needless to say, Yu Shou, his father gave him 1000 taels of silver, and he can withdraw money at Baoji Cabinet Workshop at any time, but he is very low-key and ordinary, and his food and clothing costs are like those of a poor family in Bianliang.

Wang Pu is a son of the Wang family of a big family in Taiyuan, but he is not a legitimate son, but a concubine, and his family does not have much money.

So of course the three of them have to go to the high-quality and cheap Dawazi. Going to the Sanxian Restaurant is just for talking. Ten pennies is enough to eat well.

The three of them came to Dawazi, where there were dense snack bars, and all kinds of signboards were stitched together, which made people feel dense phobia.

The business in Dawazi is very hot, basically all the surrounding residents, there are also a large number of scholars, and there are also errand runners who specialize in delivering food. For example, some shops are too busy, and the shopkeeper will order a few bowls of soup cakes at noon. The errandman brought it to the store.

"Go to Jiang Laosan's Soup and Cake Shop, his meat-smelling soup and cakes are pretty good!" Yu Shou suggested.

The three came to a soup cake shop. The soup cakes are noodles. The shop was small and full of customers. They found three seats in the innermost corner and squeezed in front of a small table. This is a husband and wife shop, and the husband cooks. , the wife waited, and the young woman brought them three bowls of noodle soup.

"The three young masters drink soup first to quench their thirst, and the soup cakes will be ready by Da Lang right away!"

The woman was more handsome, plump, fair-skinned, and full of laughter, which stunned Xu Pei and Wang Pu.

Yu Shou couldn't stand it anymore, he coughed twice, diverted their attention and asked, "Brother Wang, why did you think of taking the engineering and math exam?"

The three of them are very interesting, Yu Shou is admitted to Jinshi, Xu Pei is admitted to Ming Jing, and Wang Pu is admitted to Engineering and Computing. Each of them takes one subject.

Wang Pu withdrew his soul, smiled awkwardly and said, "Actually, my father wanted me to take the entrance examination for Jinshi. Arithmetic."

"Why would your father think so?" Xu Pei also took back the soul that was taken away.

"Prejudice! In his eyes, I am a carpenter and bricklayer after I take the engineering and calculation course. I have a low status. He doesn't know what a full-time official is. In fact, I like smelting metals. I like watching blacksmiths burn iron in blacksmith shops since I was young. It felt amazing to make molten iron and then cast it into various tools, so I was going to study smelting in Taixue, so I applied for engineering and computing, regardless of whether my father agreed or not.”

Yu Shou nodded, "There are indeed various prejudices now, but it is this kind of prejudice that gives opportunities to the prophets. There is less competition, and the learning is good. In the future, civil servants will not be able to be ministers of the Shaofu. They must be from the Department of Engineering and Computing Officials, I heard that in the future, county officials will be divided into three categories, civilian officials, industrial officials and military officials. There will be a county worker position, before the boss, after the county lieutenant, and four years later, Brother Wang will be extremely Possibly as a county worker, at least from the eighth grade official."

"What is the supervisor of the county worker?" Xu Pei asked curiously.

"It's very simple! Agriculture and animal husbandry, road construction and bridge building, mining, and various government-run workshops, etc."

"nice!"

Xu Pei was a little annoyed and said, "I knew I would have applied for engineering and computing."

Yu Shou said indifferently: "Engineering and Computing is not easy to take. It is no less difficult than Jinshi. Moreover, brother Xu has a wife and children. If you study in Taixue for four years, what will happen to your wife and children?"