Fenghou

"Reporting to Madam, in a few days, when the limelight passes, we will go out of the city in a bullock cart, and then go north by boat outside the city."

……

Two days later, Emperor Zhao Gou ordered Zhang Jun to go to Beijing to report on his duties, but Zhang Jun declined on the grounds that bandits were rampant.

In desperation, Zhao Gou ordered Zhizhengtang to summon Hu Yun, the special envoy of King Yong, to discuss matters in Dangtu County.

Early in the morning, Hu Yun came to the Zhizheng Hall. At present, in addition to Qin Hui and Zhu Shengfei who are the right and left ministers, there are also two deputy ministers in the Zhizheng Hall. One is Wan Qixie who was promoted to be a political advisor last year, and the other was also promoted last year. Huang Guinian, a political adviser, and Xu Xiantu, a privy secretary, made a total of five prime ministers.

Qin Hui personally negotiated with Hu Yun. Qin Hui put a stack of evidence in front of Hu Yun, and said dissatisfiedly: "Dangtu is actually controlled by the Western Army, and Feng Qianming, the magistrate of Dangtu County, is also a civilian officer of the Western Army. The evidence is convincing, Special Envoy Hu cannot deny it! "

Hu Yun said with a faint smile: "Dangtu County was originally a small and desolate county. The Western Army invested a lot of property to transform it. Now it is gradually prosperous. The court does not thank us for our hard work, but instead blames us. It is chilling!"

Qin Hui said angrily: "Dangtu County is the land of the imperial court. You occupied the separatist regime without the imperial court's permission and even stationed troops. Do you want the imperial court to thank you?"

"Qin Xiangguo, the plaque on Jingzhaoyong's Palace says Great Song Yongwang's Mansion, and there is another sign next to it, 'Great Song Chuanshan Xuanfu Envoy'. We are also officials of the Song Dynasty, why can't we use the land of the Great Song Dynasty? ? If Qin Xiangguo doesn’t allow us to use Dangtu County, then we don’t have to carry the false name of Song Dynasty.”

"you……"

Qin Hui was so stunned that he couldn't say a word.

Zhu Shengfei smoothed things over and said, "Special Envoy Hu misunderstood. Qin Xiangguo didn't mean that you would not be allowed to use it, but just asked you to discuss it with the court first. After all, Dangtu County is not Sichuan-Shaanxi, and it is not within the jurisdiction of the Sichuan-Shanxi Xuanfu Envoy. When you plant vegetables in other people's gardens, you also need to say hello to the owner, didn't Special Envoy Hu say?"

Hu Yun laughed and said, "I can understand what Zhu Xiangguo said. What's the attitude of the emperor? Is he allowing us to continue using it, or is he planning to drive us out of the dangtu?"

Qin Hui held back his breath and said, "The officials said that King Yong was able to rescue and release [-] soldiers, and he didn't make any excessive demands, so the officials allow you to continue to use Dangtu County as a place to stop for supplies, but there is a The condition is that troops are not allowed to be stationed, and they are not allowed to be used for military purposes. If you can agree to this, then you can continue to use it, that is to say, the [-] troops must be withdrawn."

Hu Yun also became serious, he pondered for a moment and said: "What I need to explain is that the [-] garrison is mainly to protect the safety of the warehouse and the fleet, and has no other purpose. If there is no army, our fleet and fleet will There is no security in transit warehouses, so a proper army has to be there, it's just that we can reduce the numbers."

"That can't exceed 500 people at most!"

"500 people are a little less, [-] soldiers, and then you will be appointed as Tu magistrate."

The bottom line of the emperor Zhao Gou is [-] soldiers, and then he pays [-] guan in rent every year, without considering the appointment of officials.

Qin Hui thought for a while and said, "I'll go and ask the official for instructions. If the official agrees, then there is no problem."

"Okay! I'll wait for Mr. Qin's reply."

……

Qin Hui hurried to the imperial study and reported the result of the negotiation with Hu Yun to Emperor Zhao Gou.

Zhao Gou hasn't thought about what to do about Zhang Jun's problem?

But on the issue of Dangtu County, Zhao Gou's thinking was very clear. He couldn't afford to offend the Western Army for the time being, so Zhao Gou could only choose to compromise, allowing Chen Qing to be used for commercial purposes and large ships to dock for supplies, but he was never allowed to use it for military use.

Zhao Gou pondered for a moment, "[-] garrisons can be agreed, but not cavalry; secondly, the number of warships used by the army cannot exceed fifty, and the maximum can not exceed one thousand stone; thirdly, the magistrate of Dangtu County shall be appointed by us; fourthly, Sign a leasing agreement, the other party leases Dangtu Port, and only needs to pay the annual lease fee; fifth, what they lease is the port, and the county has nothing to do with them, and my requirements are just these five points."

"Wei Chen knows, let's discuss with the other party."

On behalf of King Yong, Hu Yun finally reached an agreement with the other party's Zhengshitang. This is also the power Chen Qing gave Hu Yun. First, to keep Dangtu Port. Second, the garrison must not be less than 1000 people. Apart from these two bottom lines, other The details are all decided by Hu Yun.

In addition to not allowing the imperial court to station troops in Dangtu County, Hu Yun agreed to several other conditions. As an additional condition, Zhao Gou also agreed to exempt the passenger ships and merchant ships of Yongwang Pavilion from inspection, and they can enter and leave Lin'an City normally.

With this provision, Zhang Jun's family members can take Hu Yun's boat and leave Lin'an smoothly.

The two parties signed an agreement on the same day. The Western Army agreed to reduce the garrison to 1000 and agreed to let the magistrate out. The court agreed that the Western Army continued to use Dangtu County.

In fact, there has been no change. One thousand troops in Dangtu County is enough. If there are any special missions, just temporarily increase the troops.

As for the magistrate, whoever is the magistrate is the same thing, and they will all be won over by the Western Army.

The only change is that the Western Army has since legalized the use of Dangtu County, and no longer needs to give Zhang Jun [-] barrels of kerosene every year.

The first thousand and 220 chapters and seven harvests

Time flies to the hottest time of summer, which is the middle of July, and it has been almost three months since Chen Qing came back from Shandong Road.

This time the Shandong Road was seized, the war dividends were extremely rich, and the war dividends were distributed according to the prior agreement. The temple treasury of the Internal Affairs Hall was allocated 500 million yuan, which was enough to make up for the ten-year fiscal revenue and expenditure gap, and greatly eased the financial strain.

Moreover, Shandong Road has a large population. Even if the land tax and household tax were exempted for two years, the annual income of more than two million yuan can be obtained from the salt and tea tax.

It was also for this reason that the Internal Affairs Hall approved Chen Qing's plan, and the Western Army expanded again by 60 troops, bringing their total strength to [-].

This morning, Chen Qing took all the counselors from the Internal Affairs Hall and dozens of officials to the outside of the West City. Outside the West City, there was an official field covering hundreds of acres, which was designated by Chen Qing as an experimental field for growing corn and pumpkins.

Today is the corn harvest day, and Chen Qing specially brought the officials to inspect it.

There are not many corns, only more than 100 mu are planted, the main reason is that there are not enough seeds, but there are a lot of pumpkin seeds, and [-] mu are planted.

"I told you before that corn and pumpkins are our trump cards to solve the famine. With these two things, our population will not be unable to support our population."

While speaking, Chen Qing led the crowd to the corn field, and saw the lush corn growing like a green gauze tent. Hundreds of soldiers were breaking corn cobs in the field, and they came out with piles of corn from time to time. There were dozens of large bamboo baskets filled with corn, obviously the number of bamboo baskets was not enough.

"Just to ask!"

Chen Qing stopped a soldier, and the soldier quickly stepped forward to salute, "See Your Highness!"

Chen Qing asked with a smile: "How many corns have grown on one stalk?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, most of them have two knots, but there are also one knots, and the number is very small."

"Are there any with three knots?"

"I don't know if others have a humble job, but I have never encountered a humble job."

"I see, let's go!"

The soldiers saluted and left. Chen Qing took a few corns and handed them to everyone, "Let's take a look! This is our important food in the future. It used to be called corn, but I call it corn. The yield of corn in dry fields is about [-] catties per mu."

The crowd suddenly exclaimed, one must know that the yield of rice is only six to seven hundred catties, and the annual yield of two-season rice is about [-] catties per mu. That is still fertile paddy fields in the south of the Yangtze River. It's only five hundred catties, and it's still two years and three crops. The corn can yield two thousand catties per mu, so why don't everyone marvel.

Jiang Yanxian excitedly said: "In this case, we need to hurry up and promote it!"

Chen Qing said with a smile: "I can't rush this. Next year, it will be expanded to about [-] mu, and the year after that will be [-] mu. It can be promoted in Guanzhong in the year after that. I estimate that it can be promoted in the entire northern region in five years. The hemp land is freed up to grow corn."

"Your Highness, what about the pumpkin?" Zhou Kuan asked.

"Pumpkins are planted in front of and behind houses. The biggest advantage is that they don't take up land. Let's take a look."

Everyone followed Chen Qing. At this moment, Zhou Kuan suddenly found dozens of soldiers sitting on the ground gnawing corn stalks. He was surprised: "Can this kind of stalks still be eaten?"

Chen Qing picked up a corn stalk and said with a smile: "This corn stalk is a bit like sugar cane, it is slightly sweet, it can be eaten, and it can also be used to squeeze sugar, but I suggest it be used as green fodder to feed cows, horses, mules and donkeys. A camel is a good thing."

Everyone came to the pumpkin field. The pumpkin field has hundreds of acres, just like growing watermelons. The ground is covered with climbing vines, all covered by leaves, but you can still see countless pumpkins, which are not yet mature and the size of a football. .

"Your Highness, is this also food?" Lu Qingshan asked curiously.

"In fact, it is the same as beans, it can be considered food, but it can also be used as food. Young pumpkins can be eaten as vegetables, and even pumpkin leaves can be used as vegetables. Old pumpkins can be used as porridge, steamed and eaten. It can indeed be used as food, and It is very sweet and glutinous, suitable for all ages, and can even be dried and collected to be eaten in times of famine."

"Excuse me, Your Highness, how many pumpkins are produced per mu?" an official asked.

Chen Qing smiled and shook his head, "I haven't calculated it, and I don't know, but the biggest advantage of pumpkins is that they don't take up land. As I said just now, they can be planted in front of or behind the house, or in the yard. They can climb on the roof. It can also be grown in the county town, every household has dozens of large pumpkins, and there will be food for breakfast, pumpkin porridge, pumpkin cakes, pumpkin cakes, everyone can imagine."

The eyes of all the officials showed anticipation. Compared with corn, they were obviously more interested in pumpkins. Chen Qing said with a smile: "During the Chinese New Year this year, it is estimated that each official can divide half a pumpkin, which will not affect the collection of seeds. Everyone go back and try it." Once you taste it, this is a species brought back from overseas, which is not available in Song Dynasty."

……

When Chen Qing returned to the mansion in the afternoon, he unexpectedly found that his whole family was also harvesting corn. Everyone was wearing short linen jackets, hats, leather shoes on their feet, and gloves on their hands, including the eldest son Chen Ji. The wives, concubines, and children are all busy, except for Zhao Yingluo, who is seven months pregnant and is helping out with her big belly.

The corn field is on the north shore of the lake, covering an area of ​​two acres, and it grows lush and lush. Yao Mei came out with two young ladies holding the corn. Xue Er jumped up happily, "Daddy is back!"

The two little ladies also threw away the corn, and rushed towards their father with open arms. Chen Qing knelt down, hugged the two daughters, and said with a smile, "How much corn did you collect?"

"I took twelve, Bing'er took eleven, and I got one more than her." Xue'er looked smug.

"Not at all!"

Bing'er blushed and said: "I also took twelve, she counted wrong."

Chen Qing pointed to the corn on the ground, and said with a smile: "Both babies are very capable, and they are the best today. Daddy likes it. Hurry up and pick up the corn you left behind, and put it in the basket."

The two little ladies were delighted to receive the praise, and hurried to pick up the corn on the ground and ran to the basket.

At this time, Princess Lu Xiu came over, Yao Mei ran to inform her that the master was back, her face was covered with sweat, the weather was too hot.

"Why did you think of harvesting corn today?" Chen Qing asked with a smile as he handed the towel to his wife.

Embarrassed, Lu Xiu took the towel and wiped the sweat off her face, and said with a smile, "Didn't my husband say last night that corn is going to be harvested outside the city today? The two acres of corn in our family is already ripe, so let's harvest together today. Let's play together!"

"Two acres of land is still a lot!"

"Actually, it's the female guards and maids who charge more. We're just making up the numbers. By the way, I need my husband's help with something!"

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "What is it, tell me!"

Lu Xiu whispered: "My master wants to go back to his hometown, Jinan Prefecture!"

Chen Qing was taken aback, "She is so old, she wants to go back and settle down?"

"I don't want to settle down, but I just want to go back and visit, visit my parents' graves, and then come back."

Chen Qing said with a smile: "You are serious. I thought she was going back to her hometown to settle down. I just went home to have a look. If there is no problem, I will go back by boat. Immediately, the Supervision Department will send someone to Shandong Road, and I will take the Wanshi ship. Just take your father along with two maidservants, there will be an army to escort them, there will be no problem."

"Then I don't worry, I'm afraid that she will be hard on the road and won't be able to hold on."

At this time, Housekeeper Wen came over in a hurry and said, "Your Highness, there is news from the front that King Neiwei is asking to see him, and there is something important to do!"

Chen Qing nodded, "I'll go and have a look!"

He got into a buggy and went to the front yard again, walked into the living room, Wang Hao and Zhong Huan stepped forward to salute, "See Your Highness!"

Chen Qing waved his hand, "What's important?"

Wang Hao took a flat box and opened it, "Please look at this, Your Highness!"

Chen Qing stepped forward to take a closer look, and his expression changed drastically, "Where did this... come from?"

The first thousand 220 eight chapters big case

In the flat wooden box in front of Chen Qing, there are two identical tickets. The so-called ticket is a fixed-amount money ticket issued by the counter. Each ticket has a secret seal, which is the password. The counter will not recognize the ticket. People, as long as the tickets face each other and the secret seal is correct, they can be exchanged for copper coins. There are five denominations of one hundred guan, five hundred guan, one thousand guan, five thousand guan, and ten thousand guan.

The ticket in front of Chen Qing is a [-]-column banknote. The problem is that their numbers are all the same, regardless of the paper quality, workmanship, and printing. It is a high-quality imitation.

Someone started counterfeiting ticket production, which is a big deal, Chen Qing quickly asked: "Where did you issue it? And where did you find it?"

"It was issued in Xiangyang, and it was discovered in Jingzhao. It was a Lin'an businessman who exchanged [-] guan in Xiangyang. Xiangyang gave him five bills. The other four were fine, but there was a problem with the fifth one." , another one like it has already been exchanged, and this afternoon, the No. [-] counter shop found this counter ticket and came to us immediately."

"Which one is true and which one is false?"

"It should be that the one that has been exchanged is fake, but the one that the businessman brought today is real. He has five consecutive numbers, and the identity of the businessman, family members, etc. are all clear, so it is unlikely to be fake."

"Aren't there all Indian secrets?"

"Indian secret is five numbers, that's right."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment. The case should be relatively simple. Either the businessman leaked it, or there was an insider in the cabinet. Although he lost [-] yuan, the matter itself was very bad.

"When did the exchange of money happen?"

"yesterday morning!"

Chen Qing immediately ordered: "This is the biggest case of this year. General Zhong is in charge of the investigation and organizes capable men to investigate the case, investigate the people behind the scenes, and recover [-] yuan. Tickets suspended!"

"Follow the order!"

After a pause, Chen Qing said again: "Notify the cabinet shop that the merchant's [-] guan money must be paid normally, but the inner guards will send someone to monitor him and not allow him to escape."

Wang Hao and Zhong Huan agreed and left in a hurry.

Chen Qing was a little annoyed. The issuance of tickets by the cabinet workshop was the basis for them to prepare to issue Jiaozi next year, but something happened at this critical moment. This case seemed isolated, but his intuition told him that someone had been watching the cabinet workshop for a long time.

……

Inside the carriage, Wang Hao asked Zhong Huan, "Where do you plan to start this case?"

"Beizhi considers to start from two aspects. The first is to investigate the leakage of the secret seal, and the second is to investigate the whereabouts of [-] yuan. Therefore, we plan to set up two teams. Qiu Qing is responsible for investigating the leakage of the secret seal, and Wang Zhi is responsible for investigating the whereabouts of [-] yuan The whereabouts of the money."

"Yes! But I suggest you prepare more soldiers. In the end, I'm afraid it will be a fierce battle."

"The meaning of control, maybe this was done by the Jin Dynasty or the Song Dynasty?"

Wang Hao said slowly: "It's very possible, maybe it was Zhang Jun's doing. After all, it was the bill issued by Xiangyang, and it is too close to Zhang Jun's territory."

……

Ticket making is a new thing launched this year. Once it is accepted, small-amount jiaozi will be launched. Issuing jiaozi has always been the focus of Chen Qing's consideration. The idea was proposed the year before last, but it was unanimously rejected by the internal affairs hall. It's very simple. After the troubled times of Jingkang, the millions of Guanjiaozi and Huizi issued in the Northern Song Dynasty were basically invalidated.

The people holding a large number of Jiaozi suffered serious losses. The people's face changed when they talked about paper, and no one accepted the currency made of paper.

Another problem is that during the Xuanhe period, the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan Road also issued Jiaozi, and there are still more than 100 million Guans that have not been paid. If the current Xuanfu envoy issues Jiaozi, the previously issued Jiaozi will be recognized deny?

Of course, the Neizhengtang did not want to wipe the ass of the former Xuanfu envoy, so it has always been firmly opposed to Chen Qing's issuance of Jiaozi.