After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

After taking Lu Zheng back to the house, Pei Jiaoran led him into the house. He took out a blanket from the box and handed it to Lu Zheng. He went to prepare water for making tea.

Lu Zheng only took off his outer robe and sat by the charcoal basin, looking around from time to time. Bored, he got up and walked to the bookshelf. He was about to search for a book to pass the time, but his eyes caught a glimpse of a small silver box resting on the desk.

That is a commonly used wound medicine in the military. Lu Zheng picked up the small silver box and looked at it. He saw the word Xuanyin engraved on the bottom of the silver box. Touching the word Xuanyin, he pursed his lips and closed his eyes.

"What are you doing standing over there?" Pei Jiaoran asked warmly.

Lu Zheng, who was called back from his thoughts, hurriedly put down the silver box in his hand and walked over.

Giving the tea to Lu Zheng, Pei Jiaoran looked at him and smiled, "Speaking of what happened last time, I want to thank you very much."

"It's okay." Lu Zheng waved his hand and turned his gaze to Pei Jiaoran, "Qingjia, you and Li Xiujing seem to have a good relationship?"

"It's not bad. What's wrong?" Pei Jiaoran asked warmly.

After hearing this, Lu Zheng shook his head, "I just saw his ointment on your case, so I asked casually." After saying that, he bowed his hands and said, "I was the one who was rude, so please don't blame Qing Jia."

Pei Jiaoran stared at Lu Zheng with a warm smile on his face. In his mind, he couldn't help but think of Li Xiujing's judgment of the Lu family when he mentioned it last time. At present, it can be seen that the Lu family of Wu County, as a high-ranking family in Jiangzuo, is indeed inferior in politics from generation to generation.

"It doesn't matter." Pei Jiaoran said.

After leaving Lu Zheng, Pei Jiaoran stood up and walked to the window. Look out the window.

The rain beat mercilessly on the lush bamboos in the courtyard, making everything in sight hazy. Pei Jiaoran watched the rain swirling out a flower on the ground, and suddenly closed his eyes and sighed.

This sigh made Lu Zheng come over and stand with her.

Realizing that there was Lu Zheng beside him, Pei Jiaoran said: "Since summer this year, the rain has not stopped. I don't know what the river embankments and river channels are near Gyeonggi Province."

Although it is said that the continuous heavy rain can be used because the prime minister's negligence caused the imbalance of yin and yang, and visions came from the sky to attack Wang and Jia in the political hall, but on the other hand, if the rain does not stop for a day, it will definitely cause disaster. . By then, the people will be displaced, and the court will spend a lot of money on disaster relief. If the imperial court wanted to conquer the three towns of Heshuo, it had to ensure that the treasury was sufficient.

"I just hope that the states and counties in Gyeonggi Province can pay more attention to the waterlogging situation. If they do a good job, the court can also reduce a lot of pressure." Lu Zheng said solemnly.

After listening to Lu Zheng's words, Pei Jiaoran said nothing. This time, she took the opportunity to inspect the salt ponds in the northwest to check on the grain storage situation in Changping Warehouse, Gyeonggi Prefecture County. At present, it seems that even if there is a disaster, it can be sustained for a while, but the repair of houses after the disaster, the repair of river embankments and the dredging of river channels are all for state purposes.

"Yes. The prefectures, counties and the central government work together to prevent the people from suffering." After speaking, Pei Jiaoran turned his head and looked at Lu Zheng, "If the reduction of troops is successful this time, the imperial court will also be able to reduce a lot of pressure."

Lu Zheng said in astonishment: "Reducing the army? The imperial court actually agreed to reduce the army. In fact, I have always felt that the imperial court spends a lot on military expenses. There is no war at the moment, and reducing the army can indeed reduce the tax pressure on the people."

Pei Jiaoran looked at Lu Zheng with approval, and a smile appeared on his lips.

As long as the central government agrees to issue an order to reduce troops, other Taoists will probably respond accordingly for the sake of their own livelihood. By then the imperial court would also have the ability to recover the three towns of Heshuo.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Zheng was afraid that staying here for a long time would cause trouble to Pei Jiaoran. In addition, the workshop gate was about to close again, so I bid farewell to her.

After sending Lu Zheng away in person, Pei Jiaoran looked up at the dark sky, thoughts flashing in his eyes.

This rain must take a break.

The order to reduce troops finally came from the Li Zheng Palace. It was conveyed all the way to the three provinces, and after the decision-making and review of Zhongshu's sect, it was finally conveyed to various prefectures and counties by Shangshu.

The effect of this decree is still satisfactory. Almost half a month later, most Daozhou counties have implemented the order, and only a few Daozhou counties have not implemented it due to various reasons. As soon as the military reduction order was implemented, Pei Jiaoran couldn't wait to send the Ministry of Household Affairs to various provinces to investigate the situation after the reduction of troops.

It has been raining continuously in Chang'an City for the past few days, and the water in Qujiang Pool has risen a lot, as has the sea pool in the palace. Emperor Wei immediately issued an edict, ordering all prefectures and counties in the capital to be prepared for waterlogging, and sent people to repair and strengthen river embankments.

All six departments were extremely busy at that time. The various departments and offices in Beijing did not dare to neglect, for fear that they would cause big trouble if they made a mistake.

In the public room of the Ministry of Revenue, Pei Jiaoran closed the book in his hand. Rubbing her forehead, she had been in the public room for five whole days. The Water Department, the Water Supervisor, the Changping Department, the Taicang Department, and the Yu Department were all complaining about her poverty. Only the Cangbe Division under the Ministry of Household Affairs united with her to respond to the requests of each department.

"It's raining all the time, and everyone is getting moldy. But those guys at Yushitai have to take care of everything that hasn't been cleaned up." The servant complained outside the window.

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran frowned and glanced out the window. The two servants passed by the window muttering.

Looking at the two people's retreating figures, Pei Jiaoran held his lips together. Yushitai has nothing to do now. Ever since the last incident in the Yanyuan, the censor had to take several defense pavilions with him when traveling, for fear that he would accidentally become a dead soul.

As for Zhou Mancao, he was also acquitted because he knew nothing about everything and she and Yuan Yanchong were involved. Now she is temporarily placed in the female temple in the city. Bi Fei was also stranded in Xiangcheng due to heavy rain.

"Sister Pei."

Hearing Wu Lingjia's voice, Pei Jiaoran looked up at her. He waved his hand to the scribe beside him to get down.

There were only two people left in the house.

Wu Lingjia then gathered up his clothes and sat down, his face showing worry.

"I have already calculated the account books of Gyeonggi Prefecture and County. If the cooperation is good, the Ministry of Revenue should be able to support it. But if you want to conquer Heshuo, it will be a bit troublesome." Wu Lingjia said solemnly.

"I know." Pei Jiaoran took a sip of tea, "Fortunately, Li Xiujing and I have already taken control of Shence's Huiyi before, and can barely support it for a while. As for the others, each faction has reduced its troops in accordance with the imperial decree. When the two taxes come up next year, it will be much better than before. Moreover, the conquest of Heshuo cannot be completed overnight, so the court will pay as it goes."

As Emperor Wei said, today is different from the past. The so-called support of the country is just for show, and it is impossible for the court to act according to this.

Now that August has just passed, we are encountering this endless heavy rain again. This means that next year’s support and national expenditure cannot be exactly based on this year’s. The Ministry of Accounts still needs to make corresponding adjustments based on the actual situation.

"But when it comes to war, the expenses are a bottomless pit." Wu Lingjia sighed.

"That's better than falling into their hands, right? The imperial court can no longer plunder the people." Pei Jiaoran shook his head, "Lingjia, you should know that running a big country is like cooking small dishes. Every step taken by the ruler is carefully planned. Everything we do has its own meaning. When you and I are in court, it is inevitable that we will have dilemmas."

Whether you are running a country or serving as a minister, there are always dilemmas. It is even worse for those who govern the country. They must choose between fighting against foreigners and keeping at home. In addition, whether to reduce taxes on the people so that they can live and work in peace and contentment, or to conduct external conquests to consolidate central power, or to strengthen the construction of border fortifications. These are issues that courtiers and rulers need to consider.

Wu Lingjia smiled slightly and said, "That's the truth. I read some books that the money in the treasury seems to be inexhaustible and inexhaustible. In fact, only the people in the game know clearly that no dynasty's treasury has money. There is endless money. Not to mention that if there is no money, it is enough to kill a few corrupt officials to fill the national treasury. In fact, they do not know that the problems faced by those in power cannot be solved by killing a few corrupt officials. . The most interesting thing is that the stories in the storybook are often inseparable from the struggle for heirs. And the fights between princes are about uncovering the corrupt and corrupt people under each other. Once the treasury is filled, the emperor can easily deposit money at any time when he is happy. "

"It's all made up by others. If the national treasury can be filled by killing a few corrupt people, why is there still a shortage of money?" Pei Jiaoran chuckled, "Wealth comes in and out, even if you have money for a while, you will be short of money later. There will be no money. So getting rid of those who are corrupt is only the most basic method. If you want to go further, you can't just do this. The revision and implementation of government decrees are also extremely important."