Looking at the mountains and rivers

Two months later, Hanchen Hall was side hall.

Yong Wang Yang Lin brought Chen Qingtang, a doctor from the warehouse department, into the palace in a hurry to have an audience.

After the dragon case, Emperor Yong'an raised his eyelids: "Chen Qingtang, didn't you go to Yuezhou, why did you come back so quickly, and how did the food distribution go?"

"Report to the emperor, the relief food has not been delivered to Yuezhou." Chen Qingtang knelt down and said.

"What?" Emperor Yong'an was surprised, "Why hasn't it been delivered yet?"

"It took a long time to raise food, but unexpectedly, the drought has spread to the north. This month, the water level of the Sui River has also dropped, and we can no longer sail." Borrowing grain, the two princes said that there is not much left in the treasury, and they can only distribute [-] shi of rice, but how can [-] shi of rice feed so many people. I have no choice but to go back to Beijing to ask the emperor to make a decision. .”

Emperor Yong'an's face was gloomy: "How can I decide? Is it possible that I am a god, and I will give you two wings and fly to Yuezhou?" He asked the dragon case, "How many hungry people have starved to death in Yuezhou?"

"This... I have been traveling around these days, and I haven't visited the place yet, but the drought lasts from spring to autumn, and I'm afraid there are only half of the survivors." Chen Qingtang bit the bullet and finished, not daring to look up at the emperor. , just kneeling there listlessly.

Emperor Yong'an was silent for a long time, and asked again: "Is there any news of the rebellion by the local bandits and refugees?"

Yang Lin hurriedly said: "I haven't heard of this yet. I think there are officers and soldiers transferred by Mr. Gao to guard them. They dare not rebel."

The emperor glanced at him coldly: "King Yong, the food relief has been delayed, so what about the relief money, have you distributed all the money?"

Yang Lin's face changed slightly, and he quickly said: "I have dispatched the relief money to Yuezhou, and I think it has been distributed."

At this moment, the servant quickly stepped into the hall, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the governor of Yuezhou seeks to see you."

"Xu Wenqi, Governor of Yuezhou?" Emperor Yong'an stood up in shock, "Why did he go to Beijing suddenly? Could something be wrong in Yuezhou? Hurry up!"

King Yong and others were also a little flustered, and they all stood aside quietly, only to see a black and skinny official walking in quickly, his face was covered with dust, and he was a little embarrassed: "My minister Xu Wenqi kowtowed to the emperor, it is urgent, please The emperor forgives the crime of disheveled clothes."

The emperor waved his hand to signal him to be excused: "You came just in time, I just want to know how the disaster situation in Yuezhou area is, and whether the people are safe?"

"My Majesty, this year's severe drought is really rare. The ministers were caught off guard, and most of the local victims were exiled, and the bark and grass in the wild were all stripped and eaten. Later, I heard that the relief food was difficult to arrive, and the court did not release the relief for a long time. , the people became more and more panicked, and there were several waves of bandits..."

The emperor changed color slightly: "Rogue?"

Xu Wenqi waved his hands hastily: "It's just a few scattered rogues, not a good one."

Emperor Yong'an thought for a while, and his expression turned gloomy: "You said just now, did the rescuers not arrive?"

Xu Wenqi was about to nod his head, but caught a glimpse of King Yong trying to wink at him, and couldn't help stammering: "This... this..."

Seeing him like this, Emperor Yong'an couldn't guess what was wrong, so he raised his hand and slapped the table: "Bold!"

Xu Wenqi, as the shepherd of the state in a remote place, seldom met the saints, and was already afraid. Seeing the emperor's anger, Xu Wenqi became more frightened and knelt down trembling.

Emperor Yong'an took a deep breath, closed his eyes and said, "Tell me the truth, what's going on in Yuezhou now."

"Now the drought in Yuezhou has eased, the people are still stable, and the rogues have disappeared. This time, I went to Beijing to report this matter. I hope the emperor can rest assured." Xu Wenqi said in one breath.

Emperor Yong'an was even more surprised: "I heard that Yuezhou had no harvest for a year, and now there is no one to release relief. How can the people be safe?"

"Although the government failed to release relief, there was private relief, and the eighteen counties and counties in Yuezhou were able to survive because of this."

"Who released the private relief? Such a large sum of money can support eighteen counties?"

"It's...it's the private relief released by King Mu." Xu Wenqi said, "Two months ago, King Mu's warrant was sent to neighboring Chenzhou, Xuanzhou and other places, ordering nearby granaries to open warehouses to release grain. The warrant says, the relief Grain will be distributed on a monthly basis until the spring of next year. As soon as the news came out, the refugees who had fled everywhere also returned to Yuezhou."

"What?" Emperor Yong'an was taken aback.

"This is simply nonsense!" Yang Lin stood up, "How much rice grain is needed to feed so many people, even the imperial court can't get it out for a while, how can he, King Mu, get it? Besides, the rice grain is just It is too coincidental that it is stored near Yuezhou!"

Chen Qingtang also took a step forward: "Even if His Royal Highness King Mu really can afford the food, how can he find so many peasants to carry the food all at once?"

Xu Wenqi seemed to expect them to ask this question, shook his head and said: "Two months ago, there were starving people all over Yuezhou. As long as you give them food, you don't even need wages. I'm afraid you won't be able to recruit civilian husbands." He paused, He continued, "Speaking of which, we don't know why His Royal Highness King Mu has so many granaries around. I heard that last winter, he bought more than half of the rice grains in the fiefdoms of King Xihe and King Linchuan and placed them nearby. Others still don't understand what it means, but now it seems that he seems to be preparing for this severe drought."

"What are you planning for a rainy day?" Yang Lin became more and more disdainful, "Could it be that he is a fairy who has no predictions, and he can predict that there will be a severe drought this year?"

Xu Wenqi smiled wryly and said: "Nowadays, the people of Yuezhou have indeed regarded His Royal Highness Mu Wang as a god who saves the suffering. These days, wherever King Mu's command banner is passed, the people there are cheering. Some people even pooled money to build temples for His Highness, and molded The golden body. I heard that on the day the temple was completed, there was a first snowfall in the local area. When the people nearby heard about this, they all came to the temple to worship, praying that the severe drought would pass and the weather would be good in the coming year.”

When he spoke, Emperor Yong'an kept a complicated expression and remained silent.

Yang Lin whispered from the side: "Your Majesty, you don't have to care about what these ignorant and foolish people do, they just got a little benefit from King Mu, and it's ridiculous to do such a ridiculous behavior..."

"Shut up!" Emperor Yong'an interrupted him sternly, "I haven't settled with you for your embezzlement of money, if you dare to talk again, I will kill you!"

After all the officials retreated in fear, the emperor stood silently in the hall for a long time, and then he murmured to Ma Liangshun who was approaching: "It seems that I am really not as good as him."

Ma Liangshun had served the imperial court for many years, and it was the first time he heard that the emperor had changed his name. He didn't dare to answer, and just stood aside with his head down.

"Tomorrow, go to Prince Mu's Mansion to ask him to return to court. You don't need to hide it, just take my handwriting." The emperor paused, "Just say that I am troubled by state affairs, and ask him to enlighten me."

In the winter of the ninth year of Yong'an, Prince Mu's Mansion, Moxue Pavilion.

A soft cough came from outside the hollow flower window.

The room was silent for a while, before hearing a lazy voice: "Fang Ming, come in."

The scent of water in Moxue Pavilion has gradually dissipated, probably burned out in the incense burner, and the charcoal fire in the charcoal basin has only a little spark left, which is not enough for heating.Behind the screen, Yang Yan was only wearing obscene clothes, leaning against the head of the bed, covering her lips with her hands, and yawning softly.

Fang Ming was afraid that he would be cold, so he hurriedly took out his robe and put it on for him, but stopped when he was about to straighten the skirt.I saw a few deep red bruises on Yang Yan's slightly hanging neck, and a faint circle of teeth marks, which were extremely conspicuous reflected on the jade-white skin. His face flushed suddenly, and he said vaguely: "Young master , It's cold today, wear an armpit fur."

Yang Yan frowned: "I don't go out today, I just have a small banquet in the Nuan Pavilion, what are you doing wearing so much?"

Fang Ming hesitated for a while, and said again: "Otherwise, I'd better change into the cloud pattern brocade robe to match the snow scene."

Yang Yan became more and more inexplicable: "You have never been so troublesome on weekdays. What's the matter? Is the clothes on me weird?"

"It's not that the clothes are weird, it's you..." Fang Ming sighed helplessly, reached out and tapped his neck, "Brother Wei, why is he so careless to let others see what he looks like? That cloud pattern brocade The collar of my robe is higher, I'm afraid it can cover it."

Yang Yan suddenly remembered this episode, and hurriedly touched his neck. He was really not sure where the mark was, but he only remembered that Wei Changxuan's hot lips lingered back and forth between his neck last night, with such force that he seemed to want to swallow him.

Seeing that he was blushing and unable to speak, Fang Ming had no choice but to take out his robe and put it on for him again, not forgetting to say in his mouth: "I used to think that the mosquitoes in this room were too severe, so my lord I often have freckles on my body, who knows that it's all good deeds done by Brother Wei."

Yang Yan was even more embarrassed by what he said, and even his ears turned red. After a while, he remembered to ask: "When did Wei Changxuan go out?"

"He got up early, and left the mansion before the hour. He even drank two jugs of wine, saying that he was going to Xifang to visit his friends." Fang Ming complained leisurely as he tied his clothes, "A big man General, it's a shame for him to eat and drink at our house all day long."

"A friend from Xifang?"

"The man's surname is Wu, and he opened a tea house in Xifang, called Linfeng Pavilion. I heard that he has some connections with the family of General Chen Shao." Fang Ming said here, feeling a little emotional, "Brother Wei has acquaintance with him, and there is probably a relationship between him and him." Let’s remember some old friends.”

Yang Yan didn't seem to hear the words behind him, so he just nodded lightly: "Linfeng Pavilion."

This day is the day when the palace hosts a winter banquet to enjoy the snow. In the past two years, after the first snow in Jian'an, King Mu will invite a few close people to the mansion to enjoy the snow.The banquet is held in the warm pavilion, which is connected to the ground dragon, and the floor is covered with tapestry. The guests all sit on the ground and drink tea.There is no dance music in the room, only the faint sound of flute from the nearby attic, the sound of flute is deep and distant, quite elegant.The snowflakes outside the window fluttered like fine jade and pieces of jade, scattered from the branches to the ground of the courtyard, looking out through the window, I felt that the sky and the earth were white, and the silence was boundless.

While everyone was quietly listening to the flute and appreciating the snow, someone laughed in a low voice: "Today's Winter Banquet is without Young Master Dugu, so it's much quieter than last year." King Mu also showed a wry smile.

Last year's winter banquet was held in the Snow Garden of Houyuan. Because Dugu Hong wanted to compete with Wei Changxuan in riding and shooting, the two of them rode on horses and trampled the surroundings of the Snow Court in a bad manner.Then he ordered people to set up a big pot in the snow court to boil mutton soup, opened several jars of Northland spirits, and made the group of overwhelmed literati drunk, and it was over.An elegant feast of cooking wine and appreciating the snow was tossed and turned into a feast of roasted lamb in the Northland by this Donghu boy.

"Altai is still giving relief in Yuezhou, and I'm afraid he won't be able to come back this winter." Yang Yan didn't show any regrets when he spoke, but he seemed relieved.

At the small table in the corner of the Nuan Pavilion, Wen Zhi and Li Yushan were playing chess on the shovel. At this moment, they turned their heads and smiled: "This disaster relief is also thanks to him. The road to escort the food and grass is safe."

Li Yushan also smiled and said: "I still remember that His Highness sent many people out to buy rice last year, and then transported it to the south with great difficulty. I still felt strange, but I never expected that it was for this relief. At that time, how could His Highness have expected that there would be a famine in Yuezhou this year?"

Yang Yan smiled and shook his head: "This matter is really due to Gongsuntong. He went to the south in autumn and winter last year and said that there will be a severe drought in this place in the coming year. He is afraid that the drought will last from spring to late autumn. not bad."

Wen Zhi echoed: "This Gongsun Tong does have some skills. Apart from being familiar with the water situation of rivers and rivers in various places, he can also predict droughts and floods almost exactly. The water conservancy work in the past two years is thanks to him." He sighed, "It's a pity that he was a boatman, and most officials from the Ministry of Industry rejected him. Not long after the Yellow River dam was built last year, he was transferred back to Chuzhong and got a job that was better than nothing."

Yang Yan nodded and said: "Let him rest at home, I have something to trouble him in the future."

Li Yushan heard that he intended to appoint an important position, so he couldn't help asking: "Your Highness has been sick for a long time this year, and I heard that the emperor has sent people here again and again, and even invited His Highness to return to the court as the Grand Tutor, but His Highness pushed them away." ?”

"I can't afford to be this tutor," Yang Yan waved his hands with a smile, "Besides, I'm still sick."

The door of the Nuan Pavilion was suddenly pushed open, and the person who came in was wearing a heavy cloak, and scattered snow was hanging on the cloak. He lifted the hood of the cloak, smiled and said to the room: "Everyone, come and stay safe."

Tang An, who was waiting at the side, was the first to react. He quickly stepped forward to take off the cloak for the visitor: "Master Han, please come in."

Everyone in the Nuan Pavilion hurriedly came up to greet them, and asked repeatedly: "Master Han came back from Yuezhou? Has the journey been hard?"

Han Ping exchanged a few words with his colleagues, then walked forward, sat upright in front of Yang Yan, and bowed his head slightly: "Your Highness."

Yang Yan nodded to him: "Mr. Han, is everything settled in Yuezhou?"

Han Ping leaned over and said: "After the order of His Royal Highness was passed to Yuezhou, a warehouse has been opened to distribute 30 shi of food relief, and those who are starving people have been redeemed. When I left, Yuezhou had already had several battles. Rain and snow, this severe drought is over." He paused, "The people of Yuezhou are all grateful for His Highness's opening of a storehouse for relief, and even built a temple for His Highness, worshiping His Highness as a god."

Hearing the words about the temple and other words, Yang Yan only smiled wryly, but did not speak.

Liu Shitong who was at the side nodded his head: "In this severe drought, most of the government did nothing, but His Highness helped the victims on his own. This move naturally won the hearts of the people."

Li Yushan shook his head and said, "Your Highness' power is not as powerful as that of the whole country. If the emperor is as benevolent and loving as His Highness, and dispatched the granaries in all directions early, maybe no one will starve to death during this severe drought."

Han Ping was looking down at their chess game, but he smiled slightly when he heard this: "Yushan's words are wrong. If His Highness is the king who governs the country, it would be too early to release relief like this."

Li Yushan was startled: "Mr. Han, why did you say that? Is there something wrong with His Highness opening a warehouse in Yuezhou to distribute grain?"

Han Ping shook his head: "There is nothing wrong with it. As a prince, His Highness helps the people when the court can't take care of it. It not only wins the reputation of benevolence, but also wins the hearts of the people. Why not do it. However," he changed the subject, "If the emperor In this way, whenever there is a famine, relief will be distributed immediately. How can there be such a large granary in the world that can be squandered like this? Who will cultivate the disaster fields? Rice and millet are nothing more than raising a bunch of lazy beetles. As long as you have a lazy heart, the weather will be good in the coming year, and the people will be lazy to cultivate the fields. If things go on like this, the good fields will be barren and the annual grain will not be harvested. Which emperor can afford such consequences?"

Li Yushan was stunned for a moment, then bowed and bowed: "The student is superficial, please teach me, sir."

He, Wen Zhi and the others were originally from a poor family with nowhere to devote themselves. They could only serve as aides to low-ranking officials. Later, because of Han Ping's insight, he introduced them to Yang Yan, and they were able to succeed.Therefore, in front of Han Ping, he has always regarded himself as a student.

Han Ping smiled: "Yushan, you have extraordinary knowledge and knowledge, but you are just entering the officialdom, and you don't have a thorough understanding of the court." He pointed out, "For example, in this chess game, you are as good as Lan Yu, but you If you fail to see through his layout, you will inevitably fall into the trap."

Li Yushan heard that he wanted to teach, and stood up with a smile: "I thought that I would probably lose this game of chess. If Mr. Han doesn't give up, can you give me some advice for the students."

Han Ping didn't refuse, walked to his place and knelt down. Wen Zhi, who was across from the small table, saw him, and couldn't help but put away her previous casual look, cheered up and said, "Mr. Han, please."