Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

Rong Youtang didn't expect the governor's yamen to allocate food again and again, he stood up, cupped his hands and replied: "Unfortunately, there was a flood in Bingzhou, and it should be given priority in relief. The lower officials understand. But nearly three collapsed houses in Yixian County, which was hit by snow in Xizhou, There are more than [-] disaster victims in one thousand households. Relying on the timely rescue from the imperial court and the governor’s office, they have passed the most difficult period. As the adults said: The plan for a year lies in spring. The next official will never delay the spring plowing plan when he first takes office. , but the current rations and grains are in short supply, at least [-] shi are needed." He changed his tone, and before he finished speaking, Chu Kui, the prefect of Guanzhou, asked in surprise:

"There are more than [-] victims, why do you need [-] stone?"

"Xizhou not only has Yi County, which suffered from snowstorms, but also Shun County, where banditry broke out." Rong Youtang calmly explained, "The locust plague before the autumn harvest last year cost the people of Shun County half a year's hard work. Fortunately, His Majesty was kind and compassionate, exempted the local tax for three years, and the common people barely survived the disaster year. Now that the spring plowing is just around the corner, the grain can’t be changed, so they can only rely on the government’s relief.”

"Oh~" Chu Kui twirled a short beard and nodded.

"Fifty thousand stones?" Qi Shaozhu looked solemn, and tapped his fingers on the table. A smart woman can't cook without rice, and he also suffered from a headache. He sighed: "Floods, locusts, droughts, bandits... It's not easy for ordinary people to farm."

It's like being in a dilapidated house, and it's raining all night, and the rain is leaking from the top of the head and the wind is blowing in the walls. The three fires that took office in Xizhou's new magistrate are very difficult to burn!

Rong Youtang calmed down and said earnestly: "To avoid natural disasters, spring plowing cannot be delayed. We can only hope that the weather will be good and the grains will be plentiful this year. My lord, the lower officials have arranged for the victims of the disaster who took refuge in the city to move back to the villages. They are just starting to level the fields and wait for food Once the planting is in place, it can be cultivated immediately! The grain storage of the governor's office has been allocated to Bingzhou. I don't know if the other states present have surplus grain? Xizhou will borrow it in the name of the state capital and return it after the harvest."

"There is no other way." Qi Shaozhu sighed, and said earnestly: "Everyone, the imperial court focuses on helping Hejian every year, and we are shameless when we say it. After all, we have to help each other and cheer ourselves up to get rid of poverty as soon as possible. !"

"Yes."

"The lower officials understand." All the magistrates agreed one after another.

Qi Shaozhu also said: "Prefect Rong has only been in office for more than a month, and he is quite diligent and responsible. At least the official has not heard the news of the death or anger of the victims, which shows that he can control the situation, not bad."

Rong Youtang said humbly: "Your Excellency has given you too much credit, and I'm just doing my duty."

Qi Shaozhu's eyes burst into a smile, and he said seriously: "Hejian officials are all prosperous, and you are colleagues. If there is surplus food in this state, you should lend it to Xizhou, so as not to ask the court to allocate food every three days. Dacheng Kingdom still has many provinces. How can the imperial court only care about Hejian?"

"My lord is wise, what you said is true!" Rong Youtang naturally agreed.

Hmph, now you know how to ask for help?Yuan Bai, the magistrate of Diaozhou, snorted proudly in the dark, concentrated on drinking tea, and watched with a smile.

The meeting hall was completely silent, dead silent.

Qi Shaozhu lowered his face and said majesticly: "Bingzhou is busy fighting the disaster and can't take care of itself. It can't help. What's your situation? Tell me."

Chao Youmu, the magistrate of Lunzhou, glanced around for a few times, and first said euphemistically: "My lord, it's not that the lower officials don't help, but eight counties in Lunzhou suffered from locust plagues last year, and there was no harvest. The lower officials are struggling with how to dismantle and make up for themselves. Alas, there is really no food left, sorry."

"Hmm." Qi Shaozhu raised his hand and pressed down, signaling the other party to sit down.

Chu Kui, the prefect of Guanzhou, then stood up, frowning, and said: "Yanhe water bandits are rampant. After committing crimes, they hide in deep mountains and old forests. They have not been completely wiped out so far. The lower officials are afraid that they will become a bandit den, so they keep a large group of militiamen on standby at all times. Your lord knows that it takes a lot of rations to suppress water bandits." After speaking, he looked at Rong Youtang, and said politely: "Your lord Rong was sent to Guanzhou to investigate the case, so he must be aware of it."

Without saying a word, Qi Shaozhu raised his hand and pressed it again.

"Bandits are indeed difficult, I understand Master Chu's difficulties." Rong Youtang replied politely.

As a result, only the two prefects of Pizhou and Diaozhou remained on the scene.

There was another burst of silence in the council hall.

The five magistrates sitting in two rows face each other, but they don't look at each other. They are either drinking tea or drooping their eyes in thought.

Rong Youtang was thirsty from the rush, drank half a cup of tea in one go, and waited patiently.

For a long time, Qi Shaozhu, as the governor, could not pretend to be deaf and dumb, and urged loudly: "Yuan and Peng prefects, what do you mean?"

Yuan Bai finally put down his teacup, got up and cupped his hands, and said with embarrassment: "My lord, since the 45th year of Chengtian, Diaozhou has successively lent 12 shi of grain to Xizhou, and none has been returned yet."

Since it was an old debt, Rong Youtang had no choice but to stand up and say frankly: "Your Majesty Yuan is right. After I took office, I found the IOU while looking through the files and files left by my predecessor, but it was definitely not delinquent. Xizhou Years of disasters have caused crops to fail, and I am temporarily unable to repay the debt. I hope Lord Yuan will forgive me, please wait a few more days."

"Okay." Yuan Bai smiled and nodded, never mentioning borrowing food.

Qi Shaozhu's eyebrows jumped, but he didn't say anything, his eyes locked on Peng Kebo.

——In fact, there were only Pizhou and Diaozhou with surplus food available for loan. The insiders observed the new magistrate's conversation and response with the mentality of watching the excitement, so as to determine the degree of friendship in the future.

Rong Youtang glanced at all his colleagues, with a sonorous tone, and solemnly promised: "Don't worry, everyone, the IOU signed in the name of the state government will always be valid. If it is not clear this year, it will be paid off next year. Three years at the latest. If it is delayed, Lord governor, please punish the subordinate officials for their crimes of dereliction of duty and incompetence!"

Hey yo?

What a young and vigorous stunner!

Several potbellied old officials present sniggered in amazement.

"The 'Military Order' is no joke, I have written down your promise today." Qi Shaozhu nodded slowly, and warned: "It's very good that the prefect Rong has such determination, but I value the specific method more, so don't do it at that time." Make an embarrassment."

"Thank you, my lord, for your fulfillment. If the subordinate officials make a slip of their tongues, I will accept any punishment from you!" Rong Youtang held his head high and his chest high, with awe-inspiring righteousness.

"it is good!"

Peng Kebo, who had been watching coldly for a long time, applauded loudly, stood up and praised: "Sure enough, a young man is born from a hero since ancient times"! Mr. Rong is very courageous. You have the talent of the top scholar, the ability to investigate cases, and dare to stand on your own. By the way, I have surplus grain in Pizhou, and I can lend it to you."

Qi Shaozhu heaved a sigh of relief.

"That's really great!" Rong Youtang beamed with joy, cupped his hands and said sincerely: "On behalf of the people in Xizhou who need help, I would like to thank Mr. Peng."

"Hey, thank you? You have to pay back the loan, and it's not a free gift. Cough, and, I can only borrow [-] shi at most, and you have to continue to borrow the rest." Peng Kebo said bluntly, which made the governor chuckle. Voice.

Rong Youtang couldn't help laughing, and said in a loud voice: "Thirty thousand stones can solve the urgent need. Let the common people plant rice seedlings in spring first, and I will figure out the rest."

Wet, brat, what else can you do besides being eloquent?

Yuan Bai sat on the sidelines leisurely, picked up his teacup, lowered his head to hide his contempt.

The discussion lasted all day, and it was getting late, so the prefects stayed overnight.

In the study

"sit down."

"Thank you, my lord." Rong Youtang sat down as he said, and the servant immediately served tea.

Qi Shaozhu was dressed in casual clothes, with a relaxed posture. He closed his eyes and smelled the tea, and said with a smile, "Try it, you brought this tea from the capital."

Rong Youtang sniffed it, took a sip, and said awkwardly: "It tastes very good, but it's a pity that I don't know tea art, so I can't taste anything."

"Tea, leisure people drink tea, busy people quench their thirst, the burden on the shoulders of Rong Zhifu is not light." Qi Shaozhu smiled, and said slowly: "I have heard about Xizhou, and the parents of Yizhou should have courage. Only then can the situation be calmed down, you just let go and lead Xizhou out of the plight of asking for relief every year, it is a credit."

Rong Youtang smiled wryly, and said softly: "At present, the state government is heavily in debt, how dare lower officials hope to make meritorious service? I only hope that the weather will be good every year, and during the tax exemption period of the court, the common people will have a good harvest for a few seasons, so that they will not panic if they have food in their hands, and the people's hearts will be stable. , the rest is easy to handle.”

"Pu Chengxin said that you are down-to-earth and prudent. At first I thought he was exaggerating, but now it seems that I misunderstood him." Qi Shaozhu suddenly felt emotional.

Speaking of Master, Rong Youtang quickly stood up, and said respectfully: "My teacher is kind and my lord is magnanimous. I am ashamed of myself."

"Just tell the truth, don't be too modest." Qi Shaozhu held a small white porcelain teacup, and taught earnestly: "The words of the sages in the sage books, when implemented in the local area, the most important thing is'the king regards the people as his heaven, the people regard their food as their heaven, and food as their heaven." As long as there are plenty of granaries and enough food and clothing for the people, the government can be regarded as fulfilling its duties."

"Thank you for your teaching, my lord." Rong Youtang bowed his hands solemnly.

"I was worried that you were young and impetuous, always thinking of some ingenious and quick way to get rid of poverty in a short period of time, but that actually ignored the basic needs of the people. Remember: winning in stability can lead to long-term peace and long-term stability in danger. It is not advisable to win, the prefect's decision will affect thousands of people below, you must act cautiously." Qi Shaozhu solemnly urged.

"Yes." Rong Youtang bowed his head again, thinking to himself: How dangerous!Fortunately, I temporarily blocked the plan to build a barracks.

Qi Shaozhu nodded in satisfaction, thought for a while, and asked, "Are you an old acquaintance with the prefect of Diaozhou?"

"I have never met before today." Rong Youtang answered truthfully.

"Hmm." Qi Shaozhu frowned, brushed off his robe sleeves, and said in a calm manner: "The way of being an official can't be taught for a while, you have to understand it slowly."

"Thank you sir for your reminder, my teacher also taught me like this." Rong Youtang was very grateful.

Tsk, one "adult" at a time, how polite.

"You—" Qi Shaozhu hesitated to speak, and finally said nothing, waving his hands and said: "Go and rest. Forge while the iron is hot, remember to go to Beizhou to borrow the [-] stone grain."

Are you afraid Mr. Peng will go back on his word?Rong Youtang tried his best to maintain a sullen face, and replied with a smile: "I will resign."

The winter snow melts, the spring water rises, the canals in the northern section gradually thaw, and the busy shipping starts again.

Beijing · Beijiao Daying

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Don't stop Master Wu, where are your Highnesses?"

"I have a very urgent matter, and I will see my third brother now, immediately, immediately!"

……

The seventh prince, Zhao Zewu, was impatient, panting heavily, and pushed and shoved the guards who were blocking the door of the meeting hall, until someone came inside and said, "His Royal Highness King Qing welcomes—" Before the words fell, Zhao Zewu had already rushed, and was almost caught by the study room. He stumbled over the threshold, threw himself in front of the desk, put his hands on the edge of the table, and asked:

"Third brother, are you going to transfer Xiaozhuo to Hejian?"

"Hmm." Prince Qing remained calm, dipped his pen in the ink, and finished the last few lines.

"Why, why? Third brother, you clearly know, you clearly know me, I—" Zhao Zewu stammered anxiously, blushing and thick necked, and thousands of words turned into a sad sentence: "We are brothers! You clearly know me Why did you still send him away?"

"I didn't transfer him." King Qing put down his pen, looked directly at his younger brother, and told him solemnly: "After Zhuo Kai recovered from his injury, he repeatedly asked for transfer, knelt back and forth for a long time, and his attitude was very firm. I confirmed that he had made up his mind, so I approved it. "

Zhao Zewu was panic-stricken, his eyes widened, his lips were pale and trembling, and he said in a trembling voice: "Xiao Zhuo can't go to that bitter place in Hejian. Before he leaves, third brother, you take back the transfer order, okay?"