Chapter 1155 Grain

  Why are there no saints in the world?

  Because the saint has no heart.

  A sage does not use his own feelings to decide likes and dislikes, and to judge right from wrong.

   No matter how powerful Zhang Xingcai is, she is far from reaching the realm of a saint, because she has always had her own likes and dislikes.

   There are likes and dislikes, which means that there will be defects and deficiencies.

  The early experience made Empress Zhang love her hard-won son very much.

   It can be said that if you hold it in your mouth, you are afraid of melting, and if you hold it in your hand, you are afraid of falling.

  I don't want the crown prince to suffer a little bit of harm.

  Facing the queen's repeated attempts to marry the daughter of the Feng family for the prince, Mrs. You finally couldn't help but expose a fact that Queen Zhang didn't want to face.

   "In terms of the difficulty of getting a child, can my elder sister be compared to the prime minister's wife? When Zhuge Zhan first met Feng's daughter, he was beaten up."

   "The prime minister is unparalleled in intelligence, and his son is no better than mediocre in the eyes of Feng's daughter."

   "How does my sister plan to educate the prince so that Feng's daughter can submit to the prince?"

  Huang Yueying can be regarded as a generation of strange women.

  In these years, Zhuge Zhan was basically taken by her.

  But in the eyes of Mrs. You, the fourteen-year-old Zhuge Zhan is already somewhat spoiled.

  This son was not born in the deep palace, but it was indeed born in the hands of a woman—the prime minister's wife had a middle-aged son, far more than the empress.

  In the last few years of the prime minister, he wanted to return to the old capital, and he didn't even have enough time to work on government and military affairs, so he naturally neglected to discipline Zhuge Zhan.

  The eldest brother, Zhuge Qiao, has been staying in Nanzhong, not in the mansion, and he also has no way to take care of his younger brother on behalf of his father.

   The consequence is that Zhuge Zhan's mentality and ability to handle affairs are far from matching his age and status.

   Zhuge Zhan has been studying in Feng's residence for a while, and Madam You is familiar with it.

  In many cases, Mrs. You always felt that Zhuge Zhan was too indecisive, unable to make a clear judgment, procrastinating for a long time, which can be described as confused.

  It is the so-called "those who slow down but fail to achieve, those who are soft and indecisive, and those who have no decision on their likes and dislikes but have nothing to establish, will die."

  This kind of personality, placed on Zhuge Zhan, is at best a mansion.

  But if it is placed on the prince, it may cause the country to perish.

  Although it is said that those who can die, it does not mean that they must die.

  But the prince will be the ruler of a country in the future, and the danger of subjugation must be guarded against.

   If you know the danger but don't take precautions, the country will be in chaos.

   It was precisely because of this worry that Mrs. You took the risk to remind the Queen of this.

  And with Alang’s identity and background—whether it’s the teacher’s school or the court—if the prince is really unfortunate, how can he marry his daughter into the palace with confidence?

  If it is someone else, the status of prince may still be useful.

  But in the eyes of descendants of the descendants of the Shanmen, they are really qualified not to value the status of the prince.

  The queen's focus is not on this, but seeing her frown slightly:

   "Feng's daughter beat Zhuge Zhan?"

  When Madam You saw her elder sister like this, she knew that she didn't seem to have listened to what she wanted to say, so she sighed:

   "Sister, Feng Ying was born to a tiger daughter of the Guan family, and grew up in a family like Feng's family. Do you think she can be an ordinary noble daughter?"

  The Queen looked at Mrs. You suspiciously:

   "But how did I hear that the daughter of the Feng family has always been gentle, and she knows etiquette at a young age?"

  Madam You sneered and laughed:

   "My family, Alang, is still ruthless and merciless! Is it preventing him from becoming a pillar of a great man?"

  Windness is for outsiders to see, that is when they are willing to be gentle—don’t believe me, you bring Achong to her for a look?

   There is nothing wrong with knowing the etiquette, but that is when people are willing to follow the etiquette—if you don’t believe me, you can bring Ah Chong to her to have a look?

   "As the saying goes, with a sharp weapon, the murderous intention is self-inflicted. As both of you get older, women's etiquette will naturally not be lacking, but they never said that they should give up their martial arts."

  Try to be reasonable if you can. If you can’t, then talk about physics.

   Turn forward like the wind, advance and retreat freely.

  After all, who doesn't know that the knowledge of the Feng family is unfathomable?

   Just like the Feng Mansion.

   Mrs. Zuo and Zuo have both literature and military skills, and can speak both reason and physics.

  That's why Feng Guiwang, who is famous for his viciousness, has always only reasoned with his wives and concubines-smart words and tricks are always useful.

  If the crown prince really marries Feng's daughter, he will not be able to suppress her. When the time comes, if she wants to be reasonable, she will talk about it, and if she wants to talk about physics, she will talk about physics.

   Based on the queen's doting on the prince, do you want to take care of the affairs between the prince and his wife?

   If you really want to manage it, how do you plan to manage it?

  What about the Feng Mansion?

  The queen finally fell silent after hearing Madam You's words.

   After a long time, he said:

   "That's why Feng Mingwen said, let my daughter choose who she likes?"

  Madam You saw sister like this, nodded quickly and said:

   "If a woman really likes someone, no matter how strong she is, her attitude will be different after all. Sister is the most clear about this."

  The first half of the sentence is quite reasonable, but...

   "What I know best?"

  The queen was annoyed again immediately, "What do you mean?"

   "Okay, okay," Mrs. You said with a smile, "Just like the tiger girl of the Guan family, okay?"

  Empress Zhang glanced at Mrs. You, but said nothing.

   I don't know if I am weighing the pros and cons, or if I really listened to Mrs. You's reminder.

  In June of the third year of Yanxi, various places began to harvest summer grain and put it into storage.

  Shu and Liangzhou, for the first time in so many years, experienced a year-on-year decrease in grain production due to the reduction of arable land.

   However, the output has not decreased much, and the impact is not significant.

  Because the southern part of Sichuan has started to promote double-cropping rice in the past two years, which has offset part of the reduction in production.

  However, the emperor of the Han family sympathized with the many disasters and disasters of his people, and ordered to reduce the tax collection in the first half of the year.

  This move was greatly praised by the officials and the common people, who praised Adou for having the style of a wise king.

  Especially in Shu, many people said that His Majesty is a fellow who never forgets the land where Ji Han was founded!

   It just so happens that we can sell more to Wu Guo this year. Can you not praise it?

   It's just because Guanzhong Bingzhou and other places have begun to restore people's livelihood after three years of rectification.

  The tax collected by the imperial court as a whole, instead of decreasing, increased a little.

  Compared to Ji Han's turmoil, Wu Di was wailing.

  In the south of the great river, most of the millet and rice are grown, and there are also bean seeds, and there is little wheat—that is to say, in the south of the Yangtze River, there is very little summer grain.

  Whether it is millet, rice, or bean, it is basically planted in April, harvested in August at the earliest, and October at the latest.

   (Note: In the Three Kingdoms era, double-cropping rice had not yet spread, so rice in the south of the Yangtze River was only harvested for one season, while the Central Plains could harvest wheat in summer and millet in autumn. This is also the reason why the ancient north was more developed.)

  Now, from Jingzhou to Jiangdong, you can see stretches of fertile fields in the past, not because of the drought that failed to sow seeds in time, leading to desertion.

  It is the crops that are forcibly sown, and because of insufficient water, the growth is short, and there is no way to grow seeds.

   Planted precious grains, but in the end they got this kind of result.

  Many farmers squatted on the ground, looking at the crops that were half shorter than in previous years, and finally couldn't help crying with their heads in their hands.

  Zhuge Jin, who guarded Nanyang County, knew that the situation was urgent, so he hurried to Wuchang, and suggested to Jingzhou Mu Luxun:

   "Jingzhou's grain harvest has become a fact. This year, the people must be struggling. I would like to invite the general to request Your Majesty to exempt Jingzhou from taxes and find ways to relieve the disaster."

  Unexpectedly, when Lu Xun heard the words, he let out a long sigh:

   "How come I don't know what Ziyu said? Before that, I wrote a letter to His Majesty, stating the situation in Jingzhou this year."

   "It's just that your majesty has not responded, because your majesty is also in trouble. As far as I know, this year, whether it is Jingzhou or Jiangdong, Dawu is short of food."

   "Nowadays, let alone disaster relief, it is already rare to be exempted from taxes."

   "What worries me the most is that taxes will still be collected according to previous years' share."

   Zhuge Jin was a little horrified when he heard what Lu Xun said:

   "In this way, isn't it going to stir up a civil uprising?"

   "Even in a normal year, the national use is still insufficient, so what can I do?"

  The top general who nominally governs half of the country of Wu is far more aware of Wu's financial situation than others.

  If not, why has Da Wu made so much money every year these years?

  Lu Xun looked at Zhuge Jin and continued:

   "Ziyu, you are from Jingzhou, and Zhuge's family can be regarded as one of the big families in Jingzhou. This year's Jingzhou event requires your efforts."

  Zhuge Jin remained silent.

  He understood that what the general said was nothing more than asking him to persuade the Jingzhou family to provide more money and food to help tide over the difficulties this time.

   Over the years, His Majesty has appointed the Great General to command the west of Wuchang.

  But Jingzhou is actually controlled by Zhuge Jin.

  Especially in the past few years, after Sun Quan began to alienate Lu Xun, he consciously deprived Lu Xun of some rights in the west.

  Compared to Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin and Sun Quan have been engaged for many years, and their kindness is like flesh and blood, and they have vowed that life and death will not be easy.

   It is also Zhuge Jin's virtue and integrity, which makes it easier for Sun Quan to trust him.

  The most important thing is Zhuge Jin's identity, which can better appease the Jingzhou family.

  But which aristocratic family in the world only has the reason to contribute in vain and not ask for it?

  Jingzhou has been relatively stable under the rule of Wu.

  The Jingzhou family contributed a lot.

  But relatively, they also have something to ask for.

   Just like the Great General, who was born in one of the four surnames in Wu County, can he ask every family in Wu County to donate money and food to the court at this time?

  You are loyal to the emperor, you are patriotic, and you have to be valued by His Majesty. It is actually very simple to get your parents to support you.

   Anyway, bring some benefits back to my hometown.

  It doesn’t matter whether you support the villagers, give some policies, or even find some ways, etc.

   There is communication and communication, that is friendship.

  If you really want to force others to contribute for nothing like you, even your fellow villagers will think about expulsing you from your hometown.

  What is the biggest request of the Jingzhou family now?

  Brown sugar.

   Brown sugar share in exchange for coarse sugar.

  The brown sugar share in exchange for the rough sugar made from sugar cane.

   There are also various materials transshipped from Shu.

   No matter how high the price of food is, it cannot be higher than the price of various good things passed down from Shu.

   Besides, no matter how high the price of grain is, if you sell it, you will get a lot of iron money in return—who likes a big iron money that is not as good as every year?

   It would be more beneficial to exchange tickets with Ji Han for supplies.

  Materials, especially the materials of the Shu Han, are the hard currency of Jingzhou.

  So even if Zhuge Jin was a great general, he would not dare to stop the folks in Jingzhou from buying and selling supplies from Shu.

  If not, cutting off people’s wealth is like killing parents.

   At that time, this family will pay less money, and the other family will pay less food. What will the military officials in Jingzhou eat? what to wear?

   Can it be supported by those farming alone?

  Besides, it is uncertain whether those military leaders who own the farmland will stab them in the back.

  Thinking of this, Zhuge Jin couldn't help but said with some embarrassment:

   "General, all families in Jingzhou, even if they are determined to contribute to the country, it is difficult to provide so much food."

  Lu Xun is originally a son of a family, so why doesn't he know the virtues of a big family?

   It's just that he himself is the representative of the Jiangdong family, so how can he have any position to talk about others?

   "I also know Tzuyu's difficulties, I just try my best, let them pay as much as I can."

  Zhuge Jin nodded his head at this point, and it was considered to be a response.

   The situation was urgent, and Zhuge Jin didn't dare to stay in Wuchang. After knowing that there was no news from the court for the time being, he hurried back to Nanyang.

  It is just summer now, and most people may still have some basic food in their homes.

   Barely survived.

  But Jiangnan is not comparable to the Central Plains and Shu.

  There is not much summer grain to be harvested, and the harvest mainly depends on autumn grain—the northern part of Jingzhou, which can harvest summer grain in a serious manner, still belongs to Wei State.

   This is why the whole world is suffering from severe drought, but the country of Wu is the most seriously injured.

  In the current situation, it is good to reduce the autumn grain by half.

  If there is a real shortage of half of the food, it is not just as simple as doubling the price of food, but it will rise until half of the people starve to death.

  Zhuge Jin returned to Jingzhou, and quickly summoned the representatives of the big families:

   "My lords, this year's grain shortage in Jingzhou has become a fact. Whether Jingzhou can survive this hurdle depends on your lords."

   Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, but they didn't speak immediately.

  When Zhuge Jin saw it, his heart sank.

What does it mean?

   Could it be that my face is already so bad?

  Seeing that Zhuge Ziyu, who has always been grand and elegant, looked unhappy, someone finally said cautiously:

   "Don't tell me the general doesn't know?"

   "Know what?"

   "The school affairs office has already informed us to ask us to pay for food from Yong'an. At this time, the food may have already departed from Yong'an."

   Zhuge Jin was shocked when he heard it:

   "When did this happen? Why don't I know?"

   "Three months ago, we made an appointment with the school office. The general has never been involved in the affairs of the west, so naturally we dare not tell the general."

  In fact, in order to monopolize the credit, the school affairs office did prevent the families in Jingzhou from easily mentioning it to Zhuge Jin and others.

   Besides, when Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Ji Han Dynasty, was alive in the past, in order to avoid suspicion, Zhugejin’s correspondence either talked about state affairs or private affairs at home.

  As for a family sending a caravan to the Han Kingdom and wanting to get convenience from him, it is impossible to even think about it.

  In the early years, the school affairs office went too far, and the generals and others all went up to report to His Majesty, saying that the school affairs office was wrong.

  Only Zhuge Jin, Bu Zhi, Zhu Ran, Lu Dai and others remained silent, obviously not wanting to conflict with the school administration.

  The current matter is led by the school affairs office.

  Even if the general really knew, so what?

   Could it be uncharacteristically mixed into it?

  So it doesn't make any difference whether you say it or not.

   Sure enough, Zhuge Jin stopped talking when he heard that it was related to the school affairs office.

   Just asked:

   "Shu, is there really food to help Jingzhou?"

   Everyone laughed and said:

   "Why should the general be worried? We have already sent someone to check. Not to mention anything else, in Jiangzhou alone, I heard that two crops of rice can be planted in a year."

   "Now their rice has already produced ears, and it will be ready to harvest in more than a month."

  Zhuge Jin was shocked when he heard the words:

   "Planting two crops of rice a year? How amazing is the farming technique of the Han Dynasty?"

  If this is the case, wouldn’t it be said that the rice production in the south of Shu could be doubled?

   "It is rumored that Zhang Boqi (that is, Zhang Yi), the prefect of Jiangzhou, used to be Feng Duhu's subordinate. When he guarded Jiangzhou, he got a good seed from Feng Duhu. I don't know if it is true or not..."

  (end of this chapter)