Since Lan Gui was sent to Kaifeng last year to be the supervisor of Zhao Yingluo's private army, he has been fed delicious food and drinks every day, and he feels a little happy to miss Shu.
After Jiang Laosi told his men to pay attention to the grains and return them to the warehouse, he went to Zuifu Rong with his drinking friend Lan Gui. The two of them ate and chatted.
"The princess even dotes on her, so why should I get into trouble with her and have trouble with her? We have food, drink, and fun. I, the supervisor, turn a blind eye and make things convenient for myself. Why am I doing that? No?"
Lan Gui said drunkenly while drinking fine grape wine.
Jiang Laosi: "But we all know that if we are recalled to Lin'an, how will we explain it?"
"Explain? Just tell me how you want to. The princess is supported by the people of the Song Dynasty, and she also led the army to defeat the golden thieves. She has given me great ambitions in the Song Dynasty, so she should be well praised."
Jiang Laosi gave him a thumbs up and continued to pour him wine. After he was full of wine and food, he ordered people to return Lan Gui to his temporary residence, a nice mansion in a small town in the north of the city.
Kang Lu headed north all the way. After ten days of trekking, he finally arrived at Kaifeng City via the Grand Canal. On the day he arrived, he had the good sense to go to see the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji.
After indicating his intention to come this time, Zhao Ji, together with him and the emperor Zhao Gou, scolded him again. When Kang Lu left the Chui Gong Hall, he realized that he was soaked with cold sweat from fear.
"Hey! This job is really not easy to do, that's all! Let's go to the Ministry of Finance first to investigate Shen Wanshu's life experience before making a decision."
Kang Lu shook his head, flicked his sleeves and boarded the carriage, heading towards Hube.
……
In the north of the city, after harvesting a [-]-acre wheat field, Zhao Yingluozheng, Jiang Laosi and others measured the output of this field.
"Princess, this year is indeed a bumper harvest year. The wheat yield per mu exceeds ten stones! According to this output, in addition to food and clothing, our farmers can also earn five or sixty taels of silver a year! This... even during the reign of Emperor Renzong , there are no such good years.”
Jiang Laosi said excitedly while fingering the mountain-like pile of grain.
"Isn't this good?" Zhao Yingluo smelled the fragrance of wheat in the air and felt particularly comfortable. Now she controls more than 300 million acres of fields. If she charges two stones of wheat per acre as rent, then this summer alone, She can harvest 600 million shi of wheat! Based on the price of one stone of wheat and two and a half taels of silver, she earned fifteen million taels of silver this summer! "Okay! Of course it's good! However, with such a large amount of grain flowing into the market, those grain merchants will definitely lower the price! Farmers are not strong in bargaining power, so I'm afraid they will suffer a big loss. As for the rent we collect, I'm afraid they won't be able to sell it. Last year’s price.”
Zhao Yingluo raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Who said there is going to be a large-scale flow into the market? Tell these farmers that if they want to sell grain, they can come to us! Our prices are higher than those of grain merchants. "
When Jiang Laosi heard that the county wanted to buy grain, he asked in a daze, "Princess, we can't sell the rent we collected ourselves, so what do we need from them for this grain?"
"Of course it's about stabilizing prices! Don't those grain merchants want to lower prices? I'm going to raise prices."
She was explaining the principles of the market to Jiang Laosi when King Xin Zhao Zhen hurried over on horseback, "Princess, Lin'an sent Kang Lu as an envoy to inspect the two capitals and arrived in Kaifeng."
Zhao Yingluo's face changed slightly, "Kang Lu has come to Kaifeng? What is he here for?"
Zhao Zhen glanced at Jiang Laosi and said, "Princess Princess, can you take a step to speak?"
Jiang Laosi was very sensible, "Princess, I still need to arrange for people to go to the granary to collect the tenant rent, so please retire first."
After Jiang Laosi walked away, Zhao Zhen said solemnly, "According to the emperor father, he came here to investigate you, sister emperor, on the order of the emperor brother Zhao Gou. Yesterday he had gone to the house. Department." Zhao Yingluo smiled slightly and said nonchalantly, "Let him investigate! He can't find anything in the investigation! Even if the investigation does find something, I can still shut him up."
"Sister Huang, do you still want to hide your identity?"
Zhao Yingluo nodded, "Although I have a certain amount of power now and have my father as my backer, my true identity will not be disclosed until I am sufficiently sure. I'm waiting!"
"Wait for what?"
Zhao Yingluo turned her head and glanced at the blue sky in the north, "Of course I'm waiting for good news from Lu Haowen and others."
……
【Yanjing City】
Two old men, Lu Haowen and Li Gang, served as envoys. After more than ten days of trekking, they finally arrived in Yanjing on May [-]th.
The two old men sat on the carriage, looking at the slightly dilapidated Yanjing City, sighing with emotion.
"Master Lu, it has been a hundred years since Youzhou was no longer owned by the Han people. Emperor Taizu once tried to regain the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun from the Liao people, but unfortunately failed. Is there any hope of recovery now?"
Lu Haowen glanced at Li Gang and said meaningfully, "If the imperial court is still this imperial court, it will not be easy to recover the sixteen states of Yanyun, even to maintain the territory of the Central Plains. If you want to recover this place, don't count on the officials. .”
Li Gang sighed, "The officials are talented, but they are a little weak..."
Lu Haowen pretended to be joking and asked, "What if the throne is replaced by someone else? Someone who is wise and powerful, someone who can allow you and me to see the recovery of this place in our lifetimes. Do you support it or not?"
Seeing that he actually said such rebellious words, Li Gang shook his head like a rattle, "Master Lu, please don't mention such rebellious remarks again, or you may be killed."
Lu Haowen laughed, "I'm just a joke. Who can say clearly what happened in the court? Just like Yanjing City, although it has gone through hundreds of years of vicissitudes, it can still maintain the style of the Han family. This is enough That’s it. As ministers, we will try our best to assist the officials and just do our duty well."
While the two were talking, they entered Yanjing City and rested in the post house.
The news of Wanyan Zonghan's defeat and capture had reached Yanjing a few days ago, causing a lot of discussion in the Great Jin Kingdom!
When Wanyan Sheng, Taizong of the Jin Dynasty, heard that his favorite prince Wanyan Zongyi had been captured, he couldn't eat or sleep well for several thought I could let him follow Wanyan Zonghan to gain military merit, but I didn't expect that he would become a prisoner.
As soon as he heard that the Song Dynasty had sent an envoy, Wanyan Sheng hurriedly summoned him.
According to past practice, Lu Haowen and Li Gang would have knelt down to meet the Emperor of the Jin Kingdom, but this year was different from the past, the Song Dynasty won!So the two old men just bowed and saluted.
Wanyan Sheng, who was eager to save his son, did not bother with the etiquette and asked straight to the point, "Today, the Song and Jin countries are at odds over the territory of Qi State. This is not what I expected. In fact, the courtiers rashly launched a war for the sake of military glory." , causing the lives of all living beings to suffer. Since your envoy has come all the way to Yanjing, what important matters do you have?"
Lu Haowen sneered in his heart when he saw Wanyan Sheng completely shirk the war between the two countries.