When Ji Xiaotang walked into the study, Xie Zhixian was wearing an official uniform and talking to Ji Er. Seeing Ji Xiaotang come in, both of them stopped talking and looked at Ji Xiaotang with a smile.

Ji Xiaotang stepped forward to salute Xie Zhixian. Xie Zhixian hurriedly stretched out his hand and helped him, so that Ji Xiaotang didn't have to be polite.

"Xiaotang is getting more and more like a big girl." Xie Zhixian looked at Ji Xiaotang and smiled very lovingly. "I envy Brother Ji, although Xiaotang is young, he can take care of the house, unlike Huaijin, he still has his mother to worry about everything."

"Brother Ziqian has won the award, hehe." Second Master Ji smiled and asked Ji Xiaotang to sit down. "You, Uncle Xie, have come to borrow grain. Xiaotang, look at how much surplus food is left at home? ”

"Uncle Xie's family is also short of food, why haven't you heard Brother Huaijin mention it?" Ji Xiaotang was surprised and said, "Since Uncle Xie's family wants food, what do you say to borrow words." Naturally, there are things for us to eat, and there are Uncle Xie and Uncle Niang for food. ”

"What Xiaotang said warms my heart." Xie Zhixian said with a smile, "It's not that the uncle's family needs food. Uncle came this time because the court had an order to ask county officials from all over the country to raise grain. In Qingyuan County, I first thought of your father. ”

"I see." Ji Xiaotang listened to Xie Zhixian's words, and quickly exchanged glances with Second Master Ji. "You and I want to ask Uncle Xie, what kind of regulations are there for the imperial court to raise food?"

In addition to the taxes that should be paid every year, the imperial court has to raise grain from the big households, and it is not empty words and white teeth, just one sentence.

Xie Zhixian listened to Ji Xiaotang's question, and couldn't help nodding secretly in his heart. Although Ji Xiaotang is young, he knows the world well. No one can fool around, so it's no wonder that Second Master Ji and Second Mrs. Ji are relieved to let her take care of the house, and such a major matter at home has to be discussed and made up of ideas with her.

Xie Zhixian just proposed to Ji Er to borrow grain, but Ji Er was noncommittal, only saying that he didn't know how much surplus grain there was at home, and he needed to ask Ji Xiaotang, who was the housekeeper.

Of course, this can't be hidden from Xie Zhixian. Second Master Ji doesn't like to worry about these chores, but now there is such a big thing as food. It is impossible for Second Master Ji not to count in his heart. Asking Ji Xiaotang to ask how much surplus grain there is actually means to ask Ji Xiaotang to discuss.

"I've already told your father," Xie Zhixian thought. On the surface, he refused to show it at all, and still smiled very kindly. “…… The imperial court raised these grains and planned to send them to the north to be used as military rations for the border army. Now the North Barbarians are ready to move. I don't know when there will be a big invasion. And the border army lacked food and grass. Although we can't go into battle to kill the enemy, the so-called rise and fall of the world is the responsibility of the husband, and as the people of Great Qin, we should also contribute. ”

"This grain court is not in vain, buy it at the price, and when the grain is sent to the north and get the receipt, you can come to the county government to receive the price silver." After Xie Zhixian talked eloquently, he added such a sentence.

Xie Zhixian said high-sounding. However, Ji Xiaotang is not an ignorant woman who does not know the world.

The so-called purchase at a price is actually a low-price acquisition. For example, Xie Zhixian raised food in Ji's house. The county government will only send a few errand officers, and to transport grain from Qingyuan to the location of the border army in the north, the Ji family needs to send people and cars themselves. The amount of food is based on the amount when it reaches its destination, after removing the loss on the road.

And these grains purchased at low prices can really become military rations for the border army in the end, and most of them will be filled by people and resold at high prices.

This kind of private malpractice has been around for a long time, and it has almost become a rule, and the more natural and man-made disasters it encounters, the more rampant it becomes.

Moreover, Ren An was in a great drought, and the local area was already very short of food, and this order of the imperial court made matters worse for Ren An. In the previous life, the famine caused by the great drought, and then the civil unrest that broke out was very large, and it was inseparable from this incident.

"The court has an order, Uncle Xie came in person, and the Ji family should do their best. I don't know how much food Uncle Xie plans to get? Ji Xiaotang lowered his head and thought about it, so he asked Xie Zhixian.

Ji Xiaotang asked like this, and Xie Ziqian's face also showed some embarrassment.

"There is a general drought in the north, and in comparison, the situation in our Ren'an Mansion is relatively good, and the disaster situation in Qingyuan is the clearest." Xie Zhixian said slowly, "Therefore, the share apportioned by the imperial court is quite a bit more than ours. ”

"The imperial court has an order, and it ordered Qingyuan County to raise 50,000 quintals of grain, and it had to be replaced by wealth. I led the county officials to clean up the land booklet in Qingyuan overnight, and when it came to the Ji family, it should be 12,000 quintals......"

When Xie Zhixian said this, he looked at the faces of Second Master Ji and Ji Xiaotang.

"It's a little bit more, but it's a national disaster. I am the master of this, that is, 10,000 quintals, but I must prepare enough on the same day to prepare for the northward transportation. ”

"So much!" Ji Xiaotang raised his eyebrows slightly.

10,000 quintals of grain, let alone a famine year like this year, even in previous years, it is not something that can be raised in a short time and a half. Of course, this amount is not a problem for the Ji family today, because the Ji family has been stockpiling grain two years in advance.

However, this matter is a secret and is not known to outsiders. This batch of grain also has another important use, and Ji Xiaotang never intends to take out this grain now.

That was the life-saving food for the Ji family and the people of Qingyuan.

"Daddy, can you show me the documents for raising food from the imperial court?" Ji Xiaotang asked Ji Er.

Second Master Ji smiled helplessly.

"You kid, I don't have any paperwork here to raise food." Second Master Ji said this, but his eyes looked at Xie Zhixian.

Xie Zhixian had already understood, and hurriedly took out a document from his sleeve.

"Just as he was about to hand it over to Brother Ji for a look, Brother Ji ordered someone to call Xiaotang."

"It's the first time she is in charge of a child's family, she is so childish and serious, Brother Ziqian don't mind." Second Master Ji said this, but he had already taken the document in his hand.

Second Master Ji read the paperwork, and without saying a word, he handed the document to Ji Xiaotang.

Ji Xiaotang also read the document from beginning to end, and there was no discrepancy between the document and what Xie Zhixian said.

After reading the documents, Ji Xiaotang respectfully handed the documents back to the second master Ji, and the second master Ji handed them back to Xie Zhixian. Ji Xiaotang asked the girl to send the account book.

The account books were sent, and Ji Xiaotang did not hide it from Xie Zhixian. simply handed the account book to Xie Zhixian to read.

"Who would have thought that this year's harvest would be like this, the grain of previous years has long been exhausted, and only this year's harvest is this. I was going to save some for myself. All the rest of the soup kitchen. Now it seems that even if there is not a grain of grain left at home, it is not enough to fill the 100,000. Ji Xiaotang said slowly.

"I don't care about it, and it's ten times worse than I thought. That's how it can be good. Second Master Ji also said.

Xie Zhixian had already read the account book at a glance at this time, and he didn't seem to care, but in fact, he had already memorized the numbers in the account book.

"Brother Ji, this past year's food. Didn't even save anything? Xie Zhixian asked Second Master Ji.

"Originally, there were some, but last year, Xiaotang and her uncle were arguing to invest money in the Wanjia fleet, and I couldn't help it. Let the following sell the grain and raise some money. I thought that with these family backgrounds, I would make trouble with their uncle and nephew, who knew that I would meet this year's New Year! Nowadays there is money. It is also difficult to buy a lot of food. It's too late to regret it. ”

Second Master Ji looked very annoyed.

The Ji family invested in the fleet and opened a foreign goods shop, and Xie Zhixian naturally knew about it. Moreover, there was not the slightest flaw in the account books that Ji Xiaotang showed him and the words of the Ji family's father and daughter.

The expression on Xie Zhixian's face was even more embarrassed.

"I also know Brother Ji's difficulties, but it's not Brother Ji's family who is in trouble. This is a major matter of the family and the country, if I can call the shots, I will not come to Brother Ji. Xie Zhixian said very emotionally.

Ji Xiaotang looked at Xie Zhixian, and then looked at Second Master Ji. She knew that Xie Zhixian came with the documents of the imperial court this time. If you don't give him food, you will never be able to get by.

"Uncle Xie, I don't think there is a limit on this document to hand over the grain at one time, so can you give us a few days and let us think of raising food. If we want it now, even if we take out all our food stockpiles, it will not be enough. ”

"Oh, that's ......" Xie Zhixian hesitated a little.

"Please also ask Uncle Xie to be accommodating." Ji Xiaotang then said.

"Xiaotang said this, I had to do my best, but I ......"

"We will not embarrass Uncle Xie, and will immediately start sending people out to buy food. Before that, according to the days that Uncle Xie said earlier, we first thought of raising 3,000 loads of grain to send Uncle Xie to the north, which would also solve the urgent need. Ji Xiaotang turned around and discussed with Second Master Ji in a low voice for a while, and then turned back and said.

"Brother Ziqian, you know me. In this kind of thing, it is natural to spare no effort. This is really no way, Brother Ziqian will accept this batch of grain first, and let me figure out the rest. Master Ji Er also said sincerely.

Xie Zhixian thought about it, this is indeed all the grain that the Ji family can take out at present. For the rest, the Ji family also needs to spend money to buy it. The current price of grain is almost the same every day, and even so, it is not easy to buy enough of the remaining 7,000 quintals of grain.

The Ji family is going to break the fortune this time. According to his calculations, the Ji family's floating wealth now will not be too much, and if they want to buy enough of the remaining seven thousand loads, where will this silver come from......

The corners of Xie Zhixian's mouth couldn't help but curl slightly.

"Okay, just Brother Ji and Xiaotang." Xie Zhixian happily agreed.

After deciding on the matter of food, Xie Zhixian did not stay in Ji's house for a long time, but quickly said goodbye and left. Now it is different from the past, and he has to go to other big households in person to ensure that the food is raised on time.

After sending Xie Zhixian away, Second Master Ji and Ji Xiaotang returned to the study and sat down.

"Three thousand loads of grain ......, just ......" Second Master Ji stopped talking to Ji Xiaotang, only sighed softly, his face was full of heaviness.

"Daddy, do you think it's too much?" Ji Xiaotang asked, "I also think it's too much, but if it's not, Uncle Xie won't let us go." ”

"That's what you said." Of course, Second Master Ji also understood this truth, and asked in a low voice, "Xiaotang, you look at the document, can you see any flaws?" ”

Second Master Ji asked like this, and Ji Xiaotang knew that their father and daughter thought of going together.

"On the surface, there is no big problem, unless Uncle Xie is bold enough to forge documents." Ji Xiaotang said, it was precisely because he didn't see the problem in the paperwork that Ji Xiaotang was willing to give the three thousand quintals of grain.

"I suspect him of forging documents." Second Master Ji frowned and said.

"What did Daddy say about that?"

Master Ji Er also served as a local parent official, and handled such a matter of raising grain and grass. It's just that because the border is in an emergency now, many things can't be generalized as usual, but Second Master Ji still senses that there are many things wrong with Xie Zhixian's move to raise grain and grass this time.

But he couldn't be sure that this was Xie Zhixian's problem, because it could also be a stupid move by the imperial court.

"Daddy's doubts still need to be verified slowly, but we can't help but give this first batch of grain and grass." Otherwise, he will be charged with disobeying the orders of the imperial court.

"Daddy, I'm just worried about whether this batch of grain and grass can really be sent to the border in the end." After a pause, Ji Xiaotang said again.

"Xiaotang, what do you mean......" This time, I was surprised to be the second master Ji.

Ji Xiaotang didn't answer immediately, she narrowed her eyes slightly, remembering the experience of her previous life.

It was also at this time that Xie Zhixian also came to ask for grain and grass once. At that time, the Ji family was in turmoil, but there were still some family backgrounds. Master Ji Er's enthusiasm for serving the country, was instigated by Xie Zhixian, so he not only handed over all the grain stored at home, but also spent a huge amount of money to buy a large amount of grain, and sent the loyal and strong stewards of the family to the border to transport grain.

This righteous act, coupled with the fact that Master Ji San was set up to plot, finally crushed the Ji family.

And the grain and grass raised by the Ji family with the strength of the family were not sent to the border at all in the end. As soon as the grain and grass left Ren'an Mansion, it was robbed at the junction of Ren'an Mansion and Datong Mansion.

And none of the people sent by the Ji family were able to come back alive.

And this time, Second Master Ji was vigilant and did not offer all the Ji family's wealth, and the final destination of this batch of grain and grass will be the same as in the previous life?

"Daddy, I'm going to write a letter to my grandfather." Ji Xiaotang said to Second Master Ji.

……

Three days later, the Ji family had already prepared 3,000 quintals of grain, and at the same time, the Mu family happened to send someone to send a cart of fresh fruits to Mrs. Ji. The one who escorted the vehicle was a steward of the Mu family.

Mrs. Ji Er asked someone to collect the fresh fruit, and called the steward into the house to talk.

When the steward came into the house, he took off the big hat on his head, and laughed out with white teeth.

"Little uncle." Ji Xiaotang shouted happily.

Mu Hong had already received Ji Xiaotang's letter, but he was not at ease to send someone to send the letter back, so he took the opportunity to send autumn fruits to Mrs. Ji Er, and asked Mu Jiahao to come in person and bring Ji Xiaotang a word.

"The letter has been received, and we will act according to the plan."

Ji Xiaotang's heart finally fell to the ground, Mu Jiahao brought the message, refused to stay for a moment, and immediately returned to Ren'an.

Qingyuan's escort team of grain and grass also set off afterwards.

Recommend the weak face to complete the classical romance "Jinping Story" (to be continued......)