The winter of Hongjia's fourth year is coming. Geng Xiaofan felt a trace of sadness, as if this winter was the coldest winter he had ever experienced.

Since the beginning of autumn, the Bohai, Qinghe, and Xindu rivers have overflowed, and more than 30 counties have been irrigated, more than 40,000 official pavilions and houses have been destroyed, and the victims have been scattered in all directions.

Wang Yonsei was once again ordered to go east to repair the river for disaster relief.

A few months have passed, and seeing that the New Year is about to end, Wang Yanshi has not returned for a long time, and Yang A can't sit still.

On this day, someone was specially sent to stop Geng Xiaofan, who had just left the court, and took him back to the mansion directly.

"What has Hou Ye been busy with lately? I haven't been to my house for a month! Yang Ah saw Geng Xiaofan enter the door, pouting and complaining.

"What can I be busy with, it's not about to be the New Year, I'm preparing a New Year's gift for my in-laws!" Geng Xiaofan actually knew Yang A's intention to find him, but he didn't know it in his heart, so he could only pretend to be confused first.

In recent years, the Yellow River has been flooding almost every year, with a small decision every three years and a major decision every five years. Wang Yanshi is an expert in managing rivers and repairing embankments, and he can live up to his mission every time. The Yellow River is too long, and he really has no way to solve it once and for all.

In addition, the natural disasters of the past few years have made the life of the common people more and more difficult, but the big landlords and big feudal lords have not paid any attention to these and still expropriated and expropriated violently, peasant uprisings have broken out in many places, and the "finances" of the Han Dynasty have become precarious.

Natural disasters, man-made disasters, people are not happy!

In this case, how much grain can the imperial court take out to relieve disasters and control rivers? It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice, although Geng Xiaofan did not go to Shandong, he can fully imagine Wang Yanshi's difficulties.

"Look at how many victims have entered Chang'an City! How many starvations there are outside the city! Do you still have the heart to prepare for the Chinese New Year? Yang A looked at Geng Xiaofan's casual appearance, and was a little angry.

"Then according to the princess's meaning, I am blamed for the displacement of the victims? I can't do it this year, and the victims will have food to eat and a house to live in? ”

"Hey! Of course I can't blame you. But you're a counselor! In this case, you have to give advice to the court! You can't just care about your own comfort! ”

"I'm a good fart! Drought in summer, flooding in autumn, my village will reduce production by at least 30% this year! If I hadn't made those waterwheels, I'm afraid I would have lost everything! The harvest is not good, as you can see, the winery can't harvest grain, can't make wine, and even if it does, it's a lot less......"

Geng Xiaofan is also resentful.

"Alright, alright! Don't nag! Compared to others, you are so much better! At least you didn't starve to death in the village! ”

Yang A interrupted Geng Xiaofan, she knew that Geng Xiaofan took good care of her villager. In the autumn, not only did the rent and tax of the farmers be exempted, but also the grain stored in previous years was specially used to relieve the poor. This year, I am afraid that he is really going to have a "cold" year.

"No one starved to death! But I'm a sinner! The heroes of Maoling can't wait to eat me! Geng Xiaofan was indignant.

"How did you offend them?"

"I reduced the rent of the farmer's land, and the other farmer households will rebel if they don't follow it!"

"Huh! That's it! Rebellion is also deserved, who let those guys be rich and unkind! However, you also have to be careful, those people are forced to rush, and it may really be against you! Yang Ah laughed angrily, and she began to think about the workshops and farmers on her farm.

"It's okay! I've got you covered! Geng Xiaofan said casually.

"How did you deal with it?"

"A few guys sued me to Maolingling, but I couldn't help it, so I forced my farmers to write me IOUs and make an appointment for a one-year interest of three cents. Those guys didn't have anything to say. ”

"Oh, you're using this delaying tactic well. But with three points of interest, you are ruthless enough. Hehe! Yang Ah smiled.

"I'm not that ruthless! A few days ago, my tent ran out of water, and the IOUs were burned, and I now have no evidence. Geng Xiaofan sighed deliberately.

"You!" Yang's eyes lit up. How could Geng Xiaofan let his tent go water?

"That's it! In any case, we can still pass this year, and I hope that there will be fewer natural and man-made disasters next year. Say, are you worried about Yonsei when you look for me? ”

Geng Xiaofan knew that Yang A had already understood his "operation".

"Yes! It was freezing on this day, he was so far away from home, he had no money or food, and he didn't know how long this errand would last. Yang Ah sighed.

"Yang, you feel sorry for him, give him a letter and let him tell him to be sick. It's not that I'm ignoring the victims, but in the current situation, even the gods can't help it. It's been a long time, and I'm afraid Yonsei won't be able to get out! ”

"What do you say?" Yang A was a little surprised by Geng Xiaofan's suggestion, this was not the Geng Xiaofan's style in the past.

"I'm telling the truth. Seeing that the imperial court could not come up with money and grain, the river workers must have stagnated. Yonsei is also in a hurry. The New Year is coming soon, and the victims will not be able to survive, and they will definitely riot. Do you want Yonsei to be in that danger? ”

Geng Xiaofan seriously analyzed Yang'a.

Yang Ah calmed down and began to pace around the hall, thinking about Geng Xiaofan's words.

"It's just a stopgap measure, do you have a long-term solution?"

"Hey! Hard! To put it simply, reduce taxes, light forced labor, and recuperate with the people. ”

"Hmmm! Deserved! Yang Ah nodded.

"It's easier said than done! This is not something that can be solved by your brother's edict. If you don't get it right, the court and the people will suffer. ”

"What do you mean?" The hope that had just ignited in Yang A's heart was hit by Geng Xiaofan.

"Yang, do you know what the imperial court is? The Son of Heaven is the court, and the princes are the court. If the words of the Son of Heaven are listened to by all the princes, then there will definitely be no problem. I'm afraid that those counties don't understand the painstaking efforts of the Son of Heaven and don't want to live a hard life with the Son of Heaven! ”

"You, are you saying that even if the younger brother makes a holy decree, the counties and counties are unwilling to reduce the taxes of the people?" Yang Ah roughly understood.

"Yang, this is a very complicated issue. The common people pay so many taxes, but not all of them are the Son of Heaven. I'm afraid that the Son of Heaven can really control only a small part! ”

"It's a real problem! Is there any good way to do it? Yang Ah understood this time and asked.

"Yang, governing the country is the same as governing the family, how can you govern your family so well?" Geng Xiaofan doesn't explain directly, just hints.

"I, how can I have!" Yang A was a little embarrassed, she hadn't understood what Geng Xiaofan meant.

"In this family, you are the Son of Heaven, up and down the house, inside and outside the village are your people. The chief envoy and steward are your vassals. You send a sentence and make a decision, and they can understand it and do it to the letter. So, your home is in good order. You don't realize that when something goes wrong in your family, it must be someone or people who don't understand your intentions and do something wrong. Geng Xiaofan patiently explained.

"You say that, I really understand. The problem with the court now is that not many people listen to what my brother said! ”