Liu Jin is now a Tuntian member of the Ministry of Industry, so he also calls himself a 'lower official' to Zhang Xiang.

It took less than a year to rise from a barren county to this position, which is not bad.

After chatting with him for a while, Zhang Xiang learned that he had come to Pingzhou with government affairs.

Because of the reason for this year's grain requisition, the imperial court has taken into account that the people of Southern Chu will fall into a shortage of grain in the later period, so with Prime Minister Liu Zhen taking the lead, and Governor Li Dian leading, preparing to implement the new policy of Tuntian, it is necessary to double the area of arable land in Southern Chu within this year's time.

When Liu Jin was in Bianjing, because he had led the people in Yuzhou to reclaim barren land and divert water for irrigation, he also followed the Ministry of Industry to participate in the study of the decree of the new Tuntian policy, and spent a month first formulating the direction of the first (tào) stage.

The land system of Southern Chu has already implemented private ownership after Zhao Yan succeeded to the throne, and the prosperity of Southern Chu over the years has also been largely due to the development of private land.

Of course, also because of the reason of the Ci system, created the prevalence of land trading in Southern Chu, from the fourth year of Yongping, the rich landlords and squires in various places have begun to spend money unscrupulously to reclaim and occupy the land, after more than ten years, this phenomenon has been quite serious now, taking Pingzhou City as an example, most of the rich merchants basically have a lot of private land, either used to build houses, or used to do something else, just the land of Yang Li's family, Zhang Xiang estimated that there are at least 100 hectares.

There are not many prominent families like Yang Li in Pingzhou City, and there are many wealthy merchants who have private land.

However, many people have no time to do anything with these private lands, and many of them have been left abandoned and overgrown with grass, and because of privatization, no one dares to encroach on them, which greatly reduces the area of arable land.

In addition, those who were rewarded for their official advancement, or resigned and returned to their hometowns, and there were countless barren lands in the hands of the rulers who controlled a very large amount of land, and during this period, the proportion of official land was much higher than that of private land.

In those places, the population is small and there is no ability to reclaim wasteland, but in a large city like Pingzhou, even if someone wants to cultivate fertile land, there is still no land to work on.

As a result of this serious phenomenon of large tracts of land being annexed by a very small number of people, a large number of farmers have lost more and more land that can be used (cāo), resulting in the rich being too rich and the poor being too poor.

In this way, the financial revenue of the imperial court was naturally greatly reduced.

Take this grain requisition as follows, Pingzhou City and Rong County, which are more than rich, are one and one land.

Those who have tens of thousands of stone of grain in their hands don't care about donating five or six more loads of grain, but those who only have two loads of grain in their hands, as long as they donate one load, it is enough to kill them.

Although there are also many grain merchants who have bought a lot of land to cultivate fertile land, this is tantamount to a drop in the bucket in the land of Nanchu, and it is of little significance.

In fact, as early as the twelfth year of Yongping, Prime Minister Liu Zhen, who had just been in office for two years, had already begun to want to implement a new land policy to improve his political performance.

Zhao Yan also agreed at that time, and relaxed his hand to let him go (cāo) to work.

It's just that with the implementation, a lot of interests have been touched, and in the face of pressure from all sides, Liu Zhen has adopted some coercive (xìng) means but has been counterattacked, which has affected the imperial rule in magnitude, and the emperor is furious and almost deposes him.

Since then, the first implementation failed, and Liu Zhen did not dare to move again.

It was not until the end of last year that the imperial court decided to requisition grain to recover Liangzhou, and after receiving the total amount of grain and the amount of distribution submitted by the national government, Zhao Yan found that the land status quo of Southern Chu at this time had reached the point of being weak and poor, so he decided to implement it again, and showed a tough attitude, all those who obstructed it, there was no forgiveness.

At present, the first step taken by Li Dian, the governor of the council, is to inspect the fertile land, water conservancy, and service of various roads.

This is what Liu came to Pingzhou to do.

After listening to his brief description of the purpose of Pingzhou's trip, Zhang Xiang was also embarrassed.

This is going to change the law!

It's a daunting task, and it's not so easy to accomplish.

Zhang Xiang is very aware of the current situation of the land system in Southern Chu, if he wants to implement the new land policy and strengthen the control in this regard, the enemies of the imperial court are the major landlord classes in Southern Chu, famous families, and those who have retreated from the temple to the corner of the party.

Most of these big men have second, third, fourth, and fifth titles on their heads, and their remaining wealth is all that, if the court does this, it is tantamount to taking all their wealth away, and they have worked tirelessly for so many years for the court, for the sake of this wealth accumulated for their children and grandchildren, who is not happy to change it!

And Southern Chu is now facing the situation of recovering Liangzhou and wants to fight a big battle with Northern Liao, so it is a stupid move to do such a thing at this time, in Zhang Xiang's opinion.

Of course, it is impossible for Zhang Xiang to tell Liu Jin what he thinks.

He just smiled and asked Liu Jin, "Then how is Brother Liu's progress now?" ”

Liu Jin shook his head: "I just came to Pingzhou, I haven't been in contact yet, and I don't have a clue at present." ”

Zhang Xiang encouraged: "It's okay, take your time, this is a cross-era event, if it succeeds, those who contribute to this matter will also be added to the official and become a knight." ”

Liu Jin didn't take Zhang Xiang's encouragement to heart, he smiled bitterly: "The horse doesn't know anything, this matter can't be successful at all in the eyes of the lower officials." ”

"Oh? Why? This made Zhang Xiang curious.

Liu Jin shook his head, didn't want to do more, just mentioned softly: "Because the lower officials found that if they want to do this well, many places also need to do it, such as recruitment, grain, such as the imperial examination and many other systems have to be changed, this is a move that involves the whole (shēn), in this way, it will involve many ministers in the court, but what can be done?" The emperor has already ordered, but it has not yet begun, and the problem has not yet come out, and the lower officials don't know if Liu Xiang and Master Li have discovered this, but the lower officials feel that they only use the current soft means to probe first, and they should be able to detect it, once they probe it, the problems behind it will gradually be revealed, so it is impossible to succeed at all. ”

Hey?

Zhang Xiang looked at him and was very surprised, he didn't expect him to be able to see something clearly.

不 (jìn) glanced at this Liu Jingao.

Zhang Xiang didn't say anything, and Liu Jin also planned to end the conversation: "So Xiaguan's visit to Pingzhou this time is just a routine matter, just do it, as for the result, Xiaguan can't see it clearly now." ”

Zhang Xiang nodded and comforted: "It's okay, there are Liu Xiang and Master Li on the top, and the big problem is not your turn to run errands like this." ”

Then Zhang Xiang talked to him about Cui Yanyan.

Liu Jin, he had already gone to Cui Yanyan, and promised her that he would take her back to the capital when he returned to Beijing.

For this kind of beautiful thing, Zhang Xiangzi is also a blessing.

While the two were talking, they suddenly heard a shout: "The prince has arrived." ”

Prince?

Zhang Xiang was stunned for a moment, why is this prince here?

While thinking about it, countless students stood up and saluted towards the corridor bend (shēn).

Soon, Zhao Zhe, who was in the dust and dust, walked in with a bright smile on his face and an entourage.

"See the Prince."

Many Pingzhou students greeted each other.

Zhang Xiang also raised (shēn) to salute.

"Hahaha..."Zhao Zhe walked in a chic manner, and smiled and let everyone rise (shēn): "This Pingzhou City has such a grand gathering of scholars, it is really an honor for this king to be able to participate." ”

After saluting, Zhou Yi hurriedly welcomed Zhao Zhe to the seat in the front row on the other side, endured the joy in his heart, and gave him his hand again: "The prince can come, it is the luck of the grass people." ”

Being able to invite the prince here, not to mention how much glory he has on his face.

Zhao Zhe waved his hand at him: "Alas, we are all the pillars of my Southern Chu, this king is here in Pingzhou, and he can have fun with us, it is also a fate, and now Zhou Qing has been edited by the Wenzong Academy, that is, (rì) is going to Beijing to take up his post, so now, you have to be called a minister in front of this king." ”

"Yes, yes, Weichen has seen the prince." Zhou Yi was flattered and bowed again.

"Excuse me!"

Zhao Zhe waved his hand in a chic manner, then glanced at him, smiled and nodded at Zhang Xiang when he passed by, and then put his eyes on Liu Jin (shēn) below Zhang Xiang, and said to him: "Presumably you are Liu Jin, a member of the Ministry of Works." ”

"Xiaguan Liu Jin has seen the prince." That Liu Jin hurriedly bowed (shēn) without humility or speech.

"Not bad." Zhao Zhe nodded secretly: "In less than a year, he was promoted from the magistrate of Yuzhou to the Tuntian member of the Ministry of Industry, but he has the ability, last year you reclaimed the barren land in Yuzhou, built water conservancy, diverted water to irrigate the fields, and benefited the people. Unexpectedly, Liu Xiang and Li Darao are still efficient, and this king is also in Pingzhou now, and he (rì) is free, so he must ask Liu Qing for advice or two. ”

"The lower officials welcome the prince at any time." Liu Jin nodded hurriedly.

Others couldn't understand the simple conversation between the two, but Zhang Xiang did.

How could he, the prince, let go of such a major achievement as the implementation of the New Land Deal? If this is successful, it will go down in history, Zhao Zhe's words are tantamount to trying to intervene, if he can benefit from it, his status as a prince can be as stable as Mount Tai.

It's just that now this matter is dominated by Liu Xiang and Li Dian, and if he wants to intervene, I'm afraid it's not so easy.

After seeing the salute with everyone, Zhao Zhe waved his hand: "Okay, everyone sit down, this king is here to make a scene, he is an idler, everyone doesn't have to be restrained, just treat this king as a friend, this party, everyone just treat this king as a friend, there is no difference between monarchs and ministers, this king doesn't want to disturb your Yaxing because of my appearance." ”

In the following time, these Pingzhou students really did not become restrained because of his existence, and after a few glasses of wine, their interest rose.

After Zhao Zhe received the toast from several students, he came to Zhang Xiang (shēn), looked at the Cao Yun boat on the Qinhuai River in the distance, and said to him with a smile: "That (rì) in the Horse Mansion because of the existence of the imperial sister, I didn't have enough fun chatting with Ming Heng, today (rì) you and I will talk a little more." ”

Zhang Xiang was puzzled: "Oh? Why is that? ”

Zhao Zhe shook his head, looking distressed: "Ming Heng doesn't know, this king's royal sister has never been at odds with this king, and everyone was very naughty at that time!" In the palace, she doesn't like to play with our brothers and sisters, and the only one who can talk to her is the second emperor brother Zhao Qi. So, the king always likes to tease her, her temper is strong and hard, always feel that the king is bullying her, and then always go to the father to complain, the father is the most favored by her (ài), every time the king will be taught a lesson by the father. ”

Zhang Xiang smiled dumbly and didn't speak.

Zhao Zhe continued: "So, in front of her, this king is still a little worried about her words, and this king also spoils her!" But I was afraid that she would misunderstand the meaning of this king, and she was too afraid, so she thought in other directions, and then naturally she couldn't let go. ”

Zhang Xiang said: "Now that the prince and princess have grown up, the interesting stories left at these times should not be taken to heart." ”

"That's the case, but the royal sister is lonely from (xìng), what she thinks, this king still doesn't know." Zhao Zhe smiled, and then looked at him: "Ming Heng, I have rarely seen her smile since this king, but this time I came to Pingzhou, in that one, I saw her smile so much from the heart, and this king was also at ease in his heart, it seems that she is really happy with you." ”

"The princess treats Ming Heng well, Ming Heng will not bear the princess in this life, and she will be allowed to enjoy a lifetime of peace."

"Haha, with Ming Heng's words, this king will be relieved, and when he (rì) goes back to tell his father, his father will also be happy."

Zhao Zhe laughed heartily, and then stretched out his finger and pointed to the Cao Yun boat on the Qinhuai River in the distance: "Ming Heng, this king listens to Governor Zheng, this time Pingzhou Mansion has solved the most difficult counties, and you have also caught corrupt officials like Xu Songwen, so that the grain collection affairs of Pingzhou Mansion have been successfully completed." ”

"It's just a fluke, it's also the prescience of Governor Zheng, who noticed that Xu Songwen had such a criminal record and provided Ming Heng with a lot of news, so this time I went to Rong County, but I just invited you into the urn." Zhang Xiang said modestly.

Zhao Zhe said sincerely: "It seems that Ming Heng has the ability, when he came to Pingzhou (rì), after listening to what Ming Heng did in the past, this king knows that Ming Heng is no longer the Zhang Mingheng that this king saw in the past." I heard that you also did business and opened a Ming Society. ”

"If you have nothing to do, just do some business, the Horse Mansion has to support so many people, and the imperial court is now facing many difficulties, and we, the royal relatives, can't just think about eating the imperial grain! It is naturally good to take a little burden and do a little bit to subsidize the household of the Horse Mansion. ”

"Ming Heng is so old, not only is his poetry wonderful, talented, but also proficient in the way of business, and he knows how to appease the people, he is really a rare genius. If it weren't for this, I would have lost another pillar in Nanchu, and the tiger father had no dog son, this king should have thought that such an outstanding general as General Zhang would not be surprised to have a descendant like Ming Heng. ”

"Prince Miao praised."

"Ming Heng is so talented, this king has something to ask Ming Heng."

"The prince has something to say, but please command."

"From what Ming Heng saw, the grain and grass in Jiangnan this time must be escorted like this to reach the battlefield safely..."

(The first half was written last night, and I did some detailed scrutiny of the drama (qíng), and the second half was just written, because there was an urgent matter at night, so I didn't spend too much thought on it and pondered it, and it was written a little simply, in fact, this dialogue with the prince will have a lot of psychological activities to sublimate the drama (qíng), this is a psychological game, but I don't have time to write it today, so let's just watch it casually first!) I'll come back to these details later. ）