Indeed a little tired, Qi Kun habitually picked up a book from the bookshelf and lay down on the bed. I thought to myself, in the era of extreme corruption at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, it was really commendable that this Jia Lu could be so clean and self-righteous and dedicated to the people.

When it was time to eat dinner, Jia Lu returned to Jiafu, his brows furrowed and worried.

Qi Kun followed Mingyu to the front hall, and when he saw Jia Lu frowning, he asked with concern:

"Qi Kun has seen Master Jia, what troubles have you encountered?"

Jalu let out a long sigh and said:

"Alas, what a fuel to the fire! The imperial treasury was empty, and in order to raise funds for the river control project, it had no choice but to order all the states to raise silver taels by increasing taxes and printing paper money. It was expected to cause the uprising of Zhu Guangqing and Nie Xiuqing in Guangdong, saying that Dingguang Buddha was born, and Henan Banghu burned incense to gather people, and also raised the Maitreya flag, Peng Monk and Zhou Ziwang rebelled in Yuanzhou, gathering more than 5,000 farmers. So far, riots of various scales have spread throughout the country, and there have been more than 300 cases. Daru Huachi and Zhulu Wanhu Mansion are mobilizing troops to suppress it, but the blame of all parties is directed at the old man and the prime minister, it is difficult! ”

Qi Kun knew about this earlier, and it was not easy to admonish, so he could only persuade:

"No matter what, river control and disaster relief is still a top priority, otherwise the people affected by the disaster every day are killed and injured, and they are homeless and unable to survive, which will make the world even more chaotic."

Jaru nodded yes, then said:

"Mr. is right, while controlling the river, we also have to think of raising more funds and grain to help the people, maybe alleviate the current contradictions, and save the country and benefit the people."

"It's not early, let's talk while we eat."

Jia Lu asked Qi Kun to come to the restaurant.

There are not many people in Jia Mansion, and they are all waiting at the restaurant.

Mrs. Jia was gentle and kind, beckoned Jia Lu and Qi Kun to take their seats, and then asked her son, daughter, and nephew to sit down as well, and she said enthusiastically:

"Welcome Mr. Qi Kun, I have long heard the master say that you are a life-saving benefactor, with great ambitions and erudition, and today you can see that you are really extraordinary. Today, I am afraid that the coarse tea and light rice at home is not well entertained, please don't laugh at my stinginess, the courtyard is not big, we have not invited a special housekeeper and cook, several domestic servants in the family are distant relatives in the clan, and they are like a family on weekdays, and there are few suspicions. ”

Qi Kun bowed his hand and thanked:

"Thank you Lord Jia and Mrs. Jia for their love, please don't mention any more life-saving benefactors! In that case, anyone would have reached out to save them. The house is simple and comfortable, and the people are kind and warm, making Qi Kun feel like he is at home. And this regular meal is the best, this is the most nourishing ah, I have been a vegetarian since I was a child, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to bear if I am too particular about being too greasy. ”

Jia Lu smiled:

"So good! Mr. Qi Kun, this is the little boy Jia Zhen and the little daughter Shuyuan, this nephew Mingyu has followed the old man since he was a child, and he is also a family member. Sir, please don't need to taste the taste of our authentic Shanxi hometown. ”

Qi Kun saw that Na Jia Zhen was in his early twenties, born delicately and refined, and his facial features were very good for Jia Lu, while Jia Shuyuan and Mingyu were of the same age, dignified and beautiful, gentle and elegant, and couldn't help but praise and bless Jia Lu.

Looking up again, I saw Jia's family rules posted on the wall of the hall:

Speaking of virtue and filial piety, Huai Zuen;

Emphasizing faith and righteousness, gathering the soul of the clan;

Diligence and thrift, casting gold basins;

Keep sincerity and dedication, and consolidate the roots of virtue;

To be kind, full of blessings;

Accumulate wisdom and prosperity.

The family's overflowing, kind, diligent and thrifty atmosphere and happiness make people feel like a spring breeze, and Qi Kun can't help but add a little bit of good feelings to Jia Lu.

That night, Jia Lu invited Qi Kun to the study to discuss the strategy of controlling the river, and the two talked very speculatively, and before they knew it, it was the fifth watch.

In terms of construction organization plan and equipment improvement, Qi Kun's design and suggestions have helped to correct and improve many difficult problems.

Jia Lu admired Qi Kun more and more, and sighed:

"With the help of Mr. today, the flood of the Yellow River will be cured, the luck of the country and the luck of the people!"

As soon as the morning dawned, a fast horse came to the gate of Jiafu, and Jia Lu heard that it was the messenger of the prime minister, so he hurriedly welcomed him to the study. The man took out the secret letter from his bosom, presented it with both hands, and said:

"The prime minister asked me to tell me to ask Master Jia to go to Beijing as soon as possible to discuss important matters. Please refer to the letter for details. ”

After that, he took his leave and left in a hurry.

After reading the letter, Jia Lu told Qi Kun the truth without concealment.

The original plan to control the river by supporting Jia Lu and others was criticized by many nobles and Dacheng, and now the riots in various places are caused by the imperial court forcing the local government to raise funds for the project, and the amount raised is less than half of the budget, and it is even more difficult to make it even more difficult, but the flood has seriously affected the transportation and salt works, and it must not be delayed any longer.

Jia Lu said anxiously:

"Now that this matter is on the line, I would like to ask my husband to go with me to meet the prime minister, overcome all difficulties, and strive to finalize the major matters on the spot, and at the same time handle the appointment of the gentleman at the same time, so as to facilitate future work."

"I understand Lord Jia's feelings, but I also once said that I don't care if I have an official position or not, since you think it will help things, I can go with Lord Jia."

Qi Kun once again emphasized his attitude.

When he came to the provincial yamen, while Jia Lu and his officials were explaining their work, Qi Kun went to the north alone to divide the rudder and explained the general situation to Fang Tianqi, the owner of the Xuanwu Banner.

方天奇 says:

"Ziwei envoy, please rest assured, I will immediately fly the pigeon and send a message to the lord of Cao Castle, when will you leave, I will let Feng Qingyun go with you first, right?"

"No, this time I went to see Tokhtar with Jia Lu, mainly to discuss the start of the river control project, it is not good if there are too many people, if there is any news or need, I will think of informing you as soon as possible."

After a few brief explanations, Qi Kun immediately returned to the province.

After lunch, Jia Lu, Qi Kun, and Mingyu hurriedly went straight to the capital.

Along the road, we saw that many officers and soldiers were still searching for and driving away the young refugees, and a large number of old and weak women and children were left on the roadside who were so hungry that they could not walk.

The pale and helpless eyes made Qi Kun feel extremely sad, he was very sympathetic to these people who were still breathing, and thought to himself: What should I do? In order to conform to the will of heaven, so that the common people in the world will be less affected by disasters and oppression.

After arriving in Dadu, Jia Lu asked Qi Kun and Mingyu to wait at the post house, and he hurried to meet the prime minister first.

Although Tokhtar was a Mongolian, he studied Sinology from a young age under the famous Confucian Wu Zhifang. He is good at bowing horses, fine calligraphy and painting, advocating Confucianism, and has set up the ambition of "diary ancients good words and good deeds, and serve them for life". This time, he knew that he would have to take a huge risk and many difficulties, but he still resolutely supported Jia Lu, and vowed that "there are difficulties to do, and there are still diseases that are difficult to treat, and since ancient times, the river has been incurable, and now I want to get rid of its disease!" ”

Jia Lu also had great respect for the prime minister, who was seven years younger than himself, and he gave a detailed report to Tokhtar on the preparations and difficulties encountered in Henan Province, as well as the contradictions between the officials and the people and the peasant uprisings in various places.

Finally, he also recommended Qi Kun to Toto, and repeatedly emphasized that he was proficient in water conservancy geography and erudite and talented, and was an indispensable genius in river control projects. Tokhtar agrees to Jialu's recommendation and agrees to meet with Qi Kun the next day.

At parting, Tokhtar said:

"At present, there are many deep grievances among the various factions in the imperial court, led by Bei'er Buhua and Hama, many people want to take this opportunity to suppress the prime minister, but I still have not wavered in my determination to govern the river, and I hope that Lord Jia will come up with a specific plan and the least budget as soon as possible, and must work hard to complete this huge project."

Jia Lu was ordered to return to the post house and discuss with Qi Kun overnight the construction plan and detailed budget for the control of the Yellow River.

On the afternoon of the next day, the two came to the Prime Minister's Mansion as promised, and Totoh also invited the teacher Wu Zhifang.

According to the construction organization plan and drawings, Jia Lu asked Qi Kun to report the entire construction plan, and through the new equipment and construction plan, the original budget can be reduced to 80%.

Totoku and Wu Zhifang nodded frequently when they heard this, and the prime minister very much appreciated Qi Kun's suggestion to load the ark with stones, sink them in turn, and build a "stone boat embankment" layer by layer to block the new plan. Wu Zhifang was full of praise for Qi Kun's proposal to give the construction workers "a daily reward, sincere words, and everyone is grateful to go to work".

Tokh was very happy, very appreciative of Qi Kun's talent, and immediately promised to reward Qi Kun as the Senator of the Xingdu Water Supervisor, enjoy the five products, and give Qi Kun a set, which he was responsible for, and had just completed the "History of Liao, Song and Jin".

Jia Lu stepped forward and introduced:

"This is the prime minister's most proud work, last year Cheng sent me and Temur Tazhi, the imperial history of Cheng Zhang Qiyan, the Hanlin bachelor Ouyang Xuan, the imperial Shi Lu Sicheng, the Hanlin scholar Jiejie Sisi and others as the history of the official, this time in addition to the Han people, there are also the historians of the Wu'er, Haralu, Tang Wu, Kipchak and other ethnic groups, less than two years to complete all of them, it is really a feat in the history of the history of the history!"

Qi Kun took the book with both hands and thanked him:

"Thanks to the trust of the prime minister, such a high official Qi Kun really can't afford it. However, it is the responsibility and greatest wish of our generation to fight floods and save the people, and we pray that Kun should do our best to live up to our mission. ”

After hearing this, the three of them all nodded frequently in approval.

Totoku says:

"Mr. Qi Kun is young, so knowledgeable and talented, and has such a mind and ambition, when he is an extraordinary person, he will recommend talents to the saint to be worthy of great responsibilities."

Wu Zhifang twisted his beard and smiled:

"The prime minister is the most cherished talent, three years ago announced the resumption of the imperial examination system, and then set up the Xuanwen Pavilion, the scripture feast, the selection of Confucian ministers to choose to speak, and, last year, the restoration of the temple four o'clock sacrifice, the saint also came to worship. To be appreciated by the prime minister is really a great blessing for my Han Confucianism. ”

The four of them got down to business and continued to discuss the matter of river control.

Tokhtar told Jaru:

"At present, the treasury is basically out of money, and through various taxes and the issuance of paper money, 800,000 ingots have now been raised, although this money is not enough, but it is very difficult to come by. It also takes a lot of money to suppress the rebellion in various places, but I have suppressed it, and I must first ensure that your river control project is urgently needed.

In addition, I will continue to think of ways to do more in terms of salt tax and other aspects, and try to implement the funds in the future. What you have to do is to work hard to complete this project, as Mr. Qi Kun said just now, to fulfill your responsibilities, for the sake of the people to avoid disasters and for the stability of the country, we must complete it as soon as possible. ”