In the imperial city of Chang'an, after the early dynasty, Li Shimin deliberately left Di Zhixun, the head of the household department, and Su Bingren, the secretary of the Great Division, and personally met him in the Hongwen Palace.

After getting the will, Su Bingren and Di Zhixun, the old and the young, were waiting in the outer hall of the Hongwen Palace, and they exchanged light from time to time, speculating about the reason why the emperor left them especially this time.

One is the old and rarely in the dynasty, the other is the head of the household who has just been in office for less than half a year, the emperor left them alone, the purpose is not difficult to guess, it is nothing more than to ask about the current economic and agricultural situation of the Tang Dynasty, thinking of the Gaochang incident a while ago, Su Bingren and Di Zhixun couldn't help but show bitterness.

There is a way that the soldiers and horses have not moved, and the grain and grass go first, and the source of the grain and grass is nothing more than money and agriculture. It's just that, thinking about the current inventory of various resources in the DPRK and China, as well as the situation of agricultural affairs in the territory in the past two years, the two of them can't help but shake their heads.

If you don't know the price of firewood and rice, Su Bingren has been a farmer all his life, and he has been dealing with farming every day, but it is not very obvious. However, Di Zhixun, who had been serving in Fengjie before, had just arrived in Chang'an for less than a year, and had only taken over the household department for half a year, and he was also difficult to say about the situation of the household department.

He never thought that after several years of steady development, the Datang treasury with a significant increase in national strength had saved a pitiful amount of money and materials. However, it is difficult for Di Zhixon to imagine that if the emperor wants to fight again, he is afraid that the little thing in the treasury will be difficult to support for too long.

Therefore, whether it is for agricultural purposes or limited to resources, Su Bingren and Di Zhixun do not want the emperor to start another military incident in this situation, you must know that the war is together, not to mention the stable life of the people, and the situation inside and outside the court is also a little worrying.

"Two adults, the emperor is invited" Li Ran walked out of it, bent over and saluted the two, and said respectfully: "Please let the two adults go in with the villain." ”

"There is Lao Li in charge" arched his hand at Li Ran, and then Li Ran led the way, Su Bingren was in front, Di Zhixun was behind, and the three of them walked into the hall one after another.

In the main hall, Li Shimin was seated safely, with two sets of tables and chairs placed on the left and right, and a bowl of new tea on the table, in addition, there were no idle people on the side, even if Li Ran, who brought them in, he also retreated after reporting to the emperor.

"Let's take a seat." After the ceremony, Li Shimin motioned for the two to sit down at the next table.

"Emperor Xie" responded in unison, and the two sat down on the left and right, Su Bingren on the left and Di Zhixun on the right.

"Knowing that the two Aiqing both like to eat tea, no, I let them brew a pot of top-grade Sanyuan," After the two sat down, Li Shimin said softly: "Two Aiqing try it and see how this tea tastes?" ”

"Emperor Xie" saw that the emperor did not mention political affairs, and the two were happy to pretend to be confused, and after glancing at each other, they picked up the tea bowl on the table at the same time and tasted it.

The top grade three originals, less than 30 catties a year, its eight tribute palaces, the second rate in the market, very few people can buy, that is, Su Bingren and Di Zhixun are all in important positions, high status, but it is also rare to be able to taste, now can have the opportunity to share with the emperor in the palace, the two will not miss it.

"Speaking of these Sanyuan tea, I can't help but think of the many changes in Sanyuan in the past two years," After tasting and evaluating the two of them at the tea ceremony, Li Shimin put down the tea bowl in his hand and said with a sigh: "The people live a rich life, the government is full of taxes and tributes, and there is no longer the poor and ruined scene that often required the imperial court to allocate funds and relief to barely maintain two years ago." ”

After that, Li Shimin glanced down at the two people under the seat, and said with emotion: "If half of my Datang counties can be like Sanyuan, my Datang will be worry-free, and I will be worry-free." ”

said so, but Li Shimin also understands that the reason why Sanyuan County has undergone earth-shaking changes now is mostly because Sanyuan has produced Liu Yiyi, a business giant, who runs workshops, recruits people, and attracts merchants from all over the world to settle in Sanyuan, which directly or indirectly brings a lot of business opportunities and customers to Sanyuan.

Therefore, Li Shimin knows that the situation of Sanyuan is only a special case, and other counties and counties can follow suit, but they must not be copied, if they want all counties and counties to become as rich as Sanyuan, at least, they will not be able to do it in a short time.

"It's the incompetence of the ministers that disappointed the emperor" Knowing that the emperor finally got to the point, Su and Di put down the tea bowl at the same time and pleaded guilty to Li Shimin.

"This has nothing to do with the two Aiqing," Li Shimin waved his hand, shook his head and said: "The two Aiqing are loyal to their duties, self-denial and public service, and there is no fault at all. If you want to blame, you can only blame this God, these two years have been either floods or droughts, which have made the people of my Tang Dynasty miserable. ”

"Originally," his tone changed, and Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Because of the continuous natural disasters in the past two years, our Datang family funds that we have saved for a few years have been consumed, and I shouldn't have disputes at this time." ”

"However, Gao Chang's actions in the past two years should also be known to the two Aiqing, training troops diligently, gathering grain, and provoking incidents at the border many times, coupled with the tribute matter this time, the disobedience has been exposed."

"If this time, I turn a blind eye to their actions and don't react at all, he will be even more rampant in the coming year," Li Shimin said decisively: "Those who gather around to watch jokes, as well as several other subjects of my Datang, will definitely think that my Datang is weak and easy to deceive and follow suit." When the time comes, what my Datang will face again will be more than just Gao Changguo. ”

"The emperor is far-sighted, and the ministers admire" Li Shimin's words made the two of them suddenly restrain their war-weariness a lot. Although the two are not generals and do not understand military affairs, they also understand the various entanglements between countries to some extent, and the emperor is right, for this kind of subject country that has shown its disobedience, it is indeed necessary to kill a hundred people to prevent future troubles.

It's just that Su Bingren and Di Zhixun sighed in their hearts at the same time, thinking of the treasury and the current agricultural situation, both of them have never been stubborn. The war should indeed be fought, but how should this food, grass and military salary be raised?

"I called you over this time," Li Shimin glanced down at the two of them, and then said: "I just want to hear the views of the two Aiqing on this battle and see how much grain and grass the household can prepare." Also, what will be the harvest of the crops in my Datang in the coming year? ”

"As for next year's harvest, the emperor can rest assured." Seeing that Di Zhixun did not answer, Su Bingren took the lead in replying: "Now all localities have learned from the farming model of the Sanyuan Liu family, waterlogging can be discharged, drought can be irrigated, as long as the situation is not too bad, the harvest of the year can be guaranteed." As long as we can survive the period before the harvest in autumn, whether it is the national treasury or the granaries of the people's families, there will be no shortage of rice and grain. ”

This is good news, Li Shimin's mood has improved a little, and then he turned his head to look at Di Zhixun.

"Back to the emperor," Di Zhixun stood up with a smile and replied: "If you want to use it now, Weichen can only raise 500,000 taels of grain and 800,000 yuan at most." If it is after spring ploughing, there will be more, but the grain will not exceed 700,000 quintals, and the money will not be more than one million. ”

In the war, many aspects have to be carefully considered, and the grain, grass and military salaries are also counted, after all, these things are also indispensable when there is no war, they are constantly consumed, and the court can afford it.

However, fighting a war means that people will die, and the dead people also mean that they have to pay a lot of pensions, food, grass, military salaries, plus these unknown and huge pension expenses, according to the current financial situation of Datang, it is really difficult.

"So little? And will it have to wait until after the spring ploughing? Li Shimin's brows couldn't help but condense, and he asked Di Zhixun: "If it is requisitioned downward, how much does Di Aiqing think it can be recruited?" ”

"The emperor can't" didn't wait for Di Zhixun to reply, the old man Su on the side was a little impatient, and hurriedly interjected and shouted: "In successive disasters, most of the crops in the territory have almost no harvest, and the people have not much grain in their hands, and there are still many lands that still rely on the relief of the imperial court to live, and now it is really not appropriate to ask the people for transfer, please think twice"

"Master Su is right, if you are levied from the people now, if you don't say much grain and grass on the levy, it will definitely lead to resentment and resentment from the people," Di Zhixun took Su Bingren's words, bowed down and said, "Please think twice, the emperor"

"I won't make this decision unless I have to, and the two Aiqing don't have to worry." Li Shimin nodded lightly, how could Li Shimin not know the difficulties and disadvantages of borrowing grain from the people, so as he said, this is the next policy, if it is not necessary, it will never be implemented.

"Alright, that's all for today." Feeling a little headache, Li Shimin sent the two of them down, and at the same time instructed Di Zhixun to start raising money and food immediately, and be sure to prepare enough rations for half a year of 50,000 elite soldiers before the end of the year. Of course, I didn't forget to tell the two of them to keep the relevant matters strictly confidential, and they didn't reveal anything.

Not long after the "emperor" Su and Di withdrew, Li Ran walked into the hall with a fold, bent over and saluted Li Shimin, and said respectfully: "General Li Ji is up again, and he is willing to ask the emperor to summon him." ”

Hmm, motioning to Li Ran to put the fold on the table, Li Shimin tiredly stretched out his hand and rubbed his eyebrows, and said in a deep voice without looking: "It's still the same sentence, tell him that I am busy with government affairs now, and I have no time to meet him, let him wait quietly for two more days." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty" responded, Li Ran carefully retreated out of the hall, and turned around to pass a message to Li Ji.

"How many padded jackets, cotton pants, cotton shoes, and cotton hats have been prepared?" In Liu's cotton mill, looking at the finished cotton clothes and pants stacked in the warehouse, Liu Yiyi asked the housekeeper Liu Wuchen softly with an indifferent expression.

"Because they are all uniform styles, and this simple jacket is much easier to make than a cotton robe, as long as a woman who knows a little bit about women's red can easily make it, so it is also very quick to sew."

Seeing that their owner asked about this kind of cotton clothes that were only made and not sold, Liu Wuchen replied softly: "Moreover, because the young master is in urgent use, and it does not involve workshop secrets, Wuchen took the initiative and hired many villagers from nearby villages to participate in the production, and nearly three thousand sets have been prepared in three days, and all of them are now stored here." ”

"Three thousand?" There are almost a thousand sets of output a day, Liu Yiyi nodded with satisfaction, and said: "Recruit more people, rush the production overnight, and increase the wages when necessary, it doesn't hurt, be sure to make enough quantities before the end of the year." ”

"Young Master, but you want to put these clothes on the market in full before the year?" Liu Wuchen's eyes lit up, and he asked their young master softly.

"Well," Liu Yiyi nodded lightly, without much explanation, and then instructed Liu Wuchen: "Everything in the workshop now is focused on this suit, if the source material is insufficient, you can put aside the quilt and cotton robe and the like, and wait for Liu Bing's side to transport the new white stacks back and then resume it." ”

"Yes, young master"

"Speaking of raw materials," Liu Yiyi's voice paused, and he asked Liu Yiyi, "Liu Bing, but they already have Bai Diezi on the way back?" How long will it take to get back to Mihara? ”

"Go back to the young master," Liu Wuchen, who had been paying close attention to this matter, continued: "The first batch of Bai Diezi went on the road three days ago, and it is estimated that they will be back in half a month." I heard that the harvest of the willow steward this time is quite rich, and the amount of goods received from Gaochang every time is tens of millions of catties, which is enough for our cotton mill for one or two years. ”

"That's natural," Liu Yiyi didn't have too many surprises, and said lightly: "Gaochang has been in stock for many years, since it is not a decimal, but after this year, it will be a little difficult to receive such sufficient raw materials." ”

"Young Master doesn't need to worry too much," Liu Wuchen said: "Although the white stack is a specialty of Gaochang, it can also be sown in my Datang, isn't there enough cotton seeds in our house for trial planting?" As long as a trial is successful, it will not take two or three years, and the white stacks can also be seen everywhere in the territory, and there is no worry about running out of goods to collect. ”

"Two or three years ......" Liu Yiyi muttered softly, two or three years is not a long time, but I don't know if he has two or three years to wait.

"Tell Liu Bing," with a sober expression, Liu Yiyi said to Liu Wuchen: "Seeing that the war between the two countries is about to start, the border is not a place to stay for a long time, let him return as soon as possible after collecting the white stacks, and don't stay at the border for more." ”

"Got it, young master." In response, Liu Wuchen wrote down the words of their young master.

"Young master, young master" At this time, seeing Liu Cheng running from a distance with a shout, and when he got closer, he didn't care to greet their young master, and said in a panting voice: "Young master, Princess Yuzhang is here, and now she is in the front hall of the mansion, and the young lady asked the villain to call the young master back." ”

"Princess Yuzhang?" Liu Yiyi was stunned, why did she come?

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