In the middle of the month, all the affairs in the court were basically completed, and the officials were also on vacation. On this day, Gong Wanran got up early in the morning and read in the house as usual, in the courtyard, Ji Zheng was taking Heyu and Dongya to practice swords, and Zhang Xun was sleeping as always.

Soon after, the sound of sword dancing in the courtyard ended, and He Yu knocked on the door of the public house and came in to keep warm.

Gong Wanran helped He Yu dust off the snowflakes on his body and poured a cup of warm tea for He Yu.

"Baihua, take a sip and go to the cold."

"Hmm." He Yu picked up the teacup and took a small sip of steaming Baihua tea, and suddenly felt a lot warmer.

"It's been freezing in the past few days, you should also pay attention to keeping warm when you practice swords, don't freeze."

"It's okay, I feel like I'm getting stronger." He Yu pinched his arm, showing off his strong muscles for Gong Wanran to see.

"Well, you have indeed strengthened a lot during the period of following Brother Ji to practice martial arts."

He Yu scratched his head and smiled, and suddenly thought of serious things, "By the way, my father asked me to come over and invite the three brothers to the mansion for a small gathering." ”

"Oh, that's a rude feat for the three of us, we were going to visit the county lieutenant later in the future, rude, rude."

"It's okay, my father is not a formal person."

"That's also a faux pas for us, in that case, let's get over here."

"Don't worry, we'll be in time for noon. By the way, Brother Gonghui, there is something that really makes you right. ”

"What's the matter?"

"Yesterday I heard from my father that this year's civil tax collection is not the same as in previous years."

"Huh? How is it different? Gong Wanran asked.

"Brother Gonghui, do you still remember the conditions you asked Bo Yao for when you undertook the task of increasing the income of four thousand taels of gold? At that time, you demanded that if the people could pay 300 copper coins a year, they would be exempted from the grain tax for one person. ”

Gong Wanran nodded.

"At first, I was still strange, the people alone need to pay 80 catties of grain a year, and these 80 catties of grain can only be worth 280 copper coins in the market, so who would choose to hand over copper coins instead of paying grain? Even if you have money, it is more cost-effective to exchange it for food. ”

"You're right." Gong Wanran nodded.

However, after the tax began, the people took the money to exchange for grain, and within a few days, the price of 80 catties of grain in the market rose from 280 copper coins to 300 copper coins, and the price was very stable, and there was no price fluctuation in previous years. It turned out that Brother Gonghui had long anticipated the impact of the spice business on food prices. ”

"Sort of, I must plan ahead, the operation of the incense factory will inevitably bring a large amount of coins, and the excessive increase of coins will lead to market disorder, and the conditions I asked for at the beginning were not only to let the farmers have more profits, but also not to disturb the country's economy."

"You told me once before, I really didn't understand it at the time, but now I understand a little bit."

"That's good, Heyu, you still have a lot to learn."

"Brother Gonghui, I think these things are too difficult, I'm afraid I'll never be able to learn ......" He Yu said with some loss.

"It's okay, take your time, I'll teach you a little bit." Gong Huiran touched Heyu's forehead with a gentle expression.

At noon, the three followed Heyu to the county governor's mansion, and the four of them sat down in the main hall, waiting for the county captain.

While chatting and waiting, a person came outside, accompanied by solid footsteps, and the voice smiled like a bell: "Haha! Ha ha! Princess! General Zhang! Long time no see! ”

The four of them looked out, and it was General Ji Wu who came.

Ji Wu walked into the main hall, bowed his hand to the four of them, and said, "Two adults! Long time no see! ”

"General Ji Wu, long time no see." Gong Hui stood up and saluted.

Zhang Xun saw that it was Ji Wu, so he strode up to Ji Wu, hugged Ji Wu and said with a smile: "Such a sound is like a bell, I haven't seen anyone, I heard his voice first, if it's not General Ji Wu, who can have such momentum?" ”

"Haha! General Zhang, this is burying me! ”

"How dare you, haha! I haven't seen each other for a year and a half, and I miss it so much! ”

"Yes! We haven't seen each other since the last time we had a drink! ”

"That's right! Right! On the day we escorted King Yue back, we had a good drink! ”

"Oh, I'm really ashamed to say it, at the banquet that day, I promised to help find one of your brothers, and later, I asked some friends, but no one has heard of that brother, I wonder if I can find it now?"

"Oh! Yes, I remembered, at that time, I asked General Ji Wu to find Xiao Ji. ”

"Yes, yes! It's him. ”

Zhang Xun picked up Ji Zheng and introduced him to Ji Wu, "No need to look for it, General Ji Wu, this is my brother, Ji Zheng!" ”

Ji Zheng clasped his fists and saluted Ji Wu: "General Ji Wu is good, under Ji Zheng." ”

Ji Wu also hugged his fists and saluted back: "This brother can see that he is a person who practices martial arts!" ”

"It's not talented in the next place, but I know a little bit about martial arts."

"Haha, Brother Ji is modest, the three of you brothers each have a talent, and your demeanor is extraordinary, I, Ji Wu, am a rough person, and I hope Brother Ji will be more forgiving!"

"Where are you, General Ji is polite!"

"Please be seated, please be seated, everybody, please be seated."

After everyone sat down, Zhang Xun asked, "General Ji Wu, haven't you been in Gusu for the past year and a half?" I have been to the county governor's mansion several times and have never seen the general. ”

"Yes, I just returned to China for a few days, it's been a year, and I always have to come back to see my wife and children, haha."

Hearing Ji Wu say this, Zhang Xun was a little strange, so he asked, "Oh? General Ji is not in Wu this year? ”

Ji Wu's face suddenly showed a nervous and embarrassed look, as if he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly said in a panic: "Hehe, I, I just acted on orders......"

Zhang Xungang wanted to continue to ask, but when he saw Gong Wanran glancing at him, he realized that Ji Wu's whereabouts might be confidential, so he stopped asking.

After chatting for a while, Juan Suming finally came to the main hall, Juan Suming sat down in the main seat, and Ji Wu stood behind him.

After a salute, Gong Huang suddenly got up and said, "Lord County Lieutenant, the three of us should have come to pay New Year's greetings earlier, but they are really busy with official business, and it is difficult to get out, so I am ashamed. ”

Yan Suming waved his hand, "Don't be formal, we haven't seen each other for a long time, it just so happens that today's snow is clear, and it is suitable for drinking for pleasure and having a small gathering." ”

"Thank you, Captain."

"The dog has grown a lot this year, thanks to the training of the princess."

Gong Wan hurriedly said: "Don't dare, don't dare, He Yu Gongzi is talented and intelligent, he is a young talent, and it is really not enough to help him in the next place." This year, on the contrary, I have benefited a lot, if it is not for the great help of Yu Gongzi, I will not be able to complete this year's performance assessment in any case. ”

He Yu looked very embarrassed, "Brother Gonghui, don't say that, if you hadn't taken me to run the incense factory, I would still be idle all day long." This year, I really learned a lot of things from Brother Gonghui, and I really benefited a lot! ”

Juan Su Ming said: "Heyu, Lord Gonghui is your brother and your teacher, and today you should toast to Lord Gonghui with a teacher's courtesy." ”

"Yes, father." Heyu looked happy.

"Lord Gonghui, I heard about your business tax increase, and the future is terrifying."

"Your Excellency is overrated."

"Your heart for the country and the people is really valuable, and the ability to manage government affairs is even more rare, Wu Xiangguo also praises you, I hope you can continue to work hard and not lose your pure heart."

"I have made up my mind to live up to the high expectations of Wu Xiangguo and the county lieutenant."

Juan Suming nodded, looked at Zhang Xun again and said: "In the first battle against Chen Guo this year, General Zhang made miraculous achievements, promoted to the third level, and awarded the Great Sima, which can be regarded as a great progress. ”

"Thanks to the recommendation of the county captain, otherwise I wouldn't have had a chance to make a meritorious record, but I just ......"

"Just what?"

"It's just that I mentioned it to the county lieutenant about Brother Ji before......"

"Well, I was about to say that." Juan Suming turned to Ji Zheng and said, "Mr. Ji, General Zhang has talked to me about you several times. ”

Ji Zheng saluted and said: "I don't know what the little brother is talking nonsense, and I hope that the county lieutenant will not see outside." ”

"General Zhang has always recognized your talents, and you also performed well in this expedition to Chen. Although the truth of the war was not mentioned in the final battle report, I had heard a little about the truth behind it. The merit of this battle is huge, but it involves the dignity of the royal family, and it really can't be recorded, so the king doesn't know about it, and I ask Mr. not to be jealous. ”

"The government does not dare to be jealous, and there is nothing to ask for."

"Although the merit of the gentleman has been buried, I can redeem some of the hard work for the gentleman. I have recommended to the king that you be the Sima of the Right Army, under the jurisdiction of General Zhang, and will be formally appointed next spring, and I hope that you will do your best to serve the state of Wu. ”

Although Ji Zheng looked serious, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he saluted deeply: "Lord Xie Junwei! ”

"Even so, I'm afraid it's not so simple for you to offend Huang Yun, and you have to be more careful when you become an official in the same dynasty with him in the future, so that you can do it yourself."

"Obey the teachings of the county captain!"

Juan Suming nodded and said, "This year, there have been many government affairs. It's not easy for everyone to be busy and busy, just as the snow is sunny today, let's go to the garden to enjoy the snow and drink. ”

The garden of the county governor's mansion is located in the inner courtyard, where Wan Suming and his family lived, although the garden is not large, but it is built in a chic and elegant way. The garden is full of low flowers, although the flowers are withering, leaving only thin branches, not as good as the flowers in spring, but at this time the snow covers, it also seems to be full of tender white bones, but it has a special flavor.

Follow the path carved out of the vines until you reach the center of the garden, where there is a chic pavilion. There is a bronze mustache in the pavilion, the charcoal fire under the mustache is booming, and four long strips are placed around the mustache, and there are exquisite tableware on several cases.

Everyone walked into the pavilion and sat down in front of the table, the burning charcoal fire dispelled the cold around them, and the delicious meat cooked in the mustache was even more mouth-watering.

Zhang Xun looked at the snowflakes sprinkled outside the pavilion, and felt extremely comfortable, so he sighed: "This situation is so pleasant, life is rare like this!" ”

At this time, a familiar voice came from outside the garden, "Haha, although this situation is good, but if there is no good wine, it is nothing." ”2.