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"How much grain is in stock in the north?" Zhao Ji was silent for a long time and asked. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

If there is a problem with the main artery of the canal, it will have to rely on the storage in the north.

"Back to Your Majesty, Bianjing has a lot of grain in stock, and it can only support more than half a year; The situation is even more serious elsewhere, including ...... if the treasury is used. Including the regular closing position, it should be able to support two or three months! ”

The officials of the Third Division were very cautious in their answers, especially when it came to Chang Ping, which was particularly sensitive in the Great Song Dynasty.

Sure enough, Zhao Ji and Wang Anshi's faces were slightly gloomy, and if they used Chang Ping, the matter of changing the law would inevitably be stranded. You know, last year's change of law has just improved, and they don't want to give up halfway. Although there is a drought, how long will this drought last? Maybe it won't be long before it passes!

"How about the food stored in the people's homes?"

The officials of the three divisions who are familiar with the inside situation are quite helpless, with such a high interest rate on Qingmiao money, how much surplus can the people have for a year's work? Famine has already begun in some places, and as the drought intensifies, it will only get worse. It's just that the official family asks like this, do you want to tell the truth? After hesitating for a long time, he whispered: "I'm afraid it's not much!" ”

Zhao Ji did not realize that his practice of hiding wealth from the country had seriously affected the assets of the people, and the economy of the Great Song Dynasty based on hiding wealth from the people was gradually shaking.

Hearing such an answer, Zhao Ji was somewhat dissatisfied, and said softly: "Let the states and counties count the people's grain deposits, and if disaster relief is needed, give priority to using the grain stocks of the state and county government treasury, and don't move lightly when you close the position!" ”

"Yes!" The conservative ministers present all knew in their hearts that the officials were working hard to protect Wang Anshi. Defend the new law! Even in spite of the disaster. Ignoring the current situation of people's lives. It's a bit out of place.

Zhao Ji was worried in his heart, and he could only do this for now. Maybe the drought won't be too severe, maybe it will rain soon and the situation will ease. Zhao Ji comforted himself like this, but he didn't know that around this disaster, a storm for changing the law was brewing, and the core of the storm was definitely not just Wang Anshi.

"Your Majesty. Food is one thing, for the sake of today, how to fight drought, and find a way to restore the luck is the top priority! ”

Some grain stocks can at least not panic in their hearts, and drought fighting and disaster relief are indeed the top priority, but it is difficult to implement. Now everything is a mess, so the complete plan cannot be come up with for a while.

"The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Third Division immediately began to formulate a drought relief strategy, and as for the matter of Cao Yun, it was handed over to the Ministry of Industry for disposal!" Zhao Ji gave a casual order, and wanted to leave in a hurry. There have been too many troublesome things in the past few days, and he is under a lot of pressure. Somewhat tired.

I don't want Zhang Zongyi, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, to suddenly flash out and report: "Your Majesty, please order, is the celebration of the same day festival going on as usual?" ”

Tongtian Festival, the birthday of the emperor in the Song Dynasty, is a major festival of the year. Hundreds of officials and envoys from various countries come to congratulate them, and banquets and related celebrations are held. Zhao Ji's birthday is the tenth day of the fourth month, and it is only a matter of six or seven days.

Originally, this kind of thing was procedural, and the Ministry of Rites should have prepared it early. However, this year's situation is more special, and there is such a severe drought, should the celebration be canceled for the sake of public opinion, or should the scale be reduced? For this reason, Zhang Zongyi couldn't make up his mind, and out of prudence, it was best to ask Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji hesitated a little, the same day was his birthday, and it was the time for him to show off his might. On the occasion of the New Year, a series of happy events made Zhao Ji very proud, and he also wanted to have a good time on the same day, and the real ministers and envoys of various countries also showed off their might.

But suddenly such a thing happened, and the wise kings of ancient times had to be frugal, especially when disasters occurred, especially to lead by example. If the celebration of the same day festival is carried out on a large scale at this time, it may be criticized by people, and it may even cause dissatisfaction among the people. For a while, he was embarrassed.

"Have all the envoys arrived?"

"It's here!"

"Then it's business as usual!" After finishing speaking, Zhao Ji got up and left, and it was almost natural for a person to show off his might. We can't lose face in front of Liao, Xixia and other states because of this.

Fu Bi felt that something was wrong, and the celebration could not be held, but it must not be too grand and luxurious. It's just that the old and refined rich Xianggong didn't plan to advise, Han Qi's experience was a big warning to him, Zhao Ji was not a good stubble, and he wanted to protect himself when he was old. is old, and he no longer has the righteous and awe-inspiring dedication of the past, and the young emperor is not a monarch like Renzong, he is very disappointed. Why bother? Do you have to get a late holiday? People are more or less selfish.

Sima Guang had the heart to advise, and now he has entered the governor's office as a bachelor of Hanlin, and he is also one of the ministers of the two governments. It's just that Sima Xianggong is different from a few years ago, and although he still opposes the change, it is not as fierce as before. They've already failed once, and the way things have to change. Of course, this is also the result of the continuous advice of friends Shao Yong and Zhang Zai when they were in Luoyang.

Maybe one day, the official family will come to their senses! Sima Guang was silently looking forward to it in his heart! On weekdays, he doesn't talk much, but today's matter does not involve law changes and party disputes, it is related to the emperor's image and benevolence, and he feels the need to remind him. It's just that Zhao Ji didn't give him this opportunity at all, and turned around and left.

Sima Guang looked at the back that disappeared behind the curtain, and suddenly felt a little inexplicable loss in his heart!

Zhang Zongyi is quiet, Shangshu is already his highest position, and he does not expect the position of prime minister of the two mansions and eight dukes. He doesn't have so much so-called integrity, and he pays more attention to practical interests, so he will not easily go against the emperor's will. In fact, as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, he had the right to speak in this matter, but he didn't say a word and kicked the ball to Zhao Ji himself.

He didn't care what the result was, Zhang Zongyi happily accepted the order, turned around and went to arrange the celebration of the same day, ignoring the slightly disdainful looks of his colleagues. The official family said that the celebration is still the same, that is, it will be held grandly!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's an April day, and it's a little hot.

Lin Zhao sat on the upper floor of the Jiangnan residence and enjoyed the coolness, and the weeping willows of the Bianhe River in the distance were still verdant, but after all, they did not have the same taste as when they were in the smoke and rain. There are many ships moored on both sides of the Bianhe River, but there is no busy scene of loading and unloading goods as in the past, and it is a fact that the canal is shallow and Cao is unable to transport it.

Zhao Ji sighed lightly, the drought really came as scheduled, but I didn't expect it to be more severe than I imagined!

"Li Cheng, our ships are all back!"

"Eighty percent came back, and the remaining two percent were still in Huainan, and the Sizhou area couldn't go along."

For such a result, Lin Zhao was already very content, and it was not easy to rush to transport grain from Jianghuai to the north in three months.

"How's the food stockpile?"

"Basically met expectations, the two percent did not come back in time, and the sect master secretly absorbed the inventory of other grain merchants. At that time, the price was not high, so we absorbed quite a bit. But now, the grain merchants have reacted. ”

"Enough!" Lin Zhao hesitated for a moment, and then said with a wry smile: "Where can it, this drought, I don't know how much food I need!" By the way, what is the price of food in Bianjing right now? ”

"The price has more than doubled!"

"Hmph, I originally thought that I would buy as much food as possible to help more people, but now it seems that it is a drop in the bucket! However, there is one point, with so many chips in our hands, we can lower the price of grain, so that those profiteers will not be allowed to bully the market and take the opportunity to ask for prices, and the life of the people may be a little better! ”

This is an indisputable fact, and whenever there is war or famine, the price of grain will inevitably rise. This is a good opportunity for grain merchants to take advantage of the opportunity to raise grain prices, making it even more difficult for the people to buy grain. Lin Zhao thought about it, even if all the food in his hands was relieved, how many people could he save? It can be used to stabilize the price of food, so it can be regarded as a snack for the people! Of course, to some extent, it also helped Zhao Ji a little.

"Yes, I'll do it immediately."

Lin Zhao asked again: "Is our grain purchase still secret?" ”

"Although the Meng firm also buys a lot, it is also in line with the handwriting of a big commercial house, and the son can use it on the bright side." Li Chengdao: "Mingyuezong has invested a lot here, buying grain in the name of Bianjing, Luoyang, Daimyofu, and even a total of fifty-three grain stores in Qizhou, transporting it to the north in turn, and storing it separately, so there is no problem." ”

"That's good!" Lin Zhao smiled faintly, Di Qing was naturally extremely safe.

"How is Zheng Xia's side?" Lin Zhao is in the next big game of chess, and this step is crucial.

"It's not bad, Xu Rong has become a friend with whom he talks about everything and has no bad friends."

"That's good, let him pay attention lately, it's almost time!"

Li Chengdao: "This is no problem, but the timing is difficult to control!" ”

"It's really difficult!" Lin Zhao pondered for a long time and said: "Secretly look for people who can see the weather, it's not without a trace, sometimes you have to gamble!" ”

That being said, they still hope in their hearts that they can be absolutely safe and hit with one blow. But the heavens are unpredictable, and it is difficult to be absolutely sure! And the emperor ordered to come down to repair the canal, and it was also a trouble to find a way to restore the canal!

Suddenly, the noise came from the street outside the window, Li Cheng walked quickly to the window and took a look, and said in a low voice: "Childe, it's the envoy of the Liao State who has arrived!" ”

"Liao envoy?"

"Yes, the tenth day of the fourth month is the festival of the same day, and I heard that Zhao Ji is going to hold it grandly."

"The same day? Grand event? I'm afraid that Zhao Ji will be disappointed! Lin Zhao snorted coldly, and there was a hint of coldness at the corner of his mouth! (To be continued......)