Seeing the beginning of spring, the problem of lack of grain and grass in the Eastern Wang's army became more and more serious.

During the spring famine, there was no food to be levied around Luoyang, and the army always needed supplies outside, but even the treasury of Jiangdu was empty.

At this time, the war in the north could only be temporarily stopped, and the city occupied by Lin Zhan's troops on the original basis was not in a hurry to launch a further march to the north, and directly stopped and waited for further instructions.

At this time, more and more complaints about wanting to return to Jiangdu reached Han Jian. It's not that Han Jian wants to leave this time, it's that the entire Dongwang Army is tired of the days when they are out on the road, and they all think about Jiangdu's father, wife, and children, and want to go back.

For several days, Han Jian was worried about the matter of grain and grass.

If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, Han Jian can't understand this kind of pain before he knows many things. The Dongwang Mansion was originally quite wealthy, but after these wars, it was really difficult to allocate food and materials to continue to supply the continuation of the war. Han Jian thought about it, and maybe there was only one way, to transfer the soldiers and horses back to Jiangdu earlier, develop agricultural production, and then try to pacify the north after recuperation.

The pacification of the north is no longer something that can be solved overnight.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, a routine meeting was going on in the Ye'an Pavilion of the Imperial Palace. This meeting was presided over by Yang Rui himself, and in addition to Han Jian and Yang Luochuan, there were also some officials from the household department of the imperial court. The main issue of discussion is still the supply of grain and grass.

Han Jian was very quiet, he knew everything about the affairs of the Dongwang Mansion and the imperial court, and how much grain there was. He was well aware that there was no food to be discussed at such meetings. If you want to talk about a practical way, Han Jian has not thought about it, but it is difficult to complete it in this situation. That is to collect grain from large households, but it is unimaginably difficult, not to say that it can be solved by force, but also to lead to a series of political problems, the most important thing is that it will cause public indignation, and then cause people to lose their hearts.

Han Jian listened quietly beside him for a while. At this time, Lin Ke was talking eloquently. Lin Ke as the Shangshu of the East Pavilion. Now he is assuming the responsibility of the first assistant of the past, and the best way to solve the food crisis proposed by him is nothing more than to tighten the treasury or collect grain in advance.

Lin Ke is not from the household department, so naturally he doesn't know much about some things in the household department. The food crisis of the imperial court. In fact, it is also a food crisis in Dongwangfu. It's just a change of concept. Lin Ke was more concerned about the issue of the salaries of officials in the imperial court.

Not surprisingly, Lin Ke's Jian Yì only received a very cold response from Yang Rui. As the empress, Yang Rui has been operating in the north for many years. Although there has not been much progress on the issue of border troubles and the four kings' domains, she has finally made the north stable and prosperous in the past ten years, and there has not been much popular upheaval. Therefore, Yang Rui still has her own ability in governing the country, but in the past, Yang Rui had a lot of capable ministers around her, but now these capable ministers are either scattered, or fleeing north, or like Gu Weipan, they are still recuperating in Jiangdu and can't care about the government.

If a Ming Jun does not have so many virtuous ministers around him, no matter how wise he is, he is just an empty shell.

Yang Rui is not optimistic about Lin Ke, mainly because she thinks that Lin Ke is just a person in charge of the pen, and he is in charge of political struggle, and he is not a good hand in managing the dynasty.

"We'll talk about that later." In the end, Yang Rui gave the meeting a tone.

In fact, this argument also shows that for the time being, we will not continue to discuss the issue of grain requisition, and we will talk about it when it is really needed. But in Han Jian's view, food is now very much needed.

Lin Ke and the other ministers were about to leave, and Yang Luochuan also got up from the chair he was sitting on the side, smiled at Han Jian, and said goodbye to Yang Rui in the past.

"Won't the East King go out of the palace together?" Yang Luochuan walked over and looked at Han Jian, who was still sitting on the side in a muffled voice.

"King Nan will go first, and I will report some things to His Majesty." Han Jian stood up and saluted and smiled.

"That's fine." Yang Luochuan didn't ask what was going on, he stayed in Luoyang, as if he was very idle. In the past, he insisted on leaving, but now he insists on not leaving, and it seems that there is no one who can stop him from staying in Luoyang.

When the others left, Yang Rui seemed to be a little angry, and by the way, he also drove the palace maid and the eunuch out of the door.

"Why are you so angry?" Han Jian asked calmly.

"You still say." Yang Rui looked up at Han Jian and said with some annoyance, "This battle situation is deadlocked, there will be so many problems, do you think I, the emperor, don't feel bored worrying about these things every day?" ”

Han Jian smiled: "It turns out that being an emperor is not an idle matter. ”

Yang Rui saw Han Jian's words being understated, and glanced at Han Jian and said, "Now that you are by your side, complaining to you, didn't these things be hidden in your heart before?" ”

Han Jian didn't speak, stepped forward to hug Yang Rui, and squeezed Yang Rui on a chair. The two of them were used to this kind of intimate behavior in a place like Ye'an Pavilion, and Yang Rui would not resist.

"Dongwang, have you thought about how to solve the embarrassment in front of you?" Yang Rui looked at Han Jian and asked.

"Not yet." Han Jian said, "Once there is a war, it is a two-sided loss, on the one hand, farming is not good, the fields are barren, and on the other hand, the army needs grain and grass to supply. In the past two years, Jiangdu has been completely empty, if it weren't for the aunt and their constant support, I'm afraid the soldiers and horses wouldn't even be able to enter Luoyang. ”

Yang Rui thought for a while, and suddenly asked in a low voice: "Do you think there is food over there in Yuzhou?" ”

"You're thinking too much." Han Jian sighed, "Even if there is, with the old scheming of the King of Nan, he will think about giving it to the imperial court?" ”

"You can send someone to collect grain, no matter how insidious the king of the south is, he still has to consider being in the same breath as the court after all." Yang Ruidao.

Han Jian continued to shake his head and said, "In the past two years, the land of Yuzhou has not been very peaceful, and I am afraid that there is no grain to collect, so we still have to think of other ways first." ”

"Forget it, I don't want to." Yang Rui seemed to be a little discouraged, and said, "In the past, there were many talented people in the imperial court, who were always able to offer advice in difficult times, but now you are the only one by your side, and it is useless to ask." ”

"Your Majesty, what do you mean...... In terms of ability, it seems that there are some deficiencies? Han Jian smiled bitterly.

Yang Rui looked at Han Jian with a smile and said, "What do you think?" ”

Han Jian spread his hands. It means how you like to say it.

After a while, Han Jian said: "Steward Lin is still collecting grain in the local area, judging from her reply, the grain collected this time should be able to be used for a while, but it is not a long-term strategy after all." If the local government continues to collect such levies, there will always be people who will come out and make irresponsible remarks. ”

"Steward Lin? You mean, that girl from the Lin family next to you, General Lin's sister? Yang Rui looked at Han Jian and asked.

"Hmm."

Yang Rui nodded with a smile and said, "It seems that I have met her twice, quite an ordinary peasant girl." But it's so capable. I must have a good look back and be informed. I heard that your second mother seems to be interested in including her in the house? ”

Han Jian narrowed his eyes and said, "The meaning of His Majesty, Wei Chen doesn't understand it very well. ”

"I'm sure you've thought too much. I mean. Your second mother wants to include you in the house as your right-hand man. Yang Rui said so. But it was Hui Huang who smiled. As if to say, don't think I'm not going to know about what is going on around you.

Han Jian smiled bitterly, it seemed that there was really nothing to hide from Yang Rui. Including the fact that Han Song had mentioned to him before that he wanted to include Lin Xiaoshu in the mansion.

Han Jian thought for a moment. It stands to reason that this matter is very confidential, and no one should know about it, but Yang Rui can know about it, which can only explain one problem, maybe among his aunts, there are still people who are very close to Yang Rui and report to Yang Rui. Because Han Song's family could only tell him and those aunts in the mansion about this, it was difficult for others to want to know.

There was some silence in Ye'an Pavilion, it was originally noon, Han Jian yawned, he didn't rest well in the past few days, so he was about to get up and go back to Dongwangfu.

"Are you still entering the palace with Sister Li'er tonight?" Yang Rui saw that Han Jian was leaving, so he suddenly came to Han Jian, tidied up Han Jian's clothes, and asked.

"Qi'er is also a little tired from entering and leaving the palace gate in the past few days, if it doesn't work, just postpone it for two days, you think I also want to rest, right?" Han Jian said.

Yang Ruibai glanced at Han Jian and said: "Since the husband is so pushing, then after noon, I will make an order to let Li'er move into the palace to accompany me, and see if you will enter the palace to see your wife and children at that time!" ”

"Hey!" Han Jian's face flickered, and he said, "Your Majesty, is this threatening the minister?" ”

Yang Rui snorted coldly and said, "What about threatening you, I advise you to send your wife and children into the palace as soon as possible." After a while, your aunts and Xin'er will arrive in Luoyang, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to see you. Dongwang, you have to think more about it yourself! Know what to prioritize. ”

Han Jian smiled bitterly, Yang Rui was able to tell him about his family affairs in such a strict tone. Even this "stealing joy" is threatening, originally he wanted to show his bearing, but now he can only give up.

"Okay, I'll discuss it with Li'er in the afternoon and see if she can move to the palace." Han Jian sighed.

"That's right." Yang Rui walked over with a smile again and said, "Husband, go back to rest earlier, and in the evening, let's talk at night?" ”

Han Jian sighed helplessly, opened the door of Ye'an Pavilion, at this time Yang Rui also returned to his chair and looked at the door, Han Jian was about to go out, only to find that someone was waiting outside, but after a closer look, it was Ning Xiuyan's father, Ning Yuan.

"Ning Shangshu?" Han Jian smiled and walked down the steps.

"The old minister has seen His Royal Highness the East King." Ning Yuan saluted politely.

At this time, Ning Yuan was dressed in a thin shirt in green clothes, looking more than ten years younger, with a bit of literati arrogance, and he looked like he was going to enter the palace to admonish.

Han Jian sighed secretly in his heart, he is not afraid of the cold when he wears such a little?

Han Jian nodded and said, "Ning Shangshu is entering the palace to face the saint?" ”

As he spoke, Han Jian glanced at the notebook in Ning Yuan's hand, and Ning Yuan immediately hid the notebook in his sleeve and said, "Yes." The old minister came to find His Majesty Xià to have something to play, but I didn't know that His Highness was also here. Presumptuous. ”

"Oh. Then the king did not disturb Ning Shangshu. ”

After Han Jian finished speaking, he walked out of the palace gate.

Han Jian didn't have a good impression of Ning Yuan, Ning Yuan gave his daughter to him, and he didn't appreciate it very much, but Ning Yuan's appeal in Luoyang officialdom now is even greater than Lin Ke, Han Jian knows that in order to maintain the stability of Luoyang officialdom, a bond is needed, and Ning Yuan is just right as such a link.

Back at the Dongwang Mansion, before Han Jian could enter the main courtyard, a guard came over to tell him that Su You's envoy had been waiting for a long time.

Han Jianxin said that he had just sent Su Tingxia to investigate the details of the army, could there be news so soon?

Han Jian entered the main hall, but saw Su Tingxia sitting upright waiting. Although Su Tingxia had just been "borrowed" by Han Jian from the Nanwang Mansion, because he was the right envoy in the army, if he came to Han Jian for something, even the guards outside could not stop him. This is also the privilege of a military officer and above.

"I've seen the East King." Su Tingxia stood up and saluted.

Han Jian looked at Su Tingxia, who seemed to be wearing the same clothes a few days ago, and said that he had been busy for a few days, and he definitely didn't believe it. But seeing Su Tingxia's somewhat haggard appearance, it really looked like he hadn't rested for a few days.

"Su You's envoy doesn't look very good." Han Jian sighed.

"The East King is observing people in the micro, and Su has not rested much in the past few days, just to do what the East King has entrusted him with." Su Tingxia was a little ashamed and said, "It's just that Su has a low ability, and after a few days, he only found out a little progress, so he hurriedly came to report to you, the king of the east." ”

As soon as Han Jian heard it, this Su Tingxia was also enough, and he found clues in a few days, and he was still so "modest"? This modesty seems to be showing off, but Han Jian thought about it, Su Tingxia had nothing to show off in front of him, at most, it was to show his loyalty and determination to do things.

It sounds pretty smooth.

"What clues did the right envoy Su find?" Han Jian asked.

Su Tingxia hurriedly handed over the collated copywriting obtained from his investigation to Han Jian, Han Jian opened it and saw that it was neat and neat, and it was clear at a glance, mainly because he was very familiar with the font, because he had seen Su Tingxia's font and writing when he checked the file before, so Han Jian looked at the font and writing logic, which was Su Tingxia's own handwriting. This also shows that Su Tingxia did everything himself, and did not fake others.

In the copy, it was mentioned that several generals had no low positions in the army, but Han Jian found that most of these people were under Zhang Xing's subordinates, and some of them were Zhang Xing's cronies. Han Jian frowned slightly, this means that there is a problem with the people under Zhang Xing, and then Zhang Xing has a problem?

Thinking about it again, maybe it's because Lin Zhan's subordinates are now on the front line and have not withdrawn, so it is difficult to investigate, so Su Tingxia's investigation is also focused on these generals who are in Luoyang and are responsible for arranging Luoyang's defense.

"These people, and these things, have you investigated clearly?" Han Jian asked.

"No problem." Su Tingxia said, "However, because of some things, it is not the result of Su Someone's personal investigation, but it cannot be generalized." ”

"Hmm." Han Jian nodded, closed the copy, and said, "It seems that the problem of the army's meticulous work is indeed a bit strict." But right now, it's not a good time to uproot, so I'll set up a special yamen for you, and let Su You make you interrogate them? ”

When Su Tingxia heard this, he couldn't help but widen his eyes, Han Jian's mention of yì was simply to put him on the opposite side of the soldiers of the Dongwang Army. (To be continued......)