On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, not to mention that there are no lanterns, firecrackers, clown shows, and rock sugar gourds, even the pedestrians are pitiful. A day of rustling snow made the weather even more bleak after a long time of freezing into an ice lump. Finally survived this day, on the sixteenth day of the first month, the sky was clear, but it was a little colder.

The prince had just finished dealing with an urgent report and came out of the imperial study. He was in a terrible mood, because the urgent report said that Teng Haode's Shu army was besieged by Zhou Yu and was defeated one after another. Zhou Yu adopted Guan Lei's suggestion, marked Teng Haode's head with a reward, and promised to surrender and avoid death. Just two days ago, two of Teng Haode's lieutenants took advantage of the night to launch a rebellion, killed Teng Haode, and sent his head to several cases of Zhou Yu overnight. The final result can be imagined, the Shu army surrendered and accepted the reorganization of the northern army.

There was another shield missing. Zhou Jue was eyeing outside the city gate, and he had the posture of staying forever, and the capital was short of supplies because of huge consumption, and it was a matter of time before it was dragged down. The courtiers had their own thoughts, Li Xingzhi was fine, and that Qu Shao always couldn't see his intentions clearly. What should I do about internal and external troubles?

Zhou Xuan thought of escaping, this may be a way, there is a way to stay in the green mountains without fear of no firewood, but he is unwilling to escape like this. He has not yet sat on the throne of the emperor, how can he give it up?

Thinking like this, Leng Buding's feet slipped, and Zhou Xuan almost fell, but fortunately, Feng Tong, the great eunuch who had been with him for more than ten years, helped him, so that he would not lose his majesty. After Zhou Xuan stood firm, the anger was even more uncontrollable.

Looking at the patches of ice ballast under his feet, Zhou Xuan said angrily: "Are all the minions in the palace dead?" Why can't you even clean the ground?! ”

Feng Tong nervously checked whether Zhou Xuan was injured, and after confirming that everything was fine, he said: "Your Highness is angry, the old slave deserves to die, let the slaves clean up!" ”

Only then did Zhou Xuan remember that since the little eunuch poisoned the emperor's medicine, he cleaned up the slaves and maids in the palace several times and killed more than 200 people, and now, there is no one to clean up the ice cream.

Zhou Xuan didn't bother to say anything more, maybe he needed a sedan chair more, if there were enough people.

Before Zhou Xuan could give an order, An Ruichen's figure broke into Zhou Xuan's sight.

Unlike the usual solitary life, today An Ruichen was followed by Deputy General Bao Ming and a few ordinary guards. They were all very energetic, even in the cold wind, there was no hint of flinching, and the cloak fluttering in the wind was like a victor's banner.

The group knelt in front of Zhou Xuan and saluted.

Zhou Xuan looked at his cousin, who was extremely well-behaved today, and thought to himself, it would be nice if he was as obedient as his father. An Ruichen is too indecisive, and he will inherit his father's title in the future and have a false position.

Seeing that An Ruichen was still kneeling quietly, Zhou Xuan coughed and said, "Calm down." Is there anything wrong with coming here so early? ”

An Ruichen thanked him, attached it to Zhou Xuan's ear, and whispered: "Your Highness Qiqi, the minister has just received the news that the food reserves in the palace are insufficient, and it should not be until the end of this month." ”

"What?! How can it be? Zhou Xuan tried his best to keep his voice low, but the shock revealed in it could not be concealed at all, "Didn't this palace order to save expenses a month ago?" How can the consumption be so large? ”

An Ruichen lowered his head very low, as if he had something to say.

"Say whatever you want."

An Ruichen replied: "Deputy General Bao Ming told the minister that just ten days ago, Bo Weihou secretly mobilized a batch of grain in the palace to supplement the food and salary of the soldiers guarding the city outside the forbidden palace. His Royal Highness knew that the food and salary of the defending army had long been stretched, and although the Marquis of Bowei did not ask His Highness's consent, it was understandable......"

"Is he excusable? Can he quietly mobilize the reserve food in the palace if he has extenuating circumstances? Why don't you ask the merchants in the city? Why don't you ask the courtiers? Just mobilized the food in the palace, did he want to starve to death in the palace? ”

"Your Highness is angry, and the minister will prepare food immediately!"

Zhou Xuancai didn't believe An Ruichen's prevarication and said, "Are you preparing food? Where can you prepare? Do you want to adjust Li Xingzhi's grain? ”

An Ruichen said: "Your Highness, don't panic, the minister has an idea. Do you remember Xue Xinyu from Jinjing Lane? When the forbidden army prepared grain and grass, they would go to his house every time, and they would harvest a lot every time. ”

Zhou Xuan only thought about it for a moment before thinking of the person An Ruichen mentioned: "Are you talking about Xue Xinyu, the richest man in the capital?" Hongu remembers him as a merchant of gold and silk satin. ”

"Exactly."

"What do you mean......"

An Ruichen's voice was lowered: "I heard that although the Xue family did donate a lot of food to the forbidden army, this food is just a drop in the bucket for the Xue family. The rest of his grain had been properly stored in many places by his subordinates, and he probably wanted to sell it at a high price when the city ran out of food. ”

"How can it be!" Zhou Xuan said angrily, "What is the situation in the city now, he doesn't understand the truth of destroying his family and relieving difficulties, and he still wants to hoard Juqi!" Check it out, and if necessary, you can send the forbidden army to assist! ”

An Ruichen said: "Since the minister got the news, he has sent people to keep an eye on it. The inquirer reported that the Xue family had been acting abnormally recently, and the eldest son of the Xue family had gone out in disguise as a subordinate and returned at night; On the contrary, the subordinates of his family rarely come and go. Bo Weihou once said that the city was mixed with fine works, and the minister thought that the Xue family's strange behavior would have something to do with this matter? Will Xue Xinyu collude with the rebels? ”

Zhou Xuan's eyes lit up, and he finally understood An Ruichen's intentions. Charge Xue Xinyu with colluding with the rebels, and then confiscate all the food and property in his name, then the urgent need can be lifted. This cousin seems to be loyal and honest and has no heart, but he still used it at a critical moment!

"Okay, I'll leave this matter to you and Bo Weihou together." Zhou Xuan waved his hand and said.

An Ruichen said: "Your Highness, slow down. Think about it, if Bo Weihou finds food, the first thing he will do is to replenish the armament, and when the time comes, His Highness will ask him for it, and he will not be able to save face. It is better to quietly arrange this matter for the minister to do, and the minister promises to complete this matter before tomorrow night. ”

After An Ruichen's reminder, Zhou Xuan reacted. No matter how much grain Xue Xinyu's family has in reserve, it can't resist so many mouths. No one else can be involved in this matter. He said: "Okay, you do it yourself, you must control the heads of the Xue family first, so as not to leak the news." ”

"Yes. It's just ......" An Ruichen wanted to speak and stopped.

Zhou Xuan felt comfortable with this cousin today, and hurriedly asked, "Is there any difficulty?" Just speak out. ”

"Your Highness, forgive your courtiers. Although the Xue family is a businessman, it involves many industries, a wide geographical area, and intertwined forces. There were less than 2,000 soldiers under his command, and more than half of them had to protect the palace security, and the number was not enough. ”

"How many people do you need?"

"Your Highness, the minister's preliminary estimate is that about three thousand people are needed. The minister remembered that there were 2,000 royal forest troops in the East Palace, who specially obeyed His Highness's orders and protected His Highness's safety. The minister begged to mobilize some of them to stand by. ”

Zhou Xuan's eyes darkened.