In April and May, there was a large-scale drought in the Han Empire, and the crops in the Guanzhong area were severely affected, and the output was reduced by more than half.

Even, due to the impact of the drought, there was a large-scale failure of tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in some powerful families, and even the seeds could not be recovered.

Among them, the most serious are the counties of Yanmen, Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and Jiuyuan in the north, because they did not dig enough aqueducts, reservoirs, and dams in advance, resulting in the reduction of crop yields and the failure of the harvest, and a great famine that occurs once in 100 years is inevitable.

Chapters and documents from all over the country flew to Chang'an City like snowflakes, except for reaching out for money and food, it seemed that few good things that made people feel comfortable had happened.

Chang'an City, Weiyang Palace.

Liu Che was so anxious that he wanted to be incompetent and angry, but he finally pressed it down, summoned the minister of civil and military affairs into the palace, and discussed how to get through the current difficulties.

Prime Minister Gongsun Hong, Danong Ling Sang Hongyang, Imperial Shi Dafu Er Kuan, Inner Minister Shi Jidian and other civil officials, everyone was on fire, their mouths were foaming, and they looked a little anxious, which made Liu Che even more angry.

Before the war with the Xiongnu, the warehouses were full, and the old grain twenty years ago was about to rot and moldy, and the mountains of coins were piled up, because they were useless and had not moved the nest for decades, and the rope that wore the money was rotten, so they could only be piled up......

Think about that season, in fact, every three or five years, there will always be such and such disasters, droughts, floods, and military disasters, and there is no need for him to be the emperor.

But!

Look at now, after several major wars, how poor the Han Empire has become?

The official warehouse has long been empty, and even the emperor's 'small treasury' is now overstretched, and even the grain, straw, and weapons of the Northern Expedition army still need to be scraped together, where will the money and grain come from for disaster relief......

"Sanfu and six counties, because of the severe drought, the crops in many places have not been harvested, and there is about to be a famine, what can you do to raise money and food for disaster relief?"

Liu Che asked with a tired face: "Does Prime Minister Gongsun have something to say?" ”

Gongsun Hong knelt down and sat down on the lower right side of the case, and when he heard the emperor's name, he hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, there is a great drought in the world this year, and the grain production in a large area of Sanfu and six counties has been reduced by seven or eight tenths, and many places may still fail to harvest. For the time being, the Taicang, Ganquancang, Huacang and Jingshi Cang near Chang'an City have a total of only 6.3 million stone grain;

Moreover, these grains are emergency reserves, and they must not be taken out lightly unless they are absolutely necessary.

As for the warehouses and arsenals in other places, after several years of war, there are almost only emergency grain reserves left, and a few days ago, Lao Chen and Da Nong Ling Sang Hongyang have calculated it, and at most 910,632 stone of grain will be raised......"

Gongsun Hong talked eloquently and knew the Han Empire's warehouse reserves well.

However, Liu Che listened to it and became more annoyed.

Although Gongsun Hong did not say it explicitly, but outside the words, anyone in the Manchu Dynasty civil and military ministers could hear that the fundamental reason why the current disaster relief money and grain could not be raised was nothing more than because the emperor insisted on fighting with the Xiongnu and emptied the warehouse.

Finally waited for Gongsun Hong to finish speaking, Liu Che looked at Sang Hongyang with a cold face: "Da Nong Ling, you can also count the account." ”

Sang Hongyang arched his hand and said: "The money and grain reserves of the warehouse and the arsenal are indeed as Prime Minister Gongsun said, and they have reached the bottom of the emergency grain reserves, and they can't get more food. ”

Liu Che nodded, looked around, and said, "Who else will settle the account?" ”

Everyone was silent.

The silence in the court made Liu Che very angry.

At the beginning, he was not long on the throne, he was still young, he was determined to start an all-out war with the Xiongnu, a failed 'Ma Yi strategy', cost countless money and food, and finally returned in vain, so that the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military ministers were silent; now, in several major battles commanded by Hou Weiqing of Changping, the Huns fought successively, and the Huns ran away with their heads, and recovered Shuofang, Jiuyuan and other large territories, which can be regarded as 'martial arts to conquer the world'.

But.

It is precisely because of these wars that most of the decades-old book of 'Wenjingzhizhi' has been knocked out, even if Gongsun Hong, Sang Hongyang and others don't say it, isn't it clear that he is the emperor?

Everyone is so passive and slacking off their work, it is just that they don't want to fight.

Think about it, think about it, at the beginning, when he, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, advocated a war with the Xiongnu, it was these ministers who had become a country to persuade one after another, and they cried blood one by one, as if this war was going to die, and as soon as the people died, they would die in the country, and the country would be destroyed, and this bullshit Han Dynasty would be gone.

It is also these so-called scholars, for the sake of temporary peace, who would rather strip and wash the good Han family girls, kneel and lick, cry and shout to the Mobei grassland, only hoping that in their lifetime, the Hun cavalry will not go south.

Also sent were grain, ironware, money, salt, gold, silver, jade, glassware, and pottery.

And also.

The face and reputation of the Han Dynasty.

All that is left is endless humiliation, anger and grievance!

[Angry hair rushes to the crown, leaning on the railing, Xiaoxiao rain rests; Raise your eyes, look up to the sky and roar, and be fierce...... Thirty merits, dust and earth, eight thousand miles of clouds and moons, don't wait for the idle young man's head, empty and sad......]

Liu Che, who was high above, silently chanted in his heart this 'masterpiece' of his nephew Cao Xiang, inexplicably moistened his eyes, and the fist hidden in his sleeve was clenched tightly, and his bones turned white;

In this world, there is still no chaos.

The Huns swear to destroy it!

Liu Che thought so, looked sideways at Wei Qing, Zhang Qian, Su Jian, Gongsun He and other generals, his face gradually relaxed, and asked indifferently: "What about you, as vulgar martial artists, in addition to being accustomed to fighting on the battlefield and fighting bravely to kill the enemy, can you have a way to raise a large amount of money and food for disaster relief?" ”

"Your Majesty, there is good news for Weichen."

Without waiting for Wei Qing to get up, Zhang Qian, Marquis of Bowang, who had always been low-key in the court, stood up, walked to the middle of the main hall, bowed down in a proper manner, and said: "Your Majesty, as far as Weichen knows, Changning Hou Yang Chuan, Pingyang Hou Cao Xiang, Yulin Captain Huo Quai, Yulin Lang Li Dang and others Tuntian Shuofang County are now harvesting summer grain and wheat, and they should be able to reap a bumper harvest;

Shuofang County newly cultivated 1.2 million acres of fertile land, of which the vast majority are on the east and west banks of the river, several of them young people organized people to dig water diversion canals along the upper reaches of the river, greatly promoting water conservancy, in other counties and even Guanzhong, when the drought spread, the fertile land in Shuofang County was watered twice before the wheat was ripe;

I heard that the water irrigated land in Shuofang County can almost harvest more than two stones of wheat for one acre of land......"

One stone of grain is about 180 catties.

'Buzz'.

Without waiting for Zhang Qian's words to fall, in the court, the Manchu Dynasty Wenwu Deng began to discuss, but it was nothing more than half-belief, since no one was convinced by the wheat that had more than two stones harvested from an acre of newly reclaimed wasteland.

Especially the big farmer Ling Sang Hongyang, he sneered again and again, stood up and asked: "Bowanghou, Shuofang County has a bumper harvest of grain, but you have seen it with your own eyes?" ”

Zhang Qian said quite coldly: "In the past half a year, a certain family has never been to Shuofang County, so naturally I have heard about it. ”

Sang Hongyang shook his head and said, "Hearsay, you also have to take it to the court to talk to Your Majesty?" ”

Zhang Qian didn't bother to pay attention to Sang Hongyang, turned to face Liu Che, bowed down again and said, "Your Majesty can send someone to Shuofang County to check on how much wheat is harvested in an acre of land, and it is naturally clear."

What Weichen wants to say is that several teenagers such as Changning Hou Yang Chuan, Pingyang Hou Cao Xiang, and Yulin Captain Huo Qubing have reclaimed 300,000 acres of barren tuntian fields in Shanglin Yuan, and they have encountered a great drought this year, but they can still reap a bumper harvest; Wechen only went there yesterday, and one acre of land can harvest 500 catties of wheat. ”

Liu Che nodded slightly, his gloomy and stiff cheeks finally slowly relaxed, and asked with a smile: "Bo Wanghou, do you mean that Yang Chuan, Cao Xiang, Huo Quzhi, Li Dang and others' tuntian can solve a part of the disaster relief grain?" ”

Zhang Qian bowed and said, "Exactly." ”

"The imperial court's large-scale implementation of the tuntian system is primarily to solve the problem of the grain and logistical supply of our border army nearby, and it is an important measure to open up the territory and expand the territory and pass through the border areas, and the grain from the tuntian should not be used."

"However, there is a great drought in the world this year, and in more than three months it will be the cold season of autumn wind, under the pressure of hunger and cold, the people will inevitably suffer a catastrophe, and the imperial court must prepare for disaster relief in advance."

These words were righteous and awe-inspiring, bright and upright, which made Liu Che feel comfortable for a while, and couldn't help but laugh: "Bo Wanghou, you were the one who cheated Yang Chuan, the Marquis of Changning, and made him almost die in Mobei, I heard that you are still angry with you now?"

Why, this time I did my best to say good things for him? ”

Zhang Qian shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty's words are ashamed to kill Weichen." ”

Liu Che observed his words and looks, and saw that Zhang Qian's big black face had already turned black and purple, obviously quite concerned about the harm to Yang Chuan back then, so it was naturally not good to continue to laugh.

He sighed and said, "Yang Chuan, Cao Xiang, Huo Quai, and Li Dang are in Shanglinyuan Tuntian for 300,000 mu, and a few of them have put too much money and grain into it, and I still want to use the harvest in the first three years."

Now, I don't know what I owe to others, but I have to reach out and ask for food, and I don't feel good in my heart. ”

Zhang Qian said: "There are urgency, and there are extenuating circumstances. ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen is willing to donate half of his family's wealth and food for this disaster relief, on the one hand, for the people of my Han Dynasty to have a bite to eat and support until the autumn grain comes down; On the other hand, it can be regarded as thanking His Majesty for his kindness over the years and relieving your worries. ”

Liu Che's eyes flashed, he nodded imperceptibly, and said with a smile: "Your family's little money, money, and food is nothing more than a drop in the bucket, and it is not used at all." ”

Zhang Qian shook his head stubbornly and said, "Accumulating a lot of small things can be regarded as a piece of Weichen's thoughts......"

Liu Che turned his head and looked at Cui Jiu, the big long gate who was napping on a pillar: "Cui Jiu, Bowang Hou Zhang Qian is willing to donate half of his family's money and food for disaster relief, you have to record it well, and when I get through this difficult time, I will definitely pay it back!" ”

Cui Jiu seemed to wake up from his sleep, half-squinted, put his hands in his sleeves, and said expressionlessly: "I wrote down ......"

……

Bowang Hou Zhang Qian took the lead in donating half of his family's wealth for disaster relief, and then Wei Qing, Su Jian, Gongsun He, Li Guang, Li Xi, Lu Bode and other generals also generously donated half of their family wealth and money for disaster relief.

In total, within three to five days, nearly 3 million stone of grain, more than 9,500 horses of silk and silk satin, etc., plus a little money and grain from the official warehouse and the inner government, could almost be carried over by the five-year drought in Yuanshuo.

Liu Che is still quite satisfied with this result.

In the end, these vulgar martial artists are straightforward, ignoring the explicit and implicit expressions and hints of civil officials, saying that they will donate and donate, and they will not shirk at all.

Correspondingly, it is Prime Minister Sun Hong and other civil officials, in the face of the hot 'pledge scene' in the court, their hearts are like water, their eyes and noses are looking at their hearts, and their hearts are not distracted, as if they are nothing, which is very ......

Well, that's impressive.

Yang Chuan, who heard about the mess in Chang'an City and was busy organizing people to grab the summer grain wheat, just chuckled and ignored it; Liu Che is short of money, but not to the point of smashing pots and selling iron.

It can only be said that the gang of old thieves in the court are not a fuel-efficient lamp.

Take Bowang Hou Zhang Qian as an example, this time it can be regarded as a big profit, not only gave Liu Che a great favor, but also gave him Yang Chuan a favor.

But.

Some loves, I'm afraid it's not clear in these two lifetimes, right?

Two life-saving graces, dozens of truckloads of Khotanese jade seeds, a 'topographic map of the Western Regions' that is enough to be famous in history, but in exchange for a trip to the 'Mobei' that is nine deaths and a lifetime, although Yang Chuan does not say it, the hurdle in his heart has never passed.

If you can't get by, you can't get by.

It's a big deal to go your own Yangguan Road, where is there time to pay attention to other people's single-plank bridges?

"The emperor wants to take half of the summer grain for disaster relief, tell me, what should I do?"

On this day, Yang Chuan, who had been busy all day, returned to Taishou Mansion and urgently summoned Cao Xiang, Huo Quzhi, Sima Qian, Dongfang Shuo and others, and explained the truth of the matter in a few words.

"Shanglinyuan's 300,000 acres of summer grain wheat in Tuntian have been harvested, and the yield is okay, about 400,000 stone of wheat has been harvested, and the emperor has taken away 200,000 stone in one sentence, and the rest, except for the selection of breeding seeds and distribution to Tuntian military households, there is not much left."

"As for the summer grain in Shuofang County, it is still being harvested, and it is estimated that it can harvest about 1.5 million stone of wheat, I mean just take out 500,000 stone."

"Shuofang County has just begun to reclaim the fields, and there are too many places that need money and food, and now there are more than 200,000 people, plus 30,000 county soldiers and nearly 2,000 Yulin Army's logistical supplies, one million stone of grain is simply not enough to eat......

Yang Chuan looked tired, lay flat on Mazhazi, and scolded angrily: "The Taishou of Yunzhong, Yanmen, Dingxiang, Jiuyuan, and Longxi counties are all-eaters?"

Why, a great drought has made our Shuofang County, which has the thinnest foundation, take out money and grain to help the victims in their places, which is simply unreasonable! ”

Cao Xiang, Huo Quzhi and others are also at a loss.

Shuofang County has just improved a little, and the imperial court is so pulled, which is tantamount to drawing wages from the bottom of the kettle; And what annoyed Yang Chuan the most was that he still let the emperor mess up the game like this, and he couldn't play the next few moves.

It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice.

The foundation of Shuofang County, which has just started, is too thin, and if you move it casually, it will hurt your muscles and bones, making it impossible to implement several 'big projects' planned by Yang Chuan.

For example, is the Han Straight Road leading from Shuofang City to the ten counties still repaired? The chain bridge across the river, can you still do it? Along the fast passage on the east and west banks of the river, still can't get it?

In particular, Tangyi's father recently went to Mobei and abducted a small tribe of more than 40 Huns, who did not have enough food, how to settle down?

"I can't come over this day."

Yang Chuan was lying on Ma Zazi and moaning, muttering non-stop, and he didn't know who he was scolding, and the whole person looked very anxious: "Whoever loves to do it, I can't do it!" ”

After all, he lost his temper, turned his head to look at Sima Qian, Dongfang Shuo, and Zhang Tang, and said with a sigh: "No way, the court's disaster relief is the overall situation, we can't drag the emperor back;

That's good, after the summer grain is harvested and returned to the warehouse, first take out 600,000 stone wheat and give it to the imperial court......"

At this moment, Zhang Anshi suddenly walked into the door quickly.

He glanced left and right, and stopped talking.

Yang Chuan stopped talking and asked, "An Shi, is there something?" ”

Zhang Anshi didn't reply immediately, but looked around, strode to Yang Chuan's side, and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Really?"

Yang Chuan sat up straight, his face became solemn and difficult to look at, and his eyes stared at Zhang Anshi faintly: "This matter is not trivial, we must reconnoiter clearly." ”

Zhang Anshi bowed and said, "It's true! ”

(End of chapter)