Before winter, it snowed lightly.

Looking at this graceful and luxurious Lin'an City from afar, decorated with a little thin snow, it has a little more elegant and quiet temperament. In the north of Lin'an City, many people are gathering in front of a private garden. These people speak and behave in a very well-proportioned manner. Everyone's clothes are also very luxurious, and a palm-sized piece of mutton fat jade hangs around the waist, which is considered standard.

And these people are the people who have the highest power in the Song State today. These people are all the great yuan of the dynasty. The most inferior, it is also a second grade. In addition to holding high positions in the yamen of their own family, these people were also officials under the central secretary of the court and the Privy Council in charge of government affairs and military affairs.

At this time, a sedan chair covered with green clothes was slowly carried over, and the roof of the sedan was covered with a layer of snow. Before the sedan chair came, many people surrounded it. When the sedan chair was stable, a middle-aged man with a slender body, slightly concave cheeks, and a pair of round eyes with many deep lines at the corners of his eyes walked out of the sedan chair.

This man didn't have much to say, and when someone talked to him, he responded enthusiastically. But on the other hand, there are still two groups of people who did not join in the excitement. Judging from the facial expressions, the group of people standing at the main entrance seemed to be a little inconsistent with the group gathered in front of the sedan chair.

There is also a group of people, standing in the middle of these two groups, and it is impossible to see who they are friends with. Suddenly, the middle-aged man who had just gotten off the sedan chair slapped the fine snow that fell on his shoulder twice and said, "What's the matter, Qin Xiang hasn't come yet?"

At this time, one or two old men with gray temples replied: "Jiang Shumi doesn't know, since Qin Xiang returned to Lin'an, his body has been a little sick. Today's weather is not good, it seems that Qin Xiang can't come. ”

Listening to the title, you will know that this middle-aged man who seems to be held by the stars turns out to be the privy envoy of the current Privy Council, Jiang Qinzhou. Jiang Qinzhou smiled when he heard this: "Since the officials at all levels of the two governments have almost arrived, let's go to the mansion first." ”

As soon as Jiang Qinzhou's words fell, he saw that among the group of people standing in front of the mansion, there was a middle-aged man dressed in a gray brocade shirt, with a square face and tiger eyes, and a black and yellow beard: "Jiang Shumi's move is inappropriate, although it is said that it is a meeting between the two governments today, the three divisions are also involved." Qin Xiang not only served as the same Zhongshu under the Zhongshu Sect, but also served as the position of the Three Divisions and Provinces. And among these three major yamen, only you, the privy envoy of the Privy Council, have come, I'm afraid it's not appropriate. It would be unfair to think about it later. ”

Jiang Qinzhou smiled after hearing this: "Zhang Shilang is reasonable, but the official only took into account Qin Xiang's body, and he didn't think about it for a while. Let's wait here, when will Prime Minister Qin come, and when will we enter the mansion to discuss matters. ”

Jiang Shumi's words were serious. ”

At this point, the people stopped talking, but stood silently. Gradually, the snow began to fall heavier and heavier. It's still the middle of September, and it's located in the south, so it's so strange that it snows so much. As everyone knows, the snow in Beimang is now two feet thick.

Before they knew it, everyone had been waiting for half an hour. And all the shoulders and heads of the people were covered with snow. Suddenly, everyone only saw a rickety figure emerge from a distance. Suddenly, the three groups of people gathered together. The man approached, only to see that it was Qin Zhonghui.

After Qin Zhonghui came to everyone, he was stunned at first, and then said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, what are you stunned here?"

Jiang Qinzhou smiled and said: "We also just came out of the mansion, and we heard that Qin Xiang is here, so we specially came out to greet us." ”

Qin Zhonghui smiled and said, "Jiang Shumi...... Don't coax you to decay. Look at the snow on your bodies, it is almost half an inch thick, where has it just come out. The old man understands that you are waiting for me on purpose. This is really embarrassing for me, I felt depressed at home, so I wanted to walk around today. But it didn't come to pass, because of the whim of old decay, you all suffered. Your Excellency quickly enter the mansion, if you are frozen out of the giants of the country because of old decay, then the old decay will become a sinner for the ages. ”

Qin Zhonghui said that, and everyone smiled peacefully. Then they entered the palace and took their seats in a large house. Immediately, several maids entered the house with braziers.

After everyone roasted the fire for a while, they heard Qin Zhonghui say lightly: "Our time is urgent, please start the discussion." ”

Qin Zhonghui said, and the house was divided into three groups again, the Zhongshu Sect, the Privy Council, and the three divisions. The crowd formed a long oval circle, and in this circle were three braziers.

Seeing that everyone was speechless, Jiang Qinzhou smiled and was the first to speak: "Qin Xiang only relied on his own strength to retreat from the army of the king of Shuzhong to the north, and Qin Xiang can be said to have made great contributions. ”

Qin Zhonghui held an iron tong in his hand, and he used the long tong to stir the coals in the brazier. Listening to Jiang Qinzhou's words, his face did not show sadness and joy. He just lowered his head and said lightly: "What kind of merit is this, although the king of Shu Zhong has withdrawn his troops, but when he retreated, where did those soldiers under him flee to, and where they are hiding now, we don't know anything, and we don't know when they will come back! Lord Jiang, protect the emperor, your Privy Council and the military department, but you have a great responsibility." ”

Jiang Qinzhou said with a smile: "This is natural, but I think that since the King of Shu is dead, his subordinates should not make any big moves in the short term." The first thing we should watch out for now is the tiger wolf in Beimang, the Liao State that covets my Great Song Dynasty. As far as I know, the Liao people have already shown signs of southward invasion. We have experienced the power of the Liao people, so we should pay more attention to them......"

"Bang!"

Qin Zhonghui suddenly knocked the brazier with that tong, which immediately made everyone jump, and at the same time interrupted Jiang Qinzhou's unfinished words.

"Since we are talking about the Liao people, I want to ask, how are the fortifications on the border that are connected with the walls of the city being built?"

Jiang Qinzhou glanced at him, he rubbed his hands and said: "Although this matter belongs to my Privy Council, in fact, it has always been handled jointly by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War. ”

After Qin Zhonghui looked up at the square-faced man, he said in a deep voice: "Zhang Jun, Zhang Shilang, Master Zhang." How's the fortification going?"

Half an hour ago, the man who stopped Jiang Qinzhou was the squire of the Ministry of Works, Zhang Jun. As soon as Zhang Jun heard Qin Zhonghui's question, he hurriedly replied: "Qi Qin Xiang, this fortification of building walls in the city, at first glance, sounds easy. However, the difficulty of actually building it is no different from the construction of the Great Wall by Qin Shi Huang. Only 12 ...... of its fortifications have been built so far."

"Bang! bang!"

Qin Zhonghui knocked the brazier three times in a row, and this knock was a splash of sparks.

"In three years, you have only cultivated 12/12! How did you, the squire of the Ministry of Works, the deputy envoy of the Privy Council, become a servant!"

Before he could answer, a middle-aged man with a round face spoke, "Qin Xiang, this really can't be blamed on Master Zhang. Although it is easy to build fortifications, it is also necessary to have enough capital to support it. Soon after our Great Song Dynasty moved south, we had to make silver in all aspects. It is difficult for a clever daughter-in-law to cook without rice, and Master Zhang has no silver in his hand, so this work has been put on hold. ”

Qin Zhonghui said lightly: "Lord Zuo, you don't need to excuse Zhang Shilang. His ineffectiveness is small, but the delay in the military is big. Zhang Shilang, I order you that this work must be half completed before the spring of next year!"

Zhang Jun smiled bitterly: "Qin Xiang, you are really embarrassed to be an official. Not to mention the military expenses of the soldiers in the border area, let's just say that the Chinese military officials of this dynasty, as well as the emperor's silver for repairing the inner and Jianghui Prefectures to control the floods, have not yet landed. And from whence he squeezed out the money to build the fortifications? ”

Qin Zhonghui looked left and right, and suddenly he giggled: "The old man understands, the old man understands! Ladies and gentlemen, you are complaining that the old man has emptied the silver in the treasury." Damn it, damn it!"

"Qin Xiang, you are serious. Your every move is obvious to all. Aren't you spending money to keep my Great Song Dynasty's Jiangshan Sheji?" Qin Zhonghui said with a smile.

Qin Zhonghui nodded and said, "Even if the old man dies, he will never regret it." Because you are still sitting here, money is something outside of your body, and as long as you are still here, we can overcome this difficulty. ”

At this time, a thin white-haired old man who was older than Qin Zhonghui's face said lightly: "But the lack of silver in the government and the opposition is indeed a clear hurdle, and it is also a fact that we have to find a way to get through." I don't know Qin Xiang, what do you think?"

Qin Zhonghui smiled and said: "Lord Lu, you are the elder of the Three Dynasties, and you don't dare to call yourself old in front of you." With such qualifications, I don't know how many winds and waves I have seen, and such difficulties must not be worth mentioning in the eyes of Lord Lu. I would like to make a few suggestions, and I hope that Lord Lu can help check the gates. ”

"Qin Xiang has tormented the old man. ”

Qin Zhonghui shook his head and said: "Since all of you here are officials, you must be the emperor and the Great Song Dynasty's Jiangshan Sheji. It doesn't matter if we suffer a little, but we can't let the emperor worry about us, this is our duty as courtiers. Therefore, the expenses in the palace for the coming year cannot be less. As for military spending, it should not be less. The salaries of the hundred officials of the imperial court were halved for local officials, and the salaries of courtiers were halved for two years. What do you think?"

When Jiang Qinzhou heard this, he was about to speak, but Zhang Jun took the lead, and he said: "Naturally, there is no problem, but our money is only a drop in the bucket for filling the deficit of the treasury." ”

Qin Zhonghui said lightly: "Mountaineering did not say that it can be climbed in one step, and it is precisely because of the huge loss that we have to save from the micro end." We have to set an example as courtiers, and as for the big part of the loss, the old man feels that the taxes in the coming year will rise. ”

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar even when they heard it.

The old man spoke at this time: "Don't you know that the last time the temporary taxation was levied in several provinces near Lin'an, it was already full of public grievances. In recent years, natural disasters have continued in the states of the Great Song Dynasty, and if more taxes are levied under such circumstances, won't it cost the lives of the common people? If the people's resentment breaks out and there is a sword and war disaster, our Great Song Dynasty will really be in the midst of internal and external troubles. ”

Jiang Qinzhou frowned, and he spoke: "Lord Lu is inevitably a little worried, the people of my Great Song Dynasty regard the emperor as a god and a father. As long as they know that this move is for the benefit of the country and the emperor, then they will not have any complaints. ”

Hearing this, the old man sneered and said: "Jiang Shumi, you were born in a family of eunuchs, and you are in a high position, where do you know the suffering of the people!"

"Yes, Lord Lu is reasonable, but I owe it to me. Jiang Shumi, you and Lao Yu are both the heads of the two governments, and you have the responsibility to remind Lao Yu not to do anything wrong. ”

Jiang Qinzhou furrowed his brows and smiled slightly: "It's not that I don't remind Qin Xiang, but I confirm the same opinion as Qin Xiang." As everyone knows, Jiang Qinzhou's palms hidden in his sleeves have been tightly clenched into fists.

Qin Zhonghui said lightly: "Lord Lu is reasonable, the people have really suffered in the past few years! The old man said that the collection of taxes does not mean that it will be collected several times and several times. In my opinion, this tax still needs to be levied more, but the upper limit cannot exceed 20% of the tax paid in the distance. As for the perennial disasters and the people's livelihood, we not only can't levy more taxes, but also reduce or reduce taxes. Lord Lu, what do you think of what I mean?"

The old man sighed lightly and said, "That's it." However, at the beginning of the southward migration, more taxes were levied, which was really against the will of the people. ”

Zhang Jun said with a smile: "Since this tax cannot be levied more, it is tantamount to a fantasy to make up for the various expenses in the coming year." ”

Qin Zhonghui said lightly: "Why are we short of silver, it's not because the Liao people took away Beimang, so that the north and the south can't trade." ”

After Qin Zhonghui said that, someone accosted him: "What Qin Xiang said is extremely true, but the lower official has a suggestion. ”

"Speak. ”

The man laughed: "According to the humble opinion of the lower officials, if we want to fill the treasury, then we have to start with the merchants." Your Excellency should also know that when my Great Song Dynasty moved south, many wealthy merchants stayed in Beimang. Moreover, Beimang has a vast territory, and there are many large and small landlords and squires. These people have silver in their hands, but as soon as the north and the south are separated, they can rarely enjoy the silk and delicacies produced in the south. Why don't we transport the silk and beauty of the southern specialties to the north to exchange them for their silver?"

Jiang Qinzhou raised his eyebrows after hearing this: "I'm afraid this move is inappropriate, now that the situation in Song and Liao is tense, we should reduce contact with it, and we can't let the Liao people catch our handle." ”

Qin Zhonghui nodded and said, "Jiang Shumi's words are reasonable, and Lord Shang's proposal is also reasonable. The old man wants to combine the suggestions of the two of you. Now that the king of Shu has died, the last barrier that blocked the direct contact between my Great Song Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Southern Regions is gone. As far as Lao Yu knows, although the sixteen countries of the Southern Regions are located in the wilderness, the most important thing they lack is gold, silver and jewelry. In ancient times, Zhang Qian had access to the Western Regions, so we can also do business with the Southern Regions. ”

Before Qin Zhonghui's words fell, several people echoed in unison. But there are many people who remain silent. Qin Zhonghui squinted his eyes slightly, observing everyone's faces. But in the end, his gaze was fixed on the old man surnamed Lu: "Lord Lu, what do you think?"

The old man said in a deep voice: "Although this move is debatable, it is at least better than racking your brains to search for people's fat and ointment." ”

Qin Zhonghui smiled, he looked at Jiang Qinzhou again and asked, "Jiang Shumi, what do you think?"

Jiang Qinzhou smiled and said: "I am in charge of the military, and I don't know anything about financial matters. However, although the sixteen countries of the Southern Regions have been divided in recent years, it is still unknown whether they really don't have the idea of fighting my Great Song Dynasty, or whether they are afraid that the Shuzhong Royal Mansion will not dare to go north. I'm worried that now that the king of Shuzhong is dead, and the garrison in the south is empty, will they take advantage of the weakness to enter? If they really want to raise troops, then trading with them is probably just a fleeting thought. ”

Qin Zhonghui smiled and said: "Jiang Shumi's words are reasonable, but it is the duty of your privy envoy to prevent the southern barbarians from invading my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Qin Zhonghui's words blocked Jiang Qinzhou back, which meant that each performed his own duties.

At this time, someone said: "Prime Minister Qin, I don't know what the imperial court should do with the Shuzhong Palace?"

Qin Zhonghui said lightly: "The palace of Shuzhong can't be moved, and Zhao Qingting is nominally a meritorious minister who begs for thieves." Not only can we not touch the palace in Shuzhong, but we must reward it. ”

"But the hundreds of thousands of troops under the Shuzhong Palace, I don't know where to hide, this is always a worry. ”

Qin Zhonghui smiled and said: "The minister without a master, in the final analysis, is just an empty shelf. You may not know that the king of Shu married his only princess before he died. In doing so, he is looking for a successor. If we want to prevent the remnants of the Shuzhong Palace, then we should hold the concubine of the Shuzhong Palace. According to what the old man saw, he transferred the horse master to Lin'an and arranged a vacant position for him in the court. In this way, it not only gave enough face to the Shuzhong Palace, but also gave the court an explanation. ”

Zhang Jun smiled after hearing this: "Prime Minister Qin's move is really clever, killing two birds with one stone." ”

The carbon in the brazier made two crackling sounds from time to time. This is like the thoughts of everyone in the field, the surface is pitch black dust, but inside, there is a hot surge. But everyone in the field didn't know at this time that the horse master of the Shuzhong Wangfu that they wanted to control in their hands was already on the way to Beimang at this time.

Today, Beimang is covered with heavy snow.

It was as if all the problems had returned to their original place, looking at the vast land of Beimang. Dong Ping couldn't help but see the snow in front of him a few months ago. Compared with the two, the scenery is not much different, but its mood has changed dramatically.

This snow, which covers thousands of miles, will be a year of abundant snow, or the eternal night of winter. Dong Ping didn't know, and neither did the knife in his hand. Dong Ping only knew that no matter what it was, as long as it was in his way, he and the knife in his hand would cut it off together.

The edge is three feet cold, and it can cut through thorns and thorns, and it can also kill demons.