serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 372

The sky was gloomy, the rainstorm never stopped, and the wind became strong again.

Outside the cabinet duty room, two clerks, one on each side, stood on both sides of the door holding their breath and lowering their heads.

Wang Hetang, the chief minister of the cabinet, walked out into the strong wind. The corners of his robe and skirt were lifted up by the wind. The cold wind brought the smell of rain and blew his beard, which was mostly white, to flutter messily.

Niu Jizong walked over and whispered: "Chief Assistant, it's windy outside, be careful of catching a cold!"

Wang Hetang stood there in a daze, staring blankly at the endless rain outside the house.

Niu Jizong sighed, helped Wang Hetang back to the check-in room, and closed the door.

The second assistant, Zhao Zixun, was sitting sullenly on a chair under the north window.

Li Shouzhong and Shi Guangzhu sat silently on the chairs next to the big case, one on each side.

With the support of Niu Jizong, Wang Hetang sat down on the chair behind the case, still looking ahead.

"You said it!"

Zhao Zixun suddenly stood up, "What on earth is going on?"

Li Shouzhong and Shi Guangzhu just looked at Wang Hetang blankly.

"Ah~"

Wang Hetang came to his senses. On the big case were placed side by side an official document from the governor's office in Shaanxi reporting a disaster and an urgent delivery from the northwest to demand food and wages.

Niu Jizong: "Shaanxi can no longer support the army in the northwest. Let's first transfer grain from the Tongzhou military grain depot."

Zhao Zixun: "The Tongzhou Military Grain Depot has just transferred [-] stones of grain and rice out of customs. The remaining grain cannot be moved anymore!"

Li Shouzhong said: "Then allocate it from the outer city grain depot."

Zhao Zixun sighed: "In the past six months, the grain depot outside the city has only been inaccessible. It is about to bottom out."

Everyone was silent.

Li Shouzhong stood up and walked slowly: "Now we not only have to squeeze out some grain to support the army in the northwest, but also adjust grain to Shaanxi for disaster relief. The grain reserves in the capital are definitely not enough."

Zhao Zixun: "Damn the Xiyi people, if they hadn't caused trouble in Nanyang, there would not have been a food crisis in the imperial court!"

"Let's not talk about the past!"

Wang Hetang made a decision, "Immediately adjust grain to the northwest, and Shaanxi must also adjust grain to provide disaster relief. In addition, we cannot just wait for the grain from Liangjiang and Nanyang to ask the Ministry of Household Affairs to send people to several major grain-producing provinces to purchase grain. , purchasing their stored grain from local merchants at market prices.”

Zhao Zixun hesitated: "What if those merchants refuse to sell grain at market prices?"

"Then let the general military offices of various places come forward to pressure them to sell food!"

Wang Hetang suddenly showed a majesty that made everyone awe-inspiring, "Those who rebel have always been the common people who work on the land. I have never heard that merchants can cause trouble. If the food in the hands of merchants is not enough, then squeeze it out from the gentry and big households."

After a pause, "In short, there cannot be a food shortage in the north!"

Zhao Zixun and Niu Jizong looked at each other: "Listen to the chief minister, we will do it immediately." After saying that, the two walked out.

It was raining harder and harder outside.

Wang Hetang looked at Shi Guangzhu again: "What's going on with Shi Ding and Zhao Yi? They haven't been able to put down the rebellion in the northwest for so long! It was also the turn of spring and summer when troops were sent. At this time last year, the prince had already swept across Mobei Mongolia. On the grassland, the loot is transported to the capital one by one. The princes fight to make money, so they are lucky. Not to mention the labor and money, they still cannot find the main force of the rebels for a decisive battle."

Shi Guangzhu spoke: "It's different. The herdsmen in the Mobei grassland sincerely welcomed the imperial army and hoped that the official army would defeat the Rakshasa people. On the contrary, in the northwest, the Han people and the local people who were loyal to the imperial court had long since rebelled. They were massacred by the rebels at the beginning. There are enemies everywhere."

Li Shouzhong also added: "Don't be anxious, Chief Assistant. The most important thing right now is food. As long as we have food, all problems can be solved."

Shi Guangzhu hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "There is something I only heard about in the past few days. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is doing business with Korean Tatars, food business."

Wang Hetang's expression suddenly changed: "Is this happening?!"

Shi Guangzhu nodded and continued: "One tael of silver, one tael of grain and rice, a total of 40 shi. I heard that from this transaction, the Ministry of Internal Affairs made a net profit of more than [-] taels of silver!"

Wang Hetang: "Damn it! These bastards!" Li Shouzhong suddenly said in shock: "Did the emperor give them orders to do this?"

Shi Guangzhu waved his hand: "No. Your Majesty knows the current situation of the court better than anyone else."

Wang Hetang stood up suddenly, walked quickly to the clothes rack, picked up an oil coat and put it on, and said: "Go to the study, I want to ask what is going on!" After that, he walked out directly. .

The two quickly put on their oil coats and chased out.

Outside, it was still raining heavily.

There were four bowls of hot dishes and two drawers of steaming steamed buns on the small dining table. Butler Lin was sitting at the table, taking a mouthful of steamed buns and a mouthful of porridge. He ate with relish. From time to time he looked up at the door, where Jia Hu and Lin Daiyu were standing. Joking there.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Butler Lin began to look at real estate in Dongcheng. The three large houses with good locations all had owners. The others were either in bad locations or the standards of the houses were too low to be worthy of Lin Ruhai's status. He originally thought that this one Things can only be discussed later.

Unexpectedly, before leaving Beijing, the emperor opened his mouth and sold this large mansion belonging to the royal family to Lin Ruhai at the market price. He was left by Lin Ruhai to take care of the mansion, and then rushed back after waiting for people from the south.

The reason why he chose Dongcheng was not only for the convenience of entering the court, but also because of Lin Ruhai's reputation. If he went to Xicheng, he couldn't bypass Jia Hu. No matter how much money he paid, others would think that Lin Ruhai had taken advantage of his son-in-law, or a huge advantage.

A gust of wind blew up, and Jia Hu stepped forward to protect Lin Daiyu from the wind.

Lin Daiyu smiled: "I'm not that delicate." Looking at the sky-like rain curtain outside the house, she said: "Do you know what I envy Yun Yatou most?"

Jia Hu was stunned: "Are you envious of Xiangyun?"

Lin Daiyu: "Xiangyun always says she wants to go home when she gets angry. In the eyes of the sisters, the Shi family is her confidence. She can lose her temper without any scruples, but I can't say such things."

Jia Hu slowly looked at Lin Daiyu, and Lin Daiyu also looked at him and said with a smile: "When things are sorted out here, if you bully me, I will tell you to go home!"

Jia Hu smiled: "Conscience of heaven and earth, if you don't bully me, I will become Amitabha!"

"."

Lin Daiyu gave him a blank look and ignored him.

Jia Hu suddenly remembered: "Oh, I think the sycamore tree just now is very suitable for planting in Huifang Garden."

Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up: "Okay. Our family just lacks such a good plane tree. And the two pomegranate trees, transplant them to our backyard together."

Jia Hu: "I want to leave one pomegranate tree."

Lin Daiyu thought for a while: "Okay. When the rain subsides later, let's go to the back garden to stroll around and see if there is anything else we can take away."

At this moment, Amber, Zicuckoo, Xueyan and Xiangling walked in from the Chaoshou veranda, chatting and laughing all the way.

Seeing Lin Daiyu, Xue Yan rushed over excitedly and said with a smile: "Girl, this house is not as big as our house in Suzhou, and the back garden is much smaller. Also, there is no water pavilion in the back garden."

Jia Hu smiled and asked, "Then you are still so happy?"

Xue Yan blinked his eyes a few times and said, "Shouldn't you be happy?"

Jia Hu was startled. This little girl was not confused at all.

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and smiled, then pushed Jia Hu, "Lin San is looking for you."

Jia Hu turned around and saw Lin San standing at the other end of the corridor. Is there anyone looking for him in this weather?Thinking about it, I strode over.

Lin San came over with an envelope: "Second Master, a letter from Zhao Zixun."

Jia Hu took the letter, opened the seal and read it. Then his eyes suddenly straightened, how reckless it was!

After reading Zhao Zixun's letter, Jia Hu shook his head. This Wang Hetang was so reckless that he went to take care of the affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He folded the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve, turned around and walked back.

At this time, the sound of wind and rain subsided.

Jia Hu stepped forward and said to Lin Daiyu: "Let's go to the back garden for a walk." Then he said to Butler Lin: "Uncle Lin, you have to eat first, and we will go to the back garden for a walk." After that, he pulled Lin Daiyu walked towards the backyard.

(End of this chapter)