King of Song

Chapter 526 Same Day Festival

"How much grain is there in the north?" Zhao Xu asked after being silent for a long time.

If there is a problem with the main canal artery, we can only rely on the storage in the north.

"Returning to Your Majesty, there is a lot of grain in Bianjing, and it can only last for more than the first half of the year; the situation in other places is even more serious. If you use the treasury, including...including the Changping warehouse, it should be able to last for two March! "

The officials of the third division were very cautious when answering, especially when they mentioned Chang Pingcang, which was particularly sensitive in the Song Dynasty.

Sure enough, both Zhao Xu's and Wang Anshi's faces were slightly gloomy. If the Changping warehouse was used, the reform would inevitably be stranded.You know, last year's reform has just started to improve, and they don't want to give up halfway.Although a drought has occurred, how long will this drought last?Maybe it won't be long before it will pass!
"How is the food stored in the people's homes?"

The officials of the third department who are familiar with the inside story are quite helpless. With such a high interest rate on young crop money, how much can the common people earn after working for a year?Famines have actually begun to appear in some places now, and as the drought intensifies, I am afraid it will become more serious.It's just that the officials asked like this, do you want to tell the truth?After hesitating for a long time, he whispered: "I'm afraid it's not many!"

Zhao Xu has not yet realized that his practice of hiding wealth in the country has seriously affected the assets of the people, and the economy of the Song Dynasty based on hiding wealth in the people is gradually precarious.

Hearing such an answer, Zhao Xu was somewhat dissatisfied, and said softly: "Let the states and counties count the people's grain storage. If there is a need for disaster relief, the grain stored in the state and county government warehouses will be used first, and the Changping warehouse must not be lightly moved!"

"Yes!" The conservative ministers present all knew that the officials were trying their best to defend Wang Anshi and the new law!Even disregarding the disaster and the current situation of the people's lives is a bit out of date.

Zhao Xu felt uneasy, and he had no choice but to do so for the present.Maybe the drought won't be too bad, maybe the rains will come soon and the disaster will ease.Zhao Xu comforted himself like this, but he didn't know that around this disaster, a storm against political reform was brewing, and the core of the storm was definitely not just Wang Anshi.

"Your Majesty, food is one aspect. For the current plan, how to fight the drought and find a way to restore water transportation is the top priority!"

Some food reserves, at least you can not panic. Drought relief is indeed the top priority, but it may be difficult to implement.Now everything is in a mess, so a complete plan cannot be produced for a while.

"The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Third Division immediately began to formulate strategies for drought relief and disaster relief. As for the matter of water transportation, I will hand it over to the Ministry of Industry!" Zhao Xu gave a random order and wanted to leave in a hurry. There are too many troublesome things these days, and his pressure is not enough Small, a little tired.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Zongyi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, came out suddenly and reported: "Your Majesty, please, will the celebration of Tongtian Festival continue as usual?"

Tongtian Festival, the birthday of the emperor in the Song Dynasty, is a major festival of the year.Hundreds of officials and envoys from various countries came to congratulate, and banquets and related celebrations will also be held.Zhao Xu's birthday is on the tenth day of April, which is only six or seven days away.

Originally, this kind of thing was procedural, and the Ministry of Rites should have prepared it earlier.However, this year's situation is quite special. With such a severe drought, should the celebration be canceled in consideration of public opinion, or should the scale be reduced?For this reason, Zhang Zongyi couldn't make up his mind, and out of caution, it was best to ask Zhao Xu for instructions.

Zhao Xu hesitated a little, Tongtian Festival was his birthday, and it was his time to show off his might.On the occasion of the New Year, a series of happy events made Zhao Xu very proud, and he thought about having a good time on the same day, so that the real ministers and envoys from various countries could show off their power once.

However, such a thing happened suddenly. The wise kings in ancient times had to be frugal, especially when disasters happened, and they had to lead by example.If the celebration of the same day festival is held at this time, it may be criticized by people, and it may even cause dissatisfaction among the people.For a while, he was in a difficult situation.

"Have all the envoys from various countries arrived?"

"arrive!"

"Then it's business as usual!" After finishing speaking, Zhao Xu got up and left, and it was almost natural to miss the one who was showing off his might.Let alone lose face in front of Liao, Xixia and other foreign countries because of this.

Fu Bi felt something was wrong, the celebration had to be held, but it must not be too grand and luxurious.It's just that the old man Fu Xianggong didn't intend to persuade him. Han Qi's experience was a big warning to him. Zhao Xu is not a good guy, and he wants to be wise and protect himself at an advanced age.As he got older, he no longer had the awe-inspiring perseverance of the past, and the young emperor was not a monarch like Renzong, so he was very disappointed.Why bother?Do you have to make a late festival?People are more or less selfish.

Sima Guang wanted to persuade him, and now he is a member of the government as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, and he is also one of the ministers of the two governments.It's just that Sima Xianggong is different from previous years. Although he still opposes the reform, it is not as fierce as before.They have already failed once, and the method will naturally change.Of course, this was also the result of constant persuasion from friends Shao Yong and Zhang Zai when they were in Luoyang.

Maybe one day, the officials will repent!Sima Guang silently looked forward to it!On weekdays, he doesn't talk much, but today's incident does not involve political reform or party struggle, but concerns the emperor's image and benevolence. He feels it is necessary to remind him.It's just that Zhao Xu didn't give him this chance at all, so he turned and left.

Sima Guang looked at the figure who disappeared behind the curtain, and suddenly felt inexplicably lost in his heart!

Zhang Zongyi remained calm, Shangshu was already his highest position, and he did not expect to be the prime minister of the two governments and eight princes.He also doesn't have so many so-called integrity, and is more concerned with practical interests, so he will not easily go against the emperor's will.In fact, as the Minister of Rites, he has the right to speak in this matter, but in the end he didn't say a word and kicked the ball to Zhao Xu himself.

He didn't care what the result would be, Zhang Zongyi accepted the order happily, turned around and went to arrange the celebration of the same day festival, ignoring the slightly contemptuous looks of his colleagues.The officials said that the celebration will continue as usual, that is, it will be held grandly!

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In April, the weather is a little bit hot.

Lin Zhao sat upstairs in the Jiangnan residence, sipping tea and enjoying the cool air. The weeping willows on the Bian River in the distance were still verdant, but after all, they didn’t have the same smell as when it was misty and rainy.There are many ships moored on both sides of the Bian River, but there is no busy scene of loading and unloading as in the past. It is a fact that the canal is shallow and the transportation is impassable.

Zhao Xu sighed softly, the drought came as expected, but he didn't expect it to be more severe than imagined!

"Li Cheng, our ships are all back!"

"[-]% came back, and when the remaining [-]% ​​are still in Huainan, the Sizhou area will not be able to travel together."

Lin Zhao was already very content with such a result. It was really not easy to rush to transport grain from Jianghuai to the north in three months.

"How's the stockpiling situation?"

"Basically met the expectations. The [-]% didn't come back in time, so the suzerain secretly absorbed the stocks of other grain merchants. At that time, the price was not high, so we absorbed a lot. But now, those grain merchants have reacted."

"Enough!" Lin Zhao hesitated for a moment, and then smiled wryly: "How can it be possible? I don't know how much food will be needed in this drought! By the way, what is the price of food in Bianjing now?"

"The price has more than doubled!"

"Hmph, I originally thought about buying as much food as possible to help more people, but now it seems like a drop in the bucket! But one thing, with so many bargaining chips in our hands, we can lower the price of food and prevent those profiteers By bullying the market and taking the opportunity to ask for prices, the life of the people may be a little easier!"

This is an indisputable fact that whenever wars and famines occur, food prices will inevitably rise.This is a good opportunity for grain merchants to take advantage of the opportunity to drive up grain prices, making it even worse for the people to buy grain.Lin Zhaosi thought about it, even if all the food in his hands was donated, how many people could he save?It can be used to stabilize food prices, so it can be regarded as a snack for the people!Of course, it also helped Zhao Xu to a certain extent.

"Yes, I will order it down at once."

Lin Zhao asked again: "Is the matter of our grain purchase still a secret?"

"Although Meng's firm also bought a lot, it is also in line with the handwriting of a big firm. You can use it on the bright side." Li Chengdao: "Mingyuezong has invested a lot here, with Bianjing, Luoyang, Damingfu, and even Qi A total of 53 grain stores in the prefecture purchased grain in the name of grain, transported it to the north in turn, and stored it separately, so there was no problem at all.”

"That's good!" Lin Zhao smiled lightly, and Di Qing was naturally extremely safe in handling things.

"How about Zheng Xia?" Lin Zhao was playing a big game of chess, and this step was crucial.

"It's not bad. Xu Rong and him have become friends who can talk about everything and never get along with each other."

"That's good, let him pay attention recently, it's almost time!"

Li Chengdao: "This is no problem, it's just that the timing is difficult to control!"

"It's really difficult!" Lin Zhao pondered for a long time, and said, "Secretly look for someone who can read the weather. It's not without trace. Sometimes you have to take a gamble!"

That's what they said, but they still hope in their hearts that they can be absolutely safe and hit a hit.But the celestial phenomena are unpredictable, and it is difficult to be absolutely sure!Also, the emperor ordered to come down to repair the canal, and finding a way to restore the water transportation is also a troublesome thing!

Suddenly, a noise came from the street outside the window, Li Cheng quickly walked to the window to have a look, and said in a low voice: "Young Master, the envoy of the Liao Kingdom has arrived!"

"Liao country envoy?"

"Yes, the tenth day of April is the same day's festival. I heard that Zhao Xu will hold it grandly."

"Same Day Festival? Grandly held? I'm afraid Zhao Xu will be disappointed!" Lin Zhao snorted coldly, the corners of his mouth became more gloomy!
(End of this chapter)