Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 159
An hour later, on the passage in the palace, Liu Zaili headed towards the imperial study under the leadership of the servant, with a faint look of loneliness between his brows without much expression, and the back of walking, making people look a kind of noble of decadence.

The servant seemed to feel the loneliness of the celebrity in front of the emperor, the waist leading the way became even more bent, his steps were light, and the pace was neither fast nor slow, fearing that if he was not careful, he would become a punching bag for the powerful.

After a while, Liu Zaili stood in front of Emperor Yuantai, "My lord, are you looking for me?"

"Didn't bother you to find a wife?" Emperor Yuan Tai asked with a friendly smile.

"No, of course not!" Liu Zaili clapped his hands again and again, showing a modest smile.

"Zi Li, why do I see that your heart is not high? Didn't you find a loving wife?" Yuan Tai smiled and narrowed his eyes.

"I haven't found a match yet."

"No wonder." Yuan Tai asked: "Zi Li, are you old or young?"

"Return to the Holy Lord, Zili is twenty and four this year."

"Boss is not young."

Liu Zaili smiled.

"Zi Li, you're not young, find someone who is similar and get married quickly." Emperor Yuantai did not try to persuade his little cousin as an emperor.

Liu Zaili smiled sourly, "I see, Your Majesty!"

"Would you like me to help you choose one?"

"I..." Liu Zaili raised his eyes.

"You don't want me to help you choose?"

"No, Your Majesty, help me choose a family."

Yuan Tai asked, "What kind of lady do you like?"

"Gentle and generous."

"It turns out that Aiqing likes this kind of thing." Yuan Tai smiled, "This one is easy to find, I will ask the queen to help you look, and I will find you a satisfactory wife in two days."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your love."

"Give Yan Cheng a seat."

"Yes, my lord."

The waiter took a chair and put it on the side of the dragon case, "Prince, please—"

Liu Zaili sat on the chair with a peaceful expression, waiting for Emperor Yuantai to speak, wondering what he wanted to tell him, if only he sent him to the north.

"Zi Li—"

"My lord—"

Emperor Yuantai seemed to be talking homely: "How is Liangzhou City?"

Liu Zaili replied: "Xia Zhen hasn't returned to Pingding since he went there in February of the first year."

"Tell me about the specific situation."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Zaili told the news he had discovered, "Xia Zhen used the money to build the underground canal, and now he uses the money to buy farm tools and distribute seeds to the people in the fields."

Yuan Tai sighed, and handed him the paper in front of him, "Not only that, he also re-appointed the officials of Liangzhou City, this is the paper he wrote."

"The Holy One means..."

Yuan Tai said with emotion: "Liangzhou City is three thousand miles away, and I can't manage that far away. Besides, he is the king of the county, and appointing officials under his jurisdiction is not considered a hairpin."

"The Holy One said so."

"It's hard for him to repair canals, buy farm tools, fight wars, and spend money everywhere."

Liu Zaili heard the implication, "The Holy One means that you want to give him money?" This is obviously not what he wants to ask, but as a schemer, he can only ask this way.

"He didn't apply to me for money."

Sure enough, as I guessed, what the emperor was interested in was that he spent so much money to build canals and buy seeds to plant the fields, which was not a small sum of money, but he said this: "Maybe... After all, he fought a lot of battles this summer."

"Do countries like Jin and Liao have so much silver for Xia Zian to rob?" Yuan Tai no longer concealed it, and asked directly, with the meaning in his eyes that you should hurry to find out.

Liu Zaili stood up: "Your Majesty, do you want me to go to the north?"

Emperor Yuantai sighed: "Last year, there was a severe flood, and the national treasury has not been relieved until now!"

Emperor Yuantai didn't say anything, and waited for him to say something, Liu Zaili had to say: "Although the land in the north is poor, it has a lot of minerals. Almost all the iron and nitrate used in the treasury's weapons come from the north. Has it been handed over to the treasury in time?"

"It's all paid. The prefect of Yizhou is Mr. Yao, and he pays up on time every year."

Liu Zaili raised his eyes, "Your Majesty, you mean that the other four prefectures didn't pay?"

"Ah... Zili, now the four mansions are also under Xia Zian's jurisdiction, and he asked Mr. Yao to hand over, but I have heard the late emperor say that there are many gold mines in the north, but those few belong to them all the time. The national treasury, and with the long-term logging, the amount of gold is getting less and less, and it is not enough to chew."

"Your Majesty means..."

Yuan Tai's face was no longer easy-going, and he was sharp: "I have asked the Ministry of Industry to find a lot of skilled craftsmen, and I have also found two capable people. Zili, you will take them to the north to explore gold mines to ease the cost of the national treasury. "

Liu Zaili raised his eyes: "Your Majesty... I have never been in contact with such things, will I..."

"It's okay, I asked you to do it, don't worry."

"Mining requires skills, but I don't understand."

"Didn't I just give you the manpower, let go and do it, I believe in you."

Liu Zaili looked at the emperor, paused for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my best."

The emperor suddenly narrowed his eyes and said: "Yizhou is the territory of the Xia family, and Liangzhou is now stationed in the Xia family. I heard that there are many mountains in Xiangzhou..."

Liu Zaili understood what he meant, and raised his eyes to answer, "Yes, I understand!" He knew that the emperor must have found something.

"Well, make good preparations and go to Xiangzhou Mansion in the spring of next year."

"Yes, my lord."

After leaving the palace, Liu Zaili returned to Prince Ning's mansion. Concubine Ning grabbed her son happily, fearing that he would run away again, "Zi Li, mother has found you a good wife, hurry up and see each other."

Liu Zaili smiled lightly, "Concubine Mu, don't worry about my marriage."

"What's the matter, have you found something you like?"

Liu Zaili shook his head: "The Holy Majesty has already helped me choose a wife."

"My lord...isn't he not interfering in your marriage?" Concubine Ning looked at King Ning.

King Ning asked his son: "Has the emperor sent you another errand?"

"Yeah." Liu Zaili lowered his eyelids.

King Ning sighed: "Being born in a family like ours and enjoying the overwhelming wealth, there must be something to lose. Tang'er, don't worry about his marriage."

Concubine Ning sighed as if she had lost her breath: "Understood, what kind of errand did the emperor give you to ask him to marry you?"

"It's nothing."

Concubine Ning knew that her son didn't want to tell her, so she stood up, "I'm going out to take charge, you father and son can talk." After speaking, she left the room.

King Ning said: "Could it be related to the gold mine?"

"How does the father know?"

King Ning grinned, "The Xia family is making a lot of noise in Liangzhou Mansion. They are fighting wars and repairing canals. Now I heard that they are going to fight to plant winter wheat. Isn't there millions of taels of silver to get it?"

Liu Zaili sneered, "Even you know."

"The Great Wei Dynasty has been either civil war or drought or flood in the past few years. It has long been poor, and everyone's eyes are on it. There is a disturbance there, and we have already inquired about it."

Liu Zaili smiled, "Go to Xiangzhou Mansion after the Chinese New Year."

King Ning said: "Go, before, I didn't let you get involved in the royal affairs, I wanted you to be a rich and idle person, but since the last time the two kings competed for the throne, I can understand that this is not something that I can avoid if I want to. Yes, it's just hard work on you, my son."

"Thank you, Father, for your understanding."

"A companion is like a tiger, so be careful."

"Ah."

Before you know it, the winter solstice is coming. Once the winter solstice is over, the Chinese New Year is not far away. The dinner at home has been prepared. Ma Meier has been waiting for a while, but the attendants around the husband did not come back today to report him eating there Alcohol, she thought, do you want to come back to eat?Let the servant add two more dishes.

Touching her swollen belly, and thinking about the human relations in Beijing, I am afraid that this year will be very busy.

"Meier—"

"Husband, you are back!" Ma Meier rushed forward.

"Stand still, it's cold and slippery outside." Zhao Yuyan quickly stepped into the main hall.

"Husband, don't you have any entertainment today?"

"Yes, I pushed."

Ma Meier looked at her husband, "I feel that you have been socializing less these days."

Zhao Yuyan supported Ma Meier to sit down, then took off his outer robe, "It's missing."

"Why?"

Zhao Yuyan replied: "On the one hand, I am already a little familiar with this place, on the other hand..."

"what's wrong?"

Zhao Yuyan waved his hand, and the servants inside and outside the hall withdrew one after another.

"Husband..."

"Don't worry, it's none of my business."

"That is……"

Zhao Yuyan replied: "The king of Beijun has made a lot of noise in Liangzhou City. People in Beijing know that I know him well, so they often come to inquire about news."

"What movement?"

"Building canals and farming."

"What is this?" Ma Meier asked puzzled.

Zhao Yuyan smiled: "For ordinary people, this is indeed a trivial matter, but for a place like Liangzhou Prefecture, where there are many mountains and little rain, it is a great event."

"I don't understand."

Zhao Yuyan said: "Let's put it this way, it takes a little manpower to build a canal in the south of the Yangtze River, but in the north where there is less rain and more mountains, building a canal can't be done without 10 taels of silver."

Ma Meier frowned: "10 taels, isn't it normal for someone like Beijun Wang, isn't it too much?"

"Yes, one is not many, the problem is, they have repaired five."

"So that's how it is." Ma Meier is not an ordinary housewife, she immediately understood.

Zhao Yuyan said: "Besides, Liangzhou is really poor and poor. The common people don't have farm tools. They are all provided by the king of Beijun. I heard that every businessman who went there came back with a full pocket. item, it went down to nearly 20 taels."

Ma Meier raised her head in surprise, "Speaking of which, the king of Beijun spent millions of taels on building canals and planting land?"

"Ah."

"God, with this money, I can buy a lot of food."

Zhao Yuyan shook his head and smiled: "That's different. Buying grain is temporary, but farming is a matter of eternity."

"The king of Beijun has a long-term vision."

Zhao Yuyan laughed: "I was thinking of being his backing in the Ministry of Households, but I didn't expect..."

Ma Mei'er comforted: "Husband, it's fine if you get what you want."

Zhao Yuyan shook his head: "I have already applied to the emperor, and I will go to Yushitai after the next year."

"What, Husband, what are you..." Ma Meier said in surprise.

Zhao Yuyan said: "Since I want to help him and build connections for myself, I want to help him in the next year."

"But when you go to Yushitai, you are also a small speech officer, and you have no part to speak at all."

Zhao Yuyan said: "It doesn't matter, at least you can get to know the people in Yushitai and reduce the chance of being bombed."

Ma Meier looked at her husband worriedly, Yushitai is a thankless place, without a certain reputation, just a soy sauce.

"Don't worry, Meier, I'll get out of here."

"Husband..." Ma Meier stretched out her hand to hold his hand, "Be careful!" She actually wanted him to give up, but she knew that men have their own considerations and their own world.

It was so cold, Ma Meier hadn’t left the house yet, so she went to a room without a charcoal fire to get things. When she returned to the room with a charcoal fire, her hands and feet were already so cold that she stomped her feet, “God, why is it so cold? .”

"I asked someone, Liangzhou City is so cold."

Ma Miner asked worriedly, "Then how did the people here survive?"

Shan Xiaodan smiled, "Little Boss, man, I'll get used to it as long as it's cold."

"That's true." Ma Min'er sat by the stove and dried her hands, "What's for dinner?"

"My mother said to eat, fry some light side dishes, and stew a chicken."

"Good good."

"Don't you want to eat the pot?" Xia Zhen came back with a cold body.

Seeing him coming in, Shan Xiaodan saluted and retreated.

Ma Min'er quickly stood up, "Hey, didn't you go to war, why did you come back?"

"No more." Xia Zhen replied with a smile.

"Ah, what's going on?"

"It's too cold, and the other party yelled to exchange cattle for food."

"That's good." Ma Min'er smiled blindly.

"Look how happy you are!"

"Of course, so you don't have to suffer." Ma Min'er said while helping him to prepare face wash, "Hurry up and wash, after washing, put on face cream, I made it myself, it is anti-drying and anti-freezing, I guarantee you His skin is white and tender."

Xia Zhen moved quickly, washing her face and wiping her hands in a while.

Ma Min'er reached out to help him apply the cream, "Does it smell good?"

He enjoyed the warm little hands on his wind-cold face, "It's delicious, how did you make it?"

"Using lard, glutinous rice, honey, dried petals... Anyway, there are a lot of them, and they are mixed together. How about it? Moisturize it."

"Ah."

After wiping, Ma Min'er took a step back and looked at it carefully: "Well, she is a fresh and pink peerless beauty again."

Xia Zhen reached out and knocked her on the head, "I talk nonsense all day long."

"Haha..." Ma Min'er covered her head, then turned around to get him a protective cup, "I didn't know you came back, this cup is mine, and I haven't drunk it yet after it's warmed up, drink it quickly to warm your body."

How could Xia Zhen dislike the little daughter-in-law? She reached out to take it, opened the lid, and there were red dates and ginseng slices soaked in it.

Seeing that he had rested, Ma Miner asked again, "Why did they take the initiative to ask for peace and exchange cattle for food?"

Xia Zhen replied: "The powerful Turkic tribes were gradually annexed by the Liao, Jin, and Mongolian families. Although they annexed many Turkic tribes, they are newcomers after all. I have no strength to fight against me alone, and it is rare for an alliance to fight together. Together."

"Oh, I see, they stand on three legs, so we have a chance to breathe."

"Ah."

Ma Miner happily asked: "Great, can we go back to Yizhou for the New Year?"

"I discussed it with my father. He stays here, and I will accompany you back."

"This...isn't that good, or I'll go back by myself."

Xia Zhen stretched out her hand and pulled the little daughter-in-law into her arms, "It's not entirely to accompany you, I have other things to do."

"Oh, then I feel much better. You are busy with business, don't accommodate me, you know?"

Xia Zhen smiled sullenly, "If I'm busy with business, you may not see me 360 ​​days a year."

"Ah, how can I do that!" Ma Min'er turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I don't see you as a beauty for a day, and I feel panicked."

Xia Zhen reached out and tapped her nose, "Speak up, what's a 'big beauty'?"

"Hee hee, who made you look prettier than me, what do you call 'big beauty'?"

"It's skinny again, isn't it..." Xia Zhen stretched out her hand and squeaked at the little daughter-in-law.

"Haha..." Ma Min'er huddled into a ball, laughing nonstop.

Xia Zhen protects the daughter-in-law with both hands, but looks down for the cherry... The word N is omitted below.

I can't blame Ma Min'er for calling Xia Zhen a "big beauty". Before, Xia Zhen was also unparalleled in beauty, but his face was really fleshless and sharp, making people afraid to get close to him. Moreover, his temper used to be very irritable. He looks cold and harsh, which makes people daunting.

But in the past few years, his temper has gradually calmed down, and he doesn't seem so manic. This year, he brought Ma Miner by his side again, and his basic necessities of life became much more regular. The meat is just right, neither too round nor too delicate.

The whole person does not look like a general who has been fighting all the year round, but more like a pampered noble son, with the fierceness of a soldier in his gentleness, like a mountain looking up.

Xia Zhen's young couple was bored and had a delicious dinner, but the others were not so free, not only that, but also extremely busy, so busy that they wanted to play two roles.

Let me talk about the biggest busy man, Huang Junyao. He is now busy in the yamen until late at night every day. Not only that, his old father can't help but come over to help him when he sees how busy he is, helping him organize documents and make lists. Also accompany him until late at night.

In the first few days, he politely asked his father not to come over, but he was too busy, and he couldn't do without his father's help, and he could be regarded as one of his staff.

The winter solstice has passed, and the Chinese New Year is about to come. Farming has ceased, but commerce is booming again. The former Liangzhou City survived only by commerce. How could he miss it? The empty treasury, hundreds of officials and small officials are still waiting As for the salary, he has to do it, not only that, but also better than before.

Mr. Huang, who was so tired that he crawled on the table to rest his breath, really held back, "No one collects taxes."

Lord Sha was about to go home, and he smiled: "Master Huang, the county king has no money to give you, and you can't do it if you don't collect taxes."

"Master Sha, do you have any manpower, lend me some?"

"No, absolutely not, my manpower is building the county mansion, but there is no one, you have to find a way!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and fled, as if someone was trying to grab him.

"My manpower is also on the Jianfu Yamen, the people who come here." Huang Junyao wanted to cry.

Master Huang thought for a while and said, "During the day, when I went out, I saw Anlong Commercial Company posted a notice on the entrance of the store to recruit accountants. Why don't you learn from them and recruit some small officials?"

"Ah..." Huang Junyao straightened up, "Is this okay?"

"Of course. Among the common people, there are quite a few people who have the reputation of being a scholar. Many people want to go to the government without a job. Why don't you give them a chance? What do you think?"

"Is this okay?" In Huang Junyao's heart, he felt that entering the yamen was a serious matter, and it seemed wrong to recruit people just by posting a notice at will.

Master Huang said: "Why don't you ask the King of Beijun?"

"Okay, I'll go tomorrow morning." Huang Junyao stroked his face, "I'm too tired, but there is no one, and if things can't be done, that's a big problem."

"My son was right."

(End of this chapter)