The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Everyone came to the government office to take their seats, and Song Xiang told Su Jin the specific situation. Originally, Yangzhou Prefecture was in a stable and united situation, but since the promulgation of the food reduction order, for some reason, the normal grain shops in the market have closed their doors. The common people can't buy food everywhere. At the same time, the black market rises, and the price of rice is frighteningly high.

The people endured for a while, hoping that the state government would take some measures, but after half a month, the situation did not improve at all. The price of rice on the black market was getting higher and higher, the grain shops were still closed, and everyone’s pocketbooks could no longer afford it. A normal diet is all that is needed.

It’s fine if there are other things, but there is no food, this is a real problem, you can wear rags, you can drink plain water, you don’t need to go to Fireworks and Willow Lane, you can walk instead of taking a mule cart, but no matter what method you use Can't mess with an empty stomach.

With the development of the situation, there are more and more refugees on the street, people's anger is getting higher and higher, and finally riots of beating, smashing, looting and burning broke out.

Song Xiang didn't realize the seriousness of the problem at the beginning. When he realized the deterioration of the situation, all he could do was to send troops to enforce the ban and arrest the mob who took the lead in making trouble.

After listening to Song Xiang's narration, Su Jin sighed inwardly. A good book does not necessarily mean a good official position. Although this Song Xiang was a top student in high school and once served as the deputy prime minister of political affairs, it seems that he is not good at governing government affairs. Is a layman.

Just like some people in later generations, when they went to post-doctoral studies, their glasses were as thick as the bottom of a wine bottle, but in the end they couldn't even take care of their basic life; He was able to calm down very much; if Song Xiang were to become the head of the Imperial College, or to be a scholar of the Imperial Academy, a historian, and other positions, he would be at home. It seems that it is difficult for him to ask him to guard the side.

"May I ask Mr. Song, have you investigated why the grain store doesn't sell grain?"

"This... I haven't asked yet. The official thinks that the business is their own business. The government has no right to interfere with the opening or closure of the business."

Su Jin raised his hand and surrendered, but Song Xiang actually had such an idea. Could it be that Song Xiang is a time traveler?Engage in a market economy in the feudal era?Even if they don't interfere with business, at this juncture, how can they let the merchants do whatever they want?

Song Xiang saw Su Jin's depression, and said: "Master Special Envoy, this government has always adopted an open policy for commercial affairs, and there have been no mistakes in the past two years. I don't know what happened this time. My Yangzhou government originally had rice and grain Sufficient, even if the imperial court is in a hurry to urge food this year, it will not be so, and the teacher is really puzzled."

Su Jin said: "My lord, don't you know that there is a severe drought in the south this year? Go and see for yourself, even the canals have become small ditches, and the water transportation has been changed to land transportation. Didn't you make preparations earlier?"

Song Xiang frowned and said, "Of course my government knows, but last year my Yangzhou Prefecture was in a year of great harvest, and the total collection was more than ten million stones. Excluding the amount handed in, the remaining grain should be enough for my Yangzhou Prefecture to pay 70 yuan. The common people have had enough to eat for two years, how could this happen? This is exactly what this government cannot understand."

Su Jin was really speechless. As a parent official, he didn't even know about the fact that merchants from all over the world gathered in the south to stock up on food a few months ago. Who should he reason with? No more wasting saliva.

"Your Majesty, don't worry about it. This envoy was ordered by the emperor to solve the current food shortage crisis in Yangzhou Prefecture. This envoy just wants to ask you to assist me in my actions. You don't have to worry about the rest of the matter for the time being. I have everything. "

Song Xiang's expression was one of relief, as if a lump of feces had stuck to his own face, but now he threw it on someone else's face and stuck to it, feeling relaxed.

"Then there will be Special Envoy Lao. If there is any need for assistance, the government will do its best, but I have a question, how will you solve the current situation?"

"That's the business of the envoy. Don't worry, my lord. Are you a little disappointed because I came empty-handed? To tell you the truth, I have hundreds of thousands of shi grains that can arrive in Yangzhou within half a month. By then Sufficient supply can be guaranteed for at least two months in Yangzhou Prefecture.”

Song Xiang clapped his palms and said with a smile: "So that's how it is. The special envoy is really timely. I didn't expect to be able to mobilize so much food at once. On behalf of the people of Yangzhou Prefecture, I thank the special envoy."

Su Jin waved his hand and said, "Don't thank me in advance, have you considered what will happen after two months? What will happen when the food is gone? It will be the first month of the new year, and there are still four or five months before the new food will be on the market. How will you spend five months?"

Song Xiang was stunned, rubbing his hands together and said, "This is a problem. The situation may be worse than it is now. Does the special envoy have a magic formula?"

Su Jin spread his hands and said: "There is no magic formula in the world that can be found after a trial, but I have to start thinking about it two months from now, this is the mission of my envoy here."

Song Xiang looked at Su Jin in a daze. This 16-year-old boy looked white and tender, but compared to him, he looked so incompetent and mediocre. These things could make him sleepless for days and nights, and he was so sad. He couldn't think of the crux of the problem, but the little special envoy seemed to be fine. Song Xiang was envious, blamed himself, and worried; but anyway, the special envoy was the only one he saw at the moment. Where the hope is, he must be well assisted to grasp this life-saving straw.

……

In the north of Luzhou City, a group of people walked slowly on the official road. It has been four days since they left Majiayi in Bozhou. It is only two days away from Majiayi to Luzhou. Under Long Zhen's instruction, they walked for four full days before arriving in Luzhou. outskirts.

Yan Biyun sent servants several times to urge Long Zhen to hurry up, but Long Zhen always shirked with various reasons. Sometimes soldiers pretended to be sick and delayed asking for medicine in a small market town, and sometimes said that the weather was too cold and windy on the road There are too many gravels, and I am afraid of hurting the horse if I run too fast. In short, there are many tricks, but I just refuse to speed up.

Yan Biyun faintly felt that something was wrong, but then he thought again, these are all guards and soldiers who were ordered by the emperor to run errands, so they wouldn't be playing tricks, and no matter what, Luzhou was getting closer after all, so it was too late. He didn't say anything, but secretly told his guards and Zhang Long to be more careful.

Long Zhen's small eyes were always circling around his carriage with malicious intentions. For this reason, Yan Biyun and Xiao Xian'er never left the carriage, even changed their clothes into blue ordinary clothes, and never left the veil. Even when staying at night, he only eats the dry food brought by his family, and does not touch any food, wine, meat, etc. sent by Long Zhen.

Seeing the looming shadow of Luzhou City, Yan Biyun breathed a sigh of relief. She called Zhang Long and asked him to rush to Luzhou City to inform the Su family and her manager of Hefeng Building to prepare for the reception.

The team marched into Luzhou City in a mighty manner. The Luzhou people who had never seen so many cavalry gathered around and commented. The news quickly spread throughout the city. Zhu Shiyong, the prefect of Luzhou, learned that the guards of the capital came to Luzhou for business. The response was quite fast, and people were brought to meet him immediately.

Long Zhen had never enjoyed such treatment before, and the fourth-rank magistrate was considered a high-ranking official. He chatted with Long Commander, Long Commander, and Short Commander by his side, just like his master. This sense of vanity made him very proud.

Yan Biyun saw it, and asked someone to invite Long Zhen to discuss the matter of handing over the grain transportation, but Long Zhen flatly refused: "My lady, we brothers have traveled for seven or eight days to arrive in Luzhou, you have to give Let's take a breath, even if the special envoy is here, he won't be so anxious."

Yan Biyun said: "What do you call Commander Long? The situation in Yangzhou is like a fire, otherwise, the special envoy would rush to Yangzhou in such a hurry? This batch of food is life-saving food, and Commander Long may bear the responsibility if there is a civil uprising." up?"

Long Zhen sneered and said: "How does this commander take on such a big responsibility? I only know that the emperor does not send hungry soldiers. Since my brothers follow me to do business, I have the responsibility to let them eat their stomachs and rest their strength. ;Furthermore, transporting grain is not something you talk about, you are in a hurry here, how can you transport it away without a vehicle? Just a few hundred vehicles is enough for our brothers to be very busy, this is not something that a woman can do in a hurry It's done."

Yan Biyun trembled angrily, Yan's companion couldn't help but stepped forward and cursed: "Keep your mouth clean, do you know who you're talking to?"

Long Zhen squinted his eyes and said: "Why, do you still want to fight? You guys are not afraid of this matter. I advise you to calm down. I will give him three points of face in front of the envoy. Who are you? Come and reprimand the guys, so you can wait. Master's letter, I know exactly when to do things, and it's not your turn to talk."

After Long Zhen finished speaking, he led the guards away like a gust of wind. Yan Biyun was furious, but there was nothing he could do; he had to order everyone to rest for a while and wait for Long Zhen's news.

When everyone in the Su family learned that Yan Biyun had arrived in Luzhou, shopkeepers Zhang Lao and Zhao Da brought Rou Niang and others to greet them. Yan Biyun received everyone in the elegant hall in the backyard of Hefeng Building. Everyone knew the relationship between Yan Biyun and Su Jin. , The topic of meeting is always inseparable from Su Jin.

When he learned that this trip was to transport the 50 shi of grain hoarded by Yan Biyun to Yangzhou Mansion, old shopkeeper Zhang's brows instantly frowned.