Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Chapter 708 Cold Autumn
The first rain of autumn fell sparsely in the courtyard. The cold raindrops landed on the pine trees outside the house, painting the needle-shaped leaves with a new layer of emerald green. The damp and cold air squeezed in through the gaps in the doors and windows and was blocked at the edge of the charcoal fire.

"It's getting colder this day."

Lu Bu, wearing a black cloak, sat behind the table, looking at the documents delivered today and exhaled: "Are there enough charcoal in the government offices?"

Wang Zheng was sitting across from the table, looking a little lazy, with his hands folded. He slumped in his seat and nodded when he heard what was said: "I have urged them to complete the purchase a few days ago, but it is cold this winter. It is not so bad for officials and wealthy families, but it may be difficult for ordinary people."

After a pause, he sighed, "Spending the winter is like passing through the gates of hell. God doesn't give us any chance to survive."

Lu Bu was a little silent. In the past, there was only a corner of Liangshan Mountain, and there were also tenant farmers who were pulled here to open up land around the water. In the past, as long as the heroes on the mountain were more diligent and interacted more with the surrounding wealthy families, the farmers at the foot of the mountain could survive the winter with the help of relief.

Unfortunately, this place is now larger. Although there are more wealthy families in the area, we cannot borrow supplies from others at will to help the people survive the winter. This is also a great pity.

The two people in the room were speechless for a moment. Lu Bu smacked his lips and suddenly said, "Is it possible to open a porridge stall?"

Wang Zheng looked at him with some surprise. He probably didn't expect that this King of Qi, who came from a humble background, still cared about the people. After thinking for a while, he shook his head and said, "It's not easy. The food reserves in various cities are probably not enough. Your Majesty must now guard against the Liao army's attack. The military food cannot be easily moved, and the inventory in the granary..." He smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid that many wars this year have consumed a lot of food. Take Liaoyang Prefecture as an example. As the capital of Dongjing Road, the current food reserves are less than 30% of the past. If we use them again, I'm afraid we won't be able to respond to any emergency. If we don't raise funds properly, it may be difficult to continue. I hope Your Majesty will find a solution as soon as possible to prepare for an emergency."

"… Food again."

Lu Bu pinched his forehead with a headache and said helplessly: "I remember that there is still enough money in the treasury. Let Hu Cheng, Du Xing and Su Liang find a way to buy more. By the way, where are Wei Zhaode and others now?"

Wang Zheng nodded in agreement, then thought for a moment: "The news from yesterday was that they had passed Suzhou. Counting the time it took to send the letter here... they should be in the area between Zhenhai Prefecture and Muzhou now."

"Forget it, maybe this is fate." Lu Bu put his hands on the table and said, "I thought I could ask the navy to take three people to Song to buy food, but now it seems too late. Let the Lu and Han families think of a way. After all, he has to wait for Nanking to arrive." He tapped the table with his finger and said, "Send a message to the General of Agriculture Lu Yan to cut more trees after harvesting the food and give them to the poor. If there is no food, it is also good to make some fire to keep warm."

Wang Zheng slowly touched his chin, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have a way. We don't need to send the garrison troops to do these things. It's better to follow the example of the Song Dynasty in the south and use work instead of relief." He twisted his body to make himself sit more comfortably, "I heard that in the second year of Emperor Huangyou of the Song Dynasty, there was a famine in the Liangzhe area. Fan Wenzheng ordered the government to renovate the warehouses and official houses, "consumerizing a thousand men a day", and contacted the temples to build large-scale projects. In ten years, only Hangzhou had no hungry people. Perhaps we can also follow the example of our predecessors and recruit young men to carry out construction work, but the payment is not grain but money."

He held up three fingers and said, "There are three purposes for doing this. First, all places are in urgent need of repair after the war. Although corvée labor can save money and food, it will cause subsequent turmoil at this time of year. Therefore, I do not support it. Second, it is cold today, and farmers cannot farm. The poor can't find jobs. Now the government is recruiting people to work and get paid. Those who live in poverty will respond. In this way, they will have some money in their hands and can get through the winter. The copper coins will eventually be recovered through taxes. In the end, what we have paid may be less than we thought. Third..."

He bent the last finger that was raised up: "After this incident, Your Majesty will give people the impression that you love the people. At least the people's recognition of you will increase greatly."

Lu Bu narrowed his eyes and said, "Okay, go and make preparations. I will order someone to assist you..." He called Yu Cheng over and said, "Go and ask where Zhang Lin is and what he is doing. If there is nothing else, call him over."

"Yes." Yu Cheng left immediately.

Looking at Wang Zheng, Lu Bu said calmly: "Find a way to get this Han Chinese prime minister of the Liao Dynasty to do something."

Wang Zheng clasped his hands deeper: "I will do my best."

"Lazy guy."

Pointing at him, Lu Bu cursed with a smile, stood up and walked to the geomancy map to look at it, patting his hands and saying: "There are things to do in the north and south, there is really no time to spare."

"Doctor Yang has made all the preparations and will be able to leave for Goryeo in the next two days."

After saying this to comfort him, Wang Zheng turned around and looked at the figure standing there. He rolled his eyes and said, "How about I go to the prison to check on the prisoners?"

"Hmm?" Lu Bu turned around and looked at him. "If we keep waiting for the Jin Kingdom, something unexpected might happen. Why not find a way to add fuel to the fire?"

Lu Bu was a little curious: "What are you going to do?"

"Among the captives, there is the fourth son of Wanyan Aguda." Wang Zheng sniffed and said, "I will try to do something with him, but..."

"Just what? Just say it quickly."

"Please give the order to the frontier troops to kill more Jin Jurchen civilians." Wang Zheng said, tilted his head and thought for a while, then added: "It would be best if it was the Wanyan tribe."

"So that's all." With a chuckle, Lu Bu went to his seat, picked up a pen and wrote down the order, then stamped it with his seal: "When two countries go to war, it's a matter of life and death. Some casualties are inevitable."

Passing it to Wang Zheng, he said, "Military Advisor, do you think I am a soft-hearted person?"

Wang Zheng took it with a smile and said, "Your Majesty is decisive. I will go and pass on the order and prepare to do the work."

Seeing Wang Zheng leave, Lu Bu picked up the official documents on the table and looked at them. There were fifty or sixty documents, which was a lot when piled up. Now he was used to dealing with these things every day.

There was no more talking in the room, only the rustling of papers.

The brush was reviewed on a dozen sheets of paper and saw the purchase of horses.

"Four thousand... we should buy more."

During this period, the army suffered many casualties. However, infantry were easy to recruit, but cavalry had always been a headache. There were dozens of military states in Liaodong, and there were many people raising horses. Unlike those in the Song Dynasty, all the horses were good horses that could be used as war horses.

As for military equipment, various siege and field warfare equipment are also being produced, but there has been no result in the improvement of artillery. According to Ling Zhen, the barrel's endurance is not good and it will be useless after firing less than ten shots, which is quite a waste of money.

Continue reading, most of them are about the cold weather this year, and the people's livelihood conditions in various places are as follows.

"Take your time..."

He muttered something to himself as he slowly reviewed the documents. When he was done, he called the guards outside and sent the document to the clerks to review it before sending it to the various government offices.

Then he looked at the courtyard where it was raining outside and frowned slightly.

Why has Yu Cheng been gone for so long and hasn’t come back yet?

It was only a cup of tea time before Yu Cheng, wearing a straw raincoat, strode back and bowed outside: "Your Majesty, I have found the doctor Zhang Lin. He has nothing to do at the moment and is very happy to hear your summons."

"Come in and close the door."

Yu Cheng hurried into the house, closed the door, and took off his raincoat: "When he escorted the official out, he happened to meet someone."

(End of this chapter)