Wang Huai smiled bitterly, "It's not about collecting taxes, it's about begging. Two years after Jianyan, the government could no longer collect taxes. Not to mention paying taxes to the court, even the government itself had no food and rice to support it. Before,
There are still some official fields and some shops in the city, which can collect some rent, but since last year, these rents have disappeared, the land has been left idle, and the shops have closed.
But there are so many people in the government who need to eat! I had to take turns going to various Dabao villages to beg for some money and grain to maintain government expenses. This time I went to Zhoujiabao and Laoyu Village, and got more than 100 guan of money and more than 50 yuan.
The officials are owed three months' salary for a stone's worth of grain, and it's very difficult."
Chen Qing pondered for a moment and asked: "I heard that you took the governor with you, did you bring the army?"
"This is a joke to the general. The so-called army consists of fifty archers and government officials. This force is not even enough to fill the gaps in the Zhou family fort. They have five hundred elite archers, and even the golden soldiers cannot attack them. I am going with the archers.
Those who carry food are not there to demonstrate."
It seemed that he had a high regard for Wang Huai, thinking that he could control Qinzhou, but it turned out that was not the case at all. The situation in Qinzhou was more serious than he imagined.
Chen Qing asked again without showing his expression: "Is it true that Qinzhou has no food at all?"
Wang Huai sighed, "This question is indeed difficult to answer. The government does not have food, and ordinary people do not have food in their hands. There is not much food in the market. But you are wrong to say that Qinzhou really has no food. Many large families have food.
There is also food in the fort. From what I have seen with my own eyes, the food stored in Zhoujiabao is at least several thousand dan. The key is that people will not give you food for free."
"If I buy it with silver, does Wang Tongpan think I can buy grain?"
"I don't know about the fortress, but the wealthy family must be looking for it. How long food can be stored is certainly not as solid as silver!"
Chen Qing nodded, "I want to talk to the big families in Qinzhou. Can Wang Tongpan help me make arrangements in these two days?"
"no problem!"
Wang Huai agreed immediately, "The main large households in Qinzhou are all in Chengji County, I will arrange it!"
"Also, can I buy sheep from the Qiang people?"
"But you can, but the price is relatively expensive. If you go to Hexi to buy it, a fat sheep will only cost a few hundred yuan at most. But when the Qiang people buy sheep here, a sheep costs a lot of money. I bought it last year and I still can't bargain."
"There is no problem with the price, but I need a larger quantity. I want five thousand."
Wang Huai thought for a while, "If the need is urgent, I can find a businessman who is familiar with the Qiang people to lead the general's men there. Five thousand sheep will not be a problem for the Qiang people."
Chen Qing said happily: "Then it's agreed that tomorrow I will ask the logistics general to follow the merchant."
The two chatted for a few more words, and Wang Huai stood up to say goodbye. Chen Qing sent him out of the military camp. Today's harvest was good. Both grain purchase channels were implemented, which made the big stone that weighed on Chen Qing's heart a little lighter.
...........
As night fell, Wang Huai returned to his mansion. The Wang family mansion can be called the largest mansion in Chengji County. It was built during the Renzong period of Song Dynasty and has a history of fifty or sixty years ago. It covers an area of more than forty acres, with high walls and deep courtyards.
The house is full of pavilions and pavilions.
Such a large house was also looted by Jin soldiers in the third year of Jianyan's reign. Fortunately, the Wang family escaped in time, and only a few housekeepers were killed. The house suffered heavy losses, and the valuable timber that the Wang family had collected for decades was robbed.
After leaving, the strange rocks were smashed, and except for the house which was not burned down by a fire, everything else was seriously damaged.
Although the Wang family's house has been repaired, it has not yet recovered its vitality.
As soon as Wang Huai returned to the house, the housekeeper came forward and said: "The old man has told me that as soon as he comes back, please go to his place as soon as possible."
"I know, I'll go right away."
Wang Huai's father is called Wang Yu. He is about sixty years old. He was once the county captain and county magistrate of Chengji County, and later served as the general magistrate of Qinzhou. The terms of these three official positions lasted for twenty years, and he also served as the chief water supervisor of the capital.
Qing, later on, when he was the deputy envoy of Shaanxi Road Transport, he abandoned his post and returned to his hometown due to the invasion of Jin soldiers.
Although the eldest son Wang Huai is thirty-five years old, Wang Yu is still in charge of the Wang family. It can be said unequivocally that Wang Yu is the real leader of the Qinzhou gentry.
Wang Yu was reading in the room, and the voice of his eldest son Wang Huai came from outside the door, "Father, do you want to see me?"
"come in!"
The door opened, and Wang Huai came in from the outside. He knelt down and saluted his father, "Greetings, father!"
Wang Yu waved his hand, "I told you, your knee is injured, so you don't need to salute in the future."
"My child remembers it."
"Sit down! Don't stand there."
Wang Huai sat down, and Wang Yu immediately asked: "The Song army entered the city today, do you know?"
Wang Huai knew that his father must be looking for him because of this matter, which was a big deal.
Wang Huai nodded, "My child already knows. He even visited their general an hour ago."
Wang Yu frowned, "Who is he? You just didn't understand him and then went to visit him?"
"Reporting to my father, Du Min of the state government knows this person and introduced the situation to me. This person is Chen Qing who blocked the Jin soldiers at Jianxiao Pass."
"It turns out it's him!"
Wang Yu suddenly realized that Chen Qing was very famous on Xihe Road. He fought tens of thousands of gold soldiers at Jianxiao Pass. At the end of last year, he captured Pingliang Mansion, killed more than 2,000 gold soldiers, and opened a warehouse to release grain. This incident shocked him.
The entire Xihe Road.
"What is his purpose in coming to Qinzhou?"
"Father, he was personally appointed as the envoy of Qinzhou by the emperor last year. This time he came with five thousand troops and officially took office."
"Are you sure you are the envoy of Qinzhou's system and not the envoy of soldiers and horses?"
"I'm sure, I have personally seen the official appointment document and the official seal."
"Do you know what Zhizhi means?"
"The child is just trying to ask his father for advice."
"The Zhizhi envoy is the military and political commander. In other words, Qinzhou will no longer appoint a magistrate. He is your immediate superior. Of course, the premise is that the court must recognize you as the general judge. This is a troublesome matter."
Wang Yu sighed, "Whether you have done anything for the Jin people or not, you, the general judge, are officials under the Jin Bing rule, not appointed by the court. This is a taboo of the court, and it is generally difficult to get recognition from the court."
Wang Huai shook his head, "If the court doesn't recognize it, then I won't take this position."
"You can't say that. You, Tongpan, are the key to safeguarding the interests of our family. If you were not Tongpan, would Jin Bing let our Wang family go?"
Wang Huai was silent for a moment and said: "Chen Qing told me that he doesn't care whether I am appointed by the court or not. The key is that I must be able to do things."
"What does he mean by yes?"
"His biggest headache right now is food. The main topic we are talking about today is the issue of military rations."
Wang Yu frowned, "The food problem is not easy to solve!"
"He is willing to pay for it, and it is in silver. He seems to have a lot of silver in his hands."
"Needless to say, it must have been snatched from the hands of the Jin people in Pingliang Mansion. However, if you have money in your hands, things will be easier to handle."
"Father, he seems to hope that I can help him solve the problem of the fortress. Although he didn't say it explicitly, I can feel what he means."
"The fortress problem is even more difficult to solve, not even with money."
Wang Yu felt relieved and said to his son: "It seems that this Chen Qing is very pragmatic, but you have to be smarter and ask him to send someone to serve as a recorder and join the army. In this way, he will not interfere with the usual government affairs.
Only then will his mind be entirely focused on the military."
Lushi Jianjun is the chief official of Liucao Guan, and his political power is second only to Tongmen. Wang Yu is worthy of being an old man who has been in the officialdom for many years. He knows how to balance the relationship between his son and Chen Qing.
The son holds the power of government affairs, but Chen Qing is the envoy of the system and controls the military and government. To sideline Chen Qing in government affairs will only be a recipe for disaster. However, giving the No. 2 government official position to Chen Qing can not only keep his own
Power can also make Chen Qing feel at ease about government affairs.
Wang Huai understood his father's painstaking efforts and nodded: "I understand, kid."
After a pause, Wang Huai said again: "Chen Qing asked me to invite the Qinzhou gentry on his behalf. How should father arrange it?"
Wang Yu thought for a while and said: "Let's arrange it at Tianshui Restaurant. We, the Wang family, will treat him as a guest, so we can take care of him!"
