"Your Highness, there is still a shortfall of 50,000 shi of food and grass. The court says that it will take a while before it can be given to us," Chu Suiliang said.
"Wait a minute?" Li Zhiyun put down the book and said with a smile: "In the cold winter months, the soldiers are waiting for pensions and rewards from the court. If they can't get it, how will they explain to their families when they go back? Keep urging!"
"yes."
The Tang Dynasty had a government military system. Once a war broke out, ordinary soldiers would prepare their own horses and weapons, and some had to bring armor and dry food. Since Jieli went south, the court had been fighting for a year, and 778 soldiers from Guanzhong were recruited to the government. 8. Many of the fields were barren, and many soldiers were waiting for rewards and pensions from the court to survive the winter months.
This is wartime, food is the hard currency, and rewarding soldiers with food is also a temporary means.
"Wait a minute." Xue Shou stopped Chu Suiliang and said to Li Zhiyun: "Your Highness, please be patient. I'm afraid it will be useless to ask Chu Zhonglang to urge you now. In the past year, many granaries in the pass have been operating to support the frontline soldiers. It’s been emptied out a long time ago, I’m afraid it really won’t be able to be taken out.”
"Not necessarily." Li Zhiyun snorted: "In the past, when the King of Qin came back from his conquests, the Ministry of Civil Affairs could always provide food. Why is it now my turn that they have fooled me by saying they have no food?"
In Li Zhiyun's opinion, this was Dou Jing, Minister of Civil Affairs, causing trouble for him!
Seeing that the King of Chu was in a bad mood, Du Ruhui put down the matters at hand and persuaded him: "Your Highness, just plan this matter slowly, there is no need to get angry."
Li Zhiyun also realized that he was a little out of control, so he tried to relax his tone.
"The weather is about to be very cold. How will the soldiers and their families survive the winter if they cannot get these food as compensation and rewards?"
Food was a problem, and everyone was at a loss for a while.
In fact, Li Zhiyun also knew that Xue Shou was right. Regarding the grain matter, he had already mentioned it to Lao Li, and Lao Li also told him that the granaries in the pass had indeed been emptied and asked him to negotiate with Dou Jing, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
The meaning is obvious, let him find a way to suck blood from the Guanlong family.
But the problem is that he is not familiar with Dou at all, so how can he suck blood?
"Let's do this. If it doesn't work, I will take the money myself and buy it from the market."
Over the years, he has made a lot of money from soap, tea, and ice cream. He can still afford 50,000 shi of food.
"Your Highness, there is no need to be anxious. Rong Chen will discuss it later." Du Ruhui said.
"Okay." Li Zhiyun has decided in his heart that if it doesn't work, he will pay for it himself. Who asked Lao Li to leave the errand to him, and he planned to do it well.
Everyone went down to discuss, while Li Zhiyun was looking at the book, drawing, stamping and signing from time to time.
Half an hour later, Du Ruhui and Xue Shou walked in.
"Your Highness."
"There is a way."
Du Ruhui said: "There is a way."
"speak."
Xue Shou said: "Chen's hometown in Hedong should be able to provide 20,000 shi, and Du Shi can also provide 10,000 shi. In addition, Wei Shi can also provide 5,000 shi."
Li Zhiyun looked up at them and muttered: "Can Wei Siqi make the decision?"
Du Ruhui laughed and said: "He really can't make the decision now, but Wei Ji and Wei Jin can make some decisions."
Hearing this, Li Zhiyun's face brightened slightly.
Since he rescued Wei Ji and Wei Jin in Luoyang, as well as his wife Wei Gui, many people in Wei family now support him.
"That's fine. I will make up for the rest."
After the food matter came to an end, Du Ruhui continued: "Your Highness, regarding the matter of Prime Minister Yang, after discussion, I think we can agree to him. After all, to win over Chen Shuda, it is most appropriate for Prime Minister Yang to come forward."
Li Zhiyun thought: "Is it too fast?"
"No." Xue Shou said with a smile: "It is understandable that His Highness thinks about such a big matter day and night."
Hearing this, Li Zhiyun nodded and said: "Okay, I will find an opportunity to tell Yang Xiang. At present, in the political hall, Dou Kang is leaning against the prince, Xiao Yu and Pei Ju are not related to each other, and Pei Ji is his father's person, and Yang Xiang is the bright face.
The neutral prime minister is indeed suitable for negotiating with Chen Shuda."
"Your Highness is wise."
At this moment, Li Zhen came to report.
"Your Highness, King Qi invites you to hunt together in the afternoon."
hunting?
Li Zhiyun was speechless for a moment. This Li Yuanji really felt uncomfortable after not hunting for three days.
"I remember that he supervised the construction of King Qin's tomb in ten thousand years. Where did the time come from?"
Li Zhendao: "I don't know about my humble position, but the King of Qi said that he has important matters to discuss with His Highness about this hunting, and please go to your Highness."
Important matter?
What important matter would make Li Yuanji find him?
Li Zhiyun thought for a while and said: "Okay, tell him that I will definitely go."
"yes."
After Li Zhen left, Li Zhiyun asked: "What do you think the King of Qi wants to do with me this time?"
Xue Shou smiled and said: "Last time, Deyin sent me a letter. The King of Qi was planning to use Liu Wenjing's incident to instigate His Highness to be hostile to the Crown Prince. I think this is the reason why the King of Qi came here."
"Really?" Li Zhiyun chuckled. He was looking forward to what Li Yuanji would say.
Liu Wenjing was beheaded three days ago in the busy city. When she died, Li Zhiyun happened to pass by and saw with his own eyes that Jinyang Yuancong was beheaded to death with a single knife.
On that day, Li Jiancheng did not go to see him off. After all, he was banned from leaving the East Palace.
The outskirts of Chang'an.
The king of Qi and the king of Chu rode their horses to hunt, and they were very happy.
"Fourth brother, are you really okay with this? My father asked you to go to Wannian to supervise the construction of the mausoleum."
"It doesn't matter, there is a warrior Yu who is watching over there."
Li Zhiyun shook his head helplessly, pressed the bow and arrow, and said seriously: "Fourth brother, this is the last thing we can do for the second brother. We still have to be more careful."
Hearing this, Li Yuanji stopped his horse and looked at Li Zhiyun.
"Fifth brother, you are good at everything, but you are too careful in doing things. Let me tell you, I don't want to supervise the construction of the tomb at all, because I am not the one who should do this!"
Li Zhiyun frowned, "Fourth brother, be careful what you say."
Li Yuanji rode up to him and whispered: "Fifth brother, I won't lie to you. When Shan Yang fell, it was actually Liu Wenjing who did it deliberately."
"What!" Li Zhiyun was very 'shocked' and looked at him in disbelief, "Fourth brother, you can't say this nonsense!"
"Nonsense?" Li Yuanji snorted coldly: "To tell you the truth, I noticed that Liu Wenjing had colluded with the Turks at that time. Otherwise, how could the Turks soldiers and horses attack Shanyang so easily? How could the Turks know that our army was hoarding food, grass and supplies?
In Shanyang, this is all Liu Wenjing's tip-off!"
Li Zhiyun said cautiously: "Fourth brother, do you have any evidence?"
"No." Li Yuanji said bitterly: "If I had evidence, how could I not tell my father?"
"What about you today?"
"Yes, I'm just reminding you." Li Yuanji said: "You must also know how bad the relationship between the eldest brother and the second brother is. Liu Wenjing's younger brother Liu Wenqi used witchcraft to murder his second brother, but it was exposed.
How could Liu Wenjing not hate the whole family being implicated?
I suspect that Liu Wenjing was the one who hindered Jieli's journey south this time, or even planned it all.
Think about it, brother is so slow to support me, why?"
As expected of you, Li Yuanji, you are always so direct and your words are never technical. You make it difficult for me to continue acting.
"This is ridiculous." Li Zhiyun shook his head in disbelief.
Li Yuanji was not surprised by the reaction of this naive fifth brother.
"Fifth brother, the second brother had ambitions at the beginning. You and I knew it, but you didn't want to admit it. The eldest brother discovered this, and that's why this disaster happened."