Xianyang in December is covered in silver.
As the imperial capital of the Qin Dynasty, Xianyang is still prosperous. In fact, it is still much worse than in the Spring and Autumn Period. After all, the weather is too cold and fewer people go out. The hottest business in this cold weather is wine, charcoal, etc.
The west wind drinks strong wine to keep out the cold, and the burning of charcoal dispels the chill, which is extremely depleting in the cold winter.
Ordinary people, even people from poor families, don't like this cold winter. Because there are more clothes to wear and more food to eat, there are almost no opportunities to make money.
For the powerful, it is very good, singing and dancing every day.
Even though Da Qin was poorer than Xia and Jin, many nobles were still extravagant.
This cannot be prevented.
It can only be said that Da Qin is not that extravagant on the whole.
Ying Jiuxiao is even more afraid of the cold in this cold winter. In previous years, he often went to places to take a look and understand the situation of the people there. This year, Ying Jiuxiao only had two private visits incognito, and even less time out of the palace to see Lin Yu.
When people are old, they cannot withstand the cold weather.
Ying Jiuxiao was sitting in the palace, warming himself by the fire, looking through the memorials presented, and handling government affairs. Among them, some of the excerpts are the news about Xia, Jin and Qi that Hei Bingtai has found out. These are things that Ying Jiuxiao must master.
When Ying Jiuxiao saw this news, his eyes suddenly froze.
This is news about Xia Kingdom.
As for the Xia Kingdom, the local area is still in turmoil, and there are still many bandits making trouble. However, the Xia Kingdom invited Qi Feixiong to serve as the Xia Kingdom's Taiwei, responsible for commanding the world's troops and suppressing bandits.
Ying Jiuxiao knew Qi Feixiong, who was the same generation as Lin Feng's grandfather Lin Jiuxiao in the past, and was already sixty years old.
However, Qi Feixiong acted more cautiously.
At that time, Lin Jiuxiao's nature was like a blazing fire, and he led his troops to invade like fire. His troops were invincible wherever he went. Qi Feixiong is as calm as a mountain and as quiet as the earth, which is completely different from Lin Jiuxiao's style.
After Yan Wuji came to power, Qi Feixiong resigned and retired from the world.
Now, he came out of the mountain again.
Ying Jiuxiao looked down carefully. The reason why Qi Feixiong came out to help was because Xu Changjie, the official secretary of the Xia Kingdom, asked him to come out to help.
Xu Changjie is not a simple person.
In the past, in the Xia Kingdom's court situation, Yan Wuji was the Minister of Household Affairs, with power over the government and the public, and he had monopoly power. So when Yan Wuji was in power, Xu Changjie didn't say a word and just took his position regardless. So much so that the Xia Kingdom was in a mess, and the emperor was always obsessed with practicing Taoism.
Now, Yan Wuji is dead, Li Chongfu is still obsessed with Taoism, but Xu Changjie has the final say in government affairs. On the one hand, he satisfied the emperor's request so that Li Chongfu could continue to practice Taoism. On the other hand, he continued to bring order to the chaos, and at the same time invited Qi Feixiong to come out, intending to solve the chaos in Xia Kingdom.
For a time, the Xia Kingdom had a tendency to clean up the filth and rebuild the country.
Ying Jiuxiao sighed in his heart.
Xia Guo, your life should not be cut off.
If Yan Wuji had been alive and the emperor had indulged in monasticism and ignored people's livelihood, the Xia Kingdom would inevitably collapse. Today, the emperor of the Xia Kingdom still does not care about the affairs of the state, but there are many good ministers in the court. This is the foundation of the Xia Kingdom.
Zai Ying Jiuxiao continued reading. After reading all the content, he ordered someone to notify Ying San.
In the past, Ying San had always protected the emperor.
Now, it is no longer like this.
Because Wang Shun, a half-step Grandmaster, had already broken through to Grandmaster and became a pillar of Great Qin. With Wang Shun protecting Ying Jiuxiao, no one can threaten Ying Jiuxiao's life.
It didn't take long before Ying San entered, bowed and said: "Your Majesty."
Ying Jiuxiao said: "The situation in the Xia Kingdom is getting better and better. The most important thing is Xu Changjie. With Black Ice Terrace in the Xia Kingdom, is there any way to criticize Xu Changjie? With Xu Changjie here, the Xia Kingdom will continue to bring order to things. "
Ying San shook his head and said: "Reporting to your majesty, we haven't found anything yet. The people from Heibingtai are further infiltrating the Xu family. I hope someone can keep an eye on the Xu family."
Ying Jiuxiao waved his hand and said: "Hurry up."
"Here!"
Ying San replied.
"Report!"
At this moment, a chamberlain came in and saluted: "Your Majesty, Lin Feng, the Marquis of Zhenguo, is asking for an audience outside the palace."
"Quick pass."
Ying Jiuxiao quickly ordered.
There was doubt in his eyes. Lin Feng was clearly serving as the county magistrate in Guzang County, why did he suddenly return to Xianyang City?
Could something have happened?
Or, because he scolded Ma Yan, the Prime Minister of Gaochang State, and Qu Guang, the prince of Gaochang State, did Gaochang State send troops to retaliate?
Ying Jiuxiao thought in his heart.
But he was not in a hurry.
If Gaochang State takes the initiative to attack, even if Ying Jiuxiao thinks that attacking Gaochang State is useless, he will not mind destroying Gaochang State. Anyway, Gaochang State borders Da Qin, and taking Gaochang State means that Da Qin will expand its territory.
Not long after, Lin Feng entered the main hall.
Lin Feng bowed and said: "My lord, Lin Feng, pays homage to Your Majesty."
Ying Jiuxiao waved and said kindly: "Come over quickly and let me see you. I have lost some weight in the past six months in Guzang County. Living in Guzang County is quite difficult, right?"
Lin Feng smiled and said: "Your Majesty..."
"Um!"
Ying Jiuxiao made a sound in his nose and frowned.
"Grandfather!"
Lin Feng immediately changed his mind.
Only then did a smile appear on Ying Jiuxiao's old face.
Lin Feng continued: "Grandfather, everything is fine with me in Guzang County. This time when I come back from Guzang County, I have three things to report."
Ying Jiuxiao said: "As long as it is reasonable and reasonable, I will do it. I believe you, you are not a random person."
Lin Feng said: "At least listen to what I have to say."
Ying Jiuxiao said: "I believe in you."
Lin Feng knew that this was to win Jiuxiao's trust, and he said directly: "The first thing is a private matter. I made a special trip back to Xianyang to see the child. The child is now several months old, and I only know some information from letters. .So, take the opportunity to come back and take a look.”
Ying Jiuxiao smiled and said: "Even if you don't mention it, I still want you to come back. When the child is born, you still need to see his father."
Lin Feng said: "The second thing is that the reform of dividing people into acres in Guzang County has been completed, and taxes have been collected as scheduled. My mission in Guzang County has been completed. Today's Guzang County is dominated by commerce and agriculture. It is developing at a rapid pace and there is no need for me to take over.”
"My suggestion is to arrange for the county magistrate of Guzang County, Ma Laifu, to take over. He had been working in the county government before, and he had been involved in the affairs of small businesses and farmers, and he understands my strategy in governing Guzang County. If he takes over, I will There will be no deviation in Zang County’s future development.”
"I'm sure."
Ying Jiuxiao answered directly.
The reason why he admired Lin Feng very much was that Lin Feng was not a bookworm or a bookworm.
The literary style and atmosphere of Da Qin was much worse than that of Xia. Even so, there were many scholars. It's just that some of them only read the books of sages and have no ears to hear what's going on outside the window. They don't even recognize grains, chickens, ducks and geese.
No matter how famous such scholars are, no matter how hard they study, it is all in vain. Letting such a scholar full of nonsense go to govern the Qin Dynasty would be a disaster to the local people.
Lin Feng is different.
Lin Feng can ask questions and solve them, which is the most important thing.
Have an eye for finding problems.
Also has problem-solving skills.
Ying Jiuxiao smiled and said: "Lin Feng, what you mentioned is nothing. In fact, there is no need to report it. You just arranged it. If the third matter is still the same problem, you don't need to report it at all. I don't need to report it either." Too lazy to listen."
Lin Feng smiled and said: "The third thing is a big event."
Ying Jiuxiao leaned forward slightly and said, "I'm a little curious, what big thing can you propose?"
Lin Feng said: "I suggest that Da Qin send troops to attack Gaochang State and directly destroy Gaochang State."
"ah!"
Ying Jiuxiao was surprised.
Attack Gaochangguo?
This thing is different.
This is really a big deal.
Ying Jiuxiao didn't expect that Lin Feng was so courageous. If Gao Changguo came to kill him, Ying Jiuxiao wouldn't mind fighting back.
The problem is that Gaochangguo did not take the initiative to send troops.
Ying Jiuxiao thought for a while and said slowly: "Lin Feng, Gaochang State is located in the Western Region, bordering the Qin Dynasty. Such a country does not have a vast territory, and there is not much fertile soil in the territory. On the contrary, many places are deserts."
"Gaochang State's geographical location is of some use and can connect the Western Regions. Attacking such a country is a waste of troops and manpower."
"I don't think it's appropriate."
"Although the Gaochang Kingdom is bold and intends to woo the princess of the Qin Dynasty, this toad's instinct is to want to eat swan meat. I have already dealt with the envoys of the Gaochang Kingdom. Therefore, there is no need to quarrel with the Gaochang Kingdom."
"To Da Qin, Gao Changguo is a piece of stinking shit and has no good. If you try to mess with him, you will get your hands dirty."
"Our target is Xia Kingdom."
"If you think we can go east, I support you. In addition, when it comes to the Xia Kingdom, although the Emperor Li Chongfu of the Xia Kingdom is ignorant, the Xia Kingdom is also changing. The veteran general Qi Feixiong appointed him as the Taiwei to be responsible for eradicating local bandits."
"The situation in Xia Kingdom is changing little by little."
Lin Feng understood what Ying Jiuxiao said as soon as he heard it. Ying Jiuxiao thought that he was avenging his private revenge.
Because Ma Yan and Qu Guang humiliated the people of Qin in Guzang County, Lin Feng wanted to take revenge.
Lin Feng explained: "Emperor Grandfather, you don't have to worry about the situation of the Xia Kingdom. Even if Xu Changjie wants to adjust, it can't be changed. The emperor wants to practice Taoism, build a palace, and refine elixirs to seek Taoism, which consumes a lot of money. The Xia Kingdom's finances are already at a critical stage. If it collapses, where will the financial resources be to support the emperor?"
"The land in the Xia Kingdom is controlled by the big families. Countless people have no household registration and are hidden under the big families as hidden households."
"These big families don't pay taxes."
"However, the taxes of the Xia Kingdom are small, and the emperor has to spend money. Where does this money come from? It can only further squeeze the people. As for suppressing bandits, even if Qi Feixiong is responsible, you need money and food to suppress bandits in the local area, and these money and food Where did it come from?”
"If you want money, you can only ask the local gentry to raise it, or even distribute taxes."
“In the end, it’s another attempt to exploit the people.”
"It can only be said that Xu Changjie and Qi Feixiong exist to stabilize the situation in the Xia Kingdom. The Xia Kingdom is in a situation that is irreversible and cannot be changed. Unless there is a change of emperor, a strong man cuts off the wrist, scrapes the bone to cure the poison, and sweeps away the previous tyranny. , maybe there is still a chance.”
Ying Jiuxiao breathed a sigh of relief after listening to Lin Feng's analysis.
The Xia Kingdom is strong, and it will be difficult for the Qin Dynasty to move eastward. If the Xia Kingdom continues to decline, then Da Qin will have more opportunities.
Ying Jiuxiao continued: "Lin Feng, I know that you are passionate and want to uphold justice for the people of Qin. But Gaochang State is poor and far away, so it is not worth it. If Gaochang State takes the initiative, I will naturally send troops to fight for you. Seek justice."
Lin Feng smiled and said: "The people of Da Qin have been humiliated. I have already upheld justice for the people of Da Qin in Guzang County, and the emperor's grandfather has also upheld justice. There is no need to take action again. Now I am asking Da Qin to send troops. It was Gaochang State who discovered a The open-pit copper mine has a huge output.”
"really?"
Ying Jiuxiao stood up hurriedly.
His face was full of joy.
Eyes, eyes shining.
The look on his face already made him want to mobilize his troops immediately and go directly to Gaochang Kingdom.
Copper mine, Daqin's.
Gaochang State, from Da Qin.
With a smile on his face, Lin Feng continued: "After Ma Yan was scolded by his imperial grandfather, he returned to Gaochang State and lobbied the countries in the Western Regions, intending to let the countries in the Western Regions and Gaochang State join forces to attack the Qin Dynasty. However, the countries in the Western Regions did not Agreed, but unwilling to send troops."
"Ma Yan knows one thing, that is, if Gaochang State fights with Da Qin with the power of one country, it will definitely be beaten to the ground. Ma Yan was angry in his heart, and he had the idea of causing trouble for me and disrupting Guzang County."
"So, Ma Yan arranged for Cai Jingshan, the Minister of Household Affairs of Gaochang State, to sneak into Weiwu County with one hundred thousand taels of silver. In October, Cai Jingshan purchased grains in large quantities from various counties in Weiwu County, buying about three million kilograms of grain. , transported to Guzang County for hoarding."
"In November in Guzang County, the weather was cold, and food prices fluctuated. Cai Jingshan secretly spread the news that Gaochang State wanted to retaliate against Da Qin and was preparing to attack Da Qin, thereby disrupting the market and raising food prices, causing people to buy and hoard food."
"Here in Cai Jingshan, they opened a grain shop and sold it at thirty cents per catty. I mobilized grain to stabilize the price and sold the grain in the granary at twelve cents per catty, which stabilized the situation. I also arranged for people to investigate. To Cai Jingshan.”
"After taking over Cai Jingshan, Cai Jingshan explained the situation of the copper mine. This is an open-pit copper mine that Gaochangguo discovered only this year."
"The output of copper mines is extremely huge."
"Once captured, our Daqin will have a large number of copper mines. I will directly execute Cai Jingshan to quell the public's anger. Regarding the news, I think it is true. Your Majesty can arrange for Black Ice Platform to investigate and prepare to send troops at the same time."
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Ying Jiuxiao was extremely excited and said: "Great Qin has always been nervous about gold, silver, and copper. By seizing the copper mines of Gaochang State, Great Qin's finances will be further relieved. But if you want to send troops, there must be a good reason. Otherwise, Even though military generals are in charge of the battle, there must be a suitable reason for sending troops."
"There is a reason."
Lin Feng took out a document from his sleeve and said, "Grandfather, please read it."
Wang Shun took it and handed it to Ying Jiuxiao.
Ying Jiuxiao looked at it again, his expression even more surprised, and said: "Boy Lin, why do you have the document that Ma Yan represents Gaochang State and surrenders to the Qin Dynasty?"
Lin Feng chuckled and said: "Ma Yan was beaten by the emperor's grandfather. On his way back to Gaochang Kingdom, I went to see him when he passed through Guzang County. Then, Ma Yan left such a document. "
"You boy, you are really..."
Ying Jiuxiao burst out laughing and praised: "Well done, I like it very much."
Lin Feng said: "Your Majesty, can you send troops?"
"Yes, we must be able to send troops."
Ying Jiuxiao waved his sleeves and said: "With the two preconditions you gave me, I immediately summoned the ministers of the DPRK to discuss sending troops. Even if many people want to stop it, they can't."
Lin Feng said: "In that case, I will go back first."
Ying Jiuxiao nodded and said: "I will make arrangements immediately. In fact, you kid can stay...that's all, you can go back. You haven't seen your family for such a long time. Once next spring starts, you will go to Gaochangguo with the army. It will be more Spend time with your family.”
"Here!"
Lin Feng turned around and left.
Ying Jiuxiao was excited and immediately ordered: "When someone comes, notify the six ministers, as well as the imperial censor and the prince of the country to offer wine to discuss the matter."
"Here!"
The attendant immediately went to deliver the order.
Ying Jiuxiao then asked Ying San to arrange for people from Heibingtai to sneak into Gaochang Kingdom to explore the copper mine. After he finished arranging it, he put his hand on his robe and stroked it slowly.
Copper mine!
That's his copper mine!
