The official office of the Ministry of Personnel is in the duty room.
Xu Changjie was looking through the memorials submitted this year. These memorials were all about this year's autumn harvest. Due to the loss of population in the Xia Kingdom, countless people have become secluded homes for the powerful, and bandits are infested in the area. This year's harvest is very poor.
Local people are having a hard time.
Xu Changjie looked at the situation from prefecture to prefecture, and it was generally the same. There were few that were not affected by disasters and few that were not affected.
This also made it very difficult for the court to collect taxes.
Xu Changjie touched his forehead with his hand, his old face full of exhaustion. The internal chaos in Xia Kingdom originally worried him a lot. If he wants to introduce any policy, although he can issue an order, local dignitaries will block it, so that the order cannot be implemented.
The biggest resistance Xu Changjie faced came from the powerful gentry in the country and the royal family of Xia Kingdom.
These forces involved too much of Xu Changjie's energy.
If Xu Changjie had the emperor's backing, or even the emperor's full support, it would be easier, and he could push it forward. The problem is that although the emperor lets him handle government affairs and even lets him make the decision, he will not support him.
Xu Changjie really got into a fight with the powerful and the royal family, and his position was difficult to determine.
"Taxation, food, it's difficult."
Xu Changjie sighed to himself.
This year's autumn harvest is not good, and it is foreseeable that many people in the Xia Kingdom will be in trouble. At that time, there may be a large number of local rebellions. In the cold winter and early spring, food is hard to find, and rebellion is most likely to breed.
Xu Changjie cannot solve the long-term food problem for the time being. What he faced was to raise food and supplies for Qi Feixiong.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue has prepared food and fodder for the frontline army.
Xu Changjie rubbed his face, remained silent for a moment, completely suppressed his low mood, and regained his energy to deal with government affairs.
While Xu Changjie was busy, a burst of rapid footsteps came. An attendant came in, bowed and said: "Shang Shu Xu, Shangshu Cao asked to see you, saying that there are urgent matters."
"Please."
Xu Changjie nodded.
There was a hint of worry in his eyes.
Cao Ji is the Minister of Household Affairs and is responsible for the operation of the Household Department. He is extremely critical in the next battle.
The attendants retreated, and Cao Ji entered shortly after.
thump!
Because Cao Ji was too eager, he staggered and fell directly to the ground.
Xu Changjie frowned and said: "Cao Ji, what happened, you are so panicked?"
Cao Ji rubbed his knees, stood up, and said with a grimace: "Teacher, there is news from Anpingcang that there was a sudden fire last night. After the fire, all the food in Anpingcang was burned."
Cao Ji himself was Xu Changjie's disciple, and he hastily addressed Xu Changjie as his teacher, which shows his inner panic.
boom! !
Xu Changjie's mind was like thunder exploding.
He was completely confused.
It's a big deal that the food in Anpingcang caught fire. You must know that the Xia Kingdom is at a critical moment of confrontation with Da Qin, although there is sufficient food and grass transported to the front line. The problem is that the safe position is responsible for the bottom-up function.
All the food in the granary was destroyed in a fire, which was shocking. If the front line is really fighting a protracted war and there is not enough food, we will have to rely on Anpingcang, but now, there is no food.
Xu Changjie recovered in the blink of an eye. He was not a young man in the officialdom. He had been involved in the officialdom for decades and could even reach the first level of the imperial court. He became the head of the imperial court. He knew the situation of the officialdom very well.
If there is a fire in the granary, there is most likely something fishy.
It didn't come sooner or later, but the fire suddenly broke out at the beginning of the war. The news of the fire was untenable.
Xu Changjie said in a deep voice: "Cao Ji, have you ever investigated the situation in Anpingcang?"
"not yet."
Cao Ji looked a little panicked and said: "I just received the news from Anpingcang, so I came to report it immediately. If this news gets out, it may even affect the court situation and the frontline war. I dare not hide it, let alone Dare to delay."
Xu Changjie was very irritable. After thinking about it, he slowly said: "According to my inference, there are two possibilities for Anpingcang's situation. First, Anpingcang has been emptied of food in the past. There are people constantly moving grain out of Anpingcang and selling it to make money."
"Over the years, the Anping warehouse has been empty and there is no food."
"This time the frontline encounters a war, the situation is very complicated. There is currently no shortage of food on the frontline. Once the food on the frontline cannot support it, the food in Anpingcang must be transferred. Under this premise, Anpingcang is in deficit again. What do you mean? How can we not be afraid of the moth that hollowed out the warehouse?"
"This fire will erase the traces."
"All the evidence and all the food shortages were destroyed in this fire."
There was a cold look in Xu Changjie's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "As for the second type, it was a natural fire, which caused the entire granary to be burned. However, how could such a huge amount of grain be burned in a short time? I concluded that it was most likely to cover up the past. offense."
Cao Ji quickly said: "Teacher Yingming, my inference is that the granary may have been hollowed out. But now, how to investigate this matter?"
"No investigation, not for the time being."
Xu Changjie shook his head and answered, thought for a while and then said: "I won't investigate, but I still have to investigate."
After hearing this, Cao Ji had a puzzled look on his face and said, "Teacher, I don't understand what you mean."
Xu Changjie sighed and said: "If you don't use your brain, will the people who can poach Anpingcang be ordinary people? Not even one or two powerful people, there will be many people involved."
"So this matter cannot be investigated openly for the time being. As for the Ministry of Household Affairs, they will ask the guards of Anpingcang as usual and deal with it according to the rules. Secretly, you will send people to visit and find out who is the person who hollowed out Anpingcang."
"The person behind it must be a noble person, or even a member of the royal family."
"These people are too involved. Now that we are at war, the Xia Kingdom cannot be in chaos. Once the rear is in chaos and fighting breaks out, it will affect the fighting on the front. Therefore, the situation in the rear must be stable to ensure that nothing can go wrong."
Xu Changjie said: "After you investigate clearly in secret, I can use this information to suppress these powerful people."
After Cao Ji heard this, he sighed with emotion: "The teacher's analysis is very reasonable. The Xia Kingdom cannot be in chaos. If we really want to thoroughly investigate the grain depot in Anpingcang, the powerful people in the court who have benefited from Anpingcang will definitely go crazy." If you make trouble, you will continue to take action, so that it will affect the fighting on the front line. Wait for the fighting on the front line to be resolved, and then deal with it one by one."
Xu Changjie said: "As long as you understand."
He couldn't help but sigh again, he was so helpless. Under Yan Wuji's torment and Li Chongfu's indulgence, the Xia Kingdom's court was already riddled with holes and the situation was corrupt. Under this premise, it was killed by the Qin Dynasty again.
The situation is very difficult.
However, no matter how difficult it is, there are still people who ignore the overall situation and want to be like moths and hollow out the Xia Kingdom.
Xu Changjie was silent for a while, then cheered up and said, "Forget it, ignore these people. When will the food sent to Lieutenant Qi on the front line be sent away?"
Cao Ji said: "It was originally scheduled to be today. Because there is still a small problem, we will set off to the front line tomorrow morning."
Xu Changjie said: "There can be no more problems with this batch of food. If there is a problem with this batch of food, the subsequent war will be difficult."
Cao Ji thought for a while and said seriously: "Teacher, the original plan was for me to arrange a team of soldiers to escort. In order to ensure the success of this mission, I think it is possible to arrange for one of our own people to participate in the escort and ensure the food supply." Stable shipping.”
Xu Changjie asked: "Who do you think is suitable?"
"Where is Xu Xianzong, Duke of Chengguo?"
Cao Ji took the initiative and said: "Xu Xianzong and his teacher are from the Xu family in Runan, Yuzhou, and come from the same origin. In the past, Duke Cheng Guo also went to the battlefield to lead troops to fight, and he was vigilant. This man knows something about fighting on the battlefield. Means. Therefore, I suggested that Xu Xianzong escort the grain and grass to the front line."
After Xu Changjie heard this, he fell into deep thought.
Naturally, he knew about Xu Xianzong. They were all from the Xu family in Runan. Although Xu Xianzong and Xu Changjie were no longer related by blood, they were both from the same ancestor 160 years ago.
Even in the early years, Xu Changjie relied on the help of the Xu family of Duke Cheng to enter his official career.
Xu Changjie said: "If you come, please inform Xu Xianzong to come.
"Here!"
The attendants were ordered to make arrangements.
Cao Ji said: "Teacher, at this point, we can only rely on our own people. In fact, from the disciple's point of view, if this battle is successfully completed, everything that follows will be easier to handle."
Xu Changjie smiled and said, "Why?"
Cao Ji knew that this was Xu Changjie's test, and he quickly said: "This battle has defeated the Qin Dynasty. With the power of the victory, the teacher can use the opportunity to calm down the country's decline in one fell swoop and wipe out the powerful. There was no such opportunity before, and now the Qin Dynasty is here. , is an opportunity. Although there is danger, it is more of an opportunity."
Xu Changjie nodded and said in approval: "You are right, this battle is very crucial. With victory, the chaos in the country can be cleared up. I hope everything goes well."
The two chatted for a short time before Xu Xianzong entered.
Xu Xianzong once went to the battlefield to kill the enemy, but the title of Duke of the Kingdom was not taken by himself. It was passed down from his ancestors and was an inherited title of Duke of the Kingdom. Twice before, the dukedom of his lineage had been deposed and later restored.
The Xu family is also quite influential in Anyi.
Xu Xianzong faced Xu Changjie and said respectfully: "Xu Xianzong, pay homage to the Master."
Xu Changjie said: "You don't need to be polite, Duke Cheng. Anyway, you and I are from the same clan, and both come from the Xu family in Runan."
Xu Xianzong breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Changjie's words were a reminder of old times.
That means it's not a bad thing.
Xu Xianzong took the initiative and said: "Master Shangshu is the patriarch of our Xu family in Runan. I, Xu Xianzong, obey the arrangements of Master Shangshu. I will hit wherever you point me."
A smile appeared on Xu Changjie's face, and he said slowly: "I do have an important matter entrusted to you here."
Xu Xianzong said: "Please give me your instructions, Master Shangshu."
Xu Changjie said: "The war on the front line is coming, and Lieutenant Qi has already led his troops to fight. In order to ensure the stability of Lieutenant Qi's food and grass, the escort must be one of our own. I have thought about it, and you are the most suitable. You will lead the escort team. , what do you think?"
Xu Xianzong's eyes lit up.
This is a good job.
Xu Xianzong thought for a while and came up with an idea, and immediately said: "Please rest assured, Lord Shangshu, the humble post will be completed. If the task cannot be completed, the humble post will betray your trust and the cultivation of the patriarch. This time, I promise to get the job done.”
"I believe you!"
Xu Changjie nodded with approval.
Xu Xianzong asked: "Master Shangshu, when will we escort the grain to the front line?"
Xu Changjie ordered: "Time is tight. Tomorrow morning, you will lead the troops. The court will arrange the soldiers, and you will be responsible for leading the troops."
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."
Xu Xianzong answered quickly.
Xu Changjie waved his hand and said: "Go and make arrangements."
"Here!"
Xu Xianzong accepted.
Xu Xianzong went straight back to Chengguo Palace, but his heart became more alive than ever before.
What will happen if Xia Kingdom and Da Qin go to war?
Xia Guo cannot be defeated.
This is a basic concept of Xu Xianzong, and what he thinks about is not to consider the overall situation, nor to care about the situation of the frontline war. What he was thinking about was how to gain benefits. Now that he is in charge of this matter, he can gain benefits.
Xu Xianzong suddenly thought of Kong Yifu.
This man is connected with the merchants of Xia State and can eat a large amount of grain.
Xu Xianzong planned to talk to Kong Yifu and asked Kong Yifu to negotiate with the merchants of Daqin. Maybe we can make arrangements to sell this batch of grain sent to the front line and make some money from it.
Xu Xianzong had an idea and without wasting time, he immediately arranged for someone to notify Kong Yifu.
