In the evening, Mr. Ding served his meal.
Ever since he returned to his home and was forced to think of ways to deal with the locust plague, Mr. Ding has been thinking about nothing more than food and drink every day.
He only used one of his three meals a day, which was almost comparable to the poor people in Da Mo.
Since the price of all rice in Mexico increased last year, except for the rich who eat three meals a day as usual, the poor people can only eat two or one meal a day. The even poorer people sometimes are reluctant to eat even one meal a day. Rice is replaced with other low-priced foods.
"Chang'er." Master Ding Liu called out.
After listening, the second young master Ding Yongchang, who was eating at the same table, raised his head and looked at his father Ding Liu while chewing the food.
Seeing that his father didn't say anything, Ding Yongchang asked: "Dad, what's the matter?"
"Come to my study after dinner later. I have something important to discuss with you." Master Ding Liu said.
"Hey." After agreeing, seeing that his father didn't say anything else, Ding Yongchang continued to eat the food in the bowl.
Although Mr. Ding came to the table for dinner today, not much was said at the dinner table, which was still different from the past.
After finishing his meal in a hurry, the second young master Ding Yongchang walked towards his father's study.
Ding Yongchang has a body that can be described as either fat or thin, but his face looks much better than that of Ding Wenshan.
If we just look at Ding Wenshan and Ding Yongchang from the looks of them, they are like heaven and earth.
If Ding Wenshan is a wretched person, then Ding Yongchang can be considered a suave person.
Although they were both born from the same mother, how could they be so different?
Ding Yongchang, now twenty-nine years old, is several years older than Ding Wenshan, but he is still the second eldest son of the Ding family.
Ding Yongchang is the current official of the Ministry of Industry, Capital City, Qingli Division, and he is considered a respectable person in the court.
The Dushui Cleaning Department is mainly responsible for auditing, estimating and selling various projects such as rivers, seawalls, river defenses, ditches, water conservancy, bridges, roads, etc.
But now the imperial treasury is running low on money, and many projects in Damo have long since lacked enough money to continue repairs. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry has it much easier.
It can be said that since there is not enough money in the treasury, many officials in the Ministry of Works, not only in the Ministry of Works, but also in other departments, seem to have less work. Some officials even come to their own departments to rest every day.
It can be said that I arrived on time, squinted my eyes, opened my eyes when the time was right, and headed towards home.
Although he knew that his father was not looking for him for anything bad, the second young master Ding Yongchang was still cautious.
When he arrived at the study door, he knocked politely and waited for his father's response. Like the eldest young master Ding Wenshan, no matter whether the door is open or closed, just walk in.
"Come in." Master Ding Liu said.
After listening, the second young master Ding Yongchang hurried in.
Before Ding Yongchang could say a word, Master Ding Liu said first: "Sit down!"
Ding Yongchang sat down, looked at his father Ding Liu who was smiling in front of him with a confused expression, and asked: "Dad, what important matters do you want to discuss with me?"
Seeing his son's confused look, his father Ding Liu replied: "Do you know what your father has been busy with these days?"
(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)
The second young master Ding Yongchang shook his head and looked at his father with a bewildered face.
"Aren't you a fifth-grade official? You've been at the court all day. Didn't you go to court?" Master Ding Liu said with disbelief on his face.
Listening to his father's words, Ding Yongchang remembered: "Dad, are you doing this about the locust plague?"
Ding Liu nodded and looked at his son Ding Yongchang with a sad face.
Looking at his father's appearance, he seemed to want him to give him some advice. But thinking of what the Left Prime Minister said that day, Ding Yongchang asked: "Dad, the time limit given by the Left Prime Minister to you is three days. Today has already passed." It's the third day. After today, you will have to resign tomorrow. It's too late to think about it now."
Seeing his son so worried about him, Ding Liu smiled and said, "Don't worry, there are still three days."
"Three more days?" His son Ding Yongchang looked confused.
"Today, Prime Minister Zuo came to see my father. He said a lot of things to me, so Prime Minister Zuo gave me a few more days of grace. Only then did I get a three-day deadline. There are still three days." Ding Liu explained. .
Listening to his father's words, Ding Yongchang's heart calmed down.
In the Ding family, only his father is an official in the court with him, and he is respected in the court mostly because of his father's contribution. If his father resigns from the official position, it will be difficult for him to survive in the court in the future. This point, Ding Yongchang still knows it very well.
Knowing that his father has been working on this for the past few days, Ding Yongchang couldn't think of a good way even if he thought about it. He only knew about those projects. How could he understand these? These should be the issues that the Ministry of Household Affairs should be thinking about.
Looking at his father's expectant eyes, Ding Yongchang said: "Dad, I am from the Ministry of Industry. I only know about the construction of water conservancy, roads and bridges. How can I use money and food to solve the locust plague? I have no choice. ah."
Seeing his son's weak look, his father Ding Liu said: "Look at my father. Isn't my father also the Minister of Rites? He doesn't know these things, but will the left prime minister leave the problem to others because of this? My son? , being a father does not mean scolding you. In this family, you are the most agreeable person for my father. My father hopes that when you encounter something, don’t think about whether it is suitable for you or whether it is something you should think about. As long as it is It's a thing, it's a problem, and you have to find a way to solve it. Only in this way can you gain a foothold in the government."
After listening to his father's words, his son Ding Yongchang understood.
"Dad, I know about this. I will definitely work hard to help you find a solution together." said his son Ding Yongchang.
Listening to his son's words, his father Ding Liu felt relieved.
"Okay. In the past few days, when you are not busy, help my father think about how to solve this matter. Today, Prime Minister Zuo told my father that in the past few days, people in almost every county in Nanyue Province have They all hoarded a large amount of goods because of the locust plague. Some people went to the streets and robbed food when they saw it. Some injured people, and some killed them. If this matter is not handled properly, big trouble will occur in the future. "
"I understand, Dad."
"Okay, then go back to your room first and try your best to help your father think about it."
"good."
Now not only did he get a three-day deadline, but he also had one more person to help him think.
Watching his son Ding Yongchang leave, Ding Liu did not put down his sad face.
The second young master Ding Yongchang, who returned to the bedroom, did not forget what his father said just now. Instead, he sat at the desk in his bedroom. After sighing a little, he began to help his father think about it. Find a way.
(This chapter is not finished, please turn the page)
Seeing her husband coming out of the master's house with a sad face, Ding Yongchang's wife Fang Peiyu came over.
She wore a light green patterned needlework dress with gold strands all over the ground and a half-sleeved Yunlong eight auspicious satin dress with Korean orchid spiral needle embroidery. She also wore a gray and yellow nail embroidery printed gold gauze skirt. She wore a black bun and walked Come over.
"Husband, why are you looking so sad this time?" asked his wife Fang Peiyu.
Seeing that it was his wife, Ding Yongchang turned around, looked at her with a smile on his face, and said, "My father asked me to help him think of ways to solve this locust plague."
"Have you thought of that?" the wife asked again.
Ding Yongchang shook his head: "Not yet. Now that the Mo country's treasury is empty and the price of rice has risen crazily, where can we get the money to solve this locust plague?" After speaking, Ding Yongchang looked at his virtuous wife and asked: "Is the child asleep?"
"Sleep." His wife said.
After asking, Ding Yongchang muttered to himself: "Now the imperial court is focusing on the rebellion of the people in Guangnan, and almost all the money from the national treasury is used to suppress those people. This matter of solving the locust plague cannot be saved no matter what. Grain or money. Last year, the disaster in Jiang Lai used granaries in almost all parts of the country. Later, when the harvest season came in Jiang Lai, the rice output was very small, and it did not exceed the grain used for disaster relief. "
After saying this, Ding Yongchang turned over several books on the table.
Although the above records are all about the previous dynasty, and there is no mention of controlling the locust plague at all, Ding Yongchang still hopes to find some clues from these.
The next day.
As before, everyone in the imperial court rushed to their seats after the court session and was busy with the work at hand.
"My benefactor, the third day has passed. How did the Minister of Rites solve the problem?" Yang Youcheng, the right minister, asked.
Listening to Yang Youcheng's question, Su Yunqi, the left prime minister, said: "Yesterday, I went to Ding's house, and Ding Shangshu begged the prime minister to tolerate him for a few more days. Thinking about the situation in his house, I So I agreed and gave him another three days."
"My benefactor, if we give him another three days, he may not be able to figure it out." Yang Youcheng said.
"I know. Since he asked me to give him another three days, just give him the time limit. He also personally agreed. After three days, if I can't think of anything, I can do whatever I want." Su Yunqi said.
After listening to his benefactor's words, Yang Youcheng came back to his senses and continued to review the memorial in his hand.
Cen Anze, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Du Antong, the Grand Governor, hurried to the prime minister's house.
Seeing the anxious look of the two of them, Su Yunqi, the left prime minister, asked: "What's wrong with you two? You are in such a panic."
After listening to what Zuo Xiang said, Governor Du Antong glanced at Cen Anze, the Minister of War, and wanted him to say something, but Cen Anze did not dare to say it. After all, this was bad news.
"You two are telling me that you came here in such a hurry, but you didn't say a word when you arrived." Su Yunqi, the left minister, said.
Listening to the words of the left prime minister, Cen Anze, the minister of the Ministry of War, and Du Antong, the governor, became even more panicked.
After a while, Cen Anze, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, said hesitantly: "The two governors of Nanyue and Mozhang acted without authorization and were defeated. When the three governors of Guangnan, Huguang, and Nanzhong fought against the unruly people, it was also... soldiers ...the soldiers...were defeated.”
"Failed?" Left Prime Minister Su Yunqi was shocked.
(End of chapter)
7017k
