Fang Xuanling walked out of Ganlu Hall with a heavy heart and told the clerk waiting in front of the hall: "We will arrange for people to go to Lishan in two days."
"But Zhang Shilang didn't see me waiting at all." The officials of the Zhongshu Province were helpless towards Zhang Yang, the Zhongshu Shilang. Everyone was doing things step by step, but he was the only one who didn't come to inquire about the affairs of the Central Committee this year.
Fang Xuanling returned to Zhongshu Province with concerns in her heart. Changsun Wuji has just finished reading the memorial on the farming situation in various places this year, and is preparing to sort it out and submit it to His Majesty.
"Is Zhang Yang still unwilling to come to Chang'an?" Fang Xuanling nodded helplessly.
"Yeah, let's just go to Lishan Chaozhong and forget about it." At first, Zhang Yang came to the Dachao meeting.
Zhang Yang returned to Lishan. In early March, Lishan produced more than 20,000 volumes of books. There were also rumors that Lishan had papermaking technology.
And these books have been handed over to the masters arranged by Cen Wenwen who went to teach. Fang Xuanling is a direct minister, so he won't have so many worries.
What Changsun Wuji wanted, he was unwilling to think about unspeakable things. There must have been an agreement between Zhang Yang and His Majesty.
And there are other arrangements for him to go to Lishan. Changsun Wuji put down the pen in his hand, put his hands on his knees and said solemnly: "Mobei Coal and Stone has sent another six thousand stones. I just want to go to Lishan. He will definitely come to meet me. By then, I will be with you." Let him talk." Fang Xuanling looked tired.
"Then it will be arranged by Zhao Guogong." The matter was in the hands of Changsun Wuji. After the morning meeting the next morning, he arranged for a team to pull carts of coal mines to the entrance of Lishan Village.
After learning that Mo Fei's coal mine had arrived, Zhang Yang and Li Tai came to the village entrance to greet them in person. Before anyone came closer, Li Tai whispered: "Brother-in-law, the coal and stone delivered last time have not been used up. Our blacksmith shop can use up to a hundred kilograms of calcining in a day. What we are short of now is iron, not coal." Stone." Zhang Yang waved the cattail leaf fan in his hand,
"His Royal Highness the King of Wei doesn't know. The iron material is there and it will not escape. But coal mines are different. This is a long-term consumable. There is no such thing as too much. I dare to conclude that when our Lishan production level reaches a higher level, in the future There will only be more coal needed."
"Listen to my brother-in-law for now, it's not my king's money that's used anyway." Of course, Li Tai's money cannot be used to purchase the coal mine. Brothers must settle accounts clearly, and the accounts between Lishan and King Wei must also be clear.
Shangguan Yi is holding an abacus in his hand. This is a new skill he learned in Lishan. Different from the bulky abacus beads, this abacus is more flexible and lightweight, and can count more digits.
"What the Marquis of the County said is that coal and stone are compared to food, and coal and stone are more convenient to store. The more the better." Li Tai scratched his head and looked ahead. There are too many things that need to be used in his brain recently, and he can't think of anything at all. When he is done The immediate thing is to go back and prepare for the soap workshop, so as to prepare enough stock before summer.
The transaction took place under the same grass shed as before. When someone came closer, Zhang Yang saluted politely.
"I'm really ashamed to trouble Duke Zhao Guo to send coal again." Li Tai also saluted and said, "Uncle, please have a seat." Changsun Wuji walked into the hut, and Shangguan Yi led a group of villagers to take over the coal mines.
"I heard that Lishan has its own papermaking technology?" As soon as he sat down, Zhao Guogong was the first to ask. Li Tai was about to speak, but Zhang Yang interrupted him with his hand and replied: "Where is there any papermaking technology in Lishan? Zhao Guogong I misunderstood." Changsun Wuji said suspiciously: "I saw that Lishan sent out a lot of books. Some people in Zhongshu Province have circulated them and said that the paper is very tough." Li Tai wanted to say something else, but Zhang Yang kicked him again He kicked his heel and replied with a smile: "Zhao Guogong misunderstood that Lishan did not have papermaking skills."
"Really?" Changsun Wuji's eyes swayed between the two of them, and he straightened his clothes.
"According to the rules, the prices of these things remain the same."
"According to the rules, after Shangguan Yi has packed it up and sent it to the village, the money will be sent to the court early tomorrow morning."
"Well, that's very good." There must be a reason why the brother-in-law didn't allow himself to talk too much. He poured the tea diligently.
"Uncle, wait until this year's new tea arrives and send some to your house." Changsun Wuji nodded while stroking his beard. He paused with his hand at the end of his short beard, and seemed to have thought of something.
"The expenses in the court are tight, Chu Suiliang has no experience, and the prime minister is incapable of doing anything."
"After we deliver the goods, the DPRK and the Central Government will receive another three thousand guan. I think it will be able to solve the urgent needs of the DPRK and the Central Government. If there are more goods coming from Mobei, we, Lishan, will collect them all." Now it is Lishan who has the most abundant capital. At that time, Zhang Yang really wanted to exchange those silver cakes for resources, and Lishan was also willing to pay for it.
Changsun Wuji took a sip of tea.
"I know that Zhongshu Province has asked you to return to the court several times, but you have refused several times. Why?"
"The development of Lishan is at the most critical time, and Xiaguan cannot leave for a while."
"Those 20,000 books came from Lishan, and you still said that you don't have papermaking skills." Zhang Yang looked solemn and did not answer.
Changsun Wuji understood in his heart that no matter how he asked him, he would not answer this question and would only continue to deny it.
As for returning to the court, he would probably not agree. Wave to the entourage outside the hut to come in,
"Bring what I brought."
"Here." The entourage hurried over. He brought a package and opened it on the table. Among them were rolls of imperial account books.
"Since you have no other skills, just review these account books here and make some arrangements for the central government." Seeing Zhang Yang's reluctant expression, Changsun Wuji sighed: "Wait until you review all these account books. Well, I took the people and left." There was still a bit of cold spring breeze blowing, and he looked a little hesitant.
Changsun Wuji nodded and said: "The court is aggressive towards you, but I am not an unkind person."
"..."
"You can arrange things in Lishan. I will make arrangements for you if I can make it convenient for you." An old fox is an old fox after all. He can think what others think and can find the crux of the matter at a glance.
Things have already been done for this reason, and it would be shameless to refuse again. Seeing Zhang Yang caressing his chest, Changsun Wuji frowned and said, "Are you feeling unwell?" Zhang Yang coughed and took a deep breath.
"It's nothing. I'm seriously ill. Occasionally, my old illness relapses. I can't talk too much to others. If I talk too much, I'll easily get chest tightness and shortness of breath. In severe cases, I'll die from shortness of breath." Li Tai stood outside the hut, listening to his brother-in-law After speaking the most perfunctory words, he raised his head and looked at the sky. God wouldn't kill my brother-in-law.
Changsun Wuji stretched out his hand and said: "Please, I will leave after drinking the tea." Taking the brush handed by the other party's entourage, Zhang Yang opened the account book and looked at it carefully. He wrote on the brush in his hand and reviewed one volume after another.
The left and right Jinwu Guards set up additional Xiaoqi camps? Zhang Yang directly wrote a no. As a minister, Du Zhilang was exposed to documents from the three provinces and six ministries of the DPRK and the Central Government, and he had a good understanding of the expenses of the DPRK and Central Government.
Since Li Yuan ascended the throne, he has used Chang'an as the center of power to suppress rebellions in various parts of the Central Plains. A lot of effort has been spent on dealing with Yu Wenji, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande and others.
It was not until Li Shimin ascended the throne that he discovered that the court actually had little money, let alone repairing the palace. Even Li Yuan himself could only devote himself to Da'an Palace, and later moved to Wude Palace.
As for the drought at the beginning of Zhenguan, the national power of the Tang Dynasty worsened again. Then there was the battle between Tang Dynasty and Jieli Khan, and Li Shimin's originally not rich treasury was empty again.
So far, the salaries of the founding heroes have been saved wherever possible. Fortunately, everyone is loyal to the country. The aspirations of the ancients were simple, and they set an example and paid attention to character and sentiment.
There are not many material needs. When I took over the Ministry of Finance last year, I discovered that the salary in the imperial court was a total waste. Not to mention that Cheng Yaojin's salary had not been paid since the second year of Zhenguan. Most of the army's salary was paid with food.
Fortunately, after four years of Zhenguan, the Central Plains began to have successive bumper harvests, the climate improved, and it was able to cope with it for a while.
It was very quiet in the hut. Changsun Wuji sat upright without saying anything, watching Zhang Yang write and review the account books one by one.
Less than half an hour later, Shangguan Yi checked the weight of the coal mine and had it transported into the village. Zhang Yang also approved all the account books.
"Please also ask Duke Zhao to take it to the Zhongzhongshu Provincial Department for approval." The entourage on the side received a look and put away the volume briskly.
Changsun Wuji stood up and asked: "Why did you send Pei Xingjian to the Western Regions?" Zhang Yang smiled and said: "Sending Pei Xingjian to the Western Regions was the decision of the Ministry of Rites, and Pei Xingjian is an official of our Ministry of Rites." The affairs of the Ministry of Rites are the people of the Ministry of Rites. .
Changsun Wuji's eyebrows twitched. Pei Xingjian was a person worth cultivating. He was only fifteen years old. He was sent to the Western Regions at the age when he needed to be properly cultivated.
It was too late to win over him, so I couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Yang Gusui was working against me? Seeing that the goods on the carriages had been unloaded, Changsun Wuji said again: "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Duke Zhao." Before leaving, he looked at Zhang Yang's face again, and it didn't look like he was seriously ill.
With doubts and dissatisfaction in my heart, this conversation with Zhang Yang was not pleasant. In the Shangshu Province, officials were busy coming in and out. Changsun Wuji took a glance at his bag and sat down.
"Is Mr. Zheng busy with business in Luoyang again?" Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "Until these things come to an end, Mr. Zheng will not give up."
"Alas..." Changsun Wuji let out a long sigh,
"Mr. Zheng is really such a person." Changsun Wuji opened the baggage in his hand and took out volumes of account books.
"Although Zhang Yang cannot come to the court, he can still handle the affairs of the Shangshu Province. I brought the volumes of various ministries and he approved them all." Fang Xuanling was surprised at first, then picked up a volume and looked at it carefully.
"It is only through Zhao Guogong's intervention that we can ease the situation a little." After the Zhongshu Ministry of Public Affairs reviewed each of the files that needed money, Zhang Yang typed back most of the memorials that needed money.
Li Shimin looked at the memorial sent by the Ministry of Education. This was the cost of repairing Lingyan Pavilion and the autumn safari this year. He even responded to my request.
The emperor's hands trembled as he looked at the memorial. He was obviously angry, and the prince handed him a bowl of tea just in time.
Li Shimin picked up the tea bowl and drank it all in one gulp, feeling the hot tea flowing through his organs, and coldly snorted: "Without this Zhang Yang, my court will not be able to function anymore?" The prince bowed and said: "Your Majesty, from the Imperial Medical Office The medical officer said that His Majesty's body can no longer get angry." Li Shimin placed the bowl heavily on the table.
In the tenth year of Zhenguan, it’s May. Ever since Changsun Wuji came to Lishan, from time to time memorials from the imperial court would be sent to Lishan for Zhang Yang to approve and then send back to Chang'an.
This harmonious life lasted for two months. Zhang Yang has also been busy for two months for the next phase of construction of his new home.
It was May, the weather in Guanzhong was warm, and Li Yue was teaching his daughter the manners and rules of speech by the Huaqing Pool.
Xiao Qingqing dislikes these rules, but her mother is very strict. We have to build a greenhouse in the hot spring pool of Lishan Mountain before winter, and the foundation has just been laid.
There is a waterway between the thermal pool and the new home. This is the water from the hot spring pool, flowing to the waterway of Huaqing Pool.
Zhang Yang planned to build a wooden bridge here. While listening to Aunt Wang telling what happened in Chang'an City, the skeleton of the small wooden bridge in front of him had been built.
I tried it and it was pretty solid. The waterway is not wide and you can go around it, but I always feel that it is very troublesome to go around such a section of the road at home.
Seeing the wooden bridge that Zhang Yang carefully built, Aunt Wang knew that the county prince had no intention of paying attention to the affairs of Chang'an City.
He devoted himself wholeheartedly to the production of Lishan and the construction of his new home. I often go to the factory in the village to check on the production situation in the morning. After I come back for lunch at noon, I take a short lunch break and then I am busy building the hot spring palace. Except for a little free time in the evening when it is getting dark, I am so busy most of the time.
General Li Ji also returned to Chang'an City. The war between the Uighurs and Xue Yantuo ended after Li Ji led his troops and horses to sweep away several Uighur tribes.
In order to arrange the future relationship between the Uighurs and the Tang Dynasty, they sent envoys to Chang'an City. Zhang Xiangxiang and Xu Jingzong from the Ministry of Rites took over the matter.
News will come soon. The mutual trade in the Hexi Corridor is developing smoothly and has reached a certain scale. Di Zhisun was born in Taiyuan, Bingzhou, and his father was ranked among the three provinces at that time.
But he is such a person, he should come from a very traditional family of famous ministers, and he is very good at running the mutual market.
The county magistrates of the four counties in Hexi sent memorials and praised him repeatedly. The 5,000 guan of customs duties sent from the Hexi Corridor this year also proves his ability.
At night, Zhang Yang sat in his study and wrote, brewing wine from old grain that had been accumulated in the official warehouse for many years and almost moldy, selling it outside the customs, and setting higher tariffs.
However, at noon the next day, this memorial was mercilessly beaten back by His Majesty. The husband had no intention of taking a nap, and was sawing wood while cursing, which made him shake his head. As a wife, she had no choice but to prepare another bowl of bitter tea to dispel the heat, lest her husband get angry again.
"Focus on farming and production, use this excuse to come to the lake to tease me!" The sound of the wood made people's teeth sore, and the family saw it and felt worried.
