Night shrouded the earth and snowflakes continued to fall. Li Yue helped dismantle the carriage. Although the cold wind blew in and made her ears red, she still enjoyed it.
Snowflakes blew into the warehouse with the wind, and there was already a thin layer of snow in front of the warehouse.
Aunt Yang walked into the warehouse, patted the snow off her clothes, and stood by the brazier to keep warm.
Zhang Yang took a small hammer and knocked it, and found that the interlayer of the shaft was also filled with gold.
They clamped the gold between two wooden strips, and then glued some sawdust on top. On the surface, it looked like a carriage with poor wood, but it actually hid the gold inside.
Zhang Yang slowly put down a golden stick, which was more than a foot long.
Li Yue took apart the wheel hub and found that the shaft at the bottom of the carriage was also made of gold.
It was late at night, the wind and snow were getting worse, three of the six carriages were dismantled, and the two of them were exhausted.
Zhang Yang yawned and said, "Go back and rest."
After saying that, he picked up a small hammer and was banging on it.
Li Yue asked curiously: "What are you doing, husband?"
Zhang Yang tapped the edge of the gold nugget and said, "I plan to break some finely chopped golden beans and use them as flowers."
Li Yue looked at Qian Shan aside in frustration, "There are still so many copper coins at home that have not been spent. We will keep the gold to build houses for our children in the future."
She said solemnly: "Lishan is so big, there are still many places that need to be built."
Zhang Yang put down the hammer in his hand and looked at the pile of money at home.
The wind and snow got worse, the cold wind blew in, and some snowflakes fell on their faces. The couple walked out of the warehouse arm in arm.
Li Yue added: "We will distribute dividends to the people in the village this year. Xiaohui said that the iron materials are running out."
"Well, I'll buy some more from your father if I have a chance."
Li Yue held her husband's arm and held her wrist with her other hand. Her feet wearing cloth shoes fell on the snow.
She whispered again: "Oh, the Tang Dynasty is almost invincible, and the family is still so short of money."
It snowed heavily all night, and the morning in Guanzhong came late.
The pendulum clock at home kept clicking. Zhang Yang got up early and looked at the accounts at home. He waited until the sky outside was completely bright before looking out the window.
There was a lot of snow on the windowsill, and it was still snowing outside. When I opened the door, the snow outside poured in.
Zhang Yang shivered when the cold wind blew, and he became much more energetic.
Xiong Da woke up early in the morning. He came out of the room of the two aunts with the sleepy little Qingqing in his mouth. He walked to the Huaqing Pool with his little master in his mouth and motioned for her to wash up.
But Xiao Qingqing was still standing in the cold wind, scolding Xiong Da in her mouth.
Zhang Yang picked up his washbasin, and the father and daughter sat by the Huaqing Pool to wash up.
"Daddy, what do you have for breakfast?"
Glancing at the kitchen at home, Zhang Yang saw that the two aunts were busy. Zhang Yang added, "The two aunts will eat whatever they want."
Xiao Qingqing responded and said, "Daddy, this toothbrush is not easy to use."
"Too small?"
"It doesn't go well."
Zhang Yang took one look and said, "I'll make a new toothbrush for you another day."
Not long after, Xiao Wu and Xiao Hui also got up, and Li Yue held her son in her arms and wiped his face.
The accounts were prepared last night. Zhang Yang looked through them carefully and found that the gap in the iron materials was 500 stones missing, as well as the fine copper.
The demand for copper was great, and Lishan needed as much as the emperor could give.
Zhang Yang said to Xiaohui: "Prepare some silver and buy some iron materials and refined copper from the palace."
Xiaohui took a look at the account book and went to make arrangements.
Zhang Yang said to Xiao Wu who had just finished eating: "Xiao Wu, go and help."
"Here."
It was still snowing heavily, so there was no need to clear the snow at this time. Zhang Yang shoveled out a barely walkable path at home, and then used a broom to clear the snow on the mountain path.
Xiao Qingqing took a small broom and swept along with her. The fine snow fell on her bun, and she didn't even notice it.
Xiong Da stood in front. Whenever it snowed, he was the laziest, and white air came out of his mouth and nose as he breathed.
"Dad, what is water flushing sand?"
Zhang Yang sighed, turning into a cloud of white mist in the cold air, and asked: "You peeked at the books in the study again."
Xiao Qingqing said with a smile: "Sister Xiao Wu read Daddy's books when she was helping my mother tidy up the study room."
"Sand flushing is a means of clearing river sand. It increases the water flow of the river by increasing the runoff of the river, thereby removing the sedimentation of river sand at the bottom of the river."
Seeing that his daughter was still half-informed, Zhang Yang continued: "This is like flushing a toilet, but in terms of river channels, by increasing the runoff volume, it increases the momentum and drives the sediment."
Xiao Qingqing asked again: "Wouldn't it be better to let people dig sand underneath?"
Zhang Yang shook his head and explained: "The Yellow River runs through the Central Plains. If manpower is really needed to dig sand, not to mention the year and month, the risk alone will be very high."
"Um……"
She shook her head and said, "My daughter is still confused."
"Yeah, of course you don't understand now."
Seeing her father's worried look, she stopped talking again.
Confining water to wash away sand is a very classic theory of regulating the Yellow River. This method was proposed by a man named Pan Jixun in the Ming Dynasty.
Never underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. The Ming Dynasty failed to manage the Yellow River well at that time, but later generations relied on this theory of water confinement and sand flushing to complete the sand control of the Yellow River.
Zhang Yang thought in his mind that he would start by planting trees to strengthen both sides of the Yellow River, and then slowly make plans for the rest.
Xiao Qing was so tired that he sat on the mountainside halfway through cleaning, looking at the snowy sky and the earth.
At this moment, in Chang'an City, the heavy snowfall drowned out the excitement and prosperity of Chang'an City.
The heavy snow came early this year. When King Nanzhao arrived in Chang'an City, the heavy snow also came.
The person who greeted King Nanzhao was Li Yifu of the Ministry of Rites.
The King of Nanzhao felt as if he had returned to his hometown when he returned to Chang'an City. He found a wine shop at the gate of the city and ordered a bowl of mutton noodle soup to devour.
Li Yifu was stunned and blinked, "This King of Nanzhao..."
Li Dewu explained: "This King of Nanzhao is from Guanzhong."
Li Yifu nodded in understanding, "So that's it."
After looking around, Li Dewu said again: "I will go to Zhongshu Provincial Department to report on my work first."
"Yeah..." King Nanzhao nodded while chewing the mutton.
When Li Dewu left, Li Yifu stood there, still looking at King Nanzhao blankly.
There were also a group of Nanzhao guards accompanying King Nanzhao. They seemed to have had such a breakfast in their lives.
Li Yifu took out a bunch of copper coins and felt a little entangled in his heart. He was from a humble background and he didn't have much money. If the Ministry of Rites hadn't provided food and accommodation, his life would have been even more miserable if he only relied on his salary.
I don't know if King Nanzhao will pay for this meal. What should I do if he doesn't even have enough money to pay for it.
King Nanzhao sniffed, put the bowl down, and asked the boy here for another bowl.
Pottery bowls were piled high.
"Why don't you eat?"
Hearing King Nanzhao suddenly speak, Li Yifu came closer and whispered: "Xiaguan has eaten, but the money for this meal..."
As he spoke, Li Yifu looked at the gold vessels on King Nanzhao's body.
Why bother snorted coldly when he saw this, "Where is Xu Jingzong? Why doesn't he come to greet a certain family?"
Li Yifu was surprised again, "King Nanzhao knows us, Xu Shangshu."
He Bi smiled and said: "More than just knowing each other, go and tell Xu Jingzong that if he doesn't come, a certain family will stay here and never leave."
"Why did King Nanzhao say this?"
Laughter came from outside the wine shop. Xu Jingzong handed the shopkeeper a small silver cake. After all the guests here left, the wine shop closed the door.
Zhang Da'an, the owner of this wine shop, comes often and has some friendship with the Lishan County Marquis and the Rites Department.
The store owner is also trustworthy.
Xu Jingzong wore official uniform and sat down in front of He Bi, "Li Dewu walked far away. I just came here because I was afraid that they would find out the clues."
Why bother holding a bowl, putting soup into your mouth, and staring at Xu Jingzong.
Seeing that the other party was silent, Xu Jingzong said again: "You suffered in Nanzhao."
After finishing a bowl of soup, why bother letting out a sigh of relief and saying with a smile: "It's not considered suffering. I've always loved to travel all over the Central Plains, see the scenery outside the pass, and see what the world is like."
Li Yifu also picked up a small stool and sat aside. He discovered something incredible. Xu Shangshu actually knew King Nanzhao.
Xu Jingzong asked again: "Have you met the Lishan guy?"
Why bother nodded, "I've seen it, but there are outsiders who can't say a few words."
Xu Jingzong still nodded and said, "Has the matter in Nanzhao been arranged?"
He Bi said again: "It's arranged. I'm tired of seeing the scenery in Nanzhao and don't plan to go back. A certain family in the fourth imperial edict of Yihe won three of them. The remaining one is a poor village and a certain family is not easy to bully." Wait for you to send someone over to clean them up."
Xu Jingzong twitched his short beard on his chin and kept nodding, "No wonder the county prince treated the former Nanzhao envoy like this."
"When can I see the Khan?"
Hearing He Nei's words, Xu Jingzong smiled awkwardly again, "I originally thought that King Nanzhao and other envoys would meet with His Majesty."
He Bi finally put down his chopsticks and whispered: "A certain family took Nanzhao this time just to drink with Tian Khan."
Xu Jingzong sighed: "Some envoys may not be able to see Tian Khan."
Looking at He Bi's attitude, if he doesn't agree to it, he will probably overturn the table.
Moreover, he had a deep relationship with the county marquis and was the first person to make a living together.
"Forget it, I will go see His Majesty now and think of a way. King Nanzhao will go to the post house to rest first."
"Um."
Why nod in response.
Li Yifu followed Xu Jingzong out of the wine shop, "Xu Shangshu, then King Nanzhao is..."
Xu Jingzong explained: "There was an intersection at the beginning."
"Is he an old friend of the county magistrate and Xu Shangshu?"
"Well, that's right."
It's been snowing all day and all night, and it seems to be getting heavier and heavier, with no sign of letting up.
Under the gloomy sky, people on both sides of Zhuque Street stood under the eaves to avoid the wind and snow.
Xu Jingzong walked for a while and felt a thin layer of snow covering his body. He walked all the way to the Suzaku Gate and whispered to the guard here: "I want to enter the palace to meet His Majesty."
The guard smiled and said: "It is already the period of rest, Xu Shangshu is really diligent."
Xu Jingzong clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head and said, "It's the time when envoys from various countries came to Chang'an City to pay homage to Hetian Khan. There are too many things that need to be explained to His Majesty."
The guard let him go.
When you walk into the Zhuque Gate, you will see the Imperial City in front of you. During the rest period, the Imperial City looks a lot more open. There are no busy officials coming and going, and it is quiet here.
Li Daoyan guarded the Chengtian Gate and whispered: "I don't know what's going on with your Majesty recently. Your Majesty always asks people to clean the Chengtian Gate."
The soldier on the side whispered: "It's strange to say that your Majesty only asked people to clean up the Chengtian Gate, and didn't say that he wanted to clean up the Suzaku Gate."
"Yes, yes." Another soldier nodded in agreement.
Those who can come to Chengtianmen to guard are more or less related to the generals in the army or are descendants of the clan. For example, the general on the side is Niu Jinda's son.
Most of the people guarding Chengtianmen are just look-alikes without much practical experience, and there are also many people who just come here in the name of dawdling.
As long as they don't enter the Sixty-Five Zhechong Mansion in Guanzhong, they don't have to go out with the army. They can just find an idle military position near the imperial city of Chang'an City and wait to die.
Li Daoyan looked towards the imperial city. Looking from the wall of Chengtianmen, the figure walking in the snow was getting closer and closer.
The imperial city is very big, and on both sides of the road are the official residences of three provinces and six ministries, so the figure looks very small.
When he got closer, he saw clearly that the person coming was Xu Jingzong.
Li Daoyan stepped forward in person to ask why he came, "Xu Shangshu, are you here to meet His Majesty even though it's freezing cold?"
Xu Jingzong nodded and said: "King Nanzhao has arrived in Chang'an. He said he wanted to meet with His Majesty and I will report to you."
His Majesty gave Xu Jingzong the right to enter the palace at any time to give advice, so Li Daoyan took him outside the Tai Chi Palace and said, "Your Majesty is inside the palace."
Xu Jingzong glanced into the palace. His Majesty and His Royal Highness were sitting at a table in the palace, eating.
After patting the snow off his shoulders, Xu Jingzong straightened his official uniform before walking into the palace.
There was a stove on the table in front of Li Shimin. There was a small pot on the stove, and mutton was being fed into the steaming pot.
Seeing Xu Jingzong coming, Li Chengqian sat upright and cheered up.
On this snowy winter day, His Majesty and His Royal Highness were enjoying hot pot in the Tai Chi Hall, which was quite relaxing.
It is rare and comforting that His Majesty and the Crown Prince are in such harmony.
Xu Jingzong bowed and said: "Your Majesty, King Nanzhao has arrived in Chang'an City."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "Yes."
"King Nanzhao said that he wanted to meet with His Majesty before the great dynasty congratulates him."
Li Shimin likes to cut the mutton very thin and then put it in the pot until it is cooked, so that it tastes delicious.
If possible, Li Shimin would like to write the family's surname on a sheep, then cut it into thin slices, cook it and put it in his mouth.
After getting the artillery, Li Shimin's mood changed. He felt that the family was a fat sheep, and now he was thinking about how to eat this fat sheep.
The palace was quiet for a moment, and then His Majesty finally spoke, "Who is this King of Nanzhao?"
Xu Jingzong lowered his head to hide his expression and replied: "Xiaguan Guan saw that King Nanzhao's style of conversation was from Guanzhong. Xiaguan also asked him whether he was from Guanzhong Weifu before the Wude Year. During the great cause of the dynasty, he followed the army to quell the chaos in the Central Plains."
