"Listen to what Fengxiao said, it's like a spring breeze. Do you really only want one chief clerk?"
"Yes," Guo Jia bowed, "I believe that Duke Cao's kindness and power are as good as the rain. He is well versed in the art of war and has been attacking all year round. He is a famous general, but he is benevolent and righteous, and he has survived the hardships and dangers to this day. It is commendable. This move must be the wisest choice.”
"For this reason, I am not talented, but I am willing to work for the Ming Gong to restore stability and peace to the world and establish great causes."
This person must be the enlightened master I have been seeking for a long time!
"Fengxiao, the one who urged me to be benevolent and righteous was another chief secretary, Zhang Han."
"Jia already knows this," Guo Jia smiled lightly. He was going to make friends with him from now on.
"Okay, it will be a blessing for Yan and Xu to have the three of you as assistants in the future, and to have Wen Ruo to stabilize the internal affairs."
"Lord."
Guo Jia's expression was as usual, with no hint of joy. His eyes were stern, and he bowed solemnly.
…
When Guo Jia arrived, Cao Cao hosted a banquet for several days, including Xu Chu.
Every day there was music and music all night long until dawn. Both Guo Jia and Xu Chu have good drinking abilities, and they can stay drunk without getting drunk, and they become more talented after drinking.
This made Cao Cao very agreeable, so the scope of the banquet gradually expanded, and Zhang Han and Xi Zhicai were called in.
He also invited Xun Yu several times, but every time Xun Yu left in the middle, either to continue handling official business or to go home to study.
During this period, I did not drink any alcohol.
In this way, the cold became deeper and deeper, and the farmland gradually completed watering and burning ashes, so the fields were sparsely populated, and the merchants walking between counties gradually stopped.
As winter approaches, most people rarely go out except those who have to go out to make a living.
Before the New Year, Chen Deng, who was in charge of the internal affairs of the Xuzhou tuntians, rushed from Xiapi to Juancheng to present this year's various performances.
At the same time, we also came to get some food and store it for the winter to prevent starvation and epidemics in the severe cold.
This trip was informed early by Fei Qi that Zhang Han picked him up outside the city.
After receiving it, I took it directly to my home.
At the door, the two took off their raincoats to protect them from the rain and walked in together.
Chen Deng, whose complexion was so fair that he looked like a pretty boy, had melancholy eyes and was distracted. He had been hesitating on the carriage just now.
Zhang Han felt it deeply.
At this time, he finally couldn't help but say, "In the Battle of Xuzhou, the water slopes where I majored collapsed. Floods are more serious during the rainy season. If not controlled, the fields in Xuzhou may be damaged a lot."
Zhang Han patted the raindrops on his body and took the lead in walking around the corridor to the main hall. At the same time, he quickly said: "I know this."
Later, Xuzhou would even become a Yellow River flood area due to several changes in the flow of the Yellow River tributaries, and the victims of disasters would be extremely heavy every time.
"You want to ask the lord for men and money to build the mountain again, right?"
The so-called bei refers to slopes, ponds, and banks of rivers and streams. If you build them along the way, you can control the flow of water.
If built horizontally, water can be collected and released. The main purpose of building mountains is to better divert water for irrigation and prevent excessive water flow from damaging farmland.
Chen Deng came here just for next year's spring plowing plan.
Thinking of this, Zhang Han inevitably felt a little ashamed.
I am still waiting to get married. Every day, all kinds of valuable money come in and out of the mansion, and people from Juancheng come and go.
There was an endless stream of people coming from the army and the shogunate.
On the other hand, Chen Deng worked hard for the livelihood of the people and governed Xuzhou so that he could enrich the people and strengthen the country in the future.
I actually planned to hint him to give him a gift.
I'm not a human being!
We were in a group, and we all suggested that I should tell Chen Deng about this. Judging from his reaction, we all blamed Sun Qian for leading me astray.
Zhang Han felt guilty in his heart. He stopped and said softly: "This year, the food will be distributed to march and fight and to provide disaster relief to the people. There is not much food in stock. If you ask for it directly, the lord will definitely give it to you on the grounds of shortage." You postpone.”
"Yes, that's why I came to ask Bo Chang for advice," Chen Deng caught up with him while walking, never letting go of his hands.
You are Duke Cao's favorite minister. You must know his temper well. If you really have a way, you should not hesitate to teach him.
If anyone can persuade Mr. Cao, you are the only one. Chen Deng decided in his heart that he had been embarrassed to say it in the car just now, but now he remembers that he also helped Zhang Han.
The matter of borrowing coupons was only organized by Chen's connections and busy running around. Isn't this also a favor?
"I'm going to get married soon." Zhang Han sighed and lowered his eyes.
"Perhaps it's not good to persuade this matter anymore. We have to wait until spring."
"Are you getting married?! Whose girl is this?" Chen Deng was suddenly surprised. It's a pity that he didn't know it earlier, otherwise he would have prepared a big gift from Xuzhou and it would be a good time to close the relationship.
"My lord's daughter," Zhang Han smiled helplessly, "that's why I say it's inconvenient."
Chen Deng was suddenly stunned and said: "Then it's really an unlucky time for me to come. It's really hard for you to comment."
"Majoring in Shanpi requires the power of the lord of the land. Alas, I, a farmer general, can't take care of this." Chen Deng was a little resentful. When he captured Lu Bu, he and his father had made great achievements, but at that time Don't dare to get too close to Cao Cao.
As the heads of local clans, if they lick too hard, they will be considered as betraying the class. This risk cannot be afforded, and it will easily make the clans remember this, and then the children will gradually be excluded.
So I don't dare to ask for a big official position, I just keep some distance as usual.
"Bo Chang, can you help me think of a solution?" Chen Deng asked tentatively.
He had thought about it before he came, and he had an inexplicable feeling that Zhang Han would always have a way.
Such an inexplicable psychology, Chen Deng himself couldn't tell when it started.
"Okay," Zhang Han agreed without hesitation, "Tomorrow I will entertain a guest in my mansion, and then tonight Sun Qian and Mi Zhu will be back. Let's help you figure this out together."
"You don't want to live in the inn, just stay at my house."
"Tomorrow, I'll go visit my lord again."
…
night.
After Chen Deng spoke sincerely about the matters that needed to be resolved, Sun Qian, who was well built, leaned against the pillar behind him, twirling his beard and thinking with a chuckle.
Not long after, he said "Hey", "It's true that a lot of mountains have been destroyed. I'm not exaggerating. But if you want to alleviate the problem, the newly cultivated fields can be moved to higher places."
A stove and a fire pit were set up in the house, and wine was being cooked on the stove. When the night was not yet deep, several people would sit around the stove and talk until it was very late before going to bed.
Zhang Han likes this very much, and everyone also likes it. Because they are close, they can express their opinions. When there is really nothing to gossip about, he will go over what he has done recently, and then he can think of many plans.
This kind of thing is just like having a small meeting.
The most interesting thing is to hold small meetings. Anyone can speak, and they speak from the bottom of their hearts. There is no need to follow formal procedures, and it is extremely efficient.
If anything really happens, you can usually find a solution by sitting around the fire all night. If not, just sit around the fire for another night.
Of course, if this kind of structure is applied to women in rural areas, it would be called chewing the tongue.
In modern times, it can be regarded as a gathering to "eat melon".
"If you want to focus on mountains and rivers, you can't complete it next year. How many rivers and mountain roads are there in Xuzhou? It will take at least several years to achieve results."
"Yuanlong, you are a man with great ambitions. We have known for a long time that you even know the art of military strategy and can lead troops into battle."
"With such a talent, you can already stand alone. Let me imagine it for you. It is difficult to get money, food, and privileges. Nowadays, it is no longer possible to make a living without rice. This matter is not as simple as asking us to hold a banquet."
"The cost is countless. The main thing is how to mobilize manpower. If you are a saint and can make the people do it spontaneously, that is your ability. But you are not. Then let's take a step back and let you mobilize a county. Wealth, complement each other, fill some empty spaces in the coming year, what do you think?"
"Huh?" Chen Deng frowned and nodded: "Okay."
It only takes one year of good harvest to make a county rich, but now there is a food shortage, and food is more valuable than gold cakes.
"How can I mobilize the money and food in a county?" Chen Deng couldn't help but sigh.
If it had been okay back then, Tao Qian would have needed to rely on him, but now that Cao Gong is in power, all the troops deployed in Xuzhou's three locations are his confidants, so they naturally have firm control over Pengcheng, Xiapi, and Tancheng.
What needs to be built is the junction of these three places. This large area is more than a thousand miles away, and it is the most important area.
"Well, that's true..." Sun Qian fell into silence after saying this.
He could only say this. As for the resolution, that was Zhang Han's problem.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Han suddenly said: "The guest I am hosting tomorrow is Bao Xin, the governor of Xuzhou."
"Mr. Bao is here?" Chen Deng suddenly raised his head, with a little hope in his eyes.
"Well, I'll just say it directly," Zhang Han looked at Chen Deng and said solemnly: "You want to display your ambition, but the opportunity is not good now, and the families are also constrained by the drought, so you need to Only when there is some great power can it be exercised."
Zhang Han spoke seriously, and Chen Deng listened carefully. There was a small brazier between them, and the heat continued to linger between them.
"And I have saved Prime Minister Bao's life. Tomorrow I will strongly recommend you to be the Prime Minister of Pengcheng. Prime Minister Bao will consider it. As long as he talks to the lord, the matter can be accomplished."
"Then... what should I do?" Chen Deng looked confused, looking at Zhang Han and then at Sun Qian.
He could see that Sun Qian's words led to this point to make Zhang Han think about his choice.
Zhang Han's words decided whether to help or reject, but he chose to help and supported me as two thousand stones. Are he preparing to establish a faction?
Zhang Han does not have a high official position, but he does have great energy. People everywhere owe him favors.
"You are a good official," Zhang Han widened his eyes strangely, thinking to himself, what do you mean by that expression? Is it possible that I still want to make some secret deal with you? "Don't let me down. This is the first time I used a favor to do this." Kind of something."
Zhang Han smiled bitterly, "I never do this. For your sake, I made an exception again."
Moreover, I also want to see if recommending you to benefit the people can earn me some merit in exchange for rewards. If this method works, it will be great in the future.
This is important to you, but it's also a great opportunity for me to experiment.
Chen Deng's nose felt sore and he whispered: "They are all ambitious, Yuan Long will keep them in mind."
He is either trying to form a faction or simply helping me.
"It's a good thing to do good to the people. It doesn't have to be so affectionate." Zhang Han didn't care much and patted Chen Deng's shoulder heartily.
"Yeah," Chen Deng nodded with deep understanding, but he actually had his own reasons.
In those days, officials were appointed by inspection, and officials were recommended by official officials and recruited by public officials. But at that time, power was in the hands of the noble families, and Chen Deng was more clear about the operation.
But it doesn't work now.
Two of Cao Cao's three military camps came from clan generals.
The power to appoint officials is naturally in the hands of Cao Cao. He seems to be meritocratic, but how to define talent? Except for those who have achieved actual results, don’t the others still rely on recommendations?
My uncle was very kind to me and made exceptions for me many times. His boldness and unruliness made me worthy of being a national gentleman.
Of course, he and I were just casual acquaintances, but it was my fate to get close to him in Xuzhou.
When he gets married, I have to prepare a big gift.
The next day, Zhang Han led Chen Deng to meet Cao Cao and reported on Xuzhou's age and everything was stable.
The war was deployed near Guangling, and the garrison was to prevent Yuan Shu from plundering the border areas.
Moreover, warriors from all over the country actively participated in the camp, wiped out local bandits, and gained many brave men to serve in the army.
But all in all, it is almost the same as the current situation in Yanzhou.
Guo Jia listened for a long time and shook his head secretly.
Whether it was the reports I saw during this period or the content of Chen Deng’s report, they all contained two words: lack of money!
Yanzhou and Xuzhou are like this. They have people, reputation, fertile soil, and excellent public security.
But there is no money or food, so we can only stare, and we have to tie our hands in anything.
Before he could break up the discussion, he pulled Zhang Han out of the main hall and started talking quietly.
"Last year, this year, two years of fighting have emptied the millions of grains you earned for my lord, but the land is still there. If we rest like this, we can wait another two years before starting the war."
"Recruiting troops and buying horses during this period may lead to wealth and strength, but it is far from enough," Guo Jia sighed: "I am not trying to scare people. Compared with Yuan Shu's violent conquests, Yan and Xu's benevolence and righteousness are better than the long-term and being limited to the present."
"So, Brother Fengxiao is planning to raise taxes?"
Zhang Han thought according to common sense, this is the fastest way, and he can make up for it in one year.
It's just hurting people.
"Ah," Guo Jia seemed to disdain this road, showing a scornful expression, "I think that if we want to compare with the prosperity of the country, my lord can't compare with the Yuan brothers."
"Of course it can't be compared."
"But the Yuan family is not an unattainable family," Guo Jia was accustomed to insulting Yuan, with a rather disdainful tone.
"Why?" Zhang Han asked with his hands raised, his attitude of humbly accepting teachings was just like when he first worked with Xi Zhicai, he was well-behaved, not overstepping the rules, elegant and friendly.
"Because the Yuan family is the Yuan family of the Han Dynasty. Without the Han Dynasty, they are nothing." Guo Jia narrowed his eyes. "If we can get the emperor in hand and call like this, we can become many times richer in a few months!"
What he meant was to find a way to bring the emperor over. Anyway, you already had this plan in your strategy.
"That's right!" Zhang Han's eyes suddenly lit up and he slapped his thigh suddenly, "When you say that, I really think of someone."
"Who is it?" Guo Jia looked over.
Zhang Han smiled mysteriously and said: "Come to my house for a banquet tonight. I originally planned to entertain Prime Minister Bao, but now I want to entertain one more person. If we put on a play, we may have a chance to hook up with Chang'an..."
During this period of time, Zhang Han discovered that Guo Jia's eyes were very capable of observing people's words and people's hearts. This was a unique ability, at least he couldn't learn it now.
Therefore, adding Guo Fengxiao to the banquet may bring unexpected joy.
"Tsk, hooking up is such an unpleasant word," Guo Jia glanced at him displeased, "I've been having a lot of banquets recently, and I feel tired."
"If this matter is completed, it will solve the difficulties in the next three to five years, or even ten years. It is also an extremely important part of the wine ceremony strategy." Zhang Han said this, lowered his head and thought for a while, then immediately raised his head and said: "And , I invite a group of dancers with excellent dancing postures and graceful figures to relax the muscles and activate blood circulation for Master Guo."
"That's all, since it's for the Lord's grand plan, I will sacrifice my life without regrets and will come tonight." Guo Jia straightened his back, rolled his sleeves and held the armrest behind his back, and maintained this posture.
He was stunned and didn't look back at Zhang Han, not even moving his peripheral vision. Usually he would feel itchy during a cold scene, but he could stay still.
This face is no less shameful than the sacrificial wine, but the two use it differently.
I almost believed it, you are such a pushover... Zhang Hanxin said.
…
Late at night! Go to sleep! Will update early tomorrow morning!
(End of chapter)
