Shu County, in the prefect's mansion.
In the office duty room.
Zhang Zhao, along with Li Qian, Zhao Gui and Yan Xiang, were handling the government affairs of Lujiang County.
Lujiang County is busy this winter. The reason is that Lujiang County accepted refugees unconditionally, which resulted in the influx of too many refugees from Jiujiang County, Danyang and other places.
Countless refugees arrived, putting pressure on Lujiang County unprecedentedly high. That is to say, Zhang Zhao is in charge of the overall situation and Zhou Yu leads the troops to coordinate the arrangements. Otherwise, Lujiang County would have been in chaos.
"Oh, this day is so tiring."
Li Qian was sitting not far away, looking at the bamboo slips presented to him, and couldn't help but sigh.
He stood up, stretched, rubbed his tired cheeks, and said, "Mr. Zibu, thank you for taking the lead. If you hadn't been in charge of the overall situation, I'm afraid that I, the county magistrate of Lujiang County, would not be able to carry it." Stay here. There are too many things going on this year.”
Zhao Gui also sighed and said: "At this time in previous years, I, the chief clerk, basically had nothing to do. I just took care of people and things for Mr. Lu Kang. This year, we have been on duty every day without any time to rest. It's too hard. .”
Zhang Zhao stroked his beard and said calmly: "Thank you for your praise. I only rely on your help to complete the arrangements for these things. Without your full assistance, even if I have the power to do anything, there is nothing I can do."
He glanced at Yan Xiang again and said with a smile: "Especially Yan Gong's assistance is very important."
Yan Xiang said slowly: "I'm old, so I'm holding you back. You are all young and strong, and you can always be busy. But I am old, and my bones can't support it. Many times, I can't help. It's really hard. Ashamed.”
Zhang Zhao shook his head and said: "Yan Gong is rich in experience and sees problems very sharply. He can directly point out the shortcomings and save us from many detours. This is something that none of us can match."
Yan Xiang smiled and did not answer.
Among several people, he is relatively taciturn. After all, he is the only one who has submitted to Lu Xuan. He usually listens more and talks less.
This is the habit of Yan Xiang.
Li Qian twisted his waist, rubbed his back, and continued with a worried look: "As of now, the number of refugees pouring into Lujiang County has exceeded 40,000. And it is still increasing. The pressure we are facing is getting more and more. It’s getting bigger.”
Zhao Gui looked at Zhang Zhao and tried to ask: "Mr. Zibu, do you suggest that the lord stop accepting refugees?"
"no!"
Zhang Zhao answered decisively.
His eyes were sharp and he said loudly: "My lord went to Jingzhou to celebrate Liu Biao's birthday, and tried his best to get 90,000 shi of food back, just to help the people. We have been stocking up on food during the autumn harvest, also to help more refugees. , absorbing more people.”
"Everything is for the sake of population. This is the basic policy of Lujiang County."
"It is currently a cold winter, and there are many refugees. It is true that there are difficulties of one kind or another. But this difficulty can still be overcome. Even if you grit your teeth, you have to resist. After this year, the population of Lujiang County will increase dramatically, and next year it will be better."
"Everyone knows that the current situation is not easy, but we still have a large amount of food, so we cannot relax or retreat."
"The strategy set by my lord encounters difficulties, and I must persevere even though I grit my teeth."
Zhang Zhao's tone became more serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Even you have some criticisms. It is conceivable that many people below must not understand the lord, and think that the lord's arrangements are unnecessary and that he is a bad person. The people below I don’t understand, but you should understand.”
Li Qian nodded and said, "I understand."
Zhao Guidao: "I understand too."
Yan Xiang watched Zhang Zhao speak with a hint of approval in his eyes. Zhang Zhao was indeed the person chosen by Lu Xuan. He had courage and ability and could withstand pressure. It was not easy.
Zhang Zhao rubbed his tired face and continued: "I don't want any discussion below. My lord's strategy has been decided. No matter how hard it is, I will persevere. Whoever criticizes or publishes paradoxes will influence people's hearts. I will If you hear this, you will be severely punished.”
"I understand the humble position!"
Li Qian and Zhao Gui answered simultaneously.
The expressions on their faces were extremely serious, and they did not dare to relax any more. When Zhang Zhao speaks, he can always do what he says. When Zhang Zhao was handling government affairs, he once discovered that a person was lax and derelict in his duties, so he was directly fired from his official position without any room for improvement.
Everyone in the prefect's mansion was in awe of Zhang Zhao.
Zhang Zhao saw Li Qian and Zhao Gui's statements and nodded. His face was cold and solemn, and he smiled and said: "Don't worry, my lord is already on his way back and has entered Shu County. When the lord returns, the pressure will be gone." It will be much smaller.”
Zhao Gui said: "That's true."
He frowned slightly and said: "Mr. Zhang, there is one more thing. The government is doing its best to rescue the victims, resettle the refugees, and provide the refugees with food every day. You even adopted a work-for-relief approach, allowing the refugees to work and make money, and try to keep the people occupied. . But currently, food prices remain high. How to solve this problem?"
Zhang Zhao handled government affairs very methodically.
There were too many refugees entering Lujiang County. He resettled the refugees uniformly and opened porridge tents so that the people could receive porridge. Although the porridge in the porridge shed is light, at least it can ensure that the people do not starve to death.
In addition, because Lujiang County sells Feixian Liquor, Lujiang County's finances are relatively abundant.
Therefore, while Zhang Zhao was relieving the victims, he also adopted a work-for-relief strategy, organizing the refugees to cut down forests, reclaim farmland, repair ditches, etc., even in the cold weather. However, the people were organized to work, wages were settled that day, and many refugees were given things to do.
Although the money given is not much, at least I can buy some food so that I will not starve to death. Moreover, if the refugees have something to do, they will not cause trouble, will be less prone to trouble, and will reduce maintenance costs.
All Zhang Zhao's arrangements were to the greatest extent possible to ensure that the people would not starve to death.
This is his goal.
It was still winter, so it was impossible for him to open the granary to feed all the refugees, because it was currently impossible.
Zhang Zhao said solemnly: "The relief to the victims is going well, but I have communicated with many grain merchants about the issue of grain prices. However, the effect is not ideal, and these people ignored me."
"Our merchant family in Lujiang County is relatively easy to talk to and willing to cooperate. The problem is that there are several other big grain merchants from other counties in Yangzhou, and they have some relations with the lord. It is difficult to deal with it for the time being. Let's postpone it for now."
"When the lord returns, I will ask the lord to make a decision."
Zhang Zhao said: "After all, directly killing the people behind these big families will cause turmoil. For the time being, such methods cannot be adopted."
Zhao Guidao: "Everything depends on Zhang Gongcao."
Yan Xiang smiled and said: "What Zhang Gongcao said is a mature plan. We adopt tough measures, but once we get out of control, we will easily be unable to suppress them. Our main task is still to resettle the refugees. For other matters, as long as they do not involve the bottom line, we can temporarily in spite of."
Zhang Zhao said: "That's what it means."
The four of them chatted for a while, then continued their business.
Resettling and relieving the refugees cannot be explained clearly in a few sentences. It involves too many things. Food, clothing, housing and transportation are all issues, as are security and stability, and other aspects, so it’s very busy.
"Report!"
At this moment, an attendant came in and reported: "Zhang Gongcao, the master has returned with his people. There is only half an hour left to Shu County."
"knew."
Zhang Zhao nodded in reply.
He asked his attendants to step back, and continued to deal with government affairs with Zhao Gui, Li Qian, and Yan Xiang for a while. Then he took Zhao Gui, Li Qian, Yan Xiang and other assistant officials from the prefecture to greet him at the south gate. When Zhang Zhao went out, he also arranged for someone to notify Zhou Yu to greet him.
Zhang Zhao and his party arrived at the south gate of Shu County and waited quietly.
Not long after, Zhou Yu also arrived.
The group of people stood in the cold wind and waited for a while. Zhao Gui suddenly said: "Here we come, the lord's team is here."
Li Qian looked at it carefully and said with a smile: "Something is wrong. When my lord went there, there were only one hundred black armored soldiers brought by Zhou Tai. This time my lord returned to Shu County, there were too many people."
Zhou Yu was wearing armor and had a sword hanging from his waist. After careful observation, he said with a smile: "Maybe my lord has recruited another group of people. My lord once said that the purpose of going to Jingzhou is not to celebrate Liu Biao's birthday, but to recruit talents. It’s normal for more people to follow.”
Zhang Zhao nodded and said: "Zhou Sima is right. My lord's actions cannot be judged by common sense. The large amount of food sent back this time. If you go to the banquet, can you get the food? My lord has sent back so much food, and there are Thousands of sets of armor.”
Everyone nodded.
Everyone is waiting.
Not long after, Lu Xuan and his party approached the city gate.
Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu came forward with their people to greet them.
The carriage stopped, Lu Xuan lifted the carriage door curtain and stepped down, Zhang Zhao bowed and said: "I wish my lord a triumphant return."
"I wish my lord a triumphant return."
All the people spoke together.
Lu Xuan smiled, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. Let's go into the city."
"Here!"
Zhang Zhao nodded in reply.
A group of people entered the city. Lu Xuan asked Deng Dang to take the black armored soldiers and Jinfan camp soldiers to the military camp for settlement. Then Lu Xuan and his group returned home. Lu Xuan returned to the house, and Xiao Qiao went directly to the backyard. Lu Xuan led Zhang Zhao, Kuai Liang and others into the hall and sat down.
Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu sat on the left side of the hall, while Kuai Liang and Huang Zhong sat on the right side.
Lu Xuan asked people to bring hot wine and hot dishes, and put a small pot for everyone. After pouring the wine, he picked up the wine glass and said with a smile: "It's freezing cold. Everyone, please take a sip of the hot wine first."
Everyone picked up the wine glasses and drank. After drinking the hot wine, their whole bodies warmed up.
Lu Xuan dispelled the chill from his body, stood up and walked to Kuai Liang, looked at Zhang Zhao and his party, and said with a smile: "Everyone, this is Kuai Liang and Kuai Zirou. When Liu Biaodan rode into Jingzhou, it was Mr. Kuai who As an assistant, he made strategies for Liu Biao and helped him pacify Jingzhou. He is the elder brother of Kuai Yue who was previously sent as envoy to Lujiang County, and he is very talented. Now he is invited by me to serve in Lujiang County."
Wow! !
There was a burst of discussion in the hall.
Even Zhang Zhao was quite surprised, he was conceited about his talent and ability. But when it comes to fame, it is still a little lower than Kuai Liang. After all, Kuai Liang has been an official for a long time, and helped Liu Biao stabilize Jingzhou and made great achievements.
As for Zhang Zhao, he only became an official now.
Yan Xiang, Zhao Gui, Li Qian and other officials in the prefecture were all extremely surprised.
Everyone was stunned.
Lu Xuan went to Jingzhou and found such a strong person. It was like a dragon crossing the river. At this moment, all the officials in the Prefecture's Mansion felt tremendous pressure.
