It was late November in Kancheng, and the wind was biting.
During the day, it hadn't snowed yet.
It was freezing cold at night, and the higher mountains were frozen.
Zhuge Liang was very busy during this time.
Before that, he had killed a lot of people in Qiancheng and established his prestige. Immediately afterwards, a large number of officials were dealt with harshly. Anyone who violated laws and disciplines was demoted and dismissed, which made the Xizhou official system extremely awe of Zhuge Liang.
The officials were in awe, but the people admired and loved Zhuge Liang very much.
Zhuge Liang used Taqiancheng as his foundation. After establishing his power, he traveled all over Qiancheng. Then, with Taqiancheng as the center, he radiated to the east and west step by step, constantly understanding and governing the local area, and developing differentiatedly according to local conditions. Farming and commerce.
Zhuge Liang's policies were all aimed at benefiting the people, allowing them to live a good life without being oppressed by the powerful.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang was supported by the people.
Under Zhuge Liang's governance, coupled with the steady flow of scholars from the country, batches of people were assigned to serve, enriching various places in Xizhou, making Xizhou now quite prosperous.
Coupled with the foundation laid by Xun Yu, it ensured that Xizhou had sufficient food, and the people could have a warm winter without worrying about insufficient food.
On this day, around afternoon time.
Even in the middle of summer, the sky is still clear and the sun is shining brightly. Entering the cold winter season, it gets dark early in Qiancheng, the weather is already a bit gloomy, and the cold wind is howling.
Zhuge Liang returned from visiting places and returned to Chang Shi's Mansion. He stayed close to the brazier to keep warm. He drank some warm rice wine and warmed up his whole body.
Zhang Hong sat aside and said: "Chang Shi, there is actually no need to work so hard. It's freezing cold and there is no need to go to inspect places every day."
Zhuge Liang shook his head, looked serious, and said: "If you don't inspect clearly and understand the situation personally, you won't be able to understand everything. Only by understanding everything clearly and not being deceived can all arrangements be implemented."
"For example, in the cold winter this year, although the life of the people is good, there are also refugees. To help these refugees and place people in places, we need to understand which places need people, rather than just relying on reports."
"You will be deceived just by looking at the information."
"Mr. Zhang must know this."
"Because of the cold weather, I am lazy and lax. Wouldn't I be betraying His Majesty's trust? Even such a thing can make me retreat. I am afraid that other things will make me even more discouraged."
Zhuge Liang looked solemn and said: "To learn, you must learn, and to learn, you must be quiet. In the same way, if you want to do things, you must be down-to-earth."
Zhang Hong said solemnly: "I have learned a lesson."
Facing Zhuge Liang, although the other party is young, Zhuge Liang's mind is very mature. One of Zhuge Liang's biggest characteristics is that he is super pragmatic.
Everything is well arranged.
Everything is arranged carefully.
Because of Zhuge Liang's own character, his chief official also had very high requirements for his assistants. All of them must be pragmatic people, who only know how to recite poems and compose poems instead of boasting.
Zhuge Liang does not need such a person.
The people Zhuge Liang used were all pragmatic talents.
Zhuge Liang rubbed his hands and said: "Mr. Zhang, we have been promoting language and writing, and we have made some progress. However, it is not enough. I think we must improve on this point and work harder."
Zhang Hong frowned and said: "Chang Shi has arranged schools in the three counties to teach the writing and language of the Ming Dynasty. Now it will be more difficult to make further arrangements. I think it can be slower, there is no need to be so hasty."
Zhuge Liang still shook his head, with an urgent look on his face, and said: "Your Majesty is expanding at a very fast pace, we cannot fall behind. That's what I think about it. According to the official standards, all local people will pass the assessment if they succeed in the Ming Dynasty. , are all rewarded.”
"For example, those who have just passed the test will have their taxes reduced by another 20% on the basis of the current taxes."
"If the assessment is average, the tax will be reduced by 30%. If the assessment is excellent, the tax will be reduced by 50%. At the same time, grassroots officials such as local village leaders and pavilion chiefs will give priority to people with better language skills."
"The previous promotion was to arrange for scholars to preach and teach."
"This is too slow."
Zhuge Liang quickly said: "Only by changing the local people's passive learning to active learning can we increase efficiency."
Zhang Hong praised: "Zhuge Changshi's arrangement is naturally excellent, and I have no objection. However, such a strategy will put a lot of pressure on the government's finances. Without more taxes, operations will not be easy."
Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "The imperial court will naturally support you, don't worry. The current task is to assimilate the people of Xizhou first. Language and writing are the most fundamental arrangements. If Zhang Gong thinks there is no problem, I will make arrangements. .”
Zhang Hong said: "No problem."
As long as the finances are fine, everything is fine.
When Zhuge Liang was further preparing to speak, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard. An attendant entered and saluted: "Chang Shi, there is a letter from Tianzhu. Your Majesty arranged for it to be delivered."
"Send it up by courier."
Zhuge Liang reached out to take it and browsed quickly.
He looked at the letter, and when he first saw the news that Lu Xuan had captured Huashi City, the imperial capital of Tianzhu, a smile appeared on his face. But as he continued to look down, his expression froze and he looked very embarrassed.
Lu Xuan granted him a marriage to the daughter of the Gu family, named Gu Xi.
Lu Xuan mentioned this matter to Zhuge Xuan, saying that Zhuge Xuan specifically mentioned Zhuge Liang's marriage, and Lu Xuan, as a monarch and brother-in-law, directly arranged it.
However, he doesn't want to get married for the time being.
When he was in Nanjing, his uncle urged him to get married and asked him to block the marriage. Unexpectedly, his uncle took a roundabout way and bypassed him to find His Majesty.
The problem is that it is difficult for him to refuse His Majesty.
How to do it?
Zhang Hong looked in his eyes and saw something was wrong with Zhuge Liang's expression, so he quickly asked: "Chang Shi, is there something unexpected? Did your Majesty's war in the Western Regions encounter obstacles or encounter any problems?"
"neither!"
Zhuge Liang shook his head and answered.
Zhang Hong looked curious and asked eagerly: "What is that?"
Zhuge Liang replied: "Your Majesty achieved a great victory. He destroyed King Chaori of Tianzhu and captured Huashi City, the imperial capital of Tianzhu. Taking over the entire Tianzhu is just around the corner."
Zhang Hong frowned and said, "In that case, everything is a good thing, why does Chang Shi look solemn?"
"Your Majesty has granted me a marriage."
Zhuge Liang sighed again.
A man is helpless because his affairs with women hinder his governance and career in the Western Regions.
Zhuge Liang hoped to establish a career first before starting a family.
Zhang Hong's cheeks twitched when he heard Zhuge Liang's words. His old face looked incomprehensible and he said: "Chang Shi, your Majesty has given you a marriage. This is the first time, and it is the only one. It is also a great good thing. It proves that His Majesty attaches great importance to it. For Chang Shi, it is all beneficial and no harm, so why are you so worried?"
At this point, Zhang Hong said with an "I understand you" look: "Could it be that the other party is ugly, but it doesn't matter. You should marry a virtuous wife. As long as you have a virtuous wife, everything will be easy to handle."
At this time, Zhuge Liang took out the portrait in the letter.
He glanced at it and then showed it to Zhang Hong. In an instant, Zhang Hong was stunned again.
The portrait is very beautiful.
Dignified and generous.
Clean and crisp.
This is an extremely beautiful woman.
Zhang Hong didn't understand even more and said: "Chang Shi, you can't be too harsh in life, and your requirements can't be too high. Chang Shi is highly regarded by His Majesty, and the woman he married is even more beautiful, and can be called the beauty of heaven and country. Under this premise, you still have What’s there to worry about?”
Zhuge Liang said quietly: "I don't want to get married right now. Women will affect my ability to govern the place."
Zhang Hong couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
How annoying!
Zhuge Liang is so irritating.
How could this be?
Zhang Hong suppressed the irritation in his heart and said: "Chang Shi, your Majesty's kindness, you must accept it no matter what."
Zhuge Liang said: "I have thought carefully about how to refuse Your Majesty. I still don't want to do this. I want to devote myself to the governance of the Western Regions and have no time to think about other things."
Zhang Hong opened his mouth to speak, wanting to persuade, but when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
The relationship between the emperor and Zhuge Liang was unusual.
He didn't bother to get involved.
"Report!"
At this moment, an attendant entered and saluted: "Master Chang Shi, a woman came from outside the house, saying that she came to see you from Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty."
Zhuge Liang suddenly frowned.
What a coincidence.
He really didn't like it, so he just wanted to meet and talk.
Zhuge Liang arranged his clothes, put on his big cloak, and strode out. When he came to the gate of Chang Shi's Mansion, he saw the woman standing at the gate.
The woman in front of him was wearing a sky blue robe, a fiery red cloak, a sword hanging from her waist, and her black hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her head appear heroic.
She wears a necklace on her head, her skin is as beautiful as snow, her eyes are dark and bright, her nose is straight, and her red lips are moist, like a fairy in the fire.
This woman is clearly Gu Xi.
When she saw Zhuge Liang, her eyebrows stretched and a smile bloomed on her pretty face. She saluted and said, "Little girl Gu Xi has met Zhuge for a long time."
Zhuge Liang smiled.
At this moment, he felt that everything became brighter, the wind became lighter, and the light became brighter, as if the cold weather had become warmer.
Everything is so beautiful.
