Niu Gao stood up and secretly twisted his waist. Said: "In terms of punishment, the government has always said that we should streamline our troops and streamline our administration. Like Dengzhou, there are very few ordinary political affairs. As long as the subordinates work hard, there is not much to do in the governor of the state. I am a rough man, and I have been the governor of the state for a few months. . A person like a prisoner can naturally be easily captured."
Wang Ruohai smiled bitterly in his heart after hearing this. Normally speaking, this is indeed what Niu Gao said. But it was different under Wang Xiaolie. Whether in the military or in political affairs, they all like to make things clear. When you have numbers, you need to calculate them. For people who have never learned mathematics since childhood, calculations are not easy. Even Wang Ruohai felt overwhelmed when he was suddenly exposed to these things.
Niu Gao said: "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. We have arranged a special wine banquet. Let's go together with the punishment."
Wang Ruohai said: "Everything is busy at the moment, so there is no need. I will read the official documents here to avoid delaying the control time."
Niu Gao heard this and smiled and said: "It's not a bad day. The Dragon Boat Festival is a major festival of the year, how can we not take a rest?"
Wang Ruohai had no choice but to get up and leave the official hall with Niu Gao.
Walking on the street, every pedestrian is beaming with joy. The child had a life-long thread tied on his hand and ran around wildly with a toy in his hand. Mugwort is planted in front of every house, and the smell of realgar floats in the air.
While walking on the road, vendors selling rice dumplings in baskets would pass by from time to time, shouting.
Wang Ruohai said: "The rice dumplings for sale are pretty good. Let's buy a few and take them as gifts."
After that, he stopped a hawker and bought his rice dumplings.
The hawker said: "Sir, I have gold and silver rice dumplings here. Which one do you want?"
Wang Ruohai is from She County, Huainan. Hearing what the vendor said, he couldn't help but wonder: "I've only heard of one kind of rice dumplings. Why do you have two kinds here? What are gold rice dumplings? What kind are silver rice dumplings? What's the difference?"
The vendor said: "Golden rice dumplings are made of millet, wrapped in quince leaves, and are square. The millet is golden, so it is named golden rice dumplings. Silver rice dumplings are made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, and have a triangular shape. Because the glutinous rice is white. , hence the name silver rice dumplings. Gold rice dumplings are fragrant and silver rice dumplings are sweet. Please buy a few of them."
Wang Ruohai said: "Aren't these silver rice dumplings that you usually eat? This is the first time I've heard of gold rice dumplings. Just give me ten of each to have a taste. After decades of eating rice dumplings, it turns out there are still gold. of."
The hawker said happily. Each took ten rice dumplings, wrapped them in lotus leaves, and gave them to Wang Ruohai's entourage to carry.
Wang Ruohai lived in the Tixingsi Yamen. In order to separate, Wang Xiaolie lived in the Rangxian County Yamen. The two places are not far apart and will arrive soon.
After entering the Yamen, I met Wang Xiaolie and bowed. Wang Ruohai said: "I saw something strange on the street today. It turns out that there are golden rice dumplings here during the Dragon Boat Festival. They are made of millet rice, which is different from glutinous rice in other places. I specially bought ten of them to try with Zhizhi."
Wang Xiaoxing said: "What's so strange about this? The world is so big that different places naturally have different foods. In many places in the north, rice is not grown, so rice dumplings are naturally made of millet. There are quince trees in their mountains, and their leaves are so long. It's big, has a unique taste, and is used to make rice dumplings. It's available in the yamen today, but it's a waste of money. This kind of food is common in nearby states, but not much in other places."
Wang Ruohai was amazed after hearing this. Since I was a child, I have only heard of using glutinous rice to make zongzi, but I have never heard of using millet rice. Millet is sticky and is perfect for making rice dumplings. However, compared with glutinous rice, millet rice has a different aroma. Wrapped in quince leaves, it has a unique taste.
Everyone sat down and chatted.
Not long after, the officials set up wine and food in the back office. Wang Xiaolie invited Wang Ruohai and several important officials to the banquet.
Next to the table, there was a copper basin. Inside were the gold and silver rice dumplings Wang Ruohai bought, as well as a pile of eggs.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. Officials are supposed to be the ones officiating in honor of Qu Yuan. But now is an extraordinary time and many customs have been abandoned, so this year will have to be like this. If there is peace in the past two years, it would be better to offer sacrifices to others."
Wang Ruohai said: "Of course it should be. I also asked yesterday, and there is no one in the state government who is familiar with etiquette."
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "Yes, the country has suffered such a catastrophe, and many things have been delayed. That's all. Let's get together and chat a few words. Let's spend this year's Dragon Boat Festival like this. As long as the people are happy. , I don’t think Qu Zi cares about this vacancy either.”
Several people said yes. Qu Yuan is officially recognized by the government. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the magistrate should lead officials to perform the ceremony. However, since the Jin soldiers went south, many of these things have been abandoned.
Wang Xiaolie stood up and poured the wine in the bowl on the ground as a memorial.
Everyone bowed politely and took their seats again.
Wang Xiaolie said: "The wheat in Dengzhou was harvested two days ago. Everyone can see that this year is a rare big harvest year. Next, we must let the people receive all the food at home. In a month or two , we must also ensure the stability of grain prices and prevent low grain prices from hurting farmers."
Wang Ruohai said: "With this year's big harvest, food prices will inevitably fall. What can be done?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "If the price of grain falls, the government should set a price and open up purchases."
Wang Ruohai shook his head after hearing this: "I asked yesterday that the total money in Dengzhou's treasuries only left two thousand guan. How much grain can be collected? If you don't have money in your hands, you can't do anything."
Wang Xiaolie said: "Dengzhou has a good harvest, which is not guaranteed in other places. And now it is different from before. The Jin army came south, and the royal family crossed south. I don't know how many people followed. They are northerners and are used to eating pasta. I heard that the two Zhejiang provinces have In this area, a pound of noodles costs six to seven hundred yuan, and in some counties and counties it even costs a lot. There is a boat from Dengzhou to Xiangyang, and from Xiangyang to Ezhou you can enter the Yangtze River. Then you can go down the river and sell it to Zhejiang and Zhejiang. . Even if we harvest wheat for fifty cents per dou, we will still make a big profit."
Wang Ruohai smiled bitterly after hearing this: "Zhizhi, long-distance trafficking is not easy. Especially now, the road is not smooth."
Wang Xiaolie said: "So this matter is best handled by the government. Collect the grain from the hands of the people and transport it to Zhejiang and Huainan——"
Wang Ruohai waved his hand after hearing this: "There is no need for Huainan. After the Jin people robbed Huainan, they drove Jiangqiang northward, and no one harvested the grain. The price of grain in Huainan has not been high in the past two years. I'm afraid there will be no interest in transporting it there."
Wang Xiaolie nodded. This was something I hadn't considered. The Jin people happened to go south during the slack season and plundered the population to the north, leaving no one to harvest the food in Huainan. The remaining population has been greatly reduced, and food prices have not been able to rise. The two Zhejiang areas are still stable now, but suddenly there are many people from the north, and food prices have skyrocketed.
After thinking about it, Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no need to rush this matter. In the next two months, send someone to inquire about it and see where it is suitable to sell it."
Niu Gao on the side said: "Even if the grain can be sold, how can we collect it from the hands of the people? We are short of capital now."
Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no other way but to ask the people to cooperate with us. Let's take it on credit for now, and then we will pay back their principal and interest after the money is sold."
Niu Gao nodded after hearing this: "That's okay. I'm just afraid that the people won't believe us."
Wang Xiaolie said: "If it were someone else, why would they owe the people credit? Just raise taxes and rob them. We will discuss this matter later."
Wang Ruohai shook his head secretly. If the people's temperament is robbed, it will be robbed. Now we don’t collect taxes, but we also want to collect their food. How can it be so easy? Wang Xiaolie thought things were too simplistic.
