[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 115 [English]

Chapter 113 Reunion (Part 1)

Ding Tao sat cross-legged on the porch, picking at the fruits on the silver plate and counting them over and over again.He stays here and doesn’t let anyone come to disturb him.It was already getting late, but there were still a few rays of slanting light on the courtyard wall, and handfuls of the setting sun were broken into the locust leaves.

Shen Zechuan just woke up. Because he slept too long and too deeply, his back ached and he was extremely tired.When he opened the door and saw Ding Tao, he was stunned for a long time.

Ding Tao scratched her head and scratched her head when Shen Zechuan looked at her, feeling uncomfortable all over.He turned away the hand that was still holding the fruit and said anxiously: “Master, eat, eat.”

Shen Zechuan held the door open and stood there for a while before asking in a hoarse voice: “…What time is it?”

“It’s Youshi,” Ding Tao surprisingly understood, and hurriedly continued, “Young master has been sleeping all day! Master left the city at Mao, and Mr. Zhou and Mr. Cheng Feng went to see him off.”

There was still a little bit of red left in the corners of Shen Zechuan’s eyes, and in the lingering orange afterglow, it was dyed as if he was drunk.He is already white, but when he lowers his eyes and puts on his shoes, Ding Tao feels that he looks really good.

“Is there still no letter from Juexi?” Shen Zechuan went down the stairs, not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he stood under the locust tree, looking up at the sky slightly, trying to calm down the remaining energy from last night.

“No.” Ding Tao followed Shen Zechuan, and while Shen Zechuan didn’t look back, he quickly stuffed the half-eaten fruit into his mouth and finished it ferociously.

Shen Zechuan didn’t see Meng’s figure, so he knew that Xiao Chiye had taken him away.When he looked back, Ding Tao was so frightened that he choked and coughed.he paused for a moment and said, “No one will compete with you, so it doesn’t matter if you eat slowly.”

Ding Tao was so choked that she almost burst into tears. He waved his hand, pulled his front, and said with difficulty: “Mr. Master, cough! Are we going to find Mr. Zhou? Your Excellency has just had dinner with Mr. Cheng Feng in the front hall, and is currently discussing things.”

Shen Zechuan nodded and said, “Let’s go.”

* * *

Zhou Guicai had just finished his meal and was currently in his study discussing matters with officials at all levels in Kongling and Cizhou. Hearing Shen Zechuan’s arrival, he immediately stood up and asked others to leave first.

“The Marquis said that Tongzhi was not feeling well today. We originally thought that we could discuss military affairs tomorrow, but unexpectedly Tongzhi came anyway.” Kong Ling welcomed Shen Zechuan to the seat. He saved Shen Zechuan from the embarrassment first, then sat down and turned slightly sideways to them, and continued, “Although it is still June, the trees in our house are all tall and lush, and the nights are cool. Tongzhi stays in Qudu all year round, so you have to take care of yourself here.”

Shen Zechuan drank tea to moisten his throat. His dryness and hoarseness eased a little and became less obvious, and then he said: “Mr. Cheng Feng is right. He said that military affairs can be discussed tomorrow. Have you two drafted the charter today?”

“Since Tongzhi made an alliance with us, I summoned my staff and officials from all levels in Cizhou to simply draw up a brochure in the past few days.” Zhou Gui put one hand on his knees and watched Kong Ling stand up and present the booklet to Shen Zechuan. He continued, “They are all just ideas, and the details must be confirmed by Tongzhi. Look, if there is anything wrong, we can take it out and discuss it tonight.”

Although he said he wanted to wait for Shen Zechuan to nod, he also said “take it out and discuss it later”, indicating that most of the contents in this booklet have actually been finalized.This is Shen Zechuan’s current embarrassing situation. He has money, but he has no other real power. Xiao Chiye’s attitude is the key to being able to sit here and talk to these two people.Zhou Gui can thank him and even respect him, but Zhou Gui will not give up the decision-making power of Cizhou to him, because they have entered into a covenant, not a submission.

Shen Zechuan looked at the booklet, and the study was very quiet.There was only Ding Tao playing with the sparrows outside, and there were no attendants walking around to disturb her.Kong Ling drank tea and felt a little restless for no reason.he looked at Shen Zechuan’s expression calmly, but could not see any emotions in Shen Zechuan.he looked at Zhou Gui again, his urgency gradually revealed, and he couldn’t help but think to himself.

This Shen Zechuan is not very old, but his city is very deep.After everyone got along with each other for a few days, it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or not, and it was impossible to prescribe the right medicine.When we drafted this booklet, we also had the idea of ​​casting stones to ask for directions.

When it got dark, Shen Zechuan closed the book.He rubbed the tea cup with his fingertips without opening his mouth.

Kong Ling is the master, and he cannot go past Zhou Gui when discussing serious matters in the study.While Zhou Gui asked he to light the lamp, he also turned slightly sideways, facing Shen Zechuan, and said thoughtfully, “How do you think, Tongzhi?”

“Your Excellency has also recorded the price fluctuations of firewood, rice, oil and salt in Cizhou in the past few years. The accounts are clear and it is not a problem to estimate the approximate expenditure for next year. I see that Your Excellency has also written down the proportion of military pay that will be allocated to the garrison in the future. Your Excellency has worked tirelessly and considered all aspects.” Shen Zechuan said with a smile.

Zhou Gui breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know why he was holding his heartstrings.After hearing what Shen Zechuan said, he said: “I couldn’t write this book by myself, but thanks to Cheng Feng and my colleagues. Then let’s start discussing the defense of the city wall?”

Shen Zechuan paused with his fingertips and said, “I’m not busy. I have some questions.”

Zhou Gui said quickly: “Please speak.”

“Your Excellency has estimated Cizhou’s approximate expenses for next year. In addition to the rebuilt garrison, the 20,000 forbidden troops must be compensated for 16,000 shi of grain. The total of the two armies is 110,000 shi of grain.” Shen Zechuan thought, “This is allocated based on the amount of Cizhou’s harvest last year, and it is also saved from the original number of people in Cizhou. But I see that your Excellency still has 10,000 shi of grain left unmarked.”

“Not bad.” Zhou Gui continued.

Although Xiao Chiye said he didn’t want any reward, they couldn’t really deny it.These 16,000 shi of food are only enough to feed the 20,000 forbidden troops for two and a half months, which is more than the monthly amount they allocate to the 20,000 Cizhou garrison. Although they cannot provide food for a year, they are really trying their best.

Zhou Gui was worried that Shen Zechuan would feel short of it, so he said sincerely: “Since I showed Cizhou’s accounts to Tongzhi today, I hope Tongzhi and the Marquis can understand. Because things are unstable in the Zhou Dynasty this year, our food last year was allocated to Libei and Luoshan. This was unexpected. In previous years, the military grain supply was shouldered by Juexi Granary. Now it is shared between Ci and Huaizhou. I don’t know the details in Huaizhou, but we in Cizhou are really frugal.It was moved out.I don’t want to complain to my colleagues. I am telling the truth. The 20,000 imperial troops of the Marquis are now temporarily supplied with food by Cizhou. We are gritting our teeth to bear it, but we can only bear it for a few months. Fortunately, it is close to autumn.Let’s take a look at how long it will last, so we are not at the end of our rope.Please ask your colleagues to intercede with the Marquis for the sixteen thousand shi of food. It is not because we want to default on the debt, but because we have too many considerations.”

Because Zhou Gui is always frowning, the mark of “chuan” has already appeared on the center of his eyebrows.He stood up, walked a few steps in the open space, and said to Shen Zechuan.

“Cizhou is a place that depends on the sky for food, but no one can say whether God will give Cizhou food next year. I think the Great Zhou Dynasty has reached this point, and I am afraid that if the war starts next year, the fertile fields cultivated by Cizhou will be destroyed, and even the people in the city will not be able to eat enough.Even if we set up a garrison, we can’t afford it.We have a lot of surplus military rations, which are not only used to save lives, but also to prepare for the Libei Cavalry.It’s not that we don’t want to give a large amount to the Marquis, but the Libei Cavalry is guarding the front line of the Biansha Snake Division.They are indeed more important than the 20,000 Imperial Guards.”

“Cizhou is willing to make such an agreement with the two of you. Half of the reason is that I was hurt by the Wei family’s military grain case. It is also because the Marquis is the second son of the Xiao family that I am relieved of many worries. I am giving this favor to the two of you, but I am also giving it to the prince. Although Tongzhi has promised that the Northeast Grain and Horse Road can continue to be used, I also have to leave a way out. After all, Juexi is the granary of the Great Zhou Dynasty. It is a must-have for every family. Tongzhi wants it, and the Queen Mother wants it even more.”

“What Tongzhi and I said was from the bottom of our hearts,” Zhou Gui finally stopped, slowly bowed to Shen Zechuan, and said, “It is not easy for anyone to make a living in troubled times. I am the capital of Cizhou, and the safety of Cizhou is the first priority for me. The Marquis and Tongzhi have solved the difficulties in Cizhou this time, and I will not hesitate to go through fire and water for the two of them. If todayIt’s still a good year for Cizhou, so we can add more grain to the 16,000 shi next year, but Cizhou really can’t supply the Forbidden Army like the Libei Cavalry.Let me tell you straight, if Biansha invades in the autumn, or if Libei’s food is tight next spring, Cizhou will allocate food to the Libei Cavalry first, and then to the Forbidden Army.”

The candles in the study were not very bright, and Zhou Gui’s food and clothing were very simple. Except for the time when he entertained Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, the whole family usually ate ordinary side dishes, and even cooked tree bark in bad years.Cizhou now seems to be the richest place in China, but in fact it is still in a mess compared to other places. He is willing to provide food, but it is under great pressure.When Xiao Chiye left the city for the first time, Zhou Gui suggested asking for support from the Libei Iron Cavalry. This was not an impromptu decision, but a deeply ingrained idea.

The defeat of Zhongbo has been mentioned countless times by he people, but outsiders can never empathize with it.Zhou Gui even suffered from a problem because of his defeat. When he heard the whistle at night, he would toss and turn and feel panic.The defeat along the Chashi River was so tragic. The words “massacre” and “massacre” spread from Duanzhou back to Qudu. Back then, everyone chanted these two words, but for Qudu, a river of blood was just a stain on a book, but for Zhongbo, it was a real loss of family and family members.

Cizhou was able to survive because of the Libei Iron Cavalry.In the eyes of Zhou Gui and even everyone in Cizhou, Libei Iron Cavalry was far more important than the Forbidden Army.Xiao Ji will descend the magical soldiers tomorrow, and the “Iron Horse Glacier” will be the gold medal for avoiding death when facing the border cavalry in the northeast and northeast of the Great Zhou Dynasty.Lei Jingzhe dared to plot to capture Cizhou, but had no plans to stay there for a long time. He was even ready to rob the grain and leave, immediately claiming credit from Qudu. What he was afraid of was that Xiao Jiming would mobilize his troops south again.

Xiao Jiming was injured in the military ration case, but none of them saw it with their own eyes. Those who were waiting for him didn’t dare to believe it, and those who were afraid of him didn’t dare to gamble.If the old-school ministers headed by Hai Liangyi were afraid of Xiao Fangxu, then the younger generation were even more afraid of Xiao Jiming.