[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 200 [English]

Final volume: Drunk and singing wildly

Chapter 192 Snow reminder

As soon as the new year passed, Zhongbo was hit by a blizzard.The snow came suddenly, and houses collapsed in all states. Fortunately, Madao had rushed to repair it a year ago, and the two states of Cha and Dun were not disconnected from Cizhou.Luo Mu and Tantaihu reported the casualties in a timely manner and started dealing with it before dawn, controlling the disaster within the scope.

The staff in the study worked all night long, and Shen Zechuan didn’t take a break either.

“The heavy snowfall the year before last was the disaster in Cizhou. Therefore, before the snow fell, the Yamen repeatedly confirmed the status of the granary reserves.” Zhou Gui flipped through the book at the table. “Reinforcement of residential buildings is indeed a problem. We cannot wait until they collapse every year before thinking of solutions.”

“But,” Kong Ling sat opposite, “where does this additional expenditure come from? This year, affected by the war, there is no money to allocate.”

Shen Zechuan pinched his eyebrows until they turned slightly red, and he felt a little dizzy sitting on the main seat.The sound of abacus crackling in the cubicle never stopped. They were all clerks transferred from shops in Hezhou and Juexi to take care of the account books.It has been cold in recent days, and the study is full of charcoal pots, and it is crowded with people. It is extremely boring to stay here for several hours.

“The war is urgent,” Shen Zechuan said. “There is no need to cut military expenditures for the states. Allocate them from the tax money of merchants last year.”

“There is a hurdle before the start of spring. As long as we survive these three months, things will naturally get better after the snow melts.” Yao Wenyu comforted, “The rough tea that merchants pour to Yongyi Port from the mutual market is also doing well. This year, the commercial tax can be appropriately increased.”

“If you want to continue the copper mine in Juexi, you have to deal with the Chief Secretary of Juexi.” Shen Zechuan turned his folding fan and pushed away the cold tea on his hand. “Whether it can go smoothly after the spring starts this year depends on what Qiandu means.”

Jiang\Qingshan is located in Juexi, and business transactions within the country are the most popular.If Qudu ordered him to cut off this tea road that runs through the northwest, it would really be a blow to Cizhou.

“Looking on the bright side,” Kong Ling stroked his knees, “it could be considered that the auspicious snow will herald a good harvest.”

“This is true for our three states, but the people of Fan and Deng states suffered.” Shen Zechuan thought about Fanzhou during these days, “King Yi took the granary of the two states as his own many years ago, and many people starved to death before it started to snow. I was tossing and turning over this matter.”

“We are going to use troops against Duanzhou in February,” Zhou Gui said. “It’s best to resolve Fan and Dengzhou now.”

Cizhou’s garrison only has 20,000 people, and combined with Dunzhou’s 30,000, they have to face Duanzhou’s Biansha cavalry in February, and if they allocate their energy to deal with Yi Wang, Cizhou’s defense will be empty. If the Eighth Battalion comes from Dancheng by then, they will really have no skills.

“Now is also a good time to take Fanzhou,” Yao Wenyu stirred the tea foam, “King Yi is so greedy, the people in the territory have already complained. If he can’t last long, it’s better for us to issue a message first.”

“Cizhou has now reached an agreement with the North and South battlefields, which is different from the situation of ‘suppression of bandits’ years ago. We will send a message first this time. If King Yi refuses to surrender and insists on fighting, it will leave a reason for Qudu to send troops.” Kong Ling did not agree, he always focused on “stability”.

“Mr. Cheng Feng is right, but the ruler of the government has been established years ago, and now it is useless to maintain superficial stability with Qudu.” Yao Wenyu didn’t take a sip of the tea in his mouth, and he looked at Shen Zechuan, “In my opinion, even if Qudu has reasons now, he does not dare to send troops.”

Kong Ling still thought it was inappropriate and said: “If the charge of rebellion is carried out at this moment, Juexi’s business this year is bound to be affected. Apart from anything else, if Jiang Qingshan uses this to forcefully seal the Xijia Copper Mine, wouldn’t it be worth the loss? Mr. Fu, in my humble opinion, quietly sending troops to Fanzhou is the best strategy.”

Yao Wenyu said again: “Fujun’s occupation of Zhongbo is an irreversible trend. Even if there is no such notice, Jiang Qingshan will find a way to seal the Xijia Copper Mine.”

They have different opinions and insist on their own opinions.

Shen Zechuan tapped his folding fan on his fingertips, and after a moment he said: “Shenwei, please draft a message.”

They talked all night in the study. Now that things were almost arranged, Fei Sheng called for breakfast.Everyone just used it casually and rushed back to rest. They would continue to discuss the arrangements for sending troops in detail in the evening.

When Kong Ling got up, he saw Yao Wenyu was about to go out, so he turned aside and lifted the curtain for he.Yao Wenyu leaned over and saluted, and Qiao Tianya entered and pushed the person away.After everything was over, Zhou Gui trotted along the corridor and caught up with Kong Ling, panting.

“Oh!” Zhou Gui stroked his chest with one hand, reached forward with the other, and shouted, “Cheng Feng, Cheng Feng!”

Kong Ling stopped and waited for him, and said: “If you have anything, you should have called me earlier. This corridor is very slippery. If you fall accidentally, you will be injured for a hundred days!”

Zhou Guiping gasped for breath, waved his hands and said with emotion: “I could run a few miles along the fields the year before last, but this year I really can’t. The wind and snow really make me grow old.”

“You’re chasing in such a hurry,” Kong Ling tightened his grip around Feng Ling to block the cold wind, “Why are you here just now?”

“You and I haven’t enjoyed the snow for a while,” Zhou Gui tried to cover up, “Madam has been very strict with her lately and she spends all her time at the house to see her grandson. Today is a good day.”

Kong Ling sighed and said sadly: “You’d better not learn to be secretive like others.” He retracted his hands to avoid the wind and continued, “Don’t try to persuade me, I won’t change my opinion.”

Zhou Gui could only say: “Don’t let this cause any grudge against Yuan Zhuo.”

“How old do you think I am, Kong Chengfeng?” Kong Ling walked side by side with he, “Yuan Zhuo can speak out, because he has no guilt in his heart. It is inevitable to have political views to the left, and it is taboo to echo them. I understand, Yuan Zhuo understands, since the prince did not seek us to talk privately, it is his attitude.”

Zhou Gui criticized himself harshly because of Gao Zhongxiong’s incident. Now he always consults Shen Zechuan before making decisions on his own.When discussing official business recently, I also asked the staff in the account not to be complacent, fearing that they would cause friction with Yao Wenyu again.

Zhou Gui looked at the dead willow branches in the courtyard, which were blown by the wind and fell into the snow, hitting the corner of the wall.He regained his breath and said with some frustration: “I’m just afraid of being divided…”

“If the water is clear, there will be no fish.” Kong Ling raised his hand to brush off the snow flakes on his temples, and said seriously, “How can the government in the world really be clear to the bottom? You have also been the state capital of Cizhou for so many years, and you know that it is not only complicated at the top, but also complicated at the bottom. Things like corruption and bribery are killing.If you don’t kill them all, you have managed them very well in the past few years.Don’t you understand that the Lord has never angered you? Killing those two staff is just to remind you, not to warn you.You have been so cautious recently, but it is easy for the Lord to remember this.”

It is difficult to control someone, and it is also difficult to offer someone.

Zhou Gui walked a few steps and said sadly: “…my father-in-law refused to recommend me to the capital at first, because he was sure that I was not the material. There are some things that I don’t know how to measure, and I have to feel around to tighten or loosen them. This matter is too difficult.”

“Since you didn’t do anything wrong, why are you so worried?” Kong Ling shook his head slightly, “Don’t try to be humble to Yuan Zhuo anymore. It’s all about the exquisite heart of Qiqiao. How can you hide your thoughts from his eyes? As time goes by, it will be true.”

* * *

When Shen Zechuan returned to the house, the wind was strong. Fei Sheng held an umbrella across his arms to block it, but the cloak was still blown by the wind.

Fei Sheng turned his back to the wind and said, “Master, let’s change to a sedan as well.”

Shen Zechuan was so blown by the wind that he could barely open his eyes, and the tips of his ears were so cold that they turned red.He said: “It’s just a few steps, there’s no need to sit in a sedan chair.”

But it’s cold!

Fei Sheng was worried that just a few steps would make Shen Zechuan catch the cold again.In recent days, people have been careful both inside and outside. Even the corridors in the courtyard have been hung with heavy curtains. The people who serve in and out press the bottom of the curtains to death, and the ground dragon inside has been burning, so they are extra cautious.

After finally entering the gate, Ding Tao was waiting in the wing room to jump out immediately, leading Li Xiong in front of Shen Zechuan like a wall.

During the slow movement, Shen Zechuan said with a headache: “Stop blocking it and leave quickly. The wind is blowing here, and it will fall down in a few moments.”

Ding Tao had grown taller during this time and said, “My master ordered me to keep my guard up. If the wind leaks, I will be whipped.” He patted the calendar bear and shouted against the wind, “Big bear, walk faster!”

When Shen Zechuan finally arrived in the corridor, the cloak he was wearing was soaked with snow, making his neck wet and uncomfortable. He raised his hand and took it off.Fei Sheng accepted it in a panic, asked the maid to take it to dry, and put a new cloak on Shen Zechuan. Shen Zechuan walked forward without looking back.

Fei Sheng got the job of recruiting new people in Dunzhou, and he was very happy. When he came back, he saw Qiao Tianya and liked everything.When Shen Zechuan lived in Libei, he followed Ji Gang at home, pondering over Ji Family Boxing and listening to Ji Gang’s words.When Shen Zechuan came back, he was like an old mother, trying to take good care of Shen Zechuan.

The Marquis is going to the battlefield now!

Fei Sheng followed Shen Zechuan and thought.

If the prince is not sick, the marquis will be happy, and he will not look down upon him again.We will become a family in the future, and he can’t always be ignored by Xiao Chiye.

Shen Zechuan entered the main hall, folded his hands and sat down. Fei Sheng said, “Master, have you drank the medicine simmering on the stove now?”

Shen Zechuan didn’t want to drink it. He hadn’t been sick in the past few days, and he was afraid that he would get a nosebleed if he continued to take it like this. Besides, no one at home prepared sugar except Ding Tao.He pretended not to hear at this moment and looked through the case file.

Fei Sheng saw that Shen Zechuan had no expression, so he waited aside. After a while, he said on time: “Master, medicine——”

Shen Zechuan patiently looked up at he.

Fei Sheng pretended not to understand Shen Zechuan’s eyes. After drinking the medicine, not only Xiao Chiye but also Ji Gang was behind him. No one Shen Zechuan could afford to offend.

Shen Zechuan could only say: “Take it.”

Fei Sheng slipped away, and after a while, the person who came in after lifting the curtain was Qiao Tianya.

“Yan Heru is here,” Qiao Tianya didn’t put down the curtain, but looked back and took another look, “This kid ran towards Yuan Zhuo with a whoosh, so I asked him to carry him here.”

Shen Zechuan dipped his hands in ink and said, “Those who bring me money should be polite to others.”

Before they could finish talking, someone came under the eaves.Yan Heru was wearing a brand-new brocade robe, crimson and gold, embroidered with gold ingots.There was a rope hanging around his neck, and there was a new abacus hanging on it. It was so tight that there was a red mark on the back of his neck and he couldn’t bear to take it off.

The boy’s pink-white face rolled up his eyes, and he said cheerfully: “New Year’s greetings to Mr. Fu! Happy New Year! I wanted to come to see Mr. Fu, but you were in Libei! No, I came in a hurry as soon as you came back. Not only did the Marquis prepare pearls and emeralds for me this time, but I also picked out many beautiful things for Mr. Fu – ”

Fei Sheng, who was serving the medicine behind, looked at Qiao Tianya, and Qiao Tianya raised his hand and pressed Yan Heru down.

There is a new mourning in Libei. There are no lanterns and decorations in Cizhou this year. Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye are both plain and simple. He even picked jade beads during this period. Who knows how Yan Heru will ask for a beating if he opens his mouth.

Shen Zechuan wrote “Reject” on the paper without even looking at Yan Heru.