[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 267 [English]

Chapter 255 Qingshan

Qudu is full of green gardens, and there are potted plants on both sides of the open space of Mingli Hall.The eunuchs carried basins filled with ice cubes and placed them in the four corners of the hall to dispel the heat.The courtiers waiting for summons under the eaves were so hot that they sweated, but they could not lose their etiquette and could only resist letting their sweat wet their robes.

The bamboo curtain of Meigli Hall was lifted, and Fengquan walked out with a fly whisk, bowed to the courtiers, and said softly: “The heat is unbearable, and your lords have worked hard on errands. Your Highness specially asked the servants to prepare mung bean soup.”

The little eunuchs served the soup swiftly and prepared all the napkins and flowers in advance. Fengquan bowed again and retreated into the Mingli Hall.

“Your Highness is considerate of me,” the local official said while drinking the soup, “I am so grateful that I shed tears of gratitude.”

The spoon tapped against the porcelain bowl, and the official said to Jiang Qingshan beside him: “Is Wan Xiao still used to living in the inn?”

Jiang Qingshan drank the soup and nodded slightly.He is somewhat inconsistent with the rumored vigorous and resolute behavior. His demeanor is meek, and he seems to be perfunctory about things and not that concerned.After half an hour, the eunuch called the roll call. Jiang Qingshan took off his robe and entered, kneeling in the hall to salute.

“I, Jiang Qingshan, the chief envoy to the West, come to see His Highness.”

Li Jianting said: “Wan Xiao, please get up. It’s hot today and you have been standing outside for a long time. Yuan Fu and I were talking about the government affairs in Juexi. I saw in your brochure that there has been no rain in Yongcheng for more than a month. The local granary is in short supply. Do you want to borrow food from Huaizhou?”

“Juexi was responsible for the grain raised by the imperial court last year, and the granaries in the Thirteen Cities have bottomed out,” Jiang Qingshan said without looking up, “I didn’t expect there would be a drought.”

Kong Qiu said to Li Jianting from the side: “Yongcheng is also the granary of the southwest. If the drought is serious, I am afraid that it will be difficult to support it just by borrowing grain from Wanxiao. We will still have to rely on the government’s downward transfer of food relief.”

The flower on Li Jianting’s forehead was red. She pondered for a moment and said: “In the Xiande year, you offended local merchants for disaster relief and made them trapped in the Yamen. This year, it is very difficult to negotiate with Huaizhou in order to borrow food. The disaster in Yongcheng is not a trivial matter, but don’t be anxious. Yuan Fu and I will give you a charter as soon as possible. The food will definitely be transferred.”

Jiang Qingshan was used to hearing excuses. Neither Emperor Tianchen nor Emperor Xiande had such a straightforward attitude. When he heard what Li Jianting said, he couldn’t help but become serious, kowtowed and said: “I know that the imperial court will take care of the Qidong war this year, and military food is the most important thing. Juexi is willing to use silk to pay off debts and exchange food with Huaizhou.”

Kong Qiu got a little angry when he said this: “The official grain allocation can be implemented after His Highness approves the red. Why does Tao Ming, the capital of Huaizhou, resist the decree? Huaizhou had a good harvest last year. According to the quotation submitted by Tao Ming at the beginning of the year, he can provide this relief grain.”

“The edict was issued a few days ago,” Li Jianting said, “Fengquan, go outside and ask if Tao Ming, the capital of Huaizhou, has arrived. If so, call him to the hall to explain.”

Before Fengquan could step out of the door, Fuman rushed to the door and said: “Your Highness, the letter arrived from the other end of the inn, saying that Tao Ming, the capital of Huaizhou, ran away with his whole family!”

Li Jianting was stunned: “Where did he go? The court summoned him here for discussion. Why did he run away?”

Fuman lightly stamped his feet and said: “He went to Zhongbo Shen Zechuan!”

Discussions suddenly broke out in the hall.

Chen Zhen frowned and said, “It’s common to borrow food. Why are you running away? There must be a reason!”

“Your Highness doesn’t know,” Fuman said in a thin voice, “The officials who went to call Huaizhou opened the granary and found that there was not much food left, which was not enough for relief. Tao Ming and Shen Zechuan colluded and sold all the food to Cizhou. When he heard that Juexi wanted to borrow food, he was so scared that he ran away that night!”

There was an uproar in the hall, and Cen Yu stood up and said: “This… the local censor didn’t say anything!”

Huaizhou has no food, Hezhou is also empty, and the eight major cities cannot count on it. What about Yongcheng?You have to tighten your belt to save it from the gap between your teeth!

The atmosphere in the hall dropped sharply, and the ice basins at the four corners were filled with cold air. It was so cold that Kong Qiuhou’s heart ached.He covered his mouth and nose and coughed. After he calmed down, he stood up, saluted Li Jianting, and said: “Disaster relief is a top priority and cannot be delayed. The monthly salary of the capital official can be reduced as appropriate, starting from the ministers, and the people cannot starve to death!”

The courtiers outside looked at each other in disbelief, then knelt down and echoed: “I am willing to do this, and I hope that your highness will do it.”

The cicadas in the tree were stuck by the eunuch, and Li Jianting also stood up. In the short silence, he said with emotion: “You gentlemen are like this, how can I stop you? Since it is for the people of Yongcheng, the palace should also cut down the expenses appropriately. Wan Xiao, you are here to ask for the food, so it is up to you to arrange the relief.”

Jiang Qingshan kowtowed in thanks.

***

In the evening, the flower cages were made of gauze, and the rice was served with chopsticks in the courtyard. Only the mute children were waiting on them.

Xue Xiuzhuo, dressed in regular clothes, poured tea for Jiang Qingshan and said, “I have wronged you by coming to my house.”

Jiang Qingshan took the tea and sighed: “Since I entered the capital, I have had a lot of social activities. No delicacies from the mountains and seas are as good as the simple tea and rice you have here.”

“Poor life,” Xue Xiuzhuo put down the teapot and joked, “Which official in the frontier is like you? He doesn’t even have a decent carriage when he goes out.”

“I am really poor and you are pretending to be poor,” Jiang Qingshan said, “but we both share the same odor, and we are full of poverty!”

The two drank tea and laughed.

“I think the prince is smart, very measured in his behavior, straightforward in dealing with things, and quite like Mr. Guangcheng.” Jiang Qingshan picked up the chopsticks and ate the tofu mixed with spring onions. “It’s just that he is holding it strangely, and his speech is too mature.”

“She has a rough young life, so she is naturally different from ordinary girls.” Xue Xiuzhuo watched Jiang Qingshan eat, “I read your letter at the beginning of the year. Is Liu Niang pregnant?”

Jiang Qingshan slowed down his swallowing speed, glanced at Xue Xiuzhuo, his smile faded, and said: “Same as before.”

Xue Xiuzhuo did not continue to ask.

Jiang Qingshan has a wife but no children. His wife is from the Liu family of Baima Prefecture. She does not come from a wealthy family. She has a very good relationship with Jiang Qingshan, but they have no children.Liu Niang was in poor health. She was pregnant with her first child in the fourth year of Xiande. At that time, Jiang Qingshan was traveling around to borrow food. Merchants came to ask for debts, which frightened Liu Niang. After that miscarriage, she found it difficult to conceive again.

“Why are you so depressed?” Jiang Qingshan put down his chopsticks, “If I am destined to have no children, then that’s it, don’t force it.” He said, looking at the flowers beside him, and paused for a moment, “It’s just that my mother is urging me hard, so I will inevitably feel a little…sigh for Liu Niang.”

Jiang’s mother was eager to pursue her grandson and treated her daughter-in-law very harshly.

“My mother is old and has a stronger nature. Liu Niang has been wronged by serving her. I have been busy with government affairs and neglected my family these years. After all, I have failed to live up to the vow I made to her.” Jiang Qingshan was sad when he mentioned family affairs. “My mother also brought some distant relatives over at the beginning of the year, saying it was a temporary stay, but she has not left until now. I went back several times to see Liu Niang standing under the eaves and observing the rules. My mother also wanted to match me with that woman…”

“If you’re not willing, you’d better refuse it bluntly.”

Jiang Qingshan blocked Xue Xiuzhuo and said: “Change the bar.”

“I have to run errands tomorrow morning.” Xue Xiuzhuo said, looking at Ya’er and motioning to Ya’er to get the wine.

“You live alone in this empty house.” Jiang Qingshan raised his arm and waved, “It’s time to find someone.”

“Han Cheng just got rid of him, and the land tax has not been checked.” Xue Xiuzhuo took the wine and poured it for him. “Marrying a wife is just letting her stay in this empty house alone and delaying other people’s youth. Why do you need to commit such a crime?”

“Official work will never be finished,” Jiang Qingshan said, “Are you going to do it like this until you grow old and die?”

Xue Xiuzhuo nodded seriously and started talking about official business: “The drought in Yongcheng is not serious compared to the Xiande year, but it has already made you miserable. If the rain still doesn’t come after July, or the other twelve cities also start to suffer from drought, then it will be useless just to reduce the monthly salary. People will still die in Juexi.”

Jiang Qingshan sipped his wine and said: “The cabinet is full of ambition but not strong enough. If there is really a surplus of food, Yuan Fu will not make such a move. I also want to ask you, is the Eight Cities really empty?”

“It’s empty. The food I stole from the Pan family in Dancheng,” Xue Xiuzhuo raised his hand and tapped the side, “can’t even feed the people in this palace.”

“We were short of money before,” Jiang Qingshan shook his head, “Now we are short of food. If we could issue an order early to reorganize the six prefectures of Zhongbo and restore thousands of hectares of fertile land, then Shen Zechuan would not have become a local lord, and Da Zhou would not be in the predicament it is in today.”

Xue Xiuzhuo said slowly: “Now the most abundant granary in the world is in Zhongbo. If the drought in Juexi worsens after July, I will consider buying grain from Shen Zechuan.”

“I’m afraid it’s difficult to do,” Jiang Qingshan said, “Who would have thought that Shen Ba could conquer the six states? The battle in Duanzhou made him the target of people’s hearts. This person holds a grudge and will not sell food to you easily.”

Xue Xiuzhuo put the wine pot aside and said, “If you want to walk the world in the name of benevolence and righteousness, you can’t just stand by and watch the drought in Juexi.”

Jiang Qingshan was a little drunk, his feet were spinning.

“I see he is so proud, I’m afraid he will implicate you in the future…you should pay more attention.”

Xue Xiuzhuo agreed.

***

Xue Da drank, his face flushed, he touched his pocket and said: “Oh, I forgot to bring my wallet before going out! Qingqing, please remember it!”

Ge Qingqing blew the dice, looked at Xue and laughed and said: “Why are you being polite to me? You should have charged it to my account. Is the tea sent to me a few days ago still good? The goods from Qinzhou have also arrived recently. If there is anything that you like, please feel free to mention it.”

“No, no.” Xue Da said no, but sat aside and lit up his cigarette. “I have them all in my house. There is no shortage of these gadgets. But recently, the officials have to change the errands in the court. According to the father-in-law in the palace, there are any fat ones.”

Ge Qingqing moved her feet, sat next to Xue Da, and said: “Then our uncle is about to be promoted. Congratulations, congratulations.”

“But the father-in-laws in this palace are all serving the emperor. They see a lot and don’t like ordinary things.” Xue Dali hesitated, “Do you have any seafood here?”

“Yes, there are plenty of them. I’ll ask Xiao Wu to bring the booklet over later, and the uncle will look at it and pick it out.” Ge Qingqing came closer, “I will honor whichever one you order, no need to be polite!”

“Good brother!” Xue Da immediately laughed and pointed at Ge Qingqing, “If this job is really successful, I will definitely return the favor to you brother in the future.”

When Ge Qingqing threw the dice, he inadvertently knocked on the low table next to him. The Jinyiwei disguised as a servant over there nodded gently and prepared everything for Xue Da, not forgetting to spread a layer of gold underneath.

It was getting late at night outside, and Xue Da didn’t notice it, and he was already tired of thinking about Shu.