Tang's dining table

For Yunchu, the Liushui sign in Qujiang was a source of information for monitoring all parts of the Tang Dynasty.

It is not difficult for Yun Chu to infer the people's livelihood in various places through the changes of materials in various places on the running water signs. He only needs to ask the accounting office for the price changes of materials in specific regions when observing the operation of the running water signs, and The volume of material transactions, combined with some specific news in the Di newspaper, can help you understand the operation of local people's livelihood more clearly than local officials.

The main reason is that the news reflected on the Liushui brand has a certain forward-looking and confidential nature.

Before Yunchu decided that he was going to attend the Emperor's Taishan Ceremony, the running water sign in Qujiang showed that the economic performance of the state capitals the emperor passed through was already very poor. Using the prices of grain and linen as anchors, it was seen that they were running water. If you look at the performance on the cards, you will find that there is a huge gap in the supply of these two bulk goods.

The imperial palace newspaper did not mention any disasters in these places, and military disasters and banditry were unheard of.

Since there is no such thing, only man-made disasters remain.

The common people work hard to produce grain and linen, just to buy the extra three to five buckets of grain and one or two pieces of linen at a better price. Although in good years, the prices of these materials will be lower, but because of the big The Tang Dynasty opened up the trade of the Western Regions, the rivers, and even Dashi, and even some further countries. Food and linen served as anchors, and naturally a rising tide lifted all boats.

In other words, if any goods on the Chang'an Liushui card are to be traded, they must first be priced in grain and linen, and then converted into copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins for trading.

Because of the exchange rate difference, the price of grain and linen on the Liushui brand, which mainly deals in the Western Regions, is generally higher than the market price. Shan Fan who wants to sell grain and linen will usually choose to trade here.

Yanshi County's grain and linen are no exception. However, since the summer grain harvest, Yanshi County's grain and linen have no longer appeared on the Liushui sign. Similarly, there are many prefectures. Check Later, Yunchu discovered that these state capitals were all on the emperor's way to Mount Tai.

After the autumn grain harvest, the situation still did not improve.

These things don’t appear on the trading market, so where do they go?

In the early morning, when the large group of people started to set off, Yunchu received a secret message from Yin Erhu. At this time, he had determined that Pei Xingjian's murderer's bookkeeper in Yanshi County was probably related to the missing things.

Because, there were refugees blocking the road in Yanshi County.

It's ridiculous to say that Chang'an's wealth blinded many people's eyes, thinking that everyone in the Tang Dynasty lived a similarly wealthy life.

What they don't know is that the habit of eating three meals a day is only a living habit of Chang'an people. The farther away from Chang'an, the fewer people eat three meals a day.

There never seems to be enough food to eat, and there is never enough linen and silk. No matter how much these things are produced, there will still be many hungry people and inadequately clothed people in the end.

Now, Yunchu wanted to see how Li Zhi solved these problems.

Li Si and the others were hurriedly dismantling the breakfast stall. When Yun Chu passed by, he found a mess. He just chuckled and continued to urge the army on their way.

Because of the asymmetric news, Li Si was still happy about selling tens of thousands of kilograms of grain this morning.

Li Zhi's huge carriage, as big as a house, rolled forward dragged by sixteen black draft horses.

Speaking of draft horses, each of these sixteen draft horses is more powerful than other people's war horses.

The emperor drives six, which means that when the emperor travels, six horses are usually responsible for pulling the carriage. This is what Qin Shihuang did, and future emperors basically ride in six-horse carriages.

Things changed when he arrived at Li Zhi, because he was about to be renamed the Emperor. He used sixteen horses to drag the carriage, so his carriage was powerful enough to allow him to cross mountains and ridges with a carriage comparable to a house.

This carriage is the sincere work of the Chang'an Carriage Workshop.

There are already some signs of new technology in Chang'an City, and they have all been used in this carriage, including spring shock absorption, including swashplate steering, including wheel hub brakes, steel bulletproof devices, and even one that can A small device that can banish a draft horse within seconds, and as for security, it has achieved the ultimate under existing conditions.

Thinking about Zhang Liang's shocking situation in Bolangsha at that time, now, at most, he can only knock off a little paint.

In such a safe carriage, Li Zhi's face was so gloomy that he could squeeze water out of it.

"Two years ago, I issued an order to exempt the states and counties along the way from paying taxes, and ordered them to stock up on food and supplies for my eastward tour. In the three months before departure, I also specially sent personnel to inspect , the report said that everything is ready, just waiting for me to tour east.

You see, just after leaving Luoyang, something like this happened. The reserves in Yanshi County suddenly caught fire when my front army arrived.

Queen, I remember that you arranged for the officer to be sent down to inspect, right? "

Wu Mei looked at the angry emperor with a resentful look and said, "The concubine sent me is Li Jingxuan, and your majesty suddenly replaced me with Li Yifu."

"Why didn't I know?"

Wu Mei snorted and said, "Zuo Chun came here specifically to inform me."

Li Zhi said: "What a good excuse. Zuo Chun is dead."

Wu Mei stood up and hugged Taiping, who was awakened by Li Zhi, and walked while shaking. Finally, she waited for Taiping to stop crying, and then said to Li Zhi: "If your Majesty thinks so, I can't do anything."

Li Zhi became even more angry: "Does it mean that apart from Yunchu, I can't find a minister who can do anything?"

Wu Mei smiled and said: "Your Majesty, please don't forget that the courtiers' request for this Taishan Conferment Ceremony is frugality. However, your Majesty has repeatedly overturned the total cost proposed by the courtiers and added up the cost, but he is unwilling to do so. Use the Shaofu to supervise the royal treasury.

In view of this, my concubine warned your majesty before departure to be careful of insufficient state funds, but your majesty believed that he had been tax-free for the ten realms in the world for four years, and the people were rich enough to bear the expenses. "

Li Zhi said: "Then something can't happen just after leaving Luoyang, right?"

Wu Mei laughed and said: "If your majesty returns to Chang'an this time, Yunchu will definitely make your majesty feel what a truly splendid country is.

There is no other reason, but Chang'an is rich enough, rich enough, and has enough interests to prompt them to spend money for His Majesty.

However, since His Majesty has sent Li Jingxuan to Yanshi in advance, I believe he will definitely handle the problem. "

Li Zhi sneered and said: "My taxes are really exempted, but Pei Xingjian said that the local people are extremely poor. So, since the taxes I exempted do not fall on the people, they will have a place to go." .”

Wu Mei smiled and said: "So, there is a fire there, and your taxes have been burned.

This is still a small matter. Since problems can occur in a place like Yanshi, it is inevitable that problems will occur in other places over a thousand miles away. His Majesty has brought so many people, so he should be frugal. "

Li Zhi said: "A large army cannot be frugal."

Wu Mei said: "Then we have to exempt the hundreds of officials and their families from the supply. They don't like it anyway..."

When Yunchu was camping in Yanshi, he received the emperor's order to exempt the nobles, officials and their families from providing supplies.

After Li Si learned the news, the girl who was suffering from a cold happily blew out a huge snot bubble, and then decisively overturned the verbal agreement to provide food to some people. Not even a grain of food in her hand was No more takeout.

At the same time, she could finally lie quietly in her carriage to recuperate, and Yun Jin and the other three could also have a good sleep without having to drag their tired bodies around to figure out how to sell food.

When the market is good, the inconspicuous shipping fee is insignificant. Anyway, it can be added several times to the buyer's head.

Yanshi County is not far from Luoyang, and the food still cannot be sold at Li Si's psychological price. She plans to leave Luoyang for 500 miles before starting to sell food.

Yes, grain processed into food can be sold at a higher price.

Li Si had a fever and her little face was red. After Yun Chu came over to see the child, he fed her the small Bupleurum tablets developed by Sun Simiao and asked Chun Yu to make ginger soup for Li Si to drink. The child began to sweat, so he sat in the carriage with a book and kept watch.

When Li Si woke up, she felt as if her whole body was falling apart. She asked for water in a daze. After she drank a cup of warm water, she realized that the person who gave her water was her master Yunchu.

Yun Chu touched Li Si's forehead with his hand. Seeing that the child's fever seemed to have subsided, he said to Chunyu who had been kneeling in the corner of the carriage: "The fever has subsided. Remember to add more water and wait a while." If she is hungry, give her some porridge and pickles. The porridge should be thick and the pickles should not be too salty. Do not bathe her or wipe her body until daybreak and make sure she is fine."

After saying that, he rolled his eyes at Li Si who was looking at him, raised his hand but did not lower it, then got off the carriage and left.

After Yunchu left, Li Si looked at Chunyu and said, "Doesn't it bother you that my father-in-law takes care of your daughter-in-law?"

Mrs. Chunyu shook her head and said: "This slave is getting married at the age of the princess. The way my father-in-law looks at me is different from the way the king looks at the princess."

Li Si smiled and said, "What's the difference?"

Chunyu said: "The way the prince looked at the princess was full of pity and anger, and he seemed to feel a little guilty.

My father-in-law was different. He only looked at me with regret, as if he thought I had married the wrong person. "

Li Si pulled the quilt up to his nose, revealing only a pair of eyes and said: "Yes, the master even forgot that I am a woman who needs to be avoided. In her eyes, I am still a sick child who needs to be taken care of. "

Chunyu thought for a moment and said, "Why isn't Mrs. Yun taking care of the princess?"

Li Sidao: "Master is a very good doctor. He said that the cold I suffered will be passed on to others. My mother has to take care of Fenghuang'er and Jinxiu'er, so I can't pass it on to her. Naturally, only Master came to take care of me."

Chunyu said in confusion: "Why does the princess have to ask the servant what she thinks about this matter?"

Li Sidao: "Whenever the children of the Yun family get sick, they will only be taken care of by the master or the mother-in-law, never by others.

The reason why I ask you these words is because I don't want anyone to use etiquette and law to tarnish the master. No one can do it. Whoever does this will be killed by me, and I will not stop until death. "

Chun Yu nodded and said: "I just checked my thoughts and found that my heart is peaceful, and there is nothing else."

A smile appeared on Li Si's face, and he closed his eyes and said: "In a happy place, only happiness can exist, and there is no room for anything else."

Yunchu got off Li Si's carriage and went straight to the carriage where Yun Jin, Wen Huan, and Di Guangsi lived. Li Si was not in good health, and those three silly children didn't seem to be safe either.

There was a faint light coming from the carriage. When Yunchu opened the door, he saw three children entangled with each other and sleeping in a thick quilt.

In the corner of the carriage sat Ms. Cui who was sleeping with her head tilted. As soon as Yun Chu entered the carriage, Ms. Cui woke up and whispered to Yun Chu who was checking on the three children: "Drink the medicine and the ginger soup. Take a nap." It should be fine if you feel sleepy.”

Yunchu took his hand away from Di Guangsi's forehead, nodded and said, "Fortunately, he is strong."

As he spoke, he picked up Wen Huan's hand and looked at it.

Cui quickly said: "They have frostbite, and the tips of Guangsi's ears also have frostbite. The slave has rubbed marmot oil on them.

Alas, three good noble gentlemen have to suffer the hardships of merchants..."

Yun Chu was impatient with Cui's nagging, and after confirming that the three children were in good health, he left. He stood in front of Yu Xiurong's carriage door for a while, but after all, he did not go up to disturb the mother and son's sleep, and strode back to his military tent. .

It was in the afternoon that Wen Wen got the news that the grain depot in Yanshi County was on fire and that the losses were heavy. He always felt that Yun Chu knew such bad news in advance, but there was no evidence.

So, he came to Yun Chu's tent early to look for a definite answer. He just heard that Yun Chu had gone to take care of the sick Li Si, so he cooked by himself, drank wine, ate meat and read, waiting for Yun Chu's return.

"Is Sisi feeling better?" Seeing that Yunchu was back, Wen Wenwen put down her wine glass and asked.

"Well, I broke out in a sweat and no longer have a fever. The other three are fine and sleeping soundly."

Wen Wen tapped the table with her knuckles and said, "You came to Yanshi, but you didn't care about what happened here. Did you already know it, or did you not want to cause trouble?"

Yun Chu poured himself a cup of tea and held it in his palm, found a small soft couch to sit down on and said with a smile, "What happened to Yanshi?"

Gentle said: "It's a small matter. When Pei Xingjian's army just arrived in Yanshi, the warehouse in Yanshi County caught fire. The warehouse contained supplies for Pei Xingjian. The most ridiculous thing is that after the warehouse caught fire, Yanshi County sent He asked a clerk to explain to Pei Xingjian that because of the fire in the warehouse, he could only provide half of the supplies to the army. Pei Xingjian would accept this explanation and hacked the clerk to death with one knife, and ordered the county magistrate Before he left Yanshi, he had to collect enough military rations, otherwise he would kill the county magistrate and his family.

Then, the county magistrate led the government officials and began to search for food from house to house in Yanshi County.

Before dawn, Pei Xingjian got enough grain and continued to move forward. Li Jingxuan came to Yanshi again to verify the fire in the grain depot.

As a result, I saw a county magistrate who committed suicide by hanging from a beam, a county captain who cut his neck and died, various petty officials who tied their hands and knelt in the county government office waiting to be arrested, and Yanshi County who had their food confiscated and became a refugee. common people. "

Regarding the tragic situation in Yanshi County, Yun Chu did not show too much sympathy. He took a sip of tea and asked lightly: "Where is the food in Yanshi County?"

Wen Wen looked at Yun Chu and said, "You have no heart. At this time, you are still asking about the food. Wasn't the food burned by the fire?

Li Jingxuan searched the homes of the county magistrate, county captain, chief registrar, and petty officials at all levels, but found no corruption. The food could only be burned with a fire, and there was no other reason. "

Yun Chu frowned and said to Wen Wen: "Tell Di Renjie immediately not to get involved in this matter. Even if you admit defeat to the guy from Dali Temple in Luoyang, don't show off."

Seeing Yun Chu's seriousness, Wen Wen lowered her voice and said, "Can't we afford to offend him?"

Yun Chu sighed and said, "My goal is the emperor."

Her gentle eyes rolled around a few times and she said, "The old story of Emperor Sui Yang's extravagant visit to Yangzhou?"

A smile appeared on Yun Chu's lips, and he said to Wen Wen: "You should ask that old guy Li Ji. When Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty went to Yangzhou, he followed a group of strong men from Wagang Village who rebelled at that time.

He should be familiar with this kind of thing. "

Wen Wen also smiled and said: "Wagang Village is only five hundred miles away from Yanshi. According to the legend left by the thieves of Wagang Village, five hundred miles is not enough for them to run overnight.

However, I won’t ask. If you want to ask, your daughter-in-law should ask. "

Yun Chu thought for a moment and said, "That's true. Only if Li Si asks, Old Thief Li won't fall out."

Wen Wen, who had already figured things out, slowly turned gloomy after laughing.

"The food does exist. The state has not taken it, the officials have not taken it, and it is not in the hands of the people. So, where has the food gone?"

Yun Chu waved his hands and said, "The amount of food is huge, not just a tiny bit, it will always leave traces. With Li Jingxuan's ability, after dawn, there will be a conclusive answer."

Wen Wen took a breath and said, "This thing was done more violently than when Wagang Village robbed the emperor.

Knowing that this is the emperor's ration on the road, but still dare to do this, I have to say that there is really no shortage of desperadoes in this world. "

After finishing her emotion, Wen Wenwen came to Yun Chu's side and said, "Sisi has a pile of food in Boss's hand. It really wasn't arranged by you in advance."

Yun Chu raised his head, glanced at Wen Wen and said, "I just gave these children a chance to make money.

The rest of the things were all done by Li Si and have nothing to do with us. "

Wen Wen said worriedly: "Will it affect the prince?"

Yun Chu thought for a moment and said, "It depends on what Li Si chooses. No matter what she does with this pile of food or who she sells it to, it is her choice."

Wen Wen was stunned and said: "Are you sure this child can survive this wave of wind and waves?"

Yunchu said with a smile: "The bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish will be!"