Chapter 435: Jiankang Prefecture is Short of People
Kuang Sisi said angrily, "No. She will never recognize this relationship again."
After saying that, the woman leaned over the coffee table and sobbed sadly again.
Seeing that he had no other options, Luo Mingqiu was anxious and immediately thought that the best way was to tell Princess Zhao Feiyan. Kuang Siying was Feiyan's uncle, and it was up to Zhao Feiyan to decide whether to settle him down or not. To get rid of Kuang Siying, Zhao Feiyan only needed to inform Wu Yuqi, the chief steward of Shunfeng Division, and it would only take a few minutes.
This girl winked at Eunuch Liu, asking her to stay with Madam Danfeng, and she went out to meet Zhao Feiyan like the wind...
The people of Jiankang Prefecture, like Kuang Siying who was causing trouble in Chengdu, were discussing the new ruler of the New Song Kingdom, Zhao Feiyan, on the streets.
The front page of Chengdu Weekly published the collective resolution of the Chengdu Central Council, in which Cao Youwen abdicated the throne to the former princess Zhao Feiyan, and the officials of the Central Council swore to serve Zhao Feiyan as the ruler.
The newspapers were brought all the way to Jiankang Prefecture by traveling merchants. All the traveling merchants knew about it. They raised the precious newspapers in their hands and loudly told the stories. A group of spectators around them pricked up their ears to listen to the wonderful passages.
The new Song State adopted a system of recommendation for its ruler. First, Mr. Ding from Xishu was recommended as the first ruler. Within two years, Mr. Ding voluntarily resigned and gave way to the ruler Cao. Today, he was replaced by the little Princess Feiyan from the previous dynasty. It's really new.
The city's literati and dignitaries gathered in groups of three or five to drink and discuss. At the newly opened Chaihuo Chicken Restaurant on the pier, there was a table of guests who were concerned about state affairs.
A Confucian scholar with a very literary air said that everything was a mess, three generations had changed in a short period of time, and the New Song Dynasty had become lawless and had completely abandoned all the ancestral systems.
Someone immediately disagreed. A young scholar nearby asked him: What do you mean by changing three dynasties? What do you mean by rules? The New Song Dynasty is still the New Song Dynasty, it's just that the person in charge has changed.
Ding Gong, the first ruler of the New Song Dynasty, once said: Future rulers and officials should work for the people, not wait for us to kneel down and worship them. Isn’t that good?
When did this gentleman see the court change the rules to make everyone equal and fair? When did he see the new ruler ascend the throne and claim the throne, asking the people of the world to cheer for him?
How pedantic.
Even our new ruler of Feiyan State swore in the Anfu Temple in Chengdu that he would uphold the republic, ensure that the people had enough food to eat, warm clothes to wear, and lead a good life, but he never mentioned wearing the yellow robe.
Everyone reads the newspaper.
The young handsome guy said confidently.
When several people saw that the dispute was getting bigger, they immediately tried to persuade them to keep their voices down. An old man among them immediately acted as a peacemaker, holding up the wine bowl and inviting them to drink, and not talk about state affairs.
However, a thin scholar said disapprovingly that it was fine, as the more they discussed, the clearer it would become. He thought the current rules were good enough. Didn't you see that common people were coming into the city to eat Chen Yishao? This meant they had earned money.
The regulations of the New Song Dynasty ensure that everyone has food to eat. As long as you work hard, you can always find a way to make money. In the past, if you wanted to sell your labor, you had to see if there was anyone willing to buy it.
Nowadays, the court is building canals and roads and carrying out large-scale construction. There is no one to spare. It is said that if you want to go to the north to farm, the government will give you travel expenses, build houses for you, and send you oxen. There are notices at all four gates.
Take our scholars for example. If they are willing to serve as soldiers and eat food, the troops will scramble to recruit them. If they study in major academies in Sichuan and Shu for three years, they can also become officials. This was unheard of in the previous dynasties. Unheard of.
Gradually, several people started to talk one after another.
At this moment, several burly soldiers shouted "Excuse me, excuse me", the third young master of the Shenwei Army is coming to Jiankang Prefecture.
Looking back, a group of burly guards escorted three senior officials and a heroic young lady in. A young general in front shouted to the waiter, "The third young master of the Shenwei Army and his wife have come to our Jiankang Mansion. General Meng has ordered that good wine and food be served to entertain them."
Everyone immediately looked at the official who had just entered and the guards around him.
Some young masters and ladies were already exclaiming in amazement and admiration.
Wow, it’s really the Third Young Master who is here. The Third Young Master has come to our Jiankang Prefecture.
Everyone exclaimed that Zhao Yulin's guards were so handsome, just like tall green pines. Soon, a young man saw Hu Lan's appearance and praised the third young master's wife. The diners in the huge courtyard put down their chopsticks and stretched their necks to scan them.
Indeed, it was Zhao Yulin who had arrived, and Meng Gong wanted to entertain him well, so he selected some firewood chicken from the dock and asked Cao Youwan to accompany the guest.
When Zhao Yulin heard the general who was leading the way shouting that the third young master was here, he thought it was not a good idea for Old Meng to create such a momentum. Then, when he saw that all the diners in the yard stood up and stared at them, he immediately bowed and apologized, saying, "Sorry to bother you with your meal. Sorry to bother you."
The diners were stunned at first, but immediately became delighted, shouting loudly, "Third Young Master, Good luck to the Third Young Master!" and surrounded them majestically.
The guards became nervous and quickly escorted him to a secluded place inside.
Meng Gong, however, burst into laughter and said cheerfully that the people of Jiankang had admired Commander Zhao for a long time. The commander was deeply loved by young talents, and they dreamed of his personal visit.
However, Zhao Yulin did not like this kind of publicity with fanfare and parade. While repeatedly praising Meng Gong for his compliments, he pulled Hu Lan and walked quickly inside. After some humility, he finally sat down. It turned out to be a banquet prepared by old Meng's young wife herself.
Hu Lan's eyes lit up when he saw Meng Gong's beautiful young wife, and they soon started chatting enthusiastically, which was something he had not expected.
Meng Gong was very happy, and told him with a smile that all the chefs of this firewood-fired chicken restaurant were invited from Yibin, his hometown, and that what we were eating was authentic wharf firewood-fired chicken.
Zhao Yulin was amused. They all said that Meng Gong only knew how to chop people with a knife and kill enemies desperately. In reality, General Meng was quite humorous. The host and the guests returned to the posthouse to stay after eating to their heart's content . Hu Lan was invited to Meng Gong's government office to chat with his wife.
It just so happened that Lao Meng took You Wan to go to Chun Shui Lou in Linjiang for tea.
The general also whispered to him that although it was just a brothel, the tea art here was absolutely unique in Jiankang Prefecture, and if the bully behind the scenes was defeated, the business would be handed over to Shunfeng.
Zhao Yulin looked at the exquisite and unique building and nodded. He knew it was safe to talk here. He followed the general and turned a corner to the exquisite elegant house at the back. Three cups of new tea were emitting hot steam. The guards had blocked the surroundings.
Cao Youwan exclaimed in admiration that it was worthy of being Jiankang Prefecture, as it actually hid such an exquisite building.
Meng Gong sighed and said that Lin'an had no money for military supplies, but had plenty of money for entertainment. The former prefect was a frequent visitor here. It was said that since the arrest of the former prefect and his gang of cronies, the profits of the brothels and theaters in this city had been reduced by 20%.
Zhao Yulin smiled secretly without saying anything. After asking Ke Zhenxie to refill the water, he went out and asked Meng Gong if he had called him here just to have a cup of tea.
Lao Meng immediately laughed and said that his brother was frank and he didn't want to hide anything, so he had to discuss some things with his brother.
Then he posed the first difficult question: Yu Jie wrote to him after the Battle of Xuzhou, saying that he was not smart enough in commanding operations and was not adapted to the operations of the new army. He was a little discouraged and wanted to resign from the military. He asked him what to do?
Meng Gong suddenly gave him a question. Zhao Yulin was still undecided and picked up the tea bowl to drink tea and think about it.
Cao Youwan said that when they first came into contact with the Shenwei Army in Qingyeyuan, they were still confused and uncomfortable. Now they are just as free and easy and there is no problem.
The new army was developing too fast and he was somewhat uncomfortable with it. Yu Gong had been isolated in Jiankang for a long time and knew little about the equipment and fighting methods of the Shenwei Army. It was normal for him to have many difficulties in adapting to leading the three armies into battle at once.
Meng Gong explained to them: After the Battle of Xuzhou, the Ministry of War summarized the experience and found that Yu Jie's team suffered the most casualties. Lai Chuanfang fought hard and did not waste his breath, but his casualties were not as high as his, and he killed tens of thousands of enemies. Even the navy led by Zhou Ping, including the boatmen and the attack team, did not suffer as much as his men. Zhou Ping's navy was seen by all in the battle of Luoma Lake, and it destroyed the main force of the Mongolian navy.
Zhao Yulin understood that Yu Jie had discovered in this major battle that he was not suitable for leading troops and intended to leave the army.
He put down the tea bowl and asked Meng Gong: What are Yu Gong’s specific plans?
Lao Meng said he didn't mention it, he just said he was a little tired and wanted to have a good rest.
Lord Cao wrote to me many times to urge me to go to Chengdu to take up my post. He hoped to settle the affairs of Yujie before leaving Jiankang.
Zhao Yulin fully understood that when Jiangdong was fighting against the Mongols, he and Yu Jie fought side by side and were like brothers. He certainly did not want Yu Jie to sink.
Zhao Yulin said that the Ministry of War gave the same treatment to wounded and veteran soldiers, so Mr. Yu had no right to make any requests.
Meng Gong shook his head and said no, no, my brothers know that the Shenwei Army treats everyone equally, absolutely not.
He said: If Yu Gong insisted on leaving the army, he thought he could go to Chengdu to recuperate for a while before doing anything else. Now that the new Song Dynasty was about to recover all the territory, the most needed thing in the future was to build water conservancy projects to make the rivers flow more smoothly and protect the people from the disaster of floods. He believed that the Central Council could set up a water department, and Yu Gong would be the first minister, specializing in planning the transformation of rivers, lakes and seas across the country and managing the water across the country.
Another solution is that since Lord Meng has gone to Chengdu and Jiankang Prefecture is unmanned, Lord Yu can be asked to temporarily take over the position of Jiankang Prefecture Governor.
Meng Gong was already happy. He said with a smile that Yu Jie liked to do some ditches and canal repairs in his spare time. It was right for him to be the national water minister. I will go and talk to him in person.
Zhao Yulin said that Jiankang would be short of manpower, and Brother Youwan could go to Pizhou to take over Yu Gong's job. The Central Council might have to send more people here.
When Lord Meng returns to Chengdu, can he propose that Lord Li, the transport envoy of Jingzhou, take over this responsibility?
He was familiar with Li Difu, as Meng Gong was stationed in Jingzhou back then, and they worked together. Zhao Yulin felt that this man was upright and should suit Meng Gong's taste.
As expected, Meng Gong agreed immediately and said that Mr. Li was well-read and upright, and was the top scholar chosen by the emperor of the previous dynasty, so he was qualified for the position.
Zhao Yulin picked up the teacup and offered him tea, smiling and saying that was right, and asked him if there was anything else he wanted to discuss.
