Li Longji ate quite well this time. Originally, the amount was enough for two people, but he ate all of it. He was so full that he took Dashan pills and chewed them in his mouth. He even looked at the empty food box with a reluctant expression.
Gao Lishi only ate and didn't eat. He kept smelling the food and swallowed his saliva. He decided to find some time to go to Savant's Restaurant to see if it was similar. That restaurant was also owned by the Zhang family.
The palace maid beside them brought tea. The two of them slowly drank the tea and looked at the information that was sent. From time to time, they would talk about what they would do if they were in the same situation.
Someone apologized and spread the news that the Emperor ate the food that was sent to Yizhou. In a short time, many people who were paying attention to this matter knew about it.
When the ministers heard about it, they didn't have any reaction. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo specially prepared the food that was sent over, so how could they dare to poison it? Besides, the Emperor couldn't eat it first.
The concubines in the palace didn't feel anything when they heard about it. Wasn't the Emperor fine now? However, the people in the imperial kitchen were different. It was their job to make food for the Emperor, but now it was taken away by someone else.
Immediately, the eunuch in charge of the imperial kitchen came to find him. He didn't dare to enter the hall and just cried silently outside. The main reason was that he was under too much pressure. It was fine if it was someone else who sent the food, but it was only the Zhang family. The Zhang family had a restaurant in the capital. If the Emperor was happy and replaced the current imperial kitchen with the Zhang family's, how would he manage it in the future? Could he buy an egg for five copper coins?
Li Longji and Gao Lishi didn't know that someone was crying in grievance. They were still looking at the information and discussing matters. The people guarding outside saw that someone was crying, but they couldn't report it. The Emperor was in a happy mood, and they couldn't afford to be punished if they disturbed his mood. It wasn't a big matter for the country.
The little eunuch could only secretly wipe his tears. He wondered what exactly made the Emperor eat and whether the imperial kitchen should also make some.
"Lishi, what do you think should be done when Zhang Zhong comes back after the New Year? We can't just leave Xiao Bao and Cuckoo at home, "Li Longji said to Gao Lishi after looking through the documents.
"Your Majesty, this subject believes that Zhang Zhong will be going to Luoyang to stay there for at least a year. Otherwise, if he returns to the capital, it will be very easy for him to not be able to handle the various matters. As for Xiao Bao and Cuckoo, they can be placed in Luoyang as minor officials. It would be fine even if they were county magistrates."
Gao Lishi considered for a moment before replying.
Li Longji nodded in approval of the first arrangement. However, he had his own thoughts about the second arrangement. "Why don't we arrange for you to move to Wannian County, which is located at the foot of the capital? That way, you can spend more time there. Don't the Zhang Family and the Wang Family still have four children? There's nothing to be afraid of even if there are only two of them. "
"This … this subject feels that we should ask them when we return." Gao Lishi also wanted to arrange for the two children to be by his side, but he was worried that their families wouldn't agree.
Li Longji didn't say anything this time. It could be considered that he approved of Gao Lishi's suggestion. At this moment, the sky outside turned dark again. A gust of wind mixed with snowflakes blew in through the open doors of the hall. The snowflakes melted in the air and disappeared without a trace.
Li Longji felt the sudden coolness and sized up the house that his nephew had built for him. He sighed, "Sigh ~! I wonder if there will be heavy snow this year. If it continues for a few days, some places will be affected. If the snow in Yizhou is also heavy, they might not be able to set off immediately after the New Year. Why don't we let them return now to avoid the snow blocking the road? "
"It's better to ask first. Otherwise, we will have to spend the New Year on the road." Gao Lishi was worried that the road would be uncomfortable.
*****
The matter that Li Longji and Gao Lishi discussed was quickly sent to Yizhou via a military relay station.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan secretly ordered people to work. The two of them didn't want to spend the 300,000 strings of coins they earned on the local people. They already had other ways to take care of the local people. The money had other uses.
"Xiao Bao, when do you think they will find out? I'm afraid that they won't agree. "Wang Juan held a snowball and gently rubbed it on her hand as she asked Zhang Xiaobao.
I don't believe that they will be so kind as to make a deal. When the time comes, we will be even. It's winter. I hope that the snow will be more uniform this year and not fall in one place. When the time comes, some places will be short of water and some will be affected by disasters. We can't just stand by and watch. We don't have enough manpower, so we have to part with some of them and it will affect the arrangements when we return. "
Zhang Xiaobao was afraid of the muddy road when the snow melted, especially in this place. When they returned, they couldn't take the Yellow River or the Yangtze River by boat.
"Then let's go back early. Don't spend the New Year here. We still have to make other arrangements. It's okay to spend the New Year on the road. We can spend the New Year together. Anywhere is fine."
Wang Juan always felt that it was a waste of time here. If they really wanted to help the local people, they didn't need to put all of their people in Yizhou. They could just arrange a few people in the inner courtyard. After a while, the officials in Jiannan Circuit would no longer listen to their orders.
While the two of them were discussing, Gao Lishi's letter came, asking if they were willing to go back early. It was exactly what the two of them wanted. They left the work to others and hurried back to discuss it.
No matter where the family would spend the New Year, Xiao Bao and Cuckoo would be the main focus. This would provide a very good environment for the two of them to develop.
*****
When the people in Yizhou heard that they were leaving, they didn't want to do anything. Normally, they wouldn't ask Zhang Zhong to do anything for them. As long as Zhang Zhong stayed in Yizhou, they would feel relieved. Now that they heard that Zhang Zhong was going to leave after the New Year, the clan leaders came over to persuade him.
Zhang Zhong had already made his decision. He could only comfort the clan leaders that they could look for him when they had time, or they could find some time to come over themselves. Usually, as long as they had people, they would send news here and bring the local specialties for everyone to taste.
When the people saw that they couldn't keep Zhang Zhong, they also knew that he had a better future. They began to prepare things at home so that they could bring along Zhang Zhong. They also sent the young people in their families to follow Zhang Zhong. One of them was to listen to Zhang Zhong's words and assist him, and the other was to have the opportunity to learn more things.
However, Mu Jiji was also watching from Yizhou. When he heard that the Zhang Family and Wang Family were going to leave, he finally heaved a sigh of relief. However, when he saw how popular Zhang Zhong was with the people, he no longer doubted Demonfiend Cuckoo's words. With the support of the people, she could definitely form an army in a short time with just a call. Coupled with the financial resources of the two families, they could fight whenever they wanted.
Qiang Hu's two children had just learned how to speak. They also knew how to wash their hands before eating and after playing. This made him hesitate. In the end, he gritted his teeth and allowed Zhang Zhong to bring them along. Lu Zhou was the son that Zhang Zhong had acknowledged, and he usually treated them like his own family. He believed that the two children would not be wronged.
When the preparations for leaving were almost done, the livestock from Tubo had also arrived at the pass and were waiting to be handed over. They were even escorted by 5,000 soldiers.
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao only brought along a group of commoners who were in charge of transporting grain before they set off. Shui Yun followed them as well. There were no other guards.
Mu Jiji looked at them and secretly praised them for their courage.
After a few days, the grain that was transported first arrived at the pass. Wang Juan, accompanied by Zhang Xiaobao, rode out and faced the 5,000 soldiers of Tubo head-on. Step by step, the 5,000 soldiers retreated step by step. They did not dare to look directly at Wang Juan. This made the commoners in charge of transporting grain extremely excited. This was how awe-inspiring they were.
On the other hand, the commoners in charge of transporting the livestock were speechless. They were a 5,000 strong army, but they were suppressed by the other party's two people and two horses. What else could they say?
Wang Juan nodded in satisfaction. She said to Mu Jiji, "We can start the exchange now. Weigh them."
First, they would weigh the grain. After weighing the grain that arrived first, they would weigh the livestock according to the price. All the livestock that were weighed would be fed medicine by the commoners of Great Tang.
When he saw this, Mu Jiji was stunned. After the corresponding livestock was changed, before he could ask, he smelled a foul stench that assailed his nostrils.
Whether it was the livestock that were changed or not, most of them had diarrhea.
Mu Jiji was shocked. He did not know that the livestock that was to be exchanged had been fed water. No wonder Cuckoo asked people to feed them medicine. It turned out that she already knew. What should he do?
Mu Jiji looked at Wang Juan worriedly. Wang Juan returned him a smile.
"This, this matter is like this. Our Tubo livestock …"
"It's okay. I can understand. We can understand each other. Get someone to feed them medicine. I brought a lot of medicine this time." Wang Juan still had a smile on her face.
Mu Jiji did not know if it was true or not. He looked at Wang Juan carefully and found that she did not seem to be angry. Only then did he wipe the sweat that had just seeped out of his forehead. He also smiled and said, "Yes, we can understand each other. It should be like this. Feed them, immediately feed them."
With a command, the Tubo commoners took the medicine from the Great Tang people and began to feed the livestock.
When the medicine was being fed, a Tubo commoner opened a bag of rice. After taking a look, he shouted to Mu Jiji, "They mixed sand in the rice. This handful of rice, at least 10% of it is sand."
However, Mu Ji Ji was stunned when he heard that. He turned to look at Wang Juan, wanting an explanation.
Wang Juan pointed at the animals that were still being fed medicine and said, "Maybe it's because the Tang Empire's people have been eating rice for too long. I'm going to lose money this time. I used new grains to exchange for it. Sigh! Let's understand each other. Otherwise, your 5,000 soldiers … "
"I understand, I understand. They kept it for too long. They really kept it for too long. The army is afraid that people will cause trouble. During peacetime, they are not used for war." Mu Jiji understood many things. He knew why Wang Juan did not pursue the matter of the animals being fed water. He also knew why they were willing to increase the price by 10% to exchange the old grain with the new grain.
It was too deceptive. How could they pass all the sand out of the rice? Who asked them to feed the animals water? How did Wang Juan and the rest know? If 10% of the rice was mixed with sand, how much water could the animals be fed? If they did not, he could ask for an explanation.
Now, it looked like they were even, but it was not the case at all.
The Tubo people also considered the fact that their side was filled with water, so they could only accept it helplessly. They only hoped that the Tubo people would choose first. Otherwise, when the grains were distributed, they would not be able to eat enough.
The animals were forced to drink water and had diarrhea. Some of them died, while others were fine. The dead Wang Juan was also bought, but the price was reduced by half. They only gave some money for the meat. When the living animals were almost treated, all the food was transported over.
In the end, in these few days, the animals became even thinner. They did not manage to exchange all the grains that were transported over. When they came over, they weighed the grains and it was just enough to exchange all the grains prepared by the Great Tang.
Firstly, the weight of the animals was not enough. There were also some that died. Secondly, the grains from the Great Tang increased by 10%. Similarly, the animals also needed 10% more.
Mu Jiji looked at the remaining grains and then looked at Wang Juan. What should he do? "I am a good person.
Since the grains have been transported over, I can't possibly take them back. It is not easy for the Tubo people. How about this, I see that there are a few hundred horses and weapons in your army. Give them all to me. The rest of the grains will be yours. If you are not willing to exchange, you can also take them away. It is just that there are a lot of grains but not enough horses. Be careful if you encounter bandits on the road. I can't possibly personally lead the light cavalry to protect you. "
Wang Juan stood from the Tubo people's point of view and helped to think of a solution. She had a pained expression as she wanted to exchange for the Tubo people's horses and weapons. She did not want the leather armor on her as it was not valuable.
However, Mu Jiji did not have the final say. He could only look for the general and ask if he was willing to exchange. He told the general about Wang Juan's threat. The general helplessly nodded his head and agreed. He did not dare to make a move on Wang Juan now. If he could not make Wang Juan stay, then he would have to wait for revenge.
The soldiers left their weapons and horses behind and joined the grain transport team. When they walked back, all of them lowered their heads.
Wang Juan also commanded the people to walk back to Pengzhou City. All of them puffed out their chests.
The officials from Pengzhou also stood on the city walls and watched. They were worried that the Tubo people would capture Cuckoo and Xiao Bao. They did not expect that everything would go smoothly and they would be able to return. When they found out that the Tubo people left behind their weapons and horses, the officials were speechless. Demonfiends were indeed demonfiends.
When Wang Juan entered the city, the officials surrounded her. They wanted to take a good look at this little lass.
Wang Juan said sadly to the officials, "We've lost, we've lost. We only had 20% of our grain left in exchange for these weapons and horses. Sigh ~! I was too soft-hearted and was afraid that the Tubo people would not have enough to eat. "
The officials were stunned for a moment. Finally, someone reacted and advised, "That's right. Cuckoo is soft-hearted and is a good person. The Tubo people should be grateful to Cuckoo."
The other officials agreed one after another.
Zhang Xiaobao saw that Wang Juan still wanted to say something, so he nudged her, "Alright, let's go back quickly. We're going to leave soon. Don't waste time. What is there to be grateful to you for? Mixing in 10% of the sand? Or using that broken grain to exchange for a lot of ironware and horses? Let's go. The weapons need to be melted into iron ingots first so that they can be made into farming tools. A knife can be made into three or four kitchen knives. A dozen arrowheads can be made into a plough knife. "
Wang Juan thought about it and agreed. They were in a hurry, so she informed the officials and hurried back to Yizhou with a large amount of livestock. She left the military horses for Pengzhou. They could form a cavalry camp, but she had no place to bring them with her.
After scamming the Tubo people and earning a lot of livestock, she arranged for the people in the inner courtyard to be in charge of the local management. Zhang Xiaobao and the Wang family quickly packed up and embarked on the journey back to the capital.
Countless people sent them off. Just the local specialties alone filled up more than a hundred carriages. They couldn't refuse even if they wanted to.
Before Zhang Xiaobao left, he didn't forget to write a letter to Tubo. He told them to get along peacefully and to try their best not to have bandits intercept his caravan in the desert. Otherwise, Cuckoo would be very sad and angry.
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