The best idlers of the Tang Dynasty

Hu Cheng, the Sicang doctor in charge of Taicang, is the son of Mrs. Sui'an, Li Chengqian's wet nurse, and has always been very close to the East Palace.

Seeing this, Li Chengqian immediately became impatient, and asked Hu Cheng to lead him to the granary first. What he is most anxious about now is how much grain there is in Taicang. There are 10,000+ shi of grain left, otherwise, the grain in Taicang may have bottomed out by now.

Hu Cheng walked with them around Taicang, the huge granary, but at this moment there was only [-] shi of grain left.Li Chengqian was anxious, and he reprimanded Jiang Bai: "Jiang Bai, you have seen the situation here. The people in Chang'an City are almost out of food, and there are so many soldiers in Suizhou and Bingzhou who have to eat. Border towns send people every day. If you come to the imperial court to urge food, if you don’t practice within seven days, the Taicang will be empty. At that time, it’s not just the people in Chang’an who complain, but the generals in the battalions! You, the minister of the Ministry of Industry Does it look good on your face?"

Hearing the words, Jiang Bai fell to his knees with a plop, complaining incessantly in his heart, and said: "His Royal Highness, to tell you the truth, it's not that I don't do my best, and now several people are exhausted to death on the construction site, but such a big hole, increase again There are many people who can't master it within seven days!"

Li Chengqian was so angry that he stomped his feet, and was about to reprimand him, when his eyes fell on Jiang Bai's feet. The boot on that foot had a hole, and the toes were exposed. He couldn't help but take back the words that came to his mouth, and his face was full of anxiety. , sighing and muttering to himself: "It's over now, what should I do, what should I do!?"

At this time, Hu Cheng, who was on the side, saw that Li Chengqian was out of control, and suddenly said: "Your Highness, don't worry, please come with me, Your Highness!"

Then Hu Cheng took Li Chengqian and others on the horse, walked for more than twenty miles, and came to a heavily guarded warehouse.

Li Chengqian asked in surprise, "Where is this?"

Hu Cheng replied, "Nancang."

Li Chengqian was a little surprised: "Isn't this south warehouse stocked with horse feed? Why did you bring me here?"

Hu Cheng said: "Your Highness, go in and take a look and you will understand."

After speaking, he rushed forward and asked the warehouse guards to open the door. The warehouse guards pushed open the heavy wooden door, and a group of people entered the warehouse. Hu Cheng led Li Chengqian into a huge warehouse full of bulging grain bags. yard to the roof.

Li Chengqian felt even more strange, and asked Hu Cheng: "What is this?"

Hu Cheng replied: "It's the emperor's pressed granary. For the Northern Expedition, the emperor secretly saved grain from various places and stocked it in the south granary since the first year of Zhenguan. In two years, he saved a total of 40 shi of grain. Jieli noticed that the matter was done in a very confidential manner, and no one knew about it except for a few important officials. In case the food stored in Taicang ran out before the Longshou Canal was completed, His Highness would just send some from it to the various towns for emergency. "

Li Chengqian looked at the grain and said: "This grain is what my father is waiting for for the Northern Expedition, how can it be moved?"

Hu Cheng said: "His Royal Highness, the emperor has already explained this matter to his ministers in private before, and then everything will be done according to the prince's wishes. Later, when the water transportation is cleared, it will be made up."

Li Chengqian was surprised: "There is such a thing?"

He felt a little touched in his heart, he didn't expect his father to love him so much, he saw the scene of Taizong gritting his teeth in the damp Chengqing Palace and suffering from illness, and couldn't help crying.

When Li Chengqian cried, Heng Lian, Jiang Bai and Hu Cheng panicked and hurriedly asked why.

While wiping his tears, Li Chengqian talked about Taizong being tortured by rheumatism, and that his father had to worry about himself when he was so ill.Li Chengqian's words moved Heng Lian and the others a little, and Du Rui was also sad for a while, but when others persuaded him, Li Chengqian sat on the grain pile and cried even harder.

Jiang Bai suddenly stepped forward and said to Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, I have an idea, so that His Royal Highness can repay the emperor's kindness."

Li Chengqian stopped crying and asked him what good strategy he had.

Jiang Bai expressed his thoughts: "Currently the rice price in Chang'an is extremely high. If you take out the grain from the Nancang and sell it first, after the water transportation is repaired, you can collect 40 shi of grain at a lower price. You can make a huge difference in the price, which is enough for the emperor to rebuild the Cuiwei Palace. And it can also provide food for those who can’t buy food at the moment, and the people in Chang’an City will naturally have much less complaints against the court. .”

Li Chengqian thought this idea was good, and was about to agree, but was interrupted by Du Rui: "Your Highness, no!"

Li Chengqian was taken aback, and said: "Chengming, you~~~~~~~"

Du Rui didn't care about etiquette, and said loudly: "The food here, His Highness can be used to support the military rations in various places, and can be used to help the people, but it must not be sold. Once the Longshou Canal is not repaired in time If the water transportation is not available, all the military rations from all over the country will be counted on the food from the Nancang. His Highness will take it out and sell it. My idea, don't listen!"

Jiang Bai was reprimanded by Du Rui, and he was suddenly annoyed. He said: "Who are you? You dare to talk about state affairs in vain. It's really absurd, Your Highness! Longshouqu, even if I don't sleep, I will die in ten days. The completion of the internal repairs will definitely not delay His Highness's important affairs."

At this time, Li Chengqian was completely occupied by Taizong's desk in the damp Chengqing Hall, enduring the pain and suffering, and he didn't care about so many things. He just asked, "Master Jiang! The Longshou Canal can really be repaired within ten days!"

Jiang Bai said firmly: "Yes!"

Li Chengqian was overjoyed when he heard the words, and said: "Since that's the case, let's do it according to Mr. Jiang's wishes!"

Hearing this, Du Rui was very anxious, and wanted to persuade him again, but was stopped by Li Chengqian: "Chengming, I know you have good intentions, and I'm afraid that nothing but chaos, it's just~~~~~~~~~~~~ this matter It's clear that you don't talk anymore!"

Hu Chengcheng was still a little worried and dared not follow through, but Li Chengqian gave the order to die, and promised to take care of himself alone if something went wrong.At this time, Fang Long, his holy family, was in full swing, and this matter was to flatter the emperor. Of course, he would gain a lot of credit if it was done. Hu Cheng hesitated again and again, but finally agreed.

Du Rui saw that the deal was done, but he couldn't persuade him any more, so he could only sigh, turned and left.

When they arrived at the mansion, Du Rui called the old housekeeper, Du Zhong, and asked, "Uncle Zhong! How much food does our mansion have in total!?"

Du Zhong replied: "A few days ago, according to the young master's order, I bought grain everywhere, but I saved a lot. I think there are seven or eighty thousand shi!"

When Du Rui heard the words, he couldn't help shaking his head and said, "Not enough! Not enough! It's only seven to eighty thousand stones, how can it be possible!"

Du Zhong said: "Master, is this an urgent need for food? In fact, there are still several batches of food outside, but the water transportation is different, and it cannot be transported to Chang'an for a while!"

Du Rui was surprised when he heard the words, and said happily, "Oh! How many are there?"

Du Zhong said: "There is also more than 20 shi. A few days ago, the young master was in a hurry to buy grain, so the old servant asked a few acquaintances to go to the south to buy it. It costs a lot."

"It's okay! It's okay! Uncle Zhong! Send someone to urge you right now, even if you go overland, as long as you can transport the grain to Chang'an, it will be worth the price!"

Hearing this, Du Zhong frowned and said, "Young master! But I'm planning to sell grain, this~~~~~~~~ I'm afraid it's not right!"

Du Rui saw that Du Zhong was actually worried that he was going to hoard, and said with a smile: "Uncle Zhong is wrong, no matter how poor Du Rui is, he won't earn that ignorant money. This food is of great use to me!"

Du Zhong saw that Du Rui's words did not seem to be false, although he was worried, he still nodded his promise, and suddenly thought of another thing, he said: "The five mother and daughter that the young master took in before, I want to see you now!"

Du Rui was stunned, then remembered that there was still this matter, and said: "So, let's call!"

Not long after, the mother and daughter, who were clean and groomed, walked into the front hall. When they saw Du Rui, they hurriedly bowed down and said, "I've seen the master!"

Du Rui asked for a moment, and said: "Please hurry up, it doesn't have to be like this, Du Rui didn't buy Madam, mother and daughter, and there are not so many rules in my house. Now that Madam, mother and daughter are suffering, I will live here temporarily If you find relatives and old friends in the future, you can come and go as you please!"

The woman said: "The master is very kind. Even if a woman is a cow or a horse, it is difficult to repay the incident. How can she do such a heartless thing!"

Du Rui also knew what she meant, so he didn't say any more, and said, "In that case, you mother and daughter will stay! I don't know how to call them!"

The woman said: "The husband's family name is Jia. These are four daughters, and they don't have a real name. They are usually called Da Niu, Er Niu, San Niu, and Si Niu!"

When Du Rui heard that his surname was Jia, he immediately thought of changing his name again, and looked at the four girls standing behind Jia in turn.Just now on the street, the four girls were disheveled, but they couldn't see clearly, but now after washing and dressing up, they didn't expect that all of them were full of spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums.

The oldest one, about twelve or thirteen years old, was wearing a green emerald smoked sweater, a pleated skirt of water mist and green grass, and a thin emerald green veil, with shaved shoulders and a waist like Yuesu, the muscles are like thick fat, the breath is like orchids, charming and boneless, three points of beauty.Looking at the face, it is well-proportioned, with delicate eyebrows, well-rounded ears and nose, neat teeth, and moist temples. Although the family background is not obvious, it is similar to Baochai, with a rich and noble appearance.

The second one seems to be about the same age as Du Rui. She wears a light pink long dress with a plain white gauze dress. It is also a standard showy girl's makeup. She is dressed in an extremely elegant attire. She has slightly plump skin and fits a medium figure. , cheeks coagulated with fresh litchi, nose greasy goose fat, gentle and silent, amiable to watch.

The third one is even smaller, with a pink rose-scented tight-fitting gown with sleeves, an emerald green smoked veil scattered flower skirt, slender shoulders and a thin waist, a long figure, a duck-egg face, handsome eyes and sculpted eyebrows. Forget about customs.

The fourth one is about the same age as Du Yunlian, but she is described as graceful and slender, with willow eyebrows and emerald green mist, sandalwood mouth dotted with cinnabar, a pair of autumn water eyes, smooth muscles and bones, and elegant manners.Lips are not pimple but red, eyebrows are not painted but emerald green, face is like a silver basin, eyes are like water apricot, dignified character and beautiful appearance.

"Then they are called Yuanchun, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun in turn?"