Chapter 254: When Xu Jun and Yan Ying, who was elected, saw the prisoners so cold that they could not stand. Someone kept fainting on the ground, he waved his hand and signaled the prisoners to continue to act, and then asked with concern: It was cold and the ground was cold, why didn’t these people wear thick clothes? If they were frozen to death, wouldn’t it be a pity that they were transported back from you thousands of miles away?

The warriors received Yan Ying's permission, and while letting the team continue to move forward, they responded respectfully: Shangqing, you don't know that this year, the heavy snow has been heavy, and all the young and strong people in the country have been with the army. The fur in China has been collected. Although we tried our best to buy it, the price of fur is now amazing.

Yan Ying pointed at the samurai, those samurai were either wearing cotton robes or down jackets. Their clothes were also pure Jin-style Hu clothing. Large-breasted high-clad high-clad arrow sleeves, tightened waist, and long trousers and leather boots on the lower body. Yan Ying asked: Why are you wearing so well? This outfit is not cheap?

Several warriors laughed, and one of them replied: This is welfare. The word was said by the marshal. All of us soldiers who participated in the war received a set of winter clothes. The soldiers were wearing cotton robe and cotton trousers, and the officers and a set of down cloaks.

Speaking of which, the people of Jin were rich and powerful, and had more than 100,000 people. When it comes to clothes, everyone cuts them. We are still thinking about how many manpower is needed to transport hundreds of thousands of sets of cotton coats and trousers to the south from thousands of miles away.

Yan Ying asked casually: So, are these prisoners considered part of the welfare?

The warrior laughed: This time, our army captured tens of thousands of people, and not only all the warriors in Jin have a share, but we samurai who participated in the war can also get one. However, the people of Jin are relatively rigid. What kind of scoring system do they implement? How many points do they have been on the battlefield? How many points do they have been in battle? As for transporting supplies and doing auxiliary work, the scores they have obtained are pitifully low.

As a result, only those with high scores had a share of captives with the Jin people. Later, some people thought that everyone would get together to get enough points to buy slaves, which would be considered as a battlefield. These slaves were all made up by us. Unfortunately, they were frozen in the cold and we went south and almost half of them died on the road. What a pity.

Yan Ying kindly reminded: This is the case. Why don’t you buy them a few sets of thick clothes or stay in the south for a few more days in this weather and wait until the cold winter passes before continuing on the road so that the prisoners can adapt to the climate in the north.

Several prisoners smiled and explained: Actually, we didn't have much hard work. This time we were escorting Jin's supplies back, and we took a boat all the way from Rushui, but we didn't have much hard work. After passing Rushui, we only walked a little bit by land. When we arrived at the Yellow River, we started to board the Jin's warship transporting supplies. Not long ago, we got ashore near Chaoge, and we only walked for three or two days and were not tired.

How can you not rush? Now you can’t buy ready-made winter clothes in the domestic market. Only some people still have a few old clothes that they don’t sell at home. Besides, it’s almost the New Year, so you rush home to put on warm clothes and have a warm meal, so as to welcome the New Year at home.

Yan Ying pretended to be careless and asked: What military situation is there in the south

Several warriors of Lu State replied humbly: We walked slowly on the road, and the fast horses that conveyed military information had crossed us several times. The express news to the country was full of great victory. It is said that the marshal and the Chu people had fought a water battle near Jiang County, and finally the Wu people also came to meet. Now the coalition forces are heading towards Chu, and the Lu brothers behind will probably be even richer.

Yan Ying waved his hand and signaled his coachman to start the chariot. He asked casually: Are you planning to go south when you come back this time?

The warriors replied: Of course we have to go south. We received an order. After returning to China, we escorted a batch of food and grass contributed by the State of Lu, and the New Year boat continued to set off to go south.

Yan Ying's chariot started, and he entered Moucheng. When he passed through the city gate, he said to himself: This war is not over yet, our Qi army came back a little earlier. Now, the people of Lu are getting richer and stronger as they fight, which is not the luck of our Qi country.

Yan Ying was waiting in Mucheng and continued to set off south. The more he went south, the more warriors he returned, the more prisoners and spoils he brought back were, and the more abundant the prisoners and spoils he brought back. When he entered Wei State, Beigong Tuo, the chief minister of Wei State, also planned to go to Jin State to listen to and pay tribute to the dead Shaojiang. When he saw Yan Yingli, he asked in a heartache: Do you have any surplus food in Qi State? Yan Ying thought about it. Answer: The Tian family of our Qi State has a close relationship with Zhao Wuzi. They had been in trade with each other a long time ago. Although they were seriously in the past few years, the Tian family introduced the Zhao family's water truck and new rice seeds. Their grain yield was very high, so they still had the ability to provide relief to the victims of Qi State in the year of great disaster. So, if you really talk about it, our Qi State does not lack food.

Beigong Tuo sighed: The existence of a family of Tian has made Qi not lack food, so Jin has the Zhao family, and the Han family, which is closely related to the Zhao family, plus the Zhi family Wei family that followed him, these families must have adopted new farming methods and new species together with Zhao Wuzi. If you look at it in detail, Jin should not lack food.

The war is getting more and more endless. Since Zhao Wuzi came to power, although he has not troubled the army of the vassal states, his ability to be in tongue-to-face materials is ten times more fierce. Our Wei Kingdom has lost so many ten countries. Now, how can we Yang Jin people? Now, inferring that the Jin people should not be short of food, but they frequently ask us small countries to supply military food for them. Yan Qing. This time, he went to Xintian City and listened to you that you can help us Wei Kingdom and help us reduce part of the food allowance, so that we Wei Kingdom can take a breath.

Yan Ying asked curiously: I heard that Zhao Wuzi is reducing your tax amount year by year. Could it be that the food he asked you to pay is not within the tax amount

Beigong Tuo nodded honestly: In other words, Zhao Wuzi is much more lawful than Fan Zi. He is indeed reducing our tax quota every year, and the food we should pay is also compensated by the tax quota. But the problem lies here.

Our small country, every year, listen to it. It is at the end of the year, but at the end of last year, the price of grain was converted into taxation. We in Weiguo seems to be not at a loss, but this year the drought is severe and the grain prices are rising sharply. If we convert it to last year's price, it will not make people live.

We are not like you Qi. Now we only have one city left. Originally, there are few people in the area, but now the young and strong people in the country go south to fight with the king. Only women and the elderly are farmed in our fields. In the years of severe drought, we don’t have enough food to eat, but Shuzhou insisted that the rules cannot be broken. The number of grains determined last year cannot be reduced.

In order to pay full taxes, our king took out all his musical instruments and sold them to make up for the gap. This year we have already dealt with them, but next year, our king has sold his musical instruments. Where can we find money every year to make up for the gap?

Yan Ying thought about it and asked in surprise: When I passed by Lu, when I saw the warriors from Lu were happily counting the spoils they went south. Why, did the Wei Kingdom fight south and did not get the corresponding spoils?

Beigong Tuo was very embarrassed: We have obtained this spoil. To be honest, Zhao Wuzi is very fair in doing things. He is not a grain of grain that we should enjoy. But the situation of our defense is different. We only have one city left, so what do we need to do? In addition, the road to the south is long. Even if we defend the country, we need a piece of territory to go south, how should we guard and manage it with our national strength.

When Beigong Tuo said this, Yan Ying was surprised: How did the land occupied by the south be divided? Beigong Tuo nodded: I just said that Zhao Wuzi is indeed doing justice. He ordered the two countries of Song to move their territory south and to lay a few territories on the original Song land in the north to reward the countries participating in the war. Now all small countries have divided a piece of land in the south, but it is useless for everyone to ask for this land, because when Song and Zheng replaced the land, they all moved all the population living on the land. So that territory was just empty.

field.

Although the farmland is very well-developed, even if the land is perfect, it requires the population to cultivate it. Moreover, the harvest of farming will be transported back to the country thousands of miles away. We defend the country and do not have the strength to take into account such distant land. Therefore, our king is worried, and the ministers and officials can't come up with good ideas.

Yan Ying secretly laughed and gave an idea: Actually, you can sell that land. Didn’t your king even sell his own musical instruments? That land can also be sold. After it is sold, it will be converted into food or part of the money to reward warriors and feed the people in the country.

Beigong Tuo smiled ugly: Territory is territory after all, and the king refused to give up

After saying that, Beigong Tuo quickly added: My country has lost a lot of land, and the newly acquired territory has finally allowed my country to expand its territory, so the nobles and officials also discussed it and refused to give up easily.

Yan Ying smiled slightly: If you have already obtained it, you will not give up. How can you get something without paying it? You just said that Zhao Wuzi is a reasonable person. The food price has risen so much this year. The tax collection next year will definitely not be converted at the price last year. If you convert the tax collection amount of the country in Wei, if you convert it at this year's grain price, the food you should pay next year may not be enough for even a hundred carriages.

Beigong Tuo thought for a while and admitted: That's right. If Jin State is willing to do this, the burden of our country next year will be relaxed. I heard that the land in the south is very fertile, with sufficient rain, and the rice is ripe for three years. If that land is well cultivated, it will be enough to feed all the people near Diqiu.

Yan Ying asked with a smile: Then what else do you worry about?

Beigong Tuo looked at Yan Ying earnestly: If Jin State refuses to convert the grain price this year to next year's taxes, Yan Qing must help us Wei State to speak carefully.

Yan Ying's eyes flashed and kindly reminded: Actually, there is someone in Wei State who is very familiar with Zhao Wuzi. And I heard that this person is now the second in command of the Jin State government, and is responsible for managing the market management of Jin State. After all, he was a Wei State. If you Wei State are willing to let go of your status, I think he will help Wei State anyway.

Yan Ying was talking about Sun Lin’s father in the past, and Qi Lin’s father, the business doctor in the Jin State.

Beigong Tuo's head was like a rattle: This man, don't mention that our king killed his favorite young son and forced him to flee to Jin. He is now in Jin and never sees anyone we ask for his disciples. Things will only be more

If you blame this, you can only blame Wei Xian, the king of Wei. In addition to Qi Lin's father, Wei State also had a famous wise man, who was the promise of Wei State to guarantee the left Zixian. Now Zixian is in exile in the territory of Zhao, but no matter whether he sits or lie down, he will never face the direction of Wei State. He will not eat Wei grain for his whole life to show his break with Wei State.

If Wei Guo is asking for the affairs of his country, Zixian may be better off. At most, he ignores Wei Guo's request, but will not harm Wei Guo. As long as Qi Linfu is not allowed to make Wei Duke Xian unhappy, he will be very happy.

Later, Yan Ying and Beigong Tuo set off together, and they crossed the Yellow River to the State of Xu.

This place is called Xu State, but strictly counts it can only be called Xu County. Since the previous Xu State monarch was sick, although the people of Xu State elected a new king. However, this new king has not been recognized by Zhao Wu of Jin State. Of course, Jin State did not abuse him with intention, but he was determined not to let the new king move into the original king's residence.

city.

In addition, this monarch fully enjoyed the treatment of the monarch in his own home, and there was no shortage of compliments from his retainers, and the little monarch had many ceremonies when he was traveling.

However, after so many years of infiltration, the king of Xu had no government affairs to deal with. All government affairs in Xu were controlled by officials from Zhaocheng Academy. These new officials did not have the awareness of asking for instructions and reporting to the new king when they were doing things. Now, they are polite to Xu. Only when they meet this new king on the road, they still maintain the proper manners and manners of treating a king, such as avoiding both sides of the road and letting the new king's car drive first.

But that's all.

This new king was supported by the people. The people who supported this king voluntarily paid taxes to the new king, but these people were not all of Xu's country, and several princes were enfeoffed in Zhongshan country. However, these princes of Xu's country had lost their interest in returning to the country to succeed the throne. They lived a life like a monarch in their independent territory. Except for the daily treatment that was not the monarch, the power enjoyed in their own territory was like a monarch.

Nearly ten years have passed, and these young men have become accustomed to the life of Zhongshan Kingdom and the days of being affiliated to the Zhao family. At this time, they are asked to return to their country to succeed the king. Although they are still subordinate to the Zhao family, as a monarch, they have more rules and more things to take into account, but they may not have done whatever they want in their own territory. Therefore, these young men of Xu have lost their interest in returning to their country to succeed.

Of course, they were not willing to have another monarch on their heads, so they would inevitably have to pay another tax. Therefore, most of the young masters of Xu ignored the existence of the new monarch, pretended to have nothing to live, and continued to live their own lives. They just lost a tax that needed to be paid to the monarch of their country, which was easier than before.

Because of the new Xu Guojun's identity, Yan Ying, Beigong Tuo and others did not meet the new king during the day. When the sun sets, the new Xu Guojun came quietly.

Yan Ying and Beigong Tuo paid homage to the new king with the etiquette of seeing the king. After both sides sat down, Yan Ying raised her head and asked curiously: Master, I heard that you did not live in the palace. But in my memory, the costumes of Xu's ancestors seemed to be as gorgeous as you.

Xu Guoxinjun was respectful: After the death of his ancestor, Zhao Wuzi handed over the things left by his ancestor to me, so I was qualified to succeed the throne, but the governor did not make a clear statement, so that I could not move into the palace city for a long time. The two Shangqings are going to Xintian to listen to it. Please ask the two Shangqings to talk to the overlord and give me a reply sooner or later, so as not to be embarrassed or embarrassed.

Beigong Tuo answered quickly that Wei Guo was much more honest now. They really dared not cause trouble. Of course, Wei Guo, who only had one city, could not cause trouble: We Wei Guo may not be able to help with this matter. I heard that Zhao Wuzi did not restrict your access. If you have time, why don’t you go to Xintian and ask Zhao Wuzi in person.

The new king replied respectfully: The head of the management here is Bozhou Ping, the eldest son of Shi Yan. He is the confidant of the Zhao family's retainer. I asked to meet Bozhou Ping. I told him what he wanted to ask, but Bozhou Ping replied: The succession of the throne requires the support of Xu Guozhengqing and the recognition of Xu Guolie's son. Now, my brothers are far away in Zhongshan Kingdom. I have sent letters many times, but they all ignore it. So I want to ask Bo to come forward and ask the brothers to give a reply. Yan Ying once again answered the question: Master, I think your life is good, and the ancestors of Xu Guolie's country are not as gorgeous as you.

Xinjun bowed his head and replied: Xu Guo is actually very rich in this place to communicate with the south bank of the Yellow River. Moreover, since Hou Jin opened the salt field on the coast and caught giant whales, the Xu Guo has become a transit place for various materials. Now, our Xu Guo, there are cargo ships leading to the south bank of the Yellow River on the wharf, and vendors who go to the entrance of the river to transport materials. These vendors like to rest and recuperate in the perfect port of Xu Guo. The taxes they paid and the income from local shops have made our Xu Guo government very profitable.
Chapter completed!