Chapter 186 Method
At night, Chen Shiyi wrote a letter to Pei Luoshu.
The people are the water and the king is the boat. The people can carry the boat or overturn it. In the war in the northwest, when food and grass have not yet been harvested, we can use the way of Kyoto to spread word of mouth and force the court to put aside personal grudges and prioritize peace on the border.
After receiving the letter, Pei Luoshu read it carefully several times.
Fu Feng asked.
"What did the girl say?"
Pei Luoshu laughed.
"She is doing what she can."
Fu Feng shook his head.
"don't know."
"Go to Kyoto and spread the news that there is a war on the border and there is no food or fodder. Some merchants are collecting food and fodder on their own and are sending them to the northwest to defend the country."
"Which merchant is so generous?"
Pei Luo gave him a chestnut as a reward.
"Yes, didn't you understand these two words? How do I know which merchant it is?"
Fu Feng suddenly understood.
"It can't be a girl, right?"
Pei Luoshu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and smiled.
"I guess it's her."
"Will the girl give all the food she was going to sell to the Lan family army?"
Pei Luoshu picked up the book again.
"It's just a matter of giving it to her. It's no big deal." He became suspicious again. "I don't know if it's enough for her. Should I find a way to get her some money back?"
Fufeng advised.
"I think it's unnecessary. The right way is to ask the court for it."
Pei Luoshu rolled up his sleeves, picked up his pen, raised his eyes and glanced at Fu Feng with admiration.
"You seem to be smarter."
Then he said with regret.
"You said that she was such a heartless little thing, she wrote to me without asking me a single word."
Fu Feng laughed teasingly.
"The girl is good in every way, except that she is a little lazy."
He asked again cautiously.
"Sir, when will I start calling you Madam?"
Pei Luoshu walked to the window, looked at the red plum blossoms blooming in the cold outside, lowered his head and smiled.
“Soon.”
It was extremely cold in Kyoto, with snow falling heavily.
People were walking in a hurry on the street. Shop signs of all kinds were flying in the strong wind. The scattered snow on the ground was rolling in the air, dancing for a while, and then falling down.
We walked along the deep and shallow snowy path until we stopped at a small tavern.
In the tavern, groups of people were talking and whispering about something, with frightened faces but full of indignation.
A table, a pot of wine, and a few side dishes. Wen Zhiheng sat quietly, holding the wine glass in his hand. Behind him, Qingsong stood holding a sword.
A few days ago, a rumor spread in Kyoto that the Wuqiang Kingdom invaded the northwest and the two countries were fighting fiercely, but the court refused to distribute food and grass. Many merchants donated food and grass on their own, saying that they could do without the court but could not let foreign invaders bully their homes.
"Do you know where the news came from?"
"Prime Minister, too many people have spread the rumor, and we can no longer find the source."
"Um."
"Do you want to stop it?"
"No need. Have you found out which merchant in Kyoto has already transported the grain there?"
"Some have this idea, but have not yet taken action."
"That means the news came from the northwest."
"Why?"
"The purpose is to get His Majesty to transfer grain and fodder to the northwest."
Qingsong said with a sigh.
"Logically speaking, the border war is the most important thing. How could His Majesty be so confused at this critical moment?"
Wen Zhiheng gave him a sharp glance.
"What are you talking about? Are you trying to kill yourself?"
He rolled up his sleeves, put down the wine glass in his hand, and walked out of the tavern.
Qingsong held an oil-paper umbrella for Wen Zhiheng to shield him from the flying snowflakes above his head.
The people he stationed in the northwest reported that the Lan family army got a batch of food from somewhere, and the people around Chen Shiyi told him that she also went to the northwest with a batch of food. In addition, she has a news channel in Kyoto, so it seems that the rumor in Kyoto must have been spread by her.
What a courage!
In Yu's study, a bright yellow figure sat behind the desk, with the corners of his mouth slightly curved, as if smiling but not smiling, but his eyebrows were cold and stern.
In front of the desk, Mr. Hu stood listlessly, Wen Zhiheng looked cold beside him, and Long Muchuan hung his head and said nothing.
"You old thing, you live and eat for free in my palace, and this is how you make a complaint? You spit on me, what on earth are you trying to do?"
Mr. Hu bowed.
"Your Majesty, this is a serious matter. I hope you will think twice. At this critical moment, all disobedience and evil ambitions should be put aside. Let the people have enough food and warm clothes, and drive the enemy out first."
The emperor's face turned a little pale.
"Zhiheng, how is the situation outside?"
Wen Zhiheng bowed and saluted.
"Your Majesty, the rumors outside are getting more and more intense."
"Rumor? You think this is a rumor?"
"That's right. It's said that some merchants from Kyoto have gone to the northwest to donate food, but we still don't know who did it."
The emperor looked very dissatisfied.
"Old Nine..."
Long Muchuan immediately perked up.
"Your Majesty."
"Go check who is spreading this rumor?"
Wen Zhiheng immediately dissuaded him.
"Your Majesty, who else could have spread this rumor? It must have been someone arranged by Lan Qinghe in the northwest. In fact, this is not a critical matter. The most important thing is how to quell the rumor and reverse the situation."
"How do you think this situation should be reversed?"
“It is effective only when the rain and dew are evenly distributed.”
The three of them all looked very confused.
"The military rations for the Northwest Camp have already been delivered. What has not been sent out is the New Year gifts for the various military districts. The New Year is coming soon. Your Majesty is merciful and wants to comfort the soldiers and stabilize the country. Those rumors in Kyoto will naturally be refuted."
Long Muchuan thought, Wen Zhiheng is really an old fox.
Giving away New Year gifts was actually sending military rations, thus dispelling the rumor that Kyoto had withheld military rations. Sending New Year gifts to various military regions showed that the emperor was not threatened by the northwest, but that he cared about the country and the border generals, which allowed the emperor to save face and win the hearts of the people. It really achieved three goals with one move.
The emperor finally smiled with relief.
"Zhiheng's work is the best for me."
"Your Majesty, I appreciate your kindness."
Chen Shiyi has been very thin due to being very busy these days. She was squatting beside the sink, washing cotton cloth.
The white cotton cloth had to be washed and boiled again, then hung out to dry in the house and dried over a fire before it could be used to bandage the wound.
"eleven."
Behind him, Cui Yongan looked very happy.
"What's wrong?"
"Military supplies are coming."
Chen Shiyi finally showed a look of joy on his face.
"That's good."
Cui Yongan looked at her red hands and felt really sorry for her.
"You are a guest. There are people to do the work here. We don't need you."
Chen Shiyi took a handkerchief and wiped his hands.
"I don't have much to do here anyway, so whatever I can do is good."
She looked carefully at Cui Yongan's face.
"Why do you have so many wounds on your face? The corner of your lip is cracked."
"The northwest wind is strong. There's nothing I can do about it. Besides, I'm a man, so if I have a few wounds, they're all my achievements."
Chen Shiyi smiled.
"You came to me this time, didn't you, just to tell me that the military supplies have arrived?"
"I have something to do tomorrow and will not be at the main battlefield. I will be back very late. I will have someone else deliver the food."
"No need. I'm here. How can anyone treat me badly? Just go and do your work. Don't bother me."