Chapter 382 Exchange
The next day, the weather was half cloudy and half sunny.
As Yu Zheng expected, Lu He and Lu Mingke did not sleep well that night. Both father and son had gloomy faces, and they ate breakfast absent-mindedly and had no appetite.
Not long after the meal, a servant came to report.
Yu Zheng wanted to see Lu He.
Lu He knew that Yu Zheng was going to talk about serious matters.
With a sigh, Lu He ordered: "Please ask the prince to come to the hall."
The servant responded and left.
Lu He also stood up and walked to the hall with heavy steps.
You can't hide, you have to face what you have to face.
Not long after Lu He arrived in the hall, Yu Zheng came.
The maid served tea and left, leaving only two people in the hall.
Yu Zheng leaned casually on the armrest of the chair and asked seriously about the people's livelihood and political situation in Pingyang.
Lu He answered carefully: "With the protection of the court and the emperor's good governance, the people of Pingyang live and work in peace and contentment, and the officials are dedicated to their duties..."
Yu Zheng listened attentively and praised him highly.
"It is because of Marquis Lu's proper governance that the people can have no worries about food and clothing. He has made an indelible
contribution." Lu He said humbly, "It is all my duty as an humble official. I dare not take credit for it."
Yu Zheng glanced at him and changed the subject, "The people of Dazhao are one. Only when the country is safe and Pingyang is secure can it remain prosperous forever. Now that the war has broken out in the southwest, there is no surplus food in the capital. Due to successive disasters, other places are also short of food. Now only Pingyang has sufficient food and grass."
"Marquis Lu should know why I am here. I hope Marquis Lu will do his best to help me."
Lu He's heart tightened and he asked, "May I ask how much food your Highness needs to raise?"
Yu Zheng pursed his lips, "Half year's food for the 120,000 soldiers and soldiers in Yicheng."
After half a year, the new food for next year will be available.
Lu He frowned when he heard this and chose his words carefully: "He'an does have food, I wonder what price the court wants to buy it at?"
When he went out of the city to meet Yu Zheng yesterday, Lu He saw the cargo escorted by 5,000 troops, most of which were silver boxes.
Speaking of this, Yu Zheng felt a little ashamed and said with a gloomy face: "Da Zhao has been in great trouble this year, and the border war has consumed too much money. The national treasury is tight and there is not much silver. This time, I only brought 300,000 taels."
The national treasury is of course more than this amount of money, but in addition to food and grass, weapons and other items have also been consumed a lot in the war, so this is the only amount that can be used to buy food.
300,000 taels, if it is based on last year's grain price, can barely buy food for April, but this year's grain price has risen, it can only buy food for three months at most.
Lu He made a quick calculation in his mind, and finally looked embarrassed, not knowing how to answer.
Yu Zheng said, "I know this is not easy, but Marquis Lu and Chairman Su are relatives, so we should be able to find some convenience to help."
Lu He said, "I will do my best, but even if Chairman Su comes forward, he may not be able to persuade the grain merchants to sell grain at a low price."
Yu Zheng pondered and said, "This is a serious matter, we must go all out, thank you Marquis Lu."
Lu He frowned.
Yu Zheng was forcing the matter of raising grain on him.
Lu He had no choice but to bite the bullet and say that he would do his best.
The words were spoken, the task was handed over, and Yu Zheng did not disturb him from doing his work, and got up and left.
Just as he reached the door, Yu Zheng remembered something and turned back to add, "There is also fodder. Please ask Marquis Lu to arrange it together. The war is urgent and there is only five days at most."
After hearing this, Lu He frowned.
After Yu Zheng left, Lu He pondered for a long time.
After taking a sip of cold tea, Lu He ordered outside, "Ask the young master to the study."
The servant took the order to find Lu Mingke, but failed to invite anyone, so he had to go to the study first to report.
"Marquis, the young master and the young lady are talking to the princess in the viewing tower."
Lu He said solemnly, "Wait, please come to the study immediately after the conversation."
At this time, in the viewing tower in the back garden, Jiang Shu, Lu Mingke and Su Rou were talking happily.
When Yu Zheng sent someone to look for Lu He in the morning, Jiang Shu also sent someone to look for Su Rou and Lu Mingke.
Su Rou quickly wrote back and asked Jiang Shu to meet at the viewing tower in the back garden.
When Jiang Shu arrived, Su Rou and Lu Mingke were already waiting in front of the viewing tower. After the greetings, the three of them went up to the viewing tower.
The viewing tower is a three-story pavilion. Standing on the viewing platform on the top floor, you can have a panoramic view of the entire garden.
Although the Lu Mansion Garden is not particularly large, its layout and landscaping are different from the Shangjing style, and it has a unique beauty. Jiang Shu looked at it very seriously.
"The view here is excellent, and the scenery in the garden is pleasant. It is really a good place to chat and enjoy the scenery." Jiang Shu praised.
Standing here and taking a glance, the whole garden is in full view.
Of course, people passing by in the garden can also see it clearly.
For example, at this moment, Jiang Shu saw Shen Qingrong in a hurry, and he didn't know where she was going.
Su Rou and Lu Mingke also saw it, and a trace of disgust flashed across their faces.
"You have been standing for a long time, Princess, please sit down and have some tea." Su Rou and Lu Mingke turned and went into the house.
Jiang Shu followed in and sat down, and Su Rou poured her tea personally.
The three chatted for a while, and Jiang Shu talked about business.
"Mr. Lu and Madam Young know that I am doing business with my father. This time I came to Pingyang, not only to collect grain for the court, but also to find sources of goods for Jiang Ji. I heard that Madam Young's father is the president of the He'an Chamber of Commerce, so please help Madam Young and Mr. Lu."
Su Rou said, "What does the princess need us to do?"
Jiang Shu said bluntly, "Please ask Madam Young and Mr. Lu to help me pass a message to President Su. I want to meet President Su and the He'an Grain Merchants."
Su Rou and Lu Mingke are not in business, so they can only help her make a connection. But with this relationship, it can achieve twice the result with half the effort.
"The princess is really a heroine." Lu Mingke exclaimed.
Jiang Shu heard this, his almond eyes twinkled and he said, "Mr. Lu is a man of great stature, he is not inferior to me. I hope Mr. Lu can help me with the matter of raising grain for the court."
Lu Mingke: "..."
He knew that Jiang Shu came to Pingyang to be a lobbyist.
Thinking of their delicate friendship, Lu Mingke laughed dumbly.
Lu Mingke admired and respected Jiang Shu very much, and also regarded her as a half-friend. It was hard to refuse a friend's offer.
Seeing Lu Mingke's agreement, Jiang Shu raised his teacup and thanked her with tea instead of wine.
After finishing the business, Lu Mingke knew that there was no need for him to stay, so he got up and left, leaving Su Rou to accompany Jiang Shu.
"Young Master." As soon as Lu Mingke came down from the viewing tower, the servants came up.
Knowing that Lu He was looking for him, Lu Mingke guessed what it was about and hurried to the study.
"Alas!" Seeing Lu Mingke finally come, Lu He sighed heavily and told Lu Mingke what Yu Zheng meant.
After hearing this, Lu Mingke thought: "My father and father-in-law should be able to persuade the grain merchants to sell grain at the original price."
But even so, it was only enough for May. How to solve the problem of food and fodder for the remaining month?
The father and son discussed it, and Lu He said helplessly: "We can only use the private grain of the Lu family."
"As for fodder, we have to think of another way."
Seeing Lu He's face full of pain, Lu Mingke gritted his teeth and said: "The court just wants grain and fodder. Although it is a bit difficult to persuade the grain merchants, and the Lu family also needs to pay some price, it is worth it in exchange for a marquisate."
Being conferred as a marquis, the Lu family in Pingyang can no longer be shaken. Even in the future when they go to Shangjing, civil and military officials will have to show some respect.
Lu He nodded and said, "If we want to accomplish this, we have to ask Su Rou's father to help us."
The president of the Chamber of Commerce has a much higher influence in front of the merchants than he, the county governor.
"Son will go to Su's house now." Lu Mingke stood up.
Lu He nodded and said, "This matter is urgent. Please ask President Su to contact all grain merchants as soon as possible and hold a banquet at Wangyue Tower in the evening."
Lu Mingke agreed and left quickly.