Chapter 1426: Merit

When the memorial written by Chang Lian was sent to Beijing, the capital had already received emergency memorials from two states, and the food supplies in the two states were basically gone.

Zhou Shuren was worried about his son and also about the medicinal materials. The emperor needed medicine for his troops, and the flood-stricken areas also needed medicinal materials, as they needed to save lives on both sides.

The emperor is the one who gives the orders, and it is the ministers who are the ones who suffer.

Zhou Shuren was worried about silver. The gold had not been transported back to the capital, and silver was needed to purchase medicinal herbs.

After returning home, Zhou Shuren said, "Oh, the south has been hit by floods and food has been reduced. There are floods in several places across the country. The grassland tribes must be taking advantage of the disaster!"

"Be happy now and wait for them to cry later."

There is a food shortage and the grassland tribes have no chance of buying food. They will be the ones crying then.

"This year's weather is abnormal and food production is low. Coupled with the flood, our country will be short of food. For the ambitions and for their lives, the grassland tribes will inevitably fight this war, which will become even more brutal."

Macro-climate change affects the overall environment. He has sent people to consult merchants from various countries. Several surrounding countries with good grain production have experienced more or less grain production reductions this year due to weather conditions, but the severity of the reductions varies.

Zhulan, "The South is short of medicine, and war also requires life-saving medicine. Have you thought of any solution?"

Zhou Shuren's face wrinkled. "Now the prices of medicinal materials from all drug dealers have increased. Purchasing medicinal materials costs a lot of money. The treasury is very careful with the money now, and we really can't take out too much money. The result of the current discussion is to use medicinal materials from other states."

Zhulan said, "This year we are storing all the food at home and not selling it."

"Okay, if there's a real need, we'll donate some food."

"good."

When it comes to big things, neither of them is the kind of person who would be stingy with money.

In Qizhou, Chang Lian came home very late and saw the light in the house. "I told you not to wait for me, why are you still awake?"

Mrs. Dong stood up and helped her husband change into his official uniform. "I will not feel at ease if you don't come home."

Her husband had difficulty walking, and she was afraid that he might get hurt again if he wasn't careful. Her heart was in her throat whenever her husband went to the yamen.

Chang Lian's stomach growled, and Mrs. Dong asked distressedly, "Didn't you eat?"

"Well, the prefect didn't eat it, and neither did we."

Mrs. Dong, "I asked the kitchen to make you some chicken soup. I'll cook some noodles for you. Eat your fill and then rest."

Chang Lian smiled and said, "Now I can still eat chicken. My wife really knows how to live."

"I learned the habit of hoarding things from my mother!"

Chang Lian thought of his own medicinal herbs and rubbed his nose with guilt. His wife had stockpiled a lot of them, and his parents would send him some every year. He really had a lot of them. He secretly told the prefect about it.

The prefect was an upright official and could not afford many medicinal herbs. He wanted to give the prefect some inexpensive herbs privately. As expected, the prefect did not want them and told him not to worry about it.

If someone else had said this, he would have thought about it for a while, but he believed the prefect's words.

The result was that he donated a large amount of medicinal herbs and only kept some for backup at home. Even so, his donated herbs did not get a number.

Chang Lian didn't want to be in the spotlight, so the middle position was good.

The next day at Zhou's residence, Zhulan received Mingrui's letter and said to Qingxue, "He is finally leaving for Beijing."

Qingxue smiled, "Master Liu's wife must be very happy."

Zhulan laughed out loud, "Yeah."

These days, Mrs. Guo has been visiting the house very frequently and is very worried about her son.

Zhulan put the letter away, now the only one missing was her son.

After a while, Zhao came in with a smile on her face, "Mom, Mingrui has set off to go home."

"You can rest assured now."

"Well, mother, I'm thinking of arranging a marriage for Yudie after Mingrui comes back. Do you think it's okay?"

Zhulan, "Okay, Mingrui's return will be a good opportunity for him to personally test Mr. Liu."

Mrs. Zhao sympathized with her future son-in-law. As a mother, she knew her son's character best. When he came back, he would definitely find fault with Liu Yuanbo.

Zhao said again, "Then I will let my husband and Master Liu talk."

She was too embarrassed to tell Guo about his concern for her during her illness, and she couldn't open her mouth.

Two days later, Second Master Wen was dismissed from his official position, and the Wen family was completely quiet this time.

When Zhulan heard the news, she thought that the emperor had almost done enough to control the Wen family and would not easily touch them in the future, and the Zhou family should also keep a low profile.

Zhulan thought about Mingrui's contribution. The rescue was not a small contribution, and the gold mine was too eye-catching. The Wen family was quiet, which was a mistake for her grandson!

In the palace, the emperor stood with his hands behind his back, "Are you sure you don't want anything?"

Zhou Shuren said, "Yes, even if I didn't say anything, the emperor would have thought of continuing the excavation. I dare not take credit for it."

The emperor smiled and said, "I thought you would ask for gold."

Zhou Shuren lowered his head, "I love money but I only take what I deserve. I will not covet what is not mine."

The emperor was not testing Zhou Shuren, he really wanted to give him a reward, but Zhou Shuren refused it directly, "If all of you are like me, I can rest assured."

Zhou Shuren sneered in his heart, if anyone was just like him, the emperor would just be suspicious.

The emperor raised his hand, "Shu Ren, stand up."

Zhou Shuren was also unwilling to kneel. The older he got, the less he had to kneel. It was very uncomfortable to kneel once. "Yes."

The emperor touched the beads and said, "Your grandson is still a commoner. The credit of this child will be counted as your son's."

Zhou Shuren cursed the ancestors of the Wen family in his heart. If the second branch of the Wen family had not acted up, the emperor would not have dealt with them quickly and would have waited for the prince to return to Beijing.

Now, the second branch of the Wen family has been stripped of their official positions and will have no chance to rise again in the future. The emperor was ruthless this time and hurt the Wen family deeply. The Wen family has become obedient, but the Zhou family and the Shangguan family have become eye-catching.

Zhou Shuren got angry when he thought about it. It was obviously a great achievement, but he could only reluctantly refuse it. He knelt down again and said, "Mingrui's duty is to protect the prince. The gold mine was not dug without the emperor's order. What Mingrui found was just an empty gold mine. He dare not take the credit."

The emperor looked at him with a deep gaze, "Are you speaking the truth?"

Zhou Shuren raised his hand and swore, "I am speaking from the heart."

I really mean it, but it hurts inside.

The emperor said quietly, "You know, your second son's career path is limited. This is an opportunity. If you miss this opportunity, no one can predict whether you will have another opportunity in the future."

Zhou Shuren had analyzed the situation with his son, and his son hated the second branch of the Wen family. He silently thought that it was a blessing to suffer a loss. The Zhou family was already eye-catching enough. If the Wen family was honest, the Zhou family would have to keep a low profile. "I know, but my son is a man of blood. He will get the opportunity with his own ability."

The emperor reached out his hand and personally helped Zhou Shuren up, "My dear minister, I already know what you are thinking."

Zhou Shuren cursed the Wen family in his heart, but he had to smile on his face. It was so difficult for him!

After Zhou Shuren left, the emperor got up and went to see his father.

The Emperor smiled and said, "Zhou Shuren understands the way of balance. This is very good. The Zhou family will be a sharp sword in the hands of the Emperor."

The emperor also laughed, "Zhou Shuren must be heartbroken."

The emperor laughed, "Yeah, I wonder how this old man is cursing the Wen family in his heart!"