Xue Huaian leaned in the carriage, his eyes were half-closed, and he was quite sleepy, but he was still vigorously energetic. He looked at Zhu Lingyue opposite him and asked softly: "Governor Zhu, what do you think about Gao Lian's words?"

"Sir, do you mean the matter of growing food?"

"That's right!" The carriage didn't look very eye-catching outside, but it was very comfortable inside. When leaning against the soft carriage, Xue Huaian stretched out his legs slightly: "Of course you understand that their purpose is ultimately for food to trade land!"

"The officials understand." Zhu Lingyue smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. The master of the government said that it is a good saying, "It is hard to cook without rice. If the imperial court wants to rebuild the northwest, it is like cooking a meal. Without rice and food, there is no way to start the reconstruction of the northwest." He raised his hand and stroked his black beard under his chin. "If you want to rebuild the northwest, the most important thing is to stabilize the hearts of the people and prevent the people from wandering around. If you want them to be at peace, the first thing is to fill their stomachs."

Xue Huaian nodded slightly and said, "I understand what Governor Zhu means. However, these local clans are already very powerful. If they really use grain to occupy land this time, their strength will be even more expanded. Governor Zhu, have you ever thought about this question?" He sat upright and said solemnly: "A piece of cake is eaten by ten people, and each person is only a small part, which is not enough to worry about it. But if two people eat a piece of cake, they can eat full, and those who eat full... sometimes it will be very dangerous."

"Sir, are you worried that these local clans will take the opportunity to grow?"

Xue Huaian sighed, "Others don't know, Governor Zhu, you should know that the northwest is part of the empire for twenty years. However, the court has always been worried about the most. At that time, the world was in dispute, and the northwest was the most fierce. Although Feng Hanxiao defeated the northwest countries, the country still had remnants and was hidden among the people. They did not want to oppose the court for a day to make a comeback." Fu Xu said, "Feng Hanxiao is alive, the northwest and the northwest are not dared to act rashly, and the three families in the northwest have always been in a state of checks and balances, maintaining the stability of the northwest. But now Feng Hanxiao is dead, and the Xiguan Dao family has suffered heavy damage again. The stones pressing on the northwest are gone, and the checks and balances between the aristocratic families have also been destroyed. If Gao Lian and the others really take the opportunity to enter Xiguan Dao, they will be afraid of a change."

Zhu Lingyue said with a serious expression: "Mr. Master, the subordinates dare to say that the northwest incident has occurred. Now we are no longer guarding against changes, but want to eliminate them."

"oh?"

"Xiaguan had reported to the Lord before that the refugees in the northwest were in chaos. At present, it seemed that they were just small-scale bandits, but Xiaguan was worried that if the court could not quickly come up with measures to appease the hearts of the people in the northwest, then these small-scale bandits would soon be bigger and bigger like snowballs, and they would not be able to deal with them in the end." He leaned forward and lowered his voice: "Xiaguan said something that lost his head. The destruction of the previous dynasty was not at the beginning because the small refugees were in chaos but could not appease them. This led to chaos in the world later?"

Xue Huaian nodded and said, "Not bad."

"Of course, the previous dynasty could not be compared with my Great Qin." Zhu Lingyue said: "But the people who have troubles all dynasties should not be taken lightly. The court cannot comfort them. They endured hunger and could only wander around. Those who had ulterior motives would definitely take this opportunity to deceive... Now that the bandits in the northwest are in chaos, this is the case. What the officials are most worried about now is that the court cannot comfort the refugees in the northwest, which will make the riots in the northwest become more and more serious!"

Xue Huaian said: "The court will naturally think of a solution. Perhaps the emperor is already thinking of a solution. In the situation in the northwest, Governor Zhu still needs to stabilize it. After all, we still have an army in our hands."

"Sir, it's also the worry of the lower-ranking officials." Zhu Lingyue smiled bitterly: "The Northwest Army is the army of the empire, and is loyal to the emperor. This is naturally true, but sir, don't forget that most of the soldiers of the Northwest Army are native to the Northwest Army. Among the refugees, there are their parents and brothers...!" He lowered his voice: "Just a few days ago, a small group of people in the army spread rumors and made trouble, intending to change. Fortunately, the lower-ranking officials got the news in advance and secretly dealt with it... The lower-ranking officials were only worried that this was not the last time..."

Xue Huaian suddenly changed his expression and said in a daze: "You mean... the Northwest Army's mutiny?"

"It's true." Zhu Lingyue looked solemn: "This matter is of great importance. The old general is still recuperating. Even the old general dares not report it. This mutiny, the lower officials received the news in advance, which was considered to be properly handled. However, no one knows whether the lower officials can still know in advance in the next mutiny."

Xue Huaian became nervous and said, "This is not a trivial matter. If this is a mutiny...!" When Xue Huaian thought that the Northwest Army might have a mutiny, she became frightened.

At this time, he felt the tension in the northwest.

The northwest did not become peaceful because of the withdrawal of the people of Xiliang. On the contrary, when the foreign enemies retreated, the real civil strife had just begun, and the terror of civil strife was often even more than that of the foreign enemies.

"The military and civilians have no food, so they cannot be stable." Zhu Lingyue said solemnly: "Before Xiaguan, he thought that the court could transport grain and grass from the pass, but in two months, no more grain entered the northwest..." He paused and stared at Xue Huaian: "The Tianmen Road rebelled, and the court had no energy to appease the northwest. Xiaguan really couldn't think of a solution for a while. Just a few days ago, Gao Lian and his group suddenly came to Beiyuan County. They were trying to find the old general, but the old general was in extremely poor health and had no time to meet them. It happened that Xiaguan also came to Beiyuan County and learned that Gao Lian and the others were asking for the old general, so the old general met them."

"They came here just to rent a land?"

"Yes!" Zhu Lingyue nodded and said, "At the beginning of hearing their proposal, Xiaguan felt it was ridiculous. He wanted to easily obtain the land of Xiguan Road just by taking out the grain. This group of people was really fantastic. But after two days, Xiaguan calmly thought about it. Although their proposal was ridiculous,... it was also a solution."

Xue Huaian leaned in the carriage and sneered: "According to their proposal, there are many large households with food in the pass, and everyone comes to farm in the northwest with food. What's so great?"

"In the northwest, people in the pass can't get through." Zhu Lingyue sighed: "Although the families in the northwest have many intrigues with each other, if there are external forces, they will definitely unite and exclude them. Not to mention other things, the officials have been officials in Tianshan Road for many years. Although there are merchants in the pass doing business on Tianshan Road, it is impossible to form a foundation in Tianshan Road. As long as the merchants in the pass grow slightly locally, the local families will try their best to exclude them, and even the government cannot intervene."

Xue Huaian locked his eyebrows and asked, "Governor Zhu, in your opinion, do you really want to agree with their proposal?"

"If you agree or not, the lower officials will naturally not be able to make a decision." Zhu Lingyue said seriously: "But since the lower officials eat the king's salary, they naturally have to be loyal to the emperor. In the northwest, even if the lower officials offend the court, they will speak frankly. If the imperial court wants peace in the northwest, they can only take out food. If they cannot take out food, the northwest will be in chaos. Now these clans have to take out food. No matter what their intentions are, they can indeed use this to appease the people's hearts."

Xue Huaian narrowed his eyes.

"Mr. Master, the family supplying grain can solve the urgent problem. The people know that there is food to grow, so they will naturally not cause trouble again. These family members have already agreed to farm in Xiguan Road and only hire the people of Xiguan Road to make their lives settled." Zhu Lingyue said: "Even if the court really exempts the taxes for three years, it does not have to spend another tael of silver to the northwest. Within three years, if the northwest is self-sufficient. After three years, the northwest will recover its vitality and will still pay taxes to the court as usual." Sighing and smiling bitterly, "The northwest suffered this great disaster. If the court really could be exempted from taxes for three years, the officials believe that the people in the northwest will definitely be grateful to the emperor, which is enough to appease the hearts of the people in the northwest."

Xue Huaian was silent for a moment, and finally said, "This matter is very important, and you and I can't make the decision. However, after I return to Beijing, I will report the situation here to the emperor. As for what the emperor does, I cannot guarantee it."

Zhu Lingyue took out a few silver notes from his sleeve, "Sir, this is the money they gave to the adults on the road, so please accept it with the Lord of the Ministry!"

Xue Huaian was stunned. He had already seen that the silver bill was 50,000 taels per bill, and the total amount was at least 200,000 taels of silver. He frowned and said, "Governor Zhu, what does this mean?"

"Don't get me wrong. The officials don't have any money to give to the officials of the ministry for money." Zhu Lingyue sighed: "They want the adults to say a few more good things in front of the saint. These money are just people who use money as an excuse and respect for their filial piety."

Xue Huaian raised his hand and retreated, shook his head and said, "I like money too, but this money is hot, so I dare not take it!" Before Zhu Lingyue could speak, he changed the topic and said, "I will stay for another day tomorrow and set off for Beijing the next day. Tomorrow, I will first go to see His Royal Highness the Princess, then visit the old general, and ask Governor Zhu to arrange it!"

Zhu Lingyue asked, "Sir, how will this princess go to Xiliang? Where is the princess of Xiliang now?"

Xue Huaian did not hide it this time. He briefly explained the situation in Xiliang. It was roughly that there was civil strife in Xiliang. The newly appointed Regent had abolished the marriage, and neither party had to marry each other's princess.

Zhu Lingyue looked surprised and felt a little incredible.

The next day, under Zhu Lingyue's arrangement, Xue Huaian and Chu Huan went to see the princess first. The princess was naturally protected by heavy troops and arranged in a mansion in the city.

The first person I saw was certainly not Princess Jingyun, but the eunuch who came with Princess Jingyun during this trip. Chu Huan also knew this eunuch, but it was the first time when he entered the palace, who led him into the palace to the public affairs housekeeper Shui Lianshui.
Chapter completed!