Niu Gao stood up and secretly twisted his waist. He said: "When it comes to punishment, Zhizhi has always said that we should have better troops and simpler administration. Like Dengzhou, there are very few ordinary political affairs. As long as the subordinates work hard, Zhizhou actually doesn't have much to do.

I'm a rough guy, but I've been a state magistrate for a few months. I can easily capture a person like a prisoner."

Wang Ruohai smiled bitterly in his heart after hearing this. Normally speaking, it was indeed what Niu Gao said. But it was different under Wang Xiaolie. Whether it was in the military or in political affairs, everyone liked to make things clear. If you have numbers, you need them.

Calculation is not an easy task for people who have never learned mathematics since childhood. Even Wang Ruohai felt overwhelmed when he suddenly came into contact with this.

Niu Gao said: "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. We have arranged a special wine banquet. We will go together with the punishment."

Wang Ruohai said: "Everything is busy at the moment, so there is no need. I will read the official documents here to avoid delaying the control time."

Niu Gao laughed after hearing this and said: "It's not a bad day. The Dragon Boat Festival is a major festival of the year, how can we not take a rest?"

Wang Ruohai had no choice but to get up and leave the official hall with Niu Gao.

Walking on the street, every pedestrian is beaming with joy. Children have life-long threads tied on their hands and run around wildly with toys in their hands. There are mugworts planted in front of every house, and the smell of realgar floats in the air.

While walking on the road, vendors selling rice dumplings in baskets would pass by from time to time, shouting.

Wang Ruohai said: "The rice dumplings for sale are pretty good. Let's buy a few and take them as gifts."

After that, he stopped a hawker and bought his rice dumplings.

The hawker said: "Sir, I have gold and silver rice dumplings here. Which one do you want?"

Wang Ruohai is from She County, Huainan. Hearing what the vendor said, he couldn't help but wonder: "I've only heard of one kind of rice dumplings. Why do you have two kinds here? What are gold rice dumplings? What kind of silver rice dumplings are there? What's the difference?"

The vendor said: "Golden rice dumplings are made of millet rice, wrapped in quince leaves, and are square. The millet rice is golden, so it is named golden rice dumplings. Silver rice dumplings are made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, and are triangular in shape. Because the glutinous rice is white

, hence the name silver rice dumplings. Gold rice dumplings are fragrant and silver rice dumplings are sweet. Please buy a few of them."

Wang Ruohai said: "Aren't these silver rice dumplings that you usually eat? This is the first time I've heard of gold rice dumplings. Just give me ten of each to have a taste. I've been eating rice dumplings for decades, and it turns out there are still gold.

of."

The vendor said hello cheerfully. Each took ten rice dumplings, wrapped them in lotus leaves, and gave them to Wang Ruohai's entourage to carry.

Wang Ruohai lived in Tixingsi Yamen, and in order to separate, Wang Xiaolie lived in Rangxian County Yamen. The two places were not far from each other, and they arrived soon.

After entering the Yamen, he met with Wang Xiaolie. Wang Ruohai said: "I saw a strange thing on the street today. It turns out that there are golden rice dumplings here during the Dragon Boat Festival. The rice is made of millet, which is different from the glutinous rice in other places. I bought ten of them specially.

Come and have a taste with Zhizhi."

Wang Xiaoxing said: "What's so strange about this? The world is so big that different places naturally have different foods. In many places in the north, rice is not grown at all, so rice dumplings are naturally made of millet. There are quince trees in the mountains with long leaves.

It's big, has a unique taste, and is used to make rice dumplings. It's available in the yamen today, but it's a waste of money. This kind of food is common in nearby states, but not much in other places."

Wang Ruohai was amazed when he heard this. He had only heard of using glutinous rice to make rice dumplings since he was a child, but he had never heard of using millet rice. Millet rice is sticky, so it is just right for making rice dumplings. However, compared with glutinous rice, millet rice has a different aroma. Use

Wrapped in quince leaves, it has a unique flavor.

Everyone sat down and chatted.

Not long after, the officials set up wine and food in the back office. Wang Xiaolie invited Wang Ruohai and several important officials to the banquet.

Next to the table, there was a copper basin. Inside was the gold and silver rice dumplings Wang Ruohai bought, as well as a pile of eggs.

Wang Xiaolie said: "Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. Officials are supposed to be the ones officiating in honor of Qu Yuan. But now is an extraordinary time and many customs have been abandoned, so this year will have to be like this. If there is peace in the past two years, it would be better to offer sacrifices to others."

Wang Ruohai said: "Of course it should be. I also asked yesterday, and there is no one in the state government who is familiar with etiquette."

Wang Xiaolie nodded: "Yes, the country has suffered such a disaster, and many things have been delayed. That's all. Let's get together and chat a few words. Let's spend this year's Dragon Boat Festival like this. As long as the people are happy.

, I don’t think Qu Zi cares about this vacancy either.”

Several people said it was. Qu Yuan was officially recognized by the government. Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the magistrate should lead officials to preside over the ceremony. However, since the Jin soldiers went south, many such things have been abandoned.

Wang Xiaolie stood up and poured the wine in the bowl on the ground as a memorial.

Everyone bowed politely and took their seats again.

Wang Xiaolie said: "The wheat harvest in Dengzhou was done two days ago. Everyone can see that this year is a rare big harvest year. Next, we must let the people take all the food to their homes. In a month or two

, we must also ensure stable grain prices and prevent low prices from hurting farmers."

Wang Ruohai said: "With this year's big harvest, food prices will inevitably fall. What can we do?"

Wang Xiaolie said: "If the price of grain falls, the government should set a price and open up purchases."

Wang Ruohai shook his head after hearing this: "I asked yesterday that the total money in Dengzhou's treasuries only left two thousand guan. How much grain can be collected? If you don't have money in your hands, you can't do anything."

Wang Xiaoxing said: "Dengzhou has a good harvest, which is not guaranteed in other places. And now it is different from before. The Jin army came south, and the royal family crossed south. I don’t know how many people followed. They are northerners and are used to eating pasta. I heard that the two Zhejiang provinces have

In this area, a pound of noodles costs six to seven hundred yuan, and in some counties and counties it even costs a lot. From Dengzhou there is a boat to Xiangyang, and from Xiangyang to Ezhou you can enter the Yangtze River. Then you can go down the river and sell it to Zhejiang and Zhejiang.

.Even if we harvest wheat for fifty cents a dou, we will still make a big profit."

Wang Ruohai smiled bitterly after hearing this: "Zhizhi, long-distance trafficking is not easy. Especially now, the road is not smooth."

Wang Xiaolie said: "So this matter is best handled by the government. Collect the grain from the hands of the people and transport it to Zhejiang and Huainan——"

Wang Ruohai waved his hand after hearing this: "Huainan is not necessary. After the Jin people robbed Huainan, they drove Qiangqiang northward, and no one harvested the grain. The price of grain in Huainan has not been high in the past two years. I'm afraid there will be no interest in transporting it there."

Wang Xiaolie nodded. This was something he had not considered. The Jin people happened to go south during the slack season and plundered the population to the north. No one harvested the food in Huainan. The remaining population decreased a lot, and the price of food could not be raised.

Come. The two Zhejiang areas are still stable now, but suddenly there are many more people from the north, and food prices have skyrocketed.

After thinking about it, Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no need to rush this matter. In the next two months, send someone to inquire about it and see where it is suitable to sell it."

Niu Gao on the side said: "Even if the grain can be sold, how can we collect it from the hands of the people? We are short of capital now."

Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no other way but to ask the people to cooperate with us. Let's take it on credit for now, and then we will pay back their principal and interest after the money is sold."

Niu Gao nodded after hearing this: "That's okay. I'm just afraid that the people won't believe us."

Wang Xiaolie said: "If it were someone else, why would there be any need to owe the people credit? Just raise taxes and rob them. We will discuss this matter later."
Chapter completed!