Last year, due to the autumn drought, most of the people of the Great Tang had no harvest.
The treasury was short of food.
Now, most of the food was in the hands of the Seven Sects and Five Families.
Under such circumstances, if what Ba 'er said was true, there would definitely be a large number of disaster victims.
At that time, how would the Great Tang survive this crisis?
Li Shi Min was at odds with the Seven Sects and Five Families, so he couldn't possibly lower his face and ask them for food.
Just as she was filled with sorrow, Empress Zhangsun came over with a smile while carrying food.
"Try this child's cooking."
Li Shi Min took a deep breath and nodded.
At this time, it was time for a family reunion, so he might as well put aside the matters of the government.
A bowl of noodles and a plate of shredded mutton.
It was a simple meal.
Li Shimin casually picked up the noodles and ate them. The taste was good.
Another bite.
Another mouthful.
Hmm?
The more he ate, the more delicious it became.
In a moment, the bowl of noodles was full.
Empress Zhangsun's eyes widened.
Even Li Shi Min himself was shocked. He had been unable to eat these days, and now that he had eaten a full bowl of noodles, he was still a little hungry.
Li Qin smiled and didn't say anything. He scooped another bowl.
"Oh right, on the way here with Lord Du, I heard that you receive four tables of guests every day.”
Li Shi Min seemed to have thought of something and started chatting.
"The wine here is really good. Why don't you think of selling more tables?”
Li Qin shook his head with a bitter smile." Old Li, your thinking is simple. Not to mention the high cost of brewing wine, I can't handle it alone.”
"Besides, I'm not a hardworking person to begin with. I just need to earn a little money like this to make a living.”
"Aren't you still thinking about getting married?" Aunt Sun teased. It can't just be enough for me to live on."
Li Qin was speechless and buried his head in the noodles.
Seeing his embarrassed look, Li Shimin and Aunt Sun were amused.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little dull, Empress Zhangsun started a conversation." Child, when I was chatting with Erlang last night, I heard you say that the cold in Chang 'an will last longer? Why?"
Li Shi Min's expression turned serious.
"That's right, Young Master Li. You know how I do business. If the weather continues to be cold, I'm afraid it will be another year of disaster."”
"If what Young Master Li said is true, then the deal will be difficult.”
Li Qin pursed his lips. He hadn't gone into detail about last night's casual conversation, but he didn't expect Old Li to be so concerned.
The child is worth teaching.
Li Qin pretended to be mysterious." Old Li, just listen to me. If I'm not wrong, the snow is about to get heavier."”
"Old Li, listen to me. Store up grain. When the famine spreads, the Imperial Court will definitely open its granaries to provide disaster relief.”
"There are nearly two million people in Chang 'an, not to mention other places.”
"With the Great Tang's current situation, the grain in the treasury won't last more than ten days.”
"At that time, will food still be food?”
"That's fate!"
If he really had to say why the cold lasted so long, he wouldn't be able to. He couldn't possibly say that he had transmigrated back.
He would be treated as a lunatic.
Li Shi Min pretended not to care, but he was shocked.
If these words came out of the mouth of any official in the court, he would not be surprised.
However, it was a small merchant who said that the grain in the national treasury could not last for more than ten days.
How did he know this?
"Oh?" Li Shimin laughed. How did Young Master Li know that there was not much grain in the national treasury?”
Li Qin knew that he didn't believe him. This was very normal. After all, no one dared to say that they had foresight.
But to be able to travel with Lord Du, he should know some inside information.
However, no one was a child anymore when they asked others to invest money in something that relied on guessing.
Li Qin sighed." In the ninth year of Wude, the Turks invaded.”
"In the first year of Zhenguan, it rained for a long time inside the pass. Large areas of crops drowned, and we couldn't collect taxes.”
"In the second year of Zhenguan, there was a drought and locust plague.”
"Let me ask you, Old Li. If you can't make ends meet, how much food can the imperial court have?”
"Look at how the Great Tang is growing stronger by the day, and it can't afford to be tossed around.”
Li Shi Min's pupils contracted. Everything was true.
However, this child lived in the marketplace, where did he get such foresight?
Thinking about it in a blink of an eye, he was indeed the son of Li Shiming, the son of a true dragon. He was not a loach no matter where he went.
Empress Zhangsun could see that the atmosphere was somewhat heavy. As the mother of a country, she naturally knew the importance of this matter.
However, it was clear that now was the time for reunion.
"Young Master Li, you're right. You must have stored a lot of food."”
When he said this, Li Qin smiled awkwardly." I didn't store up much grain. I only prepared some for my own use and for brewing wine.”
Li Shiming widened his eyes. Good fellow, you've been talking so much.
You have a way to make a fortune, but you don't want to earn it yourself. Why are you throwing it out for me to bite the hook?
Li Qin saw Old Li's resentment and sighed." Old Li, I have a conscience.”
"I, Li Qin, do not profit from national disasters."
Good! What a good way to not make a fortune in a national disaster!
Li Shi Min's eyes lit up as he looked at Li Qin.
I hope my son will become a dragon.
Although this child didn't have any great ambitions, nor did he do anything that would shock the world and make the gods cry.
But he had the heart!
He had a conscience!
An upright gentleman, a cool and proud man!
Wasn't this the proudest thing in the world?
Li Shimin was overjoyed, but he quickly realized something.
You have a conscience, yet you want me to do this?
Do you think I have no conscience?
Li Shi Min's eyebrows twitched.
Li Qin naturally didn't know how prideful Li Shiming was. He only knew that although he said it nicely, he didn't have the money to store food.
Li Shi Min quickly coughed and asked Li Qin,"Since you said so, why didn't you tell Lord Du about your guess yesterday?”
"Lord Du is not the kind of person who doesn't know right from wrong.”
Li Qin's gaze was strange." I don't know whether it's right or wrong, but I know that trouble comes from the mouth.”
"Old Li, I'm only telling you this because of Aunt Sun.”
"To tell you the truth, Aunt Sun was nagging outside the ship just now, which made me feel warm in my heart.”
"No one has cared about me so much all these years. I thought that if my mother was here, she would probably be so long-winded.”
"I also thought about what my mother looked like, but I couldn't imagine it. But when I saw Lady Sun, I felt that my mother must be more beautiful than Lady Sun.”
"Otherwise, why would I be so good-looking?”
These words were half-joking, but they came from the bottom of his heart.
Empress Zhangsun felt a sharp pain in her heart, and she could not hold back her tears.
Ba 'er, my Ba' er.
I am your mother!
Let me hug you, my good child.
Empress Zhangsun's hands trembled." Ba 'er…"
Li Shimin was shocked. He hurriedly took Empress Zhangsun's hand and shouted,""Madam, he is Young Master Li, not Ba 'er!”
Li Qin looked at the two of them suspiciously and was quite puzzled." What are you doing? Are you showing off your love?"
Seeing Li Qin's suspicion.
Li Shi Min's heart jumped to his throat. It wasn't that he didn't want to admit it, but it wasn't time yet.
Empress Zhangsun was also jolted awake by this shout and instantly came back to her senses.
The princes in the court were fighting among themselves, and the ministers were like tigers, leopards, and wolves.
It was not good for him, but to harm him!
However, Ba 'er's words seemed to be engraved in her heart, making her heart ache.
"It's my fault," Li Shimin quickly explained."A few years ago, my wife and I had a child, but unfortunately, we lost it."”
"Furen also heard your words just now and was reminded of the scene.”
Li Qin looked deeply at the tearful Concubine Sun and did not think too much about it. He comforted her,"It will pass eventually. Don't talk about these sad things.”
After that, the three of them just chatted casually as more and more guests came.
After Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun finished eating, they left.
Before leaving, Empress Zhangsun pulled Li Qin's hand and nagged.
Hearing this, Li Qin's ears started to turn numb.
···
Li Shi Min, who had just returned to the palace, heard a report from below before he could even catch his breath.
"Imperial Astronomical Supervisor, Yuan Tiangang has something important to ask for an audience.”
Li Shi Min's heart skipped a beat. The thing he was most worried about had finally come.
Yuan Tiangang quickly came to Li Shiming. He had run over in a panic, and he didn't have his usual sage-like temperament.
After a hurried bow, he said anxiously," Your Majesty! Bad news! A blizzard is coming!"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。