Guo Shifu was waiting in his office. His other two colleagues arrived shortly after. They were the High Priest, Minister Yi, and Physician Yin Qiu. The three of them sat down.
Guo Shifu said,"This year is a year of great disaster. It's not easy to save up money and food, but it's going to go down the drain again."
Yin Qiu smiled. Duke Guo was a capable official highly regarded by His Majesty. Why would he need the two of us for such a small matter? Presumably, Duke Guo already had a foolproof plan.
Guo Shifu smiled. Physician Yin is right. Fortunately, I have raised taxes a little in the past few years and prepared them in advance. The money and grain are stored in the national treasury. Because the national treasury is insufficient, I have opened four small treasuries for the emperor.
Outsiders say that I, Guo Shifu, have imposed exorbitant taxes, but they didn't expect me to prepare these money and grain in advance in case I continue to use them in a year of famine.
Yin Qiu said,"I knew Guo Shifu was a talent of the country. The two of them flattered each other."
Priest Yi said, the three of us are here to discuss this matter. Does our ruler know about this?
Guo Shifu said,"The king has given me the power to act according to my will. I can act first and report later when things are urgent." Previously, it was said that our emperor was lustful and extorted exorbitant taxes, but every generation of emperors was like this.
Guo Shifu continued. A wise ruler would sit with his head down, facing north and south, and govern by doing nothing. He only needed to arrange for his generals and virtuous ministers to be as busy as their grandchildren.
Yin Qiu laughed loudly and pointed at himself, then at Guo Shifu, then at Ji Gong Yi Dao. Look at us three, three grandsons.
The three of them joked.
Guo Shifu said with a smile. Look, there was another grandson outside.
The other two looked outside and saw it.
The Great Zhou's official, Zheng You, who later became the first ruler of the State of Zheng, stepped into the hall.
Guo Shifu sat in the middle and gestured for Zheng You to sit down and talk. Guo Shifu smiled. He heard that Zheng You had moved his fief to Yuzhou. Was it properly arranged?
Zheng You laughed. Duke Guo's information was really accurate.
Guo Shifu said seriously,"It was my idea to move some of the vassals of Zheng to Yuzhou. After all, Yuzhou is far away from the capital."
Although there are eight divisions of Chengzhou in Luoyi, and the national guard, Marquis Shen, is personally overseeing the south of Gaoyang, it is still far from the king's control. I suggest that the king let Duke Zheng move the fief to Yuzhou to strengthen our Great Zhou's control over Yuzhou.
According to the secret report, Shen Hou had been in Yuzhou and had been strengthening his strength over the years. He seemed to have the power to fight against Great Zhou.
The Son of Heaven can sit in the middle and look down on the world, but we, the officials, need to prepare for the rainy day and make all the foolproof plans in advance.
Zheng nodded and said in a low voice," Duke Guo is right. He's right. But it's really too busy to rely on us for government affairs. I'm as busy as a grandson all day long. How can I enjoy myself as much as in the fief?"
Yin Qiu and Ji Gongyi echoed,"They're all the same. They're as busy as grandsons."
Yin Qiu heard the sound of carriages outside and saw that another grandson had arrived.
The four ministers looked outside the door and saw Taishi Bo Yangfu.
Bo Yangfu walked into the main hall and angrily pointed at Guo Shifu." State Duke, was this year's disaster relief your idea again?" Look, Taishi Bo Yangfu took out a bag from his body and poured the contents of the bag onto the table.
It was a bag of millet. Looking closely at the millet, there was sand in it.
Grand Preceptor Bo Yangfu said angrily," Duke Guo, as a high official of the country, every time you provide disaster relief, the grain is mixed with a large amount of sand. How are you going to let the disaster victims use it?" How would the people view our king?
Bo Yangfu sat down angrily and looked at Guo Shifu from the corner of his eyes.
Guo Shifu said,"I know. Taishigong, don't be angry." You're a scholar, and you've lived in the temple for a long time. You rarely go out to the people. As the prime minister of this dynasty, I have a good understanding of the people.
Guo Shifu pointed at himself and said,"In my early years, I was unfortunately lost with my father's clansmen on a trip. I was scattered among the people and only returned to my vassal state several years later." During this period, I went into the river to fish, ate tree leaves, and begged for food. I understood all the sufferings of the people over the years.
Guo Shifu pointed at the millet on the table that was mixed with sand and said," Lord Grand Scribe, you don't know this. In a year of disaster, are disaster victims still considered humans?"
Taishi Boyangfu was furious and said to Guo Shifu, how could disaster victims not be human? If you were an ordinary official, I would have slapped him to death.
Guo Shifu sneered,"What don't I understand?"？？，In the year of the disaster, the victims ate everything. They were like locusts wherever they went. They ate leaves, bark, insects, and even soil. By the way, does Taishigong know what Guanyin clay is?
Yin Qiu and Ji Gongyi shook their heads. Zheng Youlue pondered for a moment and asked," Could it be that the white soil can be eaten into the soil, but it cannot be digested? Will the person die of bloating?"
Guo Shifu said. He didn't expect Zheng You to know more. Thinking about these disaster victims, they all died of hunger in the end.
Guo Shifu continued,"Let's talk about the matter of mixing millet with sand. If I distribute the grain without mixing sand to the bottom, it won't be enough to eat."
This was secondary. A disaster victim would have nothing to do after eating every day. They would cause trouble in their free time, steal chickens and dogs, and rob people. It was not easy to control them.
There was also another point. When the country set up porridge stalls, the rich and good people in the cities also mixed in with the disaster victims to eat and drink, wasting food.
" There's another thing. Have you thought about it? The grain mixed with sand is inedible for ordinary people, but it's edible for the disaster victims. Although it's difficult, at least it can fill their stomachs.
Taishi Boyangfu listened for a long time without speaking. After a while, Taishi Boyangfu said,"This year is really like this. I want to personally relieve the victims. Duke Guo, what do you think?" I want to see how my method and your method work.
Guo Shifu looked at Yin Qiu and Ji Gongyi, then looked at Zheng Youxiao and said to Bo Yangfu," How about this, we have fewer disaster victims at the west gate of Haojing. This year, we will invite Taishigong to personally go and see if I am right."
" Tomorrow, I'll invite Taishi Gong to head to the west gate to personally provide relief. I'll give you all the food and servants you need."
Bo Yangfu nodded and said," Alright, let's do it this way. This year, I'll let you see how scholars like us help the victims and how the people praise the king."
Taishi Boyangfu was about to leave when he was stopped by Guo Shifu. He said,"Taishi, don't leave yet. I've prepared delicious food for you at noon today. Please enjoy it together as a colleague."
Bo Yangfu said,"There's no need. I still have to go home. This year, it'll be more convenient for me to stay at the west gate." Without waiting for Guo Shifu's reply, he got into the carriage and left.
Guo Shifu said,"I know this old man won't have a good meal today."
Yin Qiu smiled and said," I knew that the Duke would have something delicious to eat for lunch today to entertain us."
" Zheng Youdao, there's good food. I'll go home first and come back later."
Guo Shifu smiled and said,"This time, the Grand Historian has personally gone to help. His courage is commendable, but he is a scholar. He doesn't have the strength to tie up a chicken. I'm afraid there will be changes this time." Duke Zheng will have a hard time this year. I will give you 500 Tiger Troops to ambush around Taishigong's encampment. If there are any changes, please help him in time to help Taishigong tide over the difficulties.
Zheng You said with a smile, such a small matter, what is worth mentioning. I'm going home first, I'll be back soon
Guo Shifu said. It was time to eat. Everyone sat down and chatted as they ate.
After Zheng You left, Ji Gongyi secretly said to Guo Shifu,"I heard from my informant that the number of Tiger Guards in our Great Zhou has increased several times with your help."
Was there such a thing?
Guo Shifu said frankly. This was an eventful time. I had prepared enough money and food for the emperor over the years, as well as a powerful guard for our emperor in case of emergency.
Guo Shifu pointed at Yin Qiu and Ji Gongyi and said," In these years, after the king took office, the mountains and rivers changed. Not to mention your appearance, it was mainly because of man-made disasters."
I have spies on my side, and the dukes of Shen Country and Yuzhou are secretly colluding with the Quan Rong. Just talking about the Quan Rong, I don't care about the outsiders at all. Just the six armies of the Zongzhou Dynasty stationed near Haojing of the Great Zhou should be fine.
However, it would be troublesome if our vassal states colluded with these foreign races.
In the past few years, I advised the king to increase taxes. Although it increased the burden on the people a little, I also increased the number of troops under the king's control by several times. It was convenient for the king to control the army at any time and face different threats.
Guo Shifu said to his two colleagues while counting his fingers. There are six divisions of Zongzhou near Haojing. They are the elites of our Great Zhou. Although they are not as good at fighting as when the Great Zhou was founded, their military ability cannot be underestimated. The 3000 Tiger Guards under the direct control of our Sovereign are the guards under the direct control of our Sovereign, and also the elites of our Haojing.
Physician Yin is right. All these years, other than earning money and food, I've also been managing this army. I've increased the number of soldiers from 3000 to 10,000. I've made proper arrangements for their food and drinks, including their families. This army has the highest treatment and can be used during crucial times.
Guo Shifu turned his head to Yin Qiu. You have a high reputation among the nobles, so please choose a young noble to hold some important positions in the Tiger Guards. Without the support of the clan's descendants and the supervision of the officers, the combat ability of the troops would still be lacking.
Gululu, gululu, Duke Guo, we are hungry. When are we going to eat?
Guo Shifu said with a smile, wait a moment, wait a moment. Guo Shifu clapped his hands, and a servant came in from outside. Guo Shifu said with a smile. He arranged for the few lords to eat here and brought out the delicacies that he had cooked today.
After a while, a few servants brought a big pot, a few bowls, and a few small spoons. Immediately, the fragrance of the house assailed the nostrils.
Ji Gongyi was pleasantly surprised. State Duke, could it be that they were going to eat meat soup for lunch today?
Guo Shifu smiled. Only after eating can one work. After today, the disaster relief will be a troublesome matter. I will be in charge of the central army, so I hope that my colleagues will support me.
Zheng You had already returned in a hurry and walked into the hall. First, he cupped his hands towards Guo Shifu and thanked the Duke for his kindness. The food at home was arranged properly by the Duke.
Guo Shifu laughed. We're all colleagues. I'm considerate of you, and you help me.
Zheng You was stunned for a moment. He sniffed and could smell a good fragrance. Zheng You looked around and saw a meat soup.
Guo Shifu clapped his hands and said,"Wait a moment, wait a moment, wait a moment. Taishi Boyangfu will come later. Let's use it together."
After waiting for a while, Taishi Bo Yangfu strode in. He cupped his hands to Guo Shifu and thanked him for the arrangements that Duke Guo had made for his family.
I hope you don't mind my rude tone just now.
Bo Yangfu suddenly sniffed and said," There's such a fragrant smell in the room. What are you guys eating?" This old man won't be leaving, I'll also be eating here.
Guo Shifu saw Bo Yangfu arrive and waved his hand to instruct him. The attendants served bowls and chopsticks to his colleagues. Instantly, each bowl was filled with hot meat soup. They slowly tasted it with small spoons and ate it steaming hot.
Taishi Gong took a bite and looked at Guo Guogong. Although you have taken good care of my family, in such a year of famine, many disaster victims still can't eat. Why do you want us to eat meat soup here?
Guo Shifu looked at Bo Yangfu and said," This matter is done by people. If we don't eat our fill, how can we do this?"
Boyang father said angrily, officials are the parents of the people. He was also a ruler, a consul sent to the people. It was only right for him to serve the people.
Guo Shifu said,"Taishigong said this. If we don't let the officials under us eat their fill, how can they have the strength to do things for the king and serve the people?"
Bo Yangfu didn't answer for a moment, so he could only eat his food helplessly. Although they were eating meat soup, it was delicious.
Was meat soup a delicacy that made the officials of the Great Zhou so fascinated? Ji Yan said with a smile. The historian looked up. Young Master, this is really wonderful.
Ji Yan…
Historian:
Ji Yan clapped his hands and said,"Someone, serve my teacher the meat soup."
The historian's eyes were filled with tears,"Thank you, Young Master."。
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