Fenghou

"The girl is right. There is indeed a small island on the lake."

Aunt Wen smiled and said, "Go in quickly!"

The crowd surrounded Lu Xiu and entered the mansion. Everyone was amazed by the size of the mansion. The front yard alone covers ten acres, and the atrium covers an area of ​​about [-] acres. The rest is the backyard covering an area of ​​ninety acres The house, the back house is actually a small lake of [-] acres, all the houses are surrounded by the lake, and there is even a hill and woods covering an area of ​​nearly [-] acres in the southwest corner.

There is a small island of about three mu in the center of the lake with lush forests and a seven-storey attic.

This is the courtyard-style back house of the Song Dynasty, which brought aesthetics to the extreme. Generally, only the palaces and palaces have this kind of layout. Its specifications are so high that even Wanyan Helisa is not qualified to live in it. Only Wanyanchang lived in it before. for a while.

Lu Xiu looked at the mirror-like surface of the lake for a long time, and after a long time, she sighed in a low voice: "I like this lake so much!"

Chapter 564 Warning

When Lu Xiu and his party arrived in Jingzhao City, Chen Qing happened to be patrolling Lantian County, and it was already the second day when he returned to the mansion.

Chen Qing returned to the mansion, got into a light carriage and headed towards Cuiweiju, the main courtyard. At this moment, he suddenly heard a coquettish shout, and when he turned his head, he saw a painting boat driving on the lake.

The boat was full of his family members, his wife Lu Xiu, and the wet nurse hugging his son Chen Ji, who waved to him excitedly and called Daddy.

There were also Yu Ying and Yu Lian, Li Qingzhao and Zhao Qiaoyun, everyone was smiling, even Zhao Qiaoyun, who was always sad, was smiling when he saw him, and his eyes were shining brightly.

Seeing his family, Chen Qing couldn't express the joy in his heart. He jumped out of the carriage, pointed at the small island and asked loudly, "Have you ever been to the small island?"

Lu Xiu smiled and said: "Husband, we have just been there, and the master said that she wants to live there!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Li Qingzhao blushed immediately, and quickly explained: "There are so many mosquitoes in summer, and it's cold in winter, so I don't want to live here."

Chen Qing didn't hear Li Qingzhao's explanation, so he laughed and said, "You can live if you want! I'll go back first, and you guys will come over later."

"Go! Go! We're going back soon."

Chen Qing first returned to Cuiweiju, where the dormitory is located. This is the largest courtyard in the back house. It faces the lake and is the southernmost part of the entire central axis. With the female guard, the backyard has two floors, including the main bedroom and Chen Qing's inner study.

The inner study room has been furnished. Although it is exactly the same as the one in Chengji County, the area is more than several times larger. The lounge inside has become a library, and there is an additional second floor with a lounge set up on the second floor.

These few days Chen Qing is thinking about financial resources. His army has expanded to 20, and his monthly military salary is 40 guan, which is 500 million guan a year. It's really not worth mentioning.

But for the Xihe army, it was an unbearable amount of expenditure. If they could not find a sufficient and stable source of finance, they would not be able to support so many troops, so they could only disarm.

However, Shaanxi Road, which was ravaged by the Jin soldiers, was so poor and weak. The population dropped by half compared to the Xuanhe period. You can only release water to raise fish and recuperate. It is impossible to collect taxes, and even commercial taxes must be exempted to promote commercial prosperity.

Moreover, this kind of recuperation will not be effective in a few months, but at least a few years. The question is, where will the military salaries and various expenses of the 20 soldiers come from in the past few years?

Chen Qing paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back. He thought of three ways to make money. One was to open mines to make money, and the other was to sell bulk goods to the Song Dynasty, such as wine, salt, sheepskins, livestock, briquettes, and kerosene. Wait, the third way is to negotiate with the imperial court and ask the imperial court to bear part of the military expenses.

In fact, it is not a good way to mine and make money, which is equivalent to printing money. If the money is consumed on Shaanxi Road, it will definitely cause hyperinflation, but if the money is taken to Bashu to buy cloth, oil, tea cakes, chicken, duck and fish Pigs, etc., a large amount of supplies are transported to Shaanxi Road, this is a good thing.

Just as he was thinking, the door opened, and his wife Lu Xiu walked in with a cup of tea. Seeing his wife staggering, Chen Qing hurriedly stepped forward to take the cup of tea, complaining: "If you are inconvenient, let A Ying and A Lian do it. What if you accidentally wrestle?"

Lu Xiu smiled and said: "I have some things I want to talk to my husband, so I didn't bother you!"

"No! No! Sit down and talk slowly."

Chen Qing helped his wife to sit down, Lu Xiu smiled and said: "I heard from Li Mei that all the officials are persuading the husband to marry the Du family's daughter as a flat wife, as a way to win over the gentry in Guanzhong. Is it true?"

Chen Qing smiled, and admitted frankly: "There is such a thing, but I didn't agree."

Lu Xiu smiled insincerely, "Actually, I think it's not bad! Isn't marriage the best way to stabilize the situation?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "When I seized the Hexi Corridor, the Yellow-headed Uighur Chief wanted to marry me with the daughter of a nobleman, but I didn't agree. If I want to marry a woman for capturing Shaanxi Road today, then the next step is to seize Hexi Road. What should we do, seize Hebei Road and the Central Plains? I don’t want to set this precedent.”

Lu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, and asked with a smile, "But what if you marry Di Ji as your second wife?"

Chen Qing's face suddenly became a little unnatural, and he forced a smile: "My lady, don't make such a joke!"

Lu Xiu said lightly: "Actually, your husband knows her thoughts, right?"

Of course, Chen Qing knew it well, he had felt Zhao Qiaoyun's thoughts on him as early as in Ganquanbao, but he was always pretending to be stupid, Zhao Qiaoyun is the emperor's younger sister, how could he marry her?

"Qiaoyun is a princess, how can a princess be a second wife, so don't think about it."

"But she doesn't care. She doesn't even have to give up her title. Although she didn't say anything, I know..."

Chen Qing shook his head and said with a smile: "If there is a woman like you, other wives will do everything possible to prevent their husbands from remarrying, but you will do everything possible to give me a woman."

Lu Xiu said with a displeased face: "I didn't try every means to give you women. I was afraid that you would marry everywhere outside and keep bringing women home. I will fill up your holes first. Qiaoyun is my junior sister. Poor, I am willing to accept her, but I don't accept other women."

"This...let's talk about it later!"

Lu Xiu nodded, "Let's talk about it later! I still have important things to discuss with my husband."

"what's up?"

Lu Xiu was a little anxious and said: "I have felt a little stuffy in my chest for the past two days. Today I invited two old imperial doctors to check my pulse. They all said that my condition is not stable, and they want me to pay attention to protecting my pregnancy."

Chen Qing was taken aback, and his expression became serious, "Is it so serious? Could it be because of the hard work on the road?"

"The old imperial doctor also said that it has something to do with this long journey, and the fetal gas is moving. Husband, I feel like a little lady in my stomach. I really don't want any accidents."

"Then is there any best way?"

"Physician Liu proposed a plan for me. His daughter has practiced medicine with him for 20 years and has a lot of experience. Or he can ask her to live in the mansion for a long time and take care of me until the child is born."

"of course can!"

Chen Qing agreed without hesitation: "I will hire her as a full-time doctor in my mansion, and I will give her good treatment, but what about her husband?"

"She is a widow, her daughter is married, and she has been practicing medicine with her father."

"Then don't worry."

Lu Xiu hesitated again and said: "She may have to check my pulse at night and listen to the fetal movement, and my husband may have to sleep alone."

"It doesn't matter to me, the safe birth of the child is the most important thing."

"I see, I will make arrangements for my husband."

After speaking, Lu Xiu got up to leave, Chen Qing hurriedly supported her, and asked the two maids waiting outside to help Madam back to the dormitory.

"You two come here!"

Back in the dormitory, Lu Xiu beckoned to Yu Ying and Yu Lian, and the two stepped forward obediently.

"Just keep one of you with me at night, and the other one will take care of your husband. Let's take turns!"

The two secretly glanced at each other, with secret joy in their eyes.

"Listen to me, you two dead girls. Don't think that I don't understand your thoughts. I will warn you first. You are only allowed once a night. If you dare to be intemperate, I will drive you out to get married!"

Chapter 565 First Love

At dusk that day, the female doctor Wang Lianshi moved into Chen Qing's mansion, and she immediately started to arrange it. Lu Xiu wants to protect her pregnancy by being quiet, and there are too many people in her current residence, and she is also a maid and guard, so they all move to Cuiwei Residence. In the outer courtyard, Chen Qing's study was also moved to Wenqu Pavilion, a hundred steps away, and even the children lived in the outer courtyard, leaving only a maid, a guard and a female doctor in the inner courtyard.

The study was still tidying up, and Chen Qing met Wang Hao, the commander of the internal guards, in the living room.

"Reporting to Dutong, I carefully checked the background of this female doctor in the afternoon, and also monitored her residence. She is indeed a relatively famous female doctor in Chang'an City. Together with her father, she has nothing to do with Puppet Qi or Jin Guo. Can be trusted."

"Are you sure the female doctor who came to my residence is herself?"

"It's her!"

Chen Qing nodded, "Continue to monitor her every move after leaving my mansion, and report to me immediately if there is anything unusual."

"Understandable!"

Wang Hao saluted and hurried away.

Chen Qing returned to the temporary study of Wenqu Pavilion. This study is also very good. It is a three-story attic. It is a place to drink tea and enjoy the lake view. The style is very elegant, but it is a little far away from Cuiweiju, a hundred steps away.

Walking into the study, he saw a pretty figure clearing the table for him, green smoke curled up from the incense burner, and it was the faint fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus.

"It's Sakura!"

The pretty figure turned around, and it was Yu Ying. She lowered her head, her peach face was flushed, she saw Chen Qing approaching her, and said in a panic: "Madam asked me to wait on you at night. You sleep in the inner room, and I sleep in the outer room. What's the matter with you?" You can call me."

Chen Qing lifted her chin and said with a smile, "I thought it was A-Lian tonight, why is it you?"

"I drew lots with her, and I won."

Chen Qing was about to kiss her red lips, but Yu Ying turned her head away.

The enthusiasm in Chen Qing's heart suddenly cooled down, he sat down and said lightly: "Go and take care of Madam, let Alian come over!"

Tears welled up in Yu Ying's eyes, and she turned to leave, Chen Qing sighed, "Forget it, you go and get me a pot of hot water, I'll soak my feet, and go to bed early tonight."

"Yes!"

Yu Ying wiped away her tears and left in a hurry.

Chen Qing smiled wryly and shook his head, Yu Ying should not be ready yet, forcing a little lady by herself is meaningless.

……

At night, Chen Qing suddenly felt a smooth and hot body in his arms, a pair of jade arms around his neck, and a strong rose fragrance on his hair.

"Alian!" Chen Qing was surprised and delighted.

"Ok!"

A-Lian agreed, and covered his mouth with her fragrant tongue.

Chen Qing hadn't touched a woman for several months, so he couldn't help it, so he started to move immediately.

"Ah! It hurts...it hurts..."

Chen Qing suddenly realized something was wrong, "You are Ah Ying!"

The woman fell into his arms and began to cry, "I am sincerely willing, but it's just the first time I'm afraid, son, please don't drive me away."

Chen Qing was filled with guilt and pity, coaxed her for a while, Yu Ying smiled through tears, put her arms around Chen Qing's neck and said charmingly: "My husband, come on!"

Chen Qing rushed forward with enthusiasm, and started again. This time, Chen Qing took pity on him, Yu Ying cooperated tacitly, and the two had a great time.

……

The next morning, Chen Qing summoned more than a dozen important officials to discuss important matters in the government office.

"Presumably everyone knows the theme of my convened meeting today. Regarding the development of financial resources, this is the most urgent issue in our eyes. In the past, our army was small, and we could use land instead of military pay, so the pressure was not great. Now we have an army of 20, and the soldiers have to support their families. They have to pay the military salary, which is 40 guan a month. Although we still have some money, it is our old background. I don’t want to move it for the time being. Open source, let everyone speak freely!"

Zhou Kuan, chief officer of Duzhi Transshipment Department, stood up and said, "Let me say a few words first!"

The Department of Duzhi Transshipment is equivalent to the Ministry of Finance. It controls the financial power and is the most important functional department in the Economic and Strategic Mansion. Zhou Kuan, who has followed Chen Qing for many years and has been a procurement envoy in Bashu, serves as the official order.

Zhou Kuan stood up and said slowly: "As Du Tong said, the monthly military salary is 40. Wait, at least [-] per month.

Then there are various government expenses, such as official salaries, bridges, roads and schools, etc., which cost at least 60 guan a month. All of them add up to about [-] guan.

Our current relatively stable income, as long as it is the salt tax, we can make a net profit of 33 yuan per catty of salt at [-] yuan. I estimate that there is an income of [-] yuan per month. Other taxes are released according to the requirements of the economic plan. For fish farming, it is estimated that there can only be a little more than [-] guan a month, that is [-] guan, and the military salary and expenditures other than military expenses can be balanced.

Calculated, our monthly gap is 50 guan, 50 guan!It sounds terrible, but we only need to issue 50 Jiaozi to solve the problem. What is the key?The key is that we have to put enough materials into the market every month to ensure that the military pay in the hands of soldiers will not become a piece of waste paper.

Of course, soldiers won’t take money, I’m just making an example, we still have to use silver money, so that our monthly casting volume can keep up, and our silver mine output can also keep up. I observed these two months It was found that the silver money for the military pay was very effective. Basically, it was collected by the soldiers and was not circulated, which greatly reduced the pressure on materials in the market. "

It is worthy of the order of the Du Branch Office. All kinds of data are complete and well-founded. His thinking is very pragmatic. To issue a huge amount of currency, there must be enough supplies to keep up, otherwise it will cause serious inflation. This is similar to Chen Qing. same idea.

Chen Qing nodded and asked again: "Has the official money shop mentioned earlier been prepared?"

Zhou Kuan hurriedly said: "Reporting to Dutong, the preparations have been made, so I will use the name drafted by the economic envoy, called Dasong National Money Shop. At present, there is one branch in each state, and then Jingzhaofu will plan to build five. .”

Hearing this name, everyone laughed. This name is very grand. I don't know how the court will feel when they hear it?

At this time, Guan Shigu raised his hand and asked: "Emissary Jinglue, I have a doubt about my humble position, can I ask for advice?"

Chen Qing smiled and nodded, "Guan Dujian, please tell me!"

Guan Shigu did not take up the post of military again, but took up the post of Martial Arts Superintendent, that is, the principal of the military academy, which is still in the preparation stage.

"I remember that the Western Army used to implement the military household system. The imperial court gave preferential treatment to military households in terms of taxes and taxes. The pressure on soldiers' military salaries was not great. Why didn't the Dutong follow suit and implement the military household system?"

Chen Qing didn't know how to answer Guan Shigu's question. Zhang Jun told him that the imperial court's military expenditure on the Western Army was extremely heavy, which was much larger than the current expenditure. He was corrupted by the top military officials.

For example, the imperial court would give the Western Army a large amount of various securities such as salt quotations, tea quotations, oil coupons, wine coupons, etc. every year. With these vouchers, various materials could be extracted, amounting to hundreds of thousands of guan, but these vouchers were issued by the generals. They took Bianliang and sold them privately for money, which also formed the securities market in the Song Dynasty.

The military expenditure of the imperial court was extremely heavy, but the income of the soldiers was extremely low, which made the generals in the middle fatter. This is the situation of the army in the Northern Song Dynasty, including the Western Army.

Chen Qing pondered for a while and said: "Although we have not implemented the military household system in name, what we are actually doing is military households. For example, ordinary people in the Hehuang Valley are granted land of [-] mu, but military soldiers' families are granted land of two [-] mu, tax-free labor for life.

Moreover, the military salary of soldiers is not two guanxi, but a monthly income that is higher than the average three guanxi of ordinary people. There are more than [-] elderly soldiers, and basically each soldier has hundreds of acres of land. It is these real income and military rewards that keep the soldiers' morale high and fight the enemy bravely. Undefeated. "

Commander Cao De also said: "Chen Dutong is right. The key is to let the soldiers get real benefits, so that the soldiers will work hard. The salary of the former Xiang army is only a few hundred coins, which cannot support the whole family. Many soldiers’ wives are forced to sell themselves to support their families, what kind of fighting power would such soldiers have, and they flee as soon as they fight, they are simply corrupt to the extreme.”

Guan Shigu sighed and said: "Emissary Jinglue saw it thoroughly. I remembered that after the battle of Fuping, envoy Zhang Xuanfu asked Liu Kai and me to recruit soldiers. Liu Kai recruited 10,000+ Jingyuan troops. I was also in Gyeongju, Yuanyuan The prefecture and Pingliang prefecture recruited 10,000+ troops. The army looks large, but the soldiers don’t have military pay, and they can’t even eat enough. When the Jurchen army came, the army collapsed without a fight. In fact, the puppet Qi army also did the same.”