cynical

In the [-]th year of Taishi, the drought was more serious than imagined. From the end of last year until the beginning of spring in February, there was not a single drop of rain. The river bed was dry, and dead fish, shrimp and shellfish could be seen from time to time on the cracked land. Exudes a pungent stench.

The Nangong family informed the officials of Huizhou and counties to prepare for the drought before the beginning of winter. They dug a large number of reservoirs, filled with winter snow, and turned them into precious water after spring. , Promote the cultivation of more drought-resistant crops over the years, so that spring plowing can proceed smoothly.

The drought was accompanied by locust plagues. However, Nangong’s chicken farm is huge. Once it was released, it ate up all the locusts that people were unable to catch in a few days. The grain harvest has brought a large number of fat chickens to the market.

The big and small officials in Bizhou supported by the Nangong family have long been happy. It is a great political achievement to still have a good harvest in a drought year, which is enough for them to get a chance to be promoted in the next year's assessment.

However, Bizhou, where Nangong's family is located, is not the most severely affected area. Mizhou in the northwest of them is the real disaster area.

However, the governor of Mizhou Anmin failed to do his best, and the victims broke through the city gate of the state capital. Seeing that the situation was wrong, he even left the victims and fled. The luxurious carriage aroused the envy of the victims and died on the way.

The governor is dead, and the subordinates are running as far as possible. Mizhou is unmanaged and in chaos. The court had to send new officials to stabilize the situation. Although it is a great contribution to do it well, the problem is This thing is difficult to do!If one is not careful, one's life will be lost, and no one is willing to go.

But no matter how difficult it is, someone has to go.In the court hall, after some discussion among the ministers, the unlucky ghost was finally pushed out.

"Then Mu Mu was appointed as the interim governor of Mizhou?"

Leaning lazily on the imperial concubine's couch, the boy who was dozing off opened his eyes when he heard the news, expressing a little surprise.

"Yes." Dong Lin lowered his head and replied, "Because he was originally in command of the Mizhou army, and after the death of the former governor, he was elected."

Nangong Le curled her lips disdainfully, "Tsk, it's just that the situation is wrong, and everyone refuses to take responsibility, so let's find a hapless ghost! It's useless for a small drought to make them anxious. Well, okay Well, since Mu Mu is temporarily serving as the governor of Mizhou, I will teach him a few tricks!"

Nangong Le grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Although Yin Sheng's father is also high and powerful in the court, it is a pity that there is an even more upright father above his upright son, and he does not say a word for his son.Since everyone recommended him and the emperor appointed him, of course he couldn't shirk his responsibility. If he had the ability, he had to do it, but if he couldn't, he had to find a way to do it, so the poor son became a victim.

You don't have to think about what a guy who only knows how to fight can do after leading troops into Mining, the state capital—relying on the army to forcefully stabilize the refugees, and then open warehouses to release food.

Although this move barely maintained the stability of the situation, the Changping warehouse in the state capital had already been almost exhausted by the former governor, and it would not last long at all, and refugees continued to gather in the state capital, and this stable situation would soon collapse again.

Yin Sheng tried to persuade the local wealthy households to provide food for disaster relief, but those wealthy households pushed back and forth, with little effect. The situation made him very busy, sitting in the governor's mansion in distress, and could vaguely hear the noise of refugees outside, which made him He became more agitated.

Yin Zhan rushed in suddenly, panting and shouting, "General, general! They are here!"

Yin Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he stood up abruptly, "Who's here? Refugees?"

"No, no! It's Mr. Tong!"

"what?"

Yin Sheng was stunned, the face of the young man who was always smiling appeared in his mind, thinking of his unexpected but extremely effective strange theories, he couldn't help but have a glimmer of hope in his heart──

Maybe there's something he can do?

At this time, the familiar clear voice came from outside the door, still with a cynical smile, "Xiao Shengsheng, long time no see."

Yin Zhan, who heard this title for the first time, burst out laughing with a "poof", while Yin Sheng broke his face and said depressedly: "Don't bark, I'm much older than you!"

"Oh, don't be so stingy, Xiao Shengsheng."

In the angry and helpless words, the boy finally appeared in sight.The fair and slightly immature handsome face still makes it difficult to look away. She is wearing light green clothes embroidered with silver patterns, which glow like running water in the sun, and a seemingly inconspicuous emerald green ring is hung on her waist. The ring dangled while walking. Compared with the wild and unruly attire in the desert before, Nangong Le at this moment is like a noble boy walking out of a painting, elegant and handsome.

"Miss me, Xiao Shengsheng?" Nangong Le crossed the threshold and asked with a smile, like a joke but also serious.

Yin Sheng remembered the hot kiss that night, his face turned red, and he said bitterly: "Enough of you, shut up!"

Nangong Le giggled, and finally stopped bullying the big tree, and said straight to the point: "Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I'm here this time to help you relieve the disaster. How about it? Are you moved?" "

Nangong Le spoke so clearly, but Yin Sheng was a little suspicious, "You have such good intentions? The amount of supplies needed for disaster relief is huge, are you willing to trade at a loss?"

"Of course I won't do a loss-making business, but disaster relief doesn't necessarily mean a loss-making business."

"What are you doing?" Yin Sheng raised his voice immediately.

"Oh, don't be nervous." Nangong Le stepped forward and patted his chest, stroking him as if giving him comfort, and said with a smile: "Xiao Shengsheng, last time I taught you what war is, this time, Let me teach you another word—relief for work.”

Nangongle's business power is in his home base—Bizhou, which is deeply rooted and unshakable. However, he has never been able to find a good opportunity to extend his power into Mizhou, the only way for caravans to go to the desert. In the past few years, the weather was good, the country was peaceful and the people were peaceful, Mizhou’s internal forces were stable, and outsiders were not easy to intervene. Secondly, the former governor of Mizhou was not only a big corrupt official, but also a despicable villain. Sooner or later, accidents would happen one day if he colluded with such a person .

Nangong Le is well versed in this way, knowing that a gentleman cannot stand under a dangerous wall, but he has never forgotten the interests of the territory of Mizhou.

But the current famine gave him a chance.

Substituting work for relief is a bad method used by Nangong Lena's previous life.The principle can be understood by everyone, but this method has not yet appeared in this time and space. The imperial government mainly relies on opening warehouses to release food. The people can barely survive and will not make trouble. When the disaster is over, they will implement some tax reduction and exemption policies. People will naturally return to the land and continue farming, but this is not enough.

Nan Gongle spread out a large map of Mizhou in front of Yin Sheng, and began to explain, "It is very troublesome to recruit people to participate in fortifications. If one is not good, it will be said to be a waste of money. But now the people are displaced, and the court only needs to provide the most basic food. It allows them to actively participate in labor.”

"Look at the fact that the river is drying up right now. It's a good opportunity to build bridges on the Mi River. In some places, dams can also be built. Roads between major states and counties can also be repaired. Now that manpower is being recruited to start construction, it will not only make the people more busy. There is food to cook, food to eat, and bridges and roads to be repaired, which will be of great benefit to the people's travel, commercial circulation, and even the march of the army in the future. It can be said to serve multiple purposes!"

Yin Sheng thought about it, and found that this is a good way, but he still has a doubt, "The way is good, but right now the imperial court can't provide so much food, how to direct the people to work?"

"So you need me right now!"

"You?" Yin Sheng raised his eyebrows and said mockingly, "If you say that you have enough financial resources to help the disaster, I will believe it, but if you say that you will give it out for nothing, I don't believe it."

Nangong Le was not embarrassed at all, "Hee hee, you know me well. In fact, it is not impossible for me to show it out for nothing. Anyway, we have had a skin-to-skin relationship..."

"Shut up! Don't talk nonsense!" Yin Sheng's face turned black and then red, red and then black. Fortunately, there was no one around. If someone overheard him, he would be completely speechless.

He sighed, and said helplessly: "Tong Le, can't you be more serious? That night... It was just an accident, and you didn't even care about it, so why keep talking about it?"

Nangong Le curled her lips and muttered: "Who said I don't care..."

"What did you say?" Yin Sheng didn't hear clearly, so he asked.

"It's nothing, let's continue talking about what happened just now." Nangong Le turned the topic back, "Yin Sheng, you should take a long-term view. Now you and I have a good relationship, and I have a lot of money. It's not impossible to use money and food for disaster relief, but if Will I fall out with you someday? Will my family fall into ruin someday? Where can you find another person to do such a good deed without asking for anything in return?"

"This……"

"Disasters will still happen in the future, so it is necessary to have an effective and long-term applicable criterion, not just this time, not just Mizhou, not just you and me, but anytime, anywhere, anyone can use it The method used. Don’t you think so?”

Yin Sheng nodded helplessly, he always couldn't speak with this sharp mouth.

"Then what do you say?"

"People in the world seek profit, so we drive them with profit. If you want people to know that disaster relief is beneficial, everyone will participate. As long as you can promote the wealthy households in Mizhou, the wealth in their hands will be enough for Mizhou to pass through safely." Famine."

Yin Sheng was puzzled: "But what benefits can the imperial court give them?"

"We can tap potential benefits." Nangong Le pointed to the road outside Mining City leading to another county on the map and said, "For example, we will repair this road. These two places are bustling counties. After the repair is completed, the traffic between the two counties will increase greatly, and the development will develop along the road. We let the wealthy households repair this road. The advantage is the land next to the road. They can get as much land as they pay. The profit from opening a store is the benefit given to them by the imperial court. If necessary, the imperial court can also give tax reductions and exemptions.

"Don't think that the court is at a loss. You have to think that if this road is well built, it will not be a problem to use it for decades. The tax reduction and exemption will only take two or three years. The commercial taxes collected in the future will all be the income of the court. Coming to the imperial court not only got the road, but also got the tax, which is very cost-effective.”

"Isn't the rich family who built the road a loser?"

"No, they don't lose money. If they don't build the road, they won't have this business, and they won't be able to make this money, and the money they earn from building the road is far more than what they paid for."

Yin Sheng thought about it, and felt that it seemed feasible.

Nan Gongle also said: "In addition to the benefits that can be seen, we can also give them some false names. For example, after the disaster relief is over, the refugees can build merit monuments and engrave the names of people and businesses who donated money and food on it. These businessmen don't lack money. They are very happy to have such a good deed, and other people will follow suit after seeing this kind of practice. After a long time, they can also cultivate the habit of businessmen doing good deeds.”

Yin Sheng pondered for a long time, but couldn't find any flaws, so he nodded.

Nangong smiled happily, took out the detailed planning book that had been written long ago, and explained various details to this ancient wood.

The more Yin Sheng heard it, the more frightened he became. He didn't think much of it when Nangong Le said it roughly, but when he saw the detailed plan, he realized that the plan was meticulous and far-reaching, and he decided to implement it immediately.

Big fists are convenient. The army came out and announced the basic items of work-for-relief, and the refugees followed them honestly. Strong young men did the hardest and most tiring work, and the elderly and women were responsible for cooking and delivering water. logistical work, the children scattered to the mountains to collect firewood.Yin Sheng supervised the project, while Nan Gong Le came forward to contact various rich households.

The Tong family caravan is very well-known among businessmen and rich households. It grew and developed at a terrifying speed more than ten years ago. It has never done a loss-making business. Even if someone intentionally sabotages it, it will be counterattacked.Now that the young master of the Tong family appeared in person, each family naturally gave enough face, and after hearing that it was a good thing to make money, they took out money and food to invest in the shares according to the method Nan Gongle said. The projects are carried out at the same time, but the manpower for the work is insufficient in comparison.

Looking at the bustling and orderly construction site and seeing the smiles on the faces of the common people, Yin Sheng couldn't help but smile.

Nangong Le keenly caught this smile, immediately raised the corners of her mouth, and proudly said: "I'm amazing, I can think of such a genius idea!"

Yin Sheng felt amused, he had never seen him boasting like this before, and couldn't help but want to say a few words, but the sarcasm came to his lips, and he caught a glimpse of the other party's shining eyes, his expression was proud and proud, like a victorious boy The rooster lifted his chin, his confidence shining brightly.

Swallowing back the hurtful words, Yin Sheng smiled, bowed his hands and saluted, and said sincerely: "It is indeed a genius. Thank you, Young Master Tong, on behalf of the people of Yin."

Nangong Le shuddered, and got goosebumps all over his body from this guy's sudden gentleness. He rubbed his arms and was about to complain, but when he rolled his eyes, a bad idea popped up again. He evoked that cynical smile, hehe He laughed and said, "It's too insincere to just say thank you!"

"Eh? What does Young Master Tong mean..."

He picked his ears and said, "Don't say anything else, just change the name first. Are you not tired of calling you young master? Call me Lele."

This time Yin Sheng stopped talking, Lele?It's too intimate.

Nangong Le curled her lips and said, "The servants call me 'Young Master', but everyone else calls me Le Le."

Yin Sheng hesitated, and politely refused: "Why don't I call you Tong Le..."

He thought about it, but insisted, "I just want to be called Lele!"

Yin Sheng had no choice but to agree; "Then I'll take the liberty of calling you Lele."

"Hey, just changing the name is not enough, how can you thank me?" Nangong Le said, blinking playfully, "Should I be a prostitute or a prostitute?"

Yin Sheng's face turned half black, and he was at a loss for words before asking, "What is a show?"

"Show me a striptease!"

Seeing the man's handsome face suddenly turned black, Nangong Le laughed happily.

"You bastard..." Yin Sheng sighed, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.Fortunately, I know that this young man has a peculiar temperament and often makes shocking remarks, so I dismissed the servants and subordinates long ago, otherwise if such words were heard by others, I would not have the face of a general.

Seeing the other party smiling so happily, Yin Sheng knew in his heart that this guy just likes to tease him.

And such a sly smile also reminded him of the person hidden deep in his memory, but he couldn't forget that dazzling figure in the sun after meeting him once. Looking back and smiling, only those talking eyes and brilliant smile.

Yin Sheng subconsciously touched the ring around his waist. The ring, which was a little out of proportion to his current status, was given by that person. He still remembered that when the person threw the ring over, he said, "Mistress, keep it well, wait for me to give it to you." I will marry you in the future"──It's ridiculous that when you know you are a man, the other party is a woman.

Yin Sheng smiled and shook his head.I was only eight or nine years old back then, and I can't even remember the other person's appearance. This glazed ring pendant was priceless at the beginning, but now it's all over the street. There is no special mark on it, so it is impossible to find him. Now I still keep it, just as a souvenir.

The two walked around the construction site for a while, Nangong Le asked casually: "Did you find out who the traitor was after you went back last time?"

Yin Sheng was taken aback for a long time before he stammered and asked, "You, what are you talking about? Betrayer?"

Nangong Le looked at him strangely, "No way, didn't you investigate it?"

"What do you mean?" He frowned.

Nangong Le stared at him for a while, and said slowly, "Don't you find it strange, why did you and your subordinates encounter Tamumu's attack when you went to the desert to investigate?"

Yin Sheng didn't take it seriously, "They are already active in the desert, so what's so strange about meeting them by chance?"

"It's very strange! Tamumu and the others deliberately dressed up as sand robbers. It's strange enough to find you. What's more, their tribe is so far away from the place where you were attacked. Is this really just a coincidence?"

Yin Sheng was silent for a while, then said in a muffled voice: "Maybe they got the news by accident. My brothers were all born and died with me, it's a fateful friendship, they will not betray me."

Nangong Le curled her lips in disdain. "That's not necessarily true. Loyalty is because the price of betrayal is too low..."

"It's in your interest not to keep your mouth shut!" Yin Sheng interrupted Nangong Le with a little annoyance, "I can trust my brother who was born and died with me!"

"What about brother..."

"What do you know as a businessman! Do you think everyone only cares about profit like you!" Yin Sheng interrupted Nangong Le violently.

The smile on Nangong Le's face finally disappeared completely. He let out a cold snort from his nose, and said contemptuously: "Why don't I know? So what if I fought side by side, so what if I changed my life and bleed, and left the battlefield In such a special environment, how many people can maintain the original friendship? The reason for a person's betrayal is not necessarily money, but also fame, power, beauty, family affection, and love.

"I offered you a hundred thousand coins to kill your good brother, and you definitely refused, but if I threatened you with your parents, your lover, or even your king, would you do it or not? It's betrayal! How can you guarantee that your good brothers are all invulnerable and without weaknesses? Even you can't, because those without weaknesses are not called saints, but dead people!"

"You-"

Yin Sheng opened his mouth to refute, but found that there was no way to refute, so he only uttered a sound and there was no further text.

"Damn it!" He angrily kicked off the stones under his feet, turned his head and walked in another direction.

Nangong Le curled his lips, shook his head, and walked in another direction.

He went back to his temporary residence in displeasure, sulked for a while, and suddenly laughed at himself, why are he so angry with the ancients!How could that wood understand those twists and turns? Wouldn't it be fun to be angry with the other party?

I thought so, but Nangong Le was still unhappy, curled her lips, and decided to bully that idiot even more in the future!

Hmph, how did you grow up to be so stubborn when you were so cute when you were young?It's really hard to watch!

After walking back and forth in the house for a few times, Nangong Le called his confidant, "Donglin, send someone to find out who betrayed Yin Sheng last time, and they will definitely make moves after being blocked by us last time!"

"Yes!"