Sun Ce came to the atrium, planning to go to the county guard's mansion to chat with Qiao Rui and learn about the recent situation in Runan.

Going to Xiao County made him feel the tension of food, but the Runan family enjoyed his protection but did not pull out a dime, he couldn't let the Runan family be so proud, he had to find a way to pull a little more grain out of their mouths, otherwise this battle would not be able to fight. It is too unreasonable to have a large county but no food to support the soldiers. It's already April, if you want to get wool, you have to grind the shears now, this year's autumn harvest is early, and the grains will be returned to the warehouse in August, ready to count.

Zhang Hong was standing in the courtyard, talking to Guo Jia. The two spoke very speculatively, chuckling from time to time. Hearing the footsteps, Zhang Hong turned around and took a look, put away the smile on his face, greeted him, and bowed his hand.

Sun Ce said with a smile: "Changshi doesn't have to be so polite, there are no outsiders here." ”

"General, the gentleman is cautious. Etiquette is never for people to see, but for the sake of respecting the inferior, distinguishing the noble from the low, and dividing power and responsibility. Even if it is a father and son, when they come to this court, they are monarchs and ministers, not to mention different surnames. ”

Sun Ce knew that Zhang Hong understood etiquette, but he was by no means the kind of antique who was stubborn about etiquette, and when he suddenly heard him say this, he knew that he had something in his words. He looked at Zhang Hong, and then at Guo Jia. After Zhang Hong came, he shared part of the affairs and changed his mentality, and Guo Jia's complexion improved a little in the past two days.

Seeing Sun Ce looking at him, Guo Jia smiled and said, "General, Mr. Zigang has been waiting here for a long time, and he knows that the general is facing the wall, so he doesn't dare to disturb." ”

Sun Ce smiled and scratched his head in embarrassment.

"It's rare for a general to have a pure heart. It is equally rare for a general to have such a mother. I have a reluctant invitation and want to see Lingtang, can I? ”

"Absolutely."

Sun Ce agreed without thinking. In this era, women do not have the rule of not leaving the door and not stepping out of the second door, and it is common for women to come out to entertain and receive guests when their husbands are not at home. Not everyone can see the inner family, but it's not impossible to see it, it's just a choice. It is not uncommon for good friends to visit their mothers. Zhang Hong took the initiative to invite Mrs. Wu, not only thinking that Mrs. Wu could suppress him Sun Ce, but also taking the initiative to surrender. He and Sun Ce have become very close since they met, and it is not rude to take the initiative to ask for a meeting.

Sun Ce immediately entered the inner hall to ask for instructions, and Mrs. Wu was also very happy when she heard that it was Guangling Zhang Hong. When she was in Shu County, she heard people talk about Zhang Hong and said that he was a famous man. Sun Ce has always been at odds with celebrities, but she is naturally happy that there are celebrities attached to him.

With the permission of Mrs. Wu, Sun Ce personally welcomed Zhang Hong in. Mrs. Wu lowered her rank to greet her, and asked Sun Quan and others to come out, and greeted Zhang Hong one by one, treating Zhang Hong as an equal, with thoughtful etiquette. The two politely spoke for a while, Mrs. Wu entrusted Sun Ce to Zhang Hong, and asked Zhang Hong to advise Sun Ce, Zhang Hong expressed his allegiance and established the relationship between the monarch and the minister, and then retreated.

Guo Jia accompanied him throughout the whole process, respectfully and respectfully, and did not dare to be the slightest rude. This was very different from the impression he had left on Sun Ce before. When he saw Zhang Zhao, he didn't have such rules. Out of the inner courtyard, back to the atrium, looking for an opportunity, Sun Ce arched Guo Jia's arm. Guo Jia understood, leaned sideways, leaned into Sun Ce's ear and said: "Zhang Zigang is through the scriptures, both grand and refined, brilliant but not a celebrity, with great wisdom, not upright but self-righteous. ”

Sun Ce agreed. Zhang Hong is also a Confucian in essence, but he does not speak the truth at every turn, but can subtly let you understand the truth yourself, and unconsciously accept his advice. Historically, Sun Ce didn't have to say anything, he listened to his words, even Sun Quan listened to him in major matters, and he never had a lot of trouble like with Zhang Zhao.

Qiao Rui and Xu Shao were waiting in the atrium, and when they saw Sun Ce, they hurriedly came over to salute. Sun Ce smiled while returning the salute: "Gong Qiao, I was about to go to you, but you came over first." Xu Zijiang, who have you commented on in the two months that I have been in Pingyu? Why don't you recommend a few talents to me? ”

Xu Zi will be embarrassed. After being rectified twice by Sun Ce, his reputation was greatly damaged, and he had stopped commenting on Yuedan.

Seeing this, Qiao Rui took over the topic. "What did the general say, you are back, I will naturally come over to report on official business, how dare I drive you to the county guard's mansion. Xu Zi will be a county gongcao, and it is his responsibility to recommend talents to me, and the general can't rob it. No, two days ago, he just recommended a talented man to me. ”

"Who?"

"Cheng Bingcheng Deshu, a native of Nanton, is a disciple of Zheng Kangcheng."

Xu Shao stroked his beard and looked at Sun Ce with a provocative gaze. "Would you like to see the general?"

Sun Ce smiled. "Since Qiao Gong and Xu Gongcao both mentioned this person, I naturally want to meet him. Qiao Gong, what position does this Cheng Bing hold in Taishou Mansion? ”

"The county school sacrificial wine."

Sun Ce glanced at Xu Shao again. Xu Shao's eyes flashed, and then he faced Sun Ce firmly. Sun Ce sighed secretly. It seems that Qiao Rui is not suitable to be Runan Taishou, he can't control Xu Shao at all, and he is led by Xu Shao's nose. He just planned to ask Zhang Zhao to serve as the school sacrifice wine of Runan County, and Xu Shao immediately recommended Cheng Bing, which was a clear dismantling of the stage and grabbing the position. Otherwise, why didn't he recommend it before, but now he recommends it?

In the final analysis, the Yuedan Commentary is public opinion, Xu Shao presided over the Yuedan Commentary is to use public opinion to influence the use of human rights in the government, he is now a county Gongcao, a public and private grasp, who can serve in the Taishou Mansion, who can't, he alone has the final say, those who want to be officials still care about Qiao Rui?

However, if you want to play yin with me, how can I let you take advantage of it. No matter how influential you are, can you still influence the candidates for Taishou? Qiao Rui is incompetent, Lao Tzu will change a powerful one, and even your gong cao will be taken out when the time comes.

Let you be proud for a few days, and then wait for Zhang Zhao to come back.

Sun Ce invited Qiao Rui and Xu Shao to the stage and asked about the government affairs during this time. Qiao Rui reported one by one. When Sun Ce was fighting abroad, Runan was busy with spring ploughing, and everything was going well. There was a little fighting on the Sanguan side, but Li Tong guarded it firmly and didn't let Liu Xun and Huang Yi take advantage of it. With Xu Shao's help, he adjusted some candidates for the officials of the Taishou Mansion, and it is now running well.

Zhang Hong suddenly opened his mouth and grabbed the topic. "Qiaofujun, how many households are there in the entire Runan now?"

Qiao Rui gave Xu Shao a look. Xu Shao bowed and said, "Last year's data was 317,865 households, with a population of 1,579,130. ”

"More than the year before last, or less?"

"There are thirty-seven thousand six hundred and forty-one households missing, and one hundred and fifty-five thousand seven hundred and sixty-one households. However, there should be an increase this year. ”

"Why?"

"Runan originally had more than 400,000 households and more than 300 households, but since the Yellow Turbans, many people have become thieves, and there have been major wars one after another, and there has been a lot of population loss. However, this year, there is a general sitting in Runan, and there is no war in Runan, so the number of household registrations will naturally increase. Xu Shao arched his hand and said solemnly: "This is the general's grace to this county, and my Runan gentry keep it in mind, and I am planning to set up a monument for the general, and my name will be remembered by future generations." ”

Sun Ce raised his eyebrows. You're fucking hard, aren't you? Are you erecting a monument to record your merits, or are you cursing me to die early?

"Xu Jun, you misunderstood, it's not that I don't want to fight, but I can't afford to fight. Just to drive Liu Bei out of Peiguo, I owe tens of thousands of stone grain to Xuzhou. Liu Bei retreated to Yanzhou, eyeing the tiger, Chen Deng forcibly seized the Lujiang River, also with bad intentions, after the autumn harvest, there will be a big war. This food must be prepared in advance. ”