On the official road at the north gate of Yangzhou, Su Jin took Ma Han, Zhao Hu, Zhang Long, and a small group of Ma soldiers along the official road to the north, through the valley and straight to Lanruo Temple.

Daylight was still early, and Su Jin left immediately after listening to Yan Biyun's introduction to Ouyang Xiu at the inn, so it was just now, and about an hour later, the dilapidated temple of Lanruo Temple was already in sight.

Everyone got off their horses and entered the temple, although it was the afternoon when the sun was yellow, the temple was still a gloomy atmosphere, even if it was warm daylight, it could not dispel the sneaky feeling brought by the long-term dilapidated temple.

Su Jin carefully checked the traces in the open space of the courtyard, and at the same time ordered everyone to search all the inside and outside of Lanruo Temple, up and down, there is no doubt that the judgment of the dynasty and Ma Han was right, this is the temporary storage place of the grain that night.

The ruts in the long grass were like rut marks, and the slightly soft turf was pressed out of deep ravines, indicating that there must be heavy objects on the vehicle.

"Son, shouldn't we take a closer look on the left, will this group of people hide the food somewhere nearby?" Mahan brought it up again, but the answer he received was exactly the same as what the dynasty had said.

"Impossible, it is impossible to pile up grain in the field, this is not to lead troops to fight, the grain is only prepared for more than ten days, and after eating, its own grain transport team will send it over, so as not to be damp and mildew; This is 1.8 million stone grain, and it will be stacked for at least two months before the grain will be cut off in Yangzhou City, so that they can pull it back and continue to sell it at a high price, and put it in the field for these two months, are you kidding? Unless Feng Jingyao took precautions, he would have planned that the imperial court would send someone to investigate this year, but he was not a half-immortal, how could he guess? Su Jin rejected Mahan's proposal.

"So what do we do?"

"It must be transported to a place where there are hiding conditions, they dare not in Yangzhou Prefecture, if the people find out, when they enter the city to buy and sell, they will inevitably talk about the leakage, and it must be transported to Tianchang; Without further ado, let's go to Tianchang to find Li Zhong immediately. With his help, we will find out. ”

Su Jin turned over and got on the horse as he spoke, and when he galloped out of the courtyard first, Ma Han waved his hand and shouted: "Everyone get on the horse and go to Tianchang." ”

Everyone got on their horses one after another, and dozens of horsemen kicked up dust and sand and went straight to the northwest along the official road.

……

The dynasty rushed to Tianchang as early as noon, and after entering the city, he went to the county government to ask to see Li Chong, but he was empty, and the master told him that Li Xian Ling went to Hongcao Lake in the west of the city to take the people to repair the ditch and dig a ditch.

The dynasty hurriedly asked the master to take him to find it, but the master shirked the busy affairs at hand and refused, and the dynasty was anxious in a few words, and got on the horse with the body of the master.

After running out of the city for less than half a pillar of incense, the bones of the master were about to fall apart, and he opened his leaky mouth, swallowed his saliva and pointed to the front with difficulty...... Only...... Just in front, let the old man dismount, if it goes on like this, I'm afraid that the life of the old man will be in your hands. ”

Only then did the dynasty report him off the horse, and the master squatted on the side of the road and gasped for breath for a long time, then he eased up, limped and took the dynasty to turn around a willow forest at the intersection in front of him, and the dynasty's eyes suddenly opened up.

A large tidal flat stretches out in front of the eyes, and what is even more amazing is that the ground is full of red grass, although the leaves are withered, but the stems are tangled and red like fire, at a glance, it is like a burning carpet extending in front of you, one to the invisible distance.

Wang Chao praised: "What a big piece of grass, this place is really strange." ”

The master flattened his mouth and said: "Hehe, this master is afraid that it is the first time to come to our Tianchang County, this is the famous red grass lake in our Tianchang County, you see, red grass is everywhere, a green in spring, and a yellow in summer, as for the autumn and winter, the stem is like fire, the velvet flower is like snow, and the beauty of its scenery is rare." ”

Wang Chao laughed and said: "The good poems made by my husband are also easy to describe." What about Li County's order? Do you dig a ditch in this red grass beach? ”

The master pointed to the distance and said: "People are all over there, you see the pile of red grass where they are piled up, that is the county ordered them to lead people to dig ditches." ”

Wang Chao tied the horse to the willow tree and said, "Then I will go, and you will wait here, old man." ”

After that, he stretched out his feet and stepped on the red grass, the master was busy shouting 'no', but a step too late, as soon as the big feet of the dynasty stepped on the grass, he suddenly felt that his feet were soft, his body slipped, half of his legs fell deep into the mud, and he was busy supporting the ground with both hands, but his hands quickly fell in, and the whole person could not move on the red grass stall, like a big toad.

"Oops, evil gate!" Dynasty shouted.

"Don't move." The old man hurriedly said, hurriedly picked up a long stick on the side of the road, handed it to the dynasty, and used all his strength to pull the dynasty's body out, and the dynasty was full of mud and embarrassed.

"Your master is too anxious, these red grasses seem to be able to bear people, but the bottom is all sludge, and the depth is not topless; Although the grass stems are tangled, they are crisp and easy to break in winter, and it would be better in spring and summer. ”

Wang Chao crossed his hands and said, "This ...... How did they get there? ”

The master said: "Manpower will definitely be able to do it, how can there be a reason to be stumped by this sludge, you help me pull some wicker down, and the old man will help you make a pair of mudflat shoes to put on, and ensure that you will not fall into it." ”

Wang Chaoyiyan stretched out his hand and tore off a large bundle of thin wicker on the willow tree on the side of the road, and put a bunch in front of the master, curiously watching the master roll up his sleeves, spit and foam at the palm, rubbed his hands, and knitted them neatly.

After a while, the two wicker basket-like things were knitted, and the master said: "Step on one foot and tie it for you, and when you walk, you have to pick up your feet and lay them flat on the grass, so that you won't sink." ”

Wang Chao was a little unconvinced, but looking at the master's confident appearance, he hesitated again and again and finally raised his feet and stepped lightly on the grass with a small willow basket, only to feel that the grass under his feet sank down, and there was a crackling sound of grass stalks breaking, but it really did not fall.

Wang Chao was overjoyed, raised his thumb and said, "It's really useful." ”

The master grinned toothlessly and smiled: "Then there is still a fake? That's how we all walk here. ”

Wang Chao arched his hand and said: "Thank you, my husband is unreasonable, and I am offended, I will first go to your county order to report important things, and then come to apologize later, and take the time to invite you to eat and drink." ”

The master laughed and said: "Don't dare to be, go quickly, remember, raise your feet high, gently step on the grass and then exert yourself, and you will be safe." ”

Wang Chao agreed, turned around and stepped on the grass and slowly walked towards the piles of red grass.

A huge trench was dug out of the red grass beach, and Li Chong stood barefoot in the ankle-high muddy water, following hundreds of people in full swing; In the cold winter, Layue was covered with cotton clothes and felt cold, Li Chong and the others were all standing barefoot in the muddy water, only wearing thin clothes, but their faces were full of sweat beads.

Who would have thought that Li Chong, who usually recites poetry and paints and starts a poetry club, would be so pragmatic and able to endure hardships after becoming a county magistrate, and when it was passed to Luzhou, I am afraid that none of the familiar sons and ladies would believe it.

Wang Chao didn't believe it either, so he stood on the edge of the ditch and looked at Li Chong's appearance, he couldn't recognize each other, and looked at it for a long time, and then tentatively called out to the person who was covered with mud and seemed to be Li Chong: "Is it Li County's order?" ”

Li Chong looked up in amazement, recognized the dynasty at a glance, and was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise: "Is it a brother of the dynasty?" What are you doing here? How long has your son-in-law been here? ”

Wang Chao clasped his fists and saluted: "My son-in-law didn't come, so I came, but there is something important to discuss, and the son-in-law is still waiting for a reply." ”

Li hurriedly bent down to wash his hands and feet in the muddy water, walked up to the edge of the ditch along the wooden pedal, put on a cotton coat, and said with a smile: "This is rude, look at me, covered in mud." ”

Wang Dynasty pointed to the ravine and said, "This is ...... Do what? ”

Li Chongdao: "Brother Dynasty, don't you know, this year's drought is really terrible, I have almost no harvest of 300,000 acres of fields every day, just because there is no water for irrigation, and it makes the county anxious." ”

Wang Chao said: "This is not your fault Li County, God doesn't open his eyes, what can he do." ”

Li Zhong pointed to the vast distance of the Red Grass Lake and said: "There is really no way if it doesn't rain, but this Red Grass Beach is waterlogged all year round, and it can't be irrigated when there is water, how can this be relieved." ”

Wang Chao said: "Where did the water come from? It's just a piece of sludge. ”

Li Chongdao: "The center of Hongcao Lake is full of water, but it can't be used. ”

Wang Chao was stunned and said, "So you plan to dig a ditch to bring water over?" This is too difficult, I'm afraid it's more than ten miles away so far, and it depends on you people? ”

Li Chong laughed and said: "Brother, this ditch was dug in the hands of the predecessor Lord Bao, dug it, I, Li Chong, am stupid, is Lord Bao so stupid?" What do you see pouring out of this mud? Isn't this water? Don't look at this muddy land, the red grass has a well-developed root system and stores a lot of water, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the water seeping out of this muddy field cannot be contained in several large lakes; Did you see that? The mud we dug up on both sides of the ditch seeped into the ditch, if it wasn't for the ditch in front of us, this big ditch would be full at this moment. ”

It dawned on the dynasty that Li Chong and the others had just wanted to dig up a large mud pond, and the water seeping from both sides could be led along the ditch to the outside for irrigation, which was a bit like a spring of seeping water, and there was no need to dig into the water surface in the center of Hongcao Lake.

After understanding this, the dynasty was a little awe-inspired, Lord Bao's brain is really not covered.