"The countermeasures of the imperial court are actually very simple, the emperor will immediately consult with the two governments and three divisions, and plan to make a strict decree to order that within a month, merchants and scholars who have more than 5,000 stone of grain will take the initiative to hand over the grain to the official warehouse according to the official price, and those who fail to pay it within the time limit will be inspected and handled with the department.

Su Jinda frowned and asked, "Is there anything else?" ”

Yan Shu said: "Order the head of the local officials to personally supervise this matter, cooperate with the three divisions and the grain envoy to raid the house of the giant merchant Dajia, and severely punish those who do not comply with the will of the imperial court within the time limit, and completely crack down on the trend of hoarding." ”

Su Jin said: "Isn't this the same as before?" ”

Yan Shu said: "What? Isn't that enough? ”

Su Jin's face was extremely ugly, and he said lightly: "With all due respect, it's strange that this kind of method can make a name for itself, and it is not excluded that there are timid people who will hand over the food stored at home, but I'm afraid it will have little effect." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "Fan Yongzeng, the envoy of the third secretary of the second year of the Heavenly Sage, also wrote about this matter, and I also issued an edict to do this that year, and the wind of hoarding was stopped, this method has worked, this time it is just to use it again, does Su Jin think that this method will not work?" ”

Su Jindao: "Your Majesty, the matter of the second year of Tiansheng is not clear to the grass people, as far as I know, the emperor has rectified the hoarding several times since he ascended the throne, and the grass people have read the records of the three divisions, I am afraid that there are no less than four times, but why are the prohibitions more and more rampant?" Why is that? I don't know if the emperor has thought about it. ”

Zhao Zhen pondered: "The country is difficult, and the constant floods and droughts are a major reason. ”

Su Jin said: "The emperor is reasonable, the frequent occurrence of disasters and famines is the inducement, but businessmen seek profits, collusion between officials and businessmen is the key to this matter, the grass people think that the grain is like a war, and also pay attention to the time and place of the people, the famine is the time of the day, the time is immutable, and the location is the governance, sharpening the knife and not cutting wood, these years I don't know whether the local and imperial court have invested in the water conservancy measures of the grain production land, the lakes and rivers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang come and go, if it is said that the waterlogging grass people can understand, but if it is said that the drought caused a large-scale reduction in grain production, It's just a joke. ”

Yan Shu said with a calm face: "For the purpose of water conservancy, the local government has long been intercepted, how can you say that the imperial court has not invested in this matter?" ”

Su Jin said with a smile: "My lord is angry, since the imperial court has allocated a special fund for water conservancy, then it is a matter of people; Businessmen are desperate to pursue profits, whether officials have used the water conservancy money to do other things, or even put it in their own pockets, and whether there is any ulterior alliance between officials and businessmen, these are all things that need to be clarified. The time and place are favorable, which link is not done well, this matter will be endless and never peaceful, not to mention that it is in vain to ban four times even ten times and eight times. ”

Zhao Zhen's face was extremely ugly, as an emperor, how could he not know that these things really existed, but this kind of thing was intertwined and involved, and he wanted to do it but couldn't do it; Yan Shu understands even better, he is in charge of the three divisions, nothing has happened, and occasionally there are officials who are greedy. The outbreak of corruption cases also involved most of the affairs of grain, cotton, salt and iron, but he was just a money bag, and he had no power or intention to do these things.

Su Jin said: "These things are too complicated, the grass people know that it is not an overnight effort, but there is one, water conservancy matters must be grasped, ditches and ditches are of great use to drain and fight drought, and the water shortage land should be dug and built to intercept the surplus, and the abundant rain will be retained, and the year of the drought can be irrigated, so that the manpower is not limited to the time of day, and the loss caused by the time of day can be reduced." ”

Zhao Zhen clapped his hands and said: "Su Jin has the talent to assist the country, although these things are clichés, but the outline to find out the key is indeed to need some insight, but as far as the current situation is concerned, how do you need the imperial court to assist?" The matter of water conservancy is a later story. ”

Su Jin said: "The effect of blind strict coercion is not necessarily good, most of those who dare to hoard food must have already thought of countermeasures or retreats, and if they make a holy decree, let alone food, they may not even be able to find their warehouse; As long as there is a way to get the news and things are done cleanly, even if you know that he must store food, you will never get the handle. ”

"Then keep an eye on him, so that he does not dare to sell grain, and when there is a famine he will take them as soon as he sells grain." Yan Shu said viciously.

Su Jin couldn't cry or laugh, what kind of brain is this Yan Shu, why does he always say these inappropriate words today.

In that case, how can we achieve our goal, not to mention the cost of manpower? The grain can't be collected, the northwest army will run out of food, and the displaced people will be in chaos everywhere, and it won't be able to end at that time" Su Jin said softly in a light tone, so as not to embarrass Yan Shu too much.

Yan Shu's face turned red, and he was shocked to lose his words, he was a little stunned by Su Jin today, such a simple matter was not well thought out.

"I know that the adults said this on purpose to see my reaction, but don't worry, although I am young, it doesn't mean that my brain is stupid, and some things can be understood without waiting for the adults to remind me." Su Jin gently sent a ladder to Yan Shu's feet, allowing him to step down safely.

Yan Shu got off the donkey and smiled happily: "Yes, the old man didn't mistake you, tell me what you want the court to do." ”

Su Jin smiled and said: "Then the grass people are making a lot of nonsense, and the emperor and Lord Yan ignore the mistakes." ”

Zhao Zhen and Yan Shu said in their hearts: "Do you have less words today?" It's just that at this time, it's polite. ”

"The grass people divide this matter into two stages, which can be called the first salute and then the soldiers, or one light and one dark; First of all, please ask the emperor to decree that the hoarded grain will be purchased at a price higher than the market price of one percent, and at the same time release a rumor to state the purchase period, after this period, the purchase price will be according to the official price, the official price should be set low, to the point that people can not bear it, the grass people think that three hundred Wen and one stone is enough; If there is any more hoarding and non-payment, it will be severely punished and will not be loaned. ”

"This part should be known to everyone, and the imperial court should order the officials at all levels to publish notices, beat gongs and drums every day to recite notices in towns and villages, and build momentum with great fanfare; In this way, at least a small number of people can't bear the pressure to sell the grain to the official family, and every merchant who takes the initiative to sell the court must give a reward, can give the royal pen plaque, can give the talent quota, can give the official body, in short, what honor they want, we will give, but it is a false title, and it is not worth anything; This will inevitably arouse the will of many people; The grass people believe that on the one hand, it is the situation that the imperial court is rewarded and the market price is one percent more profitable, and on the other hand, the imperial court is resolute and resolute after the deadline, and many people will make wise choices when the two sides are compared. ”

Yan Shu patted his thigh and said: "With you, a two-pronged approach, starting from the hearts of the people, this trick is tricky enough." ”

Zhao Zhen said happily: "It's a good way, but I'm a little worried that the imperial court has so much money and silver to buy grain on a large scale?" How can the market price be consistently more, there is no money in the treasury, how to cash it out? ”

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "This is easy to do, give half of it, and the remaining IOU is." ”

Zhao Zhen was stunned and said, "Can this work?" ”

Su Jin said: "Why not? , can the court still pay back the money owed? If the emperor is unhappy, all taxes will be raised by 30% next year, and everyone will be unlucky; No one will speak if you scare and scare, but this IOU must be issued by the three divisions, and Lord Yan must be stamped with a big seal, so that no one is worried. ”

Yan Shu rolled his eyes and muttered in a low voice: "It should be signed and sealed by the emperor, but this country is the emperor." ”

Zhao Zhen smiled and said: "Yan Aiqing, I have wronged you, isn't the money owed by the third division the money owed by me?" I'm not going to pay my bills. ”

Yan Shu looked at Su Jin, and he couldn't wait to go up and strangle this white-faced boy to death.

"What's next? There must be many people who are stubborn, and the court's reward is better than the pile of money that is not as good as the mountain. Zhao Zhen said.

Su Jin said: "The next thing is going to be dark, all that is left are some old fritters, and I have seen a lot of winds and waves, so I will be the wind in my ears for these actions of the imperial court; Don't be polite to them, this part of the matter will be carried out secretly, and the specific situation depends on the specific situation, so you have to play tricks with them, and even meet each other. ”

Zhao Zhen said: "Act in a measured manner, don't make a storm in the city, then I can't protect you." ”

Su Jin smiled: "Don't worry, everything will be done according to the law, but I still have to be given convenience by the imperial court." ”

Zhao Zhen said: "You say, what do you need?" ”

"First, I want to ask the emperor for some guards in the capital, and a general can lead the army, but you have to listen to my deployment."

"I give you the right to mobilize a hundred troops that you can go to the local area to transfer troops, why do you need a Praetorian Guard?"

Su Jin said: "Box soldiers? It's better not to, the local soldiers will listen to me? Even if you listen to it, it's against the yang, if you come to report a few things, what else will I do on this errand? ”

"At the end of the day, you don't trust the local officials."

"Of course I don't believe it, I help in the open, and I hinder in secret, there are definitely such people, if the emperor thinks this move is inappropriate, then give up."

Zhao Zhen looked at Yan Shu, Yan Shu nodded slightly, Zhao Zhen turned to Su Jin and said, "I have answered this one." ”