Chapter 725 Fundraising

Chapter 725 Fundraising

Chapter 725 Fundraising
The first day of July in the third year of Shengui (319).

When I opened my eyes, it was raining again.

The maids were chattering outside the window.

"There was too much rain and the melons rotted."

"Will the millet beans I planted last month survive?"

"Look how long it's been raining."

"Alas, if it keeps raining, will there be food next year? We can't even get enough to eat right now."

The maids talked for a while and then left, full of sorrow.

Cui sat up from the couch and became a little more sober.

It has been more than two months since I returned to Qinghe, and today is the day I leave.

But - what can I do when I go back?

Cui looked down at her curvy body, then touched her delicate face and sighed.

Even such beauty cannot bind that man.

Isn’t he just like Cao Mengde, who likes to conquer other people’s wives?
The few times he came to see her, he was very rough and when he used force, he pinched her so hard that it hurt.

It’s a pity that I didn’t get pregnant those times.

Cui sighed secretly, stood up and called the maid.

After washing, changing clothes, and dressing up, she went to the outer room to have breakfast, and then she saw her uncles Cui Liang and Cui Jing coming in together.

Cui immediately stepped forward and saluted.

"Sit down, sit down." Cui Liang pointed at the couch and said with a smile.

Cui Jing also nodded with a smile.

Of these two people, Cui Liang, who once served as the Grand Herald, was the most prominent. Cui Jing had been studying in his hometown and had never taken up an official position.

"My dear niece, you've been home for two months. Are you used to it?" Cui Liang asked with a smile.

This is Qinghe, where Cui grew up, and Cui Liang and Cui Jing have always lived in Dongwu City.

After Cui returned home, Cui Liang and Cui Jing showed up at the beginning, but then they didn't come back. If there was anything, other members of the clan would pass it on. Now that they were about to leave, the two showed up again.

"After marrying far away, I always miss home." Cui smiled, looking like a quiet and gentle woman. She said, "I feel quite nostalgic when I see the plants and trees of my youth."

"I heard that my niece also wrote two poems about returning home?" Cui Liang asked with great interest.

Cui lowered her head shyly and said, "I'm afraid I'll be laughed at if I don't do it well."

Cui Liang and Cui Jing looked at each other and laughed.

"I admire niece Qing'e's talent. She is no worse than those young men in the clan." Cui Jing said, "Lord Liang has won many battles in Bingzhou and has become an unstoppable force. He is a perfect match for niece Qing'e."

"That's right." Cui Liang stroked his beard and said with a smile, "My niece has found a good man."

Cui's face turned red, she was too embarrassed to control herself.

Cui Liang and Cui Jing looked at each other again.

Others may not know what kind of person this niece is, but don’t they know?
During the Youzhou Rebellion in the past, Lu Zidao came to Wang Jun's house and asked Qinghe Cui to contact his niece Qing'e and let her seduce Wang Jun.

She is not some simple foolish woman.

Of course, this does not mean that the two elders have any opinion on Cui. In fact, they really hope that this niece has some scheming, and it would be best if she can consolidate her favor and win the favor of Lord Liang.

Things have come to this point, and even if we have different opinions, we must face reality.

The war since March really surprised the Qinghe Cui family.

Before the war, they privately thought that Duke Liang could win, but it would be a long, arduous war with huge casualties. But they didn't expect that in early June, they had basically captured the four counties of Shangdang, Leping, Taiyuan, and Xinxing. If it weren't for the heavy rain, Duke Liang might have been able to reach Pingyang in one go and drive the Xiongnu to Hexi.

What does this mean? It means that there is no one in the world who can control Lord Liang.

After twenty years of chaos, the world seemed to be unified again and a new dynasty was born.

Some people may worry that this dynasty will fall in the second generation and the world will fall apart again, but to be honest, that is too far away. Judging from the current situation, it is definitely worth a try.

If you don't fight, someone else will. Can the Cui family of Qinghe bear this situation?

As a prominent family in Jizhou, the Qinghe Cui family often had members who became high-ranking officials such as the Nine Ministers - such as the former Grand Herald Cui Liang - but overall they were not as dazzling as the Wenxi Pei family, the Taiyuan Wang family, the Langya Wang family, the Taishan Yang family and the like, and were always just a little bit short.

But just this "little bit" often requires a hundred times more effort to overcome, and it is not that simple.

If you can take a shortcut, that would be great.

"After my niece returns to Yecheng, will she go to Jinyang to serve Lord Liang?" Cui Liang asked again.

Cui shook her head and said, "When Lord Liang went to war, women were not allowed in the army."

"Oh?" Cui Liang and Cui Jing were a little surprised.

Since the Three Kingdoms period, it has been common for the army to have female musicians and dancers. This is an elegant thing for scholars. What is there to be taboo about? It's over, it's over.

"Lord Liang did have this rule, and he even reprimanded his officers for it, saying, 'The soldiers are half dead in the field, but the beauties are still singing and dancing in the tent.' This decadent music ruined the morale of our army." Cui said, "Since then, no women have been seen in the army. If you want to see Lord Liang, you have to wait until he returns to Yecheng."

Cui Liang and Cui Jing had a new understanding of Shao Xun.

This is a ruthless person.

While others were just pretending to till the land, he once worked hard in Liang County, and Hu Wu Fuzhi made a big fuss about it.

I heard that he would get up early in the morning to practice martial arts most of the time and never gave up his skills, so he was strong and energetic.

Now when we go to war, we ban women from the army, concentrate on the war, and make people look at us with new eyes. Everything is afraid of comparison. This comparison makes all the scholars and generals look down upon.

Cui Liang tapped the table with his index finger and pondered for a long time.

Cui Jing kept silent and thought silently.

Cui waited quietly.

After a long while, Cui Liang sighed and said, "To take the land of the Xiongnu and place it in China. This ambition is also very much in my heart. Alas, no matter how difficult the days are, I should be generous in this great event."

"Brother, you are right." Cui Jing nodded slightly.

"The three-crop system in the past two years was also promoted by Lord Liang." Cui Liang added, "Well, I will go and visit various places to find a way to collect some food and grass for Lord Liang. Now that the locust plague is everywhere in Qingxu, and Yuyan is also affected, Lord Liang must be in a difficult situation. By the way, does he want cattle, sheep and other livestock?"

Cui was secretly delighted, but her expression remained unchanged. She only said, "That's right. The flood has not receded yet, and it is too late to grow crops in Jinyang. However, grazing can make up for some food. Lord Liang is brave and wise, and he will definitely see your uncle's hard work."

Cui Liang waved his hand and said, "It's just for the sake of the people of the world and the Chinese tradition. It has nothing to do with personal interests."

"How can I stay at home with such a scholar?" Cui Jing said, "I have to go out and ask my students if they are willing to support this event."

After saying this, he and Cui Liang looked at each other and smiled.

There is no love for no reason, and no hate for no reason.

As soon as the niece came back, she tactfully revealed the news: Lord Liang wanted to take her into his house.

She is a lady now, but after becoming emperor she will be a concubine, and her status will be completely different.

With this status, it is not impossible to contribute some money and food.

After making a generous donation, they will observe whether Mr. Liang will reciprocate the favor.

If there are subsequent benefits, then we will support him even more in the future. Whether it is helping him pacify the counties of Jizhou, raising money and food, or sending private soldiers to assist in the war, all are possible.

Mr. Liang's reputation in Hebei is not very good. Doesn't he need to change it? Doesn't he need others to whitewash and promote it?
This is what they excel at.

******
The grand court meeting on the first day of July was rather delicate, as the emperor left halfway through.

After court dismissal, Wang Yan worked until the evening and then returned home.

After nightfall, the mansion was filled with guests and it was very lively.

He is now qualified to do so.

In the first month of the year, my daughter Jingfeng gave birth to a daughter.

In February, my daughter Huifeng gave birth to a son.

While Wang Laodeng was happy, he sometimes had some small emotions: You little brat, my two daughters are not young anymore, but you still don't know how to cherish them, it's really...

However, he was generally happy, although there were some side effects: in recent months, Yu Min had secretly opposed him several times, the Shangshu Tai was almost run like an iron barrel, and several of Wang's old officials were directly kicked out.

Hey, so what?

Yu Ziju's vision is still too narrow. He only cares about trivial matters, but he doesn't realize that at this moment, whoever can bring greater help to Lord Liang will be more respected.

Although Pei's contribution to the battle of Xishibao was in the making, he also used his old relationship with Si Tu Liu Tun, who secretly defected to him, to instigate several of Wang Mi's generals to rebel. Liu Tun was from the Liu family of Donglai and was a fellow villager of Wang Mi.

The Pei family of Wenxi, the Liu family of Donglai, the Wen family of Taiyuan - these are the families that Wang Yan won over under the new interest structure.

The surrender of the Taiyuan Guo family was also a foregone conclusion.

After Guo Rong surrendered, he was lucky enough to be appointed as a governor. If he wanted to go further, he had to have a backer in the court. So, besides Wang Yan, was there any other choice?
No!

If Taiyuan Guo wanted to seek refuge with others, no one would dare to accept him. Ask Yu Chen, Yu Min, and Yu Hua if they trust him?
It seems that the focus of the next layout will be placed on Bingzhou.

This is a place where you can excel for a long time, easily gain Mr. Liang's attention, and achieve results relatively well.

The Wang family does not have enough sons, but they can always find suitable talents through their in-laws.

Unconsciously, Wang Yan found his comfort zone again, just like when the previous emperor and the current emperor first ascended the throne, the prestige of the court was still there, and he continued to manipulate the situation to gain benefits for the Wang family.

But after the war in Luoyang, he suddenly lost his composure and became a little at a loss.

Now that Lord Liang has restored order, Wang Yan feels like a fish in water again.

To put it bluntly, Lao Deng is most afraid of warriors turning the table over and not talking to you rationally - he only talks rationally, not turning the table over...

There are two main reasons why Wang Yan is hosting a banquet in his mansion tonight.

One is to make the small group more cohesive and facilitate future actions.

The second is to “attract sponsorship”.

The "sons-in-law" all wrote back asking us to collect food, cattle and sheep, because the food previously planned was not enough.

There is a locust plague in Henan and relief is needed.

There was a flood in Bingzhou and relief was needed.

Some areas in northern Hebei have also been affected by high-intensity rainfall and require relief.

Since the capture of Xin'an, the manors in Henan County have recovered somewhat. Several years have passed since then, and everyone has accumulated some food and livestock.

We can collect some of them and send them to Bingzhou to save Duke Liang from his danger.

But Shancai was reluctant to leave, and at this time he was still needed to step forward and do the work.

Of course this is not difficult.

In two and a half months, they conquered four counties, killed Liu Yao, defeated Shi Le, and expelled Liu Yasheng, and their momentum was as high as a rainbow. When the flood receded and the war resumed, there might be even greater results.

If I don’t do something to show off my face now, will there be another chance in the future?
(End of this chapter)