Jiangzhou Governor's Mansion.
As night falls, other places have been shrouded in darkness, but the meeting hall in the northwest corner is now brightly lit.
Around the spacious hall, several arm-thick candles were lit, and the pale yellow flames swayed slightly with the breeze.
All the officials from the Jiangzhou Prefecture and officials from the county magistrate and above were present.
Dozens of people sat tremblingly on the chairs on both sides, looking worriedly at the dark-faced Beijing official in the main seat.
Xue Shiliang, the governor of Jiangzhou, sat at the bottom, lowered his head and respectfully reported the drought situation to the senior officials from Chang'an.
"Mr. Fang, there has been no rain in Jiangzhou for half a year, the water level of the Fen River has dropped to a record low, and most of the tributaries are about to dry up. The disaster in 11 counties in Jiangzhou is very serious!"
"More than 280,000 civilians have been affected by the disaster. Not to mention the need to irrigate the crop fields, drinking water is also a big problem."
"And hundreds of refugees pour into Jiangzhou every day , even if we open the warehouse to put food in, we are still under great pressure."
Xue Shiliang had a compassionate expression, looking as distressed as possible.
After he finished speaking, the county magistrates below also vomited their bitterness, and the scene was more lively than the vegetable market.
According to the general meaning of their discussion, Chang'an needs to allocate hundreds of thousands of dan of food to tide over the difficulties.
Fang Xuanling, who was in the year of Ai Fu, had just been renamed Wei Guogong by Li Shimin in February and promoted to Shangshu Zuopushe.
In the third month after his reassignment, he was assigned to direct drought relief. It has been more than two months since.
Fang Xuanling's originally fair complexion now looked like that of a poor peasant, dark and thin.
However, the sharp edge of the superior is even sharper than before, and people will feel an invisible pressure even if they sit still.
Fang Xuanling looked at the noisy officials, frowned and said nothing.
The originally indifferent expression also showed a bit of displeasure at this moment.
Just when the discussion is at its peak.
An elderly official wearing a light green official robe, a Liang Jinxian crown, a thin and dark face, and a three-inch white beard stood up.
Although he is old, his eyes are clear and energetic.
He folded his arms and bowed to Fang Xuanling, who was on the throne. "Li Gan, the magistrate of Longmen County, has met Fang Xiang and Mr. Xue."
If Li Gan didn't wear the county magistrate's official uniform and just looked at his appearance, Fang Xuanling would mistake him for an old farmer.
Compared with other officials who had fair and tender flesh, Fang Xuanling looked at him curiously, "How old is County Magistrate Li?"
"Xia Guan has just passed the age of Ai Fu." Li Gan was flattered and quickly bowed and saluted in response.
The year of taking AI is 50 years old. Li Gan has just passed the year of taking AI and is now 51 years old.
Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and made a little joke, "County Magistrate Li, based on your age, I have to call you brother in private."
"I don't dare to be a lower official. , The prime minister is so arrogant, the old man is just a minor official of the seventh rank." Li Gan was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed, and his words were trembling.
The other county magistrates looked at Li Gan thoughtfully, and felt a little offended when they saw Fang Xiang's cordial manner in speaking to him.
Li Gan did not get up, but knelt down to report with a determined expression.
"Mr. Fang, Longmen County has more than 500,000 acres of land and a population of more than 30,000 people."
"Only half of the 420,000 acres of farmland owned by several wealthy officials and gentry families has been affected. Ordinary people's 80,000 acres of low-grade farmland may not yield any harvest!"
"Wow..."
"Li Gan is looking for death!"
Amidst the noise, many words were directed at Li Gan, as if his report this time was a big deal.
Li Gan’s report revealed a big problem!
Two years ago, the Tang Dynasty issued an order that people over the age of 21 or men over the age of 18 would be allocated 20 acres of Yongye land and 80 acres of subdivided land.
According to the proportion, it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 6,000 adult men in Longmen County.
Thousands of people share 80,000 acres of land, with an average family holding less than 14 acres.
Fang Xuanling was not only proficient in military affairs, but also very proficient in civil and official affairs.
His eyebrows were raised, and his face was a bit sulky.
"Keep talking!"
Fang Xuanling's tone was a little louder, which showed that there was anger in his heart.
Li Gan withstood the pressure and continued to reveal the news.
"In the middle of Huaixia, someone blocked the entrance of the tributaries of the Fen River, causing all the tributaries to dry up, leaving tens of thousands of acres of fields downstream without water."
Following him The words fell.
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The noisy scene suddenly fell into deathly silence!
"This stupid young man really dares to say anything!"
The other officials secretly cursed in their hearts.
Seeing Fang Xuanling's darkened face, these people felt something was wrong.
Something is going to happen!
Next, Xue Shiliang turned around and looked at Li Gan with a venomous look in his eyes.
In his heart, Li Gan would never see the sun tomorrow.
In addition to him, the other officials present also wanted to cut him into pieces.
Fang Xuanling had a panoramic view of everyone's performance and snorted in her heart.
Although he was a civil servant, he followed Li Shimin in his expeditions to the north and south and conquered most of the Tang Dynasty.
Fang Xuanling suppressed the anger in her heart and looked at the restlessXue Shiliang.
"Master Xue, tell me, why is the tributary of Fenhe River blocked?" Fang Xuanling's tone remained calm.
Xue Shiliang froze, his mind quickly thinking of words to respond, and soon the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
He bowed respectfully to Fang Xuanling, then straightened his back.
"Prime Minister, don't listen to Magistrate Li's nonsense. After several months of severe drought, it is normal for the tributaries to dry up."
"As the parent official of Longmen County, Magistrate Li The tributary in the Longmen County section is blocked, and he is to blame!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Fang, I will investigate this matter strictly!"
Xue Shiliang is so cunning that he will take the blame! .
"This..."
Li Gan was speechless for a moment, and his face turned the color of pig liver.
It’s so shameless to confuse right and wrong!
"Yes, Prime Minister, there is no problem in the Zhengping County river section."
"There is no problem in the Yicheng County river section."
"Only in Longmen County Magistrate Li had to explain to the Prime Minister that such a ridiculous thing happened!"
"..."
Under the hint of Xue Shiliang's eyes, the five The fat and white county magistrate immediately jumped out to support Xue Shiliang.
It’s a matter of life and death, and these people work very hard.
I wish I could boast that the area under my jurisdiction is a place of clear seas and clear rivers, where singing and dancing are prosperous.
All the fingers were pointed at Li Gan, and no one spoke for him.
Although he was still sitting in the crowd, he was like an isolated ugly duckling, helpless and helpless.
The skinny head also lowered, and the hands on his knees were clasped tightly.
"Hey, brother Li Gan, you are really anxious! Will there be a place for you in Jiangzhou after today?"
At the table to the right of Li Gan, a thin man The middle-aged man sighed secretly.
When the middle-aged man looked at the row opposite, a thin middle-aged man with sharp eyes shook his head vaguely at him.
Fang Xuanling frowned at the embarrassed Jiangzhou officials and gave the order directly.
"Tomorrow you will accompany me to visit 11 counties. I would like to trouble you to stay one night in the governor's mansion tonight. No one is allowed to leave the governor's mansion. Violators will be killed without mercy!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Fang, not a single mosquito can fly out!"
Niu Jinda, who had been standing behind Fang Xuanling without speaking, took a few steps forward, his cold face reflected in the candlelight. gradually appears.
Only then did Xue Shiliang notice Niu Jinda behind Fang Xuanling.
He was seen holding a spear, wearing heavy black armor, and his body was as strong as an iron tower.
Other county magistrates may not know who Niu Jinda is, but he knows!
The emperor’s imperial army, the Thousand Niu Guards command the cattleCome on!
Cold sweat broke out on Xue Shiliang's back.
"This is really troublesome!"