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When the imperial chef saw the emperor, he knelt down in fright.

Zhao Han said with a smile: "Get up, don't kneel, I'm cooking a new dish today, you guys come over and watch how it's done."

The behavior of the emperor had already alarmed the harem, and the concubines came to watch the fun one after another.

The sisters Fei Rulan and Fei Rumei stood beside them dignifiedly, but Fei Rumei's eyes rolled around, as if she was surprised by the layout of the imperial dining room.

Liu Rushi, Tian Xiuying, Lu Tianxiang and other concubines looked at the emperor with a smile and whispered.

Pan Qimei was the most serious, she squeezed to the emperor's side, obviously wanting to learn this dish.

Zhao Han ordered the selection of concubines among Zhuang women, but they have not yet been selected.In fact, the Zhuang villages all over the country were vying for the concubine's place, and an armed conflict almost broke out. The Guangxi chief envoy Shangshu asked if they could present two Zhuang concubines at the same time.

Zhao Han asked the chef to wash the tomatoes, scald them with boiling water and peel off the skins, then picked up the kitchen knife and started cutting.

I haven't held a kitchen knife for many years, and it's a bit difficult, but the foundation of knife skills is still there.More than a dozen tomatoes have been cut, and it seems that there are plenty of vegetables to be fried.

The technique of beating eggs with one hand has not recovered, and the imperial cooks are very friendly, and they believe in the rumor that the emperor's ancestors were cooks.

There are several ways to make tomato scrambled eggs.

Zhao Han first heated the pan with oil, poured the egg liquid, then put in the tomatoes, sprinkled with various seasonings, and finally thickened the pan.

"So simple?" Pan Qimei was a little disappointed.

In this time and space, the world's first plate of tomato scrambled eggs was quickly served on a large plate by the emperor, and it must have spread to restaurants and restaurants in Nanjing City this year.

Zhao Han had a great sense of accomplishment. He took a bite with his chopsticks, nodded and said, "It's the taste. Don't be dazed. Come and taste it. No one in the world has tasted it."

Pan Qimei hurriedly stepped aside and asked Fei Rulan to taste it first.

Fei Rulan picked up the scrambled egg with tomato, raised her sleeve to cover her mouth, and began to taste it gracefully.The entrance is sweet and sour, and the umami taste is strong, which surprised her:

"I didn't expect that tomatoes from overseas, fried together with eggs, would be so delicious."

"I'll try it, let me try it!" Fei Rumei jumped over.

Fei Rumei's movements were much rougher, although she still covered her mouth with her sleeve, but her speed was extremely fast, and she would smack her mouth after eating, which is really not dignified and elegant.She licked her lips and said, "Take another bite, I can't taste it."

Fei Rumei moved away only after her mouth was dripping with oil.

The empresses and concubines tasted it all, and there was still a little left on the plate, so Zhao Han asked several royal chefs to taste it too: "After you practice, you can pass it on to the people.

The royal meal is not exclusive to the royal family. This tomato scrambled egg should be eaten by the common people. "

Needless to say, in the suburbs of Nanjing next year, the tomato planting area will definitely increase greatly.

Tomato scrambled eggs are delicious on the one hand, and on the other hand, it is rumored from the palace that the royal family can always lead various fashions.

In addition to food, there is also clothing.

Zhao Han has already ordered that women in the palace, no matter whether they are concubines, officials or court ladies, are not allowed to corset their breasts in the future.At the same time, the clothing has to be changed slightly, and the fabric is partially added to highlight the chest.

The emperor likes big breasts, and the folks must follow suit.

Chapter 673 [Grannary]

"Your Majesty, according to local reports, Shaanxi and Henan have experienced a severe drought this year, and some prefectures and counties may lose more than [-]% of their autumn grain harvest.

"Let's help as much as possible."

Last year, the whole country was in good weather, and this year God started to make troubles again.

In the north where there have been no major disasters for several years, the drought in Shaanxi and Henan provinces has lasted for half a year this year, and there was not much snow even last winter.At the same time, the Yangtze River, Ganjiang River, and Huaihe River basins experienced heavy rains again after July, and the water levels of rivers and lakes in various places continued to rise. .

Fortunately, after several years of immigration and reclamation, the Changping warehouses in various counties and counties in Henan are more or less stocked with grain.Moreover, farmers in Henan have only started to pay the land tax in full this year, and every household actually has food in storage.

Even if there is a shortage of food in Shanxi and Henan provinces, it is not necessary to transfer all of them from the south, but directly use the Changping warehouse in Henan, and the effect of Zhao Han's recuperation is immediately highlighted.

At the same time when the central government ordered the distribution of food and disaster relief, the inspectors of the clean government were also dispatched.

Whenever there is a big move involving money and food, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will send inspectors to supervise it either explicitly or covertly.

Xiaohong is a woman, so it is inconvenient to visit secretly, she is in the open this time.

Going up the Grand Canal, the flood has just receded, and the people on both sides are rushing to harvest rice.Most of the rice is soaked in water, and if soaked for two more days, it will all rot.

"Look at Huang Xiantai, there are peasant associations and peasant-soldier flags there!"

The person who spoke was Zhan Wenfeng, a female inspector of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Zhan Wenfeng was booked by Xiaohong before she graduated from Jinling University, and she entered the Metropolitan Procuratorate immediately after finishing her studies.Of course, that was before the resumption of the imperial examination, and now you must take the imperial examination first.

Standing on the deck of the official ship, Xiaohong raised her eyes and saw the flag flying on the shore.

Xiaohong sighed: "It seems that the matter is urgent, and the local magistrate has to use the peasant association and peasant soldiers. Nowadays, except for building bridges and paving roads, these two flags are rarely seen."

The farmland on both sides of the bank that has been flooded must be harvested in a hurry, and a lot of manpower must be dispatched.

At this time, the government can mobilize the masses and make overall arrangements without favoritism.Which paddy field needs to be harvested first, which farmland can be abandoned directly, and which farmland needs to be mobilized. Only with a plan can efficiency be improved.

Of course, the farmers who received the help had to express themselves afterwards.For example, one person from each household will be responsible for repairing and maintaining roads in villages and towns this year.

Such an efficient grassroots mobilization ability can be maintained for at least several decades.As for decades later, these two generations will die out, and then they will definitely weaken gradually, and finally the government will not be able to effectively mobilize the people. This process may take three to fifty years, or it may take 50 years.

If it can be maintained for 100 years, Zhao Han will be satisfied enough. Zhan Wenfeng is lying on the railing, quietly watching the bank harvest the soaked rice.She remembered that she used to do farm work at home,

During the busy farming season, the primary school in the village will be closed for a few days to let the students go home to help.

Jinling University has more than one female student. The reason why Zhan Wenfeng was selected by Xiaohong is because she came from a poor background and has a relatively quiet personality.

"Huang Xiantai, why are there no female Jinshi in this year's imperial examination?" Zhan Wenfeng asked suddenly.

Xiaohong smiled helplessly: "It is inconvenient for women to be officials after all. Female students in universities in various provinces get engaged or get married before they graduate. Once they graduate, they immediately go home to find husbands and raise children. Which husband's family is willing to let them go to Beijing to catch up with the exam?

The few aspiring ones either went to the official examination early, or went to the Hanlin Academy and Qintian Academy as graduate students.

In this year's examination, not to mention a female Jinshi, there are not even women who participated in the imperial examination. "

Zhan Wenfeng said: "If I didn't enter the Metropolitan Procuratorate, I would definitely take the exam this year."

Xiaohong smiled and said: "Then I really shouldn't have picked you, maybe I will be the first female Jinshi in this dynasty."

Today, Xiaohong's official position is the Imperial Envoy of Zuoqian Capital, the fourth rank, which can be understood as a department-level official.The level is the same as when she was the magistrate, but now she belongs to the real power Beijing official, which is infinitely close to the deputy ministerial level.

As for Zhan Wenfeng, he was just a ninth-rank minion in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and because of his gender, he was able to run around with Xiaohong.

Zhan Wenfeng joked: "Maybe I can really pass the exam."

Two women, chatting on deck.

There are also some male inspectors playing mahjong in the cabin.You can't gamble, this is the principle. What they are betting at the moment is that if they need to disguise themselves when they get to the place, those who win can be the master, and those who lose can only be errands.

All the way by boat and car, finally arrived at the border of Henan.

Xiaohong took Zhan Wenfeng and two male inspectors to the provincial capital to supervise the disaster relief in the open.

The rest of the inspectors of the anti-corruption government immediately dispersed to visit various states and counties in private.

Liu Chuanzong, Luo Fang, and Wei Gan were unlucky. When the three of them drew lots, they got four counties of Lingbao, Yanxiang, Shanzhou, and Mianchi.These places are all in the corners of Henan, and the other side of the Yellow River is the boundary of Shanxi.

They wandered around Mianchi for more than half a month, and found nothing unusual except for the severe drought.

So continue to go west and come to the boundary of Shanzhou, which is Sanmenxia City hundreds of years later.

"Hey, there's a foreign monk over there." Wei Gan said, pointing to the front.

In the wilderness, Nan Huairen was watching an old woman visit his ancestor's grave with great interest.

Worshiping ancestors is normal, Nan Huairen has seen it a lot, but this time he is a little different, completely overturning his concept of Chinese ancestor worship.

After the old woman burned the paper money, she placed sacrifices in front of the grave.Then, the old woman walked around the grave with a wooden stick in her hand and beat her: "The money is burned, and the meat is also offered. As an ancestor, one should have the virtue of being an ancestor. Your great-great-grandson is the only seedling of our old Li family. Don't you Come again and keep pestering me. If you dare to come again, I will beat you to death.

I can't beat you to death, please ask monks and priests to recite sutras, and curse you until you are out of your wits and unable to reincarnate! "

After beating and threatening the ancestors, the old priest pointed at the grave next to her with a stick and scolded: "None of you are allowed to come. My grandson takes the exam and is No. 1 every year. The old Li family will rely on him. Who dares to come?" Come to meet my grandson, whoever you are, dig up your graves one by one!"

For the next full half an hour, the old woman kept cursing in the cemetery. If there were really ghosts here, those ghosts would be scolded and hide.

Nan Huairen was thoughtful, and said to himself: "Chinese people worship ancestors, just like they worship gods, not because of belief, but out of practical interests. Pray to gods and Buddha, and only when it comes true will you fulfill your vows. Worshiping the ancestors also requires the protection of the ancestors. If the ancestors do not bless and hurt the younger generations instead, then their respect for the ancestors will be lost.

Three Integrity inspectors, carrying their bags, passed by the cemetery, and stopped to watch the excitement with great interest.

The old woman scolded so dryly that she finally received her supernatural powers.When he left, he also gave a piece of pork that was given to his ancestors,

Pick it up and carefully put it in the basket.The ancestors had already eaten it, and what they ate was the essence of pork. Of course, the rest of the meat was taken home for the living to eat.

Liu Chuanzong suddenly said: "Old man, the drought here is severe enough, the leaves on the mountain are all withered."

The old woman answered: "Isn't it? Emperor Zhao sat in the world, and the first two years were dry to death, just like in the Ming Dynasty. After four or five years, it got better. If there is wind, there will be rain. It is said that Emperor Zhao is virtuous in the rain. But this year it is very strange, and Emperor Zhao doesn’t work anymore. There was not much snow last winter, and only two rains since the beginning of spring. The wells in the village are almost dry. up."

"Then there must be no famine?" Liu Chuanzong said.

The old woman smiled and said: "It's not bad. The harvest was good a few years ago, and Emperor Zhao is doing very well. He only pays half of the grain to the government. Every family has surplus grain in their warehouses. Even if they can't harvest grain this year, they will not be able to eat it until next year." No one will starve to death.

It’s just that it’s inconvenient to drink water, and every household has to have people guarding the well, and when a bucket is soaked out, they are immediately beaten away

After the old woman finished speaking, she went home with a basket. There was a village in a nearby ravine.

Liu Chuanzong walked up to Nan Huairen, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, Taiwan is well."

Nan Huairen bowed his hands in return: "Hi, my name is Nan Huairen, from the Netherlands (Brussels, Belgium) in Europe."

Wei Qian said with a smile: "Your Excellency is actually speaking official language."

Nan Huairen said: "I have been to Nanjing, and I almost met the emperor. In the past few years, I have traveled to Guangdong, Jiangxi, Jinling, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. This time I came from Shaanxi to Henan. "

"You know how to run and preach in various provinces?" Luo Fang warned, "Your Majesty has ordered that Christianity can only preach in churches, and it is against the law to preach outside churches."

Nan Huairen said: "I'm not preaching, I'm just traveling in China, and I plan to write a book about China."

While chatting, several people followed the old woman, planning to spend the night in the village ahead.

As soon as we arrived at the entrance of the village, we heard noises.

When Liu Chuanzong inquired in the past, he turned out to be a grain merchant in the county, who went to the countryside to collect grain at a high price.

"It's not right." Wei Gan muttered.

Luo Fang sneered: "Of course not. I've only heard about harvesting grain in good years and selling grain in disaster years, but I've never seen a grain merchant who went to the village to collect grain at a high price in a disaster year."

Liu Chuanzong said: "Go and have a look."

The three of them came to the noisy place, only to hear the village chief say: "Aren't you confused? There won't be a few grains of grain harvested this year, and every household is saving food, so how can I sell you any grain? Hurry up, don't come here." Amuse us."

The person in the lead is a guy from the grain merchant's family. He has tried the soft one. These farmers will not sell grain.There is no other way, so I simply came forward and threatened: "My second master is doing canon history in Hui County. My third master is the head of the Rites Department in this county. My fifth young master is an experienced Datong Bank in this county. If you don't Selling grain, you will have a better time next year! Know what rites are for? They are in charge of the school! You have offended my family, and your children and grandchildren will not be able to graduate from elementary school!"

A captain of peasants and soldiers rushed forward: "I moved here from Jiangxi. In the eighth year of Chongzhen, I fought with His Majesty. If I hadn't been disabled and retired from the army, I would at least be a regiment leader now! This Ming Dynasty has been wiped out by us, and we still have to fight!" Afraid that you are the head of the etiquette department? If you dare to play tricks again, I will beat you up before reporting to the official!"

"Shut up!"

The captain of the peasants and soldiers blew the bamboo whistle, and the peasants in the village came forward one after another. They came to buy grain with a copy of the mess in their hands. They were so scared that they ran away immediately, for fear that they would be beaten to death if they stayed.

"Hahahaha!"

The villagers laughed.

The three of Liu Chuanzong stayed in the village that night and wanted to inquire about the news, but they couldn't find any inside information.

Going forward, I found that in several nearby villages, grain merchants sent people to buy grain.And, it's all overpriced,

There are indeed farmers who have a lot of grain and sell some of their grain in greed for the high price.

Another evening, Liu Chuanzong convened a meeting: "I'm afraid there is something wrong with the Changping warehouse of the Datong Bank in this county. Naturally, there is nothing wrong in a good year, but it will be revealed in a disaster year. These officials and businessmen are so scared that they rush to buy grain at a high price to make up for it."

"Of course!" Wei Qian nodded.

Chapter 674 [The case of losing the head]

After the banking system has been streamlined and rectified, there is one deposit and withdrawal outlet in the city and two deposit and withdrawal outlets in the countryside throughout Shanzhou County.These three offices can only deposit and withdraw money, and cannot exchange money and food.

As for the exchange points for money and food, there is a market town in the east and west of the county seat.

When ordinary people pay public grain, they can convert it into silver money to pay, or they can hand over the grain directly.The north has not yet reformed yet, and some provinces in the south can only pay in silver, and the common people have to exchange it once.

This kind of reform seems to be taking off your pants and farting, and leaving a loophole for the grassroots to exploit the people.

But it is necessary because the administrative cost is too high.The taxation system and the banking system are two separate government offices. If grain is used to pay agricultural taxes, the taxation department has to send a special person to the bank's money-grain exchange point.Although the two systems can cooperate and seem to be very simple, in fact, various conflicts and disputes often arise...

At the two money and grain exchange points in Shanzhou, the grain received each year will be deposited in a specific granary with a fixed amount.This granary is the Changping warehouse.

The grain in the Changping warehouse theoretically belongs to the county-level government, but the Datong Bank stores it on its behalf.The loss and consumption of storage is directly deducted when depositing, which is equivalent to the government paying the bank storage fee.Next, no matter whether the grain is eaten by insects or burned by fire, the government will not lose, and all losses must be made up by the bank.

"This bank's food collection is getting worse and worse!"

A farmer complained to Liu Chuanzong: "In the past, when we paid grain, we always went to the exchange point in Chenjiazhuang. When we picked out the wheat, the bank clerk came over and put his hand in to stir it. He told you that your wheat was not dried. Let you pick it out. Go back to dry and then come back. Sometimes, the wheat bran inside is not cleaned up, and the grain can only be paid after it has been cleaned up. What is the idea? Isn’t it just to reduce the fire consumption? For farmers who are far away, it takes time and effort to go back and forth several times, so it is better to confiscate a catty or two of grain."