October 18th, sunny.

In early winter, the land of Jingchu is already very cold sooner or later.

The vast river comes from the west and goes east. In the mist, the river is filled with dry grass and decayed poplars.

Wu Qian stood on the Yellow Crane Tower on the top of Snake Mountain in the southwest of Ezhou City, looking at the Jingchu land and the rolling Yangtze River from afar, his face full of sorrow.

The war mobilization order has been issued for ten days, but the difficulties faced by Ezhou have not changed much.

No matter how determined and courage he had or had no money, all the officials and generals under him felt helpless, especially if he had to repair city defenses and riverside water camps on a large scale, and repair those dilapidated warships. By relying solely on strict orders and oppression to drive the people, over time, it would only make the people and the government disunited.

The Song Dynasty had long lost corvee service, and replaced it with labor money. Although it was a kind of harsh taxes, it also greatly liberated the people and would not abandon the farming season or delay the transaction because of the government's forced corvee service.

Therefore, the money for the Song Dynasty was also a huge income every year.

But this money has actually become the best opportunity for corrupt officials to make money in many places.

Most of the money that should have been used to spend on canals, roads and bridges was entered into the pockets of corrupt officials, but when they really needed to use this money, they found that the local treasury was empty.

The same is true in Ezhou. After Wu Qian came, he had to repair the city defense and the riverside water camp. As a result, after checking the accounts of previous years, there were only less than 200 chunks left. As Wu Qian, who is familiar with the official form, it would be useless even if all the officials in Ezhou City were cut down, it would not help. Instead, it would cause all kinds of resentment and disagreement, which would be unfavorable to the situation of the war.

Therefore, Wu Qian did not attack these officials, but instead invited them to have a meal. He conducted ideological education based on his identity. Under the threat of carrots and sticks, all the officials who attended the banquet expressed their strong support for the construction of Chongguo Duke's Ezhou, and then generously donated money, and raised more than 3,000 guan after the banquet.

Although this money is negligible compared to the service money that has been lost over the years, it has been a good start for Ezhou. In the following period, Wu Qian kept mobilizing gentry and merchants in Ezhou for mobilization, and then raised about 20,000 guan.

This is all the money that Wu Qian could spend after he arrived in Ezhou, because Ezhou's large amount of reserves had already supported Sichuan and Jingxiang, and the official treasury had no money, and the grain in the granary was only less than 80,000 stones left, but he could not withdraw it until he had to, because once the Mongolian army came, how long Ezhou could support it depends on the grain and grass reserves. Therefore, most of the 23,000 stagnation of money raised, Wu Qian invested more than 10,000 stones of grain and 50,000 stones of grass to supplement it.

The remaining little money can only be used for emergency response, demolishing the east wall to make up for the west wall, and all officials' salaries will be paid in half, waiting to be replenished in the future.

"In the past, people have already left with yellow cranes, and there is no place here. The yellow crane tower is gone forever. The white clouds are gone for thousands of years. The clear rivers reveal the trees in Hanyang, and the fragrant grass covers the Parrot Island. Where is the village gate at dusk? The smokey river makes people sad."

Wu Qian turned around and looked at the popular ancient poem of the previous dynasty written on the wall on the rooftop. He couldn't help but sigh.

If you want to be this clever wife who cooks without rice, you can say more than just one word of sorrow.

It's a completely worrying rhythm.

When he thinks of money, he always thinks of a young man instantly, and by the way he thinks of a million-dollar bet.

If he had one million guan... no, only fifty guan... or 300,000 guan, he could also manage Ezhou like an iron barrel, ensuring that the 100,000 Mongolian army would never be able to break Ezhou within one year.

At this time, Wu Qian was like a resentful young woman, following the rolling eastward Yangtze River, looking at the direction of the capital and Qingyuan Mansion, hoping that a strong man could fall from the sky... Well, a ship of golden gold.

On the riverside outside Wuchang Gate, ships were constantly coming and going, and the sound of undulating horns came along the river breeze. There were countless white sails cruising back and forth on the river. Behind this seemingly lively and prosperous, there were defensive flaws that made Wu Qian frightened.

If Kublai Khan recruited Han soldiers who were proficient in water warfare in the Central Plains and the North, the Yangtze River, which seemed to be a natural barrier, would not be difficult to break through. If you want to fight against the Mongolian army that fought across the river, the best way is to attack half a ferry. Unfortunately, the water camp is now deserted and the warships are also dilapidated. If you want to build a new ship, you can only sigh and do whatever you want.

"The willows outside Wuchang Gate are like smoke, and I want to see Mr. Pan sleeping on the pillow. I want to borrow a sail and go to the spring water. The riverside is full of Chuzhou ships. Xie Yi failed many times and still left a good poem. I am the top scholar, but I have accomplished nothing. I have been ups and downs in this life, and I just hope to leave a good reputation on the Wuchang Gate Tower. Next spring, I just don't know if I can see a river of spring water and the river embankment...."

Wu Qian's gray-bearded face looked up in the wind and looked at the scenery around him. Before he knew it, a tear fell down his wrinkled face.

"Master, the wind is strong upstairs. Don't get the wind and get cold. Let's go back early!" A beautiful middle-aged woman with a good appearance came out of the attic and persuaded her.

"Let's go, I'll arrange a boat to take you to Yin County tomorrow, and take good care of Qing'er in the future!" Wu Qian nodded and turned around.

"Why did the master suddenly drive me away? I was redeemed by the master from the brothel. I have been following the master for more than ten years. I have no children and no worries. I just want to be by my master and follow him to the death!" The woman wiped her tears and cried.

"Why is this? I redeem you, but I just like your singing and dancing. Besides, you have not enjoyed the happiness of following me over the years. I have been running around for a few days and have been having a happy life. Speaking of which, it is not as stable as you live in a brothel!" Wu Qian hugged the woman in his arms and comforted her.

"No, I don't need to say such false cruel words. I just won't go back. If the master doesn't want me, I will jump off this building!" The woman leaned in Wu Qian's arms and cried loudly.

"Okay, I'm in a mess now. Don't cry. Go back tonight and dance a dance for me!" Wu Qian smiled bitterly.

"The master wants to see, I should follow it. But I haven't skipped it for many years. Now my skin is wrinkled, my waist is thicker, my legs are slower, and my movements are unfamiliar. I am afraid that I can't dance the dance of the past, which makes me dislike it!" The woman sobbed even more.

"No matter what you dance, it's the Siniang Hua I met on Huaman Tower in Suzhou back then..." Wu Qian used his rough hands to wipe away the woman's tears.

"Report~~~"

Just as Wu Qian was hugging his concubine and comforting the roof of the Yellow Crane Tower, a shout full of excitement and pleasure came faintly from the distance. With the sound of kicking and stomping, a servant rode a fast horse along a path up the mountain and rushed down the Huang Crane Tower, and was soon stopped by the guards downstairs, but a surprise shout and laughter burst out in an instant.

"What happened?" Wu Qian poked his head and shouted downstairs.

"The ship...a ​​big ship's money..."

The servants downstairs shouted excitedly at the upstairs, as if they didn't hear clearly, and rushed into the tower directly. Accompanied by the sound of footsteps, a group of guards soon appeared on the roof of the building wrapped in the soldiers.

"What ship? What happened?" Wu Qian asked inexplicably.

"Master, good news, good news, someone from Qingyuan Mansion has sent more than 800,000 yuan of military pay to Ezhou..." The servant who reported the news was sweating profusely.

"What? You're serious?" Wu Qian grabbed the servant's shoulder with both hands and shouted.

"It's true... it's true. The officers and soldiers of Qingyuan Mansion who were escorted were from Qingyuan Mansion and Jueweng. He said in person that there were a total of 830,000 military pay, and many specialties from Qingyuan Mansion, saying that they were all sent to Ezhou to reward the soldiers..." The servants spoke excitedly and said that they were rolling their tongues.

"Eight...830,000...Why...How come...How come so many? Where did they get them..." Wu Qian felt like he was arched by a big wild boar of 800 pounds, and his soul rose into the air and turned dizzy.

"Master, the big ship is still docked by the river. Jueweng urges you to go back and arrange for someone to move all the money to the warehouse to avoid being unsafe to keep it outside!" The servant urged.
Chapter completed!