After farming, I opened a family tree

Chapter 171 Entering the Palace Again

The Chinese New Year is just a month away, and Liu Xun has only one relative in the capital: Madam Liu.

Liu Xun dared to say so, but Shen Tang didn't dare to believe it.

"You're worried about my mother. You don't have to worry about this at all."

Her mother was overjoyed when she sent her out today.

If she went back and told her mother that Marquis Ning'an wanted to take her to Jiangnan, her mother would probably deliver the luggage to her personally.

"You're different from any girl I've ever met."

"You are joking, my Lord. It is my Lord who is the one."

Liu Xun looked at Shen Tang seriously.

"Madam Liu, are you really not worried about you?"

Liu Xun nodded, thinking of her childhood days outside the Great Wall. She was now much more reassuring.

The two were chatting casually when they heard someone at the door saying that Shen Chuanzong had returned.

"My Lord, we have already found the craftsmen, and they are ready to start work at any time.

"The Chinese New Year is only a month away. This month you should first get the people you need and the things you need ready. You can start work after the New Year."

"But the manor is important, so we must take good care of it. If you encounter any difficulties, you can go to Zhu Yi and the others. They can still help with some small things. Besides, if I leave, I'm afraid that those who are hostile to me will not consider you."

What Shen Tang has to wait for now is Emperor Jing's decree before returning to Jiangnan.

Liu Xun had lunch and drank some tea at the Marquis' Mansion and was ready to go home.

Before leaving, Shen Tang gave Liu Xun two of the cotton-padded jackets he had brought with him, as well as two pieces of fashionable fabrics in the palace.

Liu Xun felt embarrassed and was persuaded by Shen Tang.

"You are the first guest to come to the Marquis' Mansion, so you can be considered my friend."

Not long after Liu Xun left with the things, someone from the palace came to deliver a message.

Eunuch Deng smiled and said politely to Shen Tang:

"The Emperor said that he would invite Marquis Ning'an to the palace after court tomorrow."

Shen Tang asked quietly:

"Excuse me, sir, am I the only one here?"

"Besides you, there are several other respected gentlemen in the court."

When Shen Tang heard this, he felt a little relieved.

When Eunuch Deng finished delivering his message and was about to leave, Shen Tang asked someone to bring him a padded jacket.

“Earlier, you went to Jiangnan to deliver the imperial edict, and now you are coming to Beijing to pick me up. Although this is also a great favor from heaven, I still want to thank you very much.

Shen Tang doesn't have any good gifts, so I have a cotton-padded jacket, which I'm giving to my father-in-law, just for something new."

A padded jacket was stuffed into Eunuch Deng's hands, light and warm.

"Oh, my Lord, you are really polite."

Except for Emperor Jing, no one else had this cotton product.

Eunuch Deng was much older than Emperor Jing, and eunuchs were generally weaker than ordinary people.

Therefore, in winter, they are more afraid of the cold than ordinary people.

This thing from Shen Tang really touched Eunuch Deng's heart. He was even happier because it was a cotton product that only Emperor Jing had.

There are many nobles in the capital. Although everyone is polite to her on the surface, they still look down on her behind her back because she is just a eunuch.

Eunuch Deng has been in and out of the imperial palace for many years, and has been by Emperor Jing's side since before he ascended the throne.

It can be said that Eunuch Deng understands Emperor Jing better than even his own companions.

But there was genuine gratitude in Eunuch Deng Shen Tang's eyes, nothing else.

I felt even more touched.

In Shen Tang's eyes, Eunuch Deng is no different from other people, everyone is equal.

"My Lord, the Emperor summoned you to the palace this time, presumably to transport cotton products outside the Great Wall."

Shen Tang probably guessed it too.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir."

After seeing off Eunuch Deng, Shen Tang went to the study and sent a letter of divorce, which he had sent back to Jiangnan by express horse.

In the evening, Shen Tang began to ask Luzhu and Chuqing to prepare to pack their luggage.

I'll probably be able to go back to Jiangnan after visiting the palace tomorrow.

The next day, when Shen Tang entered the palace, the court meeting had already ended.

Emperor Jing summoned important ministers to discuss the matter of escorting grain and fodder to the border.

"Your Majesty, please allow the food and fodder to go first. As for Ning'an Hou's quilts and cotton, you can wait until they are delivered to the capital before escorting them to the border."

Since ancient times, wars have always been fought with food and supplies before troops move forward.

It had been several days since Emperor Jing received the news from the border.

"Then have the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War take inventory of food, fodder, charcoal, and other supplies, and then set off first."

"Lord Shen, I wonder when your quilt and cotton can be delivered to the capital?"

"In reply to the Emperor, I have already written a letter and sent it to Jiangnan by express horse. Qingshan Town has a dock, so we can travel half by water and half by land, speeding up the delivery time.

Moreover, if the cotton is only used to make quilts and cotton-padded clothes, the process will be much faster. I sent a message back on the way to the capital, asking them to only make quilts and cotton-padded clothes.

Judging by the time, this year's cotton crop must have been almost used up."

Shen Tang answered seriously.

Time is getting faster and faster.

"Well, I wonder which of you would be willing to deliver a batch of cotton?"

Emperor Jing sat at the top and asked.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go to Jiangnan and accompany the Marquis of Ning'an to obtain it."

"Your Majesty, I am also willing to go."

The ministers present all stood up and expressed their willingness to go, naturally wanting to get in touch with Shen Tang.

"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion."

"I love you, but it doesn't matter."

“I think it would be best if this batch of quilts and cotton clothes were sent directly to the border instead of the capital after being transferred by land.

This will save a lot of time. I will count the total number of cotton-padded clothes and quilts and report it to the court. The escort of the supplies only needs to wait at the terminal of the waterway to receive the cotton-padded clothes and quilts.

Emperor Jing was also stunned.

All the things collected by Da Qi must first be approved by the Ministry of Revenue before they can be issued.

But Shen Tang meant to skip the Ministry of Revenue and send it directly to the border.

"Indeed, this way, we can save a lot of time."

"Your Majesty, the capital is getting colder by the day, let alone the border. Food and charcoal should go first, and cotton clothes will follow."

As soon as Shen Tang said this, the court officials who had just been eager to go to Jiangnan lowered their voices instantly.

Escorting food and fodder is not an easy job.

The politics of the Great Qi Dynasty was clear and transparent, so although there were some stubborn problems, no one dared to get their hands on the food and grass.

Moreover, the military law of the Great Qi was strict. A certain amount of grain and fodder had to be calculated before transportation. If the loss exceeded the reasonable amount when it arrived at the destination, the officer escorting the grain and fodder would be severely punished.

Besides, it is winter now, and I heard that people often freeze to death at the border.

They were all a group of people who were used to enjoying themselves in the capital, and although escorting grain could earn them rewards, it was far from meeting the standards for promotion.

Besides, in this way, there is actually not much contact with Shen Tang, which makes it a thankless job.

This deal is not worth it, so they should just have a good New Year in the capital.

Emperor Jing was so angry that he laughed when he saw the court officials had stopped protesting.

Although his ministers did not have any major problems, they did not have much potential either.

They are a group of people who only know how to guard their ancestors' legacy and stick to the old ways.