Dad, we are so stable, should we do something?

"This method is good, but there is no need to build new ones. Every village has its own ancestral temple and ancestral temple. It would be better to expand and renovate them a little bit."

"What Dad said makes sense. Each county can ask the gentry to raise funds together and allocate money to help the villagers get started. Those who don't have enough funds can be funded by our city, but we can't just give it away for free. We need to ask the borrowers to help do some construction work in the city to offset it."

"Second brother, this is a good idea. By the way, since the county is funding it, we can build both fire walls and fire beds. It is not necessary for each village to build one. Several villages can build one. If all the villages build one together, it is best to rebuild a public house in the name of the county government. In this way, there will be no disputes over property rights in the village."

The more his children talked, the more Magistrate Tian thought this was a good idea. He had been worried about the people's wintering problems before, but now he had a good solution. This public housing was indeed suitable, but we had to work on it to know for sure, after all, there were many problems in doing so.

But now I have a clue.

"Well, both of your suggestions are very good. I didn't expect that the problem that your father had been troubled by for several days was solved by your accidental solution."

"The firewood consumption in winter is quite high. If the elderly and weak in the village are taken together, a lot can be saved. However, if the elderly and weak are sent to public housing, the firewood consumption of other people in the family will not be reduced, which is also a difficulty.

I am afraid that the villagers may not be willing to provide enough firewood for the people living in the public housing.

As Magistrate Tian spoke, he felt like he was stuck.

"Then let the wealthy households in the county support us. You can reduce their tax burden next year and give them some more business rights."

"Well, that's the only way."

Surviving the winter is a difficult task for countless people in the north. In previous years, more than half of the people in Yingzhou Prefecture died, so it has never been able to develop.

Since the Daqing Dynasty popularized yams, corn and the like a few years ago, winter food can be considered to be full, no longer worrying about not having food. It can be better, otherwise not only resisting the cold, but even eating becomes a problem.

"Sir, this is an urgent letter from the military camp." The yamen runner suddenly came in to report.

"Okay, you guys go back first, let's do this. I'll ask the master to follow up later, and you guys can follow the master to help. Dad still has official business to take care of."

Seeing that their father was in urgent need, Tian Xing'er and his sister went out to ask their lawyer for help.

When Magistrate Tian received the letter, he immediately opened it to check. His eyelids had been twitching these days, so he thought that what was supposed to come had finally arrived.

"How could this happen? Oh, what should we do?" Magistrate Tian had just solved the problem of winter and thought he could rest for a few days, but now something else happened.

“There’s really no time to rest.”

"Come here, please invite Judge Wu in."

Xu Tongpan, who was beside Prefect Tian, ​​was sent by General Li Yun to assist him. Although he also had the intention of supervising him, Prefect Tian did not feel that he had any intention. As long as he acted uprightly, he had no need to be afraid of these things.

"Sir, I wonder why you summoned me this time?" Wu Tongpan was secretly wondering. Normally, at this time, Prefect Tian should still be busy dealing with matters related to keeping the people warm. Why did he suddenly come to find me? These days, I have been so busy maintaining the public security and order in the prefecture that I have been almost restless!

"This is a letter from General Li Yun. Take it and have a look." Without saying anything, Prefect Tian handed the letter directly to Judge Wu. The two of them knew each other well and had a decent relationship, so they were quite frank in their actions.

After receiving the letter, Wu Tongpan quickly read through it and finished the whole letter in one glance. After reading it, he couldn't help but said in surprise: "I never thought that General Li Yun's words would come true. So, sir, who do you think is the most appropriate person to send this time?"

"That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. None of my subordinates have ever been active in the northern region, and they know nothing about the situation there. Do you have any suitable candidates?" Prefect Tian looked at Pan Wu earnestly.

Judge Wu pondered for a moment, then replied, "I do have quite a few people under my command who are familiar with the route, but considering the importance of this mission, I think it would be safer to send some people who are more familiar with the situation."

After hearing what the judge said, Prefect Tian knew that the judge must have already had a suitable candidate in mind. So he asked, "Who does Judge Wu think is more feasible?"

Wu Tongpan smiled and replied, "I wonder if you still remember Zhao Shi?"

Prefect Tian frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Of course I remember him. Why, isn't he with General Xiao Li?"

Judge Wu shook his head and explained, "No, this time he stayed in the military camp in our prefecture. And he happened to come here a while ago. I thought he was familiar with the route and should be leaving soon, so I asked him to go with us. Now the road is blocked by heavy snow, and the situation is very critical. We need someone who knows how to adapt to circumstances, and he is the best candidate."

Prefect Tian was naturally very familiar with Zhao Shi. He had once traveled with his children for a while and had fooled them around. If he were to lead the team, it might be a good choice. Prefect Tian nodded and said, "Then let Zhao Shi lead the team, but it may require the help of Wu Tongpan as a middleman to talk to him."

Wu Tongpan quickly said: "Of course, this matter concerns the life and death of the generals in the military camp. I believe that there will be no problem with Zhao Shi."

"Okay, but I think it would be better if you could ask the judge to send some of his familiar men to go with us."

"Of course, don't worry, sir. But do you want Tian Zhenwei and his men to come with you? His brothers are highly skilled in martial arts and may be able to help if something happens."

"Yes, that's fine. It's settled. I'll have someone check the stuff in the next few days, and we'll set off in three days. This matter can't be delayed."

"It's an adult."

The reason for this incident was that on the one hand there was civil unrest in the north, and on the other hand the imperial court distributed military rations too late. Unexpectedly, heavy snow blocked the roads, and the grain delivery team had no way of delivering the grain. On the way, the grain was almost robbed by Zhou Feng's gang. Fortunately, General Xiao Li and his men happened to pass by and robbed the grain back, but it would be a bit difficult for them to deliver grain again.

On the one hand, Zhou Feng's men blocked the road, and on the other hand, the snow was too heavy and it was difficult to walk. Even if they could barely get through, they might be caught up by Zhou Feng and his men.

So the grain delivery team got stuck at the border between Bei'an Prefecture and Yingzhou Prefecture.

Prefect Tian now has to collect enough food for the army's winter use and send it to General Li Yun's base camp in Qishan in three days.

This journey was also very difficult, because the snow on the way to Qishan was heavier than here, and it was probably already ankle-high.

The road was slippery, and with so much food, there might be robbers. There was a war going on there recently, and a small group of Liao soldiers might rush out from time to time.