The imperial court.

The morning court session lasted from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., with officials still engaged in heated discussions.

The three military departments reported the military situation to the court: the two major vassal kings had rebelled!

The Prince of Rong in the southwest and the Prince of Ning in the east, two vassal kings, simultaneously launched a rebellion, citing natural disasters and poor harvests as the reason for the court's delayed relief efforts.

Emperor Hui looked at the military report and confirmed it again and again; it was indeed a rebellion.

He was so angry that he threw the folded paper away.

Wasn't he tolerant enough of them?

They were exempt from taxes, and the royal family was provided with preferential treatment to ensure that the princes' living needs were met, while also reducing their economic burden.

Why would they still rebel?

You're just going to waste a good life, aren't you?

Today, officials from all factions are angrily cursing the two princes for being ungrateful and for rebelling during the Empress Dowager's funeral, which is simply disobeying their ancestors.

Military generals volunteered to lead the campaign.

Gu Shaoyu remained silent.

Emperor Hui glanced at him several times, and even the Crown Prince spoke passionately, saying that such a treacherous minister must be wiped out by a capable general.

Why is Jingchen so quiet?

He understood in no time.

"Your Majesty, Zizhou suffered the worst freezing weather in fifty years before the Lunar New Year. The imperial court allocated relief grain twice, but it was far from enough. Local grain merchants colluded to inflate grain prices, and the people are starving to death everywhere..."

When Grand Secretary Liu reported this news, Emperor Hui felt heartbroken once again.

"My esteemed ministers, what is your suggestion for resolving this?"

Zizhou is a large province with a population of no less than 600,000. Baiyang County, which was the hardest hit by the disaster, is close to the city where Zizhou Prefecture is located and has a population of over 100,000. It was originally the richest county in Zizhou because the five major grain merchants were all from Baiyang County.

Today, this is the county most affected by natural disasters and man-made calamities.

According to the county magistrate's report, grain merchants not only inflated prices, but also bought up all the grain held by individual farmers in the county at prices slightly higher than the market price, and hoarded it.

Every time the government sold grain at a fair price, they would send people to snatch it up.

Therefore, the common people had no grain.

"The price of grain has already reached one hundred coins per dou, but it was only fifty coins per dou in winter," said Grand Secretary Liu, pounding his chest in frustration. "How can the common people afford it? Prince Rong and Prince Ning are plotting a rebellion. If the people of Zizhou also rise up in revolt…..."

"If grain prices in Zizhou are not lowered, I fear the entire Zizhou will descend into chaos."

An official from Wei's faction stood up and exclaimed, "To lower grain prices and reassure the people, in my opinion, we must consult Grand Secretary Gu."

This was immediately followed by a string of "Your subject seconds this proposal".

Officials from both the Wei faction and the Crown Prince's faction overwhelmingly advised Gu Shaoyu to solve the food problem and appease the people.

Grand Secretary Liu had no ill intentions, but he also felt that this matter was of great importance and that no one else could solve it; it would be best for Gu Shaoyu to go.

"The granaries of Zizhou Prefecture are empty, but the five major grain merchants of Zizhou hold large quantities of grain, making them highly sought-after commodities." Grand Secretary Liu sighed, "Misfortunes never come singly!"

If the rebellion of Prince Rong and Prince Ning leads to chaos in Zizhou, it will be a further blow to the imperial court.

Amidst the cacophony of voices in the court, Gu Shaoyu remained silent.

Emperor Hui could not help but ask him, "Grand Secretary Gu, why have you not said a word today?"

Gu Shaoyu immediately stepped forward and said respectfully, "I am wondering why Prince Rong and Prince Ning rebelled at this time?"

“Naturally, it’s because they’re insatiable,” the Crown Prince’s faction quickly chimed in.

The Crown Prince told them that he wanted to persuade the court to send military officers to suppress the rebellion.

The fiefdoms of Prince Rong and Prince Ning are in two different directions. If the court sends young and strong generals, the capital will be left with either bookish strategists who only know how to talk about war on paper or old men like Duke Xun.

Neither Emperor Hui nor Grand Secretary Liu spoke; someone was up to no good! Especially at times like these, the people must not be allowed to panic.

Emperor Hui asked Gu Shaoyu, "Everyone unanimously recommends you to go to Zizhou to solve the food problem. What are your thoughts?"

Gu Shaoyu said, "I am still hesitating."

A thought suddenly popped into Emperor Hui's mind: Could it be that this guy can't bear to part with his wife?

"I'm pondering whether to go provide disaster relief or to persuade Prince Rong and Prince Ning not to rebel," Gu Shaoyu said.

Everyone immediately said, "Grand Secretary Gu, what are you hesitating for? Besides you, no one in our court is smarter than you."

Emperor Hui learned from the Imperial City Guard that the vassal kings had long been preparing for war.

He was very wary of them, so he simply took this opportunity to send a military general to wipe them out and eliminate any future troubles.

Therefore, he made a decisive move and appointed two young and strong generals as commanders, each leading 100,000 troops to annihilate the two vassal kings.

Military officers were all vying to go.

"Gu Ge, Imperial Envoy for Disaster Relief in Zizhou, will depart the next day. He is to ensure that grain prices are lowered and the people are appeased. Anyone who maliciously incites unrest, whether official or commoner, will be executed without mercy."

Gu Shaoyu received the imperial decree and appointed Xie Yu from the Ministry of Revenue and Ling Xun from the Ministry of Works to accompany him.

The Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue were particularly pleased. This time, Grand Secretary Gu personally went to the disaster area to solve the problem, and their departments were likely to make great contributions if they participated.

Especially since the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Pei Kunfu, was killed and he was promoted, Xie Yu's rank was lower than his, but no one dared to underestimate this young master of the Xie family.

After the court session, Gu Shaoyu went to the Imperial Study to meet Emperor Hui alone.

What concerns does Jingchen have?

"Your Majesty, Zizhou has suffered a natural disaster. The court has allocated relief grain twice, which should have been enough to last until spring planting. However, grain prices have skyrocketed, so there must be collusion involved. I suggest we use some special measures."

"Go ahead and do it; I have unwavering faith in you."

"Then I will depart immediately tomorrow morning. With the Empress Dowager's funeral approaching, Wei Jingzhong is likely to collude with the Crown Prince or Princess to cause trouble. In my absence, I hope Your Majesty will protect the Empress Dowager."

"Should I send the Imperial Guards or personal guards?"

"No, I'm afraid someone is targeting Madam or the Earl's Mansion, fabricating charges to frame Madam."

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