Chapter 467: Guandong Nobles
In the second year of Yuanfeng, the weather was favorable and the harvest in Guanzhong was great, with the amount of corn reaching hundreds of millions of dan.
The ministers reported: "The areas that Emperor Li caused chaos in were mostly in the Guandong area. Guanzhong has recovered because of your mercy.
Guandong has not yet recovered. It has suffered disasters many times over the past year. Some people have not returned home, some are hiding in the mountains, and some land is barren.
Is this because the officials in Kanto are not working hard?
Because the county treasuries are empty and unable to provide supplies for the people, we respectfully implore you to allocate corn to keep the people of Guandong alive."
More than half of the ministers in the court were from Guandong, so they were naturally more concerned about their hometown. Guandong was indeed in a miserable situation. Emperor Liu Dan had previously madly tormented Guandong, resulting in millions of refugees, while there were very few refugees in Guanzhong.
Then the princes of the Jingnan Campaign rose up in arms and completely emptied the last bit of savings in Guandong. After all, if you think about the food, clothing and other expenses of hundreds of thousands of people, you will know that it must be an astronomical figure. After experiencing such a series of cruel blows, the reason why Guandong was still able to be pacified was because of promises and hope.
The princes who participated in the Jingnan Campaign promised that they would urge the imperial court to mobilize the entire country's forces as soon as possible to restore dozens of counties and kingdoms in Qingzhou, Jizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou.
Now there is a rebellion and the swords in the hands of our princes are very sharp, but as long as everyone waits a while, tightens their belts and holds on, we will definitely be able to eat our fill.
The political promises made by the princes of Jingnan were very effective. After all, in the entire court, there was no one more powerful than the princes of Jingnan.
After Liu Dan was executed, the whole country began to recuperate. Guanzhong, which had not suffered much damage, rose up suddenly. Coupled with the important position of the imperial capital, it was able to mobilize resources from all over the country. Just one bumper harvest brought it back to its former prosperity.
"After the chaos of Emperor Li, we discussed that Guanzhong is the foundation of the world. If there are refugees in Guanzhong, the country will not be able to recover. We should gather the power of the world to restore Guanzhong, so that the court can be stable and your majesty can live in peace. Then, we can use the power of Guanzhong to help the counties and states in Guandong. Now that Guanzhong has recovered a little, the people in Guandong are eagerly waiting for the grace of the court. We ask your majesty to show us grace."
Prime Minister Wei Ping is now the leader of the heroes who quelled the rebellion in Guanzhong. Among the eight great marquises in Guandong, the Wei family, the Huo family and Han Lin, Marquis of Anyang, remain in Chang'an.
However, Han Lin, Marquis of Anyang, has always been low-key. He stayed in Chang'an to observe the movements of the court, so he did not say a word among the imperial guards.
Huo was moved back to Guanjun County, Nanyang County, and had no time to take care of this place. Besides, he was a junior, so the hero of the Jingnan Campaign was headed by Wei Ping.
Since the first letter did not receive a response, I naturally started to write a second letter.
As a result, something unexpected happened to this memorial which was supposed to be a sure thing. Even as the Prime Minister, he couldn't even submit this memorial!
This requires us to say that before the emergence of the secret memorial system, memorials were submitted between public and private persons, with a complete set of procedures.
It's not like what's shown in TV dramas, where a minister holds a memorial in his arms, and when he sees the emperor, he thrusts it into the emperor's arms and says, "Emperor, I've submitted a memorial to you, please take a look."
The reason turned out to be "ignoring the facts and talking nonsense", "how can such treacherous words be presented to Your Majesty?"
This immediately angered the prime minister and others. When they saw that those who tried to stop them were all from Guanzhong, they were immediately furious. Prime Minister Wei Ping angrily said, "Who gave you the courage to deceive the heroes of Guandong? Where were you when we were pacifying the rebellion and killing the tyrant?
Now that you are still rich and powerful, barking and yelling in front of us, you should thank us for our grace."
Hearing what Wei Ping said, he was not angry at all. Instead, a smile appeared in his eyes, and he said sarcastically: "What Guandong hero? I only know that there is only one person in the world, and that is His Majesty the Emperor!
Guanzhong is not stable, how can it support Guandong? If Guanzhong is short of food due to a disaster, and refugees arise and attack Chang'an, the imperial capital, who will be responsible?"
Wei Ping said angrily: "Without a treacherous person like you, how could such a disaster suddenly happen?
At the beginning of the Jingnan Rebellion, the common people of Guandong offered their support with tears and asked for the recovery of Guanzhong. We fully supported it. Is the court going to go back on its word now?
Is the imperial court now going to watch helplessly as the millions of people in Guandong become alienated from the imperial court?"
"Your Excellency, you are too polite. The imperial court has never promised anything to the people of Guandong. Whoever owes a debt should repay it, and whoever makes a promise should fulfill it. Isn't this a matter of course?"
Not only Wei Ping could not stand such shameless words, but other people around him also couldn't stand it and started to use foul language.
The quarrel ended with a fight between the two sides. Until this point, the emperor remained silent, as if he didn't know about it. The weird feeling made some sensitive people feel numb. At this time, a man came to the prime minister's mansion.
It’s Luo Sheng.
"Sir, do you have anything important to do?"
The prime minister looked at Luo Sheng in front of him very solemnly. In the Jingnan Campaign, Luo made great contributions.
Although the main family of the Luo family in Zhaocheng did not suffer any loss, everyone knows that Yinghou State is just a disguise of Zhaocheng, and those brave warriors and resources are not something that Yinghou State can provide.
"But the Prime Minister submitted a petition requesting relief for Guandong but failed? The petition didn't even reach the Emperor? That's why I came here!"
The Prime Minister stood up suddenly, his hair standing on end, and said fearfully: "Sir, Zhaocheng is a thousand miles away from Chang'an. It's only been a few days. How is it possible?"
Luo Sheng said calmly: "Because we have chosen an outstanding emperor, this is destined to happen. Do you really think that the emperor doesn't know about this?"
The most fearful thing in his heart was directly said, and the prime minister was a little confused and said: "Why is your majesty unwilling to rescue Guandong? This is obviously a good thing to restore the prestige of the court."
Luo Sheng said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty is not unwilling, but he is hesitant. Guandong is too far away, and Guanzhong is too close. In his mind, stabilizing the order in Guanzhong is naturally the first priority. After all, any riot in Guanzhong may endanger his throne.
We have chosen an outstanding king. Such a king will always weigh the pros and cons. The consequences of being an outstanding king were destined when we chose him. Now is the time for the consequences to be revealed. "
Luo Sheng said it so clearly that even a fool should understand it. Moreover, although Wei Ping did not have the ability to be a prime minister, his IQ was still online. He said with a pale face: "This is unfair to us. Your Majesty should not treat us like this."
It’s unfair to the heroes who contributed to the Jingnan Rebellion!
Wei Ping thought of what the traitor said, "Whoever agrees to it should do it. The imperial court has never agreed to it."
Luo Sheng consoled him, "Prime Minister, please think positively. The Han Dynasty is indeed thriving. We, the princes and nobles who are attached to the Han Dynasty, do not have to worry about being buried with the Han Dynasty when the country collapses. This is enough.
What does temporary power and wealth count for?
Besides, the emperor has no intention of getting rid of the donkey after it has done its job.”
Luo Sheng said two sentences and couldn't continue. This was indeed not a case of killing the donkey after it has done its work, but the emperor was afraid and terrified, and these words made people feel even more uncomfortable.
"Sir, this is what I feared when I was trying to pacify the rebellion. Kill the tyrant. Kill the tyrant. Even if the world praises us, don't we know it ourselves?
This is actually regicide!
Throughout the thousands of years of the Zhou Dynasty and countless other nations, which one of those who killed the king did not usurp the throne in order to preserve his wealth and status?
We killed the monarch but acted as loyal subjects. This is rebellious!
However, out of justice for the world and the grace of the Han Dynasty, we cannot sit idly by and watch the Han Dynasty collapse; we cannot sit idly by and watch the world be destroyed in the hands of Liu Dan.
So he put aside his fear and joined forces with the other princes to head east.
Three years have passed, and my current glory has made me forget that my hands are stained with the blood of an emperor!
I actually forgot!
How dare you stand in Chang'an so brazenly! "
Wei Ping spoke in a low voice, his calmness concealed fear, and he trembled as he said, "It turns out that I am the only foolish person. If you hadn't come to enlighten me today, I would have known these truths only when I was dead without a burial place."
Luo Sheng bowed and said: "The contributions and sacrifices you have made for the world will be remembered forever by the people of the world and will be recorded in the annals of history.
The Grand Historian has the courage and bravery of an ancient historian. He is a man of integrity. You can trust him."
Wei Ping suppressed his fear and bowed deeply, saying, "Sir, I want to go back to Guandong, but I can't go back in disgrace.
If I go back to Guandong and tell the people and subjects of Guandong that the imperial court doesn't care about them and lets them find their own way to survive, then the country that has just been stabilized will be in turmoil again. Guanzhong is strong now, and Guandong will definitely be bleedin'.
How can this be fair to the people of Guandong?
Moreover, we, the princes who participated in the Jingnan Campaign, have become people who do not keep our promises!
The power of us marquises is originally limited to the marquisate. Once we lose the trust of the people, we will be like fat meat on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.
This is something I cannot accept.
I'm going to write again!
Even if I have to risk my life, I must ask the imperial court to transport the stored grain to Guandong!"
Luo Sheng nodded. This was one of the reasons why he came here. No matter how many concerns your emperor had, he must fulfill his promise this time. The people of Guandong were not to be used as consumables by the people of Guanzhong.
The people in Guanzhong want to push the people in Guandong away after they have had their fill, and they even look down on Guandong. That is a dream.
Luo Sheng bowed and said, "Prime Minister is righteous, and I am willing to help you."
————
June, the second year of Yuanfeng.
Ping led all the officials and ministers to come forward and said: "There is a great disaster in Guandong, and many people are starving. We must pay attention to it.
"Your Majesty is kind and compassionate to the people. We, the ministers, risk our lives to make this appeal and request that the Changping granary be opened to provide relief to the Kanto region."
The emperor said: "Changping is of great importance. It is not a disaster for the country and we should not act rashly."
Ping took off his hat and clothes, knelt down in Changle, and said: "I beg you to do it. If there is any disaster, please kill me to thank the world. I will be displaced in Guandong, and I will bow again to ask for help."
The emperor sighed and said, "The Prime Minister is right. I should follow his advice and make it a good story."
He then opened the Changping and supplied food to Guandong.
(End of this chapter)
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