Upon hearing this, Yu Xiyan's face immediately turned frosty.
"Grand Tutor Pang, the grain stores in seven prefectures and counties have all caught fire? Is it really such a coincidence?"
"This old minister has sent trusted confidants to verify, and every word they said is true."
"Why didn't you report to me beforehand?"
"Lady Shangguan said that His Majesty is currently in seclusion for cultivation and that no one is allowed to disturb him, which is why this old minister did not report it."
"Very good. Then, can the officials in charge of guarding the granaries in each prefecture and county be detained?"
"Your Majesty, the officials in charge of the granaries in various counties and prefectures, knowing they had failed in their duties and were ashamed to face Your Majesty, have committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
Yu Xiyan's stunningly beautiful face was now dark and terrifying.
Seeing Pang Yi's smug and fearless demeanor, she really wanted to slap him to death.
However, the forces behind Pang Yi are complex and intertwined, so she cannot make a move yet.
So, suppressing her anger, she took a deep breath and said, "Alright, let's put this matter aside for now and deal with the disaster victims first. Since the southern counties are short of grain reserves, we can only transfer grain from the capital and the north to the south to solve the immediate crisis."
"Your Majesty, you cannot do that!"
Pang Yi suddenly interrupted her.
"Your Majesty, General Huang Tianhu reports that the Great Wilderness Tribe of the North is eyeing our Great Yin with hostility. Three days ago, they launched a surprise attack on our Yin army camp. Although there were no major losses, they did burn down several granaries."
The old minister is planning to transfer grain and fodder from the northern provinces to replenish the losses, so the grain and fodder from the north cannot be transferred south for the time being.
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiyan's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"Grand Tutor Pang, according to you, I have no way to provide relief to these tens of millions of refugees?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. While refugees are important, the army is the cornerstone of a stable nation. Please reconsider."
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
As soon as Pang Yi finished speaking, all the civil and military officials, except for a few, knelt down and echoed his words.
How could Yu Xiyan not understand the threatening tone in those words?
However, he has not yet secured his throne and is unable to touch these parasites.
"If Shen Zhao were here..."
The thought of Shen Zhao made Yu Xiyan clench her fists.
In his previous life, Shen Zhao had dealt with these powerful families for him, paving the way for the consolidation of his imperial throne. Who in the entire court would dare to oppose him?
But now, having lost Shen Zhao, she realizes how difficult the situation is.
Faced with the aggressive Pang Yi and his group, she could only compromise time and time again, quietly waiting for the right opportunity.
Only then did she realize how agonizing the wait was.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may solve this urgent problem."
Yang Gongyan suddenly spoke.
"Minister Yang, please speak."
"Your Majesty, I dare to request that all officials in the palace share the burden of Your Majesty, open the granaries and distribute grain to relieve the suffering of the people."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell completely silent.
Yang Gongyan clearly felt the murderous glares from his colleagues around him.
Yu Xiyan was also taken aback. Although the idea was good, she knew that asking these aristocratic families to give up their interests to the common people was tantamount to directly putting herself on the opposite side, which was simply not feasible.
To prevent Yang Gongyan from being targeted by the officials, she could only angrily rebuke him: "Minister Yang, step down! This plan is very inappropriate, how can you..."
"His Majesty!"
Suddenly, Pang Yi said again, "I think what Minister Yang said makes a lot of sense. The Great Yin family should do its part for the country. Now that the people are in trouble, how can we stand idly by?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiyan looked at Pang Yi with some disbelief: "Grand Tutor Pang, is what you say true?"
Pang Yi smiled and said, "This old minister receives the emperor's salary and should naturally share the emperor's worries, but there is something I don't know if I should say."
Yu Xiyan closed her eyes slightly: "Speak."
Pang Yi said, "I wonder if Your Majesty has a suitable candidate for Empress? In a few months, Your Majesty will be eighteen years old. According to the etiquette of the Great Yin Dynasty, members of the royal family who are over sixteen years old should be selected as consorts and empresses. This etiquette cannot be abolished."
Yu Xiyan: "I know what I'm doing in this matter, Grand Tutor Pang doesn't need to mention it."
Pang Yi interrupted her: "The matter of the king's marriage alliance is a matter of great importance to the state. How can I not care?"
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