Ji Xuan knew that An Qingyun was just giving him the runaround, and he was very unhappy, but he couldn't punish him because what he said was indeed true.
The grain reserves in the national treasury cannot be used arbitrarily, but the earthquake in Shu cannot be ignored.
For a moment, the atmosphere became very tense.
The moment Liu An brought Jiang Nuan in, he sensed something was amiss, and after a moment's thought, he understood the reason.
"You two are here?" Ji Xuan turned her head. "Qi Yong, bring two chairs over."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Madam Jiang, has Liu An explained the details to you?"
“I’ve already said that,” Jiang Nuan said, her brows furrowed. “Your Majesty, does the Great Zhou have no grain reserves?”
"Reserve grain?" Ji Xuan chewed for a moment, then shook his head in denial.
“Madam,” Liu An explained, “the grain in the Taiping granary was originally intended for emergency use, but due to the ongoing disaster relief efforts over the past few years, the grain has been used up more and more, and by this year there is almost nothing left.”
"Can't even last six months?"
Jiang Nuan hadn't expected things to have gotten this serious; their food reserves were already depleted.
“It would be difficult even in a month,” Elder An sighed. “Madam, you may not know this, but the Great Zhou only has the grain left in the national treasury. Shandong is suffering from disaster, and the army in the northwest needs food and supplies. We really can’t spare any more.”
“Madam has already cultivated rice and grown corn,” Liu An said with a stern face. “Both can yield more than 800 catties per mu. As long as we get through this crisis, the people will surely get better and better.”
“That’s a strange statement,” An Qingyun said, expressing his concerns. “No matter how good the seeds are, someone has to plant them and wait for the harvest. During that time, they also need to eat and drink.”
“That’s right,” Zhong Ping echoed, “Since there are many mountains and forests in Sichuan, we might as well let them figure it out themselves.”
The two Grand Secretaries, An and Zhong, already knew about this news, but they did not change their decision because of it.
Regardless of whether it's true or not, even if it is true, what does it matter how much production there is?
Growing grain takes time; people can starve to death in three to five days without food and water. How many households can wait?
Moreover, as far as they knew, the Lady Protector of the Nation did not have many grain seeds, and if she were to implement this throughout the country, it would take at least three to five years.
A distant source of water cannot quench an immediate thirst; no matter how promising the future may be, it cannot solve the current crisis.
In conclusion, the two Grand Secretaries still felt that abandoning Shu was the most appropriate course of action.
It's cruel, but that's reality.
It might attract criticism, but after a few years when people are well-fed and clothed, they won't care about these things that have nothing to do with them.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan's aura instantly turned icy. "You mean you're abandoning the lives of the people of Shu?"
“Madam,” An Qingyun cupped his hands, “that is not what I meant. Rather, doing so is for the best for the Great Zhou. Chaos in Shu is only a local disaster, but chaos in the Great Zhou is a national calamity. You can tell which is more important.”
"If I remember correctly," Jiang Nuan said coldly, "since the previous dynasty dredged the waterways, the people of Shu have had to contribute nearly 20% of their tax revenue every year. Are you sure you want to break their hearts?"
Perhaps everyone is used to the sacrifices of the people of Sichuan and takes them for granted, but she is not.
The people of Shu have fulfilled their duty as citizens and should be protected by the imperial court, not abandoned when something happens.
“Madam,” An Qingyun said, her face flushed with embarrassment, “I also do not wish to see the tragic state of Shu, but there is indeed no food available right now.”
"Can't squeeze any out at all?"
Upon hearing this, An Qingyun lowered her head and dared not answer.
Seeing this, Jiang Nuan turned to look at Ji Xuan.
"First, allocate 500,000 jin from the national treasury, and we'll find another way to handle the rest."
“Your Majesty, you must not,” An Qingyun immediately advised upon hearing this. “Five hundred thousand catties is merely a drop in the ocean for Shu and cannot solve the root cause, but it is a different story for the imperial court. Please reconsider!”
The gap in Shu was too large, which was the fundamental reason why An Qingyun decisively chose to give up.
Instead of filling this bottomless pit, we should use the money to do something more valuable.
“Grand Secretary An, His Majesty’s words are law and cannot be questioned,” Qi Yong said, displeased. “Do you intend to defy the imperial decree?”
“Qi Yong,” An Qingyun said with a grim expression, “the Japanese government has always tolerated you because it was insignificant. Such an important matter is not for a eunuch like you to interfere.”
Upon seeing this, Jiang Nuan's pupils became as deep as vortexes.
She understood An Qingyun's thoughts, but she couldn't accept it. So many people gave up so easily, and instead of reflecting on their own dereliction of duty, they made all sorts of excuses. It was truly despicable.
“Qi Yong’s words make a lot of sense,” Ji Xuan said calmly. “This matter is decided as such. An Qing, just prepare well.”
Upon hearing this, An Qingyun was taken aback. After a moment, he reluctantly replied, "This old minister obeys the decree."
"Lady Protector of the Nation and Grand Secretary Liu, please stay. Everyone else, please step down."
"Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree!"
When An Qingyun and Zhong Ping returned, they were filled with indignation. "What does His Majesty mean? Why was he the only one to kick us out?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" An Qingyun shook his head. "Liu An has already won the Emperor's favor; he's different from us."
"Jian is in the Emperor's heart?" Upon hearing these words, Zhong Ping couldn't help but sneer. "Anyone who clings to the Emperor like a lackey would be in the Emperor's heart, but a dignified Grand Secretary has no backbone at all. I am ashamed to be associated with him."
He was born a servile type, and somehow managed to become a Grand Secretary.
At this moment, Zhong Ping felt extremely aggrieved.
He believed that he was far superior to Liu An in terms of both seniority and talent, but he was not as spineless as Liu An and thus never won the emperor's favor.
“In any case,” An Qingyun sighed, “Liu An is indeed favored by the emperor, and in this respect alone, the two of us cannot compare.”
“If everyone were like him, the Great Zhou would have been in chaos long ago,” Zhong Ping sneered. “Emperors are human too, and humans make mistakes. Without our corrections, how can the Great Zhou become stronger and stronger? Those who are clever and flattering will not last long.”
“This is also what I think, however,” An Qingyun said, feeling truly aggrieved, “it seems that His Majesty has already grown tired of us.”
They were all there to discuss matters in the Imperial Study, yet they were treated differently by not being given chairs. To even kick them out because of differing opinions was truly disheartening.
Yes, they did have a bit of selfishness in mind; they didn't have any relatives or friends in Sichuan, so they couldn't truly empathize with them.
Ultimately, however, they were also acting in the best interests of the entire Zhou Dynasty.
“Dislike us?” Zhong Ping was taken aback. “It can’t be that bad, can it? We’ve had disagreements before, His Majesty isn’t that petty.”
“Things are different now,” An Qingyun said helplessly. “Before, His Majesty had no one else to rely on except Qi Yong. Even if he didn’t like us, he could only rely on us. Recently, with round after round of purges, there are more and more people available, and His Majesty is becoming more and more confident. Naturally, he will despise those who don’t know their place.”
Even though An Qingyun knew this, she never thought of changing it.
In any dynasty, there must be someone who steps forward to be a loyal minister, someone who can be respected by the emperor but cannot obey him in everything.
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