Yang Lian and Fang Zhenru were summoned into the palace and knelt down to kowtow. Having not seen the emperor for several years, they were both a little excited, their voices trembling.
Zhu Youxiao had no doubt that these two people were loyal ministers, but sometimes, the saying that loyal ministers bring harm to the country is not without reason.
Therefore, he sent these two people to other places to do some practical work and not to be stubborn in the court and always make things difficult for him.
"No need to be polite, please stand up." Zhu Youxiao spoke slowly, and added, "Please take a seat."
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great grace." After the two of them expressed their gratitude, they stood up and sat down respectfully on the embroidered cushion.
The emperor had grown up, or rather, matured. His demeanor showed a more composed and composed demeanor, a more majestic and regal presence.
Zhu Youxiao was also sizing up the two provincial governors. They were both relatively young, around fifty, at the peak of their careers as bureaucrats, full of energy and experience.
"You two, my dear ministers, have made great contributions to the governance of this region, and I am deeply pleased." Zhu Youxiao's face was serene as he spoke slowly, "However, during these troubled times, our country still needs loyal ministers like you to work even harder."
"To share the worries of the king and to serve the country with loyalty is the duty of this humble official."
"It is beneficial to the country and brings benefits to the people. I, a humble official, dare not complain."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and smiled with great satisfaction, waved his hand, and the palace servants served tea to the two officials. This was another extraordinary favor.
After the two ministers thanked him again, the emperor continued, "You two, my dear ministers, are already aware of the current national situation. There is a glimmer of hope for the pacification of Liao and the extermination of the slaves. If nothing unexpected happens, we will achieve final victory within a year or two. And this—"
The emperor raised a finger and emphasized, "This is the tremendous effort of the entire nation. Without the countless supplies sent to Liao, we cannot guarantee the morale of the army, nor can we guarantee the supply of weapons, ammunition and food."
Fang Zhenru and Yang Lian agreed with this. Although taxes in several northern provinces had not increased, they knew how much Liaodong's military expenditure was, and it would not be less than tens of millions.
While the emperor's methods of amassing wealth were somewhat ruthless, their effectiveness was truly remarkable. If he had succeeded in pacifying the Liao, all criticism would have been minor flaws. This is a bit like Taizu, who, despite his brutality, simply expelling the Tartars was enough to leave his name in history.
"While external threats are about to be eliminated, internal troubles are imminent and even more severe." The emperor's face grew serious as he spoke, "I have summoned the governors and governors-general of the northern regions to the capital to report on their work, so that we can prepare for the coming catastrophe."
"Mr. Yang, Mr. Fang—" The emperor's gaze swept over the two ministers. "To overcome the decades of recurring disasters across the north, the strength of one province or one region is definitely not enough. Just like with the Heping Liao, we must mobilize the entire nation to overcome this difficult time."
To be honest, Yang Lian and Fang Zhenru were skeptical about the tale of a major disaster. But if it were true, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Reducing taxes and waiving taxes for the people, and allowing the localities to store more grain, wouldn't be a bad thing.
But the emperor spoke seriously, comparing the great disaster with the pacification of Liao, and again mentioned "the whole country's strength", which shows how much he valued it.
The "whole country's strength" required to pacify Liao was obvious to all. In order to raise military funds, the emperor did not hesitate to target the royal family, nobles, civil servants, gentry, landlords and wealthy people, killing some and exiling some. He was ruthless.
Another "national effort"? Yang Lian and Fang Zhenru exchanged glances, wondering how the emperor would mobilize his forces next and who he would target.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Lian bowed and said, "The sweet potatoes we've promoted are extremely productive. I've also heard that corn, pumpkins, potatoes, and other high-yield, drought-resistant crops are also available. Combined with the grain from Jiangnan, I believe we can still survive the disaster without the enormous expense of pacifying Liao."
Fang Zhenru pondered and bowed, saying, "I believe that since disasters occur one after another, they must not be confined to one area. If so, there should be a buffer for recovery, so that some areas will not be completely barren for more than ten years."
The emperor nodded and said, "Both Yang Qing and Fang Qing are correct, but the situation will certainly be more difficult than imagined. Historically, the fall of dynasties often stems from internal problems, leading to widespread civil unrest. Either a strong individual will rise up to meet the situation, or they will be defeated and destroyed by external forces. Therefore, we must be cautious and treat this as a top priority."
After a pause, the emperor continued, "I have reviewed the memorials submitted by both of you, my dear ministers, regarding disaster relief and overcoming the disaster. They are both excellent, but they also underestimate the severity and scope of the disaster."
Is it that serious? Why would the emperor speak of the end of the dynasty? Yang Lian and Fang Zhenru exchanged glances again, both revealing expressions of astonishment.
"The disaster affected the entire country, but it was more severe in the north." Zhu Youxiao took a sip of his teacup and said, "Since it's in the north, it naturally includes the grasslands. Shouldn't we consider the invasion of nomadic peoples?"
"On the one hand, we need to provide disaster relief and rescue the people, and on the other hand, we need to resist foreign invasion and plunder. In the event of a major disaster, can the national finances sustain it? How long can the local grain reserves be consumed? What are the huge costs of long-distance transportation? These are all issues that need to be considered and resolved..."
The emperor spoke eloquently and it was obvious that he had thought it through carefully, which made Yang Lian and Fang Zhenru feel a little ashamed.
The two men thought they had made thorough preparations for a major disaster, but after hearing what the emperor said, it was clear they had overlooked a lot.
"Transporting grain from Jiangnan or overseas is an inevitable way to provide disaster relief. We must be prepared for the Yellow River to dry up and the interruption of grain transport to solve the major problem of transportation."
The emperor frowned slightly and continued, "The Yangtze River Chamber of Commerce is a force we can rely on, but where water transport is not possible, we can only go by land. Vehicles, personnel, and transit warehouses must be arranged in a coordinated manner to minimize losses."
The Yellow River will dry up and the grain transport will be interrupted. Is it that serious?
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