The Second Prince Liu Ping was lucky, "These problems will be solved one by one before leaving the capital."
The Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhao, will not let the Second Prince get away with it easily.
He said bluntly, "Time waits for no one. This involves human lives and the foundation of the Great Zhou. There is no time for Your Highness to slowly think of a solution. Your Majesty, I suggest that it would be best to select the most suitable person and send him south to Jiangnan within two days to purchase grain. The sooner they can reach Jiangnan, the sooner the people in the disaster area can get life-saving grain."
Emperor Wende looked at the Second Prince, Liu Ping, and asked, "How many days will it take you to set off south to Jiangnan?"
Second Prince Liu Ping gritted his teeth and said, "Your son only needs two days?"
"Does it really only take two days?"
"yes!"
Emperor Wende's tone grew increasingly stern. "Do you know what the consequences will be if you fail to complete this mission? I will demote you to a commoner! Are you sure you can prepare to go south to purchase grain within two days?"
The second prince Liu Ping was sweating profusely. He had no idea whether he could be ready to march south in two days.
He hadn't received any information in advance.
If he had known that the court officials would propose sending people south to purchase grain at the morning court today, he could have discussed countermeasures early.
The current embarrassing situation would not have occurred.
This time, he felt uneasy.
He knew very well how important food was.
After thinking it over and over, and considering it carefully, he finally said, "Your Majesty, two days is too short. Could you give me a few more days?"
Emperor Wende remained silent.
The Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhao, asked directly, "How many days will it take for Your Highness to prepare?"
The Second Prince, Liu Ping, was not too confident. He estimated and said, "At least five or six days."
"No!" Lord Zhao didn't give any face and directly rejected it!
The second prince Liu Ping was ashamed and could only ask Emperor Wende for help.
Emperor Wende didn't respond to him. He scanned the room and asked, "Who else can help me share my worries?"
"Is there really anyone who can go south to buy food within two days?" someone asked.
No one answered this question.
"Your Majesty, time waits for no one. The sweet potatoes we shipped to the disaster area last time won't last more than a few days. If we don't find a way to get food there, I'm afraid something terrible will happen. Furthermore, the army is fighting outside, and the cost of food for the soldiers and horses is enormous. If even the army runs out of food, the consequences will be disastrous."
The Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhao, was concerned about the country and the people, and spoke earnestly.
I just want to remind Emperor Wende to stop hesitating and make a decision quickly.
If the army has no food, the soldiers will turn into bandits, and even become three times more brutal than bandits.
The harm they cause to the local area is ten times that of bandits.
At this time, food is the most important thing. Everything else is just a side issue and can be ignored.
"What do you think, Lord Li?" Emperor Wende avoided the main point and asked Lord Li, the Minister of the Central Secretariat.
Lord Li bowed and stepped out of the group, saying, "Your Highness will need five or six days to prepare for the march south. This is indeed a bit long, and I'm afraid it will delay things. There's another important matter: once we march south, where will we find a way out? Who should we turn to for food? If we don't solve this problem, money alone won't be enough. Does Your Highness have any ideas?"
The second prince Liu Ping looked unhappy. It was outrageous that one after another came to embarrass him.
He suppressed his anger and said patiently, "Your Highness has no idea yet. But if you give Your Highness enough time, Your Highness will definitely find a breakthrough. And on the way south, Your Highness will not be idle. Your Highness will carefully understand the situation in Jiangnan."
Lord Li nodded with a smile and asked, "Do the other princes have any ideas?"
The Second Prince, Liu Ping, clenched his fists and said, "Sir Li, you are going too far! Are you treating me like a monkey?"
The second prince Liu Ping turned his head and observed the reactions of his brothers calmly.
The Third Prince, Liu Yan, stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I am willing to share your worries. Unfortunately, I have never been to Jiangnan, and I am ashamed! However, I am willing to collect information for my second brother and prepare for his journey south."
The second prince Liu Ping's expression looked a little better. The third prince still had self-awareness and did not act recklessly.
The fourth prince Liu Yi sneered inwardly. The second and third princes were acting in a double act. Did they really think he couldn't see through it?
Going south to buy grain is not an easy job.
Be careful not to get yourself into the spotlight and end up getting yourself into trouble.
Liu Yi didn't intend to take the lead.
Emperor Wende called his name, "Fourth Brother, what do you think?"
Liu Yi had no choice but to step forward and say, "Your Highness is willing to share your father's worries. However, your last trip to Jiangnan nearly botched the mission. I'm unsure if I can procure the food and deliver it to the disaster-stricken areas on time. This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act rashly, fearing that it might delay the important affairs of the court. I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness."
Bang!
Emperor Wende slammed the table in anger!
"Is there no one who can truly share my worries?"
Inside the hall, everyone was silent as a cicada, like quails.
The Minister of the Imperial Household thought for a moment and said, "If Your Majesty does not mind my age, I would be willing to go south to purchase grain."
Emperor Wende's expression softened. "Your loyalty to the emperor and your country is heartwarming. However, you are too old, and I fear something bad might happen to you. This matter should be handed over to someone younger and stronger."
The Minister of the Imperial Household bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. I am guilty of not being able to share your worries."
"You don't have to do this, my dear."
"Your Majesty, can you please order the eunuchs to go south to purchase grain?"
Send eunuchs south?
Whoever came up with this stupid idea is simply ridiculous.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"
They may not dare to compete for the first place in other matters, but when it comes to suppressing eunuchs, civil officials and military generals can come up with a basket of reasons, all of which are very eloquent and no two are the same.
"We must not send eunuchs south!"
"This is the way to bring disaster."
"In a desperate attempt to find a cure, it's wrong to send eunuchs south."
"Enough!" Emperor Wende shouted harshly. "I haven't said a word, yet you're all so eager. When I ask you who can share my worries, you all become mute. You're all good at vying for power, but when it comes to serious matters, you all become cowards. Do you think I'm easy to bully?"
The ministers could only shut up.
Emperor Wende is very angry, and no one would be stupid enough to bring bad luck upon himself at this time.
"Dismissed!"
Emperor Wende turned away and kicked over a small stool as he left.
After returning to Xingqing Palace, he sent someone to invite several old ministers to hold a small court meeting.
The grand court meetings will never produce a conclusion; they are just for show and a waste of time.
Emperor Wende paced back and forth in the hall, his face gloomy. "My dear ministers, please speak."
Several ministers looked at each other in confusion.
Everything that needed to be said had been said, except for directly pointing out Liu Zhao.
But Emperor Wende insisted on pretending to be stupid and relying on others, which was very troublesome.
"Your Majesty, you should make prompt decisions at critical moments," reminded Minister Li.
Emperor Wende snorted coldly and remained silent.
"For the sake of the people and the country of Great Zhou, Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible." Lord Zhao, the Minister of Revenue, almost knelt down to plead.
The Minister of the Imperial Household said, "I have arranged for the banks in Jiangnan to raise money. Once people arrive in Jiangnan, they can withdraw the money to buy grain."
Emperor Wende frowned and asked, "What do you think of the Second Prince?"
Several ministers frowned.
The Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhao, was more direct, "I'm afraid I'm not up to the task."
"Do you think so too?" Emperor Wende looked at the other court officials.
Minister Lu hesitated for a moment and said, "Based on my understanding of the Second Prince, I'm afraid he isn't the best choice. At a critical moment, the Second Prince might not have the resolve to strike decisively, and he might be manipulated by others."
Emperor Wende would doubt the words of other court officials and suspect that they might have selfish motives.
But he would not doubt what Minister Lu said.
Minister Lu was a trusted advisor to Emperor Wende, promoted by him. He was absolutely loyal to him.
After hearing what Minister Lu said, Emperor Wende nodded secretly.
He knew that the second prince, Liu Ping, was good at getting along with everyone.
But this time, buying food doesn't require flattery or tenderness. What's needed is decisiveness and ruthlessness.
We must buy food, but we must also curb the arrogance of the Jiangnan nobles. We must stop raising prices and driving up food prices to profit from the national crisis.
Minister Lu whispered again, "His Highness the Second Prince has never led an army before, so he lacks the killing spirit. This time when he goes south to buy food, he will definitely kill a group of people to serve as a warning to others."
Emperor Wende nodded again.
It is difficult to get rid of the hatred in my heart without killing a group of people.
If the grain merchants in the north deserve to die, then the grain merchants in the south deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell.
The south is the main grain producing area.
As a result, when a disaster struck there, the government was unable to allocate even a single grain of food to aid the disaster-stricken area.
It's ridiculous.
Emperor Wende said, "A bunch of people should be executed! The officialdom in Jiangnan should also be cleaned up."
"Your Majesty, please make a decision quickly!" the ministers urged.
Emperor Wende gritted his teeth and said, "Summon Liu Zhao to the audience!"
Chang En took the order and hurriedly sent his godson, Eunuch Xiao Wu, to Xiaozhu outside the city to invite Liu Zhao into the palace.
As a result, Liu Zhao actually disobeyed orders!
Refuse to enter the palace!
"How audacious! Who gave him the guts to disobey the Imperial Order?"
Emperor Wende was in disbelief at first.
Liu Zhao actually dared to refuse his summons.
The second is rage!
He smashed the desk and kicked over the tables and chairs.
"Announce it again! I don't believe he's not afraid of death!"
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