In the court, Li Yuanzhao looked listlessly at the heated discussions among the court officials below.
It’s a lot less fun without Lao Fang around.
The most important topic was still the famine, but Li Yuanzhao was no longer interested in listening.
He submitted memorials to his father for three consecutive days, requesting the large-scale construction of houses in the three prefectures near Jianjiang.
The first two were simply kept in the middle and not sent out.
Finally, Li Yuanzhao could no longer hold back and made his suggestion directly in the court.
The outcome was obvious. The ministers were fiercely opposed! Emperor Jing had no expression on his face, and finally refuted him harshly with just one sentence.
Today's discussion about food disasters is still the same old story.
It's nothing more than transporting grain as quickly as possible to areas where there is a food shortage, and lowering prices wherever prices have risen.
Li Yuanzhao felt like his ears were getting calluses from listening so much.
Finally, I made it to the end of the court session.
Li Yuanzhao did not leave the palace, but followed Emperor Jing closely.
Emperor Jing looked back at Li Yuanzhao, a smile on his face: "Why are you following me? Do you have anything to say?"
Li Yuanzhao said in a sullen voice: "Where does my father go, where should I go?"
Emperor Jing laughed in silence: "Then come with me, I want to go to the imperial study!"
Arriving at the imperial study, Emperor Jing sat back in his seat and glanced at Li Yuanzhao.
I saw him looking around all the time.
Emperor Jing said calmly, "What are you looking at? Is there something wrong? If you have something to say, please tell me now. If not, get out of here! Stop getting in the way!"
Li Yuanzhao chuckled and rubbed his hands: "Why is there no chair? I am tired!"
"Oh, bring him a chair!"
The eunuch brought a chair and Li Yuanzhao sat down with a smile. He said carefully, "Did the emperor see the memorial I submitted?"
"Just for this?" Emperor Jing laughed.
"Then don't tell me, it's impossible, these are all taught to you by Fang Zhengyi, right?"
Li Yuanzhao's face turned serious: "No! It was your son who thought of it."
We can't cause trouble for Lao Fang. If he is demoted further away, this capital city will be boring to death.
"Oh? Then tell me what you think?"
Li Yuanzhao was impatient: "I have thought about it. It is obviously not enough to rely solely on the power of the court."
"Encouraging the construction of houses, temples, and government offices will certainly require a lot of manpower, so once the various works in the disaster area are started, the disaster situation will definitely be alleviated."
"If the emperor gives the order, the local governments will definitely find ways to get the rich families to cooperate."
"In this way... most of the money and grain hidden among the people can be released! Do you think what I said is right?"
Emperor Jing sighed and said, "Yes, that's right, Yuanzhao, you have grown a lot."
Li Yuanzhao asked anxiously, "Why didn't the emperor approve it?"
"Is there anyone in the court who doesn't know such a simple truth?" Emperor Jing stood up and slowly walked towards Li Yuanzhao.
He put his hands on Li Yuanzhao's shoulders and said coldly: "But I absolutely cannot do this!"
"But there are so many stupid people in the world, they won't think of this."
"If I send out my imperial edict, how will scholars in the world view me?"
"I am a tyrant. When the people are suffering from disasters, I still advocate extravagance and have no sympathy for the people's hard work. How will the history books write about me then?"
Li Yuanzhao's face suddenly turned pale: "I didn't expect that my father would also be burdened by his reputation. Which is more important, the lives of the people or the opinions of the scholars?"
"This world... ultimately belongs to scholars." Emperor Jing's eyes looked a little depressed: "Although I am the ruler of the world and I am omnipotent in the eyes of the people, I realized that I am in shackles after sitting on this throne."
"The so-called people's will lies not in the people but in the scholars..."
Li Yuanzhao's face flushed red as he loudly retorted, "In my heart, my father has always been invincible! I never thought that now even a bunch of corrupt scholars are afraid of him!"
"Those people are just a mob! They are full of petty tricks, they can say whatever they want!"
"You can still redeem your reputation if it's ruined, but once a life is lost, it's really gone!"
"I don't want to hear those great truths. I didn't expect that father is so timid!"
Guo Tianyang panicked and said repeatedly: "Prince, be careful with your words, Prince, be careful with your words!"
Emperor Jing waved his hand to stop Guo Tianyang, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
"You can say whatever you want now, but I will never agree to your request."
"One day, when you sit in my position, you will understand!"
"The so-called world is not as simple as you think!" Emperor Jing walked back to the table, picked up a piece of yellow silk and threw it to Li Yuanzhao.
"This is the latest news from the border. A heroic leader has appeared in the Northern Rong grasslands. He has swept away all the tribes and unified the grasslands."
"Don't eliminate all the forces I have planted in the grasslands. They have been constantly testing the border in recent days."
"According to the news from the border, I suspect that it won't be long before the Northern Rong will send an envoy."
"This person will definitely be a great threat to our Jing Kingdom in the future!"
"The crisis has never subsided for me. If my edict caused unrest in the world and scholars turned away from me, it would be a loss for the sake of a small thing! Do you understand?"
Li Yuanzhao's eyes lit up when he saw the contents on the yellow silk!
He was surprised and said, "Is there going to be a war? Don't be afraid, I can definitely sweep across the Northern Rong!"
"Beast! Get out!"
..........
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