Capital, court meeting.
Emperor Jing sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy face.
Hanlin scholar Yang Yingcai knelt on the ground.
The ministers below all had blank expressions on their faces and said nothing.
The news from Jianjiang Prefecture and the other two prefectures finally came back, and countless court officials were shocked!
For such a major event, the emperor issued the decree without even consulting his officials?
This is ridiculous! If this continues, won't the court really become a one-man show for Your Majesty?
Then what are the officials for? Just standing there as decorations?
So at the court meeting the next day, the Hanlin Academy undoubtedly fired the first shot.
It is simply chilling that the emperor ordered the construction of civil engineering projects in the disaster area when famine was rampant.
This is not the way of a benevolent monarch! You have served the world for only a few years, and you have become so complacent?
Isn't this a sign of a tyrant ruler? Has Your Majesty begun to lose interest in state affairs?
Yang Yingcai knelt on the ground, saying:
"I am terrified! Your Majesty's decree has not been approved by the cabinet. It is too hasty!"
"I hope Your Majesty will revoke your order! So that the people of the world will not be disappointed!"
Emperor Jing was helpless. He had to take the blame for his son's mistakes! I couldn't say it was the prince's fault!
But you can't lose your face.
I'm in a dilemma! I'm going to beat that bastard to death when he comes back!
Emperor Jing looked at the ministers below and said calmly: "I issued the order without the approval of the cabinet."
"Why? Can my words be taken without the approval of the cabinet?"
Yang Yingcai raised his head and said loudly: "Your Majesty! Don't you discuss such an important matter with the court officials?"
"The people are already living in dire straits! Wouldn't it be even more costly and laborious to build a large-scale project now?"
"If local cruel officials force the people to work and do not provide them with food, this is the officials forcing the people to rebel!"
"I hope Your Majesty will take back your order!"
A large number of Hanlin scholars in the hall knelt down, while the rest of the ministers remained silent.
Emperor Jing was immediately furious and stood up and shouted angrily: "Shut up! Yang Yingcai, you are so bold!!"
"Are you trying to say that I am cruel and tyrannical?!"
Yang Yingcai stiffened his neck and said, "I dare not...but the people will inevitably fall into dire straits. The court has already ordered to stabilize prices and allocate grain."
"Why bother?"
Emperor Jing's face turned red.
For a moment I didn't know how to refute him and sat back angrily.
He closed his eyes for a while and sighed, "Everyone, get up."
"Zhang Shi, I want to ask you, how much silver is left in the Ministry of Revenue's treasury?"
Zhang Shi stepped out and said nervously, "Five hundred thousand taels... we still have some."
Emperor Jing slowly opened his eyes and said, "The three prefectures have asked the court for silver several times. Is 500,000 taels enough? How much more should be given?"
Zhang Shi felt his scalp tingling. He had never expected that the war would spread to his side. "Five hundred thousand taels... is not enough. There are many people in the country who need silver. If all of it is approved... it will affect the overall situation."
"Oh, yes, that's why you only know how to ask me for money. My treasury has been emptied and I have no money left!"
"How much grain has been mobilized from the local areas in the past few days? I'm afraid it's not even as much as Fang Zhengyi raises in the capital in one day!" Emperor Jing was full of indignation.
The sales of lottery tickets and tea have also declined, and there are no more caring memorials. The days when Fang Qing is not around are miserable!
The remaining group of people either raise questions or ask for money every day!
If the Ministry of Revenue has no money, ask me for it! Day by day, the treasury, which had finally saved some money, was emptied again!
But what can we do? Should we just let the world rot?
The ministers all looked downcast, wondering why Fang Zhengyi was mentioned again.
Now that that bastard is gone, everyone finally has a few days of peace and quiet.
He is fast in raising food, but he is the one who is skinning me!
Are you going to let people live?
"Why did I allow the three prefectures to build fortifications? It's because we have no money and no food!"
"Even if we have both money and food, it will take a lot of time to mobilize supplies. You can afford to wait, but can the victims afford to wait?"
"Local officials, the people should find ways to save themselves!"
"The best solution right now is to borrow the help of the government and the wealthy, provide relief through work, and accept as many disaster victims as possible!"
"This is a helpless move! I had no intention of issuing this decree, but... a bunch of incompetent people! Alas..."
Emperor Jing leaned back and sighed to the sky.
Ah this?
The ministers were dumbfounded. Why did he suddenly change his tactics? He was putting the blame on me? When did His Majesty become like this?
"Your Majesty! Everyone knows about the work-for-relief policy, but who can guarantee that there won't be any problems?"
"If we fail, who will bear the consequences if the people are angry? The only ones who will suffer are the common people!"
"This action is against the will of heaven. I hope Your Majesty will make a holy judgment and revoke the order!"
Emperor Jing's mouth was full of bitterness.
Yes, you are right, but what can I do? Now that things have come to this, the only hope is that the local authorities can achieve results.
If I fail, I will be cursed for eternity!
Emperor Jing flicked his sleeves and said angrily, "Is it against the will of Heaven? I am Heaven! This matter needs to be observed and no further discussion is needed!"
“........” The ministers were silent.
You are the sky? You are the Son of Heaven!
If you chat like this, everyone will be left with nothing to talk about.
Li Yansong looked towards the former prince's position from time to time.
He had been in contact with Emperor Jing for many years and had a deep understanding of his style of doing things.
Your Majesty would never do such a thing.
The prince has not appeared in the court for a long time, as if he had disappeared.
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