He used the red pen in his hand to write on the "Memorial to Encourage Farmers". This memorial was jointly submitted by various counties in Yizhou, requesting a reduction or exemption of taxes this year.
He also prepared to report to the court that although the drought had passed, the famine was still there, and it was impossible to ask the people to pay taxes as before.
Just then, a sound was heard outside.
"Your Majesty, urgent news from the border!"
Lu Jingxuan, a servant of the palace, hurried in and placed a letter on the table. Xiao Cheng hastily opened it. When he saw the contents inside, he stood up suddenly and accidentally knocked over the inkstone. The thick black ink splashed on the "Memorial to Encourage Farmers", blurring the four words "tax reduction and exemption".
"Your Highness, is there something wrong at the border?" Lu Jingxuan asked.
"Read it yourself." Xiao Cheng handed over the letter.
Lu Jingxuan took a look and his hands trembled. There were only eight words on it.
The southern barbarians invaded and the border was lost!
Although there were only eight words, Lu Jingxuan knew what they represented. That was the lives of countless soldiers on the border and the suffering people.
"My Lord, what should I do?"
Xiao Cheng sighed, "I should have expected this. The blockade policy adopted by the imperial court has made the Nanman dissatisfied. Coupled with famine and drought, all these reasons have accumulated together, leading to the Nanman's outbreak today."
"Pass the order down, and have all counties prepare to resettle the refugees. All local medical clinics that treat wounded soldiers will be exempted from taxes for one year."
Lu Jingxuan took the order and left. He found the butler and whispered, "Stew the blood swallows sent from Jiangnan the day before yesterday. The prince will be worried again."
The butler nodded, thinking to himself, how would Yizhou survive without the prince?
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