"Food is being distributed! The government office is distributing food!" Haizhou was in an uproar.
The people beat gongs and shouted, spreading the good news from street to street. The Haizhou government began to distribute grain, distributing it per head.
The people of Haizhou starved to death tragically, but those who survived were fortunate: each person received two bags of corn and seven mu of land of rice seeds.
For an average family, this amount of food was enough to last for more than a year. The government office even posted an imperial decree exempting the area from taxes for three years.
"Sir, more than 7,000 shi of grain have been distributed from eight stalls today. The distribution in Haizhou City has basically been completed, and the remaining counties and towns are being allocated. When will the 20,000 shi of grain from Guangyuan Grain Store be delivered?" Su Yuanzhong discussed at Liu Yu's residence.
"I just received a letter from the prince. I'm afraid the 20,000 dan of grain from the Guangyuan grain store won't be available for the time being."
"What?" Su Yuanzhong was shocked. "If His Majesty finds out, we'll all be finished. How could this happen?"
Liu Yu sighed. "The imperial court has allocated 40,000 dan of grain to aid Haizhou. Neighboring areas like Xuzhou and Chuzhou have also lent a hand. Furthermore, military rations at the border are even more essential. And the Guangyuan grain store sold off our 20,000 dan. With grain prices rising sharply across the country, it will be difficult to gather another 20,000 dan."
"Will we be in trouble?" Su Yuanzhong was most concerned about his own life.
"Don't worry, it's not that we can't transport 20,000 dan of grain. It's just that no one can afford it in such a short time. I think we can probably get 7,000 or 8,000 dan. In fact, 20,000 dan of grain in Haizhou is enough for disaster relief, but Your Majesty wants to show sympathy to the victims. He wants to use half of the country's power to provide relief to Haizhou. We only need to distribute the grain in Haizhou City. As for the counties and towns below, he won't investigate too closely. Besides, we just need to bribe the Queen. With her whispering in Your Majesty's ear, the affairs of Haizhou will be safe."
Zhao Huan was also making intensive preparations. Cao Dongsheng reported, "Your Majesty, they have opened eight stalls in the city today, and the distribution has basically been completed."
Zhao Huan nodded: "I see. Where is Linghu Yunlong?"
Cao Dongsheng shook his head: "I didn't encounter him, he should be back soon."
As he was speaking, Linghu Yunlong rushed in: "Your Majesty, I have learned an important piece of information."
Zhao Huan was delighted: "Oh. Tell me about it."
"Your Majesty, there may be something wrong with this disaster relief grain." Linghu Yunlong said.
In fact, Zhao Huan had guessed it long ago, but he didn't know what tricks Liu Yu and the others would play. "What do you mean?"
"There is not so much grain in their granary. At least half of it is replaced by sand and chaff. It cannot be seen on the surface, but it is all fake." Linghu Yunlong bowed.
Zhao Huan smiled slightly, "I guessed it a long time ago. Is the news true?"
Linghu Yunlong nodded and said, "I disguised myself as a civilian and sneaked in to see it. The top layer of the granary was filled with grain, and the bottom was all sand."
Zhao Huan stood up and said, "Let's go to the hall and call Liu Yu over."
Liu Yu was discussing with Su Yuanzhong how to make use of the remaining 20,000 shi of grain when Cao Dongsheng arrived.
"Eunuch Cao, I didn't know you were coming. I'm sorry for not coming to greet you. Please forgive me." Liu Yu greeted him warmly.
Cao Dongsheng said expressionlessly, "Master Liu, it's really embarrassing for us to address you like that. Your Majesty invites you."
He was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, yet he was extremely humble in front of Cao Dongsheng, who had no rank. However, Cao Dongsheng did not give him this face.
Upon hearing the emperor's summons, Liu Yu hurriedly made up his mind: "Eunuch Cao, please come in!"
In the Haizhou Hall, Zhao Huan used it as a temporary hall. After Liu Yu, Su Yuanzhong and others came in, Zhao Huan asked, "Liu Yu, how is the disaster relief work going?"
Liu Yu hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the food in the city has been basically distributed. What remains is to be distributed to the towns and counties. I have already allocated mule carts, and they will begin distribution to the towns and counties once they are ready."
Zhao Huan nodded and said, "Let's go. I want to go check out the granary."
Liu Yu was surprised: "This."
"What's wrong? Is there any problem with the granary?" Zhao Huan asked.
Su Yuanzhong's forehead was already covered with sweat. Liu Yu tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened: "No, it's okay. I will take your Majesty away right away."
Zhao Huan nodded and said, "Yes, Linghu Yunlong. Get ready and go to the granary to check the grain."
As soon as he arrived at the granary, Zhao Huan saw the problem. Thousands of dan of grain had already been distributed. Some sand was already exposed. Looking at it from the outside, you couldn't see anything, but a closer look revealed the problem.
Zhao Huan didn't seem to notice. "Well, there's still plenty of food. Liu Yu, why is there so much sand on the ground?"
Liu Yu wiped his sweat and said, "This might be left on the mule cart. I will send someone to clean it up right away."
"No, I want to open a few bags of grain and take a look. Yunlong, bring me your knife."
Linghu Yunlong drew the long sword from his waist and handed it to Zhao Huan. Zhao Huan looked at the sword that shone like cold water and praised it, "Excellent sword!"
He used his long sword to cut open a bag of grain, and a lot of millet flowed out. Zhao Huan nodded with satisfaction: "It's really good. These millet grains are all plump. Liu Yu, you have worked hard."
"No, it's okay. It's my duty."
Zhao Huan pointed his sword at the guards beside him and said, "One of you, move the bags of grain down from above. I want to see what's inside."
Liu Yu and Su Yuanzhong looked at each other, and both of their faces changed drastically.
"Your Majesty! It's getting late. You are tired from the journey. You should go back and rest early." Su Yuanzhong bowed.
Liu Yu hurriedly followed with a smile, "Yes, Your Majesty, the dragon's health is more important. Your Majesty should go back and rest as soon as possible. Leave the matters here to us."
"Su Yuanzhong!" Zhao Huan pointed his sword at him. "You're the one who's going to take on Su Yuanzhong, aren't you?"
Su Yuanzhong knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty."
"Zou Ma Shang Cheng was in charge of supervising the grain transport envoys. Did you supervise Liu Yu?"
Su Yuanzhong kowtowed in fear: "I deserve to die!"
Zhao Huan opened a bag of grain, which contained corn. "Well, not bad. The fact that you were able to deliver the grain proves that I was right in choosing you."
The emperor spoke in a sarcastic tone, leaving everyone bewildered. Liu Yu and Su Yuanzhong were terrified. "To be with a king and a tiger, has this dog emperor discovered this?"
Zhao Huan pointed his sword at another bag, which contained sand and chaff. Liu Yu and Su Yuanzhong knew this.
"This food is good, but who knows that every grain of rice on the table is the product of hard work. This bag of food was grown by the people with every drop of blood and sweat. Only by handing this food over to the victims can we be worthy of the people of the world and our ancestors, right?"
Su Yuanzhong couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to die quickly: "Your Majesty, please come down."
Zhao Huan raised his sword and made a move to strike, but the blow would completely expose his true identity. Liu Yu's legs softened and he knelt on the ground, closing his eyes and not daring to look.
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