Several prefects and princes in the southwest and east have launched rebellions. Although some have been suppressed, more than half are still in turmoil.
Chancellor Yelü Hui bowed and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please expedite the management of the river channels and provide relief to the disaster victims."
Yelü De frowned deeply. He had always considered himself not a foolish ruler, so how could so many things be happening in the world?
"What the Prime Minister says is quite right. May I ask how much silver is needed?"
Yelü De reported: "At least two million taels."
There was a sigh of dismay in the court. It was remembered that during the last drought relief effort, the Ministry of Revenue said that they couldn't even come up with one million taels of silver.
Two million taels? How could that be in such a short time? The autumn harvest hasn't even started yet, and the taxes certainly haven't been collected.
Besides, military pay is still in arrears!
Yelü De frowned even more deeply, his eyes fixed on the Minister of Revenue.
Bai Conglin, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue currently only has 800,000 taels of silver in cash."
Privy Councilor Zhu Yun stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, the official document states that the heavy rains show no signs of abating. It is not wise to manage the river at this time. It would be better to order local officials to first resettle the disaster victims, and then consider managing the river when funds are plentiful and the rainy season has passed.”
Hanlin Academician Xue Cheng also stood up to agree: "At this time, the drought relief in the north has not yet been completed, and there are many displaced people in various places. Where is there spare money to manage the river channels?"
More than half of the officials agreed not to manage the river and to let the local government solve the problems of the disaster victims.
Prime Minister Yelü Hui roared, "Are the disaster victims in the north disaster victims, but those in the south aren't?"
Then he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to go and manage the river!"
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