Chapter 319 You're Smart
That night, the Secretariat and Jingzhao Prefecture issued official documents one after another.
Jingzhao Prefecture sent a group of locust extermination officers, each with a working group, to the states and counties affected by the locust plague to carry out a large-scale locust extermination campaign.
If the locust plague is not eradicated, the locust eradicator will not need to return! His official career will also be over!
This is a tough battle. Everyone in Jingzhao Prefecture is tied together and no one can escape.
Of course, the officials from the states and counties below don’t even think about running away, as responsibilities must be implemented at every level!
Anyone who obstructs the locust extermination will be blocking the future of everyone in Jingzhao Prefecture and will be dismissed immediately.
The county government offices of Chang'an County and Wannian County were located within the city of Chang'an. They took action that night and dispatched various officials to towns and villages to carry out the work.
The lights in Jingzhao Prefecture were brightly on. The Khan, the Crown Prince, and the Left and Right Prime Ministers were working together in Jingzhao Prefecture. This was the most efficient office in the history of the Tang Dynasty.
There is no other way. If we don’t act quickly, Guanzhong will be barren, the people will be displaced, and the strategic deployment of the war against the Turks will have to be stopped, triggering a series of changes.
The whole night long, there was the sound of horse hooves in Chang'an City, and those who didn't know thought there was a war.
At daybreak, official documents ordering locust extermination were posted in every neighborhood, at major intersections of major streets, at city gates, and in front of government offices.
There are methods to kill locusts and assessments of government officials at all levels.
The sound is huge and thunderous.
"Xuanling, if all government offices were so efficient, there would be no need to worry about the governance of the Tang Dynasty!" Tian Khan could not help but admire.
However, in just a few hours, the government order reached the grassroots level. Fireworks were already burning everywhere in Chang'an County and Wannian County outside the city, and the air was filled with the aroma of locust meat.
"Yes!" Fang Xiang rubbed his red eyes.
This Su Bucheng is indeed capable and is very decisive in his work.
With the authorization from the Secretariat and the Emperor, a drastic order to eradicate the locusts was issued, including assessments of officials in all states and counties involved in the locust plague.
The assessment is closely linked and the responsibilities are clearly defined, so no one can slack off.
This person has a bright future!
"Snoring, snore..." Du Xiang, who had suffered from insomnia for a long time, fell asleep soundly on the desk and snored.
The locust plague that we have been worried about for more than a year has finally been contained, and I can sleep well.
"Gao Ming, you've been up all night, aren't you sleepy?" Tian Khan saw that his eldest son's eyes were still bright and he didn't look sleepy at all.
"Father, I have gained a lot tonight! I am not sleepy!" Li Chengqian said happily.
After saying that, he yawned without realizing it.
"Let's go, follow Aye to the court. There will be something interesting to watch today!" Tian Khan was very satisfied with his eldest son's performance.
As soon as the grand court meeting began, someone jumped out and stopped the locust extermination under the banner of blaspheming the locust god.
They scolded Su Bucheng for spreading evil and misleading the people, and demanded that Su Bucheng, the instigator, be beheaded immediately and publicly apologized to God.
Su Bucheng was the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, a fourth-rank official, and was qualified to attend court.
But neither Su Bucheng nor the prefect Li Hongshi came today. After arranging matters, the two of them each led a team to various states and counties in the east and west directions to inspect the progress of locust control and supervise the work.
I have no time to pay attention to the farce in the court.
"Your Majesty, Su Bucheng disrespected the Locust God, spread false rumors to confuse the people, and seduced Your Majesty to offend the Locust God. I think he should be executed!" Another person stood up.
Tian Khan took a closer look and saw the inspecting censor Wang Yushi.
The last time Su Bucheng was collectively impeached, it was he who organized and planned it.
Tian Khan secretly ordered people to investigate these days and found out that this person was from the Wang family and was of the same clan as Wang, the wife of Lu Shilang, the Minister of Works.
There was no grudge between Wang and the Su family. The reason for this incident was that Wang had taken a fancy to the daughter of Censor Wang and wanted to cancel the marriage with the Su family.
As for the collective impeachment, it was not only because of the eloquence of Censor Wang, but also because everyone was afraid of locusts.
Su Bucheng's actions were unprecedented, and many people's faith collapsed, so they naturally opposed it fiercely.
Another reason is that it blocked the financial path of the aristocratic families. Every famine was a good opportunity for the aristocratic families to annex land.
Su Bucheng organized the locust control and helped the common people. Those wealthy families lost the opportunity to annex land and naturally resented it.
Several forces mixed together, surrounding and blocking them. How could Su Bucheng, a small county magistrate, have the power to resist?
Fortunately, Tian Khan did not lose his mind in his rage and did not kill Su Bucheng, but exiled him to Lingnan.
Thinking of this, Tian Khan was extremely grateful that he had saved Su Bucheng's life, otherwise he would have lost a capable and loyal minister!
"Your Excellency the Imperial Censor! I have something I don't understand. May I ask for your advice?"
Before the Khan could open his mouth, the prince on the steps could not bear it any longer and spoke first.
"Your Highness, please speak!" Censor Wang bowed, confused.
Minister Lu had a bad feeling and silently shrank back, hoping that the emperor and the prince would not notice him.
"Sir Wang, do you have official land?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Your Highness, yes!"
"Master Wang, do you have any private land at home?" Li Chengqian asked again.
"Your Highness, yes!" Censor Wang felt that the prince's words were not nonsense, so he cheered up and responded.
"As far as I know, the official fields of all of you gentlemen are in the Wei River area, which is also the locust-stricken area this time." Li Chengqian looked at the Censor Wang below with a smile.
Censor Wang raised his head in confusion, and then what?
"Excuse me, Lord Wang, how much did you earn from your official land last year?" Li Chengqian asked.
"Your Highness, it's 30% to 40% less than in previous years!" replied Censor Wang.
This is the same for everyone here, there is nothing to hide!
"What about Lord Wang's private land? How much did he earn?" Li Chengqian asked again.
"..." Censor Wang paused, lowered his eyes, and his mind raced.
Realizing that I had fallen into the trap set by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, this question was not easy to answer.
If you answer too many questions, I'll ask you why you have more than others. Why? We're both in a locust-infested area, so why aren't they attacking yours? If I ask you again, you'll be exposed!
If the answer is too little, just send someone to check on Zhuangzi, and you're done! It's a crime of deceiving the emperor!
"Why, Lord Wang, are you old? Is your memory failing?" Li Chengqian asked unkindly, "Can I find someone to help you think about this? Hmm?"
"I am ignorant, thank you for your advice, Your Highness!" Censor Wang admitted his mistake.
"Hmph! You don't know what you're talking about!" The prince said harshly.
All those who were jumping around happily just now should shut up. Some words cannot be continued, otherwise they will burst!
Yesterday, I heard Lord Su chatting and learned that during the locust plague, only the common people did not kill the locusts, while the estates of the powerful and wealthy were killing the locusts.
But there were so many locusts that they couldn't tell the difference between the rich and the common people, so they would jump wherever there was food.
Therefore, the powerful and wealthy still suffered losses, with the losses reaching about 30% to 40%.
But compared with the crops of ordinary people, it is much better!
The official fields along the Wei River also had locust extermination, otherwise how could they afford to support so many officials?
These people know very well that locusts are pests, but they fool the people into thinking they are magical insects and have evil intentions.
"Hmm!" Tian Khan interrupted the prince at the right time.
"Wang Duanfang, you are prematurely aged and in poor health. We will consider transferring you to Lingnan County for some training. I hope you will be like Su Qing and create a new situation in Lingnan!"
"Your Majesty!" Censor Wang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and fell to his knees with a thud!
"What? Lord Wang..." Tian Khan said coldly.
"Your Majesty... obeys your order!" Censor Wang took a deep breath and said.
For Beijing officials, being transferred to a remote place at the same level is equivalent to being exiled, let alone the wild and desolate Lingnan!
Even though Lingnan was upgraded to a special grain-producing area, in the eyes of the powerful, it was still a wild and uncivilized place!
Humph, you know what’s best for you! The Heavenly Khan looked down upon Wang Duanfang on the ground!
Aren't you good at stirring up trouble? You should also experience the hardships that the Su family went through in Lingnan!
If you dare to talk again, I will strip you of your official title and let you experience the feeling of being an exile!
Minister Lu broke out in a cold sweat. The emperor would not attack without reason. He must have been waiting for him, and Wang Duanfang had just run into him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
