The Red Chamber: The Rise of the Shuzi

Chapter 221 The court discusses disaster relief methods
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Seeing that many civil servants were silent, Yang Xiuchen, as the chief minister of the cabinet and the leader of civil officials, had no choice but to bite the bullet and stand up.

Zou said: "Your Majesty Qizuo, there is a severe drought in Guanzhong this year. It is time to prepare money and food immediately, and send imperial envoys to help. In addition, it is necessary to prepare the army to prevent the victims from causing chaos..."

Before Yang Xiuchen could finish his sentence, Wang Le, Minister of the Household Department, stepped out of the line.

"Your Majesty, last year's war left the national treasury empty, and the additional tax was also used to relieve the locust plague in Guanzhong at the end of the year. This year's tax was collected in advance last year, and now the Ministry of Households has no more food and money. !"

Yang Xiuchen's unfinished words were directly stuck in his throat.

In the main hall, the other civil and military officials couldn't help being surprised when they heard the words. There is no money in the treasury again?
When the treasury was empty the year before last and he was unable to send troops to the Northern Expedition, Emperor Hongde actually confiscated the homes of a group of officials in order to get enough military pay.

Looking back now, I still feel a little scary. Now the treasury is empty again?

This national treasury must have a kidney deficiency, otherwise why would it be empty at every turn?
Immediately, many officials had some ominous premonitions in their hearts!

The household department is firmly held by Emperor Hongde, and Emperor Hongde is naturally clear about the emptiness of the treasury.

However, although Da Zhou is currently poor, in the face of the severe drought in Guanzhong, disaster relief is still necessary.

The people are the foundation of the country, so is it just talk?

Only in this way, Emperor Hongde and Hubu Shangshu Wang Le had no choice but to find a way elsewhere!

Although the treasury is clean enough to run away rats, the families of some ministers who like to reach out are still quite rich!

In a special situation like now, it is entirely feasible to ask these ministers for help!

These powerful ministers who like to reach out everywhere in the dark have already made a lot of money by taking advantage of their positions over the years, and so much money is kept at home, and it is a waste of manpower and material resources to keep and count things. It is really a waste of energy and time. double burden on

Therefore, Emperor Hongde thought, let the Great Zhou Empire come to help them, and help them get rid of their worries!

Look, how caring!

Emperor Hongde and Wang Le have made up their minds, and if it's over, then go find the ministers in the court!
So, there is the scene before.

Emperor Hongde sat on the dragon chair, looked at the silent civil and military officials below, and said: "The governor of Shaanxi said that the grass roots and bark in Guanzhong have been searched and eaten. , The refugees are on the road, among them are hungry and dead, and the dead are lying on their pillows..."

After a pause, Emperor Hongde went on to say: "What was said in the memorial may sound like a few short sentences, but everyone can imagine how tragic the actual situation is?

At this moment, at this moment, at this moment, I hope that everyone can work together with Da Zhou to overcome the difficulties and save the people in Guanzhong from the fire and water! "

Is this ready to raise money? !
Looking at Emperor Hongde on the dragon chair, Jia Jing couldn't help admiring, this move is so good!

on the dragon chair.

Emperor Hongde continued: "This time to help the victims, I will take 30 taels of silver from the internal funds and hand it over to the Ministry of Households to buy food for disaster relief.

For the rest, ministers and workers, if you have a better family, you might as well donate generously.

I don't ask you to destroy your family to relieve difficulties, but I also hope that I can do my part!I will keep it in my heart, thank you for your contribution! "

The words of Emperor Hongde caused all the ministers in the hall to "click" in their hearts, and a thought came to their minds.

This money seems to be out of the question!

As an old man well known to all the officials in the court, Emperor Hongde has already taken out 30 taels of silver from his own pocket to help the victims. I can't get out of the palace!

The last two sentences of Emperor Hongde, about fulfilling the obligation and remembering it in the heart, are already almost a threat to Hongguoguo.

The meaning is to tell the ministers in the court that I know your family background very well, and it is time to bleed some blood outside, otherwise, it will be recorded in my little book!
And how many of those ministers who were missed by Emperor Hongde had clean buttocks?
At that time, under the reckoning after the autumn, one will count the other, so naturally no one will have to run away, and they will not be able to run away!

Which of these people didn't accept bribes or something?

But right now, Emperor Hongde left these ministers with a chance to redeem themselves. To sum it up in two words,

Pay!

Spend money to buy peace!
How many of those who have made it to the current position in the official career are not brains?

Naturally, they understood what Emperor Hongde meant.

So, after hesitating for a moment, all the civil servants, starting with Yang Xiuchen, began to report the donated silver taels and food in pieces. The amount of silver ranged from a few thousand taels to tens of thousands of taels. There are also dozens of stones to thousands of stones.

To talk about donating money and food, it is a bit of an excuse, it must neither appear that he has earned too much money, nor make Emperor Hongde feel that he is perfunctory...

In short, one of the degrees must be grasped!

Then it was donated by the military attaches.

After everyone had donated one by one, Emperor Hongde took the donation amount recorded by the little eunuch next to him, scanned it up and down, nodded with satisfaction, and said with a smile: "On behalf of the disaster-stricken people in Guanzhong, thank you The generosity of your beloved ministers!"

Everyone bowed together and said: "This is the duty of the minister!"

Putting aside the paper that recorded the amount of donations in his hand, Emperor Hongde said again: "Since we have the money to relieve the victims, let's discuss this time, what kind of relief method should we use?"

There was another silence in the hall.

Jia Jing came out and said: "Your Majesty, I think that the most important thing to do first is to distribute relief supplies first and send a large army to suppress them to prevent turmoil!

In addition, His Majesty also needs to issue an order to reduce the corvee in the disaster-stricken areas and use Su Minli's power; at the same time, open the mountains and lakes and allow the people to hunt and fish to subsidize their families; finally, to sacrifice to ghosts and gods to reassure the people! "

Emperor Hongde heard the words, nodded and said: "What Marquis Zhao Wu said is true!"

Below, Lin Ruhai, who was then the left inspector and censor, added to Jia Jing's suggestion: "There is a severe drought in Guanzhong, and the land can't be relieved in a year or two. If the land is not strong enough, the harvest will be poor, and it may be difficult to feed the people. Those affected by the disaster in Guanzhong.

Your Majesty should decree that all the people will be rich, and five or six out of ten are better off. During the period, the roads will be given grain, and when they arrive at the place, they will be given fields and houses, as well as plows, cattle, seeds, and food, so that the people will be prosperous. The beginning of the book.

At the same time, send envoys to inspect and supervise at any time! "

Hearing Lin Ruhai's strategy, Emperor Hongde said with a smile: "The strategies of your husband and son-in-law should complement each other, and it will be a good strategy for disaster relief!"

……

Then, Emperor Hongde ordered the cabinet to draw up an edict, saying:
"In the eighth year of Hongde, there was a county under Shaanxi Province. There was no rain for a long time, and people's livelihood was difficult. Many people gnawed the grass and sucked the soil, starved to death, and there were many dead disciples. I heard that it is sad!

Today's special order, the left inspector Yushi Lin Ruhai is in charge of relief matters in Shaanxi, and the right governor Jia Jing of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies is leading the army to suppress the refugees along the way to prevent disobedience!

In addition, I think it is not easy for the people in Guanzhong. In the next three years of amnesty, the taxes and grains of Xia and Autumn will be exempted, and Su Min's power will be used.I also ordered the people in Guanzhong to choose half of them to migrate to have a good harvest. They will be given grain along the road, and when they arrive at the place, they will be given fields and houses, as well as plows, cattle, seeds, and food..."

Hearing the will of Emperor Hongde, all the officials in the court bowed and saluted, shouting "Your Majesty is merciful and holy"...

(End of this chapter)