Zhenguan Crown Prince Li Chengqian

Chapter 45 The Locust in the Second Year of Zhenguan

A courier with a red flag on his back galloped into Chang'an like lightning.

Hongwendian

"The plague of locusts in Tongguan covered the sky and blocked out the sun, and the grass and trees were all gone wherever they passed." Cen Wenwen read the emergency chapter in his hand to everyone who was doing it.

"Your Highness, the plague of locusts is not a trivial matter. Are you going to welcome His Majesty back from Luoyang?"

What Xiao Yu said made sense, even Li Chengqian wanted to welcome Li Shimin back.But I'm afraid it's too late now, I guess the old man will be on the grassland by now, and the day lily will be cold when he comes back.

Besides, it is inevitable that someone will use the locust plague as an excuse, saying that the emperor killed his brother and forced his father, and that his improper position caused natural disasters. You must know that the person in Da'an Palace has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

Li Chengqian: "Your Majesty's first tour to the East after he ascended the throne is to clean up the hearts of scholars in Shandong. You can report it first, but the people can't wait for disaster relief, such as firefighting. This",
"Your Highness, something serious has happened," Chu Suiliang rushed in with a lot of urgent papers in his arms.

"The 27 prefectures in Guanzhong had disasters at the same time. Locusts came from the ancient road of the Yellow River. The reeds swarmed up and ate countless crops. The hearts of the people in Guanzhong were shaken, and they flocked to Tongguan to flee to Shandong."

What Chu Suiliang said made everyone unable to sit still. The locust plague that broke out in the entire Guanzhong at the same time was the biggest natural disaster since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chengqian came to the map and looked at the small official marking the affected area on the map. On the map, Tongguan, Fufeng, Huaxian, Fengxiang, Jingyang, Sanyuan, Qishan, Zhouzhi, and the entire Guanzhong to the east of Hanzhong were filled with yellow flags. .

There are too many places affected by the disaster, Li Chengqian thought for a while and said: "Order the guards of Tongguan to close Tongguan, and the victims cannot go to Shandong."

"Your Highness, if you don't let the victims flee the famine, it will stir up civil uprisings." However, Li Chengqian ignored Xiao Yu's objection at all, but turned his head and asked Wei Zheng: "Wei Shizhong, tell me what happened to the victims of the severe drought in Guanzhong at the end of the Sui Dynasty?" ".

Wei Zheng didn't understand why Li Chengqian asked this question: "In the severe drought in Guanzhong at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the victims fled eastward one after another. They first begged, and if begging failed, they would steal, and if stealing failed, they would rob. Most of the banditry in the late Sui Dynasty was formed in this way."

"Have you heard that the prison country is in Chang'an, and you six ministers are still unable to solve the disaster in Chang'an. If you let the victims go east, you will leave the problem of disaster relief to the local state government.
At that time, the population in Guanzhong will be completely lost, and there will be chaos in Shandong. After a big fire, will the Tang Dynasty still exist? Therefore, the scope of the disaster must be controlled, and the imperial court will come forward to provide relief, and Tongguan must be closed. "

"What Your Highness said is reasonable, but how should we solve the current situation." Cen Wenwen was more practical, and also talked about how to do it is the top priority.

"First, open warehouses to release grain, and open all the free warehouses in Guanzhong to distribute according to the head of the population. Second, order the prefectures and counties to buy locusts for five cents a catty and burn them centrally, so that part of the grain can also be preserved. The third is the grassroots officials of the Ministry of Integrity. Supervise the disaster relief situation in earnest."

"Your Highness, you must not kill locusts and offend the locust god. The locust god brought disasters because he was dissatisfied with the emperor's administration. You should ask your majesty to come back to worship the locust god and issue an order to punish yourself. Only in this way can you calm people's hearts. If not ",
Xiao Yu talked at length about what the emperor should do in the face of the warning from the heavens. Like Li Chengqian, he is wronging the country, the king, and the world.

Li Chengqian raised his hand and interrupted Mr. Xiao: "Song Guogong, you are right, but that is what the father should consider. What I have to do is how to minimize the disaster before Luanjia returns to Beijing. As for you, there are differences." Opinions can be expressed at the court meeting."

Regardless of Xiao Yu's blushing face, Liu Zhenghui continued to say, "Liu Shangshu, with my palace warrant, go to the reserve warehouse in the industrial zone to pick up 50 shi of grain."

"Your Highness is serious," Liu Zhenghui thought he had heard it wrong. Of course he knew that there was food in the industrial area, but it was the prince's private property.

Just now when Li Chengqian said that he was still complaining when he said that the rations were distributed, it is not that this master does not know that the Ministry of Households has no rations, so he can't take out the military rations.

Now seeing how Li Chengqian was willing to use the food in the reserve for disaster relief, how could this not make this old Liu overjoyed.

Liu Zhenghui's playful look amused Li Chengqian, he shook his head helplessly, took out the token from his pocket, and slapped it heavily in Liu Zhenghui's hand,

"It's true this time. Immediately send people to send food to the counties. Only those who have food in their hands can the common people feel at ease and work together with the court to tide over the difficulties."

"Your Majesty's wishes, I know, I thank you on behalf of the people in Guanzhong, and I will go down to make arrangements immediately." After saying that, he bowed deeply and turned to leave.

"Du Shangshu, Cen Zhongshu, Wei Shizhong, do you think it's okay to do this?" Li Chengqian could disrespect Xiao Yu, because the old man was stupid in reading, but the three of them were different.

"Ahem, Your Highness, I think it's very good. In the past, the imperial court didn't bother to flee the famine because they were unable to provide disaster relief. Now that the imperial court has the ability to provide disaster relief, naturally they can't just sit back and watch the people starve to death. I think your Highness's approach is very good."

"In this season, food is the golden elixir for life-saving. One more mouthful can save another life-saving. Your Highness can not be moved by interests." Wei Zheng is the most senior troll in Datang, he said Well, who can say what.

Cen Wenwen thought about it for a while: "Youdao means that you don't panic when you have food in your hand. This can easily control the scope of the disaster. At the same time, it also establishes the prestige of the imperial court. The people will support the imperial court even more, and they don't have to worry about the famine. People are in charge, and the minister seconded it."

Seeing that the three big bosses agreed, and the other ministers of the six departments also agreed, although Xiao Yu was not convinced, she felt that Li Chengqian could not persuade others and let herself lose face.

But seeing that Li Chengqian even took out his private property, he pressed his lips and sat aside and sulked.

"Cen Zhongshu, plan to recruit. At the same time, it is strictly ordered that the price of food in Guanzhong should not increase by more than [-]% to be locked up. Whoever makes the country rich will die."

Cen Wenwen glanced at Li Chengqian quite unexpectedly, then agreed, turned around and hurriedly recruited.So a large number of messengers set off from Chang'an and scattered in all directions.

Lizheng Hall

Li Chengqian came as usual to greet the eldest grandson empress who was about to give birth, and the eldest grandson leaned lazily on the couch.

"Gan'er, you've done a good job. You should be calm when things happen, but now the courtiers are going to welcome His Majesty back, so your father's whereabouts may be exposed."

The eldest grandson's worry is justified. If Li Shimin's whereabouts are exposed, not only will Li Shimin be put in danger, but Jieli will use this opportunity to get rid of his confidant's serious troubles, and the court's Northern Expedition strategy will fail.At that time, there will be sycophants who will take advantage of the locust plague in Guanzhong and make waves in the country, and the Tang Dynasty will inevitably be in danger of being destroyed.

"Mother, please rest assured to cultivate your body. After all, you are about to give birth, so don't worry too much about other things. If something goes wrong, the emperor will not peel off the skin of the son and minister when the emperor comes back." The brow stretches.

"As for the affairs of the imperial court, my son-in-law sent a secret message to Fang Xuanling and Luanjia to stay in the Eastern Capital. No one will know the whereabouts of the father.

The matter of disaster relief is the responsibility of the minister, no matter whether it is inside or outside the palace, whoever dares to stretch out his hand will do it. "

"You mean?" Empress Changsun pointed her finger in the direction of Da'an Palace, seeing Li Chengqian nodding, Changsun let out a long sigh, what an injustice.

In fact, Li Chengqian made a mistake this time. Li Yuan didn't do anything. The reason is very simple. Li Chengqian's performance in Da'an Palace made Li Yuan feel that it might be more interesting to change the way with their father and son.

(End of this chapter)