People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1819: Attacking Silla, Swords and Spears Are More Suitable

In front of the Taiji Hall, Huang Rensu hurriedly stepped over the threshold and entered the hall.

In the hall, the emperor sat high up, and the prince stood on the third golden step.

Shangshu Zuo Pushe Lu Yuanfang, Shangshu You Pushe Wang Dezhen, Zhongshu Ling Li Yiyan, Zhongshu Ling Liu Jingxian, Shizhong Ouyang Tong, Shizhong Zhang Da'an, Zhongshu Shilang and co-Zhongshu Menxia 3rd rank Cen Changqian, Huangmen Shilang and co-Zhongshu Menxia 3rd rank Wang Jishan, all stood in awe.

The Minister of Personnel Lin Renji, the Minister of Revenue Pei Judao, as well as the Water Conservancy Supervisor Xu Jian, the Supreme Court Minister He Yiqiu, the Lesser Inspector of the Treasury Wei Hongji, the Chief Architect Pei Feishu, and the Prince's Secretary Xing Wenwei were all present.

Guanglu Shaoqing Zhang Jianzhi and Taishi Ling Li Yan stood at the back.

……

"Your Majesty, I am the Minister of Works Huang Rensu. I am here to see you. I am a little late. Please forgive me." Huang Rensu bowed heavily.

Li Xuan waved his hand slightly and said, "Stand up, it's not a big deal. I regret calling so many people at once."

"Your Majesty is not an ordinary person. You must have some idea in mind before summoning all the ministers." Huang Rensu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we are listening respectfully to your instructions."

"Join the ranks." Li Xuan waved his hand with amusement and said, "Grand Historian, come and tell us what is going on."

"Yes!" Li Yan immediately stood up, then cupped his hands and said, "It snowed lightly today, but the snow stopped before it covered the ground, and the sun was rising."

When Li Yan said this, the sensitive people among the ministers had already frowned, as if this phenomenon had happened before.

"According to the observation of the Bureau of History, there will be no snow in Chang'an, or even in the entire northern region, until New Year's Eve this winter." Li Yan looked solemn and said, "If there are one or two heavy rains or heavy snows in the spring of next year, then next year may be fine. But if there is no rain or snow in the spring of next year, or if there is very little rain or snow, then it is hard to say..."

"There will be a severe drought next year." Li Yiyan suddenly spoke up, looking at Li Xuan, and said with a folded hand: "In the fifth year of Yonghui, there was a severe drought throughout the country, with no rain for three months. Before that, it was like this, with little snow throughout the winter, but people didn't pay attention to it at the time. By the second year, it was too late to pay attention to it."

Li Xuan looked at the ministers in the palace, frowned and said, "What do you remember about the great drought in the fifth year of Yonghui?"

"Your Majesty!" Wang Jishan bowed and said, "In the sixth year of Yonghui, there was a locust plague throughout the country, so the Emperor Gaozong changed the reign title to the first year of Xianqing in the second year."

Li Xuan nodded slightly. In the fifth year of Yonghui, when there was a severe drought, Li Zhi was still hoping for a lucky break. In the sixth year of Yonghui, when there was a locust plague all over the world, Li Zhi finally managed to control it. In the second year, he immediately changed the reign title.

Now it seems that his hunch was correct.

"There is a severe drought in the world." Li Xuan shook his head gently and said, "Gentlemen, a severe drought in the world is much more difficult to control than a flood."

The ministers looked solemn.

Li Xuan looked at Huang Rensu and said, "Huang Qing, you are the Water Conservancy Commissioner. Tell me, is there any way to control the drought?"

Huang Rensu bowed his hands solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, the first way to deal with drought in the world is to dig wells. There has been a lot of rain this year, and there is a lot of water stored underground. If we dig wells, we can store water for the people to drink and irrigate. The second way is to store water in the ditches of the world to prevent a large amount of water from flowing into the sea."

"Stop the water, but it's not easy to stop the water!" Li Xuan sighed and looked at the ministers and said, "Even if it's a small household, a village, or a town, they will fight over water issues during a drought. As for the prefectures and counties, it's ok if the local officials control it well, but if they don't control it well, people's lives will be in danger immediately."

“But Your Majesty, the water that needs to be stored still needs to be stored. Otherwise, if there is a severe drought in the world, not only will there be a shortage of food, there will even be refugees and even civil unrest.” Lu Yuanfang bowed with a solemn expression.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Pass the order down. This winter, each county will select ten craftsmen. On the sixth day of the first lunar month of next year, they will be sent to Luoyang. They will concentrate on practicing the art of well digging in Luoyang. Keep this a secret and proceed with caution."

"Here!" The officials held their hands in awe.

Li Xuan nodded, sighed, and continued, "The second thing is water storage. The people of all counties and prefectures should store more water in water tanks at home in spring, and then choose a high place to use water wheels to store water... I had a method of step-by-step water storage in the past, and I can use it in disguise this time."

"Yes!" The ministers couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. For them, this was the first time that they started planning drought prevention measures for next year before winter even came.

"Your Majesty's method is appropriate." Wang Dezhen bowed and then said, "However, Your Majesty, most counties and cities get their water from large rivers. The previous methods are only for small-scale use. If you want to use it for large-scale use, you still need to find a way to get water from rivers."

Li Xuan nodded gently and said, "Xu Qing, it's your turn. The affairs of rivers are the affairs of the National Water Conservancy Bureau. I can grant you the power to directly manage the National Water Conservancy Bureau next year, but you have to give some advice on drought control next year, otherwise I will have to replace the entire National Water Conservancy Bureau."

"Yes!" Xu Jian immediately bowed solemnly, then looked at Wang Dezhen, the other prime ministers, and finally Li Xuan and said, "Your Majesty, I plan to store water in Guanzhong, starting from the upper reaches, to Luoyang, then to Hebei, Qi and Lu, and even to Huaibei.

The more fertile the land is, the sooner water should be stored, and then it should be supplied for spring planting first, and then the situation can be adjusted later."

Fields all need water. In some places where the fields are fertile, they need to be watered, while in some places where the land is barren, there is no need to irrigate them.

It's cruel, but it's the truth.

Li Xuan nodded slightly and said, "That's it, but the tax fields are the main thing, and the non-tax fields are secondary. The powerful people in the world, don't come to cause trouble for me at this time and grab water from the people... I care about the people, but I don't care about the powerful people who oppress the people."

Li Xuan's eyes turned cold. All the ministers bowed solemnly with a stern look on their faces.

……

"Your Majesty." Pei Judao stood up and bowed, then said: "Your Majesty, the so-called drought is ultimately a lack of food. If we can guarantee the people's food supply, then everything will be fine."

"I request Your Majesty to open the Changping granary to provide relief to the people during the critical period next year." Lu Yuanfang stood up and bowed.

Li Xuan nodded slightly and said, "I have considered this matter. I have already discussed it in Jiangnan. We will transfer grain to the north next year to prepare for the storage of grain for the people. Now it seems that we can take a bigger step."

Jiangnan, the world's granary, and coastal areas such as Hangzhou, Yuezhou, Huzhou, Suzhou, Changzhou, and Yangzhou do not actually have to worry about drought. However, areas in western Zhejiang should be careful of drought.

"This matter still needs to be kept secret. If it is leaked in advance, it will easily cause a surge in grain prices next year." Lu Yuanfang bowed solemnly.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Order the Qianniu Guards to investigate grain prices throughout the country. If anyone is deliberately hoarding grain, immediately inform the Ministry of Justice and work with the local Sima and the government soldiers to deal with it together."

"Yes!" Zhou Qian stood out from the left side of the Danbi and bowed solemnly.

"If we transport food from the south to Hebei, Qi, and Lu as soon as possible, sell it at a fair price, and store it for the people, this will help alleviate the famine." Li Xuan looked solemn, then smiled and said, "Everything is just our guess now. Maybe the situation will be better next year, and maybe fewer counties will be affected by the famine."

"Your Majesty." Li Yiyan stepped forward and saluted, saying, "This year, there was a great flood in the world. Your Majesty has properly managed the flood, and the people have more than enough to do so. Even if there is a great drought next year, as long as the management is in place, the world can still expect a good harvest."

"Prime Minister Li is right." Liu Jingxian, Zhang Da'an and others nodded in agreement.

"I hope so." Li Xuan relaxed a little, but then he said with a gloomy face: "What I am most worried about is the water grab.

It is fine to grab water when it is necessary, but if there is already enough water stored, but people still grab water recklessly and keep storing water, and even call it for the sake of the people, such people should be killed. "

"Yes!" All the ministers immediately bowed solemnly.

This year, Xu Pu, the magistrate of Le'an County in Taizhou, is the most typical example. For the sake of the people, he cheated the imperial court for relief grain. If there is a drought next year and someone uses this method again to store water without considering the overall situation, he will really deserve to be put to death.

"Next year, you all should be prepared to inspect the local areas. I may go to Jingzhou in person. If Shannan is safe, Henan will be safe. If Henan is safe, Hebei will benefit. Together with the food and grass in the south of the Yangtze River, perhaps we will be able to get through the drought next year easily." Li Xuan looked excited. He didn't believe that he would not be able to cure the drought even if he worked hard in every aspect.

It simply means that when it is time to kill, you have to kill the right person.

He is not the fool like Chongzhen.

Li Xuan's gaze couldn't help but fall on Li Zhizhao, and he couldn't help but shake his head slightly in his heart. During the Ming Dynasty, there were still problems in the education of the princes.

"In that case, let's adjourn the court. All the ministers should make careful preparations. No word of today's events may be revealed to the outside world." Li Xuan looked at the ministers with a stern expression.

"Here!" The officials held their hands in awe.

……

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, the supervision will begin.

A very sharp and thin long sword stood upright in front of Li Xuan, and the bright blade reflected the generals on both sides.

Tang Zhenxing, Su Baotong, Li Duozuo, Heichi Changzhi, Qu Chongyu, Quan Shancai, Li Xiaoyi and more than a dozen other generals stood on both sides.

Pei Feishu said seriously: "According to the legends of the past dynasties, the Goguryeo people's armor was very thin, so the long spear was difficult to play a role in Goguryeo, and the Tang sword was more suitable.

As for long weapons, the spears that Your Majesty has drawn are more suitable for use."

The person in charge at the side immediately handed over an eight-foot-seven-inch long red tasseled spear.

Li Xuan raised the tip of the knife, flicked it lightly, and threw it into Li Duozuo's hand. He said calmly, "Go and try it to see if it works. The lighter the better when running forward, especially in a narrow place like Goguryeo."

"I obey your command." Li Duozuo held the red tassel spear in front of his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he twisted his body backwards. With a loud bang, the tip of the spear stabbed out like a poisonous dragon.

"The Koreans have few iron troops, so they can be used barely, but not on the western battlefield." Li Xuan shook his head slightly. He gradually understood why the Northern Song Dynasty was not good at fighting.

If you don't use iron weapons, it's strange that you can win.

(End of this chapter)