Datang: I am so happy to marry a disfigured princess!

Chapter 102 After the disaster, the victims suffered from famine

The novel potatoes, coupled with Lin Heng's cooking skills, made Li Ningxi enjoy the meal.

It seems that these potatoes should be quite popular in Datang. After Lin Heng decided not to eat them, potato production increased and he added them to the menu of Tianranlou.

Of course, this is a relatively long process. After all, cultivation and planting take time, at least until next year.

After eating, Li Ningxi suggested that she could take a few back to show her father.

Lin Heng naturally agreed. Besides, this thing would have to be shown to Li Shimin sooner or later.

Above the court, Li Shimin seemed to be extremely troubled by the famine in the north.

With the money sent by Lin Heng before, there was no problem in providing disaster relief. However, the famine in the Jiangnan area reduced food production, which directly led to a sharp rise in food prices.

In Shandong and Henan, grain originally cost only seven or eight cents per stone, but now it has increased to half a cent, and it is often expensive but not available!
The nearly hundred-fold increase in food supply was not only unbearable for the people in the north, but also the imperial court was running out of money.

Ministry of Civil Affairs Minister Dou Jing reported: "Originally, based on normal grain prices, the disaster relief funds were enough to support the autumn harvest in the north and then solve the food problem. However, now, it can only last for a month at most."

One month is still a long time before the food is ready. If the court's disaster relief food supply is not available, there may be another migration of disaster victims southward.

Li Shimin's face turned ugly: "Henan has been an important land for harvesting grain since ancient times, but there is no harvest this year. Where did the grain from previous years go?"

Changsun Wuji said slowly: "According to Wei Chen, there are aristocratic families and merchants in Henan. In previous years, they would levy grains at extremely high prices. Ordinary people would only keep grains from winter to summer harvest, or directly buy grains from them. Buy locally because local food prices are not high, so local people rarely have the habit of saving food."

Li Shimin said angrily: "What are these people doing to save food? Could it be that they wait until this time to sell it at a high price?!"

"It is indeed true that wealthy families in Henan and Shandong have ulterior motives and deliberately drive up food prices to make profits. Even though their food prices are far lower than official food prices, they are still dozens of times more expensive than usual!"

A Shandong official protested on the spot: "Changsun Wuji, you have never been to Shandong, how can you know how serious the disaster is in Shandong? How can there be any food in the homes of local wealthy families!"

Changsun Wuji sneered and said: "According to what I have investigated, some aristocratic families, including your Lord Cao's hometown, went to the government's disaster relief office to receive food based on their number of people, and then resold it at dozens of times higher prices. Is it true?"

The official's expression suddenly changed, and he said angrily: "You are talking nonsense. As a court official, how could I allow my family members to commit such acts?"

"You won't condone it. Wouldn't someone in your family do this kind of thing by taking advantage of your reputation as Cao Lang? Isn't there such a thing from ancient times to the present?"

Changsun Wuji immediately listed the behaviors of the children in Cao Lang's family who committed such acts, and more than [-] officials, including Cao Lang, including the aristocratic family, all submitted them as memorials.

After reading the memorial, Li Shimin's face turned livid, his hands could not help trembling, and he said angrily: "It's really ridiculous! People in Shandong and Henan are already starved of food, and you and other relatives in your family are still doing such things to seek benefits. Do you know what's going on outside? Are there already corpses scattered all over the ground?"

"All the officials on the list will be stripped of their official status and thrown into prison. If there is anyone involved with the behavior of driving up food prices and selling food, they will be questioned directly at the Meridian Gate!"

"Anyone who engages in such behavior in Shandong and Henan will have their homes confiscated and their families exterminated regardless of the reason!"

All the officials present looked fearful. Since the year of Zhenguan, His Majesty has never issued an order to exterminate the clan. Even if an official commits a serious crime, he will be beheaded, and it is rare for the family to be harmed.

But obviously, this matter has touched Li Shimin's bottom line. When his life is in decline, there are still people who dare to use the food provided by the court for disaster relief for profit. Isn't this asking for death?
Most of the officials who were dragged out were from aristocratic families. Aristocratic families did a lot of this kind of behavior, but most of the time they would be very secretive and would never be easily investigated. But now that Changsun Wuji has found out, then the officials from these families Also be taken.

Li Shimin was forced to have no choice but to use this behavior to stop similar practices in various places, but the root of the problem was still the lack of food.

Even if the aristocratic family has food, they won't sell it when they hear the news. What can you, Li Shimin, do to randomly arrange a pretext to ransack their home?

However, none of the officials present and Li Shimin could come up with a solution on how to bring out the food. At this time, Li Shimin had no choice but to send an official as the court's disaster relief envoy to Shandong and Henan to explore the situation of the people.

After resigning from the court, Li Shimin returned to Wude Hall. He was no longer interested in dealing with government affairs and had been thinking about where to get food.

The impact of the war is strong on every country, not only the impact on national strength intuitively, but even more terrifying is the series of fluctuations that will be caused in the aftermath. If before the war, with the national power of the Tang Dynasty, millions of stones could be mobilized at will. In the past, no matter how high your food prices were, they would still be able to suppress them.

But now it's no longer possible. There is not much food in the court, and even if it is taken, the effect will be minimal.

Changsun Wugou came to visit Li Shimin. She wanted to talk about Changsun Chong. According to her investigation, the family was behind the incident. However, the family left almost no traces. People with clean hands and feet would not be raped at all. Got the handle.But Changsun Wugou still planned to talk and see Li Shimin's opinion. After all, she was Changsun Chong's biological aunt, and blood was thicker than water.

But when he saw Li Shimin frowning and looking uncertain, he gave up the idea. Disaster relief was imminent, and Li Shimin wouldn't care about Changsun Chong at all.

"Your Majesty, have some tea."

Li Shimin shook his head: "My people in Shandong and Henan are in distress, and I can't come up with a solution. This emperor has failed in his duty!"

Changsun Wugou's expression changed: "Your Majesty, don't say that. Your Majesty's deeds over the years have been witnessed by all the people in the world. How could they think so?"

Li Shimin sighed again and was speechless for a long time. If the court could not provide relief food in a month, how would the people in Shandong and Henan treat him?
If the people don't have enough to eat, riots will occur. The uprisings in the past dynasties are just because of the people's problems. If this matter cannot be solved, I am afraid that the subsequent effects will become increasingly difficult to deal with.

At this moment, the cautious voice of the chamberlain Chen Zheng came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, Princess Runan asked to see you and said that she brought something for your Majesty."

Li Shimin waved his hand: "Let her come in."

Li Ningxi came in carrying a food box. When she saw Li Shimin, she saluted: "I have met my father."

Li Shimin sighed: "I'm not in the mood to eat right now. If Lin Heng makes something new, you can take it to Chang Le to eat."

Li Ningxi shook her head, placed the food box on the table, and then took out two roasted black potatoes.

Li Shimin and Li Shimin were puzzled: "What is this?"

Li Ningxi explained with a smile: "These are the potatoes planted by Lin Langjun. I brought some back and wanted to give your Majesty a try."

Potato?Li Shimin thought for a moment and seemed to have heard Lin Heng say that the output was quite large and that it could be used as a staple food, but Li Shimin didn't care at that time.

Li Shimin picked one up nonchalantly. It looked like it wouldn't taste very good, so he didn't care much and asked, "Are his potatoes ripe?"

"Forget it, let him worry about it. I've been upset recently and don't have time to take care of him."

Li Shimin got closer and sniffed the potato, and a faint aroma came. Li Shimin, who had not eaten for a day, swallowed, tore open the charred skin and took a bite.

The strange texture reached his mouth, and Li Shimin was slightly surprised. It tasted pretty good.

He immediately put the food box back and sighed: "It tastes pretty good, but when you have time, tell Lin Heng and ask him to do more serious work. Why do you do business like a businessman when you have nothing to do all day long?"

Because of the food issue, Li Shimin now has a growing dislike for merchants.

Li Ningxi said with a smile: "Lin Langjun is doing his business. Ning Xi thinks his potatoes can be used as a staple food. My father also tasted them just now. What do you think?"

Li Shimin thought about it for a while. It was soft and glutinous, and it did taste good. However, after taking a bite, he felt a little different and slightly satisfied.

"If Father thinks it tastes good, Ning Xi will ask Lin Langjun to bring more. The potato harvest is very good."

Li Shimin snorted angrily: "Not bad? How many kilograms of potatoes can we have? Is it possible that they can really replace corn?"

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Li Ningxi felt slightly dissatisfied and said, "Lin Langjun said that this time the harvest from two acres of land will be about [-] kilograms!"

The air froze instantly, and Li Shimin and Changsun Wugou were frozen there.

It seemed like something fell to the ground.

Well, Li Shimin’s competitive spirit.

(End of this chapter)