The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 113 You really lived up to my expectations!

Liu Huan held back his anger and left.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Wei Ning were the only two people left in the house on the outskirts.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty personally gave Weining a pot of hot water and told him to drink it to warm himself.

"Where are you going?"

Wei Ning snorted and replied: "Go to Chang'an, collect the money from Chang'an liquor store, buy some food, and do your best for the people."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty nodded happily, and then sighed: "No need, you can't buy food. The imperial court doesn't have the ability to buy food. How can you buy it?"

"Those merchants are all waiting for the price to sell, and they all hide the grain and make a fortune from the national crisis. Even if they have money, they can't buy grain."

When speaking these words, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty spoke with indifference and anger.

Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty came to the throne, he has treated these businessmen of the Han Dynasty well.

He took the initiative to reduce or reduce commercial taxes and encourage commercial development. The taxes were even lower than agricultural taxes, making merchants who had been suppressed in the Qin Dynasty become rich again in the Han Dynasty.

However, he did not receive the gratitude of the businessmen. Instead, he was stabbed in the back by these businessmen during the national crisis. This aggrieved mood was uncomfortable.

Wei Ning was stunned for a moment, looking at the worried look of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and then understood why he appeared here.

It seems that this snowstorm had a great impact on the big man, so that he, the emperor, had to go to the front line to take a look at the situation secretly.

Wei Ning thought for a moment and asked Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "Your Majesty, can the food in the imperial treasury still ensure that the people can survive this winter?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took a deep breath, rubbed his forehead, and said depressedly: "No."

Wei Ning had never seen Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty look so tired.

He is the Son of Heaven, the Emperor, and the father of the Han people. All the people are looking forward to him, the Son of Heaven, to save them.

But Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had no choice but to show his fatigue and powerlessness.

Wei Ning didn't know that it was impossible for anyone to see such a cowardly look on the face of the Han Emperor, and he didn't allow anyone to see it.

Only in front of Weining can he reveal his true side and truly tell Weining that although he is the emperor, he is also a human being and there are times when he is powerless and weak.

Wei Ning didn't know why, but suddenly felt sorry for this emperor.

He has been tough and dictatorial for half his life. He was like this to the Huns and his relatives, but now he looks so vicissitudes and confusion.

Tens of thousands of people in Guanzhong are not a small number. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty faced great pressure, not only from the external Xiongnu who were eagerly waiting for revenge.

There is also the internal chaos of the Seven Kingdoms.

The local political governance system of the Han Dynasty implemented a parallel system of counties and states.

The first local administrative unit of the Han Dynasty was naturally the county, but there were also vassal states above the counties. This country was also nominally the first-level administrative unit of the Western Han Dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Han Jing of the previous dynasty, Emperor Han Jing asked Zhou Yafu to rebel in order to prevent the seven vassal states from becoming bigger and stronger and opposing the central rule.

In the end, the seven princes were destroyed.

But the matter did not end there, the princes were still hovering over the land of the Han Dynasty.

As long as these vassal states exist for one day, they will pose a threat to the central government.Nowadays, there are more and more refugees in Guanzhong. Once the people are dissatisfied with the central government, it will inevitably arouse the rebellion intention of the princely states. They will unite the people to obey the destiny and overthrow the rule, and they will have reasonable reasons and excuses.

This was the most essential political reason why Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was worried about the snow disaster.

It’s just that he didn’t raise it publicly, and it’s impossible to raise it publicly. If he really raised it, what would the princes of the vassal states think?
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said disappointedly: "Liu Huan is still too young and has not considered many things carefully. I have not considered this. If you are sent to provide disaster relief on my behalf, maybe the result will be much better."

Wei Ning clasped his fists and said, "I'm scared. Your Majesty, please don't talk nonsense or offend me."

I am just a concubine and a minister of the Liu family. What qualifications do I have to go out to provide disaster relief on behalf of the royal family?
If he really did this, the censor would beat or kill him, and Wei Ning would not be stupid enough to do such arrogant things.

He pondered for a while, looked at Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea that may solve this crisis."

"It's just that this approach...may be a bit cruel."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty suddenly opened his eyes, looked at Wei Ning intently, and said, "Tell me about it."

Regardless of whether he was ill and sought medical attention or not, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty urgently needed to listen to Weining's advice.

The bureaucrats of the imperial court were powerless, and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not want to give up even if he had some hope.

Wei Ning thought for a moment and then said: "Essentially, I still ask merchants for food and money."

"As His Majesty said just now, if the merchants don't give it, the court can't forcefully ask for it. This has no basis in etiquette and law. It will lose the support of the people and make the ruled uneasy."

If the imperial court forcefully asked the other party to conquer or even plunder food, this phenomenon would be fatal to the credibility of the central government of the Han Dynasty.

As long as this hole is opened, people still dare to trust the central government?The credibility of the central government's rule will completely collapse, and people will think that you can plunder businessmen's private property today and their private property tomorrow.

But after the private property of the people is not protected by the court, the trust between them will completely collapse.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty nodded. What Wei Ning said made sense. At the same time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty admired Weining more and more.

Many of what Weining said were of extremely high political standard. How could Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty not appreciate this?
Wei Ning continued: "Since the imperial court cannot take the initiative to plunder merchants' food and wealth, then they should use human nature to hate the rich!"

"Let them report each other, or let the common people report. Anyone who hides food secretly and does not come out to provide disaster relief will find out all the food and give half of it to the whistleblower."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's eyes suddenly lit up!
Wei Ning said: "Of course, this requires a reasonable premise, that is, His Majesty and the imperial court need to negotiate with the merchants in advance to help the people donate food. If the other party continues to use the excuse that there is no food to donate, then Your Majesty will Issue this decree."

Historically, this practice was proposed by Sang Hongyang and was called Gao Mi.

It's just that Weining was brought out in advance to deal with the big businessman.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's mind was spinning rapidly. He stood up suddenly and walked back and forth in the house. His expression gradually became determined, excited, indifferent, and vicious!
"it is good!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty slapped Weining on the body and said excitedly: "You are like me!"

Weining:?
What do you mean I'm like you?

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was so excited that he almost spilled the beans. Only then did he react and change the subject: "Boy! Your opinions are very good and very high!"

"Okay! That's great! You really lived up to my expectations of you!"

At this time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was extremely excited. The tired expression on his face disappeared and was replaced by unprecedented determination!
It's just that Weining is very curious, what do you expect from me?

What do you expect from me?
He was a little confused about the meaning of Emperor Wu of Han's words.

(End of this chapter)