The Great Grandson of the Tang Dynasty: The beginning of the slaughter of General Tiance's mans

Chapter 236 The Emperor sacrifices to heaven
When Jia Xu entered the imperial study, Li Chengdao was standing in front of the window looking at the scenery outside, with his back to him.

After taking one look, Jia Xu bowed his head slightly and stood, without opening his mouth to disturb.

After a while, Li Chengdao suddenly said: "Have you clearly investigated the damage caused by this locust plague?"

He did not say who he was asking, but Jia Xu took the initiative to answer: "Your Majesty, this locust plague has affected Jiangnan Road and Henan Road, with Henan Road being the most severely affected, followed by Jiangnan Road."

"Crops everywhere have been greatly affected, and many farmlands have been eaten away by locusts. The situation... is not optimistic."

Li Chengdao was silent for a while, and then continued to ask: "How is the food reserve situation?"

"The food reserves are sufficient for the time being. It is enough to prepare for drought and famine in Guanzhong. However, Jiangnan Road and Henan Road, the two major grain-producing areas, have suffered from locust plagues. If we continue to provide disaster relief at this rate, there will be a serious shortage of food."

Jia Xu sighed in his heart and answered truthfully.

Even when he looked at the current situation, he felt like he had a huge headache. God was really unfair. It had finally allowed Datang to usher in a master of resurgence, but it suffered from such an inevitable natural disaster.

But that's not all the trouble. The constant rumors are the crisis.

"Your Majesty, rumors are spreading more and more among the people now. First there is a drought and then there is a locust plague. Many people already believe that nonsense. I think it is time to intervene and stop such rumors from spreading anymore."

After Jia Xu finished speaking, Li Chengdao turned around with a sharp look in his eyes.

"Ban it? Why ban it?"

"Just natural disasters and rumors want to defeat me? Even if it is destiny, why am I even afraid of it!"

Li Chengdao's tone was full of indescribable courage, which shocked Jia Xu's heart.

Li Chengdao turned his attention to Jia Xu and said without any doubt: "Inform the major families and grain merchants in various places and ask them to hand over two-thirds of their stored grain for disaster relief."

"This time the disaster has passed, I will remember their contribution. If anyone dares to hide their secrets at this time, I don't mind being called a tyrant!"

Li Chengdao's tone was full of killing intent.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Jia Xu bowed his head deeply and responded respectfully.

Li Chengdao took action against various aristocratic families and grain merchants, which was expected by him, because this was the only way to alleviate the disaster at present. The current disaster was difficult to support with the power of the court alone.

But what Li Chengdao said next surprised him.

"In addition, please notify the Ministry of Rites immediately and tell the world that I will hold a ceremony to worship the heaven at the Temple of Heaven in the northern suburbs in ten days!"

"Your Majesty, this—"

Jia Xu was speechless. The risk of holding a ceremony to worship the heaven under such circumstances is too great!

Rumors are spreading among the people. If there is even the slightest mistake in the ceremony to worship the heaven, the situation and the fishing boat will be out of control!
Jia Xu originally wanted to persuade Li Chengdao, but when he saw Li Chengdao's expression, he gave up the idea and retreated with a sigh.

May God bless my Tang Dynasty. …

Not long after Yue Fei returned to Chang'an, various aristocratic families and major grain merchants across the country received orders conveyed by Li Chengdao's people.

The purpose is simple. All aristocratic families and grain merchants must hand over two-thirds of their grain reserves to the imperial court for unified dispatch and management for disaster relief.

There was no room for change in this matter. Either he handed it over himself, or he sent an army to get it himself.

If they take the initiative to hand it over, the court will remember their contribution and compensate them in the future. If they take the initiative to take it, it will be the confiscation of the family and the extermination of the clan.

At the same time that the decree was issued, the Weizhou Army, the White Pao Army, and the Mobei Iron Cavalry all took action on their own and rushed to Jiangnan Road, Lingnan Road, Henan Road, and Hedong Road for military deployment.

These actions all demonstrate Li Chengdao's determination and skill, and also make various aristocratic families fear him!

They have no doubt that if they dare to refuse, these armies will instantly crush all the families who dare to disobey the will!

After a major change in the army, Li Chengdao is now completely in his hands.

With an army of nearly 60, no one can or dares to stop this powerful weapon of the country!
The concubines in Li Chengdao's harem immediately wrote to their families, asking them not to have any luck and follow the decree.

Within two days, the Zheng family, the Li family, the Xiao family, the Changsun family, the Yang family and other aristocratic families took the lead in donating two-thirds of the family's grain reserves to the court for disaster relief.

Even these families who were related to Li Chengdao by marriage or even blood did so, and the other aristocratic families did not dare to hesitate and immediately chose to donate food in accordance with the decree.

Although the family's situation will be a little sad after donating food, it will not make them unable to survive. It is better than confiscating the family and exterminating the family, and it can also gain favor from His Majesty.

No one dared to take any chances. They didn't want to follow in the footsteps of the Cui family and other families.

In addition to this, everyone can see that the current situation has become critical to the stability of the country. It is said that no eggs are left unbroken after the nest is overturned. The aristocratic families also want to rule the world instead of causing chaos.

At the same time that major aristocratic families were donating food, another piece of news also spread.

The emperor will hold a ceremony to worship the heaven and call on the people to catch and eat locusts to alleviate the threat of famine and locust plague!

As soon as the news came out, countless people were excited.

Since Confucian scholars proposed the "response between heaven and man" to restrain the behavior of emperors, locust plagues have been regarded as a punishment from heaven for the emperor's mismanagement.

Locusts are regarded as locust gods by the people. People generally believe that locusts are a natural disaster and a punishment from God. There is no need to prevent and control them. As long as the rulers cultivate their virtues, the locust plague will disappear on its own.

Later, it evolved into building a large number of locust temples to pray to the gods so that the locusts would leave quickly and stop eating crops. Therefore, wherever there are locust temples, locust plagues will occur.

Therefore, people do not even dare to kill locusts that eat food.

Under such circumstances, Li Chengdao actually proposed to cull and hunt locusts to curb the disaster. This is simply ridiculous!

As time passed, the heaven-sacrifice ceremony that attracted the attention of countless people soon came.

(End of this chapter)