newbobooks Chapter 1423 Buying Grain at a High Price
Chapter 1423 Buying Grain at a High Price
Although the granaries of Daqian were relatively full due to the favorable weather in recent years, they were still quite abundant.
However, if the Yuan and Wang families were to use their extensive business networks to maliciously hoard and speculate on goods behind the scenes, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At that time, grain prices will soar, public discontent will boil over, and the entire Daqian Dynasty will be plunged into a huge upheaval.
"Don't worry." Lin Zhen looked at her pretty face, which was full of worry, smiled, and pulled her into his arms again. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
“If they want to play, we’ll play along and have some fun.” A glint of amusement and confidence flashed in his eyes. “I’m really curious to see just how much trouble these two old foxes can stir up.”
Looking at Lin Zhen, who always seemed so calm and collected, Murong Yan's anxiety, born from worry, gradually dissipated.
Yes.
With him around, what do I have to be afraid of?
She gently rested her head on Lin Zhen's shoulder, like a weary phoenix that had found a safe haven, and slowly closed her eyes.
……
In the following days, the capital city, and indeed the entire Daqian Dynasty, was unusually peaceful.
In the imperial court, the dozen or so official positions that had become vacant due to the Li family case were quickly filled by newcomers promoted by Zhang Jianzhi from among scholars from humble backgrounds.
The entire officialdom was revitalized by this influx of fresh blood, radiating an unprecedented vitality.
In the common people's hearts, stories of Her Majesty the Empress's heroic deeds of personally leading her troops to sweep across the northern deserts were spread throughout the streets and alleys by storytellers and opera troupes.
In an instant, Murong Yan's reputation reached an unprecedented peak.
Everyone thought that under her and Lin Zhen's leadership, the Great Qian Dynasty was about to usher in a true golden age of peace and prosperity.
However, what no one knew was...
Beneath the calm surface of this lake, a powerful undercurrent, capable of overturning everything, is surging wildly.
……
On this day, the morning court session began.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the atmosphere remained as solemn and dignified as ever.
Murong Yan sat high on the phoenix chair, a symbol of supreme imperial power.
Today, she is dressed in full court attire.
Over her jet-black phoenix-themed dress, she wore a magnificent shawl embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.
The ultimate black and gold, illuminated by hundreds of palace lanterns in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, reflected an aura of majesty that was almost too dazzling to look directly at.
A five-zhang-long continuous trailing tail silently cascaded down from the nine-story Phoenix Terrace, like a black waterfall, completely covering the entire terrace.
On the hem of her skirt, a colossal phoenix woven from real gold thread, its eyes gleaming under the palace lanterns, looked down upon the ministers who determined the fate of the empire.
Just as the six ministers finished reporting on the affairs of their respective departments, and the morning court was about to end.
A messenger responsible for delivering military intelligence, traveling 800 li in an urgent manner, suddenly rushed into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, looking flustered.
He didn't even have time to give a full military salute before he knelt down with a thud.
"Report——!"
"Your Majesty! Urgent report from Hebei!"
His voice was hoarse and filled with terror!
The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony fell silent instantly.
Everyone's gaze instinctively fell upon the messenger kneeling on the ground, trembling all over.
"Speak." On the Phoenix Terrace, Murong Yan parted her red lips and uttered a single word.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," the messenger swallowed hard. "Three days ago, a once-in-a-century locust plague broke out across Hebei!"
"Hundreds of millions of locusts have blotted out the sky, leaving nothing but barren land in their wake! All the prefectures and counties in Hebei have suffered a complete crop failure this year!"
"what?!"
This news was like a bombshell, exploding throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
Everyone's face was filled with shock and... horror!
Hebei, that's one of the most important grain-producing areas in the Great Qian Dynasty!
Every year, it provides nearly 30% of the tax grain for the imperial court.
Now, a locust plague has broken out there, and the summer grain harvest has failed completely.
This...this is simply...the heavens are going to destroy our Great Qian Dynasty!
"quiet!"
At this time of widespread anxiety and discussion.
The current prime minister, Zhang Jianzhi, stepped out from the queue.
He bowed respectfully to Murong Yan on the Phoenix Terrace.
"Your Majesty, the locust plague in Hebei is a matter of great importance. In my opinion, the most urgent task is to immediately open the granaries and distribute grain to relieve the disaster victims and appease the people!"
"Otherwise, if the disaster spreads and displaced people flock to the area, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Zhang Jianzhi's voice was calm and powerful, like a shot of adrenaline, instantly calming the panicked officials.
Yes.
The sky hasn't fallen yet.
Their national treasury still has plenty of grain.
As long as disaster relief is provided in time, we will definitely be able to overcome this difficulty.
“Minister Zhang, your words are reasonable.” On the Phoenix Terrace, Murong Yan spoke slowly, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion, “Minister of Revenue.”
“Your subject is here!” A slightly plump official, who looked rather prosperous, quickly stepped forward.
"Immediately allocate one million shi of grain and send it to Hebei. Make sure it is distributed to every disaster victim within half a month."
"Your subject... obeys the decree." The Minister of Revenue was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly bowed to accept the order.
However, he didn't have time to leave.
Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, who was standing at the forefront of the officials, suddenly spoke.
"Your Majesty, you must not!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone's heart skip a beat.
Everyone's eyes instinctively turned to him.
Yuan Wei walked to the center of the main hall and bowed to Murong Yan.
"Your Majesty, although the locust plague in Hebei is urgent, the matter of opening the granaries and distributing grain still needs to be considered carefully."
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Murong Yan's clear, cold phoenix eyes. "Grand Tutor Yuan, what are your thoughts?"
"This old minister dares not." Yuan Wei shook his head, his wrinkled old face filled with worry for the country and its people.
"However, the grain in the national treasury is the foundation of the military and the country, and cannot be used lightly. Moreover, the war in the northern desert has just ended, and the supplies for the border army all depend on the national treasury."
"If we open the granaries now, and the barbarians from the northern deserts take advantage of the situation, the consequences would be..."
He didn't say anything more, but his meaning was already quite clear.
His words drew nods of agreement from many officials who came from prominent families.
"Grand Tutor Yuan, you are right!"
"Yes, matters of national importance cannot be treated lightly."
"Disaster relief is important, but the safety of the border is of paramount importance!"
Zhang Jianzhi was so angry that he trembled as he looked at these people who were distorting the truth and confusing the public.
"you……"
He was about to speak and refute.
On the Phoenix Terrace, Murong Yan spoke first, before he could.
"Grand Tutor Yuan, what you say makes a lot of sense."
Her words stunned everyone.
Even Yuan Wei himself was stunned.
He hadn't expected that the young empress would so easily accept his suggestion.
"Then, in Grand Tutor Yuan's opinion, what should be done about this matter?" Murong Yan looked at him, her voice calm.
"Your Majesty," Yuan Wei said with delight, "I believe we can first purchase a batch of grain from the people at a high price and send it to Hebei for emergency relief. In this way, we can solve the immediate crisis without using the national treasury's reserves, achieving the best of both worlds."
"Alright." Murong Yan nodded. "We will do as Grand Tutor Yuan says."
She turned her head and looked at the Minister of Revenue.
"I'll leave this matter to you."