Forced to start the game, summon a hundred thousand snow dragon riders

A plague of locusts, once in a thousand years, is more difficult than a national war.

If it is not handled properly, it is likely to cause famine, which will lead to large-scale peasant riots.

This is indeed a big problem.

"How much grain is left in the grain depot of the Ministry of Households?"

Li Xiu asked.

"Report to Your Majesty."

Wang Anshi cupped his hands and said: "The Tang Dynasty has used troops for years, and the grain depots in various places do not have much grain."

"Before the locust plague, there was a severe drought in the Central Plains, and now there is not much grain left in the grain depot."

"What's more, this locust plague is so fierce that it doesn't happen in a thousand years. I'm afraid it won't end in a year or so."

"The grain in the grain depot must be given priority to ensure the supply of scholars and the army..."

In Wang Anshi's opinion.

With such a large-scale locust plague, the Tang Empire will definitely have a food crisis.

Someone is bound to go hungry.

Instead of starving officials and soldiers, it is better to starve ordinary people.

Even starved to death.

It also cannot shake the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

Chapter 243 I Order You to Go to the American Continent

This is also the common view of all officials in the imperial court.

But when Li Xiu heard this, she shook her head and rejected the proposal.

"I, the people of the Tang Dynasty, do not distinguish between high and low."

"The gentry are people, and the common people are also people."

"It is my will that from today onwards, the whole country will live frugally, practice frugality, put an end to extravagance and waste, and those who violate it will be severely punished!"

When Li Xiu said this, both Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng were taken aback.

They never thought of it.

Your Majesty will attach so much importance to Xiaomin.

Although the idea that the people are more important than the king has been passed down in this land for thousands of years.

Many emperors chanted their slogans very loudly.

But none of them really achieved these four words.

I didn't expect His Majesty to be able to do what he said and do what he said!

Really rare!

Perhaps, this is also one of the reasons why His Majesty was able to become a wise king through the ages, a hero of a generation!

"Your Majesty, even if the whole country saves on food and clothing, the grain in the grain depot may only last for one month."

"A month later, if there is not enough food, there will still be mass famine."

Zhang Juzheng said.

Li Xiu couldn't help frowning when she heard this.

The Central Plains area is the main grain-producing area of ​​the Tang Empire.

A plague of locusts in this major grain-producing area will indeed cause major problems.

It seems that the food problem has really become a major problem plaguing the Tang Empire!

"My Tang Dynasty now has a vast territory, and I have to find ways to mobilize food and grass from Bashu, Jiangnan, Bohai Sea, Western Regions and other places to meet the urgent needs."

"At the same time, the imperial court immediately took action to buy grain at a low price from the landlords and wealthy households, and quickly replenish the granaries."

The Tang Dynasty has been fighting for many years, even in other places, the food that can be contributed is probably a drop in the bucket.

As for the other lands conquered by the Tang Dynasty, the distance is too far away. Unless the east-west railway passes through, otherwise the distance will not be able to quench the near thirst.

Therefore, we can only buy food from rich households to survive the crisis!

"Your Majesty, if the imperial court is willing to buy grain on a large scale at a low price on weekdays, these landlords and wealthy households will probably laugh from ear to ear."

"But now that the locust plague is raging and there is a shortage of food, how can they sell the precious food to the government at a low price?"

Many people are still counting on the food on hand to make a fortune.

How willing to sell food obediently.

"Not for sale?"

The corner of Li Xiu's mouth suddenly curled up, "Anyone who dares not to sell it will find Dongchang to solve it."

"Eunuch Cao naturally has a way to make them sell grain willingly."

When Cao Zhengchun heard this, he immediately grinned, "My lords, if you meet those landlords and wealthy households who refuse to sell, you just need to ask the government to record it."

"The old slave's Dongchang will definitely let them contribute their own food honestly."

Li Xiu nodded.

Obviously very satisfied with Cao Zhengchun's response.

"During this special period, I have to trouble Cao Aiqing for your troubles."

"I am worried that many people will take advantage of the locust plague to hoard goods and resell food. I don't want this to happen."

"Promulgate my will and promulgate a grain ban! If anyone dares to resell grain, once discovered, he will be killed without mercy!"

"If it is serious, destroy its nine clans!"

Li Xiu's murderous voice suddenly resounded in the hall.

"Old slave obeys!"

Cao Zhengchun immediately surrendered.

It seems that next, their East Factory will be busy again.

Just when Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng were about to retire.

"and many more!"

Li Xiu suddenly remembered something.

The two were called.

"I ordered Cao Shuang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Railways, those disaster victims who have nothing to do, don't let them idle!"

"My Tang Dynasty still has many railway projects, and they need to build them!"

A large number of disaster victims have nothing to do, and it is easy to cause troubles when they gather together.

Today, the Tang Empire is in a stage of rapid construction.

Relief with work.

It is undoubtedly a good way to get the best of both worlds by using these disaster victims as the labor force for the construction of the railway in the Tang Empire.

After Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng retired.

Li Xiu asked Xiao Linzi to communicate and called Qi Jiguang into the palace.

"The last general, Qi Jiguang, greets His Majesty."

Qi Jiguang walked into the hall and immediately bowed to Li Xiu.

"General Qi, do you know why I called you into the palace?"

Li Xiu looked at Qi Jiguang and asked.

"I don't know."

Qi Jiguang shook his head.

During this time, he was familiar with the operation of the steamship.

On the steamship made by the Academy of Sciences, soldiers were trained to fight on the water.

That is, when he was training, he received a sudden summon from Li Xiu.

"Do you know that the locust plague occurred in the Central Plains recently, which caused an unprecedented food crisis in the Tang Empire?"

"The general will hear a little bit about it."

Qi Jiguang nodded.

"Although the food crisis is caused by the locust plague and has something to do with the imperial court's successive years of war, there is another important factor."

"That's because the yield of food is too low."

"The output is too low?"

Qi Jiguang was stunned.

He did not expect this.

However, what is the use of His Majesty telling him this?

Shouldn't this kind of thing be discussed with the Minister of the Ministry of Finance or the Academy of Sciences?

Looking for him as a big bastard, he doesn't understand these things...

"You don't have to be confused."

Li Xiu waved her hand, "Don't worry, I don't want you to increase food production."

"I intend to order you to go to the American continent and bring the seeds of high-yield crops such as corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes back to Datang."

At present, the main crops in Datang are wheat and rice.

The output of these two crops is far inferior to high-yield crops such as corn, sweet potatoes and potatoes.

Moreover, these high-yield crops can also adapt to barren land and can be planted in mountainous areas.

Once upon a time, the Ming and Qing Dynasties relied on these few American crops to feed a large number of people.

And the population exploded.

If these high-yield crops can be introduced to Datang, the possibility of a food crisis will undoubtedly be very small.

"American continent?"

Qi Jiguang became more and more confused, "Where is that?"

"The American continent is located in the extreme east of the Eastern Ocean of our Great Tang Dynasty. It needs to travel across the ocean, and the distance is hundreds of times farther than the Nanyang islands."

Li Xiu's eyes turned to the east, "You will sail eastward on this trip, cross tens of thousands of miles of ocean, and you will reach the American continent."

Sailing east all the way across tens of thousands of miles of ocean?

Is there an American continent?

How did His Majesty know?

Do you know that there are high-yield crop seeds on the American continent?

Could it be possible that His Majesty went down?

But that place is tens of thousands of miles away from the ocean...

However, Qi Jiguang didn't ask too much.

His Majesty is more learned than he, there is no doubt about it.

Since His Majesty said yes, there must be.

"I will give you the drawings of several high-yielding crops later."

"Go down and prepare, select elite soldiers, and head to the American continent!"

Li Xiu looked at Qi Jiguang, and there was a gleam in his eyes, "Today's American continent should still be in a semi-civilized state."