Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The capital city, the imperial court.

Emperor Jing sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression.

Hanlin Academician Yang Yingcai was kneeling on the ground.

The ministers below all wore expressionless faces and remained silent.

News from Jianjiang Prefecture and the other two prefectures had finally returned, shocking countless court officials!

Such a major matter, the Emperor actually didn't discuss it with the officials and just issued an edict himself?

Simply absurd! If things continue like this, won't the court truly become the Emperor's one-man show?

Then what's the point of having officials? Just standing there as decorations?

So, seizing the opportunity at the court assembly the next day, the Hanlin Academy undoubtedly fired the first shot.

The Emperor issuing an edict to construct public works in the disaster area during a widespread famine was simply chilling.

This is not the way of a benevolent ruler! It's only been a few years since we won over the four seas, and he's already become so complacent?

Isn't this a sign of a foolish ruler? Could it be that His Majesty has already begun to neglect state affairs?

Yang Yingcai knelt on the ground, repeatedly saying:

"Your subject dares! This edict of Your Majesty's was issued too hastily without consulting the Grand Secretariat!"

"I implore Your Majesty to retract the order! Lest the people of the world lose heart!"

Emperor Jing's heart was filled with helplessness. The son makes a mistake, and the father bears the burden! I can't possibly say it was the Crown Prince who did it!

But I can't lose face either.

A dilemma! When that brat returns, I'll have to beat him to death!

Emperor Jing looked at the ministers below and said faintly: "The edict was issued by me, and it was indeed without consulting the Grand Secretariat."

"What? Does my imperial decree not count unless it goes through the Grand Secretariat?"

Yang Yingcai raised his head and said loudly: "Your Majesty! Shouldn't such a major matter be discussed with the court officials?"

"The people are already living in dire straits! Wouldn't undertaking large-scale construction projects only further burden them and waste resources?"

"If local cruel officials force the people to work without providing them with food, this would be forcing the people to revolt!"

"I implore Your Majesty to retract the order!"

With a rustling sound, a large group of Hanlin scholars knelt down in the hall, while the rest of the officials remained silent.

Emperor Jing's heart immediately flared with anger, and he rose up and roared: "Silence! Yang Yingcai, how dare you!"

"Are you trying to say that I am tyrannical and abuse the people!"

Yang Yingcai retorted: "Your subject dares not... It's just that the people will inevitably fall into misery. The court has already ordered to stabilize prices and allocate grain."

"Why bother adding another layer of complexity?"

Emperor Jing's face flushed red.

For a moment, he didn't know how to refute him and resentfully sat back down.

He closed his eyes and calmed himself for a while, then sighed: "All of you, rise."

"Zhang Shi, I ask you, how much silver is left in the Ministry of Revenue's treasury?"

Zhang Shi stepped forward, somewhat nervously, and said: "Five hundred thousand taels... are still available."

Emperor Jing slowly opened his eyes: "The three prefectures have repeatedly requested silver from the court. Is five hundred thousand taels enough? And how much has been sent down?"

Zhang Shi only felt his scalp tingling, not expecting the flames of war to reach his side: "Five hundred thousand taels... is not enough. There are many places throughout the country that need silver. If all requests are approved... it will affect the overall situation."

"Heh, that's right, so all you know is to ask me for silver. My private treasury has already been emptied, and I have no more money to give!"

"How much grain has been collected these past few days from the local areas?! I'm afraid it's not even as much as what Fang Zhengyi raised in the capital in a single day!" Emperor Jing was filled with indignation.

The sales of lottery tickets and tea have also declined, and there are no more thoughtful memorials. The days without Fang Qing are difficult!

The remaining group of people either raise questions or ask for silver every day!

If the Ministry of Revenue has no money, they come to me! Day after day, the little money that my private treasury manages to save is emptied again!

But what can I do! Am I supposed to let the world rot?

The ministers also wore long faces. Why bring up Fang Zhengyi again?

That bastard is already gone, and everyone was finally having a few comfortable days.

He was quick at raising grain, but he was skinning me alive!

Is he even letting people live?

"Why do I want the three prefectures to construct public works? Isn't it because there's no money and no grain!"

"Even if money and grain were both fully allocated, transporting the supplies would take a lot of time. You can afford to wait, but can the disaster victims afford to wait?!"

"It is the right path for local officials and the people to find ways to save themselves!"

"Borrowing the hands of the government and wealthy households, using labor as a form of relief, and widely employing disaster victims is the best way to proceed at present!"

"This is a measure of last resort! I had no intention of issuing this edict, but alas... a group of incompetent people! Alas...."

Emperor Jing leaned back and sighed towards the sky.

Ah, this?

The ministers were dumbfounded. How did the attack suddenly shift? The blame is now being placed on our heads? When did His Majesty become like this!

"Your Majesty! Everyone knows about using labor as a form of relief, but who can guarantee that there will definitely be no problems?"

"If it fails, who will bear the consequences when public resentment boils over? Those ordinary people will only suffer!"

"This move is against the will of Heaven. I implore Your Majesty to make a wise decision and retract the order!"

Emperor Jing's mouth was full of bitterness.

Yes, what you say is all correct, but what can I do? Now that things have already reached this point, the only hope is that the local areas can achieve results.

If it fails, it will truly be a curse for all ages!

Emperor Jing flung his sleeves and roared: "Against the will of Heaven? I am Heaven! This matter remains to be observed, no need for further discussion!"

"........" The ministers were silent.

You are Heaven? You are the Son of Heaven!

If you chat like this, then everyone really has nothing to say.

Li Yansong's gaze frequently looked towards the original position of the Crown Prince.

He had been in contact with Emperor Jing for many years and knew his style of doing things very well.

His Majesty would absolutely not do such a thing.

And the Crown Prince had not appeared in the court for a long time, as if he had disappeared.

All the Grand Secretaries faintly had an idea in their minds.

The Crown Prince's nature was already wild, and Fang Zhengyi had made him even wilder. In addition, he had mentioned the matter of using labor as a form of relief several times.

Now that the Crown Prince had been missing for so long, and His Majesty's behavior was so abnormal, then there was only one possibility..... The Crown Prince was acting on a forged edict!

But no one dared to speak out, as it would be too rebellious and shocking to the world.

Therefore, when discussing this matter this time, everyone tacitly remained silent.

When Yang Yingcai jumped out, he only replied with a sentence about not going through the Grand Secretariat.

Now the situation had fallen into a stalemate, the Hanlin scholars were kneeling down, and His Majesty had already begun to act shamelessly.

Li Yansong, as the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, naturally couldn't continue to watch the show and could only helplessly say: "Your subject believes that what Your Majesty said is reasonable!"

Emperor Jing's eyes lit up, as if a drowning person had grabbed onto a floating piece of wood, and said: "Teacher Li is experienced and wise, please speak!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty. The so-called disaster relief methods currently used have always followed the old ways."

"Since ancient times, it has always been like this: giving money when there is no money, sending grain when there is a shortage of grain. Although it has some effect, the court is indeed unable to do everything."

"The method of using labor as a form of relief has also been recorded early on and has remarkable effects, but it has never been used on a large scale."

"But according to reason, at this time of great disaster, the cost of labor is the lowest. The court uses the least amount of silver to do the most things, and it is extremely convenient to mobilize the people. It is the time to undertake large-scale construction!"

"The Ministry of Revenue and local expenditures are already difficult. If the disaster situation eases and we want to rebuild, it will truly be difficult."

"Therefore, the court encourages the construction of public works. Your subject believes that this is a win-win method."

........

I now have a thumbtack stuck to my head, coding with my head, asking for a five-star review! Bang! Bang! Bang..... ∞ ....