Xue Daoming's face was gloomier than the weather outside. Flash after flash of lightning lit the dim hall a dazzling white, followed by deafening thunder that interrupted him several times. Finally unable to contain his anger, he roared, "Court is dismissed!"
The civil and military officials standing on either side were about to leave when a clear voice rang out. "Your Majesty, please wait!"
In all of Great Yong, only Li Chenzhou dared openly stop the emperor from dismissing court.
Xue Daoming swallowed his anger and said coldly, "Minister Li, what else do you have to say?"
"Since April began, unrelenting rain has fallen throughout Great Yong," Li Chenzhou said. "Water levels in numerous rivers have surged, and floods are now breaking out in many regions. This autumn's harvest does not look promising."
"I already know," Xue Daoming said indifferently. "Even so, Great Yong's treasury is well stocked. There would be no famine even if we had no harvest for three years."
"Your Majesty is mistaken," Li Chenzhou said. "Though Great Yong's treasury is well stocked, sitting idle and eating away even a mountain of wealth is no lasting solution. Moreover, the incessant rain has caused grain in many granaries to grow moldy. People with ulterior motives are spreading rumors everywhere, while the war on the Northern Frontier remains deadlocked and our soldiers have suffered grievous casualties..."
Xue Daoming cut him off without ceremony. "There is no need to tell me. I know these things better than you do. That is not what I want to hear. I only want to know how we can resolve them."
"I believe we should negotiate peace with Black Hu," Li Chenzhou said.
His words stunned every official present. Ever since war had broken out between Great Yong and Black Hu, the court had