In the summer of the fifteenth year of Lingjue, Luo Bai succeeded to the title of Duke Zhao, and the emperor assumed personal rule. A great drought struck East of the Passes. From Qingzhou through Yuzhou, commanderies and states harvested nothing. Countless people fled, and the common people could no longer endure.
The Inspectors of Qingzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Xuzhou dared not conceal anything and immediately submitted reports to the court. The Commandery Governors and State Chancellors across the four provinces sent memorials one after another. For a time, countless memorials poured toward Chang'an and Changle like snowflakes.
"Your Majesty, the refugees gathered across the commanderies and states of Qingzhou already number nearly two hundred thousand. The bodies of the starved litter the ground. The province, commanderies, and Marquisate States have all opened their granaries to distribute grain, but Qingzhou already suffered a disaster last year. Our grain reserves are insufficient!"
"In Yuzhou, refugees eat leaves and roots, sweeping through in howling bands, fierce and bold. The kings, High-ranking Marquises, powerful gentry, and great merchants either give them food so they may survive, or fight them. The victors eat; the defeated die."
"Your Majesty, Xinzheng has come under attack. I held the city and killed several hundred refugees. Fearing that some refugees might seize the opportunity to cause unrest, I led the Marquisate State's private troops to resist them. If this cannot be stopped within ten days or a month, I shall use the Golden Token to take command of the commandery's government troops, open the arsenal, and quell the unrest."
Liu She had never imagined that he would encounter such a major crisis just after assuming personal rule. Inside the palace, Chancellor Liu Xiang's face was somber as still water. Looking at the somewhat flustered emperor, the Empress Dowager