Wenyuan Pavilion, Council Hall.
Outside the hall, the cold wind cut to the bone; inside, it was warm as spring.
The Three Prime Ministers and the Seven Department Ministers had gathered together to review the memorials submitted by the officials.
By Great Qian custom, all officials' memorials had to pass through the hands of the Three Prime Ministers.
The Three Prime Ministers drafted recommendations and submitted them to the Son of Heaven for his vermilion approval.
If the Son of Heaven was dissatisfied with the recommendations, he could return them to the Three Prime Ministers for redrafting.
The atmosphere in the Council Hall was solemn today, and everyone present wore grave expressions.
The reason was that they were discussing disaster relief.
This summer, the northwest had suffered a severe drought, leaving not a single grain harvested.
After winter arrived, millions upon millions of commoners had been displaced and become refugees.
Such an enormous number of refugees far exceeded what the local county offices could handle.
With the local county offices adding fuel to the flames, they had all converged near Yujing City.
"Gentlemen, three hundred and fifty-two refugees froze to death outside the city last night."
"So many froze to death. What is Chen Sicheng doing? How exactly is he serving as the Prefect of Yujing?"
"If he cannot do this job as Prefect of Yujing, then replace him with someone else."
The Right Prime Minister's two thick brows were tightly furrowed. The anger on his square face was plain for all to see.
His words were so sharp that he seemed determined to replace the Prefect of Yujing.
"Jingxing, calm yourself for now."
"More than a million refugees have gathered outside Yujing City. With the Prefect of Yujing's strength alone, it is naturally difficult for him to attend to every detail."
"Though Sicheng has had some minor oversights, he should not be criticized too harshly."
"I say dock his salary for three months."
The Left Prime Minister stroked his beard and spoke in Prefect Chen's defense.
The Left Prime Minister and Right Prime Minister argued without end over the Prefect of Yujing.
The Martial Prime Minister, Shen Changfeng, watched the two argue with cold eyes and a silent smile.
He had long since grown accustomed to the quarrels between the Left Prime Minister and Right Prime Minister.
By convention, officials' memorials had to pass through the Three Prime Ministers, who would offer their recommendations.
But in truth, Martial Prime Minister Shen Changfeng concerned himself only with military affairs.
As for all other matters, he acted like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, deaf to everything around him.
On the surface, the Prefect of Yujing had merely failed at disaster relief, resulting in refugees freezing to death.
In reality, it was entangled with the struggle for the throne, making it perilous beyond measure.
Chen Sicheng had recently latched onto the Crown Prince's thigh.
The Left Prime Minister was the Crown Prince's greatest supporter.
Naturally, his attitude leaned toward Chen Sicheng.
The Right Prime Minister secretly supported the Second Prince, so of course he would not let go of Chen Sicheng's pigtail.
The Ministers of Personnel, Justice, War, and Agriculture all spoke for Chen Sicheng.
On the Right Prime Minister's side, however, only the Minister of Revenue stood firmly with him.
The Ministers of Rites and Works maintained ambiguous stances and showed no obvious inclination.
"Prime Minister Shen, what do you think of this matter?"
The Right Prime Minister paused before turning his gaze toward Shen Changfeng.
"I am a crude old man. Other than fighting wars, I know nothing at all."
"Right Prime Minister, you have asked the wrong person."
Shen Changfeng gave a laugh, speaking as though he had said something, yet saying nothing at all.
As good as saying nothing!
Such a declaration suited Shen Changfeng's usual style.
Disappointment flashed in the Right Prime Minister's eyes, and he sighed inwardly.
The Left Prime Minister, meanwhile, sat steady as a fisherman on his platform, smiling without a word as though he had expected this all along.
Seeing that he could not bring down Chen Sicheng, the Right Prime Minister did not continue pressing the matter.
"More and more refugees are gathering outside Yujing City. We must come up with a proper plan."
"The disaster victims outside Yujing City alone require at least one million shi of grain for relief."
"As for the entire northwest, without ten million shi of grain, this drought disaster simply cannot be settled."
Once the Right Prime Minister finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.
Ten million shi of grain was already an extremely conservative estimate.
If every grain could truly reach the disaster victims, it would naturally be enough.
But that was utterly impossible.
How could the people below possibly refrain from lining their own pockets?
Even if a department minister served as an imperial envoy, the "losses" would merely be somewhat smaller.
"Ziqian, how much grain remains in the national treasury?"
The Left Prime Minister asked as he turned toward the Minister of Revenue.
The grain stores fell under the Minister of Revenue's jurisdiction.
No one knew better than the Minister of Revenue how much grain the court still had available for deployment.
Yan Ziqian, the Minister of Revenue, wore a bitter expression, looking utterly helpless.
"After setting aside the grain Yujing Prefecture needs for the winter, the national treasury has only five hundred thousand shi of grain available."
"Only that much grain?"
"What can five hundred thousand shi possibly do?"
The Minister of Revenue's words were like a basin of cold water poured over everyone.
Voices of discussion rose within the Council Hall.
Five hundred thousand shi of grain could not even provide relief for the refugees outside Yujing City.
Much less for the millions upon millions of refugees across the northwest.
"Ziqian, what is going on? Why does the court have so little grain?"
Before the Left Prime Minister could hold him accountable, the Right Prime Minister spoke first, giving his "little brother" a chance to explain.
"Reporting to the Right Prime Minister, the northwest suffered a severe drought this year. The court exempted the northwest from taxes and collected not a single coin."
"Then there was the Eastern Sea Aquatic Race's invasion the year before last, which left the Shandong region in utter devastation."
"His Majesty granted Jiaodong, Langya, and Linzi Prefectures a three-year tax reduction and exemption. Taxes will not begin to be collected until next year."
"Those three prefectures are major sources of tax revenue. Without their taxes, the court was already stretched thin."
The Minister of Revenue poured out his grievances. It was not that he was poor at managing finances, but that too little was collected while too much was spent.
Being barely able to maintain a balance between income and expenditure was already the result of rising before dawn and sleeping late at night.
"Gentlemen, what are we to do about the grain needed for disaster relief? You must come up with a solution."
"At most, the Ministry of Revenue can provide fifty shi of grain. There is no more to give."
"Even if you sell the Ministry of Revenue itself, you still will not scrape together enough grain for disaster relief."
After hearing the Minister of Revenue's report, the Left Prime Minister pondered briefly.
"Raise taxes."
"Left Prime Minister, this subordinate objects."
"The court's taxes are already burdensome enough. If we raise them again, I fear officials will drive the people into rebellion."
The Minister of Rites, who had remained quiet until then, immediately stepped forward and spoke with righteous severity.
He wore an expression of lofty righteousness, as though he were saying—
Raise taxes again, and Great Qian would be finished.
Seeing the Minister of Rites step out in opposition, the Martial Prime Minister found it amusing.
The Minister of Rites was from Jiangnan.
If the court raised taxes, Jiangnan, a major source of tax revenue, would naturally bear the brunt.
Let the Jiangnan commoners suffer a little, and save the pitiful people of the northwest.
The Left Prime Minister, Qin Mobai, had employed this tactic several times while in power.
"Shouzheng, if we do not raise taxes, what do you suggest?"
The Left Prime Minister's expression tightened. Dissatisfaction seemed to flicker in his eyes as he questioned the Minister of Rites.
"This..."
A troubled expression appeared on the Minister of Rites' face.
Seeing that the Minister of Rites could not come up with an idea for the moment, the Right Prime Minister gave the Minister of Revenue a look. The latter immediately understood.
"Why not borrow another ten million shi of grain from Shennong Valley?"
Shennong Valley was one of the Ten Great Dao Courts.
It was famed throughout the world for cultivating herbs and trees, as well as for its alchemy.
If one asked where there was the most grain—
It was not the Great Qian court. It was undoubtedly Shennong Valley.
The court borrowing grain from Shennong Valley was not without precedent.
Even now, it still owed Shennong Valley seven million shi of grain.
"Absolutely not!"
"How can the dignified imperial court borrow from Shennong Valley? What kind of propriety is that?"
"If word gets out, the people of the world will laugh at us."
The Left Prime Minister rejected the proposal with righteous severity.
His attitude was so firm that he gave the Minister of Revenue no opportunity to defend himself.
The Martial Prime Minister watched the entire spectacle and shook his head faintly.
The Left Prime Minister's refusal to borrow was spoken with righteous severity.
Yet when it came down to it, he still could not escape the struggle for the throne.
The Second Prince's birth mother was the Saintess of Shennong Valley.
Borrowing from Shennong Valley meant granting Shennong Valley greater influence over the court.
This was something the Crown Prince's faction, led by the Left Prime Minister, could never accept.
Thus far, aside from the Crown Prince, the Second Prince was the only imperial prince to have been granted the title of Prince of the First Rank.
One could say that the Second Prince was the Crown Prince's greatest rival.
In court, the Second Prince's faction, led by the Right Prime Minister, also repeatedly locked arms with the Crown Prince's faction.
The arguments in the Council Hall continued without end.
They argued into a tangled mess over the two methods of raising taxes and borrowing grain, with neither side able to convince the other.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Eunuch Su's shrill voice rang out.
The Council Hall, which had been filled with incessant arguments just moments ago, instantly fell so silent that one could hear a needle drop.
"This subject greets Your Majesty."
"My dear ministers, rise."
Emperor Yuanchu sat in the seat of honor, his gaze sweeping across everyone present.
"Have you come up with any proposals for disaster relief?"
"This subject and the others are incompetent. We beg Your Majesty to punish us."
"Punish you?" Emperor Yuanchu's tone suddenly rose several octaves, and his gaze turned chillingly cold.
"Is punishment what I want?"
"What I want is for you to share My burdens!"
"Among all you lofty lords, is there not even one who can share My burdens?"
Bang!
Emperor Yuanchu kicked heavily, sending the table crashing to the floor.
Inside the Council Hall, the entire court of civil and military officials trembled in silence.
Raising taxes, borrowing grain.
Emperor Yuanchu had long known of these two methods.
It was only because the prime ministers all harbored selfish motives that they could not reach an agreement.
Besides these two methods, there was actually a third.
They could impose quotas upon the great clans and powerful families. Ten million shi of grain sounded like a great deal.
But the grain in the hands of the great clans and powerful families far exceeded ten million shi.
Still, no one dared mention this proposal.
Because their own households truly had grain.
Besides, hoarding grain during a year of disaster was commonplace.
Outside Wenyuan Pavilion.
A young eunuch lowered his voice and reported something to Eunuch Su.
After hearing him out, two brilliant rays burst from Eunuch Su's eyes.
"There truly is a yield of seven hundred jin per mu?"
"Godfather, this son saw it with his own eyes. How would I dare deceive you?"
"The Ninth Prince also said that ten mu of land on the estate have yet to be harvested, waiting for His Majesty to come and inspect them."
"I understand. Go back and have the Ninth Prince prepare to receive His Majesty."
After dismissing the young eunuch, Eunuch Su touched the rice in the clay jar and muttered softly.
"Seven hundred jin per mu—unbelievable!"
Eunuch Su knew all too well what rice yielding seven hundred jin per mu meant for Great Qian.
It meant grain that could never be finished.
It meant being able to support more armies.
It meant His Majesty could finally unfold the grand blueprint in his heart.
With that, Eunuch Su carried the clay jar into Wenyuan Pavilion.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"
Eunuch Su's delighted tone stood utterly at odds with the solemn atmosphere in the Council Hall.
"Where does this joy come from?"
Emperor Yuanchu glanced at Eunuch Su, curious what medicine his chief attendant had hidden in his gourd.
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has presented an auspicious omen."
"This servant could not wait to offer Your Majesty my congratulations."
"An auspicious omen?"
Emperor Yuanchu paused. Seeing the rice Eunuch Su held in his hands, the confusion in his heart grew ever stronger.
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince heard that Your Majesty had been rising early and retiring late over the disaster in the northwest. He specially sent this auspicious omen to ease Your Majesty's worries."
"Heng'er sent this?"
"What is so extraordinary about this rice that it can be called an auspicious omen?"
Emperor Yuanchu asked in a lowered voice, rubbing the coarse husk of the rice as a faint suspicion rose in his heart.
Heng'er had been at the Seed Selection Department for some time.
And now he had sent rice.
Could it be that he had discovered some high-yield rice variety?
"Your Majesty, according to the Ninth Prince, this rice yields seven hundred jin per mu."
"Is that true?"
Emperor Yuanchu lost his composure slightly, stormy waves surging in his deep eyes.
"Even if the Ninth Prince had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare deceive Your Majesty."
"That is true. Heng'er has always been steady and dutiful."
Rice yielding seven hundred jin per mu.
Most crucially, it had been presented just when Emperor Yuanchu was troubled by disaster relief.
It truly deserved the words "auspicious omen."
Inside the Council Hall, the gathered ministers heard that the rice sent by the Ninth Prince could yield seven hundred jin per mu.
One after another, they revealed expressions of disbelief and astonishment.
Seven hundred jin per mu—was that possible?
That was the equivalent of doubling the yield per mu!
If such words were spoken aloud, even a three-year-old child would not believe them.
But why would the Ninth Prince make such an obvious lie?
Was he not afraid that His Majesty would fly into a rage and punish him?
The crowd began to mutter uneasily to themselves.
The Left Prime Minister stepped forward and cupped his hands.
"Your Majesty, this matter must be investigated thoroughly. We must not reach a conclusion rashly."
"Your Majesty, doubling the yield per mu is far too shocking. It must be examined."
"Your Majesty, please summon the Ninth Prince and confront him face-to-face, lest this turn into a farce and cost the court its dignity."
Hearing the remonstrances of the gathered ministers, Emperor Yuanchu suddenly came to his senses and realized how absurd it sounded for the yield per mu to double.
He nearly broke out in a cold sweat.
Yet he remained very confident in Fang Heng's character.
He did not believe Fang Heng would dare deceive the emperor.
At that moment, Eunuch Su spoke.
"Your Majesty, according to the Ninth Prince, there are still ten mu of rice in the Seed Selection Department's fields that have not yet been harvested, awaiting Your Majesty's inspection."
Everyone present froze upon hearing this.
The disbelief on their faces grew even stronger.
A thought surfaced in many minds.
The Ninth Prince was playing for truly staggering stakes.
If this went wrong, it would likely be far more than a simple deduction of salary.
Unless...
Could it be...
That the yield per mu had truly doubled?
"Good!"
"Prepare the carriage for the Seed Selection Department."
"My ministers, accompany Us to the Seed Selection Department."
"Let Us see whether this auspicious omen truly yields seven hundred jin per mu."
"Prepare the carriage for the Seed Selection Department!"
As Eunuch Su's voice rang out, Emperor Yuanchu left Wenyuan Pavilion.
The gathered ministers, along with the other officials serving as assistants, also headed for the Seed Selection Department, intending to see with their own eyes whether this auspicious omen was real.
Seed Selection Department, estate fields.
"Your son greets Father Emperor."
"Greetings, my lords."
"Heng'er, rise."
"Is this the rice field that yields seven hundred jin per mu?"
Emperor Yuanchu looked toward the rice field, where the stalks shone golden.
A breeze swept through them, making them resemble a vast sea of glittering gold.
Merely from the quality of the rice in this field, Emperor Yuanchu already believed the claim of seven hundred jin per mu by seventy percent.
The sight of such a harvest could not deceive anyone.
Even if it did not yield seven hundred jin per mu, it would certainly far surpass the current rice yield per mu.
"Harvest it!"
Fang Heng waved at Tian Sheng and the others.
Tian Sheng and the others felt their blood boil.
Harvesting rice before His Majesty and all the gathered ministers.
This was a blessing they could only have begged for across eight lifetimes.
With this merit, they would soar like a dragon and rise like a phoenix.
Perhaps they might even be remembered in the emperor's heart.
The officials of the Seed Selection Department were all brimming with energy, the smiles on their faces even more joyous than those of real old farmers.
Before long, the ten mu of rice fields had been harvested in full before Emperor Yuanchu and the gathered ministers.
With so many martial arts and Daoist School experts watching,
no one could possibly cheat.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, a total of seven thousand one hundred jin of rice has been harvested."
"The average yield per mu is seven hundred and ten jin."
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!"
"Heaven has bestowed an auspicious omen!"
Fang Heng was the first to kneel and congratulate Emperor Yuanchu, calling it an auspicious omen.
The other officials and eunuchs hurriedly followed suit.
Cries of "Long live His Majesty!" rose like mountains roaring and seas crashing.
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