March, Xiliang.

The earth is getting warmer, and Daohua takes Daozi and the twins to Daoxiang Village to inspect the spring plowing.

Daohua doesn't want to raise her three children so that they are industrious and unable to distinguish between food and grain. She hopes that through contact with farmers, she can make them understand the hardships of life.

After several years of operation, the barren wasteland around Daoxiang Village has developed. With the migration of a large number of people, the surrounding area has now developed into a small town, called Daoxiang Town.

After arriving at Zhuangzi, after Daohua said that he could move around freely, Daozi hurriedly went to find his friends. Of course, he did not forget his younger brothers and sisters.

Under Daohua's conscious and unconscious training, Daozi has now consciously played the role of an older brother. Wherever he goes, he never forgets to take care of his younger siblings.

After Sanxiao left, Zhuangtou took the initiative to report to Daohua about this year's spring plowing, and then talked about his worries.

"Princess, the weather this year is a bit abnormal. Logically speaking, in March in Xiliang, even if we no longer wear cotton pants, we still have to wear two more coats."

"But this year, March has just entered, and when we go to work in the fields, the little ones only have to wear single clothes."

"The weather this year is a bit too hot, I'm just worried..."

Daohua frowned: "What are you worried about?"

Zhuangtou: "I'm worried that there may be less water this year than in previous years, so I think there should be more drought-tolerant potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn and other grains in the fields this year."

Daohua thought of the heavy snowfall that hit various prefectures in Xiliang last year. There was a saying that there would be a severe drought after the snowstorm. Now that Zhuangtou specifically mentioned it, she immediately took it seriously.

"I will do as you say when it comes to sowing. Plant some drought-tolerant grains."

Zhuangtou nodded and took note of it.

After Zhuangtou left, Daohua thought about it, got up and went to the field, checked the sowing progress, and chatted with the old man in the field.

Elderly people are always more sensitive to disasters. As soon as Daohua opened her mouth, the old people started talking.

"Last year, the snow here was really heavy. In the past few years, everyone's life has become better. Our houses have been strengthened, and we have some food in the house. Fewer people are freezing to death and starving to death."

"After the beginning of spring this year, old man, I realized that something was wrong with the weather. There might be another drought."

The opinions of the old people are unanimous, and they all think that there may be a drought this year.

Daohua felt that this matter was very important, so she stayed in Zhuangzi for a day and then returned to the palace with Daozi and the twins. She had to tell Xiao Yeyang about this as soon as possible.

If a drought is really possible, we must prepare early.

Apart from anything else, spring plowing has just begun, which will allow people to plant more drought-tolerant food.

......

On the day he returned to the palace, Xiao Yeyang came back from the Yamen, and Daohua hurriedly told him about the bad weather this year.

Xiao Yeyang did not show any surprise after hearing this. Obviously, he had known this for a long time, and also told Daohua that some provinces had not rained since the first month.

Daohua's expression changed: "Will there really be a drought?"

Xiao Yeyang nodded solemnly: "Judging from the current situation, there are already signs of this. I just hope that the scope of this drought will not be too wide."

After saying that, there was a pause.

"Do you still remember the previous envoy Wu from Ninglu?"

Daohua nodded: "Why don't you remember that he was a member of Governor Wu's tribe? When we first arrived in Xiliang, we borrowed food from others. Didn't he transfer back to the capital a few years ago?"

Xiao Yeyang: "He was transferred back to the capital, and the person who took over his position was a good friend of his. The current Chief Minister Chang sent me a letter yesterday with the name of the Wu family, asking for my help.

What?"

Daohua raised her eyebrows: "Can I borrow food from you?"

Xiao Yeyang shook his head: "It's not about borrowing grain, it's about borrowing grain seeds. I was able to know so quickly that there might be drought in other provinces because he informed me."

"For the sake of the Wu family, I have to lend him some, but not too many."

"If a drought does occur, it may not have a great impact on Xiliang. The grain varieties we promote here are relatively drought-resistant and will not cause crop failure. It is difficult to say in other provinces."

"At that time, Uncle Huang may also ask me for grain seeds, and I will have to reserve a batch."

Daohua sighed: "There are still too few high-yield grain seeds. I hope that one day, I can spread four-season grain seeds throughout Daxia."

Xiao Yeyang patted Daohua's hand: "You have done a good job. Think about Xiliang in the past. Although the people of Xiliang are not well-fed and well-clothed, at least their hunger situation has improved significantly."

"Nowadays, there are almost no empty granaries built by the government. After the autumn harvest every year, what I like to do most is to inspect the granaries everywhere."

"Xiliang is vast and sparsely populated. When all the wasteland is used, Xiliang may become the granary of our Great Xia."

Daohua smiled: "It would be great if that were the case." After saying that, she paused and said, "There are still too few people in Xiliang."

Xiao Yeyang smiled and said: "There is no need to rush this. Now that life is better, the population will naturally increase."

Time is passing by little by little, and the drought situation in various places is becoming more and more obvious and serious.

......

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

The emperor's face became very heavy when he looked at the information about the drought situation in various places piled up on the imperial desk.

July is coming soon, and the drought in provinces such as Ninglu, Fenjin, and Qin'an is still continuing. In many places, there has been no rain since the beginning of the new year.

This drought is the most serious since he took the throne.

Soon, Yang Shoufu, six ministers, and several princes came to the Zhengdian Palace.

Yang Shoufu was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, this drought has affected several provinces, and disaster relief must be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

The Emperor: "I called you here today to discuss disaster relief. Please share your opinions."

The eldest prince looked at everyone and took the lead: "Father, there is a drought in Ninglu and other places. Of course, relief materials must be prepared, but in my humble opinion, the most important thing is to deliver drought-tolerant food to these places.

Only in this way can we really help the people survive the drought."

Seeing the emperor nodding his head in agreement, the eldest prince felt happy and continued: "Father, Xiliang has developed quite well in recent years. This year's drought has actually affected Xiliang, but Xiliang has not handed over any discounts.

”

"The main reason for this is that the grains grown in Xiliang are drought-resistant grains."

"Father, my son and I have requested that we go to Xiliang to collect drought-tolerant grain seeds to alleviate the drought crisis in Ninglu provinces."

As soon as these words came out, the ministers present couldn't help but look at the eldest prince.

Who doesn't know now that Prince Ping's Mansion and the eldest prince are not on good terms. The eldest prince proposed to go to Xiliang at this time because he wanted to go there and suppress King Weiyuan.

Taking the merits of others to build on his own merits, and rushing forward to step on their faces, the eldest prince's move is really cruel.

The emperor was noncommittal and continued to ask other ministers for their opinions.

After all the ministers expressed their opinions, a eunuch entered the palace holding a zhezi in both hands: "Your Majesty, King Weiyuan of Xiliang has just sent a zhezi."

The emperor took the paper and after reading it, he smiled and looked at the eldest prince: "You don't have to go to Xiliang. Yeyang sent a paper saying that the people of Xiliang are willing to donate 100,000 stones of grain seeds to several provinces affected by the disaster.

."

The eldest prince's face was stiff. In order to get this job, he lowered his status a few days ago and begged his younger brothers to stop fighting with him. But he didn't expect Xiao Yeyang to do this!

Not only did he not expect it, but neither did anyone else.

The main reason is that Xiliang’s starting point is too low. Even if it has developed well in recent years, it has nothing to do with the wealthy provincial capital.

Who would have thought that Xiao Yeyang would come up with such a large batch of grain seeds when the drought in the north is so serious.

Before everyone could be surprised, the emperor spoke again: "Ye Yang also said that Xiliang is a vast area with few people. If Ninglu and other provinces are unable to help the people, they can move a group to Xiliang."

As soon as these words came out, Yang Shoufu couldn't help it anymore: "Your Majesty, can Xiliang feed so many people now?"
Chapter completed!