In Luoyang late at night, guards often rode fast horses and took their mission out of the city, and went to the military camps and yamen everywhere to deliver orders.

The most urgent military affairs were arranged, and the topic was then shifted to the acceptance of refugees and relief.

"Report to Your Majesty." The Chief Censor Gao Lang made a list, "Now the several states in Henan and Jiangbei are in ruins and cannot accommodate millions of refugees. I think that I can take the sea route and transport them to the three states overseas in Nanyang, which can just replenish the Chinese population there."

"This strategy does not work." Zheng He, the Grand Marshal of the Military Advisor, who represented the navy, immediately opposed it.

"The navy warships and all the sea ships that can be recruited in the country can only carry more than 200,000 people at a time. Moreover, the sea route is far away, and it takes one or two months to go back and forth. The most important thing is that the sailors have not rested, and millions of people cannot be transported for three years. This is one of them."

"Second. Do they not eat or drink when sailing on the sea for so long? If they transport food again, there will be even fewer people. Then, they will not be able to transport it in four or five years."

"Third. The hotter it gets south, the hotter they are all northerners, which is not suitable for the weather. In addition, the people on the boat are too crowded and the air is filthy, which can easily cause plague."

"Fourth. Even if you can really transport it, the navy warship will be wiped out after carrying it back and forth a few times, and the navy's combat power will not be restored for several years."

"Fifth, if there is a riot on the ship, it will be impossible to suppress it."

"Sixth, long-distance voyages at sea are risky. The more times the carrying times, the greater the possibility of encountering hurricanes. As long as one hurricane is encountered, the Tang Dynasty navy is finished, all the merchant ships are finished, and so many lives are finished."

"In a word, it would not work to bring them to the three states of Nanyang by boat. At most, only hundreds of thousands of people, and there can be no more."

Zheng He's words completely dispelled some ministers' intention to send refugees to the Nanyang Islands.

If there are too many people, you will not be lucky and the risks will be too great.

Li Luo and Cui Xiuning were not surprised. They knew from the beginning that this road was not accessible.

The Japanese Imperial Navy in later generations was strong enough? But how many people could be transported in a year by the Japanese navy transporting troops to China to fight?

There are at most twenty or thirty divisions, only six or seven hundred thousand. No matter how many, there is no way to transport capacity.

This was the case when Japan was not far from China's sea route. In ancient times, it was impossible to transport millions of people from the north to the distant Nanyang by boat.

In fact, it is not realistic to send it to the distant Nanyang, even to the south of the Yangtze River.

The further the distance the moving, the greater the cost. Refugees rush on the road, consume more food and have more problems along the way.

Similarly, when they go to the south, the more expensive it will be to return to the north. Once they come together, the more expensive it will be.

Unless, they will not be allowed to return to the north.

Is that possible?

If they never go back to the north, they will divide the fields of southerners. However, the fields of southerners are not large. How many public security problems, conflicts, and turmoil will this cause?

More importantly, North China has become an unmanned land. No one has farmed in thousands of miles of fertile fields!

Then, North China will be completely abolished.

Therefore, they are destined to go back. At least most people have to go back.

In this case, the best place to resettle refugees is the six major river and sea areas along the Yellow River, the Yangtze River, the canal, the Huaihe River, and the East Coast, which are convenient for transporting food and supplies through water.

"…The Ministry of Finance has stored grain, Lin'an, Jinling, Jiangling, Kunming, Chengdu, Chang'an, Luoning, Hanoi, Kaicheng, Ping'an, Hengyang, Yuzhang twelve warehouses, a total of 15.8 million stones..."

The twelve major taicangs, with 15.8 million shi of grain stored there, sounds a lot. In fact, it is not that.

Within half a year, 4 million shi of military rations must not be moved, and 600,000 labor rations for the construction of Chang'an City and Guanzhong water conservancy will not be moved. Two million shi of disaster relief grains must be left in various places, two million shi of labor rations for the construction of water conservancy and other projects in various places, and one million shi of other necessary public food.

Then, there are only 3.8 million shi of official grains that can be used to provide relief to refugees within half a year.

not enough!

Li Luo and Cui Xiuning's faces were both very serious.

In half a year, millions of refugees had to consume at least seven or eight million stones of food so that they would not starve to death (drinking porridge). Because in ancient times, people ate very little meat and oil, ate rough food, and never had snacks. In addition, they consumed a lot of physical energy, so the per capita staple food consumption far exceeded that of modern people.

Therefore, the average person per day was a pound of food. In ancient times, he could only get half full and did not dare to do heavy physical strength.

Even if the refugees are not allowed to starve to death, there is a gap of 4 million stones of food. At most, the relief will be until March, and the summer grain will not be harvested.

"So, officials must also be used to sell grain. But I don't know how much grain the officials have to sell." The Minister of Finance concluded.

Li Luo immediately looked at Wang Ge, the prince of the temple.

The grain of the Tang Dynasty implemented a national unified purchase and management method similar to that of later generations. The purpose was to stabilize grain prices, curb grain speculation, and increase treasury revenue.

Every year, farmers' excess grain can only be sold to the Monopoly Temple. The Monopoly Temple buys surplus grain and then sells it to those who need it through official grain shops in various places. As a result, greedy big grain merchants are eliminated, so that farmers' surplus grain will not be maliciously suppressed, nor will non-agricultural people eat high-priced grain.

The temple minister Wang Ge came out and said, "Report to Your Majesty, there are more than 18 million stones of food available for sale in all places in the temple official grain shops. However, if four million stones of officials are mobilized to sell grain and provide relief, then the food available for sale will be less and the price of grain will only rise."

"Okay!" Suddenly Li Qiang came out and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to use officials to sell grain and provide relief, and not use treasury tax grain. In this way, the court can reduce a lot of losses!"

Guan Hanqing felt it was inappropriate and spoke for the first time: "Your Majesty, I think the words of the Great Honglu are bad. If you don't use the national treasury and use all the officials to sell grain to provide relief, the price of officials selling grain will rise sharply. The citizens in the city can only eat high-priced grain and still not have enough food."

"The Great Honglu policy is to transfer the price that the court should bear to those who do not grow grain. Not only does the food rations of the citizens in the city have decreased, but the food rations of craftsmen, police officers, officials and others have decreased, and they also have to eat high-priced food. In this way, they will be dissatisfied with the court."

Li Qiang snorted, "Where are so many dissatisfactions? Everyone bears a little bit, and the Tang Dynasty can overcome the difficulties. Your Majesty and the court are so kind, can't they suffer some losses at critical moments? Why do all the costs, as long as the court bears it? It is already a kindness of the greatness of the heaven and earth if the court does not increase taxes."

"Besides, so many officials sell grain, but they don't buy it as food. A lot of grain is bought to make wine and vinegar. This part accounts for at least 20%. Otherwise, where do you think so many wine and vinegar come from among the people? At worst, the court will order the temporary ban on making wine and vinegar among the people."

Guan Hanqing said: "The reason why the Great Honglu is reasonable is that the subordinates are not thinking well." He is already open-minded and very talented. At this time, he not only felt that Li Qiang's words were reasonable, but he suddenly got inspired by Li Qiang's words.

"Your Majesty, what the Grand Master said just now is the old man's conspiracy to plan the country. I think it is better to raise taxes openly than to let officials sell grain and raise prices!"

Increase tax?

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers in the palace were a little surprised. Especially the old ministers of Yuan Cong in the Haidong era were even more surprised.

The Tang Dynasty has never increased taxes since the Marquis of Haidong.

It has always been 20% tax, and has not added a slightest amount.

Li Luo and Cui Xiuning couldn't help but look at each other. Both of them had never thought about raising taxes.

But I heard Guan Hanqing continue, "I have lived to be fifty years old shortly after I returned to the Tang Dynasty, and I have experienced a lot of things. During this period, I have also learned about the tax burdens of the people of the Tang Dynasty."

"To be honest, the tax burden of 20% is not too low, but the Tang Dynasty did not pay heavy taxes. The tax burden of the people in the Tang Dynasty was 50% of the Song Dynasty and 30% of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, and life was much better. It is said that the people in Jiangnan, which was first restored, had become rich, and the southern states gradually showed a prosperous atmosphere."

"These are all due to His Majesty's kindness to the people. Nowadays, the people in the south are getting better and better. Can't we occasionally increase taxes to help the court overcome difficulties?"

"Such a big thing is not just the matter of Your Majesty or the court? That is also a matter of the people in the world, and they should share their responsibilities. In order to let the people understand that when the country is in trouble, the people are responsible. It is also a practice that it is natural for the people of the country to encounter major events in the future, and it is natural to increase taxes by chance."

"The country can increase taxes when encountering great difficulties, but when the national treasury is abundant, it can also reduce taxes. Such a relaxed and relaxed moderation will be a blessing for the Tang Dynasty. Otherwise, when encountering great difficulties, the people's affairs will not be related to themselves and insensitive, and once the tax increases, they will complain. How can they be good to the people? In the long run, there will be many selfish people, and few people will be ruined by the family."

"Similarly, the treasury has too much money and grain to use, but taxes are still levied every year as usual. This is not right. Taxes should be reduced occasionally to benefit the people."

"I think that the people in Henan and Jiangbei do not need to increase taxes. But they must accept refugees to enter their households and give them up the excess houses for refugees to temporarily live in. This is considered to be an increase in taxes."

"The people in the south have to increase tax by 10% to help the court overcome difficulties. In this way, the court and the people work together and work together. This not only greatly reduces the burden on the court, but also educates the people and makes the people follow the humanitarian righteousness of helping each other."

"The court can post a notice to explain the whole story with great significance. I will then order theater troupes in various places to perform repertoire to promote the benevolent policies of helping refugees, and the people actively serve the country. In this way, if 10% of the money and grain are added, the people will not only have no complaints, but will also be more grateful to Your Majesty and the court."

Guan Hanqing's words were filled with joy, and the officials kept nodding.

This literary and artistic minister who had just taken office was very good.

Your Majesty is really keen on the beads. I didn’t expect that Guan Hanqing would have such insights! No wonder, he was the third-rank literary temple minister who could start!

In fact, this is the power of the old fried dough sticks in the world. Such people have a deep understanding of people's hearts and worldliness. Once they become officials, they are often either great wise men or great traitors.

"Good!" Lord Tang nodded happily, "This is because one side is in trouble, and all sides support it! In this way, we can make the Tang Dynasty look harmonious, united and create a prosperous era together. Well, this tax should be added, it is good to add it! Guan Qing's strategy, right!"

It's so dark under the light. He didn't expect such a good method before, and seemed to subconsciously avoid the idea of ​​increasing taxes. Guan Hanqing's method of increasing taxes is very good!

Cui Xiuning also laughed and said, "Guan Qing's words are really shocking. I deeply agree with it when I heard it."

All officials also agreed, and everyone looked much more relaxed.

Your Majesty said it well, if one side is in trouble, all directions should support it. This is how the people of the Tang Dynasty should be!

By using this method, the court can save most of its expenditures, educate the people, and set a precedent for people to actively support when encountering national disasters.

Kill two birds with one stone!

"Your Majesty, I ask that in the fifth year of Hongwu, all officials above the eighth rank will only receive half of their salary to support the court!" Lin Biju replied.

All officials also agreed and requested to only receive half of their salary next year.

"Authentication!" Li Luo agreed, "In addition, this year's New Year's Day, the expenses will be reduced by half. In the fifth year of Hongwu, all the expenses in the palace, except for the expenses of the Supreme Emperor, will be reduced by half!"

Yan Duo immediately stated: "I have also reduced the cost by half!"

It is true that the emperor and his ministers work together and work together. Of course, the emperor's statement was mainly about his attitude. In fact, the cost of the palace was reduced by half and he could not save much money and food. You should know that the palace expenses in the four years of Hongwu were less than one million silver dollars. This also included the salary of thousands of palace maids and eunuchs.

The Tang Ting monarch and ministers discussed it until midnight, and finally came up with a comprehensive plan after taking a brainstorm.

First, all the counties and counties along the rivers of the Wuzhou, Yu, Yong, Yan, Qing, and Xu, all accept refugees according to their hometowns. For example, the refugees in Xiangzhou (Anyang) are placed in Kaifeng County, and the refugees in Weihui (Xinxiang) are placed in Xingyang County...

Then, when each county is assigned to each county, rural officials are responsible for arranging the villagers to accept it.

There are more than 120 counties arranged to accept tasks.

Immediately, the imperial edict for the requisition of food and other materials was also issued in court. Li Luo gave several orders in one breath and acted decisively.

"The Weaving Department is preparing to mobilize cotton cloth in textile official workshops across the country..."

"Minerals Department allocates coal..."

"The Ministry of Revenue is preparing to register and arrange temporary household registration for refugees..."

"The navy collected transport ships and rushed to the south to transport grain..."

"The monopoly company mobilizes salt..."
To be continued...