After hearing this, Zhao Mu already knew why the two of them were wandering around in the snow.
Why did he come to his Zhuangzi and say these words? He must have seen their Zhuangzi's wealth and wanted to buy food from him!
"You two, after asking so many questions, do you want to ask if Zhuangzi has any surplus grain?
If so, I'm really sorry.
We in Zhuangzi do have a surplus of food, but it is only enough to survive the winter in Zhuangzi.
If there is any other surplus food, it is gone, I’m really sorry!”
"Oh, what a pity. I was still thinking that if Mr. Zhao's farm had surplus grain, we would buy it.
In this case, I would like to thank Mr. Zhao for his warm hospitality. It is not too early.
I will go back soon, Mr. Zhao, if I have the chance to go to Chang'an, see you soon!"
The two left the restaurant and returned the same way.
When I came to the yard, I saw the group of children again, scattering corn and feeding the birds.
Seeing this scene, I still asked about the doubts in my heart!
“Little brother, this rice is food for me and others to eat, how can I feed the birds?
If so, isn’t this a waste?”
"The two guests don't know. After this heavy snow falls, we don't know when it will melt.
And the food these birds eat will cause them to die because it is covered by heavy snow.
My young master said that if birds die in large numbers, when we plant food next spring, we will encounter many pests.
By then, food production will decrease or even end.
Therefore, using a small amount of rice to allow these birds to survive the cold winter and allow the insects to dissipate, this business is a sure profit!"
After hearing this, the two were shocked again. What does next year's insect plague have to do with the birds in winter?
Just when he was about to show his doubts, the guard shook his head!
"You two, this is what my young master said. I don't know the specific situation."
"Thank you, little brother!"
When they arrived outside Zhuangzi, the carriage had been repaired and brought over. The two got on the carriage and set off quickly towards Chang'an!
That night, the two came to the imperial city.
In the study, Li Er began to work hard again!
One night, I passed by in a hurry until the next day, I went to the morning court and saw the ministers.
The personal eunuch standing next to the emperor had just finished saying that he had something to report and would leave the court if nothing happened.
The ministers below stood up one after another!
"Your Majesty, just after the heavy snowfall, the price of food in our entire imperial city has skyrocketed, up to seven times.
The people of the Tang Dynasty simply cannot afford this kind of price.
Your Majesty, I beg your Majesty to kill those profiteers so that the people of Tang Dynasty can afford food!"
After hearing what this minister said, the other ministers nodded in succession.
Now that the price of food has increased, even officials like them are discouraged.
Fortunately, they have their own salary and can still afford to support their family. Unfortunately, for those ordinary people, their life and death are unpredictable!
"Your Majesty, you must not do this, you must not do it. What crime are these businessmen guilty of?
Your Majesty, do you remember that when you ascended the throne and proclaimed yourself emperor, you encouraged the people to do business and farm, and promoted the prosperity and development of the Tang Dynasty.
And this food issue is also caused by the entire market.
Let me tell you, you only see that it is snowing heavily now, there is a shortage of food, and those grain merchants are sitting on the ground raising their prices.
Why haven't you seen that when there is no shortage of food, the price of food is cheap?
At that time, have you ever thought about the fact that the grain merchants are selling grain so cheaply that we should raise the price for them?"
Everyone was talking to each other, and the whole court seemed to have become a vegetable market.
He kept chattering, and for a while, he didn't know who was right and who was wrong.
But everyone knows in their hearts that every word they say actually symbolizes their own interests!
Li Er, who was listening above, was very upset.
I saw him slamming the table hard and scolding.
"Okay, everyone, please be quiet. I have made my own decision on this matter. Where are the officials from the Ministry of Revenue?"
"His Majesty."
"Open the warehouse to store grain so that the people in Chang'an City can have food to eat!"
"Your Majesty, there is not much food left in the granary of our treasury. Your Majesty has said that this food should be used to deal with emergencies.
Weichen suggested that we can hold on for a while.
Before the heavy snow came, we had sent people to the south to collect food.
Presumably, it won't be long before the food from the south will be mobilized to our city of Chang'an.
By then, our food and grass problem in Chang'an City will be solved."
After the household official finished speaking, the officials started talking again!
At that time, the incident of the million-strong Turkic army coming to besiege Chang'an City is still vivid in my mind.
As the saying goes, once bitten by a snake, you will be afraid of well ropes for ten years.
This food is mainly used to deal with the enemy. If the enemy comes again, they will have enough food to launch a protracted war.
Now, Your Majesty wants to give this food to the people.
Doesn't this mean that everyone should be roasted on the fire rack? This will never work!
Li Er felt very unhappy when he heard what the officials below said to you and me.
He could not wait to issue an imperial edict to kill all these disobedient ministers.
But he himself also understands that sometimes, some things have to be stopped as a last resort.
In the early days of the Tang Dynasty, the seven major families grew so big that they could cover the sky with one hand.
"Okay, I have made my own decision on this matter and will withdraw from the court!"
After leaving the court, I came to the study room, and my whole person's anger was rising.
But there is nothing I can do. I still can't control this group of people, I just feel angry and hateful.
Why don't I have the ability to kill them forcefully and give the Tang Dynasty a bright future?
Then, after watching for a while, he saw the memorial handed over by the minister below, and his whole body became furious again.
There are actually some ministers who want to issue edicts on their own sins, hoping to move God and take back the punishment of God on the people.
There was a blizzard, and it turned out to be God's punishment for the people?
Thinking of this, my whole mood became very unhappy.
Changsun Wuji was called to the palace, and the two of them studied for a while.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Yesterday we met Mr. Zhao.
Wei Chen felt that Mr. Zhao looked like an expert.
Especially that day, when I went back and thought about the matter of birds and insects, I found that what I said was indeed true.
It just so happened that Your Majesty, before leaving, said that he would personally go to Zhaojiazhuang to thank Mr. Zhao.
So Wei Chen thought, why don't we take this opportunity to go and have a chat with Mr. Zhao?"