Li Shimin was very surprised that Lin Xuan said that he could solve the food problem. This was exactly the problem that troubled him now.
Li Chengqian explained to Li Shimin how to use the stone to record merit proposed by Lin Xuan.
After listening to this, Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly and began to think.
Although this method can obtain food, it has advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage is that with food, the victims can be resettled and there will be no unrest.
The trouble is, those aristocratic families will definitely be able to win over a lot of people through this.
Li Chengqian waited quietly, not daring to disturb Li Shimin's thinking.
After a while, Li Shimin opened his eyes and said, "Just do as Lin Xuan said. I will ask people to donate food. You can decide on the specific amount at that time."
"Yes, I will retire."
After Li Chengqian left, Li Shimin gave Li Mu a few instructions, and Li Mu hurriedly left the study.
The aristocratic family has always been his pet peeve, and he really didn't want to give them a chance to win over the people if he could.
But there is nothing we can do now. If we continue to delay, we don't know how many people will die.
…
Li Tai hurried back to Furong Garden, found a quiet courtyard, walked into the room, and shouted: "Sir, something happened."
A middle-aged scribe was making tea in the room. When he saw Li Tai walking in with an anxious look on his face, he stood up and bowed, poured a cup of tea for Li Tai, and said with a smile: "Your Highness, don't panic. If you have anything to say, tell me slowly."
Li Tai was not in the mood to drink tea, so he directly told Lin Xuan about the idea of breaking stones to record merit, and forcing the wealthy families to hand over food.
"Your Highness, is this serious?" Han Wen asked with a solemn expression.
"Of course it's true, sir, what should we do now?" Li Tai asked.
"Your Highness, I will report this matter. You go back first and see what other plans they have." Han Wen said.
Li Tai nodded, "Okay, I'll go back right away, and you guys can come up with a solution as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, Your Highness." Han Wen nodded.
After Li Tai left, Han Wen thought for a while and hurriedly left Furong Garden through the back door.
Han Wen was cautious along the way. After a few circles, he felt relieved when he found that no one was following him.
Arriving at the back door of the house, Han Wen knocked on the door regularly.
Not long after, the door opened, a head popped out and saw Han Wen, and he immediately welcomed him in.
A man in his fifties was practicing calligraphy in the study. When he saw Han Wen coming in, he frowned and asked, "Didn't I tell you not to come to me unless something big happens? Once we attract other people's attention, all our hard work will be in vain."
"Something happened to the master. The prince's side..." Han Wen told the old man the news that Li Tai told him.
"I understand, you go back first." The old man said after hearing this.
After Han Wen left, the old man looked gloomy and shouted: "Old man, prepare the carriage."
…
That afternoon, a news spread throughout Chang'an.
Due to the heavy snow, roads were blocked, food could not be transported in, and the victims had no food to use.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince called on wealthy households in Chang'an to donate food to aid the victims.
This donation, no matter how much, will be engraved on a monument so that the donor's good deeds will be famous throughout the ages.
This incident caused an uproar in Chang'an City.
For the common people, the most important thing is to have enough food and clothing.
But for people with certain conditions, what they pursue is indeed glory, wealth and fame through the ages.
Now that you have such an opportunity by donating some food, why not do it.
For a time, a large number of people gathered around the donation points set up by Li Chengqian, some came to donate food, and some came to watch the fun.
A large group of people came to the donation point in Dongshi, and there were many soldiers guarding them. It was obvious at a glance that they were of extraordinary status.
The crowd of onlookers quickly moved out of the way.
The person Li Chengqian sent to register certainly knew the group of people in front of him, so he asked with a little panic: "I wonder what the princes are here for?"
Cheng Yaojin laughed: "I, Old Cheng, should do it, don't you want to donate food? I, Cheng Yaojin, will donate 5,000 shi."
"Yuchi respectfully donates 5,000 stones."
"Niu Jinda donated 5,000 stones."
"Qin Qiong donated 5,000 stones."
"Li Xiaogong donated 5,000 stones."
"Li Shentong donated 5,000 stones."
…
More than a dozen princes each donated 5,000 shi of grain, causing an uproar.
After everyone reported the amount of their donations, Cheng Yaojin said loudly: "Please register, we will send the donated food to His Royal Highness later."
"Yes Yes Yes!"
…
A group of people gathered in the hall of Wang Ze's house.
In addition to the five surnames, there are also some small and medium-sized aristocratic families, all of which are waiting for the five surnames to speak.
"I knew that boy was a nuisance." Wang Ze said angrily.
"What's the use of talking about this now? The whole of Chang'an is scolding us, saying that we aristocratic families are reluctant to give up food and don't care about the life and death of the people. You tell us what to do." Cui Hao said with a gloomy face.
They had received the news a long time ago and gathered together to discuss. Who knew that Li Chengqian would take action so quickly.
The most abominable thing is that Cheng Yaojin and a dozen others donated 5,000 shi of grain each in a big way, making it known to everyone in Chang'an City.
It's like holding these aristocratic families on fire for examination.
"How about we donate some too." Lu Yuan said hesitantly.
Zheng Kai asked, "Then how much do you think we should donate?"
"This..." Lu Yuan was speechless for a moment.
If you donate too much, you will feel bad. If you donate too little, people will continue to scold them.
"I think we must donate. Since we want to donate, we must let the people in the world know how good our family is. Otherwise, wouldn't the donation be in vain?" Cui Hao said.
"Brother Cui, how much do you want to donate? We all listen to you."
"Yes, yes, we all listen to Brother Cui."
Seeing Cui Hao speak, other aristocratic families agreed.
Although the five surnames are called together, the Cui family is recognized as the highest sect in the world.
His appeal among aristocratic families is unparalleled.
"Didn't they donate 5,000 shi? Then let's donate 6,000 shi." Cui Hao said calmly.
Cui Hao refers to the five surnames, not all aristocratic families.
"They obviously made a false report, do we really want to donate so much? How about we also donate 5,000 stones?" Wang Ze said with some distress.
"You know they made false reports, do the people know? Why don't you explain it to the people?"
Cui Hao would have wanted to curse him if he didn't think that the five surnames were the same.
How much does 1,000 shi of grain cost to several people?
Since there is no way to donate, it is better to be generous, which can win the hearts and minds of the people.
If you donate 5,000 stones, what will the people think of you?
Although Cheng Yaojin and the others were granted the title of Duke, they looked at the scenery.
But in the eyes of the people, it is still far from the five surnames.
Someone donated 5,000 shi, and you also donated 5,000 shi. Once you were guided by others, in the end the food was gone and it was not good enough.
"I listen to Brother Cui."
Wang Ze saw that Cui Hao was a little angry and said quickly.
"Then let's do this. Each of our families will donate 6,000 stones." After Cui Hao finished speaking, he looked at the other people from small and medium-sized aristocratic families and said, "You can do it according to your own conditions."