Renzong Zhao Zhen issued an order to urgently mobilize 10,000 troops from the Wuping Army in Xijing (Chang'an) to reinforce the Qinzhou front line; and to mobilize 20 troops from Jinzhou, Fenzhou and Mengzhou, totaling 5,000 troops to reinforce the Yaozhou front line.
Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan were ordered to adopt the strategy of guarding the frontier and building cities, and setting up camps step by step to block the southward movement of Yuanhao's army in the Western Xia Dynasty; he ordered Pang Ji to be in charge of Shaanxi's government affairs and logistics matters, and make joint decisions on military affairs.
Pang Ji, Han Qi, and Fan Zhongyan followed the order and retreated.
Once this top priority was over, all the officials in the palace and Zhao Zhen breathed a long sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the Daqing Palace became relaxed.
"My dear friends, the second thing I have to discuss today is that I have to discuss it together. Yan Aiqing, the envoy of the Third Division, has submitted a memorial. This year is a severe drought in the southern states. The autumn grain harvest has been completed and the production has been severely reduced. The war in the west has been delayed for too long.
, the grain depots of various state governments are gradually running out, Yan Aiqing raised some concerns in the memorial, and everyone is here to come up with ideas and think of solutions."
Zhao Zhen was a little helpless. The country was in trouble, and he, as the emperor, was really powerless. He was really unable to solve these problems by himself. He still had to consult with the ministers to find a solution.
The chamberlain held Yan Shu's memorial in his hand and read loudly: "Your Majesty Yan Shu's Memorial: This year's grain tax has severely reduced production, due to several months of drought in the main producing areas in the south, which has caused many states and counties to have no harvests; I order all states to report it.
The amount of grain stored in the warehouse, plus the grain that can be collected this year, is less than 60% of last year, only 97 million dan. According to a rough calculation, this amount can only last until April next year. I am very worried about the lack of food.
It brings many hidden worries. How can the soldiers on the border defend against the enemy without food? The people without food will starve to death and freeze to death. It may lead to the disaster of banditry. Please make a clear decision."
The ministers were silent. In fact, many people knew about the severe drought in the south, but they did not expect that the problem is so serious now. The entire country's food supply is not enough to receive next year's autumn grain. If this is true, it is really a big deal. There is no food. This is a long time.
How to survive the severe winter? It is conceivable that once spring comes, hungry people will be everywhere and bandits will be rampant. In order to survive, the people will do anything.
Zhao Zhen said: "My dear friends, do you have any countermeasures?"
Lu Yijian stood up and said: "Your Majesty, the old minister expressed doubts about this figure. The first two years of the Song Dynasty were both years of great harvest. Although there was a locust disaster in the first year of Baoyuan, the harvest was poor, but in the second year of Baoyuan,
, the first year of Kangding was a year of good harvests, and the surplus stocks should have been replenished. Why did the reduction in production this year lead to a situation of no supply? Lord Yan should have an explanation for this matter."
Lu Yijian pointed the finger directly at Yan Shu. The implication was that as the third envoy, he failed to make arrangements in advance. Even if the statistics were accurate, he was suspected of dereliction of duty.
Yan Shu came out and said: "To report to the emperor, what Prime Minister Lu said is true. In the second year of Baoyuan and the first year of Kangding, two years old was indeed a good year. A total of 240 million dan of grain was produced in two years, but the storage was far away.
It is far from enough. It has been four years since the Northwest War. During this period, more than 100,000 troops have consumed a huge amount of military supplies. Moreover, the people on Hedong Road, Yongxing Military Road, and Qinfeng Road have been displaced and can no longer carry out normal farming. Millions of civilians have been displaced.
The family basically relied on the government's financial aid to survive, and the food they consumed amounted to tens of millions. To be honest, we were running out of money every year. If I hadn't made careful arrangements, people would have starved to death long ago.
"
Lu Yijian said dissatisfied: "Sir Yan, if you don't talk about this, I don't want to mention it. Last year, officials in Yuanzhou, Chenzhou, Liuzhou and other places secretly opened warehouses to relieve the victims, which should have been dealt with seriously, but you did it in front of the emperor.
We tried our best to protect these state officials. Now that they are well, all the food in the official warehouses is empty, so what should we do now?"
Yan Shu said calmly: "Is it not possible to allow the people to starve to death or become hungry people? Hungry people are most likely to cause chaos. What should we do if it leads to a riot?"
Lu Yijian stared and said: "Become a mob? What do our officers and soldiers of the Song Dynasty do for food? Are we still afraid that a small group of hungry people will cause chaos?"
"How can I, the benevolent emperor, allow the people to be displaced when I am in the government? The hungry people are good people by nature and are not born to be thieves. How can we just sit back and watch them become chaotic due to hunger and then send troops to exterminate them without success? This is what Prime Minister Lu said
This is very strange, and I cannot agree with it. "If there is no food in the world, wouldn't it mean that great chaos is brewing? What good strategy can the three ministers have to deal with it?"
Yan Shu said: "Major matters need to be discussed by everyone. If this matter is decided by me, why should I inform the emperor, and why should the emperor talk about it in the court?"
When Lu Yijian was about to retort, Zhao Zhen coughed and said, "Both of you, my beloved ministers, are worried about state affairs. Why do you need to be so intense? I have approved the opening of the relief warehouse that day, so don't mention it again.
The top priority is how to deal with the current situation and come up with a comprehensive strategy; there are still a few months left, and I don’t believe that I can be stumped by such a thing."
Seeing that Zhao Zhen was showing signs of going crazy, the two of them did not dare to speak.
Zhao Zhen thought for a while and then said: "I'm going to start with a suggestion. Starting today, I've decided to change the three meals in the palace to two meals, and supply them in a rationed manner to prevent wasteful travel. In this way,
We can save at least 10% of the grain to reduce the burden; I hope everyone from me to the next will follow this approach, and every grain saved is a grain of grain."
The ministers were shocked, and they all knelt down in the tunnel and said, "Your Majesty, you can't do that."
Lu Yijian kowtowed and said, "If our majestic Song Dynasty has to scrimp on food and clothing, even the Holy Emperor, if we say it, we will lose the majesty of our Song Dynasty."
Du Yan also said: "Yes, you absolutely must not do it. How can the ministers have the dignity to stand in the court?"
There were voices of dissuasion everywhere, and Zhao Zhen smiled helplessly, but heard someone say: "I think your Majesty's move is feasible."
The ministers looked at each other in astonishment, and it turned out that it was Ouyang Xiu, the governor of the Admonition Court, who spoke. Ouyang Xiu did not care about the astonished eyes of everyone and continued: "I believe that your majesty's move will not only not damage your majesty, but will make the people of the world more convinced; your majesty will set an example for you."
, How can people in the world have the nerve to waste food anymore, and this does not cause much harm. Before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, everyone had two meals a day. In modern times, people are rich and only have three meals a day. I have not heard of anyone who ate less than one meal a day.
He would starve to death due to lack of food; taking extraordinary measures in emergency times, your Majesty’s move will surely lead officials and people all over the world to practice frugality. All things in nature are not meant to be wasted. This move is in line with the way of heaven and is a meritorious deed of your Majesty’s.”
All the ministers cursed in their hearts: "You sycophant, you are causing everyone to starve with the emperor. The emperor lives deep in the palace. This may be just words, but if the edict is really issued, who would dare to do so?"
Eat more.”
Zhao Zhen laughed and said: "Ou Aiqing understands the truth here. This matter has been settled. It will be announced to the world later. From today on, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will reduce the supply of food and vegetables by 30%. If there are any gossips in the palace, there will be dissatisfaction."
, they will all be punished with one day’s worth of meals.”
Everyone looked at each other in disbelief and smiled bitterly. They didn't expect that the mighty Song Dynasty was in such a miserable state. They had to rely on starving to save food to survive the difficulties.
"Your Majesty is truly a benevolent monarch that has never been seen in history. I have all my respect and respect for you. However, I have a request regarding this matter. I would like to ask Your Majesty for your clear understanding."
Yan Shu deeply blamed himself. He was in charge of the money, grain and taxation of the Song Dynasty. Unexpectedly, he forced the emperor to cut back on food and clothing. Although he was not responsible for the situation, it was really hard to save his face.
"Yan Aiqing will tell you if you have anything to say."
"I think the edict should state that exceptions can be made for the sick and the elderly over fifty. Firstly, the elderly do not have much to eat. Secondly, the elderly are weak. We, the Great Song Dynasty, govern the world with benevolence and righteousness and exclude the old and the weak.
The meal can also show His Majesty's compassion for the elderly and the weak."
"This is reasonable, I have this intention." Zhao Zhen said in his heart: I am still worried about how to explain to the old queen and the old concubines.
"I also have a request." Before Yan Shu could get up, another person came forward from the end of the palace and knelt down.
"Fan Aiqing, please speak."
Fan Zhongyan kowtowed and said, "I ask your Majesty to allow the officers and soldiers of the three armies to eat and drink as usual."
"Yes, yes, this is a matter of course. If you don't have enough food, how can you defend your country from enemies?" Zhao Zhen said, slapping his forehead.
"I am going to the border to organize the soldiers and civilians to cultivate and plant their own crops. Although the northwest is bitter and cold, wheat can be grown in winter and harvested in May of the following year. This may save part of the military food supply. Although it cannot be completely self-sufficient, a little can add up.
One more point is one point." Fan Zhongyan continued.
"What nonsense! The soldiers have gone to farm, how can we defend ourselves against the enemy?" Du Yan said angrily.
"Please rest assured, Privy Du, I will definitely not miss important events. I know the importance of things." Fan Zhongyan said quietly.
Zhao Zhen sighed and said: "Fan Aiqing will make his own decisions. The most important thing is to defend the enemy, and other matters will be within his own ability."
Fan Zhongyan said: "I understand." He kowtowed and stepped back.
Zhao Zhen rubbed his brows and said, "Yan Aiqing, can this gap be sufficiently filled?"
Yan Shu shook his head and said, "At least it's still short of 20%."
Zhao Zhen said: "Do you have any good ideas?"
Some of the ministers said that they should go to Jiaozhi or Goryeo to buy grain, some said that all the livestock in the country would be killed so that private livestock would not consume food and there would still be meat to eat, and some suggested that the people should be mobilized to fish and hunt, but these were not acceptable.
Strategies were refuted and rejected one by one after they were proposed.
Zhao Zhen's migraine was faintly threatening to attack, so he said: "It seems that all of you, my dear friends, can't think of any good solutions for a while. So, you go back and think about it carefully, and if you have any good solutions, I will report them to you today."
I have one more thing to tell you, but I'm a little tired, so I'll talk about it tomorrow. This matter is about the auspicious appearance of Yingtian Mansion. Zhao Zongdan, Tang Jie, and all the officials of Yingtian Mansion all submitted a report saying that Taizu
I entrusted a dream to Su Jin, a student of Yingtian Prefecture, to make public the words on the oath stele in the Imperial Ancestral Temple to the world. I decided to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pray on that day, so there is no need to mention this matter. But who is Su Jin? Someone has been sent to find out.
Talk back and forth."
Everyone was astonished. Taizu actually came down from a dream to announce the contents of the Ancestral Temple Oath Tablet. Most people were unaware of this content, but it was a strange thing. Before anyone could react, the chamberlain had already sung the promise loudly, and Zhao Zhen stood up and got off the throne.