Lao Zhu sighed and said coldly: "Do you think that only Henan is affected by the disaster?"
"Of course, of course not." Zhu Biao quickly explained, "I know that there is a serious drought in the world this year, and many places have been affected. However, Henan is the most serious."
"The reason why Henan is serious is because the Chief Envoy concealed it at first." Speaking of this, Lao Zhu got angry. If he could fly to Henan right now, he would like to kill all the officials in the Chief Envoy Department.
Pointing towards the imperial case, "Open your eyes and take a look. There are piles of memorials about disasters all over the world. Do you think I can still keep the little money and food in my hand?"
Zhu Biao was shocked when he heard this, and asked blankly: "Father, do you mean that the money and food have been used?" Zhu Biao was so frightened when he said that, a big cold sweat fell from his cheeks. .
Originally, he thought that his father had money and food here, which could alleviate the famine in Henan. Unexpectedly, the money and food in my father's hands had already been used to provide relief to all parts of the world.
Lao Zhu was also helpless. He was now like a master carrying grain, surrounded by mouths waiting for food, but he could count the grains in his hand. In this case, what can Lao Zhu do? I can only see which one is causing the most trouble, and give him a grain of rice to keep him going.
What made Lao Zhu most angry about the grain shortage in Henan was that even the people in the Chief Envoy concealed it and did not report it until it was out of control, then they reported it eagerly. But what's the use of reporting it now? The hundreds of thousands of tons of grain from the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry have long been allocated. Lao Zhu currently only has tens of thousands of dans of grain in hand. Even if it is transferred to Henan, it will be a drop in the bucket.
"Father..." Zhu Biao looked miserable, thinking that without food, the people in Henan, who had been without food for a month, would probably starve to death.
Zhu Biao was heartbroken.
Zhu Biao's grief did not arouse the slightest sympathy from Lao Zhu. Instead, he took this opportunity to teach him carefully.
"You were plotted, did you know that?"
When Zhu Biao was heartbroken, he did not answer Lao Zhu.
Lao Zhu continued: "How much food do I have in my hand?"
Food, since you know everything about it, how can all the officials not know about it? When I allocate money and food, I have to go through the Sixth Department. How could the Sixth Department not know that I have very little money and food left? However, they still come to you to find me to allocate money and food even when they know that I don't have much money anymore. Tell me, what are their intentions? "
Zhu Biao suddenly realized that his father's allocation of money and food would not be hidden from the eyes of officials in various ministries. After all, memorials about disasters in various places were presented to the imperial court, and officials in various ministries clearly knew what was approved in those memorials.
Then since they all know that their father has no money or food in his hands, why do they still come to him to plead for mercy?
"Why?"
When Lao Zhu saw Zhu Biao's doubts, he felt a lot relieved. Patiently explained: "They think you are weak and can be bullied, and they are plotting against you."
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Zhu Biao raised his eyelids. His father's words were somewhat harsh, and he felt a little repelled.
"Don't be dissatisfied. An emperor must have both benevolence and thunderous methods. Do you think everything the officials say is true? If it is true, then why do the people in the Chief Envoy of Henan Concealing the disaster and not reporting it? Do you think the officials won’t plot against you? If the officials don’t plot against you, then why would they let you come to me to beg me?”
When Zhu Biao wanted to explain, Lao Zhu waved his hand and stopped him.
"Don't rush to explain now, listen to what I have to say first. In fact, do you know that from the first step you came to find me, you were plotted by them. They knew clearly that I had no money or food in my hands, so they still You have to come and beg me. Think about it, think about it carefully, what is their plan?"
Although Zhu Biao was unhappy in his heart, his always kind personality allowed him to listen no matter what he said.
After listening to his father's words, Zhu Biao really calmed down and thought about it carefully.
'Since those officials knew that my father had no money or food in his hands, wouldn't they be doing a favor by asking him to find him? None of the officials who could stand in Fengtian Palace were fools, and there was no way they could do such a completely meaningless thing. If this is the case, does it mean that they have another purpose? '
Well, they
What is the purpose? Or what benefit would it have to them?
Suddenly, Zhu Biao suddenly thought of something. His face suddenly changed, and his eyes showed a look of disbelief.
"Father, are they trying to plot against you? They want to..."
"Not bad, not bad," Lao Zhu smiled with satisfaction, not worried about the disaster at all.
Looking at Zhu Biao, he said approvingly: "You can figure it out for yourself, so you have not wasted all my hard work and so much talk. Yes, they are using your hand to plot against me. You are really a good minister of mine. .”
Lao Zhu's eyes were dark and the meaning was unclear. Fortunately, since Lao Zhu abolished Zhongshu Sheng and the prime minister, he has had too many experiences of fighting wits and courage with hundreds of officials. Lao Zhu is used to being plotted by officials. If it were just for Lao Zhu himself, he wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it. But these people dared to use Zhu Biao's hand to plot against him, which made Lao Zhu faintly angry.
It's like two strong men fighting. One side can't compete, but wants to attack the other side's family. No man would tolerate it, let alone Lao Zhu.
The corner of his mouth curled up, and Lao Zhu made a mental note to Baiguan.
Looking back at Zhu Biao who was deeply shocked, Lao Zhu explained in a friendly manner: "You know? From the moment you left the East Palace, the relief of Henan was no longer the matter of the officials. On the contrary, this matter Troublesome things fall on my head. If the relief effort is effective, that is what I should do. But if the relief effort is not effective and leads to a great famine, then it is my fault."
Got it, Zhu Biao understood everything.
From the moment he came to beg his father, the lives and deaths of millions of people in Henan were all tied to his father. If the father has money and food, then there is no problem, just allocate money and food for disaster relief. However, my father's money and food have been exhausted long ago, and now there is no money and food at all for disaster relief. If something goes wrong in Henan because of this, everyone will think that the father is unwilling to spend money and food for disaster relief. By then, I'm afraid the whole world will be scolded.
Those officials who came to the East Palace to plead for mercy simply had no good intentions, Zhu Biao thought angrily.
