"Xiao Qiu, I want to know how much grain reserves there are in Chenzhou now?"
In fact, Xiao Qiu had already choked up when he mentioned the emotional part. After hearing the emperor's question, Xiao Qiu said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the harvest in Chenzhou has not been very good in the past few years. In addition, the drought started in June this year. , Chenzhou’s grain inventory has bottomed out! In less than five days, there will be no grain in the entire Chenzhou area!”
The empress rubbed her temples with both hands. Su Xuan listened with sympathy and regret. Compared with the death of a minister of household affairs, such a mess is the time that needs to be dealt with the most.
"I seem to remember that Su Jin, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, came to report the month before and asked me for six thousand shi of grain. I transferred eight thousand from the Guangshu Division. Why is it already gone in just one month?"
Hearing the number eight thousand, Xiao Qiu's eyebrows obviously twitched, and Su Xuan caught it keenly. Xiao Qiu's stammering look after that made Su Xuan even more suspicious of whether there was something fishy about it. After all, one night with Mo Youzhu Through chatting, one can truly understand the sufferings of the people.
"Reporting to Your Majesty...Wei Chenzhou...Although Chenzhou is not large in area, there are many farmers and many people affected by the disaster. The 8,000 shi of food has been consumed in less than a month, and we have also borrowed many from neighboring areas. Food! Up to now, our Chenzhou City has been without food for half a month, and the bark of the trees in Chenzhou has been eaten up by the people affected by the disaster! "
Su Xuan had never experienced famine and had no idea of the impact of such a disaster. However, in a huge Chenzhou, everyone began to chew tree bark. A Chenzhou with the position of Minister of Household Affairs must have millions of people. It is unimaginable what a human disaster it would be for millions of people to go hungry at the same time.
"Qu Xiangyang!"
"Wei Chen is here!"
A civil servant walked out of the group and was standing behind Su Xuan just now.
"Qu Xiangyang, as the Sicheng of the Guangzhou Prefecture Department, do you know exactly how much grain is left in the Guangzhou Prefecture Department and the national grain depot?"
"It's the autumn harvest season now, and some provinces with big tax revenue haven't paid this year's taxes yet. There is still about 200,000 shi of food in the national treasury!"
"Probably? What do you, a Guangzhou Sicheng, do for a living? I want a clear number!"
Qu Xiangyang was sweating on his forehead. He obviously didn't know that it would be his turn to be singled out this morning. It was really unlucky. Fortunately, he had checked various warehouses and accounts in the palace last night and made some preparations in advance.
"Reporting to your majesty, there are still 193,000 shi of food in the treasury!"
"One hundred and ninety-three thousand stones..." The empress lowered her eyebrows, thinking about how much she should take out.
Su Xuan heard that there was something wrong with this number. In the past, the national treasury had already collected taxes from various places at this time. Not to mention tens of millions of dan of food, there would definitely be no problem if it exceeded one million, but this year is approaching the Mid-Autumn Festival. Basically, except for the northern areas, all kinds of crops in the south have matured and the harvest season has already arrived. There is still less than 200,000 shi of food.
But the empress seemed to have no idea about the food in the treasury. Qu Xiangyang in the audience was mentally preparing how to respond to the emperor's questioning. However, the empress did not say a word. Instead, she turned to Xiao Qiu and asked: "Xiao Qiu, Tell me! How much food does Chenzhou need to get through this crisis? I want a real number!"
Xiao Qiu swallowed his throat, but now he was not as angry and passionate as before. He looked around. Su Xuan knew from Mo Youzhu's mouth that very few of these relief grains reached the hands of the people. Su Xuan still remembers Mo Youzhu's words.
"There's not even a single millet husk left in the rice soup..."
Su Xuan held his fist tightly. He knew that the Minister of the Ministry of Finance who died last night was a corrupt official. I am afraid that the reports and newspapers he brought over yesterday also contained many elements of fraud. When Su Xuan saw Xiao Qiu's hesitant look, I have already made up my mind that this is another corrupt official who is in the same trap as Su Jincai, the former Minister of Household Affairs.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Chenzhou's relief food this time only requires 20,000 dan!"
"Twenty thousand shi? Are you sure? Xiao Qiu, I will give you another chance. Eight thousand shi of food. The entire Chenzhou of 960,000 people, a population of nearly one million, has not had food for a month. Now you are talking about 20,000 shi. Can Chenzhou get through this difficult period? Xiao Qiu, are you from the Ministry of Household Affairs? Do you know that winter is coming soon!"
Xiao Qiu was so frightened by the empress' questioning that she knelt on the ground.
"I'm telling you, your majesty, I'm not lying! Previously, the eight thousand shi of grain were indeed consumed in less than a month, but this time Chenzhou only needs your majesty to transfer 20,000 shi of grain from the treasury to get through this most difficult period. As long as If we can slightly reduce Chenzhou’s taxes in the future, Chenzhou will definitely be able to survive smoothly!”
The empress rubbed the acupuncture point between her eyebrows, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and said: "Since Xiao Qiu said it was twenty thousand stones, then twenty thousand stones! Qu Xiangyang!"
"Wei Chen is here!"
"Transfer 20,000 shi of grain from the treasury to Chenzhou! It must be delivered to Chenzhou today."
"Your Majesty...this..." Guangzhou Si Cheng Qu Xiangyang looked troubled. The empress's face had just improved, but when she saw the other party's expression as if she had eaten shit, she felt a little unhappy inside.
"What? The national treasury has nearly 200,000 shi of food, but now you can't even get 20,000 shi?"
Qu Xiangyang's face looked unnatural. Su Xuan was observing carefully while the former hesitated.
"Your Majesty... it's not that we can't give you 20,000 stones, but the border is also in a hurry now. In addition to Chenzhou, there are many people affected by the disaster. We must leave enough surplus food to face the winter. There are still ordinary periods. The northern region of the Winter Dynasty , Beimang has always had many conflicts with our country's border, just because of food issues, so..."
The empress asked with a straight face: "Qu Xiangyang! Let me ask you now, do you, Sicheng of Guangzhou Province, not understand what you are doing? You have not reported to me the taxes from various places before the Mid-Autumn Festival. The national treasury is still relatively rich, and it has not yet been Counting the taxes that have not been paid by various places, you are tightening your pockets to do things for me, so what? Don’t you think that the nearly one million people in Chenzhou are not my subjects?"
Qu Xiangyang now also knew that what he said before and after was not true. Knowing that he was exposed, he quickly explained: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will deliver 20,000 shi of grain to Chenzhou today!"
The empress relaxed when she saw Qu Xiangyang and stood up herself.
"Is there anything else, dear sir? If you have nothing to do, please leave the court!" The empress stood up and left without waiting. All the civil and military officials kowtowed.
