"Meiniang, please don't let me down."
After Li Shimin answered the question, Wu Meiniang didn't know how to answer the question.
After all, he knew very well that if it hadn't been for Li Shimin over the years, he would have been killed long ago.
But she also understood in her heart that Li Shimin was still a little wary of herself.
Otherwise, after staying in the palace for so many years, I would not have stayed in the position of Wu Cairen.
If it were anyone else, they would have already reached the concubine position after receiving so much favor from His Majesty.
"Your Majesty, Mei Niang told you when I was with you that I would never betray you no matter what."
"Now I can also tell you that no matter what happens in the future, Mei Niang will always be by your side."
After Li Ke read out the imperial edict, it was finally his chance.
Fang Xuanling looked at Li Ke sitting in the high position and had mixed feelings for a while.
Over the years, I have been advising His Majesty openly and secretly.
As long as Wu Meiniang is executed, such a thing will not happen at all. Now that I think about it, it is probably because His Majesty's heart is too soft.
"Your Majesty, locusts are raging in the south, food production has been severely reduced, and many victims have flocked to the imperial city."
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is urgent to deal with the victims now."
"Your Majesty, if we don't find a way quickly, the victims will flood into the Imperial City, which will plunge the Imperial City into chaos."
"..."
Li Ke, who was sitting in a high position, heard the officials below saying such words and just glanced at them coldly.
I know exactly how much food these officials have in their homes.
The most important thing now is to get these officials to willingly use all the stored grain to relieve the victims.
"I already know what you are talking about, but now the treasury is empty."
"Whether we can help these victims survive the crisis this time depends entirely on you."
Those officials who usually like to take corruption and bribery, after hearing this, now want to stuff their heads into the ground.
After all, they had worked hard for half their lives to get those things.
If they spit out all those things now, it would be tantamount to killing them.
"I have already thought about it. In order to survive this crisis, all officials will first take out 10,000 dan of food from their own homes."
"But you can rest assured that after we get through this locust plague crisis, I will return all the food I borrowed from you."
Those officials who were greedy for money and stingy stopped working after hearing this.
It took them two months of hard work to get those 10,000 shi of food.
If we just hand over the food like this, it will be like cutting flesh off their bodies.
"Your Majesty, there are so many people in my family who need food, and we really don't have that much food in store."
Li Ke, who was originally thinking about who to operate first, curled his lips when he saw the official who spoke first, and then slowly spoke.
"Since Mr. Zhang has said so, I will first let the Royal Forest Army go to your mansion to take a look."
After hearing this, Mr. Zhang, who was not prepared at all, felt cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
On weekdays, I like to see the food piled high.
Now, if the Royal Forest Army goes to search, they will definitely take out all the food stored in their house.
When he thought that he had just committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, Mr. Zhang immediately knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, I just thought more about the people in my family. Now I think there is still some food in the house."
"I will go back and talk to the people at home. When the time comes, let them live frugally and waste less, and they will be able to survive this locust plague."
After Li Ke heard what Mr. Zhang said, he nodded with satisfaction, and then glanced at the other ministers standing below.
The other ministers who were unprepared naturally did not dare to say anything at this moment.
After all, if they dare to speak now, their home will probably be searched next by the Royal Forest Army.
"Since you have nothing to say, please hurry up and hand over ten thousand shi of food tomorrow. If you can't hand it over tomorrow, let's talk about it."
The ministers below were trembling after hearing this.
They finally managed to collect some things, but now they have to hand them over for this locust plague.
Fang Xuanling, who had been standing there, was in a daze for a moment after seeing such iron-blooded methods.
After all, the last time I saw such a method was when I was following His Majesty to conquer the world.
It seems that I am quite opposed to Li Ke taking this position.
Now it seems that among these princes, only Li Ke can secure this position.
Li Ke was the first person who was able to suppress these ministers as soon as they came up.
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial."
Fang Xuanling, who originally wanted to suppress this matter, now had no worries.
After all, I have seen Li Ke's iron-blooded methods. As long as Li Ke is informed of this matter, Li Ke will definitely be able to handle the matter in a very appropriate way.
"Master Fang, if you have anything to say, please tell me directly."
After Fang Xuanling heard this, he naturally spoke without any scruples.
"The old minister wants to sue the Jiangnan governor."
"After the locust plague occurred, the governor of Jiangnan did not find the best solution immediately. Instead, he released all the victims from Jiangnan."
"And before the Jiangnan victims arrived at the imperial city, the Jiangnan governor never informed the superiors about this matter."
"It wasn't until he saw that the matter could no longer be concealed that he hurriedly handed over a memorial of apology."
"This matter has nothing to do with the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance."
"Because it was the Minister of Hubu who gave advice to the governor of Jiangnan at that time."
Standing nearby, Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance, who originally wanted to take a look at the excitement, never expected that Fang Xuanling would actually put this first fire on himself after the new emperor took office.
"Your Majesty, the old minister is very unjust. What Mr. Fang is saying now is completely slandering the old minister. In order to prove his innocence, the old minister is willing to die to prove his innocence."
