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Being interrupted by Queen Zhou, Hu Guang stopped thinking about troubles for the time being. But when he got up early the next morning, he immediately called a meeting with relevant ministers.

In the Wenhua Hall, Hu Guanggao was sitting on the throne. Below, a group of ministers wearing scarlet robes, including cabinet ministers, six ministers, and eunuch Bingbi, the chief ceremonial officer, were arranged on both sides. This was considered a high-level formal meeting.

Hu Guang saw that it was almost done, then said with a serious face: "This is the first day of the new year, so I have summoned you all. There is really something that makes it difficult for me to sleep and eat well. If you have any good suggestions, please tell me. "

If it were the past, the first day of the Lunar New Year would be a day for resting, and the New Year's Eve would be a day for people to stay up late, so they would still be sleeping at this time. However, the emperor had already decreed that the New Year would not be held this year, and he pointed out the seriousness of the matter discussed as soon as he opened his mouth, so that the ministers had to brace themselves to deal with it.

However, they were also a little surprised. The Jianlu had already retreated. What else could happen at this time to the point where it would make the emperor sleepless and uneasy?

So, Wen Tiren, the chief assistant, as the head of the hundred officials, stepped out of the line, bowed and asked for instructions: "It is a sin for the ministers and ministers to have trouble sleeping and eating. Your Majesty, please inform me that the ministers will do their best!"

"I will do my best!" All the other ministers followed suit.

Hu Guang nodded and said seriously: "You should know that there is a serious shortage of food in the capital. Yesterday, we got a secret report from Jin Yiwei, saying that the provinces surrounding the capital are also seriously short of food. The reason is probably that around October last year, someone It is caused by the wanton purchase of grain. Now the whereabouts of the grain are unknown, and this will seriously affect the capital and the court's disaster relief. If you have any good ideas, please report them!"

When these ministers first heard this, they were a little disapproving. After all, the food issue had been discussed before and a conclusion had been drawn.

But when they heard that neighboring provinces were also severely short of food, they immediately realized the seriousness of the matter.

Wen Tiren's face also became serious. After Hu Guang finished speaking, he immediately said: "Your Majesty, this matter is not trivial. I believe that the previous shipment of grain must be taken seriously. The Imperial Procuratorate can send censors to each province to specially supervise the matter. This matter!"

This matter was serious enough to affect everyone present, so no one stayed out of it and spoke up. The new assistant minister Zhang Zhifa immediately followed and said: "I would like to go to Hu Guang area to supervise the food and grass matters!"

The ministers of the cabinet went there in person, which showed that the court took this matter very seriously.

Another assistant minister, Xue Guoguan, was even more radical. He immediately shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, the grain merchants are so abominable. They took advantage of the raging rule of the Jianlu to purchase grains and hoard strange houses. I believe that they should be severely investigated and punished!"

After a pause, he came up with an even more astonishing point of view: "I believe that the capital's food control policy can be implemented throughout the world. In this way, those profiteers will not be able to profit, and such things will never happen again!"

In later generations, when food was scarce, there was indeed a time when a nationwide food rationing system was implemented. However, at that time, the state's control over local areas reached an unprecedented height, so there was a basis for implementation.

Now in the Ming Dynasty, the government's tentacles only reached the county level. It is probably impossible to achieve food control throughout the Ming Empire. Hu Guang knew this, but the former Emperor Chongzhen might not have known it.

Therefore, when he was about to veto it after hearing this, he saw his assistant minister Zhou Yanru and Hubu Shangshu Bi Ziyan taking the lead and both came out to object and said no.

Among them, Zhou Yanru even attacked Xue Guoguan and said: "Xue Dazui, where do you want to be? You dare to say such ridiculous things. Do you want to cause chaos in the world?"

"Absurd, why is the world in chaos?" Xue Guoguan immediately retorted loudly, "Go out for a walk and see the food control in the capital. Isn't it very good?"

At this point, he suddenly raised his voice and continued to argue in front of the emperor: "Do you know that since the Tianqi period, food in Shaanxi has become increasingly scarce, and how many people have starved to death? Do you know that there are thieves everywhere because if you don't become a thief, you have to You'll starve to death! Nowadays, regardless of Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, and Shanxi are also suffering from constant drought, and it is very likely that the disaster in Shaanxi will happen again. Do you know?"

The seriousness of the matter was indeed beyond Zhou Yanru's knowledge, but he didn't believe it and immediately sneered: "Alarmist!"

When Xue Guoguan heard that he was furious, he wanted to step forward and punch him. Fortunately, there happened to be a Minister of the Ministry of Finance standing between the two of them. As soon as Bi Ziyan stopped, several other ministers came over to persuade him, and the emperor was in a bit of chaos for a while.

Hu Guang watched them go from arguing to taking action, but he wasn't angry at all. He was just afraid that all the ministers below him would be as silent as clay Bodhisattvas.

The first assistant, Wen Tiren, was the first to reprimand: "What are you two doing? Do you read the books of sages in vain? This is the imperial court, and matters are discussed. Who wants to try it again?"

Zhou Yanru was dissatisfied and immediately replied: "It's Xue Dazui who wants to take action!"

"You are a thief. You don't care about the suffering of the people. You only talk nonsense in the court. You deserve to be beaten!" Xue Guoguan did his duty and immediately refuted.

It seemed that Wen Tiren's prestige was not enough to overwhelm them, so Hu Guang had no choice but to speak and shouted loudly: "That's enough!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, no one dared to say anything more, and they all bowed down to listen to the holy message.

Hu Guang waited for a while and then said slowly: "It is not feasible to implement food control nationwide for the time being, but as Xue Qing said, the drought in the northwest will be extended and will last for many years. This matter must not be taken lightly. ."

After a pause, he glanced at Zhou Yanru, and then continued: "I feel that we must pay enough attention to the current food problem, so according to Zhang Qing's words, I sent important officials from the court to Huguang to supervise the matter."

At this point, he named Zhou Yanru and said: "Zhou Qing, you are from the south and are familiar with the situation there. I need you to set off immediately to go to Huguang to supervise the food matter. Remember, first, we must ask the local government to collect food and transport it northward as soon as possible. ; Second, we must not damage the foundation of the place. We must not cause local food shortages and starvation to death, leading to civil unrest. Do you know the appropriateness?"

"I obey the order!" Zhou Yanru was named and had no choice but to accept the order.

Hu Guang turned to look at the silent Supervisor of Ceremonies, and said to Cao Huachun, the eunuch Bingbi and the governor of the East Factory: "The Jinyiwei side is short of manpower, and the East Factory also sent people to check to see who dared to ignore The people live and die, hoarding food for Qiju to make huge profits!"

"My slave, I obey!" Cao Huachun agreed immediately.

After Hu Guang gave these instructions, he remembered something and turned to his first assistant, Wen Tiren, and said: "No matter how the south-to-north grain diversion happens, it will ultimately be from one place in the Ming Dynasty to another. In the next twenty years, there will definitely not be enough food. Therefore, I previously asked Honglu Temple to send people to inform the Nanyang countries that they must pay more attention to the matter of paying tribute to food. Wen Qing, this matter will be followed up by the cabinet, and the Nanyang countries must be informed. Try to pay tribute as much food as possible to alleviate the worry of food shortage in the Ming Dynasty!"

There's still time in the afternoon, so let's go have dinner first.