wealthy queen

The six palaces were abolished, the maids and mothers were expelled, and the emperor and empress made big moves one after another when they came back. All the civil and military officials complained. Because Pei Yuanlie ruthlessly forced Zhao Xian, the Minister of Rites, to return to his hometown when he was merciless in the court, And immediately arranged a new minister of the Ministry of Rites, and also placed many brought back Qin people in the sixth department, and the officials did not dare to act rashly for a while.

The only ones who were more anxious were those who were given marriages. Among them, Zuo Xiang Lu Shuren was the most annoyed, because the emperor set a trap when he made the decree, which made him unable to argue. The other three families all blamed him. He did not expect What kind of method should be hit, the emperor withdraws the imperial decree of giving marriage, and when the friendship with the three families is restored, another thing that he can't even imagine is quietly happening.

In the early morning court, the emperor and the empress still came together. Seeing the two sitting side by side on the dragon chair, all the officials could do nothing. They entered the Six Departments, obviously to cultivate them. If they acted rashly, they might follow in Zhao Xian's footsteps and make room for them.

None of the officials who can discuss politics in the Golden Temple is an idiot, and they all see it very clearly.

"Your Majesty Qizuo, it's cold and cold this winter. Yesterday, I received memorials from several counties that there are frozen bones on the road. The first batch of disaster relief money has been exhausted. Do you want to start the second batch?"

Seeing that no one said anything more about the queen, Lan Yunchan stepped out and bowed to play.

"If I remember correctly, the first batch of disaster relief money was a million taels of silver. If it's exhausted, will someone freeze to death?"

Pei Yuanlie frowned almost unknowingly. Xia Guo has indeed developed very well in the past few years, but the attack on Qin by the dead Chu has exhausted the national strength, and coupled with the subsequent tenacious resistance to Xia Guo's attack, what they took over is equal to It is an empty shell riddled with holes, and the people are miserable. In order to subdue the hearts of the people in Chu and help them tide over the difficulties, not only the first year's tax was reduced, but almost the entire treasury was invested in it. It took them two or three years to slowly recover, but the life of the people has not yet reached the point where everyone has enough food and clothing. Many families are too tired and have no good land or are lazy. Starvation and freezing are also inevitable results.

Therefore, before the winter, he had already asked the boss to allocate a million taels of silver for disaster relief, not to mention that everyone would have enough food and clothing, at least to ensure that no one would freeze to death, but this matter was obviously not implemented in place.

"The disaster relief money is distributed by the Ministry of Household Affairs, and I don't know how it is distributed."

Lan Yunchan is not shirking responsibility, the responsibility of the prime minister is to assist the emperor in handling government affairs, and the implementation of policies is a matter of the six departments.

"Where is the Minister of the Household?"

"Chen is here!"

Cui Zhenguo, Minister of the Household Department, bowed and went out: "My Majesty, the Household Department has detailed records about the whereabouts of the disaster relief money. I will go to the Yamen to fetch it later, and Your Majesty will know it at a glance."

"Before Sishi, I must see the account book."

"Yes."

As it was about disaster relief money, Cui Zhenguo didn't dare to hesitate, if he didn't get it right, not to mention him as a minister, even the prime minister and prince would not be able to survive.

"The second batch of disaster relief money is intended to be used in the coming year to help the severely affected people purchase food seeds. It cannot be distributed at this time. Do you have other solutions to solve the problem of people freezing to death?"

Looking away, Pei Yuanlie said in a condensed voice, now that the treasury has to support Qin Nancheng's battle, it is impossible to have extra money to distribute unlimited relief.

Yesterday morning, all the more active officials were dumbfounded. How could they solve a problem that even the emperor couldn't solve?When a disaster strikes, the imperial court usually allocates money to relieve the disaster. How can there be any other way?

"Lan Xiang, who are the people who froze to death?"

Shen Liang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly opened his mouth slowly and named Lan Yunchan's name. The latter did not dare to neglect, and bowed back: "Go back to your mother, no matter how difficult it is for people with families and houses, they will not be frozen." According to the memorial of the county government, those who freeze to death are basically beggars.”

A beggar has no home. If you are lucky, you may hide in some ruined temple or house. If you are unlucky, you can only sleep under the eaves of the street. In such a cold day, it would be strange not to freeze to death.

"Um……"

Nodding his head, Shen Liang pondered for a while. Without exception, all civil and military officials were looking at him, some were looking forward to it, and some were waiting to see his jokes. They didn't think he could come up with anything without spending money. effective way.

"From now on, I will be called the Queen as the Lord."

When Shen Liang was thinking, Pei Yuanlie asked so.

"Your Majesty can't, the lord means the lord. Even if the empress is the lord of the harem, she is still a subject in front of you. How can she use the title of king to keep pace with you?"

"The minister waits for the second opinion!"

Lu Shuren jumped out again. Except for Lan Yunchan, Jing Xiran and others, the rest of the courtiers all bowed and seconded. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. How can a country have two monarchs?He loves the empress and pampers him to heaven, they have no power to control him anymore, but the rules and ethics must not be messed up.

"You are very active at this time, I don't mind, when is it your turn to mind?"

Pei Yuanlie taunted unceremoniously, everyone was as quiet as quails in business, they were very active in such insignificant matters, besides, his Liangliang was originally the master, why couldn't he sit on an equal footing with him?

"Your Majesty, my minister..."

Being ridiculed by the emperor in public, all the officials wanted to look ugly, and Lu Shuren wanted to say something, but Shen Liang pulled Pei Yuanlie, and after his attention turned, he said in a concentrated voice: "Your Majesty, you See if this is possible, you can order the county governments to search for abandoned houses or set up camps, gather all the beggars who sleep on the street, and mobilize them to take turns to chop firewood in the mountains to keep warm, and the county government will provide a meal of gruel every day And enough hot water, if they can find wild vegetables and game in the mountains, they can also be provided by the county government with cooking tools for cooking. They should all be able to afford it, and there is no need for the court to distribute additional relief money."

This winter is coming to an end, and without the support of money, the methods that can be thought of are very limited, but if their purpose is only to prevent people from freezing to death, this is enough.

"Hmm... It's best to have yamen servants to accompany them up the mountain. They are responsible for chopping firewood and looking for wild vegetables. The yamen servants can look around for game and protect them by the way."

Pei Yuanlie affirmed his proposal after thinking about it for a while. As far as their current situation is concerned, this is undoubtedly the best way.

"Your Majesty put it lightly. Most of those beggars are old people, children and disabled people. There are very few who are truly able to work. Even if there are, they can squeeze into ruined temples and other places. How can it be possible to sleep on the street? Mobilize them to go by themselves Didn’t you let them go to die for chopping firewood on the mountain? At the same time, this move will also increase the burden on the county government and drag down the normal operation of the county government.”

While the officials were still discussing, Lu Shuren had already refuted it.

"I agree with you. What Lu Xiang said is very true. There is one more thing that the empress seems to have overlooked. There are countless people affected by the disaster. Beggars are only the most serious of them. The empress is very kind. I am afraid that some people will not be grateful and sneak into the government. In this way, the number of disaster relief groups formed must be beyond imagination, and even if the county government only donates a gruel, it may be difficult to support it."

Another minister stepped forward, and his concerns were not inappropriate, and the voices of the officials became louder. Shen Liang's proposal was very good, but it was not so easy to implement.

"Lu Xiang, who told you that the elderly, children and the disabled are incapable of working? Do you think that the palace will let them mobilize them to take turns to cut firewood, just for that little firewood? You don't have to burn firewood to keep warm , wrapped in a thick padded jacket, how to make them move is also one of the most effective methods. The elderly are inconvenient to move. The county government can dispatch a horse-drawn cart to pull them to the bottom of the mountain to pick up dead wood, and then wait for the labor force to go down the mountain and move them to the cart to pull them back. If it is still early, you can also encourage them to walk back. In this way, not only will they pick up firewood to keep out the cold at night, but they will be warm and alive all day during the day, and the children, as long as they are not babies, teach them to add firewood to make a fire. It shouldn’t be a problem to keep the hot water running, right? The same is true for people with disabilities. As long as they are not completely disabled and can’t even move their heads, they can always find something they can do. The role of the county government is not to act as their protective umbrella, but to Know how to use people well, and use their weak power to the extreme. As for what Lu Xiang said is dragging down the normal operation of the county government, I am even more puzzled. Why is the county government operating? In such a cold winter, the county officials have How many things are there to do? Wouldn’t it be a drag on them to let them doze off in a room burning with silver charcoal every day? Then what’s the use of raising them in Xia Guo?”

In the end, Shen Liang can't be said to be harsh. He can understand that he doesn't like him as a queen, but as the prime minister of a country, it's wrong for him to bring his personal emotions into major national affairs. How can people's affairs be so trifling?

"What the empress said is reasonable, but how can the empress ensure that everything can be implemented, as beautiful as the empress described?"

Obviously he didn't expect him to refute and ridicule him in public, Lu Shuren's face changed slightly, but he quickly refuted back calmly, Shen Liang curled his lips and raised a sneer: "Mr. Lu, I really doubt how you Take a firm position. First of all, it is not only one county that is involved in this matter. There is no harm if there is no comparison. When all counties across the country are operating at the same time, whoever fails to do it shows that his ability is insufficient. Which county do you think? Officials dare to be careless? Furthermore, His Majesty’s decree can also be added. Those county officials who have done particularly well can be promoted to Beijing in the coming year. Water flows to low places, and people go to high places, even if it’s just for their own future. , and they will work hard.”

Shen Liang's voice was not loud, but every word he said was heard clearly in the ears of every official in the hall. At this point, many officials couldn't help thinking secretly, the queen is really a monster with only beauty ?How could a person with only good looks have such a sharp tongue?

"..."

Lu Shuren was speechless by what he said, and couldn't find anything to refute for a while, and Shen Liang ignored him, and turned to another minister who raised objections: "If I remember correctly, you should It’s Hong Shangshu from the Ministry of Officials. You’re right. There is indeed a possibility of fishing in troubled waters, but it’s not a beggar who sleeps on the street all year round. You can tell at a glance. As long as the county government officials and government officials are not blind, they should be able to tell the difference. The county government paid for this matter, not the imperial court, do you think they might blindly collect money from the common people who fish in troubled waters? Even if other beggars come to hear the news, as long as they are willing to join in the labor, why not?"

In a word, for the sake of political achievements and life, it is impossible for local officials not to be dedicated.

"Your Majesty's words are very true, it's the old minister who is stupid."

Seeing this, Hong Shangshu didn't dare to quibble, and bowed respectfully. Wouldn't he be able to blame Lu Xiang if he didn't see Lu Xiang's sophistry?If they still can't see the queen's ability by this time, they really have lived in vain for so many years.