The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 844 Emergency Relief

Xiao Xia stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the drizzling rain outside, his brows furrowed in worry. At this moment, his wife, Cui Yu, brought ginseng tea to the table, then slowly walked forward and said softly, "The downstream flood discharge has lowered water levels in various places, so what is my husband still worried about?"

Xiao Xia sighed and said, "What I'm worried about now is not the flood, but this year's summer wheat. I estimate that it will all be gone."

"There's nothing we can do about it. It's been raining for a month. This kind of natural disaster is beyond human control and cannot be stopped. So we can only try to remedy it."

Xiao Xia smiled bitterly. The continuous rain in the seven prefectures and one county of the Central Plains affected more than a million people. This was not a problem that could be solved by remedial measures.

Cui Yu then reminded her husband, "Natural disasters are unavoidable, but man-made disasters can be prevented. Husband, you must strengthen your patrols to prevent local powerful figures from colluding with officials to profit from the national crisis."

Xiao Xia nodded, "My wife's reminder is very timely. I will definitely pay attention."

...........
Throughout the Central Plains, Dragon King temples are constantly being set up for worship, with millions of farmers kneeling and begging the Dragon King not for rain, but to show mercy and stop his wrath.

Two days later, the rain that had been falling for a whole month finally stopped. The dark clouds dispersed, and the long-awaited sun finally appeared in the sky. The people on the land were overjoyed, and the long rainy season was finally over.

Xiao Xia immediately convened a meeting of the Political Affairs Hall to discuss disaster relief matters.

"There are two directions for this disaster relief. The first is the resettlement of more than 200,000 people at the downstream flood discharge point. The second is the problem of summer grain crop failure in various parts of the Central Plains. We will discuss them one by one."

Xiao Xia's gaze swept over the five prime ministers. Pei Ju, the Minister of Rites, had been paralyzed in his lower limbs due to a stroke and had retired to recuperate at home. In his place was Cui Hongzhou, the Crown Prince's tutor and the Empress's father. Cui Hongzhou was promoted to Minister of Rites and concurrently served as the Crown Prince's tutor and the Chancellor.

"The first priority is the resettlement of the people in the downstream flood discharge area. I am considering taking this opportunity to resettle these more than 200,000 people in the Liaoxi Peninsula, with each household receiving 100 mu of permanent farmland and being exempt from taxes for ten years."

The Liaoxi Peninsula that Xiao Xia mentioned is the Liaodong Peninsula of later times. At this time, the Liaodong Peninsula refers to the peninsula where Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje once lived.

In fact, due to years of war, the population of Hebei Province has decreased sharply, and all counties are in urgent need of people. However, the population of Hebei can increase spontaneously, but the population of Liaodong can only be increased by immigrants, especially the Liaodong Peninsula, which is almost a no-man's land. Therefore, we must seize every opportunity to immigrate. This Yellow River flood is an opportunity for immigration.

Liu Wenjing was the first to express his opinion: "Your Majesty's immigration plan is supported. We have lost Liaodong for hundreds of years. If we do not seize this opportunity to take back Liaodong completely, we will not be able to face our descendants."

Everyone agreed with the immigration plan. Xiao Xia said happily, "Then the first direction is decided: use immigration to solve the problem. Now let's talk about the second direction: disaster relief for the summer grain crop failure in the Central Plains."

Silence fell over the hall. In fact, the resettlement of the flood victims in the flood discharge area was not a big problem. It could be settled with some money and grain from the government, after all, the population was only over 200,000.

The real problem is disaster relief in the Central Plains region, which involves more than a million people in seven counties and one prefecture. A single summer crop failure can have lasting effects for several years. In particular, the Central Plains is unstable, and any mishandling could lead to major chaos.

At this moment, Cui Hongzhou, who had just taken office as prime minister, slowly said, "Let me say a few words!"

Xiao Xia nodded, "Please speak, Prime Minister Cui!"

Cui Hongzhou calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I believe the first priority is to ensure the people have enough to eat. We don't need refined rice or flour; as long as they have enough to eat, no one will rebel. We should build more 'equalization shops,' not only in the county towns but also in the villages. These shops should provide not only coarse grains at ten coins per dou, but also free wild pea flour and yam flour. Furthermore, I suggest that the coarse salt from the seven prefectures and one county be provided free of charge. Of course, these free grains and salt should not be used without limit; I suggest limiting each household to five dou per month." Fang Xuanling added, "Your Majesty, the Sui Dynasty is not short of grain. Our four major granaries still have tens of millions of shi of grain stored. However, I feel it is inappropriate to directly distribute grain to the people. I suggest using work-for-relief programs, such as road and water conservancy projects, to provide the people of the seven prefectures and one county with ways to earn money so they can buy grain and overcome the difficulties."

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "In reality, it is still borne by the imperial treasury!"

"That's right. When faced with such a natural disaster, the only way to cover it is through the government."

Xiao Xia then slowly said, "I agree with all the plans of my ministers, but I am more concerned about their implementation. I am worried that the various policies of the court will be distorted when they reach the local level, and will eventually become a means for powerful families to collude with local officials to harm the people. Therefore, I will not only send out censors, but also the Imperial Guards to conduct various investigations, both overt and covert. Once I find out that powerful families are colluding with local officials, then don't blame me for my ruthless methods."

After the meeting concluded, it was decided that Cui Hongzhou and Xiao Yu would serve as pacification envoys. Xiao Yu would go to Hebei Province to pacify the people in the flood-prone areas, while Cui Hongzhou would go to Henan Province to pacify the people in the Central Plains. At the same time, Wei Zheng would be responsible for formulating various relief plans.

Liu Wenjing and Fang Xuanling were kept behind by Xiao Xia, who asked, "How much will the financial burden be this time?"

Fang Xuanling said in a deep voice: "I have made a rough estimate, and the total amount will not be less than five million strings of cash."

"So many?" Xiao Xia was taken aback.

"Your Majesty, the main problem is that this summer's grain crop failure has affected too many people, at least a million, and the time span is long. If we calculate at an average of five strings of cash per person, wouldn't it cost five million strings of cash?"

Xiao Xia nodded silently, then said to Liu Wenjing, "Many details need to be considered carefully. For example, the fertility of farmland in various places that have been flooded will inevitably decline. At this time, the court must find a way, either to collect fertility or to encourage the planting of a crop of beans. These are things that I do not need to consider. The court needs to consider all kinds of details."

Liu Wenjing quickly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely make sure to ensure that the details are handled well."

Xiao Xia walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and said, "Last time, Japan sent troops to help Baekje. I waited for more than a year, but Japan did not come to apologize. Since they are so hostile to the Sui Dynasty, I will not swallow this insult. I have decided to declare war on Japan. Although Japan is lacking in other resources, they have a lot of gold and silver reserves, and they also have a lot of manpower, which can provide labor for me to expand overseas."

Liu Wenjing and Fang Xuanling exchanged glances, and they immediately understood the emperor's intention: to have Japan bear the financial burden of the disaster that had befallen the Sui Dynasty.

"Does Your Majesty still require the court to provide food and supplies?"

Xiao Xia shook his head. "No need. Our army has enough food and supplies. I'm just letting you know that I'm going to declare war on Japan."

After Liu Wenjing and Fang Xuanling took their leave, Xiao Xia sent someone to summon Shi Xiaozhen, the commander of the Inner Guard, and said to him, "The disaster in the seven prefectures and one county in the Central Plains is severe. The court is going to carry out comprehensive disaster relief. However, I am worried that some people in the localities will take advantage of the national crisis to make a fortune. I have ordered the Inner Guard to set up branches in the seven prefectures to conduct open and covert investigations. At the same time, copper boxes should be opened in each prefecture to accept reports and complaints from the people."

Shi Xiaozhen quickly clasped his hands and said, "Your humble servant obeys!"

After arranging the inner guards, Xiao Xia sat down at the imperial desk, picked up a pen and wrote a warrant, handing it to Chu Suiliang and saying, "Send this warrant to General Luo Shixin via hawk-carrying messenger!"

(End of this chapter)