What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 353 The Empress actually issued the Decree of Grace!

Leng Liuxi almost thought she had misheard.

A fire dragon descended from the sky, burning nothing but the seventeen granaries of the three prefectures.

Do you think I'm an idiot?

After reading the urgent memorial submitted by the Imperial Guards, the Empress's pretty face turned from white to green, and then from green to black.

In the blink of an eye, his face had turned as black as if covered in frost!
An even more terrifying killing intent than that that had previously intimidated Zheng Fang instantly spread to every corner of the Lizheng Hall!
He dismissed the Imperial Guards and the officials in charge of remonstrance.

Leng Liuxi took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. She snorted and flicked her sleeve, sending the memorial flying towards Xiao Yuan like a blade!
Xiao Yuan took the memorial and read it, his face darkened, and he couldn't utter a single word!

The Changping Granaries of Tiannan Road were concentrated in several prefectures and counties.

The largest number of these were located in Yiling County, distributed across the three prefectures, totaling twenty.

Based on 20,000 shi per granary, the total reserve of 400,000 shi is enough to account for half of the emergency grain reserves of Tiannan Road!

The imperial court has just issued an order to Yiling County to open all the granaries in Yiling County, distribute porridge to relieve the people, and transport the stored grain to various places for disaster relief.

As a result, officials from Yiling County told the imperial court that a fire dragon suddenly appeared in the sky, dancing above the granaries and burning down almost all of them.
Do the officials of Yiling County think that the emperor and the Grand Secretaries of the court are fools? Do they think the court would believe their nonsense?
If the imperial court accepts the statement made by the officials of Yiling County.

Wouldn't that be admitting that the earth-shattering event in Tiannan Road was truly a warning and punishment from Heaven to the current sage?

Otherwise, why didn't the fire dragon burn other things, but only the disaster relief food?

The other senior officials, after reading the memorial, were also at a loss for words.

Such an absurd and outrageous claim, who would believe it?

It's easy to imagine how furious the Empress is right now!
This time, a lot of people are going to die!

Suppressing her anger, Leng Liuxi took a deep breath and looked coldly at Xiao Yuan: "Prime Minister Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao Yuan said in a deep voice without hesitation, "Such an absurd thing cannot be believed!"

"It must be the officials of the three prefectures of Yiling County who embezzled the grain stored in the Ever-Normal Granary and were completely corrupt. Now that the court has ordered the granaries to be opened to relieve the people, those corrupt officials have nowhere to hide, so they have fabricated such an absurd story to deceive the court!"

Yang Ji, who had been mostly silent, suddenly asked with a question: "The story of the fire dragon burning the granary is so absurd that its truth can be easily discerned at a glance. Why would the officials of the three prefectures dare to fabricate such a story?"

Yuan Xingdao said coldly, "Because there is no other way to cover this up!"

"Hundreds of thousands of bushels of rice were embezzled, and there was simply no time to transfer rice from elsewhere to deal with the imperial court's inspection."

"Once the granaries are opened, the rice will disappear, which will surely enrage the court. The officials involved will not be able to save their lives."

He paused slightly, his tone growing even more sinister: "Fabricating the story of a fire dragon falling from the sky is clearly an attempt to blame this on divine punishment and try to get away with it!"

"They figured that since the crime wouldn't be punished because of the large number of people involved, the imperial court wouldn't dare to investigate the matter thoroughly at this time!"

As a senior official and important minister of the imperial court.

Although everyone has their own interests, they are constantly engaged in open and covert struggles.

But they also understood that their power came from the Great Wu, and they did not want to see the Great Wu decline!

Yuan Xingdao was indeed extremely angry!
Most importantly, if the imperial court reluctantly approves of this, the Imperial Observatory will almost certainly have to take the blame!

Such divine punishment! A fire dragon burns down the granary.

Why did the Imperial Observatory, responsible for observing celestial phenomena, show no signs whatsoever?

Was it the dereliction of duty by the star officials of the Imperial Observatory, or their incompetence, that made them unable to communicate with Heaven and convey its will?

Leng Liuxi's sharp gaze fell on Wang Hao: "What do you think, Vice Minister Wang?"

The other cabinet ministers' eyes immediately turned to Wang Hao.

Wang Hao served as the second-in-command and also as the Minister of Revenue.

Ultimately, the Ever-Normal Granary was directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue.

Now that this incident has occurred, no matter what, Wang Hao cannot escape blame; at the very least, he cannot escape the label of lax supervision!
Wang Hao felt a bitter taste in his mouth, but he still said in a deep voice, "I believe that this matter must be thoroughly investigated and all officials involved must be severely punished!"

He exhaled, his expression grave: "However, the Ever-Normal Granary is crucial to the stability of the Great Wu. If the Ever-Normal Granary in Yiling County is in such a state, then the Ever-Normal Granaries in other places are probably not much better!"

"If we launch a large-scale, thorough investigation, I fear it might cause even bigger problems!"

At this point, he no longer cared about the trouble that would result from lifting the lid.

Without hesitation, the Empress coldly pressed on, "Then how should we investigate and punish them?"

Wang Hao thought for a moment and said, "I believe that we should keep this matter a secret to avoid causing panic and shock throughout the country."

"A special imperial envoy was dispatched to Tiannan Circuit to oversee disaster relief efforts and secretly investigate the matter."

"Once the situation stabilizes, all those involved will be arrested and brought to justice. At the same time, a public announcement will be made to the world, and an imperial censor will be dispatched to inspect the granaries throughout the country."

Upon hearing this, the other senior officials also felt that Wang Hao's suggestion was a prudent approach.

There are numerous grain reserves throughout the country. If these reserves were forcibly opened, the consequences would be extremely serious.

It would be better to use the heads of the officials of the three prefectures to intimidate local officials and give them time to replenish their grain reserves, thus minimizing the impact.

If there are still any stubborn and unyielding individuals, the imperial censors will investigate and punish them severely if they are found.

Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "What Vice Minister Wang said is good!"

"However, I believe that after obtaining concrete evidence, before arresting the officials involved, Qiu Huai should be recalled to the capital, just in case!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became awe-inspiring.

The military governors of the various circuits of Dawu were established by Emperor Wu Taizu in the early years of his reign, when there was much unrest in the local areas.

They also shouldered the heavy responsibility of resisting invasions by foreign tribes and enemy countries.

In this way, the military governor needed to wield immense power in order to be flexible, quell rebellions more quickly, and resist foreign invasions.

Therefore, the financial, military, and personnel powers of each region were all in the hands of the military governors.

Its true power was even greater than that of the feudal lords; for one thing, the number of troops under its command far exceeded that of the feudal lords!

For example, Qiu Huai, the military governor of Tiannan Road, commanded a massive army of 80,000.

Officials in various parts of Tiannan Circuit were basically nominated and recommended by Qiu Huai, and then appointed by the imperial court.

This was still considered as Qiu Huai giving face to the imperial court.

Some of the more arrogant and domineering military governors would directly appoint officials before submitting the list to the court, merely informing the emperor.

The imperial court also knew that after decades of development, the military governors had become too powerful to control.

The imperial court's two taxes yielded extremely low revenue, which was a source of financial relief.

The military governor played a significant role.

During the reign of Emperor Taizong, the problems caused by the military governors had already begun to emerge. Although Taizong wanted to reduce the power of the military governors, he had many concerns and found it difficult to implement.

Leng Liuxi pondered for a moment, then looked at Xiao Yuan with her phoenix eyes half-closed: "Summon Qiu Huai to the capital?"

Xiao Yuan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty!"

"The military governor has become a major problem; it cannot be left unchecked!"

"We should take advantage of this earthquake in Tiannan Road to summon Qiu Huai to the capital to inquire about the disaster situation, and then bring him under control!"

Upon hearing this, the other elders all looked at Xiao Yuan in astonishment.

Who would have thought that Xiao Yuan would have such courage!
The threat posed by military governors is one of the greatest taboos for the imperial court!

Qiu Huai was not the only military governor of Dawu!
In every strategically important border region, there was a military governor or a feudal lord in charge.

The area that Da Wu could truly control was only a little over a thousand miles around the capital.

If Qiu Huai is harmed, how can it not alert the other military governors and enfeoffed marquises?
Wang Hua frowned and said, "Taking down Qiu Huai is easy."

"But Qiu Huai commands 80,000 elite troops, all battle-hardened veterans, shouldering the heavy responsibility of guarding the south and resisting the southern barbarian tribes and the million demons of Jiunan Mountain." "After capturing Qiu Huai, what is the proper course of action regarding these 80,000 elite troops?"

A look of worry flashed across Wang Hua's face: "The 80,000 troops of Tiannan are all commanded by Qiu Huai's trusted generals and sons, and they are brave and skilled in battle."

"If Qiu Huai is trapped in the capital, and were to launch an attack, how would the court respond?"

Xiao Yuan said solemnly, "I have heard that Qiu Huaisheng has ten sons, and he once claimed that three of them are outstanding individuals: his eldest son Qiu Ji, his second son Qiu Cong, and his seventh son Qiu Pei!"

"Your Majesty only needs to detain Qiu Huai in the capital and announce to the outside world that Qiu Huai has suddenly fallen ill and, before his death, designated his second son Qiu Zong as the successor to the position of military governor."

"The court considered that the position of military governor must be succeeded by the eldest legitimate son, and it was difficult to make a decision. So it was asked that Qiu Ji and Qiu Zong make their own decision and then report to the court for appointment!"

"In this way, Qiu Ji, Qiu Zong, and Qiu Pei will surely be embroiled in a fierce struggle for the position of military governor. How could their Tiannan troops possibly have any intention of rebelling!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Hua and the others looked at Xiao Yuan in shock.

What a vicious plan!

Xiao Yuan usually seems like a nice guy, but I never expected him to be so wicked!
The Empress also looked at Xiao Yuan in astonishment.

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yuan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "In this way, no matter which son of Qiu Huai succeeds, he will definitely need to rely on the power of the imperial court to suppress the other two!"

"The court can use the pretext of punishing corruption to replace the officials of the three ministries and take back the power of finance and personnel appointment."

"Even if the Qiu family has many soldiers, without military pay to support them, they will eventually be controlled by the imperial court!"

The Empress was secretly startled after hearing Xiao Yuan's words.

She even suspected that Xiao Yuan might have heard about the Edict of Grace from Su Mo!
It seems to have a similar effect to the "Decree of Grace"!
However, Su Mo's order of favor was still slightly better.

Xiao Yuan's method requires too many prerequisites; if even one is missing, it will be difficult to implement.

The Empress frowned and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Although Qiu Huai is arrogant, his judgment is not bad. He must be right to say that the Third Prince is a man of outstanding talent."

"I am worried that even if the three sons of the Qiu family fight amongst themselves and take control of the Tiannan Army with the help of the court, they will not easily give up their power over finances and personnel."

Xiao Yuan immediately said, "I believe it is worth a try!"

He paused, took a deep breath, and advised the Empress: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If it succeeds, Tiannan Dao will truly come under the control of the imperial court!"

"Once Tiannan Road recovers from the natural disaster, it should be able to bring the court five million taels of silver and three million shi of rice in taxes annually, which can alleviate the court's financial difficulties!"

He paused slightly, then gritted his teeth and said again, "Your Majesty, I implore you to consider this carefully!"

Yuan Xingdao hesitated for a moment.

To avoid implicating the Imperial Observatory in the fire dragon burning the granary, he finally took a step forward: "I believe that what Chief Minister Xiao said is absolutely right."

"This is a golden opportunity to reclaim power over Tiannan Circuit, and Your Majesty has given it much thought!"

Leng Liuxi nodded slightly: "What you two gentlemen say is indeed reasonable."

"However, I believe that Chief Minister Xiao's proposal is slightly flawed. If there is even the slightest mistake, it could lead to war and disaster!"

Xiao Yuan frowned, about to speak, when the Empress abruptly changed the subject, saying, "However, Chief Minister Xiao's words have indeed reminded me!"

"If I were to issue an order, all of Qiu Huai's sons would be entitled to inherit Qiu Huai's military power and wealth, which would be divided equally among his sons. What do you think, my esteemed ministers?"

Upon hearing this, the six cabinet ministers were startled and all looked at the Empress at the same time!
The look of horror in his eyes was impossible to hide!

Xiao Yuan exclaimed in disbelief, "Ten sons sharing the spoils?"

The Empress slowly shook her head: "More than ten sons!"

"I believe that the sons of military governors and even feudal lords, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, are entitled to inherit their fathers' wealth and land."

The Empress paused slightly, then slowly uttered a few words: "I call it the Edict of Grace!"

Xiao Yuan was immediately dumbfounded!

He never imagined that the Empress's appetite was so great that it extended beyond just Tiannan Road.

This is an attempt to wipe out all the military governors and feudal lords of Da Wu in one fell swoop!

Xiao Yuan immediately broke out in a cold sweat!

What did the Empress just say?

Did I remind her?
So, does that mean I'm the one who's to blame for this "decree of grace"?

Xiao Yuan suddenly had a million curses to say in his mind!

Since ancient times, family wealth has always been inherited by the eldest son.

Although this approach has many drawbacks, such as the eldest son being dull-witted, it can maximize the cohesion of the family's strength, prevent it from dispersing, and ensure the family's long-term prosperity!
The same principle applies to military governors and feudal lords.

Once the power of the military governors and feudal lords is divided generation after generation, will they still be the same military governors and feudal lords?

Xiao Yuan was able to become the Grand Secretary of the Great Wu Cabinet, and it's easy to figure out the key to it!

If you say your suggestion is a vicious plan.

That Empress's decree of favor was so vicious it was outrageous!

This is to sever the roots of the military governors and feudal lords!
He suppressed his shock and hurriedly said, "I fear that Your Majesty's actions will cause great chaos among the feudal lords!"

"Think twice, Your Majesty!"

Wang Hao and others hurriedly added, "Your Majesty, we also urge you to reconsider!"

The Empress waved her hand: "I was merely inspired by the words of the Grand Secretary."

"This decree of grace should be carefully considered by all my beloved ministers before it can be implemented."

Xiao Yuan wanted to curse again!
The Empress paused, her expression grave, and said, "I am well aware that once the Edict of Grace is issued, there will be opposition from princes and military governors, and some may even raise troops in rebellion!"

"Therefore, it will not be easily implemented until sweet potatoes are widely propagated and the new army is trained."

She glanced solemnly at the assembled cabinet ministers and said, "These words came from the mouths of Chief Minister Xiao and Grand Secretary Yuan, and entered the ears of me and all of you!"

"I do not wish for an eighth person to know about this matter; otherwise, even if you are important officials of the court, I will not forgive you!"

Xiao Yuan broke out in a cold sweat even more...

It was clearly Your Majesty's idea that came up with!
He was only targeting Qiu Huai!

What does it mean that these words came from the mouth of Chief Minister Xiao?
Fortunately, His Majesty probably knew he couldn't take the blame alone, so he dragged Yuan Xingdao into it as well!

Wang Hao and the other four Grand Secretaries immediately assured everyone that they would never tell anyone!

At the same time, they turned their attention to Xiao Yuan and Yuan Xingdao.

They all showed compassion!

Of course, if this matter succeeds, Xiao Yuan will have made a tremendous contribution and will be remembered for eternity, while Yuan Xingdao will also benefit greatly.

The Empress changed the subject, her phoenix brows furrowed, and said, "Since this has happened in Tiannan Dao..."

"The disaster relief rice and grain will definitely be insufficient!"

"Do any of you ministers have a good plan?"

Xiao Yuan truly dared not speak again at this moment; his lips remained sealed, not uttering a single word.

Wang Hao, the Minister of Revenue, could only grit his teeth and say, "The only solution now is to order the other granaries to open and provide relief to the people, hoping that there is still grain stored in the granaries for emergency use!"

"In addition, silver was urgently transferred to Tiannan Road to purchase rice and grain from grain merchants for disaster relief."

He paused slightly, then gritted his teeth and said, "The imperial court has dispatched an imperial envoy to Tiannan Circuit to oversee disaster relief efforts."

The Empress nodded slightly: "Who does the Second Grand Secretary think is suitable to be the Imperial Envoy?"

Wang Hao replied without hesitation, "In my opinion, Marquis Su is the most suitable person to take on this important task!"

(End of this chapter)