The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Is it early?"

Chen Huai'an calmly stepped forward and said, "If these officials all think it's too early, then it proves I did the right thing."

These words caused an uproar throughout the court.

Changsun Wuji and the others couldn't help but open their mouths.

Is its attack power that strong?

What does it mean that if these officials all think it's early, it proves that he did the right thing?

This is almost tantamount to saying that you are a bunch of good-for-nothings, and that what you think is wrong must be right.

Xiao Yu's face instantly darkened: "Minister Chen, what do you mean by that?"

"Isn't what you mean obvious?" Chen Huai'an said bluntly. "The public granary system should have been implemented long ago. As Xiao Gong himself said before, there were many natural and man-made disasters during the Wude era."

"If such a thing happens, grain will have to be transferred out from the imperial court."

"Then why didn't anyone bring up the charitable granary system that existed in the previous dynasty?"

"Back then, the retired emperor was extremely busy with state affairs, not only dealing with court politics but also with natural disasters and man-made calamities in various places. It's normal that he didn't think of it at the time."

"But what about the ministers who were responsible for assisting the retired emperor? Where have they all gone? They seem to be dead."

"Why do I only hear empty words of righteousness and concern for the common people, but I haven't seen such a useful system being put into practice?"

Chen Huai'an emphasized, "This is your dereliction of duty!"

"You..." Xiao Yu was genuinely angered. "What do you know? The charitable granary system is indeed useful, but doesn't it have its drawbacks?"

"If it's all good, why wouldn't we take it out and use it?"

"It's like you proposing to establish a charity granary now."

"Then tell me, how will it be built? Who will build it? Who will pay for it?"

"The imperial court? The Ministry of Revenue? Or you, Duke Anguo, yourself!"

Feng Deyi shook his head and sighed: "Minister Chen, we are not against you. Everyone is in agreement: the granary should be built, but not now."

"Shouldn't we at least allow the country to recuperate for two years? His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and he immediately began conscripting laborers and undertaking large-scale construction projects. This doesn't seem appropriate at all."

"Why don't you ask the Ministry of Revenue if they're willing to pay this money?"

Pei Ju stared with dead fish eyes, looking eager to try, clearly ready for battle.

The Ministry of Revenue.

Swearing has become a daily occurrence.

If Chen Huai'an dared to ask him for money today, he would immediately speak up.

Chen Huai'an said disdainfully, "If we rely on this bunch of good-for-nothings in the Ministry of Revenue who only know how to sit around and squander their wealth and cry poverty all day long, then we might as well give up and bury ourselves as soon as possible."

Du Ruhui and the others almost couldn't hold back their laughter.

Although Chen Huai'an's words were a bit harsh, what he said seemed to make some sense.

Isn't the Ministry of Revenue always complaining about being poor?

I thought that since Chen Huai'an had said so much, Pei Ju would at least say a few words and have a quarrel.

Unexpectedly, Pei Ju's expression only stiffened for a moment before he adopted an indifferent attitude.

Not to brag, but with this level of attack power, it wouldn't even be enough to tickle him.

Besides, he understood Chen Huai'an's meaning; it seemed he didn't intend to take money from their Ministry of Revenue.

Since you're not taking money from my Ministry of Revenue, then do whatever you want.

Chen Huai'an said coldly, "Two years later, two years later, everyone's saying two years later."

"But let me ask you, what if a major natural disaster occurs within the next two years? Whether it's a locust plague or a drought, and there are widespread famine victims, what will you do then?"

"Are you trying to feed them with your empty moral pronouncements? Or are you hoping that all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens will show them mercy?"

"If the situation I described occurs, will there still be much point in building more charitable granaries?"

"Will you then say, 'Oh, if only we had built the granary sooner,'?"

"Ah? Tell me!"

Xiao Yu opened his mouth to refute, but Chen Huai'an didn't give him a chance at all, looking around at the ministers: "The fact that you can stand here proves that your knowledge is definitely not low."

Have you read any history books?

"Tell me, during the Han Dynasty, their capital was also Chang'an, located in the Guanzhong region. What was their grain production in the Guanzhong region at that time?"

"Now, let the people from the Ministry of Revenue tell me what the current grain output of our Guanzhong region is. Is it enough to meet the needs of Chang'an?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Zheng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and said, "There's no need to ask anymore. If we compare our situation to that of the Western Han Dynasty at its peak, the grain output of Guanzhong was probably only 30 to 40% of theirs."

"The grain produced in our Guanzhong region cannot meet the consumption of Chang'an. We rely on grain to be transferred from other places to meet the demand. Everyone knows this."

Du Ruhui said in a deep voice, "There's nothing we can do about it. The impact of the wars at the end of the Sui Dynasty was too great, especially in the Guanzhong region."

"If viewed from this perspective, land reclamation is indeed quite important."

Chen Huai'an stared at Xiao Yu: "Now, please tell me, Master Xiao, if these regions that continuously supply grain to Chang'an and Guanzhong suffer from war or natural disasters, and they themselves have no harvest and are living in constant fear, what will happen to the people of Guanzhong?"

"What should be done for the people in the disaster-stricken areas?"

Xiao Yu patiently said, "What you've described is all your own conjecture. How do you know that a natural disaster will definitely occur in the next two years?"

"Then how do you know there won't be any natural disasters in the next two years?" Chen Huai'an retorted. "Can you read the heavens? Can the Grand Astrologer see the weather a year from now?"

"Who has such great ability?"

"Since we don't have it, shouldn't we always be prepared?"

"You...you're being unreasonable!" Xiao Yu's face turned ashen.

Chen Huai'an scoffed, "What? Being prepared for danger in times of peace, wanting to be safe from trouble, becomes unreasonable in Master Xiao's mouth?"

Xiao Yu's chest heaved as he suppressed his anger: "Then tell me, where did the money come from? The Ministry of Revenue? Does the Ministry of Revenue have any money?"

"I never said I wanted to take money from the Ministry of Revenue!"

Everyone present was stunned when Chen Huai'an said those words.

Feng Deyi couldn't help but ask, "You're not taking money from the Ministry of Revenue?"

"When did I ever say I wanted to take money from the Ministry of Revenue?" Chen Huai'an retorted.

Feng Deyi was speechless. It seemed that Chen Huai'an hadn't actually said that; it was all their preconceived notions.

But if you don't ask the Ministry of Revenue for money, how can you build granaries? How can you reclaim wasteland?

Feng Deyi thought for a long time but still couldn't come up with a solution, so he simply gave up and said bluntly, "No matter what you plan to do, I still disagree with you building a granary now."

"As I said before, His Majesty has just ascended the throne and it is really not appropriate to conscript laborers, Your Majesty..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Huai'an immediately interrupted him: "When did I say... I was going to conscript laborers?"

Upon hearing this, not only Feng Deyi, but everyone else was stunned.

If you don't ask the Ministry of Revenue for money, why don't you collect corvée labor?

How do you build a charity granary? Do you just conjure it up out of thin air?

"..."