I only wished to take up my fiefdom, but my elder brother forced me to rebel.

"The Crown Prince had just received the golden seal when the Northern Liang came demanding territory!"

An imperial censor stepped forward from the ranks and pointed at Lu Yuan.

"Could this be the chosen heir?"

Upon hearing this, several nearby officials quickly stepped back, fearing they would be considered accomplices.

But those who were meant to hear it still heard it.

"First there was the assassination attempt at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, then an army of 100,000 men pressed in."

"The appointment of the crown prince is a grand national ceremony, so how could accidents keep happening?"

"Could it be that the ancestors do not recognize this crown prince?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried further and further through the crowd.

Ignoring the comments of others, Lu Cangqiong handed the military report from the northern border to Han Zheng, the Minister of War.

"How many cities does Beiliang need?"

After Han Zheng finished reading the military report, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"The Northern Liang demands that the Great Yong hand over Yunzhou, Shuozhou, and the six counties of Anbei!"

"In addition, we must pay an annual tribute of three million taels of silver, five hundred thousand shi of grain, and one hundred thousand bolts of cloth!"

Xie Guangkun left the group.

"If they were truly willing to negotiate peace, why would they bring an army of 100,000?"

"Yunzhou and Shuozhou guard vital passages on the northern border. If they are handed over, the Northern Liang cavalry can advance unimpeded!"

"Your subject requests that horseshoes, stirrups, and improved saddles be made immediately and sent to the Zhenbei Army."

Liu Neng took the military report, read it, and then shook his head.

"The national treasury cannot provide 300,000 taels of silver for the Ministry of Works to manufacture weapons."

"Don't even mention 300,000 taels, we have to squeeze 30,000 taels out of the disaster relief funds."

Xie Guangkun turned his head and glared at him.

"The Northern Liang army has already reached our doorstep, and you're still clinging to your silver?"

"The national treasury has no money, so what can I give you?"

There was the sound of rapid hoofbeats outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

A messenger was led into the courtyard by the Imperial Guards.

The person who came was covered in mud and was still panting heavily after kneeling down.

What was delivered was a military report from the northern border, an urgent memorial jointly submitted by the governor of Henan Province and the river administration.

Zhao Guoqiang took the report, but stopped after reading only a few lines.

"Heavy rains have hit Henan Province, causing the Yellow River to breach its banks."

"Twenty-seven villages have been flooded, and tens of thousands of people have lost their homes."

"The granaries along the river are flooded, and local relief efforts can only last for seven days."

"Henan Province requests the imperial court to immediately allocate 800,000 shi of grain and 500,000 taels of silver, and also to conscript 100,000 laborers to repair the river embankment."

One hundred thousand troops from the Northern Liang army arrived in the north, and Henan Province was hit by floods.

The court officials quickly split into two groups.

The Ministry of War demanded that the northern border be secured first, as the consequences would be far greater if the Northern Liang were to breach the border.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works insisted on prioritizing disaster relief, even though tens of thousands of people were still submerged in water, and after seven days, even the food supplies would be cut off.

Both sides have their reasons, and neither can convince the other.

The officials in the back started talking about it again.

"On the day the Crown Prince was appointed, the border was in dire need of news, and the Yellow River breached its banks."

"What else could this be but a warning from heaven?"

"Your Majesty should postpone the investiture ceremony and resume the ancestral temple sacrifices."

The censor who initiated the trouble stepped forward again.

"Your Majesty, I request that you withdraw the Crown Prince's Golden Book!"

"The Imperial Observatory will ascertain the will of Heaven before discussing the position of Crown Prince!"

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand, intending to order the Imperial Guards to arrest the person.

Lu Yuan stepped in front of the imperial carriage first.

"Father, let him speak."

Seeing that Lu Yuan did not lose his temper, the censor straightened his back a bit.

"If Your Highness truly values ​​the nation, you should voluntarily return the golden seal."

"When the Yellow River overflows, the people suffer."

"With the Northern Liang pressing in, our soldiers are suffering."

"Why should Your Highness jeopardize the entire nation for the sake of a mere heir apparent?"

After listening, Lu Yuan walked up to the censor.

He took the Crown Prince's golden seal from the eunuch and handed it over directly.

"for you."

The censor looked at the golden seal in front of him, but didn't dare to raise either of his hands.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

"Didn't you say that if we handed over the golden seal, the Yellow River wouldn't breach its banks, and the Northern Liang would retreat?"

Lu Yuan lifted the censor's hand and placed the golden seal in his palm.

"It's printed for you now."

"Make the Yellow River flow backward."

"Let the 100,000-strong Northern Liang army return home."

With the Crown Prince's golden seal pressed in his hand, the censor's face lost much of its color, and his arms drooped lower and lower.

"I am merely saying that we should investigate the will of Heaven."

"God willing?"

Lu Yuan took back the golden seal and handed it to the eunuch behind him.

"The Yellow River breach was caused by the disrepair of the riverbanks and the dereliction of duty by officials."

"The Northern Liang is pressing in because they see that the Great Yong is in trouble and want to take advantage of the situation."

"Instead of criticizing corrupt officials or the Northern Liang, you're forcing the crown prince to abdicate."

"Are you receiving a salary from the Great Yong Dynasty or the Northern Liang Dynasty?"

The censor knelt down.

"I have absolutely no intention of colluding with the enemy!"

"Whether it exists or not, the Ministry of Justice will investigate."

Lu Yuan ignored him and turned to face the assembled officials.

"Relay my order."

"The six ministers and vice ministers, and the chief officials of the nine ministers, shall immediately enter the palace to discuss matters."

"The Imperial Guards, the Five City Garrison Commands, and the Capital Prefecture suppressed the rumors."

"Anyone who dares to incite the people or storm government offices under the guise of natural disasters will be dealt with on the spot!"

The officials did not respond, but instead secretly glanced at Lu Cangqiong.

Although the Crown Prince has the power to oversee the country, he only received the golden book and golden seal today.

Without the emperor's approval, no one would dare to take the lead.

Lu Cangqiong put the military report away.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Didn't you hear what the Crown Prince said?"

The officials then bowed and accepted the decree.

The investiture ceremony had to be temporarily suspended at this point.

The emperor and the crown prince's carriages then returned to the palace, followed by the six ministries and nine ministers.

As for the remaining rituals at the Altar of the God of Soil and Grain, the Ministry of Rites could only arrange to complete them on another date.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, officials from the Six Ministries stood in two rows.

Many veteran officials had walked along the imperial road for half a day and had experienced assassination attempts; their legs began to tremble when they stood in the palace.

But neither the emperor nor the crown prince spoke, so they could only continue to put on a brave face.

After watching for a while, Lu Yuan turned to Zhou Fu and gave him instructions.

"Bring a chair for everyone!"

Zhao Guoqiang immediately left the team.

"Your Highness, during state affairs discussions in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, all the officials stand; this is a rule passed down from our ancestors!"

"It is against etiquette to have ministers and vice ministers seated before the emperor!"

Lu Yuan waved his hand.

"If I told you to sit, you can sit."

"When they collapse from exhaustion, who will do my work?"

"It's better to sit down and get things done than to stand and observe etiquette!"

The eunuchs moved the chair from the side hall to this location.

Seating was arranged according to the rank of the official.

Xie Guangkun and Liu Neng were seated opposite each other. After they sat down, they continued to stare at each other, neither of them looking away.

Lu Yuan ignored them and placed the two memorials on the table.

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works immediately calculated the amount of food, supplies, and manpower needed for disaster relief and reconstruction."

"The Ministry of Personnel is investigating the cause of the Yellow River breach!"

"No official responsible for dike repair, inspection, and funding over the past decade can be overlooked!"

"The Ministry of Justice has issued a notice!"

"Anyone who takes advantage of the famine to create trouble, rob relief grain, or drive up grain prices shall be punished as treason."

Guo Kai, the Minister of Justice, rose to receive the order.

Lu Yuan then went to see Han Zheng.

"The Ministry of War mobilized retired veterans and troops stationed in Henan Province to rescue the people and maintain order, but no one was allowed to bring weapons."

"Everyone who participates will receive a prize, and those who are injured in the line of duty will be granted an official rank."

"Any act of negligence, withholding of supplies, or oppression of disaster victims will be prosecuted as treason!"

Han Zheng stood up and bowed his head to receive the order.

He was a member of Lu Cheng's faction, and his son, Han Gou, was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice by Lu Yuan.

However, at this time, Han Zheng dared not use the military situation in the north and the disaster victims in Henan as a pretext.

Lu Yuan then looked at Zhao Guoqiang.

Zhao Guoqiang had barely sat down, his bottom hadn't even warmed the chair, when he had to stand up again.

"The Ministry of Rites organized local education officials to lead scholars to disaster areas to reassure the people, register households, and inventory supplies."

"Those who have not achieved official rank will be granted the title of Junior Scholar upon their return."

"Those who have already achieved academic success will be exempt from one examination in the next imperial examination and will be directly promoted."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guoqiang's face scrunched up.

"Your Highness, scholars may not necessarily know how to repair river embankments."

"I did not order them to repair the river embankment."

"They can read and write, they can appease the people, they can teach children, and they can also supervise officials."

Lu Yuan got up and looked around.

"I'm putting my words here."

"Anyone who dares to embezzle a single grain of relief grain or a single copper coin shall have their entire family wiped out!"