In the capital, at the imperial court meeting.

Emperor Jing sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression.

Hanlin Scholar Yang Yingcai was kneeling on the ground.

The assembled officials below all wore expressionless faces, not uttering a word.

News from Jianjiang Prefecture and the other two prefectures had finally arrived, shocking countless court officials!

Such a major matter, and the Emperor had issued an edict without consulting with his officials?

It was simply absurd! If things continued like this, wouldn’t the court truly become the Emperor’s one-man show?

What were the officials for then? To stand around as decorations?

So, at the next day’s court meeting, the Hanlin Academy unsurprisingly fired the first shot.

The Emperor’s edict to start construction projects in disaster areas during widespread famine was truly disheartening.

This was not the way of a benevolent ruler! It had only been a few years since pacifying the four seas, and he’d already become so complacent?

Wasn’t this a sign of a muddleheaded ruler? Had His Majesty already begun to neglect state affairs?

Yang Yingcai knelt on the ground, saying repeatedly:

“This subject trembles with fear! Your Majesty’s edict, issued without consulting the Cabinet, was too hasty!”

“I implore Your Majesty to rescind the order! Lest it dishearten people across the land!”

Emperor Jing felt utterly helpless inside. The son makes a mistake, and the father has to bear it! He couldn’t very well say it was the Crown Prince’s doing!

But he couldn’t lose face either.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place! When that little brat gets back, he’ll give him a thrashing!

Emperor Jing looked at the assembled officials below and said calmly, “The edict was issued by me, and indeed without consulting the Cabinet.”

“What? Are you saying that my imperial word doesn’t count unless it goes through the Cabinet?”

Yang Yingcai raised his head and said loudly, “Your Majesty! Shouldn’t such a major matter be discussed with your court officials?”

“The common people are already living in dire straits! How can we embark on major construction projects now? Won’t it further exhaust the people and drain our finances?”

“If local tyrannical officials force the people to work without providing food, it will drive them to rebellion!”

“I implore Your Majesty to rescind the order!”

With a rustle, a large number of Hanlin scholars knelt down, while the rest of the officials remained silent.

Emperor Jing immediately felt his anger rise. He stood up and said angrily, “Silence! Yang Yingcai, how dare you!”

“Are you suggesting that I am cruel and oppressing the people?”

Yang Yingcai stuck out his neck and said, “This subject wouldn’t dare… It’s just that the people will surely fall into dire straits. The court has already ordered price controls and food distribution.”

“Why take this unnecessary extra step?”

Emperor Jing’s face turned red with anger.

For a moment, he didn’t know how to refute him, and sat back down resentfully.

Closing his eyes to calm himself for a moment, he sighed and said, “All of you, rise.”

“Zhang Shi, I ask you, how much silver is left in the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury?”

Zhang Shi stepped forward and said nervously, “We still have… five hundred thousand taels.”

Emperor Jing slowly opened his eyes, “The three prefectures have already requested silver from the court several times. Is five hundred thousand taels enough? And how much has been sent out?”

Zhang Shi felt his scalp tingling, not expecting the fire to spread to him, “Five hundred thousand taels… is not enough. Many places across the country need silver. If we approve all requests… it will affect the overall situation.”

“Heh, that’s right, so you only know to ask me for silver. My private treasury has already been emptied, I have no more money to give!”

“How much of the food collected from various regions in these past few days has been gathered now?! I’m afraid it’s still not as much as what Fang Zheng could gather in one day in the capital!” Emperor Jing said, full of indignation.

The lottery and tea sales had also declined, and there were no more considerate memorials. The days without Fang were difficult!

The rest of these people, every day they either raised problems or asked for silver!

When the Ministry of Revenue had no money, they came to ask him! Day after day, the private treasury would save up some money only to be emptied again!

But what could be done? Should they let the whole country fall apart?

The officials also wore dejected expressions. Why mention Fang Zheng again?

That bastard had already left, and everyone was finally having a few days of peace.

Sure, he was quick at gathering grain, but he was fleecing us alive!

Were we even allowed to live anymore?

“Why did I order construction projects in the three prefectures? It’s because there’s no money and no food!”

“Even if we had ample money and food, it would take a lot of time to gather supplies. You can afford to wait, but can the disaster victims?”

“Local officials and people need to find ways to help themselves, that’s the right path!”

“Using government and wealthy households’ resources to provide work instead of direct relief, and widely taking in disaster victims is the best solution for now!”

“This is a measure taken out of necessity! I had no intention of issuing such an edict, but alas… a group of incompetents! Sigh….”

Emperor Jing leaned back and let out a long sigh.

Ah, this?

The officials were dumbfounded. How did the attack turn around so quickly? The shit pot was already on their heads? When did His Majesty become like this?

“Your Majesty! We all know about providing work instead of relief, but who can guarantee that there won’t be any problems?”

“If it fails, who will bear the consequences of the people’s boiling resentment? Only the common people will suffer!”

“This goes against the will of Heaven. We implore Your Majesty to make a wise decision and rescind the order!”

Emperor Jing’s mouth was full of bitterness.

Yes, everything you say is right, but what can I do? Things have already come to this, the only hope is that the local areas can achieve results.

If it fails, it will truly be a name cursed for a thousand autumns!

Emperor Jing flung his sleeve and said angrily, “Against the will of Heaven? I am Heaven! This matter needs to be observed, there’s no need for further discussion!”

“……..” The officials fell silent.

You are Heaven? You are the Son of Heaven!

If you’re going to talk like this, we really have nothing more to say.

Li Yansong’s gaze occasionally drifted to where the Crown Prince used to sit.

Having interacted with Emperor Jing for many years, he knew the Emperor’s style of handling affairs very well.

His Majesty would absolutely not do such a thing.

And the Crown Prince hadn’t appeared in court for a long time, as if he had disappeared.

A group of senior ministers all vaguely had an idea.

The Crown Prince had always been wild, and Fang Zheng had made him even wilder. Plus, he had mentioned the idea of work relief several times.

Now that the Crown Prince had been missing for so long, and His Majesty’s behavior was so unusual, there was only one possibility… the Crown Prince had forged an imperial edict!

But no one dared to say it out loud. If spoken, it would be too treasonous and shocking.

So when discussing this matter this time, everyone tacitly remained silent.

When Yang Yingcai spoke out, he only mentioned that it hadn’t gone through the Cabinet.

Now the situation had reached an impasse. The Hanlin scholars were kneeling en masse, and His Majesty had started to act unreasonably.

Li Yansong, as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, naturally couldn’t continue to watch the show. He could only reluctantly speak up, “This subject believes that Your Majesty’s words are reasonable!”

Emperor Jing’s eyes lit up, as if a drowning man had grasped a piece of driftwood, and said, “Prime Minister Li is experienced in state affairs, please speak!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. The current so-called disaster relief methods have always followed old ways.”

“It has been like this since ancient times, giving money when there’s no money, sending food when there’s a shortage of food. Although it has some effect, the court is indeed stretched thin.”

“The method of providing work instead of relief has been recorded and proven highly effective, but it has never been used on a large scale.”

“Logically speaking, in times of great disaster, labor costs are at their lowest. The court can do the most with the least amount of silver, and it’s extremely convenient to mobilize the people’s strength. It’s indeed the time for major construction!”

“The Ministry of Revenue and local expenditures are already not easy to manage. When the disaster situation eases, if we want to build again, it will truly be difficult.”

“Therefore, the court encouraging construction projects, this subject believes, is a method that kills two birds with one stone.”