Jiang Xiaobai had a very pleasant winter, but everyone in the entire capital and surrounding areas had a very painful winter.
The capital city and the surrounding area were hit by the worst snowstorm in history. Nearly 100,000 houses collapsed, and as many as 70,000 to 80,000 people were crushed to death, froze to death, and starved to death. Nearly 400,000 people were displaced and struggling to death.
Emperor Ningkang issued an order for disaster relief. After almost draining the national treasury, he collected 300,000 taels of silver and ordered the Ministry of Household Affairs to arrange disaster relief matters.
In previous years, the treasury could always have more than 500,000 to 600,000 taels of silver, but this year's war with the barbarians caused the treasury's money to flow out like running water. Just making the fire caltrop alone cost more than one hundred thousand taels of silver.
The effect of Tribulus is naturally quite good. Now the Hu people can no longer bear the consequences of more than half of the casualties. The main force has withdrawn to Shuobei Grassland, leaving only a small group of cavalry to harass Yongning Pass from time to time. Although it cannot give Yongning Pass No matter how serious the damage it brings, it can also make the defenders in Guanzhong restless. But the money flowing out like running water is really painful.
The surviving victims all want to rush into the capital. In their view, the capital is full of wealthy people, and as long as they can get a few mouthfuls of food from begging, they can survive.
But how dare the guards at the four gates of the capital to open the gates without permission to let the victims into the capital? A large number of victims poured into the capital, and the capital was bound to be in chaos. They could only lock the city gates tightly and wait for orders from above.
Emperor Ningkang was anxious, worried and worried. Once the victims were released into the city, if the victims caused chaos, the consequences would be disastrous.
For such a serious disaster, a mere three hundred thousand taels of relief money is absolutely not enough. If the basic needs of the victims cannot be met, the adults in charge of the disaster relief may be torn alive by the desperate and angry victims.
So when Emperor Ningkang asked which minister was willing to take charge of disaster relief, the usually eloquent adults in the court were all like quails, and no one took the initiative to ask for help.
Emperor Ningkang looked at Concubine He Shu's father, the eldest prince's grandfather, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, He Jin, and motioned for him to come out and take charge of disaster relief. Originally, disaster relief was the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue.
Unexpectedly, He Shangshu suddenly coughed so heart-breakingly that his whole body was as bent as a shrimp. He couldn't even speak a word. It looked like he was seriously ill. What else could he do? Maybe lead disaster relief?
Looking at the other ministers who were poking one after another like wooden pillars without saying a word, Emperor Ning Kang’s eyes turned red with anger.
Civil officials failed to live up to expectations, so Emperor Ningkang deliberately sent military generals to take charge of disaster relief. However, in the past few years, Da Chu has been experiencing unrest, and most of the young and strong leaders have been sent out. Most of the people who remain in the capital are old generals with old wounds. These old generals spent every winter as if they were going through a calamity. Many old generals could not even go to court. How could Emperor Ningkang bear to work for them?
Look at the few veterans on the right who don’t look very good.Jun, and then looked at the civil servants on the left who were like a piece of wooden pillars. Emperor Ning Kang's face turned green with anger, and he only coldly said, "The prime minister will be selected as soon as possible." After saying that, he angrily withdrew from the court.
Returning to the harem, Emperor Ningkang was extremely agitated. He did not allow anyone to follow him, and walked around the palace alone. Unknowingly, he walked to Kunyi Palace. The palace attendants in Kunyi Palace saw When the emperor arrived, people quickly ran to report to the queen, while everyone else knelt down to greet the emperor.
The queen came out quickly. When Emperor Ning Kang saw the queen, a wry smile appeared on his face. He helped the queen up before she knelt down, and the two of them entered the inner hall hand in hand.
"Is Your Majesty worried about the victims outside the city?" Seeing her husband frowning, the queen asked distressedly. They were childhood sweethearts, a married couple, and their relationship was certainly not shallow.
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"Yes! Those victims have no food, clothing, or shelter. They are all my people in Da Chu. How can I just watch them die of cold and hunger? I have already fallen. It’s a sin, but the snow hasn’t stopped yet. If it continues like this, there will be no way for my people to survive! Zi Tong, what do you think I should do?” Emperor Ning Kang said sadly.
Holding the emperor's hand, the queen comforted her softly: "Your Majesty, please relax, there is always a way. I thought about it, why not build some temporary tents outside the city and surround them with oilcloth to keep out the wind? , and if we set up more porridge sheds, as long as we have a place to eat and live, the victims will not have to go to the city to survive this winter."
Emperor Ning Kang sighed and said helplessly. : "I have thought about this too, but now the treasury does not have more money and food, and now there is not even a minister in charge of disaster relief... How can we set up a porridge shed?"
After hearing this, the queen said, He immediately got up and walked aside, holding a heavy small box and delivering it to Emperor Ning Kang. Emperor Ningkang frowned and asked, "Zitong, what is this?"
The queen put the box on the table, took out the key and unlocked it, then opened the lid, and Emperor Ningkang saw the light. jewelry, and a thick stack of silver notes underneath the jewelry.
"Zitong, this... this is your private room! Do you want to..." Ning Kangdi said uncertainly. He was once an unpopular prince, so he naturally knew how important a private house was.
The queen said with a smile: "Yes, these are my private rooms. I am willing to donate them to help the victims survive this cold winter. In addition, my mother came into the palace yesterday and said that the house had been prepared for the emperor. Twenty thousand taels of silver and three thousand stones of grain are for the emperor to provide relief to the victims. My mother said that I would ask my brother to deliver the grain to Changfeng Grain Store today. I wonder if it will be delivered."
Changfeng Grain Store is Yongkang? When the emperor was the emperor, it was the property purchased by the fifth prince's palace, and it was properly the emperor's private property.
Emperor Ningkang took the queen's hand and said movedly: "Silan, I have made my father-in-law spend money again. This son-in-law of mine is really..." Silan is the queen's maiden name. So excited, Ning KangdiI wouldn't call the queen that.
The queen shook her head and smiled: "Fifth brother, please don't say that. You are in trouble. If your own family doesn't help, you can still blame outsiders for help. It's just that the food is too little, and my father and mother feel a little bit. I'm sorry. This year, Zhuangzi's prospects are not very good. The grain brought back is less than 4,000 shi. There is still some coarse grain in Zhuangzi, but the road is blocked by heavy snow and there is no way to transport it to the capital. Mother said that the family will have to keep half a year's rations and the rest. Take them all to put on the porridge."
Emperor Ning Kang was even more moved after hearing this. He held the queen's hand tightly and said excitedly: "Silan, I am deeply touched by how my father-in-law treated me! I will never let you down in this life, nor will I let down the Dingguo Palace! If I let you down, the sky will thunder..."
The queen hurriedly covered Emperor Ningkang's mouth and said angrily: "Your Majesty, how could I be a concubine? "Don't you believe me? Don't say this. Your feelings towards me, my family, my parents and my family are all clear."
Seeing the emperor's expression softened slightly, his brows furrowed. The sorrowful look still lingered on her face. The queen thought about what her mother had said to her when she entered the palace yesterday. She held the emperor's hand with red eyes and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, if there is really no one willing to take charge of the disaster relief, then let me Brother Concubine, please go. Although Brother Concubine is stupid, he is willing to work hard." After hearing this, Emperor Ning Kang had a look of guilt in his eyes. Although his brother-in-law was not a talented person. A stunning genius, but also a man of the moment with both civil and military skills. Just so that the royal family would not be afraid of the Dingguo Palace, he resigned himself to being ordinary and only took up the empty post of chief minister of Honglu Temple. Speaking of which, he was the one who failed the Yue family.
With a decision secretly made in his heart, Emperor Ningkang held the queen's hand and said firmly: "Okay, I will ask my uncle to take on this important responsibility. After the disaster relief work is completed, I will transfer my uncle to be the head of the Household Department. "
The queen's heart trembled, and she looked up at Emperor Ning Kang, but he smiled and said: "My father-in-law and uncle have given in too much. I'm sorry for them. Silan doesn't have to worry about it anymore. , I am there with the Queen Mother."