CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 315: LOCUST PLAGUE (PART 1)

The grand assembly of Da Liang is held once a month on the first day. Ordinary business for the court is handled during the smaller assemblies.

The grand assembly is grandiose, with officials at or above the seventh rank in the Capital City required to attend. The vast Jinluan Palace cannot accommodate so many officials, so those of lower rank silently move to the back, with some even standing outside the hall.

According to the customary procedure of the grand assembly, the officials first praised the Emperor on the Dragon Throne, then delivered the usual rhetoric about peace throughout the realm, and the meeting could conclude.

However, the first grand assembly of officials in the Tahe First Year was disrupted by an unexpected bad news that left everyone’s mind unsettled.

"A hasty report from Youzhou has arrived, there is a locust plague in Yan County. The seedlings from the spring sowing have been devoured by locusts to the extent of eighty to ninety percent. Please have a look, Your Majesty."

A seemingly light memorial brought forth a tremendously heavy calamity.

Emperor Taihe held the memorial, the veins on the back of his hand bulging from the force applied.

The words ’locust plague’ echoed and the faces of all officials changed collectively, unexpectedly turning their gaze towards the young girl standing among the Vassal Kings.

This young girl, slender and graceful, was adorned in a Commandery Princess ceremonial dress so resplendent that it accentuated her skin white as jade, outshining snow. Her black eyes glimmered with sorrow.

It was the Nanyang County Princess who submitted a memorial last year offering new grain seeds and prophesied the locust plague shall rise in the North.

At that time, Emperor Taikang was alive; Prime Minister Wang, upon reading the memorial from the Nanyang Prince Mansion, was utterly disdainful and publicly accused the Nanyang County Princess of spreading hearsay with ulterior motives.

However, the memorial from Youzhou in Yan County was like a slap across Prime Minister Wang’s face, making the Nanyang County Princess the focus of everyone’s attention.

"Your Majesty," Jiang Shaohua spoke unexpectedly under everyone’s gaze, not mocking Prime Minister Wang but instead gravely expressing concern over the locust plague: "Yan County is far from the Capital City; this memorial takes half a month on the road. The court must quickly provide famine relief to help the people of Yan County. Otherwise, chaos like Pingzhou might break out."

Duke An stood out without hesitation: "I believe what the Nanyang County Princess said is very reasonable. Please, Your Majesty, issue an edict to allocate grain from the Ministry of Revenue to Yan County immediately."

Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward with an expressionless face and reported: "The Ministry of Revenue has done its utmost to raise military funds, and now it really cannot allocate grain."

Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Industry angrily accused: "Minister Ji, in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, managing Da Liang’s taxes and funds. Now Yan County is suffering from a locust plague, and Minister Ji offers no solutions but excuses. Such irresponsibility makes him unworthy of being the Minister of Revenue."

The officials were all astonished.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze turned slightly cold.

This Minister Zhou was a trusted minister in the court, fostered single-handedly by Prime Minister Wang. He usually remained silent, but emerged at crucial moments to take the hit for Prime Minister Wang.

This move immediately shifted everyone’s attention to the issue of providing relief to the people of Yan County, naturally diverting any mention of Prime Minister Wang’s oversight last year when he ignored the warning in the Nanyang County Princess’s memorial.

In fact, now is indeed not the time to pursue accountability. With a locust plague in Yan County, what is the situation in the nearby regions? Will the Northern Provinces, already suffering a two-year drought, also experience a locust plague?

With the war in Pingzhou already plaguing five or six counties, can Da Liang withstand another locust plague?

"Whether I am fit to be the Minister of Revenue is not for you, a Minister of Industry, to comment on." Minister Ji, who had been a veteran official across three reigns and the late Empress’s own father, had a firm stance and immediately retorted.

Minister Zhou snorted, ready to counter.

The young Emperor Taihe, unable to restrain himself, stood up and shouted angrily, "Silence!"

"At such a time, the court should be united, offering ideas to relieve the disaster and comfort the people. There’s no time or energy for quarreling."

Minister Ji and Minister Zhou, each dispirited, shut up and apologized, "I, in a moment of righteous indignation, misspoke. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"I beg forgiveness."

The young Emperor Taihe could not heavily punish high-ranking officials in his first grand assembly, so he rebuked them lightly, letting it go.

At this moment, Prime Minister Wang finally stood out, "Your Majesty, the locust plague began in Yan County, not knowing how many more counties will follow. We must respond early."

If last year they had heeded Shaohua’s cousin’s memorial and prepared in advance, they would not be in a panicked mess now.

Emperor Taihe felt displeased, his tone cooled a bit, "Prime Minister Wang, what do you think should be done?"

Prime Minister Wang, seasoned and steadfast, unflustered even in such disadvantageous situations, said in a steady voice: "I believe that the locust plague is already a fact; complaining at this time is meaningless. The court must quickly devise measures to provide relief to the people of Yan County."

"There can be no shortage of military provisions and supplies for the war in Pingzhou. Youzhou’s locust plague also needs silver to buy grain." Minister Ji sighed gently, "It’s not an excuse from the Ministry of Revenue. The National Treasury is truly empty. Your Majesty can have an audit of the Ministry of Revenue or appoint another capable minister as the Minister of Revenue. I am willing to step down."

"Minister Ji, please calm down." Emperor Taihe had to patiently reassure him, "I understand the difficulties of the Ministry of Revenue. However, given the current situation, we need an experienced and steady old minister like you to hold up the Ministry of Revenue and help me through this predicament."

Prime Minister Wang interposed, "Indeed, Minister Ji cannot shirk responsibility at such a time. The situation is not easy; everyone must think of a solution."

Minister Ji, not intimidated by Prime Minister Wang, retorted firmly, "Fortunately, the border army hasn’t requested additional funding this year. Otherwise, even with my head as the Minister of Revenue, I couldn’t squeeze out more silver."

This was a direct jab at Prime Minister Wang.

Everyone knew that the Left General of the border army was Prime Minister Wang’s man. Millions of taels worth of military funds each year diverted at least two-tenths into the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Prime Minister Wang’s eyes flashed with displeasure, speaking lightly, "What we are discussing now is the relief for the locust-struck Yan County. Irrelevant matters need not be discussed."

He then solemnly bowed, "I have a suggestion. The distance between the Capital City and Yan County is vast. Allocating funds to purchase grain is time-consuming, not to mention the considerable loss during transportation. It would be better to purchase grain seeds directly in the North and send them to Yan County for the people to replant."

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyebrows slightly, casting a sidelong glance at the cunning Prime Minister Wang.

Emperor Taihe hadn’t yet reacted, blurting out, "The North suffers drought everywhere, and those not requiring state relief are considered lucky. Where are there surplus grain and seeds..."

Wait!

There indeed is a place with surplus grain and seeds.

Emperor Taihe finally understood, unconsciously looking towards Jiang Shaohua. The officials in the court were also turning their gaze towards her.

Prime Minister Wang, internally laughing coldly, solemnly bowed to the Nanyang County Princess, "I have previously offended the Commandery Princess; I beg the Commandery Princess’s forgiveness. This time, we must rely on the Commandery Princess’s magnanimity to relieve the crisis in Yan County."