In June last year, it snowed heavily in Huaibei.

As far north as the capital, winter has entered early.

Although this year is not as early as last year, the weather is also unpredictable.

Waiting for the imperial edict, Hanlin reported: "After autumn, the autumn water dries up, and it snowed several times not long ago."

"The imperial ships transporting grain are all stuck in the water. Now the food supply in Qingyang Prefecture is insufficient. The price of grain in many counties under the prefecture has begun to rise, and there is even a situation where supply exceeds demand."

"The governor of Shaanxi submitted a petition requesting the capital to order the use of grain from Pingliang Prefecture next door to Qingyang Prefecture."

After the grain is harvested in autumn, the autumn grain from various places will be transported to the capital by official ships for storage.

When there is a disaster in various places, the local government will first use the surplus grain to provide disaster relief, and at the same time notify the imperial court, who will then transport the grain there.

Now the autumn water has dried up and the waterways are blocked.

The grain-carrying boats were blocked on the river and could not move at all.

When food is in short supply, prices will naturally rise.

By the time the governor reported it, it was estimated that the food supply in many places was already ridiculously high.

Emperor Hongzhi did not hesitate and said directly: "I agree, let's go and do it."

"As for the Pingliang Mansion on loan and the Qingyang Mansion where the disaster occurred, we will allocate food from the imperial court."

"If the waterway is impassable, take the land route and transport it there."

Every autumn, the water level in rivers generally drops with less rain.

This year's autumn floods flooded the river, making it difficult for grain-carrying ships to pass.

Now that winter has entered many places, water levels have begun to drop again.

As a result, water transportation, which had just been opened recently, began to be blocked again.

There is nothing we can do about borrowing grain from the neighboring state capital.

But the food in the state capital next door is only enough for the people under his rule.

I guess this requires secondment, which is not easy.

After all, they provided food to save other places, so it is very likely that they will be the next victims.

After Zhao Hanlin received permission, he quickly went down to convey the decree.

The father and son were left alone in the hall again.

Zhu Houzhao suddenly said: "Father, is there really no food for sale in those cities?"

"When I went to Tongzhou, my subordinates reported that there were many grain stores on the street, and each store was packed with food."

"It's said that if you sell the whole city, it won't be a problem for you to sell it for two or three years."

"Even if those places are not as wealthy as Tongzhou, why are the food reserves in those grain stores so small?"

“How long has it been snowing and there’s no food left to sell?”

Emperor Hongzhi smiled: "My son has grown up."

Unexpectedly, the prince's last trip to Tongzhou also gained other things.

Emperor Hongzhi said and sighed again.

"As my son said, how could this food suddenly not be enough to sell?"

"It is estimated that some businessmen have joined forces to hoard grain in order to raise the price of grain."

"But our court doesn't have much to do about this."

"They all think that the law will not punish the public, and they know that our court cannot kill all the merchants at this time."

This raises business taxes and takes action on businessmen.

Not to mention businessmen, even the literati would not agree.

When business taxes are raised, it means that the country needs merchants more than before.

If we continue to kill the donkey, I am afraid that the resistance of these businessmen will be more intense than before.ωωw.

This is why Emperor Hongzhi said before that commercial taxes cannot be raised easily.

This will indirectly give these businessmen more confidence to confront the court.

Moreover, now is the time when the country is about to do big things. If this matter is handled in a radical way, it will undoubtedly make the things to be done later more difficult.

Zhu Houzhao said angrily: "These profiteers!"

"Now it's starting to snow everywhere. Land transportation takes too long. When the food arrives, I'm afraid many people will starve to death."

As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao squinted his eyes.

He thought of something!

"Father, I remember that Uncle Yongxi used to raise food prices to solve the food shortage problem. Can we use the same method?"

As Zhao Ce's little fanboy, Zhu Houzhao remembers all the things he did to Zhao Ce.

At that time, Zhao Ce was still a young scholar, and he once offered suggestions for disaster relief in his hometown.

That suggestion allowed local grain merchants to take the initiative to reduce prices and distribute grain, which was very successful.

Can history repeat itself in this situation?

When Emperor Hongzhi heard what Zhu Houzhao said, he also remembered it.

At that time, I even praised Zhao Ce for this.

now......

Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and said with some uncertainty: "Is it really feasible?"

Zhu Houzhao made a sound.

"Why don't my father summon Yong Xibo into the palace now and ask him to find out?"

Disaster waits for no one.

Since the method Zhao Ce used before works, you can really ask him again.

Emperor Hongzhi no longer hesitated and directly asked people to declare Zhao's policy.

...

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the weather in Beijing has been dark lately.

In Zhao Ce's home, silver bone charcoal was also lit early.

After having a child at home, Zhao Ce admired himself more and more, and last year he developed such a good thing as silver bone charcoal.

Xiaobao was wearing a thin cotton-padded jacket and a small quilt wrapped around him. Zhao Ce held him in his arms and teased him.

Su Cai'er was on the side, arranging people to deliver silver bone charcoal to various houses that she knew well.

"Li Mansion, Liu Mansion, Yang Mansion..."

A batch was delivered before winter, and a batch was replenished on time every month.

Zhao Ce saw that she had arranged things in an orderly manner and was about to give her a few words of praise.

Someone hurriedly came outside the door.

"Sir, there is a decree from the palace. Your Majesty has urgently summoned you to the palace to discuss matters."

Summoning him at this time must be urgent.

Zhao Ce could only put his daughter down, and Su Cai'er quickly helped him change into the official uniform that had been given to her earlier.

This is the first time Zhao Ce has used this official uniform, and he looked at it with some novelty after putting it on.

Pedestrians on the street lowered their heads, hunched their necks, and walked against the increasingly cold wind.

After Zhao Ce entered the palace, he was taken directly to the Nuan Pavilion.

In Nuan Pavilion, several ministers who had also been summoned to discuss the matter were already sitting.

They are all familiar faces.

After Zhao Ce saluted, Zhu Houzhao hurriedly came to his side and explained the reason of the matter very quickly.

After finishing speaking, he quickly asked: "Uncle Yongxi previously used the method of raising food prices to solve the disaster. I suggest that my father use the same method. Is it feasible?"

Only then did Zhao Ce understand the cause of the matter, and was immediately questioned by Zhu Houzhao.

"Your Highness, don't be anxious."

How could Zhu Houzhao not be anxious? He was anxious to death.

This method of raising food prices and letting local governments release food was the first thing he thought of and suggested on his own initiative.

He didn't witness it with his own eyes the previous time, but this time he could personally participate in it.

When he thought of this, he felt so excited that he didn't want to wait any longer.

Zhao Ce was not in a hurry, he thought about it for a while, and then shook his head in the expectant eyes of everyone in Nuan Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, I think this method is equally feasible, but it is not the best way."

Emperor Hongzhi was a little disappointed.
Chapter completed!