Father can be an enemy to the country

Suzhou, Canglang Pavilion, Qingxiang Pavilion.

Ever since the third brother began to enjoy life, King Chu moved here.

The plaque on this museum was inscribed by Han Shizhong that year. The name of the museum comes from Li Shangyin's poem Be diligent and don't allow the fragrance to penetrate, and the golden fish to lock the cinnamon bushes.

In front of the museum, there is a leaky window and a whitewashed wall, forming a courtyard of its own. There are several osmanthus branches planted in the courtyard, making it a good place for quiet meditation.

However, at this time, the three Suzhou officials in the museum - Suzhou Magistrate Li Heng, Wu County Magistrate Xue Ding'e, and Changzhou County Magistrate Fei Mi, were in a mood that had nothing to do with purity, and were almost in a state of irritation.

Although the Suzhou civil uprising has subsided, the unemployment and hunger problems that led to the civil uprising have not been solved at all. If this continues, people will starve to death.

If something goes wrong again then, it won't be as painless or itchy as before.

Your Highness, has the Emperor replied to your letter? Li Heng and the two county magistrates could only place their hopes on His Highness, who was not yet fourteen years old.

Yes. Zhu Zhen nodded and said with a wry smile: Father said we have no money, so let us find a way to solve it ourselves.

It's over now... The three officials heard this and wanted to die.

Don't panic. His Royal Highness King Chu still said with a smile: There is a saying that 'as long as the mind does not slip, there are always more solutions than difficulties.' How can a living person die from holding in his urine?

Yes, yes... The three officials had smiles on their faces, but their mothers were approving in their hearts. What's the use of talking nonsense? Why don't you think of a solution?

Your Highness, if it doesn't work out, let's raid the Lu family first and deal with the emergency. Li Heng couldn't help but make suggestions.

Good idea. Magistrate Xue responded hurriedly: Anyway, the uncle and nephew have already confessed. The Lu family is the instigator of this civil uprising. It is natural for them to use their property to relieve the people.

Your Highness is urging the court to convict you as soon as possible. Fei Zhixian also advised. It was obvious that the three of them came after consultation, and this was the only way they could think of.

... Zhu Zhen looked calm, but smiled bitterly in his heart. Do you think I, the king, don’t want to rush to confiscate my home? I wish I could confiscate all the big dogs’ houses to deal with the emergency.

But the Ministry of Punishment has been unwilling to speed up the process of convicting the people, so I can only stare.

He knew that Hu Weiyong was probably digging a hole for him to jump into. I'm afraid that if I lose my composure and order my house to be searched, the censor over there will get wind of it and impeach me.

Moreover, the two brothers had agreed that this time the third brother would be the bad guy and he would be the good guy. A fair-faced person should sing like a fair-faced person, and a red-faced person should sing like a red-faced person. The behavior must be in line with the persona.

So he said seriously: If we rely on ransacking homes to help the citizens, wouldn't it appear that the government is too incompetent?

Your Highness, the most important thing now is not face... Li Heng said with a bitter smile.

No, the government only relies on face. Who will believe him without face? His Royal Highness King Chu gave Li Heng a few words, and then changed the topic: Besides, I have a better way.

The three officials were busy listening.

Isn't it because we don't have money? Why don't we print some ourselves? His Highness said loudly.

‘Pfft…’ The three officials almost vomited blood.

Your Highness, counterfeiting treasure banknotes is a capital crime! Li Heng said helplessly.

The two county magistrates also firmly expressed their refusal.

According to Boss Zhu's regulations, anyone who forges treasure banknotes, regardless of whether he is the principal or an accomplice, as well as those who hide the information and fail to report it, will be punished by beheading, and all their property will be confiscated.

Although Boss Zhu will not chop off his son's head, he will definitely chop off their heads. Everyone comes out to be an official, but they just make a living, and they don't even risk their lives.

Who said we need to print treasure banknotes? King Chu gasped and said, If we don't print treasure banknotes, wouldn't it be illegal?

But if we print anything else, we can't use it as money. Li Heng said in a relaxed tone, as long as it doesn't kill him, he can do whatever he wants.

Why can't it be spent as money... Zhu Zhen said lightly: As long as we give it value, it can be spent as money.

... The three officials looked confused. They had never heard him talk about numismatics, so naturally they didn't understand.

Let's put it bluntly, what we print is food stamps, you can also call them food stamps. Zhu Zhen said, picked up a hand-painted food stamp from the table, handed it to the three of them to look at and said:

Common people can use this coupon to redeem the face amount of grain... Well, it says five dou of japonica rice, and you can exchange it for five dou of japonica rice. What do you think is the difference between this and money?

In this era, at least half of the salaries of officials and soldiers were paid in the form of grain. Among the people who lack money, they can use food to directly buy all the goods on the market.

There are always sellers who don't accept treasure money, but there are no sellers who don't accept food.

There is no difference... So the three officials understood what King Chu said instantly, and they all felt that the food stamps were much more reliable than the treasure notes.

Just, where can I exchange for food? At this time, Magistrate Xue asked a very important question.

Of course we go to the Yamen. His Royal Highness the King of Chu said slowly: Let the common people go to the grain merchants to exchange? They don't have the credibility.

Huh? The three officials immediately fell into disgrace. Your Highness, how can we give food to the citizens?

Nonsense, there are reserve warehouses in all the prefectures and counties, why would there be no food? King Chu said with a smile.

Not Your Highness, the food in the prepared warehouse can only be borrowed from the people, and cannot be given to the people for free. The three people said hurriedly: When the inventory of the Ministry of Finance cannot be reconciled, we will lose our heads!

The reserve warehouse of the Ming Dynasty is similar to the Changping warehouse of the previous dynasty, but there are also differences. Its general operating model is that local governments at all levels will issue official cash to buy grain and store it for relief during good harvests, and then lend it to the people in famine years, which will be repaid after the autumn harvest.

Boss Zhu enforces the law strictly, and no official dares to be careless with him. Li Heng and the others would rather not be this official than let people use paper to exchange the grain from the storage warehouse.

Then you guys just lend food to the citizens! His Highness the King of Chu said with a downcast face.

Your Highness, please calm down. According to the regulations of the court, borrowing grain from the reserve warehouse requires land under your name as collateral, Li Heng hurriedly explained: Most of the weavers and boatmen do not have land, so they are not qualified to borrow grain.

What kind of bullshit rule is this? King Chu said angrily: There is obviously food in the warehouse, but the citizens are not allowed to borrow it. How can we just watch them starve to death? Can't we make some changes?!

Oh, Your Highness, even those in lower positions don't want this. The three people frowned and said, But after the Kongyin case, who in the imperial court dares to change?

That's true... Zhu Zhen was speechless immediately. Those officials who knew how to adapt and were smart have lost their minds. How can the remaining people dare to take another half step beyond the thunder pool?

Well, how about I, in the name of Suzhou Dyeing and Weaving Bureau, borrow grain from you? He then changed his mind and said.