It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 658: Drought worsens and food is difficult to raise

If you count carefully, there was not a drop of rain from the beginning of February to the end of July. Not to mention the crops in the fields and the fruits and vegetables planted in front of every household, even the most drought-resistant weeds are dying and lying on the ground. If someone steps on them, they will be crushed to pieces immediately.

Seeing that the harvest was about to fail and there was not much food left, not only the people were anxious, but also the officials. Although it was the rest period for each force, the soldiers did not rest at all. They still trained every day and made active preparations for the war next year. Moreover, Liu Yao had been secretly talking with Liu Cong for many days, in order to take most of the cities and lands in the east and find ways to expand their sphere of influence.

Liu Yao's troops were stationed in the south of the city. They also planted a lot of fields, but they faced the same problem as the common people - drought.

At least they brought some food and grass from Pingyang, which could hold out for a while. But the people were in trouble. They could not eat or buy food. Some people could not bear it, especially the farmers in the suburbs. They had no choice but to flee the famine. The poorest families had already started selling their children.

In times of war, one can still find a place to hide for a while and it will pass, but without food, the whole family will die in less than seven days.

However, it didn't rain at all. The sun was high in the sky every day. Even in early August, the beginning of the autumn season, there was still no rain.

Jin Xi is the prefect of Chang'an. He has to take responsibility even though he can't even eat here. But what can he do? What's more, he has little experience in the court, and because of Xie An's unjust case, the people of Chang'an are extremely dissatisfied, and his reputation is also bad.

All he could do was to report to the emperor and organize the people to pray for rain according to folk customs. Of course, the most important and quickest way was to raise food and disaster relief from the wealthy merchants and gentry in Chang'an and surrounding towns and villages. Jin Xi had no choice but to lower his head and promise these people: once the disaster is over, he will return it double.

The attitudes of the wealthy gentry were very good. When they saw Jin Xi coming to visit, they even served him good wine and food. He drank until his face turned red, and some even passed out. In addition, those who could drink well didn't respond to Jin Xi's request for them to donate grain.

At first, Jin Xi didn't understand why these people did this. But he was too young after all, and he couldn't lose face and yell at them. Some families even called out their female relatives to accompany them, and they also showed Jin Xi all kinds of gentleness and kindness, which almost made Jin Xi distracted and caused trouble.

After returning to the government office and sitting down to think carefully, he always felt that something was very wrong. So in the middle of the night he ran to his uncle Jin Zhun's house to ask for advice.

Jin Zhun was having a headache because his daughter suddenly came back and said that Crown Prince Liu Can was making a fuss about going to the war, but Liu Yao refused to let him join his "Yao" army and instead asked him to follow his cousin's army.

Liu Can was unhappy, thinking that his uncle's troops were not strong enough and would inevitably fail. After returning to his own bedroom, he said a few words to the Crown Princess Jin Lian and became anxious. He threw a copper basin, which hit her head, causing a big bump on her forehead.

Jin Lian was also a spoiled noblewoman, so she could not stand such humiliation. In a rage, she did not even pack her things and went straight back to her parents' home, crying bitterly with her parents, and even wanted to divorce them.

How could Jin Zhun agree to this? Just as he was trying to persuade her earnestly, Jin Xi came. He had drunk too much, his face was red, and his steps were not very steady. He pulled Jin Zhun's sleeve and asked incoherently: "Uncle, if I can't get people to donate grain this time, will I lose my position as the prefect? ​​What should I do then? It's so embarrassing!" Both of them were so upset that Jin Zhun was going crazy.

He asked his wife to take his daughter back to the back hall first, at least to treat the wound on her forehead. Then he asked someone to bring some hangover soup for Jin Xi to drink, and listened carefully to what his masters had said about their experience in raising grain in the past few days, and he immediately understood.

"You are still too young. It is indeed inappropriate to let you sit in this position. I am too impatient." Jin Zhun could not help but sigh. Looking at Jin Xi's young face, he thought of Crown Prince Liu Can, who was also so young and even naive. If something happened to Liu Cong in the future, would these children be able to take over the imperial politics of the Han Dynasty?

In a split second, Jin Xi knelt on the ground and cried to him, "Uncle, I am so stupid. I don't know what to do. Please show me a way out."

This pitiful look is really enough.

Jin Zhun pondered for a moment before saying, "There is nothing wrong with raising grain, but you should also think about why they are unwilling to hand over the grain? Isn't it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a fortune! The current grain price is no longer a matter of one or two cups, it has increased by seven or eight times, and it may become ten or twenty times tomorrow. If they open the warehouse to release the grain and the price drops, what else can they earn?"

"They are already so rich, why do they still need to earn this money? Besides, if they are willing to stand up when the Han Dynasty is in need of food, it will definitely be a good thing. In the future, when the world is peaceful, they will be credited with a great contribution." Jin Zhun drank the sobering soup and gradually sobered up.

"To be honest, can the Han Dynasty really conquer the world?" Jin Zhun said this in a low voice, and only Jin Xi in front of him could hear it. His eyes widened a lot, and he looked at his uncle nervously, opening his mouth but not daring to make a sound.

Jin Zhun frowned and asked all the teachers around him to leave. Only the uncle and nephew were left in the room. After a moment of silence, Jin Zhun said, "The emperor has changed from taking Wushisan once every three days to once a day. How long do you think he can last?"

"Well...my sister will be the queen in the future, so, it's okay?" Jin Xi stuttered and was a little uncertain, and he didn't dare to answer his uncle's question.

"Liu Can is still young and feeble-minded. Although we are his backers, we still do not have strong military power and may not be able to gain anything." Jin Zhun's voice became much softer.

"Then... let's just show our friendship to the general and win him over." Jin Xi thought of the scene of Liu Yao and Yang Xianrong standing together that day, and sighed in his heart again, they were such a perfect match, pleasing to the eyes.

But Jin Zhun had already snorted coldly, his face full of disdain and displeasure. "Haven't you heard? Yang Xianrong is the Phoenix Fate. Liu Yao insisted on marrying her. Isn't it for the throne?"