The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 819 Three Things

Although Zhong Hui disliked Xun Xu, he never slandered or suppressed his department.

He even supported Xun Xu in doing these things.

After Xun Xu finished talking about his achievements over the years, Zhang Hua and Lu Kang looked at each other and nodded.

Cao Mao was not completely without capable people under his command. Even the top group of people must understand the significance of this matter.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat, frowning.

He came to Wei just for three things: the aristocratic family, the barbarians, and natural disasters!

The aristocratic families did a good job in this matter. The two political decrees directly weakened the influence of the big families in the local area to the extreme. When the education policy is gradually improved, the aristocratic families will have to withdraw from the stage.

Of course, no matter how anxious Cao Mao was, it would be useless for him to deal with matters like education. It was a century-long plan, and the real results would only be seen in his children and grandchildren.

At this stage, all we have to do is suppress them and at the same time instill in Cao Wen the concept that family background equals destruction, to ensure that these bastards will not make a comeback within two generations.

As for the surrounding barbarians, it seems that there are no barbarians in the Wei Dynasty now.

Since Pei Xiu's three-step policy of education was implemented, and scholars such as Ji Kang traced their ancestors and changed their surnames and customs, these people are no longer the barbarians of the past.

Damn Liu Yuan even became the top scholar in the Wei Dynasty.

Can this thing be called barbaric?
The education policy in various border areas was completed very quickly. These people had household registration and new identities. The next step was to wait for them to form a sense of identity and become no different from the people around them.

Cao Mao didn't need to worry about this anymore. Any hidden dangers that could pose a threat to the Wei Dynasty had been eliminated by Cao Mao.

Even a small character like Goguryeo was not spared, and the royal city was directly burned down and the farmland was destroyed. For a hundred years, no powerful force would emerge to challenge the Wei Dynasty.

The last one is this disaster.

This was also Cao Mao's most powerful enemy.

Cao Mao prepared for this for many years and set up special institutions to carry out various types of prevention and defense.

Next, it’s time to inspect the goods.

It depends on whether Cao Mao’s previous preparations are sufficient.

It is now the seventh year of Ganlu. In two years, disasters will begin to strike on a large scale, the first of which will be a great flood that will shake the earth.

There were great floods in Qing, Xu and Yan provinces, and then there was a great drought in Yong, Liang and Liang provinces in the northwest.

Since then, disasters have continued to occur. Every year, several states are simultaneously involved in various disasters, including snowstorms, floods, droughts, and even epidemics.

Until its demise, the Western Jin Dynasty was troubled by these endless natural disasters.

Cao Mao only remembered these two major disasters: the flood that swept across the entire Central Plains, and the severe drought that caused famine in the northwest. He could not remember the rest.

However, clues can be seen from the reports of Youbei Prefecture, such as a large number of livestock freezing to death in Youzhou, heavy rains in Jiangdong for consecutive years, which are becoming more and more severe, and frequent diseases in the southern and central areas of Shu.

Every time Cao Mao saw these reports, he would feel terrified.

He was anxious to promote Xun Xu this time so that he could better deal with these things.

As the first person in the Wei and Jin Dynasties to propose the prevention and resistance to natural disasters, Xun Xu was definitely the most qualified to do these things.

Xun Xu then began to talk about the Ministry of Revenue’s new plan.

"Gentlemen, reports have come in from various government offices that the situation is extremely critical. Although there have been no casualties, the situation is getting worse. Heavy rain has fallen in Qing and Xu provinces, and many farmlands have been flooded. If the situation persists next year, I'm afraid over 100,000 people will suffer. If it continues the year after, the situation will be unimaginable."

Xun Xu's face was very serious.

The same was true for Cao Mao, because in history, this flood lasted for four years.

Xun Xu talked about many arrangements, the first of which was drainage.

To prevent floods, we must divert water and take more water conservancy measures. At the same time, we must quickly evacuate people who are too close to the water flow and carry out projects such as excavation and soil storage to increase the height of the river.

Xun Xu produced a large number of documents, ranging from specific rivers, to several important areas where disasters might occur, to the scope of the project, to food aid, and so on.

He talked like this for nearly an hour, and was very specific, even mentioning the expenses and specific amounts of various tools.

Many ministers in the court showed displeasure on their faces.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Everyone was stunned, then looked at the warrior.

When everyone saw his face, they were no longer surprised.

This person was Zhang Rong, the Grand Master of Imperial Households, who was a famous scholar of Zheng school and also served as an official at the Imperial Academy.

Working at the Imperial Academy is not easy. The chief academic officer changes every year, but none of them are satisfactory.

Zhang Rong interrupted Xun Xu's speech and looked at the ministers around him. He said, "Your Majesty, since ancient times, I have never heard of anyone being able to accomplish something by violating the laws of nature."

"Furthermore, this prediction is truly absurd and unheard of! If, just because of a prediction, they mobilize hundreds of thousands of people, spend three years' worth of accumulated wealth, and wreak havoc on three states, isn't that absurd?!"

"According to Lord Xun's words, such a massive project would empty the national treasury in an instant, and the people of the three states would be forced to work as corvée laborers. Countless important matters would be delayed, and in the end, no results would be achieved. If a disaster is sent by heaven, how can human power avert it?"

Zhang Rong's words caused an uproar among the officials. Everyone knew that this guy's career as an official had come to an end.

But everyone still admires him in their hearts.

It has been many years since anyone dared to speak so frankly in front of Your Majesty.

Zhang Rong stood up and looked at Cao Mao, who was sitting in the upper seat with a complicated expression, but he was not afraid at all.

Zhang Rong was different from the trash that Cao Mao had dealt with before. This man was called Zhang Junzi. He had no moral problems. He was honest and abided by his own moral standards. He was not afraid of the powerful and wealthy, and he deserved the title of a gentleman.

The only problem is that this guy is an avid fan of Zhengxue.

He once publicly declared: No one in the world is as good at studying the classics as Xuan.

He truly believed that the gods sent down disasters because the king did not implement benevolent policies.
Although his actions frightened everyone, he did say what many people wanted to say.

Xun Xu was a little angry at this moment.

At first, he entered Youbei Mansion with the idea of preserving himself, but as time went by, he really developed feelings for Youbei Mansion.

After all, this was an organization he personally founded and brought to its current size.

But over the years, idiots like Zhang Rong have always emerged, constantly criticizing their work and thinking that they are doing something meaningless.

Xun Xu was about to start scolding him, but Cao Mao stretched out his hand and calmed him down.

Cao Mao looked at Zhang Rong with a threatening look in his eyes. Although he didn't say anything, all the ministers couldn't help but lower their heads.

For a moment, there was dead silence in the court. A huge sense of oppression came towards Zhang Rong, as if his breathing was blocked.

Cao Wen, who was standing by, saw his father like this for the first time, and his face turned pale.

Cao Mao said softly, "Zhang Rong, there is something I really want to ask you."

"only."

"Yu the Great controlled the flood. Was it because of Yu the Great's wisdom that Heaven withdrew the disaster, or was it because of Yu the Great's wisdom that he was able to control the flood?"

Zhang Rong immediately said, "That's because Dayu was so virtuous, so the disaster retreated!"

"So, the disaster happened because Shun wasn't virtuous enough, wasn't wise enough?"

At this moment, Zhang Rong was suddenly stunned.

Looking at Zhang Rong, who was dumbfounded, Cao Mao asked again, "I've heard that natural disasters have never been lacking during the reigns of wise kings since ancient times. This means that China has never had a truly wise king from ancient times to the present. If these people have moral integrity, why would heaven send down disasters?"

Zhang Rong quickly explained, "It's not just because the king isn't wise enough. There are also traitors in power in the country, which will also lead to punishment."

"Oh, were there such traitors when these wise kings were alive? I've also read Zheng Xuan's commentary, and I remember him saying that when a truly wise king reigns, order is established throughout the world, traitors and villains have nowhere to hide, and the court is filled with loyal and virtuous people. So, then, many of the previous kings, including Shun, were not considered wise?"

Zhang Rong hesitated and began to think of words to refute.

Cao Mao suddenly raised his voice.

"The laws of nature are not subject to human interference! Nature will not prosper because of Yao and Shun, nor will it perish because of Jie and Zhou!"

"Natural disasters will not be averted by the morality of the king or his ministers, but it is the moral king and ministers who know how to control them!"

"The reason why Dayu is revered today, worshipped constantly, and called a virtuous king is because of his merits, and the reason he has merits is because of his wisdom."

"Only those who can control floods can be considered virtuous. You can't even figure out the order of priority, yet you want to persuade me not to control floods. Do you want me to become a king like Jie and Zhou?!"

"Someone is coming!"

Cao Mao pointed at Zhang Rong and said, "Take this man out! Take off his crown and send him to Shazhou!"

Immediately, an official came into the hall and took Zhang Rong away.

Zhang Rong was still extremely surprised at this moment, as if he was still thinking about the emperor's question and the answer.

The ministers lowered their heads and dared not breathe.

Cao Mao signaled Xun Xu to continue.

This time, no one dared to interrupt him.

When the court meeting was over, Cao Mao took the crown prince away. As they walked along the road, Cao Mao said to Cao Wen, "I asked you to come here today so that you can know these three things."

"These natural disasters are the country's greatest enemy. No matter how great the cost, we must fight back and never abandon them. Even if the cost of treatment far exceeds the cost of the damage, we must treat them!"

"Those who talk about morality all day are not necessarily those who are beneficial to the country. Those who are labeled as mean-spirited flatterers are not necessarily those who are detrimental to the country! When judging your ministers, don't look at what they say or what others say about them, but look at what they have done and what they want to do."

"One last thing, don't be afraid to punish people. When it's time to punish them, don't hesitate. Do it immediately and don't give them any chances. Every time you tolerate someone, hundreds more will be created."

"only"

ps: Haha, I went to Shanghai to receive an award, and met big guys like Potato and Squid, and asked for a photo with them, because the new book is about Northern Qi, the neurotic dynasty, so I talked to Squid about the plot and communicated with Foxtail about the illness, and they all said they were shocked.

In May, Yi Guan will be finished. There will be some extra chapters to supplement it. While I am recovering, I will also prepare a new book. This time it will definitely shock everyone.

(End of this chapter)