The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 134: Walking on thin ice, or standing on the edge of an abyss.

The emperor's decree was read aloud by the eunuch Wang De during the regular court session the following morning.

"...The locust plague in Shandong Province has afflicted the common people, and my heart is filled with sorrow. Crown Prince Chengqian, naturally benevolent and filial, is compassionate towards the suffering of the people and wishes to personally go to the disaster-stricken areas to oversee relief efforts. Therefore, I hereby appoint Crown Prince Chengqian as 'General Supervisor of Disaster Relief Affairs in Shandong Province,' bestowing upon him a banner and tiger tally. All civil and military officials in Shandong Province shall regard the Crown Prince as if he were personally present! He is permitted to make all decisions on disaster relief matters as they arise, acting first and reporting later. Furthermore, the Ministry of Works is hereby ordered to be entirely at the Crown Prince's disposal, and all construction materials must be prepared without error. This is my decree!"

Upon the issuance of the decree, the entire hall fell silent.

A moment later, a low murmur of commotion spread like a tide among the officials.

The officials looked at each other, and in each other's eyes they saw disbelief and deep worry.

Sending the Crown Prince away from the capital and granting the governor-general the power to provide disaster relief, coupled with the eight-character phrase "acting arbitrarily and reporting later," is an excessively heavy entrustment of power!

Currently, the national policy of the Tang Dynasty is that, apart from princes holding the title of governor-general remotely, no crown prince has ever been granted such real power, let alone personally going to dangerous places.

Fang Xuanling and Gao Shilian quickly exchanged a glance, both noticing the seriousness in each other's expressions.

Changsun Wuji lowered his eyes, staring at the gold bricks at his feet, his face expressionless, only his slightly pursed lips betraying his inner turmoil.

After the court session ended, all sorts of speculations and discussions erupted like a boiling pot.

"Why does the Crown Prince want to go to such a dangerous place? Shandong is currently ravaged by locusts, and refugees are about to rise up. It is a place of great trouble!"

"Your Highness's foot ailment has not yet healed, and the journey is already arduous, not to mention the rampant epidemic in the disaster area..."

"His Majesty has actually granted the power of 'acting arbitrarily on the spot'! Once this precedent is set, what will happen in the future..."

"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince volunteered for the mission, and His Majesty was moved by his sincerity."

"Volunteering? The Crown Prince has been making a lot of moves lately, first bonds, then jade salt, and now he wants to personally go to the disaster area..."

Not only was it a hot topic of discussion in the imperial court, but the well-informed powerful families and clans also received the news immediately.

The emperor's decree quickly swept through the entire city of Chang'an, as well as those deeply entrenched and powerful aristocratic families.

The shock and discussions in the imperial court were merely the surface of the storm; what truly determined the direction of the winds were the calculations quietly taking place in the grand mansions and secluded chambers of the wealthy.

The Cui family of Qinghe, a separate residence in Chang'an.

Inside the study, the fragrance of incense wafted, yet it couldn't dispel the somber atmosphere.

Cui Pu, the head of the Cui family, did not attend in person. The secret meeting was hosted by his representative in Chang'an, his cousin Cui Yan, and several confidants who managed the family's core businesses.

"Have all the messages been confirmed?" Cui Yan's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, as he lightly tapped his fingers on the rosewood tabletop.

“It is absolutely true, Uncle. The Crown Prince will be setting off soon to oversee all disaster relief matters in Shandong, a position of great power.”

A middle-aged scholar respectfully replied that he was Cui's manager in charge of information gathering in Chang'an.

Cui Yan pondered for a moment, a barely perceptible hint of coldness appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Your Highness, you have such courage and foresight. First the bonds, then the jade salt, and now you've personally gone to the disaster area. You're determined to firmly grasp the reputation of 'benevolence' and 'pragmatism,' and you're also extending your reach to the land of Shandong."

Shandong is one of the regions where these prominent families have deep roots.

“Then we…” another clansman in charge of salt and iron affairs asked tentatively.

“Us?” Cui Yan raised his eyelids, his gaze sharp.

"Of course we will do our utmost to help."

He deliberately emphasized the last four words, which caused the people present to exchange knowing glances.

"The Crown Prince's bonds are a new thing, backed by the court's credit, and the interest rate seems pretty good. Since he needs money to demonstrate his ability, we'll give him this 'face'."

Cui Yan slowly said, "A portion of the family treasury can be allocated to purchase bonds. The amount should be sufficient to demonstrate the support of the Cui family, but the core assets will remain untouched."

"In addition, we sent someone to the Crown Prince's Palace to make contact and express our Cui family's willingness to contribute to disaster relief, and to see if we could get a larger share in the distribution of jade salt. The Crown Prince wants political achievements, and we want practical benefits; it's a win-win situation."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning sinister.

"But remember, all of this is on the premise that His Highness the Crown Prince... does not go too far. If he truly believes that with an imperial edict he can do whatever he wants in Shandong and threaten our foundations, then that's a different story."

The clansman in charge of the farm's provisions immediately responded.

"Speaking of the foundation, the most important thing right now is food. With the locust plague in Shandong, the number of refugees will increase. Food is life, and even more so... an immense fortune."

The mere mention of the word "food" seemed to intensify the heat in the study.

Cui Yan nodded.

"That's right. The imperial court's price control order will be issued sooner or later. The Crown Prince's primary task on this trip is to stabilize grain prices and appease the displaced people."

"We must stockpile as much grain as possible before the imperial court takes action. We must utilize all available channels in Guanzhong, Jianghuai, and even Sichuan, even at high prices!"

"However, purchasing large quantities of grain would make us too conspicuous and attract attention..."

There are concerns.

"Openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass." Cui Yan had clearly thought this through thoroughly.

“Starting tomorrow, we will implement daily purchase limits at the grain stations in Chang’an and various prefectures and counties! Each person shall not exceed three dou per day.”

"We need to project an image of responding to potential government regulations and preventing unscrupulous merchants from hoarding goods, thereby gaining a good reputation. But secretly..."

He sneered.

“Contact those wealthy merchants with connections, and our grain will flow into the black market through their hands, where the price will triple or even five times!”

"Remember, keep your hands clean, keep the accounts balanced, and everyone involved must be reliable."

He paused, a deeper chill flashing in his eyes.

"Also, send a message to our people in Shandong, especially those villages near the disaster area. Use grain to recruit refugees. Tell them that as long as they are strong and willing to work hard, they will have food to eat."

"Wages? Hmph, in chaotic times, every bite is paid with exorbitant wages! These people, whether to bolster the manor's guards or... to be used for other purposes, are all excellent 'materials'."

"For other uses?" some people asked, puzzled.

Cui Yan glanced at him, but did not answer directly. He simply said, "Isn't it normal for a few of the rioters to be particularly strong and have particularly bad tempers?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is going to observe the people's conditions; he should see something real."

"Of course, this matter must be kept absolutely secret. Those involved must be either family servants of the Cui family for generations or key personnel who hold the lives of their entire clan in their hands."

He concluded by emphasizing this point.

"Those of our clan from Shandong must outwardly and fully cooperate with His Highness the Crown Prince's disaster relief efforts. We must provide manpower and land as the Crown Prince requests, so that our Cui clan may appear to be deeply righteous."

"But all grain movements and storage must be perfectly explained. For example, family grain reserves may be for dealing with potential disasters or to settle old debts. In short, we cannot give others any ammunition against us."

"Yes!" the crowd responded resolutely.

At almost the same time, the top aristocratic families such as the Lu family of Fanyang, the Wang family of Taiyuan, the Zheng family of Xingyang, and the Li family of Zhaojun, as well as the second-ranking families, were all having surprisingly similar discussions in their respective residences.

Inside the Lu family residence in Fanyang.

Elder Lu stroked his beard and gave instructions to the clan members.

"The Crown Prince's purpose in this trip is to win over the hearts of the people of Shandong. We must not openly clash with him. We can buy bonds, seek out jade and salt, and even donate some money and grain to save face for the court."

"However, the price of grain concerns the family's foundation for centuries, and we cannot back down. The secret grain purchases must be expedited. Furthermore, among the refugees, there are many skilled craftsmen who could serve as our retainers; we can recruit them at low prices." "Remember, all you need is a bowl of thin porridge and a signed, life-or-death contract!"

Commands were secretly issued from these seemingly peaceful mansions and courtyards, and quickly spread to all directions via fast horses, carrier pigeons, and even hidden channels.

They did not gather together to discuss the matter, but as if by telepathy, they formed an invisible yet dense network to deal with the pressure from the Crown Prince and the imperial court.

Their strategies are highly consistent.

They cooperate openly to reap the benefits.

They secretly hoarded grain and controlled the lifeline of the economy.

They ruthlessly exploited the famine to absorb population and expand their own power.

In their eyes, the suffering of disaster victims is nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard and an opportunity to be exploited.

Beneath that seemingly noble family interest lies an extreme indifference that regards human life as worthless and a ruthless calculation of gains and losses.

Almost simultaneously, grain shops in the east and west markets of Chang'an also sensed this unusual atmosphere.

Although the imperial court has not yet officially issued any proclamation regarding the disaster in Shandong, the news has already spread like wildfire.

Astute grain traders had already sensed both the crisis and the business opportunities.

"Manager Wang, what's the price of millet today?"

"Oh, Manager Li, the price of millet has gone up by five coins per dou today."

"Another rise? Didn't it just rise yesterday?"

"There's nothing we can do. The news from the east is bad, and trading is difficult. How much do you want? If you need a lot, you'll have to place an order in advance, as we don't have much stock left in the warehouse."

Similar conversations are taking place at various large grain stores.

Grain prices began to rise at a visible pace. Initially, it was only a small test, but as news of the Crown Prince's upcoming trip to Shandong for disaster relief was confirmed, the upward trend accelerated sharply.

Ordinary people, though unaware of the situation, began to feel anxious seeing the grain prices changing daily, and rushed to buy and hoard grain, which further exacerbated the tension in the market.

What's even more perplexing is that many large grain stores have quietly begun to implement "purchase restrictions".

The stated reason was to ensure supply and prevent hoarding, but secretly, each shopkeeper received strict orders from their employers: tighten shipments and observe the court's movements.

They were waiting for the imperial edict to "stabilize grain prices," which was expected to come.

Based on past experience, whenever there is a major disaster, the imperial court will use the Ever-Normal Granary to stabilize the people's hearts and strictly prohibit the market from raising prices without authorization.

At that time, the grain that is currently stockpiled can be sold for a higher price on the black market or during subsequent fluctuations.

However, a day passed, then two days... and the imperial edict to suppress prices was still delayed.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs issued only a routine document requiring local granaries to check their grain reserves and prepare for any necessary adjustments; there was no indication of any forceful intervention in the market.

The grain merchants were puzzled.

This is not common sense!

Is the imperial court really going to sit idly by and watch grain prices soar?

Just as suspicions were swirling and people were filled with anxiety, the Crown Prince issued another proclamation, announcing that a second batch of "Tang Dynasty Disaster Relief Bonds" would be issued immediately, totaling 50,000 strings of cash.

Unlike the first one, this bond explicitly states that it can be redeemed in grain at a discounted price, with the imperial court calculating the value at a "fair market price" and giving priority to collecting grain.

Even more noteworthy is that the Crown Prince ordered the establishment of bond exchange points in major counties and prefectures in the disaster-stricken areas of Shandong, to facilitate the exchange of grain for bonds by local gentry, commoners, and merchants.

This announcement has once again caused a huge uproar.

"Exchanging grain for vouchers? Is the Crown Prince going to directly requisition grain from the people?"

"No, no, the notice says it's a 'purchase', calculated at market price, and it's for bonds, so you can get back the principal and interest in the future."

"Is this... is this an attempt to attract all the grain merchants in the country to Shandong?"

"Grain prices in Shandong must have skyrocketed by now. If you convert that to market prices there and then exchange it for bonds... the interest rate differential there..."

Astute merchants immediately began to weigh the pros and cons.

Grain prices in Shandong are soaring. If the grain could be transported there and converted into bonds at the local market price, it would seem like taking on risk, but bonds have interest, and their market price is high.

More importantly, this may be the only legal way to transport food into the disaster area and make a huge profit!

Some bold and far-sighted businesses began secretly pooling funds and grain resources to prepare for assembling a fleet of cars and ships to test the waters in Shandong.

At the same time as the bond announcement came the news that the Ministry of Works would be working overtime overnight to expedite the process.

The Crown Prince ordered that many artisans under the Ministry of Works cease their daily work and devote all their efforts to producing a long-handled hemp net and a long pole with adhesive at the tip, according to the designs provided by the Eastern Palace.

Large quantities of lime were also mined from mountain kilns near Gyeonggi Province and loaded onto trucks for transport.

These actions were not deliberately concealed, further fueling speculation that the Crown Prince would adopt different methods in this disaster relief effort than in the past.

The atmosphere in Chang'an was suddenly filled with an air of unease and uncertainty.

Inside the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace, Li Shimin calmly reviewed the detailed records in the secret report from the Hundred Cavalry Commandery regarding grain prices, the activities of grain merchants, and the actions of the Eastern Palace.

"Your Majesty, grain prices in Chang'an have risen by more than 30% compared to ten days ago, and there are already complaints among the people. Should we..." Tang Jian bowed and asked for instructions, sweat beading on his forehead.

As the Minister of Revenue, he faced immense pressure.

“No need,” Li Shimin interrupted him.

"Now that the Crown Prince has a plan, I will see how he acts. Issue an edict that not a single grain of rice shall be released into the market from the imperial granaries without my personal written decree."

“Yes…” Tang Jian felt a chill run down his spine and bowed as he stepped back.

The hustle and bustle and speculation in Chang'an City did not seem to affect the rhythm of the Eastern Palace.

Inside the Xiande Hall, Li Chengqian stared intently and resolutely at the pile of documents and drawings before him.

His packed luggage lay at his feet, while the banner and tiger tally, representing supreme authority, stood quietly at the corner of the hall.

"Your Highness, the first batch of three thousand tools has been shipped by the Ministry of Works, heading directly to Caozhou via the Caohe River. The lime has also been loaded onto the carts and will be dispatched shortly."

Dou Jingbing reports.

"The bond issuance has been arranged, and the selection of personnel for the exchange points in various locations is underway."

Cui Dunli added.

Li Chengqian nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

"Everything is ready; we are just waiting for the auspicious time tomorrow."

Li Chengqian took a deep breath.

"My journey eastward is fraught with peril, as if I were walking on thin ice or standing on the edge of an abyss. I hope that you all will work together to help me quell the natural disaster and bring peace to the people."

"We will do our utmost to assist Your Highness!" everyone replied in unison.

(End of this chapter)