The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"Why?" Li Shimin really didn't understand.

Was I angry? Not really.

From various events, Li Shimin could understand that Chen Huai'an possessed a strong sense of righteousness.

He had been concerned about disaster relief from the very beginning, and everything he did was for this purpose.

Therefore, Li Shimin really couldn't understand why Chen Huai'an was now opposing him.

Most of the other officials shared the same thought. No one here was a fool who would be blinded by emotions and jump out to accuse Chen Huai'an.

"Your Majesty!" Chen Huai'an said earnestly, "Disaster relief, disaster relief, since ancient times, every dynasty and every wise monarch has provided disaster relief."

"But after all these years of relief efforts, what exactly have they achieved?"

"So-called disaster relief is nothing more than opening granaries and distributing grain to help people so that they have something to eat and don't starve to death."

"It happens once or twice, but it happens every time, is that right?"

"Isn't this wrong?" Changsun Wuji said subconsciously, "It's always been like this since ancient times."

"The imperial court won't open its granaries for disaster relief, and the Ministry of Revenue won't provide any funds to help the people. Now that a drought has occurred, are we just supposed to watch the people sell their children?"

"Just because it has always been this way, does that mean it must be right?" Chen Huai'an asked rhetorically, then said, "Of course we cannot stand by and watch people sell their children, that's beyond question."

"Of course we should help the people, but shouldn't we change our disaster relief methods?"

Du Ruhui asked in confusion, "How will it change?"

Chen Huai'an said seriously, "It's very simple. We need to change our thinking. We can't provide disaster relief for free. Otherwise, no matter how rich the imperial court is, it still can't support so many people and can't save everyone."

"Your Majesty, I propose that we implement a work-for-relief program."

"Since we're already providing disaster relief, why not let these affected people help us dredge waterways and build infrastructure? We can give them enough to eat and even pay them for their work."

"In this way, disaster relief will be provided, and many major projects of the imperial court will be completed. After the disaster is over, the people will still have money left to rebuild their families."

"Wouldn't this kill two birds with one stone?"

Li Shimin was startled. Sitting on the throne, he stared at Chen Huai'an, who was speaking eloquently below, and remained stunned for a long time.

In my mind, only the four words "work-for-relief" echoed, echoing over and over again!

The other officials were all stunned.

"You...you can do that?" Xiao Yu murmured to himself.

Chen Huai'an countered, "Why can't we do that?"

"It's like the Ministry of Works currently needs a large workforce for mining, iron forging, and salt production. They already use an employment system, so why not employ these common people?"

"Don't they have hands and feet? Are they lazy?"

"No, they just have no other way to survive."

As the ancient sages said, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

"Instead of spending a lot of money and food to feed them, we should give them a way to survive."

"Since there is a shortage of food within the Great Wall and the imperial court lacks manpower to reclaim wasteland, why not directly recruit these disaster-stricken people to reclaim the wasteland?"

"Isn't this the best way to provide disaster relief?"

Li Shimin's eyes changed completely; he remembered many things.

He had heard Chen Huai'an mention this when he was teaching Li Chengqian and the others.

Although he engaged in business, he also saved many people.

The same principle applies to governing a country.

"How did you come up with that?" Feng Deyi exclaimed in amazement.

Chen Huai'an said irritably, "Is there even a need to think about it?"

"In the 'Guanzi: The Number of Horses' written by Guan Zhong of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period, it was mentioned that if there is a year of famine, drought, or flood, and the people lose their livelihood, then palaces and pavilions should be built. Those that have no dogs in front and no pigs behind are considered 'common.' Therefore, building palaces and pavilions is not for the sake of extravagance, but for the purpose of stabilizing the country."

According to the "Yanzi Chunqiu", during the reign of Duke Jing of Qi, the State of Qi suffered a famine. Yan Ying opposed directly opening the granaries to distribute grain. Instead, he recruited starving people to work under the pretext of building the Luqin Terrace. He increased wages and extended the construction period. In the end, "the terrace was completed in three years and the people were revitalized." The people survived the famine year thanks to their wages.

"In the 22nd year of Jianwu in the Eastern Han Dynasty, an earthquake occurred in Nanyang. Emperor Guangwu of Han issued an edict requiring local officials to use money and grain to hire disaster victims to participate in burying the wounded and repairing houses."

"With so many examples already presented, why bother thinking about it?"

Everyone: "..."

The officials were filled with shame.

Upon careful consideration, most people remembered and realized that Chen Huai'an was indeed right.

These are all facts recorded in the book.

Chen Huai'an sneered, "Putting your knowledge into practice, everyone!"

Li Shimin twitched the corner of his mouth and exclaimed, "Excellent, what a wonderful work-for-relief program!"

"What do you, my esteemed ministers, think?"

Fang Xuanling cupped his hands and said, "Lord Chen is a man of great talent. This is the best strategy for disaster relief. I humbly request Your Majesty to implement it."

"I second that opinion."

"I second that..."

Seeing that everyone agreed, Li Shimin said, "Alright, in that case, the Ministry of Revenue shall compile a list of the disaster-stricken people and submit it to the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of Works shall then summon these people to reclaim wasteland and repair water conservancy projects in the Guanzhong region."

"That's right!" Li Shimin said with a bright look in his eyes, "I remember that Huai'an previously established granaries in Jiannan, Jiangnan and Huainan regions respectively."

"A few days ago, you told me that it was completed."

"Surely these places haven't experienced drought?"

Pei Ju shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, we have not yet received any news of disasters in Jiannan, Jiangnan, or Huainan. It seems that there are none."

"Although there is a drought this year, it is not enough to affect the entire Tang Dynasty."

"In other words," Li Shimin said excitedly, "when the harvest is complete in these three regions, the three granaries will at least have some grain that can be temporarily used?"

"Theoretically speaking... that's how it is," Pei Ju replied, glancing at Chen Huai'an.

Now, no one dares to doubt Chen Huai'an's foresight.

It is truly necessary to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances even in times of peace.

"Good." Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief. "The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel have recently received a large amount of money, which should be enough to sustain them for a long time."

"Once the grain harvest in Jiannan, Jiangnan, and Huainan is complete, this crisis will be over..."

"Your Majesty, there is one more question," Pei Ju said hesitantly.

Li Shimin's heart skipped a beat: "What other questions are there?"

Pei Ju hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking: "With the income from the Ministry of Works' ironware and refined salt, the Ministry of Revenue has indeed seen a significant increase in its finances. However... the Ministry of Revenue is facing a shortage of grain."

"With grain prices soaring... we'll probably have to spend money to buy them from outside, and at high prices."

Li Shimin: "..."

Li Shimin was numb. He knew that the Ministry of Revenue did not have much grain, after all, they had mobilized 30,000 troops to stop the Turks.

Although the battle lasted only a short time, a significant amount of food was lost.

Moreover, Li Jing did not return to Chang'an until the grand court assembly on New Year's Day, during which time he remained on the front lines defending against the Turks, which consumed too much food.

Li Shimin was not surprised that the Ministry of Revenue was out of grain.

At this moment, Chen Huai'an coughed lightly: "Your Majesty, I have a solution to this matter."

"..."