Empress in her second playthrough: Something's not right with this plot!

He was worried that Li Yunsheng, knowing that David was short of supplies, would avoid battle.

However, expressing this concern would be pointless except to affect morale.

Right now, he has no solution either.

The victor is king, the loser is villain. If His Majesty were to surrender without a fight, would he be willing to accept it?

Currently, apart from the three affected prefectures, the rest of the population is not yet facing food shortages.

Two and a half million bushels of grain would be enough to sustain the army for four months; this was the only chance.

If they wait until winter, beset by internal and external troubles, they will truly have no choice but to surrender to the State of Chu.

"I'm waiting for your triumphant return in the capital."

"must!"

However, neither Wei Wenyu nor Wenren Xu expected this.

Of the 2.5 million shi of grain allocated to Taishu Guard as military provisions, he secretly distributed 1 million shi to three prefectures.

……

May, Yunzhou.

The governors of the three prefectures all gathered here, and Taishu Wei sat in the main seat.

Looking at the sumptuous meal before me, and then recalling the scene of starving people strewn across the land on the way here.

Taishu Wei sighed.

"This table of food is enough to save so many lives."

He picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Each prefecture should receive 330,000 shi of grain; go back and distribute it for disaster relief."

Upon hearing this, the three governors decided that each prefecture would receive 330,000 shi of grain.

The governor of Fengzhou asked cautiously.

"Prime Minister, Fengzhou was the hardest hit by this disaster. Shouldn't we allocate more funds accordingly?"

Seeing that someone had started, the governor of Yunzhou also spoke up.

"Prime Minister, there are millions of disaster victims in Yunzhou. It is truly impossible to take care of everyone with only 330,000 shi of grain."

Before the governor of Yanzhou could speak, Taishu Wei slammed his empty wine cup down heavily.

"You all know what the price of grain is now; one million shi is already the limit for the imperial court."

The border conflict is intense, and food is also needed.

"Rest assured, the imperial court is actively diverting grain from other prefectures, and we will surely overcome the disaster safely."

The governor of Yunzhou raised his wine cup.

"The people of Yunzhou will forever remember the Prime Minister's kindness and virtue."

Upon seeing this, the two people beside him immediately raised their wine cups as well.

"We will forever remember the Prime Minister's kindness!"

Taishu Wei drank another cup, then stood up and said.

"I won't eat the vegetables; I still have to go to the border in person."

"You three remember this: if I find out that anyone dares to embezzle disaster relief grain, they will be executed without mercy!"

The three of them stood up at the same time and said in unison.

"Don't dare, don't dare!"

After everyone left, the chief clerk stepped forward and asked.

"Sir, how much was left this time?"

"Grain prices are now three times higher than usual!"

"Then leave behind 100,000 shi?"

"Two years ago, Yongzhou suffered a major disaster, and the imperial court allocated one million shi of relief grain. Now we have only received 330,000 shi."

Even if all of it were used for disaster relief, it wouldn't even make a ripple in Yunzhou.

The governor of Yunzhou looked at the table full of dishes.

“Leave 150,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) and send the rest to various counties.”

"I'll take care of it right away."

On the other side, the same scene was unfolding.

"Sir, how much was left this time?"

The governor of Fengzhou asked in confusion.

"How much of what should be left?"

Fengzhou's chief secretary explained.

"Sir, you have only recently taken office and may not be fully aware of the situation yet."

Generally, after the disaster relief grain is distributed, the prefectural governor's office keeps a portion, and the remainder is distributed to the various counties.

"Nonsense!" the Prefect of Fengzhou roared. "I would never do such a corrupt and lawless thing!"

Then, he continued earnestly.

"We eat the emperor's salary and share his burdens; every drop of it comes from the people's hard-earned money."

How could I bear to take even a single grain of rice from the mouths of starving people?

The chief secretary standing to the side also spoke frankly.

"Sir, even if you don't keep it, the disaster relief grain cannot all be distributed."

Why?

"Although the Prime Minister is an honest and upright official, he is no longer in the capital."

"If you want to continue requesting grain from the imperial court, don't you need to bribe officials at all levels?"

Seeing that he remained silent, the chief clerk continued.

“Our Fengzhou was the hardest hit by this disaster, and the victims are all counting on you, sir.”

After a long silence, the Prefect of Fengzhou asked.

"Then tell me, how much grain should we keep?"

The chief clerk stretched out a hand.

"At least 50,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

The Prefect of Fengzhou closed his eyes, shook his head, and said.

"I can't stay in this officialdom anymore. I should resign and return to my hometown."

"My lord, if you resign and return to your hometown, even more people in Fengzhou will starve to death."

……

In May, in the Great Chu.

The envoy from Wei bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor!"

The Empress sat regally on the dragon throne, looking down from above.

"What brings the messenger here?"

"I, David, wish to resume trade with your country and establish a lasting alliance."

Jiang Qingying's gaze swept over the assembled officials.

"What do you think, my esteemed ministers?"

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, the Western Zhou is suffering from a severe drought, and the State of Wei is facing a food shortage. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Guo Zhui, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also stepped forward.

"The world is bustling with activity, all for the sake of profit."

I heard that back then, the State of Wei and the Western Zhou also formed an alliance to jointly attack our Great Chu.

Now, isn't the Western Zhou also abandoning the State of Wei? What kind of eternal alliance can there be in this world?

Then the Minister of War said.

"I heard that the Prime Minister of Wei, Taishu Wei, has gone to the border. Is this to form a permanent alliance? This is clearly a prelude to war with our Great Chu."

Seeing that everyone had finished speaking, Jiang Qingying looked at Li Yunsheng.

"What does Li Qing think?"

Li Yunsheng stood up and said.

"We humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment."

After completing the process, Jiang Qingying stopped asking questions; she certainly understood Li Yunsheng's meaning.

It was Li Yunsheng who initially proposed the border trade, and it was also Li Yunsheng who later proposed abolishing it.

She didn't understand the initial border trade, nor did she understand the later grain hoarding in the capital.

If she still doesn't understand this cancellation of the border trade, she'll truly be a fool.

The Wei envoy held up a letter of state with both hands and immediately added to it.

"I, David, wish to establish a brotherly relationship with your country and will pay you an annual tribute of 100,000 taels of gold and 100,000 bolts of silk."

At the same time, our Crown Prince will travel to your country as a hostage to demonstrate the sincerity of our alliance.

This is the alliance decree personally signed by His Majesty the Emperor; please review it, Your Majesty.