Ji Yuan’s face reddened slightly. He lowered his head and acknowledged, “This subject will immediately go discuss disaster prevention measures with them.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Tomorrow I will publish news of the impending natural disaster in the gazette to remind the common people to prepare.”
Ji Yuan was startled and quickly said, “That’s inappropriate. What if it causes panic among the people…”
“I know, which is why the court needs to control the narrative. What happened on the Observatory today must not be leaked. How much we disclose to the outside will be up to us to decide.”
Only then did Ji Yuan breathe a sigh of relief and acknowledge.
Zhao Hanzhang assigned this task to Zhao Yunxin, giving her only one principle: “Reveal it gradually and teach them how to prevent and resist disaster.”
Zhao Yunxin acknowledged and, in addition to handling official business, had to visit the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Medical Bureau, and the Ministry of Revenue to consult and learn from people.
For instance, consulting the Ministry of Works on how to remind people to repair their houses in advance, how to judge a house’s damage level during flooding and whether it could still be repaired, how to escape from houses about to collapse or already collapsed when fleeing for one’s life…
Consulting the Imperial Medical Bureau on how to prevent disease and epidemics in advance, what to do after getting caught in rain, what medicines to take for common rain-induced chills, whether one could gather them oneself in the wild, and so on.
And the Ministry of Revenue…
There were even more things to consult about there: what crops were flood-resistant, what crops should be planted this year, what to do if fields were flooded, how to drain the water, and how to prevent insect plagues and maintain soil fertility after floods…
Sigh, being the General’s secretary was not easy.
Fortunately, after her first article passed and was published in the gazette, people immediately filled in the gaps and voluntarily submitted articles to the gazette.
Most of the authors were minor officials like clerks from the Six Ministries.
It was difficult for them to meet Zhao Hanzhang and express their political views, but they knew she would certainly read the gazette.
If their articles could be published in the gazette, it would be equivalent to making an impression on Zhao Hanzhang.
So when they realized what Zhao Yunxin was doing, officials with some understanding of flood control and disaster relief immediately wrote articles expressing their views.
Those who didn’t understand could also devote themselves to learning.
Thus, readers found themselves reading articles about flood prevention and disaster response for several consecutive days. Only then did someone come to their senses. “I understand now—there’s going to be a flood! Could the solar eclipse have portended flooding?”
This belonged to the moderately perceptive group. The especially perceptive group had already started stockpiling grain and goods.
Zhao Hu moved fastest.
That day, he had been waiting uneasily for news from the palace. He both hoped the Zhao family army would rush out of the palace to tell him the emperor had abdicated and their new emperor was ascending the throne, and feared troops would rush into his home shouting to capture rebels…
In this tug-of-war between anticipation and fear, news came from the palace: the solar eclipse was Heaven warning of a great disaster in the realm, specifically flooding.
Spoken directly by Guo Pu.
Zhao Hu trusted Guo Pu greatly. He was among those who believed in ghosts and spirits—otherwise he wouldn’t have contemplated sacrificing servants for Zhao Changyu back then.
So he immediately had people go buy grain. “Don’t buy in Luoyang. With so many people in Luoyang, how much grain could they spare for us? Go to the surrounding counties, especially counties along the Yellow River. After buying grain, send it all to the commandery seat. Store it in our family houses if we have them; if not, rent warehouses. Assign people to guard it. Remember to greet the local commandery governors—don’t let anyone rob our grain.”
He also sent people back to Yu Province. “Tell Sanjin that we won’t sell grain from our stocks now. Each grain shop should limit daily sales and raise grain prices by one coin.”
Wu Yin was startled and asked, “Which type of grain?”
Zhao Hu replied, “Since I didn’t specify which type, naturally all of them increase: rice, millet, wheat, beans—raise them all!”
Wu Yin hesitated. “If Sanniang finds out…”
Zhao Hu said, “I’m only raising it by one coin. Just wait and see—once news of the natural disaster gets out, others will raise prices even more fiercely. You tell Sanjin to watch carefully. As long as the court doesn’t take action against those grain merchants, follow their lead in raising prices.”
Wu Yin could only acknowledge.
Zhao Hu’s prediction was correct. Even before most people realized there would truly be a natural disaster, grain prices began rising.
Because someone in Luoyang was stockpiling grain in large quantities.
Zhao Zheng was run ragged. After meeting with several grain merchants and finding it had little effect, he simply went to the Ministry of Revenue and handed the matter over to them.
But as market behavior, the Ministry of Revenue could restrain it but couldn’t completely replace it, so grain prices still rose.
Moreover, when the gazette came out and even ordinary common people knew the solar eclipse was Heaven warning of flooding in the coming spring and summer, grain prices jumped up three coins in one go.
The ministers were all very worried and submitted memorials one after another, urging Zhao Hanzhang to pacify the people and conceal news of the natural disaster.
Ji Yuan said, “How can something already made public be taken back? What about the court’s dignity?”
Xiahou Ren replied, “The gazette only published flood prevention and disaster response measures. It never explicitly stated there would definitely be a calamity. As long as the General comes forward and says this is the court educating and enlightening the people, not predicting natural disaster, with the General’s prestige, the people will certainly believe.”
Ming Yu sneered. “When the natural disaster truly occurs in the future, won’t the people resent the General?”
Tao Wu had long felt Zhao Hanzhang was wrong and finally couldn’t help saying, “Most people in the realm are ignorant yet consider themselves clever and won’t follow orders. Therefore, court announcements shouldn’t focus on explanation but should consider how to maximize people’s interests. The General publicized the natural disaster, causing panic and soaring grain prices, with the people ultimately suffering the losses.”
Yuan Li countered, “How is soaring grain prices the General’s concern? Isn’t it caused by people on the market stockpiling grain in large quantities? If you want grain prices to fall, it’s simple—arrest all the grain merchants and wealthy families hoarding grain, confiscate their grain, and when there’s more grain among the people, prices will naturally fall.”
Tao Wu said, “You, you’re treating the court like bandits robbing homes!”
Yuan Li turned sharply to glare at Tao Wu. “Who are you calling bandits?”
Tao Wu looked at the scars on his face, nearly leaping from his cheeks, and gritted out one word: “You!”
Yuan Li’s killing intent rose. “I’ve long seen you all as defiant. You former ministers of the previous emperor oppose the General at every turn. Whatever the General does, you oppose. The solar eclipse predicting natural disaster was known to all civil and military officials. Do you think it could be hidden from the common people for long?”
Tao Wu said in a deep voice, “However long we can hide it is how long we hide it.”
Zhao Shen sneered. “With a solar eclipse appearing, the court must give the people an explanation. If we don’t attribute it to natural disaster, should His Majesty issue an edict of self-reproach?”
Rarely encountering a quarrel scene he could understand, the young emperor, who had been energetically observing, was suddenly called upon. Frightened, he drooped his head and shrank back, silently lowering his head.
Why do you have to bring me up when you’re arguing?
Xiahou Ren said, “When the flooding truly occurs, the people will naturally realize the solar eclipse predicted natural disaster. If no disaster appears, we can discuss this matter then—there’s no rush.”
He continued, “Although I believe in Guo Pu’s divinations, what if? What if there’s no flooding—wouldn’t that damage the court’s dignity?”
Zhao Shen replied, “At this time, the General represents the court. You’re asking the General to deceive the people. When the flooding comes, won’t that damage the court’s dignity even more?”
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