After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1287: Chapter 1254: Opposition

Ji Yuan’s face flushed slightly, and he lowered his head in response, "I will go to discuss disaster prevention with them immediately."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Tomorrow, I will publish the impending natural disaster in the newspaper to remind the public to prepare."

Ji Yuan was startled and quickly said, "That’s inappropriate, what if it causes public panic..."

"I know, that’s why the court must lead the public opinion. Today’s matter at the Observatory must not be disclosed. How much is revealed is decided by us."

Ji Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang entrusted this matter to Zhao Yunxin, giving her only one principle: "Reveal it gradually, teach them disaster prevention and relief."

Zhao Yunxin agreed, and in addition to handling official duties, she had to go to the Ministry of Industry, Imperial Hospital, and Ministry of Revenue for consultation and study.

For example, consulting the Ministry of Industry on how to advise the public to repair houses in advance, how to assess damage in floods, whether repairs are possible, and how to escape quickly from collapsing or collapsed houses...

Consulting the Imperial Hospital on how to prevent diseases in advance, what to do if soaked in rain, what medicine to take when catching a cold from rain, and whether they can gather herbs themselves in the wild, among other things.

As for the Ministry of Revenue...

There were even more inquiries needed, such as which crops are flood-resistant, what crops to plant this year, how to drain floodwaters if fields are submerged, and how to prevent insect damage after floods and ensure soil fertility...

Ah, being the Great General’s secretary is not easy.

Fortunately, once her first article was approved and published, others immediately checked for omissions and proactively wrote articles to submit to the Di Bao.

Many of the authors were minor officials from the six ministries.

They rarely saw Zhao Hanzhang express her opinions, but they knew she would certainly read the Di Bao.

If their articles could be published in the Di Bao, it would be equivalent to leaving an impression on Zhao Hanzhang.

So when officials who understood disaster relief work noticed what Zhao Yunxin was doing, they quickly wrote articles to express their views;

Those who didn’t understand could also get involved to understand more.

As a result, people who read the newspaper read articles about flood prevention and disaster relief for several days before realizing, "I get it, there’s a flood coming, perhaps the solar eclipse is a warning of a flood?"

This perception belonged to moderately sensitive people; those who were particularly sensitive had already started hoarding grain and goods.

Zhao Hu was the fastest.

That day he anxiously waited for news from the Imperial Palace; he hoped for the Zhao Family Army to rush out of the palace announcing the emperor’s abdication and the new emperor’s ascension; yet feared that soldiers would storm his house shouting to arrest traitors...

Amidst this tug of war between anticipation and fear, news from the palace came out that the solar eclipse was a warning of impending major disaster, specifically a flood.

Guo Pu personally determined this.

Zhao Hu trusted Guo Pu; he was one among those who believed in spirits, otherwise he wouldn’t have wanted to bury his slaves alive with Zhao Changyu back then.

So he immediately instructed others to buy grain, "Do not buy in Luoyang, with so many people here, how much grain can be scraped for us? Go to the surrounding counties, especially those along the Yellow River, and after buying the grain, send them to the Prefectural Governor’s place. If our family has a house, store it there; if not, rent a warehouse. Assign someone to guard it and make sure to notify the local Prefectural Governor to prevent our grain from being looted."

He also sent someone back to Yu State, "Tell Sanjin that for now, we are not selling any of our grain externally. Our grain shops will limit daily sales, and raise the grain price by one cent."

Five Silver was taken aback and asked, "Which type of grain?"

Zhao Hu: "Since we didn’t specify which kind, naturally, the price of every kind goes up: rice, millet, wheat, beans, all of them!"

Five Silver was conflicted, "If Third Lady finds out..."

Zhao Hu: "I’ve only raised it by one cent. Just wait; when news of the natural disasters comes out, others will raise prices even more savagely. Tell Sanjin to keep an eye out; once they raise prices, as long as the court doesn’t crack down on those grain merchants, let’s follow suit."

Five Silver had no choice but to agree.

Zhao Hu’s forecast was correct; grain prices started rising even before most people realized that a natural disaster was truly imminent.

Because in Luoyang, someone was hoarding a large amount of grain.

Zhao Zheng was extremely busy, and after meeting with several grain merchants with little effect, he simply went to the Ministry of Revenue and entrusted them with this matter.

However, market behavior can be constrained by the Ministry of Revenue but not fully replaced, so grain prices still rose.

And when the Di Bao declared that even ordinary citizens knew the solar eclipse was a celestial warning of flooding in the upcoming spring and summer, grain prices suddenly jumped by three cents.

The ministers were all very worried and repeatedly submitted petitions urging Zhao Hanzhang to reassure the public and conceal the disaster.

Ji Yuan: "How can we retract what is already disclosed? Does the court’s authority mean anything?"

Xiahou Ren: "The Di Bao only published measures for flood and disaster prevention, without clear mention of an impending disaster; if the Great General states it’s merely the court’s teaching to educate the people, given the Great General’s prestige, the public will surely believe it."

Ming Yu sneered: "If the disaster does occur in the future, won’t the public then resent the Great General?"

Tao Wu, having long thought Zhao Hanzhang wrong, finally couldn’t help but say: "The world mostly consists of ignorant masses who fancy themselves clever and do not heed commands; thus, court proclamations should not be primarily explanatory but rather aim to maximize the people’s interest. The Great General’s public announcement of the disaster incites panic; when grain prices soar, it’s the public who suffers."

Yuan Li: "What does the rising grain price have to do with the Great General? Is it not because some people on the market are hoarding grain? If you want grain prices to fall back, it’s quite simple: arrest all those hoarding grain merchants, and wealthy families, confiscate the grain; as grain proliferates among the populace, the prices will naturally drop."

Tao Wu: "What, you take the court to be what? A gang of robbers?"

Yuan Li turned sharply and glared angrily at Tao Wu, "Who are you calling a thief?"

Tao Wu observed the fierce scars on his face nearly leaping off his cheeks and gritted his teeth to utter a word, "You!"

Yuan Li’s kill intent surged, "I’ve long noticed your disrespect, you rely on being old courtiers of the late emperor to trouble the Great General everywhere; no matter what the Great General does, you oppose it. The matter of the solar eclipse foreshadowing disaster is known to all in the court; how long do you think you can conceal it from the public?"

Tao Wu said in a deep voice: "For as long as possible."

Zhao Shen laughed coldly: "With the solar eclipse, the court must provide the public an explanation. If not blamed on a disaster, will Your Majesty issue a decree admitting faults?"

The Little Emperor, who rarely encountered an argument he understood, was initially observing with great interest, but once mentioned, was startled, drooped his head and shrank back, silently lowering his head.

You all argue, why mention me?

Xiahou Ren said, "When the flood truly arrives, the public will naturally realize the solar eclipse heralded the disaster. If no disaster occurs, then we’ll discuss it; there’s no rush."

He said, "I do believe in Guo Pu’s divination, but what if, just what if there’s no flood? Wouldn’t it damage the court’s authority?"

Zhao Shen said: "At this point, the Great General represents the court; if you let the Great General deceive the public, and when the flood comes, won’t that damage the court’s authority even more?"