Chapter 1087 The Great Disaster

The days pass by day, time passes by, and time goes by.

Winter is gone and spring is coming, and it is the second year in a blink of an eye.

This year, a major event happened. First, most parts of the north have seen no rain for months since the beginning of spring. The land was cracked and the rivers dried up. Then, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, flooding, flooding countless farmlands, sweeping over the houses, and mourning all over the fields.

The subsequent floods and droughts caused the war-torn Central Plains to shake again.

The affected areas include Qin and Ling countries.

Regarding this matter, Xiao Yuan and King Ling both regarded it as the top priority, opened up the national treasury, sent important officials to provide disaster relief and help the people.

In the court, Prime Minister Liu Yuzhi was worried. He took the lead and said: "The degree of drought in the northern region is extraordinary. Many governments have reported that they have been hungry and the treasury is not supported."

"In terms of disaster relief, I believe that we should quickly control the scope of the impact and avoid the occurrence of large-scale famine escape. Once this happens, the situation will become more and more uncontrollable."

"Therefore, the king should order officials from all over the country to be under the jurisdiction of the officials."

To put it bluntly, his view is that local officials quickly control the disaster situation under their jurisdiction, and each manages their respective jurisdictions, so that disaster victims will not be able to flee, because once this happens, millions of people will be displaced and turmoil across the country, and disaster relief will be ineffective. Even after the disaster, the local area will be in a mess and it will be difficult to resume production.

He focused on explaining the local disaster situation, national support, and local resolution.

This proposal was recognized by Xiao Yuan on the spot, and then Liu Yuzhi wrote a book on "A Brief Disaster Relief Measures".

First, the theoretical basis of the idea of ​​valuing the people, second, the actual needs of long-term stability in the country, third, mobilizing the enthusiasm of the people, and fourth, the focus of economic means.

This is not a brief discussion. This official document is thirteen long and well organized, covering all of it.

In short, its main measures are:

Relief, provide free food, grass and daily necessities to the disaster area, helping the victims to overcome this temporary life difficulties.

Relief grants mobilize the economy during the initial stabilization of the disaster, bring grain rice into the disaster area and sell it at a low price. This money is related to grain merchants. In other words, no matter how much grain the country allocates, it will eat it up, and can only solve some of the situation. To completely resume production, this is a necessary step.

Exemption and exemption from taxes and labor service in disaster areas.

Work-for-relief, such as building embankments, building roads, building schools, and clearing rivers, etc., allowing disaster victims to participate in the construction. To put it simply, they can have a job to support their families and not just wait for relief food. While the disaster situation is stable, they also create engineering construction.

This is a very complete support plan.

After Xiao Yuan carefully read it, the dynasty praised Liu Yuzhi for being such a prime minister, which is actually a blessing for the country and the people.

At the end of the agreed disaster relief, Liu Yuzhi was even more in charge.

A prime minister is actually very busy with political affairs. From this point of view, it can be seen that Xiao Yuan attaches great importance to the disaster.

After Liu Yuzhi received the order, he did not dare to delay. He put down his work and rushed to the hardest-hit area, Suyang.

Suyang Nai County, originally belonged to Liang Kingdom, and has nine counties under its jurisdiction, not a small place.

When he learned that the Prime Minister had arrived, Gu Zhengfeng, the governor of Suyang County, was immediately panicked and hurriedly led the county officials out to greet him.

After the two sides met and gave their salutes, Liu Yuzhi couldn't help but smile in order to stabilize the mentality of Suyang officials: "Master Gu, your Zhengfeng name is not good."

"Oh, the Prime Minister is making fun of the officials." Gu Zhengfeng quickly smiled.

Sure enough, this joke also made all officials have a lot of mentality. Before, they were all full of worries, like ants in hot pans.

"You are all appointed officials of the court. At this time of crisis, we will work together to overcome difficulties and work hard for state affairs." As the prime minister, Liu Yuzhi first praised them and then said: "Because the matter is of great importance, all banquets should be cancelled, and the matters should be discussed in our hall."

"Ah? Yes, yes, please come from the Prime Minister." Gu Zhengfeng quickly stretched out his hand.

When a group of officials entered the hall, Liu Yuzhi was naturally located directly above, and the officials below also began to report on the situation in each county one by one.

Now that the prime minister is here, whoever wants to live without his life, dares to play tricks on disaster situations, so the report is all facts.

In the entire Suyang, the ponds in all counties have almost dried up, and no farmland has been irrigated. In addition, the people here are not rich and there is not much surplus grain. Many people have begun to pull weeds to feed.

After understanding all the situation, Liu Yuzhi couldn't help but frown and said, "This drought, under the order of the king, the court has allocated 40 million taels of silver and 730,000 stones of food and grass. It can be divided into various places and solved all problems. To survive this drought season, it is also a drop in the bucket."

"Yes, Prime Minister." Gu Zhengfeng immediately agreed: "All counties are affected by disasters, and they will use up all silver and relief grain sooner or later. This is a bottomless pit."

"Yeah..." Liu Yuzhi pondered for a moment, and then changed his subject: "There should be many grain merchants in the county, what is the price of grain in Suyang now?"

Gu Zhengfeng said: "Since the drought, many businessmen have been seeking profits and want to make money from the national crisis. They have raised the price of grain several times, but they have been suppressed by the government."

Logically, this is done very well, but Liu Yuzhi said: "Don't suppress it anymore. On the contrary, you will release news tomorrow, saying that the prices of Suyang have soared and the prices of grain have been high."

"Ah?" Gu Zhengfeng was puzzled and stuttered: "Prime Minister... Prime Minister, you are the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who is the one who

Liu Yuzhi smiled and said, "Does Lord Gu know that when he learned that the drought in the north is severe, many big merchants have begun to stock up on materials, food and grass to make money. They have not sold it for a long time and are waiting for the price to rise. Now, you want to give them a chance."

"Just as you said, merchants seek profit and see that Suyang's grain is sky-high, how can there be no reason not to transport grain?"

"Yes, but once this happens, prices will soar and it will be difficult to balance it again." Gu Zhengfeng said worriedly.

"Don't worry, things are rare and expensive. Once something is flooded, it will be worthless." Liu Yuzhi said calmly: "Besides, official grain is the standard for balancing prices."

Gu Zhengfeng took a deep breath and said repeatedly: "I understand, the official understands, and then I will execute it."

The first thing to do to provide disaster relief is naturally to open warehouses and release grain, but this can only be used for emergency purposes. If the number of victims is small, it can be solved perfectly. If the disaster area is large, it will appear very passive.

Because the food that has been allocated is not inexhaustible, it will be eaten sooner or later.

Liu Yuzhi deliberately raised prices to mobilize businesses in other regions, and then used porridge to prevent the victims from hungry every day and prepared fortifications, and regarded Suyang as the primary area to implement disaster relief policies.
Chapter completed!