Chapter 34: Is This Method Feasible?

【In the spring of the fourteenth year of Hongwu, the imperial court conscripted 50,000 elite troops, bringing 160,000 family members, for a total of 210,000 people to head to the northern provinces.】

【In the summer of the same year, approximately 130,000 family members of the northern border garrison began to migrate to the North.】

【In the summer of the same year, the neighboring northern provinces provided a total of 100,000 people in support.】

【At the end of the fourteenth year of Hongwu, immigrants from various regions began to arrive in the North, and the disadvantageous situation in the North gradually showed signs of stabilizing.】

【In the spring of the fifteenth year of Hongwu, the immigrants from various southern regions had basically all arrived in the northern provinces.】

【In the autumn of the fifteenth year of Hongwu, the imperial court once again conscripted 100,000 troops, bringing 270,000 family members, for a total of 370,000 people to head to the northern provinces.】

【In the spring of the sixteenth year of Hongwu, all immigrants had arrived, and the local officials and soldiers assisted in reclaiming wasteland and stationing troops to farm, with agriculture basically restored to its original state.】

【In the summer of the same year, the neighboring northern provinces once again provided a total of 50,000 people in support.】

【In the autumn of the seventeenth year of Hongwu, the northern Central Plains had basically reached the level prior to the disaster.】

【Ding, Simulation ended!】

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this simulation and nodded with satisfaction.

Preparations would begin starting this year, and then it would officially commence next year.

It truly took three years to basically get on the right track.

With this, Zhu Yuanzhang could finally completely set down the heavy stone in his heart.

Early the next morning, while Zhu Gaoxu was still in his dreams, he was woken up by a burst of knocking on the door outside.

"Nanyang Commandery Prince, it is almost time for the morning court session; this servant is here to attend to your dressing."

Zhu Gaoxu rubbed his sleepy eyes, and looking at the unfamiliar bed beneath him, he remembered that he was in the Imperial Palace.

"Come in."

Turning over and sitting up, Zhu Gaoxu let the palace maid waiting outside enter, and then began to dress under her service.

When Zhu Gaoxu came out, he discovered that Zhu Yuanzhang had long been waiting outside the door.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Gaoxu could not help but sigh.

"Being an emperor in this day and age is not a good job."

Rising earlier than a chicken, sleeping later than a dog.

Zhu Yuanzhang, of course, did not know that his precious grandson had just compared him to a chicken and a dog in his heart.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu come out listlessly, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You little monkey, perk up; I keep my promises, and after this morning, you will be the youngest general in history."

"One could say unprecedented and unrepeatable!"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu instantly threw his sleepiness to the back of his mind and became spirited all at once.

Afterwards, he followed Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial carriage and walked toward the Fengtian Hall.

When Zhu Yuanzhang pulled Zhu Gaoxu's little hand and arrived at the Fengtian Hall from the rear, the crowd of civil and military officials were already standing in the hall.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu accompanying Zhu Yuanzhang to the morning court session again, the crowd of officials looked at one another, and for a time, the entire Great Hall was filled with varied thoughts.

His Majesty was perhaps a bit too doting on this imperial grandson, Zhu Gaoxu.

Paying no mind to the thoughts of those officials, Zhu Yuanzhang walked with a tiger's stride and sat upon the Dragon Throne; following a cry of "Court is in session," the many civil and military officials bowed in succession.

"I will skip the pleasantries; you all know that the northern provinces have suffered a great disaster—who will think of a solution for me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang did not waste words; as soon as he sat down, he began to test the reactions of the officials.

Even though he already had a plan in mind, Zhu Yuanzhang still intended to use this opportunity to observe the officials' reactions.

This was the way of an emperor!

Yet, facing these words from Zhu Yuanzhang, the crowd of officials lowered their heads and remained silent.

The great disaster in the North was no small matter; in such a situation, it was better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing.

Looking at the silent crowd of officials below, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a cold snort, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

"What, with so many ministers, is it possible that not one of you can give me a useful method?"

Sensing Zhu Yuanzhang's dissatisfaction, the crowd of officials became even more cautious, and no one spoke rashly.

Just at this moment, Hu Weiyong stepped out.

"Your Majesty, this subject believes that at present, we should first transport grain to resolve the crisis of hunger among the northern people, and then dispatch immigrants from Shanxi to restore construction."

"This subject believes that the imperial court can send grain, and at the same time, Your Majesty can issue an edict to mobilize the granaries near the disaster area for immediate relief."

Hu Weiyong was indeed worthy of being the Left Chancellor of Great Ming, stepping out at a critical moment to withstand the pressure from Lao Zhu.

However, seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu smiled faintly.

It could not be denied that this method of Hu Weiyong's was indeed not bad; if executed properly, it could at least temporarily stabilize the situation in the North.

But Zhu Gaoxu was also clear that the reason Hu Weiyong was mobilizing grain was absolutely more out of selfish motives.

Hu Weiyong had many partisans, and it was impossible for him not to take this opportunity to embezzle a sum.

If nothing else, among the many generals of the Huai-Xi faction alone, quite a few were drawing pay for ghost soldiers, and the granaries in some places were already empty.

It was likely that Hu Weiyong also wanted to use this opportunity to clean up the mess for his partisans.

However, although Zhu Gaoxu saw it clearly, he did not intend to say much.

The account between him and Hu Weiyong still had to be settled slowly.

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, and he then stood with his hands folded beside Zhu Yuanzhang, clearly not wanting to speak.

But how could the wily and cunning Zhu Yuanzhang let Zhu Gaoxu stand on the sidelines and watch the show?

"Hmm, this move is not bad!" Zhu Yuanzhang first spoke to affirm it.

After hearing this, Hu Weiyong puffed out his chest, clearly believing that Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely adopt his suggestion.

But very quickly, Hu Weiyong heard Zhu Yuanzhang speak again.

"The method is not bad; little monkey, you tell me, is this method feasible?"