Chapter 83

Jingzhou is located in Hubei, and the surrounding water resources are abundant. Not only is there the Yangtze River system, but there are also thirty or forty lakes of various sizes, including Honghu and the Hudu River.

Moreover, this place is a plain with many fertile fields. The saying "When the lakes are ripe, the world is full" refers to this place.

Although the grain production at this time was not as high as in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was still a rare grain-producing land for the Great Tang.

Now that Jingzhou and other places have been hit by the disaster during the autumn harvest, it affects not only the Shannan Circuit but also the entire Great Tang, as well as the situation of the eastern expedition.

Li Tai stepped forward: "Big Brother, I am willing to personally lead grain and supplies to Jingzhou for disaster relief."

"No need!"

Li Chengqian refused decisively: "Third Brother is in Anzhou in the Huainan Circuit, only one prefecture away from Jingzhou.

This time I will let Third Brother go; you have other things to do."

Hearing this, Yu Zhining stepped forward: "Reporting to the Crown Prince, the Prince of Wu has no experience in disaster relief, and the imperial court still needs to send ministers to go."

"This subject proposes that Xiao Tejin go to Jingzhou to cooperate with the Prince of Wu in disaster relief."

Li Chengqian raised an eyebrow and said lightly: "What do you all think?"

"This subject objects! Xiao Tejin is already old and not suitable for long-distance travel."

"What does Doctor Chu mean? Jingzhou is not far from Chang'an; where does the long-distance travel come from?"

"How urgent is the matter of disaster relief? We should ride at full speed to Jingzhou. Can Xiao Tejin still ride a horse?"

"..."

As both sides argued endlessly, Li Chengqian's eyes gradually became cold. He swept his gaze coldly around the room and finally stopped on Zhangsun Wuji:

"Uncle, what is your opinion?"

"Everything will be as Your Highness the Crown Prince commands."

"That's good!"

At this point, Li Chengqian looked at the people below with a serious face, and his tone became icy:

"Put away your little schemes. Whoever dares to fight for power at this time, don't blame me for not giving them face."

"Next, you don't need to say anything; just listen to my edict."

Gao Shilian also spoke up at the right time to echo: "The Emperor is not here, and the Crown Prince has the authority to mobilize everything for disaster relief."

"I warn you all, do not act in compliance in public but in opposition in private."

"Everything will be as Your Highness the Crown Prince commands!"

With Gao Shilian backing him up, neither Chu Suiliang nor Yu Zhining dared to be presumptuous.

Seeing that the ministers and Li Tai had no objections, Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Order: The Prince of Wu, Ke, and the Anzhou State School Doctor, Su Xu, are to collect grain from the Shannan and Huainan Circuits for disaster relief. Officials of the two circuits are to cooperate unconditionally with the disaster relief; those who violate the order will be beheaded!"

"Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries in Jingzhou and other places are to open their gates to accept the affected people. This matter is the responsibility of the Yellow Gate Vice Minister, Chu Suiliang."

"All troops in the Shannan Circuit are to enter the affected areas to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the disaster to cause trouble."

"The physicians and Taoist priests in Luzhou are not to return for the time being; order them all to go to the disaster area to prevent the occurrence of an epidemic."

"..."

One instruction after another was issued, and the ministers all received their tasks.

After Li Chengqian finished speaking, Li Tai asked with suspicion in his eyes:

"Why let Consort Su go for disaster relief? He is only a doctor and has no experience in disaster relief."

"Public notices!"

Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai and then explained lightly:

"Use public notices to convey the intentions of the imperial court to the people, and use public notices to soothe the hearts of the people."

"I have the first edict for the people; listen carefully and pass it on to Consort Su."

"Anyone who dares to hoard goods, commit treason, or violate the law during the disaster will have their household registration recorded, and their actions will be spread throughout their place of residence and ancestral home for three years without ceasing."

"For serious cases, their descendants will be prohibited from participating in the imperial examination, and they will never be promoted for meritorious service on the battlefield."

"Remember, no matter who it is, even if it is a clansman of the Li family, it is the same."

"Boom!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's brains were buzzing, and they all showed expressions of horror.

Li Tai stared blankly at Li Chengqian, opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't say a word.

It was Gao Shilian who was the first to come back to his senses and spoke to advise:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this kind of punishment is too severe. Should you consider it again?"

"No!"

A cold light flashed in Li Chengqian's eyes: "Use heavy codes in troubled times. I will not allow anyone to cause trouble during the eastern expedition."

"Uncle, I leave the disaster relief to you to be fully responsible."

"Fine!"

Li Chengqian did not expect a flood in Jingzhou, which forced him to change his plan and prepare to bring the woodblock printing technique into the world ahead of schedule.

But once it was brought out ahead of schedule, his arrangements would be exposed to everyone's eyes, which might cause the plan to fail.

If he didn't use woodblock printing, relying solely on those scholars in Anzhou, they wouldn't be able to copy many gazettes even if they copied until their hands broke.

If the people were one day late in knowing the imperial court's disaster relief policy, there would be another group of people preparing to cause trouble.

He could also ignore it, but in that case, everything he said to persuade the imperial clan would become bullshit, and no imperial clansman would dare to believe him again.

'Forget it! I hope the stele engraving can overshadow the woodblock printing; if that doesn't work, I'll add the genealogy.'

Thinking of this, a gentle smile appeared on Li Chengqian's face:

"Qingque, relying solely on the scholars of Anzhou, you can't copy the public notices needed for ten prefectures. There are also many scholars in the Literature Pavilion; do you want to send a batch to Anzhou?"

Li Tai looked righteous: "Big Brother is right, I will go back and arrange it immediately,..."

Before he finished speaking, a minister jumped out to object:

"The students of the Literature Pavilion are gathered together for the compilation of the 'Wude Encyclopedia.' Your Highness must not let them go at this time."

"This subject seconds that! There are many scholars in the Shannan and Huainan Circuits. It's not like we are compiling books; we can find a batch easily just for copying."

"This subject seconds that..."

Li Tai turned to look at the people who spoke out in opposition, his face becoming uglier and uglier. He knew that the children of these people were all in the Literature Pavilion.

They were afraid that something would happen to their sons in the disaster area, not to mention whether there would be rebels or rioters.

The saying that there must be a great epidemic after a great disaster was enough to make them afraid.

Just at this moment, Li Chengqian gave a look to Li Chunfeng, who was standing at the very back.

Immediately after, Li Chunfeng said loudly: "There is no need to send scholars. This subject has the rubbing technique and can complete the public notices for the ten prefectures within three days."

"It takes several months just to carve the content of the public notices. Do we still need disaster relief after waiting for several months?"

Li Chunfeng's expression did not change, and his tone was full of confidence:

"There is no need to carve. Before compiling the 'Wude Encyclopedia,' this subject, under the order of His Highness the Prince of Wei, studied the rubbing technique."

"Now, the rubbing technique can arrange and carve characters at will. Whether it is the 'Five Classics,' Buddhist sutras, or Taoist scriptures, thousands of volumes can be rubbed out within a day."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Chengqian was full of excitement: "Worthy of being Qingque, to compile books for the Grand Ancestor, you even thought of the rubbing technique."

"Minister Li, you take the rubbing technique to Anzhou and cooperate with the Prince of Wu and Consort Su."

"You must spread the imperial court's disaster relief regulations throughout the Shannan Circuit in the shortest possible time."

At this point, Li Chengqian's eyes were full of admiration:

"This move by Qingque not only gives hope to the affected people but also ensures that all the people in the world no longer have to worry about books. The literary governance of our Great Tang will surely be the best of all dynasties from now on."

"Minister Li, after the disaster is over, you will print a batch of the Five Classics in the local area and give them to the scholars."

"On the cover of each book, write 'Gifted by the Prince of Wei, Tai,' so that all the scholars in the world will know the achievements of the Prince of Wei!"

"Yes!"

"That's all for today. I have things to do, so I'm leaving."

In the shocked eyes of everyone, Li Chengqian strode toward the door, as if someone were chasing him from behind.

By the time the others reacted, Li Chengqian and Li Chunfeng had already disappeared without a trace.