Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Prologue (Part 1)
In Nanyang County, a new drought-resistant crop was harvested, and everyone was filled with joy.
At this time, the court was overwhelmed due to the drought in the North.
Initially, only four counties submitted memorials requesting tax relief from the court. Later, more and more counties submitted memorials. The taxes were greatly affected, reduced by 20% compared to last year.
This was a critical number. Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue was so worried that his hair was falling out.
When the Ministry of War came to request funds and grain for military expenses, Minister Ji said directly, "Minister Zheng, this year the North of Da Liang suffered drought, and only received less than 60% of the taxes. The Ministry of Revenue also has to allocate funds and grain for disaster relief. This year’s military expenses have to be cut by 30%."
Duke An was immediately furious and argued incessantly with Minister Ji, bringing the quarrel directly before the Emperor of Da Liang.
Emperor Taikang had recently been greatly troubled by the drought in the North, and was somewhat haggard. Hearing the quarrel between the two important ministers, he became increasingly headachy: "Alright, stop quarreling. The military expenses cannot be reduced, the silver must be allocated."
Minister Ji had no choice but to respond: "As His Majesty decrees, the entire Ministry of Revenue will come up with ways to raise the military expenses. However, as a result, the Ministry of Revenue will not have any silver for disaster relief."
Emperor Taikang supported his head, his expression unpleasant: "Has it come to this point?"
Minister Ji raised his head and looked at the Emperor: "Your Majesty can send someone to the Ministry of Revenue to check the books and the warehouse. If I have exaggerated one word, Your Majesty can chop off my head."
Emperor Taikang remained silent.
Military expenses absolutely cannot be spared. The vast Da Liang Dynasty, with its expansive territories and a population of over tens of millions, is constantly threatened by the nomadic people outside the border invading and eyeing the Central Plains. Only a strong army can protect the country’s peace.
This army of four hundred thousand consumes a terrifying amount of money and grain every year. Fifty percent of the annual taxes of Da Liang went to military expenses. The remaining fifty percent must pay the salaries of all officials, supply the expenses of the Imperial Family, cover all government offices’ expenditures, and also allocate silver for river course repairs and disaster relief. Every year is a struggle, never a time of surplus.
Minister Ji’s complaints about being impoverished have been a long-standing habit. However, this year is truly challenging. Once the military expenses are allocated, the Ministry of Revenue will be emptied. How will they get through the coming days?
The operation of the court is actually similar to how the commoners live. Hard times are sure to be difficult.
Although Duke An obtained the military expenses, he did not feel at ease. He bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, the military expenses indeed cannot be reduced. The border army is guarding the border, the stationed troops protect various places, and the Capital Army guards the Capital City. None of these armies can be short of their salaries."
"I understand the Ministry of Revenue’s difficulties and the hardships of the court, but military expenses cannot be reduced in any case."
Emperor Taikang sighed deeply: "I am aware of all these, there’s no need to say more. Allocate the military expenses to the Ministry of War without reducing a single coin. As for the counties affected by drought this year, allow tax relief as well."
Duke An said heavily: "Just reducing taxes is far from enough, money and grain must be allocated for relief, otherwise, some people will starve to death, and there might be civil unrest."
Minister Ji finally found the opportunity to fight back, and snorted sarcastically: "Minister Zheng, worrying about the country and cherishing the people, why not reduce some military expenses and save it for disaster relief?"
Duke An, a leading figure of the Empress Dowager Faction in the court, has always supported the allocation of grain for disaster relief. Yet he is also the one requesting huge military funds for the army. This is what is called wanting both fame and benefit, no wonder Minister Ji spoke sarcastically.
Duke An, having gained substantial benefits, naturally could not be too forceful in words, so he laughed apologetically.
Minister Ji vented his complaints, knowing well it wouldn’t be effective, he soon bowed and withdrew, returning to the Ministry of Revenue to work.
Several days later, the military expenses were allocated in full to the Ministry of War.
Prime Minister Wang had nothing to oppose. Only with a powerful army can Da Liang’s peace be assured. The troops guarding the Capital City are the most crucial, and the border troops shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending the border, so their military expenses cannot be lacking. Really, the only place left to save is from the stationed troops in various places.
As the court is not yet at the point of having no food to cook, the military expenses naturally need to be secured.
However, the severe drought in the North absolutely cannot be disregarded.
In the ensuing two months, there were still no rains in the North. The riverbed’s water levels drastically lowered, and the fields were cracked dry.
There were now over a dozen counties submitting memorials.
At this rate, the spring plowing next year is sure to be heavily affected.
Emperor Taikang was burning with anxiety, his mouth began to develop several sores.
...
In spring of the seventh year of Da Liang, twelve northern counties suffered drought. After the spring plowing, the seeds barely sprouted. The court managed to allocate grain for relief, but it was like a drop in the ocean. The people on the brink of starvation, in despair, abandoned their homes and fields to flee.
Most of them had never left their homeland in their lifetime. Now, forced by circumstances to flee, they only knew to head south, towards the direction of the Capital City.
Countless fell and died of hunger along the way.
Empress Dowager Zheng prayed and burned incense while repeating scriptures every day in front of the Buddha statue, personally copying scriptures and making a great vow before Buddha to stay vegetarian until it rained in the North.
Once this news spread, the people of the Capital City praised the Lady Empress Dowager for her kind heart.
Emperor Taikang was also a believer of Buddhism and joined Empress Dowager Zheng in eating vegetarian meals.
The Empress Dowager Faction’s influence dramatically increased.
The Prime Minister Faction officials were resentful, engaging in frequent private activities. An Extraordinary Minister of the Ministry of War submitted a memorial denouncing Duke An for embezzling military funds, and soon thereafter, the stationed troops in Shuofang County caused a mutiny due to lack of military pay. The unfortunate military general of the stationed troops was swarmed by the mutineers and hacked into pieces.
This incident, once reported to the court, caused an uproar.
Emperor Taikang was furious and immediately dispatched troops to Shuofang County to suppress the mutiny.
This mutinous stationed troop consisted of only three thousand soldiers. Before the court’s troops even arrived, the stationed troops were already in chaos, scattering and fleeing, turning into bandits.
The starving people of Shuofang County, already suffering from the drought, were further ravaged by the bandit soldiers, finally being driven to their limits. Some were killed, more were coerced into becoming part of the chaos.
This chaotic troop, like a snowball, quickly grew from a few thousand to over twenty thousand people. They broke into households to rob food, stormed Wu Castle killing everyone, and even rushed into a county town. This county town was a Lower County, the city walls aged, a few hundred soldiers with a few dozen logs crashed heavily, and a section of the wall collapsed.
After breaking into the county town, the chaotic troop looted and slaughtered before fleeing in haste.
The court’s army pursued the chaotic troop, growing angrier as they pursued.
The evil in human nature was infinitely magnified in these extreme circumstances. The people coerced into the chaotic troop, once picking up weapons and tasting blood, had their bestial nature awakened. They could no longer be called human.
The county town, emptied of resources, was littered with corpses, the blood soaking the ground. The few survivors were severely traumatized, their mournful wails echoing repeatedly.
A month after this chaotic troop’s flight, the court’s army finally caught up with them. After several days of bitter fighting, they were defeated, and two thousand heads were severed.
The remaining insurgents could not be returned to their original places but were directly sent to work in nearby mines.
This civil unrest was also the prelude to Da Liang’s era of chaos.