"To prevent the situation where, every ti there’s a natural disaster or human calamity and the court buys grain, those grain shops take the opportunity to raise grain prices, not to ntion that they go and buy grain from the common people but deliberately lower the price, making profits from both ends, it’s simply exploitative."
Ye Zi’an, upon hearing this, brightened up, "What you said makes sense, my wife. If the grain prices are controlled by the state, it can prevent rchants from exploiting the prices during disaster years, and at the very least, it ensures the farrs’ interests to a certain extent. So that the grain they painstakingly grow each year isn’t valued solely by what rchants dictate."
Speaking of this, Ye Zi’an beca excited, stood up, hugged Yang Chuxia, and planted a flurry of kisses on her face, "I need to send an urgent letter to my cousin imdiately."
"Hey, why are you getting so excited all of a sudden?" Yang Chuxia touched her face, almost bewildered.
And Ye Zi’an, as soon as he entered the study, wrote a long, elaborate letter, including what Lele ntioned last ti, then sent it through the eight-hundred-mile express route.
In fact, his urgency was naturally for other reasons as well, given the tense situation between the two courts at the mont. In case of war, a large amount of food supplies would inevitably be needed, and at that ti, rchants would certainly take the opportunity to profit from the national crisis.
Therefore, he needed to submit the morial beforehand, urging Baili Yan to co up with a set of regulations imdiately.
As for the herbs needed on the battlefield, he wasn’t worried about the price increase, as Mu Shaoling, controlling Mu’s Clinic, could absolutely stabilize the dicine prices in Great Zhou.
Far away in the Capital City, Baili Yan received yet another letter from Ye Zi’an.
Truth be told, he now simultaneously anticipated and dreaded receiving Ye Zi’an’s letters.
The anticipation was because Ye Zi’an always had so new ideas to share, while the dread was due to the possibility of uncovering yet more problems.
At present, just hearing there are corrupt officials makes his head ache. How did Great Zhou end up with so many corrupt officials? The sense Great Zhou gives him is akin to a piece of rotting flesh, the outer part is already unbearable to look at, and it will soon spread internally.
And all these people were left by his father. It has to be said that his father’s judgnt of character was not comndable.
The next day in court
"If there is a morial, present it. If not, court is dismissed..." After the greetings, the little eunuch said this as per custom.
Soone seized the opportunity to raise an issue, "Your Majesty, the hundred-day mourning period for the Grand Emperor has long since passed. There’s an old custom in the folk of lifting mourning after a hundred days. Currently, the harem is empty, and the number of princes is significantly fewer than the previous dynasty. Throughout history, the Emperor’s foremost duty has been to the country and the dynasty, and yet, expanding the imperial lineage to cultivate outstanding heirs is also of utmost importance."
After saying this, the main course was presented, "Your Majesty, I earnestly request the Emperor to widely select virtuous concubines, enrich the harem, and expand the imperial lineage."
The ministers looked at each other, this old fox sure has a lot on his mind.
But this fit perfectly with their intentions, who doesn’t have a few young daughters in their family after all.
"Your Majesty, I second this..."
"We all second this..."
All at once, the hall was filled with calls for him to quickly choose concubines.
Baili Yan’s face was ashen as he looked at the assembled ministers and asked sharply, "Since the founding of Great Zhou, has any Emperor taken a concubine less than a year after the previous Emperor’s demise? Are you trying to put in a position of being unfilial and unrighteous?"
"Your Majesty, the old customs are rigid, but people are adaptable."
Even the Heir of Prince He said, "Your Majesty, selecting a concubine now is not entirely unreasonable..."
Baili Yan imdiately interrupted the Heir of Prince He, "Uncle Prince He, with the situation between Great Zhou and Great Qi still unclear, and the borders unsettled, how can I have a mind to choose a concubine?"
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