Chapter 442 Never Mind from Now on

Hong Yanran lived in the palace and went out every day. In recent days, he had made many good friends and played until the palace door was locked.

Ji Xun also knew about this but did not take it to heart. He knew very well that Su Mianyue's personality would not allow Hong Yanran to play so happily. He also knew that Su Mianyue had her own principles and would understand how far she could not touch anything.

The death of Prince Xiang came to an end. Although Minister of Dali Temple and the ninth governor were not demoted, they were warned by Ji Xun because of their mistakes. Besides, they had two deputies beside them, who were clearly sharing their duties, but in fact, they were slowly overstepping their power.

As long as the two of them make a mistake again, or if Ji Xun doesn't like them, and go by on a charge, their official career will be over.

Prime Minister Zuo had nothing to do with it. The new arrangement looked like a right-hand man on the surface, but in fact, it was Ji Xun's confidant. Prime Minister Zuo could not put himself in danger for two friends.

For a moment, the officials were afraid that the next unlucky person would be themselves.

"Yu, let's go out for a walk today. The coronation ceremony is just three days away. Don't you want to know what the people outside think of you as the new king?" Su Mianyue bent over and closed the sheet of music in front of Ji Xun, tenderly inviting her.

"Is Yue bored in the palace?" Ji Xun smiled and scratched Su Mianyue's nose, "Give me another half an hour. These are urgent reports."

Su Mianyue stood up straight and went to look for a book to read. When he saw Ji Xun marking the notes, he frowned and knew that something bad had happened. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Yu, what happened?"

"It's Wu Yuqing's report. The army has arrived at the border, but half of the grain and grass are mixed with grass seeds, and they ask the court for help." Ji Xun's tone was light, but his expression was cold.

It was said that the troops and horses had not arrived before the grain and grass came first, but now that the great war was coming, the soldiers and men were starving, and this battle had already been lost before it was fought.

Su Mianyue understood this, but in the past few years, natural disasters have occurred in all countries, and all the countries are very strict in the control of food unrest. Even if Su Mianyue has business everywhere, he does not have much food in his hands.

Moreover, the Hengyuan's food could not be delivered at all, and the majority of the power of the Hengyuan was handed over to Mu Tinng, but there was not much food to be transferred. The food production of the other small countries was already limited.

The only way to solve this problem is to find a way to transport the food stored in the Beichen, but the Beichen is not a peaceful country. Su Mianyue easily dared not move the forces over there, and it is not easy to insert his own forces into it.

"Junn Buhui has been storing grain and grass for years, but our secret army consumes a lot of grain. If we want to support the front, we need to deduct some from them." As Ji Xun spoke, he opened another book and could only put Wu Yuqing's matter aside for the time being before thinking about the solution.

Su Mianyue thought for a while and asked, "The state treasury is short of food and grass, and there is no food and grass to be used in various government offices?"

"The grain and grass in all parts of the country are stored up. Once a large amount of grain and grass is transferred, it will make the people uneasy. Now the kings have the heart of disobedience. Once these people are used by them, the consequences will be unimaginable," Ji Xun shook his head.

"Then let these princes donate food and grass." Su Mianyue tapped his finger on the table and said, "When the new emperor ascends the throne, they naturally have to present a gift as relatives. It would be better if Yu took the initiative to say what they want this time."

"You're really not afraid of my humiliation." Ji Xun smiled, his expression much lighter.

"All I know is that hunger is worse than shame, especially for the army. It hurts more than a slap on the face. The consequences are not something we can afford." Su Mianyue nuzzled his mouth and sighed, "I can help you get some food, but we will show our cards now. If those vassal kings really turn against us, there will be no way out. Yu, our life is very difficult."

"I will certainly create a peaceful and prosperous world for you, so that you will never worry about it again." Holding Su Mianyue's hand, Ji Xun spoke firmly.

Ji Xun knew that Su Mianyue had food in his hands, but he had no idea about it.

For one thing, Su Mianyue didn't know how to use these grains to raise his troops. For another, Su Mianyue provided Ji Xun with a lot of grains every year. Even if the Yan Country did not have a grain storage disorder during the natural disaster, it was also the result of Su Mianyue's willingness to spend a lot of money.

"I believe you." Su Mianyue smiled and held Ji Xun's hand, "But we can't just count on ourselves to prepare the food. We should let the whole country prepare it together."

"Yue means..." Ji Xun raised his eyebrows and asked.

"As an emperor, it was the wise monarch who cared about farming and mulberry. Yu, if you ordered the people to grow more high-yield food, and besides paying taxes, the court would purchase it at 20 % higher than the market price, what do you think the people should do?" Su Mianyue scratched Ji Xun's palm and said, "The best we can do is to get the money, but the people are badly short of it."

"Yue is right. The soldiers on the front line only want to eat a full meal, even the coarse grain is food." Ji Xun nodded and smiled.

"In addition to food and grass, there are also arrangements for veterans and disabled soldiers. Those who win the hearts of the people will win the world. Yu still has a lot to do." Su Mianyue sighed and stood behind Ji Xun, rubbing his shoulder, "Yu, if we want the soldiers on the front line to be able to fight peacefully, then we have to let them be carefree. Many of the people who have been recruited have poor families, and their wives and children's parents need us to settle down, so that the soldiers can have the determination to sacrifice their lives to protect the country, so that the country can be stable."

"Does Yue mean it's not enough just to pay the army?" Ji Xun knew this, but it was too difficult to implement, especially when the treasury was empty.

"Everything has to be done step by step, and the emptiness of the treasury can only be filled by ourselves. But now our ability is limited, but there are still ways to let the people go to the fields without worrying about the future, and to reassure the soldiers at the front." Rubbing Ji Xun's temples, Su Mianyue said softly: "I have a few ideas here. Yu might as well consider whether it is feasible, but after discussing it with the ministers, he will announce it to the world when he ascends the throne. I believe that as long as the people support the monarch, those vassal kings will have to consider a few points even if they want to rebel, so that they can give us some time to enrich the country and strengthen the people."

Holding Su Mianyue's hand and letting her sit on her lap, Ji Xun bent down to kiss her jade-like forehead and said softly, "Yue, meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life. I believe that my parents will be happy for me to be able to get such a good wife."

"So you have to be better to me. If you take responsibility for me in this life, god will punish you." Su Mianyue pretended to speak proudly, and his eyes were full of satisfaction.

"So I have to work harder for my husband and die on you. Is Yue satisfied with this kind of return?" Ji Xun asked.

"I'll tell you whether you're satisfied or not when you prove your sincerity with your actions... Ah!" Before Su Mianyue could finish his sentence, he was picked up by Ji Xun and went to bed.

"Then I will let you know my true feelings. Yue will not beg for mercy later." Ji Xun looked at Su Mianyue with a wicked smile. The two people who were supposed to go out of the palace had started a thunderstorm and a fire in the bed. They could not remember the unfinished topic just now.