Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 1021: Chapter 96: Early Rice Bumper Harvest (Part 3)

"Working with a Prince who always considers the welfare of the people is truly our good fortune." Wen Daoji, who initially had no choice but to work with Zhao Yao, now wholeheartedly admired him. "Since the people are grateful and cherish His Highness, we must not lag behind. We must also perform our duties diligently and keep the people’s interests at heart."

The other officials nodded in agreement.

Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian were called by Tong Xi to meet Zhao Yao.

As soon as Zhao Yao saw them, he informed them about the impending locust plague in the North. Upon hearing this, they were greatly shocked. It was only after Zhao Yao explained how to address the plague that their expressions eased.

"The first batch of early rice has already been harvested. Zheng Qian, arrange for someone to purchase the people’s grain tomorrow," Zhao Yao instructed. "Once the purchase is complete, I will send people to transport the grain to the North, to prevent price inflation there, ensuring that the northern people do not go hungry."

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will handle it tomorrow." The Ministry of Revenue earned a substantial profit during the trade conference, so there is no worry about lacking funds to buy the people’s grain.

"Your Highness, in recent days, was buying grain from foreign lands also meant for the North?" Wen Daoji suddenly realized that Zhao Yao hadn’t used the Ministry of Revenue’s funds and asked in astonishment, "Your Highness, did you buy the grain with your own money to send to the North? Was this the Emperor’s directive?"

"No, it was not commanded by my father. It was my decision to purchase and send the grain to the North."

"You decided this on your own?" Wen Daoji exclaimed in surprise.

Zheng Qian’s cousin was equally astonished.

Seeing Wen Daoji and the others’ shocked expressions, Zhao Yao asked in return, "Should I not have done this?"

Wen Daoji shook his head quickly: "Your Highness, this is not about whether you should or shouldn’t do it. This is something that the Imperial Court should be handling. Why did you think to purchase grain and send it to the North yourself?"

"I have surplus grain here and find it convenient to buy grain from foreign lands," Zhao Yao replied. "Although the North is not my fief, the people there are also citizens of the Great Zhou, and as a Prince of the Great Zhou, I should help the northern people through this difficult time."

Wen Daoji was not meeting Zhao Yao for the first time; he had known Zhao Yao for many years. Though he could not claim to fully understand the prince’s nature, he had some understanding. He knew that Zhao Yao’s actions were not to gain a good reputation or the Emperor’s favor but purely to help the northern people.

Over the years, His Highness has done countless things to help the people, never seeking anything in return.

"His Highness is benevolent." To serve under such a prince is their honor. To have His Highness in the Great Zhou is a blessing for the Great Zhou and its people.

Zhao Yao waved his hand and said, "I am merely doing what I should."

"Your Highness, not everyone thinks like you," Wen Daoji remarked with deep meaning. "The princes in the Imperial Court do not share your perspective."

"Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother would act as I do."

Upon hearing this, Wen Daoji merely smiled and said nothing more.

In the Imperial Court, those princes would do anything in the struggle for the throne. Perhaps Prince Chu and Prince Wei would also send grain to the North like His Highness, but their true aim would not be to help the North through this calamity, but to gain a reputation.

"Take care with the grain purchasing task," Zhao Yao directed.

Zheng Qian replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness."

"You two will be the only ones to be informed about the locust plague situation in the North. Do not spread this information, to prevent panic," Zhao Yao instructed, considering that although the North was a thousand miles from Lingnan, everyone would be uneasy upon hearing the news. If foreign merchants knew, they would surely seize the opportunity to raise grain prices.

Wen Daoji assured, "Rest assured, Your Highness, we won’t tell anyone else."

"After the early rice harvest is complete, arrange for the planting of the second crop of rice," Zhao Yao suggested. "The harvest of early rice this year was good, and the second crop will likely be no worse."

"All thanks to Your Highness’s previous strategies."

"The harvest from the terraces has been fruitful. We need to expand the terrace cultivation this year, and next year’s yield will be even greater." Although the terraces’ yield per mu did not reach 200 jin, it did yield 150 jin. Frankly, this exceeded Zhao Yao’s expectations. He initially thought the yield would be 90 jin per mu, not over 100 jin. "We aim to surpass Jiangnan in two to three years, making Lingnan the number one granary of the Great Zhou."

If Zhao Yao had mentioned this before, both Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian would have thought he was dreaming, but now they believed Zhao Yao’s vision could indeed be realized.

"Your Highness, we can certainly achieve this."

"I have faith that we can make it happen." Surpassing Jiangnan is only a matter of time.

Zhao Yao gave Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian a few more instructions before allowing them to return to their government offices.

After Wen Daoji and the others left, Zhao Yao calculated the time and assumed that the Emperor should have received the letter sent back by Xiao Jin a couple of days prior. By yesterday, he would have also received Zhao Yao’s letter on how to handle the locust plague.

By now, the Emperor should have dispatched someone to the North to address the plague situation.

Zhao Yao prayed silently in his heart, hoping that the locust plague had just begun and had not yet reached a severe stage.