Soon, with Xu Que's promotion, major wealthy businessmen and wealthy families also began to make donations.
Batch after batch of silver flows out of the hands of the rich and flows to all parts of the country.
Under the leadership of the wealthy, the common people also donated money voluntarily to do their part to build schools.
However, the world is not too beautiful. Some people are willing to donate, but naturally there are many people who are unwilling to donate.
In the royal study.
"What do you mean? The fifth surname Qiwang said that they are unwilling to donate?" Xu Que frowned and looked at Gong Qiwei who came to report the news.
The Eastern Tang Dynasty was in a status-based social state. Here, aristocratic families had high prestige and status. Among them, the five surnames were the most powerful. Two of them had two county titles each, so they were called the five surnames and seven titles.
Now that the five surnames and Qiwang are taking the lead in not participating in donations, they will definitely play a very bad leading role.
When the authority of the royal family is affected, other families may follow suit and despise the imperial power.
This is not good!
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Qiwang of the Five Surnames said that they suffered from natural disasters this year and also suffered a lot of losses. There is no extra money to use to subsidize the refugees." Gong Qiwei knelt down and said in a deep voice.
Xu Que immediately became angry: "These old bastards have the nerve to say that they have no money? Do you really think I don't know about them opening warehouses and selling grain at high prices?"
Famine was rampant. Instead of providing relief, wealthy families hoarded food. When even the royal family could no longer control it, they sold the food at high prices, forcing countless common people to sell their sons and daughters.
Rich families are stinking of wine and meat, and there are frozen bones on the road. Such scenes can be seen everywhere where wealthy families live.
It can be said that the glory of the wealthy family with five surnames and seven hopes was built on countless corpses. Even Xuanyuan Wanrong once controlled power with the help of the power of the wealthy family.
Gong Qiwei is now regarded as a confidant, and naturally he has begun to actively make suggestions.
"Your Majesty, the head of the aristocratic family has made a vague request, asking you to bid for the food they have hoarded first, and then feel free to take it as yours..."
Xu Que's eyes flashed: "Keep talking."
Gong Qiwei hesitated again and again, and finally said: "They said... let you continue to be your Xiaoyao Emperor."
"Haha, what a good plan!" Xu Que laughed angrily.
Originally, he was thinking that he would stay here for a long time, so he could be more stable and not be too arrogant.
But now Qiwang of the fifth surname is actually more attractive than him!
Who can bear this?
Do you really think I am the useless emperor from before?
"Pass on my instructions and send people to collect donations at the door of Qiwang's house in the fifth surname." Xu Que narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Just tell them that I will set up a merit monument in the imperial city based on the amount of donations to tell the world!"
Gong Qiwei didn't react at first, but after thinking about it for a moment, he suddenly understood what Xu Que was thinking.
"Your Majesty, this move of yours is so wonderful...it can be said to be a blow to the bottom of the cauldron!"
"What level of education do you have? This is called moral kidnapping!"
Humph, don’t you want to donate?
Okay, then I will announce the amount of your donation to the world and let everyone in the world know. I want to see if any of you of the five surnames and seven looks are brave enough to donate less.
…
Within a few days, with Xu Que's promotion, a merit monument was quickly built in the imperial city.
Qi Wang, the fifth surname, panicked instantly.
Their wealthy family has been standing for hundreds of years, relying on its unfailing reputation.
For them, mere money is just a by-product accumulated over time. Only being famous in the world is what these famous families pursue.
Now that this merit monument comes out, if they don't donate, it will be equivalent to being roasted on the stove, and they will be sprayed to death by the people in minutes!
"The Dog Emperor is so cruel!"
"You can think of such a harmful move, who is giving him advice?"
“Should we still donate?”
"Donate your shit, I, Mrs. Liu, will never do it until I die!"
"Mr. Liu, you have to fart, I just got wind of the situation, and you have already sent someone to bring hundreds of thousands of taels to donate."
"Ah, really? It seems that I am old and have a poor memory!"
"Go, go, donate quickly, my Li family will definitely take the first place in the Merit Monument!"
"Shit, my Wang family must be at the top of the list!"
…
For a time, there were many donors, especially Wu Xingqi Wang, who constantly spent money to compete for the top spot, which completely relieved the pressure on the national treasury.
After all, silver is needed everywhere nowadays. Although Xu Que has developed various crops, the growth of crops still requires a certain cycle.
Therefore, the fastest way to provide disaster relief is to purchase large quantities of grain to continue disaster relief.
Xu Que also allocated a large portion of this donation to the disaster area.
After settling all this, Xu Que began to think of ways to get the jade seal from Xuanyuan Wanrong's hands.
Everyone will eventually die together, and Xu Que also wants to avoid offending each other as much as possible.
After thinking about it, seeing is believing is the most important thing.
No matter how much he beeps here, Xuanyuan Wanrong will never believe him, so he might as well take her to the scene to see it.
"Follow me to the disaster area. Under my management, the disaster area is now stable and prosperous. You'd better hand over the jade seal obediently!"
Xuanyuan Wanrong's face was calm: "The merits and demerits of right and wrong are determined by the heart, how do I know you are not acting?"
Hey, this woman is simply incompetent!
Xu Que suppressed the anxiety in his heart, was silent for a while, and said in a deep voice: "I understand, you are afraid that you will fall in love with me after seeing my outstanding achievements. After all, I am handsome and talented, and it is only human to fall in love with me.
Common sense."
Xuanyuan Wanrong: "???"
Is this bastard's brain short-circuited?
Xu Que put on a narcissistic look, came closer, and said affectionately: "I know you have been saying angry words all the time, just to attract my attention. I admit, your little tricks have already
It succeeded, but...woman, you are playing with fire..."
"Okay, shut up, I'll go with you." The corners of Xuanyuan Wanrong's eyes twitched fiercely, and she finally couldn't listen anymore and chose to compromise.
This guy is so disgusting, so deserving of a beating, and utterly shameless.
"Wouldn't it be okay if it was just like this?"
Xu Que showed a proud smile.
A greasy man is invincible!
…
Not long after, under the protection of the guards, the two of them arrived at a resettlement site for the victims outside the imperial city.
"Look, this is my development...what's going on?"
Xu Que was stunned when he saw the scene in front of him.
The entire resettlement area was full of people starved to death, and there were countless corpses lying on the roads.
A large number of hungry, skinny victims were lying on the roadside, shivering, as if they were about to die.
Xu Que's heart surged with anger for no reason, and he shouted: "Gong Qiwei! Get here! Didn't you say that the disaster relief funds have been received? Why does this happen again?!"
Gong Qiwei crawled over, knelt in front of Xu Que, and said in a trembling voice: "Reporting to your majesty, I was about to report this to you. According to my investigation, the disaster relief funds totaled tens of millions of taels of silver, but in fact,
The actual silver is only three million taels, and even the food purchased..."
After listening to Gong Qiwei's report, Xu Que's face was gloomy: "Take me to see the food you bought."
Under the leadership of Gong Qiwei, several people came to the granary, where a large amount of grain was piled.
Xu Que casually tore open the packaging of a bag, and the rice fell in a pitter-patter, mixed with a large number of stones.
I grabbed a handful and found more pebbles than rice.
Xu Que looked at the handful of rice in his hand in silence. After a long time, he said, "Who sold these...?"
"It's... Wu surnamed Qi Wang, who took the initiative to sell it at a low price." Gong Qiwei whispered.
"Haha... Wu Xingqi Wang, you are so brave... This is the first time I have been tricked like this."
Xu Que was very angry at this moment.
This is the first time in such a long time that someone dares to play tricks on him like Wu Xing Qiwang.
As for the seven million taels of silver that disappeared, Xu Que already knew where they were without Gong Qiwei's explanation.
The common people's money is divided into accounts, and the wealthy gentry's money is returned in full. Throughout the ages, officials and businessmen have colluded, but this is nothing more than this.
"How dare they?"
At this moment, Xuanyuan Wanrong was also angry, and then she glanced at Xu Que and said in a deep voice: "Is this the so-called ability you want to show me? If you can't even suppress the five surnames and seven looks, how can you govern the entire country?
"
"Well, you're right!" Xu Chuan nodded.
Xuanyuan Wanrong was suddenly startled.
This was the first time that Xu Que agreed with her words, which made her unable to react.
"How can I govern the Eastern Tang Dynasty when I can't even suppress it?"
Xu Que grinned, showing his white teeth, but his tone was full of coldness: "I want to see where they are brave enough to control and tease me like a doll!"
Not to mention that this is a fantasy world, even in Immortal Yuan Continent, the Immortal Emperor is not qualified to play tricks on me like this!
You have five surnames and seven hopes, which one counts?