The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

The emperor must have had some ulterior motive in summoning him, but what was it? Just as Song Tingzhi was racking his brains to guess the emperor's intention, Wan Lianxing spoke up, "Song Tingzhi, what do you think of the people's livelihood in our Fengqi area?"

Song Tingzhi suddenly realized that what Wan Lianxing showed him was not words, but the so-called people's livelihood. The emperor wanted him to talk about people's livelihood.

He didn't even think about such an obvious thing. He cursed himself in his heart for being so stupid. He thought he was a man who could remain calm in times of crisis, but today he saw that it was not the case. The matter of meeting the emperor made him lose half of his ability to think. It seemed that he was too nervous.

Song Tingzhi relaxed for a moment, then replied, "Your Majesty, we pray for favorable weather, harmonious governance, and a prosperous and peaceful country."

"But this year is drought-stricken, and the harvest has failed. The ministers have all told me that this is not a good year. The people don't have much food stored at home, and I'm afraid there will be a famine!"

"Your Majesty, there may be a drought today, but the impact will not be significant. We are begging for three crops in all places. In the past, we have more food than we can eat. Although the harvest is poor this year, the people will not starve. As long as the grain production can reach half of last year's, no one will starve."

“How can we ensure that grain production can reach half of last year’s?”

"I asked the old farmers, and they said the harvest is guaranteed to be half of last year's, just enough to feed the people I beg for food. If..."

"You can be blunt."

"Yes, I believe that if the refugees in Dalang continue to beg from me for a long time, then with this year's harvest, the imperial court may have to open its granaries to provide relief to the people."

"Many ministers have suggested opening granaries to provide relief to the people, but is this a good idea?"

Song Tingzhi said categorically: "No."

"Oh? Then tell me your opinion in detail."

"Dalang and Fengqi have been at war for years. Dalang's people have long been destitute, suffering and despairing. If this continues, more people from Dalang will flee to Fengqi. If the imperial court does not intervene to control these refugees, they will die even if they flee to Fengqi."

Wan Lianxing nodded. This was exactly what he was thinking. "If it's not a good idea, why did you suggest that I open the granaries and release the grain?"

"I have a method that works, but I don't know whether I should tell you about it or not."

"Now is the time to work together. If your method is good and can be put to good use, I will reward you handsomely."

"I believe the court should rent the land to those refugees from Dalang."

"Rent?" This suggestion was new to Wan Lianxing. "They are refugees, how can they afford the rent?"

"When the harvest is good, let them use the grain to pay the rent. We Fengqi will open the granary instead of giving them alms for free. Let them go to the government to collect grain. When the fields have a harvest, we will take back as much as they take. This will not only solve the livelihood of the refugees, but also ensure that Fengqi will not suffer any losses. In a few years, not only will the barren land of Fengqi be transformed into fertile farmland, but the population will also expand greatly. It's a two-pronged approach."

Wan Lianxing's hands drummed repeatedly on the armrests of the dragon throne. "Although the method is simple, it is effective. For several days, the court officials have brainstormed, but none of the solutions are to my liking. But today, your words have awakened me. This method is very good. Are you willing to help me solve this problem?"

"I will do whatever it takes."

Wan Lianxing nodded again. This man was indeed no fool. "Very well, I will promote you to the position of Censor. From now on, you will supervise all officials for me, inspect counties, correct criminal cases, regulate court ceremonies, and govern refugees. Are you capable of this?"

Song Tingzhi looked at his lame leg, then at the handsome Wan Lianxing, and suddenly remembered that the memorial of his resignation was still in Wan Lianxing's hands. He said with some embarrassment, "Your Majesty, I resign."

Wan Lianxing casually picked up the resignation letter that Song Tingzhi had sent that morning and casually threw it back on the dragon table. "I know you want to resign, but as long as I don't approve it, you will still be my official."

Some of them really wanted to resign.

Although Song Tingzhi was aloof, he was promoted to the fifth rank so quickly. He would be able to participate in court meetings every day in the future. This was the wish he had dreamed of all his life. Now that his wish had finally come true and he had risen to prominence, he was reluctant to miss such a good opportunity. If he did not know the situation, not only would he anger the emperor, he would also not be able to explain to his father and mother when he returned home. However, he had an urgent matter on his mind, and if he did not speak out, he could not concentrate on his job as a censor. "Your Majesty, what about the crown prince?"

Mentioning Cheng Youning, Wan Lianxing waved his hand. "Since you have received the Six Cultivations from the Crown Prince, you are his teacher. You should be faithful to him and teach him well, so that he can become a useful person. Otherwise, you are just using excuses to shirk your responsibilities and fill your life. Song Tingzhi, a gentleman should teach everyone. As a teacher, you shouldn't be picky about your students. I don't think you are someone who neglects your duties or does things perfunctorily. It's rather abrupt to resign the position of the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. The Crown Prince is not that difficult to teach, is he?"

"The Crown Prince is not difficult to teach. He is studious and willing to endure hardships. It's just that His Royal Highness doesn't look favorably upon me."

Thinking back to the first time he went to the Prince's Mansion and the words that the Prince said that hurt him so badly, every word was slanderous and hit at his sore spot.

Whenever Song Tingzhi saw the prince, he would think of the ugliness and dishonor of his father buying an official position for him. He alone had brought shame to the Song family. Because of the position of Shanglinling, his father was almost demoted to a lower rank, and his son could not hold his head up in front of the prince because his official position was not obtained through legitimate means.

He didn't want to continue being the prince's teacher because he was afraid of the prince's mouth.

"I heard that you have a son who is knowledgeable, ambitious and studious. How do you punish him when he makes mistakes?"

"When my son makes a mistake, I always ask the family law."

"As the saying goes, once a teacher, always a father. From now on, you should discipline the Crown Prince the same way you would treat your own son. The Crown Prince is naughty, but he is not so bad as to rebel against his superiors or betray his teachers and ancestors. You should teach him without hesitation."

"This...this, Your Majesty, this is different!" He was angry and dared to hit his own son, would he dare to hit the prince!

"If I say it's the same, then it's the same!" Wan Lianxing pushed the two books on the dragon table, and the people around him took the two books to Song Tingzhi.

Song Tingzhi took the "Prince's Instructions" and "Palace Rules" in his hands and looked at them. "This? Your Majesty, what does this mean?"

"From now on, you will use the 'Prince's Instructions' and the 'Palace Rules' to restrain the Crown Prince. If he makes a mistake, I will punish him. If he refuses to obey, I will punish him."

"This...isn't right!"

"I have spoken, and you are to do as I say. Let's not talk about the Crown Prince for now. Tell me more about your methods of dealing with the refugees. This matter is urgent and requires immediate action."