I want to ruin the country

As he was speaking, the eunuch announced that Prince Gong had arrived.

Yining let him in this time, but he can't always avoid seeing him. After all, they are brothers!

After Prince Gong came in, he kowtowed and greeted him. Yining looked at him and saw that he looked pale and his face was extremely ugly. He thought to himself that it seemed that this guy had been suffering a lot these days!

Prince Gong kowtowed and greeted him.

"I heard that the emperor was in danger, so I came to pay my respects!"

Yining Road,

"I'm fine, I'm just trying to quit smoking! Get up and do it!"

Although the prince cannot interfere in politics, his status is still there!

After a while of greeting, Prince Gong joined in the conversation, but his expression did not look very natural and he seemed a little awkward.

Yining looked at him and felt a little funny, but also a little sorry for him.

When Prince Gong saw that everyone was there, he thought the emperor was holding a small court meeting. Feeling a little embarrassed, he hurriedly said,

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I'll come another day to pay my respects!"

Yining Road,

"Sixth brother, you've come at the right time. There's something you need to hear!"

Prince Gong had no choice but to stay!

Yining said to everyone,

"When I left the palace yesterday, I realized that the people are truly living in dire straits. Those with a few acres of land are already struggling to make ends meet, and those without any land have been forced to sell their children. What do you think we should do?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. They had all heard that the emperor was in danger because a bully landlord had forcibly abducted a woman. How come there was another food problem?

Yining Road,

"Master Du, please tell me about your experience yesterday!"

Du Shoutian recounted in detail what happened after he left the palace yesterday with a heavy face.

When talking about the Liu family eating wild vegetables and begged steamed bread, his face looked very ugly.

When talking about how Wang Yujin and his wife sold their own daughter for 1,600 coins to make a living, his eyes became moist.

When the story about sixteen-year-old Zhang Qingxi was almost snatched away by Zhang Moting to be his seventeenth concubine, Du Shoutian was filled with indignation.

"My Lords, although I was born in the countryside, I have never suffered from such poverty since childhood!

I never thought the people were living in dire straits. Following the Emperor yesterday really opened my eyes. I am so ashamed!"

After he finished speaking, the old man's face flushed, he gasped for breath, and his mood could not calm down.

Xianfu Palace was quiet, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

The ministers have been in the temple for a long time and have been in high positions. None of them has ever personally visited the people and has no idea about the real lives of the common people. Today, after listening to Du Shoutian's story, everyone was stunned.

So this is what the Qing Dynasty was like! Why is it different from what the local officials said in their memorials?

Yining glanced at everyone and said,

"I have decided to issue an edict that human trafficking will be a capital crime from now on. What are your opinions?"

Since ancient times, people have been involved in trade. When this statement came out, everyone was shocked. Zai Quan said,

"Your Majesty, there's no precedent for banning human trafficking!"

Yining looked at him fiercely.

"There's no greater tragedy in the world than the separation of one's own children. If it were your own children, what would you say?"

Zaiquan was choked by this sentence and almost passed out!

He thought to himself, do I need to sell my children? They have fine clothes and delicious food every day and don’t want to eat anything. How can they be compared to the children from poor families!

Yining naturally understood what he was thinking. If he were really the crazy emperor who had never had any contact with domestic life since childhood, would he understand the difficulties of the common people?

Zaiyuan said,

"Your Majesty is right. Since ancient times, concubines and servants have been involved in transactions, and it is illegal for others to do so!"

Yining didn't want to dwell on this matter.

“Although there were some identity-based regulations regarding human trafficking in the past, it’s still difficult to change one’s identity. For example, if a rich man or woman falls on hard times, their status will change, and they can be bought and sold!

What I want to say is that no matter what their status is, even if they are blind, dumb, lame, or disabled, they cannot be bought or sold!"

Duanhua asked,

"Then who supports these people who are unable to work?"

This is a very realistic issue. Whether these people can buy and sell is a small matter, but whether they can survive is a big matter!

Yining saw that everyone was looking at him eagerly and said,

"This is a social responsibility, and also the responsibility of the imperial court. Although I don't have a good solution right now, I will find a solution. No matter who objects, it will be useless. I have the final say!"

Everyone was surprised that the emperor was so tough. You made the decision yourself. What's the use of us, the ministers of state and the ministers of military affairs?

How could they know that the emperor they were facing was a modern man from one hundred and seventy years from now!

We deeply detest the current system of cannibalism and exploitation, so we will ban it without mercy!

Du Shoutian asked,

"Your Majesty, what if Wang Yujin's family really can't survive and has to sell their child like yesterday?"

Yining Road,

"Anyone who can't make ends meet can ask the government for help. If the government doesn't act, the local officials will behead them. Any parents who sell their children will also be guilty!"

"Ah, the local officials will be beheaded for inaction, this..."

Yining looked at everyone,

"This matter is non-negotiable. If anyone disagrees, I will arrange for these poor people to beg for food at your doorstep!"

Everyone was unhappy and said nothing. The emperor did not play by the rules. A picture appeared in everyone's mind: a group of beggars were begging at your door under the emperor's order. Would you be afraid?

Thinking of the consequences, everyone agreed without hesitation that the emperor should not make a decision in a hurry!

Yining said again,

"That's it. Master Du will draft an edict and issue it to the whole country shortly!"

"Old minister, I obey the order!"

Yining Road,

"Since everyone is here, let's discuss how to solve the Spring Panic issue!"

Du Shoutian said first,

"Your Majesty, I empathize with the suffering of the people. The suffering of the people is the suffering of the court. I suggest that the court should open the granaries and provide relief to alleviate the people's suffering!"

Zaiyuan also said,

"Today I learned that the people have reached such a state. I agree with Master Du's suggestion to open the granaries and distribute relief as soon as possible to save the people from the dire situation!"

Wen Qing was not among the ten great military ministers. He wanted to remain silent, but seeing that no one else was speaking, he said,

"I agree with Lord Du's suggestion to open the granaries and release the grain, and the sooner the better!"

Sai Shang'a said with a sad face,

"I agree with Lord Du's suggestion, but my Ministry of Revenue's treasury is empty.

The actual amount of silver deposited into the treasury each year is only about 10 million taels. Last year, there was a shortage of over 1 million taels. Now there is basically no money left. What can we do? "

Mu Zhang'a said,

"It's only natural for Your Majesty to be anxious about the suffering of the common people, but I advise Your Majesty not to be too sad. This happens every year, and this year is not an exception. Just slowly resolve it!"

Yining looked at him with disgust and thought to himself, after saying this, what’s the difference between you and a beast?

After listening to what he said, not only Yining was disgusted, but several ministers were also very disgusted.

Although Mu Zhang'a was telling the truth, it was indeed inappropriate to say it today.