binnovel Chapter 146: God’s Warning
Chapter 146: God’s Warning
Chapter 146: God’s Warning
at night.
Liu Bian was sleeping soundly with his arms around Tang Ji.
In a daze, he felt the bed shaking a little, but he ignored it, frowned, and continued to sleep.
But the vibration of the bed kept getting stronger and stronger, and soon turned into a shake.
Liu Bian suddenly woke up, looked at the shaking curtain, picked up Tang Ji, and rushed out, shouting: "Earthquake! Earthquake!"
When Liu Bian ran out the door, Pan Yin ran over in a panic and asked, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Liu Bian put Tang Ji down, feeling the ground shaking, the trees and walls trembling not far away, and said solemnly, "Send an order, order everyone to leave the house and hide in an open area, not under the eaves! Send an order to Zhao Yun, order him to take people to protect the officials. Send an order to Luoyang Ling, to immediately provide medical treatment and comfort to the people. Dian Wei, send someone to take my grandmother and the King of Bohai to Yongle Palace. Now, escort me to Yongle Palace."
A crowd responded in panic, surrounding Liu Bian and walking towards Yongle Palace.
Although the tremor was not severe, everyone was still worried and walked quickly towards Yongle Palace away from the wall.
There was chaos in the palace. Although Pan Yin and others tried their best to calm people down, the eunuchs and palace maids were still shouting and screaming in panic as the ground shook. They were scrambling to get around, and there were even flames in many places, as if there was a fire.
This was even more so outside the palace. The entire Luoyang County seemed to be turned upside down, with countless people in panic, running around like headless flies.
There is no high or low during an earthquake!
When Liu Bian arrived at Yongle Palace, Empress Dowager He rushed out with disheveled hair, hugged her arms with both hands, and said tremblingly: "Bian'er, Bian'er, are you okay?"
Liu Bian quickly held her hands and said, "Don't be afraid, mother. I'm here. It's okay."
Empress Dowager He finally calmed down a little, but she still held Liu Bian's arm tightly with one hand and looked around in shock.
The tremors on the ground were slowly weakening, and tiles and bricks on the roofs and walls were falling, making a frightening sound.
Liu Bian and a large group of people stood in the open space in the courtyard, trying to remain calm and waiting quietly.
He couldn't tell yet whether Luoyang was the epicenter of the earthquake or was affected by aftershocks.
Everyone was uneasy and surrounded Liu Bian with fear and anxiety.
This is not the first time that Luoyang City has experienced an earthquake, and every earthquake has caused countless casualties.
Soon, Empress Dowager Dong and Liu Xie were brought in by the imperial guards. Empress Dowager Dong followed closely behind Liu Xie with a look of fear on her face.
Liu Xie's face was tense and his eyes were full of fear.
Liu Bian looked at them and said with a smile, "Grandmother, brother, don't worry, it's not a big earthquake."
The two of them nodded reluctantly, their faces stiff, unable to speak.
Empress Dowager He had no time to confront Empress Dowager Dong. She held Liu Bian's arm, her face pale.
After an unknown amount of time, Pan Yin took a step forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, it seems to have stopped."
Liu Bian felt the stability under his feet, stared at his surroundings, nodded and said: "Don't move, wait a little longer."
Pan Yin and others understood and stood still.
Earthquakes don't stop just like that; they can strike back at any time.
After a long while, Liu Bian heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It should be an aftershock. It's okay. Grandmother, mother, and brother, don't worry. Go sit over there for a while and take a rest."
Everyone nodded reluctantly and walked towards the pavilion.
Liu Bian looked at them, then turned back and whispered to Pan Yin, "Send Yang Biao, Wang Yun, Dong Zhuo, the six ministers, and the nine officials to the palace. Send a message to the Luoyang magistrate, and order him to do a good job of cleaning up and comforting the people in Luoyang. Also, find out where the earthquake happened."
"Yes." Pan Yin didn't dare to relax his face. He bowed and stepped back with uneasy eyes.
Liu Bian turned his head and saw that the eunuchs and maids in the palace were already hurriedly putting out the fire and cleaning up everywhere.
He took a deep breath, rubbed his cheeks, walked to the pavilion with a smile, and comforted Empress Dowager Dong, Empress Dowager He, Liu Xie, Tang Ji and others.
Everyone nodded reluctantly, still in shock and without the strength to speak.
The maid brought hot tea and poured it for several people.
Empress Dowager Dong, Empress Dowager He, Liu Xie, and Tang Ji picked up the teacups and took a sip. Only then did they look relaxed, as if they were conscious and refreshed as if they had just come back to life.
Queen Mother He calmed down for a while, glanced at Queen Mother Dong, reached out and pulled Liu Bian, smiled, and said: "It's still Bian'er who rushed to save mother in the first time. Mother's love for you is not in vain."
Queen Mother Dong said nothing, her face was stern, and she glanced at Liu Bian indifferently.
Although he was extremely dissatisfied with Empress Dowager He and Liu Bian, her son, and even full of hatred for her, he was somewhat relieved that Liu Bian thought of him this time.
Liu Xie sat there quietly with a stern face, not being able to understand his royal brother.
Tang Ji was very happy. She pursed her lips and looked at Liu Bian with watery eyes, because she was carried by Liu Bian when she escaped.
After a while, Pan Yin came up in small steps and whispered behind Liu Bian, "Your Majesty, the court officials have all arrived at the Jiade Hall."
Liu Bian nodded, drank a sip of tea, and said to Empress Dowager Dong, Empress Dowager He and others: "Grandmother, mother, I still need to appease the court officials..."
Before Liu Bian could finish, Empress Dowager He said hurriedly, "Go ahead, do your thing, I'll leave this to you, mother."
Liu Bian looked at Empress Dowager He and wanted to remind her, but after thinking it over, he gave up and turned to go to the Jiade Hall.
Empress Dowager He watched Liu Bian's back, picked up the teacup, drank tea elegantly, and glanced at Empress Dowager Dong with a smug sneer in her eyes.
Empress Dowager Dong ignored her completely.
When Liu Bian arrived at the Jiade Hall, he saw that the hall was filled with nearly twenty people.
None of these twenty people were relaxed; all of them had serious expressions and gathered in groups of three or four to whisper.
"Your Majesty, we are here to pay our respects." When Liu Bian came in, they all stopped talking and raised their hands to bow.
After Liu Bian sat down, he smiled and said, "No need to be polite, gentlemen."
Everyone stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Liu Bian looked at his expression and asked, "Are you all frightened too?"
Seeing Liu Bian so calm, the more than ten people felt less nervous. Xun You raised his hand impatiently and said, "Your Majesty, from my observation, this earthquake may have come from Sanfu."
Liu Bian's smile slowly faded, and he asked, "Can you confirm this?"
The others also looked at Xun You, and their expressions changed again.
Xun You hesitated for a moment and said, "Nine out of ten."
Liu Bian nodded silently, his eyes showing thought.
It is not the first time that an earthquake has hit Sanfu. The point is that not only has the earthquake hit Sanfu severely, but the Qiang invasion a few years ago also destroyed Sanfu.
The number of disaster victims who fled from the Sanfu area reached hundreds of thousands!
This earthquake will require a large amount of money and food for disaster relief!
Liu Bian looked around at the expressions of the courtiers in the hall and asked, "What do you think?"
Everyone lowered their heads and no one spoke. Everyone knew the court's difficulties, but the methods of raising money had almost been exhausted from ten years ago to now.
Liu Bian nodded expressionlessly and said, "There must be a mess outside. You nobles can go and appease them. I will find a way to deal with the money and grain. Except for Xun Qing's family, everyone else can go."
Seeing that Liu Bian was so easy to talk to, many of the court officials looked guilty and hesitated to speak. They raised their hands and said, "We will take our leave."
After everyone left, Xun You stood up and walked forward to stand not far from Liu Bian. He bowed and said thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, Ding Yuan, Cao Cao has seized a lot in Yanzhou, maybe we can make up for it."
"It's still not enough for Yanzhou's relief."
Liu Bian rejected it directly, and then said thoughtfully: "I plan to set up a bank."
Xun You seemed to be thinking about something, and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to use it to collect taxes on tea, salt, etc.?"
The so-called treasury of the Han Dynasty was actually a tax collection agency of a local county or government.
Liu Bian thought about it carefully and said, "No. In short, it means that the court is used as a guarantee, a certain amount of principal is deposited, and the reserve responsibility is assumed. Rich people deposit money in, and the bank pays a certain amount of interest according to the agreed time."
Xun You was startled and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to borrow money from the noble family?"
Liu Bian was still considering the feasibility and pros and cons of this, and said, "It cannot be understood in this way. When a bank receives money, it can lend it out, exchange it across states and counties, or mortgage or pawn it to earn a certain amount of interest..."
Xun You was an extremely smart man, and he understood it quickly. He thought about it and said, "Your Majesty, since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, many aristocratic families and ordinary people have been uneasy. If we use the court as a guarantee, it may be of great use!"
Bandits are rampant everywhere, even the big families in Yingchuan have to flee, so it can be seen that other places! With the guarantee of the court, too many people will be eager to deposit their money in the bank!
Liu Bian was still thinking about the complexity and possible consequences, and said to himself: "I have to watch over it carefully to prevent it from going astray."
Liu Bian thought again and again, looked at Xun You solemnly, and said, "Taicang will be used as a guarantor, and the Shangshutai will come forward to endorse it. Your family will also serve as the Taicang Order. Draft the details as soon as possible, select personnel, and train them seriously. With Luoyang as the center, we will first spread out to the surrounding counties. The important officials of the court must come forward to guide and encourage the wealthy families to save money!"
Xun You did not expect Liu Bian to have such a brilliant idea, which might be able to solve the urgent need of the court. He raised his hand solemnly and said, "I accept your order!"
Liu Bian stood up and said, "There is no time to lose. Your family should hurry up and prepare. As for the disaster relief in the three prefectures, I have 30,000 gold and 600,000 silver in my palace. Your family can sell them and use them to provide relief to the victims in the three prefectures."
Xun You's expression changed immediately, and he was shocked. He wanted to refuse, but after hesitating for a few times, his eyes were firm and he said, "Your Majesty, these are borrowed by the court from your Majesty's palace, and I will return them in full in the future!"
He thought of the late emperor, the extremely greedy emperor who did everything he could to get money, even taking the lead in openly selling official positions and titles. If it were today, would he be able to take out money to provide relief to the victims?
The answer is yes.
Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "The three prefectures will be exempted from taxes for another five years. Pan Yin, send an order to the Censorate and the Criminal Department, ordering them to take turns patrolling the three prefectures and arresting corrupt officials. Anyone who dares to tamper with the relief money and grain, regardless of their status, will be executed first and reported later!"
Hearing Liu Bian's murderous words, Xun You's heart trembled, and he raised his hand and said, "I will obey your order!"
"I obey your order." Pan Yin said.
Liu Bian looked at Xun You and said, "In the name of the Shangshutai, order Bingzhou to accept as many disaster victims as possible from the three prefectures."
"I obey your order." Xun You said.
Liu Bian hummed, stood up and said, "Pass the decree down. From now on, the court will strictly practice frugality and reduce the palace expenses by half."
Xun You stared at Liu Bian, his heart was shaken and his eyes felt sore.
The young Majesty before us is diligent, benevolent, loves the people, is wise, decisive, is not greedy for money or lustful, and has no bad habits. He is very different from the emperors of previous generations!
"The Holy Lord is alive!" Xun You was so excited that he could not help but kneel on the ground and bow silently.
Liu Bian was still thinking about the money shop. When he saw Xun You suddenly kneel down, he was startled and asked, "What else happened?"
Xun You woke up with a start and said quickly, "Nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Liu Bian looked at Xun You with a strange expression as he left the room. He then collected his thoughts and suddenly said, "Zhao Yun!"
Zhao Yun, dressed in silver armor, came out from the side door and said in an unusually crisp voice, "I'm here!"