In Zichen Hall, Li Shimin was convening important officials in the meeting hall to discuss national affairs.

Only hearing, Zhao Duke Changsun Wuji, who served as the junior minister of the disciple, said: "Now, the Guannei Road and Hedong Road have not seen a drop of rain. The fields are severely drought and the land is cracked, which has a serious impact on crop production. If this squeezing drought continues, it may reduce production significantly, or even the pellets have not been collected. Two and half of the tax revenue were exempted last year. If the tax reduction continues this year, it may have an impact on the treasury revenue."

"Yes, continuing to reduce taxes will make the treasury stretched. Now there are money everywhere, and blindly reducing taxes is not a solution!" Du Ruhui sighed.

At this time, Changsun Wuji glanced at Zhang Liang, the Minister of Works and the Crown Prince, and said, "Shangshu Zhang, the people often report that the water truck is inefficient and cannot achieve the effect of rapid irrigation. The Ministry of Works has been studying for a long time. Does the new water truck have a bright spot? By the way, are there any improvements to the long straight plow?"

Zhang Liang's mouth trembled and he cursed in his heart, "There is no rain, this is a natural disaster, why did he pull the water truck and the plow again?" Changsun Wuji was deliberately looking for trouble.

Facing Li Shimin's eyes, Zhang Liang could only say: "Sages, all the prime ministers, the improvements of the water wheel and the long straight plow have not stopped. Several of them have been modified, but after the experiment, it was found that the effect was not significant!"

After hearing this, Changsun Wuji sighed: "Natural disasters are uncontrollable. If it can save manpower and improve efficiency, is it the house image?"

Fang Xuanling is the Minister of Shangshu Pushe, who is in charge of the six ministries. He has the responsibility for not doing his job well in the Ministry of Works. So in the face of Changsun Wuji's trap, Fang Xuanling replied: "Please rest assured, the emperor, I will personally supervise the transformation of the water wheel and the shaft plow."

Li Shimin did not pursue this matter, but said: "The most urgent task at the moment is to solve the two problems of drought in the country. Blindly reducing taxes is not a solution. How can we move forward in adversity is the solution. This year's tax cuts, next year, and the year after tomorrow? If you can't think of a solution, you can only accept it."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the people present were silent.

How easy is it to move forward in adversity?

The confrontation is a natural disaster.

But it's not impossible.

Fang Xuanling said: "Sage, I still recommend that you build water conservancy in Guanzhong area, such as expanding canals and clearing river channels, so as to prevent water and drought disasters. Furthermore, to strengthen granaries and prevent water and droughts, so that the court does not require tax cuts, and the people can also survive severe droughts..."

As the saying goes, Fang Shuo Duan. As the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanling had many ideas about national affairs.

"It is a good idea to build water conservancy and strengthen granaries, but this is a huge project, which requires huge manpower and material resources, and it is difficult to complete in the short term." Changsun Wuji directly refuted.

Fang Xuanling directly retorted: "If it cannot be completed in the short term, it will be a long-term task. If it fails a year, it will be two years!"

"I understand Fang Xiang's idea, why don't I want this? It's just that the treasury has been empty in recent years. Fang Xiang should know the situation of the treasury more than anyone else!" Changsun Wuji retorted again.

"Okay, OK!" Li Shimin pressed his hands and stopped the topic.

Every time I talk about the treasury, everyone has a headache.

The annual fiscal and tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty was only more than 30 million yuan, which sounded quite a lot, but compared with its vast territory, it was pitifully small.

Of course, there are many reasons for the low fiscal revenue. The main reason is that in the early days of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in order to support the people after the war, the equal-land system and renting system were adopted, and there was no monopoly on salt and iron and the collection of industrial and commercial miscellaneous taxes, and light taxes and levy taxes, which made the people rich, but the national tax revenue decreased.

If such a small amount of taxes wants to support the operation of such a large country, it will be difficult to do so.

In addition, hidden dangers are also beginning to appear.

The premise of the equal-field system is that the court has a large amount of land, but if there is no land, how can there be an equal-field system?

This crisis has not yet erupted in the Tang Dynasty, but history has developed in this direction. A large number of officials have been granted Yongye Field, and bureaucrats occupy more and more land. In addition, the court's restrictions on land purchase and sale were relatively relaxed. Not only can Yongye Field be bought and sold, but also can be sold with land, and the land is gold and silver, which prompted the high-ranking officials and nobles and landlords to start annexing the land.

Moreover, with the growth of the population of the Tang Dynasty, the disadvantages of the rent-in-one regime began to emerge, and the proportion of not bearing the rent-in-one regime became larger and larger, which greatly increased the burden on the court.

You should know that the taxes of the Tang Dynasty mainly came from Jianghuai and Guanzhong, so when there was a drought in Guannei Road and Hedong Road, this would directly affect the tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty. How could Li Shimin not be anxious?

At this time, Li Shimin suddenly said: "You think there are crops that are extremely drought-resistant and have extremely high yields?"

"Is the emperor referring to millet?" Fang Xuanling asked.

Li Shimin shook his head and said, "No, although millet is drought-resistant, its yield is relatively low. I am talking about new crops."

Everyone was surprised, and Cen Wenben, who served as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, hurriedly asked: "Where did the emperor hear that there is such a crop?"

"Uh... Forget it, maybe he was joking." Li Shimin shook his head and didn't say much, but he felt that Lin Xiu's conversation at that time was not a joke.

While speaking, an internal official walked into the hall and reported, "Your Majesty, Duke Wei is asking for a visit."

"The pharmacist is here? Xuan!" Li Shimin said immediately.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji and others also let go of political affairs and stopped the discussion.

Li Jing entered the hall and took the lead in salute: "My minister, Li Jing, pay homage to the emperor!"

Li Shimin smiled and said, "What wind blows the pharmacist?"

Since Li Jing stepped down from the position of Minister of War two years ago, he has not taken up his post. It’s not that he can’t, but that he doesn’t want to. His Majesty has wanted to reuse him many times, and even let him serve as the Minister of the Shangshu Right Pushe to help Fang Xuanling share his worries, but Li Jing refused on the grounds of being unwell.

"Report to Your Majesty, I came to the palace this time to find the Minister of House!" Li Jing said bluntly.

Fang Xuanling was stunned and realized that it might be a private matter, so she was not sure. Because if it was a private matter, Li Jing would not be able to come to the palace to find him. This is a taboo. Could it be a business?

Li Shimin said: "Since I'm here to find the Minister of House, today's court discussion will end. Draft a charter as soon as possible for the two severe droughts. You can't wait any longer."

"Abide by the holy words!" Everyone stood up and asked to leave.

Just as Fang Xuanling and Li Jing turned around and left, Li Jing deliberately said: "Bao Fang, Lin Xiu was captured by the Jinwu Guard, saying that he colluded with the assassin who assassinated the Turkic envoy. Your wife went to the Jinwu Guard's official office to see Lin Xiu, but she was blocked by the Jinwu Guard's sword."

Fang Xuanling paused, subconsciously turned his head, but quickly held it back and said, "What happened?"

Li Jing nodded, and the expression on his face seemed indescribable.

As soon as the two of them took a step, a voice came from behind: "Xuanling, pharmacist, please stay!"

It is Li Shimin's voice!

Fang Xuanling immediately stopped and turned around, Li Jing raised his mouth and then returned to calm.

As for the others, they left the hall.

After Changsun Wuji walked out, he thought to himself: "The Jinwu Guard captured Lin Xiu? It's interesting!"

Then, he quickly left the palace and sent someone to Jinwu Guard to inquire.
Chapter completed!