In the Ziwei Pavilion, dozens of officials gathered together, including the chief and secondary officials of the Qijin Kingdom and various ministries and temples. This was a high-level meeting held by the Great Sui court after Yang Yuanqing returned.

Just yesterday, Yang Yuanqing and the Qijin Kingdom had internal communication, setting the main theme for the future development of the Sui Dynasty: work hard to govern and build a country with thrift.

The spacious semicircular conference hall of Ziwei Pavilion was filled with dozens of court officials, and Yang Yuanqing and the Qi Prime Minister were sitting in the first row.

On the Bai Yugong platform ahead, it was originally the emperor, but under Yang Yuanqing's strong suggestion, the emperor was abolished and changed to a report on the job. The report on the job on the stage was the same, including Yang Yuanqing himself.

Yang Yuanqing and the Qi Prime Minister sat down below and listened to the speeches of the report. This was just a small change, but it had a great profound meaning. This means that the heads of the Taiwan Ministry of each province reported their work to Ziwei Pavilion.

The Prime Minister of Ziwei Pavilion reported his duties to Yang Yuanqing. This is actually a separation of the monarchy and the prime minister. The monarchy controls the prime minister and the officials. Compared with the Han Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty implemented a multi-phase system to prevent the prime minister from being dictatorial.

On the report, Prime Minister Du Ruhui was explaining to everyone the food situation in the next two years.

"This summer, the production cut was encountered, and the summer grain production in Hedong was reduced by 20%, which greatly reduced the grain reserves in Taicang to 150,000 shi. If the grain reserves in official warehouses and grain seized in the war were added in various places, our total grain storage would also be 600,000 shi."

Speaking of this, Du Ruhui's tone became heavier, "The economic recovery of Hebei and the Central Plains will take at least one to two years. During this period, the imperial court still needs relief. If we consider the expenditure of Hebei and the Central Plains counties, and some military ration expenditures, from now to next summer, we will consume at least 1.2 million stones. In this way, we will have a shortage of 600,000 stones of grain, and the autumn grain may not be replenished. The situation is very serious, so how to increase revenue and reduce expenditure will become the biggest challenge for the imperial court in the next two years...."

Du Ruhui's report was completed. There was a silence of discussion below. This time, the Ziwei Pavilion Council is extremely important and will directly affect the political situation in the next two years.

The clues have been revealed in Du Ruhui's report: food shortages and it is necessary to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. This is the political trend in the next two years.

In fact, everyone also understands that although seizing the Central Plains has obtained huge strategic resources, the riddled Central Plains region will bring great financial pressure to the Sui Dynasty in the short term. Even whether the Sui Dynasty can afford it is a big problem.

Some officials were also worried that if the Sui Dynasty exhausted its national strength and caused the economy and population of the Central Plains to begin to recover, but was taken away by the Tang Dynasty, it would be a huge blow to both the morale of the military and the people, so many officials did not agree with seizing the Central Plains.

However, the fact that the Central Plains belonged to the Sui Dynasty cannot be changed. So how to face reality and resolve financial threats has become a concern for everyone.

This Ziwei Pavilion Court Meeting was held to deal with the current crisis, which made many ministers feel excited. After all, His Highness the King of Chu is still willing to face the crisis and actively work hard to find ways to solve the problem.

At this time, Cui Junsu, the rotating prime minister who was presided over the discussion, raised his voice and said, "Next, let us ask His Highness the Regent to come to the stage to report on his politics."

The meeting hall suddenly became quiet. Yang Yuanqing stood up and nodded to everyone. He walked quickly to the report table. He did not bring the manuscript paper and smiled slightly at everyone and said, "I have been back for three days and I have only sat together with everyone to discuss government affairs. I feel sorry."

With a simple greeting, the smile on Yang Yuanqing's face disappeared and he became serious.

"I don't need to repeat the crisis in front of us. Prime Minister Du has already made it clear. I will only talk about how to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. The key to "reducing expenditure" is to ban extravagance and promote frugality, starting from the court and promoting it to governments in various places.

For example, stop all official banquets. Except for special festivals, stop all official memorials. Officials are not allowed to wear silk clothes, do not wear jade belts, or wear gold crowns. Officials under the age of 60 are not allowed to ride in carriages, including me, Yang Yuanqing, etc.

Some people will say, "Silk is not allowed to wear silk, what should I do if the silk saved is saved? We can use the silk saved to trade, exchange cattle, horses and livestock from the Turks, support farming, and resume production. Of course, there will be many measures to reduce expenses, and will be issued after discussion by the Prime Minister of Ziwei Pavilion. Here I will only give a few examples and will not talk about it anymore.

The focus is on opening up the source and increasing the channels for obtaining food and various strategic materials. I have ordered the army to carry out military farming, strive to achieve self-sufficiency in military rations and reduce the burden on the court. In addition, we also have large grasslands, which should be fully utilized to raise cattle and sheep and increase the source of meat.

I can tell you frankly that my purpose is not just to overcome the crisis, but more importantly, to work hard to govern, accumulate national strength, and be fully prepared for the next step of annexation war."

...........

This dynasty meeting, which was related to the political trend of the Sui Dynasty in the next two years, lasted for two hours. After the court was dispersed, Du Ruhui followed Yang Yuanqing to his official room.

The two sat down, and the tea boy served them fragrant tea. Yang Yuanqing smiled and said, "Secretary Du, I plan to inspect the six counties in Guanbei in two days. Thank you for your hard work in the court."

"Although your highness is relieved, the ministers in the court are very committed and have a new look. Although there will be temporary difficulties, as long as everyone works together, they will definitely overcome the difficulties."

Du Ruhui pondered for a while and said, "Your Highness, what I am worried about is not in front of me, but in the future, now the autumn examination imperial examination has begun to register in various counties. I will have a general understanding that they are almost all famous families in each county, and there are very few poor families. I am very worried that the imperial examination will be monopolized by major families, and the aristocratic system will not be eliminated in the future!"

Du Ruhui said it was very subtle this time. He not only refers to the imperial examination, but also implied that Yang Yuanqing appointed too many famous Hedong gentry, which would make them bigger and difficult to control in the future.

Yang Yuanqing has been considering this issue. Under the current situation, he must rely on the Shandong gentry to firmly sit in the north and the Central Plains. If he wants to deal with them, he must wait for the unification of the world.

Historically, the Tang Dynasty also waited until the era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian before it began to weaken the power of the aristocratic families and the Guanlong nobles.

At this stage, he can only try to balance the aristocratic families as much as possible, and not let the whole family grow. Yang Yuanqing sighed slightly and said, "I understand, but we cannot suppress the aristocratic families at present, otherwise the foundation of the Great Sui Dynasty will be gone."

"Although this is the case, Your Highness can prepare for the future and vigorously support the poor children. I have a suggestion. I wonder if Your Highness can accept it?"

"Please tell me, Prime Minister Du!"

Du Ruhui stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "I am also a scholar. Although the Du family in Jingzhao is also a famous family in Guanlong, I have more contact with poor people and know their sufferings. In fact, the biggest problem for poor children is not that their family is poor. Poor family will make people more motivated. The key is that they do not have books, and it is difficult for them to obtain the wisdom of their ancestors by themselves. This is why it is difficult for them to compete with famous children. I advocate that the Sui Dynasty should vigorously develop the papermaking and printing industry. As long as books can be widely circulated, poor children will get more opportunities. The court might as well put some efforts in these two industries to encourage the great development of the papermaking and printing industries."

Woodblock printing had already appeared at the end of the Sui Dynasty, which was indeed an opportunity for the printing industry to flourish. This suggestion made Yang Yuanqing deeply agree.

"What Prime Minister Du said is reasonable. The Prime Minister might as well raise this matter first. After I come back from the inspection in Guanbei, we will discuss the development in detail."

Du Ruhui said goodbye and Yang Yuanqing pondered in the room with his hands behind his back. Du Ruhui's suggestion to develop the papermaking and printing industry is indeed of far-reaching significance. Once these two industries develop, it will affect future generations for hundreds of years.

In fact, Yang Yuanqing is also considering the future crackdown on aristocratic families. Although he needs strong support from aristocratic families now, in return, he will also protect the interests of aristocratic families, but if they are allowed to develop too strongly, they will indeed be too big in the future.

While receiving support from famous families, we must also curb their strength and become stronger. How can we maintain a balance between the two? This is a question that Yang Yuanqing has been considering.

He considered running a three-level official school, county and township level, and providing free food and accommodation, which would give children from poor families more opportunities. If combined with Du Ruhui's suggestions, it would be more complete.

At this time, a personal soldier reported at the door, "Report to Your Highness, General Luo has something to ask for a meeting."

"Let him come in!"

Soon, Luo Shixin hurried in. He was not wearing military uniforms and armor and could not salute, so he bowed and bowed and said, "Luo Shixin meets the general manager!"

Yang Yuanqing looked at him and saw that he was wearing a white robe of scholars, a leather belt, and a veil hat on his head. In addition, he was tall and mighty, and he was quite majestic and heroic. Yang Yuanqing exclaimed: "Yes, you are more interesting in a robe than armor."

Luo Shixin blushed and whispered: "That's what the Wife Girl said to me too."

Yang Yuanqing laughed, "Then when can I drink your wedding wine?"

"My father urged me to do it as soon as possible, but I want to consider it after I pacify Qingzhou."

Yang Yuanqing understood what he meant, and Luo Shixin still wanted to make Dou Xianniang choose again. After pacifying Dou Jiande, Dou Xianniang would face reality and make a final choice.

However, Yang Yuanqing did not support Luo Shixin's idea, "I would rather suggest that you get married as soon as possible. Pairing Dou Jiande and getting married are different. After all, she is not Dou Jiande's daughter. Moreover, after marriage, she has a home, and she will feel less sad about the future. You should think more about her."

Luo Shixin pondered for a moment and finally nodded, "I understand, I will think about it again."

"Okay! I look forward to drinking your wedding wine soon."

Yang Yuanqing turned the topic back, "What important thing is there for you to come to me?"

Luo Shixin quickly took out half a bottle of wine from his arms and put it on the table, and said in a deep voice: "This is something strange that Bei Zhi discovered today. I felt that the matter was not simple, so I came to report to the general manager."

Yang Yuanqing took the bottle, pulled out the wine plug and smelled it, frowned, "What's going on? Where did the rice wine come from?"
Chapter completed!