Chapter 523: A Golden Phoenix Flies Out of the Grassy Nest (2)_1
"Proclaim my decree. From this day forth, no merchant shall transport grain to the Northern Land." The Emperor calmly uttered the royal decree.
Despite the Third Prince’s dissent, he was left with no option but to swallow his objections.
With the Emperor’s proclamation, this news quickly made its rounds among the common folks on the streets of Daqin.
There was much public debate. While the Northern Land was Prince Lin’s territory, it was also a border of Daqin. There were five hundred thousand soldiers stationed there, all hailing from ordinary families.
The Emperor’s ban on the transportation of grain to the Northern Land was a death sentence, for it was widely known that the region was large yet sparsely populated, hardly suitable for crop cultivation.
Tears streamed down the faces of the people who had children and grandchildren stationed in the Northern Land. Their loved ones willingly sacrificed their lives to protect the border of Daqin. How could the Emperor so callously disregard their wellbeing? Certain scholars even began voicing their support for Prince Chu Suifeng, albeit secretly.
This was largely due to the benevolent acts of the late Virtuous Empress, remembered fondly by many, and secondly, the relative peace and stability Daqin had enjoyed was largely credited to Chu Suifeng. This prince, sent away at a young age and shouldering the responsibility of defending Daqin from his teens, had served with unwavering dedication for many years without a hint of disloyalty.
Yet the Emperor sealed off the Prince’s escape route based on mere rumors, leaving many chilled by this heartless act.
Merchants from various provinces were particularly restless.