During the morning court session, the Emperor brought up the issue of the Yellow River floods and asked the assembled officials for a solution, but no one stepped forward.
Just as the Emperor was about to grow angry, Lu Zhan stepped out. "In accordance with Emperor Gaozu's edict to 'manage floods and their causes concurrently,' we should take a three-pronged approach. First, following Pan Jixun's method of 'channeling water to scour away silt,' we should build two hundred and eighty *li* of dikes.
Second, exempt the disaster-stricken areas from the grain tribute for this year and the next.
Third, dispatch an Imperial Censor to strictly investigate the powerful landowners who have built polder fields."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor's expression softened. "What you say is quite reasonable, Mr. Lu. We will consider the plan you have proposed."
Afterward, the Emperor and his ministers discussed some military matters on the frontier.
