Chapter 298 The Dengzhou Incident Turns Over

After the grand wedding in October, the end of the year is fast approaching.

"It's been almost a year since I ascended the throne." Qi Chengming sat skillfully on the couch, gazing at the jujube tree outside the window, and sighed with a touch of dazed emotion.

This is the Empress's bedroom, which she named Youmeng Hall. There are several jujube trees in front of the door. Since his marriage, Qi Chengming has tasted the sweetness of success. He moves all the memorials that are not important and must be discussed with Mr. Qin and the Grand Secretaries to Youmeng Hall, and he also insists on the Empress's help. Tao Jiang had no choice but to clean up the side hall here as well.

Qi Chengming was calculating in his mind.

That year, they didn't seem to do much. They were busy confiscating property to make money and fill the gaps left by natural disasters and man-made calamities in various places. They were busy opening new factories to ensure that people could have food to eat and get through the winter. He also got married, and that was the end of it.

The new grain varieties were only introduced in the Central Plains, which was far from enough. The new reforms also only spread from the capital and Liuzhou to the surrounding areas. The Thai Yuan currency gradually replaced the old currencies of varying quality in different regions. According to the Ministry of Revenue, about 60% to 70% of the old currencies were recycled.

...The task of recuperating and restoring health is arduous and has a long way to go!

"Time flies." Tao Jiang smiled, a small, adorable dimple appearing on her cheek. She stamped a memorial with a small red clay seal at the table beside her. Tao Jiang thought for a moment, "I was still worrying about this at home last year."

Since her marriage was arranged, her former fiancé's family has never bothered her again, remaining as quiet as chickens. It's said they later quietly moved away, their whereabouts unknown. Hearing this now, Tao Jiang could only offer a casual smile.

"Wuyou, the prominent families in Bashu and Dengzhou are all interested in establishing girls' schools. The prefect has written a memorial asking you to draft some regulations." Tao Jiang casually flipped through a memorial and found another one that she was unsure how to handle, and read it aloud.

Qi Chengming didn't rush to answer, but asked her, "What do you think?"

"The joint memorial from the two prefects suggests it's not that they're unsure of the procedures; sending someone to Liuzhou to inquire would surely provide the answer. But the fact that they insist you, Wuyou, set the rules... means they're still unsure if this matter can be done?" Tao Jiang speculated, somewhat uncertain. "So they're here to ask for a definitive answer?"

"Doesn't the Empress's decree of praise represent my own will?" Qi Chengming always deliberately avoided using the self-reference "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") in front of his wife, but now he emphasized the pronunciation of "朕".

Tao Jiang frowned: "...They don't believe me?"

She's the new empress, and she hasn't firmly established herself yet, so are the imperial edicts she issues being weighed carefully?

Qi Chengming stopped tapping his knuckles: "We are one, the Emperor and Empress, and we cannot embarrass you. You can handle it yourself, and I will have my tutor, Scholar Qin, make another secret trip."

He still remembered the two men and didn't think they were that stupid. There might be some reason for this, so he decided to send someone to look into it.

Tao Jiang understood immediately, put down the official seal, and specially wrote the words "Approved" in her delicate handwriting on the memorial.

In this way, the prefects saw that the imperial edict came from the Empress, and naturally understood her influence.

A few days later.

Qi Chengming received the news that Qin Chongzhi's servant had returned with the message, and the man was already covered in wounds when he was helped into the palace.

"Before he fainted, he said that there was something strange about the embankment in Dengzhou, and that Lord Qin was trapped..." Xiao Dezi reported with a solemn expression, "Lord Qin looks to be in danger."

"As expected," Qi Chengming murmured, his premonition coming true; he had vaguely sensed something was wrong before.

"Xiao Chengzi, you go there yourself and deliver the secret edict to your cousin. Tell him to lead his troops to investigate secretly and then act as he sees fit." Qi Chengming wrote the edict quickly and swiftly, handing it over to his cousin.

After Xiao Chengzi agreed and left, Qi Chengming quickly opened the infrastructure map to take a closer look.

The embankment of Dengzhou...

From the moment Qi Chengming "created" the cement formula, he spared no effort in repairing various places to prevent flooding. However, after years of repairs... although it was indeed very effective in some places, some areas in the south were humid and hot with excessive rainfall, and the bamboo concrete formula was limited, making them prone to disasters.

Dengzhou is located in the Central Plains, how could the dikes have broken down for no reason?

On the infrastructure map, Qi Chengming zoomed in and searched carefully for several quarters of an hour until his eyes ached. He finally found a small white dot that had sunk into the embankment.

His heart sank even further.

The small white dots on the map represent the densely packed communities of people, always appearing very close together. But here, a section of the embankment has mysteriously disappeared... This has already led to a catastrophe! Under the vast national map, everything looks calm and peaceful, but who knows how many people have died or been injured in this area!

Now, Qi Chengming can only continue to suppress his torment and wait for what happens next.

He sometimes loathed the feeling of being confined to the rear, waiting for news, and having to imagine how to deploy troops and do everything from afar. Under his instructions, Prince Ning traveled around and accomplished many tasks, but privately he would complain about why he was always on assignments elsewhere. Qi Chengming would want to scold him for not appreciating his good fortune.

Another ten days have passed.

Qi Chengming kept a close eye on the infrastructure map, watching helplessly as the clusters of small white dots on the map gradually dispersed and receded. He surmised that this meant the government was finally stopping its cover-up after the dikes fell and was starting to take action. Did this mean his cousin's investigation had passed its most dangerous phase and they were now able to help the people?

Two days later, detailed secret reports finally arrived from the direction of Dengzhou:

"The dike in Dengzhou was breached for thirty li. Due to the cover-up, the flood eventually submerged a town and five villages, resulting in heavy casualties."

"Lord Qin Chongzhi discovered that the local magistrate colluded with local gentry, and that they had skimmed off a portion of the profit from the cement, causing the embankment to become unstable... Lord Qin was seriously injured, but thanks to Lord Yang's timely arrival, his life was saved."

"...Lord Yang issued a secret decree to arrest the involved parties and bring them back to the capital for His Majesty's disposal."

Qi Chengming almost laughed out of anger.

He produced the cement because there were too many shady dealings in the water conservancy sector. The floods in most places are recurring and never get better, not because they are as difficult as in some southern regions, but because people are greedy. Repairing things is profitable, so a market has emerged.

The cement structure uses concrete and bamboo reinforcement for support, and while it won't last too many years, regular repairs are necessary, and its stability is also limited. The cost is low, and the results are stable, which minimizes the possibility of turning water conservancy into a business. This also leaves some room for officials; Qi Chengming understands the principle that "too much purity leaves no fish," meaning he won't push them too hard, nor will he allow them to develop unrealistic ambitions.

He had already given them a share of the profits, yet the magistrate of Dengzhou County still dared to brazenly embezzle from them and cut corners, ultimately failing to prevent a major disaster.

"I think they've been blinded by greed!" Qi Chengming slammed his fist on the table, his anger flaring. "Xiao Dezi, go and invite the Grand Secretaries and Mr. Qin over. Xiao Chengzi, draft the imperial edict!"

There's not much to say about these corrupt officials and local gentry; their entire families were confiscated and they were exiled. The ringleaders and those with the most heinous crimes were beheaded and their heads displayed publicly. Officials were stripped of their titles and their families were barred from holding office for three generations. Qi Chengming wanted to invite his trusted ministers to discuss how to improve the system.

...These are all just temporary solutions, not permanent ones. No matter how good Qi Chengming's previous ideas were, there will always be people who harbor unrealistic desires.

Qin Liusong looked troubled upon arrival: "Your Majesty, the requirements cannot be any more stringent. If they are any stricter, then implementing them will..."

That's unrealistic.

He kept the last few words in his mouth.

Grand Secretary Mu also advised, "Your Majesty, your actions have been wise enough. There will always be those who dare to be so audacious, and we cannot stop them!"

He had always known that the new emperor's ideas were unique, and sometimes they were so beautiful that they seemed unreal, just like the fairyland that the new emperor always looked at... It was as if it really existed. Those methods could often be effective, but—even if the new emperor wanted to do them completely, they would not become the way the new emperor saw them.

This is the human world!

We can't expect everyone to be like an immortal, without desires or wants, and with the virtues of a saint, can we?

Qi Chengming knew they were telling the truth; he wouldn't make the same mistakes as Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, but...

There was a reason why he threw such a tantrum.

“Some people are audacious because they have such thoughts. What if we prevented them from having such delusions?” Qi Chengming turned around and asked meaningfully.

The group exchanged puzzled glances. Scholar Cao, who had remained silent throughout, was filled with doubt and didn't understand what this meant.

Qi Chengming made it clear: "From now on, a water conservancy office will be uniformly built within a radius of thirty li around the dikes in areas prone to flooding. The local officials in charge of the area and all those involved in the dike repairs must reside within the water conservancy office area and are not allowed to leave without permission."

Grand Tutor Wu was greatly alarmed: "Your Majesty! If the government offices are to resume operations in the future... this will be inconvenient."

"Are you afraid of inconvenience, or are you afraid of losing your life?" Qi Chengming asked in return. "The location of the yamen can be moved. You don't need to worry about this."

This meant that the daily operations of the yamen would no longer be located in the city, but would have to be shifted to the water conservancy area, which was indeed troublesome at first. However, a county magistrate is responsible for all matters, big and small, in all areas, so how could it be considered inconvenient? If they hadn't felt inconvenienced before, then Qi Chengming would have to question their lack of concern for water conservancy.

Grand Secretary Mu had calmed down. After thinking it over, he finally slowly agreed: "Your Majesty's proposal may seem groundbreaking at first glance, but it is a solution. If anyone tries to collude with the locals to profit from water conservancy, they will have to see if the people living near the Water Conservancy Office agree."

I care most about my own life.

Qin Liusong echoed, sneering, "The magistrate of Dengzhou dared to act this way because he doesn't care about the lives of the people. Anyway, he's not the one living near the embankment, so he might take a chance if something happens. Your Majesty's method is excellent; who would dare to do this again!"

Seeing that this method had been approved by everyone, Qi Chengming felt somewhat relieved: "Then issue the decree."

This was a matter of great importance, and he only came up with this method by recalling the relevant systems for nuclear power plants in modern times.

Half a month later, the criminals were escorted back to the capital and their crimes were read aloud at the entrance of the vegetable market for five consecutive days, during which many heads were chopped off. The emperor's new edict was proclaimed throughout the land and sent to various regions, ordering its implementation. Officials from the Ministry of Works, secret guards, and generals from the military camps would jointly inspect the water conservancy department.

After this incident, countless officials, both high and low, hated the magistrate of Dengzhou County, cursing him in private and firmly remembering his name.

You scoundrel!

It wasn't enough that he and his family died; he dragged down the entire families of countless officials across the country!

...

Qi Chengming paid no further attention to these disputes. After writing a letter to his companion who was recuperating in Dengzhou, inquiring about her well-being, he returned to Youmeng Hall, exhausted, and held his wife's hand to comfort her.

"Don't worry, Yizhen. Dengzhou's memorial last time was deliberately meant to attract our attention. The situation there was dangerous, so he had no choice but to secretly report it by submitting a joint memorial with the prefect next door. This is the memorial he wrote afterward to apologize. Although there are extenuating circumstances, he still needs to be punished—how about I send him to be in charge of the water conservancy office?"

His Majesty clearly intended to avenge her, so Tao Jiang had no reason to be angry. Besides, this minister was wholeheartedly devoted to the people and was merely using her as an excuse. Tao Jiang wasn't so narrow-minded, so she smiled sweetly.

"Let him atone for his crimes with good deeds; such a good official should not be treated poorly."

"You must be tired, take a rest. You said your shoulders were sore yesterday, let me massage them for you." Tao Jiang said affectionately, and without waiting for a reply, pulled Qi Chengming to sit down and started to massage his shoulders and forehead.

"Turn to the side an inch more, yes, right here."

Qi Chengming would never push people away, saying things like, "Let the servants do this kind of work." How could his wife's work be the same as anyone else's?

"Yizhen, let's go to the garden to play after we finish writing at the New Year. We won't invite anyone else." Qi Chengming was half-lying in the Empress's arms, already looking forward to the New Year.

After his wedding, he experienced firsthand how wonderful it felt to be cared for.

This was different from the concern shown by his maternal grandparents, cousins, wet nurse Liu, and Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi. Although Yi Zhen only offered words of concern, and Gan Tang still took care of his daily affairs, Qi Chengming was happy to hear Yi Zhen's detailed inquiries and care.

So far, Qi Chengming has bestowed upon Tao's father the title of Earl of Anle and given him some leisurely but desirable positions, yet the Tao family hasn't shown any signs of arrogance, and the Empress hasn't asked for any other benefits for her family. Qi Chengming is still quite satisfied with the Tao family.

He can talk to Yizhen about anything now.

Qi Chengming will not spoil the Tao family like the Empress Dowager favored the Li family, allowing them to become too wealthy and embolden them, making things difficult for them in the future.

The current situation is just right, maintaining a good balance.

Staying in his own little home, Qi Chengming could feel that the years after his time travel had finally become peaceful.