Chapter 199 New Governor
Yu Huatang said, "I heard that the new governor is already evacuating the crowds. Madam, why don't you wait a little longer?"
Madam Hua snorted coldly, "It's just a show. To be honest, the new governor has already moved his belongings away, and his house is just an empty shell. How could he share life and death with us ordinary people? Do you think everyone is the governor of Zhaozhou? I'm just taking the valuables now, so that if the governor behaves abnormally later, we can run away."
After saying that, she advised, “I’m telling you this quietly, so you should pay attention to yourself later, pack up your things, and if you see something wrong, you can just run away.”
After leaving Yan's house, Yu Huatang was full of worries.
Originally, she placed her hopes on the government office. Although Lord Yan was a bit lazy, he was not an official who exploited the people. He also did a lot of practical work under Zhao Yan.
Now that the new governor has not even started working, he is already thinking about hiding. No wonder Lord Yan also wants to run away.
But what about the people of Quanzhou? Their crops were flooded and their houses were uninhabitable. What would they eat and wear?
After returning to the shop, she gave some instructions to the shop assistants and went to Hui'an County to ask her cousin and others to make preparations early in case there was another big typhoon.
Wang Shuniang burst into tears after hearing this. This was something that had been passed down from generation to generation. If it was gone, how much money and silver would it cost to rebuild it.
The good days are gone in an instant.
Yu Hui comforted him, "No matter what, the imperial court will definitely allocate disaster relief grain. We are not completely doomed to fail."
Yu Huatang didn't say anything. Yu Hui's words were just comfort. Not to mention whether the court officials would take care of this place, even if people came, how much disaster relief food would be distributed? Not to mention, disaster is a good time to get promoted and make money. How could they care about the suffering of these people?
He originally came to take them away, but in the end he returned empty-handed.
When I returned to the shop, Manager Yuan had already arranged for the shop to close.
The wealthy businessmen here have already started running away with their wealth.
Although the Baili family has begun distributing food for free, the number of people is too large, and just one guild cannot help.
On the third day, the typhoon intensified, and rumors circulated that a stronger typhoon was imminent. The rain continued to fall, and dikes in several counties had burst.
Shopkeeper Yuan urged her to grab her things and run, but where could she go? She had been here since she was born. Seeing she was still hesitating, Shopkeeper Yuan advised, "This rain won't stop any time soon. If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave."
Yu Huatang made a quick decision and immediately returned to the room to get his things. When he went out and locked the door, he couldn't stop shaking. All the efforts he had made over the years seemed so insignificant in the face of disaster.
This shop has only been open for a short time, and I've arranged every plant and tree inside myself... but now I have to abandon it...
Shopkeeper Yuan wiped his face, not knowing whether it was tears or rain, and said, "Let's go..."
She was holding an umbrella and was soaked by the rain as soon as she went out. She didn't walk far before her shoes were like they were wading in water.
At this moment, a commotion broke out on the street. A group of officials, escorted by horseback, were apparently carrying the governor who had just escaped. The officials looked solemn and immediately stopped them when they saw them. "Who are you?"
Shopkeeper Yuan immediately said, "Sir, we are merchants here. We just finished delivering goods to someone and are about to go back."
The man was tall and strong, staring at the package in Yu Huatang's hand with sharp eyes, and then staring at the faces of the two of them.
Shopkeeper Yuan immediately stepped in front of Yu Huatang and said, "Sir, we are just common people, trying to make a living in the face of disaster."
The horseman walked around the area and scanned Heyuan Street. "We are the entourage of the newly arrived pacification envoy. The pacification envoy has issued an order to arrest any officials who abandon the city and flee. The court has already sent people, and relief food is on the way. There's no need to panic."
Yu Huatang said, "That means this place has been taken over by the officials. Can we continue to stay here? If there is any danger, the government will notify us in advance."
The man on horseback said, "We have to wait until we finish our inspection. The people from the Imperial Observatory are already making an estimate, so I think they'll have a response."
The horsemen left immediately. Manager Yuan asked, "Now that the pacification envoys have arrived, can we stay a few more days?"
Yu Huatang said, "Just now I heard from that person that any officials who escaped will be arrested. This shows that the court has attached great importance to this place."
Shopkeeper Yuan is now fifty-six years old. Compared to Yu Huatang, his whole family is here, so he doesn't want to escape even more.
Yu Huatang was silent for a moment, then said, "If we run away now, we might run into bandits. Why don't we wait a few days and see?"
Manager Yuan also had the same idea.
The two separated. Yu Huatang saw the door of the shop open again and went back in. At the moment the door closed, she smiled. She was just as stubborn as her cousin and was unwilling to leave.
I don’t know who the appeasement envoy sent by the court is, and whether he can help us overcome the difficulties.
A new typhoon landed that night. After she fell asleep, she had a dream. In the dream, the people of Quanzhou were fleeing everywhere. She took her cousins with her. When they reached a forest, she saw Zhao Yan riding a tall horse towards her, telling her not to worry.
The next day she was awakened by the crowing of a rooster. She spent the whole night worrying about the house collapsing, until the rain finally stopped today and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Now all the shops are closed, and some brave people are walking towards the government office, saying that the government office has placed documents and many people are reading them.
Yu Huatang also followed and squeezed to the front, where he saw several notices posted there.
The first one said that Zhao Yan, the Minister of Works, was now appointed as the Pacifier of the Two Fu Prefectures, in charge of both Fuzhou and Quanzhou Prefectures.
The second one said that the court's disaster relief grain had been distributed and was being escorted by the court's envoys. It would arrive in about five days.
The third note stated that all officials who fled during the dike breach, tsunami, and typhoon would be escorted to Beijing in accordance with the law and punished later.
The fourth one said that farmers from all over the prefecture would be mobilized to fight the disaster together, and they would be provided with silver and money afterwards.
Some people said, "Isn't this Zhao Yan our former governor?"
"Yes...it turned out to be him. We are saved then."
"Then why didn't I see anyone else..."
"They probably haven't arrived yet. After all, there's Fuzhou Prefecture. They're probably still there..."
Yu Huatang walked out of the crowd. When he heard that he was the appeasement envoy, his originally dark and sticky heart finally showed a glimmer of light.
After eight days, the situation improved slightly. No more typhoons landed and the rain became lighter.
That day, she had just opened the door to dry her things when she heard someone shouting, "...Master Zhao, Master Zhao is here."
"Zhao Qingtian is here... We are saved."
Everyone stood on both sides of the street. Soon, a group of people appeared from the corner, all riding large horses, rushing along. The people waiting by the roadside shouted, "Master Zhao... Zhao Qingtian..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
