The Minister of Revenue immediately echoed, "Yes, yes, Your Majesty, this is a waste of money and manpower!"
Minister of Revenue: How much silver would it cost to spread lime all over the capital?
After a pause, the Minister of Revenue said with a pleasant expression, "In my opinion, we can wait until they find out which inn the infected person is staying in, and then have Lord Liu sprinkle quicklime all over that inn and the street where the inn is located."
Speaking of this, a hint of pride flashed between the brows of the Minister of Revenue.
"Your Majesty, do you think my suggestion is feasible? This way we can save a lot of money!"
He looked up at Emperor Mingxi with eager eyes, as if waiting for his praise and reward.
"What?! Wait until we find out where the inn is! And only disinfect the streets around the inn?!"
After hearing this, Xia Miaoyuan could no longer hold back. He took a long, swift step and ran to the front hall. He shouted fiercely at the Minister of Revenue, "You are talking nonsense!"
All the ministers were confused for a moment.
"Children should speak without restraint, children should speak without restraint!" Xia Zhengqi smiled slightly, stood up and held his daughter in his arms.
Ahhhhh! Daddy, you must not listen to the Minister of Revenue!
They came here intentionally to spread the plague, so they would do everything in their power to move around the capital.
[Besides, people are always moving around, not fixed. How can it be effective if we only scatter them on the street where the inn is located?]
Xia Zhengqi held his daughter in his arms and sat down steadily. He then put on a stern face and said sternly, "Regarding the disinfection of the capital, we must do as I say. There is no change!"
"But, Your Majesty..."
Jingzhao Yin had barely finished his words when Xia Zhengqi shouted, "The epidemic is as fierce as a tiger. An earlier warning can save more people. Anyone who objects can go home and take a leave immediately!"
The Jingzhao Yin was so frightened that he immediately lowered his head and swallowed the second half of his words.
Seeing Emperor Mingxi's tough attitude, the other ministers did not dare to refute him, but they showed dissatisfaction on their faces.
"The emperor is becoming more and more arbitrary." Censor Dongfang complained in a low voice without moving his lips.
The Minister of Revenue, the Prefect of Jingzhao and others put their hands behind their backs and gave a thumbs-up to the Censor Dongfang.
"Oh, and, Lord Liu, you are responsible for notifying the entire capital city that all men, women, young and old must immediately put on their face coverings. Close the four city gates and prohibit entry or exit."
"Yes!" Jingzhao Yin replied with a serious face.
"And Jiaxiang Town, Daddy! Send someone there quickly! I remember from the book, by the time the imperial court arrived in Jiaxiang, almost everyone in the town had died; even the governor had fled."
Xia Zhengqi felt as if something had bitten him hard in the heart.
What? In Jiaxiang Town, the epidemic was concealed and not reported, and the governor ran away?
"I have learned that Jiaxiang Town is experiencing an epidemic. The situation is dire and we urgently need support from the imperial court. My dear ministers, do you have any suitable candidates?"
"Or you can recommend yourselves."
When the ministers below heard the pessimistic situation, they all gasped.
We only have one life. If we go to an epidemic area and get infected with the plague, we're done for.
There was silence for a full cup of tea.
Seeing that no one was willing to take up the task, the Minister of Personnel, Lord Yan, stepped forward and said, "This old minister is willing to go to Jiaxiang to help with the epidemic."
The new Minister of Personnel, Lord Yan, is the prince's teacher, Yan Wenjing. He is an upright man with both moral integrity and talent, but unfortunately he is already very old.
Xia Zhengqi glanced at Lord Yan's white beard and sighed, "Lord Yan, I understand your sincere heart, but at your age, you are really not suitable for such a critical mission."
"Let the younger ones go."
At this time, the Minister of War, Baili Feng, stepped forward and said, "I am not too old, and I am willing to go."
Xia Zhengqi looked up and saw that it was his uncle, and his heart felt very warm.
After all, family members are the most reliable.
But he immediately frowned again.
The Imperial Guards are currently in crisis. If there are any problems with the Imperial Guards, the security of the capital will be in serious trouble. Therefore, the Ministry of War is what the court needs most.
"Lord Baili, although I would like you to go, your Ministry of War still relies on you given the current situation."
[The newly promoted Minister of War, Qin Fengshu, is a perfect fit. He's courageous, knowledgeable, resourceful, and cautious.]
Xia Zhengqi's eyes lit up: "Master Baili, how is Qin Shilang from your Ministry of War?"
Baili Feng nodded repeatedly: "Master Xiao Qin is very good."
"Then send the Minister of War, Lord Qin, to be in charge of treating the epidemic in Jiaxiang Town."
Baili Feng looked at Xia Zhengqi sincerely and said, "Your Majesty, I cannot go. Then let my son go with Master Xiao Qin. Just consider it as doing your part for me."
"If the Jiaxiang epidemic is really as reported, the situation should be critical now. Master Qin will definitely need help."
Xia Zhengqi's eyes felt a little sore and he nodded slowly.
"Okay, I will immediately draft an imperial decree to send Sir Xiao Qin as the envoy to treat the epidemic, and Baili Ming as the deputy envoy to assist Sir Xiao Qin."
After Xia Zhengqi finished speaking, he said to the Minister of Revenue, Zhao Hui, "Immediately allocate 200,000 taels of silver to the epidemic control envoys so that they can set off as soon as possible."
Lord Zhao felt his vision go dark and his legs went weak: "Two hundred thousand!?"
"Your Majesty, can you reduce it a little?" He said this with a tearful tone.
Zhao Hui felt like a knife was cutting his flesh and the pain was unbearable.
Xia Zhengqi glared at him and said coldly, "No! If two hundred thousand taels is not enough, I'm afraid we'll have to allocate more."
Zhao Hui's legs went weak and he almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Baili Feng was quick enough to hug him.
[Tsk tsk tsk, it seems like all the ministers of finance in every dynasty have the same character: stingy.] Xia Miaoyuan couldn't help but complain.
The ministers accepted the orders and bowed to take their leave.
The empress chatted with Emperor Mingxi for a few words, and then immediately returned to Kunning Palace to preside over preventive matters in the harem.
The queen summoned all the concubines, found white cotton cloth from the storehouse, cut it into face scarves of appropriate size, and ordered everyone to wear the face scarves. The palace servants were not allowed to move around unless necessary.
Then the queen ordered people to collect a lot of wine from the storehouse and distribute it to each palace as a preventive measure.
By the time the palace paths were covered with quicklime, it was time to light the lamps.
Xia Zhengqi had just finished his government affairs and slumped down on the couch, not wanting to move at all.
"Emperor Daddy!" Xia Miaoyuan's baby voice came.
"Your Majesty, I'm worried that you haven't eaten yet, so I brought Miao'er to bring you some dinner." The queen walked into the front hall carrying a food box.
Xia Zhengqi looked at his breastfeeding daughter, and a hint of joy appeared on his tired face.
Emperor Mingxi had just finished half of his dinner when he heard a commotion outside the door.
"What's wrong?" Xia Zhengqi raised his head alertly.
"Your Majesty, there is a letter from the Imperial Guards camp!" Debao's voice came in, his tone was very urgent.
"Come in and talk!" Xia Zhengqi threw down his chopsticks, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and quickly walked up to the dragon throne and sat down.
A dusty imperial guard walked in and knelt on the ground to salute Emperor Mingxi.
"Excuse me, excuse me, what's going on over there?"
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