Chapter 451: County Magistrate Lu is Really Good at Acting
Half a month later, the carriage entered Yizhou.
The sky was grey and a light rain was falling.
"Can you please give me something to eat, sir?"
"I'm starving, please."
There were a few people sitting on the side of the road, they were pale and thin, and their clothes were tattered. Two women were holding their children, and there was despair in their eyes.
When they saw a passing carriage, they would kneel down and beg for something to eat.
However, most carriages avoided them like the plague.
"Stop." Tangli shouted.
The carriage stopped.
Tang Li took some steamed buns and jumped off the carriage. Wei Qing followed her and held an umbrella for her.
Tangli walked up to the people, and they all looked at him with expectant eyes.
Tangli handed the steamed buns to them.
Those people were delighted.
"Thank you...thank you ma'am!"
They took it and started eating. Those who had children gave it to them first.
Everyone was extremely hungry and ate voraciously.
"Where are you from?" Tang Li asked.
"River Valley Town, we are from River Valley Village in River Valley Town."
River Valley Village...
Tang Li looked at Wei Qing.
Hegu Town is the confluence of the Yi River and the Luo River, and is always the hardest hit area.
"What's the situation in Hegu Village?" Tang Li asked.
"The flood came rushing down and flooded everything, including the rice and houses. We didn't have time to pack up our belongings, so we had to flee." The person who spoke was a woman, and she burst into tears.
The others started crying too.
Homeless and hungry, these disaster victims are suffering so much.
Tangli asked more about the flood situation.
These victims fled five days ago. Five days ago, Hegu Village was completely flooded, and the two neighboring villages were also half flooded.
It rained heavily for three consecutive days a few days ago, and I think the situation will only get worse.
"Oh my God, don't give us a way to live!"
"What should we do?"
Those people cried even harder.
"The government doesn't care?" Tang Li asked.
"Those people are enjoying themselves and don't care about our lives!"
The victims cursed the government.
Tang Li left them some silver and steamed buns, asked them to find a place to stay, then got on the carriage and continued on their journey.
I had only heard that the flood was severe and the number of people who died in the flood were just numbers.
But what I saw with my own eyes was that these disaster victims were displaced, homeless, and hungry. They were all living people.
What we just saw is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more people who are suffering even more and having a harder time.
Tangli felt depressed and uncomfortable.
Wei Qing hugged the person in his arms.
"Wife, things will get better. Your man is here." Wei Qing said.
Tang Li looked at the man's stern face and nodded.
right!
It will be fine!
The carriage continued to move forward and first went to the county magistrate's office in Yizhou County.
The carriage stopped outside the county magistrate's mansion.
Everyone got off the carriage.
There was still a drizzle of rain in the sky.
Wei Qing held an umbrella for Tang Li.
"Tell your county magistrate that my surname is Wu, and I am the imperial commissioner from the capital who is in charge of flood control." Wei Qing said.
The gatekeeper quickly ran in to report.
Soon, a man who looked like a butler came.
"Envoy Wu, you've had a hard journey. Come with me in," the man said.
A group of people entered the county magistrate's mansion.
The housekeeper arranged accommodation for each of them, and Tang Li and Wei Qing had a separate courtyard.
"Your Excellency, you have worked hard. Take a shower and rest for a while. I will prepare food for you two."
Tang Li and Wei Qing did not stop or change clothes along the way, and they were indeed feeling unwell.
They took a shower and changed their clothes.
The clothes Tangli brought were not fancy clothes, but clean and neat clothes suitable for walking and working.
Tangli put on her clothes and tied her hair up, looking very neat.
The two of them ate.
Wei Qing then asked, "Where is your county governor?"
"The county magistrate is preparing a welcoming banquet for you," said the housekeeper.
Wei Qing frowned and said, "Tell your lords that flood control is the most urgent task. There is no need to be bound by formalities."
The butler looked embarrassed. He had never expected that the imperial envoy was so straightforward and would actually say it directly.
Wei Qing looked at him coldly and with an oppressive look.
It's so scary.
The butler shrank back in fear.
"I will tell the adults right away."
Tang Li and Wei Qing were sitting in the room.
"The county magistrate of Yizhou is named Lu, and he has been serving here for ten years." Wei Qing said.
"Five years ago, during that great disaster, so many people were convicted, but this County Magistrate Lu was fine?" Tang Li asked.
Wei Qing nodded.
"Such a person is either as cunning as a fox, or has connections in the court, or both," said Tang Li.
"It's both." Wei Qing said.
Tangli frowned.
It would be troublesome if someone like this had connections in the court, occupied a position but did nothing practical.
"Behind him..."
"It should be Zhao Shu's people."
Tang Li and Wei Qing were waiting in the room. After waiting for a long time, they still didn't see the county magistrate, so they became a little impatient.
Wei Qing just stood up.
"Cough cough cough!" There was a coughing sound outside.
A middle-aged man walked in from outside, supported by several people.
"Lord Wu... cough cough cough..." the person who came called out.
Wei Qing looked at him.
"County Magistrate Lu?"
"That's right... cough cough cough!" County Magistrate Lu coughed violently, as if he was going to cough out his lungs.
The servants hurriedly helped County Magistrate Lu to sit down.
County Magistrate Lu coughed for a long time before stopping. His face was pale and he looked very sick.
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Lord Wu." said County Magistrate Lu.
"A few days ago, my Lord was running back and forth between several towns affected by the disaster in the heavy rain, and then he fell ill."
"Sir, you must take care of yourself. The people in this disaster area are relying on you."
The housekeeper said.
Several servants had tears in their eyes.
"I'm not suffering at all. It's just a minor illness, and I won't die. Countless other victims are suffering," County Magistrate Lu said righteously. "Tomorrow, I have to go to Hegu Town to take a look. Even if I have to carry them, you have to carry them there for me!"
Tang Li was watching from the side. If he really didn't know the information, looking at County Magistrate Lu's performance, he would really think that he was a good official who loved his people like his own children.
"Was County Magistrate Lu in Hegu Town a few days ago?" Wei Qing asked.
"I just came back from Hegu Town three days ago. Cough cough cough... My body is really useless. Cough cough cough..." said County Magistrate Lu.
"Did the lord go to River Valley Village?"
"I've always been in Hegu Village," said County Magistrate Lu.
"What was the situation then?" Wei Qing asked.
"The water has flooded several families living along the river. It's so tragic. It makes me feel sad." County Magistrate Lu said, his eyes red again.
Five days ago, the entire Hegu Village was flooded, but County Magistrate Lu said that three days ago, he was in Hegu Village...
A mocking smile appeared on Wei Qing's lips.
"County Magistrate Lu truly loves his people like his own children. Since Lord Lu is so worried, please come with me to Hegu Village tomorrow."
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