The city gates of Yunzhou were open, and occasionally a few people could be seen coming out of the city with their families.
A few miles north of Yunzhou City, many Xiangjun soldiers were digging soil overnight and sending it northward by cartload.
Zhao Huan sent people to inquire and learned that they were reinforcing the dikes on the south bank of the Yellow River.
Zhao Huan stepped down from the carriage, mounted his horse, and looked around. He saw torches like a long dragon in the darkness, and countless people were tirelessly digging.
There were soldiers from the local militia and ordinary civilians.
"Marquis Yongwu, go and summon Sima Qing, the prefect of Yunzhou, to see me."
As Han Shizhong agreed, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. The emperor could actually call out the name of a prefecture's governor so casually. It seemed that the emperor really cared about the officials in various places.
Before long, Han Shizhong returned, but instead of Prefect Sima Qing, he was accompanied by Zhang Kang, Sima Qing's chief clerk.
Upon learning Han Shizhong's identity and being told that the emperor had arrived, Zhang Kang hurriedly followed Han Shizhong over.
A registrar of a prefecture, who is at the same level as a county magistrate, might never have seen the emperor in his entire life.
Zhang Kang was so excited that he knelt down. Of course, he didn't have to kneel, but Zhao Huan was his idol.
This was a young clerk, probably around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with delicate features.
"Your humble servant Zhang Kang kowtows to the Emperor!"
The emperor, mounted on his horse, his eyes gleaming in the firelight, said, "Rise and speak."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"What is your official rank? Where is Sima Qing?"
"Your Majesty, I am Zhang Kang, the Registrar of Yunzhou. The situation is critical. Your Excellency Sima has already gone to Tai'an City, which I have heard is the safest place in the Jingdong Road."
Zhao Huan frowned and said in a deep voice, "He went to Tai'an City, so what are you doing here?"
"Your Majesty, I am currently working with the military and civilians to reinforce the dikes north of Yunzhou City."
"The prefect has left, why don't you leave?"
"Your Majesty, Puyang on the north bank of the Yellow River was flooded yesterday, but the floodwaters have receded somewhat. Yunzhou can be saved!"
Zhao Huan revealed an appreciative look: "Since it could be saved, why did Sima Qing leave?"
"Your Majesty, Sima Shang is the governor of a prefecture, and the safety of the prefecture rests on his shoulders. He should retreat for now and return after I have stopped the flood."
Zhao Huan's handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly. His face showed little anger, but he was inwardly furious. However, he spoke gently, "Zhang Kang, I will remember you. But I must also remind you that as the prefect of a state, you should live and die with the state. In this difficult time, abandoning the people of Yunzhou and fleeing eastward is to be a deserter on the battlefield!"
Although the emperor's tone was gentle, it carried an air of superiority and unquestionable authority.
"Yes! Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered!"
"Come, I will go with you to the front and see the men."
"The Emperor's sacred body is not suitable for travel."
Zhao Huan smiled and said, "I've killed people in piles of corpses. Let's go!"
His eyes shone with a captivating luster, like black jade, and his voice was quite magnetic.
It's remarkable that after more than a hundred years, the Zhao family's genes have reached an exceptionally high level.
Zhao Huan was originally handsome, and in recent years he has worked hard to improve his appearance, which has given him a natural air of heroism.
Zhang Kang quickly said, "Your Majesty, this way please."
Zhao Huan, surrounded by Han Shizhong and others, headed north.
The soldiers and civilians were all busy, and no one cared who had come.
Everyone shared the same goal: to build up the dikes, block the floodwaters, protect Yunzhou City, and safeguard their homes!
For Chinese people, home is more important than anything else, and leaving one's hometown is a very sad thing.
They would do anything to save their homes.
Zhao Huan noticed that there was a ten-year-old boy among them, his tender face covered with fine sweat.
Zhang Kang was about to announce the arrival of the emperor when Zhao Huan stopped him.
Zhao Huan did not want his arrival to disrupt the rhythm of things here.
Zhao Huan asked in a low voice, "Is there enough food?"
Zhang Kang said, "We still have enough food for ten days."
"Ten days? That's too little."
"The flood will recede within ten days."
What if we don't withdraw?
"Your Majesty, I have already sent people to Heze to borrow grain."
Zhao Huan felt that this was not a solution either, as Heze was also located on the banks of the Yellow River and its dikes could collapse at any time.
Although the pressure on Heze has been reduced due to the breach of the dike in Puyang, isn't Heze just like Yunzhou is now?
Thinking of this, Zhao Huan's anger surged even more. More than half a month ago, the imperial court had already mobilized to transport grain to this area, and many private associations had also spontaneously donated money to transport it over.
Why does Yunzhou only have ten days' worth of food left?
Zhao Huan then thought of something else and said, "On the way here, I saw some disaster victims fleeing south, and some soldiers delivering food to them."
Zhang Kang said, "It was I who sent them. Those disaster victims left in a hurry, and many of them did not bring any food. It was impossible for them to reach the capital city of Tokyo."
"There isn't enough food here, why not leave some?"
“Your Majesty, we stayed behind to protect Yunzhou and its people. Now that Yunzhou has not yet fallen, what is the point of letting the people starve to death on the road? I have dared to send some grain.”
Zhao Huan was at a loss for words. Although his actions had left the area in a state of food shortage, which was wrong from a small strategic perspective, they were commendable and praiseworthy from a value and ideological standpoint.
Sometimes, strategy and values are inherently in conflict.
Or, to put it another way, sometimes, shaping values is a more ambitious strategy.
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