Chapter 20 Chapter 20 “Money is hard to come by, and blessings are even harder…
Zhu Lingye came in with the Imperial Sword and stood beside Zhu Song. Zhu Song bowed to the sky and said, "Jizhou has suffered a devastating disaster. His Majesty is deeply concerned and has appointed me as the Imperial Commissioner to oversee Jizhou's affairs. To minimize casualties and handle the disaster as properly as possible, His Majesty has bestowed upon me the Imperial Sword, authorizing me to execute corrupt officials and unruly citizens, as appropriate."
Zhu Song's gaze fell on the group on his right, and he gave a cold order, "We are facing a great disaster. Countless compatriots are suffering outside the city. You have the ability to help, but you stand by and watch, turning a blind eye. You are truly unruly. Drag them away and execute them immediately."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone rushed to the left, saying in succession: "Sir, I was standing in the wrong place just now. I am willing to accept the victims." "I was standing in the wrong place too. I am willing too." "I am willing too..." "I am willing too..." "I am willing too..."
The sounds that rang out almost simultaneously were as loud as hundreds of cicadas chirping at the same time, and I was afraid that if I spoke too late, my life would be in danger.
Zhu Song looked at everyone standing in one place and asked in a cold voice, "Since you want to charge a fee, then I would like to ask how much you plan to charge?"
Everyone looked at each other, no one spoke first, until one person looked at Duan Zhenghong and said tentatively, "We'll charge half the market price."
Zhu Song remained silent, and someone else said, "Then...then we can split it in half."
Zhu Song remained silent, and the crowd began to whisper. Duan Zhenghong couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Master Zhu, just say what you think. The victims outside the city can't afford to delay any longer."
Yi Kangning glanced at Duan Zhenghong and echoed, "Yes, Lord Zhu, it's getting dark now. We should hurry up and open the city gates to let the victims in."
Zhu Song pursed his lips slightly. "The situation is special at this moment. I have no objection to your pricing. However, when I came here, His Majesty didn't give me any money. He just told me to do it at my own convenience. So I wondered if it would be feasible to put the bill on His Majesty. You can go to the capital to ask for the money later."
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Who would have the courage to ask the emperor for money?
Duan Zhenghong didn't respond, but simply said, "Since we're going to keep an account, shouldn't Master Zhu leave an IOU?"
Seeing Duan Zhenghong speak, everyone became bolder and started to speak, "Yes, no matter who you ask, you need proof."
Zhu Song nodded and said, "Everyone has a point. However, the disaster has not yet been resolved. It is unknown how long we will have to stay here, and the total cost is hard to calculate. Otherwise, we should wait until the disaster is over and then write an IOU to everyone."
Duan Zhenghong was about to say something when Zhu Song looked over and asked, "Master Duan, do you have any objections?"
Duan Zhenghong met his cold gaze and replied awkwardly, "Master Zhu is only visiting Jizhou for a short time. As the governor of Jizhou, I am naturally responsible for every citizen of Jizhou."
Zhu Song's eyes were cold as he raised his lips slightly. "Lord Duan is concerned about the people, and I admire him very much. However, the victims outside the city are weak. It would be better if Lord Duan could think more about them."
Duan Zhenghong was scolded by him, both openly and secretly, and he was very unhappy. However, because he had the imperial sword in his hand, he still did not tear his face with him. "Then do as Lord Zhu said."
Zhu Song looked towards the hall and asked loudly, "Do you have any other opinions?"
Everyone replied in unison: "No more."
Zhu Song ordered, "Gather all the manpower and make every effort to deal with the disaster victims entering the city."
"yes."
Under the leadership of Zhu Song, all personnel from the Governor's Office and the Governor's Office imposed martial law on the streets, opened the city gates, entered the city one by one, and entered the shops in order according to the number of people. When a shop was full, it would be closed, and the door of the next shop would be opened to let people in.
Although there were many victims and some were trying to cause trouble, they were all suppressed by the yamen runners. Overall, the process went smoothly. It was not until the next morning that all the victims were settled into the city.
After the victims were settled, new problems arose. After being soaked in rain for so long, the victims began to have severe fevers. There was not enough firewood in the city, not enough hot water, not enough doctors, and even the food was running out.
Yi Kangning and Duan Zhenghong looked at Zhu Song worriedly from the Governor's Office. "Master Zhu, we are short of everything right now, and there's no guarantee of rain. You should think of a solution quickly."
Zhu Song closed the account book, looked at them and asked, "You two adults have experience, please teach me what to do."
Yi Kangning said: "In this situation, the state government can no longer continue, and we have no choice but to ask the court for help."
Zhu Song nodded, "That's what I was thinking."
Yi Kangning was about to laugh when Zhu Song continued, "Jizhou's accounts are a mess. I really should submit a memorial to the emperor to discuss this."
After hearing his words, Yi Kangning's expression changed immediately. "Master Zhu, what do you mean by this?"
Zhu Song repeated, "What it means is that Jizhou's accounts are a mess and cannot withstand investigation."
Duan Zhenghong said with a serious face, "Master Zhu, you must have evidence for what you said. You can't do whatever you want just because you have the Imperial Sword."
Zhu Song flipped open the account book and pointed at the account and said, "The account records that the construction of the refugee camp cost 80,000 taels of silver, but from what I have found, the materials used in the construction of the refugee camp were all worm-eaten wood that was unusable, and the first construction failed because it collapsed halfway through, not because it was washed away by water as you said.
Another disaster victim's supplies cost 70,000 taels of silver. I don't remember the details, so I only wrote 40,000 taels of grain and 30,000 taels of clothing and miscellaneous items. However, according to my on-site investigation, the grain was emergency grain stored by the government, and the victims did not receive any clothes or quilts.
Then please tell me, my Lords, where is the disaster relief money sent by the imperial court?"
Yi Kangning opened his mouth, looking like he was going to refute Zhu Song's words, "Master Zhu."
Zhu Song reached out to stop him, his gaze fixed on the imperial sword on the desk. "Please think carefully before answering, my Lords. This is disaster relief money, more significant than any other money. This concerns human lives. If you, my Lords, try to falsify the information, I cannot guarantee the consequences."
Yi Kangning broke out in a cold sweat and raised his eyes cautiously to look at Duan Zhenghong. Duan Zhenghong looked straight at Zhu Song and then bowed and said, "This disaster was so severe that Lord Yi and I were busy with disaster relief and didn't look through the account books carefully. All the accounts were handled by the people below us, and we were not aware of them."
Upon hearing Duan Zhenghong's words, Yi Kangning quickly echoed, "Yes, Lord Zhu, we have been doing disaster relief work and have never looked at the account books. We had no idea it was so outrageous."
Zhu Song's eyes were as cold as snow, but he raised his lips slightly. "Of course I trust you two adults. We have been through many storms and waves, so we will never take human life lightly. But since this matter falls within your jurisdiction, you still have to give me an explanation. Even if the explanation cannot be produced right away, the money must be produced. So many people are waiting for their lives. Right?"
Yi Kangning responded under pressure, "We will investigate it as soon as possible."
Zhu Song said, "The food in the state government can only last for three days, so I can only wait for two days at most."
Yi Kangning said: "In two days, we will definitely give Master Zhu an explanation."
Zhu Song smiled and said, "That's fine, you two can get busy."
Yi Kangning and Duan Zhenghong perfunctorily bowed to Zhu Song, then turned and walked out the door. Zhu Song looked at their backs, and his smile disappeared in an instant.
Zhu Song called Zhu Lingye and handed him the white rabbit jade pendant that Xu Songlan had given him. He said, "Call all the doctors from the nearby Xinglin Hall and ask them to come and help with the disaster relief."
Zhu Lingye looked at the white rabbit jade pendant in his hand, "What is this?"
Zhu Song replied: "A token of the Xu family's young master's gift."
Zhu Lingye was a little surprised. "Xu Songlan gave it to me? He's actually the young master of the Xu family."
Zhu Song said: "Go quickly."
Zhu Lingye turned and left. Zhu Song put down the account book, stood up and prepared to go for a walk on the street to see the situation of the victims. After all, it was in Jizhou's territory. Zhu Song was worried that Duan Zhenghong and others would make trouble in private, so Zhu Song would take time every day to visit the victims in several places randomly.
On this side, after Yi Kangning and Duan Zhenghong learned that Zhu Song had left the Governor's Office, they looked at each other and went to find Song Shunran together.
"Sir Song, help!" Yi Kangning started howling as soon as he entered the door.
Song Shunran, who had been ill for several days, was sitting on a small couch with a ruddy complexion, sipping tea. When he heard Yi Kangning's wailing, he said angrily, "Howl, howl, howl, you've ruined all my blessings. You're too impatient."
Yi Kangning walked up to him, extremely anxious, "Master Song, you don't know, Zhu Song found a lot of problems when he checked the accounts, and he asked us to pay the money within two days. Where do we have the money?"
Song Shunran met their gazes and said, "Why are you looking at me? I didn't take the money."
Yi Kangning's facial features were screwed up with worry. "Then what should I do?"
Song Shunran said, "Money is hard to come by, but is blessing also hard to come by?"
Yi Kangning understood what he meant, but he was still worried, "He has the imperial sword."
Song Shunran laughed out loud. "The Imperial Sword is only an Imperial Sword if someone uses it. If no one uses it, it's just a pretty decoration. As long as we can deal with Zhu Song, why should we be afraid of it?"
Hearing him say this, Yi Kangning also thought that this was the case, but the question was, "I don't know what Zhu Song likes?"
"If he's a normal person, he'll definitely like beautiful women if he doesn't like money." Song Shunran said casually, remembering the news he had heard before. "Zhu Song likes beautiful women. Even though he seems tough, he can't even walk when he sees a beautiful woman."
Yi Kangning said, "That would be great. Lord Duan has several beautiful concubines. I heard that he is very good in bed. He will definitely be able to win over Zhu Song."
Duan Zhenghong was somewhat reluctant when he heard that he had to offer up his beautiful concubine. Song Shunran knew from his expression that he was reluctant and could not help but say, "Oh, think about the future. When you are transferred to the capital, you will have so many beauties that you can choose from. Wouldn't it be better to give you the most beautiful woman in the capital as a concubine than the ones you have at home now?"
Duan Zhenghong had long heard of the most beautiful woman in the capital, who was so beautiful that men would bleed from their noses at the first sight of her. He had also been coveting her for a long time, but unfortunately, he was only a local official, and could only satisfy his longing by looking at her portrait.
"Okay, I'll prepare it right away and send it to Zhu Song tonight."
Song Shunran sighed and pointed out to him, "You're still not quick enough. Why send it over? Zhu Song has done a great job of putting on a good front, nothing is wrong. Are you sending it over with such fanfare because you're afraid he'll take it? Why not just quietly put it in his room, light some incense and candles, something that'll make people's blood boil and can't help but want to take it? Once the matter is settled, then everything will be easy to talk about."
Duan Zhenghong agreed deeply and nodded continuously, "I understand."
The young man is teachable. Song Shunran smiled and said, "Go and get ready."
"yes"
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