Chapter 49 Countless Living People Log In
Liuzhou.
Five days after the hurricane struck, the devastated land gradually returned to calm.
Thanks to its well-developed facilities and relatively distant location, Liuzhou City was the least affected of the several counties. Early on, Qi Chengming noticed the change in the wind direction and ordered the Imperial Guards to be deployed in full force. Officials from the prefectural government also led their yamen runners around, starting to implement the rescue plan they had discussed in the past few days.
Those whose houses were destroyed by the flood and who had nowhere to go settled on higher ground in the suburbs, initially using the tents that Qi Chengming and his group had used on their way to Liuzhou. Those who arrived later gathered scraps of cloth, straw, branches, and stones from the water to build makeshift shelters. They had to rebuild their homes before winter arrived.
In some low-lying areas where the water was still stagnant, some people were trapped on rooftops. The clerk shouted and led other minor officials from the prefectural government in makeshift farm rafts to rescue them. It wasn't just the county officials who were rescuing people; the common people were also spontaneously helping, including some wealthy families who had stayed in Liuzhou and sent their servants out for disaster relief.
People came and went in an endless stream.
If any commoners fell ill, they would be sent to the Prince's Palace for treatment, using a small side gate in the west courtyard to avoid contact with other places.
The housekeepers would also come to report from time to time:
"Your Highness! Starving people have come begging for food outside the manor." "Your Highness, a report comes from the mountain estate that the ridges for the new seeds are quite high and not badly damaged, but there's been too much rain... I'm afraid they'll be soaked and cause problems." "The doctor says there's not enough kudzu root..."
Qi Chengming was so tired that his eyelids were almost closing, but after answering all the questions, he deeply realized just how much work Master Qin usually did.
"Have them all go to the main street to wait. We'll distribute the grain at the four main streets." "Drain the water immediately, reduce the humidity as much as possible. Afterwards, I'll send over the medicine preparations. We need to sterilize it immediately to prevent disease." "Organize some villagers familiar with the mountains, regardless of whether they're using kudzu root, ask the doctor what other commonly used medicinal herbs need to be boiled, and go collect them together!"
After a busy day, Qi Chengming, together with the county magistrate's chief clerk, gained a general understanding of the post-disaster situation.
Fortunately, only about a hundred households in Liuzhou were missing or injured, which would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances. However, many people fell ill, mostly from drinking floodwater, eating unclean food, being in the water for too long, or catching a cold from exhaustion. The Prince's Mansion was eventually overflowing, so they had to find several large courtyards in the suburbs to house the sick.
There is a severe shortage of doctors, so those with mild symptoms can first drink a bowl of specially prepared Chinese herbal medicine soup to help them recover.
The grain was released from the granaries at the behest of the prefectural government, and was placed on the four main streets to be cooked in large pots, with each person given a bowl to fill their stomachs. When the registrar went to consult the prefect and the sub-prefect, thankfully they didn't argue over such an important matter, but readily approved 25,000 shi of old rice.
Before the disaster, the two were as quiet as chickens, but after the disaster, they became very active.
Qi Chengming breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that they had finally come out to work and share the burden.
However, a familiar-looking minor official ran indignantly to the Prince's residence to inform Qi Chengming: "Your Highness, the magistrate's arrangement book has been stolen."
That was clearly an idea come from both the county government officials and the Prince's mansion!
"Hmm?" Qi Chengming looked exhausted under the dim light. He rubbed his temples, but upon hearing this, he suddenly snapped awake and looked up in astonishment. "Who stole it?"
That was just a booklet detailing the post-disaster arrangements, a plan that the Prince's Mansion and the County Government discussed and revised during the week in between. Even if the County Government hadn't mentioned it, this booklet was originally intended to be distributed to scholars, with many copies made and distributed to the people of Liuzhou City.
"By...by the Prefect." Seeing the prince's bewildered expression, the clerk knew it was time for their explanation. He whispered, "The areas under the Prefect's jurisdiction have all suffered disasters: Lingnan, Liuzhou, and Yulin Prefecture. If you were to attach a comprehensive response plan to your request for disaster relief..."
When it comes to the evaluation, the bad impression caused by the hurricane will be overshadowed by the proper handling measures. Perhaps this disaster will be an opportunity for the prefect.
The clerk looked extremely displeased.
Whether the prefect gets promoted or not actually has nothing to do with low-ranking "clerks" like him, but people say that petty devils are hard to deal with. The prince originally promised them that when he distributed these booklets, the names of all the proposers would be recorded, including the names of the petty clerks themselves! But what good could they do once the booklets fell into the hands of the prefect?
The lower-ranking officials know best what kind of people the prefect is; he's definitely after all the credit for himself!
With Master Qin gone, the registrar is in a panic and lost, and the magistrate remains silent. Only the Prince can stand up for them!
"..." Qi Chengming narrowed his eyes, feeling very displeased.
You weren't there when everything was going on, and now that it's all over, you want to jump out and reap the rewards? No wonder you're suddenly so eager.
You usually line your own pockets, but when an opportunity arises, you strike hard.
It's time to move this garbage out of its place.
Qi Chengming opened his infrastructure system and pondered for a moment while looking at the talent page: "..."
His expression gradually became subtle.
etc.
Is this talent list much, much longer than it started?
Even though Qi Chengming's talent list already had several hundred people before he arrived in Liuzhou, looking at the densely packed list now, he belatedly realized that it seemed to have... doubled?
The Liuzhou region has many names that can be understood. The various factories he opened in Liuzhou brought new livelihoods to the people, and the fact that some of them were on the list meant that they were promising talents in some area and were extremely loyal to him.
but……
Why are there so many names in the "[Beijing]" category?!
Qi Chengming inspected the items with disbelief.
These names, so densely packed together, are unfamiliar to me; I don't recognize most of them...
The fact that Grandpa Mu's name is there can be somewhat explained by Dr. Bian's tireless sharing of details with him, which attracted his favor (this is still quite unbelievable). But... why is Shen Shuzhi's name also there?
In the original story, Shen Shuzhi is a somewhat familiar supporting official, skilled at betting on all sides, who ultimately met a bad end because he followed the Third Prince. Qi Chengming dares to swear he has absolutely no connection with this person, and the capital and Liuzhou are thousands of miles apart. How did this gambling god of betting even notice Qi Chengming?
Moreover, in the talent list...
Qi Chengming remained silent for a long time, then fell silent again.
If I can't figure it out, I'll just stop thinking about it for now.
He hadn't forgotten why he'd opened the talent list in the first place. The positions of Prefect and Governor were extraordinary; it would be easy to find a way to remove someone from office—he had plenty of leverage. But ensuring that the replacement would be a better fit and wouldn't hinder his ambitions in Liuzhou… that required careful consideration of the candidates.
Qi Chengming wanted to take the opportunity to promote his own people to power.
In the Central Plains, officials were appointed by the Ministry of Personnel. However, in remote and difficult areas like Liuzhou in Lingnan, the prefects and governors were either punished or appointed through recommendation: mostly from local vacancies—selected from experienced county magistrates. County magistrates were not only appointed by the court but also through local recommendation, but they needed to have a good reputation and significant achievements.
These two points gave Qi Chengming the opportunity to tamper with things.
He pondered the list for a long time, then wrote several letters in quick succession before saying to the worried and uneasy clerk, "Give these to the people at the post station and go back with peace of mind. There are still extra copies in the booklet, so have everyone copy and distribute them as soon as possible."
"Yes!" The clerk was beaming with excitement, all his worries gone.
He was confident that the prince would handle the matter, even if the opponent was the high and mighty prefect.
"I still don't have enough trusted confidants." After watching him leave, Qi Chengming lost all interest in dealing with miscellaneous matters, put down his pen, and sighed.
Qi Chengming had no acquaintances or people he could win over in officialdom. The local prefects and governors were exploiting the people too much, which made him unable to tolerate it. He could only tolerate the greed of a county magistrate. Fortunately, he was wise enough to be a puppet.
Now, after much deliberation, Qi Chengming concluded that only Magistrate Mu was suitable to be promoted to Prefect. Qi Chengming had previously learned a little about Magistrate Mu's situation from Doctor Bian: Magistrate Mu had already accumulated enough experience and seniority, and it was about time for him to return to the capital and be entrusted with an important post, but for some reason, he was transferred to Liuzhou to continue serving as Magistrate Mu.
Qi Chengming thought about how Grand Scholar Mu remained steadfast in his official career even in his old age in the original story, and suddenly it wasn't surprising.
Perhaps it was because the Mu family's father and brothers were too capable that Emperor Hongren was reluctant to let them go, so he kept Magistrate Mu in check. But now things are different. If... if this management booklet is to be used to establish a model for promotion, then why does it have to be the prefect and not Magistrate Mu?
Of course, Qi Chengming wouldn't conceal the names of these other authors, but as a prince, it wasn't appropriate for him to publicize them too much. Magistrate Xiao Mu was experienced and qualified, even though he was new to the area, but his excellent handling of the disaster relief efforts led to his promotion to prefect... which was also an opportunity.
As for the vacant county magistrate position, Qi Chengming could find a way to recommend someone from among his own people whom he had cultivated locally. In this way, everyone above and below him would be his own people, so even if the new prefect wasn't doing well after he got rid of him, Qi Chengming could still find another way.
"Hopefully they'll agree." Qi Chengming sent urgent messages to Elder Mu, Magistrate Mu, Master Qin, and even the Marquis of Weiyong's residence. He only hoped that this effort wouldn't be rejected.
Regardless of whether their own people eventually rise to power, once the imperial court sends someone to investigate the situation or provide disaster relief, and then they submit a memorial, the current prefect and governor will be unable to shake off the label of "negligence, dereliction of duty, and fraud."
...
The tenth day after the hurricane.
The chaos in Liuzhou gradually subsided, and based on the principle that whoever pays the most deserves the most credit, Qi Chengming successfully became the top contractor in the entire city of Liuzhou.
That's right.
The entire city is in ruins; most people's houses are destroyed, flooded, and need to be rebuilt. Given this, isn't this the perfect opportunity to redesign the town and its sewers?!
What a golden opportunity!
Especially after the hurricane passes, temperatures will rise briefly, and now, coinciding with the off-season for farming, construction can begin. Post-disaster "work-for-relief" programs are also in place...
It's worth mentioning that when Qi Chengming was inspecting the area, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Thank goodness I requested that public toilets be built!"
When the hurricane was approaching, he immediately thought of two crucial places—the suburban compound used for composting and the public toilets in the city—both of which needed to be sealed off as much as possible. Later, although many people in the city fell ill, the data showed that the hurricane was far less severe and caused far more casualties than in the other six counties.
It's hard to say whether this is because the water in Liuzhou City doesn't contain a large amount of fecal bacteria.
Qi Chengming felt a strong sense of accomplishment whenever he thought of this.
It was heartbreaking when the hurricane came... but his efforts over the previous month were not in vain! He did everything he could to save so many people... so many people who should have died from hunger, hurricanes, floods, and disease.
Those were all his people.
That night, Qi Chengming slept very soundly, and the feeling of guilt that had been burning him day and night finally stopped.
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