Chapter 45: Fuzhou Disaster
On Yan Shixu's side, he led the disaster relief team and walked for a month before finally arriving in Fuzhou.
As soon as you step into Fuzhou, you will see a series of shocking scenes.
Everywhere you look, there are starving people, widespread grief, and devastation.
The local officials in Fuzhou knew early on that the prince would come.
Today, all officials, big and small, gathered at the provincial government office. Led by the governor Huo Yunqi, they marched to the city gate to welcome the prince.
Yan Shixu glanced indifferently at the officials lining the aisles to welcome him, and asked in a cold voice, "Is there anyone who hasn't come yet?"
The officials looked at each other, secretly glad that they had come today.
Look, those two who didn’t come are probably going to be in trouble.
Huo Yunqi stepped forward and said that only two county governors had not come.
The prince asked the name and turned to look at Zhang Sicheng, the Eastern Palace Guard who came with him.
Zhang Sichen understood and waved to several of his subordinates to come forward and ordered them to check on the two county magistrates.
By the time the group escorted the prince into the government office, the welcoming banquet had just been prepared.
Huo Yunqi flattered him, "Your Highness must be tired and hungry after the long journey. I have prepared some simple food. Please come to the banquet hall to eat."
When Yan Shixu looked at the banquet hall filled with delicacies, singing and dancing, a dangerous light flashed in his eyes.
He turned to look at Huo Yunqi and said coldly, "You call this plain food, Governor Huo?"
Huo Yunqi's heart tightened, and when he met the prince's sharp gaze, he quickly bowed and admitted his mistake.
"I was extravagant and wasteful. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."
Yan Shixu picked up the delicious roast goose beside him, took a look at it, and then put it back.
"I came to Fuzhou not for pleasure, but to help the people in the hardest-hit areas of Fuzhou overcome their difficulties and rebuild their homes. Let's stop today, and keep things simple tomorrow."
Huo Yunqi quickly responded.
Yan Shixu continued, "Two years ago, during the Fuzhou Rebellion, the previous governor was beheaded at the Meridian Gate, and many officials were implicated. I don't need to elaborate, as I believe you all know the reason. I only hope that you, the officials, will work hard to govern the country and lead the people of Fuzhou through this difficult time."
All the officials knelt down in unison and kowtowed, saying, "We will do our utmost to help the people of Fuzhou overcome this difficult time."
"That's good."
Yan Shixu did not make things difficult for them because of the banquet.
After the meal, he asked all the officials present in the banquet hall about their disaster relief plans.
For example: how to resettle disaster victims, how to help them rebuild their houses, how to start farming, how to prevent plague, etc.
The officials, led by Huo Yunqi, looked at each other in bewilderment.
First, they never expected that the prince came to Fuzhou to provide disaster relief.
Second, the prince looked extremely serious, and if they didn’t answer well, they would probably lose their official positions.
The officials began to talk to the prince and report their detailed plans for disaster relief.
The prince listened to them expressing their opinions with a calm expression.
The plans of a few officials were relatively feasible, but the methods of most other officials were completely unworkable.
Yan Shixu only had to ask one question: How to implement it?
Those officials would be speechless when asked.
At night, Yan Shixu and his group stayed in the courtyard behind the government office.
Huo Yunqi had already instructed the servants to clean it up.
Late at night, the people sent by Zhang Sicheng returned.
After hearing this, Zhang Sicheng saw that the light in Yan Shixu's study was still on, so he went in and reported to him what he had investigated.
"Your Highness, the two officials who didn't come today are Lin Liqun, the governor of Yanmen County. He must have been overworked and fell ill in bed. The other is Wang Yangde, the governor of Jiujiang County. He was also busy with official duties. I heard that Wang Yangde took out all the property in his mansion and used it to help many people."
Yan Shixu raised an eyebrow, a little surprised: "Is it true?"
Zhang Sicheng nodded.
"The people who went to investigate specifically broke into the residence of the County Magistrate Wang and discovered that the mansion was completely destitute, without even a single valuable ornament."
Thinking of something, Zhang Sicheng added, "Guo Haocheng also opened a wardrobe in the governor's main courtyard and found that several men's inner garments were covered in patches. Although their outer garments had no patches, they were also washed white. Apart from the official uniforms, there was nothing new."
Wang Yangde.
Yan Shixu whispered the name and wrote it down.
"Shou Lin of Yanmen County, please send someone to investigate thoroughly to see if he really fell ill from working day and night."
"Yes." Zhang Sicheng bowed and walked out.
Yan Shixu sat in the study, the flickering candlelight illuminated his stern face.
He held in his hand a report on the actual disaster situation in various counties of Fuzhou, his brows furrowed.
The disaster in Fuzhou was far worse than he had imagined. People were displaced, fields were barren, and people were starving to death every day.
He put down the report and thought to himself.
Although there are some officials in Fuzhou who are honest and serve the people like Wang Yangde, most officials are still addicted to pleasure and indifferent to the disaster.
If the administration of officials is not rectified as soon as possible, disaster relief will probably be difficult to carry out.
The next morning, Yan Shixu summoned all officials and announced several emergency measures.
First, he ordered that all granaries and treasury silver in the counties of Fuzhou be opened and transferred to provide relief to the victims.
Secondly, he asked all officials to immediately organize personnel to build temporary housing in the counties under their jurisdiction to accommodate the refugees.
Finally, he strictly ordered all places to strengthen epidemic prevention measures to prevent the outbreak of the plague.
Several other county governors whose disasters were not serious felt reluctant when they heard the prince's order.
These are not counties under their jurisdiction, so why should they open their granaries and treasury?
But they did not dare to disobey the prince's order and had to carry it out.
Yan Shixu personally led a team to inspect Yanmen County, where the disaster was the most severe.
Lin Liqun really fell ill in bed.
When Yan Shixu saw him, Lin Liqun looked pale and his breath was weak.
Yan Shixu inquired about his condition in detail and asked the accompanying imperial physician to treat him.
Lin Liqun was filled with gratitude and struggled to stand up to salute the prince, but was pushed back by Yan Shixu.
Yan Shixu spoke gently, "There's no need to be so polite, County Magistrate Lin. Just rest and recuperate. I came here to learn about the disaster in Yanmen County. Although you're ill, the county's affairs must be managed. Do you have someone capable enough to take over?"
Lin Liqun panted and replied, "Your Highness, County Magistrate Li Chongshan is an upright man who handles matters prudently. I have temporarily handed over the affairs of the county to him."
Yan Shixu nodded and then summoned Li Chongshan.
Li Chongshan was in his thirties, with a resolute face. When he met the prince, he looked respectful but neither humble nor arrogant.
Yan Shixu talked with him for a while and found that this man was indeed quite talented and had a clear plan for disaster relief.
"Mr. Li, I hope you can quickly organize manpower to resettle the victims and restore agricultural production. If you encounter any difficulties, please report them directly to me."
Li Chongshan bowed and replied, "I will do my best to live up to your trust."
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