Time slipped by quietly, and it was already the next morning, the time for the morning court session. Chu Fan had been awake all night, yet he hadn't heard a single whiff of rebellion from his ministers. He had thought the situation was settled and stable, but after a night immersed in historical novels, he didn't hear any news of rebellion until the first light of day.
Exhausted and sleepy, Chu Fan entered Chengtian Hall, his heart filled with curiosity and inquiry about the true intentions of the court officials. He knew that many powerful officials on Blue Star would be eager to take over the throne if they saw an opportunity. However, since he traveled here, all these rules seemed to have lost their effect.
Chu Fan believed he had become a helpless, hollow shell, easily overthrown by any powerful official with a single push. Yet, no official had taken action, which made him wonder: Why hadn't any of these officials dared to rebel?
When Chu Fan sat steadily on the dragon throne, the court was already crowded with people and all the ministers had arrived.
Chu Fan sat upright in the magnificent court, his eyes deep and solemn. He spoke slowly, his voice sounding very tired:
"My dear ministers, I am deeply concerned. Facing this rare natural and man-made disaster, the entire Hedong region has been flooded, leaving the people displaced and without a livelihood. I would like to know if you have any better solutions for more effective relief for the victims. I hope you will be generous with your advice."
However, there was silence in the court and no minister said a word.
Chu Fan looked extremely tired because he stayed up late to read the historical novel. In the eyes of the ministers in the court, this state was simply because Chu Fan was worried that the victims in Hedong Jiuzhou did not sleep well.
Looking at the extremely tired Chu Fan sitting on the dragon throne, the ministers felt ashamed and had mixed feelings.
After court yesterday, they had gathered privately to discuss countermeasures, but the conclusion they ultimately reached was disheartening. Work-for-relief was the most effective approach. However, funding was essential to its implementation. With the treasury empty and people's livelihoods in dire straits, raising this massive sum of money presented an insurmountable chasm.
However, a tacit understanding had quietly been reached among Qin Hui and other important officials. They decided to continue using the method of work-for-relief, allowing the victims to work in exchange for wages to alleviate the urgent need.
However, they will not pay the wages now. They have decided to keep a detailed record of the wages and pay them to the victims when the treasury is full. This will allow the victims to see hope of life and prevent them from giving up on themselves.
However, behind this decision lay a deep sense of worry and frustration. As Minister Qian had said yesterday, this move posed a threat of forced labor in disguise, potentially sparking public outrage. If the victims distrusted the court and feared future retribution, they would riot, which would be detrimental to the stability and peace of the court.
Yet, they dared not disclose this matter to His Majesty. In their minds, His Majesty was a wise and powerful monarch, deeply concerned with his people. He was always concerned about their safety and well-being, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of its people. They feared that if His Majesty learned the truth, he would be furious, heartbroken, and would stop them from carrying out their plan. All their efforts and sacrifices would then be in vain.
After all, the weariness in the Emperor's eyes as he sat on the throne couldn't possibly be fake. His Majesty had already done enough for the victims, and as his subjects, he and others should shoulder their due responsibilities.
Of course, what they didn't understand was that if they could tell Chu Fan about this matter in detail and explain to him the possible consequences, Chu Fan would definitely support their plan with all his strength. After all, although Chu Fan didn't want to see the people rebel and suffer sacrifices, he couldn't care less as long as he could complete the task.
Seeing these ministers turning into ostriches, Chu Fan was speechless. "You don't have a good way to provide disaster relief. You don't rebel against yourselves and become the emperor and the decision maker. What do you want?"
Chu Fan continued to ask, "So, do you have anyone to go and help the victims?"
After Chu Fan finished his question, Changsun Dechong stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am willing to do my best to provide relief to the victims before your order is issued."
Looking at Chang Sun Dechong who stepped forward, Chu Fan couldn't help but feel ripples in his heart.
As Minister of War, Changsun Dechong faced an awkward situation. With the majority of Wei's forces commanded by General Mu Yunfeng, his authority was practically nonexistent. His willingness to provide disaster relief might have been motivated by rebellious intentions, and his previous restraint likely stemmed from a lack of direct contact with the victims, coupled with numerous obstacles at court that hindered his ability to act.
However, the situation was completely different when the emperor ordered disaster relief. With the imperial decree in hand, Changsun Dechong could freely move among the disaster victims and even siphon food from the imperial treasury with impunity. Even if he secretly gathered troops among the victims, no one could stop him. After all, the noble purpose of "all for the relief of the victims" provided the perfect cover for his actions.
Furthermore, as a Minister of War, he had always been a rough man who led troops in battle. How could he understand disaster relief? Chu Fan thought of this and was already imagining how he would spend the money in the inner treasury after completing the system mission and returning to Blue Star Country.
However, nothing in the world is absolute, and all of these ideas are just Chu Fan's wishful thinking.
When Chu Fan approved Changsun Dechong to be fully responsible for disaster relief, all the ministers in the court breathed a sigh of relief.
Changsun Dechong volunteered to take charge of disaster relief. This wasn't a single decision he made, but rather the result of consultation among key ministers, including Qin Hui. In the current court situation, aside from Mu Yunfeng, who was preoccupied with Wei's foreign wars, Changsun Dechong became the only general capable of commanding the troops within Kaifeng.
Mu Yunfeng must focus on managing the tensions surrounding Wei. Neighboring states are eager to seize the opportunity. If Wei were to experience civil unrest, they could exploit this vulnerability. Therefore, only Changsun Dechong, the Minister of War, can mobilize the military from the imperial capital of Kaifeng to maintain stability and provide disaster relief. Without the effective deterrent of the army, the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees could lead to unpredictable riots.
After further discussing the details, Chu Fan dismissed the court and returned to his chambers for the night. After all, Chang Sun Dechong was so eager to gain the power of disaster relief director, so he figured his mission was a sure thing. Perhaps he'd just need a good night's sleep and wake up the next morning with the money in the inner treasury, returning to Blue Star to live a carefree life as a farmer.
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