Nanjing.
Zhu Jianshen looked at the memorial in front of him with a worried expression.
Looking at Shi Kefa, who had just been appointed Grand Secretary and Governor-General of Jiangnan, he asked:
"How is the situation in the Huai River region?"
Upon hearing Zhu Jianshen's question, Shi Kefa also wore a bitter expression. After bowing to Zhu Jianshen, he said:
"Your Majesty, the residents of Lianghuai have suffered heavy casualties, and countless people are homeless."
Based on the current situation, it appears that the Yellow River in Henan Province has breached its banks, and the floodwaters are rushing towards the Huai River basin.
Houses were destroyed, and countless fertile fields were damaged. The exact circumstances of what happened in Henan are still unknown, but I have already dispatched people to investigate.
Upon hearing Shi Kefa's words, Zhu Jianshen also put one hand to his forehead. He had just been preparing to raise funds, supplies, and weapons to recruit and train soldiers.
Now, with the Yellow River breaching its banks, the disaster victims in that area have completely disrupted his plans.
The Huai River region and the Jiangnan region are his base of operations, and are now among the few places he can control.
He had to allocate grain for disaster relief.
However, allocating food to them would definitely delay my training of the new army.
Seeing Zhu Jianshen's worry, Shi Kefa continued:
"Your Majesty, although the Yellow River's breach this time has caused us great trouble."
But now the area from Henan to Lianghuai has become a disaster zone.
This completely blocked Li Qin's southward journey; at least for the time being, it would be impossible for him to go south.
This also gave us enough time to prepare.
Zhu Jianshen, sitting on the throne, nodded in agreement after hearing Shi Kefa's words.
Indeed, the impact of this disaster is multifaceted.
He affected himself, but he also definitely affected all the forces around him.
He also completely thwarted Li Qin's idea of heading south in a short time.
The future world order may very well take a different turn because of this great disaster.
Just as the two were discussing, a eunuch brought in a memorial and said:
"Your Majesty, this is a memorial from Hu Zongxian, the General-in-Chief and Governor of Zhejiang."
Upon hearing that it was Hu Zongxian's memorial, Zhu Jianshen immediately took it.
Looking at the information above, Zhu Jianshen nodded in satisfaction and said:
"Hu Zongxian was indeed a loyal minister."
"Your Majesty, what is this?"
Shi Kefa looked at Zhu Jianshen in front of him and asked, puzzled.
Zhu Jianshen then put down Hu Zongxian's memorial and said:
"Hu Zongxian said that upon hearing of the disaster in Lianghuai, he was willing to allocate grain reserves from Zhejiang to the imperial court to temporarily alleviate its difficulties."
After hearing Zhu Jianshen's words, Shi Kefa nodded and said:
“Great! With that, we can collect more food for disaster relief and military training, and that should be enough.”
Zhu Jianshen looked at Shi Kefa in front of him and continued:
"That's not all. Hu Zongxian volunteered to go to the disaster area himself. He was willing to go to the disaster area and take the initiative to select the strong men in the disaster area to form an army."
As a force for the future northern expedition of the imperial court, or to resist Li Qin's southward advance.
After the able-bodied men were conscripted from the disaster-stricken areas of Lianghuai, the remaining elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were no longer a significant threat.
As for the positions of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Zhejiang, he allowed the court to select other capable individuals to fill these roles.
Shocked by what Zhu Jianshen said.
Hu Zongxian was actually willing to give up Zhejiang, which he controlled, to the imperial court, and was even willing to personally go to Lianghuai to recruit and train soldiers for the court.
"Your Majesty, a loyal minister like Hu Zongxian must be richly rewarded. We must set an example for all the governors and generals in the country."
"Yes, he should be richly rewarded. I want him to join the cabinet as the second-highest-ranking official, be granted the title of Duke of Loyalty and Goodness, be given a python robe, and be sent to the Huai River region to provide disaster relief and recruit soldiers. He will have the authority to handle all affairs in the Huai River region."
Zhu Jianshen looked at Shi Kefa in front of him and said.
After hearing Zhu Jianshen's words, Shi Kefa nodded in agreement.
"By the way, my dear minister, have those generals you recommended arrived yet?"
Zhu Jianshen looked at Shi Kefa in front of him and asked.
Skaf nodded and said:
"Your Majesty, I have already sent someone with the imperial edict to inform them."
They will be arriving in the capital soon.
"Alright, once they arrive in the capital, we must immediately begin recruiting and training soldiers. We absolutely cannot let this great disaster delay the important task of training troops."
Outside the capital.
A long procession was slowly making its way into the capital.
Behind them followed a line of large trucks loaded with luggage.
They were the families of Li Qin and many of his generals and soldiers in Liaodong, who had all been brought to the capital by Li Qin.
Outside the capital, next to Li Qin's army camp, a cluster of houses was also erected.
That was the place where Li Qin had settled the families of the Jurchen army.
Because along with their families came the ten thousand Jurchen soldiers and the families of tens of thousands of Jurchen soldiers.
Li Qin separated the 10,000 Jurchen soldiers and their families, arranging for their families to stay next to his own camp.
The Jurchen camp was moved to another location.
Li Qin stood on a high place, holding a telescope and watching the families of the various generals slowly enter the capital.
Placing these people in the capital is a bargaining chip for controlling those generals in the future.
Li Qin saw that among the carriages that had entered, the largest one slowly came to a stop in front of his residence.
Li Qin knew that his family members had come.
Then he saw a woman in her twenties, dressed in Hanfu and looking very dignified, step down from the carriage.
Behind her was a stunningly beautiful woman who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old.
At this moment, the dignified woman was holding two boys in each hand, while the stunning woman behind her was holding a little girl.
And around them, countless servants were unloading things from those carriages.
Li Qin recognized the two women immediately; they were his wife, Zhuang Xiaoyu, and his concubine, Zhang Qianrou.
At this moment, the two women were with his two sons, Li Ruwen and Li Ruwu.
And his daughter, Li Jingyi.
Two of his sons, Li Ruwen and Li Ruwu, were born to his wife, Zhuang Xiaoyu.
His daughter, Li Jingyi, was born to his concubine, Zhang Qianrou.
After they arrived at the mansion, Li Qin put away the binoculars in his hand.
They proceeded to the main hall of the mansion.
At this moment, Zhuang Xiaoyu and Zhang Qianrou were with their child.
Upon entering the hall and seeing Li Qin inside, Zhuang Xiaoyu, as his wife, simply bowed.
Zhang Qianrou, as a concubine, respectfully bowed to Li Qin and said:
"This servant greets Master."
His two children, Li Ruwen and Li Ruwu, also bowed respectfully to Li Qin, saying:
"Your son greets his father."
Seeing the well-behaved crowd under Zhuang Xiaoyu's management, Li Qin nodded in satisfaction.
As expected of the original owner's father, she did a good job of disciplining his concubines and children even when he wasn't around.
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