Upon seeing the snow, He Zifeng immediately went to the county government office.
As soon as he arrived, he saw the county magistrate's servant looking for him: "The magistrate just sent me to find you. What a coincidence that you've arrived."
After hearing this, He Zifeng immediately went to the county magistrate's study.
Since the last incident, the county magistrate has become very close to He Zifeng. Although Constable Zhu has also submitted to him, Constable Zhu is too shrewd and opportunistic; he can be used, but not trusted.
The county magistrate needs to promote some reliable people, and He Zifeng is his protégé. Although he is young, he is very sensible in handling matters. Now that he is unsure about something, he wants to ask He Zifeng for his opinion.
Before he could speak, He Zifeng said, "Sir, it's snowing."
He Zifeng's words were exactly what the county magistrate was thinking. The magistrate knew that since dealing with the clerk, He Zifeng had been claiming to have other matters to attend to and requesting leave, but in reality, he was intentionally avoiding the limelight; he was a clever man.
Even small county towns can harbor hidden talents.
The magistrate said, "I asked the craftsmen, and they said the city wall could be completed in a month at most." They didn't demolish the original city wall. Instead, they reinforced it by building their old wall on the outside of the original city wall, and their money was spent like water every day.
This is the biggest event in the county. Some say he is diligent and loves the people, while others say he is just putting on a show for political achievements.
It snowed in early October, which seemed to confirm what the Imperial Observatory had said.
The county magistrate said, "I came to see you about the snow. I intend to inform the surrounding counties about the snow disaster and then report it to my superiors. What do you think of this?"
It's only late autumn now, and winter is still a month or so away. There's still time to take action if we want to. Although the idea is good, the risks are significant.
Once the people are informed, grain prices will skyrocket. Those already struggling will be forced to sell their children prematurely. Before things even get that bad, chaos ensues.
Furthermore, it's only snowing lightly now; whether it will develop into a snow disaster is uncertain. The Imperial Observatory is acting mysteriously. Predicting a natural disaster through divination is unbelievable; if word gets out, they might face impeachment.
But the county magistrate trusted his classmate, a two-time Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), whose scholarship and knowledge far surpassed his own. Since the other party had specifically informed him, he had no choice but to take it seriously.
He hasn't decided yet whether to mind his own business or help others get through this difficult time.
He Zifeng said, "Your Excellency is kind, and I thank you on behalf of the people. If you could write a letter to your colleagues and superiors about this matter, it would be a great deed. This is to prevent problems before they arise. Even if others use this as a means to attack you in the future, the people will always remember that you did your best to protect them!"
These words stirred the county magistrate's blood; although he was just a minor official, he still had ambitions and aspirations.
Now, He Zifeng helped him make up his mind. He didn't seek to be remembered in history like Bao Zheng; he just wanted the people to praise him as a good official when he passed away.
Once the idea was decided, I immediately began writing the document.
He needs to report this predicted disaster situation.
He Zifeng is a man of great fortune; ordinary people don't have the opportunity to be reborn like him. Whether it's distributing porridge or helping the county magistrate make up his mind, he wants to help more people so that he can be worthy of the opportunity that God has bestowed upon him.
The county magistrate wrote five letters: one to a close friend from school, one to his superior, and both recounting his recent activities. The other three were to neighboring counties, informing them of an impending rare snowstorm and urging them to prepare accordingly.
He personally handed the five letters to the servant, instructing him to deliver them to the post station as quickly as possible. Then they were distributed to various locations.
They started discussing what to do next.
First, we need to prevent people from panicking, and second, we need to control prices. Anyone who dares to take advantage of the situation will be dealt with decisively.
These county magistrates had been thinking about this for a long time, and what they could basically say were established regulations. Occasionally, He Zifeng would add some shortcomings on the side!
The county magistrate recorded them all.
By evening, the constables had all returned to the yamen gate, waiting for a hot meal. Exhausted, they went home and collapsed into bed, having no energy left for seeking pleasure.
When they returned, they found He Zifeng there, and everyone greeted him.
He Zifeng said, "The lord is also here."
The constables were all startled. It was late autumn, and darkness fell early; they hadn't even noticed the county magistrate standing before them. They hadn't paid any attention to him at all. They all straightened up and greeted him.
Officer Zhu was about to leave at the entrance of the yamen when he heard that the county magistrate was there, so he immediately ran over.
The magistrate said, "It's dark outside, so come inside and talk."
Everyone perked up at the news. Could it be that the county magistrate had learned of their hard work and wanted to reward them?
The yamen gates were closed, but the main hall was brightly lit. The county magistrate sat in his usual seat, flanked by He Zifeng and Constable Zhu on either side, with yamen runners standing below.
The magistrate said to Constable Zhu, "Look around and see who is missing. Quickly inform them. What I'm about to say is very important."
No one dared to slack off. Several people went out to look for help.
After a while, people gradually returned. The county magistrate had Constable Zhu check the roster again. Seeing that everyone was present, he said, "Do you know why I ordered you to build the city wall?" Winter was approaching, and building the city wall was a difficult task. Besides, although their county was not very wealthy, there was no danger of war, so the city wall was optional.
"have no idea."
"My lord, there must be a reason for building it."
"We'll listen to the adults," one of the quick-witted people shouted in advance.
The magistrate said, "It snowed at noon." He said this without any context.
The constables below were completely baffled.
The county magistrate continued, "There will be a snow disaster ahead. This is a pre-arranged plan."
Everyone was surprised, even Constable Zhu had never heard of it before, and he glanced at the county magistrate several times.
The magistrate said, "This matter must not be spread outside for now, and no one present can take leave. I will not let anyone who falters at such a crucial moment off lightly! Similarly, those who perform well will be rewarded. Starting tomorrow, have the president of the county chamber of commerce, the people from the trading companies, and the village chiefs from each village come to the county. He Zifeng will lead half of his men to be in charge of this matter. Constable Zhu will lead the other half to repair the city within half a month. We don't have much time left."
The county magistrate said, "Human determination can overcome nature. As long as we prepare in advance, the snow disaster cannot defeat us. We have set a goal: no civilian should die because of the snow disaster. Can everyone do that?"
"Yes!" everyone said in unison, their voices loud.
They were somewhat confused by what the county magistrate was saying, but they could sense the urgency in his tone.
Author's Note: Dear readers, I didn't want the next chapter to be interrupted, so I've combined it into tomorrow's update. I'll be posting a long, 9,000-word chapter tomorrow night so you can all enjoy it all at once. That's all for today, thank you!
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