Chapter 293 Public Grievances
Starting the next day, Wang Yongchang began to feel resistance in the government office.
From the second day after the prefects of the sixteen prefectures arrived, there was either a shortage of people or a scarcity of materials.
Even the simplest task of dredging the river is short-handed.
The situation regarding the flood is becoming increasingly tense.
It took several twists and turns to finally gather all the materials.
On the very day that construction of the river channel began.
The dam at the mouth of the river in Suzhou Prefecture was destroyed again.
The flood destroyed an entire village.
Public resentment arose immediately.
They flocked to the government office demanding an explanation from the River Conservancy Commissioner.
The people blocked the gate of the government office, shouting for the culprit to be revealed.
As Lian Yongnian listened to the cursing outside the government office, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He approached Wang Yongchang and said, "Lord Wang, what should we do now?"
Wang Yongchang seemed utterly perplexed. "This is impossible! According to my blueprints, the dam shouldn't have been breached again. There's no rainy season today, and the water level hasn't risen!"
Lian Yongnian stepped forward and said, "Lord Wang, at this time, public resentment is rising and so many people have died. We should petition His Majesty as soon as possible and ask him to punish us."
Wang Yongchang waved his hand, "His Majesty appointed me as the River Conservancy Commissioner with full authority to manage floods. If I am to be punished, I will take full responsibility. You may leave now. I need to think about where things went wrong."
Lian Yongnian quickly said, "Lord Wang, please don't be offended. It's just that the previous military governor of Jiangnan concealed the extent of the disaster, which enraged His Majesty. I really dared not conceal it."
Wang Yongchang glanced at him and said, "If you want to submit a memorial, so be it."
Lian Yongnian said, "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Wang."
Lian Yongnian left Wang Yongchang's room and summoned his men.
"Let the outsiders make a bigger fuss."
"yes!"
Once the door was closed, Yuecheng jumped down from the roof beam.
Wang Yongcheng was startled when he saw the person who suddenly appeared in the room.
"Did that brat send you to hold someone accountable?"
Yuecheng leaned against the window and listened to the sounds outside.
"Let's go."
Wang Yongchang was taken aback. "Where to?"
Yuecheng knelt down in front of Wang Yongcheng. "The princess said there's something fishy about this, and she wants me to take you to the destroyed dam to check it out."
Wang Yongchang chuckled. This kid really knows how to trust people he doesn't use.
The government office was surrounded by people, and if Wang Yongchang went out, he would be devoured alive.
These people in Jiangnan live in constant fear.
The massive casualties once again shattered their psychological defenses.
If anyone incites further unrest at this point, Wang Yongchang will find it difficult to appease public anger without providing an explanation.
Public anger and resentment can lead to imbalances and disharmony.
In order to appease the people of Jiangnan, the imperial court could only punish Lord Wang, even though he had a past relationship with His Majesty.
Yuecheng carried Wang Yongcheng out of the government office quietly.
After a stick of incense burned, Wang Yongchang was led to the vicinity of the destroyed dam.
There were more than a dozen soldiers guarding the area.
Suddenly, several people fell to the ground as if they had been struck by something.
The person next to him was shocked and rushed to check on him, but then fainted from a sharp pain in his head.
After all the officers and soldiers had fainted, Yuecheng led Wang Yongchang out from behind the tree.
Wang Yongcheng walked onto the dam, where there was only a small breach, and the water volume was not enough to flood the village, so how could anyone drown?
He stood up and said to Yuecheng, "Go back and tell that brat that the dam was sabotaged by someone, and that the deaths of those villagers are suspicious."
Yuecheng nodded and escorted Wang Yongchang back to the government office.
"The princess said that from now on, you should not leave the government office. When the time is right, someone will come to pick you up from the government office."
Wang Yongchang nodded. "Okay."
Since Qin Jinzhi said so, she can resolve this matter.
He had long anticipated the damage to the dam.
People die for wealth, birds die for food, but these officials don't treat the people like human beings at all, so how can they be called "parent officials"?
After a day and a night, the number of people in front of the government office did not decrease, but rather increased.
His emotions also became increasingly radical.
"Hand over Wang Yongchang!"
"Hand over Wang Yongchang!"
"Hand over Wang Yongchang!"
Several people in the crowd led the people in front of the government office in shouting.
The gates of the government office were breached by the crowd amidst shouts and cries.
Just as the people were about to storm into the government office.
A figure leaped onto the gate of the government office.
The twin blades, their cold shadows gleaming, were thrust into the people's faces.
The group of people were so frightened that they backed away.
The figure leaped down, drew his twin swords, and sheathed them.
"When the Dali Temple is handling a case, bystanders must stay away!"
"The Thousand Birds Guard is handling a case; bystanders, please keep your distance!"
The Dali Temple constables and the Thousand Birds Guard quickly evacuated the crowd.
Wang Yongchang's angry voice echoed from inside the government office.
Where are you taking me?
"Lord Wang, the people's grievances are all caused by you. If you cannot give an explanation to the people, there will surely be chaos in Jiangnan. I beg you, Lord Wang, to consider the people's livelihood!"
When Zhao Wuji looked up, Wang Yongchang was being carried out.
Behind him was the government office to prevent Wang Yongchang from escaping.
He stared coldly at the two officials who were holding Wang Yongchang up.
"Where are you two taking Lord Wang?"
Upon hearing Zhao Wuji's voice, everyone looked at him.
Who are you?
Zhao Wuji placed one hand on the hilt of his knife and the other behind his back.
"Where is Lian Yongnian, the Prefect of Suzhou? Come here immediately to receive the imperial decree!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed, and Lian Yongnian pretended to struggle.
"Let me go! How can you treat Lord Wang like this!"
Lian Yongnian rushed forward upon seeing the people in the courtyard.
"This humble official, Lian Yongnian, Prefect of Suzhou, greets Your Excellency."
Zhao Wuji raised his hand, and a constable behind him respectfully presented the imperial edict.
"Lian Yongnian, receive the imperial decree!"
People knelt on the ground in the courtyard.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Imperial Physician Liu Yiyi, concerned for the country and its people, has volunteered to go to Jiangnan to prevent and control the plague. All sixteen prefectures and counties in Jiangnan must fully cooperate. Furthermore, the Dali Temple's police and the Thousand Bird Guards will escort Imperial Physician Liu to Jiangnan. After arriving in Jiangnan, she will be under the command of the River Conservancy Commissioner Wang Yongchang to do her utmost to control the floods. All sixteen prefectures must cooperate unconditionally."
Lian Yongnian's expression changed. How did flood control get involved with the Thousand Birds Bureau and the Dali Temple?
It should be noted that these two locations are directly under His Majesty's command.
Zhao Wuji closed the imperial edict. "Aren't you going to accept the decree?"
Lian Yongnian snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stepped forward, “Your subject, Lian Yongnian, receives the imperial decree.”
He stood up and looked at Zhao Wuji, "May I ask how this superior is addressed?"
"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Zhao Wuji."
Lian Yongnian's expression changed, and he actually sent the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to come.
I heard that this junior official was promoted by His Majesty without regard to precedent.
Does Your Majesty know something?
Zhao Wuji looked at Wang Yongchang, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Lord Wang, from today onwards, we will work under your command. Please give your orders."
Wang Yongchang was both surprised and expectant of the sudden appearance of the crowd.
At that moment, a man outside the door shouted loudly, "So what if he's a high-ranking official! Wang Yongchang is a murderer! Hand over Wang Yongchang!"
Lian Yongnian said to Zhao Wuji with great difficulty, "Lord Zhao, there is widespread public resentment, and I am powerless to change it."
Zhao Wuji walked to the gate and demanded, "Why have you offended an official of the imperial court!"
Shouts rang out from the crowd: "He caused the drowning of an entire village! He will kill us too! He must pay for the lives of the dead!"
Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out, clear and resonant.
"These villagers didn't drown!"
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