Chapter 58 This is outrageous! The Gao County flood (1)
Li Yang had been busy for days settling the refugees who had fled there. She guessed correctly; Chen Junbo had indeed rushed to Gao County because of the flood disaster.
That day, outside the Zhang residence, Chen Junbai alighted from his carriage, strode past the clerks and others waiting by the gate, and walked briskly towards the council hall. The officials from the government office had explained the reason when they went to the Chen family to invite him; he had matters weighing on his mind and no time for such pleasantries.
With the arrival of the plum rain season, the flood season followed. Every day brought torrential rain and fierce winds, causing riverbanks to swell everywhere, but only the dike in Gao County was breached. Now, hundreds of miles within Gao County are submerged, the water reaching a depth of two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Houses, fields, people, and livestock are either submerged or dead.
Gao County is located north of Songshan Town. The people there have always relied on farming for their livelihood. Their houses, mostly built of mud bricks, were already cracked and crumbling from sun and rain. Now, with the floodwaters in, every house collapsed. Having lost their homes and their fields submerged, the people were forced to leave their villages. The flood victims poured into the north gate of Songshan Town, whereupon the county magistrate of Gao County finally arrived, appearing heartbroken and weeping as he reported the situation to the emperor.
Upon entering the hall, they indeed saw the magistrate of Gao County standing in front of Governor Zhong Zhengyuan.
Li Yuhan and the merchants also arrived, and they were discussing something with Salt Commissioner Zhang Youdao. The faces of the group were rather grim, and Commissioner Zhang kept peeking out.
Only Liu Yitong sat alone on a chair to the side, twirling walnuts in one hand and pulling out a piece of pastry from somewhere with the other, stuffing it into his mouth. At first glance, he looked like he was enjoying the summer heat.
"General Manager Chen has arrived! Come quickly!" As soon as Zhang Youdao saw him, it was as if he had seen a savior. He squeezed through the crowd and came to his side to greet him in a few steps.
Chen Junbo quickly stopped and bowed, "Lord Zhang, Lord Zhong." He then looked around, "Lord Lin hasn't arrived yet?"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Zhengyuan's chubby face puffed up even more, but he only raised his two thin eyebrows without saying anything.
Seeing this, Lord Zhang could only force a smile and say, "I've already sent someone to invite them; they should be here soon."
"Hmph, we've been asking him for so long. If he doesn't come, Lord Zhang, you can't access the treasury funds." Liu Yitong stood up, put away the walnuts in his hand, and said, "If you can't access the treasury funds, isn't this disaster relief work just about taking money from our pockets as salt merchants? We've already paid our tribute money, so this should be done with treasury funds. Why should we have to take money from the treasury again?"
Liu Yitong was the only son in three generations of the Liu family since childhood, and had never suffered any hardship. In addition, he had been spoiled by Lord Zhang over the years, and spoke with a carefree and blunt manner.
However, Chen Junbo felt that what he said today was correct.
If Lin Yihuai hadn't been there, Zhang Youdao wouldn't have dared to touch the treasury silver himself. But today, Zhong Zhengyuan has brought the magistrate of Gao County and invited so many salt merchants; if he doesn't get the disaster relief silver, he probably won't give up today.
In this light, it's no wonder Lin Yihuai arrived so slowly; he probably won't make it.
Zhang Youdao looked at Chen Junbo with a troubled expression. "Mr. Chen, what should we do about this? Sigh."
Hearing about the floods that morning, Chen Junbai was already seething with anger. That day, when everyone was discussing welcoming the emperor during the southern tour, Li Yuhan had already brought up the matter of repairing the waterways in Gao County. What did the county magistrate say then? He kicked the ball to the Ministry of Works! What a masterful use of euphemism!
Now that the floods have truly struck and the people have become refugees, this supposedly upright official of Gao County has finally remembered to come to Songshan Town to seek help. He really has the nerve to come here; what does he want with the salt merchants? Isn't he just after their money?
It wasn't that Chen Junbai was unwilling to contribute money for disaster relief; generations of salt merchants had done their fair share of disaster relief donations over the years. In fact, his grandfather had personally participated in the construction of the dikes in Guazhou, living and working alongside the laborers, contributing both money and labor.
However, when it was preventable, the magistrate was all talk and no action. Now that something has really happened, he's pulling in the governor's support to pressure the salt merchants, going too far.
Thinking of this, Chen Junbai decided not to give him any face and coldly asked, "May I ask the magistrate, after the flood, were there any organizations in the city to help with flood control and prevent theft?"
Magistrate Gao: "This—"
Chen Junbo: "Did you send anyone to the Imperial Guard camp to request reinforcements?"
The magistrate of Gao County was now covered in cold sweat.
Chen Junbo: "Then, why is the county magistrate neither providing disaster relief in Gao County nor going to the camp to call for reinforcements? What is he doing here in Songshan Town?!"
After speaking, Chen Junbai flicked his sleeves and sat down in the chair next to Liu Yitong, remaining silent. Liu Yitong chuckled, then produced another piece of trash from who-knows-where and handed it to Chen Junbai, telling him to retaliate with a glare.
No wonder he showed no mercy. Look at this magistrate, his official robes are spotless today, without a speck of mud!
Seeing that he didn't like him, Liu Yitong stuffed the disgusting food into his mouth and stopped talking.
Of the three major merchants, only Li Yuhan remained standing to the side, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two governors in the same hall.
Zhang Youdao was in a similar predicament to Li Yuhan.
Having served as the salt transport commissioner for so many years, he knew the nature of several salt merchants well. Although Chen Junbo usually appeared to be the most upright and unassuming person, he was, after all, the grandson personally trained by the old patriarch of the Zhang family, and was not someone who could be easily manipulated.
He inwardly scorned the magistrate of Gao County. "They were practically begging you to help build the dike, and you were all hesitant and ungrateful. Now you're shamelessly coming to me for help. What a despicable face!" he thought. "Look at the magistrate of Ganquan County," he thought. "A few sweet words and he's got those salt merchants contributing both manpower and labor. The county road is already finished."
He went to see it the day before yesterday. Although it was a dirt road, it was wide enough for a horse-drawn carriage to pass through. Not to mention the beautiful trees on both sides. He was sure the emperor would be overjoyed when he arrived.
But now that Lord Zhong has come with the county magistrate, he won't give up until he gets the silver. And since Lord Lin is still late, he can't touch the treasury silver by himself.
Judging from Chen Junbai's current state, he wasn't sure whether the silver in the treasury could be withdrawn today or not. If the disaster relief efforts were hampered by the issue of the silver, and he, a mere salt transport commissioner, were to be blamed by his superiors, how could he possibly bear the consequences?
Thinking of all this, Zhang Youdao couldn't help but curse the magistrate of Gao County in his heart: He's as stupid as a pig!
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. As Chen Junbai spoke, the salt merchants automatically retreated to the side where he was sitting and stopped talking.
The magistrate of Gao County tried to speak several times, but after organizing his thoughts for a long time, he couldn't utter a single coherent sentence. He could only watch as the pink on Zhong Zhengyuan's round face slowly faded, leaving only a grim blue.
Suddenly, a yamen runner rushed in from outside, cupped his fists towards Zhang Youdao, and said, "Sir, the Lin family has reported that Lord Lin has gone to Gao County to inspect the dike. If there is anything else, please go to the river dike in Gao County to discuss it."
The report was delivered with the force of a resounding bell, echoing throughout the council hall and reverberating even in the cold interior.
After leaving the Zhang residence, Chen Junbai's face was cold and stern. Without waiting for Liu Yitong and Li Yuhan, he got into the carriage by himself.
Just now, the yamen runner returned and reported that Lord Lin had gone to Gao County. Upon hearing this, Zhong Zhengyuan cursed the magistrate of Gao County in front of everyone and then stormed off.
With today's matter settled, Chen Junbo hurriedly returned to his residence to tidy up before heading to Gao County.
It was the fifteenth of the month again, and Li Yang went to the Xiahai Temple early. Even after getting married, she still went to worship the gods and Buddhas on the first and fifteenth of each month.
"Master, when will I finally be able to find my family?" Li Yang murmured, his hand supporting his chin, while the other hand fiddled with the master's Bagua mirror. It sounded more like he was talking to himself.
The old Taoist priest smiled and silently put the Bagua mirror away.
"Taoist Master, why don't you take another look at my fortune?" She suddenly looked up and tilted her head to look at the other person.
The old Taoist priest said, "Judging from your face, good fortune is on its way."
Li Yang's lips curled into a smile; this old Taoist priest always managed to make her happy.
She deliberately avoided recalling the first time she consulted the oracle. She had paid first, and the Taoist priest had given her a proper reading. She couldn't remember what the reading was about, and she almost overturned the entire divination shop, insisting on pulling on the priest's mustache and making him reread it.
If it were anyone else, they would have avoided the Xiahai Temple from then on and never come back. But she was like a madwoman, insisting that the Taoist priest tell her fortune every time. If the fortune was bad, she would smash up his stall; if it was good, she would pay him depending on her mood, saying it was a compensation divination…
Suddenly, she became interested again, leaned over the table, pressed her hands on the table, squinted and sneered: "Taoist Master, your prediction was wrong this time. My fortune is in grave danger."
"Don't talk nonsense! Good people are destined for great wealth and prosperity, and their fortune is secure." The old Taoist priest pried her fingers off, pressed her back onto the stool, and after speaking earnestly, picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips.
"Okay." Li Yang flipped his legs on the bench, turned around, leaned against the table, propped his left arm on the table behind him, and dangled his right leg over his left leg, swinging it a few times. "Anyway, I just know that my luck with money is about to run out."
The old Taoist priest put down his teacup, glanced at the back of her head, and sighed, "Young lady, do you need to ward off misfortune?"
"How did you know!" She felt a renewed respect for the old Taoist priest. Kneeling on the stool with her hands on the table supporting her body, her eyes sparkling, she rambled on about the disaster victims. "Anyway, that's how it is. That shop will be closing down soon too."
"Are you even listening to me?!" She noticed the old Taoist's eyes were looking elsewhere and seemed to be vacant, so she stretched out a hand and waved it in front of his face.
What's wrong with this guy? I'm talking about something so important, and he's actually spacing out!
The old Taoist priest came to his senses and said, "The flood washed away Gao County, the people blocked the girls' brothels, and the salt merchants went to Gao County to help with the disaster. It really is a cycle of cause and effect, and retribution never ends."
"What kind of karma is this! Why is the retribution falling on my head! Daoist, don't you want to listen to what you're saying?" Li Yang felt that what he said was completely wrong. The flood blocked Gao County, and the disaster victims blocked Huaju. It wasn't Huaju who poured the flood. What kind of karma is this?
Li Yang's face was a barometer, sometimes frowning and sometimes looking gentle. "Hehe, Daoist, I was presumptuous. I think you're right!" She immediately changed her expression, smiling obsequiously. The Daoist opposite her narrowed his eyes, indicating that there was something wrong with her demeanor.
Li Yang: "This is the cycle of cause and effect, no doubt about it!"
Taoist priest: What does she want to do?
Li Yang: "Master, you predicted that I will have good fortune, but did you also predict that I will be doing good deeds recently?"
Taoist priest: She's holding back a fart!
Li Yang: "Master, I see that you don't have many worshippers here every day. Why don't you turn it into a charity hall?"
Taoist priest: I don't want to talk to her.
Li Yang: "Daoist Master?!?! Cultivating good karma helps one achieve immortality through cultivation~~"
Taoist Priest: She threatened me! Oh no, she bribed me! She disturbed my resolve!
In short, under Li Yang's coercion and enticement, the old Taoist priest agreed to set aside a space in the temple as a porridge distribution area, so that the disaster victims wouldn't crowd the entrance to the flower shop. Of course, Li Yang would have to pay for the porridge distribution and provide the necessary personnel, and the flower shop would also have to contribute incense to the temple.
As long as the flower shop can open, what's a little donation?
As Li Yang left the Xiahai Temple, he hummed a little tune and skipped happily out of the temple gate, still swinging the mugwort sachet he had taken from the Taoist priest.
Unbeknownst to her, the old Taoist priest behind her, standing up by the divination table, made two feinting palm strikes, then withdrew his palms, turned around, exhaled, and stared intently at Li Yang's back... Finally, he smiled helplessly and gently.
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