Chapter 27 It's too tragic
Liu Tiefeng calmed down and said, "Your Majesty, the people of Kuqiao County have suffered too much in this flood."
"After the disaster, the people waited for the relief food from the court. But when the relief food arrived, it was all moldy stale rice and rice bran. I argued with my superiors that the stale rice could not be given to the disaster victims, but my superiors didn't listen at all."
"My words are insignificant, and the stale rice and rice bran were eventually boiled into porridge and distributed to the disaster victims."
"The disaster victims ate the stale rice, and many weak people got sick..." Liu Tiefeng's eyes were filled with tears.
"But even this kind of porridge was only eaten once a day, and it was as clear as water. Many people died of hunger and illness."
"The villagers wanted to flee the famine, but they were worried that once the disaster victims fled to other provinces, the truth about Jiangxia Province would spread. They sent people to guard and prohibit them from fleeing the famine."
[Humph, prohibiting fleeing the famine, this idea must have come up with the Jiang family father and son. ]
Xia Miaoyuan clenched his fist and complained.
"Later, an epidemic broke out in our Kuqiao County. I applied to the superiors for disaster relief silver to treat the patients. But after many requests, I didn't get even one or two taels of silver!" Liu Tiefeng's fingers trembled, suppressing his emotions.
"I was so angry that I wanted to seek justice from the governor of Jiangxia Province, but my superior threw me 500 taels of silver and told me not to make trouble again. He threatened me that if I made trouble again, my life would be in danger."
[Alas, even if you find the governor of Jiangxia Province, it will be useless. He and Grand Tutor Jiang are old acquaintances. It's not an exaggeration to say that they wear the same pants. ]
[I remember that in the book, this governor seemed to be surnamed Cai. He had long since taken refuge with Grand Tutor Jiang, his backer, and had been paying tribute every year, very generously. In exchange, Grand Tutor Jiang used his power as the Minister of Personnel to arrange a lucrative position for him. ]
[Despite his extremely bad reputation and poor ability, Grand Tutor Jiang still arranged a position for him as the governor of Jiangxia Province. 】
【After Master Jiang took control of the government, he directly transferred this Lord Cai to Beijing and made him the Minister of Revenue. 】
What? Master Jiang was so rampant? !
Xia Zhengqi and the prince felt their hearts tighten.
"More and more people in Kuqiao County were infected with the disease. They were afraid that the disease would spread to Lin County, so they took the patients away... and buried them alive. There are more than 10,000 people in our county, and more than 2,000 people were buried alive!" Liu Tiefeng couldn't help but burst into tears when he said this.
【Ah... It's not a human! It's simply a demon! 】
【Master Jiang, and these corrupt officials under him, the emperor must not let them go! 】
Xia Miaoyuan was so angry that he glared and punched with his two little fists.
Xia Zhengqi suppressed his emotions, stepped forward and patted Liu Tiefeng on the shoulder: "You have suffered. In addition to Kuqiao County, do you know the situation in other counties?"
"My ministers and fellow villagers have asked relatives and friends, and all the places affected by the disaster in Jiangxia Province are like this." Liu Tiefeng wiped his tears.
"Don't worry, I will do justice for you." Xia Zhengqi's eyes were firm.
When the prince and Liu Tiefeng finished talking about the situation in the disaster area, it was already dawn.
In order not to alert the enemy, Xia Zhengqi specially found a secluded courtyard in the palace and hid Liu Tiefeng and several representatives of the disaster victims in it.
They were guarded by secret guards to protect their safety. The prince temporarily lived in a secret room in the Qianqing Palace.
Late at night, in the Jiang Mansion, in the study of Grand Tutor Jiang, candlelight was dim.
Grand Tutor Jiang, Jiang Zhiyuan and Sun Chaogui were talking in the study. At this time, the team sent by the court to escort the relief grain was still on the way back to Beijing. These three secretly ran back in advance.
Sun Chaogui looked panicked: "Master, they failed and let the troublemaker Liu Tiefeng run away."
"What? You can't even stop Liu Tiefeng, what are you all doing!" Grand Tutor Jiang looked sly.
"It's the students who didn't do their job well. Please punish them, teacher." Sun Chaogui lowered his head, his tone timid.
"Punish?! Do you think that by punishing you, we can catch Liu Tiefeng?" Master Jiang grabbed a cup and smashed it at Sun Chaogui.
"Pah!" Blood was seen oozing from the corner of Sun Chaogui's forehead.
"Father, please calm down, lest you get sick from anger." Jiang Zhiyuan advised gently.
"Humph! If Liu Tiefeng really gets into the capital and tells the truth to the emperor, we will all be in trouble!" Master Jiang almost roared. "
Father, in my opinion, things are not that bad yet, we still have a way to remedy it." Jiang Zhiyuan supported Master Jiang and said slowly.
Jiang Zhiyuan is the eldest son of Grand Tutor Jiang. He is extremely intelligent and good at strategy. He has given Grand Tutor Jiang many strategies over the years.
Jiang Zhiyuan can be said to have made an indelible contribution to Grand Tutor Jiang's current situation.
"Tell me about it." When Grand Tutor Jiang heard his eldest son say there was a way, his eyes lit up and his anger instantly disappeared by half.
"The reason why my son said that is that things are not that bad. First, we are not sure whether Liu Tiefeng has arrived in the capital." Jiang Zhiyuan's expression was indifferent.
"Second, even if he really arrived in the capital, as a mere county magistrate, he has no connections and it will be difficult for him to enter the palace to see the emperor in a short time." "
So we still have time to search for Liu Tiefeng's whereabouts and get rid of him." Jiang Zhiyuan picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.
"Now, my son has an idea to strike first. Even if we can't catch Liu Tiefeng, we can guarantee that he can't make any trouble."
Jiang Zhiyuan looked at his father confidently.
When Master Jiang heard this, his frown finally relaxed.
Two days later in the morning, in the Jinluan Palace, civil officials and military officers stood on both sides, waiting for Xia Zhengqi.
Master Jiang, Jiang Zhiyuan, and Sun Chaogui stood in the front row with pride.
This was their first time to attend the morning court after completing the disaster relief mission.
At this moment, the three of them were fantasizing wildly about what reward Xia Zhengqi would give them later.
"Master Jiang, you have contributed greatly to the disaster relief this time!"
"Master Jiang, you are our great hero in Great Xia!"
"Master Jiang, you have worked hard on this trip!"
Several officials who were good at flattering others rushed to blow rainbow farts to Master Jiang.
Master Jiang smiled brightly, twirling his beard and nodding.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
A sharp eunuch's voice came into the hall, and all the ministers knelt down to salute and shouted long live.
Xia Zhengqi, holding Princess Anguo in his arms, walked over with a square step.
"My dear ministers, please stand up." Xia Zhengqi's expression was indifferent, neither happy nor angry.
"Master Jiang, you are back! You must have worked hard on the way!" Xia Zhengqi looked at Master Jiang with a fake smile.
[Hard work, old man Jiang has been on a business trip for two months, and he must be more comfortable than at home. ]
[Look at his complexion, wow, his face is rosy, and he seems to have gained weight again. ]
[I guess he is invited to banquets by officials from all over the country every day? ]
Xia Miaoyuan looked at Master Jiang standing below and complained.
"Your Majesty, don't say that. It's my duty to serve Daxia with all my heart." Master Jiang raised his eyebrows proudly.
All the ministers cast envious eyes at Master Jiang.
"Master Jiang, what was the result of your visit to Jiangxia Province to provide disaster relief? Master Jiang, tell me about it." Xia Zhengqi said indifferently.