Chapter 23: Entering the City
"A few months ago, natural disasters and man-made calamities led to widespread refugee movements, with many fleeing from marginal counties. Prefect Liang began distributing food, but seeing the increasing number of refugees, Liangcheng Ye could no longer hold on and had to close the city. While kindhearted people provided relief to the refugees, they were still not satisfied and resorted to robbery.
Liangcheng was naturally not immune to the natural disaster, and the city was in a state of panic due to the loss of money. Starving people began to burn, loot, and even resort to cannibalism.
Gu Feixue and her eldest brother went out to find some wild vegetables, and the few of them made do with filling their stomachs. Yuchi Shuo left the city and sat around the campfire with the Gu family, continuing to tell them the reasons he had learned from the prefect.
"As far as I know, Liangcheng was originally a wealthy place. How come it became deficit so quickly?" Gu Lang asked in a low voice. He had some contacts with the officials transferred from Liangcheng back then, so he knew a thing or two.
At this point, Yuchi Shuo couldn't help but clench his fists. "This is also the prefect's dilemma. He's basically been sidelined. His subordinates are colluding with each other. Prefect Liang now has no power at all. He only has a few people to serve him in his huge mansion."
"Those corrupt officials are hoarding their own money tightly and are unwilling to spend any money to release grain."
"It is important for a person or an official to be honest. How can they sit back and watch the people suffer?" Gu Tingchuan stood up suddenly, his face full of disgust.
"Big brother."
Gu Feixue pulled his sleeve and Gu Tingchuan sat down.
"Do you want to... make these corrupt officials confess?" Gu Lang looked at Yuchi Shuo and asked tentatively. Seeing Yuchi Shuo nodded silently, this was not an easy task.
Gu Lang had been an honest man throughout his life, loyal to the emperor and patriotic. Even in this predicament, he was determined to contribute to the people. Furthermore, having such a prince who cared about the people was a blessing for the people.
"The city is currently experiencing a severe epidemic, with plague raging. Disaster relief food is on the way and will arrive in the city soon. Our top priority now is to control the spread of the plague. I will discuss with the prefect about getting everyone into the city and providing them with resettlement."
Yuchi Shuo felt mixed emotions. He didn't expect that in such a situation, Gu Lang would still treat the people like his own children.
"Big Brother, have you thought about how to provide disaster relief and post-disaster preparations?"
Gu Feixue blinked her big eyes and asked a crisp question that didn't sound like something a 7-year-old child would consider.
"Of course I'll consider it. Xiaoxue'er, don't worry." Yuchi Shuo pinched her nose and forced a smile. This was his first time experiencing something like this, and he was confused for a moment, but there was always a solution.
Unexpectedly, Gu Feixue stood up and walked in front of him. "Big brother, I am here. I said I have a way to help the people with disaster relief and can help everyone overcome the difficulties!"
"Oh?" Yuchi Shuo could tell from the incident with the palm tree and cassava flour that this little girl was very smart.
And her thinking was different from others, but she didn't expect him to be so brave as to say it to her.
"Then tell me."
"First and foremost is disaster relief grain. Everything depends on grain, and the supply must be guaranteed, otherwise the military morale will be unstable."
Wang was surprised to see her daughter talking so freely. She never expected that her usually spoiled daughter would have changed so much after this incident.
"That's no problem. In addition to the court attacking the surrounding areas, all states and counties must also do their best to help. Go on. What next?" Yuchi Shuo clapped his hands and interrupted Gu Lang's plea, who was afraid that his daughter would offend the prince.
"Next comes the most severe plague. Go into the city to find a miracle healer and work with the other doctors to treat the injured. The best way to treat the plague is isolation, separating the infected from the uninfected."
"Find the source of infection and prescribe the right medicine for the disease. Otherwise, it will be in vain if the wrong medicine is used."
The words immediately sounded cold and callous. However, everyone understood that isolation was the best way to reduce the number of people infected.
"Well said, we must proceed step by step. However, curing the plague will take a long time, and even the right medicine won't resolve the problem overnight. Do you have any other good ideas?"
Yuchi Shuo pondered it carefully, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this was the case. He couldn't help but continue to ask, but he didn't expect Gu Feixue to sit on the ground and show her little tiger teeth, smiling cunningly.
"What?" Yuchi Shuo laughed and rubbed her hair. The two small buds were thin and soft. He understood what you meant. "Tell me what your conditions are. As long as I can do it, I will definitely try my best to satisfy you."
"Big brother, Xue'er won't make things difficult for you. I can help you solve everything here. I just need help to create a new identity for our family so that we don't have to be exiled to the border town."
Gu Feixue spoke slowly, shocking everyone.
Yuchi Shuo sat there for a long time without saying a word, and the surroundings were silent.
"Your Highness, my daughter has no intention..." Gu Lang was the first to react to his daughter's shocking remarks, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he revealed his inner turmoil...
Gu Feixue had guessed that Yuchi Shuo was of noble status, but she did not expect to meet the prince Longsun as soon as she arrived. Gu Lang's momentary anxiety also made Gu Feixue spy on Yuchi Shuo's identity.
"Nothing." Yuchi Shuo raised his hand, and Gu Lang shut up. He looked at Gu Feixue, his eyes showing a hint of admiration. "Why are you so sure I will agree?"
Such a young girl is so courageous that she dares to raise such a question. It is hard to guarantee that she will become a figure like the prime minister of the previous dynasty in the future.
"I don't know who you are, but I know you are a person who is dedicated to serving the people. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come all this way, right?"
"I only say this out of helplessness. After all, with Duke Zheng's arrival, we are still refugees, and there's no guarantee we won't be exiled further."
Gu Feixue explained the reason clearly. In fact, she was not sure whether the other party would agree. However, the worst-case scenario was that they would continue to be exiled. Since it was a fact, she would accept it with pleasure.
But she believed that Yuchi Shuo was a smart man.
"No problem, I promise. When my uncle comes, I'll ask him to do it. I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong."
Yuchi Shuo thought about it again and again and agreed, "But you have to do what you promised me."
"No problem." Gu Feixue was a little happy. She finally did something for such a good family.
The Gu family members obviously still haven't come to their senses.
"How can this be?" Although Gu Lang's thoughts have changed, he still believes deep down that he must live an upright life. He feels ashamed to change himself like this.
"Daddy." Gu Feixue called out helplessly.
Yuchi Shuo smiled cheerfully, "Don't worry, Lord Gu. I know you were wronged. I will definitely redress your innocence when I return to the court after the matter is settled. I have only given you a new identity so that I can better provide relief to the victims."
Yuchi Shuo, however, was open-minded and kept trying to comfort Gu Lang. Wang Shi was also whispering to him, which was a good thing.
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