Chapter 25: There really is a pair of good children!
Inside the city, the villa of the Liangcheng prefect.
"Master Gu, how are you?"
At the beginning, Zheng Yannian and Gu Lang were just acquaintances. He had been guarding the border and fighting for many years. Recently, he was ordered to dispatch troops to maintain stability in the disaster area. It was only when he rushed back from the border that he heard about the misfortune that had befallen the Gu family.
Gu Lang was shocked by Zheng Yannian's courtesy to an officer of the same rank.
He is now a criminal, but Zheng Yannian, a highly respected general, did not slack off with him at all.
For a moment, a lot of bitterness and nostalgia surged in my heart.
"Yes, it has been several years since we parted ways in the capital. When we meet again this time, I didn't expect that I would be a criminal."
After these words were spoken, everyone in the Gu family looked a little lonely.
Duke Zheng waved his hand upon seeing this and said, "Master Gu, you are mistaken. This situation must have been caused by a treacherous person. When he meets the emperor one day to investigate the truth, he will surely be able to get to the bottom of it and clear Master Gu's name."
Zheng Yannian had heard of Gu Lang's character a long time ago, and the current emperor was not a person who would blindly believe in treacherous people. If the Gu family's injustice was redressed one day, Gu Lang's loyal life would not be in vain.
After thinking about it, Zheng Yannian looked at the young and heroic Crown Prince with respect. Now that the Gu family can get the help of the Crown Prince, it is probably only a matter of time before they return to the throne.
Gu Lang, however, didn't have such grand ambitions. He simply wished his family wouldn't be displaced with him. With a look of emotion, he said, "I'd like to thank you, Duke Zheng, for coming to help His Royal Highness with disaster relief. Do you have any suggestions?"
Gu Lang was a man of integrity and honesty, and he deliberately changed the subject. Duke Zheng knew that he did not want to bring him into conflict, and he could not help but admire him even more.
While he admired her, he couldn't help but look worried.
"I've also taken a rough look at the disaster situation in Liangcheng along the way. The situation here is even worse and more complicated than I imagined. The officials in Liangcheng actually allowed the plague to develop to this point. The prefect is truly unforgivable! Zheng has racked his brains along the way but has come up empty-handed. All he can do is provide disaster relief and food, and we'll see what happens one step at a time."
Yuchi Shuo looked calm and told Duke Zheng about the situation in Liangcheng.
Upon learning that the power of the Liangcheng prefect had long been usurped by his wealthy businessmen and aides, and that the grain allocated by the court in the early stages had been hoarded, ultimately leading to the current situation of plague and rampant refugees, Duke Zheng was extremely angry and resentful.
"Zheng will now arrest those who dared to withhold relief grain and profit from the national disaster and escort them to the capital!"
After all, he was a military general, so his thinking was naturally simple. He believed that if he exposed the imperial court, these people would be cautious and open up the grain trade.
However, this was not a good decision in Gu Feixue's opinion.
She was in the corner, tugging at Yuchi Shuo's sleeve.
In ancient times, unlike modern times, communications were not well developed and local forces were the tyrants.
If the rights and interests of these wealthy businessmen and landlords are threatened, there is no guarantee that greater unrest will not occur.
Once they use the refugees to launch an uprising, the emperor is far away and this place will be completely ruined.
Yuchi Shuo realized that this matter was of great importance. He looked at Gu Feixue with a special meaning in his eyes, but saw that she had an innocent look on her face, so he looked away.
"Duke Zheng, please be patient. We still need to consider the relevant punishments in the long run. For now, we should first settle Liangcheng."
Duke Zheng also felt that what he said made sense. Seeing that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was so calm and thoughtful, his expression became more respectful.
"Your Highness is right, but the situation in Liangcheng is so dire that I am helpless."
Just when Duke Zheng thought the Crown Prince was about to offer another wise answer, he suddenly said, "That's alright. I've already found someone who can solve the problem."
Duke Zheng was stunned and blurted out, "Who?"
Everyone only saw the Crown Prince looking at Gu Feixue with a smile on his face, who was watching Gu Feixue's heart.
Gu Feixue noticed that everyone was looking at her, so she could only raise her head and give them an innocent smile.
"this……"
Isn’t this Gu Lang’s youngest daughter?
How could she be the one to handle such a big issue?
Yuchi Shuo looked at Gu Feixue and said temptingly, "If you help me solve this matter, I will keep my promise to you."
Gu Feixue rolled her eyes inwardly. It seemed that Yuchi Shuo was determined to make her show off her abilities in front of outsiders.
Well, when I originally decided to help Liang Cheng solve this matter, I never thought that I could hide it from other important people.
Besides, this Duke of Zheng seems to be a good person, so it’s okay for him to show off his skills.
Then Gu Feixue suppressed a bit of her childish naivety and said firmly, "You said it, and those who don't keep their words are dogs."
Ignoring Gu Lang's disapproving glance at her, Gu Feixue immediately said:
"Xue'er believes that the most important thing now is to appease the people and find jobs for the idle refugees.
Food aid is limited, and disaster relief is only temporary. If we can take this opportunity to settle the numerous refugees who are displaced and in disarray, we can also prevent the spread of the plague. This gives everyone hope, and reduces panic.
Zheng Yannian thought for a moment and felt that what Gu Feixue said made sense, but how should it be implemented specifically?
Before he could ask, Gu Feixue continued:
"As for how to resettle them, Xue'er believes that the refugees should be divided into two groups: locals and non-locals. Locals have registered residences and are suitable for building infrastructure near their homes, and can work in exchange for disaster relief food.
Since non-locals have no place to live, they need the government to arrange temporary household registration and register them to live in the homes of local refugees who have residences. Local refugees who provide residences for refugees from other places can obtain a certain amount of food.
As for refugees from other places, their unfamiliarity with the city's terrain increases their risk of contracting the plague, so they can be assigned to open, spacious fields to cultivate and reclaim wasteland. Part of the land they reclaim will belong to them, and relief grain will be distributed based on their progress. This will also help them settle down in Liangcheng in the future, and they will be more dedicated to reclaiming wasteland."
When she said this, Gu Feixue felt a strange silence.
When she looked up, everyone, including Yuchi Shuo, stared at her with wide eyes in disbelief.
Oops, I said too much.
Gu Feixue's expression flashed, and she immediately blinked her round eyes and looked at Gu Lang and Wang with a silly look on her face as if to seek credit.
"Mom and Dad, doesn't what Xue'er said make sense?"
After several seconds, Wang was startled and quickly touched Gu Feixue's head and asked in surprise, "Xue'er, who told you this?"
Gu Feixue looked in Gu Tingchuan's direction and replied calmly, "Most of it was told to me by my brother."
Then everyone's shocked expressions shifted to Gu Tingchuan, who was also looking surprised.
While everyone was stunned, Yuchi Shuo seemed to realize something, and with a smile in his eyes, he led the applause.
"Great! Master Gu truly has a pair of wonderful children! With such intelligent and thoughtful insights, I think we have a clue as to how to solve Liangcheng's problems this time."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
