Chapter 472 No One Will Starve to Death
Previously, southern Fujian was controlled by the Zhao family, maritime transportation was in chaos, and the officialdom was corrupt. Emperor Defeng had ordered a major purge of officials in southern Fujian.
Now, judging from the time, the new official has just taken office and has not yet familiarized himself with the territory, but unexpectedly, he received a shocking piece of bad news.
"Urgent news from Southern Fujian: Three dikes in Longxi County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Jinjiang County, Quanzhou Prefecture, and Putian County, Xinghua Prefecture, collapsed one after another on the night of the eighth day of this month due to continuous heavy rains. These three dikes were all built with funds from the Zhao family, less than six months ago! The dikes were filled with thatch and bamboo strips, and the foundation piles were only three feet deep. How could they not collapse?"
"Now, the victims of the disaster in the three prefectures have gathered in large numbers and are crying in front of the government office. Although the government has opened the granaries and released grain, the dead have not been buried, and the living have no food. I am afraid that a major disaster will occur. I humbly implore Your Majesty to quickly send an imperial envoy to conduct a thorough investigation and allocate disaster relief funds to reassure the people."
This news was like a thunderclap, exploding in the court again. The ministers were outraged and kept denouncing the Zhao family.
Emperor Defeng almost fainted from anger in the hall.
Back then, Xiao Yanlin had used the Zhao family's affairs to seek credit and fame for himself, and Emperor Defeng had even rewarded the Zhao family for it. But now, all the praise had turned into a slap in the face of Emperor Defeng.
Natural disasters can be forgiven, but man-made disasters cannot be forgiven.
Xiao Yanlin and the Zhao family have all been executed, and all the officials in southern Fujian have been detained and awaiting execution. Bian Zhiming, the Minister of War who had gone to southern Fujian with Xiao Yanlin to provide disaster relief, was sweating profusely and immediately knelt down to apologize.
Emperor Defeng smashed the paperweight down hard, causing his head to bleed. He was finally dragged away and detained pending trial.
"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is disaster relief."
Xiao Yanci immediately stepped forward and volunteered, "Father, I am willing to go to southern Fujian to provide disaster relief."
Emperor Defeng touched his chest and gasped violently, "Yes!"
Gu Qishan also stepped forward and made another request to Emperor Defeng.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and lend a helping hand."
Before this, Gu Qishan had volunteered several times, but was rejected by Emperor Defeng.
This time, will the emperor treat him with the same attitude?
After a moment, the majestic voice of the emperor finally came from above.
"allow!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qishan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and immediately accepted the order and expressed his gratitude.
Emperor Defeng thought that the world would be handed over to Xiao Yanci sooner or later, so let him train more of his own people.
Valley Hill is available.
After the court was adjourned, Emperor Defeng summoned Xiao Yanci to the imperial court and gave him serious instructions.
"Prince, your mission here is not only to distribute grain and medicine, but also to keep the people safe. This is your first test as Crown Prince. You must handle it well and do not let me down."
Xiao Yanci kowtowed respectfully, "I will definitely live up to your trust, Father."
Xiao Yanci hurried back to the East Palace and told Lu Zhiran about this.
Lu Zhiran's expression suddenly darkened.
"How dare the Zhao family act like this?"
Xiao Yanci's expression was cold. "Human lives are worthless. In their eyes, the common people are just stepping stones."
Lu Zhiran was filled with rage, "Aren't they afraid that all their plans will be ruined if this happens?"
If Xiao Yanlin were still firmly sitting on the throne and the dam in southern Fujian burst, would the Zhao family be able to escape unscathed?
The Zhao family wants to pave the way for Xiao Yanci, but is unwilling to spend real money. It is simply despicable.
"If Xiao Yanlin were still sitting on the throne, this news would never have made it back to the capital. Even if it did, it would certainly have been distorted. The Zhao family might have suffered some minor injuries, but they would never have suffered any serious damage. This is the power of authority."
What's more, the Zhao family is used to taking shortcuts and has no respect for human life. Most of them will take chances and will still do so even if they know the dam will collapse.
Lu Zhiran felt a little heavy in her heart.
Xiao Yanci didn't have time to say more to her, "I have to prepare to leave immediately. I'm afraid I won't be back for several months. You must take good care of yourself in the capital."
Lu Zhiran felt reluctant, but she didn't show it on her face.
"I will prepare travel supplies for Your Highness."
The couple didn't have time to talk much and soon got busy.
Lu Zhiran went to the trading company and ordered Tan Xuwen to immediately prepare supplies such as refined rice, brown rice, dry food, plague-preventing pills, and clothing.
Tan Xuwen was a little embarrassed. "Princess, our company doesn't have that much supplies right now. To prepare the amount you mentioned, we have to transport it from Jiangnan."
"Then let's go! We'll go by water from Jiangnan."
Tan Xuwen said no more and immediately took the order.
Xiao Yanci set out with men and food that day.
This matter spread like wildfire among the people, and the people's curses were endless.
Only ordinary people can empathize with ordinary people the most. Unexpected disasters destroy their homes, their future and their lives.
Fortunately, the Zhao family fell, the rebels were eradicated, and the people's lives regained hope.
The weather is getting hotter, and people have changed their spring clothes into thinner ones. Good news is also coming from southern Fujian.
The disaster in southern Fujian has been brought under control.
After arriving in southern Fujian, Xiao Yanci immediately made a public appearance and distributed the first batch of food, promising that "no one would starve to death."
The people received help from the court and gradually felt at ease.
After initially stabilizing the people's hearts, Xiao Yanci immediately established disaster relief bases, with soup kitchens and clinics in each county to prevent and control epidemics, and the seriously injured were treated in a centralized manner.
They had experience in these matters in southern Yunnan, and this matter completely followed that process, making the arrangements easy and orderly.
After the people had settled down, Xiao Yanci began to repair the dam.
This is not an easy task, but Xiao Yanci also has his own methods.
He introduced a "work-for-relief" approach, recruiting young and middle-aged men from the disaster victims to clear silt, repair roads, and build temporary sheds, with daily remuneration ranging from three to five liters of rice.
This will not only reduce the number of refugees and restore people's livelihood, but also solve the problem of manpower shortage. These dams are related to their own future safety. They are the most direct supervisors. Anyone who wants to pass off inferior products as good ones and make a profit from them must first escape the eyes of these people.
When Emperor Defeng received the good news from Xiao Yanci, his originally frowned brows finally relaxed, and all the officials praised him repeatedly and admired him to the utmost.
Officials from the Ministry of Revenue began to worry about the money needed for construction.
Building a dam is a huge project, and constructing houses for disaster victims cannot be completed overnight, and the money required is also a huge sum.
After these successive wars and mutinies, the imperial treasury was empty.
The Crown Prince went to provide disaster relief, and the Ministry of Revenue had to tighten its belt to raise food and supplies.
According to conservative estimates, it would take at least one million taels of silver to build the dam.
Over a million taels, that would still not be enough even if all the people in the Ministry of Revenue were sold by weight.
Emperor Defeng was also worried about this matter.
But to his surprise, memorials from southern Fujian were sent frequently, but there was no request for money.
A few days later, Emperor Defeng received another memorial from southern Fujian. After reading it, an ambiguous look appeared on his face.
"The prince is quite courageous!"
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