The grand "Royal Fundraising Conference" held in the Golden Palace came to an end in a way that no one expected.
Its impact, however, is profound and enormous.
As soon as the court session ended, Regent Xiao Yuan claimed to be ill and refused to appear in court again, citing "an attack of anger and a relapse of an old illness." His faction of officials also seemed to have lost their composure, and dared not raise a single word of objection to the "Shence" matter.
After all, the money has already been donated, and it was donated under the guidance of a "divine oracle." Wouldn't it be foolish to jump out and oppose it now?
With the biggest obstacle gone, the subsequent work proceeded rapidly with unprecedented efficiency.
Under Xiao Che's personal supervision, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War worked together to form a massive transportation team at an unprecedented speed. The first batch of disaster relief funds, amounting to two million taels of silver, "purchased" by officials, along with grain and medicine urgently allocated from the capital's armory, were transported to Jiangnan day and night.
Accompanying him were hundreds of supervisory officials, mostly young and capable, hastily drawn from the Ministry of Personnel. Their sole mission was to strictly implement His Majesty's decree of "work relief in lieu of relief," and to oversee the distribution of funds and provisions; anyone found embezzling would be executed without prior notification!
The entire power center of the Great Liang Dynasty, like a huge machine that had been rusting for a long time, began to operate at high speed for the first time under the powerful drive of the young emperor Xiao Che.
However, within the capital and in the imperial court, voices of observation and doubt never ceased.
Although the "divine maiden's dream" suppressed the opposition, the unprecedented measures such as "work relief" and "issuing bonds" were still seen as "nonsense" and "foolish acts" by the conservative old ministers.
They dared not openly oppose the will of Heaven, so they whispered among themselves, waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
"Just watch, hundreds of thousands of refugees, are they so easy to organize? If we don't give them food and make them work, they'll be lucky if they don't rebel!"
"And those bonds, borrowing money from merchants, is simply a disgrace to the nation! I think that money is most likely gone for good, a complete waste!"
These rumors, like annoying flies, would occasionally reach Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan's ears.
Neither of them commented on this.
They knew that any explanation would be pale and powerless in the face of facts.
What they need is irrefutable evidence from the front lines.
They are waiting.
Waiting for a result.
This wait lasted for ten days.
These ten days were just ordinary ten days and nights for the people of the capital. But for the hundreds of thousands of disaster victims in Jiangnan, and for the emperor and empress in the capital who were worried day and night, it felt like ten years.
The lights in the Imperial Study burned brightly every night. Xiao Che practically lived there, dealing daily with the numerous reports from all over the country concerning the aftermath of the disaster, his eyes bloodshot.
Lin Wanwan also stayed by his side, working on the bylaws of the "Royal Women's Bank" while anxiously waiting for the news that would decide everything.
Finally, on the morning of the eleventh day.
That familiar yet chilling scream once again shattered the tranquility of the capital city at dawn.
"Urgent news from Jiangnan! Urgent news from Jiangnan! Urgent news from Jiangnan!"
Unlike the desperate and sorrowful screams of the last time, this time the voice, though equally hoarse, carried an uncontrollable, tearful, and joyful ecstasy and excitement!
Good news!
When these two words reached the ears of Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan, who had been awake all night, in the Imperial Study, the two of them almost simultaneously jumped up from their seats!
Xiao Che didn't even bother to put on his outer robe before rushing out of the palace gate. He shouted at Wang Dequan outside the palace in an almost frantic and urgent voice, "Quick! Summon him!!"
Soon, a messenger, equally travel-worn but with a flushed face of excitement, was brought to the imperial study. He knelt down, holding the memorial in his hand high, his voice trembling violently with emotion.
"Your Majesty! A great victory in Jiangnan! The 'work-for-relief' strategy... the strategy has been a resounding success!"
Xiao Che practically snatched the report from his hand, his hands trembling as he unfolded it.
Lin Wanwan also quickly walked to his side, and the two stood side by side, their eyes falling on the report filled with densely written tiny characters.
The report came from the imperial envoy dispatched to the disaster area to oversee the overall situation, a young vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. His handwriting was always known for its steady and neatness, but at this moment, the words on this report appeared somewhat hasty due to the writer's extremely excited mood, and even showed a few traces of ink smudges, which showed how surging his emotions were when he wrote it.
"...Your Majesty, we have arrived in the disaster area by imperial decree and have diligently followed His Majesty's divine policy of 'work relief instead of relief,' daring not to slacken in the slightest. Upon first hearing of this policy, local officials and gentry were filled with doubts, believing that with hundreds of thousands of displaced people having nothing to eat, chaos would surely ensue..."
The report begins by describing the difficulties and pressures they faced upon their arrival.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan's hearts involuntarily jumped.
However, with a sudden shift in tone, the following content unfolded before their eyes like a magnificent scroll painting full of hope and vitality!
"...However, when we, your subjects, guaranteed by the royal reputation, announced the policy of 'labor for grain, more work, more pay,' and immediately distributed the first batch of wages and grain to the hundred disaster victims who participated in the dike repair, the situation instantly reversed! Those disaster victims who were originally numb and desperate had their hopes for life rekindled in their eyes! They spread the word and signed up enthusiastically! In just three days, nearly 100,000 able-bodied men were organized and put into the project of repairing the river dike and dredging the river!"
"...Now, the disaster area has been completely transformed! Along the major river embankments, people are bustling with activity, shouts are deafening, and the people are working hard, sweating profusely! Those idle and potentially troublesome refugees of the past have now become the main force in rebuilding their homes! The entire disaster area is orderly, with no looting or riots!"
"...The people all said: 'In the past, waiting for the court to distribute grain was like waiting to die. Now, earning grain with our own hands is a way to survive!' They not only received enough food and wages to fill their stomachs, but also regained their dignity and hope for survival through their labor! The people's hearts are at peace! The people's hearts are at peace!"
Upon seeing this, Xiao Che's breathing became incredibly heavy! His eyes were fixed on the words, as if he wanted to etch them into his very bones!
He seemed to see the bustling labor scene, hear the deafening work chants, and feel the tenacious and vigorous vitality that burst forth from despair!
At the end of his report, the young imperial envoy wrote his final pronouncement in an almost reverent tone.
"...Your Majesty! The policy of 'work relief' is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people and beyond the reach of ordinary wisdom! This is truly an ancient divine policy that is both heaven-sovereign and beneficial to all living beings! In Jiangnan, I have heard the people praising Your Majesty day and night. They say that this is a goddess sent down from heaven to bless our Great Liang. Your Majesty, you are truly a sage ruler chosen by heaven!"
"Bang!"
When the last word came into view, Xiao Che could no longer contain his joy. He slammed his hand on the imperial desk, making a loud noise!
"Good! Good! Good!"
He said "good" three times in a row, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, and his eyes even glistening with tears!
It was a success!
Wanwan's plan really worked!
Holding that thin report, he felt it weighed a ton! This was not just a report of victory; it was the recognition of hundreds of thousands of people, a resounding slap in the face to those who had doubted him!
He paced back and forth in the imperial study, his chest heaving, eager to rush to the Golden Palace and the Regent's Palace with the news of victory, so that everyone could see the miracle created by the "divine strategy" that they had scorned!
Looking at his childlike excitement and joy, Lin Wanwan also smiled with relief.
This success brought her a greater and more profound sense of accomplishment than any previous victory in palace intrigue.
However, despite her joy, she remained absolutely calm.
Looking at Xiao Che's excited and somewhat carried away appearance, she slowly spoke. Her voice was not loud, but it was like a gentle breeze, instantly calming his feverish mind.
“Your Majesty,” she whispered, “this victory is certainly cause for celebration. But at most, it can only convince the ministers in the court of the effectiveness of the ‘Divine Strategy’.”
She paused, met Xiao Che's slightly puzzled gaze, and said clearly, word by word:
"But to convince the people of the world, to make the phrase 'Your Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven' deeply rooted in their hearts, we need something that can spread even faster than news of victory."
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