Chapter 325: Relief Through Public Works

"Your Majesty, whether this grain is sufficient or not, I'm afraid we can only reach a conclusion after a detailed investigation." Wu Jiye looked at Zhu Youxiao and said cautiously.

Turning his head to glance at Wu Jiye, Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Alright, you may go."

After Wu Jiye left, Zhu Youxiao beckoned Chen Hong over and said, "Go find Xu Xianchun and have him bring people to investigate. I want to know whether what Wu Jiye said is true or false."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged and dispatched someone to find Xu Xianchun.

This time the Embroidered Uniform Guard had come along as well, only they hadn't followed Zhu Youxiao's boat. When entering Dezhou city this time, Zhu Youxiao hadn't brought them with him either.

Given Xu Xianchun's rank, he would ordinarily have been qualified to enter the city with the party. But Zhu Youxiao wanted him to investigate certain matters in secret, so he didn't let him accompany him, not wanting him to reveal himself too much in public. This had been planned by Zhu Youxiao long in advance.

"Let's go take a look at the north of the city." Zhu Youxiao glanced at the assembled officials and said.

Since he had come to see the disaster victims, it would naturally be unsatisfying not to visit the north of the city. No matter what their living conditions were like, he ultimately had to see them with his own eyes.

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, several of the officials quickly said, "Your Majesty, the north of the city is likely to be somewhat worse off, and possibly more chaotic. Perhaps we should summon more men?"

It was Xu Guangqi who said this; he dared not speak words of obstruction. In the current situation, whoever dared to openly stop His Majesty would earn His Majesty's suspicion.

But Xu Guangqi was genuinely worried as well. Whenever a great disaster occurred, great chaos usually followed. Under such circumstances, going to a place like the north of the city was clearly unwise.

Even contracting some minor illness would be unacceptable. For the Emperor, all of this was far too dangerous — His Majesty absolutely must not come to any harm.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Xu Guangqi and said, "Rest assured, my dear minister, I'm only going to take a look."

In fact, Zhu Youxiao was telling the truth this time — he really was only going to look, with no intention of managing anything. He also knew he couldn't manage anything anyway. The reason was simple: he could save people here but not there. The disaster victims in Dezhou were few in number, and not even the worst off.

It was unrealistic to force the Prefect of Dezhou to do anything, since the government here had no money or grain to speak of. If he truly forced the authorities to open the granaries and distribute relief, they would have no way to account for it afterward.

However, he could also go down and have them open the official granaries — afterward they wouldn't have to bear any responsibility.

Hearing Zhu Youxiao say this, Xu Guangqi wasn't particularly reassured, but he also knew His Majesty's temperament and didn't continue to press the matter. He only said, "Very well, then."

The party hesitated no further and headed straight for the north of the city.

Standing up above watching, the Prefect of Dezhou, Liu Mao, felt his whole being collapse. Seeing the direction His Majesty was heading, he knew His Majesty was going to the north of the city — clearly to see the disaster victims.

Liu Mao felt as though his soul had been scared right out of him.

It's over, it's over!

The Emperor had grown up deep in the palace, was still young, and surely didn't understand much about local affairs, nor would he sympathize with the difficulties of someone serving as a local official like himself.

If His Majesty saw how miserable the disaster victims were, he would surely think that he, as the local parent-official, had failed in disaster relief. By then, he probably wouldn't even have a chance to explain himself. Thinking of this, Liu Mao was so anxious he could have jumped up and stamped his feet.

Zhang Kang, standing beside Liu Mao, was also drenched in sweat. He looked at Liu Mao with some helplessness and said urgently, "Sir, shouldn't we hurry after them? If His Majesty loses his temper, we can at least explain ourselves."

"How could it be that easy?" Liu Mao said with a mournful face. "But what you say is right — there's still a chance after all."

After saying this, the two men dared not linger and hurried toward the north of the city, faster than the Emperor's own pace. The two of them needed to get there first, to see if there was anything amiss that needed dealing with right away.

Nothing too unexpected happened along the way, and Zhu Youxiao brought his party to the north of the city.

The further north they went, the fewer people there were. Clearly the city's residents were unwilling to come into contact with the disaster victims — most people chose to go around, and so the north of the city had grown desolate.

Great disasters bring great plagues; at a time like this, no one dared to take in disaster victims.

When Zhu Youxiao walked out of the north city gate, he saw crowds of disaster victims in tattered rags.

A few constables stood beneath the city wall, with a large cauldron burning beneath it as congee was being cooked.

Glancing up at the time of day, Zhu Youxiao shook his head.

Clearly this was another act of deception. It wasn't even mealtime yet, and they were already cooking congee — this was obviously staged for his benefit.

For these disaster victims to get two bowls of thin congee a day was already a gift from heaven. Prefect Liu Mao of Dezhou could already be counted as having done well.

Cooking congee at this hour was nothing but burning paper at a grave — fooling the ghosts.

Zhu Youxiao looked around and ordered, "Go fetch the Prefect of Dezhou. If he keeps trailing us like this stirring up trouble, how am I supposed to see anything?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged.

Someone then left the party to find Liu Mao and the others, and soon Liu Mao and Zhang Kang were brought over from not far away.

The two of them stood trembling before Zhu Youxiao.

Glancing at Liu Mao, Zhu Youxiao said, "Was the congee being cooked over there ordered by you?"

"In answer to Your Majesty, the congee distribution has been going on for over twenty days now. From the moment disaster victims began arriving in Dezhou, your servant organized the wealthy households of Dezhou to donate grain and goods, and this congee station has never stopped."

"Your Majesty, look over there — your servant organized the disaster victims to build shelters, and also organized the city's residents to donate clothes and quilts. Over there is another shed, staffed with physicians your servant organized from within the city. Someone is always on duty there, treating the disaster victims and preventing outbreaks of plague; anyone who falls ill is treated immediately. Your servant has not dared the slightest negligence."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Mao, whose face was covered in cold sweat, and felt somewhat helpless.

Since when had he become so frightening?

But that was fine too.

So Zhu Youxiao said, "I already know of your deeds. Well done."

Hearing His Majesty say this, Liu Mao instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Scared him to death.

"What I meant was the congee being cooked right now — surely it isn't mealtime yet? How many meals a day do you give the disaster victims? I imagine it's two meals — just enough to keep them from starving."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Mao and said, "Is the congee being cooked now meant to put on a show for me?"

Hearing these words from Zhu Youxiao, Liu Mao quickly said, "In answer to Your Majesty, the disaster victims eat two meals, but every two days there is one day when they get three. Your servant feared that if they ate too little, they would ruin their health from hunger."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao was slightly taken aback, then nodded and said with a smile, "You've done well."

Then Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment and said, "Having disaster victims gathered here all day is no solution. Is there anywhere in Dezhou that needs building? For instance, repairing a dock, digging irrigation canals, or building roads."

"Relief through public works — I permit you to do this. You may draw upon the funds and grain in Dezhou's prefectural treasury. If that isn't enough, write a memorial to the capital, and I'll have it approved for you." Zhu Youxiao looked at Liu Mao and said, "If you do well, I'll promote you."

Hearing these words from Zhu Youxiao, Liu Mao nearly jumped for joy.

The reason Liu Mao had done all these things was, first, because he felt that being an official meant doing such things — it came from his conscience; and second, because he truly feared being denounced, and feared trouble — by raising some funds and grain to pacify the disaster victims, he could keep them from causing disturbances.

Who could have imagined His Majesty would come?

This was his springtime! With His Majesty's words, he had entered His Majesty's good graces — how could he not rise meteorically?

Liu Mao quickly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured — your servant will not disappoint Your Majesty."

Hearing Liu Mao's words, Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "I will remain in Dezhou for two days. Go back and immediately write up a proposal — see what projects need to be undertaken, and how much they will cost, with a rough budget, and submit it to me then."

"But remember one thing: I will send people here to supervise the work. The grain and money due to the disaster victims — you cannot short them a single cent, nor allow anyone to embezzle from them. Otherwise, I will not let you off."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty," Liu Mao said. Though he dared not call himself an upright official, he still had the conscience of one who serves in office.

"Your servant knows loyalty to the sovereign and knows compassion for the people. The disaster victims are already suffering so much—how could Your servant bear to snatch that last bit of grain from their mouths? If Your servant truly did such a thing, Your Majesty would be right to cut off my head." Liu Mao spoke with righteous conviction.

"Good. Then I will be watching you. As long as you handle matters well, I will not be stingy with rewards, nor with official positions. Those with ability should occupy high office."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao patted Liu Mao on the shoulder and said, "Alright, go on."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Mao acknowledged and turned to leave.

Unlike when he had arrived, Liu Mao's steps were light as he departed—he even felt like jumping for joy.

After waiting all these years, Liu Mao had finally found such an opportunity. He absolutely had to seize it!

Zhu Youxiao watched Liu Mao's retreating figure with a faint smile on his face.

He believed Liu Mao would certainly handle matters well, and would throw himself into the work with all his strength—he might even move himself into the construction site to live.

Because he had given him hope. For officials in the bureaucracy, being able to gain the sovereign's favor and receive promotion—that was the greatest motivation of all.

In fact, in Zhu Youxiao's view, Liu Mao was already a fairly qualified official. Organizing the people to rescue themselves, soliciting donations of money and goods—though modest, keeping disaster victims from starving to death was already a deed of immeasurable merit in this era.

At least Liu Mao still had the common people in his heart. That was rare, and Zhu Youxiao was quite satisfied with him. This trip to Shandong would likely cost quite a few officials their posts. If Liu Mao truly performed well, promoting him a step would be no great matter.

Xu Guangqi stood to one side, somewhat helpless.

He was the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and this money would have to come from his ministry. If truly all of Shandong, Henan, and several other provinces adopted the work-for-relief system, the sum would be no small amount.

If it really had to be paid out, the court would likely be unable to produce it all at once.