Chapter 332: Summoning the Duke Yansheng

After Chen Hong finished speaking, he stared intently at the shopkeeper named Kong Liansheng.

Though a smile lingered on his face, his eyes were exceptionally cold, the meaning unmistakable — if you don't talk, I'll have you killed.

Seeing Chen Hong's demeanor, Kong Liansheng quickly forced a bitter smile and said, "I'm just a shopkeeper, Your Excellency, please don't make things difficult for me. I truly know nothing."

Hearing this, Chen Hong was instantly angered into a laugh. This man was clearly determined to say nothing at all.

Chen Hong waved to the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind him and said directly, "Take him back. Let them see what you Embroidered Uniform Guard men are capable of."

Several guards naturally dared not delay, stepping forward at once and escorting Kong Liansheng away.

The guards present were all Xu Xianchun's trusted men, and they all knew that this Eunuch Chen before them was a favored figure before His Majesty. Most crucially, this Eunuch Chen was the Embroidered Uniform Guard's patron within the palace.

Even back when the Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was not yet Xu Xianchun, this eunuch had already been everyone's patron, and now even more so. Whatever this eunuch said naturally had to be obeyed.

As for this Kong Liansheng, they paid him no mind at all. The Embroidered Uniform Guard had arrested many people and interrogated many more — what kind of person hadn't they seen?

No matter how fierce a man looked on the outside, once he entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard's prison, he'd become as meek as a mouse. Someone like this Kong Liansheng, who had never seen anything in his life, would spill everything after being thrown in and given a good scare.

Chen Hong rose to his feet and said directly, "Alright, I'll leave this to you to handle. I'll go report to His Majesty at once."

Having said this, Chen Hong turned and left.

Returning to the Jizhou government office, Chen Hong went straight to find Zhu Youxiao.

When he saw Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao asked directly, "How did it go? Did you recover any grain? From the look of you, it seems you came back empty-handed."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, a flash of embarrassment crossed Chen Hong's face.

In truth, what he had said to Kong Liansheng was not merely for Kong Liansheng's benefit — it was genuinely from the heart.

This was the first time His Majesty had entrusted him with a task, and he had failed to accomplish it.

Still, Chen Hong dared not conceal anything. He recounted the whole affair and finally said, "Your Majesty, rest assured — I've already had the Embroidered Uniform Guard interrogate that Kong Liansheng. I believe we'll have results soon."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Forget it. No need to have them interrogate him."

At these words, Chen Hong was taken aback, then said hesitantly, "Then shall I have them stop at once?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Have them stop."

Though deeply puzzled, Chen Hong did not ask the reason. He had a clear sense of his own position — he was His Majesty's servant, and a servant should do what a servant ought to do, without overthinking things.

Zhu Youxiao was quite satisfied with Chen Hong's attitude.

This eunuch knew what he ought to do and didn't have so many questions. Though his ability to get things done was mediocre — far inferior to Wei Zhongxian's — when it came to obedience, Chen Hong was far better than Wei Zhongxian.

One could safely entrust Chen Hong with matters; he would carry them out according to your instructions without stirring up any trouble.

Such people seemed easy to find, and the approach seemed simple, but truly few could manage it. Most people had their own ideas and would, from time to time, stir up some mess or other.

Zhu Youxiao had no particularly good solution for that, which was why he valued this quality in Chen Hong all the more.

Chen Hong quickly gave the orders, and Zhu Youxiao said to him directly, "Send someone with an edict to the Duke Yansheng. Have him come here for an audience. I shall wait for him here."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong promptly acknowledged and turned to deliver the edict.

In truth, at this moment Chen Hong had also come to understand. Though he was slow to react, he was no fool after all, and soon figured out what was really going on.

His Majesty wasn't interrogating Kong Liansheng because it wasn't worth it.

This was His Majesty — the Emperor of the Great Ming, the august Son of Heaven! To target a mere servant of the Kong family would be beneath his dignity. Even if there were matters to investigate and interrogate, they would be directed at the Kong family's Duke Yansheng, not at some servant of the Kong household.

So having worked this out, Chen Hong roughly understood His Majesty's intentions, and what had previously baffled him now made sense.

After Chen Hong left, Zhu Youxiao stood in place for a moment, then slowly walked out of the room. Lifting his head to gaze at the sky outside, a smile spread across his face.

Before long, Chen Hong returned from outside and came straight before Zhu Youxiao, bowing as he said, "Your Majesty, Master Xu Guangqi requests an audience outside."

"Let him in." Zhu Youxiao nodded.

It wasn't long before Xu Guangqi walked in from outside.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Xu Guangqi promptly bowed and said, "Your subject Xu Guangqi pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Enough, no need for such formalities." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "I've told you all before — when we're out and about, there's no need for so much ceremony."

"Rites must never be lightly discarded." Xu Guangqi said with a solemn expression.

Seeing how serious Xu Guangqi was, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, not wanting to argue with him over this matter.

He then said directly, "Then go ahead and tell me — what have you come for?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject wishes to report on the disaster relief efforts." Xu Guangqi said.

"Then let's hear it." Zhu Youxiao leaned back in his chair, settling into a comfortable position, waiting to hear Xu Guangqi's report.

Seeing that Zhu Youxiao was ready, Xu Guangqi began.

This was not the first time Xu Guangqi had seen His Majesty behave this way.

Though His Majesty's posture was undignified and violated propriety, Xu Guangqi had no desire to comment on it.

For one, he himself did not place much importance on such things; for another, when His Majesty faced you in such a relaxed manner, it meant he regarded you as a trusted confidant.

If you were to impeach His Majesty over such a matter, then you had no business being an official at all.

Xu Guangqi reported to Zhu Youxiao how much money and grain was spent each day, how many disaster victims had been treated, and the specific circumstances.

Xu Guangqi spoke with great fluency, all the figures at his fingertips. Clearly he had put his heart into this work, handling every matter personally.

As he listened, Zhu Youxiao yawned, then waved his hand.

He had little interest in such things, so he said, "My dear minister, no need to continue. I already have a general picture. I trust in your talent and character. Entrusting this matter to you puts my mind at ease."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty." Xu Guangqi said promptly.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, sat up straight, and said directly, "Ministers who help found a state need not be examined for character — if they have one useful skill, they can be employed. Ministers who govern a settled age must possess both talent and character. Ministers who revive a dynasty must not only possess both talent and character, but also a special skill."

"In my view, you are a minister of revival, so you need not have so many misgivings — act boldly and freely. Though I dare not style myself a sage ruler of a golden age, I can at least judge people well and use them accordingly."

"He who employs does not doubt; he who doubts does not employ. You need not be so cautious and wary, treading as if on thin ice — just go ahead and do your work. If anything comes up, tell me, and I will resolve it for you."

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Guangqi with earnest eyes, ready to stage a scene of harmony between ruler and minister.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness." Xu Guangqi promptly rose and said, "Since Your Majesty has said this, your subject does indeed have two matters to raise with Your Majesty — both of great importance and in urgent need of resolution."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Guangqi, feeling somewhat bemused inside.

Those words he had just spoken seemed like polite pleasantries, but they weren't. If Xu Guangqi truly had matters to attend to, he really would handle them for him, so they couldn't be called mere pleasantries.

But why did it feel so strange when Xu Guangqi said he wanted him to handle things?

So stifling—there was a lump of frustration in his chest that couldn't get out.

What happened to the harmony between sovereign and minister?

Why did the tone suddenly change?

Just now, even he himself had been moved, but this Xu Guangqi simply refused to play by the rules!

"Tell me what the matter is." Zhu Youxiao picked up a cup of tea and took a gentle sip, using it to mask his thoughts and his unwillingness.

Xu Guangqi paid no attention to any of that—he truly had matters to report. He quickly said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, news of the disaster relief in Jizhou has spread quickly, and news of Your Majesty being in Jizhou has also spread quickly. As a result, there is a trend of disaster victims from all regions converging on Jizhou. In recent days, the money and grain being distributed has grown more and more, which proves this point."

"Your minister believes this approach is improper. With so many disaster victims converging on Jizhou, first, the money and grain required would be enormous, and Jizhou may not be able to allocate and manage it all."

"Second, when too many people gather, trouble easily arises. If someone harbors ill intentions, it would be very troublesome; and if a plague were to break out, it would be even more troublesome."

After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's expression also turned serious.

This was indeed a very major matter, and one he had not thought of before.

Thinking about it now, it was indeed only to be expected. For disaster victims, of course they would go wherever they could survive. Before, they had no choice; now they wanted to choose a place where they could stay alive.

Where could be better than a place that distributed grain and money?

Where could be safer than a place where the Emperor was?

So everyone would go to Jizhou together!

This situation was only natural, but it was not something Zhu Youxiao could accept.

Jizhou did not have that much grain, nor that much money and provisions. If even more people came, there would be even more problems.

So Zhu Youxiao asked, "Does my dear minister have any solution?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your minister believes we should expand outward." Xu Guangqi said with a grave expression: "Since Your Majesty arrived in Jizhou, we have established an effective method for disaster relief. Why not transplant this method to the surrounding prefectures and counties, and have them all implement it accordingly?"

"At the same time, send our own people to supervise, so they dare not cut corners or commit crimes. In this way, the people will be properly settled, and they will no longer come to Jining."