Chapter 277

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Zhao Yu heard this and felt his head suddenly go "buzz."

The Yellow River breached its banks at Hua Prefecture and changed course, affecting several prefectures, with ten thousand refugees. The court repeatedly allocated silver and grain, even dispatching regional troops and the Imperial Guard for relief, finally bringing the disaster under control.

Afterwards Cen Dezhang and others submitted reports, demanding silver, grain, and materials, saying they needed to reinforce the embankments and open new channels to divert water. The Du Shui Jian argued for half a day, finally agreeing it was feasible, and the Political Affairs Hall nodded as well. Although he didn't think it useful, he also thought of trying a dead horse as if it were alive, and agreed to everything.

Even if when the summer flood came, it could hold out one more day, giving the government one more day to evacuate the people and reduce losses, it would be worth it.

But thinking it useless was one thing; discovering it was truly useless was another.

Who could accept that the embankment, repaired in just two or three months, would breach again?!

What result would this time bring!

Zhao Yu felt a buzzing in his ears that didn't stop for half a day. He reached out to take the secret letter presented by the little yellow gate attendant, scanned it with a few hurried glances, looked up and shouted loudly: "Li Zhai!"

He didn't call him "Qing" or by his office, but directly called the minister's full name, and with a grim face handed the urgent memorial to a yellow gate attendant beside him.

Vice Chancellor Li Zhai, standing among the ranks, had already known it was bad. At this moment being shouted at, his heart jolted. He hurriedly took the secret report and flipped through it from the beginning, but hadn't finished reading when he heard the Emperor above ask: "What is this matter?"

This time the water affairs were entirely led by Li Zhai. With time pressing, he had barely glanced at the words on the paper and was about to reply when he heard Zhao Yu say again: "Hua Prefecture's embankment breached. Cen Dezhang usually writes one or two thousand words for the tiniest matter, yet now at such a critical time he doesn't submit a report—it's as good as dead—and Weizhou has to report to Me! Is this rebellion?!"

The Emperor spoke confused words, even spoke vulgar market language. Everyone above and below knew this was extreme anger. No one interjected; some gloated, some had expressionless faces, all looking at Li Zhai one by one.

Li Zhai said: "Replying to Your Majesty, in this subject's humble opinion, we should still wait for Hua Prefecture's reply—Cen Dezhang has already reported that when the water force is too urgent and the water depth exceeds the limit, it will actively breach the embankment to slow the water state, diverting water into canals. I don't know if this time is the same!"

Zhao Yu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his irritation, and said: "You also know that is diverting water into canals. How could it be yellow mud everywhere across the wilds?!"

Li Zhai said again: "I see Weizhou's report only glimpsed water flooding the wilds from afar, but saw no people fleeing, nor any official soldiers rescuing. This report came suddenly, merely what Vice Chancellor Li Jiwen saw, with no corroboration. Better wait a moment and see how Hua Prefecture replies before making a decision!"

"Even if the flood situation is truly bad, the court has long had plans. Your Majesty has just inspected the Imperial Guard and already urgently allocated grain and fodder... This subject requests sending people to Hua Prefecture, transporting troops and grain, making early preparations!"

Saying it was making preparations, but everyone in the hall could see Li Zhai was still panicked and timid at heart. This last sentence was clearly anxious to clean up the mess.

However, just as his voice fell, someone stepped out from the ranks and said: "Hua Prefecture is indeed important, but we cannot fail to guard against the Bian River rising. Recently the rain has not stopped. The Du Shui Jian has already opened the sluice gates several times to release the river. Hua Prefecture's embankment breached, showing the upstream water level has long overflowed. We don't know how it will surge—this year drought in the south, flood in the north. Once the river flood arrives, Jingcheng will change, the granaries will have no surplus grain, the treasury no surplus silver. How can we defend ourselves?!"

Li Zhai looked back and saw it was the Vice Minister of Revenue. Knowing he was coming to cry poverty, he had to perk up his spirit and argue with him. One moment saying the Ministry of Revenue's planning was improper and couldn't reasonably allocate, the next saying Hua Prefecture was a buffer zone. If Hua Prefecture truly suffered water disaster and the court couldn't rescue in time, first the people would be in misery, second the flood would be unmanaged. If it flowed into the Bian River, it would affect Jingcheng even more...

At first the two only discussed the matter at hand, but as they spoke they grew heated, and then partisans of the same faction, or those with vested interests, came out to echo and argue.

For a time the hall was in an uproar, truly "each side has its own reason."

Arguing to the end, they began attacking the individuals themselves.

"Your Majesty, now Vice Chancellor Li Zhai oversees the river affairs of Hua Prefecture and Chan Prefecture. In office but not observing, he caused the local embankment breach, putting the people in mortal danger. This is not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity! I request Your Majesty remove his office, strip his rank, and hand him to the Censorate for investigation, to uphold national law!"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Vice Minister of Revenue Fan You delays and shirks responsibility when matters arise. The people's lives hang by a thread. His hall still discusses 'economizing expenditures,' causing relief to have no grain and embankment blocking to have no materials. What was controllable will breed great disaster! Not moving money and grain is not inability, but unwillingness! His heart deserves death, his actions mislead the country! I beg Your Majesty to immediately remove his office, to comfort the disaster victims!"

Zhao Yu's gums hurt even more.

He was used to the ministers' rhetoric and knew this was not the time to wrangle with them. On one side he urged the Two Prefectures to appoint generals and allocate grain; on the other he ordered the Capital Prefecture Office and the Du Shui Jian to patrol the embankments day and night, and had the Political Affairs Hall quickly draft countermeasures, also sending other officials to Hua Prefecture to investigate...

The matters were assigned, the people were sent out, but Zhao Yu remained anxious and uneasy.

He brought people, traveled lightly and simply out of the palace. First he looked inside the city, then went outside the city, as long as he could personally see the river depth.

Seeing the water level in the river was more than one zhang higher than before, the original water-measuring copper figure had long disappeared. Zhao Yu's scalp went numb. He first called Li Zhai, then called the Du Shui Jian Cheng, asking: "Wasn't the flood just released? Why is the water level still so high?! Where is this water coming from?!"

Rain fell from the sky like a waterfall. Li Zhai, because he had to attend the Emperor climbing embankments and dams, naturally couldn't hold an umbrella.

He wore a raincoat and a bamboo hat. Rain flew diagonally, hitting his face. He opened his mouth, and his mouth was full of rainwater, but he couldn't spit it out in front of the Emperor. He could only say: "Your... Your Majesty! Hua Prefecture has sent no urgent report. It may not be caused by Hua Prefecture's water breach. Recently there has been unceasing rain in Jingji. It's probably due to the sudden rainstorm from heaven!"

The Du Shui Jian Cheng hurriedly agreed, and said: "... Inside and outside the city are monitored at all times, and someone repeatedly patrols the embankment, vigilant day and night..."

Hearing everyone recount how they responded, Zhao Yu's heart still could not be put down at all.

When he hadn't personally seen the water force and depth, he was uneasy. Now that he was clearly on the embankment and by the water, he was even more anxious.

After returning to the palace, that afternoon, the Emperor's right cheek was more swollen than in the morning. Not only his gums, but his seat teeth also began to hurt. Besides, his right ear canal kept feeling hot. A light touch felt like being drilled into the heart by a chisel.

The Imperial Physician diagnosed and prescribed medicine, for external application and internal use, and also gargling. He said the Emperor was afflicted by evil fire attacking the heart and needed rest.

But Zhao Yu tried many methods, all to no avail.

That night he lay down early. As soon as he closed his eyes, his mind was full of the water conditions outside the city he had seen that day, and the imagined embankment situation of Hua Prefecture. Hearing the wind and rain raging outside, how could he rest, let alone sleep?

The person beside the pillow tossed and turned. The Empress Deng sleeping in the same bed naturally couldn't sleep either.

She turned her head and saw the Emperor's right cheek red and swollen, his ears abnormally red. She was startled and immediately wanted to summon someone to call the Imperial Physician.

But Zhao Yu stopped her, saying: "Forget it. It's already this hour. If we call people, today it's probably just those few on night duty. They'll prescribe the same medicine and use the same methods. Besides tormenting ourselves and tormenting others, what good is it? Let's talk about it at dawn!"

The Empress Deng had the palace attendants wrap ice in cloth to apply to her husband's face, then had someone brew Gold and Silver Flower Tea. She also personally went to look for medicine powder to reduce swelling and stop pain.

All these were used. Indeed they made a fuss for half a day. When the two finally rested again, it was already near the zi hour.

Zhao Yu had no sleepiness, but didn't want to disturb the Empress Deng again. He held his breath and lay quietly for a moment. Hearing the person beside him breathe evenly, he then got out of bed lightly.

As soon as the Emperor moved, the night-watch yellow gate attendant Feng Deju and two palace attendants carefully came over with lamps to light the way.

The few people left the Sleeping Hall.

Zhao Yu found a chair and sat down.

Feng Deju hurriedly went to wring out a new ice compress and brought it over, replacing the old one in the Emperor's hand. He couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, why not summon the Imperial Physician?"

Seeing Zhao Yu wave his hand with an unmoved expression, he gritted his teeth and suddenly knelt on the ground with a "thud," saying: "This subject knows Your Majesty worries about Hua Prefecture's water conditions. This subject dares to ask—please grant me command to go west. This subject is willing to go to Hua Prefecture as Your Majesty's eyes and ears! Let Your Majesty not be blind, not be deaf!"

Zhao Yu suddenly looked up and said "good" twice.

He also said: "If it weren't for Li Jiwen, I wouldn't know Hua Prefecture's situation was like this! Now it's you, Feng Deju, voluntarily offering to serve, sharing my worries for Me. At critical times, we rely on palace attendants!"

Feng Deju received such praise from the Emperor. His nostrils flared. He was so happy his breathing was louder than usual.

He hurriedly said: "Vice Chancellor Li is after all in Weizhou, and was a palace attendant of the late Emperor. He is not like this subject who has always attended Your Majesty. He knows how much Your Majesty worries about the people and cares about the water conditions. Once I arrive in Hua Prefecture, I will definitely go down to the river and up to the embankment, ask the people and question the officials. I won't let anyone deceive and report falsely. I will also report frequently and keep the wind flowing every day! So Your Majesty won't worry!"

To be honest, compared to the memorials from local officials, Zhao Yu naturally trusted the yellow gate attendants who had attended him for many years and had no vested interests with the local area more.

Seeing Feng Deju so considerate, Zhao Yu had to promise him, saying: "When you return to the capital, I will surely reward you heavily!"

Feng Deju hurriedly kowtowed, saying: "Your subject seeks no reward; as long as I can share Your Majesty's worries and let Your Majesty sleep a little more peacefully, that is the best reward!"

Regardless of whether it was useful or how useful, such an attitude and such words, compared to Li Zhai, Fan You, and others shouting and cursing during the day, naturally pleased the Emperor more.

Zhao Yu could not help but add points for Feng Deju in his heart, nodding silently, waiting for his return to surely reward him well.

After Feng Deju rose and went outside, he first called his newly received disciple and instructed him on all matters one by one.

Upon hearing this, the disciple's eyes lit up and said: "Master is going to Huazhou, then who……"

He barely managed to stop himself from finishing the whole sentence, swallowed it back, and said: "The disciple wishes to follow Master westward to Huazhou to inspect the flood conditions and disaster conditions!"

How could Feng Deju not see what his disciple was thinking?

He immediately changed his words, called several Palace Attendants over, divided his daily tasks into several portions, each person taking a part, and also handed tonight's shift to the disciple; seeing the other was restless as if covered in fleas and could not stand steady, he was already very dissatisfied in his heart, but did not let a hint show on his lips.

After Feng Deju finished explaining everything without delay, he immediately left the hall, returned to his own room, packed his daily valuables into a bundle, saw that the time was still early but did not rest, instead taking his luggage and returning to Funing Palace again.

—If the Emperor had not slept, he would take his luggage, kowtow, and set out; if the Emperor had already rested, he would wait for the Emperor to rise, take his luggage, kowtow, and set out immediately, always making sure the Emperor knew how much he cared about the matter and would not delay a bit!

The rain had not stopped; ahead, a little yellow eunuch held a lamp to light the way. Feng Deju carried a bundle on his back, held an umbrella, and hurried along the road to Funing Palace.

As he walked, seeing Funing Palace ahead, he suddenly felt something was not right.

Behind him came voices, the sound growing closer; looking back, it was several yellow eunuchs each holding a lantern to lead the way.

Because they were close and there were many lanterns, the road ahead was lit much brighter than before, and it also revealed the clothing and face of the person behind.

Purple robe with a jade belt, a Gold Fish Bag tied at the waist—who else could it be but Vice Director Li Zhai!

Feng Deju hurriedly stepped aside to make way and saluted, saying: "Official Li, have you come? Is there some urgent matter?"

Li Zhai did not explain further, but suddenly stopped his steps and asked: "Why are you here? Who is on duty at Funing Palace today? Has the Emperor rested?"

Asking several questions in succession, Feng Deju hurriedly said: "Is it about water matters? The Emperor specially instructed that if there is urgent news of water matters from various places, it must not be delayed and should be reported immediately!"

Although he did not know why the other had come, seeing Li Zhai's steps flying and his expression relaxed, he knew it must not be a bad thing, and immediately said: "This subordinate will pass the message to the Vice Director right away!"

As expected, Zhao Yu had not slept, but had returned to the front hall.

As soon as Feng Deju entered the hall, he saw his cheap disciple serving tea to the Emperor attentively.

He could not be bothered to pay attention; upon entering the door he first saluted the Emperor, waited a moment, and saw from the corner of his eye that the other's gaze had fallen on the bundle he had placed on the ground before him, before reporting Li Zhai's arrival.

Zhao Yu immediately said: "Announce him!"

Li Zhai carried an oil-paper-sealed box into the hall; upon entering, he first presented the box in his hand, with dark circles under his eyes, and reported: "Your Majesty! The Silver Platform Department has forwarded a memorial from Huazhou—continuous rain, the upstream flood has arrived; because the embankments and dams breached several times, Huazhou actively breached the embankment, diverting water first into the River Regulation Channel, then into Wang Jing River."

"What Official Li Walking Horse saw was a yellow expanse—the scene of the River Regulation Channel—Huazhou has already evacuated the commoners in advance, with no casualties."

"The Yellow River turned into Wang Jing River, overflowing the Wang Jing River channel four times in one day, still within the River Regulation range; since the upstream rain has stopped, the water momentum has slowed……"

Li Zhai was still speaking, but Zhao Yu no longer had the heart to listen.

His eyes only stared fixedly at the memorial before him.

It was also an urgent memorial, but after all it was not a secret report from a Palace Attendant directly to the Emperor; on the road it encountered a rainstorm, was delayed for a while, and was first sent to the Silver Platform Department, then sent around, arriving half a day late.

The memorial was very thick.

First came the memorial text, stating the results first, indicating there were no serious disasters, and then writing in detail the calendar dates, water depth, water momentum, water speed, on which day and where the embankment breached, when and where, and why they chose to actively breach the embankment, how great the losses were, how many households and how many people were evacuated in advance, how they were settled, and how they would be compensated afterward……

All sorts of things, never tiresome in detail.

But Zhao Yu was unwilling to miss a single word.

He cared too much, worried too much; he would only hate that it was not detailed enough, and would never find it trivial.

The memorial text had over five thousand characters; after slowly finishing it, there were actually diagrams at the back.

The diagrams were maps of Huazhou and Weizhou, with details of where the Yellow River channel connected with the Wang Jing River channel, showing where the embankment breached, where the active breach position was, and after water entered the Wang Jing River channel, where it overflowed, the scope and height of the River Regulation Channel, where it overflowed to, and how much land remained.

Actually the text was already written very clearly, but seeing the diagrams made it even clearer.

Besides the text and diagrams, there was also a separate request, asking the Chao Zhong to strictly instruct the prefectures and counties along the Wang Jing River to diligently maintain and guard against floodwater overflowing.

After reading the memorial, Zhao Yu could not help but smile.

He said with a pleasant expression: "Official Li, you have worked hard on night duty; go back and rest early—the other matters can be discussed during the day!"

"This subject does not find it hard; Your Majesty rises early and retires late, day and night concerned with water matters and the safety of the commoners—Your Majesty works hard!"

The ruler and subject were pleased with each other for a while.

Soon after, Li Zhai left Funing Palace with wind under his feet.

And Zhao Yu felt no tiredness at all; he read the memorial over and over again against the diagrams, and when he reached the end and saw the signature above, he paused in his hand and smiled: "There is no need to be a Remonstrator."

A yellow eunuch by his side had already brought up a freshly boiled Qi Refining Decoction.

Zhao Yu took it casually, drank it in one gulp, smacked his lips, and suddenly froze.

He reached out and touched his face—Eh?

Where did the swollen face go?