jdhmnovel Chapter 260: Solving Problems
Chapter 260: Solving Problems
The imperial court of Xijing Kingdom was solemn and dignified. Sunlight streamed through the tall palace gates and carved window frames, casting dappled shadows on the floor. Huge vermilion pillars stood on either side, golden dragon patterns meandering along their surfaces, showcasing the imperial majesty. All the civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, stood in neat rows, utterly silent except for the soft rustling of their garments.
In the silence, Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue stepped out of the ranks with heavy steps, his expression grave and his face full of worry. He knelt in the center of the hall, his voice trembling with grief and anxiety: "Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report. According to urgent reports, Linyang County has not received rain for three consecutive months. The land is cracked, the crops have failed, the people are starving, and many are displaced. I implore Your Majesty to make a decision and save the people of Linyang County!"
These words caused an uproar in the court. The ministers whispered among themselves, their faces showing shock and worry.
"Is this really true? What should we do?"
"We cannot stand idly by and watch the people suffer!"
Various discussions arose one after another, and the atmosphere became tense.
Jiang Liushen's previously calm face instantly turned stern, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. As the ruler of a nation, he knew he had to remain calm and make the right decision. He slowly stood up, the golden dragon on his dragon robe gleaming in the sunlight, exuding an aura of majesty.
"Minister Zhou, rise. Tell me in detail just how severe is this drought? Are there any specific statistics on the disaster?" Jiang Liushen's deep and powerful voice echoed in the court, bringing the previously noisy discussions to an abrupt halt.
Lord Zhou stood up, straightened his court robes, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, according to the latest news I have received, more than half of the farmland in Linyang County has cracked and the water sources have dried up. The people are not only facing a shortage of food, but even their daily drinking water has become a problem. Now, many people have already taken their families and fled to other places to escape the famine."
Jiang Liushen frowned, his eyes filled with concern: "Immediately order local officials to open the granaries and distribute grain to solve the people's basic needs. Ensure the grain is distributed fairly, and prohibit any embezzlement or misappropriation. Anyone who violates this rule will be severely punished!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lord Zhou replied.
At this moment, Minister of Works Lin stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task, besides distributing grain, is to solve the water problem. I suggest that we immediately dispatch skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to Linyang County to survey the terrain, find water sources, dig wells, and divert irrigation canals."
Jiang Liushen nodded slightly: "What Minister Lin said is absolutely right. This matter will be entrusted to you. Select capable personnel and make sure to set off as soon as possible without delay. The Ministry of Revenue will provide full support in terms of the necessary supplies."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lord Lin replied.
Minister of Rites Chen also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that we should simultaneously issue a public announcement to the world, recruiting virtuous and capable people from the countryside who are knowledgeable in water conservancy and skilled in farming, to go to Linyang County to assist in disaster relief. In this way, we can not only gather the strength of the masses, but also demonstrate Your Majesty's openness to talent and concern for the people."
Jiang Liushen gave Lord Chen an approving look: "This plan is excellent. Minister Chen, you are in charge of this matter. Post the imperial edict and recruit talented people. The court will reward those who come to help."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lord Chen accepted the order and withdrew.
Then, Jiang Liushen turned to the Minister of Personnel: "You shall immediately select several honest, upright, and capable officials to go to Linyang County to assist local officials in carrying out disaster relief work. You must ensure that all disaster relief measures are implemented effectively and that the people's emotions are appeased."
The Minister of Personnel immediately accepted the order: "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to share your burdens and relieve the people's difficulties."
In the imperial court, ministers offered their suggestions and advice, which Jiang Liushen listened to attentively and made swift decisions. With the issuance of imperial decrees, the entire court quickly sprang into action, and a battle against the drought officially began.
"Your Majesty is wise!" "Your Majesty cares for the people; this is truly a blessing for our Xijing Kingdom!" The ministers knelt down one after another, praising him in unison.
Jiang Liushen looked at the assembled officials and said solemnly, "My beloved ministers, the people are the foundation of our Xijing Kingdom. Now that the people are suffering, we have an inescapable responsibility. This disaster relief effort concerns the stability of the nation and the safety of the people, and cannot be taken lightly. I hope that all of you will work together to overcome this difficult time."
"We will do our utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust!" the ministers replied in unison, their voices firm and powerful.
After the court session, Jiang Liushen returned to the imperial study, sat alone on the dragon throne, and fell into deep thought.
Jiang Liushen paced back and forth in the imperial study for a long time, weighing his options repeatedly before finally making up his mind. He summoned his personal eunuch and said in a deep voice, "Quickly prepare pen and ink; I need to draft an imperial edict."
The eunuch hurriedly presented pen and ink. Jiang Liushen picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and as the brush moved across the paper, a series of instructions appeared: the Ministry of Revenue was to allocate 100,000 taels of silver as a special fund for disaster relief, ensuring that every penny was used effectively; the Ministry of Works was to immediately prepare various disaster relief supplies, ensuring sufficient quantities of shovels, buckets, ropes, and other tools, and transport them to Linyang County; three experienced and honest ministers were to be appointed to form a disaster relief supervision team to accompany the disaster relief team, strictly supervise the distribution and use of disaster relief supplies, and prevent any fraudulent activities.
After the decree was drafted, Jiang Liushen handed it to the eunuch and solemnly instructed him, "Issue the decree immediately, without any mistakes." The eunuch accepted the order and hurriedly left.
As dusk settled and night quietly descended, Jiang Liushen remained wide awake. He stood by the window, gazing at the night sky, his heart heavy with worry for the people of Linyang County. The moonlight, like water, bathed him, reflecting his resolute yet anxious face.
The next morning, as dawn broke, Jiang Liushen rose and went to the imperial court. The ministers had been waiting for some time, their expressions solemn and concerned.
"My beloved ministers, the disaster situation in Linyang County is urgent. I have decided to personally go to Linyang County to direct the disaster relief efforts." Jiang Liushen's voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the court.
Upon hearing this, the ministers all knelt down to dissuade him.
"Your Majesty, your body is of noble status, and the environment in the disaster area is harsh. We urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, we will certainly do our utmost in disaster relief. Your Majesty need not personally venture into dangerous situations."
Jiang Liushen looked at the ministers, his expression gentle yet undeniable: "The people are suffering terribly. As the ruler of the country, how can I sit idly by? Only by seeing it with my own eyes and taking action myself can I feel at ease. My beloved ministers, there is no need to persuade me any further."
Seeing that the emperor was determined, the ministers stopped trying to dissuade him and expressed their willingness to fully support him.
"Issue my decree: prepare the carriage immediately. I will depart first thing tomorrow morning," Jiang Liushen ordered.
"Your Majesty, we obey!" the ministers replied in unison.
The next morning, before dawn, a flurry of activity was already underway outside the palace. A large procession had assembled, led by Jiang Liushen. He wore a plain-colored robe, his expression solemn, his eyes revealing determination and resolve.
"Let's go!" Jiang Liushen gave the order, and the large contingent set off for Linyang County. Along the way, despite the fatigue of the journey, Jiang Liushen constantly inquired about the latest situation of the disaster in Linyang County from the accompanying officials, while making detailed arrangements for the disaster relief work.
After several days of travel, they finally arrived in Linyang County. The scene before them broke Jiang Liushen's heart: in the fields, the land was cracked and parched, with shocking fissures, the crops had long since withered, and the land was desolate; in the villages, the houses were dilapidated, and the people looked haggard, their eyes filled with despair and helplessness.
Jiang Liushen immediately summoned local officials to understand the progress of the disaster relief work. He learned that although granaries had been opened and food had been distributed, the widespread disaster meant that food was still scarce, and many people were forced to rely on wild vegetables to stave off hunger. Jiang Liushen immediately ordered that food be urgently allocated from surrounding counties to ensure that every person could have enough to eat.
Subsequently, accompanied by officials, Jiang Liushen visited the villages most severely affected by the disaster. He went into the homes of the people and, seeing their impoverished lives, was filled with guilt and self-reproach.
"Your Majesty, please save us!" an old man cried, kneeling on the ground. "We simply cannot go on living like this."
Jiang Liushen quickly helped the old man up, his eyes reddening: "Old man, I am late and you have suffered. I will definitely lead you through this difficult time."
After leaving the villagers' homes, Jiang Liushen went straight to the site where the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works were digging a well. The craftsmen were working hard under the scorching sun, sweating profusely. Jiang Liushen stepped forward, picked up a shovel, and joined the digging team.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" the officials urged.
Jiang Liushen said, "How can I stand idly by while the people suffer? If we all work together, we will surely find a water source soon."
Under Jiang Liushen's leadership, everyone worked with great enthusiasm. After much effort, they finally found a water source, and clear well water gushed out. The people cheered and jumped for joy, kneeling down to express their gratitude.
"Long live the Emperor! The Emperor is wise!" The cheers of the people rose and fell, echoing through the sky.
After solving the water problem, Jiang Liushen organized the people to engage in self-help production, guiding them to plant drought-resistant crops and teaching them irrigation techniques. At the same time, he encouraged the people to help each other and overcome difficulties together.
Under Jiang Liushen's command, the disaster relief work in Linyang County proceeded in an orderly manner. As time went by, the fields turned green again, and smiles gradually returned to the faces of the people.
Looking at the scene before him, Jiang Liushen finally felt relieved. He knew that although the disaster relief efforts had achieved a phased victory, more efforts were needed to fully restore Linyang County to its former glory.