Chapter 1393: Snatching Food from the Dragon’s Mouth
Chapter 1393: Chapter 1393: Snatching Food from the Dragon’s Mouth
In the summer of the twenty-third year of Shengping, natural disasters occurred repeatedly. First, there was a drought in the north, then floods in the south, and later a small-scale earthquake struck the Sichuan area. Fortunately, the earthquake happened during broad daylight, allowing the alert citizens to escape, preventing a large-scale casualty. Nevertheless, many homes were destroyed in an instant.
As the disasters continued, directives were issued to various provinces and counties like snowflakes. When the disasters began, officials from the Ministry of Industry were already dispatched to the south to manage water systems. This was the newly appointed Junior Officer Yuan Liren, who brought good news in mid-July of having cleared the silted river channels, causing the floodwaters to recede.
However, such good news didn’t last long before bad news returned once again. Though the floodwaters receded, due to improper handling of some animal carcasses, some citizens were even reluctant to give up their waterlogged poultry and defiantly ignored the officials’ orders, secretly cooking and eating the poultry. The result, as expected, was disastrous.
An epidemic broke out first in a small village, where those who sensed danger fled, spreading the infection to an entire county. Those who realized the threat fled with their families before the county and city were sealed, only to contract the epidemic on the road.
The epidemic was transmitted from person to person. As the minor officials concealed the truth from their superiors, the epidemic spread wider and wider. By the time it was uncontrollable, countless people had already fled to various places.
When such news reached him, Emperor Chu was naturally enraged. Every morning at court, numerous related officials were either dismissed or reprimanded, and he also dispatched Imperial Physicians and recruited civilian doctors to the most severely affected county to treat the epidemic.
Fortunately, Song Ci had previously mentioned something, and after Princess Anping visited the palace, she received the Emperor’s decree to stockpile a large quantity of medicinal materials, even purchasing stockpiled goods from several medicine merchants. Upon the outbreak of the epidemic, orders were issued to send cartloads of medicinal materials to the affected areas, ensuring no shortage of medicine to treat the citizens.
Despite these efforts, the disaster had not subsided, causing continuous migrations from various regions. Some migrants even managed to hear rumors that a large treasure hidden by the Crown Prince Xia of the previous dynasty had been unearthed near Hong Lake, forming a thousand-member militia claiming to be a righteous rebel army to seize it.
Thud.
"There’s no need to speak. This must be the information leaked by those old division wanderers hiding in the shadows. Despicable." Emperor Chu slapped the table heavily with both hands, his face murderous and his imperial majesty chilling to behold.
It was akin to snatching food from a dragon’s mouth!
Song Zhiyuan suggested, "Traveling from Hong Lake back to the capital is a long journey. This so-called righteous rebel army is just the first group. With the disaster yet to pass and the news already leaked, there’s no guarantee a second or third group won’t follow. I request the Emperor to issue a decree to send someone to intercept and protect."
Emperor Chu would never let the duck escape his hands, and immediately ordered, "Send General Yingwu, leading five thousand troops to support and suppress the rebels. If the rebels cause trouble and refuse to surrender, kill them without mercy."
"Understood."
Song Zhiyuan lowered his gaze. General Yingwu—isn’t that the wife of His Fourth Highness?
At this moment, the Emperor thought of Niu Pan’er. Five thousand troops with Tiger Talisman authorization, using her rather than sidelining suggests trust in the Duke Dingguo Mansion, or perhaps a test?
Emperor Chu glanced at Song Zhiyuan, noticing no delight or obvious emotion on his face, and asked, "What is Prime Minister Song contemplating?"
Song Zhiyuan clasped his hands and replied, "Minister is pondering whether there might be remnants of the Xia clan among these rebels. If so, can we take the opportunity to identify them and deal with one at a time."
All power must be based on people; without people, there’s no discussion of power. And when people are crushed and scattered, power also ceases to exist.
Emperor Chu’s eyes half-narrowed.