harleyscars Page 467
Page 467
“Lantian County is currently severely affected by the disaster, and we can’t spare any manpower. I can come by myself.”
Upon hearing this, the squad leader looked at him and frowned.
"If even with so many of us, we couldn't move it, what use would you be if we added one more person?"
The other constables, having waited so long only to find one person had arrived, were already dissatisfied and began to speak up as well.
"That's right, you've made us wait for so long for nothing. Does Lantian County even want this grain?"
"You're not here to make fun of your official, are you?"
Faced with the constant questioning from the constables, the man didn't say much. Instead, he glanced at the grain carts not far away and then walked over.
"what are you doing?"
Seeing this person walk straight toward the grain cart, the yamen runners shouted, but the next second they froze, their eyes widening in surprise.
The man approached the grain cart, grabbed the front handles with both hands, and pulled hard, pulling the cart out of the mud pit where everyone had been helpless.
This scene stunned the officials.
After the man pulled the grain cart up, he asked again, "Are you only responsible for transporting grain, or were you sent here for disaster relief?"
Upon hearing this person's question, all the constables turned their gazes toward the head constable.
The foreman was still stunned, but after many eyes turned to him, he realized what was happening and quickly said, "We are only responsible for transporting grain. After we finish, we have to go back to report and then go to other disaster-stricken counties to transport grain."
The foreman's tone became much more polite at this point.
"Oh."
The man nodded and said, "Then you can leave now. Just leave the grain to me, and I'll transport it to Lantian County."
Hearing this man's words, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. The foreman wanted to ask if he could transport so much grain by himself, since it was still quite a distance from Lantian County. However, after the man finished speaking, he ignored them, took the ropes he had brought from Lantian County, and tied more than a dozen grain carts together one after another. Then he went to the front of the carts and pulled, and the grain carts moved forward.
Seeing this outrageous scene, the constables stared wide-eyed, as if they were watching a fairy tale, and none of them could speak. It wasn't until the man pulled the grain cart away that the squad leader finally reacted and ran a few steps forward, shouting loudly.
"What is this strong man's name? Has he ever worked for the government? Is he interested in taking up a post?"
Upon hearing the foreman's words, the man poked his head out from the side of the grain cart.
"My name is Jiang Ning, I don't need to work here."
Chapter 635: Transferring Silver
After saying that, Jiang Ning pulled the grain cart away again.
"Jiangning?"
Before the squad leader could think it through, seeing that Jiang Ning was about to walk away, he quickly shouted again.
“Righteous man, the road ahead is difficult, let us help you.”
There was no sound coming from ahead; he simply stretched out his hand and waved to indicate that he didn't need it.
Seeing Jiang Ning single-handedly pull more than a dozen grain carts along the muddy road, everyone couldn't help but feel admiration.
"Such a divine being exists in this world."
The squad leader couldn't help but sigh.
At this moment, a constable lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, as if remembering something, he quickly said to the head constable, "Head constable, that person just now seemed to say his name was Jiang Ning? Is he the Ning Yama King from the Huashan Sect? Didn't we hear that the Huashan Sect came to help with disaster relief a while ago? He must be Jiang Ning from the Huashan Sect, right?"
After the constable spoke, everyone realized what was going on.
"correct."
"I was wondering why that name sounded familiar."
The squad leader was even more taken aback, then startled.
If that person really was Jiang Ning, then asking him to work for him would be a laughing stock, and might even anger him.
The foreman immediately slapped himself hard across the face and vowed never to speak carelessly again.
"Let's go."
The grain carts were taken away by Jiang Ning, and the foreman called the constables to leave.
……
Beijing.
"Sir, this is a piece of Qingmen Luyufang transported from Jiangnan. It's August now, the hottest time of the year. Eating a piece will help you cool down."
Liu Jin bent over, holding a plate in his hand, and said to Zhu Houzhao.
The "green gate and jade room" he mentioned refers to watermelons.
Zhu Houzhao glanced at it, picked up a piece, tasted it, and hummed in agreement.
"good."
Zhu Houzhao only ate two bites before putting the food down and asking, "How is the disaster situation in Shaanxi now?"
Liu Jin bowed and said, "According to the statistics reported by the prefects of various places in Shaanxi, this flood is very serious. The flood has inundated many places and has drowned tens of thousands of people. Nearly one million people have been affected in various prefectures and places."
Upon hearing these numbers, Zhu Houzhao's expression turned serious.
If the court mishandles the situation and the deaths of millions of refugees lead to widespread starvation, and if these refugees were to rise up in rebellion, it would be an even greater disaster for the court.
Thinking of such consequences, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but feel worried.
Liu Jin noticed Zhu Houzhao's expression and knew that Zhu Houzhao was worried about the disaster in Shaanxi, so he spoke up.
"Your Excellency need not worry too much. The disaster in Shaanxi should be under control and there will be no major rebellion."
Zhu Houzhao glanced at him.
"How to say?"
"Does Your Majesty still remember the Huashan Sect?"
Liu Jin asked.
"nonsense."
Zhu Houzhao cursed.
What is the connection between the Huashan Sect and this disaster?
Liu Jin smiled and said, "The news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard says that the Huashan Sect has gone down the mountain to various places to provide disaster relief. I heard that the sect leader Yue donated hundreds of thousands of taels of silver for disaster relief and led his disciples to provide relief in the disaster-stricken areas. Although there are many disaster victims in Shaanxi, the overall situation is relatively stable, so Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."
"Oh?"
Zhu Houzhao exclaimed with delight, "Sect Leader Yue has such a magnanimous heart? Excellent, excellent!"
As he spoke, Zhu Houzhao remembered something else and asked, "Did Jiangning also go to provide disaster relief?"
Liu Jin nodded and said, "Yes, Master Jiang is currently engaged in disaster relief in Lantian County. Lantian County is the most severely affected and dangerous area. Master Jiang's willingness to go to Lantian County to help with disaster relief is truly admirable."
Zhu Houzhao laughed upon hearing this, "My elder brother is highly skilled in martial arts, so no dangerous place is a problem for him."
Even in the heavily guarded imperial palace, they dared to say they could kill him at any time if they wanted to.
Brother?
Liu Jin was surprised by Zhu Houzhao's address to Jiang Ning, but quickly recovered and laughed, "Yes, Master Jiang is highly skilled in martial arts and also very capable. I didn't know that before, did I? I heard that after the disaster in Xi'an Prefecture, grain prices soared. Master Jiang directly warned those grain merchants that if they dared to raise prices, he would wipe out their entire families. That scared the grain merchants into lowering their prices immediately, which brought the grain prices under control and prevented the prices in Xi'an Prefecture from rising. Speaking of which, the disaster in Xi'an Prefecture was also very serious, but it was thanks to Master Jiang that the disaster was brought under control."
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
"Of course, who wouldn't be afraid of his unpredictable martial arts skills?"
After hearing about the current situation in Shaanxi, Zhu Houzhao felt relieved and said with a smile.
At this moment, Zhu Houzhao remembered something and asked, "Where are the silver and grain allocated by the court now?"
After reporting the disaster situation in Shaanxi some time ago, Zhu Houzhao immediately ordered the court to come up with a way to provide disaster relief, and quite some time has passed since then.
Liu Jin hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhu Houzhao's displeasure, he quickly replied, "Your Majesty, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet are still discussing this."
Zhu Houzhao was somewhat angry.
"What's there to discuss? It's about allocating silver and grain. Why does it take so long to discuss something like this? If we wait until they've finished discussing it before allocating grain, won't the people all starve to death?"
Zhu Houzhao was very angry. Liu Jin carefully said, "That's what I thought too, but the Grand Secretary said that the national treasury is currently short of silver."
"Is the national treasury running low on silver?"
Zhu Houzhao frowned and asked, "Weren't the taxes just collected? How could there be a shortfall?"
"Your Majesty, I have also inquired about this matter with the Minister of Revenue."
Liu Jin was clearly prepared for Zhu Houzhao's words and replied, "The Minister of Revenue said that most of the taxes collected this year have covered last year's expenditures. In addition, with some necessary appropriations, such as military pay, the national treasury is now running a deficit. The Minister of Revenue also said that the salaries of court officials have not yet been paid this year."
Zhu Houzhao had only recently ascended the throne and was learning about these things for the first time. Upon hearing this, he frowned deeply.
So you're saying we're living beyond our means?
Liu Jin nodded.
Zhu Houzhao then asked, "How can the national treasury be running a deficit?"
"This……"
Liu Jin stammered and dared not speak.
Zhu Houzhao shouted, "What are you stammering about?"
Liu Jin immediately knelt down and said, "The Minister of Revenue said that this is because the late emperor often transferred a lot of treasury funds for Taoist rituals and ceremonies, which led to a shortage of treasury funds."
Zhu Houzhao was speechless upon hearing this.
The relationship problems stemmed from his father.
After a while.
Zhu Houzhao then asked, "How much silver is left in the imperial treasury?"
Liu Jin replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, the imperial treasury currently has 1.3 million taels of silver."
Zhu Houzhao asked in surprise, "So little? I remember Father... when the late Emperor was alive, didn't we have more than ten million taels?"
"This……"
Liu Jin said awkwardly, "When His Majesty ascended the throne, this servant and other eunuchs took stock of the imperial treasury. At that time, there were only four million taels of silver left. The palace expenses have been considerable in the past two years. The silver spent when His Majesty ascended the throne was also allocated from the imperial treasury. Now, this is all that is left."
Under normal circumstances, the palace would spend several million taels of silver a year, mainly on the salaries of the harem and the palace maids and eunuchs. Fortunately, Zhu Youxin's harem consisted of only Empress Dowager Zhang, which reduced the harem expenses considerably, but other expenditures were still substantial.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment and said, "First, allocate 300,000 taels from the imperial treasury to Shaanxi for disaster relief and emergency assistance. Have the cabinet quickly draft a disaster relief plan."
"Yes."
Liu Jin nodded in agreement.
But Zhu Houzhao's brows were still furrowed. Seeing this, Liu Jin said, "Your Highness must be tired now? Would you like to watch a dance?"
Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "I'm already tired of those dances."
Liu Jin laughed and said, "Sir, this time is different."
"How is it different?"
"Several Miao women from Miao territory have arrived at the palace today. They are most skilled at dancing their own ethnic dances. I've heard that their dances are quite different from those of Han women. Your Highness will see for yourself when you see them."
"Oh?"
Zhu Houzhao was very interested upon hearing this.
"Then I'll have to see for myself."
Chapter 636: Disaster Relief in Lantian County
September.
Lantian County.
"Please line up patiently and don't rush."
The yamen runners distributing porridge shouted.