boyutpedia Chapter 164 The Arrival of Disaster in the South
Chapter 164 The Arrival of Disaster in the South
The step was steady and powerful, the heavy boots landing firmly on the polished marble floor. With each touch of the soles, a soft yet remarkably clear "tap" resonated. In the otherwise silent hall, where even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard, this sound was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, instantly creating ripples invisible to the naked eye.
He clasped his hands together, raising them high above his head, leaning slightly forward, his face full of respect. In a loud and solemn voice, he slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, I am Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue! Recently, several counties in our south have unfortunately been hit by unprecedented torrential rains, causing widespread flooding! According to the urgent reports submitted by local officials, the severity of this flood is beyond imagination. Many houses painstakingly built by the people have collapsed under the relentless impact of the flood, reduced to ruins; and countless others..." Families were forced to leave their homes and become displaced, leading a life of constant displacement. Moreover, vast stretches of fertile farmland were completely submerged by the raging floods, resulting in a total crop failure this year, and a significant reduction in grain production is now an undeniable fact! The people in these disaster-stricken areas are currently suffering terribly, their daily lives plunged into extreme hardship. Therefore, I humbly request the Imperial Court to allocate sufficient disaster relief supplies as soon as possible to assist these suffering people, so that they may escape their misery and overcome this difficult time!
Lord Li's voice was clear and firm, echoing distinctly in the spacious hall, yet it seemed to be swallowed up by the solemn atmosphere, making him appear somewhat insignificant.
Outside the hall, a gentle breeze blew, and the wind chimes at the corner of the hall rang crisply, but could not break the suffocating silence.
The retired emperor frowned slightly, his eyes revealing concern and solemnity.
He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Lord Li, listening attentively to every word.
After Lord Li finished his report, the Emperor Emeritus pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "Natural disasters are merciless, and the people suffer. This is a matter of great importance to the nation. I understand what you have reported."
The Ministry of Revenue was ordered to immediately inventory the stockpiles and allocate sufficient grain, clothing, and other supplies to the south, ensuring that the affected people had food, clothing, and shelter.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Works dispatched personnel to assist local officials in repairing houses and dredging waterways to alleviate the people's urgent needs. The necessary funds were to be drawn from the national treasury, and must be managed properly without the slightest negligence.
Upon hearing the Emperor Emeritus's decree, Lord Li was startled and quickly clasped his hands in salute again, saying, "Your subject obeys! I will do my utmost to handle this matter well and live up to Your Majesty's trust."
Having said this, he slowly retreated back into the ranks of civil officials, his expression a mixture of relief at completing his report and a sense of mission for the upcoming disaster relief mission. At that moment, the air in the hall seemed to freeze, and the ministers' breathing became faint and cautious.
Immediately afterwards, a burly general clad in armor strode out from the ranks of military officers.
His armor gleamed with a cold metallic sheen in the candlelight and morning light, and the longsword hanging at his waist swayed gently with his steps, emitting a faint metallic clanging. He walked to the center of the hall, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a loud, clear voice: "Your Majesty, I am Wang Meng, the General Who Guards the North. Recently, the barbarian tribes in the north have been frequently harassing our borders."
They burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities, causing immense suffering to the border people. Although our army fought valiantly, the enemy's advance was fierce, and their familiarity with the terrain and cunning tactics caused considerable trouble for our troops. The border situation is now tense; we earnestly request Your Majesty to send reinforcements to ensure peace and security on the border.”
General Wang's words resonated deeply, filled with indignation towards the barbarians and sympathy for the people on the border. His eyes revealed determination and longing, a yearning for more support to repel the barbarian invasion. Outside the hall, dark clouds had quietly gathered, obscuring some of the sunlight, dimming the light inside and making the atmosphere even more somber.
The Emperor Emeritus's expression was solemn, his gaze sharp as an eagle as he looked at General Wang. He knew all too well that the stability of the border was crucial to the foundation of the nation and could not be compromised. After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor Emeritus spoke: "The barbarian lands are ambitious and dare to invade our borders. I order you to return to the border immediately, strengthen the fortifications, reinforce the city walls, set up additional beacon towers, and closely monitor the movements of the barbarians. At the same time, I will dispatch elite troops from other places to reinforce the borders. We must repel the barbarians and ensure the safety of our people and the integrity of our territory. Any negligence will be punished according to military law!"
Upon hearing the imperial decree, General Wang felt a surge of patriotic fervor. He straightened his posture, knelt on one knee once more, and proclaimed loudly, "Your subject obeys! I will exert all my strength to ensure the safety of our borders. If I disobey Your Majesty's command, I am willing to offer my head!" Having said this, he rose and returned to the ranks of the military officers, his posture upright and his eyes resolute. At that moment, a gust of wind howled past, rustling the branches of the trees outside the hall, as if they too were restless with anticipation of the impending border battle.
After that, several more ministers stepped forward, some reporting on preparations for the imperial examinations, some mentioning the difficulties in domestic commercial development, and others reporting on the progress of water conservancy projects.
Each minister stepped forward to present their report, adhering to strict etiquette and presenting their affairs with either composure or urgency. The Emperor Emeritus listened patiently to each report and made accurate judgments and decisions based on the different circumstances.
Throughout the entire Golden Palace, the sounds of ministers reporting their findings and the Emperor Emeritus issuing decrees echoed.
Inside the royal palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, sunlight filters through the layers of palace walls, illuminating the tranquil courtyard.
Having just finished court, Xiao Han frowned slightly and walked with somewhat heavy steps towards Mu Qingling's residence. Along the way, his mind kept replaying the affairs of the court and his son Xiao Jingchuan, who had not yet returned home.
When Xiao Han stepped into Mu Qingling's courtyard, he saw Mu Qingling sitting on the veranda, holding a book in her hand, but seemingly not reading it. Her eyes revealed a trace of worry as she gazed into the distance. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and, seeing Xiao Han's expression, guessed what was going on.
"You're back," Mu Qingling said softly, putting down the book in her hand and getting up to greet her.
Xiao Han nodded slightly, walked into the room, plopped down in a chair, and sighed deeply. Mu Qingling followed behind, poured him a cup of tea, handed it to him, and asked with concern, "Did you encounter anything troublesome at court today?"
Xiao Han took the tea, took a sip, and slowly said, "It's not so much a worry, but the affairs of the court are complicated and quite mentally taxing. Moreover, Jingchuan has not yet returned, and all the affairs of the court, big and small, are on my old bones, so it's inevitable that I'm a little overwhelmed."
Mu Qingling sat down beside him, gently took his hand, and comforted him, "Jingchuan is also busy with national affairs. He must have been delayed by something important. Don't overwork yourself and take care of your health."
Xiao Han frowned, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "He's doing just fine, enjoying his freedom outside while leaving all this trouble to me. I, the retired emperor, should be enjoying my retirement, but now I have to worry about him."
Mu Qingling smiled and said, "You say that, but you're still thinking about him."
Jingchuan has always been a man of his own mind, and he has his reasons for doing things. His trip to Xijing Kingdom this time is twofold: first, to attend the birth celebration of the little prince; and second, to strengthen relations between the two countries—this is a matter of national importance. Besides, Xijing Kingdom is still Liuli's vassal state; I just wonder how well Liuli is finding her mother.”