Chapter 1009: Chapter 845: Running Out of Provisions

"Today the night falls, gentlemen have been traveling for days, likely feeling quite exhausted. I see Assistant Reader Min is somewhat drunk, and my residence has prepared rooms for you. Let’s pause here for now and continue tomorrow, what do you all think?"

Li Taixing cupped his hands towards everyone, feeling rather good that the matter was half accomplished.

"Thank you for your kind reception, Mr. Li, then we will humbly accept your offer."

He Zhongkuan looked at Min Feng ahead, embracing a woman and walking with an arrogant gait, feeling a hint of disdain in his heart.

Such shortsightedness, just arrived at someone’s residence, he couldn’t wait to show his true colors.

He should at least hold back a little, yet accepts everything offered to him?

Though He Zhongkuan felt disdain, he couldn’t help but think about Li Taixing’s scheming.

The matters discussed during the banquet must be immediately reported to the master, Li Taixing truly acted audaciously, daring to plot against anyone?

At this time, it was 7:30 PM, outside the corner gate of Yingnan Prefecture Government, a man dressed in coarse cloth short attire, holding a cloth bundle, stepped forward and knocked on the vermilion corner gate.

The iron ring on the gate rattled loudly, followed by footsteps and inquiries from inside.

The corner gate opened slightly, revealing an elderly gatekeeper.

"Who are you? This is the residence of Lord Prefect, what is your business here?"

The elder scrutinized the man up and down, noticing he was dressed in coarse cloth with a silk-wrapped bundle in his arms.

He wondered, why was he dressed in coarse cloth, yet his bundle wrapped in silk?

"Quickly notify your master that Changtian Prefecture Government Official Chen Zhao requests to see him!"

The person was indeed Chen Zhao, having changed clothes at a villager’s home to somewhat clean attire.

Otherwise, the government office people would surely mistake him for a beggar and chase him away before he could speak.

He had managed to find a set of coarse clothes without patches, not having had a sip of water, and hastily prompted the elderly driver towards the government office.

The gatekeeper surveyed Chen Zhao once more, his eyes filled with doubt.

He knew Changtian Prefecture was severely afflicted, yet this person claimed to be an official, but wore no uniform.

Coming to the government office unannounced to meet the Lord Prefect, this seemed preposterous no matter how one thought.

His master was hosting distinguished guests this evening, should this person cause any disruption.

Were blame to follow, he’d surely face dire consequences.

Seeing the gatekeeper’s disbelief, Chen Zhao quickly unwrapped part of the package in his hand, pulling out the official seal inside.

"I have urgent business requiring audience with Lord Prefect, I have my master’s official uniform and seal, you must inform him quickly. Otherwise, should your master hold you accountable, you’ll bear the consequences."

Chen Zhao displayed urgency, shouting at the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper was so infuriated by Chen Zhao’s demeanor he almost cursed, but upon closer inspection of the seal, he was immediately frightened.

Hastily saying, "Please wait, I will notify them at once."

Meanwhile, Hu Maoshen was equally anxious, "Were you able to stop those citizens? So many people heading to Hangtian Prefecture, Hangtian Prefecture won’t be able to manage." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Hu Maoshen was deeply worried, as Hangtian Prefecture was also one of the riverfront prefectures, should Tianya River’s embankment be compromised, Hangtian Prefecture would be in grave danger too.

Earlier he sent someone to gather information, hearing that Hangtian Prefecture’s embankment had previously shown signs of cracking.

Officials and citizens of Hangtian Prefecture were working tirelessly to reinforce the embankment.

Compared to Qian Hui Chun, Hangtian Prefecture’s Magistrate Yang Chaoying could naturally be called a clever man. However, he also learned from Changtian Prefecture’s precedent.

"Sir! The citizens simply won’t heed our words, Hangtian Prefecture is even further north than Yingnan Prefecture, they believe only heading north is safe."

The government official was a bit troubled, given the severe flood in Changtian Prefecture, it was no wonder the citizens dared not stay, fearing for their lives!

Hu Maoshen glanced at the government official with a face wrinkled like a bitter melon, sighing deeply.

He too knew this matter was difficult, the citizens would inevitably need to be relocated.

Changtian Prefecture lies by the river and downstream of Tianya River. Should the embankment burst again, these citizens would inevitably perish beneath the river waters.

Such a tragic incident must never happen again, yet how to settle the citizens, he had no idea.

So many citizens remained in Changtian Prefecture, all relocating to Hangtian Prefecture; how could Hangtian manage?

He roughly assessed the disaster yesterday, having sent word for court disaster relief silver.

But court silver allocation would take some time, meanwhile Changtian Prefecture’s refugees needed to be settled, right?

He furrowed his brow in deep thought, finally coming up with a solution.

"Hurry! Grind ink for me!" He instructed his followers, striding towards the study.

At the same time, Hangtian Prefecture’s Magistrate Yang Chaoying, supervising the workers, looked up at the sky as it began to rain lightly again.

Soon the drizzle turned into large droplets.

Yang Chaoying furiously wiped the rain from his face, angrily cursing, "This damned sky, it’s raining again, and hadn’t stopped for even half a day."

The river workers who had been working earlier had cheered, relieved that the heavens weren’t pouring rain, sparing Hangtian Prefecture, thus their enthusiasm began to wane.

But now with the sky raining hugely again, the river workers couldn’t help but feel dejected.

Yang Chaoying shouted to them, "It’s started raining again, we must speed up, lest the river water breach the embankment! Think of Changtian Prefecture, that’s our precedent."

After shouting, weakness overcame him. Knees grew weak, almost stumbling sideways, his followers quickly supported him.

Only then did he remember it nearly lunchtime, hastily instructing, "Lunch must be hearty, I will dine with the citizens. If I find it to be just water and broth, those responsible shall be severely punished."

Facing daily hardships, if not eating well, the river workers will surely harbor discontent. At that point, working lackadaisically, when would the river embankment be repaired?

"Sir, you’ve seen the daily meals. Forget meat; there’s enough mantou, wotou to be filling. But the embankment maintenance requires many hands, and the court hasn’t allocated food; our grain reserves are depleted."

Although the government official felt reporting this would further worry the magistrate, it was an undeniable truth.

Even expecting court disaster relief, Hangtian Prefecture didn’t burst its embankment, the court won’t consider Hangtian for disaster relief, right?

Yang Chaoying’s face immediately turned ashen, due to the minimal reserve grain left by the government annually. It was retained following tax collection as contingency.

Each government office had a granary specifically for storing grain, gathered from citizen tax each year.

Once enough tax was sent to the capital, the leftovers must be stored in the government granary against natural disasters.