Chapter 1012: Chapter 848: Shifting the Blame

This is just the beginning! People only become greedier and greedier. If Min Feng’s appetite is indulged, it will become a bottomless pit, and doing things will only become more difficult.

"My lord? In the end, gold ingots aren’t very convenient; how about using a silver note?"

The steward found the lord’s request somewhat strange. Though he should not speak out of turn, he had to offer a word of caution.

If gold is used, fifty taels per gold ingot are really too large, and ten taels per ingot would be too many in number.

Mr. Min comes from the Capital; there’s no place to settle these gold ingots!

Li Taixing cast a glance at the steward, "Do as I say, use ten-tael gold ingots. It’s not your place to question this matter; just do your duty well."

The steward froze with a shudder. Usually regarded highly by the lord, he now had grown insolent.

Making such a grave error today, surely the lord had his own reasons for doing things. When was it his turn to comment on the lord’s actions?

Breaking out in a cold sweat, the steward quickly agreed respectfully and retreated.

Humph! Li Taixing undoubtedly had ulterior motives. Use a silver note? How can a silver note deliver a tremendous shock?

Only real silver and gold can demand the other party’s attention, making it hard to resist.

Min Feng works in the Hanlin Academy, a clean government office, so how much respect could he normally receive?

Moreover, with his low rank, even though he is a disciple of Chief Minister Xia, if others don’t need favors, they naturally won’t rush to give him money.

Min Feng also comes from a poor family, and it’s estimated that a thousand silver taels are already substantial for him.

This first time, he has to get a feel of real silver and gold, right?

Furthermore, doing so constantly reminds Min Feng that since he accepted the silver, he must handle matters for us.

Otherwise, using a silver note, the other side not only won’t feel anxious but also uses it with a clear conscience.

Hu Maoshen indeed calculated well; he is putting Li Taixing in a hot seat!

This can’t be blamed for disregarding old friendships, as this matter concerns his official’s hat.

If not handled well, losing the hat is a small thing; it could lead to the extinction of his entire clan.

...

The previously noisy cicada cries vanished, and the weather became cooler than before.

The overcast sky occasionally dropped a few raindrops, and distant willow trees swayed wildly in the strong winds.

Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief; they weren’t far from Yingnan Mansion.

The past few days of traveling had rendered the trio utterly exhausted.

Ming Mo took off the bamboo hat from his head, feeling the cool wind drilling into his damp chest and back, and he sighed comfortably.

They were about to enter the vicinity of Yingnan Mansion, which was much cooler than the Capital.

All along the way, they were almost roasted to charcoal by the blazing sun.

Even riding fast, the sweat on their bodies never dried, and it was only in the evening that they felt a bit cooler.

"My lord! We should reach Yingnan Mansion by noon tomorrow. Shall we stop there?"

Gu Chengyu nodded, "Find an inn in Yingnan Mansion; we need to rest well and inquire about the issues related to the water disaster."

They have been traveling continuously, with no rest. Thus, the trio’s appearance must be haggard. Appearing like this in front of those officials would certainly diminish the authority of the imperial envoy.

If these people held him in disdain, it would inevitably hinder his work. Moreover, they’re not puppets; they also feel tired, and resting for a couple of hours is necessary.

Besides, if they head directly to Changtian Prefecture, they would surely face dilemmas and have no way to start. It would be better to stay in Yingnan Mansion to gather some information and formulate the next steps.

In a small courtyard in the backyard of Yingnan Mansion, Min Feng refreshed himself, feeling invigorated.

Min Feng sat behind the writing desk, intending to practice some calligraphy, not having picked up a pen for several days. Being a scholar, missing even a day would result in stagnation.

"My lord! Shall I help you grind the ink?" Hua Rong smiled sweetly, gazing at Min Feng with affectionate eyes.

As one practiced calligraphy and the other ground ink, Min Feng felt completely refreshed.

He had earlier fantasized about a beauty accompanying him, and now his wishes were finally fulfilled.

"Has Mr. Min awakened? I’m Manager Li of the outer courtyard of Li Mansion. I’ve been ordered by the lord to invite you to the front courtyard for a banquet."

The manager held a tray covered with a red cloth, which slightly bulged.

"So it’s Manager Li, please come in!" When Manager Li entered the room, Min Feng immediately noticed the tray covered with red cloth in his hand.

Meanwhile, in Changtian Prefecture, Hu Maoshen was eagerly waiting and finally received a reply from the Magistrate of Hangtian Prefecture.

He frowned and quickly scanned the letter before heaving a deep sigh.

"My lord, Yingnan Mansion also sent a letter!" The follower, Hui An, hurriedly entered the room, handing the letter to Hu Maoshen.

In the midst of his worries, upon hearing it was from Yingnan Mansion, Hu Maoshen quickly took it and opened the fire lacquer.

It didn’t take long for his heart to sink. He hadn’t expected things to reach this point, with these two prefectures still shirking responsibility. It seemed necessary for him to visit Yingnan Mansion.

"My lord! Several village folks around can’t wait any longer; they’re particularly restless today. Our people might not be able to hold them back."

At this, Hui An also looked worried. To alleviate the burden on Hangtian Prefecture, the lord had to suppress the villagers planning to head there.

If all of them went to Hangtian Prefecture, such a large group of people would surely cause a riot.

"Ask them to wait a bit longer. I must think of a solution. Hangtian Prefecture’s river embankment already leaked before, and being downstream as it is, it is unsafe there. The Magistrate of Hangtian Prefecture has written saying that even though they’ve been reinforcing it for the past few nights, the continuous rain makes strengthening it very challenging. He has clearly stated that the people cannot be allowed to go to Hangtian Prefecture to avoid accidents."

Hu Maoshen felt there was reason in what the other party said. If the river embankment in Hangtian Prefecture couldn’t hold, the people there wouldn’t escape in time, let alone these disaster victims from Changtian Prefecture.

Wouldn’t this increase the burden on Hangtian Prefecture? Hangtian Prefecture is already struggling to protect itself; how could it care for the disaster victims from Changtian Prefecture?

"What about Yingnan Mansion then? Yingnan Mansion is at a higher elevation, upstream on the Tianya River. We could allow people to take refuge there first. When the court allocates disaster funds, Yingnan Mansion wouldn’t suffer losses, right?"

Hui An too thought that Hangtian Prefecture wasn’t an ideal place for disaster victims, and Yingnan Mansion would be the first choice.

Upon hearing this, Hu Maoshen scoffed, "Humph! The Magistrate of Yingnan Mansion, Li Taixing, actually refused me. He said several river embankments in Yingnan Mansion were leaking, and for the disaster victims’ safety, they cannot head to Yingnan Mansion."

Hu Maoshen was filled with fury, slamming the desk in anger, his temper rising.

This Li Taixing, after all, was his schoolmate, a fellow candidate in the past imperial exams.

Even though they served in different capacities—one locally, the other in the Capital—they had maintained correspondence over the past few years. Hu Maoshen didn’t expect to be undermined by him at such a critical moment.