Chapter 1031: Chapter 867: A Penny Can Defeat a Hero

Without the backing of Silver Coin, who would be willing to contribute for free? Even with the prestige of Yang Chaoying, trying to persuade the people to willingly become river workers with reason and emotion...

But this isn’t something that can be done in a day or two; it would require several months. Would the people really be willing?

Moreover, Hangtian Prefecture can’t even provide food for the river workers now. Even a small amount of money can stump a hero!

"Mr. Gu! It’s not that I disagree with this plan, but our Hangtian Prefecture really doesn’t have the Silver Tael and food to support this project."

Yang Chaoying finished speaking, looked helplessly at Gu Chengyu, and sighed deeply.

"This depends on Lord Yang! Lord Yang is the Magistrate of Hangtian Prefecture, and gathering Silver Tael for this task is undoubtedly your responsibility."

Gu Chengyu couldn’t stand this kind of complete shirking of responsibility. Gathering Silver Tael could offend many people.

Though he is a Capital Official, after the disaster relief, he will return to the Capital immediately. It doesn’t matter if he steps forward.

But for Yang Chaoying to just enjoy the fruits without doing the work is unacceptable. If the disaster relief is successful and praised by the Emperor, Yang Chaoying would also receive a share of the credit.

Where is there such a good thing in the world as getting credit without doing work?

Therefore, he now had to speak frankly. Otherwise, when it’s actually implemented, Yang Chaoying would surely make excuses.

Hearing this, Yang Chaoying immediately frowned, "Mr. Gu! Where can I gather so much Silver? This isn’t a small amount! It would take at least hundreds of thousands of Silver Tael, wouldn’t it?"

This was the minimum amount Yang Chaoying estimated. So much Silver, even if he sold himself, he wouldn’t have it.

The court is also unlikely to issue so much disaster relief Silver, so it seems that diverting the river is infeasible.

If this could really be accomplished, it would not only be Gu Chengyu’s achievement, but also benefit him. It would be a benevolent act for the people’s livelihood!

The Emperor certainly would not blame him; instead, he would be commended.

Even if Hu Maoshen and Gu Chengyu are in the lead, they eat the meat, and he can at least drink some soup, right?

He was thinking of finding an opportunity to get closer to Hu Maoshen and move up, wasn’t he? Now is the chance.

It’s just that upon hearing Gu Chengyu’s meaning about the Silver issue being handed to him to resolve, he was really in a dilemma!

Although Gu Chengyu is of the same rank as him, he is a Capital Official and highly valued by the Emperor, something he, a mere magistrate, cannot compare to.

Moreover, Gu Chengyu is the imperial envoy. If this is pressed on him and he cannot gather the Silver, Gu Chengyu could go to the Emperor and accuse him. Wouldn’t his position as magistrate become precarious?

Yang Chaoying had countless thoughts within such a short time. He worried about this and feared that, and his face became clouded with worry.

"Gu Shaoqing, you know the situation of Hangtian Prefecture. It’s unlikely Hangtian Prefecture can come up with so much Silver."

Hu Maoshen also felt that Gu Chengyu was being somewhat demanding, seeing Yang Chaoying looking like he was about to cry, so he immediately offered support.

Gu Chengyu smiled, "Naturally, it’s impossible to let Lord Yang gather it alone. As long as Lord Yang follows my instructions, I guarantee Lord Yang will be able to gather enough Silver Tael."

"Oh? Do you have a great plan?" Hu Maoshen’s eyes lit up as he hurriedly asked.

Upon hearing this, Yang Chaoying also regained his spirit, and even Duan Zhijie was shocked.

Three pairs of eyes fixedly looked at Gu Chengyu, who merely smiled warmly.

"This cannot be revealed here. When the time comes, you’ll all know."

"Oh! Look at my memory!" Yang Chaoying suddenly slapped his forehead, deeply ashamed of his foolish behavior.

"Gentlemen, please go to the back courtyard of the government office to rest. The two imperial envoys must be exhausted from travel. I must thank Mr. Gu for saving my life; otherwise, I would have died at the hands of that person. To think I was briefly negligent, causing you all to linger here for so long; it’s truly rude of me!"

Yang Chaoying immediately felt embarrassed as they saved his life, and he hadn’t expressed his gratitude earlier.

After learning that the two were imperial envoys sent by the court, he even chatted with them at the city gate, which really was against the principles of hospitality.

If he had encountered a narrow-minded person, they might be muttering in their heart that the neglect was because he looked down on the imperial envoy appointed by the Emperor! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Earlier, because of unforeseen events, should there be any impropriety, I hope Lord Yang won’t blame himself!"

Hu Maoshen said politely and then turned his gaze to where the disaster victims gathered.

Gu Chengyu immediately mounted his horse, recalling that Min Feng was still hiding in the government office, needing to settle accounts with him.

"Please, gentlemen, take the carriage. My carriage is just behind!"

The government office is not close to the city gate, and Gu Chengyu didn’t want to walk.

"How are we to handle these disaster victims?" Hu Maoshen asked in a deep voice, pointing at the distant victims.

Hearing this, Gu Chengyu looked back and saw that those victims were still obediently resting on an open ground.

Fortunately, it was not raining anymore; otherwise, the disaster victims wouldn’t even have a place to shelter from rain.

Gu Chengyu fell silent for a while, his eyes sharply catching a green silhouette.

"Who is that person?" He pointed at the green figure, asking Yang Chaoying.

Yang Chaoying looked over, but without Gu Chengyu’s good eyesight, he couldn’t see clearly.

However, the person’s hunched back and green clothes left a deep impression on him.

"That should be the village chief of River Village, a person held in high esteem by the villagers. He’s educated, speaking not like a crude person from the countryside!"

Yang Chaoying was deeply impressed because when River Village villagers first arrived outside the Prefecture, he saw the old man, a wise elder!

"River Village?" Gu Chengyu noticed the person because of his previous outstanding behavior. During the chaos, his resolute attitude in leading River Village villagers was striking.

"Someone! Invite the village chief of River Village here; I want to meet him!" Gu Chengyu gestured to a constable guarding the city gate to bring the old man over.

The government official immediately responded respectfully. This was an order from the imperial envoy. How could he neglect it? He then jogged towards a distance of two miles outside the city.

The disaster victims were paying attention to the movements on Gu Chengyu’s side. Seeing this Evil God chatting amicably with others at the city gate filled them with unease.

They pitied their makeshift grass shelters, which were probably useless now.

They didn’t know how the imperial envoy planned to settle them. Based on his previous attitude, things might not go well for them.

Since ancient times, officials have protected each other. They nearly tied up Lord Yang earlier, and Lord Yang certainly wouldn’t think for them anymore.

When they saw a government official suddenly running toward them, they immediately stood up, unsure of what message he would deliver on behalf of the imperial envoy.