Chapter 970: Chapter 806: Reinforcing Precautions

Although Gu Chengyu was worried about this matter, he did not want to intervene in the verbal clash between these two. After all, the Crown Prince was merely a Crown Prince; it was still the Emperor who could decide and implement actions. If he had any good suggestions, he might as well speak directly to the Emperor.

Moreover, this could count as a political achievement. Giving the benefits and letting others take the credit, Gu Chengyu admitted he was not so magnanimous.

To avoid an awkward silence, He Jisheng naturally picked up the conversation.

"If the heavens wish to rain, we have no solution. Even if we are worried about Jiangnan and other places, the Emperor has already appointed officials to go there. We, being far away in the Capital, are powerless!"

In fact, He Jisheng also believed this matter was beyond human efforts. What needed to be prepared had been prepared, and the rest could only be left to fate.

Gu Chengyu snorted at these words. What did he mean by no solution? Even if they couldn’t stop the rain, preparations could still be made for it.

He had already submitted a secret report today, just waiting for the Emperor to summon him.

This matter needed to be prepared for in advance. It’s not the unexpected they’re afraid of, but the unforeseen.

If it was merely an overflow, it wouldn’t be too dangerous. Just as the Crown Prince said, at most, the people would lose some property.

But what if the river waters broke the embankments? The consequences would be unimaginable.

How could these Capital Officials understand the dangers of embankments being breached? They lived in comfort, constantly scheming for a promotion.

What did the lives of the common people mean in the eyes of these people? Even if the embankments broke, it wouldn’t affect them much.

They would still maintain their official positions, enjoying a life of luxury, with no changes in their lives.

At most, during court meetings, they’d be reprimanded by the Emperor a few times, but they each had developed thick skins.

As long as the Emperor didn’t act seriously, only scolding them a few times, it wouldn’t affect them at all.

Of course, there were still good officials who cared for the people; one can’t be too absolute in statements.

"If the heavens want to rain, it’s beyond human intervention. The Crown Prince’s concern for the country and its people is truly a blessing for the people. But this matter is indeed difficult; we, being far in the Capital, are unaware of the situations in those states. However, the water reports from several states have arrived in the Capital with urgency, and according to these reports, the Tianya River embankments can still hold for now."

He Jisheng had always been adept at handling people. He first flattered the Crown Prince and then went on to say some non-suggestive nonsense.

The Crown Prince was somewhat impatient. He understood that these officials were not aligned with his faction, so naturally, they would not work with him in unison.

Before coming here, he had already gathered trusted advisers and officials in the Eastern Palace. However, everyone was at a loss, not knowing how to deal with the situation.

Even though one or two officials had good suggestions that he deemed practical, he lamented his lack of authority.

The Crown Prince cast his gaze at Gu Chengyu, who remained silent to the side, his eyes narrowing.

This was the reason he gathered these officials; he didn’t care about the others at all.

The court ministers were neither able to advise the sovereign nor benefit the people; they all held posts but did nothing productive.

If one were to say which ministers in the court were truly capable, to be honest, there were many!

Though they couldn’t compare to the one before him, they weren’t all incapable. Otherwise, they couldn’t have become high-ranking officials. It’s just that they were used to being diplomatic and avoided offending people.

And without any benefit, how would they be willing to get involved and take the trouble upon themselves?

And this person in front of him, deeply trusted by the Emperor, he sought him out to see if he had any good suggestions, and also to have Gu Chengyu inform the Emperor of his own actions.

Firstly, this showed his own dedication to the country and its people; secondly, it would make the Emperor pay attention to the heavy rains in Jiangnan, thus achieving multiple goals with one action!

The Crown Prince somewhat understood Gu Chengyu’s character; he was different from those old scoundrels in the court. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t been in the court for long, his conscience was still intact.

Or perhaps, due to his natural disposition, he was inherently compassionate.

In any case, he believed that Gu Chengyu wouldn’t just sit by and do nothing.

"What does Mr. Gu think?" The Crown Prince looked at Gu Chengyu, with a slight smile on his face.

Seeing this, He Jisheng unconsciously clenched his fingers. The attitude of the Crown Prince when dealing with them was completely different when facing Gu Chengyu.

Indeed, Gu Chengyu’s capabilities were not to be underestimated.

Even though everyone knew Gu Chengyu was the Emperor’s scout, the Crown Prince still treated Gu Chengyu with respect.

Gu Chengyu, initially lost in thought, was suddenly called by the Crown Prince and quickly focused his mind.

"Your Majesty, this official believes the two lords have valid points." Gu Chengyu stood up and respectfully replied.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he felt disheartened.

Had he guessed wrongly before, that Gu Chengyu wasn’t planning to intervene in this matter?

Indeed, the bureaucracy was a big ink vat. Once someone entered, how could they possibly remain untainted?

Not only was every part of them stained black, but even their heart and soul turned inky.

"However, this official thinks that even if the river embankments are sturdy, we must be cautious of the fierce river water!"

Gu Chengyu felt it was rare that the Crown Prince considered the welfare of the people. Regardless of the motive, the final beneficiaries were the people.

So he decided not to hold back and intended to reveal some of his views. As for the rest, he wouldn’t bother! After all, the Crown Prince wasn’t the one who could make decisions.

The Crown Prince’s eyes brightened. He thought there would be no gains today, and unexpectedly, there was a turn for the better.

He Jisheng secretly curled his lips. Wherever Gu Chengyu went, he liked to be in the limelight.

Did he think everyone else was foolish and didn’t understand the Crown Prince’s intentions? It was just that Gu Chengyu loved to show off and performed in front of the Crown Prince.

Hmph! In the bureaucracy, it’s not just about having ability; sometimes appropriately hiding one’s talents ensures peace.

"That’s exactly my thought. Although the river embankments were just reinforced this year, with the rapid currents, who knows if they will hold firm?"

The Crown Prince sighed. It seemed that Gu Chengyu’s thoughts were aligned with his own.

"Therefore, we must immediately dispatch people to further reinforce downstream of the Tianya River and quickly evacuate the populace to prevent the overflowing river waters from flooding downstream villages, endangering lives, and thereby minimizing property loss."

After stating these two points, Gu Chengyu remained silent, for just these points alone were not decisions the Crown Prince could make.

Rather than having the Crown Prince request permission from the Emperor, he might as well personally approach him. After all, he had already drafted a detailed proposal in his memorial.

Besides, there were many people in this study room from different factions; it was indeed inconvenient.

"Further reinforcement?" The Crown Prince found this idea intriguing. It seemed like a solution.

This method was better than just watching helplessly, wasn’t it? As for the subsequent evacuation of people, it seemed more like a token mention since the Emperor had already brought it up earlier.

"How does Mr. Gu propose we reinforce it? With Jiangnan’s current weather, traveling there seems difficult for people, let alone working outside. Moreover, laborers for the river embankments are hard to find, and it’s impossible to allocate manpower for embankment repairs now."