novelhk Chapter 248: Inquire about information
Chapter 248: Inquire about information
With a "bang", the emperor slammed the letter heavily on Longan.
Eunuch Pei, who was serving beside him, didn't know what happened. After being surprised for a moment, he immediately asked distressedly: "Master, you must take care of your body."
Before Pei Ming could say anything else, the emperor threw the letter in front of him. "Take a look too!"
Pei Ming took it hurriedly, straightened the letter, and read it quickly.
Then he opened his eyes wide in shock, "Master, these are just King Li's guesses, our spies in Longcheng haven't found such news.
We have been in peace with the surrounding countries for more than a hundred years. If any country had such malicious intentions, how could our people not notice it at all? "
The emperor had calmed down by now. After thinking about it carefully, he felt that what King Li said made sense.
"Immediately summon the cabinet and the director of the Imperial Hospital to the Imperial Study to discuss the matter."
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away." Pei Ming bowed and took his leave, then hurried down to make arrangements.
The emperor then said to the empty hall: "You also come with us to discuss the matter."
A man in black came out from the darkness, knelt on one knee and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor summoned him urgently and none of his ministers dared to delay.
Soon, everyone gathered in the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to you!" the ministers saluted.
"My dear ministers, please stand up!" said the emperor, and then signaled Pei Ming to hand the letter from King Li to the ministers for circulation.
After watching it, people expressed shock.
Although they knew about the war in the Yue King's fiefdom, the battlefield was far away from the capital.
Secondly, the news was not so clear.
They only knew that the rebel army was brutal and had occupied a county, but they did not expect the matter to be so serious.
At this time, we saw the situation in the fiefdom that King Li was investigating, as well as the news of the impending spread of the plague and King Li's speculations.
Everyone couldn't help but think in this direction, and the more they thought about it, the more they felt that this possibility was very high.
When the emperor saw that everyone had finished reading the letter, he asked, "My dear ministers, what do you think of what King Li said?"
The elder spoke first, "Your Majesty, what the King of Li thinks is not entirely unreasonable, but imagination is imagination after all, and the matter still needs to be based on real evidence.
The most urgent task, I think, is to order King Li to send troops to clean up the corpses in Longcheng and minimize the spread of the disease.
Spies from various countries should also collect information about their countries to see if they can find some clues about their intention to destroy Great Xia.
We should also actively deploy herbs for preventing and treating diseases, as prevention is better than cure.
If the rebel army has really fled to the grassland, we can take this opportunity to recapture Longcheng and rebuild the Yue King's fiefdom, so that when the rebel army comes back, they will have no place to stand.
In the King of Yue’s fiefdom, we will use our new product, cement, to build high walls to prevent the rebel army from attacking again.”
As soon as the elder finished speaking, he was immediately opposed by the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Works said: "Since the rebellion, countless cities, towns and counties have been burned down. The people in the war zone died or fled, and some people who were afraid of death joined the rebellion. Now there is no food, no money, and no people. How can we rebuild an empty city!"
The Minister of Revenue also said: "My Great Xia is currently in a food shortage, and nine out of ten houses in a war zone are empty.
We can't transfer civilians from other places to build the city. If the rebel army comes back during the construction, what will happen to the civilians? The money will be wasted!"
The emperor looked at everyone and asked, "If you have other opinions, please feel free to speak up."
The Minister of War stepped forward, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think what you said makes sense.
However, the concerns of the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue are not without reason.
As for the current solution, I believe we should take a two-pronged approach.
On the one hand, the imperial court could mobilize some manpower and material resources from other places to support the reconstruction of Longcheng; on the other hand, it could issue a notice to recruit people to voluntarily go to Longcheng to participate in the construction.
At the same time, strengthen border defense to prevent surprise attacks by rebel forces.
In addition, we need to find a cure for the disease as soon as possible to protect people’s lives.”
The emperor nodded slightly to show his agreement. He turned to look at the director of the Imperial Hospital.
When the head of the Imperial Hospital saw His Majesty looking over, he immediately said, "I will dispatch the imperial physicians who are good at epidemics to the war zone to assist in controlling the epidemic."
The leader of the secret guards, dressed in black and with his face covered by a mask, also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I will mobilize secret agents to find out what the various countries are doing. We will definitely find out who has the intention to destroy our Great Xia."
The emperor pondered for a long time, and finally said, "Very good. Pass on my order to issue a recruitment order to reinforce the front line. The new recruits will be temporarily taken over by General Xu at the front line.
He ordered General Xu to send troops to clean up the sick corpses in Longcheng and recapture the fief of King Yue. He also changed the garrison area to the original border line.
Notices were posted in the capital and in all counties to recruit people who were willing to move to Longcheng. Those who were willing to move would be given grain and land, and exempted from taxes for five years.
……
You will each perform your duties and make sure to go all out to overcome the difficulties together."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" everyone responded in unison.
The imperial edicts were spread to all places at full speed.
In Zesheng County, Manager Zhi also received orders from his master and came to Prince Li's mansion.
King Li was worried about the coming epidemic and was discussing solutions with his officials and staff.
At this time, the servant came to report: "Your Highness, the shopkeeper Zhi of Daohuaxiang came to ask for an audience. He said that he had news about the emperor's grandson to convey to Your Highness."
"Shopkeeper Zhi of Daohuaxiang." Prince Li pondered.
Thinking of the owner behind Daohuaxiang and the things in the valley described by Song Renjing, King Li hurriedly said, "Let him in!"
After a while, Shopkeeper Zhi was taken to King Li's study.
After greeting, Shopkeeper Zhi said directly: "Your Majesty, I was entrusted by Young Master Jing to deliver a message to Your Majesty.
Young Master Jing said that he wanted to know the details and asked the prince to tell him so that he could pass it on to Young Master Jing.
In addition, my master also said that if the prince needs any help, we will help him as much as we can."
King Li looked at the respectful but calm Shopkeeper Zhi, thinking of the master behind him, who was able to provide food for Daxia when Daxia was out of food.
It seems that he does have some abilities, and the emperor's grandson wants to know the details, so there is no reason to hide it.
He then told Manager Zhi everything he had learned from the front line and his own guesses.
Then he talked about his own difficulties, "Now we have no one to help us. Although the rebel army has escaped, it is not easy to completely recover the fiefdom of the King of Yue.
This matter has been reported to the court and is awaiting its decision. We are now collecting medicinal materials to prevent the epidemic."
King Li thought that after he finished speaking, he would get some advice.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhi just said he understood. He just sat there with his teacup in his hand, looking thoughtful.
Little did they know that Shopkeeper Zhi had already passed on the news he had heard to his companions in the valley intactly.
Zhisheng told Mr. Gu exactly what he had heard.