Water Margin people

Chapter 1773 Slow Construction Period

Seeing that the emperor was in a better mood, the other officials also began to report to the emperor. Although they were still afraid, they also knew that being scolded was just a small matter, but if they delayed state affairs, they would be beheaded.

Sun Lei continued to give the necessary responses, and soon the officials finished reporting on domestic affairs.

"Your Majesty, the Persian Gulf has reported that Saladin wants to discuss with my country Qi about fighting the Black Death. Now the situation is very chaotic, and the people's hearts, which had just stabilized, are becoming restless again."

"The cabinet and the Ministry of War analyzed that Saladin wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to gain fame and win over the people's hearts in order to plan for the future."

"I suggest rejecting Saladin directly and driving those who have disloyalty out of the Persian Gulf. Send them to Jerusalem and Damascus to let them know the severity of the Black Death!"

A cabinet official reported.

"Well, let them arrest the people and then expel them! There's no need to wait for anything. People can't teach people, but things can teach them. Let them die a few more people and they will understand everything."

Sun Lei thought for a moment and said, Saladin's move was truly brilliant. Regardless of success or failure, his reputation would be greatly enhanced.

The cooperation was successful, and Saladin became a national hero and the number one contributor to the fight against the Black Death.

The cooperation failed, and Saladin could also say that he had tried his best, but it was Qi that acted on its own and harmed all innocent people. In the end, all the blame was put on Qi, and even the Black Death was put on Qi.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The officials took the order and said that they had no objection to the emperor's cold-bloodedness. If they were the people of Qi, they would have tried to persuade him three times, but for those foreigners with ulterior motives, the more deaths the better.

"Your Majesty, there are military reports from the northwest. Yelu Dashi has almost united the barbarians there. The rest have fled to the northern ice fields. He is no longer able to chase them."

A general from the Ministry of War spoke up.

"Forget about it if he can't catch them. Tell him to manage those foreign races well and not to have any dealings with the West. Don't bring the Black Death here."

Sun Lei waved his hand and said that the northern ice field was not a place for people to stay. Not many people could survive there, and there was no point in continuing the pursuit.

What followed were all minor matters. Sun Lei said a few simple words and then adjourned the court.

Back in the back hall, Sun Lei stretched and yawned.

"Finally it's done!"

Sun Lei sighed and thought that if he could deal with it today, he would be able to enjoy himself for a few more days.

"Your Majesty, please eat something first!"

Hua Chan came over with a bowl of iced mung bean soup with a smile.

"Now you know how to act nice, but why weren't you so nice when you woke me up in the morning?"

Sun Lei took the mung bean soup unhappily and drank it in one gulp. Then he remembered that he had not eaten anything since he got up.

"If you had gotten up earlier, you wouldn't have been hungry!"

Hua Chan said with a smile.

"Then blame me!"

Sun Lei said unhappily.

"You are the emperor. You are a wise ruler if you focus on state affairs!"

Hua Chan smiled and patted Sun Lei's shoulder.

"Okay, I'm going to go have some fun. I'll leave the job of taking care of the kids to you!"

Sun Lei waved his hand and said that he had worked hard all morning and it was time to enjoy himself.

"Okay, after dinner, you can get busy!"

Hua Chan smiled and asked the maid to serve the food.

Sun Lei was so hungry that he picked up his chopsticks and started to eat.

After dinner, Sun Lei left the palace.

"brother!"

Lu Zhishen seemed to have known this and was waiting at the palace gate.

"Master Lu, did you place an undercover agent next to me? I just came out! You won't say this is a coincidence, right?"

Sun Lei looked at Lu Zhishen and said.

"Of course it's not a coincidence. I came here specially to wait for you. As for being an undercover agent, I don't need that. When did you not go out for a walk after attending court?"

Lu Zhishen looked at Sun Lei and said.

"Have it?"

Sun Lei asked with a frown.

"Brother, are you a little forgetful?" Sun Lei stroked his chin and thought, he seemed to have lived too regular a life.

"Let's go, where are we going today?"

Lu Zhishen looked at Sun Lei and said.

"Go to the construction site and see if those people are doing their work honestly."

Sun Lei said.

"Construction site?"

Lu Zhishen frowned.

"The construction seems to be a bit too slow recently. These guys are eating my food and not working hard!"

Sun Lei said.

"Is there such a thing?"

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Lu Zhishen said curiously.

The two soon arrived at a river in the south by boat.

"Look, we've been digging for months and only found this much. Even if we're just slacking off, this is unheard of!"

Sun Lei said, pointing to the river in front of him.

“It’s a little slow, but the project is still beautiful.”

Lu Zhishen looked at the river and said, there are willow trees planted along the river.

"Your Majesty, why are you here?"

When Tao Zongwang saw the emperor's boat, he immediately took a small boat to pay his respects.

"Let's take a look at the construction period. How did you do it? Why are you so slow?"

Sun Lei looked at Tao Zongwang and said.

"Your Majesty, you also know that they are all scholars, each of them is like a waste, unable to shoulder or carry anything..."

Tao Zongwang also complained bitterly. If it were normal laborers, these projects would have been completed long ago. However, the people under him were literati, and many of them were old. A literati was not even as good as half a laborer.

"Don't complain. I gave them to you so that you could reform them, not so that they could enjoy themselves. As long as they survive, train them hard!"

Sun Lei looked at Tao Zongwang and said.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to, but those guys will faint if they work too hard!"

Tao Zongwang certainly did not make life easy for those literati. They were all criminals, but they were too weak and fainted easily.

"I think it was intentional. Those guys were very energetic when they were making trouble. How could they faint after doing this kind of labor?"

Sun Lei sneered.

"Separate those people and distribute food according to the amount of work they do. If they faint, don't eat. It's not that easy to faint. If it doesn't work, I'll send a doctor. A few injections will definitely make them healthy again."

Sun Lei said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Tao Zongwang spoke.

"What about the rest of you? Are they still behaving themselves?"

Sun Lei asked again.

"The rest are fine, except for Jiumozhi who refuses to obey. He recites sutras at the construction site all day long. It's useless to starve him for a few meals. He seems to be able to endure hunger and even says that starvation can strengthen the body!"

Tao Zongwang said that it is much easier to manage the people in the underworld. Once the whip is applied, they will be treated like animals.

"Jiumozhi?"

Sun Lei sneered.

"Your Majesty, that guy is really hard to deal with! Many people in the underworld are worshipping him now, and they seem to want to convert to Tibetan Buddhism."

Tao Zongwang continued.

"Preaching? He's really a charlatan! But you think too highly of him. How can he starve? It's just that someone secretly sent him food. If you don't believe me, tie him up and hang him on the flagpole and let the soldiers guard him. He will turn into a mummy in a few days!"

Sun Lei said that he didn't believe that starving could strengthen the body. The Tantric Buddhism stuff was pure lies. Humans are made of flesh and blood. Who can live without food and drink?

(End of this chapter)