Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 86: Those who are close to red are red; those who are close to ink are black
Suzhou.

A steady drizzle.

The governor Wang Ren stood on the shore, looking at the surging river, feeling overwhelmed.

The memorial was submitted and patrols were arranged, but the river broke its banks as it should, and at midnight, leaving them no time to react or evacuate.

The breach is now more than a hundred feet wide, and as the rain continues, the width of the breach is still increasing.

Compared with the past, this is an extremely rare dam breach.

"Sir, this place is dangerous, you should leave first."

"Walk?!"

Wang Ren glared at the wide breach in front of him, "Look at this breach, it's getting bigger and bigger, and the water is flowing more and more. If it can't be filled soon, I don't know how many innocent people will suffer. Where do you want me to go? I won't be able to sleep or eat well until this breach is filled!"

Wang Ren pointed to the soldiers carrying sand and gravel sacks who were trying to stop the river water and said, "Now the soldiers are working hard to fill the river and stop the river water. I will join them. I will not retreat until the river water recedes!"

"But sir, the city still needs you to manage government affairs."

When a river bursts its banks, all government affairs must give way to disaster relief!

Besides, everything in the city is handled by Liu Changshi, so how could there be any problems?

Wang Ren turned his mind and frowned, "Sima Zhang, what happened in the city?!"

Zhang Tao whispered, "Sir, it has been raining for days, the river has burst its banks, and the prices in the city have gone through the roof."

Wang Ren: "Hasn't this official already named Zhou Changshi, Liu Sicang, to open the warehouses and save the people?"

Zhang Tao: "Sir, opening the warehouses to save the people can only temporarily relieve the pressure in the city but cannot solve it completely, especially those grain merchants in the city, their hearts are all corrupt."

“When they saw us opening our warehouses to release grain, many of them directly claimed that they had sold out of grain!”

The food is sold out...

Wang Ren gritted his teeth and instantly understood what these grain merchants were thinking.

This is not about selling out all the food. It is clearly a deliberate reduction in food sales to cause panic among the people and make them buy food at high prices.

"They are so brave, aren't they afraid that I will chop off their heads?!"

"..."

Zhang Tao was silent.

Wang Ren stomped his feet in anger, splashing large amounts of mud.

Although I really want to throw these unscrupulous businessmen into the river to feed the fish, it is just an idea and I cannot really do it.

Wang Ren stared fiercely at the breach, then turned and left, "Any news from Chang'an?"

"News came from Chang'an that the Crown Prince, who is in charge of disaster relief, has brought people here, but the journey is long, and with the continuous drizzle, it will probably take some time."

"Where's the food?"

"The food from Chang'an arrived first, but it may not arrive before His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The food teams from the surrounding areas should be faster, but the raging river has damaged many roads, so it will probably take ten days or half a month."

Zhang Tao hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Our food reserves are only enough for two days."

Kaka.

Wang Ren clenched his fists, murderous intent boiling in his heart, "Go contact Boss Ding and Boss Jin quickly!"

Boss Ding and Boss Jin are both famous Confucian businessmen in Suzhou City.

Since the river burst its banks, destroying many houses and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless, they have been distributing porridge and grain in the city, and have provided relief to thousands of disaster-stricken people.

Zhang Tao nodded in understanding, immediately called the officers and made arrangements.

Wang Ren, covered in mud, rode his horse back to Suzhou City and saw a large number of people gathered outside the porridge tents.

Most of these people were half-naked, and many were covered in mud that could not be cleaned.

The situation is relatively better for the young and strong, but the hardest hit are the elderly and the hungry children.

The porridge and rice distributed by the government could only fill people’s stomachs, and the sheds built could only meet the needs of some of the elderly and children.

As for clean and warm clothes, they are a complete luxury.

Wang Ren sighed and went straight to the government office.

Ding Feng and the other man had already arrived as scheduled. When they saw Wang Ren, they immediately stood up and said, "Greetings, sir."

"Please take a seat, both of you."

Wang Ren waved his hand with a smile on his face, "These days, if it weren't for your help, I don't know how many people would have died from this disaster."

"Your Majesty, your words are strong."

Ding Feng and the other man smiled modestly.

"It's just doing the best I can and doing what I can do."

"If all the merchants in Suzhou were like you two, why would they be afraid of floods?"

Wang Ren sighed and said bluntly: "I will speak frankly. I wonder how much food do you two have?"

"This……"

Ding Feng and the other man looked at each other, and Jin Yao sighed, "Sir Governor, to be honest, we don't have much food left."

"If you need it, I can barely gather three thousand kilograms of food, that's all." Wang Ren frowned and looked at Ding Feng helplessly: "I can only gather three or four thousand kilograms of food."

"You know, sir, with so many people outside the city, the daily consumption is an astronomical figure. Even if we are a wealthy family, we can't store so much food!"

"Although we have arranged for people to buy food in advance, the price of food is too high now..."

Having said this, Wang Ren understood their difficulties.

"but!"

Ding Feng changed the subject and said, "Master Wang, I recently met a young man who is very wealthy and well-connected!"

"Perhaps he can mediate and purchase a batch of food to solve the urgent problem."

"Who?"

"Jin Yong, this man is extremely righteous. He generously donated money many times and saved hundreds of people!"

"I'd like to trouble Brother Ding to introduce me to you!"

……

on the official road.

The disaster relief team is moving forward at a snail's pace.

Because there were too many people in the team and it had rained for days, the road became muddy and slippery, and the speed was greatly slowed down.

Li Chengqian was a little anxious. It was less than two days' journey to Suzhou, but at the current speed, it would take at least three to five days to reach Suzhou smoothly.

"Brother Su, what do you think we should do now?"

"Assign someone to handle it first..."

As soon as Su Chen said this, he felt something was wrong and frowned at Li Chengqian, "You want me to travel light and take Sun Qiang and the others with me?"

Li Chengqian chuckled, "Thank you for troubling Brother Su."

Su Chen silently raised a finger, "You have learned bad habits."

"Those who are close to the vermillion are red, those who are close to the ink are black."

“Then you should be very popular.”

Su Chen rolled his eyes, "He has a good family background!"

Li Chengqian: "Liao Zan."

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Brother Su. I will make amends to you after I arrive in Suzhou."

talking.

Li Chengqian took out a waist badge and handed it to Su Chen, "This is my waist badge. When Wang Ren, the governor of Suzhou, sees it, he will understand your identity."

"As long as the request is not too excessive, he will definitely not refuse."

Su Chen shrugged and put it away.

Li Chengqian: "Brother Su, time is running out. Please hurry to Suzhou as soon as possible."

Su Chen raised his foot under Li Chengqian's puzzled gaze.

A kick.

Whoops.

Li Chengqian rolled out of the carriage and fell to the ground.

"Escort me!"

The guards were extremely nervous.

"Why are you shouting?"

Li Chengqian glanced at them coldly and said, "My feet were just numb and I fell down accidentally. Look how nervous you are!"

Li Chengqian shook off the mud on his body and said with a smile: "Sun Qiang, take Brother Su to Suzhou to provide disaster relief."

Sun Qiang: “…”

"Your Highness, the driver is Brother Xue Li."

"Oh, Xue Li, why are you still standing there?"

"……Yes!"

Xue Li looked at Li Chengqian strangely. He wanted to turn around and look at the culprit, but felt it was inappropriate. He waved the whip in his hand and urged the horse to hurry up.

With Brother Su going there, we’re safe this time!
Li Chengqian watched the carriage go away, full of confidence, but...

People pass away, and things must catch up.

Li Chengqian glanced around and naturally passed over Hegan Chengji.

This is a traitor.

It is impossible to let him go to Suzhou to monitor Su Chen.

"Lin Feng, I order you to lead a team and send the prepared things to Suzhou as soon as possible and hand them over to Su Chen for disposal."

(End of this chapter)