Huangming

Chapter 443 Jiangnan in Crisis, Imperial Power Reaches the County Level (Bonus Chapter for 2000 Monthly Tickets)

Zhu Youxiao was so nervous because of the secret memorial sent by Yuan Keli, the contents of which shocked him.

Yuan Keli's secret memorial reads:
"Suzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing and Huzhou prefectures have been hit by torrential rains for days, causing rivers to overflow their banks."

A sudden hurricane struck the four prefectures of Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Nanjing, and Shaoxing last night, causing the sea tide to surge several meters high, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were splitting open.

More than twenty warships capsized in Hangzhou Bay, more than a thousand houses along the shore were swept away, and countless people and livestock floated on the water..."

Zhu Youxiao's breathing suddenly became heavy.

He had actually received a report from Jiangnan a few days earlier, but the report said that "continuous rain and flooding should be prevented."

But no one expected the disaster to be this severe.

He continued reading, and the details in the secret report chilled him to the bone:

"The Hangzhou Imperial Examination Hall archway was washed away by a giant wave, and the stone pillars were broken as if cleaved."

The shops along the street in Bijiaofang were all submerged, and people clung to the eaves calling for help, with three or four out of ten drowning.

The coastal villages of Shangyu in Shaoxing were swallowed by the tide overnight, leaving only ruins; the dikes of the Ningbo salt fields collapsed, and brine mixed with fresh water, making it unlikely that salt production will be possible for several months…

Zhu Youxiao frowned deeply.

Jiangnan!

Those were the Ming Dynasty's "money bag" and "grain storehouse".

The five prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou account for 30% of the national grain transport volume each year, and silk and tea are the mainstays of foreign trade. Now, a combined flood disaster of "hurricane + tide" has turned this prosperous land upside down.

The Jiangnan region, which should be a place of blue tiles and white walls, with endless rice paddies, has now become a vast expanse of water.

The grain ships in the canal have probably already capsized. The granaries in the capital had already been depleted by the suppression of the rebellion in Xuanfu. If the grain transport was cut off, the price of rice would rise to a point where ordinary people could not afford it in less than a month.

As the secondary capital, Nanjing is situated along the Yangtze River. The tidal bore could potentially affect even the inner city. If prices in both cities rise, it could inevitably trigger panic.

What worried him even more was the last sentence of the secret memorial:
“The dikes were destroyed, the military fortifications collapsed, and half of the soldiers in the coastal garrisons drowned.”

Silk workshops were flooded and silkworm cocoons became moldy, making it difficult to deliver silk orders from Western China this year.

"After the floodwaters recede, a major epidemic will surely follow; if the displaced people scatter, there is a risk of popular uprising."

Polder fields are the foundation of flood prevention for farmers in the Jiangnan region. Without polder fields, this year's rice harvest would certainly not be possible.

With the military fortifications collapsed, the coastal defenses became an empty shell, and if the Japanese pirates took the opportunity to invade, it would only make matters worse.

If the silk cannot be delivered, not only will silver be lost, but the trust between the Western barbarians will also be lost, making future foreign trade even more difficult.

The most challenging issue is disaster relief.

The national treasury has just been depleted due to the suppression of the rebellion in Xuanfu. The suspension of the Liaodong military service has resulted in a loss of revenue. Jiangnan is not only unable to pay taxes, but also needs the court to allocate funds for disaster relief, epidemic prevention, and resettlement of displaced people. Where will this money come from?
Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to his forehead and let out a long sigh.

He had previously rectified the border towns and investigated corruption, always feeling that with the power of the emperor, he could gradually turn around the chaos in the Ming Dynasty.

But now, facing this natural disaster sweeping across Jiangnan, he truly felt the power of the "Little Ice Age".

Months of torrential rain, unusual hurricanes, and surging tides—these are all beyond human control.

He could execute corrupt officials and quell rebellions, but he couldn't stop the rain from falling or the tide from rising.

but.
The floods in Jiangnan cannot be ignored.

Despite the severity of the disaster, human will can overcome nature.

He immediately ordered that all the cabinet ministers, plus Li Changgeng, the Minister of Revenue, and Zou Yuanbiao, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, be brought to the East Warm Pavilion for a meeting.

It didn't take long.

All the officials gathered.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you peace and good health!"

All the officials bowed to Zhu Youxiao.

"I am well. Rise and take a seat."

After everyone expressed their gratitude and rose, before they could even sit down on the brocade benches, Fang Congzhe was the first to bow and ask:

"Your Majesty has summoned us here. What important matter does Your Majesty have to discuss?"

Zhu Youxiao didn't beat around the bush; he simply placed the secret memorial on the imperial desk.

"Are you all aware of the news of the severe flooding in Jiangnan?"

"Floods in Jiangnan?"

Fang Congzhe suddenly looked up, his face full of astonishment. He subconsciously glanced at Li Changgeng, and seeing that the other also looked blank, he cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, I received a report from the Governor of Southern Zhili yesterday, which only mentioned that there has been continuous rain in the Suzhou-Songjiang area and that flooding should be prevented, but did not mention the word 'major flood'..."

According to past practice, even with more rainfall, the dense river network in Jiangnan shouldn't cause a major disaster.

The other ministers nodded in agreement, and Zou Yuanbiao added:

"The censor dispatched by the Censorate to Jiangnan five days ago only said in his memorial that 'the people's livelihood is stable' and did not mention the disaster. How can Your Majesty determine that it was a 'major flood'?"

Zhu Youxiao picked up the secret memorial and handed it to Fang Congzhe:
"See for yourselves."

This is a secret memorial sent three days ago by Yuan Keli, the Minister of War in Nanjing, delivered by express courier.

Rivers in Suzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing, and Huzhou collapsed, while Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Nanjing, and Shaoxing were hit by hurricane-induced tidal surges, with waters rising several meters high. The Hangzhou Imperial Examination Hall and Bijiaofang were destroyed, and coastal villages in Shaoxing were completely submerged. The death toll has exceeded ten thousand.

Fang Congzhe took the secret report with both hands, his fingertips trembling slightly as he unfolded it. Li Changgeng, Zou Yuanbiao and others also stepped forward, their eyes sweeping over the secret report, their expressions gradually changing from astonishment to solemnity.

Li Changgeng whispered:

"I see... The secret report traveled along the imperial post road, which was at least three days faster than the disaster reports submitted by local officials through the proper channels."

The governor of Southern Zhili is probably still assessing the disaster situation and hasn't had time to send an urgent report.

"The memorial reporting the disaster will arrive soon, but the disaster situation cannot wait."

Zhu Youxiao said decisively:
"The heavy rains in Jiangnan have not stopped. The polder fields have been washed away, the salt fields have been destroyed, and many of the canal boats have probably capsized as well."

Jiangnan is the Ming Dynasty's granary and financial lifeline. If this disaster is dealt with too late, the complete loss of the summer harvest will be a minor issue; the real trouble will be the starving people fleeing the famine, skyrocketing grain prices, and even peasant uprisings!

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ministers:
"I summoned you here to discuss a plan for disaster relief."

It must be fast, accurate, and strict; local officials must not be allowed to embezzle funds under the guise of disaster relief, nor can the displaced people be allowed to disrupt the situation.

Fang Congzhe pondered for a moment, then stood up, supporting himself on the corner of the stool. His tone had regained its composure:
"Your Majesty is wise."

Although the floods in Jiangnan are urgent, if a strategy of "swiftness, accuracy, and rigor" is adopted, the situation can be stabilized within thirty days.

"The first priority is 'speed'."

The grain must arrive quickly, and the people must move quickly.

When prioritizing the use of local granaries in Jiangnan, I suggest sending two officials from the Ministry of Revenue south immediately to take direct control of the granaries and prevent local officials from concealing grain or falsely reporting losses.

At the same time, twenty naval warships were transferred from Tianjin, and 100,000 shi of grain were intercepted from the Grand Canal. This grain could reach Suzhou and Jiaxing by sea in three days, and then be distributed to various disaster areas via inland waterways, at least ten days faster than by land.

Secondly, it is about 'accuracy'.

Donations and relief efforts must be accurate.

The salt and cloth merchants of Jiangnan are the wealthiest in the land; an imperial edict could be issued to levy their donations.
The salt merchants of Yangzhou donated 500,000 taels of silver, and the cloth merchants of Suzhou donated 200,000 bolts of cloth. They were granted exemption from the salt tax for the following year and were awarded official hats and belts. If any of them refused, the Eastern Depot would send officers to supervise them, and if necessary, their private treasuries could be confiscated.

During relief efforts, a "General Relief Bureau" was established in Suzhou, Songjiang, and Hangzhou prefectures, overseeing relief points in various counties and prefectures. Following the rule of "household registration, individual distribution of grain," each household received half a liter of rice daily, along with straw mats and medicinal herbs to prevent displaced people from scattering.

Finally, there is "strictness".

Supervision must be strict, and epidemic prevention must be strict.

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Imperial Censor of the Censorate were jointly appointed to lead the disaster relief efforts. The eunuch was in charge of the allocation of funds and grain, while the censor was in charge of supervising official conduct. They checked and balanced each other, and anyone who embezzled disaster relief funds or withheld grain was executed on the spot.

Furthermore, a plague will inevitably follow the flood; therefore, the Imperial Medical Academy must travel south to set up medical tents at various relief points, burning mugwort daily to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

After hearing this, Li Changgeng quickly added:
"Your Majesty, Chief Minister Fang's plan is feasible, but intercepting the grain transport and allocating the navy will require funds..."

"I have just checked and there are approximately 800,000 taels remaining in the imperial granary. We can allocate 300,000 taels initially as a special fund for disaster relief. If this is insufficient, we can supplement it from donations from salt merchants."

Zou Yuanbiao nodded in agreement:

"Your Majesty, I agree with the Prime Minister's policy of 'strict supervision'."

Local officials in Jiangnan often colluded with gentry, and there were many cases of embezzlement in disaster relief efforts in previous years. This time, sending eunuchs and censors to jointly manage the relief efforts can ensure that the money and grain are used effectively.

Furthermore, I suggest that one hundred officers from the Embroidered Uniform Guard be transferred south to assist in maintaining order at the relief points and preventing looting by displaced people.

As Zhu Youxiao sat on his throne, listening to the ministers' advice, his brows gradually relaxed.

He had originally planned to use the disaster relief as an opportunity to allow the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Eastern Depot to infiltrate Jiangnan, both to control the disaster situation and to take the opportunity to put pressure on local forces. Fang Congzhe's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.

Seeing that all the ministers were offering their suggestions and advice, Ye Xianggao could no longer sit still.

He rose, bowed to Zhu Youxiao, and slowly said:

"Your Majesty, in addition to the speed, accuracy, and strictness that Your Majesty and the Grand Secretary have mentioned, I personally believe that it is also necessary to 'pacify the displaced people' in disaster relief."

If the refugees disperse, chaos will ensue; if they settle down, the Jiangnan region will be at peace.

"I suggest that a temporary resettlement area be set up on the high ground of Taihu Lake outside Suzhou and Songjiang."

Those places were high up and not flooded, so simple sheds were built using the discarded timber from the canal transport, which saved both time and money.

Furthermore, local governments must be strictly ordered to prohibit disaster victims from fleeing to the north!

Once refugees flood into Shandong, Henan, and Northern Zhili, it will not only increase the local grain burden, but there is also the fear that they will gather along the way and become a potential threat of bandits.

Shandong and Henan provinces, in particular, suffered from disasters last year and have not yet fully recovered this year.

If too many people flood in, it could easily cause chaos.

"Furthermore, young and middle-aged refugees can be organized to participate in 'work-for-relief' projects, such as reinforcing the banks of the Wusong River in Suzhou and clearing silted-up tributaries in Jiaxing."

Giving them two liters of rice and ten coins daily not only ensures the disaster victims have food but also combines disaster relief with water conservancy repairs—a win-win situation.

"There's also corruption and grain prices."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming stern.

"Your Majesty, please order the Imperial Inspector to immediately travel south to inspect the various prefectures and counties."

If local officials are found to be embezzling relief grain or wealthy merchants are found to be hoarding grain for profit, they will be directly escorted to Nanjing for interrogation.

Once verified, anyone who embezzles more than one hundred taels will be executed immediately!
In addition, "official grain sales bureaus" were established in the grain distribution centers of Suzhou and Hangzhou to transfer grain from granaries and sell it at 30% below market price. At the same time, grain merchants were strictly prohibited from raising prices by more than 50%, and those who violated this rule would have all their grain confiscated.

Everyone nodded in agreement, even Fang Congzhe couldn't help but nod.
"Grand Secretary Ye's plan is comprehensive. It can both reassure the displaced people and prevent corruption, thus solving the immediate crisis."

Only Zhu Youxiao sat upright on the throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on the densely packed county names of Jiangnan on the map, as if pondering a deeper question.

After Ye Xianggao finished speaking, Zhu Youxiao slowly opened his mouth.

"Grand Secretary Ye's method is good, but I want to add two more points."

"First, responsibility must be assigned to specific individuals."

If any peasant uprising occurs in a county, district, or prefecture under the jurisdiction of the prefecture, the presiding official must quell it within ten days.

If the situation cannot be quelled, or if negligence in disaster relief leads to chaos, I will not only dismiss him from office, but also hold him accountable for his crimes.

Upon hearing this, the hall immediately fell silent.

The ministers were filled with dread.

In the past, local officials often dealt with disaster relief perfunctorily, and even if problems arose, they were usually dismissed. Now that His Majesty wants to "investigate and hold those responsible accountable," he is clearly serious and wants to force officials to not dare to slack off.

"Secondly, in the Jiangnan region, the grassroots level below the county level has long been 'monopolized by local gentry and the village system has collapsed'."

The Lijia system was rendered ineffective, with local powerful families controlling taxes, public security, and people's livelihoods, and the imperial court's decrees could not even reach the countryside.

If this disaster relief effort only stops at the prefecture and county levels and doesn't reach the grassroots, I fear that chaos will arise again as soon as the disaster is over.

"I intend to establish the 'Jiangnan Disaster Relief Office' to oversee disaster relief affairs throughout the province."

The department is structured hierarchically as follows: 'County Relief Bureau', 'Township Relief Affairs Bureau', and 'Village Relief Stations'.

Disaster relief efforts begin at the village level (Lijia), with village relief point leaders registering households one by one.

Name of the head of household, number of people, amount of farmland, degree of damage to the house, and whether there is a food shortage.

After registration, the head of household needs to sign and affix their fingerprint, then the township relief bureau will review it, and the county relief bureau will file it, forming an information chain that goes directly from the central government to the farmers, preventing anyone from tampering with the data. "As for 'work-for-relief'..."

Zhu Youxiao added: "To bind the 'household sticker,' young and middle-aged disaster victims must register with the 'household sticker' issued by the village relief point, and stamp the 'household sticker' when receiving relief food every day."

Those without a household allowance are not allowed to participate.

This approach ensures that food relief reaches every household accurately, while also encouraging residents to cooperate with the new agency's household registration process—a win-win situation.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xianggao's pupils contracted slightly.

Having witnessed the intrigues of the imperial court, he instantly sensed something unusual about the hierarchical structure of the "Disaster Relief Department."

In the present day, the imperial power of the Ming Dynasty does not extend to the county level; affairs below the county level are entirely managed by local gentry and village heads.

But this disaster relief department wants to set up "village relief points" in every village and register household registrations and land ownership for each household. How can this be considered disaster relief?
It was clearly a pretext for disaster relief, but the emperor was extending his power directly into the countryside of Jiangnan!
Fang Congzhe also realized what was happening and was secretly amazed.

Your Majesty's move was absolutely brilliant!

Under the guise of the noble cause of disaster relief, no one dared to object.

However, if the Disaster Relief Office were to be transformed into a permanent institution after the disaster, then the control of the grassroots in Jiangnan would fall completely into the hands of the imperial court, and would no longer be controlled by the local gentry and powerful families.

"Your Majesty is holy."

Ye Xianggao was the first to bow in respect, his voice carrying a complex sense of awe.

"The establishment of the Disaster Relief Department is a perfect solution, as it can provide precise disaster relief and clarify the situation at the grassroots level."

The other ministers echoed this sentiment.

This is the emperor's open scheme.

Resisting "disaster relief" is tantamount to disobeying orders, and if anything goes wrong, it's a crime punishable by death.

Even if the officials and gentry in Jiangnan understood His Majesty's true intentions, they could only obediently cooperate.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the reactions of his ministers, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes.

Jiangnan is a vital financial center of the Ming Dynasty, but it has been out of control at the grassroots level for too long. If this disaster relief effort is not used to break the deadlock, it will only be more difficult to regain control in the future.

This disaster relief department was the first step in his decentralization of imperial power.

After the disaster, these "village relief points" and "township relief bureaus" could simply change their names and become permanent institutions for the imperial court to control the grassroots. Only then could imperial power truly take root in Jiangnan.

and so.

Disaster is indeed a test for those in power, but for Zhu Youxiao, it is an opportunity.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Ye Xianggao quickly stepped forward.

The Disaster Relief Department oversees disaster relief efforts in several prefectures in Jiangnan, involving everything from the allocation of grain and funds to the resettlement of displaced people. It also has the special mission of "reaching the grassroots level," so the choice of its leader directly affects the success or failure of the entire operation.

"Your Majesty, the Disaster Relief Department bears a heavy responsibility. I wonder which person Your Majesty prefers to lead it?"

Ye Xianggao bowed and asked again, his gaze unconsciously sweeping over the several important officials in the hall. He saw that Fang Congzhe and Li Changgeng both looked thoughtful, obviously also considering suitable candidates.

They clearly understood the critical importance of the Disaster Relief Department.

If we could control this organization
This would be tantamount to controlling Jiangnan.

Zhu Youxiao chuckled and said, "Yuan Keli, the Minister of War in Nanjing, is suitable for this position."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment, then a low murmur of agreement rang out.

Fang Congzhe stroked his beard and nodded: "Your Majesty is wise! Yuan Keli, as Minister of War, has just submitted a secret report on the disaster situation in Jiangnan, which shows his keen insight into the situation in Jiangnan."

Furthermore, he had previously served as the Minister of War in Nanjing and was well-versed in the methods of dispatching garrisons and coordinating prefectures and counties in Jiangnan. He was able to both suppress local powerful figures and coordinate military and political forces.

If any prefecture or county shirks its responsibility, the Minister of War in Nanjing can, by virtue of his position, force them to cooperate.

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly and raised his hand to the eunuch:
"By imperial decree, Yuan Keli, Minister of War in Nanjing, shall concurrently serve as the Director of the Jiangnan Disaster Relief Office, overseeing all disaster relief efforts in the provinces south of the Yangtze River."

All decisions regarding the allocation of grain and funds, the construction of resettlement areas, and the dispatch of work-for-relief programs are made by him.

All provincial and county governments in Jiangnan must cooperate unconditionally. Anyone who disobeys or shirks responsibility will be subject to the authority granted by the Emperor to act expediently, with Yuan Keli acting first and reporting later.

"I will obey your orders!"

The ministers unanimously agreed, and there were no further objections.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and gave the order:
"Everyone, go down."

The Ministry of Revenue must prepare 100,000 shi of grain and 500,000 taels of disaster relief silver within three days.

The Ministry of Works allocated 3,000 zhang of waste timber and 10,000 shi of quicklime (to prevent plague).

The Imperial Medical Academy selected twenty imperial physicians skilled in treating epidemics to accompany the disaster relief team south.

"My beloved ministers, each of you shall perform your duties. If there is any delay, I will hold you responsible."

The officials bowed and took their leave.

Before long, only Zhu Youxiao and a few eunuchs remained in the East Warm Pavilion.

"Bring the imperial edict!"

The eunuch dared not delay and quickly brought over a sandalwood box lined with bright yellow brocade.

A blank imperial edict was laid out on the emperor's desk, and Zhu Youxiao immediately began to splash ink.

In the opening of the secret edict, Zhu Youxiao did not beat around the bush and directly revealed the true mission of the Disaster Relief Department to Yuan Keli:

"The problem in Jiangnan is not flooding, but the monopoly of rural areas by local gentry."

For a century, the village system had collapsed, with taxes, household registration, and public security all falling into the hands of powerful local lords, rendering the imperial court's policies ineffective.

I established the Disaster Relief Office, ostensibly for disaster relief, but in reality, it was a way to break the deadlock, to root the imperial power in the countryside, and to sever the arms of the gentry and powerful.

This is a matter of utmost importance to me; you must be extremely cautious.

With a sudden shift in his writing, he penned the most crucial strategy: "selecting people."

This is the key to whether imperial power can penetrate the grassroots, and it is also the result of his repeated deliberations:
"The person in charge of the grassroots 'village relief point' of the Disaster Relief Department must not be a local gentry, village head, or a person recommended by a prefectural or county official."

Such people either collude with powerful figures or are corrupted by the deep-seated evils of officialdom, turning disaster relief into a means of 'profit sharing'.

You must be selected from among the impoverished scholars of Jiangnan:

Those from impoverished families who have not entered officialdom but are well-versed in classics and history and have a good reputation will be tested by the county relief bureau (testing on "people's livelihood policies," without asking about the eight-legged essay). Those who pass will be appointed as "village relief station chiefs" with a monthly salary of five taels (equivalent to a ninth-rank official).

Such scholars have three advantages:
Firstly, they came from humble backgrounds and knew the suffering of the common people, so they would not embezzle relief grain.

Neither of them had a gentry background, making them difficult to win over or corrupt.

All three hoped to change their fate through official positions in the imperial court and would do their utmost to serve.

You may inform them that those who perform exceptionally well after the disaster relief efforts conclude can be recommended for admission to the Imperial Academy or fill vacancies in prefectures and counties, giving them hope for the future.

At this point, Zhu Youxiao paused, recalling the wounded soldiers returning from the Liaodong battlefield, and added another paragraph:
"As for the officials and guards at the village relief stations, they can be selected from the returning soldiers from Liaodong."

The returning troops from the suppression of the rebellion in Liaodong numbered about 10,000, mostly brave men from the north, and had no connection whatsoever with the gentry of Jiangnan.

They were accustomed to life and death on the battlefield, were utterly loyal to the imperial court, and possessed strong execution capabilities.

They could be responsible for distributing household allowances, registering and verifying disaster victims, and maintaining security in the resettlement area. They would be given two liters of rice and ten copper coins daily. Those who made meritorious contributions could be promoted to "village relief point inspector".

I know that these people may eventually be influenced by local customs, but at least they can buy me more than ten years.

Over the past ten years, you have assisted me in improving the grassroots system:

The head of a village relief station is replaced every three years and cannot hold office in their place of origin.

The inspectors were directly dispatched by the Disaster Relief Department and were not allowed to collude with local officials.

Every quarter, the Imperial Inspector would verify the household registration records against the actual population. If any falsification was found, the head of the county relief bureau would be implicated.

This cycle could potentially bring the grassroots level truly under the control of the imperial court.

At the end of the secret edict, he specifically added a section on "methods of supervision".

"If you encounter obstruction from local gentry or harassment from local officials, you can directly mobilize the soldiers of the Nanjing Garrison to suppress them."

The Eastern Depot has dispatched a hundred servants to accompany you south to investigate matters of 'corruption and hoarding'.

Anyone who embezzles more than one hundred taels of relief grain or hoards more than one thousand shi of grain shall be executed on the spot without prior approval, and their head shall be displayed at the city gate for three days as a warning to others.

Please remember: disaster relief and grassroots management are equally important and neither should be neglected.

"If the Jiangnan region is stabilized, then the Ming Dynasty's finances will be stable; if the grassroots are well-managed, then the Ming Dynasty's foundation will be secure."

After writing the last character, Zhu Youxiao threw the brush into the brush washer and took the small seal "Tianzi Xingbao" that he always carried with him.

This seal is smaller than a regular imperial seal and was used exclusively for secret edicts.

He dipped his brush in vermilion and pressed it heavily onto the signature of the secret edict.

At this moment, Wei Chao had already arrived upon being summoned. Upon seeing the secret edict on the imperial desk, he immediately bowed and said, "This servant respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's decree."

"You shall personally select three of the most reliable messengers, each with three fast horses, to travel along the imperial post road and deliver this secret edict to Yuan Keli in Nanjing, day and night."

Zhu Youxiao folded the secret edict into thin strips, stuffed them into a specially made copper tube, and then sealed the tube opening with beeswax.

"The post stations along the way must prioritize the supply of horses and dry rations. If there is even a moment's delay, the postmaster and the messenger will be executed together."

Furthermore, tell Yuan Keli that the contents of the secret edict must not be known to anyone other than him.

Wei Chao took the copper tube with both hands and stuffed it tightly into the brocade bag close to his body, which was wrapped with three layers of waterproof oilcloth.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will make the arrangements immediately and ensure that the secret edict is delivered to Yuan Keli within three days!"

Having said that, he bowed and backed out of the warm pavilion.

Time passes slowly.

Three days later.

A light summer rain fell on Beijing.

It brought a little bit of sweet rain to the long-parched northern Zhili region.

But it brought no peace to the Office of Transmission.

Inside the office courtyard, a dozen or so clerks were busy dealing with a mountain of reports.

These urgent reports sent from Jiangnan were mostly covered with mud and rainwater on their covers, and some of the corners were wrinkled from being soaked in water, with the ink characters blurred.

It was clearly sent out urgently from the flooded prefectures and counties.

"The Suzhou Prefecture reports: Three sections of the Wusong River dike have breached, flooding 23,000 mu of paddy fields and displacing approximately 8,000 people!"

"The Hangzhou Prefecture reports: The tidal bore has flooded the city, destroying all the shops in Bijiaofang, collapsing the examination hall's archway, and drowning more than three thousand people!"

"The Shaoxing Prefecture reports: Seven villages in Shangyu County were swallowed by the tidal bore, with only forty or so survivors. The salt field dikes have been completely destroyed!"

The officials read aloud summaries of the reports while registering them by prefecture and county, and then had them delivered by special personnel to the Cabinet, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Disaster Relief Office.

Cao Yubian, the Commissioner of the Court of Juvenile Justice, personally oversaw the operation, holding a thick register in his hand and occasionally making markings on it with a pen.

Although the disaster was shocking, he showed no panic, because all departments had already prepared countermeasures according to His Majesty's orders.

Meanwhile, in Nanjing...

Upon receiving the secret imperial edict, Yuan Keli immediately established the Jiangnan Disaster Relief Bureau at the Ministry of War in Nanjing.

after that.

They immediately recruited and assessed scholars.

At the same time, soldiers from Liaodong were trained to cooperate with officials under the disaster relief department and go deep into the grassroots.

From villages to prefectures and counties, from refugees to gentry, everyone will rediscover the weight of the word "imperial power" during this disaster relief effort.

The summer rain continued to pour down.

The floods in Jiangnan have not yet subsided.

But the transformation of the Ming Dynasty had already quietly begun amidst this rain.

(End of this chapter)