Chaos of Ming 1628

"You're talking nonsense! You're talking nonsense!"

The old woman's eyes were bloodshot; she had witnessed firsthand how Sun Qing had led the people of Jiahe County step by step to ensure they had enough to eat and wear. There, the emperor's words could be ignored, but Lord Sun's words were always obeyed.

At this moment, someone slandered Sun Qing, and the old woman could not bear it any longer. She raised the wooden stick she used as a cane and hit Wang Fengyuan.

"Lord Sun is the one chosen by the Dragon King, you are not allowed to speak of him like that."

"You officials only care about your own well-being and don't care about the lives of ordinary people. You can't stand seeing Lord Sun working so hard for us."

"It's all because of you despicable people that even saving lives is so difficult for Lord Sun."

"I'm old enough to have lived long enough. I'll beat you to death to save Lord Sun from suffering!"

The old woman's words were met with enthusiastic responses from everyone.

I was also indignant.

Just when we saw a glimmer of hope, it was shattered by these rotten officials.

They didn't utter a single word, letting them starve and freeze to death. Now that someone willing to take charge has arrived, they dare to make things difficult for them.

This wasn't just making things difficult for Sun Qing; it was taking their lives.

As soon as the old woman made her move, someone immediately went to stop her.

"Don't worry about me, I'll fight him to the death!" the old woman said, and charged forward.

Unexpectedly, the people behind her pulled her along, their tone suddenly turning sharp: "You're too old, let us help you."

After he finished speaking, the refugees in the dilapidated temple swarmed forward.

"How dare you! I am a government official. To assault a government official... Ouch!"

A block of ice hit him in the face.

Wang Fengyuan winced in pain, not even seeing who had hit him. The crowd swarmed around him, some throwing punches, others stomping on him, and still others spitting on him if they couldn't manage it.

As for the people following behind Wang Fengyuan, they had already been pinned to the ground.

These places have no shortage of refugees.

If Wang Fengyuan is destined to be an enemy of all refugees, then this was already his fate.

Sun Qing, with his arms crossed over his chest, frowned and said, "Oh dear, Lord Wang, hold on, I'll go get someone to rescue you."

"You bastards!" Wang Fengyuan, his words slurred from the beating, roared indignantly, "You just wait! When the imperial court sends word that I have returned to the position of Prefect of Hejian Prefecture, I will make you bunch of scoundrels pay!"

"And you, Sun Qing, I'm going to impeach you, impeach you!"

Sun Qing rubbed his ears, completely unconcerned.

The sound of the punches was too frequent for him to hear!

Snowflakes were falling heavily when the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar and finally stopped in front of the dilapidated temple.

Led by a palace attendant with a green umbrella, Wang Chengen, dressed in plain imperial robes, alighted from his carriage, holding a bright yellow imperial edict.

Upon seeing the dilapidated temple, he frowned deeply.

Remembering the Emperor's instructions, she still said gently, "Lord Sun is truly diligent and loves the people. We searched for you for quite some time before we finally found you!"

Sun Qing naturally recognized this person.

He hurriedly greeted, "Eunuch Wang, why have you come in person?"

Seeing this spectacle, the people were frightened and scattered.

Wang Fengyuan's eyes were swollen, and he squinted as he saw the person who had come. He was about to burst into laughter when he winced in pain.

He struggled to his feet and limped toward Wang Chengen, saying, "Eunuch Wang, you've arrived. Look at what these unruly people have done to me."

"It's all because of that Sun Qing, he's just a bully using the emperor's authority. Now you should quickly read out the Emperor's decree so he understands that his arrogance has come to an end!"

Wang Chengen didn't even look at her; his face was gentle, yet he possessed the imposing presence of a close attendant to the emperor.

"By imperial decree!" he shouted.

Sun Qing, Wang Fengyuan, and the constables all bowed and knelt in worship.

Although the common people had never seen the emperor, they knew that the officials were kneeling, so they quickly knelt down as well.

Wang Fengyuan sneered at Sun Qing, his face full of smugness.

Wang Chengen unfolded the imperial edict, his voice steady and clear:

Imperial Edict:

Today, Hejian has been experiencing heavy snow for years, with refugees scattered throughout the four counties, corpses of the starving littering the roads, officials helpless, and governance in disarray.

Sun Qing, the former magistrate of Jiahe County, was a capable and effective ruler who brought peace and stability to the people. He repeatedly helped displaced people and stabilized the local foundation, and his outstanding achievements are well known to me.

Sun Qing is hereby promoted to Prefect of Hejian Prefecture, with full authority over all civil affairs, disaster relief, public security, and pacification of the people in the prefecture.

Wang Fengyuan swayed, almost losing his balance.

With a trembling voice, before he could even ask a question, Wang Chengen continued reading:

"Hejian is currently in dire need of reconstruction and the situation is chaotic. Ordinary methods are not enough to save the people."

I hereby grant you the authority to act expediently!

From this day forward, within the territory of Hejian, Sun Qing shall have full authority to make decisions on all matters concerning the pacification of displaced people, the allocation of grain for disaster relief, the restraint of local gentry, the rectification of officialdom, and the suppression of unrest.

The imperial court will not concern itself with anything else!

So be it!

After he finished speaking, Wang Fengyuan fell silent, his heart trembling violently!

Ordinary prefects are subject to the constraints of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Imperial Inspector. There has never been such a special case where power is completely delegated and no longer subject to the control of the imperial court.

This is not a promotion to prefect; it is clearly Emperor Chongzhen handing over the power of life and death and order to Sun Qing alone in the entire Hejian Prefecture!

Sun Qing bowed down to receive the imperial edict, accepting it with both hands.

Wang Chengen immediately stepped forward and personally helped him up: "Prefect Sun, you saw it too."

"His Majesty truly trusts you implicitly! He has even stood against all opposition on your behalf. You must not let His Majesty down!"

Sun Qing had already cursed Emperor Chongzhen in his heart for being such a stingy person.

The imperial court did not interfere at all, which seemed like a delegation of power, but in reality, it was still difficult to manage.

Yet he could only manage a wry smile: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor!"

After the imperial edict was read, Wang Chengen did not want to linger in the place full of refugees.

After exchanging a few polite words, he left.

Wang Fengyuan was slumped there like a lump of mud.

Once the imperial edict was issued, there was no turning back.

His actions today have already put him at odds with Sun Qing. What will become of him in the future?

Sun Qing put away the imperial edict, glanced at him, and then turned away.

He simply instructed the person next to him: "Carry Li Qingshan back to the government office first."

He then personally helped the old woman up and said gently, "Auntie, come back with me first."

After saying that, he looked at the refugees whose eyes were full of longing and said solemnly, "I know you are crying. Now that the order has been issued, I will also begin the disaster relief work."

"If you trust me, please hold on for three days."

"I will take action in three days!"

Forget three days, they stared for thirty days and still couldn't see the slightest action from the imperial court. Their slogans were loud and clear, yet they couldn't even catch a glimpse of any officials.

Sun Qing was the only one who stood in front of them and promised to provide disaster relief in a short period of time.

Do the refugees have any other choice?

One by one, they knelt on the ground, kowtowing and shouting, "We believe in Lord Sun!"

"Please, sir, you must save us!"

"Save the children!"

Sun Qing nodded solemnly and told his men to take Li Qingshan away first.

Wang Fengyuan, his face bruised and swollen, sneered, "Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!"

"You ignorant people truly cannot understand His Majesty's decree."

"His Majesty said he should figure it out himself. The government office is already out of money and grain, and even owes the grain merchants a lot of silver."

"He's already helpless with the debts, how can he possibly save you?!"