Chapter 145: Disaster Relief and Rescue

Chapter 145: Disaster Response and Rescue

The attendant was shaken, his ears still buzzing.

Zheng Shanci snapped out of it first. He patted the attendant’s shoulder, but the attendant only saw his lips moving without hearing any sound.

After a moment, the attendant finally heard Zheng Shanci’s voice, asking if he was alright.

"Sir, I’m okay," the attendant replied, still rattled. He then led Zheng Shanci to find Yu Lanyi and the others.

"If not for your shout, Sir, I would have been buried alive," the attendant said gratefully.

"If the capital’s this bad, who knows how other regions are faring," Zheng Shanci thought, glad his loved ones were in the capital and unharmed for now.

Zheng Shanci arrived at the abandoned theater, where crowds had gathered. The attendant guided him through the throng until they found Yu Lanyi.

Yu Lanyi threw his arms around Zheng Shanci the moment he saw him. "Thank goodness you’re safe. I’ve been so worried, fearing the worst—I’d be a widow by now."

Zheng Shanci smirked as he gently patted Yu Lanyi’s back and returned the embrace. "I’m fine. I bolted when the quake hit."

Around family, Yu Lanyi felt a little embarrassed and released Zheng Shanci. "Next time, just run."

Zheng Shanci smiled when he saw his father, Mr. Zheng, Brother and Sister-in-law all safe. Family being safe was all that mattered.

The Marquis of Changyang and Yu Zhangxing had not yet returned. Zheng Shanci explained to Mr. Yu, "The palace took damage too. With the imperial guard protecting His Majesty’s safety, Brother is busy there, and Father-in-law’s at the Ministry of War."

An Geer said, "As long as Father and my husband are safe, nothing else matters."

Mr. Yu nodded.

"We’re staying put for now. We still don’t know if there will be another earthquake or whether the buildings are stable."

Mr. Yu sent someone to inspect their residence. The Marquis of Changyang’s estate was still standing, but even so, they weren’t about to go back yet.

At present, the ones who knew buildings best were from the Ministry of Works. If they could assess the structural integrity of the buildings, it would determine whether they were safe to inhabit. However, the Ministry of Works was preoccupied with the palace and awaited Emperor Wuming’s orders.

Mei Huai, the Director of the Ministry of Works, led a group of craftsmen out of the palace to inspect the condition of the buildings.

The Court of Judicial Review and the Metropolitan Prefect dispatched Yamen Runners to conduct rescue operations.

The Metropolitan Prefect led them with tools to dig through the rubble, soon covered in dust and grime. Fresh in the job, he thought, *Just my luck*—such a disaster occurring shortly after his tenure began.

Some citizens had escaped, while others remained buried. They dug barehanded, hoping to rescue those still alive beneath the wreckage.

Over the wailing, Mr. Yu ordered, "Leave four guards to protect the family. The rest help with rescues."

"Yes, Mr. Yu."

The Marquis of Changyang’s household guards numbered over thirty, all muscle and training. Their aid would speed up the rescue efforts, potentially saving more lives.

The Weis followed their lead. Mr. Wei, as the Chief Grand Secretary’s husband and a role model among officials’ spouses, instructed his own servants to join the rescue. Though some were reluctant to send their servants away, seeing Mr. Wei’s example compelled them to do the same.

Officials’ residences, especially those of military officers, had many trained guards. Witnessing Mr. Yu’s actions, they too dispatched their guards to help.

The grief was hard to take.

Some citizens dug tirelessly, only to uncover a severed hand—the rest of the body still buried. Under such heavy debris, survival was unlikely.

Zheng Shanci pondered. Minister Lei and others were likely calculating relief supplies, while the Ministry of Works would handle reconstruction.

Disaster relief is all about speed, and currently, the Metropolitan Prefect and the Dali Temple are mainly in charge, organizing local constables for rescue efforts.

Marquis of Changyang got the emperor's orders in the palace to mobilize soldiers from the eastern camp in the suburbs to enter the capital for disaster relief, while the western camp’s soldiers had to stay put. Emperor Wuming’s decision to recall the suburban garrisons to the capital had already faced repeated objections from civil officials, but he remained obstinate and resolute, ultimately deploying only the eastern camp’s soldiers.

With Marquis of Changyang leading the eastern camp’s soldiers into the capital for relief, their involvement significantly accelerated the rescue operations. After all, this was the imperial capital, and thus received the most extensive aid.

Now, soup kitchens had been set up, along with several steaming trays of buns, allowing the people to at least have a full meal.

After reviewing Chief Grand Secretary Wei’s report, Emperor Wuming declared, “Proceed as Chief Grand Secretary Wei advises. Additionally, the Ministry of Revenue is swamped—have the imperial decree drafted immediately. Tomorrow morning, announce Zheng Shanci’s appointment as Vice Minister of Revenue. Minister Lei shall join the Grand Secretariat as a Grand Academician, and Minister Mei is promoted to Minister of Revenue.”

Feng De acknowledged with a bow.

By evening, Mei Huai and a team from the Ministry of Works had inspected most of the officials’ residences. Zheng Shanci’s house was intact, and everyone returned to their homes.

Three of Yu Lanyi’s shops had collapsed, and their restoration would have to wait. For now, workers were focused on rescuing survivors, delaying repairs.

The Metropolitan Prefect gave out tents to those who lost their homes, though with so many people, each tent housed over twenty individuals. Some sought shelter with friends whose homes remained intact.

Cui Ziqi’s residence had completely collapsed, burying over a dozen servants and maids—none survived. The family now stayed with Cui relatives.

A physician was summoned to examine Elder Zheng and Mr. Zheng.

“The master and his spouse are unharmed, though somewhat shaken. A few doses of calming medicine will suffice,” the physician said before writing the prescription.

Elder Zheng and Mr. Zheng were terrified. This was their first experience with such a disaster—watching the houses shake and crumble was more terrifying than a mudslide. Such tall, sturdy buildings collapsed in an instant, leaving no time to escape.

A servant took the prescription to the kitchen to prepare the medicine. Lin Geer, now pregnant again, had just put Zheng Tongchu to sleep before joining the main hall.

“Luckily, our servants knew what to do—otherwise, we wouldn’t have known how to cope,” Lin Geer said, still shaken.

“I’ve already given them money and bolts of fabric,” Zheng Shancheng replied.

Having lived in the capital for so long, he understood how people interact and the importance of fair rewards and punishments.

Mr. Zheng approved of the arrangements and inquired instead about Lin Geer’s health, asking the physician to examine her. The physician, sent by Yu Lanyi, was highly skilled, so the checkup was worthwhile.

After diagnosing Lin Geer, the physician said, “The symptoms are largely the same—some calming medicine will help.”

Thus, they all took the medicine and turned in for the night.

...

With little left to do at night and the day’s fright still lingering, their nerves finally relaxed, leaving them exhausted.

Several rooms in Zheng Shanci’s home had collapsed, so the servants had to squeeze in together for the night. The servants’ quarters originally housed four per room, but with some rooms gone, six per room was still manageable.

The children were prioritized, with Xiao Pingan getting to bed first.

After washing up, Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi lay in bed, still awake. Yu Lanyi clung to Zheng Shanci, his heart still racing. Thankfully, the tutor’s quick thinking had kept the children safe—otherwise, Yu Lanyi would have been lost.

“Pingan’s tutor said classes are suspended for now. They’ll rest at home.”

Zheng Shanci: “With the earthquake, it’s safer for the children to stay indoors. Staying home is best.”

“Will you attend court tomorrow?”

“The palace hasn't said otherwise, so I must go.”

Yu Lanyi only urged him to be careful. “If we lose you, what will Xiao Pingan and I do?”

Zheng Shanci agreed. With people depending on him, he wouldn't act recklessly.

That night, many in the capital couldn’t sleep—some had lost their homes, others had lost family members. Now lying in tents, they found no rest, their hearts heavy with grief for those gone.

"In broad daylight, right under the Emperor’s feet, how could an earthquake strike so ruthlessly?" a woman sobbed as she spoke.

Her family had once been wealthy, but now their home had collapsed. Her husband, who had gone to a tavern for business, never made it out, leaving her a widow with children, their future now uncertain.

Of their two shops, one had completely collapsed, while the other was half-destroyed, now too dangerous to enter. Who else could they blame but fate or their own luck? There was no solace to be found.

Now, their only hope was the court’s relief efforts.

While the common folk lay awake, so did the officials. Du Yue’s house stood untouched, and there was a story behind it. The land had been bought by his father for his marital home, but Du Yue, dissatisfied after his wedding, had the old house torn down and rebuilt it himself with solid materials, leaving nothing to chance.

The construction took a full year. When Madam Du had married him, she had harbored complaints, but after this disaster, all her grievances vanished.

"Our house stands firm thanks to you," Madam Du praised him.

Du Yue smiled. "A house built by the Minister of Works himself? Of course it’s sturdy."

"This time, His Majesty has tasked me with repairing the palace first, while the restoration of civilian homes falls to the Vice Ministers. Luckily, Lord Zheng had submitted the cement formula years earlier. Now, with brick foundations, sturdy walls, and a layer of cement, we can ensure safety."

As Du Yue pondered, he knew the Ministry of Works could secure ample funds from the Ministry of Revenue this time—with imperial orders, the Ministry of Revenue couldn’t refuse funds.

The next morning, Zheng Shanci received an imperial decree appointing him as Vice Minister of Revenue. Minister Qi gave his shoulder a hearty slap with a smile. "Now we’re equals in rank—congratulations!"

Zheng Shanci accepted the decree without arrogance, showing Minister Qi great respect. "I’ve never forgotten your advice, Lord Qi."

Minister Qi nodded approvingly.

Zheng Shanci first reported to the Ministry of Personnel, where minor officials would arrange his belongings.

The Ministry handed him the official seal and robe of the Vice Minister of Revenue. As Zheng Shanci gazed at the bird patterns embroidered on the crimson robe, he took a deep breath, stroking the robe, heart swelling with pride.

His years of loyalty to the Two Princes had not gone unnoticed by Emperor Wuming. He had also submitted memorials on tax reforms. While he had expected a promotion, he hadn’t expected it now, amid crisis.

Just yesterday, he had thought the Ministry of Revenue was too busy—now, he was part of it.

When Zheng Shanci arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, Yu Feng, still only a Vice Director, greeted him with delight. "Congratulations on your promotion, Lord Zheng!"

"No ceremony necessary. I must first pay respects to Lord Lei."

Yu Feng quickly added, "Lord Zheng, Lord Lei was promoted to the Grand Secretariat. Minister Mei has taken over as Minister."

Zheng Shanci was startled but acknowledged Yu Feng’s kindness.

At Minister Mei’s door, a minor official announced him before leading him inside.

Minister Mei’s face lit up when he saw him. "Rise quickly. Even now, His Majesty trusts us enough to promote us—we must handle this well. When I heard you were the new Vice Minister, I was relieved. After all, we’ve known each other for years. Congratulations on your return, Lord Zheng."

Zheng Shanci felt a surge of gratitude as he recalled how Vice Minister Mei had once helped and advised him when he sought funds from Director Xiang.

"It’s an honor to work alongside you, Minister Mei."

At forty, Minister Mei was young for a Minister.

"We’ll save some words for another day. Right now, we must allocate supplies. Last night, three prefectures had sent desperate pleas reporting earthquakes. The capital’s situation is stable—with His Majesty and Lord Wei overseeing matters and the Ministry of Revenue’s resources, relief is well in hand."

"But Yingzhou and Jingzhou—someone must take charge there."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shanci felt a flicker of emotion. Minister Mei said, "The Cabinet finalized this yesterday and submitted the recommendation to His Majesty this morning. He’s probably still reviewing it. The recommended candidates are you and Cui Ziqi."

"You will go to Yingzhou, while Cui Ziqi will head to Jingzhou. The situation in Jingzhou is more chaotic, and since Cui Ziqi previously served as a director in the Ministry of Justice, he is better suited for Jingzhou. You have experience in disaster relief from Xinfeng County and Qingzhou, making you a good fit for Yingzhou."

As for Ye Yunchu, who is equally experienced, he has now assumed the role of Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and needs to stay in the capital to keep things under control. With plenty of troublemakers in the capital too, he can’t be easily moved.

Having already learned the news from Minister Mei, Zheng Shanci was not surprised when the imperial decree assigned him to Yingzhou.

"I humbly accept the decree."

After returning from Qingzhou, he had resided in the capital for a long time, serving as Junior Imperial Supervisor. He hadn’t been out of the capital in ages.

Cui Ziqi received his assignment to Jingzhou from the Censorate. His family home had collapsed, and his parents were crashing with relatives for now. Though the Cui family owned other properties, they weren’t about to risk moving in right away and would wait a few days. Cui Ziqi resolved to handle the Jingzhou mission flawlessly, hoping the Emperor would reward him with a new house.

He happily accepted the disaster relief task, making his colleagues green with envy.

Doing well meant solid career points, but screw it up, and you’re looking at demotion—or worse.

Both Zheng Shanci and Cui Ziqi were still young up-and-comers. With Chief Grand Secretary Wei leading the Cabinet, opportunities were willingly given to such talents. While Cui Ziqi went to the Ministry of Revenue to take stock of supplies, he happened to run into Zheng Shanci.

After exchanging a few words, Cui Ziqi gave Zheng Shanci a playful shoulder bump. "You’re on disaster duty too?"

Zheng Shanci nodded, confirming his assignment to Yingzhou.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zheng Shanci went easy on Director Xiang. Instead, he first filled in Director Xiang and Yu Feng. "I’ll be leaving for disaster relief soon, so I’ll entrust these affairs to you."

"Don’t worry, Lord Zheng."

Learning that the Minister of Works planned to use cement to reinforce buildings, Zheng Shanci let out a sigh of relief. He visited the Ministry of Works to see Du Yue and introduced the concept of reinforced concrete to him.

Du Yue asked, "You mean using iron to build houses?"

Since salt and iron were state monopolies, they had access to iron. That day, Zheng Shanci camped out at the Ministry of Works, explaining reinforced concrete to Du Yue in detail.

"The main component of steel reinforcement is iron, but iron rusts easily and is too soft for construction. We can produce steel by smelting iron in a blast furnace, adding limestone to remove impurities. By controlling the furnace temperature, we can obtain high-carbon pig iron, which can be classified as steel."

Intrigued, Du Yue took Zheng Shanci to the blast furnace workshop at the Ministry of Works.

They conducted experiments and successfully produced steel. Du Yue nodded frequently as Zheng Shanci spoke.

"You’ve got a point, but we’re pressed for time. For now, this steel will have to be reserved for the imperial palace. As for civilian homes, I’ll use cement, but perhaps reinforced concrete can be employed in the future," Du Yue said bluntly.

Zheng Shanci smiled. "Fair enough."

Returning home, Zheng Shanci informed Yu Lanyi about his upcoming disaster relief mission.

"Go. Who knows how many people have died already?" Yu Lanyi thought of the wailing voices in the capital and felt deep compassion. If Zheng Shanci could save even one life, he should. Life was precious—everyone had loved ones, and once lost, it could never be reclaimed.

Softly, Yu Lanyi added, "Ping’an and I’ll be here waiting for you."

Moved, Zheng Shanci embraced Yu Lanyi. His wife had grown ever more considerate and attuned to the suffering of the people. His heart swelled with tenderness as he kissed Yu Lanyi’s beautiful brows.

After all these years, Yu Lanyi still looked as refined as a young master, but Zheng Shanci knew he had changed—he had become a kind-hearted young master.

"I’ll pack your belongings for you."

Yu Lanyi pushed Zheng Shanci away and packed him six giant bags.

Yu Lanyi was still reluctant to part with Zheng Shanci. With the incident in the capital, he had to stay behind to care for his father and father, and with Xiao Pingan around, otherwise, he would have followed Zheng Shanci to assist in disaster relief.

"I will return safely." And then earn you an imperial honor.

That night, Zheng Shanci patted Xiao Pingan’s head. The next morning, before dawn, he rose, put on his official robe, and picked up the bundles—so heavy he could hardly hold them. If not for his years of training, he wouldn’t have had the strength to manage them, as the bundles weighed three times Xiao Pingan’s weight.

Before leaving, Zheng Shanci kissed Yu Lanyi’s forehead and departed the residence with Wang Fu.

"My lord, here are some steamed buns and soy milk. Please eat something to fill your stomach first."

Zheng Shanci grunted and lowered his head to eat his fill.

This time, there were no accompanying officials—only him, along with many clerks tasked with transporting the grain and cement.

The carriage moved slowly along the road, soon leaving the capital behind as Zheng Shanci headed toward another unfamiliar town.

Half a month later, Zheng Shanci arrived in Yingzhou.

The Yingzhou Prefect greeted him.

"Lord Zheng, you’ve finally arrived. The situation in Yingzhou is dire. The local builders cut corners—two-thirds of the houses here have collapsed. When I petitioned the court, there had already been one quake. After three to five days, we thought it was over, but then another struck at night. Many had already died in the first quake, and the second, happening at night, claimed even more lives."

Zheng Shanci listened in silence.

The Prefect, a man in his fifties, spoke with sorrow.

Zheng Shanci went to see the people huddled in tents. Most had lost loved ones and spent their days too numb to react.

The Prefect said that if they hadn’t arrived, the prefecture would have run out of food in five days.

"Are the construction crew here? I’d like to discuss matters with them first."

The Prefect summoned the crew.

Zheng Shanci walked and talked with the Archivist from the construction office. He inspected the walls they had built—plain bricks—and instructed them to apply cement over them.

By noon, several more soup kitchens had been set up in Yingzhou. When the people learned that officials had come for disaster relief, some cursed, "Now they show up! What were they doing earlier? What good is it now? My family is already gone!!!"

Some broke down sobbing as they shouted.

"They didn’t come in time… it’s too late now…"

Others simply held their bowls, drinking the porridge before sitting silently in a corner. Their fingers bore wounds, some with dried blood on their hands—injuries from digging with bare hands.

When the quake ended, they had clawed desperately with their hands. Some pulled out survivors barely breathing, but most were already gone. The moment they were unearthed, the last breath left them.

No mothers, no children, no fathers—only in that moment did they understand real loss.

The quake-stricken area was filled with weeping.

Many more were simply numb.

Those fortunate enough to have their families whole cherished each other all the more.

"Show me your census records," Zheng Shanci said.

"It’s still in the government office. This way, Lord Zheng."

The Prefect led them to the office, while the labor crew, under Zheng Shanci’s orders, began rallying the survivors to rebuild houses together.

Zheng Shanci took the register of Yingzhou and flipped through a few pages before asking, "Show me the records of those who died in the recent earthquake."

The census officer handed the register to Zheng Shanci.

"This earthquake killed 120,000 people. Some were reported dead even though their bodies weren’t found—no one could’ve survived in those conditions."

Zheng Shanci hesitated before taking the death register.

Plagues and blizzards give people time to react, but earthquakes strike without warning. The houses that were supposed to keep them safe turned deadly, collapsing suddenly—

There was no escape.

"First, let them mourn their loved ones. Some children are still alive—see if they can be paired with families who’ve lost children."

The Prefect of Yingzhou sounded puzzled. "Lord Zheng, you’re here for disaster relief. Why handle such matters?"

Zheng Shanci replied, "They’re not hurt on the outside, but inside, they’re shattered."

The crowd looked at each other in shock.

...

Back in the Capital

Zheng Shanci left before dawn, though Yu Lanyi knew—he’d just been pretending to sleep. By morning, Yu Lanyi couldn’t leave Xiao Pingan by himself at home, so he took the child to an open area to play, with Jin Yun keeping watch.

The yamen runners, along with officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, dug through the ruins with tools. When they got too tired, they’d drop to the ground, only to rise again after a short rest.

The reek of rotting flesh and blood filled the air, making them gag. Most of what they unearthed were severed limbs.

Ye Yunchu, the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review, worked right beside them, setting an example. Every extra helper meant a little more hope.

All physicians in the city had been called up by the government.

Even rogue martial artists came to help—normally barred from the capital to maintain order, but this time, the Metropolitan Prefect turned a blind eye.

Yu Lanyi set up a porridge station.

"Someone’s here! My Lord, there’s someone under this slab!" a Court of Judicial Review officer exclaimed excitedly.

Hearing this, people rushed over. The slab appeared to be propping up a narrow space.

"Dig, hurry!" Ye Yunchu bellowed, forgetting all dignity.

Filthy from head to toe, he dug frantically. Yu Lanyi, hearing the officer’s words, grabbed a tool and joined in.

Ye Yunchu saw him but said nothing.

Other survivors, hearing someone was trapped alive, also picked up tools to help.

Being trapped in the rubble was hell.

"Don’t be afraid, we’re getting you out!" Ye Yunchu called out as he dug.

They dug for a solid half-hour without stopping. Only one slab remained, but they knew one wrong move could bring the whole thing down. Mei Huai, the Director of the Ministry of Works, got a few men to check the area before securing the four corners.

"Now, lift the slab carefully."

Ye Yunchu lifted the slab carefully, his heart pounding. His head was swimming from crouching so long.

Beneath lay four children and an unconscious mother.

"Thank God," an official said joyfully.

Yu Lanyi smiled. Yeah, thank God.