Chapter 59 Rise, My Ministers

Chapter 59: All Ministers, Please Rise

Luo Yunchen, however, made no further move and said regretfully, "But not today. A Zheng still has a busy day tomorrow. It wouldn't be good to wear you out too much today. I'll just hold you while we talk, okay?"

Su Zheng nodded. "Tell me."

Luo Yunchen withdrew his hands and simply held Su Zheng in his arms, speaking of serious matters. "The Minister of Revenue is from the Shen Faction, and the Minister of Works is from the Lin Faction. Let them go to each other for funds or manpower.

Given the current tense standoff between the two factions, they won't pass up this chance to pull the other down.

By then, those who perform well in this task will naturally have someone to speak for them. All we have to do is give a little nudge."

Su Zheng asked Luo Yunchen in detail about matters that required attention and instructed, "Tomorrow, stay behind me and don't draw attention to yourself.

All decisions will come from me. You will be neither informed nor involved. Just follow me as my companion-attendant."

Luo Yunchen smiled. "A Zheng is afraid someone might use me to create trouble against you."

"It's possible. What if, the moment you step forward, someone decides to target you instead of the Shen and Lin factions? Until those two factions have fought each other to the bone, it's better for you to stay in the shadows and gather your strength."

"Alright, I'll listen to Brother A Zheng."

The next day, at the hour of Chen (roughly 7–9 AM).

Su Zheng and Luo Yunchen, along with the Eastern Palace retinue, traveled in the Crown Prince's procession to the southern city.

Upon arrival, officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue had already lined up outside the southern city.

On the outskirts, soldiers from the Patrol and Defense Camp were maintaining order.

Xiaoyunzi intended to step forward to help Su Zheng out of the sedan.

But Luo Yunchen stopped him, stepping forward himself so that Su Zheng could use his arm to descend.

As soon as Su Zheng appeared, officials and commoners knelt and paid their respects: "Long live the Crown Prince! May the Crown Prince live a thousand years!"

Su Zheng raised a hand. "All ministers, please rise."

After everyone stood up, Su Zheng looked at the officials in front and asked, "Does everyone understand why His Majesty has sent you here today?"

The officials exchanged glances. The highest-ranking official present, the Minister of Revenue, was expected to step forward and speak.

A middle-aged man with a beard, with a crafty look, barely keeping up the air of a scholar, stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Your Highness, as I understand, His Majesty has appointed you to oversee the renovation of the southern city's appearance and ordered us to follow your commands."

Su Zheng was unsure if this man was indeed the Minister of Revenue, but he simply nodded. "That's right! Within the imperial city, right under the emperor's nose, such a dilapidated sight exists. Aren't you senior ministers ashamed if other countries learn of this? The common people see this every day and will surely mock the royal family, damaging imperial dignity. Can you afford that responsibility?"

Hearing Su Zheng's rebuke, whether they were truly afraid or not, everyone hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, pleading guilty: "We deserve to die ten thousand deaths!"

"Death, death, death. You all say that so easily, so why don't any of you actually go and die?"

Everyone: "..."

Was His Highness hinting that they should die to show their loyalty?

Was that the meaning?

Before they could ponder further, Su Zheng asked, "Where is the Minister of Works?"

The Minister of Works hastily kowtowed again. "This humble minister is here!"

"Isn't construction works your ministry's responsibility? Why have you let the southern city fall into disrepair without fixing it?"

"Your Highness, it's not that I neglected it, but the refugees in the southern city, they..."

Su Zheng cut him off impatiently. "I asked you about the city's appearance, not refugees. A Minister of Works not handling blueprints and schedules, instead dealing with refugees? Is that your job? Refugees are the Ministry of Revenue's concern. Let them handle it! Why poke your nose where it doesn't belong?"

Minister of Works: "..."

Though he was scolded, he couldn't help feeling a strange sense of glee.

Minister of Revenue: "..."

Even though I wasn't scolded, why do I feel so uneasy?

"Speaking of refugees, I saw them the other day. Now that we're renovating the city, we could use them. Feed them and they'll work; we can save on labor costs! Where is the Minister of Revenue?"

The middle-aged man who had just spoken kowtowed. "Your servant is here!"

"Did you hear what I just said? Register every household in the southern city, distribute food based on the number of capable laborers, and let them work under the Ministry of Works after they've eaten."

The Minister of Revenue hesitated. "Your Highness, regarding the food distribution, is there a time limit? If we keep distributing porridge and grain for long, the state treasury might..."

"Is it my job to manage the state treasury? Or will I oversee construction? If you have questions about the timeline, ask the Minister of Works, not me!"

Minister of Revenue: "..."

How frustrating! Shouldn't you, as the one in charge, at least look into this?

"Enough. You two ministers can discuss the specifics yourselves. I only care about results. I imagine you all have many important state affairs to attend to. It's overkill to have so many high-ranking officials here for a small southern city. Let's do this: only officials below the fifth rank will stay to personally oversee the project. Record everything you do and report directly to me. The rest of you can return to your duties. Both ministers can go too—just make sure you've prepared what's needed."

After the required personnel left, only a few remained. Luo Yunchen's designated people were mostly fifth-rank officials, and almost all of them stayed.

Su Zheng addressed them: "I've already sent people to prepare food. We'll distribute some to the southern city residents first so they can eat and then respond to your inquiries. The Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works should each do their part—register the households and survey the city's layout to draw up plans. I want registration completed in two days, and construction to start the day after. Can you do it?"

The officials exchanged hesitant glances. None dared make promises, only said they would do their best.

Su Zheng wasn't angry. "Do your best. If I find any of you being two-faced or slacking off, I will not be lenient!"

"We wouldn't dare!"

"Alright, go prepare."

Then Su Zheng summoned the leader of the Patrol and Defense Camp, a commander.

"Commander, take your men into the city to maintain order and protect the officials. Don't let the people cause trouble, and don't harm the civilians either. Understood?"

The commander, a member of the Shen Faction, naturally obeyed Su Zheng's orders.

He accepted the command: "I shall obey Your Highness's command!"

With most arrangements in place,

when someone reported that all matters in the city were properly arranged, Su Zheng and Luo Yunchen, along with their guards, entered the city.