Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Jiangling Prefecture was in chaos for an entire day. The Sixth Prince conducted a thorough investigation of the corrupt officials in Jiangling, and news of Prefect Liu secretly hoarding disaster relief grain spread throughout the city within half a day. The bodies of several corrupt officials, including the Jiangling Assistant Prefect (Tongpan) who had been beaten to death, were hung outside the government office. The refugees in the city had seen officials covering for each other during disasters, but had never seen sacks of grain placed near the government office. The imperial envoy from the court showed them through his actions that Jiangling had grain.

Vice Prefect Xu, who had revealed the location of the grain depot to the authorities, thought he would also face imprisonment.

Unexpectedly, upon returning to the government office, the Sixth Prince summoned him and assigned him other tasks.

"Jiangling cannot fall into chaos now. You are the Vice Prefect of Jiangling. The Prefect has been imprisoned for breaking the law, so Jiangling is temporarily under your management," Ying Fusheng instructed the court officials accompanying him to take charge of the Jiangling government office. "As for the porridge stalls, the government clerks, and those troublemaking local gentry, you decide how to handle them."

Vice Prefect Xu was stunned: "Your Highness, what does this mean?"

"You know who has merit and who has guilt, and you understand what I mean." Ying Fusheng stood up, signaling for others to take away the Jiangling government's records, then said, "Whether someone is guilty will be determined after evaluating their achievements. Vice Prefect, the people of Jiangling still need you."

Vice Prefect Xu wanted to ask more, but Weng Yanqing stopped him, bowing to the Jiangling Vice Prefect: "Sir, I will remain in Jiangling from now on. You may proceed without worry. His Highness is entrusting this to you; you need not hesitate."

There were too many scheming minds in Jiangling's government. The Sixth Prince stood at the top, an unbreachable red line.

But Jiangling still needed officials. Vice Prefect Xu had done many things for the Prefect before and held a certain status in Jiangling. Deterrence was necessary, but during a disaster, order could not be disrupted. With the Sixth Prince's authority established, a steady intermediary was needed to stabilize the local gentry, wealthy merchants, and remaining officials.

Local matters required local finesse; some things, if handled by outsiders, could easily go wrong.

Vice Prefect Xu was just right for this position. The officials, merchants, and scholars of Jiangling would trust him more.

After finishing his discussion with Vice Prefect Xu, Weng Yanqing caught up with Ying Fusheng: "Your Highness, there are more refugees than we anticipated."

"We can't let them gather. Too many people lead to chaos, and General Chen's troops are too few to control a riot in Jiangling." Ying Fusheng pondered, looking at the people on the streets. Qi Hanzhou's letter said the situation in Jiangnan was complicated, with disasters and refugees. Post-disaster disorder easily sparked public resentment. If he were the mastermind behind the scenes, public resentment would be the perfect starting point for rebellion. "This Prefect Liu has backers. All his actions were to buy time for a riot. On his own, he wouldn't dare to withhold the grain depot."

Why was that grain depot built deep in the mountains? If they truly wanted to hide grain, why go so far into the wilderness?

If Vice Prefect Xu hadn't stepped forward, he wouldn't have found the depot so quickly... During a disaster, it was relief grain, but in wartime, it would be military supplies. That was the audacity of Prefect Liu.

"Don't spread the news about the mountain grain depot."

Ying Fusheng ordered: "Keep an eye on these officials. Someone should still be sending messages... This Jiangling won't fall into chaos until Qi Hanzhou brings his men."

...

"Don't rush! The elderly, women, and children come this way!"

"Take it slowly, everyone will get grain... The more you rush, the less it helps. The officials will take care of it!"

"Those who can work, come register here. Those who can't, go to the tents!"

Outside Jiangling City, people moved among the temporary tents. Refugees from various disaster-stricken counties had only just arrived at the city outskirts. After just two days, the number of gathered refugees far exceeded expectations. Wang Guanzhi watched this scene. In previous years, handling refugees during disasters was the hardest task. But because of the emergency dam repairs a few days earlier, the refugees at the dam tents mixed with the craftsmen, unknowingly following the orders of the court officials who had arrived.

The initial chaos stabilized within a day and a half. Those among the refugees with some ability were assigned to manage newcomers at the city gates, paid daily wages. These refugees understood the people's suffering better than the officials, and their simple words were more convincing to other refugees than official orders.

"This Sixth Prince really has something. I thought we'd be short-handed, but he turned around and hired these refugees to manage people, solving our manpower problem," a military officer in the tent remarked, watching the orderly scene. "Managing these refugees is harder than surrounding Jiangling's government office."

The elite troops Old General Chen sent to Jiangling were limited. The more people, the harder it was to control.

After finding the grain depot a few days ago, they had to send thirty elite soldiers and court troops to guard it. The remaining forces struggled to manage the growing refugee numbers. But the Sixth Prince went to Jiangling's government office, executed the Assistant Prefect (Tongpan), and established his authority. Prefect Liu was still locked in the government prison.

The Sixth Prince didn't punish all the Jiangling officials collectively. Instead, he let Vice Prefect Xu temporarily handle government affairs. Those who had erred had a chance to redeem themselves through merit, but those who knowingly committed mistakes were beaten to death and their bodies displayed... With this mix of grace and severity, the remaining Jiangling officials could only follow orders, not dare to act rashly.

When Wang Guanzhi entered the tent, he saw the prince sitting at the desk. Lately, every time he saw him, it was like this. He heard this prince was only fifteen, had been ill for years, and among the court's convoy was a carriage full of his medicines, with several imperial physicians accompanying him.

Over time, he heard more from others. The prince had camped by the river for ten days during the emergency dam repairs. Even though a residence had been prepared for him in Jiangling City, he didn't stay there often, preferring to remain by the river.

With the prince staying here, the arriving refugees, hearing that a prince was present, inexplicably gained some confidence.

Ying Fusheng looked up and saw Wang Guanzhi standing at the entrance: "Come in, I have something to tell you."

"This is—" Wang Guanzhi was stunned. The blueprint meticulously depicted the riverbank's condition, with many annotations from craftsmen. The emergency dam repairs were done, yet the prince was still having people study the dam.

"A plan for rebuilding the dam." Ying Fusheng had brought blueprints from the Ministry of Works in the capital. The craftsmen with him, carefully selected by Liu Yunshi, had inspected the Jiangling dam during the emergency repairs and produced this temporary plan. "With so many refugees now, they can't stay gathered in one place for long. I'm putting the dam work entirely in your hands. This time, it's not emergency repairs but construction. Review the plan with the local craftsmen. If there are no issues, proceed as soon as possible."

Wang Guanzhi's feelings were mixed, holding the blueprint in silence for a long time.

"Lord Wang is from the Jiangnan Ministry of Works. Every time Jiangling has a disaster, the downstream Jiangnan suffers." Ying Fusheng, seeing no response, continued looking at the accounts from Jiangling's government. "What, do you need me to teach you how to proceed? Or should I send someone to Jiangnan to get other craftsmen? But there's no way now—no one to transfer. Either make do with these, or figure it out yourself."

Wang Guanzhi: "I can handle it."

Ying Fusheng nodded and waved for Song An to handle the rest.

Wang Guanzhi had a lot to say but was already being escorted out by Song An.

Just outside, he bumped into a young woman.

The young woman glanced at him, then chuckled softly, carrying a bowl of medicine inside.

"That's the medical officer by the Sixth Prince's side. She's been brewing medicine for him these days," a craftsman said.

Wang Guanzhi, clutching the blueprint, couldn't help but look back. "He drinks medicine every day?"

"Yes," the craftsman, a veteran from the Ministry of Works, took a rare break to chat. "You wouldn't know this in the capital, but this Sixth Prince nearly didn't make it a couple of years ago. His health has always been poor, but he gets things done. A few years back, during that big imperial examination scandal and the crackdown on corrupt officials, he simply took a seat in the Court of Judicial Review..."

Wang Guanzhi thought back to when he had rushed over on horseback, and the court's convoy hadn't lagged behind at all.

If the prince's health was so bad, why push so hard? Wouldn't falling ill just cause delays?

The old craftsman sighed while speaking. "This time, to avoid delays, they traveled at full speed. I wonder who led the way—the mountain roads were terribly bumpy... Sir Wang, where are you going? Sir Wang!"

Wang Guanzhi gripped the blueprint tightly, his pace quickening.

After walking a dozen steps, he still turned back to look at the tent. After much thought, he grabbed a colleague and instructed: "If anything happens with the Sixth Prince these days, have someone inform me."

After the man left, Wang Guanzhi hesitated, then called his guard: "Send a fast horse to Prince Jin's residence, report the situation here to the Prince."

...

Wang Guanzhi acted quickly. The dam was urgent, so that same day he moved a group of refugees from the dam camp downstream along the river.

On the third day after the dam repairs were completed, Ying Fusheng received news that the able-bodied refugees had followed Wang Guanzhi. When intimidating the Jiangling government, the stone merchants had contributed materials. Since the work-for-relief plan had started, these resources should be used. Gathering refugees was a major danger, and rebuilding the dam could disperse them along the river, coordinating with nearby disaster-stricken counties.

Ying Fusheng had already sent a fast message to the capital. Liu Yunshi and Shen Changcun in the capital would know what to do.

As he thought this, a tickle in his throat made him cough. Song An quickly supported him: "Your Highness, it's time to rest."

Chen Xuqiu took his pulse and found a low fever. Even though she had insisted he rest, the long journey and the strain after arriving in Jiangling had taken a toll on his body.

The court had sent elite troops from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Works. He could have rested, but he refused to let his guard down, fearing that even one oversight would slip through.

She said: "After days of exhaustion, Your Highness, the pills I gave you can't replace meals. Song An, keep watch. If nothing urgent happens outside, let His Highness rest now. We'll call you if something comes up."

Before Chen Xuqiu could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent—

"Your Highness—bad news! Vice Prefect Xu sent a courier on horseback: someone has died in the refugee camp outside the city!"

The moment the words fell, the tent fell into a dead silence.

Chen Xuqiu frowned and turned around: "Weren't they supposed to be separated?"

"Many among the refugees were from other regions. The camp we originally set up had no issues. The problem lay with the refugees who arrived yesterday—they likely drank contaminated water. It could have been an epidemic..."

Ying Fusheng closed his eyes, pondered for a long time, then opened them.

The hardest part had arrived: post-disaster epidemic.

He finished taking his medicine, stood up, and said, "Notify the imperial physicians."

Outside the city, at the refugee camp, a riot had already erupted in the makeshift tents.

When the first death occurred, the fragile peace of Jiangling of the past few days was shattered. The refugees gathered those with fevers in one spot, a sight that terrified some commoners. The dead were dragged away by government runners from the Jiangling prefectural office and burned in the open along with their bedding.

When Ying Fusheng arrived, he heard the wailing in the distance and saw the blazing flames.

The fire consumed the bodies, and the cries from the refugees made him stop short in his tracks.

Vice Prefect Xu looked back, never expecting the prince to personally appear here: "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

"The bodies were burned?" Ying Fusheng asked.

"Your Highness, there was no other way," Vice Prefect Xu hurriedly explained. "The bodies themselves were a source of contagion. Containing the source is the only way to prevent the epidemic from spreading. But there were simply too many refugees."

The folk doctors present all understood in their hearts that the epidemic had only emerged today was already beyond everyone's expectations.

In the past, every time Jiangling suffered from floods, too many people died from epidemic diseases. Fortunately, this prince had ordered the refugees to be separated into different camps beforehand. Otherwise, with so many people, an outbreak of disease would have been no small matter.

Flood-related epidemics were contagious. In previous years, countless people had died from them!

"I'm not sick! Not sick!" Suddenly, a man at the registration point shouted, only to be subdued by the surrounding runners.

"Stop him! He's running a fever! He can't be allowed into other tents!"

The fear of burning bodies and death made the gathered refugees terrified of being taken to the isolation ward.

"They're rounding people up to die!" someone shouted.

That line completely ignited the panic among the refugees. Immediately, a man tried to break through the runners' blockade, attempting to charge into other refugees' tents. The runners held him back. Seeing this, other refugees also feared being treated differently and joined in without hesitation. Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, Ying Fusheng's gaze swept toward the instigator among the crowd.

The trouble with refugees—how many were truly victims, and how many were agitators taking advantage of the chaos?

It had begun...

"Arrest the troublemaker," Ying Fusheng ordered.

Soon, the troublemaker was dragged out of the crowd.

When brought before the crowd, he stubbornly kept silent. Among the refugees, there were those willing to work and serve, as well as wicked men who only wanted to freeload.

"Which camp is he from?" Ying Fusheng asked.

A clerk quickly checked the records and replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, he's a refugee from a neighboring county, currently assigned to Camp Thirteen in the south."

"Take him to prison," Ying Fusheng said. "As for those in Camp Thirteen who know him, they are not to receive rations today."

The troublemaker was momentarily stunned. He had been paid today—someone had promised him riches and glory if he stirred up trouble here. But he had only thought it would be a few shouts. He never expected to be dragged away. "By what authority? Someone, the high official is silencing us!!"

He was dragged away by the runners, shouting all the while. Those in the crowd who had been thinking about causing trouble hesitated at Ying Fusheng's words.

Those in the same camp as the recently arrested man turned pale with fear and dared not step forward.

"That is a prince of the imperial court!"

The refugees all around looked on. Ying Fusheng met their gaze and said, "Today is an exception. The people are suffering, and the court will certainly provide relief. But this does not include those who cause trouble or attempt to spread the epidemic."

Some refugees were seeing this Sixth Prince for the first time. The emergency repairs to the dam, the execution of corrupt officials, the collection of grain and medicine... In previous years, they would have thought it a blessing just to get a full meal. They never imagined they would have enough to eat, let alone earn wages to get through the winter.

Gradually, they quieted down and fixed their eyes on the Sixth Prince.

Vice Prefect Xu was astonished by this scene, and the surrounding officials also looked on.

"Today, Jiangling has skilled folk healers, medicine, and grain. You have come from various disaster-stricken areas, and the court treats everyone fairly," Ying Fusheng said, his expression stern. "Times are hard. The authorities have already gathered Jiangling's physicians and collected epidemic prescriptions and herbs from all regions. The court will save everyone, but there is one exception."

"From today on, anyone who stirs up trouble, incites violence, or attempts to spread the epidemic may be reported. Those who report will be rewarded by the court and spared from being implicated. But those who try to conceal or shield troublemakers, along with their relatives and campmates, will share the same punishment."

"Troublemakers will be expelled; the sick who cause trouble will not be treated."

As he spoke, doctors arrived in the distance, each carrying a medicine box, and behind them, people were carrying medicinal herbs.

A carriage stopped. The imperial physicians, carrying their medicine boxes, turned pale with fear when they saw the Sixth Prince appearing here.

"Your Highness, the imperial physicians have arrived," Song An said.

Upon hearing that these were imperial physicians, the refugees present looked over in disbelief.