newbobooks Chapter 266 Father Shen Returns from Yangzhou
Chapter 266 Father Shen Returns from Yangzhou
More than half of the spring had passed, and Shen Maoxue finally returned from Yangzhou.
When he first arrived in Yangzhou as the imperial commissioner, he issued many orders in succession.
The Great Zhou was a powerful country, and most regions had warehouses built by the government to store grain. Especially in a rich place like Yangzhou, there were many granaries.
It’s just that the roads were blocked by heavy snow, so the food could not be transported to the disaster area.
Shen Maoxue ordered people to clear the snow and build a road first, and then use horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, mule carts, etc. to transport grain from the granary to the disaster-stricken areas to ensure food supply for the victims.
At the same time, orders were given to build tents and temporary buildings to serve as shelters to provide shelter and rescue for the people.
Then they distributed winter clothes, charcoal, coal and the like to ensure that the people would not freeze to death in the cold winter.
The survival problem was temporarily solved and the order in the disaster area suddenly improved a lot.
Afterwards, Shen Maoxue mobilized the power of the government and the people, and organized the people, soldiers and gentry to participate in disaster relief.
After these busy days, the heavy snow disaster in Yangzhou has passed, the post-disaster reconstruction has been done very well, and the people have returned to normal life.
Although Shen Maoxue was an imperial envoy, he did everything himself, working day and night, and the people saw it all.
When he left Yangzhou, the court had already appointed a new governor. The people were reluctant to let him go and hoped that Mr. Shen would stay and be the governor of Yangzhou.
Shen Maoxue said goodbye to the people who lined the road to see him off with a gracious look on his face, but the corners of his lips couldn't help but twitch...
Which official wouldn't try his best to get into the capital? His good daughter is a favorite concubine in the palace, and he has a promising future in the capital. Unless he is stupid, he will stay in Yangzhou...
in the hall.
At the beginning, Nangong Xuanyu promoted Shen Maoxue because of Shen Zhinian's consideration.
Her family background is better, so she will have more protection in the harem.
Who would have thought that Shen Maoxue really had some real skills, and every time he assigned a task, he completed it beautifully.
Especially this time when he went to Yangzhou as an imperial envoy, the orders issued by Shen Maoxue could be called a template for snow disaster relief!
The emperor has ordered the relevant officials to organize the records, and in the future, when dealing with snow disasters in other places, this process should be followed!
After Shen Maoxue finished his report, he talked about the last thing: "...Your Majesty, although the heavy snow disaster in Yangzhou did not cause particularly serious consequences due to timely handling, it did affect the lives of the people after all."
"I have been here all the way and I cannot bear to see the people of Yangzhou having to bear such a heavy burden after the disaster. So I dare to ask Your Majesty to reduce Yangzhou's taxes and corvée this year!"
Reducing taxes in disaster-stricken areas has always been a national policy of the Great Zhou Dynasty. In addition, the relatives of some ministers in the court are also in Yangzhou. As soon as Shen Maoxue finished speaking, he was agreed by many people.
"Your Majesty, I second the proposal!"
"Lord Shen's words make sense, and I agree with you!"
"Seconded!"
"..."
The Duke of Zhenguo and the Duke of Dingguo served as the left and right prime ministers respectively in the court.
In the palace, Concubine Rou is a sworn enemy of the Empress and Concubine Wen. Duke Zhenguo certainly would not sit idly by and watch Shen Maoxue take the limelight in the court.
"Your Majesty only ascended the throne last year, and the treasury is already insufficient. This time, the relief for the severe snowstorm in Yangzhou has consumed a large amount of money. If you further reduce taxes and corvée labor, wouldn't it increase the burden on the court?"
The court officials of the Zhenguogong Mansion all nodded and said, "Zhenguogong's words make sense!"
"Even if Lord Shen wants to achieve political achievements and win a good reputation among the people, he must also consider the actual situation of the national treasury!"
"I heard that Lord Shen was only a sixth-rank official before, and he has been promoted for a short time. It is understandable that he is not thoughtful in many aspects. If he is sent down to the countryside for a few more years of experience, he will be more calm in handling things."
"..."
The enemy of the enemy is the friend.
Upon receiving his instructions, the officials of the Duke Dingguo's Mansion immediately stood up to oppose them and spoke for Shen Maoxue.
Together with the neutral court officials, the three gangs were arguing fiercely!
The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, watching this scene quietly, his eyes as deep as the sea.
In the end, Shen Maoxue stepped forward and bowed to the Duke of Zhenguo: "On behalf of the people of Yangzhou, I would like to thank the Duke of Zhenguo for his great kindness!"
This operation confused everyone else.
Even the Duke of Zhenguo himself didn't know what he was up to: "...Why are you thanking me?"
Shen Maoxue said with gratitude: "From the tone of the Duke just now, it is clear that he is also worried about the people in Yangzhou who were affected by the disaster. However, considering the empty treasury, he had to be hard-hearted and oppose Your Majesty's reduction of taxes and corvée in Yangzhou."
"My Lord, you are so concerned about the country and the people, and you also take the overall situation into consideration. This makes me feel ashamed!"
"So I think that since the Duke of Guo has come out and said this, he must have found a way to have the best of both worlds. After all, everyone in the court knows that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is a wealthy family, and the Duke of Guo must be willing to donate money and supplies to help Your Majesty!"
"This will not only help alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of Yangzhou, but also ease the pressure on the national treasury. Your Excellency's vision is so great that I really admire him!"
The Duke of Zhenguo suddenly felt a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat.
Shen Maoxue has blocked all his retreat routes and placed him in such a high position, what else can he say?
Say you don’t want to donate money?
If he didn't want to donate, then he kept trying to stop the emperor from reducing taxes and corvée labor in Yangzhou. Doesn't that mean he doesn't care about the lives of the people of Yangzhou? If this gets out, will his reputation still be ruined? I'm afraid the people of Yangzhou will curse him behind his back...
Say you have no money?
Everyone knows that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is well-fed and has been rich for generations. If he has no money, is there anyone else in the court who has money?
He has no money, so where did all the money from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion go? Did he do anything shameful?
The Duke of Zhenguo finally understood why a little concubine named Roupin could make the Empress and Concubine Wen suffer defeat so many times.
I'm afraid that Concubine Rou is as cunning and difficult to deal with as Shen Maoxue! Like father, like daughter!
Duke Dingguo was happy to see Duke Zhenguo suffer a setback: "After serving in the same court for so many years, this is the first time I know that Duke Zhenguo has such a sense of justice in his heart! It seems that I have really misunderstood Duke Zhenguo in the past."
"I just wonder how much money the Zhenguogong Mansion plans to donate to the disaster victims in Yangzhou?"
The Duke of Zhenguo looked at him and sneered, "As a great family, seeing the suffering of the people of Yangzhou, I think the Duke's Mansion will also do its duty, right?"
The end result is...
Not only the two major families, but also officials of all ranks in the court were involved and "voluntarily" donated money and supplies.
Without spending a penny from the national treasury and without reducing taxes in Yangzhou, the people's future lives were greatly guaranteed.