His Highness Duke of Qin had asked Nanguo Jun to distribute two jin of grain to everyone in the city before sunset. It was currently noon, which meant there were only six hours left until sunset. Official Nanguo dearly wanted to give Nanguo Jun a good beating, but he didn't have time.
He had to think of a solution as soon as possible. Otherwise, His Highness Duke of Qin's personality might make him and his father suffer as soon as sunset arrived for all the officials in the disaster areas to see!
Logically speaking, Official Nanguo should pay respects to His Highness Duke of Qin as soon as he arrived at Nanguo Prefecture. But after such a major incident, Official Nanguo had no idea what to do. How could he dare to go?
"Someone come, keep an eye on this unfilial son for Old Man. Don't let him take a single step out of the gates!"
Official Nanguo left behind these vicious words before hurrying out of the estate.
He went to a hidden residence not far from the senior provincial official's estate, where the official sent by the imperial uncle's estate was staying.
As soon as Emperor Tianhui ordered the Duke of Qin to go to the disaster areas, the imperial uncle's estate had sent someone here in secret. This person was none other than Official Yu from the Ministry of Revenue, who was in charge of managing the grain distribution. After the famine broke out, Official Yu had been ordered to investigate the distribution of grain in the disaster areas.
Logically speaking, Official Yu was supposed to clean up the corrupt officials below him, but he'd embezzled from his own people to help the imperial uncle's estate get plenty of grain and falsified accounts.
Under these circumstances, he could turn a blind eye to the corrupt officials below him. As long as they didn't go too far, he wouldn't pursue the matter even if he had evidence in his hands. After all, the upper echelons of the government were no longer upright. In order to seal the mouths of his subordinates and send in reports of impeachment, he'd have to give them some benefits.
Besides, Official Yu didn't just take bribes from the imperial uncle's estate. Many people in the disaster area had also given him benefits.
Official Yu lived in South Ning Prefecture, so Official Nanguo naturally worshipped him like a Bodhisattva. No matter what Official Yu asked for, Official Nanguo was the first to satisfy him. However, there was one thing that Official Nanguo had yet to agree to.
Today, Official Nanguo had hurried to his door precisely for this matter.
Official Yu was just about to leave when Official Nanguo arrived.
"Heheh, Official Nanguo, you came at the right time. Look what your good son has done! This official was just about to go look for you! "Official Yu said angrily.
Official Nanguo had a helpless expression on his face. "Official Yu, this lowly official didn't even have time to pay his respects to His Highness Duke of Qin before rushing over to discuss this matter with you!"
"Discuss with this official? Hehe, what else do we have to discuss? To tell you the truth, the matter I mentioned was personally instructed by the higher-ups, yet you're still hesitating. What, did you have to wait until something happened before coming to find me? "Official Yu said disdainfully.
If it wasn't for the fact that South Ning Prefecture was the largest prefecture in the country and a disaster area, as well as one of the most important cities in Tianning's central regions, the imperial uncle would never have chosen Official Nanguo, whose stance was still unclear.
"Lord Yu, you can't say that …"
Official Nanguo spoke as he pulled Official Yu into the room. Lowering his voice, he added, "Official Yu, His Highness Duke of Qin isn't someone to be trifled with. That's something everyone in Tianning knows. This official is only thinking for the sake of our lives. If the matter you mentioned doesn't succeed, then we'll both lose our lives! The higher-ups have always abandoned the pawns to protect the general! "
Official Yu wanted Official Nanguo to do nothing more than gather the disaster victims and incite them to revolt. They'd accuse His Highness Duke of Qin of embezzlement and threaten him to hand over the grain.
They weren't planning a small rebellion, but a massive one that would spread from South Ning Prefecture to all of the disaster areas!
His Highness Duke of Qin had ventured into the disaster areas alone without a single guard. As soon as the tens of thousands of people decided to revolt and add fuel to the fire, His Highness Duke of Qin would lose the hearts of the people if he couldn't hand over the grain. Emperor Tianhui might even punish him and strip him of his title of Qinwang to quell the people's anger.
This was a huge trap that Official Nanguo had no choice but to consider carefully.
If they failed and allowed His Highness Duke of Qin to counterattack, just as he had said, the ones who would die the quickest would be him and Official Yu.
Official Yu snorted disdainfully at Official Nanguo's considerations. "Then what are you doing here today?"
Official Nanguo was in a difficult position. He lowered his head and sighed.
A cold smile rose to Official Yu's lips. "Official Nanguo, I think it's getting late. If you don't have anything else to do, you should hurry and get the grain. There's at least 20,000 people in South Ning Prefecture. That's a lot of grain for each person!"
Official Nanguo sighed again and again. His son hadn't underestimated him. He really did have the skills to get so much grain in such a short time, but His Highness Duke of Qin only had to ask him, "Where did you get all this grain?" and he'd be in trouble.
In the end, he raised his head and said, "Lord Yu, regarding the matter you mentioned, this lowly official has a plan. We can use this opportunity to give it a try! What do you think, Official Yu?
Official Yu was waiting for these exact words. He laughed out loud and said, "Feel free to speak!"
Official Nanguo scooted closer and whispered in Official Yu's ear for a long time. Official Yu listened intently until a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
In the end, Official Yu was overjoyed. He chuckled and said, "Excellent, excellent! Let's split up. Once we're done, this official will definitely report to the higher-ups. Your transfer to the imperial capital … hehe, it won't be long now! "
After bidding farewell to Official Yu, Official Nanguo hurried to the inn where Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi were staying.
Even in the teeth of the storm, Long Fei Ye was still generous enough to reserve the most luxurious inn in South Ning Prefecture.
Before there were rumors of his corruption, he'd always been this extravagant. When he didn't need to hide his identity or whereabouts, he had very high standards for food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
When Official Nanguo arrived, Long Fei Ye was drinking tea with Han Yunxi in the second-floor lobby.
As soon as he reached the staircase, Official Nanguo led the officials behind him to kneel and kowtow. "This official, Nanguo Mingde of South Ning Prefecture, greets Your Highness Duke of Qin. May Your Highness live thousands and thousands of years. May Your Highness live thousands and thousands of years. May Your Highness live thousands and thousands of years!"
You may rise, "he coldly said after a few glances," You may rise. "
This icy voice was enough to make everyone present tremble. The other officials didn't even dare to look at him. After they rose, they all lowered their heads and waited in place, trembling with fear.
Official Nanguo was also apprehensive. He bent at the waist and hurried forward. "This official came late to receive Your Highness and caused my unfilial son to offend Your Highness. This official asks for Your Highness' forgiveness."
"So, you father and son don't plan on giving out grain?"
As Long Fei Ye spoke, he turned to look at Official Nanguo. When Official Nanguo met those cold, emotionless eyes, he immediately shivered and hurriedly lowered his head. His heart was filled with fear, and he didn't dare look at him again.
He'd always heard that His Highness Duke of Qin was a cold and emotionless person. His methods were vicious, and he never showed mercy to anyone. Now that Official Nanguo saw it with his own eyes, he somewhat regretted agreeing to Official Yu's request.
However, he was already at the end of his rope. Now that the arrow had been nocked, he had no choice but to release it.
"This official doesn't dare! This official will do his utmost to carry out Your Highness's orders. This official will not hesitate to go through water and tread on fire! "Official Nanguo hurriedly expressed his stance.
"Then go." Long Fei Ye spoke as he looked out the window. "It's getting late."
Seeing His Highness Duke of Qin's frosty profile, Official Nanguo almost wanted to retreat for a moment. However, for the sake of survival, for the sake of fighting for that last sliver of hope, he braced himself and persisted.
He feigned a troubled expression and said helplessly, "Your Highness Duke of Qin, there are a total of twenty-three thousand people registered in the city. If each person has two jin of grain, that's more than forty thousand jin. Not to mention the current disaster, this official wouldn't be able to gather so much grain even in a normal year!"
"You mean to say that this prince is deliberately making things difficult for you father and son?" Long Fei Ye asked. Han Yunxi calmly sipped her tea on the side as she watched Long Fei Ye abuse people.
Official Nanguo was so scared that his forehead was covered in sweat. He hurriedly explained, "This official wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare! It's just that the amount of grain is too large. This official is powerless! Your Highness Duke of Qin, please judge clearly! "
"You mean to say that this prince has been played by your son?" Long Fei Ye asked again.
Han Yunxi almost spat out her tea when she heard this. Official Nanguo was so frightened that he fell to his knees with a thump. "My son wouldn't dare! Your Highness misunderstands! My son doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth and spoke wildly, offending Your Highness. This official has come to apologize to Your Highness. Your Highness, please forgive this lowly one's transgression! Please spare my son this once. "
At this time, Long Fei Ye finally looked him in the eye and said sternly, "Nanguo Mingde, the twenty thousand people in the city are all waiting for grain. Now you're telling this prince that you can't hand it over? Teach this prince how to explain this to the people!"
Official Nanguo fell silent, not knowing how to respond.
At this time, Han Yunxi sighed softly. "Your Highness, Official Nanguo really can't hand over that much grain. As this concubine sees it, just do as Nanguo Jun says and pay with his life. Two lives to quell the resentment of twenty thousand people, heh heh, it's worth it. "
Official Nanguo's heart trembled at these words. Just a moment ago, he had been thinking of retreating, but now he was determined to fight Official Yu to the end.
He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please spare my life! Spare my life! This official will immediately go and transfer the grain. This official will do his best! "
After leaving the inn, Official Nanguo felt that his breathing had become much smoother. He had only come here to put on a show. Of course, he would still transfer the grain. If he didn't, how could he continue the show?
Tonight, there would be a good show to watch in South Ning City!
Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi stood side by side at the window, watching Official Nanguo's departing figure.
"Your Highness, this prefectural governor isn't stupid enough to really transfer the grain, right?"
According to Han Yunxi's understanding, the prefectural governor was a high-ranking official. Anyone who could climb to this position wasn't simple.
Long Fei Ye didn't answer her. Instead, he muttered to himself, "Where did the disaster victims go?"
South Ning City was the center of South Ning Prefecture. They had traveled all the way from the north, so they had passed through more than half of South Ning Prefecture. So far, they hadn't seen a large number of disaster victims. The news that the city would be sending out grain before sunset today must have spread, but there was still no sign of a flood of disaster victims swarming into the city.
This … what was going on?
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