Chapter 33: The Solution for the Disaster Victims

Chapter 33: The Solution for the Disaster Victims

“Darling? Even Anhua City couldn’t solve this matter. Does the Prince really have a chance?”

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan’er with a smile, “Don’t worry, just watch. We indeed have an urgent problem right now!”

Yin Pan’er wore a slightly puzzled expression.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “This Prince left in a hurry and only brought a little over a hundred taels of silver. The disaster victims outside are waiting for food. I wonder if Miss Yin could lend me some.”

Yin Pan’er let out a sigh of relief. “Prince, I thought it was something serious.”

As she spoke, Yin Pan’er took out several banknotes from her person. “These total ten thousand in banknotes. It should be enough to buy some grain for porridge distribution.”

Nie Bing, looking worried, stopped Yin Pan’er. “Pan’er, this is your own savings. If you give it all away, what will you do if you need money yourself? Whoever made the big promise should be the one to pay.”

After saying this, she glared at Xiao Ce and said, “Do you have the heart to take it?”

Xiao Ce glanced at Nie Bing and said, “My wife gave it to me, what’s it to you?”

Saying this, Xiao Ce unceremoniously took the banknotes and even showed them off in front of her.

Nie Bing was furious. Yin Pan’er pulled Nie Bing and said, “Sister Nie Bing, let it go. The Prince is using it for disaster relief. These disaster victims are truly pitiful.”

They lined up and were just about to pay the deposit when a middle-aged man came galloping on horseback.

Soon, he reached the city gate. The middle-aged man dismounted.

He directly performed a grand salute, kneeling to welcome Xiao Ce.

“The magistrate of Anhua City, Xu Zhiyuan, did not know that the King of Northern Desert was arriving in person. I failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive this offense, Prince.”

Xiao Ce was a bit surprised.

From the Capital to here, apart from his own soldiers and officers.

No official from the imperial court had ever performed such a grand salute for him.

“Minister Xu, you are too polite! This Prince did not announce his arrival. If someone hadn’t forced the issue earlier, I wouldn’t have revealed my identity. Minister Xu, please rise quickly.”

After Xu Zhiyuan stood up, he said to the gate guards, “Later, after you process the travel permits for the Prince and his party, deliver them.”

The city guard nearby bowed.

Xu Zhiyuan very politely made a gesture of invitation to Xiao Ce.

“Prince, I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared at my residence. Please honor us with your presence.”

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, “No hurry for now. I promised those disaster victims outside that I would set up porridge shelters for relief.”

Xu Zhiyuan’s face turned awkward. “Prince, it is shameful to say…”

Xiao Ce waved his hand to interrupt. “I understand you. This matter is not something you could control.”

Xu Zhiyuan wore a grateful expression. “Prince, I heard about you clearing my name outside the city. That the Prince could understand my sincere efforts, this humble official is extremely grateful.”

“The Prince and Princess Consort can go to this humble official’s residence to rest for a while. For the disaster relief matter, this humble official will arrange for people to assist you.”

Xiao Ce asked, “Is it convenient?”

Xu Zhiyuan repeatedly bowed. “Convenient, convenient! In the Prince’s name, there is no issue.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Alright, Da Lei, you and Teacher Xun Zixu go take care of this matter.”

Da Lei glanced at Xu Zhiyuan warily. He seemed somewhat suspicious of the overly eager Xu Zhiyuan.

Xu Zhiyuan was a smart person. He bowed and said, “Prince, please do not misunderstand. I have no ill intentions. I just heard from my servants about the Prince’s debate at the city gate. The Prince’s insights and views coincide with mine. I felt the Prince is no ordinary person.”

Seeing Xu Zhiyuan speak like this, Xiao Ce said, “The whole world knows I am a good-for-nothing!”

Xu Zhiyuan bowed and said, “Prince, you voluntarily resigned from the position of Crown Prince and requested to defend the border! Such foresight and broad-mindedness are enough to prove the world misjudges you. Just as in the eyes of many, this humble official is a mediocre official. Yet the Prince, having never met me before, could understand me. To speak presumptuously, a kindred spirit is hard to find.”

Xiao Ce laughed heartily. “Well said, a kindred spirit is hard to find.”

Xiao Ce then said to Da Lei, “Da Lei, then you all go arrange the porridge shelters. Remember, the porridge must be thick, thick enough to stand chopsticks in.”

Da Lei bowed in agreement.

Xu Zhiyuan instructed a man who looked like a private secretary beside him to go along.

Xiao Ce mounted his horse and followed Xu Zhiyuan towards the government office.

Anhua City truly lived up to being the most prosperous city. Outside the city could be described as a living hell, but inside the city, the people still lived and worked in peace and contentment.

It was like two different worlds.

Arriving at the government office, Xiao Ce followed Xu Zhiyuan to the rear courtyard, which was the magistrate’s residence.

Compared to the prosperity of Anhua City, this place seemed rather shabby.

The banquet that was said to be prepared on one side was also not delicacies from land and sea. Although they were all simple home-cooked dishes, they were still plentiful.

“Prince, these are just some everyday dishes. They certainly cannot compare to the banquets at the Prince’s residence. Please forgive me,” Xu Zhiyuan quickly explained when he saw Xiao Ce examining the dishes on the table.

Looking at Xu Zhiyuan’s clothing and residence, Xiao Ce could tell that Xu Zhiyuan was the kind of incorruptible official.

“It’s fine. This Prince is not very interested in food. What you eat is not important; who you eat with is what matters most!”

Hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly and said, “Then Prince, Princess Consort, please take the seats of honor.”

What surprised Xiao Ce was that previously, Yin Pan’er would have explained.

But, Yin Pan’er did not explain at this moment. She was clearly preserving Xiao Ce’s dignity.

Having spent more time with Yin Pan’er, Xiao Ce really liked this woman who was not only beautiful but also intelligent.

After sitting down, Xiao Ce said to Xu Zhiyuan, “Magistrate Xu, you inviting me this time probably isn’t just for a meal, is it?”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded. “Prince, on one hand, it truly is to receive you. Actually, this humble official has heard many rumors about you. Also, this humble official heard that the Prince wants to help solve the disaster victims’ problem! I specially wanted to ask for your advice on what method you have.”

“This humble official has also thought of many methods. However, I haven’t come up with a perfect solution! Now these disaster victims are like a swarm of locusts passing through. Although I have taken measures to block the disaster victims.”

“However, they are all stopgap measures, because these disaster victims are only the first wave. Our Anhua City is the throat of the Central Plains, a necessary passage. So, as time goes on, more and more disaster victims will flood over. Even if they don’t enter the city, they will block the trade routes and grain routes! At that time, our Anhua City will also become an isolated city. Anhua City does not have much farmland. Once the grain routes and trade routes are blocked, the stored grain won’t last long.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Have you already submitted a memorial to His Majesty?”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded. “I sent a fast horse report already. However, I don’t know if His Majesty has received the message. So, this humble official, hearing that you have a method, came to seek your advice! I wonder, what method do you have, Prince?”

Xiao Ce nodded and did not hide it.

Because he wanted to take all these disaster victims away. Without Xu Zhiyuan’s cooperation, it might really be impossible.

“Minister Xu, this Prince indeed has a method. This method is also very simple. Do you know what this Prince is going to do?”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded and said, “Of course, the Prince is going to defend the border and resist the Turkic!”

Xiao Ce nodded and added, “Not only to defend the border, as the King of Northern Desert, this Prince also wants to develop the frontier! Only when the Four Northern Desert Prefectures prosper can we solidify the city walls, strengthen the army, and resist foreign humiliation. And the root of developing the frontier lies in what? That is people! The population of the vast Four Northern Desert Prefectures is less than the population of just a few of your counties.”

Hearing Xiao Ce’s words, Xu Zhiyuan’s eyes brightened a little. “So, what you mean, Prince, is that the solution is to take these disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures?”

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded.

After hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan’s face showed no joy but instead looked awkward. “Prince, I’m afraid you don’t know the situation in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. The people of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are in even deeper distress. Their lives are much harder than the people here.”

“If it weren’t for His Majesty decreeing laws regarding the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, forbidding people from leaving, everyone there would have run away long ago. These disaster victims are not stupid. Why would they go there?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “This Prince has his own methods. Tell me, if this Prince can take all these disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, wouldn’t that solve your urgent problem!”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded and said, “That is natural… Actually, at first, the famine wasn’t severe. If disaster relief had been timely, controlling the disaster victims, it wouldn’t have developed to this point. This is actually a man-made disaster!”

Xiao Ce nodded. “Magistrate Xu, this Prince can take as many disaster victims as possible who are willing to leave! However, I need your help with something.”

“Prince, please tell me…”

Xiao Ce said to Xu Zhiyuan, “Magistrate Xu, this Prince needs you to write another memorial. Tell His Majesty that this Prince cannot bear to see these disaster victims suffer and is willing to take the disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures together to share the country’s burden.”

“Say that as long as the imperial court is willing to provide each disaster victim with money and grain for the journey to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, this Prince is willing to lead them there!”

Xu Zhiyuan asked, “Then Prince, what about after they arrive at the Four Northern Desert Prefectures? If they go there and have no food or drink, they will definitely riot!”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “This Prince has his own methods for that! Can you just do as this Prince says?”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded. “Of course, no problem. Prince, if you can really solve the disaster victims’ problem, you will simply be the savior of the Great Xiao Kingdom!”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Just me thinking about it is useless. I also need Minister Xu to explain the severity of the situation. Otherwise, if Imperial Father disagrees, it also won’t work!”

Xu Zhiyuan said, “This humble official will certainly spare no effort. After all, the method the Prince mentioned is the way to resolve this famine with the smallest cost.”

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded.

Seeing the meal was almost finished, it was time for him to attend to his own business.

“Alright, Magistrate Xu, then this Prince will take his leave first. This Prince still has some matters to attend to.” As he spoke, Xiao Ce prepared to leave.

After all, the main purpose of coming to Anhua City was to sell Refined Salt and snowflake sugar frost. Earlier, seeing so many disaster victims, he was somewhat worried. However, after entering Anhua City and seeing the city was completely unaffected, his anxious heart relaxed a lot!