Sixth Prince rely instructed the Water Control Bureau to refer to data from previous years’ floods and did not ask him to falsify the data.
However, the Water Control Bureau on his own was negligent and did not follow up on the actual flood water levels, staying at ho playing poker with his loving wife instead.
Seeing that Sixth Prince did not seem like a liar, and the Water Control Bureau appeared to have so unspeakable difficulties, Lin Yi had the Imperial Guard who had just gone to asure the flood levels called over.
"What was the water level you asured just now, two feet six inches? What was it this morning?"
The Imperial Guard thought for a mont, then respectfully said: "Reporting to Sir Lin, when I asured, I inadvertently asked, and I rember the guard at the water asurent station said it was two feet eight inches."
This answer once again confird Lin Yi’s initial judgnt, and the little Emperor, unable to contain his joy, imdiately rewarded him!
"Co, promote this Imperial Guard to head the Water Control Bureau! With such ticulousness and calmness, he is indeed a talent worth molding."
Then, the little Emperor’s tone suddenly turned, pointing at the Water Control Bureau kneeling on the ground, he said sternly.
"As for you, taking the court’s salary yet unable to asure even a water level correctly, what use are you? Co, strip him of his official hat, and throw him into the Heavenly Prison!"
The forr Water Control Bureau was so frightened that he scrambled over to Sixth Prince, crying and begging for his help.
Who would have known that Sixth Prince would kick the forr Water Control Bureau away, berating angrily.
"Hmph, you still dare to ntion it, I was almost ruined because of you."
"If you had seriously asured and recorded the water levels, I wouldn’t have declared so confidently in the court that the flood levels had risen!"
Hearing the angry words of the Sixth Prince, the little Emperor faintly sensed sothing wrong with the forr Water Control Bureau, and thus he asked.
"I was still wondering why you did not record this morning’s two feet eight inches, it turns out you did not asure it at all? Dereliction of duty, your cri is increased by one degree!"
After the little Emperor learned the truth, the forr Water Control Bureau burst into tears, begging for Your Majesty’s forgiveness.
It is known that the little Emperor despises negligence and deceit the most, and this ti is no exception, he directly ordered 200 severe beatings and then threw him to the Dali Temple.
Sixth Prince, having successfully found a scapegoat, finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he still felt guilty towards Lin Yi.
After dragging away the forr Water Control Bureau, the court instantly beca much quieter.
The flood was indeed gradually receding, and Lin Yi’s uncanny ability was noticed by Fourth Prince, who certainly did not miss the opportunity to curry favor.
"Minister Lin, truly prescient indeed, this Prince truly admires you."
To this, Lin Yi simply smiled faintly, and said: "The flood has receded, next I await Your Majesty’s arrangents."
’My dear wife, haven’t I already gone along with your wishes and spared Sixth Prince? Hasten and let go aid the disaster relief, the Ministry of Industry cannot remain idle too long, I must accomplish sothing significant.’
However, hearing Lin Yi’s inner thoughts, the little Emperor did not proceed as Lin Yi wished, but looked towards Sixth Prince instead.
"Floods are rciless, regarding the post-disaster reconstruction works inside the Imperial City, I wish to assign Sixth Imperial Uncle to oversee it."
Everyone was shocked, as under everyone’s expectations, it seed that Lin Yi would be the most appropriate for the assignnt.
Could it be that Lin Yi fell out of favor?
Sixth Prince had just narrowly escaped accusations of deceiving the Emperor, and he had not even co back to his senses when the little Emperor directly assigned him an important task, which greatly surprised him.
’Eh, could it be that this misfortune has turned into a blessing?’
Lin Yi was equally surprised, he didn’t understand why the little Emperor made such arrangents, or if there was another hidden reason?
It is known that after the flood, major projects such as water control and channel modification are crucial, and these are the responsibilities of the Ministry of Industry.
’My dear wife, why this? No, I do not want Sixth Prince ddling with affairs of the Ministry of Industry.’
’That’s not right, dear wife, are you possibly experiencing pregnancy brain and thus made such a decision? No, I must earnestly remind you!’
Thinking of this, Lin Yi stepped forward and said.
"Your Majesty, post-disaster reconstruction should be handled by the Ministry of Industry. Since my tenure as Minister of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry has yet to make contributions to the court, I certainly request Your Majesty’s permission for the Ministry to participate in the post-disaster reconstruction."
Upon hearing Lin Yi’s words, a hundred waves of fury surged in the little Emperor’s heart.
’You scoundrel, why are you so anxious, can’t you wait for my arrangents to be complete?’
’Hmph, moreover, you are the one who’s lacking in brains, I am the Emperor, and you dare to slander in your heart, you’ll kneel on the floorboards when you get back!’
Following that, the young Emperor cleared his throat and slowly said,
"Minister Lin, do not be anxious. The work for the disaster victims within the Imperial City, as well as the rebuilding efforts, will be handled by the Sixth Imperial Uncle."
"After all, since the late Emperor’s ti, the Sixth Imperial Uncle has been in charge of post-disaster reconstruction on multiple occasions and has extensive experience."
"The reconstruction of riverbanks and dams outside the Imperial City, which pertain to water control, will naturally be the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry. I trust that Minister Lin will not disappoint ."
With the young Emperor’s reassurance, Lin Yi finally revealed a satisfied smile.
And of course, the Sixth Prince was also smiling happily.
The young Emperor once again ntioned the late Emperor, proving that his diligent efforts had not been forgotten; more importantly, providing relief to disaster victims and rebuilding houses was a highly profitable affair.
This was a big piece of fat at. Ever since the late Emperor’s ti, this piece of at had been his alone to enjoy, a fact that the Fourth Prince had envied countless tis.
After assigning tasks to Lin Yi and the Sixth Prince, the Fourth Prince’s face clearly did not look too good.
Reconstruction after the disaster would require spending money, and spending the Ministry of Revenue’s silver to let Lin Yi and the Sixth Prince gain visibility was, upon reflection, quite unfair.
As expected, the young Emperor ordered the Ministry of Revenue to cooperate fully.
However, the Fourth Prince began to twist and cry about poverty.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, currently, the National Treasury does not have much left, a large portion has already been allocated for recruitnt and military salaries. With this sudden disaster, I fear there’s not much treasury silver left for reconstruction."
The young Emperor was infuriated. Did he not know how much silver the National Treasury had?
It was clear that the Fourth Prince also wanted to find sothing to do during this disaster and benefit from it.
"What does the Fourth Imperial Uncle suggest?"
Seeing that the young Emperor was considering a compromise, the Fourth Prince said,
"In my humble opinion, we should both increase revenue and reduce expenditure, which would both refill the treasury and swiftly help the people return to normal life."
Under the young Emperor’s indication, the Fourth Prince suggested that the Imperial Camp led by the Sixth Prince be tasked with rebuilding within the Imperial City, and Lin Yi’s Nanshan Army be in charge of reconstructing the dikes and water control outside the Imperial City, which could reduce the burden on the people as much as possible.
"This?"
With these words, the Sixth Prince almost wished he could go up and have a big fight with the Fourth Prince—this shrewd suggestion had turned against him.
’Good you, old fourth, I still have fifteen thousand in my Imperial Camp, and you will not let it go. It seems we must part ways!’
Lin Yi, of course, understood the Fourth Prince’s small calculations—saving money to line his own pockets.
’Hehe, you old cunning man, quite bad indeed, exploiting the court’s Recruitnt Order and taking a bribe of 200,000 taels.’
’Hehe, this ti, you still want to be stingy? Watch how I get you to spit out everything you’ve swallowed, principal and interest included.’
Hearing Lin Yi’s thoughts, the young Emperor was further startled, not expecting the Fourth Imperial Uncle in just under a month to have embezzled so much silver from the court.
’Hehe, so that’s the reason there’s no money in the National Treasury.’
Following that, the young Emperor gave Lin Yi a aningful look, nodding subtly as if by accident.
Thanks to their mutual understanding, Lin Yi quickly grasped the young Emperor’s intention, agreeing before the Sixth Prince could speak.
"The Fourth Prince is absolutely right; if faced with a flood disaster, we indeed need to increase revenue and decrease expenses. My Nanshan Army also consus the court’s salary, and in the matter of national rise or fall, every individual has a responsibility."
With his words reaching this point, if the Sixth Prince disagreed, he would not be fit to be a Prince of You Country.
What a statent—national rise or fall, every individual has a responsibility!
With Lin Yi supporting him, the young Emperor felt it suddenly not so difficult to sit on the Dragon Chair.
The Sixth Prince gave the Fourth Prince a sharp glare, reluctantly stating, "Minister Lin’s Nanshan Army can serve the court, so the Imperial Camp must certainly set an example."
The young Emperor had never before witnessed such unity among the upper and lower levels of the court and felt deeply reassured.
Although both princes had their own sches, it did not affect the post-disaster reconstruction.
Yet, on the other hand, while the thod for reducing expenditure was thought of, the thod for increasing revenue was still not clear.
...End of the Chapter...
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