Chapter 82 - 83: Making a Fortune
Gu Yuanfeng quickly straightened her daughter up. "Chuncao, be a good girl. If you don’t carry the quilt, we’ll catch a cold tonight.
You carry it for now. When you get tired, I’ll take it from you."
He Chuncao felt the weight on her shoulders; it wasn’t too heavy. "Okay, Mom. But remember to take over for me later."
Gu Yuanfeng gave a perfunctory nod. But as it turned out, the bundle never left He Chuncao’s shoulders for the rest of the journey.
"Tuping, what if we put your older brother on the cart and push him?" Although the old ox was gone, the oxcart was still there.
He Tuping shook his head. "Mom, it’s all mountain roads ahead. The cart will be useless. We’ll have to abandon it here. From now on, we have to carry everything ourselves."
"Oh, my heavens... How are we supposed to live like this?"
He Tuping shoved the family’s carrying pole, the one they usually used for peddling goods, toward his sister-in-law, Mrs. He Yang. "Sister-in-law, you take this. I’ll carry my brother in a bit. You should also pick out some important items for Da Peng to help carry."
"What? Da Peng has to carry something too?" Doting on her grandson, Mrs. He Zhou immediately objected. "You’re his uncle, can’t you do a little more? How old do you think your nephew is?"
Seeing the group already moving ahead, He Tuping was starting to panic. "Fine, you choose! Do I carry my brother, or do I carry the luggage? It’s your choice, all right?"
The mother- and daughter-in-law of the He Family were struck dumb. How could they possibly choose?
In the end, the two women had no choice but to obediently pick up everyone’s burdens, but they still insisted that He Dapeng not be made to suffer in the slightest.
***
In the Hall of Deliberation, as one piece of bad news after another was brought in, Hua Shunming once again smashed his favorite teacup. "Speak up! Usually, you’re all so eloquent, one trying to outdo the other. Why have you all gone mute now?"
"Xu Zhiwen, what good is your Astronomical Bureau? It’s been all these days, and you still haven’t figured out when it’s going to rain?"
"Your Majesty, this requires numerous deductions and calculations. A prediction cannot be made so quickly. However, the entire Astronomical Bureau is already working overtime. I will urge them to work faster."
Hua Shunming then turned his fire on Kuang Yijun. "Kuang Yijun, you sent men to pacify the people. So how did they do it? Why are the numbers of rioters only increasing?"
Kuang Bijun spoke up, "Your Majesty, collecting grain and Silver Taels cannot be accomplished overnight. Furthermore, with rioters running rampant everywhere, it’s impossible to verify the actual numbers. This will take time to resolve."
"Cao Xiangqian..."
Before Hua Shunming could even begin, Cao Xiangqian erupted into a fit of coughing, so violent he bent over at the waist.
"Minister of War, what’s wrong?" Xiao Liwei, who was standing behind him, quickly began patting his back. "Is it from staying up all those nights deploying troops? Has your body finally given out?"
Hua Shunming was speechless. ’I haven’t even started on him, and he’s already playing the victim.’
"Where is the Old Prime Minister?"
"Your Majesty, the Old Prime Minister has already retired. He doesn’t normally attend court," Le San reminded him quietly.
’Of all my civil and military officials, not a single one can handle the pressure. It seems they’ve grown soft from years of peace. It’s time to inject some new blood into this court.
Looking at all their stale, old faces, it’s starting to hurt my eyes,’ Hua Shunming muttered to himself.
Standing to the side, Le San remained perfectly expressionless, inwardly chanting to himself, ’I heard nothing. The wind must have been blowing rather loudly just now.’
Hua Shunming’s eyes fell on the Marquis Wu’an, who was standing quietly amongst the crowd. The corners of the emperor’s mouth curved up slightly. "Marquis Wu’an, you’ve been back at court recuperating for quite some time now. Your body should be mostly recovered, yes?"
Bai Yugang quickly stepped forward from the ranks. "Your Majesty, I have mostly recovered. Some of my old wounds can only heal with time."
Hua Shunming said, "You’ve seen the chaos of the past few days. So tell me, how can we get everyone to move faster? How can We get Our subjects back to their normal lives as soon as possible?"
The Marquis Wu’an replied, "Your Majesty, every one of the ministers is working diligently. It’s just that issuing edicts takes time, and implementation has its own difficulties. These things all require patience."
"Patience?" Hua Shunming hadn’t expected to hear that word again. "Since all of you, my dear ministers, love to be patient so much, then you can start by halting all of your family weddings and funerals. You may tend to your own family affairs only after my subjects have been properly settled."
The civil and military officials were speechless.
Hua Shunming had long since lost his patience with these men who always dragged their feet and insisted on burying every matter in red tape.
’In that case, I’ll hit them where it hurts: their own interests. Let’s see how they dawdle now.’
"Your Majesty, this is improper," Xu Zhiwen stepped forward once again. "Your Majesty, the date for the imperial selection has been set, and the auspicious time has been chosen. It would be ill-advised to change it."
Hua Shunming snorted. "Do you think I have the heart for such matters right now? ’Ill-advised’ does not mean impossible. If not this year, then next year. If not next year, then we will continue to postpone it.
Surely your Astronomical Bureau can handle a small matter like that, can’t it?"
Xu Zhiwen cast a pleading look at his colleagues. For once, they were united. In unison, they all dropped to their knees, begging Hua Shunming to reconsider.
Hua Shunming sneered. "What? Are you all trying to meddle in the affairs of Our harem now? This matter is settled. As for when the selection will take place and which women will enter the palace, We will decide when the time comes."
After court was dismissed, Hua Shunming entered a side hall and swept his desk clear, sending brushes, ink, and paper scattering across the floor. "Sooner or later, I will replace all of you old scoundrels! Every one of you sits in a high position, enjoying a fat stipend, yet you do nothing but spout rules and regulations at Us! Not one of you knows what you’re talking about!"
Le San kept his head bowed, doing his best to make himself invisible.
Hua Shunming waved a hand dismissively, and Le San quickly led the other attendants out of the hall.
"Come out," Hua Shunming said coldly. In an instant, several dark figures appeared in the side hall as if from thin air, kneeling in unison on the floor.
"What is the situation outside?"
"Refugees have already flooded the streets of Shangjing. The major households have all sent guards to block the streets and keep the refugees away from their manors.
As for the common folk, many conflicts have already broken out. These refugees are acting with impunity, rushing into shops and looting whatever they can."
"These merchants have no powerful backing, I assume."
"That is correct. Any merchants with connections have sent armed servants to protect their businesses. The same goes for the farming estates near the suburb; any without influential backing are also primary targets for the refugees.
Many owners of smaller estates are now making inquiries, looking to sell off their land in exchange for some peace and security."
Hua Shunming’s face was impassive. "It seems some people are about to profit from the nation’s suffering once again."