Time Travel: The Useless Prince, First Destroy the Princess

Chapter 107 It’s not difficult if the boss takes action

"You guys stand down!"

Liu Zhao shouted, and the guards who had stepped forward were about to take action, but when they heard Liu Zhao's words, they looked at Du Zheng.

"Your Highness orders you to step back!" Du Zheng shouted hurriedly.

How could these guards be so stupid? They just retreated when the prince gave the order, but insisted on expressing their own opinions.

Isn't that like roasting yourself on the fire?

Will it make the prince think that he is the boss?

If I go back and tell the emperor, what will he think?

But now is not the time to think about these issues.

"Xu Zhi, no matter what you say, I will forgive you!"

Liu Zhao's voice was loud and he looked very excited.

The provocation finally worked.

Xu Zhi was very proud and bowed to Liu Zhao: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

The atmosphere suddenly became quieter, and dozens of officials breathed a sigh of relief and waited for Xu Zhi to speak.

"Your Highness, historical records show that Sizhou has suffered no less than a hundred floods, both large and small. This flood is just one of them!"

Liu Zhao frowned. Xu Zhi said it so easily, what did he mean?

Du Zheng remained calm and watched Xu Zhi perform.

Seeing that Liu Zhao and Du Zheng were silent, Xu Zhi continued.

"Natural disasters are merely warnings from Heaven to rulers. Therefore, rulers throughout history have used these disasters to reflect on their own mistakes and practice benevolent governance. As the heir apparent, the Crown Prince should do the same!"

Of course Liu Zhao couldn't say anything. The so-called natural disasters were a warning from God, which was nonsense!

Everyone knows it, they are just using it to express their dissatisfaction.

"Benevolent governance is paramount, like providing disaster relief, saving the people from disaster! Your Majesty, with his great ambitions and vision, has practiced benevolent governance since the founding of the nation. The people are all grateful for your kindness!"

"You're starting to flatter me again!" Liu Zhao knew what Xu Zhi meant. He couldn't afford to offend Liu Yan.

"During this flood, His Majesty, as always, has shown benevolence and generosity, so he sent Your Highness and Lord Du to provide disaster relief. His goal is to help the affected people escape their suffering and live a normal life!"

"Isn't this nonsense?" Liu Zhao said in his heart.

"And the first priority in disaster relief is to employ people!" Xu Zhi said this, looked at Du Zheng, and then looked at Liu Zhao.

"Finally, let's get to the point!"

"My colleagues here today, since the flood began, you have all been utterly worried, unable to eat, and unable to care for your families and children. You have been rushing around organizing disaster relief efforts in your respective jurisdictions, and the people are all praising you!"

"Having such officials is a blessing for our Great Jing Dynasty and for the common people!"

"Your Majesty is wise and has selected many capable officials. This flood disaster will be resolved within a few days! When that happens, the people will praise our majesty's grace!"

Liu Zhao secretly shook his head in his heart. After all, he was still not satisfied with Du Zheng checking the accounts.

But it's not completely unreasonable.

"Upon Lord Du's arrival, instead of organizing disaster relief efforts in the counties, he investigated their treasury. The people are struggling amidst the disaster, their lives hanging in the balance, while your colleagues can only sit back and wait for death. I'm afraid this goes against the Emperor's original intention! What do you think, Your Highness?"

“That makes some sense!”

Liu Zhao's words were ambiguous.

At this time, making an inaccurate statement is the best statement.

Du Zheng looked at Liu Zhao's expression, perhaps a little moved, and smiled slightly.

"Master Xu, I think what you said makes a lot of sense!"

"Master Du, since you think what I said is reasonable, should we wait until after the disaster relief to investigate the money and grain?"

"Okay! But what if the deficit is discovered? Sir Xu, have you thought of a solution?"

"If there is any deficit at that time, I will investigate according to the law and execute those who deserve it. I will have absolutely no say."

Xu Zhi said proudly.

Disaster relief work takes at least three months and at most three years.

It will be a piece of cake to fix the loopholes by then, right?

"What do you think, Your Highness?"

Du Zheng tilted his head to ask Liu Zhao's opinion.

Liu Zhao didn't know what Du Zheng was up to.

It seems that Xu Zhi's request has been agreed to.

So he said vaguely: "It's okay to check after the disaster relief!"

"In that case, it's my fault for not thinking things through!" Du Zheng nodded. "Master Xu, do you have anything else to say?"

"no!"

Xu Zhi looked at his subordinates proudly.

Look, how about I take action?

Otherwise, you bunch of losers will be controlled by Du Zheng!

Everyone also looked at Xu Zhi with gratitude!

After all, he is a third-rank official, so powerful!

"Counties, listen up!"

"Understood!" The county officials breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that they had escaped a disaster.

"Lord Xu, disaster relief is urgent right now, and we need money and food to appease the people. I wonder if Lord Xu has any clever ideas? Or should we wait for the imperial government to deliver the relief grain?"

"Since Lord Du has asked, I will not be modest. I believe that the people are in urgent need of money and food to solve their urgent needs. Of course, the counties should prepare the money and food first!"

Du Zheng nodded and said, "Master Xu is right, but can each county afford so much money and grain?"

"In recent years, the country has been peaceful, and the counties have been quite successful in encouraging agriculture and sericulture. As far as I know, there is a surplus of money and grain. For now, we should have the counties return to their capitals quickly to gather money and grain to provide relief to the victims! What do you think, Lord Du?"

"Excellent!" Du Zheng said, "Then each county should know how much grain it can contribute, right?"

"Of course. If a local official doesn't know about the finances and taxes, he is a mediocre official!" Xu Zhi swore.

"Master Xu's words make perfect sense. This pacification envoy is going to coordinate the allocation of money and grain for disaster relief. You should also be aware that the disaster situations vary from county to county. If we only use our own money and grain, it will probably be difficult to guarantee the needs of the victims. Therefore, we need mutual support from all counties. Are you clear about this?"

"Clear!" The county officials answered in unison. As long as they didn't check the accounts, everything would be fine.

"Then this pacification envoy will inquire about the financial and grain situation of each county one by one for distribution. Are there any problems?"

"Sir Du, does Liu Ji need to be recalled?" Xu Zhi asked.

"Oh, you see, I forgot. Come here, recall Liu Ji immediately!" Du Zheng seemed to suddenly realize.

"Yes, sir!" Someone immediately ran out.

"Then each county should register the amount of money and grain in turn!"

Du Zheng said this and placed a stack of papers on the desk.

All the counties looked at Xu Zhi.

Xu Zhi was the right person to take on the responsibility at this time. As the chief executive of Sizhou, he was confident about the money and grain of Sizhou.

First, he wrote down the name of the government seat on a piece of paper, and clearly stated the amount of money and grain, even specifying the amount of sorghum and rice, in great detail.

There is also Luojing, which is directly under the jurisdiction of the state, and he wrote a separate total number.

Sizhou governed nine counties: Henan, Xingyang, Honghua, Shangluo, Pingyang, Xinyang, Jiyang, Henei, Taiping, and Yangping.

The areas affected by the disaster were all in Henan County. Xu Zhi wrote down the money and grain of the nine counties, which was obviously intended to show off.

It’s also to tell Du Zheng that it’s too early for you to play with me!

After writing it, he signed it and handed it to Du Zheng, who then copied the data again on a large piece of paper.

After Du Zheng finished copying, he placed it in front of Liu Zhao.

Liu Zhao took a look and found that the calligraphy was really beautiful.

I have to say that Xu Zhi was really capable of becoming the Sizhou Sili Xiaowei.

Liu Zhao also had to admire that some local officials in later generations, although very capable, were not necessarily knowledgeable about finance.