flstandardbreds Chapter 169: Slap in the face, no negotiation
Chapter 169: Slap in the face, no negotiation
Compared to the lively and festive atmosphere in Nanping Prefecture, the atmosphere inside the imperial palace seemed particularly dull and depressing.
The Minister of Revenue and the director of the orphanage came together to ask the emperor for instructions on important matters.
The Minister of Revenue bowed slightly and spoke solemnly, "Your Majesty, the refugees have been temporarily accommodated, but I would like to ask for your instructions on how to deal with these many refugees in the future."
In the past few days, the emperor has been troubled and worried because of the black-clad man with superb martial arts and elusive appearance.
Hearing this, he immediately frowned, his eyes were cold, and his tone was filled with a bit of displeasure and irritability. He said coldly: "Of course, send them all back to their hometown."
The Minister of Revenue showed an awkward expression, hesitated for a moment, and hesitated for a moment, wanting to speak but stopping himself: "But... Your Majesty, they are suffering from a snowstorm over there. According to reports, it will not be relieved for the next six months..."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was instantly enraged. He slammed the table so hard that the teacups on it shook. He shouted angrily, "Bastards! They've been able to get through this for so many years, but why can't they bear it this year and have to run away?"
For a moment, the hall fell into a deathly silence. The Minister of Revenue and the Director of the Court both lowered their heads, not daring to utter a word.
The emperor's words were tantamount to sentencing them to "death penalty". Who would dare to open their mouths to argue easily?
The atmosphere in the hall was so oppressive that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
The emperor's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and a chilling aura emanated from his body. It seemed as if his rage would erupt like a volcano at any moment.
The two people below lowered their heads and dared not breathe, for fear of accidentally offending the emperor.
After an unknown amount of time, the Emperor's rapid breathing gradually calmed. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rage boiling within him. He spoke slowly, his voice deliberately calm yet still brimming with authority: "My dear ministers, the refugee problem is pressing. How can we accommodate these displaced people?"
Upon hearing this, the director of the orphanage hurried forward and bowed. He raised his head slightly and cautiously suggested, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should set aside a piece of land for the refugees to settle down and work. This way, they can escape the ravages of the snowstorm and have a safe place to stay. It can be considered a favor from the court to the people."
The Minister of Revenue stood aside, his already furrowed brow now furrowed even deeper. He shook his head gently, his face filled with worry, and said with a cupped hand, "Your Majesty, I believe this approach is inappropriate. The refugees remaining here are also in a difficult situation. They lack food and clothing and urgently need assistance from the court. If food and other supplies are not distributed promptly, I'm afraid they will have a hard time surviving this cold winter."
Upon hearing this, the director of the orphanage was so anxious that beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. He quickly retorted, "Your Excellency, you don't know. The roads are completely blocked by the snow. Even if the court wanted to transport supplies, the journey would be fraught with danger and would take a long time. By then, who knows how many people would die from hunger and cold."
The two of them argued back and forth, neither of them giving in, and the sound of their argument echoed in the hall.
The emperor sat quietly on the dragon throne, his face becoming increasingly gloomy, and a hint of impatience revealed in his eyes.
Finally, he slammed the dragon table with a loud "bang", which scared the two of them so much that they trembled all over.
The Emperor's voice was quiet, but it carried an undeniable solemnity: "Enough! Stop arguing. I have already decided to send those refugees to Nanping Prefecture."
"Nanping Prefecture?"
The director of the orphanage and the Minister of Revenue could not help but look at each other, their eyes full of shock and confusion.
At the same time, the miserable appearance of the refugees when they were driven out of Nanping Prefecture emerged in their minds, and they couldn't help but murmur in their hearts: These refugees have just escaped from Nanping Prefecture, and now we are sending them back. Is this appropriate?
The Emperor seemed to see through their thoughts. He leaned forward slightly and explained slowly, "What you don't know is that County Master Yan is recruiting a large number of workers in Nanping Prefecture. Those refugees can help her solve her labor shortage problem. Not only can they provide a way for the refugees to make a living, but they can also help the development of Nanping Prefecture. Isn't this a win-win situation?"
"But County Master Yan..." The Minister of Revenue raised his eyes slightly, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but he stopped talking when the words came to his lips, as if he was full of concerns.
"I am the ruler of this country, how can I allow her to refuse!" The emperor slammed the table, his voice as cold as a knife, his eyes full of unquestionable majesty.
The two ministers were startled and quickly bowed their heads, responding respectfully, "Your Majesty is absolutely right."
What else could they say at this moment? If Yan Wanwan dared to refuse, it would be disobeying the emperor's order. Even if she had her own fiefdom, it was a gift from the emperor, so how could she disobey the emperor's will?
Seeing the two men's obedience, the emperor's anger subsided a little, and his expression softened a bit. He slowly said, "Okay, you immediately go and convey my imperial decree. You must let County Lady Yan receive those refugees."
When the two ministers heard this, they felt helpless.
It seems the Emperor himself wasn't entirely sure, but could they succeed if they went? Even though they were extremely reluctant, they could only suppress their emotions, plastering respectful smiles on their faces. They knelt and kowtowed in gratitude, their voices loud and pious: "Your Majesty, I obey your command. Thank you for your grace!"
The two men walked out of the hall in a daze. The director of the orphanage looked dazed, his eyes full of doubt. He stammered, "Sir Shangshu, we don't have an imperial edict, only a verbal order. Can this really be accomplished?"
The Minister of Revenue pretended to be calm, but his tone revealed a hint of guilt: "Why not? An oral order is also an imperial decree. How dare she disobey it?"
Having said that, the unconfidence that was hard to conceal on his face revealed his inner anxiety.
The two looked at each other. Now that things had come to this, they could only go ahead with it.
On that day, the two of them hurried to Nanping Prefecture with the emperor's oral order.
As soon as they saw Yan Wanwan, they couldn't wait to explain their purpose, but who would have thought that they would be rejected without hesitation.
The two of them stood there in a daze. The director of the orphanage looked at the Minister of Revenue in a daze, and signaled with his eyes: Didn’t you say that she didn’t dare to refuse?
Minister of Revenue: “…”
He raised his hand and scratched his ear with a look of disbelief on his face, and asked, "What did you say? No?"
"That's right, no!"
Yan Wanwan placed her teacup heavily on the table, making a crisp sound. Her eyes were like lightning, staring directly at the two of them, and every word was loud and clear: "Just by your words, you expect me to believe that this is an imperial decree? Who knows if you are not misrepresenting the emperor's will! Those refugees are resentful and hate me and Nanping Prefecture to the core. Letting them into the city is undoubtedly inviting wolves into the house! As the head of Nanping Prefecture, I am responsible for the life and death of the people of this city. I will never risk their lives! This matter is non-negotiable!"