As Qin Qiong and Zhang Zhichuang discussed the disaster, the fierce wind outside began to howl again, and the rain poured down as if the sky had been torn open.
Fang Er got up and walked to the doorway, frowning deeply as he watched the rising water in the courtyard.
This trip, he and Qin Qiong had departed ahead of schedule.
Behind them were three air-cushion boats loaded with relief supplies, along with eight helicopters recalled from the Western Regions.
But given the current rainfall, if it continued unabated, no amount of reinforcements would be effective.
This region was not like the flat northern plains. Once flash floods occurred, the devastation to the populace would be catastrophic.
This was Fang Er's first time in the south, as it had been in his previous life.
The banana trees in the Protectorate's courtyard rustled with the impact of raindrops, swaying in the strong wind, with leaves occasionally being torn off and swept into the air.
With the onset of this heavy rain, the midday sky turned as dark as dusk.
"My Lord, please step back a bit."
A soldier approached and spoke. After Fang Er retreated back into the hall, he immediately closed the door.
Other attendants quickly brought oil lamps and placed them on the table for illumination.
Inside the room, everyone stared intently at the map, which depicted the four prefectures and seventeen counties under the jurisdiction of the Southern Yue Protectorate.
The Protectorate aimed to pacify and civilize the region, so calling it the Southern Yue Protectorate was perhaps more accurately describing it as the Southern Asia Protectorate.
This was because the seat of the Protectorate was in Wendan City, the site of present-day Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
The four prefectures included Linyi Prefecture, Zhenla Prefecture, Zhenshui Prefecture, and Piao Prefecture.
These corresponded to present-day Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar, respectively.
These areas had voluntarily submitted to the Great Tang after Marquis Junji's escape, having witnessed the prowess of the Extermination Army's firearms.
Zhang Zhichuang broke the silence, stating,
"Protector Qin, with the incessant rain, the soldiers cannot be deployed.
To provide disaster relief, we must wait for the rain to stop."
Qin Qiong frowned, "Wait for the rain to stop? Who knows how long this rain will last!
If it continues for another ten to half a month, the people in the mountains will starve to death if they are not swept away by the floods!"
"Since they have entered the territory of the Great Tang, they are now subjects of the Great Tang!
You and I are both parents to the people, how can we stand by and watch our subjects suffer?"
Zhang Zhichuang's face showed distress, "Protector Qin, if I may speak frankly, the forty thousand Protectorate troops are sufficient for defending this area.
But if they were to be deployed to rescue the populace of the four prefectures and seventeen counties, it would be like a drop in the ocean.
Let alone seventeen counties, these forty thousand men couldn't even save the people of one county!"
Fang Er also agreed with Zhang Zhichuang as he looked at the map. What he said was true; the combined area of the four prefectures was comparable to Xinjiang in later generations. Deploying forty thousand men would likely make no impact.
However, to simply abandon them and watch so many people lose their lives in the natural disaster was truly unbearable.
Qin Qiong knew this as well. After much deliberation, he made a decision.
"Issue an order to requisition all usable vessels. We will do our best and leave the rest to fate!
The Four Armies of Jifeng, Lülin, Dihuo, and Qingshan will each leave two thousand men behind. All remaining troops will be deployed!
Regardless of the outcome, even if only one person can be saved, it is better than staying in the Protectorate waiting for the rain to stop!"
"Inform all the people…"
"Yes, your subordinate will arrange it immediately!" Deputy Protector Nan Cheng donned a straw cape and rushed out into the pouring rain.
Fang Er pondered for a moment and said to Wang Xuance, who was accompanying him, "Send a telegram to Chang'an requesting the deployment of the Tianhuo Army for support.
With Chai Shao's forty thousand Protectorate troops stationed in Shenyang, the Tianhuo Army's presence or absence makes little difference."
Qin Qiong was overjoyed and bowed deeply, "Many thanks, Duke Anguo!"
Fang Er quickly supported him, "When one region faces hardship, all eight directions offer aid. At a time like this, every additional person is an additional strength. You mustn't be so formal, Duke Yi."
"Hahahaha, well said, when one region faces hardship, all eight directions offer aid!" Qin Qiong stroked his beard and continued to Zhang Zhichuang, "Inform the merchants that I have always been accommodating to them. Now that a natural disaster has struck, I want to see how they will act!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Zhichuang bowed and retreated, also donning a straw cape.
The rain continued for the entire night, and the water in the courtyard was nearly knee-deep.
After dawn, the rain lessened slightly but was still falling.
The thirty-two thousand Protectorate troops, led by their respective generals, waded through the accumulated water and trudged through the mud early in the morning, heading towards the four prefectures and seventeen counties.
By noon, a large number of merchants gathered at the Protectorate, braving the heavy rain.
In the main seat of the hall, Qin Qiong and Fang Er sat on either side, with Zhang Zhichuang, the Prefect of Wendan, and Deputy Protector Nan Cheng standing by.
"Mo's Spice Shop, Mo Qitong!"
"Liu's Timber Shop, Liu Datou!"
"Zhao's Carriage and Horse Shop, Zhao Guangzhen!"
~~~~
"Greetings, Protector Qin!"
The merchants, after introducing themselves, all bowed to the two of them.
Qin Qiong gestured to the chairs on either side of the hall and chuckled, "Hahaha, with such heavy rain, I must trouble you all to come. I'm truly sorry, please sit, sit and talk!"
"We dare not, Protector Qin is too kind!"
After bowing again, the merchants took their seats.
Qin Qiong took a sip of tea. Since taking office here, he had been adding more spices to his tea than in Chang'an.
The reason was simple: it was cheaper!
Placing his cup back on the table, he spat out a peppercorn and addressed the assembly.
"A torrential rain has descended, continuing for several days.
The four prefectures and seventeen counties have all suffered severe disasters and are in urgent need of a large quantity of relief supplies.
In this disaster, the lives of the people hang by a thread. The time it takes to procure supplies from within the pass is too long, and they cannot arrive in time. Therefore, I have summoned you here.
This region has recently been incorporated. His Majesty's grace grants three years of exemption from agricultural tax, and a fifty percent reduction in commercial tax. You are all beneficiaries of this.
Therefore, for the sake of the common people, I must implore your assistance. I hope you will show your capability."
The brief speech directly stated his intentions, and the merchants present could hardly believe their ears. Some of their faces instantly turned much grimmer.
While they had encountered officials demanding bribes before, it had always been in private, one-on-one. Never before had they been summoned together as the entire city's merchants to be extorted.
Didn't he fear being written about and sent to a newspaper in Chang'an?
Donations, which are commonplace in later generations, inevitably caused the merchants to be suspicious at this time.
Fang Er smiled slightly and stood up, walking among the merchants.
"Do you all think Protector Qin is forcibly requisitioning from you?"
Saying this, he took a sheepskin scroll from Wang Xuance and unfurled it for everyone to see.
On the sheepskin scroll, four gilded characters shone brilliantly.
"Heartfelt Merchant!"
"Hereby, [Merchant Name] Shop, in the autumn of the fourth year of Zhenguan~~~~~"
It was precisely the format of a modern certificate of honor.
After everyone had seen the sample "Heartfelt Merchant" certificate, Fang Er smiled.
"With this, you will enjoy conveniences that others do not when conducting business in the four prefectures and seventeen counties in the future.
For example, a discount on commercial tax, or perhaps when the court has large procurement orders, you will be informed in advance to prepare. Once you secure the order, you will have the title of 'Court Designated Supplier.'
Or, with this, you will have two opportunities each month to use the Protectorate's telegram to send messages to Chang'an, Yangzhou, or Shenyang.
In short, you will enjoy policies that other merchants do not!
The policies that other merchants can enjoy will be even more preferential for you! Read books here.
I heard that persimmons will ripen around the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there will be a large number of red envelopes in the group, probably around 731789264 of them!"