The Emperor's expression turned cold as he surveyed the scene.
The Duke of Wei was about to speak when Elder Xu, with his quick reflexes, interjected. "Your Majesty, allow this old minister a few words."
"Elder, please speak."
"This is a series of natural disasters. It is not just the southwestern region; if this had occurred elsewhere, those in office might not have performed as well as Minister Wen!"
"What do you mean?"
"The news reached the Eastern Capital, stating that this happened nearly a month ago. Yet, in this period, have you heard of any citizens fleeing Shu Prefecture? Have you heard any reports from officials in other regions? Have any citizens petitioned to impeach Minister Wen? None of the above. This indicates that Minister Wen has achieved something within Shu Prefecture, at the very least stabilizing the hearts of the people."
As he spoke, he glanced at those who had been clamoring earlier. Those individuals dared not confront Elder Xu directly; they had tasted his prowess before and knew that trying to gain an advantage could lead to trouble.
Seeing them avoid his gaze one by one, Elder Xu snorted. "When these lords accuse others, they are full of vigor. I wonder if, in their shoes, they could do better than Minister Wen!"
Indeed, his words were devoid of any pleasantries, far more potent than Feng Hai's subtle tactics.
Bai Chao'an inwardly chuckled. This was the nature of an Elder. Even his own father would tread carefully around him.
The Emperor found some sense in Elder Xu's words.
However, in the imperial court, such natural disasters were often seen as ill omens. Although the lanterns during the Lantern Festival had predicted a bountiful harvest in the southwest this year, now, let alone a bountiful harvest, it would be fortunate if the displaced people could be appeased. The Emperor was deeply superstitious about this.
Elder Xu, with his keen intellect, understood the Emperor's thoughts. He then deliberately, yet subtly, said, "At the court of ten thousand nations at the beginning of the year, the third prince of Jiao Ren came to pay homage. This old minister overheard some rumors that they have harbored resentment towards Nanyue for a long time. They are separated by the West Water River and have repeatedly provoked them. This flood occurred because the floodgates of the West Water River and the Luo River were blown up, which then triggered an earthquake, causing the people of the southwest to suffer. Your Majesty, this old minister suspects foul play!"
His words immediately elevated the ordinary natural disaster to an act of human malice by a neighboring country.
The Emperor's eyes gleamed, and he immediately reacted. He did not fear war with Nanyue or Jiao Ren, as the blame could be placed on their provocation of the Great Jin's might. This was far better than being warned by heaven through natural disasters.
"Elder, is what you say true? If so, then the repeated calamities in the southwest are the enemy nation provoking our dynasty's authority." They had just endured an attack from the Northern Di army, and now Jiao Ren and Nanyue were involved. The Great Jin truly faced enemies on all sides.
Elder Xu's expression was grave. He glanced at Bai Chao'an, who then took a memorial from his sleeve and immediately presented it. "Reporting to Your Majesty, these are the records of the construction of dams in various prefectures and counties over the past thirty years that I have compiled since going to the Ministry of Works. It is clearly recorded that the southwestern region is mountainous and rugged, with swift rivers, making it prone to floods. However, since Minister Wen took office, the frequent floods have significantly improved. Furthermore, Shu Prefecture submits the most numerous and thickest memorials to the Ministry of Works for dam repairs each year. Therefore, this old minister also feels that this flood is somewhat unusual. Perhaps, as Elder Xu suggested, it is not a natural disaster but a deliberate act by someone!"
Since Bai Chao'an became a Langzhong in the water department of the Ministry of Works, he had become familiar with the records and notes of the entire ministry. Elder Xu had sought him out a few days prior with news of this matter. Thus, he had spent the night reviewing all the records of dam repairs, compiling this detailed memorial. His purpose was twofold: first, to clear Minister Wen's name, and second, to pave the way for his own future. He was already a third-rank official, but if he intended to rise higher, he could not afford to misjudge the Emperor's intentions. With Prime Minister Bai and Elder Xu, two astute strategists, advising him, it would be a miracle if he didn't advance.
The Emperor unfolded the memorial. It was well-reasoned, detailed, and meticulously organized. Coupled with Bai Chao'an's practiced calligraphy, honed from frequently transcribing documents in the Grand Secretariat, it pleased the Emperor immensely. He became even more convinced of this narrative.
"Excellent! Nanyue truly has a persistent ambition. They were defeated by my imperial brother ten years ago and have yet to recover. I did not expect them to strike again. And Jiao Ren, outwardly submitting as a vassal, harbors treacherous intentions. Truly detestable!"
With the Emperor's words, anyone who dared to blame Wen Zhonghe would be touching the Emperor's displeasure. Thus, everyone wisely fell silent.
Seeing the shift in the situation, Feng Hai stepped forward and continued, "Your Majesty, during the last campaign to the west, the Ministry of Revenue allocated a large amount of official grain to the army. It will be difficult to allocate more for disaster relief in the southwest now. Not to mention whether the grain is sufficient, the journey alone will be much longer, and the costs involved will be considerable. This minister believes it would be better to have the Canal Transport Department transport this year's due official grain to the southwest. This will not only reduce the loss of official grain but also provide faster relief to the disaster victims, demonstrating Your Majesty's benevolence!"
This proposal had been discussed and agreed upon with Prime Minister Bai and Elder Xu beforehand. It was a testament to Prince Ding's deep calculations; he had planned everything even before setting off for Jinling City. Had there been no floods or earthquakes, they would still have found an excuse to expose the corruption within the Canal Transport Department. Now, with this reason, it was all the more justifiable.
The Emperor pondered for a moment and found the method feasible. He immediately agreed.
The Duke of Wei, who had remained silent, looked at Xu Feng and Bai with a livid expression. What a brilliant scheme. In a few words, they had turned Wen Zhonghe's dereliction of duty into a triumph and now intended to implicate the Canal Transport Department. He had never realized these individuals were so united. Thinking of Feng Jinlin, who was now in Jinling City, he suspected they had ulterior motives regarding the Canal Transport Department. He then regained his composure and began to scheme internally. Compared to bringing down Wen Zhonghe, a mere prefect of Shu Prefecture, the Canal Transport Department was a much more troublesome target. He had originally intended to embezzle the official grain submitted by the Canal Transport Department this year and send it to Qianzhou. Now that plan was thwarted, but he could find other ways. After all, the grain he had accumulated over the years was enough to support his private army for two to three years. With refugees now widespread, it was as if heaven itself was helping him by sending him people. Thinking this, he felt an overwhelming sense of triumph, yet his face remained impassive. The Emperor, unaware of his thoughts, was focused on the matter of the southwest and spoke after a moment of consideration.