Chapter 225: Big Earthquake in Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi
The sky is filled with red clouds and the apricot blossoms are trembling slightly.
"It was when I stood up and said that I would test poison with me."
"Unexpectedly, on the carriage, I actually told me that I wanted to marry my successor Fujin."
"It's like pouring cold water on the head..."
"I was wrong." This time, Si Age admitted his mistake very quickly.
He regrets it!
I don’t know what I missed that day.
The most outrageous thing is that he has been sleeping in the study and missed so many days.
"Fu Jin, promise me. Since Fujin is bold, why not be bolder next time?"
Lu Zhi laughed: "I am so contradictory. Do you want me to be cautious or imprudent in the future?"
"It's naturally better to be more cautious externally. Internally, it doesn't hurt to be more bold."
Of course, internally, this mainly refers to him.
Outside the pavilion in the center of the lake, the water ripples.
When the atmosphere was just right, Sen'er came over and asked, "Master, Fujin, do you want to pass on the meal?"
Brother Si's hands clenched into fists.
Lu Zhi almost wanted to laugh: "She is still young."
Fujin meant that Sen'er was not old enough, so he would forgive her for interrupting at this moment.
Fourth elder brother suddenly woke up, yes, little Fujin is still young too.
If he didn't brake, it would be his beloved wife who would be hurt.
"Pass it on."
At this time, Su Peisheng also hurried over.
Brother Si glanced at Fujin.
Lu Pheasant understood and cooperated: "This is not small."
"Su Peisheng, what are you doing in such a hurry?"
Su Peisheng was out of breath: "Master, Fujin, Shanxi has just sent us a report that there was an earthquake in Pingyang Prefecture, and the disaster was very serious."
The fourth elder brother immediately stood up straight: "Fu Jin, I will go to the household department. You can enjoy your meal in peace."
Xiao Lizi followed from a distance and came over with a navy blue woven gold eagle embroidered cloak.
Lu Pheasant put it on for him, tied the belt, and warned: "Slow down on the road."
"The pavilion in the middle of the lake is cool. You'd better go back to Baotang Courtyard to rest."
"I made a note of it. I'll be back soon."
In such a hurry, I'm afraid I'll have to ride a horse over there.
Pin'er started packing the food boxes.
Lu Pheasant looked at the back of Brother Si as he quickly left: "No need for a food box. Wrap the steamed buns and cakes in oil paper and let Su Peisheng take them. Hurry."
The clatter of horse hooves faded away.
Lu Pheasant was worried.
When it prospers, the people suffer; when it dies, the people suffer.
Under natural disasters, countless families have been separated from their wives and their families have been destroyed.
That night, Lu Pheasant could not sleep peacefully.
Apart from what she has provided so far, what else can she do for the people?
*
Walk through the Daqing Gate and come to the household section of Qianbu Corridor.
The officials on duty were surprised and saluted when they saw Si Age coming in with a cool breeze.
"Who's on the summit today?"
"Replying to Fourth Brother, it's the Right Assistant Minister. But Master Shangshu came just now."
Fucha Maqi, who was in the house, heard the noise and came out to greet him.
Brother Si greeted the attendant and entered the inner room.
The two met and greeted each other.
"Brother Si, why are you here?"
The fourth elder brother glanced at the map of Pingyang Mansion in Shanxi Province on Ma Qi's desk: "I think I came here for the same thing as Master Ma Qi."
Ma Qi stared at the Yuxiu young man in front of him for a moment, then handed over the map: "It just so happens that my eyesight is not very good. Fourth Brother can help me take a look."
Brother Si took it, and the two chatted for a while about the topography, water conservancy, and customs of Pingyang Prefecture, and discussed possible current situations and countermeasures in the disaster area.
Time passed, and a clear "Gulu" sound sounded.
Then another person rang.
The two looked at each other and couldn't tell whose voice was louder.
It seems that Fucha Maqi may not have left the palace today, so he came directly after hearing the news, and naturally he did not eat.
Fourth elder brother said: "Su Peisheng."
Su Peisheng put the still warm oil paper bag on the table while holding it in his arms.
"It's the steamed buns and cakes that Fujin asked me to bring. Your Excellency will take care of them."
Originally, Fuca Maqi wanted to refuse.
He didn't want to have much contact with any prince, including the prince.
The emperor and the prince have been in their respective positions for too long, so long that something has already deteriorated.
Ma Qi began to feel uneasy very early on.
Now that the fourth prince has risen far away, and he is still under the Ministry of Household Affairs under his control, alarm bells are ringing in Ma Qi's mind.
Just hearing that this was Sifujin's ration reminded me of the long-lasting fragrance in front of the imperial gate that day.
Corn and sweet potatoes can still be found with his Shangshu of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
But potatoes are really scarce.
"Can we have hash browns?"
Su Peisheng hurriedly replied: "As my lord, yes."
"In that case, it's disrespectful."
Brother Si said: "I have cakes, I'm just waiting for Master Ma Qi's tea."
"I heard before that there is a kind of Pu'er in the house, and I happen to have it. It's good that Fourth Brother doesn't dislike it."
Su Peisheng makes tea, one long and one young, and uses noodles and cakes for tea.
Fucha Maqi tasted the potato taste that he had missed for a long time. Looking at the handsome appearance and elegance of Si Age, he couldn't help but said: "When the news of the disaster comes out, normally a commander will be sent to the local area to inspect, and then the details will be detailed." To the next step of relief.”
"For now, Fourth Brother should focus on the high-yielding crop selection and seedling breeding regulations, and there is no need to rush here."
Even if Fucha Maqi voted for Si Age in front of the imperial gate, he had never said such "heart-to-heart" words to him.
This is already considered a reminder.
"Did your lord also recommend me in front of Khan Amma?"
Fucha Maqi showed his silence.
The answer is self-evident.
The emperor asked all the officials in front of him.
Compared with the frivolous comparison between the prince and the eldest brother, who plays with grains, the fourth prince's low-key and down-to-earth attitude is the one truly worthy of being entrusted with promoting high-yielding grains.
Anyone who is not blind knows who to choose.
A few years later, Fucha Maqi was listed as a candidate for bachelor by Kangxi.
Of course he is not blind.
The fourth elder brother put down the steamed bun in his hand: "My husband, the order of heaven and earth must not be lost; if it is out of order, the people will be in chaos. When the earthquake occurs, high embankments become valleys and deep valleys become mausoleums, and the people suffer."
"Food is indispensable and must be provided in the long run. Natural disasters are temporary and must be dealt with urgently to save the people from fire and water. There is no room for loss."
These words were said so grandly that Fucha Maqi straightened up a bit, looked at Brother Si for a while, and then continued to eat the cake quietly.
At the end, the old man said with a smile: "Sifujin's cake is a real delicacy."
Si Age was very helpful: "Fu Jin mentioned that potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn can be made into powder, which is easy to preserve. Then it can be soaked and baked into dry food, and the taste is also good."
The fourth prince is really smart.
Disaster relief is the responsibility of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The temporary official of the Appeasement Department who went to the disaster area this time, Fucha Maqi, the Minister of Household Affairs, was the best choice, but the emperor would make a decision sooner or later.
The fourth elder brother naturally wanted to follow him.
He could see that Ma Qi didn't want to take a prince out at all.
He actually lured him with "potato cakes".
Fucha Maqi saw through the opponent's plot and stood up to continue looking at the map.
I sighed in my heart, the cakes made by Sifujin are so delicious!
Intellectually I knew I couldn't accept it, but in my heart I really couldn't refuse it.
*
The next day, it was exactly as Ma Qi expected in the court.
After Kangxi received the report from Shanxi Governor Gartu, he immediately sent Chief Xingchi to investigate the situation.
He also ordered the Household Department to prepare funds and prepare for disaster relief.
After Ma Qi responded, he couldn't help but take a look at the expressions of the prince and eldest brother.
Both of them looked calm.
Until, the emperor said, he had already drafted candidates to promote improved rice varieties and high-yielding crops.
The two princes immediately became excited.
Fuca Maqi sighed inwardly.
Show your superiority immediately!
I'm afraid that on the way to Shanxi, he will really be able to eat potato cakes this time.
