Zhu Di looked at Guo An again, "Guo Qing, it's been half a month. When will the road from Wanping County to Tongzhou be completed?"
Guo An replied: "Your Highness, it can be completed in half a month at most."
"Very good!"
Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction, "You must not delay spring plowing."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, if it cannot be completed before spring plowing, I will stop paving the road and let the young men go back to plowing the fields!"
Guo An replied.
"Um!"
Zhu Di nodded slightly, then thought of something and asked again: "We heard that many scribes in the house have been sick these days?"
Guo Andao: "Your Highness, not only the family, but also many people in Beiping Mansion are also sick."
Zhu Di frowned slightly, "Why is this? Is there another big epidemic?"
Guo Andao: "Back to Your Highness, I have asked the doctor in charge of the house and several doctors in the city. It is not a serious epidemic.
It seems that in winter and spring, the weather is warm, but the ditches in the city are blocked, everything is filthy, every house is moist, and the air is blocked, so we get sick. "
“At this time of year, the stench of the ditches in the city is really unbearable.”
Hearing this, Zhu Di didn't know what he thought of, and frowned again, "This kind of trivial matter has not been cured by the Beiping government office for so many years. It's really a corpse!"
"Zhu Changshi!"
"Your Highness!"
"Send someone to tell the magistrate of Beiping Prefecture that he was not punished for the case of hiding the farmland in Beiping Prefecture this time. It was due to his luck.
But the Peking Mansion's ditches are so filthy and make people sick, it is the responsibility of the Peking Mansion Office. If even this matter is not handled well and a big epidemic is caused, we will definitely report to His Majesty and severely punish him. "
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Zhu Fu responded with a pained face.
Sure enough, all these offending tasks will be his!
However, it is indeed not a good thing if people all over the city get sick because of some ditches.
After exiting Cunxin Hall, Zhu Fu went to the Beiping government office in person.
When he learned that Zhu Fu was coming, Yu Rentian, the prefect of Peiping, was shocked and hurriedly went out to greet him in person with his colleagues Zhao Jie and Tongpan Dangfu.
"Early in the morning, I heard the magpies chirping in the trees. As expected, a distinguished guest came to our door today. I wonder what happened to His Highness, King Yan, that he bothered Zhu Changshi to come to the door in person?"
"Prefect Yu has dismissed the official."
Zhu Fu bowed respectfully to Yu Rentian and directly explained his intention.
“In the past few days, a clerk in Prince Yan’s Mansion has fallen ill for no apparent reason, and I heard that hundreds of people in Beiping Mansion have also fallen ill for no apparent reason.
His Highness ordered an investigation and found out that it was the blocked ditches and filth in Beiping Mansion that made many people sick.
His Highness was furious and ordered his subordinates to come and urge Magistrate Yu to resolve the problem quickly. "
"Your Highness is angry?"
Yu Rentian was shocked and a little aggrieved, "I and my colleagues have worked hard for half a month and searched many gentry's properties and fields.
Now that I haven’t gained anything, don’t say anything. Now, before I can take a breath, His Highness is furious again..."
Zhu Fu's expression did not change and he continued to speak quietly: "Prefect Yu must be careful. Strictly speaking, the incident at Zhangjiawan Wharf was also due to Prefect Yu's lax supervision.
It's just that His Highness saw that Magistrate Yu had been making up for his mistakes during this period, so he didn't blame him... Now, the ditch incident in the city not only affects the people, but also affects the safety of His Highness in the palace.
Nowadays, there are only a few minor illnesses. If we don’t deal with them quickly, a major epidemic will occur... Magistrate Yu, it won’t just be possible to make up for it with another half month of hard work! "
Yu Rentian's expression suddenly changed, and he said quickly: "Oh, I understand what Zhu Changshi meant, this is also the responsibility of the officials in my Beiping government office.
Please rest assured, His Highness King Yan, that everyone in the Beiping government office will handle this matter immediately and lead people to clear the ditch! "
A smile appeared on Zhu Fu's face, "The people of Beiping Prefecture are really blessed to have such kind and hard-working parents as Magistrate Yu."
"Zhu Changshi is so complimentary, so complimentary..."
When Zhu Fu left, inside the Yamen of Beiping Mansion, Yu Rentian, Zhao Jie and other chief officials suddenly looked sad.
"Spring plowing is about to start soon, and the King of Yan urges us to dredge the ditches in Beiping Mansion. How can this be accomplished?"
"Will the labor force be drafted now?"
"If all the money and grain from the gentry's houses confiscated this time belong to my Beiping Mansion Yamen, then why should we worry so much? Just like the Yanwang Mansion Yamen, we can directly hire people..."
While several people were talking, a clerk ran in from outside the door.
"Master Fu, it's not good."
"What's the matter?"
Yu Rentian asked.
The scribe replied in a hurry: "Today, dozens of people in the city are sick.
Now, there are dozens of rumors circulating throughout the city, some say there is plague, others say there is plague...
Anyway, the whole city is in panic! "
Yu Rentian, Zhao Jie and others couldn't help but look surprised.
"How could this happen?
"Even the villain doesn't know."
There was also a flash of panic in the scribe's eyes.
At this time, any major epidemic will result in a tragic scene of ten rooms and nine empty rooms. Anyone who hears this word will panic.
Yu Rentian's expression condensed and he quickly made a decision.
"Send government officials quickly to tea shops and taverns to strictly prohibit people from discussing the epidemic."
"In addition, a team of scribes and government officials were sent out to post notices that hundreds of people in the city were sick because of blocked ditches and the inhalation of foul odor into their bodies."
"Also, Wanping and Daxing counties are ordered to start recruiting labor and dredge and clean all ditches in the city."
"Recruit doctors in the city and treat the sick people together!"
"Yes, Mr. Fu."
Zhao Jie and Dang Fu responded and walked quickly.
Not long after the two went out, another scribe hurriedly walked in.
"Your Majesty, the Chief Envoy and the Inspectorate have sent officials to inquire about the serious epidemic in the city!"
"well!"
Yu Rentian couldn't help but feel a headache, "Please come in and I will explain to them myself!"
"yes!"
…
Soon, following the decree of the Beiping Government Office, the two county offices of Wanping County and Daxing County also began to operate.
This time, no one dares to act recklessly.
There were even people in the city joining in, either cleaning the ditches, or carrying buckets to Haizi not far away, or to the tributary of the Jinshui River in the south of the city, to fetch water and wash the ditches.
Outside the city, on one side of a concrete road that was one foot wide and unknown in length, Guo An's eyelids twitched slightly, his face full of surprise.
"Pandemic?"
"Going back to Guo Changshi, the officials in the Yamen of Beiping said that the ditches were blocked and the foul smell caused hundreds of people to fall ill.
However, many people are spreading the news that this is a major epidemic. "
A clerk in Prince Yan's Mansion said in a panic.
"A most foolish rumor!"
Guo An smiled disdainfully, and seeing the clerk's expression, he explained loudly: "You are not allowed to spread rumors!"
"If there is a major epidemic, how dare the Beiping government not inform His Highness King Yan?
Now, neither His Highness King Yan nor this official knows that it is an ordinary illness! "
Sure enough, after hearing this, the scribes beside Guo An, as well as the young men passing by, all looked relaxed.
Yes, if there is a serious epidemic, can His Highness Prince Yan still stay safely in Beiping Mansion?
And this Guo Changshi, could he still watch them laying cement roads with such composure?
"However, the ditches in the city are unblocked every year and blocked every winter and spring. How does the Peking Government unblock them?"
As he spoke, Guo An looked at the cement road being laid in front of him, his eyes twinkling.
...It’s just that free things are never cherished!
Guo An shook his head and said to the clerks on the left and right: "Those officials in the Yamen of Beiping are really careless. If cement is laid in the ditches on the left and right sides of the city, all the sewage will be drained along the smooth cement pipes. How can we return it?" Can such a situation happen?"
"It seems that's really the case!"
Looking at the smooth concrete road under their feet, the clerks on the left and right couldn't help but be stunned.
Similarly, these words were also heard by some young people around.
The corner of Guo An's mouth curled up slightly, and he ordered to a guard beside him: "Go to the farm quickly to check whether the old people in the farm, as well as the chickens, pigs, cattle and sheep are showing any symptoms?"
"Yes, Guo Changshi!"
The guard looked solemn and quickly took the order and ran away in the distance.
Fortunately, Guo An's worries were unnecessary and the farm was extremely safe.
In fact, there are far fewer sick pigs and chickens on the farm during this period than during the cold winter.
The words Guo An complained about on the cement road outside the city quickly spread throughout Beiping Mansion.
All the people and officials in the city were discussing.
“Fixing ditches with cement?”
In the Beiping Mansion Yamen, Yu Rentian, Zhao Jie and other chief officials couldn't help but shine when they heard the report from the Yamen below.
"Master Fu, it seems that this is indeed the case. Most of the bottoms of the left and right ditches in the city are bare soil, with at most two stones placed in some critical places.
Over the course of a year, the bottoms of those ditches became pitted, and even the left and right sides collapsed. The sewage in the ditches accumulated at the bottom of the ditches all year round, creating an extremely stench.
If all ditches could be paved with cement, wouldn't these worries disappear? "
"But, that cement belongs to Prince Yan's Mansion..."
Saying that, fellow acquaintance Zhao Jie couldn't help but feel worried.
Yu Rentian's face turned stern, "Since the city has already discussed this matter, we all have to pave the ditch with cement.
If not, if something happens and the Chief Envoy and the Procuratorate are blamed, then our Beiping government office will definitely be blamed! "
Zhao Jie said: "But Master, there is no cement for sale in Beiping Mansion, and we don't know how much the cement in Prince Yan's Mansion costs?
Just in case, the cement is extremely expensive..."
Yu Rentian said: "Beiping Mansion is a fiefdom of His Highness King Yan. This is the construction of Beiping Mansion. How can His Highness King Yan still collect money?
This time, Prince Yan's Mansion got so many benefits.
His Royal Highness, King Yan, still wants to keep his money, so I am sitting in the palace of King Yan and will not leave.
If that doesn't work, I'll go to the Chief Envoy Department and the Inspectorate Envoy Department.
Anyway, there are many Shangguan officials in our Beiping government office..."
"Master Fu... is wise!"
Zhao Jie and Dang Fu stared wide-eyed. They had never seen the man who was known as a humble gentleman actually have such a side.
For the sake of Beiping Mansion, the Lord of the Palace has really suffered!
After watching Yu Rentian leave the government office gate, Zhao Jie and Dang Fu finally looked away and looked at each other with sympathy in their eyes.
…
In the palace of Prince Yan.
Seeing that His Highness Yu Rentian was still somewhat confident, Zhu Di's eyes widened.
"You, a thief, have come to my palace to fight against the autumn wind?"
"Your Highness, I have no choice but to do this!"
Yu Rentian had a miserable look on his face, "The lower official sounds like the prefect of Beiping Prefecture, but you also know how clean the treasury of Beiping Prefecture is.
Moreover, the most important thing is that the management of ditches in the city is a major matter related to the safety of thousands of people in Beiping Prefecture, and cement is the best to use.
I have searched all over Beiping Mansion, but I can only find His Highness Prince Yan here..."
…
(End of chapter)
