As autumn deepened, Shen Xihe estimated that the retreat at the summer palace should be nearing its end, and Xiao Huayong would soon return. However, she had not anticipated that the heavy rain in Dengzhou would persist without respite. Since that night, it had poured continuously for five days, with no sign of ceasing or even diminishing.
The initially ecstatic citizens of Dengzhou gradually grew pale-faced, and even the local officials began to show worry. Prince Jing Xiao Changyan and Prince Yan Xiao Changgeng had also remained in Dengzhou due to the unrelenting downpour.
Before the Youning Emperor could breathe a sigh of relief, Dengzhou once again became a source of anxiety for him. To prevent disaster, he ordered the local authorities to closely monitor villagers living near mountainous areas. Though Xiao Changyan and Xiao Changgeng had already taken separate actions before receiving the imperial decree, they were still a step too late.
Seven consecutive days of torrential rain caused numerous landslides, resulting in severe casualties among nearby villagers. Only the well-managed, experienced small mountain villages suffered minimal losses.
Having just endured a severe drought during the hottest days, most of Dengzhou had barely caught its breath before being plunged into rainstorms and mudslides. While the drought had brought invisible despair and anxiety, many were now displaced, with homes destroyed and families lost.
As Dengzhou was coastal, if the heavy rain continued, it would not only affect villagers nestled between mountains and sea. Should the coastline breach, most of Dengzhou would be submerged in floods, and even neighboring counties would suffer collateral damage.
Before the landslide crisis could be fully addressed, flood reports from various courier stations across Dengzhou had already reached the Youning Emperor’s desk.
Compared to the drought, the imminent flood disaster weighed more heavily on the emperor, and the entire court was scratching their heads, hoping to overcome this crisis as soon as possible.
While relief could be mobilized from various sources during the drought, now, with Dengzhou on the brink of flooding and landslides occurring everywhere, delivering disaster relief supplies was as difficult as climbing to the sky.
"Your Highness, Tao Gong has gone to Dengzhou," Zhenzhu urgently reported to Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe abruptly stood up and took the message, which came from Xiao Huayong. It stated that Tao Zhuanxian had volunteered to accompany the Minister of Works to inspect the disaster situation in Dengzhou.
The Ministry of Works was responsible for water conservancy. The Minister of Works was even older than Tao Zhuanxian and usually feigned ignorance during court disputes, but he never hesitated in critical moments. Though he would soon retire, his extensive experience in flood control was unmatched in the court—only Tao Zhuanxian could compare.
A decade ago, while serving as a local official, Tao Zhuanxian had single-handedly saved tens of thousands of lives during a major flood in Ganzhou.
After reading Xiao Huayong’s report, though worried, Shen Xihe felt helpless. This was her grandfather’s own decision. She had the means to recall Tao Zhuanxian, but neither she nor Xiao Huayong did so. They both knew this was his conviction—to apply his knowledge, to plead for the people as an official, and to seek welfare for the vulnerable.
"To the summer palace," Shen Xihe decided immediately.
She had nearly finished handling affairs in the palace. Now, with Dengzhou facing floods, the Youning Emperor would have no intention of leading a grand return to the palace. A single day’s journey would delay countless urgent messages.Her grandfather had gone to Dengzhou. In this matter, even political opponents would not dare to scheme against him at such a critical moment, as it would bring disaster upon their entire clans. Unless one intended to rebel, no matter how deep the enmity, everyone would hope for the disaster to be contained. Only when the common people were well could they find the time and energy to climb higher, each relying on their own abilities.
If the people of Dengzhou were left unattended, no matter how many benefits they gained, they would ultimately be the ones left to clean up the mess from the highest positions. Moreover, the Youning Emperor had long established his authority, and at this moment, they dared not act selfishly.
While human-induced disasters were unlikely, natural calamities could strike at any time. Shen Xihe was worried about Tao Zhuanxian, and Xiao Huayong would inevitably be distracted, constantly relaying messages to her while trying to comfort her. It would be better for her to go to the temporary palace and stay with Xiao Huayong, where they could discuss matters together. Sometimes, they could also share information firsthand, avoiding unnecessary complications.
"Has there been any news from Qi Pei?" Shen Xihe suddenly asked while sitting in the carriage.
As early as when the drought first appeared, Shen Xihe had instructed Qi Pei to set aside all his tasks and secretly purchase grain in Annan, Anbei, and other regions. To avoid driving up grain prices, they had to cover multiple locations discreetly.
Most of the national grain reserves had already been allocated to Dengzhou previously. This time, it was likely that even His Majesty would struggle to provide more grain.
"Qi Pei and Hua Taoyi have already gathered three hundred thousand dan of grain. This news came five days ago," Biyu replied.
Three hundred thousand dan was a massive quantity, but if a flood were to occur and the disaster persisted, this amount of grain would still be a drop in the bucket.
"A few days ago, grain prices in Jiangnan and other regions began to rise. His Majesty issued an edict stating that any region experiencing a sudden surge in grain prices would be treated as committing treason," Biyu added.
Throughout history, many had profited from national crises. Natural disasters were beyond even the ruler's control, and it was impossible to completely prevent people from benefiting. However, there were limits—if merchants were allowed to profit excessively, it would harm the nation's foundation.
Shen Xihe remained silent for a moment. "Send word to Qi Pei and tell him to stop purchasing grain."
Previously, it had not been noticeable, but now that His Majesty had issued the decree, continuing to purchase grain on a large scale would only draw unwanted attention. Moreover, three hundred thousand dan was no small amount. Even if Hua Fuhai were immensely wealthy, further purchases would strain their finances.
"You instructed Hua Fuhai to stop purchasing grain?" Xiao Huayong received the news as soon as Shen Xihe arrived at the temporary palace. He brought her into the room and personally handed her a cup of tea brewed with Eucommia Leaf.
"Yes." Shen Xihe moistened her lips and nodded. "One must act according to their position. You are not the Emperor, and this matter should not be our opportunity to take the spotlight. If Hua Fuhai alone were to supply all the grain, His Majesty would likely not tolerate him. Moreover, such a large quantity of grain cannot come out of our pockets."
It was not that they could not afford it, but they simply should not do it.
"Youyou, are you planning to..." A faint smile appeared on Xiao Huayong's lips.
"Although His Majesty has decreed that regions must not inflate grain prices, completely controlling the situation will be difficult," Shen Xihe explained her plan. "We shall see if Dengzhou is truly unfortunate enough to suffer a flood. If it does, we can have Hua Fuhai contact the Ministry of Revenue and sell the grain to the court at a low price for disaster relief. With him taking the lead and offering such a large quantity—three hundred thousand dan—who would dare to hoard grain or sell it to the court at exorbitant prices?""This is the best method. Procuring grain was never about making a profit but about alleviating the disaster. After Hua Fuhai and his companion have worked hard, let this be considered an accumulation of virtuous deeds."
"A brilliant approach," Xiao Huayong stroked his chin, adding that it would also prevent anyone from exploiting merchants to secretly cause trouble. "Let Hua Fuhai take the lead, using a portion of the funds while accepting government promissory notes. Even if the national treasury isn't abundant, this disaster can still be resolved."
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