Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 108

Chapter 108 Dense Fog
There was indeed something fishy!

This was the first reaction of Li Ke and Qin Mubai when they heard that Zhu Chengwen had committed suicide.

Qin Mubai naturally wouldn’t talk too much in such a public place. After all, Li Ke was someone who had seen the world before and wasn’t in a hurry to explode. He just said, “Oh,” and followed Cheng Songnian’s words, “On the way here, this king saw a large number of people in exile in Jishan County. He said that county magistrate Zhu Chengwen forced them to migrate and swallowed their real estate and land. “Zhu Chengwen must have committed suicide because of this, right?”

“Indeed!” Cheng Songnian hurriedly cupped his hands in surprise. “This lowly order told him to appease the people after the disaster, but he turned a blind eye to this lowly order. He forcibly chased away a large number of victims, seized the opportunity to plunder their cattle, sheep, livestock, food, and property, and took advantage of this opportunity to devour a large amount of land and property. This kind of corrupt official who made a fortune was truly unable to atone for his sins with a hundred deaths! “This lowly position … Your Highness, please punish me for my negligence!”

“Let’s discuss this matter again. This king has come here not to investigate who is responsible for who is to be brought to justice, but to provide relief to the people.” Li Ke said, “This king only wants to know now, how is the disaster?”

“Your Highness, please enter the stronghold to speak. This lowly one will report it to you in detail!” Cheng Songnian said.

“Alright, let’s go.” Li Ke raised his hand and pointed forward. He paused for a moment and said, “General Qin, it will be hard for you to check the flood situation as soon as possible.”

“I accept orders!” Qin Mubai clasped his fists and agreed, thinking that Li Ke was indeed careful and thoughtful in his work. He wanted to listen to Cheng Songnian’s report first, then let me go to the field to investigate, and then come back to confirm whether this Cheng Songnian was lying or not.

Li Ke, Cheng Songnian, Liao Lirong, and the others brought the Palace QinBing into the military stronghold, Qin Mubai and the Hundred Cavalry soldiers stayed outside the stronghold, Jiangzhou Prefecture Commandant Ma Kun stayed behind to accompany Qin Mubai.

“General Qin’s name, this lowly position is like a bolt of lightning from a thousand miles away!” Ma Kun laughed heartily and said heroically, “Apart from the six commanders and twelve guards, there is now another hundred cavalry in the Great Tang. General Qin, on the other hand, is the first messenger of a hundred cavalry. He is heavily reliant on the emperor. That is even more honorable than the twelve guards!”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, “Officials are of no value, regardless of rank or rank, they serve the emperor. Commandant Ma, you must have worked hard these past few days to provide disaster relief. I’m ashamed to be late!”

“Haha, General Qin, what are you talking about!” Ma Kun smiled and said, “Always, the soldiers of our Twelve Guards are all doing such dirty and tiring work. How can you let your grand Royal Guards lead the guards here?”

Qin Mubai frowned slightly-this fellow was mocking me! Little Fifth Grade Commandant, I’m courteous to you, and you’re even more domineering. I guess I’m used to running wild in places, I really don’t know how to be polite!

“General Ma, there is no need to say anything. I am now ordered to inspect the flood-stricken area. Please send someone to lead the way.” Qin Mubai said.

“Alright. Since General Qin has spoken, then this lowly position will have to be accompanied personally!-General Qin, please!” Ma Kun brought a horse and rode it. He brought more than ten followers and led Qin Mubai to the front of the military stronghold.

Three or five miles away, Qin Mubai saw a high embankment with new soil, and some soldiers carrying gunny bags to strengthen it.

Qin Mubai and the others got off their horses and walked up the high embankment. They saw a puddle in front of them. The muddy lake water showed a scarlet yellow color. From afar, one could see submerged mulberry fields and houses. Occasionally, pig, sheep, and even human corpses could be found floating on the surface of the lake.

“Is this the flooded village of Ji County?” Qin Mubai pointed at the area in front of him and asked.

“Yes.” Ma Kun knitted his eyebrows and sighed, “What a tragedy! A radius of more than sixty li has turned into a puddle ocean overnight! If not for Cheng Chishi’s good leadership in disaster relief and the quick construction of a flood control dam in front of Jishan County, the entire county would probably have been swallowed up, and it would have affected other counties as well.”

“When we arrived just now, we discovered that Jishan County had almost become an empty city, and there were traces of flooding. What was going on?” Qin Mubai asked, “Didn’t we stop the flood here? How did Jishan County become like that?”

“The general only knows one thing, not the other!” Ma Kun chuckled and said, “It’s said that Hong is like a galloping horse, only slightly slower when the terrain is slightly higher.” Jishan County is facing floods in this place is a slope, so the flood potential is slightly slower. Cheng Chishi had been in Jiangzhou for many years and was very experienced in dealing with the floods on this side. Actually, when he received the news, the flood had already rushed to the county town of Jishan County. Fortunately, the water was not fierce. Although part of the county town was flooded, fortunately, it was not as deep as one person. So he led our five thousand troops and built a dam here day and night to stop the flood. “This is the scene that the general saw in the county.”

Qin Mubai frowned slightly and thought to himself, “Hearing Ma Kun’s words, it is indeed seamless and perfectly justifiable.” But there are still many things that cannot be explained–first, since the flood once washed away Jishan County, where did the flood go now? Secondly, since the flood peak has passed, why did county magistrate Zhu Chengwen force the people to migrate? Could it be that he really wanted to seize the opportunity to occupy the property of the people and then commit suicide with another batch of property? Unless he was mentally ill, he definitely wouldn’t be so desperate for money and insist on carrying a pile of property to commit suicide!

“Thank you, General Ma, for your hard work!” Qin Mubai didn’t say anything, but instead said, “When the flood comes, you five thousand elite soldiers will probably have to step into the flood to snatch the dam? That’s really hard!”

“It’s not just hard work, we’ve also paid a dozen lives for it.” Ma Kun sighed and said, “It’s true to say that there are ferocious beasts.” Not many of us in the North know how to water. Everyone clenched their teeth and dared to jump into the water to build a human wall to block some water potential. Then, they piled and pressed down on the rice sacks. After that, they picked up a load of earth and fought bitterly for two days and two nights before building the ten-mile long levee to block the flood peak. Some of his brothers were washed away by overwork, and they would never be able to return. Until now, I don’t know where the corpse is, alas! ”

“Respectful and admirable.” Qin Mubai nodded and sighed. He casually asked, “This general doesn’t know much about building a dam to resist the flood. However, after hearing General Ma’s words, he thought, ‘What else can the army eat if you throw your rice bags into this dam?'”

Ma Kun was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said, “General, you don’t know who is willing to throw white rice into the flood?” Actually, the best way to fight the flood was to use rice bags. Because the rice was bubbled up, became heavier and sank, so that a dam could be built to stop the flood. The dam can only be completed by adding mud and stones to it. We’ve watched helplessly throw all five thousand stones of rice into this flood. It’s a pity that all the soldiers in the entire manor have lost their rations for three months. ”

Qin Mubai’s heart skipped a beat. No wonder the refugees said that the soldiers robbed the food and livestock of the civilians. Could it be that they did this because their food was gone? However, fighting against floods and disaster relief was an important matter for the Imperial Court and the Yamen. As the governor of Jiangzhou, did Cheng Songnian allow the government soldiers to rob the people like this?

“General Ma, what have you eaten these days?” Qin Mubai asked.

“There’s still some surplus grain in the army. It won’t be a problem to last for three to five days.” Ma Kun seemed to be prepared in his heart and said, “In addition, Cheng Cishi also transferred a batch from the state capital’s grain depot. It’s still enough to eat.”

“But on the way down from the hall, I heard that the manor soldiers were robbing the people and plundering food. Why?” Qin Mubai knocked on the mountain and asked.

Ma Kun’s expression changed abruptly as he shouted with his tiger eyes wide open, “There is absolutely no such thing!” General Qin, think about it. Aren’t our soldiers trying so hard to build the dam without even taking their lives to protect the citizens of the city? How could they in turn rob the people of their belongings and food? This was slander! Slander! Slander to all the soldiers of our army! “This is an extremely damaging slander!”

“Alright, General Ma, you don’t need to be excited. This general also doesn’t believe in such a thing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have said anything to ask you.” Qin Mubai smiled indifferently. “You’ve worked hard and have done well. I’m sure you’ll pass it all on to His Highness Prince King Wu. I’m sure His Highness will report it directly to the Emperor after he returns to the court. He won’t swallow up your credit.”

“I don’t deserve credit. I don’t want to be rewarded!” Ma Kun was furious. He widened his eyes and said angrily, “Those of us who are soldiers of the government will serve the country without food or pay. If we risk our lives to do good deeds and bear grievances, we won’t do anything!”

“Impudent!” At this time, a brigade marshal following Qin Mubai couldn’t look at him anymore. He shouted, “How dare you, Ma Kun! How dare you contradict General Qin! Are you dissatisfied with the Imperial Court and vent your anger on His Majesty?”

Ma Kun was stunned, as if he remembered that Qin Mubai was a confidant general beside the Emperor. He hurriedly restrained his anger and cupped his hands to apologize to Qin Mubai, “This lowly position was filled with anger and impoliteness. General Qin, please don’t blame me!” This lowly position was a rude person. He didn’t read much and had an upright disposition. He was used to hanging out with those hooligans and soldiers in the military manor all day long, and his temper was also hot-tempered. If you offend me in any way, this humble position is here to apologize! ”

“It doesn’t matter.” Qin Mubai said indifferently, “The people in the army are all bloody men. It is common for them to have a rough and straightforward temperament. They will not be so stingy and will not take it to heart.”

Later, Qin Mubai returned to the military stronghold and met Li Ke. Li Ke also listened to Cheng Songnian’s report and had many doubts.

The two of them discussed it together.

“Mubai, I just heard that Cheng Songnian talk for a long time, and then I heard you talk about the dam. I think there are quite a few problems.” Li Ke said, “One, the most strange thing is the county magistrate of Jishan County Zhu Chengwen’s suicide.” His behavior is too incomprehensible. The sudden flood broke the lake dike, flooded the outskirts of Jishan County, and even attacked the county. The county magistrate was guilty, but his crime did not kill him. When the flood washed through Jishan County, the water was not ferocious. At this time, the most important thing he should do was to help the people to minimize losses. However, he forced all the people to move out of Jishan. How could this be explained? Moreover, why did he commit suicide after moving out of the people? Cheng Songnian explained that this king does not believe that he would seize this opportunity to plunder the people’s property and land. Great Tang’s net of law was very long. A small county magistrate like him, did he have the ability and courage to swallow a hundred hectares of fertile land? Secondly, the flood actually passed through Jishan County and disappeared, so where did it go? I asked Cheng Songnian. He vaguely said that the flood had flowed into the lower rivers and gullies. Because the flood peak was blocked, the amount of water was not large. This was strange. A flood that washed away a county could actually disappear like this? Third, the problem of soldiers robbing civilians. Cheng Songnian and Ma Kun both denied it, claiming that their soldiers would rather be hungry than do such a thing. “It’s a little passionate and angry–that is to say, food is a very sensitive subject for them!”

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[Power outage for a whole day, very helpless … Now, I present two chapters together]