After knowing that he would leave Beijing again and go to Huguang to handle an office work, Li Ling cherished the days he could be with his family at this time, and felt guilty about his wife and daughter. After all, he had just returned from northern Xinjiang, and it was only a New Year that passed, and he soon had to part with them again, and then he didn't know how long it would take to go.

However, in order not to worry about his wife and daughter, he did not inform him of this for the time being. He still stayed at home every day, played some games with his daughter, and taught her to call him father and mother, which was also a happy time.

Especially on the Lantern Festival, Li Ling took his family out for fun and enjoying the lanterns. At night, he carved Nian'er in person and watched the lanterns on the busiest long road of the Imperial Street, dazzled his half-year-old child and could only giggle on his father's back.

It was only after returning home that Li Ling told his wife about his departure from Beijing that night. Yang Qingxiao seemed quite calm about this: "Actually, I've seen that you have something to do, so it's for this."

"Uh...hehe, Qingxiao, you are indeed the one who understands me the most." Li Ling smiled a little embarrassedly. However, Yang Qingxiao did not laugh, but looked at her husband very seriously: "Li Lang, I know that many things are inevitable as a court official, but I also have the conditions."

"you say."

"I want you to be fine and can't always take risks like before. You are now my husband and Nian'er's father. What if you really have a good life, but Nian'er and I?" Yang Qingxiao said with a gaze. If she hadn't had a daughter and concern now, she would have proposed to go out with her lover. But since she had a daughter, she had changed her original habits and became more and more steady.

"I promise you. But you don't have to worry, because Mo Yun and Senior Shao will accompany me this time, and the court will also arrange people for me. Huguang is not a dangerous place like Northern Xinjiang, so there is definitely no problem in terms of safety."

"Well! I heard that the disaster in Huguang this time is very serious, and many people have died of cold and hunger. If you go there, you must make a decision for them. If you need it, you can also find our brothers from Cao Gang. Although our power over there is not as good as in Jiangnan, it is also a considerable force in the world."

"I understand, don't worry. It's getting late, let's take a break soon." Li Ling nodded with some emotion, then hugged his wife in his arms. The two of them snuggled up to each other and fell asleep quickly.

...

After the Lantern Festival, the capital's yamen reopened and the court returned to its original rhythm. Only a few officials who had left the capital before were still on the way back, and everything was no different from before the New Year.

At this time, some problems that were dragged down and unsolved before the New Year were quickly put on the agenda, and among these many things, the disaster in Huguang was obviously put at the forefront.

At the court meeting on the 21st day of the first lunar month, officials had reported to the emperor, saying that since the beginning of winter last year, many disaster relief areas in Huguang were ineffective, which led to the increasing distress of the people. Then, before the court's monarch and ministers had agreed to explain the reason, two days later, more than a dozen censors submitted memorials one after another, impeaching more than 20 officials, including the governor of Huguang, were allowed to take care of the lives and death of the people.

By the end of the first lunar month, someone even showed the most powerful evidence, mentioning that in the first half of the year, more than 30 Huguang disaster victims died at home. The incident was concealed by the local government at the beginning. It was not until a capital city passed by local officials to provide disaster relief that the matter was found out and submitted to the court.

As soon as this news came out, the court was in an uproar, which caused memorials from the impeachment related people to fly into the Yintai Division, the Political Affairs Hall and the Palace like snowflakes. Even the emperor and the prime ministers were criticized. As for the officials of various ministries who were already responsible for disaster relief, they were even accused of harming the country and the people and murdering the people!

At the beginning, this statement was only spread in the court, but within two days, the news spread to the people, so public opinion was noisy, and there were criticisms or comments on the streets and alleys, and all kinds of statements came out with conspiracy theories.

There was even a saying that it was because a big man in the court had always hated Huguang that the territorial disaster became more serious, which made the public's condemnation even stronger, and some people shouted the slogan of asking the emperor to severely punish the murderer.

Faced with such fierce public opinion, the court did not dare to slack off any more. Within two or three days, it convened important officials in the capital to discuss countermeasures five or six times. When the seventh court meeting on the first day of the second month, even Li Ling was called to the palace. He understood very well that this meant that the task of disaster relief and the investigation of the disaster in Huguang was handed over to himself.

Because it was just a court meeting rather than a court meeting, the time and location of the personnel were not so particular. However, after noon, Li Ling and more than fifty other officials entered the palace and entered the side hall of Qinzheng Hall.

Today's emperor was obviously a little tired. After the ministers held a meeting, they didn't say anything about flattery. They just raised their hands and asked them to return to their respective positions. Li Ling naturally respectfully accompanied the last seat and waited for him to come forward and talk.

The emperor's eyes swept over the ministers in front of him casually, and then said in a hoarse voice: "Just last night, new news came from Huguang. The number of victims who died of starvation in this winter has reached 322..."

As soon as these words were said, except for a few priests who knew about the matter earlier, everyone changed their faces and died so many people. The problem was really serious.

"Your Majesty, this is a man-made disaster, not a natural disaster. In the eyes of the minister, the court must severely punish relevant people!" The Minister of Rites came out first and played loudly.

Subsequently, officials such as the Censorate, the Privy Council, and the Ministry of Personnel who had no connection with the disaster relief also stood up to express their positions. Anyway, it was just the same, and they must be severely punished, and even killed several officials who were in corpses and were considered as an explanation to the court and the opposition.

In fact, similar statements have been mentioned many times these days. The emperor's ears were calloused when he heard them, so he naturally frowned. What he wanted was not these suggestions, but how to solve the current difficulties in Huguang. At this time, he really regretted the decision he made to open up the situation with Huguang for Sun Bi, because the cost was too high.

Fortunately, he also has an old minister like Lu Zhen. After everyone finished speaking, the old minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I sincerely agree with you, but I think that the most urgent task at the moment is not how to deal with these guilty ministers, but to calm down the disaster in Huguang as soon as possible and get rid of the people from the current poverty."

"Your Majesty, I will discuss it!" As the backbone of the left prime minister's party, the Minister of Personnel immediately spoke out for support, and then other officials followed up: "I, I, I, the most important thing now is to provide disaster relief and people. Everything else can be put aside."

The emperor nodded with satisfaction: "With Lu Qing's opinion, how should the court deal with this matter?"

"I think it is time to select officials with outstanding talents and ability to make the decision for the people. As for the officials sent to Huguang last year, they are subject to their restraints. Whether it is a merit or a crime, they will wait until the disaster in Huguang has subsided before making a decision."

"Well, is there a suitable candidate?"

"Your Majesty, I think that Ying Wenjie is the one who can take on his responsibilities." This time, the Minister of Rites suddenly spoke first and recommended one person, which surprised the emperor. However, he still asked according to his words: "How can I see it? Although Ying Wenjie is a well-established person in the Censor Taichung, he probably doesn't have much experience in local governance."

"Your Majesty, I think the most important thing for sending officials to Huguang this time is to be a person. As for talent, Ying Wenjie has served as the censor for many years and has never made any mistakes, which is enough to prove it. Moreover, the officials sent to Huguang for disaster relief were officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works and other practical yamen. I am worried that officials would protect each other, and it may even make the local disaster worse. Therefore, it is fair to be the most appropriate for Ying Wenjie, who has no interference with these yamen."

As he finished speaking, Ying Wenjie, who was in the rear ministers, also took a decisive step forward and bowed: "Your Majesty, although I am not talented, I also have a heart for the country and the people. If Your Majesty is willing to use me, I will do my best to calm the disaster in Huguang and give the local people a bright and sunny day."

"I also think Ying Wenjie is the most suitable!"

"I'm going to discuss it!"

In an instant, more than a dozen officials stood up to protect him, and they wanted to make a complete decision on this matter, which made Li Ling stunned.

Didn’t it mean that everything was arranged? I was the one who went to Huguang this time. Why did Ying Wenjie come out?

In fact, not only was he confused, but the emperor and Lu Zhen also caught him off guard. However, they quickly understood the problem. Yu Guang swept to the prince because the Minister of Rites and others all had the identity of a prince-party member, which was obviously their intention.

"But are there any other candidates?" After a moment of silence, the emperor could only ask another question.

Among these ministers, Wang Han is better able to understand the will of the holy people, and immediately came forward and said, "Your Majesty, I think the disaster relief in Huguang is too important. It is a bit risky to let a rumor go to take charge of everything. It is better to find outstanding abilities, local governance experience, and economic officials to take charge of the overall situation."

"Your Majesty, I think what the Prime Minister said is very reasonable, and now there is such a suitable candidate in the court." Lu Zhen also cooperated and turned his head and looked at Li Ling, the last person in the minister's class. "I used to be an official in Jiangnan, had experience in managing disasters and sanctioning the people in Yangzhou, and at the same time, Li Ling, a transfer officer who has achieved great success in finance and taxation, is a very suitable candidate!"
Chapter completed!