"General, you speak so lightly. In the face of this disaster, where will the grain and supplies come from? And who will oversee the relief efforts? Who will ensure the plague is properly contained?" A white-haired minister stepped forward, his tone slightly sarcastic. This man was Yang Gan, a Censor-in-Chief with the power to impeach others.
"Oh? This gentleman is a stranger. May I ask how many practical things you've done? How many practical things have you done for the people? The ancients said, 'A gentleman is like a boat, and the people are like water; water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' The Yellow Turban Rebellion is still fresh in our minds. Without the people toiling in the fields, who would provide you with silks and brocades, fine clothes and sumptuous meals? This gentleman not only lacks ambition, but also sits idle in his position, even plotting rebellion—his heart is truly despicable! In the past, Emperor Gaozu of Han loved his people like his own children; officials were forbidden from trampling on fertile fields, violators would be executed immediately! Emperor Gaozu's teaching of 'treating the people like his own children' has become an excuse for you to shirk responsibility. Forgive my bluntness, but I have never seen such a shameless person!" Lu Ming's words came out like a machine gun, firing off in full force!
No one expected that Lu Ming was already married and had a concubine.
How could he still be like a thorn in their side, exploding at the slightest provocation, and then starting to act recklessly?
What he said, however, was quite reasonable, leaving Yang Gan extremely embarrassed.
He could only glare angrily. At his age, he was a respected man; he couldn't stand such humiliation.
"Outrageous! 'General' sounds impressive, but do you dare shoulder such a heavy responsibility?" Yang Gan retorted, not afraid of his opponent's provocation, but not afraid of his opponent refusing to respond, leaving him powerless to act!
"Heh, you talk so big, but what about you? All you do is encourage others to do things while you enjoy yourself in the capital. Anyone can talk the talk, but when it comes to actually doing something, you can't even crack a coward. Bah!" Lu Ming chuckled. He had never encountered someone so fearless. Since they dared to oppose him, he wouldn't hold back.
"My disciple has been dedicated to controlling the Yellow River floods. You are nothing but a sycophantic flatterer. Hmph, I disdain to speak with you." Yang Gan began to use his seniority to intimidate others.
"So you're playing dead when you can't win an argument, you old dog!" Lu Ming chuckled, finding the other man utterly displeasing. He even felt a surge of anger, wanting nothing more than to jump up and punch him.
The bickering returned to the same cacophony as during court sessions. Emperor Ling, already annoyed, slammed his hand on his chair. "Enough! All this arguing, do you even respect me anymore?!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Lu Ming's first reaction was to apologize, remaining silent and bowing his head.
Having just had sex with Emperor Ling's mother, Empress Dowager Dong, he could now treat this as a father's indulgent reaction to his unruly child.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Yang Gan, an old hand, knew that when the emperor was angry, nothing more was needed than silence.
Emperor Ling glanced around, seemingly deep in thought. "Lu Ming, are you confident in dealing with the plague in Liangzhou?"
"Your Majesty, Liangzhou is vast and sparsely populated. To control the plague, we first need sufficient food, and secondly, medicinal herbs. The plague requires in-depth research to develop targeted treatments. Secondly, we need highly respected individuals to deter powerful local families from hoarding food and driving up prices. Finally, there's the issue of expedient measures: peasant uprisings, corrupt officials, and potential rebellions—all these combined make me, your humble servant, uncertain of how to handle it." Lu Ming explained clearly that it wasn't just the plague itself, but a multitude of other miscellaneous problems that made the situation extremely complicated.
"Then, in your opinion, what should we do?" Emperor Ling was troubled, most annoyed by expenditures.
"Choose a respected person to command, and order the local powerful families to contribute money, manpower, and supplies. All the wealthy merchants and powerful families in Guanzhong, Guandong, and Luoyang must contribute. This concerns their lives; saving Liangzhou is saving themselves." Lu Ming didn't want to deal with this matter; it was incredibly troublesome.
"Forget it, forget it. You can all leave. There's not a single one who can share my burdens. Get out!" Emperor Ling, his head aching, waved his hand, dismissing everyone.
Upon hearing about contributing money, he was extremely unwilling. For an emperor to go to such lengths was truly unprecedented.
Lu Ming didn't care and left the palace. However, he unexpectedly encountered a servant of Marquis Zhao on the way, who invited him to his residence for a gathering.
In a rockery garden, the servant led Lu Ming to a courtyard with a pavilion in the lake, where lotus flowers brought from the south grew, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
Zhao Hou was already seated in the pavilion, gesturing for him to sit. "Anmin, please sit. I heard His Majesty was furious?"
He had only just left, yet Zhao Hou had already received the news; such intelligence was beyond the reach of most.
"Yes, because of the plague outbreak in Liangzhou, even the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat is helpless. Heh, I wonder if he truly has no way to deal with it, or if he's simply standing by," Lu Ming said, picking up his wine cup with a cold smile.
Liangzhou was the weakest point for the Yuan clan. The Yuan, Yang, and Wang clans, among other powerful families, had their roots in the areas surrounding Luoyang, Hedong, Hebei, Youzhou, the Central Plains, and Yangzhou—wealthy regions with favorable temperatures, abundant arable land, and suitable for habitation.
After development, these areas were far superior to places like Jingzhou and Sichuan, teeming with poisonous insects and snakes.
"Anmin, listen to me, for the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind." Marquis Zhao frowned. He wouldn't have said this if he hadn't already invested in Lu Ming.
"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency." Lu Ming stood up and bowed to Marquis Zhao. He sensed a conspiracy, but hadn't yet figured it out.
Marquis Zhao stroked his beard with satisfaction. It wasn't that he was showing off, but he admired Lu Ming's flexibility and adaptability. He dared to resist, and even more so, dared to take responsibility. "This is the Yuan family's plan to wipe out their entire lineage!"
Lu Ming frowned, his tone somewhat sinister. "Does the Yuan family really have to be so ruthless?"
Zhao Hou rose and poured Lu Ming a cup of wine, then clinked glasses with him. "Not at all. It's just that the Yuan family wants to maintain their reputation, so you have to be suppressed. This plague is just an excuse, a pretext to transfer you to Sichuan."
"Sichuan? They want to exile me?" Lu Ming stroked his chin; he wasn't actually opposed to it.
Don't underestimate Sichuan's geographical location; it's a famous land of plenty, renowned for its grain production and textiles.
Furthermore, the imperial palace uses top-quality silks and satins supplied by Sichuan. Aside from its remoteness, the place has no other drawbacks.