Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“How much money is left in the warehouse? I am uncertain if the medical store still exists, or if medicinal herbs can still be purchased. It’d be better if we could invite the experienced doctor.” She couldn’t save those who died in the earthquake, but she could do her utmost for those that were still alive.
If she had known the earthquake would occur so suddenly, she would’ve sought after doctors when she first arrived in Shangjing.
“Also, set aside some money to hire those still alive. We can either pay them with food rations or with money. They can help clear the ruins or search for survivors. Go prepare a constitution and calculate the expenses. If there’s not enough…”
There was no need to calculate anything; Xu Ke already knew there was not enough silver in the warehouse. “Langjun… There was insufficient silver in the warehouse from the start.”
Jiang Pengji pursed her lips and said, “I will think of a solution for the silver and the rations. Please take care of everything else.”
Xu Ke replied, “If we could convince every house and mansion to open their stores, the effect may be more desirable.”
She laughed, then impolitely said, “What is the probability that will happen?”
The year the snow disaster happened, there were countless casualties––from both starvation and freezing to death. How many people in all of Shangjing opened their stores to provide rations then?
After the earthquake, it was every man for himself. If one managed to survive, their first instinct was to flee from such a dire place. Why would they stay?
From the perspective of the aristocratic families that boasted of their noble bloodline, the common people were like worthless ants.
Who would stay in Shangjing for mere ants? They wouldn’t open their warehouses, let alone offer money, rations, or medicinal herbs.
Xu Ke had no come back to her question; he remained silent.
As they were talking, the sound of a horse’s hooves came from afar.
Upon a closer look, they realized it was the disheveled Huang Song. A few soldiers wearing official uniforms followed behind him.
“Brother Liu!” Huang Song pulled on his horse’s reins. He controlled the horse and had it stop before Jiang Pengji. “Where is Brother Jue?”
He leaped off the horse and noticed her pale face. Her hair was in a mess, and she wore a loose coat. He sighed helplessly.
Other than being psychologically affected, he didn’t seem to have suffered any injuries.
Taking Jiang Pengji’s advice, Huang Song brought his men to patrol the city multiple times the night before. At midnight, they managed to catch two spoiled sons from aristocratic families fooling around. As they prepared to arrest them according to the laws of Shangjing city, the earthquake happened without any warning.
Huang Song gathered his men and instantly went to save people. He then rushed back to his mansion to check on the situation there.
His father had a habit of sleeping late. When the earthquake occurred, he suffered light injuries, but he was otherwise safe and had fortunately managed to escape.
Huang Song tasked his servants with rescuing people while he searched for silver and rations amidst the ruins. He then got his father somewhere safe and settled him there.
After his arrangements were in order, he brought men to where Jiang Pengji was so they could find and save officials and nobles crushed under the ruins.
The whole of Shangjing was in ruins. Out of ten buildings, nine had collapsed. His heart grew heavier as he traveled.
After the disaster was over, it was unthinkable how few survivors would be left.
Jiang Pengji glanced at Huang Song and his men behind him. They all looked shag and dirty as if they just worked at a construction site.
“Huaijie is safe. He sustained a minor injury to his arm, but he is otherwise okay. He is inside.”
Even though the patrol head of Shangjing was a low-ranked official, he had one advantage: There were people under him.
“That is good…” Huang Song heaved a sigh of relief. “The situation is unstable. It is unsafe here. The refugees are after rations and money; they will stop at nothing to provide for their families. Brother Liu needs to make other plans,” he said, his intentions genuine.
Jiang Pengji frowned upon hearing his words. She knew what people were capable of, but she needed a favor…
“I heard that Shangjing has 100,000 imperial guards. If they were dispatched, it would comfort the people. They could save many lives. People wouldn’t have to live in desperation if the government opened their stores.” Her voice was full of heavy sarcasm.
Huang Song wore a somewhat awkward facial expression.
He replied helplessly, “When the earthquake happened, the Emperor was outside the city at his royal summer mansion. The imperial guards must to ensure his safety; they cannot leave his side.”
Jiang Pengji clamped her eyes shut. Xu Ke, who was behind her, read between the lines of Huang Song’s words. He grew angry and stepped forward to confront him, but Jiang Pengji raised her hands to stop him.
The audience members in the live streaming room fixated on the disaster and its aftermath. Ruins abounded, and people were suffering… Upon hearing Huang Song’s words, they grew furious.
Laosiji Lianmeng: “What does that mean? There are 100,000 imperial guards! Can’t they leave 10,000 guards to protect the Emperor and let the remainder save the people?”
Dazejuan: “Pei! Why does protecting someone require 10,000 guards? Who does the Donqing Emperor think he is?”
Yingyang Kuaixian: “I have followed the live streaming closely. Based on the information I’ve gathered, the imperial guards are the strongest military might in Shangjing. If they do not save the people, then the bastards are going to sit back and watch everyone die!”
Jiang Pengji saw the bullet screen and laughed indifferently.
If the earthquake had been smaller or occurred during the day, and there were less dead and injured, the Emperor would likely send his imperial guards to render aid.
Shangjing was in ruins. How could it still be considered the capital city?
It was too expensive to reconstruct the capital; the country couldn’t support it.
Under such circumstances, the Dongqing Emperor would naturally choose the path that offered the least amount of loss.
Zuiai Latiaole: “Keke, in ancient times, the people’s lives were worthless. Life is indeed precious—that is, on the condition that you are an official or were born into an aristocratic family. Look at Huang! He brought men to save other people, but he saved those big shots in Shangjing first. The rate of rescue in ancient times was very slow. If they rescued an average person first, then an official or nobleman’s life was at risk. If it came down to it, who do you think will be saved first?”
Wahaha: “I recall the Luchuan earthquake. I was at Luchuan university when the earthquake happened. I was rescued amidst the ruins by a soldier. I wonder if I would have died if I were an average person.”
Niurougeng Bujiajiang: “Don’t fool around. If that was the case, your corpse would be cold. You’d have already gone through the process of reincarnation.”
Tuhuangyou Banfan: “That’s enough. The conversation is so full of negative energy that I want to flip my keyboard. I am going to do some activities with positive energy to calm down. I will post on Duniang to see if I can garner the rich to donate rewards to the live streaming room…”
The audience members in the live streaming room chose to trust Jiang Pengji based on her reputation and the trust she won through her live streams over the years. Rewards of varying degrees continued poured in.
Huang Song seemingly knew the source of her information. He felt like he had a tacit understanding of Jiang Pengji; he just had to probe at her.
“The Emperor is unable to fend for himself. Brother Liu should leave as soon as possible. The whole wide world is open for you to showcase your talents. If you hesitate and miss this opportunity, you will not be able to escape when the Emperor calls for you and second brother Feng…”
Thereafter, he regained his composure and looked professional.
Jiang Pengji smirked coldly. “I, Liu Xi, don’t have much, but I have my principles. If I leave everything and escape, how am I any different from a coward? You don’t have to hide anything from me, Bogao. I am not stupid. It is clear that the Emperor witnessed nine out of ten buildings collapse, but he does not want to expend resources on reconstructing the capital city. Instead, he devised a plan to leave with the high officials, noble people, and ministers so he could establish a capital city elsewhere. Am I right?
Why would he waste a huge amount of human resources to repair all of Shangjing?
If there weren’t intentions to move the capital city, he would have ordered the imperial guards to save the people, albeit just for show.
It was the imperial city. It was impossible for it to be made up of the Emperor alone.
The Emperor controlled the imperial guards, and he was refusing to offer relief efforts. That suggested that he was gearing up to abandon the people.
Notably, his intention to move the capital city was certainly clear.
Huang Song’s face changed unexpectedly; it became deathly white.
