Chapter 22
Tang Taizong was extremely anxious, and the anxiety in his heart was like a thunderstorm on a summer afternoon, coming at any time and with astonishing power. He was afraid that once he got angry, it would be like the earth-shattering thunder, frightening those officials who only wanted to protect themselves and did not care about the people's livelihood, and even lost their official positions or even their lives. He sat on the dragon chair, clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turned white from exertion, and thought to himself: How can this country tolerate such a moth?
"Check! I must get to the bottom of this matter!" Taizong slammed the table, his voice shaking the candlelight in the hall. He shouted loudly, with an unquestionable look in his eyes. Determined.
"Let's go back to the palace now. I want to see who dares to fool me!" He stood up and walked hurriedly, as if he was stepping on the officials' steps with every step. On the heartstrings.
"Wait, don't leave in a hurry, call Cheng Aiqing into the palace." Taizong frowned, and the small matter of brewing wine that he was originally worried about was now forgotten by him. He snorted coldly, turned around and walked back to the palace, but he was still thinking about this sudden change in his heart.
"There are people in that area south of the Yangtze River who are so brave, hiding something serious and not reporting it." Taizong muttered as he walked, his tone revealing anger and disappointment that was difficult to conceal.
“Isn’t this asking for death!” Wei Zheng shook his head and sighed. He had no sympathy at all for those guys who violated the laws of the Tang Dynasty and harmed innocent people for their own selfish desires. In his view, these people not only violated national laws, but also violated the laws of nature. If they are not severely punished, how can they quell public anger?
So Wei Zheng and Taizong acted separately. Wei Zheng went straight to Cheng Mansion to inform Li Qingge. He secretly thought: Li Qingge, a man with extraordinary wit, might be able to provide some clues to this matter.
In the blink of an eye, in the palace hall, all the officials stood upright, but they felt like a rabbit in their hearts, restless and uneasy. Everyone looked at me and I looked at you with doubts and fears on their faces:
"Why is your Majesty so angry today?" an official muttered in a low voice.
"I have never seen His Majesty so angry." Another official echoed.
“It must be something serious.” Another official said worriedly.
There were a lot of discussions below, everyone was speculating on what big thing happened that could make His Majesty so angry.
As for Li Qingge, he was stunned for a moment after hearing the news, but soon figured out the key. She thought to herself: There must be another flood in the south of the Yangtze River, otherwise how could His Majesty be so angry?
"How come this kid can always predict the future? Does he really have a way to solve this disaster?" Someone whispered, with a bit of jealousy and confusion in his tone.
"Having him here is such a blessing to the Tang Dynasty." Someone else said with emotion, their tone full of admiration and gratitude for Li Qingge.
Taizong was anxious and angry at first, not knowing what to do. But when I heard Li Qingge say this, I felt much more at ease. He thought to himself: As long as Li Qingge is here, he can always come up with a good solution. So, he began to express his worries in front of the officials:
"I always thought that the world was as peaceful as Chang'an, but I didn't expect that heavy rains in the south of the Yangtze River would cause disasters and the rivers would overflow. , tens of thousands of people suffered." Taizong's tone was heavy and sad, as if he could feel the suffering of the people in the distant Jiangnan.
"How come I haven't heard anything about such a big thing until now? Why exactly?" Although Taizong's tone was calmer, there was an indescribable majesty and questioning in his words. Hearing this, the officials were all beating in their hearts.
"Jiangnan flood? How come we don't know about this?" an official asked in surprise.
"If this is true, why didn't those colleagues in Jiangnan report it immediately?" Another official was also puzzled.
"Could it be that...there is no assessment this year? They were afraid of losing their official title, so they deliberately hid it?" another official speculated.
"How audacious!" When all the officials heard this, they were very angry. They thought: Your Majesty has just solved the problem of drought, and now there is a flood, and they don't know how many people will be affected.
"Don't worry, everyone. This news has not been confirmed yet. It may be a rumor." Fang Xuanling stood up to reassure everyone. His tone was calm and rational, trying to calm the panic and speculation of the officials.
"Yes, if this is true, who would dare to hide it and not report it? Isn't that asking for death?" Another official agreed.
"Jiangnan flood? I think it's probably a rumor." Another official shook his head and said.
"Yes, yes..." the officials all agreed, secretly hoping that this was just a rumor.
While everyone was talking a lot and people were panicking, Taizong suddenly frowned. He realized that he might have been misled by the rumors. He got angry when he heard what the merchant said, and he didn't think carefully about whether it was true. Besides, how could such a big thing be kept hidden? He was thinking to himself, with a bit of hesitation and confusion in his eyes.
Just when Taizong was hesitant and making calculations in his mind, a clear and firm voice suddenly came over:
"Rumors? That's not necessarily true. We can check the population movement situation. , the counties will report it to the court." Li Qingge stood up, her tone was calm and rational, as if a clear spring poured into the chaotic hall.
"Officials in Jiangnan may be able to suppress the news, but when the floods come, businessmen and refugees will definitely flee to other counties. We only need to see if there are any abnormalities in the data, and we will know the truth." She continued, with a look in her eyes Revealing some wisdom and determination.
Li Qingge laughed secretly in her heart, but she knew she couldn't be in the limelight now. She deliberately pretended to be hesitant to speak, thinking: This is a cure by doing nothing, and what she fears most is being too pushy. Once you become a celebrity, it will be difficult to be lazy in the future. How can you expect the system to reward you? But having said that, regardless of whether the news is true or false, Taizong will definitely send people to investigate, and the truth will naturally be revealed to the world by then. Why should I talk too much?
When Taizong heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up. He thought to himself: This guy is really smart! right! We have data reported every month. Once we check it, we will know whether there is any disaster in Jiangnan. He looked at Li Qingge with eyes full of admiration and affirmation.
"That's right! Once you check it, you will know whether the disaster in Jiangnan is true or false." All the officials also agreed, and they all secretly admired Li Qingge's wit and acumen. This sudden turmoil seemed to have found a breakthrough because of Li Qingge's words.
Sudden changes in the situation, the sorrow of Jiangnan
Li Shimin's eyes suddenly lit up, excitement filled his face, and he couldn't hide his excitement. He seemed to see a glimmer of light, piercing through the fog in front of him.
“It’s true!” He was secretly happy, feeling that his decision to summon Li Qingge was so right. His heartfelt words actually solved a big problem and gave him hope of solving the dilemma.
"Fang Qing's words are reasonable, but whether there are rumors or not, we still need to conduct in-depth investigation." Li Shimin said calmly, while Li Qingge's previous analysis echoed in his mind. There was an unquestionable firmness in his words, as if he had seen the truth of the matter.
"I am also thinking that if there is really a flood in the south of the Yangtze River, then there will definitely be abnormalities in the population flow. We just need to check carefully..." Li Shimin repeated Li Qingge's words, secretly surprised in his heart. Hey, this kid actually thinks exactly the same as me! Well, I, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, have great wisdom, but his decisiveness really makes me, the emperor, a little inferior. He couldn't help but admire Li Qingge a little more.
Li Qingge saw this and was secretly glad in his heart. He never dared to slack off in dealing with the suffering of the people. He had a premonition that the situation might change in the near future, so he rushed to open up the thousand acres of fertile land to prepare for emergencies. Otherwise, it would be so pleasant to live a peaceful and idle life as an official. But he didn't want to see the people suffer, and he didn't want to let the disaster spread because of his laziness.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will go to Jiangnan to find out the truth." Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling's eyes suddenly lit up. After saying goodbye, he hurriedly set off. His figure elongated in the sunlight, carrying a sense of determination and firmness.
The palace suddenly became lively, and all the officials were talking and expressing their opinions.
"This must be a rumor. Who dares to do such an immoral thing? Aren't you looking for death?" an official said angrily, his face full of disdain and anger.
"That is, it is related to the fundamentals of the country. How can it be easily covered up? How dare those officials act so boldly?" Another official also echoed, with a tremor in his voice, obviously shocked by such a thing. .
"Only a fool would do this. How could our officials of the Tang Dynasty be so stupid?" Skepticism.
"The matter hasn't been clarified yet, so please don't jump to conclusions yet." A calm voice sounded, trying to calm the debate.
……
Most officials breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was just a false alarm. They thought to themselves that there was no need to investigate this matter, it was just a rumor. Fang Xuanling will definitely confirm this once he goes there. There was a relaxed smile on their faces, as if they had seen the ending of the matter.
However, not long after, a guard rushed in hurriedly, his face was as pale as paper, sweat was dripping from his forehead, he had obviously run all the way.
"Your Majesty! There are abnormal population flows in several counties in the south of the Yangtze River. Tens of thousands of victims have poured in in just a few days!" There was a kind of panic and anxiety in his words that could not be concealed.
"But what I don't understand is, how come there is no news at all from the local officials?" As soon as the guard finished speaking, everyone in the audience was shocked, and everyone couldn't believe their ears. They looked at each other, confusion and shock shining in their eyes.
Those who had sworn it was a rumor before had their faces turned pale and embarrassed. They never expected that Jiangnan officials would be so derelict in their duties. Aren't they afraid of losing their heads? Their hearts were filled with doubts and confusion.
What’s even more shocking is that such a big thing was covered up at every level. If it hadn’t been leaked out by chance, who would have known that Jiangnan was suffering from such a disaster? Their hearts were filled with sympathy for the people affected by the disaster and anger against the officials who had failed in their duties.
"Why on earth is this? Why don't county officials report it?" an official shouted angrily, with an unconcealable sadness, anger and anxiety in his voice.
"This matter is too strange, it is difficult to tell the truth from the false." Another official muttered, his eyes shining with wisdom, obviously thinking about the answer to this question.
"Detailed investigation is necessary to find out the truth." A calm voice sounded, trying to calm the debate and point out the key to solving the problem.
"Send capable people quickly, maybe the truth will come to light in half a month." An official suggested anxiously, his heart filled with concern for the affected people and awareness of the urgency of time.
......
The hall was in an uproar and was shaken. Li Shimin frowned, feeling extremely anxious. He is fully aware of the urgency of time and the seriousness of the plight faced by the affected people.
"Fifteenth day? During the drought in the past, I witnessed the suffering of the people with my own eyes. Fifteenth day was enough to destroy countless lives." Li Shimin was secretly anxious, [Fifteenth day? Why are you so slow! The evidence is already in front of us, so what else is there to investigate? If we delay it any longer, I'm afraid there will be more accidents! 】His heart was filled with deep concern for the disaster-stricken people and anger and dissatisfaction with those officials who delayed time.
[Those county officials didn’t report it, not because they didn’t know, but because they were protecting each other. 】 Li Shimin felt even heavier when he thought of this. He suddenly realized a problem that he had never thought deeply about before - the sky is high and the emperor is far away, how terrible it is for local officials to protect each other! Their actions not only led to the spread of disaster, but also put countless innocent people into trouble.
【How to prevent this kind of thing from happening again? ] This thought flashed through Li Shimin's mind. But then, a real problem came before him - how to get the displaced victims relief as soon as possible? His heart was filled with anxiety and helplessness, but he knew he had to make a decision as soon as possible.
"Your Majesty! No more hesitation! Send envoys to the south of the Yangtze River quickly to investigate! The lives of the people are at stake!" Fang Xuanling shouted anxiously, with an unconcealable tone in his voice Eagerness and anxiety. He was well aware of the urgency of time and the seriousness of the plight faced by the disaster-stricken people, so he couldn't wait for Li Shimin to make a decision as soon as possible.
"Your Majesty! Please make a decision quickly!" Wei Zheng also echoed anxiously, with a firm power in his voice, as if he was trying to persuade Li Shimin to take action as soon as possible. These two important officials of the Tang Dynasty had already concluded that a flood must have occurred in the south of the Yangtze River based on clues, and they knew that if the delay continued, more innocent people might lose their lives.
"This..." Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, his heart full of contradictions and struggles. He not only wanted to send envoys to Jiangnan as soon as possible to investigate the disaster situation and organize relief work, but he was also worried that his decision would be too hasty and cause more changes. However, after seeing the anxious and determined eyes of Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng, he finally made up his mind.
[Li Shimin, Li Shimin, since you have believed this rumor, why don’t you believe in your own decision? Let’s provide disaster relief quickly! Don't put it off any longer! ] He said to himself silently in his heart, [Rules? The emperor's authority is the rules! What's the harm in being willful once in a while? Why always stick to those stereotypes? ] At the moment when he made the decision, he seemed to see a glimmer of light piercing through the fog in front of him, illuminating his way forward.
Finally, Li Shimin seemed to be pushed by an invisible force. He stood up suddenly and announced loudly: "Send the order! Immediately send envoys to Jiangnan to investigate the disaster situation and organize the relief work with all our strength! Be sure to ensure that every All the people affected by the disaster will be properly accommodated!" There was an unquestionable determination and strength in his voice, as if he had seen the joy and peace of the people affected by the disaster after they were rescued.
"Hey, let me tell you, I am the emperor, and I keep my word!" Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne with firm eyes and undoubted majesty in his tone. He knew very well that as the king of a country, every word he said was very important and related to the rise and fall of the country and the safety of the people.
"It's life or death, don't talk about useless things at this time." He waved his hand and impatiently interrupted the chatter of the minister next to him. He knew that at this critical juncture, any hesitation and delay might make the disaster worse.
"Put aside the rules and etiquette for now. Saving people is more important. Why are you hesitating?" He glanced at the officials in the hall and felt anxious in his heart. These ministers, who usually spoke of benevolence, justice and morality, now looked at each other in confusion and hesitation.
After a while, the corners of Li Shimin's mouth curled up slightly, and the big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. He secretly thought: As soon as the food arrives, the disaster will be alleviated, and it will not be too late to investigate again then. He felt as if he had grasped a life-saving straw from the abyss, and he felt much more relaxed. "Don't argue. I have made up my mind. We will investigate and provide disaster relief together." He said decisively, his tone revealing a firmness that could not be refuted.
"Ship the food there first. If it's found to be a rumor, it won't be too late to bring it back." He added, with a confident smile on his face. He knew that although his decision was risky, it was the most feasible way at the moment.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui looked at each other, smiled bitterly and shook their heads. Their faces were full of helplessness and worry. As important ministers of the imperial court, they were well aware of the current situation of empty treasury and food shortage.
“But what?” Li Shimin frowned, feeling that things were not simple. He looked at Fang Xuanling sharply, waiting for his answer.
"With the war, disaster relief, and tax cuts, the national treasury is almost empty, and there is not enough food." Fang Xuanling said with a bitter face, and finally said the difficulty. There was a sense of heaviness and helplessness in his words, as if every word was weighing on his heart.
Isn’t this obvious? What kind of rumor could it be? The reason for delaying the check for half a month is actually to take a breather and prepare more food. Now His Majesty wants to provide disaster relief first, but where will the food come from? All the officials in the hall were filled with doubts and worries.
Li Shimin took a deep breath and frowned. His heart felt heavy, as if he was being pressed down by a huge boulder. He knew that disaster relief would be impossible without food, which would not only worsen the disaster but also destroy the prestige of the court.
"Everything in the palace can be saved. If we reduce it any more, we will no longer be able to live." Du Ruhui shook his head and sighed. There was a bit of helplessness and bitterness in his words, as if he was talking about a cruel reality that cannot be changed.
Both Li Shimin and the Queen were very frugal, and they strictly disciplined their children and never wasted money. But now the palace is already tightening their belts, and if they continue to tighten their belts, the palace residents will not be able to survive. In the peaceful and prosperous times, if something like this happened, wouldn't people laugh it off if word spread about it?
"Borrow grain from merchants for emergency use, and return it to them with interest after one year." Li Shimin's scalp tightened. This was the best solution he could think of. He knew that this decision was risky, but he had to do it in order to relieve the disaster.
"This is a good idea, but someone has to be able to do it. Who is going?" Fang Xuanling frowned again, looking embarrassed. He knew that this task was difficult and not something that ordinary people could accomplish.
At this time, Li Qingge frowned slightly, but he was not anxious or impatient. As a female general, although she usually appears low-key and laid-back, she is full of wisdom and strategy deep inside.
[Hey, this is a good idea, but the merchant is cunning and the grain he borrowed may not be enough. We have to find a way to get more food. For example, a thousand acres of fertile land can be harvested in three days, so careful planning is required. ] She was thinking secretly in her heart, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
【Keep a low profile and don't be arrogant. 】 She thought silently in her heart, her eyes showing some firmness and determination. She knows her task is daunting, but she's confident she can accomplish it.
"Harvesting a thousand acres of fertile land in three days?" The officials in the hall began to discuss one after another. They were all shocked by this astonishing number.
"Isn't this a joke? How is it possible?" A minister asked doubtfully.
“I heard what he said, and it doesn’t sound like a lie. It’s amazing!” Another minister exclaimed.
"He really has so much grain? Can he harvest one crop in three days?" More people began to talk, and they were all amazed by Li Qingge's ability.
Li Shimin was also shocked, he couldn't believe his ears. He was so excited, as if he saw the hope of disaster relief right in front of him.
"I recommend General Cheng!" A minister suddenly stood up and strongly recommended Li Qingge.
“I recommend him too!” Another minister also echoed.
"General Cheng is the most suitable!" More voices rang out, and officials all recommended Li Qingge.
Li Qingge herself was stunned. She did not expect that the officials would suddenly recommend her so highly. She secretly muttered: "Why do you leave such a big burden to me?" 】
【How dare a businessman disobey the emperor? It doesn’t matter who goes. For the sake of fairness, let me go as an 'idler', I don't need any skills. 】Although she was a little depressed, she also knew that this was a responsibility that she could not shirk.
【Being underestimated again. ] She muttered in her heart, but soon understood the system's intention. She knew that this system of doing nothing and lying flat had been testing her, and she could not keep lying flat forever.
"Ding! System warning: If the host is despised again, he will lie down and the reward is here!" The system's voice suddenly sounded, catching Li Qingge off guard.
"Give the host the skill of 'Thrilling Tongue', which can hypnotize people and make them convinced during debates." The system continued, "But, you must speak logically, otherwise it will not work." It works.”
What is the use of this skill? Still have to be triggered passively? Li Qingge murmured in his heart, but soon understood the system's intention. She knew that this skill would definitely come in handy when debating in the hall.
"General Cheng, I'll leave this matter to you." Li Shimin smiled and patted Li Qingge on the shoulder, feeling much more relaxed. He knew that Li Qing's singer had food, and now that he had taken on such an important task, Jiangnan's food would be available in three days. When the disaster is resolved, none of those who concealed the report will be able to escape! He thought to himself, and a stern smile appeared on his lips.
After retiring from the court, Li Shimin was still angry and grievances in his heart. He couldn't believe that there was such a big problem hidden under his rule. When he thought of the people who had been affected by the disaster, his heart felt like a knife. But strangely enough, this anger went away as quickly as it came, and in the blink of an eye he was determined. Thinking that with Li Qingge here, what else is there to be afraid of? Although I don’t understand how he can harvest a thousand acres of fertile land in just three days, Li Qingge’s sincere eyes and reliable words and deeds make people feel at ease.
Li Shimin curled his lips and showed a relieved smile, feeling happy in his heart: It would be a great blessing for the Tang Dynasty to have such a talented person as Li Qingge! He imagined Li Qingge talking eloquently in the court, and those difficult problems were solved in her hands, and his heart was full of expectations.
At this time, Li Qingge had returned to Cheng Mansion. The first thing he did was to reward himself. After all, he had worked hard these days. She thought in her mind: "Hey, I'm afraid I won't have time to enjoy leisure now. The warehouse is almost full of food, but I still have to pretend." She thought again, "This job belongs to me. It's just a coincidence. If I hit you, I have to work hard and let everyone see my true capabilities in a few days." She thought proudly, "Even if I sacrifice. Tens of thousands of loads of grain, but no one else knows that it is my thousand acres of fertile land that can both appease the people and be rewarded with peace and quiet. This is a good deal!" When he thought of this, Li Qingge felt so excited. As soon as the meal was finished, she leisurely went to bed, strictly abiding by her "sleep after eating" health regimen.
As for the businessmen, she planned to think about it later. She was lying on the bed, thinking about how to face those cunning businessmen tomorrow, and she already had plans in her mind.
In the court, the officials were busy discussing countermeasures. "For the sake of Old General Cheng, let's give his son a chance. With His Majesty's decree, those businessmen who dare to disobey will definitely express their opinions," someone said. "But that little food is just a drop in the bucket compared to the disaster relief." Some people are also worried. "It's better than nothing. It's so difficult in the Tang Dynasty now. How can we do everything comprehensively?" Everyone was discussing one by one. "We can only take it step by step and proceed with caution." Someone else reminded, "I am afraid that the businessmen will see that Li Qingge is young and inexperienced and deliberately hide the food and not take it out. If he does not do it well, he may be deceived by the businessmen. "As soon as these words came out, the officials became even more worried, fearing that Li Qingge would be bullied by the businessmen. But now that things have come to this, we can only wait and see what happens.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Li Qingge, waiting to see her performance. Their hearts were full of expectation and curiosity, wondering whether this young woman could complete this arduous task.
Early the next morning, the business community in Chang'an City exploded. "I heard that Your Majesty is going to provide disaster relief!" "Yes, he also ordered businessmen to donate food first and compensate later." "Then we donated food, when will the compensation come?" "That's hard to say." Do you want us to donate in vain?" "I heard that the leader this time is Cheng Yaojin's son Li Qingge, the famous trash." When the businessmen heard this, they were all happy, thinking that this would be easy to deal with. They gathered together to discuss how to deal with this "waste", intending to exchange the maximum benefit at the minimum cost.
At noon, there was a lot of excitement in front of the Qiankun Restaurant. Gorgeous carriages came one after another. Passers-by stopped curiously and guessed whether some princes or nobles were gathering. "What kind of big scene is this? Is it a banquet for the princes?" "No, no, it's the wealthy businessmen from Chang'an City who are waiting to see Li Qingge." "Li Qingge? Cheng Yaojin's son?" "That's right." "It seems like something big is going to happen." Everyone was talking about it, but they couldn't figure out the reason behind it.
At this moment, Li Qingge walked over leisurely with his hands behind his back. She was wearing a light blue dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, like a blooming lotus. Her face is delicate and her eyes reveal a calmness and confidence. Without even looking at the wealthy businessmen, she walked straight to the restaurant and knocked lightly on the door.
"Who is it? We're closed today, hurry up, hurry up!" As soon as the door opened, a waiter poked his head out with an impatient look on his face. He thought he was just an ordinary idler and wanted to send him away.
"In that case, I will introduce myself to my family." Li Qingge said lightly, "I tell you, I am Li Qingge." Her voice was clear and sweet, with an unquestionable majesty.
When the guy heard this, he was stunned. He didn't expect that the person in front of him was the legendary Li Qingge, the woman who had made a name for herself in the court. But then he thought, it's just a woman, what's there to be afraid of? So he still said arrogantly: "Li Qingge? You haven't heard of it. We don't welcome you here. Come on, go on!"
"Li Qingge? Please invite Mr. Cheng in!" At this time, a smarter businessman next to him hurriedly shouted, his voice full of awe. He had long heard that Li Qingge was currently favored by the Holy Spirit. Offending her would be tantamount to offending the emperor!
When the guy heard this, he was so scared that his legs went weak. He knelt down on the ground with a plop, kowtowing like pounding garlic, sweating profusely. "It turns out it's Master Cheng. I'm short-sighted. Please forgive me for any offence." He felt regretful in his heart. If he had known it was Li Qingge, how could he have dared to be so negligent.
“Get up.” Li Qingge waved his hands with a smile and walked into the restaurant with his hands behind his back. Her figure is tall and elegant, standing like a green pine among the crowd. Hundreds of people had already gathered in the restaurant lobby. When Li Qingge came in, they all stood up to greet him. But beneath this respect, there was a hint of contempt and curiosity. They all wanted to see what this young woman was capable of and could make business giants like them bow to her.
Hey, it's obvious that they don't take me seriously! A self-deprecating smile appeared on Li Qingge's lips, but his eyes shone with unyielding light. She was wearing a simple green shirt and a simple long sword on her waist. She looked heroic yet still feminine.
"Oh, look at those eyes, you are treating me like a transparent person. But you despise me, and I am not willing to talk to you." She muttered to herself, but there was a look of indifference on her face expression. She knows very well that in this court full of intrigue and struggle, only strength can win the respect of others.
"Don't think that I can't handle this major disaster relief matter without you. I've already known it in my heart. It won't be long before the safekeeping will impress you." She thought to herself, and there was something in her eyes. Very firm and confident. She knew that this disaster relief was not only a test of her ability, but also an opportunity for her to prove her worth.
However, she also understood that she still had to do enough work on the surface, otherwise the old officials would say that she was not doing her job properly. It would not be a good thing if this matter came to the ears of the emperor. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh. She didn't care about those officials. Even Tang Taizong didn't care much about them. She was only worried about her father's health.
"Dad is old and has fought so many wars. He should enjoy his happiness now. If I let him worry about my affairs, then I would be really unfilial. Although I am not from this era. Man, but I am still very fond of this cheap daddy." She thought silently in her heart, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes. She knew that she had traveled to this era and became a female general, but deep down, she was still a daughter who longed for family affection and warmth.
"Master Cheng is here, please take a seat!" Following a noisy greeting, Li Qingge walked into the lobby of Qiankun Restaurant. I saw those wealthy businessmen smiling on the surface, but their eyes revealed shrewdness and calculation. Each of them was dressed in gorgeous clothes and jewels, making them look rich and powerful. However, Li Qingge could see their hypocrisy and perfunctoryness from their eyes.
"Welcome, Mr. Cheng!", "If you have any orders, please tell me and we will cooperate fully." These wealthy businessmen spoke one after another with sincerity, but Li Qingge sneered in his heart. She knew that these people were just businessmen with eloquent words and evil intentions. On the surface they were polite, but in fact they were perfunctory and had no intention of really helping.
"Why? The emperor has not spoken, otherwise who can invite them? Even if you are reluctant, you have to pretend." She muttered secretly in her heart, but kept a smile on her face. She knew that she was here to raise food for disaster relief, so she had to stay calm and rational.
"Okay, no more nonsense, I'll just say it." She cleared her throat and began to relay Taizong's words, "The floods in the south of the Yangtze River are serious, like wild beasts, and the people are suffering. The treasury is empty. I hope you can lend a helping hand." Her voice was firm and powerful, with an irresistible majesty.
The wealthy businessmen frowned after hearing this. They knew that this disaster relief was not a trivial matter and required a large amount of food and money. However, they were hesitant one by one, seeming to be calculating their own interests.
"You are all smart people. You should know that these grains will be returned to you with interest in the future." Li Qingge added with a smile. In fact, he felt sleepy for a long time. If it weren't for the wrong occasion, she would have wanted to find a place to lie down, so why bother dealing with these naughty people.
"Since it is the emperor's wish, we naturally obey and dare not disobey. Toyota Ju is willing to pay 500 dendrobium!" Qian Toyota, the owner of the bank, laughed loudly, as if to show off his generosity. However, Li Qingge curled his lips with disdain on his face. She knew that this small amount of money was nothing to Qian Toyota, he was just perfunctory.
Sure enough, businessmen value profits over righteousness. Other wealthy businessmen also made offers, but those figures were just a drop in the bucket to them. They scrambled to quote prices one by one, as if they were engaged in a silent competition. However, Li Qingge could see their hypocrisy and perfunctoryness from their eyes. She knew that these people had no intention of really helping with disaster relief.
"These people are so stingy. The food they produce is pitifully small, and maybe they have colluded with each other." She murmured secretly in her heart, but always had a smile on her face. She knew that she couldn't show weakness in front of these businessmen, otherwise they would become even more arrogant and domineering.
"Qian Toyota is the richest, but he only offered 500 dendrobium, which is obviously undercutting others." She thought secretly in her heart, with a bit of coldness in her eyes. She knew that these people were just perfunctory and had no intention of really helping with disaster relief. However, she didn't care about this. Because she knew that she had other plans.
"How cunning. But I don't lack this little food." She muttered to herself, but she always had a smile on her face. She knew that these people were just testing her bottom line. However, she had no intention of letting them succeed.
The contempt in the eyes of the businessmen became more and more obvious, and they regarded Li Qingge as a small character not worth mentioning. However, she didn't care about this. Because she knows that she does not need the approval and support of these people. She has her own intentions and plans.
"What do you think of these grains, Mr. Cheng?" Qian Toyota asked with squinting eyes, his face full of calculations. However, Li Qingge just smiled and did not answer his question directly. She knew that these people were just testing her reaction.
"I think it's too much. It's not easy for you to do business, so why are you so generous? Half is enough." She said with a smile, turned around and left. She didn't want to continue to get involved with this group of people because she knew they were just perfunctory. And she didn't need their food at all. She has thousands of acres of fertile farmland and is self-sufficient in food. This visit was just a formality to silence the courtiers.
"Just wait for you to be surprised." She muttered secretly in her heart, with a confident smile on her lips. She knew that she would definitely surprise the wealthy businessmen this time. Because she planned to donate the most food in the name of a wealthy businessman during this disaster relief, so that she could make a great contribution and trigger the reward of the inaction-free system without being obvious.
"Saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda. If I save countless lives, the system will definitely give me a big reward." She thought to herself and left the Qiankun Restaurant with brisk steps. A group of businessmen were left looking at her back in disbelief. They never expected that this seemingly inconspicuous female general would have such amazing actions and plans. But Li Qingge has already embarked on the journey of disaster relief with confidence. She knew that this disaster relief was not only a test of her ability, but also an opportunity for her to prove her worth. She will surely impress those who despise her!
(End of this chapter)