"Isn't it okay to directly let the imperial court allocate funds?" The prince thought it was very simple.

"Prince, this imperial court appropriation is not an overnight thing, and it can't come down without a monthly amount of silver." Master Zhang couldn't help but say.

"So troublesome!"

"Yes, Prince, Lord Zhang is right, even if we are too late to whip up our horses now, so we have to find another way now, of course, the matter of applying for silver taels in the imperial court cannot be delayed, and we must grasp it with both hands." After Lord Ji pondered, he said.

"What else can be done?"

"I don't think so!" After all, Lord Ji is an experienced official, he thought for a while and said: "Lord Zhang, you are the parent official here, and you are also very familiar with the human geography here, you can call on those squires and rich people to donate silver taels for the construction of embankments and dams." ”

"The crown prince and I can repair a letter to the officials above, first embezzle the gold and silver from the lower treasury, and return it to them as soon as the silver taels issued by the imperial court arrive, and now all the silver taels from the government must be used for disaster relief and the construction of dikes without delay."

"This ......," Mr. Zhang looked embarrassed.

"What, does Master Zhang think there's something wrong?" Master Ji couldn't help asking.

"No, Master Ji, you're right, but because of the flooding of the Wu River, those squires and rich people have already donated, and if the lower officials call on them to donate now, I'm afraid it's not good." Master Zhang couldn't help but say.

"Lord Zhang, this official knows that you are more embarrassed about this matter, but this flooding of the Wu River is a major event that has been rare for decades, I bother Lord Zhang to condescend for a moment, and then call on those squires and rich people, in addition, those who have money donate money, and make powerful contributions, so that everyone can move." Lord Ji spoke very seriously, and Lord Zhang nodded unconsciously when he heard this, "Okay, Lord Ji, then the next official will try again!" ”

So the matter was settled, and now they went their own way, using all possible forces to try to bring the flood under control.

Let's say that that night, Murong Ke left the capital late at night and went straight to the southwest, just when Lord Ji and the prince had just arrived in the southwest, Murong Ke also followed on the back foot.

"Your Highness, it's getting late, why don't we find a place to rest first!" Wood looked at the misery of the displaced people in the southwest because of the overflow of the Wu River, and unconsciously suggested.

"Do you think we'll still be able to find an inn to rest in?" Murong Ke looked at this dilapidated place and couldn't help but say.

"Then what should I do, Your Highness has such a noble body, you can't sleep on the streets, or we will go to the local government to report it."

"Confused, since we came here secretly, how can we let the government know our whereabouts? Right now, I hope I can barely find a place to live. "Murong Ke really knows how to judge the situation, and he is not the kind of noble son who is used to being pampered.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"It's so cold, ah, I'm going to freeze to death!" There are some homeless people all around, they have no place to live, they can only squat in a corner and hug each other to keep warm, looking at their pitiful appearance, Murong Ke does not feel cold.

"Wood, I've got warm bedding here, and you can give it to the homeless." Murong Ke couldn't help but pull out the futon from under his body and hand it to Wood.

"Your Highness, no, this is specially prepared for you by Concubine Ling. Besides, there are so many homeless people, this set of bedding alone can't solve the problem at all, but His Royal Highness must take care of his health, so that he can benefit thousands of people in the future. Wood said and put the futon back, and Murong Ke no longer insisted.

Finally found an inn in this remote place, Wood hurriedly dismounted, and then asked: "May I ask the store, is there a place to stay here?" ”

"Yes, yes!" Seeing that someone came to ask, the shopkeeper hurriedly said.

"Give us a good room, if not, it's cleaner." Wood looked at the inn and estimated that this grade could only be considered medium at best, so he couldn't help but say.

"Okay, guest officer, please!"

"Wait a minute, there's one more!" After Wood finished speaking, he hurriedly went out to inform Murong Ke, and when he saw this, Murong Ke got out of the carriage.

"Two guest officers, please inside!" The shopkeeper looked at the two of them, thinking that these two must be distinguished customers, so his tone couldn't help but be very polite.

"Boss, I heard that the Wuhe River in the southwest is flooding, and the people are struggling to make a living, how can you still have time to do business?" Murong Ke looked at the inn and couldn't help but say.

"Don't hide it from the guest officer, Lao Er is a permanent resident here, and I don't know how much better than those homeless people outside. Although the Wu River is flooding now, and the people are struggling to make a living, if my old man doesn't do business, I'm afraid that our family will drink the northwest wind. Besides, is there any difference between me opening this and not opening, I can't see a few guests a day, and today I greeted you two guest officers, which can be regarded as an eye-opener, and it has finally opened. ”

Seeing that the shopkeeper said pitifully, Murong Ke and Wood glanced at each other unconsciously, and the two of them couldn't help but sigh subconsciously, it seems that the disaster in the southwest is really not ordinarily serious.

"Two guest officers, this is the best room in my inn, it may not be possible to satisfy the guest officer, but Lao Er dares to guarantee that this room is absolutely clean and tidy." The shopkeeper patted his chest and promised.

"Thank you boss, we don't pay attention to anything, as long as it's clean and tidy." Murong Ke knew that it was good to be able to live in such a place now, so he didn't ask for too much.

"That's good, I see that both of you are tired, so it's better to rest early." The owner of the shop has a good heart and speaks very kindly.

"That's right, boss, help us get some foot-washing water, we are running all the way, and we are tired, I want to wash our feet and sleep!" Wood couldn't help but command.

"Okay, I'll go down and pour water!" After saying that, the shopkeeper hurriedly went downstairs, and quickly brought a pot of hot water and brought the basin up.

"Thank you boss, you also have an early rest!" Wood said when he saw this.

"Good enough, guest officer; If there's anything to call me Lao'er, I'll be in the compartment on the first floor. The shopkeeper smiled.

"Okay!"

Seeing the shopkeeper leaving, Wood closed the door, and then turned around and poured the foot-washing water for Murong Ke, "Your Highness, you have worked hard all the way, let's wash your feet with hot water first." ”

"Yes, it's fine!" Seeing Wood come over with the water for washing his feet, Murong Ke unconsciously took off his shoes and socks and put the pair of jade feet into the water.

Speaking of the past few days, Murong Ke has been working day and night, Murong Ke also feels tired, and at this moment, his feet are in the hot water, and he doesn't feel that the exhaustion seems to have been reduced by half, and he suddenly exhales a long breath.

"Your Highness, I really didn't expect the situation in this southwest to be even worse than we imagined!" The thought of the homeless people he met along the way made Wood feel sad.

"But no, compared to the capital, this place is simply a heaven and a land, if His Highness hadn't come here this time, he would definitely not have believed that there would be such a miserable situation." Murong Ke couldn't help but sigh.

"Now that the Wu River is flooding and the people are struggling to make a living, the imperial court only thought of treatment at this time, isn't it too late. Why can't the imperial court take precautions in advance, or these people would not have been displaced...... Wood was a little confused.

"Wood, Your Highness understands your feelings, Your Highness's current mood is not better than yours, but we can't just be sad, we should see the most fundamental reasons through these phenomena, which shows that most of the officials of our Xiyan Kingdom are superficial and inactive, and the court is in a state of comfort." Murong Ke couldn't help but say.

"Your Highness is right, but such a big stall in the imperial court cannot be changed overnight, not to mention that His Royal Highness is not a prince now, even if he sees where these problems are, he can't do anything about it."

"You're right, so His Royal Highness must become a prince, so that he can display his ambitions and make our Xiyan Kingdom more prosperous and powerful." Murong Ke was deeply aware of this.

"Well, Your Highness, Wood will always support you, even if it is with his life!"

"Okay, it's not early, let's rest early, there are still many things to do tomorrow!" Seeing Murong Ke say this, Wood couldn't help but nodded.

In the early morning of the second day, the crown prince Murong Xuan was asleep, and he was woken up by Xiao Lizi, so he couldn't help but be annoyed and said: "Little Lizi, it's only a few days, you have to get up with His Highness, be careful that His Highness whips you!" Murong Xuan had obviously forgotten that he was not in the palace now, but he still maintained his previous stinky condition.

"Your Highness, wake up, didn't you say that you were going to give soup to those victims? It's not early, and if you wake up late, the porridge will be gone. Xiao Lizi reminded unconsciously.

"Well, what? Gruel! The crown prince Murong Xuan came to his senses and suddenly realized that he had now reached the southwest, so he hurriedly got up and washed, and then rushed to the scene of the soup kitchen.

I don't know if everyone knows that the prince will give porridge today, so those homeless people actually lined up in an orderly manner with bowls, waiting for the prince to appear.

"I'm sorry, Prince Ben got up late!" Murong Xuan thought that he had gotten up early today, but when he saw these homeless people who had been waiting for him for a long time, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"Your Royal Highness the Prince, hurry up and start, I'm so hungry!" A seven or eight-year-old child among the homeless people suddenly couldn't help but let out a childish cry, and the other homeless people couldn't help but be restless when they saw this.

"Okay, let's get started!" The prince made an OK gesture, and then motioned for the little plum on the side to get ready.

"Okay, Your Highness, you can rest assured." Xiao Lizi is very confident.

So His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the lead in filling a full bowl for the child just now, and when he saw this, the child smiled sweetly: "Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Prince!" ”

"And steamed buns!" Seeing that it was inconvenient for the child to take it, Xiao Lizi took the opportunity to stuff a steamed bun into the child's pocket.

"Next!" Then soon the second one picked up, and so on one after another, Prince Murong Xuan was very busy!

At this time, Murong Ke and Wood happened to be passing by, and when they saw a long line of people, they were not curious, and when Wood saw someone in the front who was giving porridge, he suddenly said in surprise: "Your Highness, do you think that is the crown prince?" ”