Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 510 A Female Yao and Shun
The Prefect of Kaifeng hesitated, unsure of what to do, when the Empress Dowager sighed, "Forget it, considering your good intentions, let's not discuss this further. You must know that the greatest taboo in governing the country is pursuing empty rhetoric over practical matters. Officials should always think of the people, do more practical things, and avoid superficial displays. Emperor Zhenzong of our Great Song Dynasty boasted of his achievements, held grand ceremonies and sacrifices, and engaged in massive construction projects, squandering the wealth accumulated over forty years by Emperors Taizu and Taizong, leaving the national treasury empty. Emperor Renzong, on the other hand, remained calm and focused on the people's well-being, allowing the country to rest and recuperate for forty-two years. Wasn't that a great achievement? Your Majesty, you must remember this: in handling state affairs in the future, you must be calm and far-sighted, and not pursue empty fame at the expense of real disaster."

A complex look flashed in Zhao Xu's eyes, and he said respectfully, "Grandson remembers."

The Prefect of Kaifeng slunk away to the side. Many officials present silently worried for their colleagues who had flattered him too much, while others secretly rejoiced at their political rival's humiliation.

At this moment, another official dressed in red robes stepped forward and presented a tray. On the tray lay a mature rice seedling.

The official in red robes walked into the main hall and announced loudly, "Sun Liechen, the prefect of Jiangning, presents a stalk of auspicious grain to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."

The rice seedlings were about three feet tall, with hundreds of golden and plump grains densely packed on them, weighing heavily on the ears of grain. They were truly bountiful and growing very well.

Many people present couldn't help but murmur in admiration upon seeing it: "What a fine seedling!"

The Empress Dowager smiled slightly: "Good, good, Minister Sun, this rice seedling is growing very well. I like it very much. May I ask where you obtained it?"

Sun Liechen hurriedly replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this year all nine counties under the jurisdiction of Jiangning Prefecture have achieved a bumper harvest of grains. This auspicious grain was presented to me by Sun Renli, the county magistrate under my jurisdiction. Coinciding with the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday, I believe this is an auspicious omen bestowed by Heaven, and therefore I present it to the Empress Dowager as a congratulatory gift."

A dangerous glint flashed in Empress Dowager Gao's eyes.

Murong Fu sneered inwardly.

Empress Dowager Gao said coldly, "That is kind of you, Your Excellency. But I wonder if the people of Yuhua, Jintai, and Tongan counties under Prefect Sun's jurisdiction have secured their winter food supplies this year?"

Prefect Sun's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and he said in a trembling voice, "Naturally, the treasury is full and we have surplus grain at home."

Empress Dowager Gao sneered: "Oh? Then may I ask Prefect Sun, why has the Wusong River breached its banks this autumn, flooding three counties downstream? More than 100,000 people have been displaced, without clothes to cover their bodies or food to fill their stomachs. It has been a month and a half since the end of September this year. Why has Prefect Sun been so slow in reporting the disaster?"

Prefect Sun's sweat turned to cold sweat: "This matter is purely a rumor, completely fabricated. I hope the Empress Dowager will be enlightened and not believe these hearsay rumors without any real evidence."

Empress Dowager Gao sneered repeatedly: "Is that so? So, everything I said was completely unfounded and a fabrication?"

Prefect Sun said in a low voice, "Your humble servant would never have such an intention."

Empress Dowager Gao's eyes flashed with a dangerous light as she shouted, "Guards, bring the witnesses here!"

At a command, several guards in blue robes escorted a prisoner in shackles and prison clothes forward. Upon seeing Prefect Sun, the man immediately cried out, "Brother-in-law, save me! Brother-in-law, I'm innocent!"

Seeing this, a palace attendant shouted, "How dare you! How dare you roar in the Golden Hall! Guards, slap him!"

Several fierce-looking soldiers stepped forward and, with a flurry of blows, slapped the man hard across the face several times. The blows made him see stars, and then they stuffed a rag into his mouth.

Empress Dowager Gao said, "Sun Liechen, now that things have come to this, is there anything else you want to say?"

Prefect Sun whispered, "I am terrified and do not know what to say. This man is arrogant and unruly, and has behaved improperly before Your Majesty. He should be executed!"

Empress Dowager Gao said quietly, "If you don't know what to say, then I'll speak for you. This man is the brother of your third concubine. He was originally a wealthy merchant from Jinling. He obtained an official title by purchasing a government position. And because of your brother-in-law's connections in the officialdom, he got a job in the river management department. Last year, the court allocated 250,000 strings of cash to repair the dike on the lower reaches of the Wusong River. Your brother-in-law got this job because of your brother-in-law's connections. He embezzled 200,000 strings of cash from the 250,000 strings of cash for the river repair. Of that, 50,000 strings were used to bribe officials, and 100,000 strings went into your pocket as the prefect of Jiangning."

"You thought that the Wusong River hadn't flooded for many years, and that the dikes, long neglected, would be fine. But this autumn, the river swelled dramatically, breaching the dikes and causing the deaths and injuries of thousands of residents on both banks, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Instead of reporting to the court and actively providing disaster relief, you colluded with local grain merchants to raise grain prices and hoard grain, leading to the bizarre situation in the fertile Jiangnan region where a bushel of grain cost five hundred coins. You even tried to bribe your superiors, deceiving them and profiting from the chaos. You deserve to die a thousand deaths. The people under your jurisdiction are struggling in dire straits, and you, the magistrate of this prefecture, instead of thinking of relieving their suffering, spent a fortune to buy this so-called auspicious grain, falsely claiming it as a lucky omen, to deceive me."

Prefect Sun was already drenched in sweat, and he took off his official hat, repeatedly apologizing.

Empress Dowager Gao sneered, "You don't admit your guilt, you just know you're going to be punished! Guards, drag him away, strip him of his official robes, and escort him to the Ministry of Justice. The relevant authorities will punish him severely, ensuring that this great scourge of the nation receives the punishment he deserves!"

Prefect Sun was dragged out, repeatedly begging for mercy.

Among the ministers, some showed disdain, some sneered, and many more praised Empress Dowager Gao for her keen insight and keen observation, which left no room for wicked and wicked people to hide.

Murong Fu thought to himself, "The Empress Dowager Gao's reputation as a female Yao and Shun is not without reason; she truly has something to offer."

Empress Dowager Gao addressed the assembled officials with a somber voice: “You ministers all hold public office and should serve with utmost sincerity. You must not act like treacherous villains like Sun Liechen, who disregard the laws of the court.”

"The Empress Dowager is wise!"

A chorus of praise erupted from the court officials.

As the noise subsided, the group stepped forward from the ranks of envoys. The leading middle-aged scholar bowed respectfully and said, “Your subject, Yelü Yi, by order of His Majesty the Emperor of Liao, wishes the Empress Dowager of Song a long and peaceful life. By order of His Majesty the Emperor of Liao, I present to you five hundred fine horses, three thousand head of cattle and sheep, three thousand taels of gold, and three thousand bolts of brocade. May the Empress Dowager of Song enjoy lasting health, as enduring as the sun and as long as the Southern Mountain. May the Song and Liao nations be forever friendly and brotherly nations!”