The Red Mansion

Chapter 304 Yuan Yi Offers a Strategy, the Two Saints are Amazed

June 15th was the day Yuan Yi went to Changchun Garden to perform the "New Moon and Full Moon Ceremony".

Before dawn, the inner quarters of the Duke's mansion were already brightly lit. Maids, palace maids, and servants moved about with light steps; ceremonial guards, guards, and personal soldiers were already on standby.

Yuan Yi, dressed in the dark blue robes of a duke, with a sash and crown, exuded an air of extraordinary bearing. Yuan Chun, in the attire of a duke's wife, was graceful and dignified.

The couple boarded a carriage of the rank of Duke, followed by Yuan Chun's private carriage, which was slightly smaller but more exquisite, accompanied by ceremonial attendants, guards, and personal soldiers.

The car drove out of Ningrong Street and headed towards Changchun Garden in the western suburbs.

The sky was already bright, but the streets and alleys were quiet. The horses' hooves made a crisp sound on the bluestone slabs, echoing the creaking of the cart shafts.

Halfway there, the sky grew increasingly gloomy. Yuan Chun gently lifted the curtain and saw dark clouds gathering outside the window, dimming the morning light. She couldn't help but worry, "Judging from this sky, it looks like it's going to rain again."

Yuan Yi nodded but did not speak. He was pondering his advice on the flood in Zhili today, his brows furrowed with a serious expression.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and the carriage arrived outside Changchun Garden. Sure enough, the weather turned bad, and it began to drizzle. The rain wasn't torrential, but it wasn't a gentle drizzle either; it pattered against the roof of the carriage.

The Duke's carriage and his wife's carriage stopped side by side in the square outside the main palace gate. Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun alighted from the Duke's carriage and saw the imposing main palace gate before them, which appeared even more majestic in the rain. The imperial guards stood solemnly despite the rain, displaying the grandeur of the imperial family.

A maidservant, carrying a zither and holding an umbrella, helped Yuan Chun into the luxurious carriage beside her. The carriage headed towards the Great West Gate; Yuan Chun was going directly to Ningchun Hall to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Before leaving, she glanced back at Yuan Yi, her eyes filled with concern.

Yuan Yi, holding a blue cloth umbrella, braved the rain to enter the main palace gate and arrived at Danning Residence, where he waited quietly under the corridor for Emperor Taishun to summon him.

Rain fell like a curtain of water under the eaves, and puddles formed in the courtyard. Several banana trees were washed by the rain and turned lush and green, while the moss on the rockery appeared even more vibrant and moist.

Yuan Yi stood alone under the corridor, the hem of his court robe already wet from the rain, but he was completely unaware, and just waited intently.

Not long after, a bright yellow sedan chair slowly approached. It was carried by eight men, with a golden roof and yellow canopy, and bright yellow silk curtains hung around it. Eunuchs and guards stood guard on either side, their parasols like clouds, creating a solemn and imposing entourage.

Accompanying the emperor were three princes and ministers: Prince Zhongyi Yuan Xiang, Grand Secretary and concurrently a member of the Southern Study Fu Qi, and Minister of Revenue and concurrently the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy and concurrently a member of the Southern Study Wang Tingyu.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Yi stepped into the rain without hesitation, quickly approached the imperial carriage, and, disregarding the puddles on the ground, immediately knelt down and bowed: "Your subject Yuan Yi respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health!"

Emperor Taishun saw it clearly from his carriage. He saw Yuan Yi kneeling in the rain, his court robes soaked through in an instant. He was very relieved and said gently, "Why perform such a grand ceremony in the rain? Get up quickly, or you'll get yourself wet."

Yuan Yi thanked the emperor and rose, then bowed to Prince Zhongyi, saying, "Nephew greets his thirteenth uncle." He then nodded to the two senior officials, Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu. This series of actions was fluid and graceful, displaying both the grandeur of the emperor and the dutiful duty of a subject.

Prince Zhongyi smiled with satisfaction at his polite manners and personally took the oil-paper umbrella from the eunuch to shield him from the rain: "Hurry up and open the umbrella. It's raining so hard. You'll catch a cold."

Yuan Yi bowed and took the umbrella, holding it himself.

Emperor Taishun nodded slightly from inside the sedan chair, quite pleased with his son's respectfulness, and said, "I am going to Qingxi Study to see your imperial grandfather. Since you are here, come with us and pay your respects to your imperial grandfather."

Yuan Yigong responded respectfully, "Your subject obeys the decree." He then followed beside the emperor's carriage.

The group, with a simple entourage, left Danning Residence.

Emperor Taishun sat in his imperial carriage, with Prince Zhongyi, Fu Qi, Wang Tingyu, and Yuan Yi walking alongside him.

Changchun Garden has a unique charm in the rain. Winding paths lead to secluded spots, with pavilions appearing and disappearing. In the lotus pond, the raindrops patter crisply on the lotus leaves; deep in the bamboo grove, the wind rustles through the green bamboo.

The group strolled to Qingxi Study in the northeast corner of the garden. The study was still surrounded by a clear stream, and the babbling water in the rain added to its tranquility.

The imperial carriage stopped in front of the gate. Emperor Taishun alighted from the carriage, straightened his clothes, and led Prince Zhongyi, Fu Qi, Wang Tingyu, Yuan Yi, and several others inside.

Inside the study, Emperor Jingning, dressed in casual clothes and wearing reading glasses, was flipping through several memorials. Although elderly, he was still remarkably vigorous, his eyes sharp as lightning. Upon seeing the group enter, he put down the memorials and intently observed them.

Emperor Taishun stepped forward first and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Prince Zhongyi immediately kowtowed and said, "Your subject Yuan Xiang respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."

Yuan Yi followed behind, kneeling respectfully: "Your subject Yuan Yi respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."

Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu also performed the grand ceremony.

Emperor Jingning smiled and ordered everyone to rise, his gaze lingering on Yuan Yi's wet robes and hat: "In such heavy rain, it's kind of you to come into the garden to pay your respects."

Yuan Yi respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Father Emperor only instructed me to enter the garden to pay my respects on the first and fifteenth of each month, which is already a great act of kindness. How could I dare to abandon the ceremony because of the rain? Besides, it only started raining when I arrived outside the garden today."

Emperor Jingning nodded and then offered him a seat. Emperor Taishun sat down respectfully, and Prince Zhongyi, Wang Tingyu, Fu Qi and others also sat down on stools. Although Yuan Yi was a prince and a duke, he was still young and a junior, so he stood aside.

Emperor Jingning sat upright, his brows revealing the majesty of a great ruler. He said to Emperor Taishun, "I have just carefully read the memorials on the floods and saw that the disaster situation in Wen'an, Bazhou, Dacheng and other prefectures and counties is urgent, and the people are displaced. Therefore, I urgently summoned you here to tell me what measures have been taken."

Emperor Taishun hurriedly presented the disaster relief plan discussed at the imperial meeting that morning, including opening granaries to distribute grain, allocating treasury funds to aid the victims, ordering local officials to set up soup kitchens and shelter displaced people, and so on. Emperor Jingning listened attentively, nodded, and said, "Two years ago, when Zhili suffered a flood, Your Majesty provided excellent disaster relief. This year, with you, the Emperor, handling the Zhili flood, I am at ease." He then sighed softly, "However, the Zhili floods occur year after year, and this is ultimately not a long-term solution."

Just then, Yuan Yi seized the opportunity, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Father, I dare to ask, I have something to report regarding this flood."

This sound drew everyone's attention. Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, Prince Zhongyi, Fu Qi, and Wang Tingyu all looked at Yuan Yi. They saw Yuan Yi standing in the morning light, his posture as upright as a pine tree. Although he was still young, he had a calm and composed demeanor between his brows. His clothes, still stained with rain, did not make him look disheveled, but rather made him appear even more extraordinary.

Emperor Taishun frowned slightly. In such a momentous occasion concerning military and national affairs, it was inappropriate for the young prince, Yuan Yi, to interrupt so abruptly. Then he recalled the flood of the first year of Taishun's reign, when it was this son who had offered several strategies, especially the suggestion to prioritize relief efforts by integrating disaster relief with infrastructure repair. This approach effectively resettled displaced people and repaired riverbanks. Thinking of this, Emperor Taishun's frown eased, and he decided to observe the situation closely.

Emperor Jingning paused slightly, then asked curiously, "Oh? Do you have another plan to present?"

Yuan Yi then stepped forward and solemnly said, "Your Majesty, I have been observing the celestial phenomena for several days and consulting the historical records of water resources. I have found that this heavy rainfall in Zhili is truly rare. Furthermore, the water conservancy facilities of the Yongding River, Ziya River, and other rivers have been in disrepair for many years, and the river channels are severely silted up, resulting in insufficient drainage capacity."

He paused, then continued, "Therefore, Sun Chen speculates that the severity of the floods in Zhili this summer may far exceed what has been reported so far, and the disaster is likely to continue to escalate. In addition to Shuntian Prefecture, Baoding, Hejian, Tianjin and other prefectures may also be severely affected, and many counties will be turned into a vast expanse of water."

Fu Qi couldn't help but interject: "Is the Fourth Prince's statement too alarmist? According to my reports, the disaster is still under control."

Yuan Yi remained calm and composed, replying, "Minister Fu is wise. I have consulted the water records of previous years, and such continuous torrential rains as we see today are unprecedented in many years. In the first year of the Taishun reign, Zhili suffered severe flooding, but the current rainfall is far more severe than that year."

Emperor Jingning frowned deeply as he looked at Emperor Taishun.

Emperor Taishun understood and bowed, saying, "What Yi'er said is indeed possible."

Emperor Jingning looked at Yuan Yi again, his gaze sharp: "Yi'er, if what you say is true, and the disaster continues to escalate, and the floods in Zhili this summer are very severe, how should we deal with it?"

Yuan Yi said solemnly, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, apart from emergency relief and disaster relief and stabilizing the people's hearts, we should carry out systemic reforms, which is the only way to ensure long-term stability and security."

Emperor Taishun was always eager for reform. Upon hearing the words "systemic reform," his eyes lit up. Before Emperor Jingning could speak, he eagerly asked, "Oh? How about systemic reform? Please explain in detail."

Yuan Yi raised his eyes and met Emperor Taishun's gaze, then glanced at Emperor Jingning, who sat regally on the throne. He then calmly addressed the emperor, his voice as clear as gold and jade, each word ringing with conviction:
"The Zhili region has always been unprepared for both droughts and floods, all because the floods have not been controlled and water conservancy has not been developed. I dare to suggest that the Yongding River and Ziya River should be dredged throughout the entire basin, flood diversion channels should be dug, new water conservancy hubs should be built, and the fertile silt left after the floods recede should be designated as government-run farms, where disaster victims should be recruited to cultivate rice on a large scale. In this way, the three policies of water control, land reclamation, and people's well-being can be implemented simultaneously, and we can also take the opportunity to rectify official corruption, implement new policies, and build a long-term mechanism for flood control in the capital region."

He paused slightly, and seeing that everyone was listening intently, even the eunuchs standing to the side were holding their breath, he continued: "In this way, not only can the frequency of floods in Zhili be reduced, but the food self-sufficiency of the capital region can also be improved. In addition, to avoid being hindered, one or two princes and ministers can be appointed to manage the water conservancy and farmland affairs of the capital region. It would be best to set up a special Water Conservancy and Farmland Administration Office to be in charge of this task."

These words were like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone present. It should be known that water conservancy was the foundation of the nation in this era. Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, and Prince Zhongyi were all well-versed in government affairs, while Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu were both experienced senior officials. After hearing Yuan Yi's report, the five of them were all impressed and even amazed!

Emperor Jingning stroked his beard, while Emperor Taishun leaned forward. Prince Zhongyi clenched his fist into one hand. Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Wang Tingyu quickly looked away, regaining his composure.

Emperor Jingning nodded slowly and turned to Emperor Taishun: "What does Your Majesty think of Yi'er's plan?"

Emperor Taishun pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, although Yi'er is young, he proposed disaster relief measures when Zhili suffered from floods two years ago, and all of them were adopted. In particular, the measure of combining relief with construction was quite effective, which shows that he has some talent in this area."

He paused, turned and glanced at Yuan Yi, his eyes showing approval, and continued to say to Emperor Jingning: "Your subject believes that what he presented today is a truly excellent strategy. This three-pronged approach of controlling water, establishing military farms, and ensuring the well-being of the people not only solves the immediate problem but also seeks long-term benefits, which is truly rare."

Emperor Jingning stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then asked Emperor Taishun, "In Your Majesty's opinion, who should be appointed to manage the water conservancy and agricultural affairs in the capital region?"

Emperor Taishun's gaze instinctively fell on Yuan Yi. After a slight hesitation, he resolutely said to Emperor Jingning, "Father, what do you think of my ability to shoulder this important responsibility?"

Upon hearing this, both Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu were shocked.

Fu Qi couldn't help but speak up: "Your Majesty, it is common knowledge that the Fourth Prince is exceptionally intelligent. However, the affairs of water conservancy and agricultural development in the capital region are of great importance to the national economy and people's livelihood, and are not ordinary matters. The Fourth Prince is still young and I'm afraid he is not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility."

Emperor Jingning looked at Wang Tingyu: "Wang Tingyu, what do you think?"

Wang Tingyu hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said, "The Fourth Prince is exceptionally talented, but what Lord Fu said also makes sense. This water conservancy and land reclamation project is a massive undertaking with many complexities, and only a mature and prudent minister can handle it."

Emperor Taishun disagreed. Seeing Emperor Jingning hesitate, he said to Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu, "How could I not know what you two are worried about? However, although Yi'er is young, his talent has been proven many times. Moreover, he was the one who first proposed this water control strategy."

In fact, there was another reason that Emperor Taishun could not say openly. That was that Yuan Yi had been back in the imperial family for a month, and during this month Yuan Yi had been idle. Emperor Taishun had not arranged for him to enter the court to take up a position, because it was not easy to arrange a suitable position for him. It required both balancing the political situation and conforming to his status as a prince and duke.

Now, Emperor Taishun decisively decided that the position of managing water conservancy and agricultural affairs in the capital region was very suitable for Yuan Yi. First, it was in line with Yuan Yi's status as a prince and duke. Second, Yuan Yi's successful handling of such important matters concerning people's livelihood would greatly benefit his reputation, and also benefit his father, Emperor Taishun. Before returning to the imperial clan, Yuan Yi had served as an imperial envoy three times, but had earned a bad reputation as a "cruel official." This opportunity could be used to establish a virtuous reputation for him in the court and among the people.

After listening to Emperor Taishun's words, Emperor Jingning looked at Prince Zhongyi and asked, "Thirteenth Prince, what do you think?"

Prince Zhongyi and Emperor Taishun exchanged a glance, then Prince Zhongyi said respectfully, “Your subject believes that Prince Yi is capable of shouldering this important responsibility!”

Yuan Yigong stood to the side, his face calm, but his heart was in turmoil. Originally, he thought that if he could assist in managing the water conservancy and agricultural affairs of the capital region, that would be good enough. But now, Emperor Taishun actually intended for him to be the prime minister of such a major matter of people's livelihood, and even Prince Zhongyi had confidence in him.

He knew this was a golden opportunity; if he could seize it, he could not only realize his ambitions and bring happiness to the people, but it would also greatly benefit his own future. However, he also understood that such a heavy responsibility would inevitably draw criticism from the court. Even the two high-ranking officials, Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu, were currently facing criticism.

Emperor Jingning looked at Yuan Yi again and fell into deep thought.

The study fell silent for a moment, save for the sound of rain pattering outside the window...

(End of this chapter)