I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Chapter 119 A Big Fish in Ruzhou

Zhao Mingcheng's group consisted entirely of light cavalry, making them swift in their movements.

After leaving the post station, they traveled for more than an hour, and the city of Ruzhou could be faintly seen on the horizon ahead.

However, the closer they got to this disaster-stricken area, which was described in reports as "a land of starving corpses and roads blocked by refugees," the more abnormal the sights along the way became.

The official road had clearly been specially leveled, the topsoil swept away, and even the usual cart tracks and animal manure were scarce.

The dead trees and weeds along the roadside also appeared to have been trimmed, giving them a neat appearance.

What is even more striking is that every few miles along the official road, simple yet neat reed mat sheds are erected, with large pots under them emitting a little steam, and wooden signs standing next to them that read "Official porridge sheds" and "Relief by Imperial Decree".

In front of the stall, there were indeed a dozen or so people whose clothes were old but still intact, whose faces were yellow but not emaciated, holding broken bowls, quietly queuing up.

There was absolutely no sign of the anticipated horrific scene of overwhelming disaster victims.

Occasionally, people dressed as yamen runners would come and go to maintain order, and the scene always appeared "well-ordered".

Cao Fu, mounted on his horse, grew increasingly puzzled.

His gaze kept shifting between the report and the scene before him, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

He finally couldn't resist, spurred his horse close to Zhao Mingcheng's body, and lowered his voice.

"Pacify me, is this—this is the truth of Ruzhou? The document in my hand states, 'Famine-stricken people gather around the city walls, and 11 people die every day.'"

"Death," — but what I see before me, though desolate, is orderly, with soup kitchens providing food and refugees — seemingly being settled? The difference is simply too stark!

Lu Zhang also rode his horse to protect the other side. Having been in the military for a long time, he had a more direct observation. Hearing this, he whispered.

"Judge Cao, this humble general also finds something amiss. These disaster victims"—they're too quiet, their eyes are blank, they don't seem like people who are starving. Those few constables, seemingly maintaining order, keep glancing in our direction, as if they're—staring at something.

Zhao Mingcheng sat upright on his horse, his posture dignified, his gaze calmly sweeping over everything along the way.

He listened to Cao Fu and Lu Zhang's words but did not turn around. He simply said indifferently.

"Brother Wenzhong, Commander Lu, do you think the urgent plea for help is a lie, or is the scene before us a lie?"

Cao Fu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

"Is this appeasement implying that this orderly arrangement is deliberately staged for our benefit?"

"Brother Wenzhong, you've figured it out? That's right. If along the way we've seen corpses everywhere and cries of starvation that shake the heavens, that would be a truly extraordinary sight."

Zhao Mingcheng spoke in a flat tone.

Cao Fu was taken aback: "Why would you say that, pacification officer?"

Zhao Mingcheng replied.

"The disaster is urgent, and the imperial court has dispatched an envoy. The primary task for the local authorities is not to provide full-scale relief, but rather to determine how to respond," said the imperial envoy.

Covering up and embellishing, reporting only good news and not bad news, is a long-standing practice in local officialdom. The easiest and most common method is to drive the displaced people away from the official roads, clean the streets, set up a few decent soup kitchens, find some decent-looking people to decorate the premises, and make it seem like "the government has done its best and the disaster is under control."

"Firstly, it would demonstrate his effective governance; secondly, it would prevent the imperial envoy from witnessing the devastation, thus offending the emperor and incurring disaster. What we are seeing before us is not the actual state of the disaster, but a grand political drama staged specifically for us."

Lu Zhang, who was listening nearby, clenched his fists involuntarily, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound, and whispered.

"These idiots! They don't care about the lives of the disaster victims, they only care about this superficial work!"

"Then how should we appease them? Should we just let them deceive us?" Cao Fu asked urgently.

"What's the rush?"

Zhao Mingcheng remained calm.

"Now that the stage is set up and the actors are in place, wouldn't we, the audience, be letting them down if we didn't do them a good show?"

Moreover, the more they try to whitewash the situation, the more it reveals their guilty conscience; the true state of the granaries is probably far worse than we imagine. Let's wait and see.

Just then, the sound of a gong clearing the way and a commotion came from ahead.

The convoy slowed down. Lu Zhang lifted the curtain to check and reported to his guide, "Anfu, there's a procession ahead; it should be officials from Ruzhou coming out of the city to greet us."

Zhao Mingcheng straightened his clothes, his expression returning to calm and composed.

"Let's go, Brother Wenzhong. Commander Lu, remember to observe more, listen more, and speak less. In particular, do not show any eagerness to ask about the disaster or the granaries."

"This humble official understands."

Upon seeing Zhao Mingcheng and his party approaching, Zhou Xu immediately led his men to quickly meet them, bowing from several feet away and shouting.

"Your humble servant, Zhou Xu, Prefect of Ruzhou, along with all the officials of the prefecture, respectfully welcomes Lord Zhao, the Pacification Commissioner of the Northwest Circuit! Lord Zhao has come from afar to relieve the disaster, and it has been arduous!"

The crowd behind him bowed in unison, saying, "Welcome, Pacification Envoy!"

Zhao Mingcheng reined in his horse, looking down at the kneeling officials, his gaze lingering on Zhou Xu, Wu Ming'an, and Wang Qian.

I paused briefly, taking in their respectful, even slightly obsequious, expressions.

He did not dismount immediately, but merely nodded slightly, his voice calm.

"Prefect Zhou, everyone, I am here on imperial orders, so there is no need for further formalities."

"Rituals must not be abandoned! Rituals must not be abandoned!" Zhou Xu hurriedly bowed again.

"Lord Zhao, you must be tired from your journey. I have prepared some simple wine in the city to welcome you and the other officials. Please come into the city and rest first."

Zhao Mingcheng then dismounted swiftly.

Cao Fu, Lu Zhang, and the accompanying imperial guards also dismounted. Zhou Xu and others rushed forward to surround Zhao Mingcheng, showing him great courtesy.

"Thank you for your trouble, Prefect Zhou."

Zhao Mingcheng said calmly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the surroundings.

"As I traveled along the way, I found the official roads clean and the soup kitchens well-organized, not at all like the dire situation described in the report. It seems that Prefect Zhou and his colleagues have achieved considerable success in disaster relief and pacification?"

Zhou Xu was secretly delighted, thinking that Zhao Mingcheng had indeed been deceived by appearances, and hurriedly said.

"I dare not accept Lord Zhao's praise; it is all thanks to the Emperor's great fortune, the Empress Dowager's benevolence, and the court's effective coordination."

When the disaster first broke out, there was indeed some panic, but we officials followed the court's relief policies, did our best to suppress the situation, opened the granaries to distribute relief, organized the people to help each other, and received some assistance from neighboring prefectures. Now the situation has improved considerably.

Although hardship remains, people's hearts are at peace, the displaced people have been largely resettled, and the streets of the city are relatively calm. These modest achievements are all thanks to the prestige and virtue of the imperial court. We officials have merely fulfilled our duties and done our utmost.

Prefect Wu Ming'an added with a smile from the side.

"Yes, Lord Zhao. The soup kitchens you saw along the way were set up by the state government and local gentry. They provide soup twice a day. Although we cannot say that they can feed the disaster victims to their hearts' content, they can at least keep them alive and prevent chaos from breaking out."

"I also send people to patrol and clean the main streets and alleys of the city every day, partly to prevent the spread of disease, and partly to avoid disturbing the carriages of distinguished guests like Lord Zhao."

Changping official Wang Qian also stepped forward, his chubby face full of smiles.

"Regarding the granaries, I have been supervising day and night, checking and inventorying them to ensure that every grain of relief food is used effectively."

However, the grain reserves accumulated over the years were temporarily borrowed due to the raising of border troops last year, and have not yet been replenished; in addition, the drought this spring came suddenly, and the opening of the granaries for relief consumed a great deal of grain.

Some of the older granaries have become moldy and damaged—grain reserves are indeed tight, and efforts are being intensified to procure more from the people and to secure allocations from the imperial court. However, this should be enough to sustain the current situation for a few more days.

These three local officials, working in unison, presented a narrative that "the disaster is under control," "officials are diligent," and "although there are difficulties, the situation is optimistic."

The tone was set very firmly.

Zhao Mingcheng listened quietly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, except when Wang Qian mentioned "moldy," his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

He spoke slowly after they had finished.

"You have all worked hard. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager were very worried when they heard about the disaster in Ruzhou. Now that the situation here has stabilized for the time being, I can finally feel some relief. I am quite tired from the long journey, so let's go into the city and rest first."

"Lord Zhao, please come with me!"

Zhou Xu was overjoyed and quickly stepped aside to lead the way.

Zhou Xu gave a subtle wink, and Wu Ming'an immediately directed the local troops to lead the way, deliberately guiding the procession along a wide main street that had clearly just been thoroughly cleaned and even watered, heading towards the prefectural government office.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed, and there were few pedestrians. Occasionally, a few people would hurry past with their heads down, not daring to look around.

It lacked the vitality a state city should have, and there was no trace of the chaos or sorrow that should be present during a famine; there was only a strange, carefully crafted "calmness."

Cao Fu followed Zhao Mingcheng, looking at the fake street scene and listening to the hypocritical words of the local officials. He kept Zhao Mingcheng's instructions in mind and forcibly suppressed his anger, but his expression became more and more solemn.

Lu Zhang gripped the hilt of his sword, his hawk-like eyes constantly scanning the surrounding rooftops and alleyways, maintaining a state of utmost vigilance.

Seeing that Zhao Mingcheng's attitude was "mild" and that he had no intention of questioning or investigating further, Zhou Xu and the others relaxed their last bit of tension.

They were increasingly convinced that this young pacification envoy was indeed just there to "gild his resume and go through the motions," and that as long as they were careful, he wouldn't be difficult to deal with.

The conversation became even more flattering, and the atmosphere surprisingly became "harmonious."

Before long, the procession arrived at the prefectural government office.

The government office had clearly been tidied up; the entrance was clean and the banners were brand new.

Zhou Xu respectfully invited Zhao Mingcheng inside. In the second hall, a sumptuous feast had already been prepared. Despite the famine, chicken, duck, fish, meat, seasonal vegetables, and even a jar of fine wine sealed in mud and unopened were on display.

"This is a hasty and simple offering, but it is merely a token of my sincerity. I hope Lord Zhao and all the other gentlemen will not take offense." Zhou Xu raised his cup in a toast, his face beaming with smiles.

Zhao Mingcheng picked up his wine glass, touched his lips to it briefly, then put it down, looking slightly tired.

"I appreciate Prefect Zhou's kind offer, but I am exhausted from the journey and have no appetite. Perhaps we should arrange a place for rest first, and we can discuss official business tomorrow."

Zhou Xu was more than happy to see him do so, and quickly replied.

"Yes, yes, it was my oversight. Lord Zhao's residence has already been prepared; it is the quietest courtyard in this back office, with all the necessary amenities."

Everything is provided. The lodgings for Judge Cao, Commander Lu, and the other officers have also been arranged.

He immediately summoned the steward and led Zhao Mingcheng and the others to their residence.

The courtyard was indeed elegant and tastefully furnished, completely unlike anything one would expect from a disaster area.

Zhao Mingcheng entered the main room, dismissed the servants, and left only Cao Fu and Lu Zhang inside.

As soon as the door closed, the faint weariness on Zhao Mingcheng's face vanished instantly, and his eyes regained their clarity and sharpness.

He walked to the window, peered through the crack at the quiet courtyard outside, and whispered.

"Did you see everything clearly?"

Cao Fu gritted his teeth and said, "We see it clearly! They're trying to cover up the truth and deceive their superiors; their intentions are despicable! Assassinate them, and we will question them severely tomorrow and open the granaries for inspection!"

Lu Zhang also said, "This humble general observes that Prefect Zhou and Vice Prefect Wu's eyes are shifty and their words are insincere; there must be something they're hiding. Wang Changping's 'moldy' claim is utterly ridiculous!"

Zhao Mingcheng turned around and gestured for the two to come closer, his voice extremely low.

"Question them? They probably already have a response. Inspect them? They should also have ways to stall. Turning hostile now will only alert them, forcing them to step up their cover-up or even resort to desperate measures, which will not do any good."

"What does that mean by appeasement?"

"First thing, Chief Lu,"

Zhao Mingcheng looked at Lu Zhang.

"You shall immediately select three to five reliable, quick-witted, kind-looking, and inconspicuous brothers, have them change into civilian clothes, and leave the yamen quietly."

Don't go through the main gate; find a secluded spot and climb over the wall. There's only one mission: to find the actual gathering place for the disaster victims.

They were driven off the main road and must be nearby. Search the abandoned shrines, dilapidated temples, mountain valleys, and deep alleys outside the city. Remember, only investigate, do not contact, do not cause trouble. Just ascertain their approximate location, number of people, and situation. Go and return quickly. I need to know just how much misery lies hidden beneath the glamorous exterior of Ruzhou City!

"Yes, sir! I'll do it right away!"

Lu Zhang clasped his hands in a fist salute, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and immediately turned and went out to make arrangements.

"The second thing, Brother Wenzhong,"

Zhao Mingcheng then looked at Cao Fu and said, "You should prepare immediately to compare the documents from the Ministry of Revenue and the annual reports on taxes and grain from Ruzhou that we brought with what we have seen and heard today, find any contradictions, and list any points of doubt."

In particular, the recorded grain reserves of the Changping Granary, the Yi Granary, and the Guanghui Granary differ from the local claims of "consumption during relief distribution" and "damage due to mold."

Can the explanations such as "depleted" and "borrowed temporarily but not yet returned" be accepted?

Furthermore, tomorrow I will request a formal reconciliation of the granary accounts and an inspection of the stored grain. You need to be prepared to confront them face-to-face!

Cao Fu solemnly replied, "This humble official understands! Even if I have to stay up all night, I will definitely clarify these doubts about the accounts and list them out!"

'

"Don't overwork yourself; your health is the most important thing."

Zhao Mingcheng patted Cao Fu on the shoulder.

"But time is of the essence. Since they've already put on an act, they'll definitely step up their efforts to cover it up. We must catch them off guard."

"yes!"

The arrangements have been finalized.

Zhao Mingcheng walked to the window, gazing at the orderly yet oppressive outline of the government office buildings outside, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Ruzhou is indeed a bottomless pool of muddy water, but it is beneath the muddy water that big fish can be found.

Now that he's here, he's determined to stir up this mess and catch a few decent "fish".