Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 81: Getting Serious
Beilin is a grateful person. Si Chen, who was abandoned by the Imperial Observatory, suddenly became an imperial envoy of the court. In his heart, the emperor's kindness is more important than anything else. Therefore, no matter what happens, the first principle is to do what the emperor has ordered first!
After he finished reading the imperial edict with an expressionless face, Li Yan and others looked at each other in surprise.
Will there be an earthquake in Mizhi?
This is not right. This is the Loess Plateau with stable terrain. Since ancient times, earthquakes have rarely occurred in northern Shaanxi.
Moreover, natural disasters such as earthquakes are punishments from heaven. Unless the current emperor is immoral, who would dare to predict them easily?
Of course, this was an imperial decree, so everyone laughed along. Li Yan even said with emotion: "Your Majesty is truly wise. Even though he is thousands of miles away, he still cares about the soldiers and civilians in our border town. I really admire him. Such a sincere love for the people is incomparable to Yao and Shun!"
Behind him, the county magistrate Ren Dewu also came forward and said with a stiff smile: "It is a great honor for us to serve the emperor. Our ancestors have accumulated virtue for eight generations."
Beilin's face was full of solemnity. She said in a deep voice: "The emperor's meaning is very clear. Since an earthquake is about to occur here, in order to protect the local people, we must issue an early warning and evacuate the crowd. We must not relax."
"Okay, okay. I dare not neglect it. Please rest assured, envoy."
Actually, Li Yan was a third-class Jinshi, but in front of Beilin, he still had to smile. There was no other way, because he was an imperial envoy, and his every word and action represented the emperor.
Beilin added, "Also, the emperor has personally instructed that within three days, the people must be relocated out of the city, and with Mizhi County as the center, all towns and villages within a hundred miles must also be relocated and set up temporary settlements in the wilderness. During this period, the county government must open warehouses and set up porridge sheds to ensure the basic needs of the people."
Li Yan: …
Not only him, but everyone present was stunned.
Is this a joke?
Just for a fictitious warning, the entire county needs to be relocated?
What huge losses will such a large-scale migration and resettlement bring!
County Magistrate Ren Dewu smiled and said, "Okay, okay, since it's the emperor's order, no problem, no problem."
Li Yan looked at him in confusion, but when he saw Ren Dewu secretly winking at him, he immediately reacted.
"Yes, I will follow the emperor's orders. It's snowing hard outside. Please ask the envoy to come into the city. Let's drink some wine and warm ourselves up first."
The actions of the two people surprised Beilin. He thought there would be resistance, but he never expected that they would agree so readily.
He just wanted to evacuate the people as soon as possible, so he waved his hand and said, "Official business is important, so forget about the water and wine. Let's get down to business first."
Li Yan thought to himself that this imperial envoy seemed a little unkind.
"Since the Imperial Envoy has come so far, we should welcome him and entertain him..."
“No need!”
Beilin waved her hand again and said, "I have three thousand soldiers behind me. It will be inconvenient to go into the city. It is better to set up camp here and rest. County Magistrate Li, you should go and do your business first!"
Things had come to this point, and Li Yan had no choice but to lead a group of officials back to the county government.
"What did you mean by winking at me just now?"
Ren Dewu smiled and said, "Lord Li is very clear about this. This imperial envoy came all the way here to deliver the imperial decree. As for the evacuation of the people, he returned to the capital after reading the imperial decree. Lord Li only needs to submit a memorial to say that the people have been evacuated according to the imperial decree. Who knows?"
"That being said, I don't think this person is easy to talk to."
"How about this? I will prepare some silver and gifts, and tomorrow Lord Li will come out to see the envoy off. After taking our silver, he won't say bad things about us in front of the emperor, right?"
"Okay then!" Li Yan nodded and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. Go down and prepare!"
At this time, a clerk came forward and said, "Sir, the banquet is ready. Look at this..."
Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "If they don't want to show me their respect, let's eat by ourselves. Let's go!"
After three rounds of drinking, everyone was full and went home.
Li Yan was drunk. Just as he lay down, he heard a commotion coming from outside.
"Do you know that this is the magistrate's backyard? Who are you? How dare you..."
boom!
All I heard was the door being kicked open roughly, followed by the housekeeper's groaning.
Li Yan frowned, thinking, who is so bold that he even dares to break into my backyard? Does he want to live?
Then, the door curtain outside was lifted, and a gust of cold wind blew into the room, followed by several figures. It was dark and difficult to see clearly.
"How dare you!" Li Yan said drunkenly, "Do you know where this place is?"
"County Magistrate Li, I would like to ask you, how is the task ordered by the Emperor going?"
When Li Yan heard this, he realized that this was the imperial envoy from during the day!
"So it's the Imperial Envoy, your humble servant, your humble servant..."
Li Yan climbed down from the bed with great effort, bowed and said, "I didn't know the imperial envoy was coming. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. I'm sorry for not welcoming you!"
"Li Yan!"
Beilin suddenly shouted and continued, "I will ask you again, how is the task assigned by the Emperor going?"
“This, this…”
Li Yan babbled, "Your Excellency, you may not know. I have prepared some gifts for you tomorrow..."
Snapped!
Beilin was a person with an impatient temper. Seeing that the other party was so disappointing, she slapped him directly.
"Take this man to the lobby!"
"yes!"
Li Yan was slapped for no apparent reason and immediately became angry. He shouted under the influence of alcohol: "I am the county magistrate. Who dares to do that?"
Maybe... he didn't know who he was facing.
The soldiers of the Three Thousand Camp were masters of killing people on the battlefield without blinking an eye. A small county magistrate was nothing in their eyes, so they dragged Li Yan to the lobby of the county government.
Li Zhen and Ha Ming also came with a few people each, and they all grabbed their hair and threw them to the ground like dragging a dead dog.
Looking at these people, Li Yan sobered up immediately. It turned out to be the county magistrate Ren Dewu, followed by the chief clerk, the registrar and so on. The entire county government team was all present. Are they serious?
Beilin sat at the head of the table with a sullen face, slammed the gavel, and shouted, "Li Yan, the Magistrate of Mizhi County, I want to ask you, have you received the imperial edict today?"
"Did you...did you receive it?"
"The imperial edict clearly states that you are ordered to evacuate all the people in the county within three days. Why did you ignore it?"
“This…this…”
"You have no respect for His Majesty. You have no respect for the people. You are dereliction of duty. Come on, drag him away and execute him on the spot!"
Li Yan felt a buzzing in his head. What? Beheading?
The people standing on both sides of the hall were not county runners, but soldiers from the Three Thousand Battalion. They only took orders from Beilin, and when they heard the order, they dragged people out without saying a word.
Li Yan hurriedly shouted, "Unjust, this humble official is wronged!"
"Wait!"
Beilin waved her hand to stop him and asked, "Did I misunderstand you?"
"Please spare my life, envoy!"
"I will spare you, but when the earthquake happens, who will spare these millions of people?"
"Three days, it's three days as agreed!"
Li Yan seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw and hurriedly said, "It's only been half a day, there are still two and a half days left. I promise to complete the task!"
Beilin narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Well, if you can't finish it, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Li Yan nodded desperately and said, "I will tell people to relocate the people overnight!"
“That’s more like it!”
Beilin nodded and said, "The Three Thousand Battalion has already set up a garrison outside the city. Your mission is to order the people in the city to migrate there. If you encounter any problems in the next few days, you can seek assistance from the Three Thousand Battalion. I only want the result. Do you understand?"
"I obey your command!"
