mtlumby2d Chapter 158: Is there a natural disaster?
Chapter 158: Is there a natural disaster?
Concubine Yin did not dare to be negligent. She quickly bent down and said respectfully, "Okay, Master, Ling'er will do it right away."
After saying this, she walked lightly to the table where the incense burner was placed.
Then, Concubine Yin stretched out her delicate hand, picked up the fire starter and blew it gently, and the flame instantly ignited.
Then, she brought the fire lighter close to the incense sticks that were emitting a subtle fragrance and lit them one by one.
In an instant, wisps of green smoke rose up and filled the entire room.
The black air was lurking there with its fangs bared, greedily sucking on the cigarettes.
As time passed, the black gas seemed to have absorbed enough energy. It began to slowly wriggle and gradually condensed into a vague human figure.
As soon as this figure took shape, he immediately began to dance with his hands, muttering something, and began to cast a strange and mysterious spell.
As her movements became faster and faster, balls of inky black gas continuously gushed out of her body, passed through the gap in the tightly closed door, and floated out of the house.
Not long after, the sky, which was originally drizzling, was suddenly streaked with dazzling lightning, accompanied by deafening thunder, as if it was going to tear the sky apart.
At the same time, the wind was blowing violently, and raindrops as big as beans fell down with a crackling sound, forming a white rain curtain, and the sky and the earth suddenly fell into chaos.
Overnight, violent winds and torrential rain ravaged the earth like a demon, and the crops in the fields that had not yet been harvested were instantly destroyed.
Looking around, it was a mess. The once golden wheat waves had now fallen to the ground, and the ears of grain were scattered everywhere, as if crying out for this sudden disaster.
Not only that, many houses collapsed because the rain was too heavy and they could not bear the weight!
For a time, cries and calls for help were heard one after another, and the number of casualties was countless. People complained and wondered why God had sent such a disaster.
Immediately afterwards, disaster reports from all directions continued to reach the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
When Zhao Guoan, who was sitting on the dragon throne, heard the news, he was immediately furious and slammed the table.
However, facing this irresistible natural disaster, even though he was the king of a country, he felt helpless at the moment, and his heart was filled with helplessness and anger.
"Provide disaster relief immediately. I want you to go all out to rescue the disaster!" Zhao Guoan's face was gloomy, and his voice echoed in the hall like thunder.
Upon hearing the emperor's decree, Minister of Revenue Chu Xiong hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed.
He said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, there is very little food left in the treasury, and this food must be reserved for the troops stationed on the border. It must not be used lightly! Otherwise, if there is any change on the border, the consequences will be disastrous..."
"What? What about this year's harvest?" Zhao Guoan's voice was like thunder, exploding in the hall!
"Your Majesty, it will take another half month for the crops to mature, and we have no harvest! Your Majesty..." Chu Xiong knelt again, with his forehead pressed against the ground, as if the cold tiles could give him some comfort.
Zhao Guoan frowned and paced back and forth. "Am I really going to watch the people starve to death?" He clenched his fists, unwilling to accept this.
At this time, Prime Minister Ouyang Ming, who had been standing silently in the corner, slowly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there is something very strange. Almost all prefectures and counties have been severely affected by the disaster, but there is no urgent report from Nanhu County?"
"Nanhu County? Luo Qing's jurisdiction?" Zhao Guoan's eyes lit up.
"Prime Minister Ouyang, this matter is of great importance. I order you to set off immediately and go to Nanhu County in person to check the situation. If it is really a bumper harvest, you must do everything possible to transport grain back, even if it costs more money." Zhao Guoan's eyes were burning.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command!" Ouyang Ming replied respectfully, then added with a bitter face, "However, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, and I don't think I can save the entire Xia Kingdom with just one county."
"I know. Pass on my decree. Those royal family members and officials in the capital who have surplus food at home should first use some of it to help the victims. I will also reduce the expenses in the palace." Zhao Guoan said firmly.
The ministers looked at each other, but seeing that the emperor was determined, they could only obey the order.
Zhao Guoan asked again: "Where is the Grand Order?"
The forty-year-old Grand Chancellor Guo Jingnan immediately stepped out and bowed, "Your humble servant is here!"
"I order you to contact the Miao Kingdom immediately and purchase a large amount of food within the Miao Kingdom to solve the urgent problem!" Zhao Guoan ordered in a deep voice.
"I obey your command." Guo Jingnan hurriedly retreated after receiving the order.
When Ouyang Ming arrived in Nanhu County, it was already ten days later.
"Dad?" When Ouyang Ping heard the servant report that her father had arrived in Nanhu County, she was pleasantly surprised. A bright smile immediately broke out on her face and she ran away.
When she got closer, Ouyang Ping stopped, bent her knees gracefully and performed a standard etiquette, and said in a soft voice, "Daddy, why are you here?"
Ouyang Ming looked at his daughter, whom he hadn't seen for many days, his eyes full of love and relief. He smiled and said, "Haha, Ping'er, not bad, not bad. It seems that your cultivation has improved more than before!"
At this moment, Luo Qing, who was standing by, saw Ouyang Ming coming and hurried forward to greet him: "Greetings, Prime Minister!"
He bowed respectfully, then stood up and asked, "What brings you to Nanhu County, sir? Has the emperor issued any new decree?"
Ouyang Ming smiled and waved his hand, indicating that the two of them didn't need to be polite. He turned his gaze to Luo Qing, with a hint of different meaning in his eyes.
Now Ouyang Ming already knows that Luo Qing's attitude towards Ouyang Ping has changed. When he sees Luo Qing again, he can't help but feel secretly happy, just like a father-in-law looking at his favorite son-in-law, the more he looks, the more satisfied he feels.
After a brief pause, Ouyang Ming continued, "Luo Qing, have you suffered any natural disasters in Nanhu County recently?"
"Natural disaster?" Luo Qing was slightly taken aback when he heard this, his face showing surprise. He quickly replied, "Prime Minister, please forgive my incompetence. I wonder why you suddenly ask this question? As far as I know, our Nanhu County has been enjoying good weather recently. Since the plague, we have not suffered any natural or man-made disasters."
During this period, Luo Qing, in addition to handling the complicated and trivial daily affairs in the county government in an orderly manner, was always by Ouyang Ping's side, practicing together with her.
Ever since the two of them consumed the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Spirit Gathering Pill given by Wang Xinyao, their strength has increased rapidly like a rocket!
Today, Luo Qing has successfully broken through to the peak of the Grandmaster realm, and Ouyang Ping is even more powerful. She has entered the second level of the spiritual realm.
Because of this, Luo Qing devoted himself to cultivation and county affairs, and he knew nothing about what was happening outside the county.