Urban Sims

Chapter 775
A catastrophic flood broke out in Andorhal County, causing countless casualties. As soon as the news reached the imperial capital, it reached Zhou Ming's ears.

He immediately convened a court meeting to discuss and deal with the matter.

At the court meeting, the ministers expressed their opinions one after another.

"Andorhal County is low-lying, with nine floods in ten years and one flood in three years. It is not suitable for the people to live in. It is not surprising that the catastrophic flood broke out this time." Prime Minister Benedict said.

"But the emissary reported that the scale of the flood was extremely large. Millions of victims were affected. The county town was flooded, and the local sheriff disappeared. listed.

"Now the national treasury is empty, the autumn harvest has not yet arrived, and there is not so much material relief. We can only allocate a small amount of money, and then reduce or exempt taxes for two years. The rest of the difficulties can only be solved by the county itself." Chancellor Zashik said.

"grown ups!"

The middle-level official said anxiously: "This is a catastrophic flood. The whole county is affected by the disaster. Millions of victims have lost everything. They have no food, no housing, and if there is no relief, they will all be ruined!"

"It's okay if there are thousands of victims, but how can the imperial court have the ability to provide relief for millions of victims? We can only pray for their good luck in such natural disasters."

Chancellor of the Exchequer Zahik said blankly.

"My lord, how much can be saved! Millions of disaster victims cannot be saved, but it is possible to save some of them!" The middle-level officials shouted loudly.

"presumptuous!"

Prime Minister Benedict yelled at the official: "Above the court, where do you have the right to speak loudly? Hurry up and put me on the list!"

"Master Prime Minister!"

The middle-level official did not give up.

"Shut up Giroud, put me in line!"

Benedict pinned down the official.

"that……"

Zhou Ming, who was sitting at the top, asked, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, is there anything wrong with what Giroud said? With the power of the court, millions of victims cannot be relieved, but 20 or [-] people can still be saved, right?"

"Your Majesty, this is not a question of whether it can be saved, but a question of whether it is worth it."

Benedict said, his tone was very straightforward, without the slightest taboo, he explained: "For the imperial court, once they give relief with all their strength, the loss outweighs the gain!"

"On the one hand, the imperial court has limited capacity and can only provide relief to a small number of people. On the other hand, in order to survive, most of the victims must do their best, and even make destructive actions, attacking the relief personnel sent by the imperial court, looting relief supplies, sabotage relief efforts."

"On the other hand, even if the imperial court relieves millions of victims, it will cost millions of Golden Pagoda Shields. This is a huge amount of money, but the empire has a vast territory and frequent disasters in various places. If all the relief is given, the empire can afford it. That much money?"

"What's more, during the post-disaster reconstruction process, local officials will inevitably experience serious corruption around the relief supplies, resulting in far less than the prescribed amount of supplies being distributed to the victims."

"Considering the above points, since the former emperor Sephiroth IV, the imperial court has not provided relief for disasters in various places."

"Considering that Andorhal County is relatively close to the imperial capital, our best solution is to send the guards to block the main roads in the east to prevent a large number of disaster victims from flooding into the imperial capital, worsening the law and order of the imperial capital, and bringing about the outbreak of the plague. risk."

Prime Minister Benedict said lightly.

"So...a catastrophic flood broke out in Andorhal County. As the rulers of the empire, the best way for us is to do nothing, and even block the intersection to prevent the flood victims from flooding into the imperial capital?"

Zhou Ming extracted the meaning of the prime minister's words, and said in conclusion.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Prime Minister Benedict bowed slightly.

"The other ministers also mean this?" Zhou Ming glanced at the others.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, although this sounds very regrettable, it should be dealt with in this way."

"After the flood, the imperial court exempted Andorhal County from taxes for up to three years."

All the ministers said one after another... except for the middle-level official Giroud who was reprimanded by the prime minister, he lowered his head and his body shook violently, as if he was restraining something.

"Boom~"

A bang.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the past.

It was Zhou Ming who thumped the imperial chair he was sitting on, making a loud noise, and then said angrily, "It's ridiculous, it's absolutely ridiculous!"

"The people of Andorhal County pay taxes to the court every year to support their emperor and the civil and military officials in this palace. They are our parents, but what about you? What do you think of them?"

"A burden! A burden! Treat it as a trouble that should be discarded!"

"Disasters are not terrible, and the victims are not incapable of relief. The key is that our hearts must not become hard and cold-blooded, and we must not become less human. We must not make choices that make us feel ashamed when we are in danger."

"But you guys make me feel very ashamed!"

Zhou Ming's harsh words, and under his staring gaze, many ministers couldn't help but lower their heads.

"Girut, you are the only one who cares about the disaster situation in the disaster area. Let me ask you, where are you from?"

Zhou Ming asked the middle-level official.

"Returning to Your Majesty, I am from Andorhal County, and Andorhal County is my hometown. I heard that there was a flood in my hometown, and I am very anxious. I implore Your Majesty to order help!"

Giroud hurried out, fell to his knees, and begged Zhou Ming loudly.

But there was a mocking voice: "It turned out that my hometown was hit by a disaster, no wonder I was so anxious. If it was left in other places, I'm afraid you would ignore it."

It was the Chief Cabinet Minister Hagos who was speaking, he ranked third among the ministers, and his status was quite high.

"Your Excellency Hagos, where is your hometown?" Zhou Ming turned his head and asked him.

Hugos's heart skipped a beat, and he hurried out of the queue and replied, "Return to Your Majesty, my hometown is Lordamere County in the west of the empire."

"Okay, let me ask you Hagos, what if a natural disaster occurs in your hometown Lordamere County? Should the court provide relief?" Zhou Ming asked him.

"Forehead……"

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Hagos' forehead, and he didn't know how to answer.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister, where is your hometown?" Zhou Ming turned his head again and asked Prime Minister Benedict.

"Return to Your Majesty, the minister's hometown is in the imperial capital."

"Then let me ask you, have there been any natural disasters in the capital during these hundreds of years?"

"Natural disasters are rare. There was a huge fire 30 years ago. Tens of thousands of houses were burned down, and more than [-] people were killed or injured."

"Well, after the fire broke out, did the imperial court provide any relief?"

"The relief has been given. The national treasury has spent more than 150 million Gold Pagoda Shields."

"The money in the national treasury should be levied from all over the country, right? You mean that natural disasters broke out in various places, and the empire can ignore it. The imperial capital was affected by the disaster, but it needs to be rebuilt with the money collected from all over the country. In view of this situation, we I want to ask: Is this fair?"

Zhou Ming glanced at the officials and asked.

"Your Majesty, the old minister knows that what you said is right, but the imperial court really can't help the millions of victims. Besides, the imperial capital is the capital that governs the four directions, and it has the obligation to govern and defend all over the place. Natural disasters are like gods, and the destructive power is huge. We can only do what we can to save what we don't." Prime Minister Benedict said.

"Don't say it anymore!"

Zhou Ming waved his hand to stop: "Andorhal County is only [-] miles away from the imperial capital, and it is very close. If we don't save it, what is the use of the court to the common people? What's more, since they have the right to pay taxes Obligation, we have the obligation to provide disaster relief!"

"But the autumn harvest has not arrived, the autumn tax has not been collected, and there is no money and food in the treasury." Finance Minister Zashik said.

"I'll pay for it myself! There's no need for a penny from the treasury!"

Zhou Ming still has more than 200 million gold tower shields in his pocket money, and the business district can bring in more than 50 yuan a month, so it should not be a big problem to help millions of victims.

As soon as they heard that Zhou Ming took out the money by himself, all the officials immediately had no objection, and let him do whatever he wanted.

(End of this chapter)