The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Wang Dequan was slightly taken aback, then bowed and replied, "As you wish."

After Wang Dequan bowed and left, he immediately ordered the eunuch to remove the osmanthus cake from the Yisi Pavilion.

He walked to the edge of the pond and looked at the koi swimming in the water.

Once, he saw Lan'er feeding fish here.

He turned and left the pond, heading towards the imperial study. He needed to attend to government affairs, and even though he was extremely sad, he could not forget his responsibilities.

Inside the imperial study, a mountain of memorials lay on the table. Li Chengfeng sat on the dragon throne, picked up a memorial, and began to review it.

There have been disasters in many places this year, and most of the memorials submitted contain related content. After reading several of them in succession, Li Chengfeng's expression has become extremely solemn.

"Your Majesty," Wang Dequan's voice rang out from outside the imperial study, "The Minister of Revenue requests an audience."

"Xuan,"

The Minister of Revenue walked into the imperial study and saluted Li Chengfeng: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Li Chengfeng nodded slightly, motioning him to stand up: "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue replied respectfully, "This year, the southern region suffered severe flooding. I have come to report the disaster to Your Majesty and request that Your Majesty allocate funds for disaster relief."

As he spoke, he carefully observed Li Chengfeng's expression.

"Approved." He put down the red pen in his hand and signaled the Minister of Revenue to continue.

The Minister of Revenue bowed slightly, pulled out a memorial from his sleeve, and presented it with both hands: "This is the disaster report compiled by me. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Li Chengfeng took the memorial, which detailed the devastation in several southern provinces. The shocking figures made his heart sink. Fertile fields were destroyed, houses collapsed, and civilians were displaced. The epidemic was also beginning to spread...

"Is the disaster situation so severe?" He looked up at the Minister of Revenue, "Tell me the details."

"Your Majesty, this year's excessive rainfall in the south has caused many rivers to burst their banks, with the Jianghuai region being the hardest hit. Fertile fields have been flooded, countless houses have collapsed, and the people are displaced and suffering terribly. Food and medicine are currently in short supply. According to preliminary estimates, this disaster relief effort will require at least 500,000 taels of silver and approximately one million taels of grain..."

"How is the resettlement of the disaster victims?" Li Chengfeng interrupted the Minister of Revenue's report with a hint of anxiety in his tone.

The Minister of Revenue quickly replied, "Your Majesty, local officials have organized manpower to build temporary shelters to accommodate the victims and provide them with porridge and grain. However, supplies are currently scarce. I request that Your Majesty allocate funds for disaster relief as soon as possible. In addition, the epidemic has begun to spread in the disaster area, and a large amount of medicinal materials and medical personnel are urgently needed."

"I have approved the five hundred thousand taels of silver and one million grains. Immediately organize personnel to transport the funds and supplies to the disaster area. No delay is allowed!"

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue quickly bowed in thanks, "Thank you, Your Majesty! I will go back and make arrangements to ensure that the relief funds and supplies are delivered to the disaster area as quickly as possible."

Li Chengfeng nodded and motioned him to leave.

After the Minister of Revenue left the imperial study, he remembered what Lan'er had said, that she hoped all the people in the world could live and work in peace and contentment.

Now that the south is suffering from floods and people are displaced, he must do his best to help the people in the disaster area overcome the difficulties and comfort Lan'er's spirit in heaven.

He turned back to the desk, wrote a few words on the memorial, and then handed it to Wang Dequan: "Immediately send someone to deliver this decree to the Ministry of Revenue and have them handle it as soon as possible."

"As you wish." Wang Dequan took the memorial, bowed and left.

At the court the next morning, Li Chengfeng said, "My dear ministers, the floods in the south are severe, and the victims are in urgent need of assistance. This disaster relief effort must not only address the immediate needs, but also take a long-term view and formulate long-term flood control measures to prevent such disasters from happening again."

The ministers nodded in agreement.

"I propose that we increase financial allocations to the disaster-stricken areas to ensure the basic needs of the victims. Furthermore, we should dispatch officials to the disaster-stricken areas to oversee the relief efforts and prevent corruption!"

After a few breaths, a minister spoke first.

Only after someone took the lead did the other ministers follow suit and offer their suggestions.

"I believe we should accelerate the construction of water conservancy projects and strengthen the dredging and maintenance of river channels to fundamentally solve the flood problem! That way, even if there are heavy rains in the future, there will be no need to worry."

As soon as he finished speaking, his colleagues who had always held different political views from him sneered.

"Master Wu, what you said is inappropriate. The disaster is widespread now. Not to mention how the national treasury can afford the money for repairs, do you want those affected people to do labor service again?

The Golden Palace was suddenly filled with noise, but Li Chengfeng just listened and did not try to stop it.

After more than half an hour, he finally asked to stop.

"The floods in the south are of great importance. I have decided to establish a special disaster relief agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts."

His gaze finally landed on a highly respected official. "Sir Zhang, you are highly respected and well-versed in the people's sentiments. I appoint you as the chief disaster relief officer, with full authority over all disaster relief efforts."

Lord Zhang was the first to offer advice. Upon hearing this, he quickly stepped out and bowed, "I accept your command and will do my utmost to live up to your Majesty's grace!"

"Alright," Li Chengfeng nodded with satisfaction. "Wang Dequan, draft the imperial edict. Immediately convey it to Lord Zhang and instruct him to immediately form a team, formulate a detailed disaster relief plan, and submit it as soon as possible."

In the afternoon, Wang Dequan came to Zhang's house quickly with the imperial edict in his hand.

When the guards at the gate of Zhang's mansion saw that it was Eunuch Wang who had arrived, they immediately bowed and informed him.

A moment later, Lord Zhang went out personally to greet and welcome Wang Dequan into the mansion.

Wang Dequan unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud, "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Floods have struck the south, causing severe suffering to the people. Minister Zhang Ai is hereby appointed Chief Disaster Relief Officer, with full authority over all matters. He is ordered to immediately assemble a team, formulate a relief plan, and submit it to the court as soon as possible. This is my decree!"

Lord Zhang took the imperial edict and kowtowed respectfully: "I accept the order and thank you for your grace!"

After seeing Wang Dequan off, Lord Zhang did not dare to delay and immediately summoned officials from the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, Imperial Medical Service and other relevant departments to come to his mansion to discuss specific disaster relief measures and personnel arrangements.

Master Zhang relayed the contents of the imperial edict, paused, and then spoke with greater emphasis: "The Emperor sympathizes with the victims, and we should do our utmost. The Ministry of Revenue will be responsible for raising funds for food, the Ministry of Works will be responsible for strengthening the levees and rebuilding homes, and the Imperial Hospital will be responsible for preparing sufficient medicines and medical staff."

He pointed at a few spots on the map on the table. "These are the areas hardest hit by the disaster. You must formulate a plan based on the actual situation."

The officials all accepted the order, and finally decided that the Minister of Revenue would allocate 500,000 taels of silver and purchase 100,000 taels of grain, and the Ministry of Works would send 2,000 craftsmen to the disaster area.

The Imperial Hospital Chief Judge added, "I suggest sending fifty physicians and one hundred medicine boys, carrying commonly used medicines and anti-epidemic herbs."

After some discussion, the types and quantities of disaster relief supplies and personnel arrangements were finally decided. Mr. Zhang wrote a memorial and handed it to Li Chengfeng.