The Ming Dynasty started with caution

It's mid-July and it's still hot.

Yan Chengjin took a look at the weather and knew it was going to rain. Before going out, he specifically asked the bearer to take an umbrella with him.

When we arrived at Chengxian Street, there was a clanking sound on the sedan chair.

He Neng covered his head and shouted, "Master, it's hail! It's so big that it can kill people!"

Pedestrians fled in all directions and hid under the eaves.

"Hurry and carry the young master under the eaves and enter the inn to avoid the hail."

Looking at the hailstones as big as fists, the roof of the sedan made a thumping sound, as if a hole would break open at any time.

The Little Ice Age became more severe, with hail in July.

Yan Chengjin only saw him in his life.

But the bearers did not dare to leave the sedan, which was smashed to pieces, so they carried the sedan under the eaves.

Someone was hit and lay on the ground unresponsive for a long time, not knowing whether he was dead or alive.

"Someone has fallen there, why don't you save him?" Yan Chengjin looked to the side.

The shopkeeper scolded him, "I'll kill you. This bastard comes to the inn all the time to steal wine."

Could this be...

There were holes in the oil-paper umbrellas, and the vendors ran away.

"It's such a big hailstone, this is the first time I've seen it."

Yan Chengjin looked up and saw Zhu Houzhao walking happily on the street, not dodging or dodging.

This guy's head must be broken.

"Your Highness, come and hide, you will kill someone."

"Lao Gao, come out and take a look, it's such a big hail!"

What a fool!

I don’t know how many people would lose their harvest. Hail would hit the ground and press the ears of rice into the soil. After being soaked, they would become inedible and sprout. He actually had a great time playing it.

At this time, there is still half a month before the harvest.

Yan Chengjin ignored Zhu Houzhao, but saw a fast horse running quickly at the end of the street, like an urgent report from the local area.

I don't know if something big happened there, and we even traveled 800 miles to expedite it.

He was very calm. Judging from the yamen servant's attire and the direction he came from, he probably didn't pass it back from his father.

"Where are you going, Your Highness?"

"Go and pick up Han Wen. I want him to go to the East Palace as an errand." Zhu Houzhao said happily.

I have been practicing my marksmanship these days and want to compete with Han Wen.

When he has raised enough money, he recruits soldiers and horses.

He appointed Han Wen as his general, specializing in charging into battle.

Yan Chengjin knew that Zhu Houzhao liked the imperial guards with high strength, and that was how Jiang Bin was favored.

"Your Highness, does he know where Hanwen lives?"

Zhu Houzhao showed a sly smile: "I don't know, but you must know!"

"Han Wen has already entered the palace. Your Highness, please return to the palace quickly. If you are late, you may be transferred elsewhere."

Yan Chengjin guessed that Emperor Hongzhi would keep Han Wen with him, and even if he didn't, he wouldn't give it to Zhu Houzhao to cause trouble. Otherwise, the East Palace would be turned upside down.

Zhu Houzhao became anxious, turned around and rushed to the palace.

Yan Chengjin looked at the oil-paper umbrellas with holes smashed out. It seemed that when he returned to his house, he would have to make a cloth umbrella and put it on the sedan chair.

…

Royal Palace, Cabinet Courtyard.

Li Dongyang is reviewing the Ming Dynasty Huidian compiled by Hanlin. According to the plan, the book needs to be completed this winter.

"Xie Pi's knowledge is well done."

Just like Yan Chengjin wanted to compile classics when he first entered Hanyuan.

Song Jing, Xie Pi and others also need to edit, but this year they are editing the Ming Dynasty Huidian.

Xie Qian sighed, and suddenly heard a tremor on the roof, and the ground outside the window was covered with ice debris.

Liu Jian stood up immediately, and Li Dongyang also walked to the window, his mouth slightly open.

"God, this is getting more and more abnormal."

"Oh, it's harvest time. I don't know where the hail fell."

While talking, Hanlin, who served in the cabinet, hurried in.

"Sir, this is the urgent note sent back from Anluzhou."

Isn't it Anlu Prefecture where Xie Pi went to control floods?

Xie Qian opened the emergency report and saw that since July, there have been heavy rains in Anlu Prefecture for ten consecutive days, with floods flowing across the country, rushing east and west.

"Yu Qiao?"

Li Dongyang saw his expression changed drastically, and quickly took the book and looked at it.

The memorial was written by the magistrate of Anlu Prefecture. Heavy rainstorms for ten consecutive days made many places in Anlu Prefecture feel like a vast ocean.

"What Princess Xing said is true, Anlu Prefecture will spin and tilt in July and August."

"Go and inform your Majesty first." Liu Jian looked at Xie Qian and said with concern: "Yu Qiao, you stay here on duty."

Xie Qian gritted his teeth and said, "How can it be that my son avoids such a big event? I and my two brothers will face the Holy Spirit together."

Forbidden City, Fengtian Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi looked into the distance with a frown, and the hail made the rubble bang.

"It's the time of harvest, and there's another major disaster. It seems like we'll have to open warehouses for food relief again this year."

Xiao Jing thought for a while and comforted: "I think the good harvest is coming."

"Why?"

"The Qintian Supervisor is saying that there will be a good year with the auspicious snow, and the hail is so heavy..." Sensing that His Majesty's face turned dark, Xiao Jing reined in his horse and swallowed what he had not said.

The young eunuch came to report and said: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zeng Jian from the Ministry of Industry is here to report."

Not long after, Zeng Jian strode to Emperor Hongzhi's side and bowed slightly: "Your Majesty, we have just made a rough count and found that there are twelve palaces in the palace that need to be repaired.

I don’t know how much damage has been done to the six departments and the yamen of each prison..."

This hailstorm turned the rubble into rubble.

The six ministries and the yamen of each prison have not yet reported it, it is just a palace in the palace.

The cost of repairs was no less than ten thousand taels of silver.

Emperor Hongzhi sighed heavily: "I see that Yan Chengjin's mansion is dilapidated and in good condition. The side halls in the palace that do not need to be repaired should be left alone for the time being."

"This... Among these twelve palaces, there is your Majesty's Qianqing Palace, the Empress Dowager's Renshou Palace, and the Prince's East Palace..." Zeng Jian looked up and lowered his head again.

Emperor Hongzhi hesitated for a long time and uttered a few words with difficulty: "Repair it, how much silver?"

"I estimate that it will cost 200,000 taels." Zeng Jian asked for more. Anyway, after the repair is completed, there will be eunuchs who will supervise and settle the accounts.

If there is no silver after half of the repair, it will be troublesome.

Asking your Majesty again may not be so easy.

Xiao Jing saw that Emperor Hongzhi's eyes narrowed slightly, but his hands unconsciously clenched into fists. This is what happens when your Majesty is unable to make a decision.

"Don't repair the East Palace, repair other palaces first."

Zeng Jian felt a little uncomfortable. My daughter still lives in the East Palace!

Sensing the expressions of his in-laws, he couldn't let his daughter-in-law down after all. Emperor Hongzhi coughed dryly: "It won't be too late to repair the East Palace after the summer tax is collected."

The summer tax is only in August, just one month later.

Liu Jian and the other two walked past the gatekeeper and walked straight into the Fengtian Hall: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent report from Anlu Prefecture."

Xiao Jing quickly presented the report. After reading it, Emperor Hongzhi's face changed drastically: "Has the water of the Han River burst its banks?"

"Yes!"

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang bowed.

The Han River is the largest river in Huguang. Along the river are Shou County, Jingshan County, Zhongxiang County and other places, with hundreds of thousands of people.

It is the most fertile granary in the Ming Dynasty except for Jiangnan.

There have been heavy rains for ten consecutive days, and the water is deep and fast. Some low thatched houses can't even see the roof.

"Now, we can only control the water to save the people of Anlu Prefecture, but the flood covers the rubble, and I'm afraid Xie Pi can't do anything."

Li Dongyang said.

Speaking of Xie Pi, Emperor Hongzhi's eyes fell on Xie Qian, "Master Xie, don't worry, I believe Xie Pi..."

Xie Qian nodded, but was so depressed that he couldn't speak.

Liu Jian said: "Your Majesty, why not send another person to Huguang to divide and rule."

Xie Pi alone could not cope with such a large flood.

He was a newly-appointed Jinshi and had no experience in flood control.

Xie Qian bowed slightly and said resolutely: "I will go there willingly if you ask for permission!"

"Master Xie, don't worry. This matter concerns the lives of tens of millions of people. I will make a decision after the court discussion."

The hail stopped,

All officials crowded into the Fengtian Hall, and Zhu Houzhao also came. Han Wen was indeed working in the Fengtian Hall!

"Father, can Han Wen be transferred to guard the Eastern Palace?"

Emperor Hongzhi glared at him and didn't want to pay attention to him, "Step aside, I want to discuss the court!"

Zhu Houzhao stood aside obediently, pretending to be solemn.

As long as he performed well, his father would transfer Han Wen to the Eastern Palace.

Xiao Jing began to read the urgent report. Hearing that Anlu Prefecture had been experiencing heavy rain for ten consecutive days, all officials whispered.

Yan Chengjin lowered his head. The area around the two lakes was also prone to floods in later generations.

This time, there were ten consecutive days of heavy rain...

I wonder if Xie Pi is still alive? If I had known earlier, I would have sent Wang Shouren. Wang Shouren has the aura of a saint and generally speaking, he would not die.