Chapter 1113: Chapter 1110 Impeachnt
Even if the river levels eventually rose, causing the people to be displaced, all he needed to do was open the granaries to aid the refugees. As long as there was no uprising, his position was secure, subject to at most so rebukes. However, the Magistrate from South State was King Qi’s man. As long as King Qi exerted his influence, entering the capital was not out of reach, and even if he didn’t make it to the capital, continuing as Prefect was still a coveted position envied by others.
Chu Heng sat in the cabin of the ship, with geographical maps of Yuzhou and South State laid out before him. Several new canals had been added to the maps, including one major waterway, which he had split into an inner and an outer canal in the sketch at his side.
The outer canal connected to the seawater river beneath South State, and the upstream was prone to flooding due to the terrain coupled with the backflow of seawater. By diverting it into two channels, a cycle would maintain itself, directing the river water back into the sea, while the inner canal held enough water for the needs of inland Yuzhou and South State.
This configuration created a balance within the entire waterway, which could finally solve the flooding issue.
Unfortunately…
He had only managed to dredge the upper part of the river when the work on the downstream section was obstructed in South State.
...
Nevertheless, he had forcefully insisted that the County Magistrates at critical points along the river cooperate. At this mont in the capital, there were certainly nurous petitions impeaching him at the imperial court.
At this ti, Chu Heng could only hope that the impact of this disaster on the people would be minimal.
Capital, Imperial Palace.
At dawn, Emperor Xuanming held court, and imdiately, nurous officials stepped forward with a petition: “Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Attendant Lecturer Chu Heng for abusing his authority in South State, coercing the County Magistrate of Hong County to cooperate with altering the river course.”
“I too impeach Attendant Lecturer Chu Heng. This act contravenes the Great Chu Law. If officials from the imperial court were all to act first and report later, wouldn’t that disregard imperial authority? If Your Majesty allows this to continue unchecked, it could be exploited by those with ulterior motives, potentially leading to chaos in the imperial court.”
This was said by Duke Zheng.
Following this, many Inspector Officials from the Inspectorate joined the impeachnt.
For a mont, the number of officials speaking out had already exceeded half, even causing so officials from the Neutral Faction to believe that Chu Heng’s actions, though intended to control the flooding, were too rash and eager for quick results.
Emperor Xuanming waited until the officials had finished speaking, then narrowed his eyes and said, “Gentlen, please look over these petitions first.”
The attendants quickly handed several petitions to the officials below.
As they passed them around, it beca apparent these were all petitions from Chu Heng, each requesting that the imperial court allow him to collaborate with South State in handling the flooding.
“What do my esteed officials think?”
Duke Zheng did not speak, but an official from behind him stepped forward, “Your Majesty, even though Chu Heng had previously submitted petitions to inform of this matter, the imperial court had not yet reached a conclusion. He still lacked imperial authorization and should not have acted on his own initiative.”
“Please let Your Majesty discern the truth.”
“Yes, indeed, even with these petitions, it doesn’t justify anything. Chu Heng coercing the County Magistrate of Hong County to recruit people to alter the river course was an act of defiance.”
The discussion among the officials below grew noisy.
Grand Scholar Huo Zhengming of the Hanlin Academy, hearing the court officials’ uneasy remarks about his disciple Chu Heng, furrowed his brows, still unwilling to believe Chu Heng would commit such a basic error.
Regardless of the reason, as long as he had not received the Emperor’s approval, acting privately was defying imperial command. Without significant rits, how could he offset this mistake?
He did not even have a reason to speak in his defense.
Looking at the quarreling subjects below, Emperor Xuanming’s expression remained calm.
After everyone had argued, Duke Zheng was the one to finally step forward, “I concur.”
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