In mid-July, good news came. The flood prevention and relief operations in the Jianghuai area were a great success.
Li Dongyang's relief was very timely and effective, and the large-scale refugee wave that was about to break out was promptly relieved after Li Dongyang led his people to arrive.
After a large amount of disaster relief materials and food arrived from the imperial court, the victims of the severely affected Huaihe River basin prefectures such as Luzhou, Fengyang, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, and Huai'an were initially resettled.
On the one hand, Li Dongyang adopted the strategy of focusing on the big and letting go of the small, sacrificing troops to save the car. In order to make the flood recede as soon as possible and allow the people in most areas to return to their homes, Li Dongyang set up a strategic plan on the boundary between Luzhou Prefecture and Fengyang Prefecture in the upper reaches.
Two low-lying counties were consciously selected for dam opening and flood discharge.
Although the flood storage areas of the two prefectures were flooded and turned into a wasteland, and nearly 10,000 people lost their homes, this move successfully saved the precarious downstream embankments and prevented the major prefectures and a large number of fertile fields in the lower reaches of the Huaihe River from being inundated.
the occurrence of heavy losses.
On the other hand, Li Dongyang organized more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians to reinforce the Huaihe River embankments and dig canals to guide the water potential. In more than half a month, more than 170 dangerous embankments were repaired and reinforced, covering a total distance of
It reaches more than fifty miles.
Coupled with the fact that the sky has finally cleared up and the continuous rainy weather has ended, the floods have finally been contained. People in the prefecture have begun to return to their homes one after another, began to renovate their fields, and took advantage of the weather to plant autumn crops to make up for the losses.
The soldiers and civilians across Jianghuai all admired Chief Minister Li of the Cabinet. Whether it was determination, courage, or methods. Chief Minister Li's disaster relief and flood fighting actions were textbook-level actions. His measures were effective and effective, and his actions were decisive and powerful.
In fact, when Li Dongyang decided to open the dams in Sanhe County, under the jurisdiction of Luzhou Prefecture, and Yuanshan County, under the jurisdiction of Fengyang Prefecture, and use these two low-lying counties as upstream flood storage areas, many people were affected by his decision.
Stunned.
Many people secretly cursed Li Dongyang, saying that he came here to harm the people before he came to fight the flood. Because these two places are low-lying, the local people paid more attention to the construction of dams. The dams were strong and there was no danger. So Li Dongyang
When he ordered the dikes to be dug to release floodwaters, the local people almost led to a civil uprising. The accompanying officials were also frightened to death and tried to dissuade Li Dongyang from thinking twice.
But Li Dongyang firmly stated that he must do this. Although the people in these two counties will be affected by the disaster, millions of people in other places will be preserved. He would rather be cursed by the local people than to do this.
Therefore, Li Dongyang ordered soldiers and horses to forcibly evacuate the people in the flood discharge area and completed the flood discharge operation.
Facts have proved that Li Dongyang's actions were excellent and effective. After the flood was released, the water level downstream was reduced, and dozens of dangerous dams that were in danger of bursting were saved, buying time for subsequent military and civilian actions to reinforce the dams.
Afterwards, Li Dongyang personally went to the resettlement place of the people in the two counties and apologized to the people. However, he was still greeted with curses. Even though he promised to resettle them properly, provide compensation, and provide tax exemptions in the future, the people
They still insulted Li Dongyang loudly. They scolded him for annihilating his descendants and ending his family. This touched the scars in Li Dongyang's heart, but he did not take any action and allowed them to vent their emotions.
The floods gradually receded and the situation got better day by day. But Li Dongyang couldn't hold on any longer.
After days of hard work, personally participating in building embankments, running around in the pouring rain, the torture of eating and starving, and the depressed mood of not being understood by the people. All of this finally made Li Dongyang unable to hold on any longer.
On a sultry night on July 17, after Li Dongyang convened local officials to discuss the plan for the use of a new batch of relief supplies, he fell down when he stood up and fell unconscious.
Four days later, Li Dongyang was driven back to the capital by a horse. After getting off the carriage, Zhu Houzhao, who received the news, had already ordered the palace doctor to treat him immediately. Although Zhu Houzhao had once been resentful and dissatisfied with Li Dongyang, Zhu Houzhao now knew this.
The value of important ministers in the court.
Just like the critical moment of the Huaihe River flood disaster, Li Dongyang stepped forward and solved the big problem in a short time. Not only was he effective in fighting the flood, but the most important thing was that there was no large-scale flooding of refugees in the five prefectures in the middle and lower parts of the Huaihe River.
A large number of post-disaster chaos fully demonstrated Li Dongyang's ability.
This is something that everyone in the government and the public agrees with.
However, the imperial doctors could not save him. Li Dongyang was already suffering from cough and asthma, and he had been coughing up blood for several days before going to the flood relief department, but he got slightly better. The flood relief work lasted more than half a month, and he was exhausted, exhausted, and mentally exhausted.
, the condition worsened, and there was no cure.
After learning the news, Zhu Houzhao immediately left the palace to visit him in person.
In the afternoon, the weather was extremely hot. Zhu Houzhao walked into Li Dongyang's house in Shiyongfang, sweating profusely. When he walked into the back house where Li Dongyang lived, Zhu Houzhao was shocked. Li Dongyang, as the chief minister of the cabinet, lived in the house.
The residence is so simple, the furnishings in the home are old and simple, not at all what I imagined.
The only thing that can be called luxurious is the seven or eight huge bookshelves on the four walls of Li Dongyang's bedroom filled with books.
When Zhu Houzhao walked into Li Dongyang's bedroom, Li Dongyang's face was as pale as wax, his eyes were closed and his mouth was open, panting. The room was very quiet, and Li Dongyang's breathing was loud. Zhu Houzhao originally had great awe for Li Dongyang, but now he saw Li Dongyang like this
, with mixed feelings in my heart.
"Master...the emperor...is here to see you." Li Dongyang's wife, Zhu, knelt on the bedside and called in a low voice.
Li Dongyang heard this, he opened his eyes and struggled to get up, shouting.
"Old minister...Old minister...kowt down to the Emperor!"
Zhu Houzhao hurriedly stepped forward and said: "First Assistant, please don't get up, there is no need to be polite. I heard that you fell ill, so I came to visit you. Don't get up, just lie down and take care of yourself."
Li Dongyang slowly leaned against the head of the bed, panting and smiling: "Then... Your Majesty, please forgive me for being rude this time. I would like to thank you for your concern, and I deeply appreciate it. Unfortunately, I am afraid that I will pass away soon and will not be able to repay Your Majesty's kindness."
Already."
Zhu Houzhao said hurriedly: "Don't talk nonsense. I have brought many precious medicines and have ordered famous doctors from the capital to come to treat you. The first assistant must not say these depressing words. Good treatment will heal you. I still need
With your assistance, I still rely on you to preside over major affairs in the DPRK."
Li Dongyang slowly shook his head and sighed softly: "Your Majesty, I know my own affairs. This time, I can't survive. No matter how good the medicine or the best doctor is, it can't save a dying person. I'd like you to express your gratitude to me.
Don't bring those medicines and medicines. Don't waste manpower and precious medicinal materials."
Zhu Houzhao didn't know what to say. He looked at Li Dongyang quietly and said, "Chief Assistant, I regret it so much. If I had known that your condition was so serious, how could I have agreed to your going to disaster relief? Didn't I harm you?"
Li Dongyang gasped: "Your Majesty... don't say that, you will offend me. Humans have their own destiny. Who can survive? Your Majesty can come to see me, and I will be satisfied. What I am ashamed of is... I have no choice but to die."
Yes, but failed to do anything for the Ming Dynasty. The late emperor asked the old ministers to assist the emperor in reviving the Ming Dynasty, but the old ministers also failed to do it. These years have been muddled, and the corpses have been eaten without knowing what they have done. It is really shameful."
Zhu Houzhao hurriedly said: "Don't say that. You are honest, diligent, conscientious, and have done many things for the court. You are the mainstay of the court, the leader of the scholars, and are loved by the world. How can you say that you are ignorant and have a bare meal? Don't be like that.
Talk about yourself."
Li Dongyang looked at Zhu Houzhao, his eyes were deep, and he said softly: "The emperor can say this, I am very pleased. Although the old minister... has done nothing, I ask myself... I have tried my best. Unfortunately, the old minister is not talented enough and has made many mistakes.
I have done some wrong things. The emperor treated my old minister with great magnanimity, without any care, and entrusted me with important tasks. The old minister... really has nothing to repay."
Zhu Houzhao said: "Don't talk about this. There are indeed some small conflicts between you and me, but what's the harm? I know that you are loyal, especially you. I am young and do things without thinking. But I want to teach you how to be patient.
I have suffered a lot of grievances.”
Tears welled up in Li Dongyang's eyes, and he choked with sobs: "Your Majesty... If the Emperor can say this, I am satisfied. The Emperor is a wise king. When the Emperor has grown up, many things have been understood. The veteran just hates
I can't accompany the emperor... assist the emperor. I will protect the emperor and my Ming Dynasty even if I am under the spring."
Zhu Houzhao was also quite moved and said softly: "Chief Assistant, do you have anything you want to tell me? You can tell me now."
Li Dongyang nodded slowly and said softly: "Your Majesty, I don't have anything else to say. I just hope that Your Majesty can... be kind to virtuous ministers and far away from villains, and be tolerant to his ministers, especially those from the outer court. The veteran knows that the officials of the outer court
Sometimes I act too stubbornly and too forcefully. Sometimes I value my reputation more than the feelings of the emperor and others.
.Sometimes they think too highly of themselves, are too ambitious, conceited, and annoying. Sometimes they don’t respect the emperor and the imperial power enough. Old ministers have these problems... they also have them. But the emperor... they are also ministers of the Ming Dynasty, most of them
Most people also want the good of the country and the country in their hearts. The emperor should treat them equally."
Zhu Houzhao was silent.
Li Dongyang said: "When a person is about to die, his words are good. Your Majesty... I don't want to make the emperor angry with these last words. But the emperor must also remember that favoring one and favoring others will make the family dominate. If you have too much power, disaster will happen. Your Majesty.
Be careful of such a situation happening. Emperor
The king's art lies in balance and control. The emperor wants the country to be stable, and he must not indulge one party or suppress others. The emperor must also study more and make more progress. The emperor must personally handle national affairs, and must not play and waste them, let the sycophants seize them, and do whatever they want.
.”
Zhu Houzhao frowned. He didn't want to hear these words. Even if Li Dongyang said them at this moment, he felt harsh.
Li Dongyang was obviously aware of this and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I am about to die and my words may be wrong. Your Majesty, please bear with me. My only wish is that I hope that our Ming Dynasty will last forever and that our country will last forever. Hope.
The people of the world live and work in peace and contentment, and the world is at peace. Other than that, I have no other selfish thoughts. Your Majesty... If the words of this old minister are unpleasant to you, I would also ask Your Majesty to tolerate them... and listen to this for the last time."
Zhu Houzhao could only say: "Master Chief Assistant, I am listening and I am remembering it. If you have anything else to say, feel free to say it."
Li Dongyang shook his head and said softly: "No, I have already said what I should say."
Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment and said: "Master Chief Assistant, don't you have anything to explain about the personnel arrangements of the cabinet? Who can take over the position of Chief Assistant?"
Li Dongyang looked at Zhu Houzhao and said with a smile: "I shouldn't say much about these things. But if... I really want to recommend someone... I think Liang Chu, the right minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, can join the cabinet. He is an upright person with good moral character and talent. But
It is also possible to join the cabinet as an assistant minister. It is also possible to be appointed as the chief assistant."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said softly: "Can't Yang Tinghe be the chief assistant? He was cultivated by you."
Li Dongyang looked at Zhu Houzhao and shook his head: "No."
"Why?" Zhu Houzhao asked.
"No reason... just not possible..." Li Dongyang said softly.
Zhu Houzhao was suspicious and thought: Li Dongyang was probably afraid that he would think he had selfish motives, so he deliberately did not recommend Yang Tinghe. He was extremely cautious. He did not think Yang Tinghe was not qualified, he just wanted to avoid suspicion.
"I understand, I will take good care of you, dear, and your illness will get better. I will come to visit you in a few days. You can relax and you will definitely get better." Zhu Houzhao said in a deep voice.
Li Dongyang nodded and struggled to sit up.
"Old minister... I respectfully send you to Your Majesty. Thank you Your Majesty for your kindness." Li Dongyang said.
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and turned towards the door. The moment he went out, Zhu Houzhao turned around. He saw Li Dongyang crawling on the bed, with his white hair and head hanging down, saluting him. Zhu Houzhao felt sour in his heart, turned around and walked away.
At the beginning of Shenshi on July 21, the third year of Zhengde, Li Dongyang died of illness in his childhood home in Yongfang.