Disasters

Agnes frowned but she knew that her granddaughter had a reason for asking such a question. "We have a lot to spare but also the families private treasury is still very much full. Why?"

Ki tried to come up a way to properly word what she wished to convey. "Between spring and fall this year I expect that we may experience heavy flooding in the northern parts of the central lands. There may even be some other areas affected… so I wish to have some preventative measures put in place so that we and other places near us will not be so badly affected by it. It would also be a good idea to purchase high quality luxury food items like sugar but also stock up heavily on rice and wheat to not only let us survive through that season but to also sell those at higher prices once the prices shoot up."

Agnes frowned upon hearing about it but it did seem a little possible but her rational mind made her question her granddaughter. "Even if last years floods were a little bad, they weren't at the scale where they could cause that much of a problem. Don't you think you are overthinking it?"

Ki shook her head and then began to leave the room. "I wouldn't mention it unless I was absolutely sure. If you have any doubts check our ancestors notes on the territory in the last and possible signs where disasters have broken out or unusual weather patterns have appeared. I believe you will find some signs that would point towards the possibility of a flood happening this or next year but also on a much larger scale."

As the door closed, she turned to Elizabeth who looked a little confused over her daughters word. "You can go back now. I have to do something alone for a while."

Right away she walked to the underground inheritance site and took out her key which Ki had left with her sometime ago.

She looked at it and then put it into the keyhole and then headed down into the underground hallway and headed to the records room to investigate her granddaughters warning.

It wasn't long before she found definite proof as if it had been readily placed in a spot where she would find it.

Suddenly she felt a chill go down her back, if this was not caught early by her granddaughter then this flooding season would turn out to be the worst yet and many would die.

Many trading routes would be cut off and many merchant groups or nobles would begin to hoard their supplies and sell off small amounts for excessively high prices.

She couldn't help but praise her granddaughters foresight and ability to make preparations and take advantage of such a crisis.

In truth, Ki had knowledge of future events and could easily predict certain disasters that happened throughout her previous lifetime.

This up and coming flood would cause a large disaster for many common people, sickness would spread and diseases would plague the lands but worst of all they barely got any help from the self serving nobles who were believed to be the ones to help in a time of need.

Even the Emperor and many others within the capital seemed to act as if the northern part of the central lands was a lost cause that was full of foreign invaders, spreading diseases and many starving people.

The death rate for this year was very high and some came to seek revenge on not only the nobles in the northern parts for abandoning them but they also banded together to overthrow the capital.

Sadly their attempts proved futile and they were only recognised as terrorists or rebels but in truth it was the capital that could of helped in their time of need the most but left them to their cruel fate.

After knowing the future that was to come she needed a way to convey what would happen soon and get them prepared but also so that the family could rise higher through this dark time.

Luckily she had a long list of records from her ancestors that documented such things so that the future generation could notice the signs beforehand.

Even if things had improved and there was no longer the threat from the north to deal with it was unknown if the people of the capital would make the same decision yet again.

Ki did not put her faith in them and never would.

Such selfish people would never change their minds unless they thought they could gain something from saving everyone whether it be political power or to gain more control over the northern parts before the border.

There were quite a few disasters that struck during her lifetime and they only ever seemed to move a couple of times.

Each time they did move, many people praised them for their benevolence and their saving grace but during that time the people of the capital used the chaos to push their own agendas.

Some eliminated enemies in secret, others recruited many people who would be willing to die for them after their saving grace but they also used their power to punish the city lords or the nobles in charge of the lands which earned them further praise.

Sadly people did not see the truth of them..

Recruits were used like tools in their political games, their 'benevolence' was just an act so that they could go back to the capital with a higher reputation and achievements to increase their status but the very worst of all..

The city lords and nobles that had been unable to deal with the crisis on their own, even if they tried to help their people were punished together regardless of how much they had tried to help others.

All the hate gathered and the people from the capital pointed at even the innocent lords and the angry citizens were directed towards them.

After anyone that was capable enough to hold their position was removed and the people from the capital left with their achievements and new pawns, the lands were left with nobody suitable to take it over so the lands were destined to fall even further into a crisis than it was previously.

The only times when one seemed to show some sign of improving was either when the Emperor appointed a lord to take it over and build their own power there for his sake or when the people banded together to overcome everything together.

She was not sure if the newly appointed emperor would see her families growing influence as bothersome or as something he wished to covet so she could not let the family appear to be weak or irresponsible during this flooding season.

The disaster funds that were raised were also a big issue during those times as it was unknown if the vast majority of it was put towards the efforts to rebuild and take care of the people who had suffered or there was some private actions from those in power who wished to pocket a lot of the money that was raised.

If it did happen then many disaster sites were receiving poor materials and watered down food or even food which had something that they should be consume within it leading to worsening their conditions.