Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Ying Changchuan was standing right in front of the campfire.

His tall silhouette blocked the light before Jiang Yuxun's eyes, plunging him into darkness instantly.

A tremendous sense of oppression followed, causing Jiang Yuxun to instinctively hold his breath.

The Emperor remained silent, then after a few seconds, suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

In that moment, silence spoke louder than words; the phrase "overestimating oneself" flashed through Jiang Yuxun's mind.

In an instant, his competitive spirit momentarily overcame the fear and embarrassment befitting a subject.

Though my martial arts skills are mediocre, don't belittle me like this, please!

After a short while, Ying Changchuan finally asked with a smile, "My dear official, what do you plan to do?"

Ying Changchuan's question genuinely stumped Jiang Yuxun.

His mind went blank in an instant, forcing him to admit, "I... I haven't thought it through yet."

That sounded a bit odd...

It's as if I'm really planning to do something, isn't it?

As Jiang Yuxun pondered how to rectify the situation, Ying Changchuan finally started walking slowly towards the tent, saying, "Alright."

...Alright?

Wait, I was just joking!

A thick felt screen divided the enormous tent in two.

Though it blocked sight, it did nothing to stop sound.

Therefore, even with the lights out, Jiang Yuxun had to "unnecessarily" change clothes in the dark inside his blanket.

Guessing that the emperor had fallen asleep, his movements became exceedingly slow, as if playing at 0.2 times the speed, fearful of accidentally making a noise and disturbing the other.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

Jiang Yuxun's head finally emerged from under the blanket.

"Phew—"

He let out a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat oxygen-deprived.

Unwittingly, before his heart could fully settle, Jiang Yuxun belatedly noticed... a small lamp had been lit at the other end of the tent, its timing unknown.

The candlelight, filtered through the thick felt, became especially dim.

Yet it sufficed to illuminate the small space before him.

Jiang Yuxun's movements froze for a moment... Ying Changchuan's hearing was exceptionally sharp.

Recalling the conversation they just had.

He couldn't help but feel embarrassed for his earlier self from a few hours ago.

...Jiang Yuxun, reign in your ill-timed confidence!

-

The next morning, in another tent.

"Ah Xun, why didn't you come to me last night?" Zhuang Youli approached Jiang Yuxun with a puzzled face and curiously asked, "We waited for you for over half an hour. Overcome by sleepiness, we eventually went to bed."

He yawned uncontrollably after speaking.

Not far away, another young official chimed in, "Yes, where did you rest last night, Master Jiang?"

Jiang Yuxun's wrist trembled, nearly spilling the rice porridge from his bowl.

He lowered his voice to Zhuang Youli, "Last night, I was in His Majesty's tent."

Jiang Yuxun, still serving as the Imperial Secretary, residing outside the Emperor's tent was not unusual, yet he couldn't help feeling a bit guilty as he spoke.

Was it because he stood up Zhuang Youli last night that he felt uneasy?

"I see," Zhuang Youli nodded, turning to speak to his companion, "Ah Xun slept in the Empero—hmm?"

Jiang Yuxun: !!!

He immediately set down his porcelain bowl and covered Zhuang Youli's mouth.

Then he whispered in a hushed tone: "Keep it down, keep it down—"

-

Half a day's journey by carriage would bring them to the capital of Shuo Lin County.

Not long after leaving the encampment, the Emperor began reviewing the memorials sent from Zhao Du that morning.

Today, Jiang Yuxun also received a report from the Xuan Yin Monitor staying at Xianyou Palace.

This report, spanning a hundred pages, primarily documented the sales of "Sui Ren Wine."

After reading it, Jiang Yuxun summarized it for the Emperor:

"Your Majesty, the supply of Sui Ren Wine is strictly limited, resulting in high demand and priceless market value. Recently, my servants have been attempting to blend strong spirits, and with further aging, we expect to launch a new wine soon. This will undoubtedly reinvigorate the current trend."

Using Xuan Yin Monitor to make wine was somewhat an underutilization of resources.

Now, this task had been handed over to the servants at Jiang Yuxun's own estate.

As refugees once saved by Jiang Yuxun, their loyalty was unmatched, making them the ideal choice for this task.

The "blending" Jiang Yuxun referred to was not about diluting with water.

It involved combining and flavoring various base spirits.

After the blending and aging process, the potency of the spirits would undoubtedly reach a new level.

Ying Changchuan nodded lightly.

"Furthermore..." Jiang Yuxun paused before adding, "The Xuan Yin Monitor has also uncovered illegal reselling of spirits in Zhao Du."

"Who is involved?"

"Xing Zhi, the son of the Minister of Clan Affairs."

—Jiang Yuxun's impression of this person still lingered on the image of him riding a horse while feigning drunkenness, ostentatiously flaunting his wealth in the streets with liquor.

Never had he imagined that in just a few months, Xing Zhi would stir up new troubles!

Thinking this, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but admire the man's audacity.

"The newsletter reported that Xing Zhi not only sold his father's hidden stash of expensive liquor but also deceived some wealthy merchants who had never tasted strong spirits, selling them ordinary Tian wine as if it were something potent."

"And those merchants actually believed the words of this dandy, Xing Zhi, being completely played by him."

"It wasn't until Xuan Yin's guards apprehended and took him away that the merchants realized there was something wrong with the wine they had purchased."

"Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but marvel at the audacity."

"Where is Xing Zhi now?" inquired Ying Changchuan.

"To answer His Majesty, he has already been taken by Xuan Yin's guards and is currently detained in the Zhao Du garrison."

"The official road of Shuo Lin County winds over hills, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending."

"Sometimes having a spacious seat is not necessarily a good thing."

"As the carriage began to climb uphill again, Jiang Yuxun's body suddenly tilted, uncontrollably sliding towards the carriage wall."

"Just as he was about to collide with the rear wall of the carriage, the Emperor opposite him quickly raised his hand to lightly press on Jiang Yuxun's shoulder, pulling him back in an instant."

"Then, as if nothing had happened, he withdrew his hand with a natural ease."

"Although it was already autumn, Jiang Yuxun, being in Shuo Lin County, still wore his thin summer robes."

"Ying Changchuan had already withdrawn his hand, but the warm and awkward sensation lingered, impossible to dissipate."

"Jiang Yuxun immediately sat up straight, feigning calm and said, 'The Minister of Rites is also aware of this matter.'"

"Hmm," Ying Changchuan nodded.

"In this era, goods were still scarce, and even the strict 'Zhou Laws' did not detail how to punish those who produced and sold fakes."

"...If there were no laws to follow, most offenders would face long, seemingly endless imprisonment."

"Speaking of which, Xing Zhi was quite unlucky, his father being the Minister of Rites, one of the 'Nine Ministers.'"

"However, the Minister of Rites, in charge of royal and clan affairs, had a rather leisurely position under Ying Changchuan's rule."

"Therefore, he did not accompany the Emperor on the southern inspection tour, instead staying behind in Zhao Du."

"The newsletter reported: The day before Xing Zhi was taken away by Xuan Yin's guards, the Minister of Rites discovered his son's misdeeds and gave him a severe beating..."

"Jiang Yuxun forcefully expelled the recent events from his mind."

"He refocused on the report before him and tentatively said, 'Regarding the handling of Xing Zhi, I have a suggestion...'"

"Ying Changchuan looked up with interest, 'Please, speak freely, my dear minister.'"

"'I believe, regarding the wine sale to Zhe Rou... perhaps we could let Xing Zhi handle it? As a chance for him to redeem his mistakes.'"

"At this thought, Jiang Yuxun's eyes brightened."

"'Why him?'"

"Without overthinking, Jiang Yuxun replied, 'The merchants in Zhao Du, despite their wealth, have seen much of the world. Xing Zhi managed to deceive them... from a certain perspective, it shows he has some ability.'"

"Excitement tinged his voice."

"'Since Xing Zhi could sell wine to these merchants, I believe he also has a way to sell it to Zhe Rou.'"

"After speaking, Jiang Yuxun eagerly awaited Ying Changchuan's response, blinking expectantly."

"Ying Changchuan looked at him with an almost amused expression."

"He didn't immediately respond but instead softly repeated, '...What do you mean by "deceive"?'"

"Jiang Yuxun: '...'"

"'It means to trick, to swindle.'"

"As a minister, suggesting to the Emperor that he intended to deceive someone seemed somewhat inappropriate?"

"Hearing this, Ying Changchuan couldn't help but laugh, just as Jiang Yuxun thought they would move past this topic."

"Yet, he saw the other party flipping through the memorial with downcast eyes, implying, 'My dear minister, do you not feel that you have fallen from grace...'"

"Talk about hitting the nail on the head!"

"Jiang Yuxun silently clenched the newsletter in his hand – Ying Changchuan was indeed one to hold a grudge."

※

"The hills of Shuo Lin County stretched across the region, with only the areas near the sea being somewhat flat."

"Approaching noon, the carriage finally emerged from the hills, racing towards a narrow plain connected to the sea."

"The capital of Shuo Lin County was situated here."

"After a brief rest, local officials, as per tradition, came to meet His Majesty in the evening to report on public affairs."

"However, unlike in Tao Yan County, as soon as the local official spoke, Jiang Yuxun realized a very serious problem..."

"...Uh, in Shuo Lin County, the county... has copper..."

"The middle-aged man in summer vermilion official robes knelt on the ground, his body trembling and cold sweat beading on his forehead. He couldn't continue his speech."

"Seeing this, Lou Zhuo, who was standing at the side, immediately stepped forward to add, 'Your Majesty, he means to say that Shuo Lin County has abundant copper reserves, with several copper mines within its territory.'"

"After speaking, he couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead, clearly under great mental pressure."

"Just yesterday, Jiang Yuxun was marveling at how Lou Zhuozheng, having been in Shuo Lin County for only a few years, had already mastered the local language."

"Now, hearing the other officials' halting speech, Jiang Yuxun belatedly realized that 99% of Shuo Lin County's population, including the officials, did not speak the official language of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

"—In the previously visited Tao Yan County, although few commoners spoke the official language, the officials had no such language barriers."

"After reporting on the mineral distribution, Lou Zhuozheng hurriedly started to explain on behalf of his subordinates:"

"'To report to Your Majesty, these officials are native Shuo Lin people. They are still learning the official language of Great Zhou…'"

"Stealing a glance at the Emperor, he hastily added, 'Uh, please rest assured, Your Majesty. The former Shuo Lin Kingdom had no written language of its own and used our Central Plains script. So although they cannot speak the official language, they can read the characters.'"

"The surrounding people also nodded their heads in agreement, like chicks pecking at grains."

"...These years must have been quite challenging for Lou Zhuozheng."

"With this thought, Jiang Yuxun's gaze fell sympathetically upon him."

-

"Ying Changchuan, having already ascertained the number and distribution of the explored mines in Shuo Lin County while on the ship, was here today merely to meet with the local officials."

"Seeing their struggle to speak coherently, he had to conclude the activity earlier than planned."

"The governor's mansion in Shuo Lin County was located on the westernmost side of the capital city, also being the highest point in the entire city."

"After the local officials had left, Ying Changchuan rose unhurriedly and looked out the window."

"Jiang Yuxun, who had just been asked to stay for record-keeping, was preparing to leave."

"However, just as he rose, Ying Changchuan called him back, 'What does my dear minister think of Shuo Lin?'"

"Shuo Lin County, huh..."

"With the matter of Hai Feng rice still unresolved, Jiang Yuxun should have been oblique in his response at this moment."

"But having interacted with the refugees and just met the local officials, he couldn’t help but express his most direct impression."

"Jiang Yuxun spoke with unusual seriousness, 'I believe Shuo Lin County is a place exceedingly apt for secession and rebellion.'"

"'Rebellion' is a topic most taboo to an emperor."

"As his words fell, Jiang Yuxun instinctively glanced at Ying Changchuan."

"The Emperor paused for a few moments, then surprisingly followed his words with a laugh and a slight nod."

"'Indeed so,' Ying Changchuan did not deny."

"Shuo Lin County is too far from the political center of the Great Zhou Dynasty and its terrain is extremely isolated."

"Most importantly, even the language is barely intelligible."

"To this day, most of its people only know themselves as 'people of Shuo Lin,' not as 'subjects of Great Zhou.'"

"Had it not been for the former Shuo Lin Kingdom attacking the previous dynasty for food during a famine and later being suppressed by Ying Changchuan, it might still be an independent kingdom today."

"Although no one in the court explicitly says it, many still see this land as a burden and harbor thoughts of abandoning it."

"Seeing Ying Changchuan's perspective aligned with his own, Jiang Yuxun felt somewhat relieved."

"He looked out the window alongside the Emperor, finally speaking in a soft voice, 'The current governor of Shuo Lin County, having fought alongside Your Majesty to conquer the realm, is utterly loyal to the court. But the loyalty of future governors remains uncertain...'"

"Under the current system, governors not only control the appointment and removal of local officials but also possess significant military power."

"If they start to rely on their own military strength, that could spell trouble."

"Jiang Yuxun had unconsciously developed a habit of speaking bluntly."

"He was completely unaware that his words were, in essence, questioning Ying Changchuan's governing capabilities."

"The sound of the waves lingered persistently at their ears."

"The setting sun cast golden waves across the sea."

"Ying Changchuan turned to face Jiang Yuxun."

"—In the eyes of the young Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, there was worry, but also determination and earnestness."

"'Does my dear minister have any suggestions?'"

"Jiang Yuxun bowed respectfully, then suddenly turned to gaze at the map of Shuo Lin County hanging nearby:"

"'To answer Your Majesty, besides teaching the official language. I believe we should also smooth and repair the official roads, crack down on bandits, and set up guard posts along the roads to ensure their safety and accessibility.'"

"To truly integrate Shuo Lin County with the rest of Great Zhou, it's essential to enhance the exchange between the people here and those in other counties."

"Moreover, future tea transportation will also rely on these roads."

"Ying Changchuan nodded slowly."

"'Besides that,' thinking further, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but smile gently, slowly shifting his gaze to the map, 'the simplest and quickest method would be to adjust the territorial division of Shuo Lin County.'"

"'...Territorial division,' Ying Changchuan repeated these words."

"'Yes,' Jiang Yuxun nodded seriously."

"Not just Shuo Lin County, but the current territorial divisions of all the counties in Great Zhou differ from modern times."

"—Future provincial boundaries are drawn based on the principle of 'following natural landscapes and interlocking territories.'"

"However, in Great Zhou, it’s only 'conveniently shaped,' without the 'interlocking' aspect."

"As a result, each county in Great Zhou forms a very complete geographic unit."

"Under the right circumstances, any county could easily become a separatist local power."

"The concept Jiang Yuxun spoke of would only be clearly established hundreds of years later."

"But before he could explain further, Ying Changchuan was already smiling and walking slowly towards the map, his hand brushing over two towns at the northernmost end."

"It seemed he had already grasped Jiang Yuxun's idea and was considering how to reorganize the region."

-

"Ying Changchuan himself was a workaholic, physically robust as if forged from iron, showing no signs of the 'severe overwork' speculated in later generations. But it was different for others."

"Among the ministers accompanying him on the southern tour, there were young ones like Jiang Yuxun, but many were older."

"The long journey had been grueling for them."

"Upon reaching Shuo Lin County, many found it challenging even to stand up."

"That evening, the Emperor finally decreed that everyone should rest on the spot for a day."

"Jiang Yuxun, exhausted from the journey, initially wanted to lie down in his room, but before he could fall asleep, he was called out by Zhuang Youli and others."

"'...Ah Xun, come quickly! Why are you so slow?' Seeing Jiang Yuxun lagging behind, Zhuang Youli couldn’t help but turn around and shout, 'Hurry up! There’s nothing much to see here!'"

"A misstep!"

"Jiang Yuxun looked despairingly towards the few figures ahead, now mere specks in the distance."

"Aren’t you here to enjoy the sea breeze like me?"

"Outside the capital of Shuo Lin County lies a rocky beach, making walking rather difficult."

"But this group of nobles and princes, grown up in Zhao Du, had never seen the sea before."

"The rocky ground under their feet did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm."

"As soon as Zhuang Youli finished speaking, he ran back, pretending to pull Jiang Yuxun forward."

"'No need, no need,' Jiang Yuxun struggled to lift his hand, showing the shells he had casually picked up, 'I'm collecting some shells here, you guys go ahead.'"

"'Collecting shells?' Reminded by him, Zhuang Youli noticed the many small shells clinging to the surrounding rocks."

"Glancing at his companions who had run ahead, and then at the shells in Jiang Yuxun’s hand, Zhuang Youli hesitated: 'I think I want to...'"

"No, you don’t."

"Seeing this, Jiang Yuxun, who intended to slack off and enjoy the breeze rather than genuinely collect shells, quickly patted Zhuang Youli’s shoulder, 'Go ahead with them, I'll collect some for all of you here. Don’t worry, I’ll choose the prettiest ones.'"

"Zhuang Youli’s eyes lit up, 'Then it's settled, thank you, Ah Xun!'"

"'It's nothing, go on!' Jiang Yuxun quickly shooed him away."

"Zhuang Youli nodded reluctantly, being nudged towards the

-

"The sea breeze, carrying the tang of salt and moisture, blew in from the distance."

"Zhuang Youli’s figure gradually shrank, eventually turning into a tiny black dot."

"Jiang Yuxun finally let out a long sigh of relief, stretching lazily and starting to search for shells on the rocks in a haphazard manner."

"Many blue shells clung to the rocks, and occasionally, small crabs whose names he didn’t know scuttled through the shallow water."

"Initially, Jiang Yuxun only wanted to find an excuse to send Zhuang Youli away, but unexpectedly, he found himself genuinely interested in shell collecting."

"Aside from Zhuang Youli and others, he also picked shells for the Xuan Yin guards resting back at the residence, who hadn’t come to the beach."

"The shells growing on this rocky beach were mostly edible but not particularly attractive."

"After a long search, Jiang Yuxun finally found a few aesthetically pleasing shells and carefully tucked them into his sleeve."

"—And he didn’t forget to pick the prettiest one for himself."

"It was the time of sunset."

"In the distance, the sky and sea merged, the colors shifting from light pink to deep purple, then into dark blue."

"If not for the black rocks standing before him, Jiang Yuxun would have found it hard to distinguish whether he was in the sky, the water, or on land."

"Having collected enough shells, he stood up and gazed towards the horizon."

"Unlike later times, the population of Shuo Lin County was sparse."

"On the vast beach, there wasn’t a single person gathering seafood."

"Although the beauty could be enjoyed alone, it felt overly solitary, and the longer he stayed, the more unsettling it became."

"Zhuang Youli and the others had long disappeared from sight."

"Staying here alone seemed a bit boring too…"

"Just as Jiang Yuxun was about to turn back to the governor's mansion after collecting enough shells, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching."

"He turned around to see – the Emperor had unexpectedly put aside his official duties and come here for a stroll!"

"Today, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, Ying Changchuan was dressed simply in black, without his golden crown."

"The only adornment was a dark jade ring on his finger."

"Jiang Yuxun immediately bowed in respect, 'Your servant greets Your Majesty—'"

"'No need for formalities.'"

"Ying Changchuan smiled softly, walking leisurely towards this spot."

"The Xuan Yin guards, who usually followed him, did not approach this time, remaining where they were before."

"As the Emperor walked forward, Jiang Yuxun had no choice but to accompany him towards the other side of the beach."

"With the movement, the shells in his sleeve collided with each other, producing a 'clattering' noise."

"Jiang Yuxun immediately held his breath and carefully protected his sleeve, stealing a glance at Ying Changchuan."

"Fortunately, the sound of the waves at the beach was loud, and he seemed not to have heard the unusual noise."

"Having narrowly escaped notice, Jiang Yuxun followed Ying Changchuan with utmost caution."

"Stepping unevenly on the rocky ground, he looked curiously at the figure ahead."

Why hasn't Ying Changchuan spoken yet?

As a workaholic renowned through the ages, facing such a situation, shouldn't he be planning the maritime development of the Great Zhou Dynasty?

Surely he didn't come here just for a stroll!

Ying Changchuan remained silent for a long time, prompting Jiang Yuxun to break the silence first.

"Your Majesty..."

"What is it?"

Ying Changchuan suddenly stopped and turned towards Jiang Yuxun, as if he had been waiting for him to speak.

The sea waves and the evening glow together fell into Jiang Yuxun's dark pupils.

In those eyes, Ying Changchuan also saw his own reflection.

Seeing the Emperor turn, Jiang Yuxun immediately stood firm and respectfully said:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I was just thinking about the Hai Feng rice. The situation in Shuo Lin County is quite precarious, with the constant threat of famine. In my opinion, we must dispatch someone to search for Hai Feng rice as soon as possible. For convenience and safety, the court could first recruit a few individuals familiar with the local language of Hai Feng Kingdom from Lan Ze County to accompany them."

He simultaneously raised his voice, drowning out the rustling sound from his sleeve.

Shuo Lin County is closely connected to Lan Ze County.

It would not be troublesome to make a detour there in a few days.

Jiang Yuxun spoke with utmost seriousness, his expression solemn and dignified, embodying the concern of a statesman for his country and people.

However, after listening, Ying Changchuan slightly furrowed his brows.

Jiang Yuxun: ...!

Why did he suddenly frown?

Could it be that Ying Changchuan is not interested in the Hai Feng rice matter?

Or is he here to discuss the redivision of county and district boundaries?

Jiang Yuxun paused for a moment, then raised his hand in a salute again, tentatively beginning, "I believe—"

As he spoke, a rustling noise emerged from his sleeve again.

You can dodge on the first day, but not on the fifteenth.

This time, Ying Changchuan didn't discuss official matters but finally lowered his gaze to ask, "What is making noise inside your sleeve, my dear official?"

Jiang Yuxun: ...!

Caught off guard by the Emperor's sudden inquiry, Jiang Yuxun immediately confessed, "...Your Majesty, inside my sleeve are seashells I intended to give to Zhuang Youli, several young officials, and the Xuan Yin Monitor."

"Seashells?" The Emperor raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

Having confessed, Jiang Yuxun could only silently retrieve the hidden items from his sleeve.

A variety of colorful shells suddenly appeared before Ying Changchuan.

In the midst of his actions, Jiang Yuxun suddenly recalled the "Way of an Official" taught to him by Zhuang Yue.

...It seemed somewhat improper to only gift colleagues and not the Emperor. Should he be more courteous towards Ying Changchuan?

With this thought, Jiang Yuxun immediately added against his better judgment: "Besides, there is also one for His Majesty."

Saying this, he presented to Ying Changchuan the shell he had carefully selected and was most satisfied with.

The ivory shell, bathed in the evening glow, emanated a faint pinkish-purple halo.

At first glance, it was indeed beautiful.

But upon closer inspection, one could notice the many patches of mud still clinging to the shell, not yet cleaned.

Even for Zhuang Youli and the others, shells were not considered rare treasures.

The Emperor, possessing the wealth of the world, would naturally find it even less significant.

Jiang Yuxun was certain that Ying Changchuan would not want the mud-stained shell in his hand.

—He was completely unaware that, once again, he had unwittingly revealed his thoughts on his face.

The sunset glow reflected in Jiang Yuxun's eyes.

His dark pupils were filled with reluctance and fondness.

Ying Changchuan slightly raised his eyebrows, feeling a sudden stir in his heart.

He feigned a frown and asked, "Is this what you picked up from the beach?"

Ying Changchuan must have found it distasteful!

Jiang Yuxun slowly raised his right hand.

The pinkish-purple shell shimmered brightly in the palm of his fair hand.

Seeing the Emperor frown in hesitation, Jiang Yuxun, thinking he was about to be rejected, politely added another sentence to demonstrate his loyalty and generosity.

"Yes, I picked it up from the ground," Jiang Yuxun lifted his gaze, looking expectantly and cautiously into Ying Changchuan's eyes, "I wonder if Your Majesty likes it?"

Author's note:

Lord Jiang (brimming with confidence): He'll definitely dislike it!