Chapter 77: The Emperor’s Attention

Chapter 77: The Emperor's Attention

The Minister of Works entered the royal study and bowed to Emperor Wuming. The emperor glanced at him and called out, "Feng De, take this report and show it to Minister Du."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Feng De replied, taking the report and handing it to Du Yue.

Du Yue quickly took it with both hands, opened it, and started reading. When he saw the formula at the end, his expression turned thoughtful. As for road construction, Du Yue had overseen the building of many roads since becoming the Minister of Works. While outsiders might not understand the intricacies, only insiders would recognize the significance. His eyes sparkled as he read the formula. Still in the royal study, he restrained his emotions and merely cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, this formula is feasible. Although I am not familiar with what a cement road is, I can return and test the formula first. If it works, it will be a formula that benefits the people of the world."

Emperor Wuming waved his hand, "Go ahead and test it. Let me know the results."

Du Yue respectfully acknowledged the order and withdrew.

With the report no longer in his hands, Emperor Wuming once again thought of the name Zheng Shanci. He said, "Zheng Shanci... this name sounds familiar. Feng De, do you remember?"

"Your Majesty, how could this servant remember..." Feng De smiled, his mind racing. "I only vaguely recall something related to the Marquis of Changyang's residence."

As the head eunuch and a trusted confidant of Emperor Wuming, Feng De was always alert. He did know about Zheng Shanci, who had some connection to the Yu family, but he couldn't appear too knowledgeable.

"Ah, I remember now. Imperial Censor Li also submitted a report praising him," Emperor Wuming said, slapping the table as he recalled Zheng Shanci.

"If the cement formula works, I should reward him," Emperor Wuming said with a smile, taking a sip of ginseng soup. He raised an eyebrow, "Feng De, you should remember this too. If I forget someone and you don't remind me, you deserve a beating."

Feng De immediately looked pained and acknowledged the order.

A few days later, Du Yue followed the formula and successfully produced cement. He laid a small section of road and then went to Panlong Hall to show Emperor Wuming.

Emperor Wuming examined the cement road and stepped on it with his royal boots. It was indeed solid, though still slightly soft.

"Your Majesty, if it is left to dry longer, it will harden completely," Du Yue explained.

He had overseen the process with the Vice Minister of Works and the craftsmen, and he was equally astonished. He couldn't wait to show Emperor Wuming. Currently, roads were generally made of gravel or dirt. Gravel roads were difficult to construct, requiring specific types of stones and smoothness. Such roads were usually built in courtyards, and some official roads were also made of gravel. However, gravel roads were hard to level, causing carriages to jolt and affecting safety and comfort. Additionally, gravel roads easily kicked up dust in dry weather, wore out quickly, and were costly to maintain, not to mention the noise they produced.

The cement road, however, had none of these shortcomings. First, the cement formula made production much cheaper than stone roads. Moreover, the raw materials were easy to obtain, and there was no noise or significant maintenance cost. Du Yue guessed that if a cement road were damaged, it could be easily repaved, though damage was unlikely. The road was flat, clean, and resistant to dust accumulation. If such roads were built throughout Great Yan, it would greatly facilitate travel and trade.

"Your Majesty, the cement road is resistant to rain erosion. If dust accumulates, a simple sweep with a broom will suffice. Your Majesty, please see."

A minor official scattered dust on the cement road and quickly swept it clean. Then, he poured water from a bucket, leaving the road spotless.

Emperor Wuming's eyes narrowed, and his fingers twitched.

Du Yue continued, "The method for making cement is simple. Using it for roads will save a lot of money. If the entire Great Yan adopts cement roads, it will benefit both the nation and Your Majesty. Especially for transporting provisions, such roads would greatly aid the soldiers on the front lines."

Du Yue, after reading the report, knew it was by Zheng Shanci, the Xinfeng County Magistrate. He felt respect toward Zheng Shanci. Such a person should serve in the Ministry of Works if brought to the capital. It would be a waste of talent for him to remain in local government.

Emperor Wuming knew the challenges of dirt and gravel roads. He looked at the section of cement road and imagined such roads being built throughout Great Yan. Such an achievement would surely earn him a place in history. No emperor was indifferent to his reputation, and Emperor Wuming, who aspired to be a wise ruler, valued it even more.

"Very well, Minister Du, I entrust the task of building cement roads to you," Emperor Wuming said after a moment of contemplation.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Du Yue replied.

Emperor Wuming thought it appropriate to assign the task to the Ministry of Works, with the Ministry of Revenue assisting. However, he was unsure what reward to give Zheng Shanci. A promotion? To what position? Gold and silver were a must, as the formula was indeed beneficial to the nation and its people. He couldn't afford to appear stingy.

With this in mind, Emperor Wuming decided to set the matter aside for the time being. That night, in Kunning Palace, he mentioned it to Wang Fengjun.

"I am pleased with this formula, though I didn't show it in front of Du Yue and simply tasked him with the work. Now, I'm struggling with how to reward Zheng Shanci. What do you think I should do?"

This was indeed a tricky matter. If he were to promote Zheng Shanci, where should he place him? Moreover, the top scholar was still serving as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, while the second and third-place scholars were sixth-grade editors.

"Your Majesty, by the time your decree reaches Xinfeng County, it will likely be next summer. If you wish to summon him to the capital for an official position, he probably won't arrive until next autumn. For now, reward him with gold, silver, and precious stones. When you send the decree, have someone evaluate his performance. Once they return, you can decide whether he is truly capable. As for what position to promote him to, that will be entirely up to you."

Wang Fengjun smiled and said, "It depends on whether you want him to continue working in the local area after being promoted or to bring him to the capital for an official position."

Emperor Wuming chuckled, "Tell me, how is it to be an official in the local area, and how is it to be an official in the capital?"

Wang Fengjun shook her head, "I don't understand court politics. Everything must follow Your Majesty's orders."

Emperor Wuming patted Wang Fengjun's shoulder and laughed, "You were speaking quite well earlier, but now that it's time to make a decision, you claim not to understand court politics. You're trying to fool me."

Emperor Wuming naturally wanted to promote Zheng Shanci to an official position in the capital. He was curious to see what kind of person Zheng Shanci was. Fortunately, tomorrow was a rest day, so he would discuss this matter at the grand court meeting.

He was about the same age as Yu Zhangxing, just twenty-six years old, only a year older than Yu Zhangxing. Since childhood, he had been both talented in literature and martial arts, with a handsome appearance. Holding Wang Fengjun, he swallowed hard.

It should be a rest day, and I should enjoy myself.

Apart from Scribe Jiang, no one else knew about Zheng Shanci presenting the cement formula to the Emperor, not even Yu Lanyi. Zheng Shanci usually did not bring official matters home, keeping public and private affairs separate and avoiding bringing personal emotions into the household. Yu Lanyi did not care about these matters and naturally did not ask, so he was also unaware of this.

Meanwhile, it started snowing in the capital. Yu Lanyi was still sleeping lazily at home when he felt the cold and woke up. He liked to sleep with a crack in the window, but now the cold wind blew in through the gap and chilled him.

He had arrived just as autumn was ending, originally here for the New Year, but it had started snowing so soon.

"Jin Yun, it's so cold," Yu Lanyi called out to the door.

Jin Yun, already in a cotton-padded jacket, brought in a basin of charcoal, warming the icy room slightly. He closed the window tightly and said, "I was going to bring the charcoal basin in quietly, but you woke up."

"It's too cold; we should switch to thicker bedding," Yu Lanyi got up and went to the wardrobe to find a cotton-padded jacket and changed into shoes lined with cotton. He shuffled out to find the entire courtyard blanketed in white. The bare branches seemed to be adorned with snow.

Seeing such a beautiful scene, Yu Lanyi no longer felt cold. He let Jin Yun help him tie his hair, and after washing up, he went to the hall for breakfast. Today, the Marquis of Changyang was also there. He was strong and healthy, only adding an extra layer of clothing but still not wearing a cotton-padded jacket. Mr. Yu wore a cotton-padded jacket, and Yu Zhangxing added an extra layer of clothing.

"Come and have some congee. The kitchen made your favorite oatmeal congee."

Yu Lanyi sat down and took a sip of the steaming oatmeal congee. He noticed Yu Zhangxing had already devoured several buns. Yu Lanyi glanced around and picked up a red bean cake from the table.

After eating, Yu Zhangxing, also on a rest day, had already practiced swordplay in the courtyard in the morning and was now sweating profusely, with nothing else to do. Yu Lanyi had no interest in poetry, painting, qin, chess, flower appreciation, tea, or embroidery. He glanced at Yu Zhangxing.

"Why are you two looking outside? We'll have lunch at the Duchess's residence at noon," Mr. Yu liked to visit others.

At last, it was a rest day, and the entire family headed to the Duchess's residence for a meal to strengthen their ties. After lunch, he and the Marquis of Changyang returned, while the younger ones could do as they pleased. Mr. Yu did not restrict them, and the Marquis of Changyang only reminded Yu Lanyi, trusting his eldest son completely.

When Mr. Yu and his family arrived at the Duchess's residence, Yu Zhangxing and Yu Lanyi greeted everyone.

He Tong greeted Yu Zhangxing. He was now the heir to the Duchess's estate and Yu Zhangxing's eldest cousin. He had married a lady from the Hongnong Yang clan. His second cousin, He Ming, was still single and searching for a match. The eldest cousin had already married, her husband being the son of the Imperial Academy's Bai Jijiu, whose teacher was the current Chief Minister.

"Eldest cousin, eldest cousin's wife, second cousin," Yu Lanyi greeted obediently, putting on a show under the Duchess's watchful eyes.

"Let's chat among ourselves and let the children go and play," Mr. Yu said with a smile.

"You're right, brother. I see they prefer not to mingle with us old folks," the Duke said, following Mr. Yu's words with a smile.

He Tong and Yu Zhangxing bowed to the elders and then took their younger siblings away.

The eldest cousin's wife was well-educated and courteous. They went to a pavilion in the middle of the lake, where servants brought a charcoal basin. The heir's wife said, "My lord, I'll go find the warm and cool jade chess set in the house. You brothers can play chess while enjoying the lake view."

He Tong said, "Thank you, madam."

"Eldest cousin, how does it feel to be the heir?" Yu Lanyi asked curiously.

He Tong just smiled, "It's not much different from before, but I feel the weight of responsibility more keenly. But there's no choice; I'm the eldest son, enjoying the privileges and bearing the responsibilities."

Yu Lanyi nodded, though he only partially understood.

He Tong exhaled deeply and exchanged a glance with Yu Zhangxing. Both were in similar situations, and as cousins, Zhangxing surely understood how he felt. As for their younger cousin, living a carefree and happy life would suit him just fine.

"Why ask me? You haven't even talked about yourself. The last time you came back, I didn't get a chance to ask you." Yu Lanyi had visited the Duke's residence once before, but He Tong was away on official business and didn't get to meet him. He was constantly occupied with duties.

In the past, they wouldn't have even known the name of a remote place like Xinfeng County. But now, thanks to Yu Lanyi, the Duke's heir had taken note of this place.

"I'm doing just fine, no hardships at all," Yu Lanyi said with a smile.

He Ming saw that Lan Yi was genuinely happy and felt much more at ease. Otherwise, he would have felt guilty for not having married his younger cousin and letting him suffer.

He Tong affectionately patted Yu Lanyi's shoulder, "If you're feeling good, then that's all that matters. If anything happens, just tell your big cousin."

He Xin said, "Big bro, what's there to worry about? Lan Yi's doing great."

The heir's wife brought out the warm and cold jade chess pieces. He Xin playfully nudged He Ming to sit across from He Tong. He Ming resisted, "Sister, you're making fun of me. I'm awful at chess, and now you want me to face big brother? Isn't that just asking for trouble? You just want to see me make a fool of myself."

Yu Lanyi took a piece of tea cake and said, "Whenever we play chess, it's always Changxing and my brother who play. The rest of us just watch."

He Ming laughed heartily, "Lan Yi is right. It's more interesting when Zhangxing and big brother play chess. What's the point of playing with me? The outcome is obvious—I'm always the one who loses."

He Xin found this amusing and let her younger brother off, allowing Yu Zhangxing to play chess with He Tong.

Amid the heavy snowfall, the two were completely absorbed in their game. The heir's wife led the younger siblings away, as watching two grown men play chess wasn't exactly thrilling.

The Marquis of Changyang strolled to the lakeside pavilion and saw the two playing chess. His desire to play chess was sparked, so he walked over, excused Yu Zhangxing and He Tong from formalities, and sat on a stool to watch them play.

The younger generation truly impressed. These two were highly skilled in chess, strategizing step by step. There were a few moves that even the Marquis had to think about for a long time before figuring out the solution. The young phoenix's melody outshines the old phoenix's.

The Marquis suddenly remembered that he had played chess with Zheng Shanci before, and it was very enjoyable. When Zheng Shanci returned, he would have to find his second son-in-law for a game. They were evenly matched, and the outcome was hard to predict.

Zheng Shanci, whom the Marquis was thinking of, was still busy. The snow in the capital was far lighter than in Xinfeng County. In Xinfeng, the snow was heavy, but fortunately, the roads were made of concrete and hadn't frozen, so they were still passable. Several houses collapsed, leaving over a dozen people injured. The injured were being rushed to the clinic by the Yamen Runners.

Zheng Shanci was in the countryside, inspecting several houses, all of which were made of wooden planks. He squatted down and examined the wood. The timber used by the villagers was of inferior quality and lacked durability. The planks were damp, moldy, and riddled with insect holes. Some of the wood was even rotting. The wooden houses offered little in terms of soundproofing or insulation. However, wooden houses weren't without their advantages—they were relatively simple and quick to build, and the materials were cheap.

"Sir, how should we arrange for these people?" Archivist Zhu asked.

"There are still some vacant rooms in the county office. Let them stay there for now and get through this winter first," Zheng Shanci stood up.

"Tell the villagers to disperse. It's cold, and they should go home and warm themselves by the fire. Coming here to watch the commotion isn't worth catching a cold."

Archivist Zhu acknowledged and told the villagers to go home.

Zheng Shanci returned to the county office and placed a hot water bottle in the room to warm himself. "Go find Tan He."

After a while, Tan He arrived. Zheng Shanci excused him from formalities and had him sit by the fire. The charcoal burned brightly, and Zheng Shanci's expression was calm. "What are the prices of clay bricks and blue bricks on the market?"

Tan He quoted the prices. Clay bricks were simple to make, formed from dried and fired clay, costing ten coins each. Blue bricks were more expensive, made from clay and lime, requiring precise control of the firing process, so even the most basic blue bricks cost thirty coins each.

This price was indeed high for the common people. No wonder when someone in a village built a house with blue tiles and bricks, many villagers were envious. It was unrealistic to expect all the people of Xinfeng County to live in houses with blue tiles and bricks. Zheng Shanci thought that clay bricks might be feasible, especially if reinforced with concrete, which would still be better than wooden houses.

"Tan He, find someone to negotiate with the brickmakers and lower the price. Tell them we want to buy a large quantity of clay bricks."

Tan He acknowledged the order.

Zheng Shanci took a sip of goji berry tea and continued handling official business. He saw reports of more collapsed houses. Fortunately, the county office still had some vacant rooms, or else they wouldn't know how to accommodate these people. They still needed to have a proper New Year.

The injured villagers were sent to the clinic, still feeling anxious. They were in pain, but now that they were at the clinic, they weren't as concerned about their own bodies. They saw a young medicine boy calling to them.

Medicine boy: "Where does it hurt?"

"No, how much will the medicine cost?"

The apothecary assistant: "Lord Zheng has said that the county office will cover all medical expenses."

Upon hearing this, the villagers immediately felt relieved. Medical treatment is too expensive; they usually endure minor ailments or seek treatment from the village's barefoot doctors to save money. Although sometimes it doesn't work, it's still better than going to the clinic.

"My leg still hurts a bit."

The apothecary assistant: "Let me take a look first."

A dozen or so villagers lay on the hospital beds, some injured. Hearing that they didn't have to pay for the medicine themselves, they felt relieved. Xinfeng County cultivates medicinal herbs, which has also reduced the prices at the clinic. However, for ordinary people, they are still reluctant to spend money there.

After finishing his duties, Zheng Shanci finally returned home. Snow was still falling. When Zheng Qingyin saw Zheng Shanci, he approached with an umbrella.

"Second brother, I had the kitchen prepare some chicken soup for you. Drink more of it."

Lin Geer, pregnant and afraid of the cold, dined with Zheng Shancheng indoors. Zheng Shanci ate with Zheng Qingyin.

Zheng Shanci first drank a bowl of chicken soup, warming him up inside.

"Second brother, eat more."

Zheng Shanci smiled and said, "You too. Winter has arrived, and there's a lot of work at the weaving mill recently. You should also take care of your health."

Zheng Qingyin nodded.

Working at the weaving mill, Zheng Qingyin was very happy.

"Second brother, I'll leave now." After dinner, Zheng Qingyin left Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci went back to his room by himself. He had previously learned to carve combs from a carpenter. In his spare time, he went to the carpenter to learn how to carve figures.

Thinking of Yu Lanyi's appearance, Zheng Shanci used a chisel to carve a wooden figure.

Meanwhile, in the capital, after their day off, the officials had to return to court. The Marquis of Changyang and Yu Zhangxing went to court together. They ran into a few acquaintances at the Golden Luan Palace and entered together. Before Emperor Wuming arrived, they spoke in low voices.

Mostly, they talked about trivial matters, as there was nothing significant to discuss in the court recently.

Ye Yunchu came to court and saw the Marquis of Changyang, so he saluted him. The Marquis of Changyang maintained a polite but distant attitude towards Ye Yunchu, after all, Ye Yunchu was also his son-in-law and was expected to call him father-in-law.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Hearing this, all the civil and military officials quieted down and saluted Emperor Wuming. Only after Emperor Wuming said to rise did they straighten up and stand properly, eyes lowered.

With no wars on the borders, the Marquis of Changyang was not interested in the morning assembly, and neither were the other military officials. Only some civil officials still had suggestions to make.

After some back and forth, Emperor Wuming uttered a sharp command, and they all fell silent.

"By the way, recently the Xinfeng County Magistrate presented me with a cement formula..." The emperor on the dragon throne spoke, and no one dared to look up.

The Marquis of Changyang, who had been indifferent, suddenly became alert when he heard the words "Xinfeng County Magistrate" from Emperor Wuming's mouth. His ears pricked up. How did his son-in-law's official title appear in the Golden Luan Palace? This was too unreasonable.

The Marquis of Changyang's heart raced, not knowing what his son-in-law had presented to the Emperor that warranted mentioning it specifically during the morning assembly.

The other civil and military officials also had the same doubts. Who in the court cared about a seventh-rank county magistrate? Why was this official title mentioned during the morning assembly?

Imperial Censor Li quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"Minister Zheng's formula benefits the country and the people. I have already ordered Minister Du to handle it. Rewards of gold, silver, jewels... and an ornamental belt."

The ornamental belt was an item only given to close ministers, indicating the Emperor's attention and closeness.

The Marquis of Changyang was completely stunned.