Chapter 112: Cao Weiyan Seizes the Plane, Unable to Pilot or Perform Artificial Rainfall…

Chapter 112: Cao Weiyan Seizes the Aircraft – Unable to Pilot the Plane or Perform Artificial Rainfall...

Bing Wengu, seeing that he couldn’t explain clearly, could only say to the people, "Come with me."

He led them into the experimental base, though yamen officers kept watch to stop the people from gawking. The people weren’t in the mood to look around; their full attention was fixed on the sacred bird.

When Bing Wengu brought them before the flying machine, the people immediately dropped to their knees in prayer.

"The sacred bird, it’s the sacred bird!"

"Great Sacred Bird, thank you for bringing rain to Jixian and saving our lives!"

"Great Sacred Bird, please tell us your holy name! We are willing to build a temple in your honor and offer incense!"

After speaking, the people kowtowed before the sacred bird, but after a long wait, there was no response.

One person cautiously raised his head. "My lord, why does the Great Sacred Bird not speak? Is it displeased with us? Please, my lord, intercede on our behalf. We aren’t good with words, but if the Great Sacred Bird has any requests, we will do our utmost to fulfill them."

Bing Wengu sighed. "This really isn’t a sacred bird. It’s a flying machine I built. If you don’t believe me, you can come closer and see for yourselves."

Only then did the people hesitantly approach the "sacred bird," discovering it was just made of silk and bamboo—not a celestial being at all.

"This... my lord, this really isn’t a sacred bird descended from heaven?"

"No, really. This object isn’t called a sacred bird—it’s called a flying machine," Bing Wengu explained. "A flying machine is no different from the ox carts or horse carriages you ride in. The only difference is that one is driven by a person, while the other is pulled by oxen or horses."

A sharp villager immediately said, "Driven by a person? Then was it you, my lord, who piloted the flying machine earlier? So this rain was brought by you."

"Yes, you could say that."

The people dropped to their knees once more, but this time, their worship was directed at Bing Wengu.

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"

"My lord, you’re our savior! First, you found work for us, and now you’ve brought this rain to save our lives!"

"My lord, could it be that you are the true immortal? Seeing how bitterly we suffer in Jixian, you came down to save us from disaster!"

Despite Bing Wengu’s repeated explanations, the people still turned him into a legend.

Meanwhile, Cao Weiyan, the prefectural governor of Jicheng, had already set out for Jixian with yamen officers in tow. Riding hard, he arrived in Jixian three days later.

"Governor Cao is here!" Chu Hongyu reported respectfully.

Since Zhao Weihai had been executed by Bing Wengu, Chu Hongyu had quieted down. After Bing Wengu’s successful artificial rainfall, he became as meek as a lamb, following Bing Wengu’s lead without question.

Bing Wengu nodded. "Get Du Yongxun. We’ll go out to greet Governor Cao."

Cao Weiyan arrived at the yamen with hundreds of officers, standing with his hands behind his back as he watched Bing Wengu come out to meet him.

"The purpose of my visit should be clear to you, Bing County Magistrate. Let’s not waste words—hand it over," Cao Weiyan demanded arrogantly.

Bing Wengu remained composed. "Forgive me, but I don’t follow. Please clarify, Governor."

Cao Weiyan smirked coldly. "Bing County Magistrate, you’re as stubborn as always. Let me advise you—when you’re under someone else’s roof, you’d better bow. The Emperor knows full well that you killed the Assistant Magistrate personally appointed by His Majesty. Who knows what’s coming to you? Play along, and maybe I can put in a good word to save your neck."

Though Bing Wengu knew full well that the Emperor must already be fully informed, he kept a straight face, not letting anything show as he quietly set a trap for Cao Weiyan.

"What if I say no?"

Cao Weiyan's expression turned sinister. "If you refuse a toast, you'll be forced to drink a forfeit. Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

"Men, move in!" Cao Weiyan commanded the yamen officers behind him.

The officers immediately drew their sabers and charged forward, while Cong Lin and his men at Bing Wengu's side also unsheathed their blades, the two sides standing at a standoff.

"County Magistrate Bing, what do you think you're doing?" Cao Weiyan threatened.

Bing Wengu gave him a calm glance. "So you’re resorting to robbery, Your Excellency?"

"What if I am?" Cao Weiyan sneered arrogantly. "Even if I kill you, at worst, I’ll just tell the Emperor that you resisted arrest."

Cao Weiyan snatched a subordinate’s saber and pressed it against Bing Wengu's neck. Cong Lin lunged to stop him but was stopped by a subtle look from Bing Wengu. Cong Lin hesitated, then backed down, though he kept his saber tightly gripped, ready for any sudden danger.

"After you," Cao Weiyan said with a triumphant smirk.

Bing Wengu guided them to the experimental base. When Cao Weiyan saw the airplane, his eyes nearly popped out of his head, as if beholding a priceless treasure.

"So this is what can make man-made rain?"

Bing Wengu nodded.

Qing Jingzi and Qing Lingzi, along with their fellow disciples, gaped as the blade pressed against Bing Wengu’s throat, unsure of what was happening.

Taoist monks trained in martial arts, and nearly all of them had some combat skills. After spending time together—especially after Bing Wengu’s successful artificial rainfall—Qing Lingzi and the others had come to deeply respect his character.

Now, seeing him threatened at knifepoint, Qing Lingzi gripped his horsetail whisk tightly, ready to act. But when he met Bing Wengu’s gaze, he noticed a barely perceptible signal.

Being the blunt man he was, Qing Lingzi didn’t fully grasp it, but Qing Jingzi understood immediately.

He discreetly tapped his senior brother’s hand and whispered, "The Magistrate’s got something up his sleeve. Let’s wait and see."

Qing Lingzi reluctantly stood down.

After gawking at the airplane, Cao Weiyan ordered his men, "Take the airplane away, and round up all the Taoist monks here as well."

Qing Jingzi and Qing Lingzi looked to Bing Wengu, who gave them a barely-there nod.

Cao Weiyan took everyone back to the prefectural city and eagerly summoned the magistrates under Ji Prefecture’s jurisdiction, as well as officials from neighboring drought-stricken prefectures.

This was a public demonstration. Cao Weiyan sat smugly on the high platform, gazing at the assembled gentlemen and officials, his chest puffed up with pride.

"Gentlemen and officials, you all know that Ji County recently experienced sudden rainfall, saving countless lives from the drought. That wasn’t heaven’s doing—it was mine. I developed this airplane to achieve artificial rainfall." Cao Weiyan paused deliberately, waiting for gasps and murmurs from the crowd and the officials.

"I’d heard rumors about that rain being man-made, but I always dismissed them. How can a mortal make it rain?"

"I thought it was a lie too. But since Prefectural Governor Cao says so, it must be true."

"Prefectural Governor Cao is truly remarkable—able to make rain fall! Heavens, is he a divine being descended to save us? How else could he summon rain?"

The commoners dropped to their knees in reverence.

Cao Weiyan was utterly pleased with himself, and the surrounding officials began piling on the praise.

A neighboring prefect, also suffering from drought, fawned, "Prefectural Governor Cao must be a reincarnated immortal, possessing such divine power. Saving the people from disaster is a boundless virtue—the people ought to build temples in your honor."

Another prefect eagerly added, "Prefectural Governor Cao, since we’re all gathered here today, why not perform artificial rainfall for our regions as well? Upon my return, I’ll have the people build temples and shrines in your name."

Beside the Prefect of Lin'an sat his brother-in-law, Li Ao.

Li Ao whispered into the ear of the Prefect of Lin'an, "Jiafu, I remember the merchants from our prefecture who built workshops in Ji County mentioned that the flying machine wasn’t made by that county magistrate of Ji County. But now, from what Cao Weiyan is saying, it sounds like he’s the one who made it?"

The Prefect of Lin'an sneered, "That county magistrate of Ji County is just a minor official, low-born with no connections in Bianjing. His accomplishments now belong to Cao Weiyan. Once Cao Weiyan gets promoted, whether Bing Wengu lives or dies is anyone’s guess.

If Cao Weiyan has any conscience, he might spare his life. But if he fears him, he could easily fabricate a charge to report to the Emperor—demotion’s the best he can hope for; execution’s more likely."

Li Ao’s eyes flickered, a cold smirk flickering in his mind. Earlier, he had been worried when he heard Bing Wengu had invented the flying machine, fearing that Bing Wengu might rise in rank and seek revenge for the obstacles Li Ao had placed when Bing Wengu came to Lin’an to attract merchants.

Now, it seemed his worries were unnecessary. Not only had Bing Wengu’s achievement been stolen, but his very survival was uncertain.

"Jiafu, what should we do?"

The Prefect of Lin'an said, "It has nothing to do with us. As long as we get the rain, that’s all that matters."

Cao Weiyan was drunk on praise, the commoners calling him a god among men. The flattery left him buzzing with pride.

"Such praise is unwarranted. This official merely fulfilled his duty," Cao Weiyan put on a humble act. "I know all of you fellow officials are good men who care for the people. I’ll have my men help you with the rainmaking."

Cao Weiyan snapped at the yamen officers to bring out Qing Jingzi and the others, then ordered, "Well then, you all shall now pilot the flying machine and conduct artificial rainfall for these esteemed officials."

Qing Jingzi, Qing Lingzi, and their fellow disciples stood frozen, eyes glued to the ground, ignoring the command.

The atmosphere grew awkwardly tense, and everyone sensed something was amiss.

Cao Weiyan, humiliated in public, his face burning, roared, "Taoists! This official is speaking to you!"

Qing Jingzi pointed a finger at his own nose and replied, "With respect, Your Excellency, we are all Taoists. When Your Excellency calls out 'Taoists,' we truly don’t know whom you’re addressing. Are you calling for this humble Taoist?"

Cao Weiyan almost swore out loud in fury. What nonsense was this? Bing Wengu was difficult enough—why were the people under him just as troublesome?

Cao Weiyan growled, "This official doesn’t care who you are. I want artificial rainfall—do you understand?"

Qing Jingzi glanced at his senior brother Qing Lingzi. "Senior Brother, this junior doesn’t know how to pilot the flying machine. Do you?"

Qing Lingzi shook his head. "This senior brother doesn’t either."

All the Taoists claimed ignorance of flying the machine, nearly driving Cao Weiyan to lose his composure.

Cao Weiyan threatened darkly, "Don’t mess with me, or don’t blame me for being ruthless. Swords don’t discriminate."

Qing Jingzi remained unafraid. "Prefect Cao, spare me the threats. Let me put it this way—aside from County Magistrate Bing Wengu of Ji County, only my fellow disciples and I know how to make this flying machine.

For Prefect Cao to obtain the manufacturing method from Lord Bing would be pure fantasy.

You’ve dealt with Lord Bing before—you know his temperament.

So if you wish to learn how to make the flying machine, you absolutely must not kill us. Otherwise, no one will ever know how to make it again, nor how to conduct artificial rainfall. Then all your scheming gets you nowhere."

Cao Weiyan’s face turned black as soot, surrounded by whispers of suspicion.

"What does that Taoist mean by his words?"

"Why is the county magistrate of Ji County involved in this?"

"I remember the first rainfall some time ago happened in Ji County?"

"Was the flying machine really invented by the county magistrate of Ji County?"

"So Prefect Cao’s just a thief stealing credit?"

The prefect of Pangcheng asked, "Prefect Cao, what on earth is going on here?"

Cao Weiyan didn’t answer, instead glaring darkly at Qing Jingzi and the others. "You looking to die?"

"Prefect, don’t throw around life-and-death threats with us," Qing Jingzi replied. "You can kiss those methods goodbye if you dare harm even one of us. We’ll never tell you how to make the aircraft or conduct artificial rainfall."

Seeing Cao Weiyan about to blow his top, Qing Jingzi quickly added, "Prefect, it’s not that we’re shirking our duties. Let’s be real—it’s all about the payoff. Working for the magistrate of Jixian is no different from working for you.

In fact, serving under you—a prefect—would surely offer more prospects than some backwater magistrate."

Cao Weiyan suppressed his anger and listened quietly to Qing Jingzi’s explanation, finding it somewhat reasonable.

"The reason we haven’t conducted artificial rainfall isn’t that we refuse, but that we’re clueless ourselves," Qing Jingzi said, spreading his hands. "If Your Excellency had sent someone to inquire, you would have learned that the artificial rainfall in Jixian was Magistrate Bing rolling up his sleeves and doing it himself. Our brotherhood had nothing to do with it."

Cao Weiyan was stunned. When he first received the news, he had rushed to Jixian immediately. Though he had heard along the way that Bing Wengu personally conducted the rainfall, he hadn’t realized the magistrate had taken to the skies himself.

Cao Weiyan, projecting his own shady logic, assumed dangerous tasks would never be undertaken personally—only the credit would be claimed. He had thought Bing Wengu was the same.

Furious, Cao Weiyan snapped, "Then why didn’t you remind me all these days?"

Qing Jingzi feigned innocence. "You never bothered to ask. We assumed you already knew. After all, you snatched the plane right out of Lord Bing’s hands. How were we to know you hadn’t also taken the techniques for artificial rainfall and piloting the aircraft?"

With these words, Qing Jingzi ripped off Cao Weiyan’s fancy mask, exposing his hypocrisy. Cao Weiyan’s eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at Qing Jingzi with murderous intensity.

Qing Jingzi quickly added, "Prefect, please calm your anger. As for piloting the aircraft and artificial rainfall, if you grant us half a month, we will surely master the techniques. Then, wherever you wish it to rain, it shall rain."

Cao Weiyan was practically wheezing with rage but could do nothing to Qing Jingzi and his companions.

He truly couldn’t harm these Taoists now. If he did, they would refuse to cooperate, and Bing Wengu would be even less inclined to assist him. His whole power play would blow up in his face.

For now, he had no choice but to wait for the Taoists to develop the method. Once he obtained it, he could wipe them out.

As for his fellow officials, with Prime Minister Mei’s influence, a single letter from him would ensure no one dared refuse Mei Chengwen’s demands.

With this in mind, Cao Weiyan felt reassured. He also resolved that once the method was perfected, he would teach them to keep their mouths shut—permanently.