Chapter 21 Combating the Drought

Chapter 21 Preventing and Managing Droughts

The main hall of Fengtian Palace.

Officials stood in six rows, divided into two groups of three on either side, led by the Ministers of the Six Ministries, with a nine-foot-wide aisle down the center.

Further ahead were tiered steps and, at the top, the dragon throne. Behind the throne and the steps was an antechamber where the emperor would typically rest before court sessions. Once all officials had assembled, the emperor would ascend the steps from the antechamber directly to the dragon throne, emerging through a door beside it to take his seat.

This arrangement avoided the awkwardness of climbing the steps in full view of the officials while allowing the emperor to preside from a commanding height.

Shortly after the beginning of the hour of Mao, the heavy wooden door of the antechamber opened, and footsteps echoed from within, growing steadily closer.

The officials immediately straightened their robes and stood at attention, assuming it was Qin Xiao emerging from the chamber.

In matters affirming Baili Hong’s status, Qin Xiao was always meticulous. Though he would spend some time with Baili Hong in the antechamber beforehand, when court convened, he would still emerge from the antechamber, ascend the steps, and take his position midway up.

At the same time, Eunuch Hong would emerge from the door beside the dragon throne. Once Qin Xiao was in place, Eunuch Hong would loudly announce the commencement of court.

The officials would then chant “Long live the emperor” and bow with clasped hands.

It was at this moment that the young emperor would take his seat on the dragon throne, settling in before instructing the officials to rise.

Hearing the antechamber door open, the officials assumed it was Qin Xiao arriving. Only those military officials with keen hearing detected what seemed to be two sets of footsteps.

As the footsteps drew nearer, the officials’ gazes bypassed the massive stone pillars carved with coiling dragons to see who was approaching.

Many could not maintain their composure, and even the Ministers of the Six Ministries showed a flicker of surprise.

The newcomer was indeed Qin Xiao, but not Qin Xiao alone.

Beside him was another man, dressed in the same burgundy official robe as Qin Xiao. He had short, neatly trimmed black hair, but the hair at the back of his head was silver-white, falling long enough to reach his waist.

It was none other than Chu Jiubian.

Dozens of eyes fell upon him, yet Chu Jiubian seemed oblivious, calmly making his way to the right side of the hall.

Lower-ranking officials in scarlet robes instinctively stepped aside, clearing an entire row of space for Chu Jiubian, just behind the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries.

Chu Jiubian walked to the empty row and took his position near the central aisle, directly behind Vice Minister of Personnel Zhao Qianhe.

Qin Xiao had already ascended to the higher platform without introducing Chu Jiubian’s official position.

The Da Ning Dynasty employed a recommendation-based appointment system for selecting officials. Most officials were recommended based on filial piety and integrity by senior officials or renowned Confucian scholars, while many wealthy merchants privately donated for official titles for their descendants.

Not a single official in the entire court came from commoner backgrounds.

Thus, Chu Jiubian’s apparent appointment through Qin Xiao’s influence did not seem out of place. Moreover, everyone had long been prepared for his entry into officialdom.

However, his burgundy official robe indicated a rank of at least second-grade, yet there seemed to be no vacant position at that level in the court…

No, there would soon be one.

Those quick-witted officials seemed to understand implicitly, their gazes subtly shifting to the man standing in front of Chu Jiubian.

Zhao Qianhe also surmised something was amiss, his face turning ashen-faced.

Eunuch Hong stood beside the dragon throne and announced loudly, “All rise for court!”

The officials immediately bowed with clasped hands. Chu Jiubian did not make a show of defiance and followed suit, bowing along with the others.

From his elevated position, Qin Xiao watched as Chu Jiubian bowed obediently like the rest, seemingly blending in. Yet, his peculiar hair still made him strikingly conspicuous.

Even wearing the same style of official robe, Chu Jiubian stood out, like a cunning white fox mingling among a pack of wolves.

Qin Xiao shifted his gaze and turned toward the steps above.

Baili Hong was already familiar with the routine. He emerged from the side door, approached the spacious dragon throne, and reached out to Eunuch Hong Fu.

Eunuch Hong Fu lifted him onto the seat and adjusted his robes.

Baili Hong, small in stature, seemed as though five or six of him could fit comfortably on the wide throne.

Once seated, he instinctively glanced toward Qin Xiao. Seeing his uncle also looking at him, he flashed a grin, revealing tiny white teeth, his plump, dumpling-like cheeks appearing even chubbier.

Qin Xiao nodded slightly, and Baili Hong immediately straightened his expression, announcing in a firm, youthful voice, “You may rise.”

The officials rose and looked ahead.

During court sessions, subordinates were not permitted to look directly upon the emperor without reason, so everyone kept their eyes level, looking straight forward.

Chu Jiubian, aware of this rule, did the same. To his surprise, his line of sight aligned perfectly with Qin Xiao, who was seated on the elevated platform.

Their eyes met, and Qin Xiao winked at him.

Chu Jiubian: “...”

Eunuch Hong proceeded with the formalities: “Those with matters to report, step forward. If there are none, this court is dismissed.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice rang out: “Your Majesty, I wish to report!”

A familiar voice echoed from the other side of the aisle. Chu Jiubian looked over and saw a man stepping out from the left row near the aisle—it was Minister Su Sheng.

“What matter do you wish to report?” Baili Hong asked.

“I accuse Vice Minister of Personnel Zhao Qianhe.”

The announcement surprised no one in the court, except for Zhao Qianhe himself, whose face turned ashen. Stumbling forward, he stepped out of the line, knelt on the ground, and shouted, “I am unjustly accused!”

Su Sheng did not even glance back, and no one paid any attention to Zhao Qianhe’s pleas or his fear.

The man had already outlived his usefulness.

Anyone with insight knew that the incident the previous day had been masterminded by Zhao Qianhe, who had commanded his daughter, Zhao Xi, to carry it out.

Thus, even though Zhao Xi had already “took her own life out of remorse,” taking the blame entirely upon herself, Su Sheng would not allow Zhao Qianhe to escape consequences.

This outcome had become inevitable the moment Su Xier identified Zhao Xi.

The fact that Su Sheng had firmly held the position of Minister in a court controlled by influential clans was proof enough of his capabilities.

The information he possessed was sufficient to ensure Zhao Qianhe’s complete downfall.

And Zhao Qianhe knew that, after so many years in office, his conduct in office was not blameless. The undisclosed transgressions he had kept hidden were enough to sentence him to death a hundred times.

That was why, the previous night, he had offered to sacrifice three years of his stipend in the hope of mitigating the fallout and keeping his post.

But Qin Xiao didn't give him that chance.

By moving the matter to this morning's court session, Qin Xiao gave Su Sheng a night to organize the evidence, ideally enough to pull Zhao Qianhe from his position.

The position of Vice Minister of Personnel, now within reach, was not something Qin Xiao would pass up.

Chu Jiubian’s gaze fell on Qin Xiao, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He had already realized yesterday that Zhao Qianhe was not the mastermind—he was merely a pawn used by someone behind the scenes to target Qin Xiao.

If events had unfolded normally yesterday, Su Xier would have died, leaving no one to expose Zhao Xi’s scheme to lure her into being kidnapped.

Had that happened, a rift would have formed between Qin Xiao and Su Sheng, and the mastermind’s goal would have been achieved.

But that person’s schemes went even further, anticipating more and aiming for greater gains.

If Chu Jiubian hadn’t intervened yesterday, the Zhao family might not have fallen so quickly. However, the orchestrator could have revealed the truth to Su Sheng, earning his favor while pushing Zhao Qianhe into the spotlight.

With Su Sheng’s capabilities, he would surely make Zhao Qianhe pay—losing his official position or being demoted would be the least of it; he might even end up imprisoned, with his family’s property confiscated and his family exiled.

Then, the position of Vice Minister of Personnel would become vacant.

The Ministry of Personnel controls official appointments, meaning the fate and fortunes of local officials lie in their hands. It’s easy to see why this position is so coveted.

If Zhao Qianhe were to fall, the Vice Minister of Personnel position would inevitably become a target for various factions to vie for.

The mastermind would then have the opportunity to promote someone they trust more into the role.

This successor might be a relative or clansman—certainly closer to the mastermind than Zhao Qianhe, an outsider.

The scheme was meticulously crafted.

However, Chu Jiubian, as an unforeseen factor, saved Su Xier, allowing her to expose Zhao Xi and the Zhao family’s actions. While this disrupted part of the mastermind’s plan, the overall direction remained unchanged.

Though the mastermind could no longer gain Su Sheng’s favor or drive a wedge between Su Sheng and Qin Xiao, they still managed to turn everyone against Zhao Qianhe.

Yes—not just Su Sheng alone, but everyone.

This was what Chu Jiubian found most terrifying: the person lurking in the shadows had precisely manipulated human nature.

Knowing that his scheme wouldn’t escape the notice of the court’s shrewd ministers, the mastermind played his cards openly, making it clear to everyone that he had no intention of protecting Zhao Qianhe.

The position of Vice Minister of Personnel was a piece of fresh meat dangled in front of them.

Inevitably, this piece of meat drove all other factions to pounce on it like hungry wolves.

Everyone became an accomplice.

Though political rivals, they reached an unspoken consensus at that moment.

Chu Jiubian could almost guess who had secretly collaborated in this plan—for instance, the Qiu family.

The auction had been held for years without incident, yet last night, despite the numerous Qiu family guards, not a single one noticed two defenseless young women sneaking out of the Treasure Pavilion, only to be kidnapped right under their noses.

Was that even possible?

The Qiu family must have known something would happen at the auction and deliberately allowed it to let the plan proceed.

And Qin Xiao—once he realized what was happening, he played along, decisively sealing Zhao Qianhe’s fate and cooperating to push events to this point.

He, too, was a player in this game.

“Your Majesty, these are the evidence of the crimes I have gathered against Vice Minister of Personnel Zhao Qianhe,” Su Sheng presented the documents he had prepared overnight.

Eunuch Hong hurried down, took the evidence, and quickly ascended the steps to hand it to Baili Hong.

Baili Hong couldn’t understand any of it, flipping through it perfunctorily before having Eunuch Hong pass the evidence to Qin Xiao.

Even at such a moment, the young emperor had to follow protocol. Those present couldn’t help but admire Qin Xiao’s painstaking efforts in guiding his nephew.

Qin Xiao took the evidence and leafed through it page by page.

Meanwhile, Su Sheng began his accusations: “Zhao Qianhe is guilty of three crimes.”

“First, embezzlement, bribery, and selling official titles. During his eleven years in office, he openly set prices for local positions, accepting bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.”

“Second, condoning his daughter’s evil deeds and allowing his clansmen to bully the weak, commit murder, and engage in every kind of villainy!”

“Third…”

Here, Su Sheng paused, raising his eyes to Qin Xiao and saying solemnly, “Framing loyal and righteous officials!”

His words were sharp and resonant, each syllable striking like a hammer.

The court fell into silence, with everyone wearing mixed expressions. Zhao Qianhe was speechless, unable even to protest his innocence.

Chu Jiubian frowned.

What was going on? Why did everyone look at Qin Xiao when “framing loyal and righteous officials” was mentioned?

Did “loyal and righteous officials” refer to the Qin family?

But hadn’t the Qin family all died as heroes on the battlefield?

Chu Jiubian was eager to learn the details, but to his disappointment, Su Sheng did not elaborate further, and Qin Xiao’s expression remained unchanged.

Qin Xiao calmly stacked the evidence neatly before turning his gaze to the man now slumped and trembling uncontrollably.

“Zhao Qianhe is guilty of corruption, abuse of power, and numerous evil deeds. The evidence is conclusive,” Qin Xiao said indifferently. “Guards.”

Two imperial guards emerged from the sides of the hall and, without a word, dragged Zhao Qianhe away.

Zhao Qianhe offered no further defense nor resisted.

His legs gave way, and one of his new shoes, worn only twice, was dragged off and tumbled down the long stone steps of the Fengtian Hall. The hem of his official robe scraped against the ground, fraying the delicate embroidered clouds.

The glory of the Zhao ancestors had long faded, and even the position of Vice Minister of Personnel had been secured only through ancestral patronage.

Zhao Qianhe knew that to retain his position and protect his family, he could no longer remain an impartial official—he needed to align himself with a powerful patron.

But he forgot that a mighty tree, with its deep roots and dense branches, has no need for foreign leaves.

For the last time, he gazed long at the majestic hall until it grew distant, the name Fengtian Hall blurring before fading from sight entirely.

Qin Xiao called An Wuji over again and said, "Go and conduct the raid on the Zhao family’s estate. All ill-gotten gains are to be seized for the state treasury."

"Yes," An Wuji accepted the order and stepped back.

The main hall fell into silence.

Su Sheng returned to the ranks of the civil officials, his face showing no trace of satisfaction.

If it was so easy to take down a lower-ranking official, then wouldn't it be just as easy for others to eliminate him?

No one could guarantee that they were entirely without fault, and no one could go it alone in these turbulent power struggles. Only by pooling more influence could one stand firm in the storm.

Chu Jiubian looked at the empty spot before him—the position belonging to the Vice Minister of Personnel—and stepped up to take his place.

He lifted his eyes and saw the Minister of Personnel ahead of him, his hair graying and his back slightly hunched.

"Cough, cough..."

Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan coughed twice softly, breaking the silence.

He covered his mouth apologetically and coughed again before speaking hoarsely, "Your Majesty, I’ve been improper. I ask for your understanding, considering my advanced age."

Baili Hong, seeing how he looked like he might keel over at any moment, grew concerned and suggested, "My dear minister, you are so advanced in years. If you are too tired, perhaps you should stop coming to court in the future."

The child's voice was tender, and his concern was genuine, yet it made the situation somewhat comical.

Wang Yuan, the Minister of Rites, chuckled and said, "Minister Xiao is truly fortunate to receive such heartfelt care from His Majesty. Shouldn't you thank him and go home to enjoy your retirement?"

Chu Jiubian glanced at him and noted that the man was around the same age as Xiao Huaiguan, with similarly graying hair, yet he appeared vigorous and dignified.

Truly a member of the Wang clan—even in old age, he carried himself with grace.

"I’m grateful for Your Majesty's concern. It is my fault to have troubled you," Xiao Huaiguan ignored Wang Yuan and continued addressing Baili Hong. "Now that the Da Ning Dynasty is thriving, I wish to continue serving Your Majesty for a few more years."

His words were eloquent, but everyone knew that the Da Ning Dynasty was facing crises at home and abroad, riddled with flaws.

Despite being nearly seventy, he clung stubbornly to his post—was it not because he was unwilling to let go of his authority?

"However, though my intentions are sincere, my advanced age often leaves me unable to keep up with the workload," Xiao Huaiguan sighed. "Now that the disgraced Zhao Qianhe has been imprisoned, I humbly request that Your Majesty select a new deputy for me."

Here we go.

This entire performance put on by the officials in the court early in the morning was finally getting to the main point.

Now, it was a matter of which side would come out on top and succeed in getting their own person into the role.

In other words, it depended on whose offer could sway Qin Xiao enough to willingly give up the spot.

As for why Qin Xiao didn't appoint one of his own men?

It was simply because he had no suitable candidates.

He couldn't just pull a military officer from the barracks to serve as Vice Minister of Personnel. Even if he did, they’d likely be replaced within days.

Thus, everyone had burned the midnight oil, selecting their preferred candidates and preparing pitches to win over Qin Xiao.

However, there was one wild card in the court that made everyone hesitate to be the first to speak.

Chu Jiubian looked ahead, making eye contact with Qin Xiao.

In the next moment, Chu Jiubian stepped out of the ranks, his clear voice echoing through the hall: "Your Majesty, I request to temporarily take on the role of Vice Minister of Personnel."

Several curious stares fell upon him, full of pressure.

This wild card was none other than the Ninth Young Master.

Seeing him appear in court early in the morning, dressed in the purple robes reserved for first- and second-rank officers, everyone had already guessed that he was Qin Xiao's preferred candidate.

Now, it seemed they were right.

Baili Hong saw Qin Xiao raise his hand and tapped three times behind his ear.

"Approved," the child emperor immediately declared.

This was the secret sign between him and his uncle, and Baili Hong remembered it well.

From Chu Jiubian's volunteering himself to the emperor's approval, only a few moments had passed, leaving no room for anyone else to interject.

After processing what had happened, no one immediately objected but instead weighed the advantages and disadvantages.

If Qin Xiao had tried to promote anyone else, they would have opposed it. But this was Chu Jiubian—the "deity" they had been doing everything to recruit.

The shock and insights from Chu Jiubian's words the previous day had been profound. If possible, no one wanted to make an enemy of him.

As for whether Chu Jiubian had already aligned himself with Qin Xiao, everyone had their own ideas. The Treasure Pavilion’s private room wasn’t private at all, and many had witnessed Chu Jiubian stabbing Qin Xiao two times.

A relationship where one could stab the other twice hardly seemed like an alliance. Instead, it suggested how desperately Qin Xiao wanted to suck up to Chu Jiubian, taking two stabbings without a word.

Today, if Chu Jiubian wanted the position of Vice Minister of Personnel, Qin Xiao would back him fully. Naturally, no one else would be foolish enough to publicly embarrass Chu Jiubian. Upon reflection, they even felt that having him in the position was better than letting a political rival take it.

Thus, not a single official in the court raised an objection.

Qin Xiao gazed at Chu Jiubian, his eyes dark and inscrutable. "Then I must trouble Grand Tutor Sir to shoulder this extra duty."

Chu Jiubian nodded slightly and returned to the ranks, leaving the others somewhat surprised.

Grand Tutor?

So, Qin Xiao had already granted Chu Jiubian the title of first-rank Grand Tutor?

In previous dynasties, the Grand Tutor, Grand Marshal, and Censor-in-Chief formed the Three Ducal Ministers, with the Grand Tutor holding authority equivalent to that of a chancellor—a true seat of power.

After the founding emperor established the dynasty, he abolished this system, replacing it with the Six Ministries to decentralize power, ensuring that true authority remained with the emperor.

However, after Emperor Wu, two successive emperors proved incompetent, allowing the Six Ministries to accumulate power.

By now, they had almost entirely pushed the emperor aside. If not for Qin Xiao, the emperor would be a mere figurehead.

Now, Qin Xiao had revived the title of Grand Tutor. Was it merely to give Chu Jiubian a high-ranking position for prestige, or was it to grant him authority equivalent to that of a "chancellor"?

Could this be Qin Xiao's offer to win Chu Jiubian over?

If the Ninth Young Master's ambitions were so vast, then what were he and the forces behind him truly planning?

Countless thoughts raced through the minds of the officials, but for now, they kept them suppressed.

Under the circumstances, whatever they could think of, Qin Xiao would have considered as well. If he dared to make such an offer, he must have a way to keep Chu Jiubian in check. For now, it was best to wait and observe.

"Does anyone else have matters to discuss?" Qin Xiao's gaze swept across the assembly.

The Director of the Ministry of Revenue, wearing a navy blue official robe, stepped into the center aisle and bowed. "Your Majesty, I have a report."

"Speak."

"Recently, Sichuan, Huguang, and other regions haven't gotten any rain. Crops aren't thriving, river and pond levels have dropped, and drinking water is becoming scarce. Many local magistrates have submitted memorials expressing concerns about a potential drought. They request funds from the Ministry of Revenue to dig wells and dredge rivers and canals to prevent a disaster."

Chu Jiubian frowned and silently called up his system.

The weather forecast could predict conditions up to a month ahead. When he last checked a few days ago, the south was dry while the north had light showers. He wondered what the updated forecast would show.

Previously, he had been more concerned about floods than droughts, as the original story included a flood disaster where refugees flooded into the counties near the capital. It was only after Qin Xiao drained much of the Qin family’s fortune that the displaced people were pacified.

The flood resulted from continuous heavy rains. Qin Xiao failed to allocate sufficient funds for dike repairs, and with Prince Jiannan not in the region, local officials embezzled funds and withheld resources. The weakened dikes gave way under the pressure of the floodwaters.

Now, however, funds were available, and Prince Jiannan had been dispatched to oversee dike repairs. Hexi Province, most prone to flooding, should now be protected.

With floods no longer a pressing concern, the issue of drought came to the forefront.

Chu Jiubian checked the weather forecast and felt a jolt of alarm.

The updated forecast showed continued dryness in the south, while the north was experiencing days of heavy rainfall!

The Director of the Ministry of Works stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Prince Ning, I recommend sending officials from the Water Management Department to local areas to dredge canals and guide drought relief efforts."

Thanks to the ice business, the national treasury had recently been replenished somewhat, but most of the funds had already been allocated to dike repairs. Drought relief would require even more manpower and resources. If the dry spell continued, a drought would be inevitable, requiring the opening of state granaries—another significant expense.

This was precisely what Qin Xiao had been worried about.

The national treasury was nearly empty, and the grain reserves were not much better off. Feeding millions of people in the south was not a matter of simply releasing supplies.

"Are Prince Huguang and Prince Pingxi just doing nothing?" Deputy Censor-in-chief Qi Zhili said coldly. "While the people under their governance suffer, they only know to ask the court for money and grain. In years of abundant harvests, we never saw them offer extra tribute."

His words were sharp and harsh, carrying the typical aggressiveness of a censor.

Chu Jiubian turned to look and was slightly surprised.

This Censor Qi appeared to be around thirty years old and looked sixty to seventy percent similar to his first believer, Jiang Shuoye.

Hiding his surprise, Chu Jiubian turned back and noticed Qin Xiao was already looking right at him.

He raised his eyebrows questioningly, but Qin Xiao averted his gaze.

Chu Jiubian: "?"

Was he expecting him to come up with another way to make money again?

Weren’t there still hundreds of thousands of taels confiscated from Zhao Qianhe? Although grain was the immediate priority, that money could still purchase a significant amount of stockpiled grain from wealthy merchants.

As for whether the merchants would be willing to sell—there was no doubt.

In the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants, merchants of this era wouldn't dare to oppose the court.

"Liu Junqi," Qin Xiao called.

The Director of the Ministry of Works promptly responded, "Your subordinate is here."

"Select a few officials from the Water Management Department to visit the drought-stricken regions. Have them assist in determining well-digging locations and dredging canals. You will oversee this entirely."

"Yes."

"Minister Su," Qin Xiao said. "The Ministry of Revenue will allocate an initial fund for well-digging. Other matters can wait."

Su Sheng acknowledged the command.

Qin Xiao asked the assembly, "Is there anything else?"

The Vice Minister of War stepped forward but was stopped by a glance from Minister Lu Youwei and remained silent.

With no further reports, Eunuch Hong declared the court session over.

Baili Hong and Eunuch Hong returned to the inner hall through a side door.

Qin Xiao descended the steps and saw Chu Jiubian speaking with Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan. He paused mid-step, then turned and exited the hall with the others.

As the newly appointed Vice Minister of Personnel, Chu Jiubian needed to visit the Ministry of Personnel to familiarize himself with his new workplace. He walked side by side with Minister Xiao, who seemed especially good-natured.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Qin Xiao’s hesitation but pretended not to see it.

"I heard that at yesterday’s auction, the Ninth Young Master truly shone," Xiao Huaiguan said, his steps slightly unsteady as he smiled. "What a pity I’m too old to have witnessed it myself."

Chu Jiubian remained expressionless and replied indifferently, "I merely recited a few poems from the immortal."

"I wasn’t referring to the poems."

Chu Jiubian glanced sideways. Xiao Huaiguan’s smile remained gentle, like a kindly elder. "The Su family’s daughter returned safely, thanks to you."

"It was a small effort," Chu Jiubian said.

"You possess courage, wisdom, and compassion—a rare combination," Xiao Huaiguan remarked with a sigh. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a promising young man. If you encounter any issues in the Ministry of Personnel, feel free to come to me. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; I’ll take responsibility for you."

Chu Jiubian asked, "Is this the Xiao family’s sincerity?"

Xiao Huaiguan was taken aback, then shook his head with a light laugh. "A misunderstanding. This is my sincerity. I genuinely admire young talents like you."

"Oh," Chu Jiubian said casually. "Is that what you told Zhao Qianhe too?"

The elderly man’s unsteady footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Chu Jiubian turned to look at him.

Xiao Huaiguan’s clouded eyes fixed on the ethereal young man before him, whose pale, almost inorganic pupils seemed to see through everything.