Chapter 48 Returning to the Capital

Prince Anhuai's residence is in the capital city of Jiyang Prefecture, Henan.

It sits on the same street as the administrative offices of his subordinates—essentially the "little court" of the entire Henan region.

On the evening of the 19th.

Dark clouds loomed over the capital, and the rain, which had stopped for a short while, threatened to start again.

A soldier on horseback, galloping from outside the capital city of Jiyang Prefecture, rode straight to the entrance of the prince's residence before stopping.

A servant from the residence came forward to take the reins, and the soldier quickly entered, making his way to the council hall in the main courtyard.

Upon seeing the steward of the main courtyard, he took out a letter from inside his tunic and handed it over.

The steward took the letter and turned to enter the courtyard.

In the main hall, seated in the place of honor was a young man with a youthful face, dressed in a robe of navy blue and white, his hair tied in a high ponytail and secured with a jade crown.

To his right sat an elderly man nearing fifty, with a long, graying beard.

Facing the elderly man was a man in his thirties, with a broad face and square jaw, exuding the solemn, imposing aura characteristic of a military general.

"Sir," the young man said, looking at the elderly man, his voice gentle, "if Prince Ning doesn't agree to our terms, are we really not going to send the grain?"

"Your Highness, there's no need to worry," the elderly man, the strategist Jiang Yongshou, replied. "Hexi County is short on grain and other supplies, and our terms aren't excessive. Prince Ning has no reason to refuse."

"But what if he does?" Baili Ming, Prince Anhuai, frowned slightly. "So many people—we can't just let them starve."

"Be patient. The reply from Hexi County should arrive soon."

With that, Jiang Yongshou subtly glanced at the military general across from him.

He Zhen, Commander of the 30,000-strong Henan Army, was also a former protégé of the old prince.

However, the old prince had been in poor health since childhood and passed away two years ago, leaving his only son, the eighteen-year-old Baili Ming, to inherit the title.

Jiang Yongshou and He Zhen had been with the old prince even before he was granted his fief. One handled civil affairs, the other military matters, and they had supported each other along the way.

Before his death, the old prince entrusted Baili Ming to their care. Since then, all matters in the fief, big or small, had been decided by the three of them after discussion.

Baili Ming was neither especially clever nor simple-minded—just an ordinary young man.

After the old prince's passing, Old Consort doted on her only son even more, which led Baili Ming to develop a somewhat timid and indecisive personality.

Such a person could not become a wise ruler nor effectively manage a fief.

But for Jiang Yongshou and He Zhen, such a lord was ideal.

He relied heavily on them and followed their advice without question.

No matter what decisions they made, Baili Ming would obediently agree.

As a result, Baili Ming gradually lost the ability to think for himself, while the influence of these two civil and military officials grew, making them the true decision-makers in the Henan region.

The fief of Prince Anhuai was, in essence, a case of "holding the son of heaven hostage to command the nobles."

If Jiang Yongshou and He Zhen didn't despise each other, Baili Ming might have lost even the little ability he had to voice an opinion.

This arrangement was likely the last bit of protection the old prince could leave for his only son.

A steward knocked on the door.

Upon being summoned, he entered with the letter delivered by the soldier and handed it to Baili Ming.

Baili Ming took the letter and immediately opened it.

After reading its contents, he let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "That's wonderful."

"What is it?" Jiang Yongshou asked urgently. "Did Prince Ning agree to our terms?"

He Zhen's expression also changed, and he rose and stepped over to Baili Ming's side in two strides.

Baili Ming handed him the letter and turned to Jiang Yongshou with a smile. "Prince Ning says he has grain now and doesn't need us to send any."

Baili Ming was genuinely happy. This meant the people of Hexi County wouldn't starve, and he wouldn't have to seize the county by force.

Regarding the matter of acquiring Hexi County, Jiang and He, who usually disagreed, had surprisingly been in unison—both wanting to take control of the county.

They harbored ambitions and were unwilling to remain mere advisors and commanders in a remote fief.

Baili Ming didn't know how to refuse them, but he truly had no desire to engage in power struggles or conquests. He only wished to live peacefully in his corner of the world, carefree as Prince Anhuai.

Even his father's final words before passing were to avoid political conflicts, stay quietly in his fief, and live out his life in peace.

But the old prince knew his son too well, and he knew his ambitious brothers even better.

Thus, he died with his eyes open, unable to let go of Baili Ming.

"He has grain?" Jiang Yongshou's face darkened as he rose and joined He Zhen to read the letter.

It contained only a brief sentence: "Hexi County has grain. There's no need for Prince Anhuai to trouble himself."

The handwriting and tone made it clear that Qin Xiao had written it himself.

While Baili Ming felt relieved, the other two grew increasingly displeased.

Qin Xiao was clearly mocking them!

Jiang Yongshou closed his eyes, his brows furrowed tightly.

He Zhen didn't even bother to hide his anger; he crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it to the ground. With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed out, stepping over the paper ball as he left.

Seeing his anger, Baili Ming grew anxious and dared not show his relief too openly.

He cautiously glanced at Jiang Yongshou.

The elderly man stroked his beard, and when he looked back at Baili Ming, his frown had vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. "Your Highness is right. It's a good thing that Hexi County has grain."

Baili Ming's tension eased instantly. "Do you really think so, sir?"

"Ensuring the people have enough to eat is naturally a wonderful thing," Jiang Yongshou said. "It's getting late. Your Highness should go and have your evening meal. I shall take my leave now."

Although he was a strategist, Jiang Yongshou had his own residence outside the prince's estate, which the old prince had arranged for him during his lifetime.

Jiang Yongshou left the prince's residence and hurried home, but halfway there, the heavy rain suddenly started again.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.

When he arrived at the mansion gate, Jiang Yongshou got down from the carriage.

His attendant hurriedly held an umbrella for him as he hurried toward the study.

Once there, he had someone prepare the ink, then sent everyone away except for one trusted servant.

He approached the desk, dipped the brush in ink.

Soon, a line of characters appeared on the paper: "The plan has failed; we did not secure Hexi County. The variable lies with 'Nine'."

He deliberately circled the character "Nine".

He folded the letter, sealed it in a bamboo tube, and handed it to the servant, and said, "Have this delivered to the prince by fast horse."

The servant acknowledged the order and left.

After a long while, Jiang Yongshou set down the brush and slowly exhaled.

He walked to the window and pushed it open.

His aged eyes narrowed slightly, complex emotions swirling within them.

The old Prince Anhuai had been completely open with him, yet from the moment they met, Jiang Yongshou had already been a pawn in another's game.

For many years, no one had contacted him, and he had almost grown accustomed to life in Henan, nearly forgetting his original purpose for approaching the old Prince Anhuai.

But now, the player moving the pieces had sought him out again.

The master wanted Prince Anhuai to seize Hexi County.

But what would happen after it was taken?

Could Prince Anhuai hold on to Hexi County?

Could he hold on to... Henan?

The young prince's simple dependence and cautious demeanor flashed before his eyes. He was still just a child.

A look of determination appeared in Jiang Yongshou's clouded eyes. Regardless of whether Henan could be preserved, he was determined to protect the Anhuai Prince's mansion.

Chu Jiubian arrived at Hexi County on the evening of the 17th, and two days had now passed.

==

The rain fell off and on, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, until the morning of the 20th, when the rain that had been falling for days finally stopped for a time.

Over the past two days, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had been busy from morning till night; they hardly saw each other.

Even when they did meet, they exchanged only a few words before returning to their work.

There was too much to do after the disaster. For now, they were only settling the disaster victims and distributing supplies, which was already overwhelming enough. Once the floodwaters receded, rebuilding people's livelihoods would begin, and that was when they would be truly short on both manpower and resources.

Fortunately, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had recently found several capable people from among the former lower-ranking officials of Hexi County, as well as wealthy merchants and their family members.

These people weren't exceptionally talented, but they were diligent and responsible, and able to follow directions.

Most importantly, none of them had done evil or harmed the common people.

In fact, these dozen or so minor officials had all been demoted to remote positions by their former superiors in the county and prefecture governments because they disagreed with their former superiors' policies.

Such people, even if they had selfish motives or were inclined to corruption, were much better than the previous officials.

As for the wealthy merchants and their family members, they weren't particularly wealthy. Though some had talent and ambition, they had no way to enter official service because their limited wealth couldn't satisfy their superiors' greed.

Now that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had given them the opportunity to serve as officials, they valued it highly and wouldn't dare rashly engage in misconduct.

Another crucial point was Chu Jiubian's presence as a "deity."

These lower-ranking officials both revered and feared him, and for at least the next two years, they wouldn't dare make trouble under his intimidating presence.

That was enough.

In two years' time, the people of Hexi County would have restored their livelihoods, and Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian would have cleaned up the administration.

By then, even if these officials thought the emperor was too far away to monitor them and considered corruption, they would have no opportunity to do so.

By noon, the rain began to fall again after having stopped for half a day.

A fine drizzle enveloped all of Huaixian county like a mist, enveloping the Taoist temple in the northern part of the city.

Inside the temple, disaster victims were lining up for their lunch.

A bowl of porridge and a steamed bun—though not enough to fill their stomachs, it was enough to avoid starvation.

In the women's room, several aunties gathered by the kang, mending clothes while chatting.

Among them, one figure stood out—a woman with a prominently swollen belly.

"Dan Niang, you’ve just recovered. You should rest a bit more," one of the aunties said. "We can handle these tasks. There’s no need for you to help."

Among the disaster victims in the temple were many able-bodied young men who went out during the day to assist the government. Though they earned no money and ate simple food, they could leave a good impression on their superiors, which might bring them benefits after the disaster.

The work they did was often labor-intensive, so their clothes frequently tore.

The women spent their days cooking porridge and steaming buns. After meals, they mended clothes for the young men. The small temple operated like a cohesive little village.

Dan Niang smiled gently and said softly, "It’s alright. I’d be idle otherwise, and I feel much better now."

"That’s true. Your complexion is much better than before."

"Still, you should continue resting. Remember to take the medicine bestowed by the Divine Lord."

"I remember," Dan Niang replied, lowering her head and gently stroking her rounded belly. "Thanks to Doctor Zhao and the Divine Lord, I dare not neglect myself anymore. I must raise this child well."

This child was the last trace of San Zhuang left in this world, his final gift to her.

Despite all that had happened, the child remained safe and sound—surely, San Zhuang was watching over them from heaven.

Moreover, now that the Divine Lord had descended to protect ordinary people like them, life would surely improve. She needed to pull herself together and support her family.

"That’s the right attitude," one auntie said, clasping her hands and bowing toward the main hall of the temple. "Now that the Divine Lord has been reborn as Grand Tutor Sir, he must have known of our suffering and come specifically to help us."

The others, including Dan Niang, also bowed three times toward the main hall.

At the same time, Jian Hongzhuo had already called in seventeen large ships from the surrounding riverside counties. These vessels were typically used by the government to transport salt, silk, and other goods.

It was unclear how Jian Hongzhuo had negotiated with the local prefects and magistrates, but securing so many ships within three days was quite an accomplishment.

The floodwaters surged relentlessly, nearly reaching Huai County. If the ship sinking method failed, the entire county would inevitably be submerged.

By now, Qin Xiao had already met up with Jian Hongzhuo, but Chu Jiubian didn't accompany them. Instead, he went to the granary in Huai County.

The granary was nearly empty, and Chu Jiubian needed to get supplies from his system.

Earlier, Qin Xiao had ordered the preparation of "shrines" in areas where flood victims had gathered and settled.

These shrines were rather humble—some were brick structures, while others were merely ramshackle shelters that barely kept out the wind and rain.

With shrines in place, religious icons were naturally required.

However, given the current circumstances, neither Qin Xiao nor Chu Jiubian would waste resources on such impractical items.

Thus, Chu Jiubian ordered writing brushes and brush stands to be prepared, placing one brush in each shrine to serve as the "idol."

As Dan Niang’s condition improved and Doctor Zhao spread the word, the rumor that Chu Jiubian was the reincarnation of the "Holy Star Lord" was spreading widely.

Additionally, Qin Xiao had more fire starters produced and distributed to various locations, while also publicizing Chu Jiubian’s "miracles" from the capital.

The people were easily swayed. Hearing others claim that the "Holy Star Lord" was effective, they too began to believe, flocking to the shrines to kneel and pray.

What they needed most at the moment was food and shelter, and these were precisely what they prayed for.

Coincidentally, Chu Jiubian could provide both—how could he not seem miraculous?

Currently, the most valuable helper under Chu Jiubian’s command was a grain merchant named Han Yuandao, in his early thirties, originally from Shabao Village below Huai County.

Though a merchant, Han Yuandao came from farm folk and possessed exceptional agricultural skills.

Chu Jiubian took notice of him because, after the flood, Han Yuandao had quietly moved his grain reserves to the affected villages, helping many people survive the most difficult times.

Upon careful investigation, Chu Jiubian found that Han Yuandao was well-spoken of by the locals, especially the villagers of his hometown, Shabao Village.

Everyone spoke of his fairness in pricing when buying grain and his honesty in selling—never selling low-quality grain as good.

He lived up to his name, never straying from the right path.

Chu Jiubian believed he was not only upright and principled but also remained true to his roots. Moreover, his rise from an ordinary farmer to a grain merchant capable of aiding many indicated high intelligence.

He was, in short, a natural for government work.

Thus, Chu Jiubian had him brought in and asked if he would be willing to enter government service.

After a moment of stunned silence, Han Yuandao knelt and kowtowed three times, his voice trembling as he said, "This commoner would be honored!"

In subsequent interactions, Han Yuandao demonstrated great efficiency and capability. Whatever tasks Chu Jiubian assigned, he completed swiftly and excellently.

At times when Chu Jiubian overlooked details, Han Yuandao would promptly remind him.

It felt no different from having an all-purpose assistant, and Chu Jiubian finally understood the satisfaction Qin Xiao got from directing Qin Zhaoyang.

Having such a subordinate made things immensely easier.

Now, standing at the granary entrance, Han Yuandao gazed at the almost empty stores and worriedly asked, "Sir, when will the new batch of grain arrive? Should I go to receive it?"

For the past two days, he had been uneasy about the dwindling supplies and had inquired about the grain situation.

At the time, Chu Jiubian had simply said grain would come, without elaborating.

Han Yuandao refrained from pressing further, but now, faced with the empty granary, he couldn’t help but ask again, albeit tactfully.

Chu Jiubian replied, "It will arrive shortly."

Han Yuandao perked up, instinctively turning to look toward the official road outside the granary, but he saw nothing.

A moment later, he felt somewhat foolish. When the lord said "shortly," it likely meant the grain would arrive today—not necessarily instantly.

Whenever it came, as long as grain was delivered, that was what mattered.

Feeling relieved, Han Yuandao looked away and inadvertently glanced into the granary again.

This time, he stood frozen on the spot.

The previously empty granary was now stacked full with sack after sack of grain!

Piled high, each sack was full and round, clearly filled to the brim.

"From today onward, there’s no need to be overly frugal. Give the disaster victims more to eat."

This grain was paid for with the Faith Points contributed by the victims themselves, so Chu Jiubian felt no hesitation in giving it back to them.

He turned his head and, as expected, saw Han Yuandao’s astonished expression, tinged with awe.

Chu Jiubian had intentionally shown him this.

He planned to put Han Yuandao in an important position and couldn't rely solely on the man’s gratitude, integrity, and kindness—that was too uncertain.

In the long run, few officials remained unchanged by their roles, and even fewer remembered their original intentions.

Thus, Chu Jiubian needed to give him a healthy fear, to make him aware that he was serving a "deity." Such divine methods would remind Han Yuandao of this moment, even if he ever entertained wrong ideas.

This shock would serve as a constant reminder to Han Yuandao, keeping him from going wrong.

Han Yuandao remained stunned for a long while, until Chu Jiubian cleared his throat gently.

Startled, Han Yuandao stepped back and bowed deeply. "I spoke out of turn."

"It’s fine," Chu Jiubian said calmly. "The grain in other villages is also running low. Send people to deliver supplies to them. There is also some cloth in the storeroom, along with needles and thread. Distribute them to the disaster victims so they can sew their own clothes."

After giving these orders, Chu Jiubian left, leaving Han Yuandao to take it all in alone.

Suddenly remembering something, Han Yuandao hurried into the granary to touch and inspect the sacks.

They were filled with grain, and there was also hemp cloth—the kind commonly used by villagers for making clothes!

It wasn’t a dream.

It truly wasn’t a dream!

He had heard the rumors that Chu Jiubian was the reincarnation of the "Holy Star Lord," but day to day, Chu Jiubian seemed no different from an ordinary person—just smarter and more able.

Witnessing this, Han Yuandao finally believed in his "divine" identity.

A deity has descended to earth.

A god really has come down to help them!

After leaving the granary, Chu Jiubian went to the Daoist temple.

He had purchased a monthly service that allowed the system to conduct large-scale health examinations for the refugees and even prescribe medicine.

However, the medicine had to be purchased by Chu Jiubian himself.

He spent another three points to buy the function that isolated him from others. Although it only lasted three hours, it was sufficient.

Holding an umbrella, he made his way to the Daoist temple. The affected people had already eaten their midday meal and were resting in their rooms.

Chu Jiubian entered one of the rooms with its door open.

Although the window was open, with over a dozen people crowded into one room, the smell and air were far from pleasant.

Vice Director Zhang from the Imperial Hospital was performing acupuncture on a refugee who had been suffering from diarrhea for two days. Doctor Zhao was watching intently nearby, and Vice Director Zhang occasionally explained why he was applying the needles in a certain way, not keeping his knowledge to himself.

Chu Jiubian had previously noticed that Vice Director Zhang seemed somewhat calculating, with clear calculation in his eyes.

He knew that the other had followed him to provide disaster relief, likely remembering how he had cured Baili Hong's cold and hoping to learn something from him during this opportunity.

Although Vice Director Zhang had his own motives, he was not a bad person.

Over the past two days, he had been working tirelessly to treat the affected people, showing no disdain. His compassion as a physician had truly become apparent to Chu Jiubian.

Given this, it was only right to reward him appropriately.

Chu Jiubian left the room. The system had already examined all the refugees in the temple and thoughtfully compiled a table listing their symptoms, illnesses, and treatments.

"Host, it only costs five points to purchase this table."

Chu Jiubian: "......"

Seeing his silence, the system waited a moment before adding, "Host, for ten points, you can have the examination reports for the next month."

"Done," Chu Jiubian agreed quickly.

This time, it was the system's turn to fall silent. It then quietly deducted ten points, and the table was delivered to Chu Jiubian.

After reviewing it, he found no serious illnesses—just minor injuries, colds, fevers, and diarrhea from exposure to the cold, with malnutrition being the most common issue.

Chu Jiubian breathed a sigh of relief. These were all ailments Doctor Zhao could treat, so there was no need for him to spend points on medicine.

However, he still needed to quickly visit the other refugee camps, including Puxian. He had promised to protect these people, and he would only feel at ease after examining each one.

He stood in the courtyard, holding an umbrella.

After a while, Vice Director Zhang finally stepped out for a breath of fresh air and noticed Chu Jiubian.

Chu Jiubian looked up at him, his expression aloof and distant, but Vice Director Zhang could tell the other was there to see him.

He hurried over and bowed. "What are your orders, sir?"

Chu Jiubian said, "Come with me later to check on the other disaster areas."

Vice Director Zhang quickly agreed.

With the roads in poor condition, the two rode on horseback to the disaster areas once their tasks at the temple were complete.

Chu Jiubian examined each area one by one, even making a trip to Puxian.

Though it was tiring, he felt reassured knowing the people were free of serious illnesses.

By the time he finished examining the people of Puxian, it was completely dark.

Liu Junqi, the temporary administrator there, arranged accommodations for the two.

Vice Director Zhang was twenty years older than Chu Jiubian, and the day's exertions had left him unsteady on his feet from exhaustion.

Upon arriving at their resting quarters, he hastily bid Chu Jiubian farewell, eager to clean up and rest.

"Wait," Chu Jiubian called out to him.

Vice Director Zhang wondered inwardly, "What does this master want now?!"

But outwardly, he smiled and asked, "What instructions do you have, sir?"

Chu Jiubian could easily see through his thoughts and found it somewhat amusing. Still, given that Vice Director Zhang was nearly fifty years old, such demands were indeed taxing.

So, a more generous reward was in order.

Vice Director Zhang smiled as he watched Chu Jiubian, who then took a book from his robe.

The system had altered the book to match the paper and script of the Great Ning dynasty, making it appear natural.

"You've worked hard these past days. This book is for you."

"Thank you, sir." Vice Director Zhang took the book and saw the words "Compendium of Materia Medica" (Bencao Gangmu) written on the cover.

His eyes widened in shock. When he looked up, Chu Jiubian had already turned and headed toward his own courtyard.

Forgotten his fatigue in his excitement, Vice Director Zhang clutched the book protectively, afraid the drizzle would dampen it.

He then hurried back to his room, closed the door, and kept the lamp burning all night.

The next day, he slept late due to exhaustion, so Chu Jiubian first went with Liu Junqi to inspect the Puxian dam.

"It's almost fully patched. Once the water recedes completely, we can rebuild the dam," Liu Junqi reported.

Chu Jiubian nodded. "You've done well."

"It's my duty."

Chu Jiubian studied the man.

He was impressive-looking and upright, and carried himself well, having been taught by Minister Wang, the Minister of Rites.

The situation in the capital was changing rapidly, and Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao couldn't stay to supervise indefinitely. Once the Huai County dam was secured, they would have to return.

However, a high-ranking official still needed to remain here to oversee relief efforts. This person would either be Jian Hongzhuo or Liu Junqi.

Chu Jiubian leaned toward Liu Junqi, but he still needed to conduct a background investigation and inquire with Wang Qichen about this man's relationship with the Wang family. If the ties were too strong, it would be better not to give him too much power.

Moreover, this matter needed to be discussed with Qin Xiao.

After leaving Puxian, Chu Jiubian rode back alone to Huai County.

Arriving at the county magistrate's residence, his legs unexpectedly gave way as he dismounted, and he only managed to steady himself by catching himself on the horse's back.

After riding for so long without stirrups or a saddle, his leg muscles had been constantly tensed—no wonder they were shaking.

Moreover, as Chu Jiubian walked, he could feel the fabric of his trousers rubbing against his thighs, a burning pain that suggested the skin had been rubbed raw.

He glanced down; though he was wearing a black robe that day, his trousers were white, and if he were bleeding, it would probably show.

An attendant came over to take the reins, first offering a greeting before adding, "Prince Ning is expecting you inside the residence."

Qin Xiao hadn't left today?

Chu Jiubian gave a brief acknowledgment and headed into the residence. It seemed Jian Hongzhuo had succeeded.

With the floodwaters contained, the next step was to focus on rebuilding people's livelihoods.

Surveying land, verifying household registrations, reestablishing order, organizing relief work programs to rebuild the embankments and clear the river channels, distributing sweet potato seeds and plow oxen to the people, helping them get their farming back on track...

So many tasks needed to be assigned to the right people.

Only after that could he and Qin Xiao begin their journey back to the capital.

As Chu Jiubian entered the residence, before he could even step through the gate to the outer courtyard, he saw Qin Xiao walking toward him.

The man was, once again coincidentally wearing black today, with the inner collar and sleeve cuffs of his garment white—once again matching what Chu Jiubian was wearing.

Just like on the day of the Qixi Festival.

At a glance, Qin Xiao noticed Chu Jiubian’s somewhat pale complexion, undoubtedly due to the constant busyness of recent days.

But now that everything was coming together, they could finally catch their breath.

He continued walking toward the young man, his gaze fixed on him.

Though it seemed they saw each other every day, Qin Xiao felt as if it had been a long time since they last met.

Chu Jiubian also looked at him for a few moments before starting to walk again.

But he accidentally pulled at the wound on his leg. Though his expression remained unchanged, he felt blood trickling down his leg, causing even his loose trousers to cling to his inner thigh.

It was very uncomfortable.

Better to change clothes first before finding Qin Xiao.

As Qin Xiao approached him, he suddenly frowned. "Are you injured?"

Chu Jiubian: "?"

Are you some kind of bloodhound?