Chapter 84

Chapter 84

At the border relay station of Jiangnan, two parties of people stood inside the mountain way station. Prince Jin's carriage was waiting outside, flanked by around thirty attendants. Ying Fusheng dismounted, helped by Song An, and as soon as he stepped down, he heard a call from inside the station. Prince Jin stepped out in a single stride, clad in embroidered silk robes, folding his fan with a snap, his brows and eyes crinkling with a smile when he saw him: "You've arrived?"

Ying Fusheng smiled back. "Uncle Prince Jin."

"Nephew." Prince Jin quickly said, "Why are you standing out here? Come inside."

Prince Jin, the emperor's brother, was his imperial uncle by seniority. This uncle resided year-round in Jiangnan, never entering the capital unless summoned by imperial decree. In his past life, during the chaos of the court and country, this local prince had not recklessly entered the capital, always keeping himself in the role of a loyal vassal. Yet, as the foremost prince and marquis in the region, most of the surrounding marquises looked to him as their leader. His purpose in coming here was unclear.

Ying Fusheng didn't brush off his goodwill.

"Jiangnan doesn't turn cold until November. The climate here is actually more nurturing than the capital," Prince Jin said, his face perpetually wreathed in smiles. From the moment Ying Fusheng dismounted, every word was dripping with concern, though his eyes kept darting around as he spoke: "My brother is also—sending you down with just these people? Did he bring enough court physicians?"

As he spoke, he looked back.

"Uncle Prince Jin, the convoy must head to Jiangling without any delay. Once the matters in Jiangling are settled, your nephew will visit your residence to pay his respects," Ying Fusheng said. "If there's nothing else, the convoy needs to get back on the road now."

At these words, Prince Jin's eyes flickered coldly. Ying Fusheng's words were appropriate, and with that, he gave a polite bow of apology.

Only then did Prince Jin drop his smile, as if recalling something: "Oh, I got so caught up in the pleasantries. I came to bring you news. When the Jiangling dike broke, Old General Chen already led troops to the three prefectures for disaster relief. You've been away from Jiangnan for so long and only have a half-baked understanding of the situation here in Jiangnan—you're in need of capable men. Wang Guanzhi, what are you gawking at? Get over here."

As Prince Jin's voice fell, several people emerged from his convoy. Among them, a middle-aged man in official robes stepped forward upon hearing his name.

Prince Jin flicked open his fan to hide his face, his eyes smiling, appearing utterly harmless. He introduced the man to Ying Fusheng: "This is the official in charge of the Jiangnan Branch of the Ministry of Works, Lord Wang Guanzhi. He's in charge of river courses and has handled plenty of emergency dike repair jobs. Since Jiangling County lies on the border between Jiangnan and Western Shu, taking him along can lend you a hand or two."

Ying Fusheng immediately looked at Lord Wang and expressed his thanks: "Thank you, Uncle Prince Jin."

"Then please, Lord Wang, lead the way and hasten to Jiangling."

Wang Guanzhi, clad in light battle gear, his face completely expressionless, bowed and answered yes, and quickly strode ahead.

Ying Fusheng wasted no time. After bidding Prince Jin farewell, the convoy set off.

Once the convoy departed, Prince Jin's guard approached and whispered, "Your Highness, steering Wang Guanzhi toward the Sixth Prince—could this backfire? What about the capital..."

"Do you really think my brother sent the Sixth Prince down south just for the Jiangling dike break? This convoy might look small, but how many of my brother's spies are hidden in it—can you even tell?" Prince Jin tapped his folded fan, fanning himself lightly with a faint, enigmatic smile. His tone had softened, devoid of the earlier warmth he showed Ying Fusheng: "As an Emperor Wu, if he can hold on to power, he won't let it go. Sometimes, the subtler the move, the heavier the thinking behind it."

With a brother like his, why would he need to inform a prince of the dike breach's details? It was merely using a seemingly grave matter to conceal something even graver... Proposing water management strategies and personally coming down to Jiangnan—this imperial nephew of his is no small talent. Yet, the officialdom here in Jiangnan seems local, but in reality, it's a mess of people from three different places. He hoped his clever nephew wouldn't get swallowed up by this man-eating place.

"Let's go. We'll await news from Jiangling."

...

Wang Guanzhi did not take a carriage. Accompanied by a few men, he spurred his horse to the front of the convoy, casting a cold glance over the group: "Keep up. Fall behind, and we won't give a damn."

His words provoked the leading military officer, who snapped angrily, "You!"

Without so much as a glance at them, Wang Guanzhi turned his horse and rode to the very front, entering the mountain paths.

The officer was restrained by his companions and had no choice but to relay the message to the Sixth Prince, and only got back the order to follow at full speed.

The map and blueprints of the Jiangling dike lay spread before Ying Fusheng. Since departing the capital, this map had never been put away. It had annotations from several great scholars of the National Academy, and the rest were notes from Minister Liu, who had gathered skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works just before departure—this was the fastest plan available for fixing the dike. Before coming, some scholars had noted that the river conditions in the south change a lot, so the map could only serve as a reference; the key was to act according to local conditions.

"Wang Guanzhi is a thorny figure in Jiangnan, difficult to get along with. Previously, many Ministry of Works officials came south to manage dikes and had daily run-ins with him. He particularly despises capital officials, calling them useless drunkards... The Ministry of Works once filed an impeachment against him, and he was demoted. I didn't expect Prince Jin to send him here," said Censor Xiao.

Ying Fusheng looked up at Censor Xiao upon hearing this. "He wasn't wrong."

Previously, Minister of Works Zhou Bingjun and his faction of officials—how many hadn't embezzled and profited from engineering projects?

Censor Xiao chuckled lightly. "But he's just one of them."

In Jiangnan, collusion between officials and local gentry was a regular thing, a lingering ailment from the previous dynasty. The late emperor had used military force to suppress and change the dynasty, ruling more by force than by culture. Under two emperors, time spent on campaigns far exceeded that on civil administration, which was why the current emperor relied on the Xu family to emphasize civil governance since his ascension. Dayuan was vast, and local governance was difficult. All the officials sent here knew it without needing to say it.

Every year, many censors were sent to Jiangnan, but the news they brought back varied. Jiangnan was the wealthiest region outside the capital, and the officialdom was rife with competing interests. Sometimes, military suppression was more effective, but it could easily incur the world's condemnation.

Weng Yanqing said, "I suspect Prince Jin's motive in sending this man is not shallow."

"By sending him, he can later tell my father that the Prince Jin estate has done its utmost to assist," Ying Fusheng said, his eyes glued to the Jiangling dike map. "For him, the important thing is to send someone. As for who that person is, there will always be room for negotiation and explanation later."

"Have someone follow him and learn his background."

Wang Guanzhi rode swiftly. Ying Fusheng ordered his men to keep pace and discovered that he was taking all the nearby shortcuts.

He indeed had no intention of waiting. Ying Fusheng had his men ride fast to follow. Shen Changcun's men were skilled at navigating mountain paths. After trailing him for a while, they confirmed that his route was faster than the official road. After deliberation, they ordered the convoy to change course and follow.

"Sir, it seems the rear convoy has caught up," said one of Wang Guanzhi's men. "Was the water conservancy policy really his idea?"

Wang Guanzhi merely glanced back, his horse never slowing. Every year, countless officials came from the capital. The Ministry of Works had no real skill, only a pile of rules, and they insisted on offering advice despite being unfamiliar with the southern terrain. The newcomers this time likely had few who understood river channel repairs—probably just a prince sent to save face for the royal family... He had assumed the one proposing the water policy was some prince, but it turned out to be a sickly man.

He paid it no mind, yet three days later, to his surprise, the rear convoy had not fallen behind.

When the convoy neared the Jiangling dike, many refugees were fleeing along the mountain roads. The bumpy mountain paths left Ying Fusheng pale. He took out a pill given by Chen Xuqiu and swallowed it, then lifted the carriage curtain to see the people on the road—all locals fleeing the dike area to higher ground. "The situation in Jiangling is worsening."

If the dike were still manageable, so many commoners wouldn't be fleeing.

"Yanqing, take some men and my private seal to the nearby prefectures and counties, along with Censor Xiao," Ying Fusheng ordered decisively. "If necessary, stop these people."

Weng Yanqing acknowledged and hurried to carry out the order. "Your Highness, please take care of your safety."

At the Jiangling dike, the breach was considerable. Downstream from the breach, many soldiers were laboring in the rain to repair it.

Ying Fusheng lifted the curtain and saw the dike's condition in the wind and rain. Artisans from the Ministry of Works had already joined the repair efforts. He quickly dismounted, and the first to greet him was the local garrison general. The general, surnamed Chen, served under General Chen's command and had been waiting specifically. When he saw Ying Fusheng, he was momentarily startled. Before he could speak, Ying Fusheng asked, "Tell me, which officials are here?"

He was direct, with no pleasantries, immediately asking who was in charge.

The garrison general spoke in a low voice as Ying Fusheng strode without pause toward the camp. He was led to a temporary encampment nearby, where he saw both military and civil officials gathered, all staring at the Jiangling dike map in deep thought.

"The rainy season here has been prolonged, and the breach is growing," said the general, drenched through. Troops from the Jiangnan garrison had been dispatched here promptly, but despite the rush repairs, many issues remained unresolved. "Old General Chen ordered us to build cofferdams to contain the water. The flood has already surged toward three prefectures in Jiangnan, and now the upstream dike is at risk of breaching too... If it does, the water situation will become completely uncontrollable."

That was why nearby residents were fleeing. If this breach failed, the surrounding prefectures and counties would also suffer.

Hearing the commotion, the officials in the tent turned around. The Jiangnan officials finally saw the prince who had come in person. The Sixth Prince, frail and sickly, stood in the tent, looking utterly feeble compared to the military officers.

Was this the emperor's chosen envoy to Jiangling—such a weak prince? How could he command respect?

"I don't want excuses. What are the current problems? Why has the breach grown?" Ying Fusheng scanned the crowd, his gaze stopping on a few near the map. "Who will speak?"

Wang Guanzhi, who had just entered the tent, looked on coldly. Just like the previous officials—coming in and demanding solutions.

The officials hesitated. Was this about asserting authority?

The Jiangnan officials exchanged glances, and one stepped forward: "Your Highness, it's not that we make excuses, but we've run out of stone and other materials to block the dike. The troops sent by Old General Chen are insufficient, and the materials for repairs are scarce. We fill one side, but the flood washes it away. The original breach hasn't been sealed—it's all futile!"

"Where are the survey maps?" Ying Fusheng looked at the distant blueprints and asked, "Who drew up the repair plan? Are there any issues?"

Wang Guanzhi stepped forward, seeing the map in Ying Fusheng's hands. "The repair plan was produced by the Jiangnan Branch of the Ministry of Works. Does Your Highness have any objections?"

"Are you suggesting that the blueprints produced by your Jiangnan branch are superior to those drawn by the imperial craftsmen?" Ying Fusheng surveyed the crowd.

The garrison general who accompanied him thought to himself, this is bad—this Sixth Prince was practically picking a fight!

To directly question the blueprints in front of so many officials was like adding fuel to a fire.

"The riverways of Jiangling are treacherous terrain. Every year, the imperial blueprints always start from the foundations. Have the craftsmen ever seen how deep the river is? How wide the silted shoals are?" Wang Guanzhi said, then slightly changed his tone. "Your humble servant speaks bluntly, Your Highness; please forgive me."

Ying Fusheng looked at him. "You think you know a lot?"

At Wang Guanzhi's words, many Jiangling officials' expressions flickered. The local craftsmen present, hearing their work dismissed, held each other back, barely containing their anger. They knew Wang Guanzhi well—every year when the dikes burst, he was among those sent from the south. No one understood the riverways better than Lord Wang.

A prince, no matter how knowledgeable, could never match craftsmen who had spent years wrestling with these rivers. Yet he held authority here.

Inside the tent, two officials watched the Sixth Prince quietly, choosing to let the argument between him and Wang Guanzhi fizzle out on its own.

Seeing this, they turned to the official in charge of the proceedings—the one overseeing the Jiangling dike repairs and the lead on this emergency.

"Sixth Prince, this breach is related to the Ministry of Works' construction several years ago," the official said, shifting blame to the Deposed Crown Prince, as the court story went. "It's clear the capital's blueprints failed to account for local conditions. Your Highness, you lack deep understanding of water management—act with caution! No one in the southern regions knows the riverways better than Lord Wang. He speaks the truth!"

"You are very well-informed, my lord," Ying Fusheng turned back to him. "Court dispatches haven't even reached the prefectural offices yet, yet you already know the breach is related to the Ministry's work years ago?"

The Jiangling lead official gave a perfectly controlled smile. "Your Highness, we keep a close eye on court news. We have soldiers waiting at the postal stations for messages..."

"Before the court's message arrived, you did not conduct a thorough investigation and simply assumed the court was to blame?" Ying Fusheng pressed. "Now that the dike is breached and evidence is gone, what do you think?"

He looked at the craftsmen.

Their faces were dark, and they did not answer directly.

But their reaction made it clear: the breach was sudden, and even they did not know the cause.

He turned back to Wang Guanzhi, who was fuming inside but could only say, "Indeed, there is no evidence yet. We cannot come to a conclusion."

"Since the blueprints are disputed, let's set that aside. You mentioned earlier a shortage of stone and laborers?" Ying Fusheng addressed the official who first raised the issue. "Then tell me, why is there a shortage?"

That official was silent. But then a craftsman nearby could not hold back: "Of course there's a shortage! If it weren't for the court, would we have a breach now?"

Those beside him tried to stop him. "Are you crazy? How dare you talk back to the officials!"

"If the repairs fail, we'll die anyway!" The craftsman's eyes were red. "Go on, kill me!"

Ying Fusheng stared at him. The craftsman stiffened his neck, refusing to back down.

The Sixth Prince's face was sickly, but his eyes held no weakness—only a hint of fierceness. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Seize him."

The surrounding craftsmen's faces turned pale at this order.

Even the garrison general was taken aback, but he had no choice but to have the man seized.

"You all know that I came here under a military order," Ying Fusheng said to the remaining officials, his gaze completely lacking goodwill. He gave a faint smile. "If the Jiangling dike cannot be repaired, you all know the consequences."

Wang Guanzhi glared coldly at Ying Fusheng, his opinion of him hit rock bottom.

The Jiangling officials now understood: this Sixth Prince from the capital wanted total control. He expected everyone to follow his plan. A few officials immediately changed their tune, saying they would adopt the capital's blueprints, stepping in to smooth things over.

"Your Highness, we will follow the capital's blueprints," one official said.

Ying Fusheng looked at the lead official. "And you?"

"Naturally, I will follow Your Highness's orders," the lead official was forced to concede.

At this, some officials' eyes grew red. They had worked so hard here, striving to repair this dike for the people of Jiangling and Jiangnan. How could he act so arbitrarily!

"Your Highness, these are General Chen's crack troops, but the repairs need stone—so much stone. Stonecutters and laborers are the key, and now there is a shortage," another official hurried to defend the craftsmen, listing the materials needed. Regardless of the plan, the unavoidable problems were materials and manpower. "They were only concerned about the dike, no other dissent!"

"Yes!"

"Without men and materials, what can we do!"

The craftsmen began all talking at once. The scene was about to erupt into chaos. The garrison general's expression changed. He was about to intervene when the Sixth Prince, who had been so determined to drag people away, suddenly stopped. He looked at the blueprint hanging nearby. The listed stone requirements exceeded what the official had said. "Go on. What I saw on the blueprint just now was different."

The official spoke with emotion: "The quarry is far away, and with the breach, the price of stone is now double. And there's a shortage of craftsmen."

Two officials among the crowd stiffened and quickly said, "Why haven't you taken them away? Letting them talk nonsense!"

Outsiders entered the tent. The garrison general saw they were members of the Sixth Prince's retinue.

He saw disaster coming. General Chen had sent him here to ensure the dike repairs proceeded. He could not allow the Sixth Prince's men to drag away the craftsmen—that would be complete chaos!

"Wait!" The garrison general waved to summon his own men from outside.

But the prince's men had already approached. Instead of going for the craftsmen or the agitated official, they seized the officials who had been silent or even fawning on the Sixth Prince. The Jiangling high official in charge of the repairs was pinned down, dumbfounded. "Your Highness, you've got the wrong men!"

Wang Guanzhi's eyes flickered.

The craftsmen were stunned. What was this?

"Did you get it all down?" Ying Fusheng suddenly asked.

Then, one of the officials who had been following him pulled out a notebook. "Your Highness, I've recorded everything. Who defied you, who flattered you, the true amount of stone needed, the prices, the manpower..."

"Your Highness! We are officials appointed by the Prefect of Jiangling! You cannot arrest us without reason!" shouted the man in charge.

Ying Fusheng turned and looked at the bewildered officials. "Why can't I?"

"I do have objections. When the dike burst in Jiangling, what were the local officials doing? The court sent so much silver here. Even if the previous construction was flawed, why was no irregularity discovered before the incident? Why was the court not notified by fast horsemen? I suspect some of you are guilty of corruption and dereliction of duty. I also suspect you failed to serve the people. Let me ask you all: can I investigate this matter?"

Ying Fusheng's gaze swept the crowd, then settled on the garrison general, a subordinate of Old General Chen, who had led him in.

"Yes!" The garrison general answered instinctively.

Then he realized he had fallen into the Sixth Prince's trap. By answering in front of so many, he had unwittingly become the prince's backing. He commanded Old General Chen's troops, the largest force here. His nod meant the soldiers were on the prince's side.

He had never met the Sixth Prince before today, yet he had no choice but to agree.

Seeing the garrison general nod, the craftsmen's agitation subsided. They looked at this strange prince with confusion.

Ying Fusheng did not continue with the garrison general. Instead, he turned to Wang Guanzhi. "I've heard that Lord Wang has been oppressed by court officials many times. I won't ask others—I ask you: what is the fastest repair plan now?"

Wang Guanzhi was silent. So this Sixth Prince had deliberately provoked the craftsmen's anger.

He had stirred up anger not just to establish authority, but to get the real answers from these craftsmen and officials. When people are enraged, they speak the truth—and the prices they blurt out would not be fabricated.

Ying Fusheng said, "Lord Wang knows the mountain paths so well. Can't you answer this question?"

What Ying Fusheng wanted to know was never from the officials, but from the craftsmen and the officials who did the work.

Every trade has its expertise. These men understood the situation better than the officials.

Apart from those skilled in this field, the most useless on the repair front are the problem-glossers and sycophants.

“The plan is secondary; what matters are the people and the stone materials,” Wang Guanzhi said.

“I can solve that for you,” Ying Fusheng replied without hesitation. “I won't interfere with your dam repairs. You may choose between the blueprints from the capital and those from Jiangnan. I will provide the people and stone materials. But I want results. I give you full authority. How many days will it take to get it done?”

The craftsmen and officials were taken aback and turned to look at Wang Guanzhi.

From the moment he stepped into this place, Ying Fusheng noticed that Wang Guanzhi had not spoken much, yet the craftsmen and a few officials present were constantly reading his expression for cues. These officials were the same group that was so passionate and fixated on the repairs. Regardless of whether Wang Guanzhi was good or bad, as long as he held this position, Ying Fusheng could make use of him.

Wang Guanzhi’s expression shifted. “Ten days! I will ensure that the breach here does not expand further.”

“Very well,” Ying Fusheng continued. “If you fail, Lord Wang, you'll answer with your head.”

Wang Guanzhi said, “Agreed!”

He looked at Ying Fusheng. “But on the condition that the Sixth Prince provides the people and stone materials.”

“Naturally, I will not disappoint Lord Wang.”

Outside the tent, an official announced, “Your Highness, the carriage has arrived.”

Ying Fusheng walked out. Outside, they were carrying down a chest. When opened, it was filled to the brim with official silver.

“The treasury is full. I have brought the imperial relief silver; the stone materials and money are all accounted for. I've already sent my personal envoy to the Jiangnan treasury to transfer more silver, distribute it to disaster victims, pay those who help with labor, and use the remainder to purchase stone materials, reeds, and other supplies from various places in Jiangling.”

Ying Fusheng looked at the officials present with cold eyes. “But I do not trust any of you. Craftsmen from my department will oversee every step. We will also select soldiers and craftsmen from here to accompany them. Spend and buy whatever is needed. If anyone embezzles even one tael of silver, any whistleblower will receive a reward of fifty taels! And those who know but fail to report will face at least imprisonment, and at worst exile of the whole family!”

“That's all the court can do. I hope everyone will work together to overcome this difficulty.”