Chapter 113: Reunion (Part 1)

Ding Tao sat cross-legged beneath the eaves, idly toying with the fruits in his silver plate, counting them over and over again. He stood guard here, permitting no one to disturb this sanctum. The day had grown late, the courtyard walls still clinging to faint remnants of slanting sunlight as the last vestiges of the sun shattered amidst the leaves of the Chinese scholar trees.

Just awakened, Shen Zechuan was still groggy from his long and deep sleep, causing him to feel an aching back and weary bones. Upon opening the door and seeing Ding Tao, he stood in a daze for a moment.

Ding Tao felt uneasy under Shen Zechuan's gaze, scratching his ears and cheeks in discomfort. With his hand still holding the fruit behind his back, he nervously suggested, "My lord, please, have your meal."

Shen Zechuan leaned against the doorframe for a moment, composing himself before he croaked, "What time is it?"

"It's the Hour of You," Ding Tao remarked surprisingly, immediately adding, "Young Master has been asleep all day! Lord Zhou and Mister Cheng Feng accompanied His Highness out of the city at dawn."

A faint tinge of red still lingered in the corners of Shen Zechuan's eyes, as if he had been drunk under the setting orange glow of the sun. He was naturally fair-skinned, and with his gaze lowered while he slipped on his shoes, Ding Tao found him exceptionally attractive.

"Has Jue Xi still not sent any message?" Shen Zechuan descended the steps but didn't rush to leave. Instead, he stood beneath the locust tree, gazing slightly upward at the sky, trying to recover from the lingering effects of the previous night.

"No," Ding Tao replied, trailing behind Shen Zechuan. Seizing the opportunity before Shen Zechuan turned around, he hastily stuffed the half-eaten fruit into his mouth and finished it off rather grotesquely.

Shen Zechuan, not seeing Moun's figure, knew that Xiao Chiye must have taken him away. As he turned back, Ding Tao was startled into a coughing fit. Pausing for a moment, Shen Zechuan said, "No one is competing with you. There's no need to rush."

Ding Tao choked on his words, tears welling up in his eyes as he waved his hand and tugged at his shirt, struggling to speak. "M-Master! Should we go find Lord Zhou? He just finished dinner with Mister Cheng Feng in the main hall and is now discussing matters."

Shen Zechuan nodded and said, "Let's go."

* * *

Zhou Gui had just finished his meal and was currently in the study with Kong Ling and various officials from Ci Prefecture, discussing affairs. Upon hearing of Shen Zechuan's arrival, he immediately stood up, dismissing the others first.

"His Excellency the Marquis mentioned that Magistrate Tong was unwell today, so we thought we would discuss military matters tomorrow. But it seems Magistrate Tong has come after all," Kong Ling said as he welcomed Shen Zechuan to the main seat, sparing him any embarrassment before sitting down himself, slightly turning towards them. He continued, "Though it's still June, our manor is filled with tall and lush trees, making the nights quite cool. Since Magistrate Tong is accustomed to Qui Capital, you must take care of your health here."

Shen Zechuan sipped his tea to soothe his throat, reducing the dryness in his voice before he spoke. "Mister Cheng Feng makes a valid point. He mentioned that military affairs could be discussed tomorrow. Have both of you already prepared a plan?"

"I summoned the advisors and officials from Ci Prefecture since Magistrate Tong formed an alliance with us. We've drafted a simple outline these past few days," Zhou Gui said, supporting his knee as he watched Kong Ling rise to present the book to Shen Zechuan. He continued, "These are just preliminary ideas; the specifics will depend on Magistrate Tong's approval. Please have a look. If there are any issues, we can discuss them further tonight."

Although he said he would wait for Shen Zechuan's approval, mentioning "further discussion" implied that most of the content in the book had already been agreed upon. This was the awkward situation Shen Zechuan found himself in – he had money but no real authority. His ability to sit here and converse with the two depended on Xiao Chiye's attitude. Zhou Gui could thank him or even respect him, but he wouldn't surrender the decision-making power of Ci Prefecture just like that because they had formed an alliance, not a surrender.

Shen Zechuan examined the book in silence. Outside, only Ding Tao was amusing himself with sparrows, with no servants moving about to disturb them. Kong Ling sipped his tea, feeling inexplicably restless. He observed Shen Zechuan's expression without giving away his own emotions, but couldn't discern any feelings from Shen Zechuan. He glanced at Zhou Gui, who was growing increasingly anxious, and couldn't help but muse inwardly.

This Shen Zechuan was young but had great depth. After spending a few days together, it was impossible to tell whether he was pleased or not. They were at a loss on how to approach the matter. Drafting this book also served as a test to gauge Shen Zechuan's intentions.

As the sky darkened, Shen Zechuan closed the ledger. He rubbed his finger against the rim of his teacup without speaking.

Kong Ling, as the clerk, could not overstep Zhou Gui in official matters in the study. Zhou Gui lit a lamp while leaning slightly towards Shen Zechuan, carefully suggesting, "What do you think of the register?"

"I see that the Magistrate has meticulously recorded the fluctuations in the prices of firewood, rice, oil, and salt in Chizhou over the past few years. The accounts are clear, and it should be no problem to estimate next year's expenditures. Furthermore, I noticed that you've also allocated the proportion of military pay for the garrison troops in advance. Your Excellency works tirelessly, considering every detail," Shen Zechuan said with a smile.

Zhou Gui heaved a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure why he had been so tense. Hearing Shen Zechuan's words, he said, "This ledger couldn't have been written by one person alone. Much credit goes to Cheng Feng and our colleagues. Should we now discuss the city wall defenses?"

Shen Zechuan paused for a moment with his fingertips on the page. He said, "Not just yet, I have some questions."

Zhou Gui hurriedly responded, "Please go ahead."

"Your Excellency has estimated Chizhou's general expenditure for next year, including the compensation for both the two thousand garrison troops and the two thousand imperial guards, which amounts to sixteen thousand stones of grain in total," Shen Zechuan pondered. "This is based on last year's bumper harvest in Chizhou and the current planned population. However, I notice that there's still an unallocated ten thousand stones of grain remaining."

"That's correct," Zhou Gui agreed.

Although Xiao Chiye had declined payment, they couldn't actually ignore it. Sixteen thousand stones of grain were only enough to feed the two thousand imperial guards for two and a half months, which was more than what they had allocated for the two thousand Chizhou garrison troops per month. Although it didn't cover a full year's supply, they had truly done their best.

Worried that Shen Zechuan might find the amount insufficient, Zhou Gui spoke sincerely, "Since I've shown Chizhou's accounts to the Associate Magistrate today, I hope that both you and His Lordship will understand. With the instability in the Great Zhou this year, our grain reserves were unexpectedly allocated to Libei and Luoshan last year. In previous years, the Juexi Granary would have solely provided the military supplies. Now, the burden has been split between Chizhou and Huai Prefecture. While I'm unsure about the details in Huai, Chizhou has truly economized to make ends meet. I'm not complaining to you, but I'm being honest. The two thousand imperial guards are currently provisioned by Chizhou, and we're bearing this burden with gritted teeth, but only for a month or so. Fortunately, the harvest season is approaching, and we can bridge the gap. That's why we haven't reached a desperate situation. I hope the Associate Magistrate could speak on behalf of Chizhou and ask His Lordship to consider moving that ten thousand stones of grain to next year. We're not trying to evade our responsibilities, but there are simply too many factors to consider."

Zhou Gui's perpetually furrowed brows had long left a mark on his forehead. Rising to his feet, he paced around the empty space and spoke to Shen Zechuan.

"Zhizhou relies heavily on the heavens for its livelihood, but no one can predict if the gods will continue to bless it next year. I believe the Great Zhou has reached a critical point. If wars break out next year, the newly cultivated fertile fields in Zhizhou might be destroyed, leaving even the city's inhabitants hungry. Even if we establish a defense force, we won't be able to sustain them. We have surplus military rations, not just as a means of survival, but also in preparation for the Northern Iron Cavalry. Deputy Governor, it's not that we're unwilling to provide a substantial amount to the Duke; it's just that the Northern Iron Cavalry guards the border against the fierce Sand Snakes, making them indeed more important than twenty thousand imperial guards."

"Zhizhou agreed to this pact with you two partly because of my heartache over the Wei family's grain scandal, and also because of Lord Duke's status as the second son of the Xiao family, which alleviated many concerns. I extend this favor to both of you, but also to the Crown Prince. Although I've promised that the Northeast Grain and Horse Route can continue operating, I must also consider my options. After all, Juexi is the granary of the Great Zhou, a territory that every family desires. Deputy Governor may want it, but the Empress Dowager wants it even more."

"I speak from the bottom of my heart," Zhou Gui finally stopped and slowly bowed to Shen Zechuan. "In chaotic times, survival is a challenge for all. As the Governor of Zhizhou, the safety of my province comes first. Lord Duke and Deputy Governor have relieved Zhizhou's crisis, and I am willing to risk everything for you both. If Zhizhou enjoys another bountiful harvest this year, we can increase the grain contribution to sixteen thousand stones next year. However, Zhizhou truly cannot supply the imperial guards as it does the Northern Iron Cavalry. To be frank, if the Sand Snakes invade in autumn or if the Northern Iron Cavalry faces food shortages next spring, Zhizhou will prioritize their provisions before the imperial guards."

The candlelight in the study was dim, reflecting Zhou Gui's simple lifestyle. Except for the occasion of hosting Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, his family usually consumed humble meals, even resorting to boiling tree bark during famine years. Despite appearing as the wealthiest region in Zhongbo, Zhizhou was still in disarray compared to other areas. The decision to offer grain came with immense pressure. From the moment Xiao Chiye first left the city, Zhou Gui had suggested requesting assistance from the Northern Iron Cavalry – this was not an impulsive idea but a deeply ingrained thought.

The Central Plains' defeat in the battle had been discussed endlessly between them, but outsiders could never truly empathize. Zhou Gui developed a phobia due to that military failure; at night, the sound of whistles would torment him, leaving him restless and anxious. The defeat along the Tea Stone River was so devastating that the word "massacre" echoed from Duanzhou all the way back to Qidu. Everyone recited those two words back then, but for Qidu, the bloodshed was merely a blot on an official report, while for the Central Plains, it meant the destruction of homes and loss of loved ones.

Tuzhou was spared thanks to the Northern Iron Cavalry. In Zhou Gui's eyes, as well as those of everyone in Tuzhou, they held greater importance than the imperial guards. Xiao Jiming's miraculous appearance with his "Iron Horses on the Icy River" was the golden ticket to immunity for the northeastern borders of Great Zhou when facing the Border Sand cavalry. Lei Jingzhe dared to plot against Tuzhou but had no intention of staying long. He was prepared to seize grain and immediately report his feat to Qidu, fearing Xiao Jiming might once again dispatch troops southward.

Xiao Jiming sustained injuries in the military grain incident, but none had seen it firsthand. Those waiting for him didn't dare believe it, while those who feared him hesitated to bet on it. If the older generation of officials, led by Hai Liangyi, feared Xiao Fangxu, the younger generation held an even deeper apprehension towards Xiao Jiming.