Chapter 117

Feng Liwu listened to his attendant’s report without saying a word.

He then spurred his horse into a gallop, chasing after Jiang Xiurun.

By the time he reached the city gates, the Agricultural Department’s convoy had already traveled far ahead.

Although the convoy was transporting supplies and moving slowly, Feng Liwu, riding a swift horse, could have easily caught up if he wanted to.

However, as he approached the city gates and saw the increasing flow of people coming and going, he gradually calmed down.

After all, Jiang Xiurun’s departure was justified—she was on official business.

But he couldn’t believe that she hadn’t found an opportunity to inform him personally about her trip.

Avoiding the topic and only sending a perfunctory message right before her departure… her intentions were truly reprehensible!

The more Feng Liwu thought about it, the angrier he became.

He decided to turn his horse around and return to the Crown Prince’s residence.

After all, if the Crown Prince were to chase after the head of the Agricultural Department and prevent her from carrying out her official duties, it would give the gossips in every household plenty to chew on.

Feng Liwu had to consider the implications and not let his emotions get the better of him.

It would be better to let her go first and then send her a secret letter, ordering her to return as soon as possible.

These past few days, she had been acting strangely and causing trouble.

If she were to return now, she would likely only provoke his anger further.

Feng Liwu thought that a day or two of cooling off would do them both good.

Life in the countryside couldn’t possibly be as comfortable as in Luo’an City.

She wasn’t traveling with him, so the accommodations and arrangements were different.

The journey would likely be exhausting, and once she was worn out and her pride was humbled, he would bring her back and have a proper talk with her…

As Feng Liwu pondered this at the city gates, the Agricultural Department’s convoy had already reached the ferry.

Once they boarded the boat, they would travel a thousand miles in a single day, arriving directly in Hanyang.

The chill of late autumn was beginning to set in, and even standing at the ferry, one could feel the cold.

Qian’er took advantage of the loading process to fetch a hand warmer and add some charcoal from a nearby boatman.

Just then, the attendant who had gone to inform the Crown Prince hurriedly returned.

Not only had he returned, but he was also carrying a large bundle.

Curious, Qian’er opened it and found a whole tiger skin blanket, which she had heard was used by the Crown Prince during his military campaigns.

When camping in the wild on windy nights, wrapping oneself tightly in it would keep one warm throughout the night.

In addition, there was a small charcoal stove, perfect for cooking when large pots and stoves weren’t available.

As for other items like gold ointments, silver medicines, and essential travel supplies such as medicinal wine, they were all meticulously packed.

Qian’er looked at the items and said, “His Highness is really worried about the young mistress going out. It’s like he’s her mother, always concerned about her warmth and comfort.”

After saying this, she noticed that her young mistress didn’t respond.

Instead, Jiang Xiurun stood at the bow of the boat, staring blankly at the vast, misty lake.

Qian’er shook her head, thinking that her young mistress’s current mood was quite similar to the Crown Prince’s preferences.

Jiang Xiurun had initially planned not to use the tiger skin blanket.

But when the boat docked at a small island to rest during the night, the cold in the early hours was so intense that it felt like her eyelids could freeze.

Knowing that her young mistress couldn’t handle the cold, Qian’er quickly brought out the large tiger skin blanket and wrapped Jiang Xiurun tightly in it.

Jiang Xiurun rubbed her cheek against the tiger skin, and once her body was warm, she fell into a deep sleep amidst the sounds of crows cawing.

After three days of traveling by carriage and boat, Jiang Xiurun finally arrived in Hanyang.

This was the confluence of two major rivers in Great Qi and the key point of the entire canal project.

Local officials, hearing that someone from the Agricultural Department had arrived, sent the local magistrate to meet her.

It wasn’t that the local officials were lazy; it was just that the Agricultural Department’s mission was too lean, with little profit to be made.

They privately complained, thinking that if Minister Meng of the Ministry of Waterworks were in charge, everyone could have benefited together.

Jiang Xiurun guessed the local officials’ thoughts but didn’t mind.

She simply took the magistrate with her, climbing up and down the hills, touring the entire county to understand the local aquatic and agricultural conditions.

Beside Jiang Xiurun were several craftsmen who had brought a large amount of clay mixed with glue.

They continuously molded the clay on a large wooden tray, working non-stop throughout the journey.

The magistrate, who wasn’t used to walking much, was drenched in sweat from all the climbing and asked with a grimace, “Master Jiang, have you seen enough?”

Jiang Xiurun carefully examined the sand table model the craftsmen were making and smiled reassuringly at the magistrate, “Just a little longer, we’re almost done. Please take us to that mountain over there…”

After surveying the terrain, Jiang Xiurun smiled and said, “I’m new here and not familiar with the local affairs. How about this: please gather the local officials, and tonight I’ll host a banquet at the guesthouse to treat everyone.”

The reservoir project was massive, and if the local officials weren’t fully cooperative, it would be like climbing a tree to catch fish—a futile effort.

As for how to handle and discipline them, it was simple: strike first, then offer a sweet reward.

This was a method Jiang Xiurun had learned from Feng Liwu, and she was quite skilled at it.

As the saying goes, “Water that’s too clear has no fish.”

If you only demand hard work from officials without offering any financial incentives, how could you expect them to willingly cooperate?

So, after reprimanding the officials for their previous dealings with Minister Meng, Jiang Xiumei promised that for three years after the canal was built, the local agricultural taxes sent to the court would be halved, and the remaining portion could be handled by the local officials themselves.

Instantly, the atmosphere at the banquet became lively.

After a round of toasts, Jiang Xiurun distributed the engineering blueprints to the officials.

However, one straightforward official pointed out during the meal, “Master Jiang, whether your project succeeds or not has little to do with us colleagues here. Hanyang has always had its share of troublemakers. In the past, when the Ministry of Waterworks worked here, they pushed the laborers too hard, and it led to a group of bandits killing officials and looting supplies. It was a mess!”

Another official chimed in, “Exactly! Your timeline is so tight, and there’s no compensation for the laborers… It’s going to be tough!”

Jiang Xiurun smiled slightly and said, “Thank you for the reminder, gentlemen. I’ll find a way to handle these issues.”

Indeed, mobilizing the laborers was a problem.

Jiang Xiurun composed catchy rhymes and hired locals to memorize them.

They then went around the villages and towns, beating gongs and singing the rhymes.

The content of the rhymes explained that after the reservoir was built, the water flow would stabilize, allowing for fish and shrimp farming.

The surrounding fields would also be easier to irrigate, and there would be no more fear of floods destroying crops.

Jiang Xiurun wasn’t a skilled poet, but her straightforward rhymes resonated with the common people, addressing their hardships.

The locals often suffered from droughts and floods, with many losing their homes and property overnight to rushing waters.

Moreover, the fast-flowing rivers made fishing difficult, and the fish caught were sold at markets to buy oil and flour.

Many children grew to the age of five or six without ever tasting fish.

After hearing these rhymes for a while, the people’s hearts began to stir.

They felt that if the project truly brought such benefits, working hard for a few months to secure a better future for their descendants was worth the effort.

The timing was also perfect, as the farming season had just ended, leaving many people in the villages with free time.

However, since the labor conscription only provided meals and no wages, only a handful of men showed up at first.

Jiang Xiurun had no airs of superiority.

She changed into the local villagers’ short jackets and wide pants and led the first group of volunteers up and down the hills to inspect the construction site.

She also showed them the scaled-down sand table model of the reservoir project and had her attendants pour water into it to simulate a sudden flood.

There were two sand tables: one depicting the current state of Hanyang County and the other showing the county after the reservoir was built.

The villagers could clearly see that without the reservoir, the “river” outside the county would swell, its rapid waters flooding the entire county, turning it into a vast sea.

The clay models of livestock and even a baby in a wooden basin floated on the water, bobbing up and down…

Some of the older villagers, who had experienced past floods, were visibly moved by the scene, and a few even began to sob.

Jiang Xiurun personally handed a handkerchief to one of the elders and then gestured for her attendants to pour water into the second sand table.

The seemingly unremarkable reservoir, along with the canals leading to the ocean and various branches, quickly absorbed the water, leaving the fields and homes on both banks safe and sound!

The sand table was intricately designed, with terrain identical to Hanyang, allowing people to see firsthand how the reservoir project would work, turning a potential disaster into nothing.

The sight was both terrifying and inspiring.

If they could contribute even a small effort to prevent such a catastrophe, why wouldn’t they?

The words of the common people were more effective than any gong or rhyme!

The next day, the number of men volunteering for the labor conscription increased dramatically.

Jiang Xiurun continued to personally lead them to view the sand table demonstrations.

In the following days, not only men but also women and even children began to appear.

Once the people understood the benefits of the reservoir project, they eagerly volunteered to contribute their efforts.

Moreover, this high-ranking official was unlike any they had seen before!

Despite her youthful appearance, she was hands-on and approachable, treating everyone—men, women, and children—with equal respect.

Sometimes, Master Jiang even paid out of her own pocket to buy a few pigs, slaughter them, and cook them in large pots.

The aroma, enhanced by some unknown spices, could be smelled from miles away.

During meals, everyone received a large portion of the meat, which was even more fragrant than the pork they only got to eat during the New Year.

For the sake of this meat, the villagers were willing to work hard for over a month without pay.

The project, originally estimated to take over two months, began to take shape in less than a month.

One day, as Jiang Xiurun stood on the dam overseeing measurements, a group of people approached from behind.

The young man at the front, seeing Jiang Xiurun’s sun-tanned and thinner face, stared at her for a long time before frowning and saying, “How could he let you come to such a poor county and suffer like this? Has he lost his mind? He’s using you to the fullest!”

Jiang Xiurun found his words inappropriate and frowned, keeping her distance as she said, “Second Prince, what brings you here?”

Feng Wu had now reached her and was looking her up and down, taking in her local attire and the bustling construction site around her.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions!

Along the way, the Second Prince had heard much about this Master Jiang’s achievements.

But he couldn’t reconcile the image of this capable and steady Master Jiang with the memory of the arrogant, alluring woman who had once ordered him to pour tea.