Chapter 088: Canal Opening

The next afternoon, the county magistrate Zhou Yanqing came to the house in person to invite him, but he waited for half an hour before he saw him.

"Your Highness, the canal diversion is almost complete, and I have come to invite you."

I didn't see this person at the mine all day yesterday. I heard that Lord Pei tried to persuade him many times, but he didn't even see the Sixth Prince.

Qin Zhaoyue dressed up specially today, wearing a nine-layer cloud phoenix bun, a seven-pheasant gold pearl crown, and a dark satin with gold embroidery, looking as solemn as if she were attending court.

Still with his head slightly raised, he let out a proud "hmm" through his nose.

Pei Xueqi's eyes were bloodshot, one because he was tired from running around in the mine, and the other because he was so angry that he couldn't sleep.

I accepted the task with great joy, but in the end, I didn't get anything done and even offended the Sixth Prince. It was really a complete loss.

The princess's entourage was not seen, but she was served by ten maids and guarded by two hundred imperial guards and cavalry, and the entourage was fully equipped.

When he arrived at the mine, Qin Zhaoyue attracted everyone's attention.

The rain continued to fall, and a large number of torches were set up along both sides of the canal for lighting.

"Your Highness, do you wish to strike a hammer?"

Qin Zhaoyue didn't even raise his eyelids, "I'm going to hit it with a hammer, quickly." That useless sense of ritual.

“Yes, yes…”

At the command, the laborers started working immediately.

There was only a short section left, but I ended up waiting for half an hour.

Those who were selected to work were all strong and healthy, shouting slogans rhythmically one after another.

In less than half a cup of tea, the ditch was completely dug through, and dark red water flowed into the ditch.

The laborers all had hemp ropes tied around their waists, and the people on the shore worked together to pull them up.

The accumulated water near the slag mountain was almost above the ankles, and the water level was dropping at a speed almost visible to the naked eye.

When the wet rock layer was exposed again, thunderous cheers broke out at the scene.

Qin Zhaoyue looked at it from a distance of thirty or forty feet away and felt relieved.

Well, I have finished my job.

"Your Highness, the canal diversion plan has been completed! It all depends on your grace!"

Facing the excited county magistrate, Qin Zhaoyue smiled reservedly, "That's all thanks to my elder sister. I only have some credit as a supervisor."

Zhou Yanqing: No, you didn’t.

"Your Highness," the princess's lieutenant-general came forward, leading an armored general. "This is the commander of the garrison, and he has come to pay you a special visit."

It's really unusual for me to pay my first visit only after the job is done.

"Well done. Your Highness will report this truthfully to the court. I will record your merit for now and will reward you once the disaster relief work is complete."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Logically speaking, after three days of working day and night, they should be rewarded first.

However, considering the disaster, it was not appropriate to ask Chiyan County to provide grain, so the deputy general did not mention it.

After completing the mission, the garrison needed to return immediately, and she would make the arrangements herself.

It’s not that Qin Zhaoyue is ignorant, but that he did it on purpose.

Liu Yan said that the nearby states and counties are probably severely corrupted. Who can guarantee that there are no insiders among the garrison?

If his plan is exposed, with tens of thousands of troops in Chiyan County, his safety cannot be guaranteed.

Therefore, it is wise to let the garrison leave immediately after the drainage is completed.

A large number of garrisons began to evacuate, and the hastily produced ironware was stored in warehouses.

There are records of all the iron ore transported from the mine, the shop where it was forged, and how many ironwares were finally produced.

Ye Ling was personally in charge of the matter. Even though he knew that they had already stolen a lot of materials, he acted as if nothing had happened.

The matter was settled and I was about to leave when I found the miners gathered together and whispered.

Finally, a skinny old man came out and staggered towards the princess.

He was still eight feet away when he fell to his knees with a thud, "Your Highness! Please help us..."

Qin Zhaoyue turned around and glanced at Zhou Yanqing beside him, "County Magistrate Zhou, what's going on?"

Zhou Yanqing's face was filled with sorrow. He took a step back and bowed deeply, "Your Highness, it's all my fault..."

When he was building the retaining wall and digging the ditch, he made a promise that if one person worked for one month, he would free one person or his descendants from slavery.

But now it’s only twenty-fifth days, so naturally it’s less than a month.

"They have made tremendous contributions to Chiyan County and flood control, and many have even sacrificed their lives. I would like to plead for the miners!"

It is so resounding and thought-provoking that anyone who hears it will praise the official as a good one.

Qin Zhaoyue ignored him for a moment, looked up, and saw that there were fewer people than when he arrived on the first day.

Those miners were dressed in rags, and almost all of them had pale faces. They hunched over and dared not look straight ahead, but they always looked up, trying to see the expression on the face of the nobleman in the black coat.

She clenched her fists in her sleeves and said calmly, "I almost forgot. My elder sister gave me some instructions before she left, Master Pei."

Pei Xueqiao suddenly shuddered and took a step forward, "I'm here."

"Eldest sister asked you to record the names of the people in the pit, including those who died of serious illness. If there are any descendants, please record them as well."

As he spoke, he called Zhou Yanqing to stand up and said, "I can't guarantee that you can be freed from slavery, but I will report it to my elder sister.

County Magistrate Zhou has remained calm in the face of danger and has effectively managed the flood. I believe Your Majesty will consider rewarding him."

"Yes! On behalf of these miners and the people of Chiyan County, I thank Your Highness."

Seeing this, the soldiers not far away all knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Although he used Her Royal Highness the Princess's excuse, Zhou Yanqing still had some doubts in his heart.

However, seeing the uncontrollable joy on Qin Zhaoyue's face when he heard this, and the slightly raised head when he knelt down to worship Keng Ding, this suspicion immediately faded a lot.

No wonder they dressed so formally today, even more eye-catching than when they sent the eldest princess on a trip. Was it all for this moment?

"Your Highness, shall we set out immediately to pursue His Highness?"

"No rush, let's rest a little longer... Let's see how effective the drainage works. We'll have to stay here for at least a day and then set off tomorrow."

Good guy, he almost blurted out his true feelings. The soldier twitched his lips, but still agreed, "Yes!"

Qin Zhaoyue left the mine immediately without waiting for Pei Xueqiao's statistical results.

In the carriage, he lifted the curtain and looked out at the rain, his face expressionless.

Of course, there was no such thing as "elder sister's instructions", but she didn't think that this method could really have much effect.

The emperor is far away and we are all criminals. When the imperial court really gives us the opportunity to escape from slavery, it will ultimately be the county magistrate who has the final say.

The mines are already severely exploited, and I'm afraid those places will have to be auctioned, and the highest bidder will get it.

In the current situation, this is all we can do. It is better than being neither black nor white.

After returning to the mansion, he declined the invitation to the county government's celebration banquet, but he did get a lot of food, and the dinner was especially sumptuous.

At midnight, Qin Zhaoyue, who was lying in bed with his clothes on, opened his eyes.

Liu Yan's voice rang in his ears, "Your Highness, it's time to set off..."