Chapter 494 The Wind Rises in Jiangnan
That afternoon, Huo Lin was reviewing memorials.
Jiang Huan nestled on a soft couch, flipping through a manual. On a small table beside her sat a plate of freshly made osmanthus cake and a cup of warm almond tea.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window, creating a serene and peaceful scene.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and Wang Degui's voice rang out through the door: "Your Majesty, an urgent secret report from Jiangnan, eight hundred li away."
Huo Lin paused, leaving a tiny red dot on the memorial.
He put down his pen and said in a deep voice, "Go in."
Wang Degui bowed and strode in, presenting a sealed letter with sealing wax. The letter tube was still covered with some dust, indicating that it had been delivered day and night.
Huo Lin removed the sealing wax and quickly began to browse through it.
As his gaze moved downwards, his originally calm face gradually turned frosty, his brows furrowed, his eyes sharp as knives, and he exuded a cold, oppressive aura.
Even from a distance, Jiang Huan could sense the change in his emotions. She put down her book, sat up straight, and looked at him with concern.
Ha, these people from Jiangnan, they're all so good at courting death.
[Before my sword even fell, they'd already stretched out their necks. Good, saves me the trouble of searching them one by one.]
It seems the mesh was too big when using the recycling net; a few slippery loaches escaped.
Hearing these words filled with resentment, Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat. She immediately stood up and quickly walked to his side: "What's wrong? Has something happened in Jiangnan?"
Huo Lin handed her the secret letter, which Jiang Huan took and quickly read through.
The letter was written by Xu Muyuan himself and detailed the resistance encountered during the investigation.
The remaining local forces colluded with powerful local figures, not only secretly obstructing the imperial envoy but also sending assassins to launch a night attack. Although the envoy was repelled by the guards, the situation was already very tense.
What's even more despicable is that, in desperation, the other side spread rumors again, slandering the Empress for sending her brothers from her maternal family south to plunder the people and oppress the local populace.
"How dare they!" Jiang Huan was both angry and anxious, her fingers clenching the letter tightly.
Huo Lin's eyes grew even colder. "They are so arrogant; they clearly don't take me seriously."
After a moment's thought, he immediately ordered Wang Degui: "Transmit my oral decree, dispatch a team of elite troops, prepare them immediately, and head south with my written order. They shall be placed under the command of Xu Muyuan. Anyone who resists shall be killed without mercy. Also, summon Shen Yi to the palace immediately."
"Your servant obeys!" Wang Degui accepted the order and quickly withdrew.
Shen Yi may seem carefree and irreverent, but he's efficient and decisive when it comes to getting things done, and his methods are quite flexible.
The waters of Jiangnan are just right for someone like him, who doesn't play by the rules, to stir them up.
[To deal with those local bullies and seasoned veterans, Xu Muyuan alone isn't enough; we need someone more adaptable to help out.]
Jiang Huan felt somewhat relieved listening to his calm plan, but she couldn't help but worry when she thought about her third brother being in danger.
"The situation in Jiangnan is extremely complex; a single move could have far-reaching consequences. Those people are desperate and might resort to any underhanded tricks they can think of. Third Brother, he..."
"It's alright." Huo Lin interrupted her, his tone resolute, with a sense of complete control. "This time, I'm going to thoroughly stir up the waters of Jiangnan and bring all the silt to the surface to be exposed to the sun."
He looked at Jiang Huan, the icy ferocity in his eyes softening slightly, and his voice becoming gentler.
"Don't worry, your third brother isn't reckless. I'll send Shen Yi to help him; one is prudent, the other is resourceful—they'll be able to handle it. As for those rumors..."
He sneered, "They're just clowns, struggling in their death throes. When I uproot them and proclaim their crimes to the world, the rumors will naturally fall apart."
Just then, a voice came from outside the door announcing that Shen Yi had arrived.
After Huo Lin gave a concise explanation of the situation in Jiangnan and his appointment, the usual smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp and focused gaze.
"Your Majesty, I obey the decree." Shen Yi cupped his hands, his tone unusually solemn. "I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust and assist Lord Xu in handling the affairs of Jiangnan properly."
Huo Lin nodded slightly, then whispered a few more words about the key figures in Jiangnan that needed special attention. Shen Yi listened intently, his eyes flashing, nodding slightly from time to time, clearly already making quick calculations in his mind.
After giving his instructions, Shen Yi turned and quickly left.
A series of orders were issued in quick succession, and the important pieces were settled. Only then did the fierce look between Huo Lin's brows subside slightly.
He raised his hand and rubbed his slightly tense brow, his gaze naturally falling on Jiang Huan, who had been guarding him all along.
Seeing that he had made the arrangements for the time being and his expression had softened, Jiang Huan remembered something, turned around and picked up the manual she had been looking at earlier from the small table next to the soft couch, and handed it to Huo Lin.
"Your Majesty, take a look at this." She gently placed the book on the table. "This is a preliminary plan for the promotion of new crops in Jiangnan, which He Ling has carefully written over several nights. I just took a look at it and I think it is very well written."
Upon hearing this, Huo Lin's gaze fell on the booklet.
The booklet was made of the most ordinary Xuan paper, cut to the same size, and carefully bound with cotton thread. The edges were neat, showing that the owner had put a lot of thought into it. Although simple, it revealed a serious attitude.
He was just casually flipping through the pages at first, but soon he was drawn to the contents.
The plan is well-organized and thoughtfully considered.
The article begins by analyzing the soil, water, and climate characteristics of different regions in the Jiangnan area, and recommends suitable crop varieties accordingly, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
It also proposed how to organize training for experienced local farmers, how to set up demonstration fields for hands-on teaching, and even listed in detail the pests and diseases that different crops may encounter at different growth stages and their control suggestions...
There were no empty grand principles, only practical and feasible measures. They even thought of how to mobilize the enthusiasm of the people and how to cooperate with local officials.
Huo Lin carefully flipped through the pages, his pace slowing down, his eyes filled with growing admiration.
[Adapting to local conditions, proceeding step by step, and teaching people how to fish—this approach is indeed ingenious.]
He Ling possesses exceptional talent in agricultural matters; her meticulousness and thoroughness must stem from diligent study and practice. Such talent should not be underestimated.
If implemented properly, this plan will greatly benefit the people of Jiangnan.
Standing to the side, Jiang Huan listened to his unreserved praise and felt a surge of pride and honor.
She knew that He Ling's talent and her genuine concern for the people would never be buried by a system.
Huo Lin closed the booklet, looked up at Jiang Huan, and his eyes still held admiration.
"This plan is exceptionally well-written," he affirmed in a deep voice. "It has a clear line of thought and specific measures, demonstrating that He Ling is fully capable of serving as the head of the Ministry of Agriculture."
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