Chapter 34 Chapter 34 "I want him to be in the hearts of the people of Ningling..."
Jiang Ci returned to the house. The sound of wind was still in the yard. The branches and leaves of several jujube trees were twirling. An oil lamp hung low on the branch, and the light swayed and fell on the table in front of her.
She sat in the chair for a moment, her gaze fixed on the small, white porcelain medicine bottle, blank and smooth. She reached out and pushed it closer, gazing at it for a moment. The scene she had seen along the way to Ningling this morning came to mind.
The fields beside the village road were muddy and dilapidated. Many people were walking along the road with their families. Some were carrying bags, some were pushing wheelbarrows, and some women were staggering with crying babies in their arms.
Some who were unable to evacuate in time spread straw as mats and lay on the roadside with sacks as pillows, looking tired and dazed.
These scenes unconsciously overlapped with the tide of refugees in Zichuan in her memory.
At that time, the border of Liangzhou was lost, and Zichuan welcomed a large number of refugees to avoid the war.
She had set up porridge stalls in the city, opened granaries to distribute food, and personally walked the streets, handing bags of food to women and children. The gratitude, panic, and despair in those people's eyes were now seen again by the people of Ningling.
Jiang Ci's mind gradually became deeper and deeper, and he became absent-minded.
At this moment, the door creaked open and Yin Shuang came in breathlessly, holding a small package. Her tone was still a little excited, "Miss, I'm back."
Jiang Ci raised her eyes, and was brought back to reality. She looked at Yin Shuang and saw that her forehead was sweating and there were some spots of mud on the hem of her clothes. She asked, "Where have you been?"
Yin Shuang placed the medicine bag on the table. "I went to look for medicine for the young lady. The city's pharmacies are desperately short of herbs right now. They say it's because of floods, landslides, broken bridges and roads, so a lot of goods from outside can't get in. I went to four or five shops before I finally found the herbs the young lady wanted."
Jiang Ci was slightly startled, then looked at the white porcelain bottle on the table, his expression gradually softening.
She lowered her eyes and smiled, without saying anything. After a moment, she suddenly said, "Yinshuang, get me some pen and ink. I need to write a letter to my father."
Yin Shuang hurriedly responded and fetched paper, ink, and inkstone. Jiang Ci spread out the paper and picked up the brush, writing silently.
Jiang Ci spread out the letter paper, sat down at the desk, and pondered for a long time before lightly dipping the pen into the inkstone and writing the first sentence:
"From my lord father himself."
Her handwriting is neat and elegant, just like her usual personality.
She thought for a moment, then quickly wrote down everything about Ningling:
"My daughter followed her husband into Ningling. Floods along the way destroyed farmland and homes, leaving many people displaced. Ningling City already lacked enough registered residents, and now hundreds of refugees from other places have arrived. Several people are now lying on the ground in a corner east of the city. The prefect explained that the granaries were already low on grain, and since several batches of relief grain were allocated last month, there's little left, and it's feared they won't last more than ten days. Medicinal materials are also in short supply, and the risk of epidemics is a serious concern."
She writes in a steady manner, without expressing emotions or exaggerating, but truthfully stating her feelings word for word, calmly yet with weight.
Then he wrote:
"Father, please try to get three thousand dan of rice and a certain amount of herbs from Liangzhou. If you could send a messenger with some more men, I would be very grateful."
Having written this, she paused for a moment, her pen tip slightly lowering.
Outside, the wind rustled through the shadows of bamboo, and she suddenly recalled the pair of childish eyes she had seen on the road that morning. They were dull and lifeless, clearly no older than seven or eight, yet they had already learned the ropes of life. A slight pang of pain washed over her eyes, but she quickly gathered her thoughts, brushing away any distracting thoughts.
Finally, she put down her pen and slowly wrote:
"My daughter has been doing well lately, with a normal diet and daily life. I have Wanniang and Yinshuang by my side. My mother-in-law and I protect each other and respect each other. I also take good care of my husband and we have no discord. If you think about my situation, please be at ease and don't worry about me. This letter concerns relief. I hope you will not neglect it after reading it. The sooner we can raise funds, the sooner we can be at peace."
The inscription at the end reads: "Presented by my daughter Jiang Ci."
This wasn't the first time she'd asked for help for the people, but it was the first time she'd been right beside him and asked for help for his people. Now, she didn't know how much of a burden she could share with Ji Yang, but she only hoped this letter could buy Ning Ling some respite.
After sealing the letter, she handed it to Yin Shuang, who was standing by, and said seriously, "I'm giving this letter to you. Ningling and Liangzhou are separated by a river. Find someone to deliver it to Liangzhou as quickly as possible. Tell them it's urgent and ask them to do their best. It would be best if they could send some people over."
Yin Shuang took the letter and nodded solemnly: "I understand."
Jiang Ci sent Yin Shuang away, and the room gradually became quiet.
She sat back at the table, reached out and picked up the white porcelain bottle, hesitated for a moment, stood up and walked to the bronze mirror, gently unbuttoned her clothes, and took off the clothes on her right shoulder. The bruise had turned from purple to light blue, and it still hurt slightly when touched.
She gently opened the bottle cap, dipped her fingertips in the medicine, and applied it slowly and carefully.
Ji Yang returned to the Dongyang military camp. It was already dark and the lights in the tents were flickering. The light and shadows made the expressions of several people look solemn.
Lu Linchuan was leaning against a desk, and upon seeing him enter, he nodded slightly. Also in the tent was Lieutenant General Du Mengqiu, clad in armor and looking grave. Ningling County Magistrate Pei Chengxu also stood to the side, still clutching the briefing on the county that had just been delivered.
Ji Yang said nothing more. He untied the bamboo tube tied around his waist and pulled out a plain paper map. It was drawn by Jiang Ci this morning. The paper was smooth and the ink was still wet. The locations of several key canals and dams were carefully marked with red ink. Although not professional, it gave a general idea of the terrain.
He spread the map on the table and tapped a bend in the riverbank with his knuckles. "If there's another heavy rain here, I'm afraid the entire southern part of the city will be flooded."
Du Mengqiu stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "The governor is right. I have already sent people to survey this area, but the embankment has been in disrepair for a long time, and the soil is loose. I'm afraid temporary repairs will be a drop in the bucket."
Pei Chengxu looked uneasy and whispered, "There are only about 200 people available for deployment right now, and most of them are old and weak, so it's difficult for them to do heavy work."
Lu Linchuan glanced at the map and said in a deep voice, "Now we can only take the detour through the West Ridge and send soldiers to escort the grain carts. However, the terrain is rugged and the supplies move slowly. Even if we write to Fengdu tonight requesting support, the grain and fodder will not arrive for at least ten days."
"And we..." Pei Chengxu frowned, "We can only hold out for six days at most."
A brief silence fell in the tent. The wind blew through the curtains, causing the candlelight to tremble slightly.
Ji Yang lowered his eyes, his fingertips slowly stroking the words "Ningling" marked on the map, and said in a low voice: "The other side of the river is Liangzhou."
After this sentence was spoken, no one said anything.
Lu Linchuan glanced at him and knew what he was afraid of. He was unwilling to bow his head and ask Jiang Huaice for help, even if there was food and manpower within easy reach across the river, he was unwilling to lend a hand.
But the disaster is now so severe that if there is no food aid within six days, chaos among the people is inevitable.
Ji Yang said nothing, just stared at the map on the table, his eyes as dark as ink.
Lu Linchuan wanted to persuade him, but he didn't say anything in the end. He just swallowed the words "If Jiang Ci is willing to come forward, perhaps he can move the relationship with justice."
The candlelight in the tent flickered slightly, illuminating the solemn expressions of several people.
After a long silence, Ji Yang finally spoke, his voice low but undeniable: "We will try to hold out as long as we can. County Magistrate Pei, I'm an outsider in the matter of gathering the laborers and arranging the dike repairs, so I'll leave it to you and those who know the business."
He paused, looking at Pei Chengxu, his expression as calm as usual: "You can use the people I brought with you as you please, but one thing is certain - we must start the work as soon as possible. We can't wait for the next rainstorm to fall, otherwise Ningling will be in danger again."
Pei Chengxu repeatedly bowed and agreed. After a moment's hesitation, he continued, "Your Excellency, I have an old acquaintance of mine who is very familiar with water conservancy. He is originally from Liangzhou. I heard that his family has been engaged in canal construction and dam building for generations. Although he is not an official, he has considerable experience in water conservancy and could be of assistance."
When Ji Yang heard the words "Liangzhou people", his brows knitted slightly and he spoke in a slow tone, "Who is it?"
Pei Chengxu hurriedly said, "The person is waiting outside. If the governor wishes to see me, I will ask him to come in."
Ji Yang stared for a moment, and finally nodded: "Call him in."
Pei Chengxu took the order and went out, and after a moment he brought a young man in.
The man, dressed in black, had a slender and upright figure, clear features, and an extraordinary bearing. As he entered the tent, a faint smile graced his face. He bowed and spoke in a gentle voice, "I am Yan Du, honored to meet the Governor of Dongyang."
Ji Yang sat at his desk, his eyes narrowed slightly as he studied him quietly. A sense of alarm welled up within him—it was this man who had earlier saved someone in the inn with a knife. His skill with the knife was sharp, his movements nimble, and he bore a striking resemblance to Lou Qi, the Hanbei Overlord, whom he had faced many times on the battlefield.
But Yan Du in front of him claimed that he was just a wandering man from Liangzhou, and the county magistrate was his guarantor, so he didn't say much for the time being.
Ji Yang's face remained expressionless as he nodded calmly, "If you are truly capable, then assist the county governor in planning the dike repairs as quickly as possible. This matter concerns the lives of thousands of civilians and no mistakes can be made."
Lou Qi remained calm, "I understand. I only ask the Commander-in-Chief to rest assured. This matter is in my hands, and I will not fail you."
Ji Yang paused for a moment, but without saying anything more, he simply waved his hand and said, "Get out of here. We'll start tomorrow morning."
Lou Qi clasped his fists in response, turned around and left the tent with a graceful back.
After he walked away, Ji Yang lowered his eyes and stared at the map on the table, his gaze slightly deep: "This person... is not simple."
Hearing this, Lu Linchuan replied softly, "My Lord, do you think he has other motives?"
Ji Yang didn't answer, but his eyes darkened and he whispered, "Pay more attention and see as we go."
Late at night, the lights in the yard were out, but there was still a faint candlelight flickering in the house.
Wanniang sat by the bed, fanning Jiang Ci gently with one hand. The summer night was sweltering, and even the wind that squeezed in through the cracks in the window lattice couldn't take away the lingering heat.
Jiang Ci lay on his side, his forehead slightly wet, but his face was calm.
Wanniang suddenly whispered, "Miss, I haven't read much and I don't know many words, but I keep hearing people mention 'flood control' these days. I've always wondered why it's so difficult. If it's so difficult, why has everyone tried to control it? And why have we never seen any dynasty completely stop flooding?"
Jiang Ci could hear the confusion in her tone. After a moment of silence, he slowly stood up, put on his clothes and leaned against the head of the bed, his eyes slightly lowered.
"Your question," she said softly, "is actually something that people all over the world have asked before."
She paused, gazing out the window at the dark night. "Water has been a scourge since ancient times. It's gentle, yet also the most merciless. When a torrential downpour descends, mountains and rivers surge, and in a moment, they can destroy fertile fields and sweep away villages. Once a riverbank breaks, dozens of miles of land become a swamp, leaving civilians homeless, their cattle and sheep lost, their fields barren, and even infected and dead."
"Water control is to protect the peace of the area and to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing." Her tone was gentle, but every word was clear.
"Why, you ask, can't we eradicate the root cause despite years of efforts? It's because water is unpredictable, and human power is ultimately limited. Rivers become clogged, dams age, flash floods strike... all of these are common occurrences. A levee may be strong today, but it may collapse again next year; a hazard may be eliminated today, but it may recur the next. Even with countless soldiers and artisans, they can only block one area, but they may not be able to protect the entire situation."
When Wanniang heard this, her expression became solemn and she stopped fanning herself.
Jiang Ci continued, "Throughout the dynasties, all wise and benevolent rulers have never taken floods lightly. This is why King Yu, while trying to control floods, passed by his home three times without entering."
"If you can control floods, you can win the hearts of the people; if you can keep the waters at peace, you can keep the world at peace. If you ask me why everyone is working to control floods, it's because the lives of the people depend on this one word, water."
At the end, she smiled softly: "So, now Ji Yang is shouldering this matter. Although he is not an emperor, he is responsible for the livelihood of thousands of people. He cannot afford to slack off."
Wanniang stared at Jiang Ci in amazement, and after a long moment, she whispered, "Miss... I thought it was just repairing dams and clearing canals, but I didn't realize that this water also holds the suffering of the people of the world."
Jiang Ci reached out and gently shook Wanniang's hand, whispering, "So we are not here to help him, we are here to help those people who are flesh and blood like us. No matter how much we can help, we should do our best."
Wanniang nodded and said softly, "It would be wonderful if the governor could see your good qualities, sincerely accept you, and be willing to live in harmony with Liangzhou."
Jiang Ci's lips slowly drooped when he heard this. His words from that night still lingered in his mind.
Ji Yang, in the end, still wanted to take the lives of the Jiang family with his own hands.
But when Jiang Ci looked at the white bottle on the table not far away, she felt that she couldn't understand Ji Yang. He clearly sent the medicine but didn't say a word. If he really didn't care about her, why would he do such a thing.
It was late at night and the wind was still, and the lights were dimly lit in a remote inn in Ningling County.
Su Yu pushed the door open and walked in. After entering, she leaned against the table, staring at Lou Qi and sneering, "You're playing such a big game. Don't tell me it's to help Ji Yang build a dam to control floods. I didn't even know when you had an ancestor who knew about water conservancy?"
Lou Qi sat lazily on the windowsill, one hand resting on his knee, looking out the window at the dilapidated streets and the twinkling stars, his tone extremely gentle: "I'm not here to help him."
Su Yu raised her eyebrows: "Then what exactly are you trying to do?"
Lou Qi turned around, his eyes indifferent but with a hint of sarcasm: "We have destroyed the road from Fengdu to Ningling. Our people are ambushing on the Xiling Road. He can't transport his food and grass. The burden of flood control now falls on his shoulders. I want to see how he responds."
“I will not take away his army, nor destroy his city.”
He paused, his eyes slightly lowered, his voice low and slow but full of ruthlessness: "I want him to be completely defeated in the eyes of the people of Ningling."
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