Upon hearing this, Zhang Qinan understood: "Is the General's wife concerned about the flood in Cangling?"
Zheng Quchi nodded: "That's right. The flood in Cangling cannot be solved simply by building a large dam. It requires diverting the river to manage it. In short, the imperial court can't afford it. But if it's not managed, the disaster will continue to spread next year and the year after, and the affected farmland, cities, counties and prefectures will only get bigger and bigger."
She briefly explained why she needed the money.
Zhang Qinan's expression turned serious for a moment before he spoke frankly: "Although Qinan doesn't know how much money this will cost, General's wife, I'm afraid the Zhang family alone can't fill this hole."
Zheng Quchi quickly said, "You don't need to come up with all the project funds at once. I estimate that the whole project will take at least several years to complete. We can repair it section by section, and the money can be raised slowly."
“In fact, this move is beneficial to the country and the people. Has Madam ever thought about launching a public fundraising campaign?” he suggested.
“I’ve thought about it, but I’ve never done it before and I don’t know how to start. The main thing is that I’m the only one who insists right now; they all think it’s unnecessary to go through all this trouble and expense.”
If she were to raise disaster relief funds in her own name, her appeal would be very weak, but if she were to do so in the name of the imperial court, the process would be much more complicated.
Zhang Qinan understood her difficulty and asked, "How much does Madam need?"
Zheng Quchi leaned closer to him and gestured an astronomical number.
As expected, Zhang Qinan was taken aback. He said with difficulty, "Qinan really can't come up with that much money right now, but please allow me to go back and try to raise it and think of a way."
"Don't worry, consider this money a loan from me. You can calculate the interest, and I will definitely pay you back in full later," Zheng Quchi assured him.
Zhang Qinan said apologetically, "Such a large sum of money belongs to the entire Zhang family. I really dare not generously tell the General's wife that she does not need to repay it. However, I would never dare to accept the interest. The General's wife has a great sense of righteousness and cares about the people of the world. I am deeply moved by her actions and feelings and am willing to do my best to help her."
He clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
Having received help, Zheng Quchi could hardly accept a bow from him and quickly helped the man up.
"Don't really think of me as a saint. I also have my own selfish motives. First of all, I believe I can earn this money back in the future, which is why I was willing to lend it to you. Secondly, I also want to turn what I have learned and what I know into something truly great. Don't look down on me just because I am a woman. My ambition and desire is to lead the Ye Kingdom towards a great revival, and then build one landmark project after another on this foundation, thus fulfilling my own value."
As she spoke, her eyebrows danced with excitement, her eyes sparkling with life, and in her presence, everything around her seemed to pale in comparison.
Zhang Qinan smiled and said, "Actually, I had this feeling the first time I saw the General's wife. In your eyes, there is the future, the great achievements, your own brilliance, and even a vast world that I dare not even imagine."
——
The task of raising funds was temporarily entrusted to Zhang Qinan to find a solution. Only after he had definite news could she submit a report to continue advocating for the construction of the water conservancy project in Cangling County.
After she returned, she was busy with various things, and it wasn't until a day later that she learned of a major event—Yuan Xingzhou had gone to war.
He led his troops to Xiatian, intending to reclaim the main grain production base of Ye Kingdom. He took away the Xuanjia Army and the Vermilion Bird Army of the Four Symbols Army. There were rumors in the military that the general's wife was selfless and willing to lend her private army to the crown prince to recover lost territory.
Zheng Quchi, who knew nothing at all and had only just learned that his home had been "robbed," suddenly turned pale.
Do we even need evidence?
Even Yuwen Sheng's private army can be mobilized at will, without even needing military tokens. What kind of bullshit evidence is needed to prove that Yuan Xingzhou is her "dead" husband—Yuwen Sheng?
What's infuriating is that Wei Yao, Wang Zebang, and Fu Rong all went with the army, so now she can't even find anyone to cause trouble for.
Meanwhile, the court simplified everything for the Prince of Ye's funeral. So simplified that, following the Crown Prince's orders, they went through the formalities directly, but omitted all the expenses. Zheng Quchi didn't even have a chance to participate before the funeral was over.
Before setting out on the expedition, Yuan Xingzhou had already summoned his ministers to announce the relevant crimes of the Empress Ye and presented the corresponding evidence. In the end, he executed her directly and buried her in the same tomb as the King of Ye to save trouble.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Quchi felt that Yuan Xingzhou was both sinister and wicked, having put two people who disliked each other and had become enemies together, clearly hoping that they would not be safe even underground.
As for Empress Ye's two children, he surprisingly showed mercy and did not eliminate them completely. Instead, he demoted them to commoners and exiled them to the frontier, never to return to the capital.
Regarding the new king's ascension to the throne, all the ministers were ready to welcome Yuan Xingzhou to the throne, but he only claimed that he needed to wait until he returned from Xiatian.
Although he did not have the title of Prince of Ye, he had already seized the real power of the king. After a bloody purge, the court was basically filled with his people. All his private schemes and plans over the years were fully revealed at this moment.
So much has happened in the court these days. Zheng Quchi knows what everyone else knows. As for the undercurrents and changes, she is just a marginal official who doesn't participate in national affairs or central government matters. She doesn't even have the right to listen to the gossip.
Exhausted, she returned to the general's mansion. The mourning hall had been removed, and the mansion seemed to have been rearranged. The previous somber and cold decor had been transformed into a vibrant and bright atmosphere. She saw pink and white flowering trees planted in the courtyard, with cherry blossoms falling in profusion, showcasing the beauty of early summer.
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