Chapter 25: Subduing Huang Dong: It's the Huang Da I've been longing for...
"Fifty thousand taels of silver!" Commander Mao said in a low voice, as if afraid of startling something away.
"How much?" Qi Chengming doubted his ears.
What a joke! A prince who left the palace to establish his own residence, traveling 30,000 li to take up his fiefdom, only brought 14,000 taels of silver with him. How much silver could a small bandit's den possibly have?
“Fifty thousand taels of silver, packed in several boxes,” Commander Mao repeated calmly, his cheeks flushed. “There are also two boxes of gold bars, and many tribute items…”
"You're missing the point!" Manager Song couldn't hold back any longer and added, "We've discovered a mine! And we've rescued quite a few miners... It took us so long to get back because we had to figure out how to bring them all out."
Qi Chengming's eyes widened in disbelief.
Bishu, standing to the side, also covered her mouth and gasped softly.
"What exactly is going on?" Qi Chengming asked curiously. He tried to suppress his curiosity and added, "Steward Song, settle the miners first. Bishu, go and record the financial ledger. Xiao Chengzi is asleep, so you can temporarily tidy up the storeroom for him tonight."
Manager Song didn't refuse, and hurriedly left after giving a nod. It wasn't just about settling them in; some miners were in very bad shape, and he had to find someone at night to fetch doctors and medicine. There were too many situations; the two doctors in the caravan simply weren't enough.
Bishu left with a somewhat resentful expression.
She wanted to hear it too.
Qi Chengming gave her a reassuring look and then looked at Commander Mao: "Please sit down and tell me slowly from the beginning... what exactly happened?"
Chairman Mao's eloquence was not very good; he gave a dry account of what had happened that night.
The bandits' hideout was half an hour's drive up the mountain. At first, Commander Mao led his men smoothly along the winding route map. After dealing with the sentries, they searched for the entrance by following the thick rocks, at which point he became suspicious—
Didn't the bandits who were interrogated earlier say that only the elderly, women, and children remained in the stronghold?
However, the lookout was a young boy, and the patrolman was also a man. Commander Mao suspected something was amiss, but he remained calm and ordered everyone to lie in ambush for a while longer to observe the situation.
Upon observation, they saw elderly people, women, and children coming out and walking down the back mountain to a safe and secluded spot, as if they were going to deliver food to someone—a large amount that required two teams of women to carry buckets.
Upon reaching the dense forest near the river, they found what appeared to be a cave. The women went inside and soon left with their tools. The place was very well hidden; if it weren't for the women leading the way, skillfully navigating the maze, the Imperial Guards would never have found the cave even after searching for eight hundred years.
"It was a clay mine that wasn't recorded by the government," Commander Mao recalled the scene he had witnessed.
The only battle of the night broke out in the mine. As expected, the bandits had left a group of able-bodied men in the mine to supervise the miners. Commander Mao killed several people, rescued the group of miners who had been tortured beyond recognition, and then led his men back up the mountain to wipe out the bandits' den. After searching the warehouse, they pieced together what had happened.
It turns out... there's a river nearby called the Dukang River, whose water is especially sweet.
Upon hearing this, Qi Chengming's heart stirred, and his expression became somewhat subtle.
The area along the Dukang River has abundant groundwater, which also makes the clay used for ceramics in the region of the highest quality. Once discovered, it is reported to the government, and private mining is prohibited.
The local bandits—or rather, the officials—discovered an unreported clay mine sometime during the day, a mine brimming with money. Their shady dealings began. While the bandits robbed passersby, their greed was the real motive; the officials behind them were actually using the opportunity to kidnap people and secretly fill the mine as miners.
The high-quality clay that was secretly mined was made into ceramics of tribute quality and sold.
"That silver all came from selling tribute items. You couldn't rob passing merchants of that much, so they wouldn't dare to cause such a big fuss." Commander Mao counted on his fingers, trying hard to recall and add, "Dukang wine, Mandarin Duck porcelain, and Dragon and Phoenix Double Yolk Duck Eggs—these three items were all local tributes to the Emperor and the palace, and were not allowed to circulate or be sold among the common people. But privately... many people would want to pay high prices to buy them."
Qi Chengming was not surprised at all.
This practice was all too common in the places of origin of the tribute items; there were even more outrageous examples. Some places were so audacious that they would sell their best batch first, and only send the rest to the palace as tribute…
"Wait, you also mentioned Dukang wine and duck eggs, could it be..." Qi Chengming looked at Commander Mao suspiciously.
“Yes.” The Grand Commander nodded honestly, revealing a somewhat naive and harmless smile. “We also found a batch of porcelain, Dukang wine, and tribute duck eggs in the warehouse, all sealed, as well as some other treasures.”
Qi Chengming closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
OK.
What kind of bandits are these? This is clearly an underground black market!
With such a hidden gray area, what if local officials wanted to resell other tribute items but had nowhere to dispose of them? Borrowing the mountain stronghold wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? If it weren't for the sudden arrival of soldiers of the Imperial Guard rank, and so quickly, who unexpectedly killed the main force of the bandits outside and rushed over without warning, giving them no time to react, this matter would have been really difficult to handle.
Tens of thousands of taels of silver, several boxes of gold bars, and three items of tribute quality that could be used as money... This time the harvest was indeed quite bountiful.
Qi Chengming slumped into a chair, his heart pounding with excitement, his eyes glazed over: "..."
He used all his strength to suppress the ever-growing corners of his mouth, trying not to lose control and laugh out loud in front of his subordinates.
Ha! He's a wealthy prince now!
Tens of thousands of taels of silver! That's enough to build not only an ordinary prince's mansion, but even a real prince's mansion of the caliber Master Huang mentioned! Although he wouldn't actually do that.
Qi Chengming chuckled silently for a while, but couldn't figure out how to spend the money. His mind gradually calmed down, and he looked at Commander Mao: "Go find Mr. Huang and Mr. Qin. Quickly, before the news of our surprise raid and arrest spreads to the surrounding areas, sell all those things! Sell as much as you can."
That's all money!
Qi Chengming had no way to sell the stolen goods, so he quickly took advantage of the last bit of hype to get rid of them.
"Just keep a little of the wine and duck eggs for yourself," Qi Chengming added sheepishly. He felt that his behavior just now was more like that of a bandit than a real bandit, and more like that of a heartless merchant than a black-hearted businessman.
"Yes!" Commander Mao didn't think much of it. He just looked at his prince with admiration and responded before striding out the door to get on his business.
The room became empty.
The night outside was already deep. Qi Chengming hadn't come to his senses yet. He subconsciously took another sip of the now-cold tea and sat there for a long time, unable to fall asleep even a little bit: "..."
He probably won't be able to sleep tonight.
Brilliant!
No wonder emperors loved confiscating property; this was a real feast.
Xiao Dezi and the others prepared the most exquisite and comfortable room in the mansion for His Highness the Second Prince. In addition to a comfortable bed, there was also a study in another room. Paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones were all provided, and the covers of various books on the bookshelves, which were used as collectibles or for showing off their elegance, were covered in dust.
Qi Chengming went to his study, muttered a few curses about the "people's hard-earned money," then took out a piece of fine bamboo-scented paper. He clumsily ground the ink, dipped the tip of his brush in the ink, pondered for a moment, and slowly began to write on it.
Previously, he was worried about basic necessities, and then he fled the palace like his life depended on it. The bumpy ride in the carriage nearly made his brain spin, leaving him with no concrete, holistic plan, only fragmented ideas. Since he couldn't sleep tonight anyway, and was incredibly excited, he might as well organize his future plans:
First, we must leverage the knowledge provided by the "infrastructure system" to build our future territory, making the surroundings as pleasing as possible.
This is very important; the development is planned for ten years. Regardless of whether there will be any revenge, succession struggles, or survival in the future, if Qi Chengming is not comfortable in his daily life, he will choose to go insane and will not live to see any future revenge or succession struggles.
He's a perfectly healthy modern person who transmigrates into an ancient world. He has no food, no toys, no cell phone—nothing matters more than his quality of life! That's what he said!
Secondly, we still need to find a way to accumulate strength to deal with future crises, using the plot of the novels I read before transmigrating as an aid, and secretly winning over the famous ministers and generals who will rise to prominence in the future.
The struggle for the throne... who wouldn't want that?
Qi Chengming thought of Master Qin, or rather, after resigning from his position as master, he should be called Mr. Qin.
Mr. Qin is nameless in the original novel and isn't one of the talents who assist the new emperor in the plot, but Qi Chengming won't have any issues with that. He may value the succession plot, but he won't blindly copy it. Even the original Second Prince was just a background character in the story; look at his current development, why should he underestimate characters outside the plot?
He has a system, but he can't just treat life like a game and live it carelessly.
Third, we still need to save money like crazy! Robbing bandits and thieves along the way is good enough, but we can't neglect our research either: researching handmade soap, recipes, and alcohol; and once we settle in Liuzhou, we'll research glass and cement.
To disguise oneself as a merchant caravan to sell goods, one must plan every single detail in advance. Then, the profits will be used to support the development of Liuzhou.
Well... even if things don't work out in the end, Qi Chengming still wants to be a local tyrant who can live comfortably in Liuzhou, rather than a pitiful wretch who could be manipulated and killed by the new emperor at any time.
I've struggled and fought, and I have no regrets.
Qi Chengming stopped writing, looked at his long-term plan for a while, then opened the infrastructure system, scanned and archived the paper, crumpled it up, and without changing his expression, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.
Having been in this world for so long, he knew that there would always be eunuchs and maids present when a brazier was lit. Now that everyone around him had been sent away, where was Qi Chengming going to find a brazier in the middle of the night? Should he go to the kitchen to watch it burn?
It's too much trouble; it's safest to just eat it.
Then comes short-term planning—
Qi Chengming picked up his pen again and started writing. This time, there was nothing to hide. His memory was only average for a modern person, nothing particularly good, so he still had to write down anything he was afraid of forgetting.
When I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll first arrange for the miners to rest and get to know each other, to find their relatives and family members. For those who don't have any, I'll need to figure out how to settle them down. I've brought the Yiyang County government to a standstill, and all these matters have to be entrusted to Mr. Qin to hold on for now. Following the contact information given to me by Emperor Hongren, I'll first send a memorial to the emperor and quickly appoint some new officials.
The traveler who led the team to capture the escaped centurion and others has not yet returned. Once they are captured, he should remember to look for Master Qin's servants and pageboys. Even if Master Qin doesn't say anything, as his lord, he must also be mindful of such matters concerning his subordinates.
And then...
Qi Chengming's face fell, and he looked away in disgust, refusing to look at his crooked handwriting.
The last time he wrote with a brush was back in elementary school! After transmigrating, he lost the original owner's memories. At most, his muscle memory allowed him to maintain a slightly more standard writing posture, but it didn't prevent his characters from being crooked and distorted, like crabs walking sideways. To modern people, it might be acceptable, but to ancient people, it was an appalling childish level of writing.
You must practice calligraphy!
The journey was too bumpy, so he couldn't practice his handwriting on the road. As a result, his ugly handwriting wasn't exposed. When he arrived at a rest stop along the way, the first thing he did every time was to practice his handwriting. Fortunately, the original owner's handwriting wasn't very good either, so he should be able to imitate it quite quickly.
Having written this far, there's nothing more to think about.
Qi Chengming sighed, blew the ink off the paper, put it away, and went back to bed to sleep. He was used to not needing to be served, and even if a young eunuch on night duty woke up at the bedroom door and wanted to come and help him take off his boots and coat, Qi Chengming would wave his hand and do it himself.
He thought he would be so excited that he would toss and turn and couldn't sleep.
But in the pitch-black, unfamiliar environment, smelling the faint fragrance of fruit on a plate in the room, and with excessively smooth brocade beneath him, Qi Chengming closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, sweet dream.
...
I slept until noon the next day.
Apart from the chirping of birds in the trees outside the window, it was as quiet as if no one was there.
"Xiao Dezi." Qi Chengming called out loudly, and the familiar little eunuch pushed open the door and came in. Soon, Xiao Chengzi also came over with a bundle of clothes and picked out a sky-blue silk outer shirt, satin trousers, and thick boots embroidered with gold thread and delicate patterns for him. They all looked to be brand new.
Qi Chengming glanced at him curiously. His clothes in the palace weren't as fancy as they were now. He must be rich now, using all the best materials on himself.
"I can tailor clothes for you, but two sets a season is the most you can have. No waste allowed." Qi Chengming cut his tongue off there. He had more money now, but he couldn't squander it.
He might not have bought two new outfits a year before he transmigrated, but now two outfits a season is considered a luxury.
"Don't just think about me, remember to get yourselves some new clothes too," Qi Chengming added, reasonably suspecting they weren't planning to get themselves a new outfit as well.
"Your Highness... alright." Xiao Chengzi wanted to argue, but when he looked up at the boy's unquestionable, smiling gaze, he lowered his head again, his dejection mixed with a touch of pity and admiration.
As expected of the Second Prince... His noble character has remained unchanged.
Back in the palace, His Highness rarely received good fabrics; his clothes were always drab and dusty, making him the most shabby of the princes. Now that he's out of the palace and finally has some money, His Highness doesn't want to embellish his appearance too much. In the palace, which prince only gets two sets of clothes made per season?
Your Highness is too frugal.
Even in this state, His Highness still thinks of them.
Xiao Chengzi's eyes were sore and hot, but his heart was warm.
A familiar-looking eunuch brought a basin of water and helped Qi Chengming wash up before moving on to eat. The kitchen maid was one of the two who had been ostracized in the imperial kitchen before, but after spending time together on the road, she and Qi Chengming had gotten along well.
So she didn't prepare any fancy delicacies or rare foods; she just made a simple bowl of chicken and vegetable noodles.
The broth, made from old hen stock, has a milky white hue. Finely shredded chicken is served on top of noodles, along with a generous handful of blanched greens, fresh mushrooms, and a poached egg, all sprinkled with chopped scallions. The aroma is incredibly delicious, and the dish is visually stunning, with gold, green, brown, yellow, and white colors blending harmoniously.
"This breakfast is delicious." Qi Chengming couldn't help but praise it, then picked up his chopsticks and slurped down his food.
He had just woken up, and this meal served as breakfast. He ate some light and delicious soupy food, and his stomach was soothed by the warm chicken soup.
only……
"Xiao Chengzi, go find Zhao the craftsman and have the iron pot I mentioned made as soon as possible. Let Aunt Fang think about those recipes I gave you." Qi Chengming urged, sounding eager to eat.
He loves light and delicious home-style dishes, but he also loves strong-flavored modern dishes like fried chicken legs, braised pork, spicy blood curd, and stir-fried green peppers with pork! I just don't know how many of these I can make, as I'm missing a lot of the ingredients.
It's been so long since I transmigrated... my taste in my mouth has gotten a little bland.
Now we finally have the conditions for experimentation.
I miss them.
"I promise I'll get it done as soon as possible!" Xiao Chengzi said hurriedly. He had heard about this since he had complained that his prince's meals were too simple. His prince had come up with a few new ways to prepare food and wanted them. However, due to the inadequate conditions for the convoy's travel, they hadn't been able to prepare them properly.
"Make those fried dishes first, then buy some... buy some piglets, feed them for a while and then cook them according to my method. I don't want to eat pigs from outside." Qi Chengming recalled how pigs were called in ancient times and changed two names.
His expression was complex, and he seemed a little disgusted.
The pronunciation of "豕" is "shi"... Every time Qi Chengming hears it, he thinks of how pigs were raised in ancient times, so he might as well buy some piglets to raise himself, and then eat them...
"Okay!" Xiao Chengzi's reply was much louder this time.
The round-faced eunuch's eyes were burning with excitement; his usually introverted and composed face was now filled with intense anticipation.
He wasn't afraid of His Highness's high demands or extravagant behavior; in Xiao Chengzi's eyes, those were things the palace had owed His Highness since childhood. What was wrong with His Highness wanting some compensation he deserved? Xiao Chengzi hadn't found an opportunity until now, and finally saw His Highness reveal his spoiled and picky expression—
He'll start saying "I don't eat this or that"!
Xiao Chengzi was so relieved that he almost cried.
We have to be extremely careful to get this done!
The young eunuch strode out with a proud and arrogant air.
Teenagers who are still growing have a big appetite. Qi Chengming slurped down a large bowl of soup noodles, but still felt it wasn't enough, so he added another large bowl of chicken noodles topped with vinegar, garlic, and dogwood, mixed with shredded chicken, shredded radish, shredded ginger, vinegar, and bean sprouts.
'Praying that chili peppers will be added to the infrastructure system's shop soon!!'
Qi Chengming prayed frantically in his heart.
He could hardly stand this life with only dogwood and mustard, and no green or red chili peppers.
While the young man dined in the flower hall, everything was quiet inside and out. After a while, he stood up contentedly, stepped over the threshold, and gazed at the fine weather in the courtyard. Just then, Commander Mao appeared out of nowhere and said with satisfaction:
"Your Highness, the traveler has returned, and all the people have been captured."
"There are still a few scattered people outside. Whether we arrest them or not is the same. They are the local thugs that the centurion was arguing with in the street, as well as some bandit-suppression teams formed by recruiting ordinary people," Commander Mao added. Anyway, the important people have been arrested. "We have also found Mr. Qin's servant and page."
"Is he alright?" Qi Chengming asked with concern.
“There’s a Shanjing Academy nearby. Mr. Qin and the great scholar Huai Liu there are close friends despite their age difference. They went there to deliver a message, but the servant broke his leg on the way and can’t move for the time being. However, Mr. Huai Liu came back with his page, saying he was coming to rescue him.” Commander Mao gestured, “Youzi, please speak.”
A man standing nearby stepped forward. He had dark skin and bulging shoulder muscles. He explained in detail what he knew, his expression full of admiration: "So Mr. Qin had already made arrangements..."
Qi Chengming laughed after hearing this.
"Isn't this perfect? Mr. Huai Liu is here to clean up the mess, so I don't need to write any more memorials." He stepped towards the door, ready to check on the situation. Youzi cleverly led the way.
In his heart, Qi Chengming's regard for Mr. Qin increased even more, and he was also quite amazed.
...Mr. Qin, it turns out he didn't need to save you at all.
It feels like I've struck gold.
He also understood why Mr. Qin hadn't revealed his plans: firstly, he didn't want to take credit, and secondly... this matter couldn't be kept secret forever. If Mr. Huai Liu were to come, he would eventually find out about Qin Liusong's previous methods.
Magistrate Tang's private residence had three courtyards. Qi Chengming passed through the main hall and arrived at the backyard. Youzi pointed to the row of rear rooms, where Mr. Qin and Mr. Huailiu were working and talking.
But Qi Chengming's attention was focused on the doorway—
An unexpected figure appeared before him: Master Huang was standing there listlessly, head bowed, looking somewhat depressed.
Compared to how preoccupied he was before things were out in the open, why does he seem even more listless now that everything is resolved?
That won't do.
My cousin recommended a master, and he's already signed a contract, but the man is visibly getting thinner and thinner every day. Qi Chengming still wants to recruit him, so what went wrong?
Qi Chengming casually strolled over, following Master Huang's gaze—
Mr. Huai Liu and Mr. Qin were having a pleasant conversation, both of them looking very pleased, as if they had been relieved of a heavy responsibility.
"Are you unhappy, Mr. Huang? Is it because you had to rely on the power of a prince like me to solve the problem in your hometown?" Qi Chengming thought for a moment, then deliberately asked innocently with a wrong answer.
This is a psychological technique.
Master Huang was already distracted, and upon hearing this, he instinctively wanted to refute and correct him: "...No, no, I didn't care about these things when I accepted His Highness's invitation and prepared to return home."
He used to be very wary of royalty, or more accurately, of anyone in a high position or with great power. They would remind Master Huang of the disgusting bloodsucking insects from his hometown, and then he would feel helpless and desperate.
Master Huang originally only believed in the good reputation of the Marquis of Weiyong's mansion. During his trip, he also saw that this prince was approachable and cared for the people like his own children... so he no longer cared.
When Master Huang agreed to His Highness's request to change the route to Yiyang County, he had already formed a thought in his mind. However, he was not completely determined whether to present the evidence or to use His Highness's power—why should His Highness make decisions for him? Why should he cause such a commotion?
Is it because Your Highness is going to Liuzhou to assume your fiefdom?
So it was only after His Highness had bound the bandits and truly shown his intention to intervene that Master Huang, who had been observing cautiously and coldly, produced the evidence.
"I just..."
Master Huang continued to stare at the two people in the back room, his expression extremely ugly. His voice was soft, mixed with resentment, "I just realized that I am too incompetent."
Years ago, he inadvertently obtained a clue, which forced him to flee his hometown. It was a miracle he survived. The heavy burden weighed on his heart, and Master Huang could only immerse himself in architecture, pretending he knew nothing about it.
Now, however, he learns that... a clerk can eradicate his entire nightmare through his own methods. How amazing!
He had also wondered... why wasn't it him who met Mr. Huai Liu and became close friends despite their age difference? Oh well, even if it were him, with his abilities, he wouldn't be able to carefully hide himself in the government office and uncover so many details, would he?
He's no match for Master Qin.
His talent lies only in architecture... He's not good at dealing with people, nor is he good at handling this kind of situation.
Now it's all over.
Master Huang sadly realized that he could no longer easily forgive himself—forgive the cowardly and incompetent self who had been tormented by nightmares for many years.
He couldn't move on from the past and was trapped in self-blame.
“…I see.” Qi Chengming looked thoughtfully at the young man’s troubled face.
This isn't anyone's fault; it's just a series of coincidences.
Master Huang is a genius in his craft; he simply shouldered an unbearable burden at the wrong time and in the wrong place. Even though Master Huang deserves some credit for solving the problem, he cannot forgive himself when compared to Mr. Qin's behavior.
This logic doesn't hold water.
Qi Chengming pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke seriously: "Mr. Huang—Mr. Huang Dong."
"My courtesy name is Anbang," the young man said dejectedly, but still corrected himself. These days, it's considered impolite to address someone by their given name; if someone has a courtesy name, they're addressed by it.
Qi Chengming understood perfectly. The name, with its connotations of "pillar of the nation" and "peace and stability," clearly indicated that Master Huang had received a proper education in his childhood and was likely burdened with high expectations by his parents. It was only natural that he would feel such a heavy psychological burden now.
"Mr. Anbang," the young man before him said solemnly. His features still retained a touch of childishness, but his gaze was calm yet powerful, filled with a gentle encouragement that pierced straight into Huang Dong's heart.
"—Don't forget, regardless of the cause and effect, this matter was resolved by me. I sent the people, and I made the decision. You are my garden master, and Mr. Qin is my disciple. I decided to go to Yiyang County to resolve this matter, and you cooperated with me along the way, right?"
Although there were many questions, Huang Dong really couldn't refute this statement. After a long while, he reluctantly nodded.
“That’s right.” Qi Chengming’s tone regained its lightness. “If it weren’t for me, Mr. Anbang, your long-cherished wish would have continued to be delayed and could not be realized. Mr. Qin may be very capable, but what if he hadn’t been rescued yesterday, and it was already too late when Mr. Huai Liu came today? Would things really have been resolved smoothly according to his plan? So the fact is, all of this is thanks to me.”
"I decided we would come to Yiyang County, Mr. Anbang. Just accept the fact that the problem is solved. If I hadn't chosen to come, even if you told me everything, I wouldn't have gone through all that trouble to come here again." Qi Chengming deliberately spoke in a very cold tone.
"Your nightmares and obsessions may continue for ten years or even longer without being resolved. Because you signed a contract with me, I won't let you go, and you can't leave."
"Mr. Anbang, do you understand?" Qi Chengming asked firmly. "To put it bluntly, your worries, both in the past and in the future, are unnecessary. You just need to listen to me obediently and do my work. You don't need to worry about this kind of trouble at all in the future."
"..." Master Huang was silent for a while, then couldn't help but chuckle softly.
He felt deeply comforted by His Highness's words. Surprisingly, he actually felt much better...very relaxed.
Even if he denies it, that's just who he is:
...He failed to become a pillar of the nation as his parents had hoped, and he couldn't face himself as he was, yet he was simply not up to the task.
He only needs someone to command him, lead him, and decide for him how to do things in order to escape the painful self-reproach, so that he can focus on doing things without thinking about anything else, and that will make things easier for him.
His Highness saw this even earlier than he did, and was willing to become his support.
"Aren't you speaking too soon?" Huang Dong asked jokingly, his tone now calm and composed. "My contract is with the Marquis of Weiyong's mansion, and I don't really have any connection with Your Highness yet, so there's no question of me working for you."
"That's not up to you." Qi Chengming deliberately put on a stern face, adopting the arrogant demeanor of a royal prince bullying others, and threatened with a sneer, "You're already in the caravan. If you want to come with me, you can. If you don't want to come with me... you still have to work for me! I have so many topographical maps waiting for you to plan and build them. Don't think you can push them onto someone else."
"Are you bullying us by taking advantage of your power?" Huang Dong couldn't hide the amusement in his voice.
He's so strange; the more he listened, the happier he became.
"What do you call this, abducting a man from the people..." Qi Chengming frowned and remained silent for a few seconds, then changed his words, feeling that this title didn't sound good. "This is coercing and enticing you onto my ship. In short, you can't get off now. You have to be used by me and squeeze every last drop of your ability out of me. Do you understand?"
Master Huang couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.
"...Hahahahahaha!" His laughter was hearty, like that of a true young man, no longer revealing the previous melancholy and strange, complicated emotions.
After laughing for a while, even the people in the back room heard the commotion and looked over in confusion. Master Huang continued laughing as if no one else was there. After a long while, he finally stopped laughing heartily and solemnly replied:
"……good."
This was his response to what the Second Prince had said earlier.
He accepted every request, for this prince, with his character and temperament, was the lord he would serve for the rest of his life.
Master Huang straightened his robes, knelt down, and in the courtyard, he raised his arm seriously as if no one else was there, causing his wide sleeves to flutter. He lowered his eyes and bowed deeply, no longer showing any trace of his previous arrogance: "—Huang Dong greets the Lord."
This is a grand gesture that only a scholar can perform with grace.
Huang Dong, a candidate for the imperial examination in the eighth year of the Hongren era, who had been ridiculed as a "useless person," "self-degrading," and "only good at playing low-class games," met his mentor.
...
Qi Chengming spoke so many eloquent words, comforting the people and unexpectedly gaining Master Huang's sincere loyalty. The young man remained calm and composed throughout, his demeanor serene yet firm and powerful, his noble and leader-like appearance seemingly innate.
The young man standing nearby looked on with admiration, gaining a deeper understanding of the still-young prince.
However, upon returning to the main courtyard, Qi Chengming hastily slammed the door shut the moment he entered, practically fleeing as he crawled onto the bed, covering his burning cheeks: "...!"
Ahh!
No way, as someone in a position of power, he hasn't developed a thick skin yet!
I tried to follow the big principles I'd read in novels, like "I'll take care of everything for you," and it worked pretty well. But unfortunately, I'm practically digging a three-bedroom apartment out of my boots with my toes!
Qi Chengming has never been one to hide his emotions in front of others. At least, he doesn't want to become a complete superior, someone whose emotions are always on display, someone who keeps everything bottled up. But—only when he's shy like this, does he want to hide! He doesn't want anyone to see him!
Qi Chengming rolled over, his long arms and legs sprawled on the soft bedding. He looked up at the gauze curtains above the bed, his cheeks still flushed, but he was already lost in reverie: "..."
Although shy.
But it feels so fulfilling!
Everyone in the institute followed him voluntarily. Manager Song did so willingly, and Mr. Qin volunteered himself. Only Master Huang was the man he couldn't have, but now he genuinely followed him.
Qi Chengming hid in bed and secretly chuckled for a long time.
When the door opened again, the person standing there was once again a handsome, elegant, and composed young prince.
Xiao Dezi stood vigilantly at the door, watching his surroundings to make sure no one had just passed by. Only then did he step forward and silently smooth out the wrinkles on His Highness's sky-blue outer robe. He then, as usual, landed half a step behind His Highness, bowing his head and following him in a subservient, lackey-like manner.
"Xiao Dezi, let's go look around. You lead the way," Qi Chengming instructed.
Now that all the urgent matters at hand have been completed, all that remains is to wait for Mr. Huai Liu to relay the news back to the imperial court. In three to five days at most, after Mr. Qin has sorted out the county's official affairs and entrusted them to the lower-level officials to ensure a smooth operation, they will have to continue their journey.
Xiao Dezi knew very well what his Highness was most concerned about right now.
He led the young prince to another residence, where the miners had been taken in and given relief. The vast, magnificent courtyard was filled with the smell of medicine, and doctors and weeping relatives came and went, almost wearing down the threshold.
Xiao Chengzi is busy here, sweating profusely.
Upon seeing his prince arrive, his eyes lit up, and he came over to report the basic situation: "There are currently sixty-three miners. Nineteen of them are seriously injured and need to rest. Twenty-eight of them cannot find their way back or have nowhere to go."
Qi Chengming smelled the strong rancid odor, but without changing his expression, he leaned closer to take a closer look.
Some of the miners were emaciated, some were worn down beyond recognition, and some lay there listlessly, their eyes glazed over, unresponsive. These were all the aftereffects of working day and night in the mines for so long. Most of them didn't look old, but they were listless and lifeless, like broken vessels.
"...While we're still here, let's help them look for a place to go. If they really have nowhere to go, let's ask them if they want to stay with the convoy." That was all Qi Chengming could say.
He suspected that these miners would be better off staying in Yiyang County to find easy odd jobs than following him to Liuzhou. As for the injured who couldn't move and could only rest, he could only entrust them to Mr. Huai Liu.
But whether they were injured, returning home, or following him, Qi Chengming planned to give them a sum of money—the stolen money was all earned from them.
But Qi Chengming didn't dare give too much, as that would be too conspicuous and more likely to attract trouble. After thinking for a moment, he whispered to Xiao Chengzi to secretly leave a sum of money for Mr. Huai Liu, so that he could use it slowly for the miners who stayed behind. As for the miners who were willing to follow the caravan, that would be Qi Chengming's responsibility.
Qi Chengming's next destination was the courtyard where the artisans were temporarily staying.
The place was filled with the sounds of hammering, arguing, and grinding, brimming with the vibrancy of daily life. Qi Chengming saw the young boy he had met before, Zhao Ju'er, carefully pouring a tray of solidified green paste onto the millstone.
He couldn't help but walk over and examine the horse from a distance, without disturbing its movements.
It was a large, square, solidified, emerald-green paste. It looked pure in color and had a faint tea aroma that made you want to take a bite. You could probably break it into dozens of small pieces.
After carefully cutting the "paste" into shape with a ruler, Ju'er picked up a small piece, rubbed it in his palm, and observed it for a long time before his eyes lit up. He called out to Zhao the craftsman, "Dad! It's done! This time it's a great success!"
"Is this soap? You've already made it?" Qi Chengming asked approvingly, leaning closer to examine it. "How's the result?"
"...Your Highness!"
Zhao Ju'er was startled and, as if she had done something wrong, tried to hide the green soap. She hesitated for a moment before steeling herself and saying in a low voice, "This, this is just something I made up myself. The soap that Father made is the one you were talking about, and it's not finished yet..."
"So what did you make?" Qi Chengming picked up a small piece to examine it. He smelled the aroma of tea, and it looked like mung bean cake. However, some soaps made in ancient times might actually be edible.
"I used tea leaves and glutinous rice, as well as honey, peach kernels, angelica, oil and rice wine..." Zhao Ju'er lowered his head more and more as he spoke. He was not a proper craftsman. He had just heard his father was busy researching soap, so he found a few ingredients and combined them with the "bath bean formula" that His Highness had told them to make a little gadget.
"This should be...it should be...soap." Zhao Ju'er herself wasn't sure.
The clever Xiao Dezi had already gone to fetch water, and now he placed it in front of Qi Chengming so he could try it out. The cleaning ability was average, similar to the bath beans of this era, leaving a faint tea fragrance on the back of his hand. Its main advantage was its freshness.
The smell is quite pleasant—Qi Chengming liked it on the spot.
He doesn't usually like burning incense or wearing sachets, so this would be perfect for him.
Qi Chengming's expression shifted slightly. He thought of those ancient recipes and handmade soaps that are often found online. Could Zhao Ju'er have somehow created a whitening and fragrance-retaining handmade soap?
"Write down this recipe, Koko. I'll use this soap to wash from now on," Qi Chengming encouraged, glancing casually at the people around him. "Use your brain and think of some soaps with different functions or different pleasant scents. When you open your shop in the future—I'll give you a share of the profits from your soap sales."
The young boy stared blankly, his face filled with disbelief: "...Yes!!"
The others around them erupted in a clamor of disbelief. They were craftsmen, and they'd only ever heard of fulfilling a master's demands; they'd never heard of receiving a share of the profits from selling finished goods!
What an incredible windfall!
"You too," Qi Chengming said, encouraging them with practiced ease after they finished their discussion. "If you develop the soap I want and it sells well, you'll all get a share of the profits."
In ancient times, there was no emphasis on copyright, technology, or rewards. But Qi Chengming knew how to motivate everyone; he wasn't just making empty promises—because he was certain that everything would come to fruition.
Technology is such an important thing, yet craftsmen are unaware of the potential hidden within themselves.
They were the people Qi Chengming cherished most in the team.
The kitchen maid, who had been watching with envy for a long time, seized the opportunity to come over, carrying a large, newly cast iron pot: "Your Highness—the pot is ready. I'll practice a bit more and make fried chicken legs for Your Highness tonight!"
"Take me to the kitchen." Qi Chengming's spirits lifted. He wanted to watch Aunt Fang cook so he could directly guide her if she made any mistakes. Of course, he wouldn't forget to encourage Aunt Fang, "Aunt, please work hard these days and figure out how to cook. Teach more people. I want to build a restaurant in Liuzhou in the future, and I'll need your guidance."
"..." Aunt Fang's mind was also filled with thoughts.
She dared not dream of profit sharing from the restaurant, or even from the recipes... Before, she was a neglected palace maid, ostracized and ignored; now, she was the head chef, managing a large group of people, enjoying immense prestige. And in the future, if she could train a bunch of apprentices and grand-apprentices, they would all serve in His Highness's restaurant.
How would you put it in the words of a scholar?
Indeed...he has students all over the world!
Aunt Fang was filled with enthusiasm just thinking about it. She carried the large iron pot in one hand and strode forward, leading the way to the kitchen: "...Your Highness, come with me!"
Qi Chengming followed behind with his hands behind his back, full of anticipation.
At the very back was Xiao Dezi, who suddenly looked up at the young prince's back.
The little eunuch silently admired and praised in his heart:
...As expected of His Highness, he's even so skilled at encouraging people, and he doesn't miss a single one.
So busy!
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Author's Note: Qi Chengming: Trying hard to learn how to carry water. (But there's so much water to carry...!)
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Here comes the big, fat chapter!
Please don't hoard chapters during these few days after this page goes live qwq. The ranking on the charts on the fourth day after going live will depend on the data from the past few days—please, please everyone! (shaking)
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