Chapter 84 A Storm is Brewing
"You've come to me for help?" Wang Shou looked somewhat surprised. He turned his head, put down the book, and coldly instructed Zhong'er before standing up, "Continue reading, don't be lazy."
"Oh," the little boy replied with a frown, his face scrunched up so much that his eyebrows almost met his face, clutching the book with obvious distress. He was usually an honest child, but Qi Chengming could see the guilty and hesitant look on his face, clearly unwilling to study.
'...Is it really okay to be so obviously lazy?'
Qi Chengming looked sympathetically at his cousin's dark face, sensing the restraint in his tightly pursed lips. He silently mourned for Zhong'er for a second—good, give him a complete childhood, this is the taste this child is about to experience.
The two sat down in the main house in the backyard. The table and floor were messy, covered with bottles, jars, and fabrics. The air smelled of medicinal herbs. Wang Shou explained somewhat embarrassedly, "I've been making some medicines that we used to use at home."
Qi Chengming took a breath, his gaze sweeping over the powder, the medicine grinder, and the half-formed pills waiting to dry. He understood: "My alcohol factory here has produced the first batch of finished products. I'll give you a jar before you leave, along with the preparation formula... I also have other medicines here, all left behind by Doctor Bian."
Alcohol evaporates too easily; even with careful storage, sealed in porcelain bottles and wax, it probably wouldn't last long. It would be even more difficult to produce alcohol again in the military, but there was no other way, so Qi Chengming could only do his best.
“That’s medicine that Doctor Bian left for you; I can’t accept it.” Wang Shou frowned and refused.
"Doctor Bian returned to Liuzhou as soon as he finished his work. Cousin, you're planning to join the army, aren't you? You really need these medicines more." Qi Chengming glanced at the items, his tone already knowing. Doctor Bian had said that his cousin needed to recuperate until spring, but now it's spring, his new and old injuries have healed, and even Tianniang's illness has long since recovered. Is he about to set off?
Judging by the time, the reply from the Marquis of Weiyong's residence should arrive soon.
My cousin probably plans to read the letter, return to the capital, and then join the army. Or perhaps he'll make the difficult decision to enlist directly.
"By the way, I have something to discuss with you today, cousin. Take a look at this." Qi Chengming changed the subject, not giving Wang Shou a chance to refute. He took out a stack of prepared papers from his pocket, covered with densely written small characters.
“This is…” Wang Shou reached out and took it, then read it intently.
In the instant he reached out his hand, Qi Chengming tilted his head forward and quickly selected the giant turntable in his field of vision.
Let's have a lucky draw!
Fireworks explode!
Qi Chengming slightly widened his eyes.
[Amoxicillin x1 bottle (100 tablets)].
What... what is this?
The last two rewards were for essential medicines unavailable in ancient times, much more cost-effective than buying healing pills with his points! The system's medicines are bought one pill at a time, and their effects are definitely stronger than modern medicines, but the quantity is simply too small. He could even get some amoxicillin for his cousin as insurance!
Not bad, not bad...
"This is... a medical book?"
Wang Shou carefully read the contents of the paper and was shocked to find that it contained many detailed treatment methods for the illness, so detailed that if he followed them step by step, he could cure himself. The premise was that he did not make any mistakes in his diagnosis.
"Oh... these are just some of the records. I'll give you a copy of the rest after I finish copying them. They'll definitely be useful later," Qi Chengming said, snapping out of his reverie.
This was actually a copy of the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual" that he had copied from the system. It was the second of the three great books, and Qi Chengming had used it as an excuse today. His first thought was to show it to Doctor Bian and the Imperial Physician, but his cousin was more anxious.
Qi Chengming's handwriting has improved recently, but... who knew that the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual" was divided into two volumes, each thicker than a brick!
Thinking about the copying he did in his spare time, Qi Chengming unconsciously raised his hand to rub his sore arm, his feelings mixed.
“…Alright.” Wang Shou wasn’t stupid. He was somewhat moved. He didn’t ask where these precious and systematic records came from since Madam Bian was no longer in Liuzhou, nor did he ask his cousin why he said he copied them himself.
"Then I'll head back now." Qi Chengming finished his work and took his leave without delay.
Despite being a prince, he seems to have plenty of free time.
But there are a few fixed things he has to do every day—first, to report on matters big and small by Steward Song, and sometimes he will bring some stewards to report on matters that he cannot handle.
Secondly, he spends at least two hours copying and studying the books in the system, and then goes to the laboratory from time to time to study new technologies.
The hundreds of techniques recorded in the divine book "The Friend of Dual-Use Military and Civilian Talents" alone would be enough to benefit him for many years. Only by constantly learning can one improve. He had no emperor to teach him, so he could only learn how to be a leader by himself.
Thirdly, playing the piano.
Once he's mastered the basics and laid a foundation, Qi Chengming can learn any piece he wants by reading sheet music. When he's tired from studying or dealing with chores, he can play the qin for a while to relax…
The fourth method is also a way to relax: going out incognito for a low-key visit.
However, the local military and state military now know what Qi Chengming looks like. Sometimes his low profile is only among the common people, which forces Qi Chengming to change his appearance and even his makeup before going out.
Qi Chengming returned to the main courtyard, changed into an inconspicuous set of clothes, and then went out. This time, he didn't take Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi with him, but instead took a young imperial guard on duty at the gate named Abu, a big, simple-minded guy. He then quietly went to the Liuzhou County Government Office.
Last time, when Wen Er was drunk, he was preoccupied with the case at the county government. Since Qi Chengming had promised him, it was time to go and take a look.
"Young Master Wang!" The yamen runner at the county government office was already familiar with Qi Chengming, so he greeted him and then pretended not to see him before letting him in.
Abu had been praised by his master when they were on the ship before, so he was very excited to be chosen this time. Suppressing his emotions, he asked in a low voice, "Young master, are we going to solve a case?"
"You seem quite interested?" Qi Chengming glanced at him.
“We used to love listening to storytellers when we were free, about chivalrous deeds, about a righteous official rectifying the government on his way to office, and about a person with nowhere to seek justice who happened to meet the emperor on his incognito inspection tour!” Abu became more and more excited as he spoke.
"Humorous." Qi Chengming is now a prince himself, and he's planning to go to the county government office to look at the case files that Mr. Qin isn't good at handling. Doesn't this perfectly match the storybooks that Abu likes to read?
"Looks like I made the right choice bringing you along today," Qi Chengming joked.
Abu seemed even more radiant after being praised. He unconsciously straightened his chest and stood more comfortably. Soon, he looked around and whispered his discovery: "Young master... the people from the government office are here."
"Is that so?" Qi Chengming stared intently into the distance, his smile fading slightly. In the direction he was heading, several unfamiliar faces stood. The Imperial Guards were supposed to patrol daily; did he remember that these were people from the government office?
Qi Chengming walked over based on his guess. The unfamiliar faces didn't stop him; instead, they were so frightened that they immediately knelt down to pay their respects: "...Greetings, Your Highness!"
Is the Prefect inside?
"We are discussing matters with the county magistrate." The men lowered their heads, not daring to stop them.
Qi Chengming waved for them to get up, then, slightly concerned, he went inside to find Mr. Qin.
Qin Liusong was also present at the small meeting—upon hearing that Qi Chengming had arrived, the meeting could not continue for the time being, and Prefect Lu tried his best to pay his respects to the Prince.
"What happened?" Qi Chengming, after skillfully brushing off Prefect Lu's enthusiastic compliments, turned his head and asked Qin, the clerk sitting next to him, in a low voice. He noticed that the people sitting in this small meeting, including familiar faces such as the county magistrate, the county assistant, and the registrar, did not look too good.
What did Prefect Lu say?
"Your Highness, the Prefect has brought some news." Qin Liusong's expression wasn't particularly good, but it wasn't too bad either; at least it was better than everyone else present, as if he had recovered or was mentally prepared. "Because of the successive defeats in the north, the court plans to increase this year's taxes and allow local areas to mint coins privately. Once it's officially confirmed, the post station will send over the newly issued official document."
"..." Qi Chengming took two seconds to process this. "What taxes? Weren't our taxes exempted this year?"
“That’s the problem, Your Highness.” Qin Liusong used a more formal form of address even in front of Prefect Lu, although it was already quite unusual for him to speak to the prince so readily. So Qin Liusong subtly gave the county magistrate a look.
The magistrate of Liuzhou County had always been a figurehead, but he wasn't stupid. He hurriedly chimed in, "Originally, it was to be exempted, but I heard from Lord Lu that the extra revenue portion will not be exempted, and there will be no exceptions for any region."
Qi Chengming: "???"
"Has the imperial court finally gone mad with poverty?" he blurted out, questioning. Only a prince would dare utter such an offensive remark; everyone else instinctively looked away, panicking at the sound of his words, though they managed to feign composure.
"Well, I have quite a few connections." Lu Yu said enthusiastically and eagerly, his fat face beaming with a fawning smile. "Your Highness, knowing this in advance will allow us to prepare earlier."
He had originally planned to use his unpopular demeanor to intimidate everyone upon his arrival, but he discovered that Liuzhou City had already been thoroughly subdued by the new emperor. Now, with no other option, Lu Yu couldn't wait to demonstrate his importance, so he rushed over to curry favor as soon as he received the news.
—His connections were certainly poor. He'd looked like this since childhood, barely passed the imperial examinations, and suffered constant discrimination. If it weren't for the years he relentlessly starved himself, losing weight and improving his appearance, he really wouldn't have had much of a future.
These messages were passed on to him by officials from the Jiangnan faction because he was in Liuzhou.
The increased taxation I remember triggered a huge uproar. A closer look at the various hidden dangers and chaos that followed might well have originated from this incident. But… the tide had turned, and even if Lu Yu were reborn, he would be powerless. He couldn't fight, nor could he stop natural disasters. This year's finances were severely damaged, and the decisions made by the court… seemed almost perfectly logical.
Lu Yu hurriedly passed this message on to the new emperor, and even the people of the Jiangnan faction believed that this message was beneficial to the new emperor.
Yes, in hindsight, allowing the four regions to mint their own coins was a bad thing. But for the new emperor, secretly developing his power in Liuzhou, being able to mint his own coins and develop his own economy was a good thing!
"Hmm..." Qi Chengming also thought of this. His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons, and he racked his brains to recall the original text, trying to compare it with the original.
The memories are fruitless.
Damn it.
The original text devotes considerable space to describing how the princes vied for Emperor Hongren's favor, fought for power, cultivated relationships with court officials, and vie for the throne. It completely omits these background details!
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