Chapter 50 Cui Baiyu was locked up
It was only when Crown Prince Liu Xiao plunged into the massive logistical work that he truly realized that “one who doesn’t manage the household doesn’t know how expensive firewood and rice are.”
Numbers, account books, and road maps took up almost all of his time.
He is no longer the crown prince who only needs to express his opinions, but is responsible for making specific decisions and bearing the consequences.
The old minister of the Ministry of Revenue smiled and held up the account book: "Your Highness, the journey to the northern border is long, and there will be losses in transportation of food and fodder. According to convention, we need to prepare 30% more..."
The Minister of War said solemnly, "Your Highness, the maintenance of military equipment and the mobilization of carriages and horses all require money. This time the troops are dispatched in a hurry, and the treasury may not have enough money..."
Officials from the Ministry of Works complained that the river was silted up, affecting the efficiency of grain transport...
Problems came one after another.
Liu Xiao was a little flustered at first, but he quickly calmed down.
He summoned the officials of the Eastern Palace who were proficient in mathematics and practical work to form a small "Logistics Staff" to calculate day and night.
He no longer relied solely on reports from officials in various ministries, but personally verified key data.
He even approached old farmers and drivers to ask about the practical difficulties of transportation.
He discovered that a list of ordnance submitted by the Ministry of War did not seem to match the inventory records.
After careful investigation, they discovered a small case of corruption in which a minor official took advantage of the replacement of old and new military equipment.
Although the amount was not large, Liu Xiao used this to establish his authority and severely punished the officials involved.
Officials from various departments no longer dared to underestimate the young prince, and their work efficiency increased dramatically.
Although the emperor said that he would let his son gain experience, how could the old father let it go?
He asked Fu'an to report the movements of the East Palace at all times. He heard that his son stayed up late to read the account books.
Immediately, he sent someone to deliver three hundred-year-old ginseng roots out of great concern;
When he heard that his son had uncovered a corruption case, he proudly paced around the imperial study: "Look! He is indeed my son! He can't tolerate any injustice!"
When he heard that his son was worried about the grain transport, he "happened" to find an old policy for managing rivers in the previous dynasty and "accidentally" asked Fu'an to send it to the Eastern Palace.
Liu Xiao received the perfect old policy and looked at his father's familiar red-ink comments on it, feeling both helpless and warm.
He knew that his father was helping him secretly, but he wanted to solve the problem with his own abilities.
He carefully studied the old policy and, based on the actual situation, proposed a plan of segmented transportation and the establishment of transit granaries, which effectively reduced losses and improved efficiency.
The plan was presented to the emperor. The emperor looked at his son's neat and sharp handwriting, and the pragmatic and innovative spirit revealed in it.
The emperor was delighted and waved his red pen: "Approved! Do as the prince says!"
At the court meeting the next day, he praised the prince highly, almost saying "My son is a genius."
On the front line, Liu Cong's performance was even more remarkable.
He made full use of his strengths of steady and cautious attack and his ability to launch surprise attacks, and used the mobility of his elite cavalry to fight several beautiful ambushes and pursuits in succession.
The defeated Rongdi army that had sneaked into the border was completely routed and many prisoners were taken.
The good news flew back to the capital like snowflakes.
Every time a victory report came, Liu Jin would ask the eunuch to read it aloud at the court meeting.
Then he proudly accepted the congratulations of the ministers, but his eyes always glanced at the prince standing beside him.
It's as if to say, "Look, your brother is awesome, right? But you were the one who ensured the logistics, so you deserve half the credit!"
Liu Xiao was also happy for his second brother, and at the same time he tightened the logistics string to ensure that there was no shortage of food, fodder and military equipment on the front line.
He even proactively adjusted some food and fodder delivery routes and material ratios based on the description of the battlefield terrain in the battle report, making the supply more accurate and efficient.
When Liu Cong received the supplies sent from the rear that were particularly suitable for the current war needs, he was also slightly stunned.
Then he understood, and a warm feeling of admiration welled up in his heart. He knew that this must be the work of the prince.
This younger brother, although far away in the capital, can already think of what the front line is thinking.
This silent understanding and support made him feel that the battle was worth fighting more than any reward.
The two brothers, one fighting bravely on the front line, the other strategizing in the rear, although they are thousands of miles apart, they cooperate more and more tacitly.
This tacit understanding also makes some people who are secretly watching feel more and more uneasy.
Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, Cui Baiyu, who was used as a "bait" by the emperor and Liu Cong,
As expected, he lived up to everyone's expectations and started to commit suicide.
Seeing that the prince was busy with government affairs and had not expressed anything for a long time, she felt anxious.
When she heard that the prince was busy with logistical affairs, she suddenly had an idea and felt that the opportunity to show off had come!
She remembered that she had a distant cousin who seemed to be working in a small government office in the canal transport industry, so she secretly sent someone to contact him.
She wanted to find out about the prince's "difficulties" and then "inadvertently" offer some "suggestions" so that the prince would look at her with admiration.
Her clever move hit the wall of strict surveillance!
The trusted maid she sent out was immediately caught in contact with her distant cousin by the secret guards left behind by Liu Cong!
The secret guard followed the clues and found out that the distant cousin had once had an intersection with a peripheral manager of the eldest prince's family in his early years.
And that manager just happened to have a vague connection with the mysterious force that had tried to contact Liu Xuan before!
This was originally just a foolish act of climbing up by Cui Baiyu, but it accidentally revealed a hidden thread in the canal transportation system!
Although this line does not seem to be the core, it is enough to prove that the mysterious opponent has infiltrated a wider range than imagined, and its goal is definitely not as simple as creating chaos!
The news quickly spread back to the capital.
Emperor Liu Jin was furious, but also felt a little scared. How could the other party actually reach out to the canal transportation system?
Although he's just a marginal figure, the transportation of food and fodder is our lifeline! If he finds an opportunity to stir up trouble, the consequences will be disastrous!
He immediately ordered a drastic cleanup of the small government office where his distant cousin worked.
Using this as a breakthrough point, they followed the clues and secretly investigated the entire canal transportation system.
At the same time, he had reached the limit of his tolerance for Cui Baiyu's stupidity and the Hou Mansion's "bad luck".
"Pass my oral instructions to Marquis Weiyuan!"
The emperor said to Fu'an with a cold face, "Tell him to take good care of his sister! If he dares to overstep the mark again and tries to cling to the crown prince and interfere in government affairs, I don't mind making the Marquis' Mansion lose another woman!"
These words were extremely serious, almost equivalent to an ultimatum.
When Weiyuan Hou Cui Yan received the oral order, he was so frightened that he left his soul. He returned to his house and used the family law for the first time to severely punish Cui Baiyu.
He strictly ordered her to be confined to the yard and no one was allowed to let her out without his order!
As the war in the northern border was drawing to a close, the investigation into the canal transport was quietly underway.
The dusty messenger brought back an urgent letter from Hu Qing from Qingzhou Yaowang Valley.
The letter was sent directly to the prince.
Hu Qing wrote the letter earnestly, explaining that his master was critically ill and urgently needed the "Seven Star Lotus" from the palace pharmacy to save his life.
He knew very well that this medicine was precious and did not dare to ask for help. However, his teacher's kindness was too great and he had no other choice but to beg His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to lend a helping hand out of their past friendship.
Liu Xiao looked at the letter, and Hu Qing's calm and anxious face appeared in front of him.
He remembered Hu Qing's life-saving grace to him, and remembered that he was the real son of Weiyuan Hou, but he had wandered around in the world, and now even saving his master was so difficult.
Without any hesitation, he immediately took the letter to the emperor.
"Father, Hu Qing saved my life, and his master is also a miraculous doctor. Now in danger, I beg you to bestow the 'Seven Star Lotus' to save his master's life."
Liu Xiao spoke sincerely.
The emperor looked at his son and pondered for a moment.
The "Seven-Star Lotus" was indeed a treasure in the palace, extremely rare. However, he admired Hu Qing's character and valued his son's gratitude even more.
"Approved." The emperor nodded. "Fu'an, go to the medicine storehouse, take a 'Seven Star Lotus', and select some top-quality ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum, and send them all to Medicine King Valley by express horseback. Tell them it's a gift from the Crown Prince."
"Your son thanks you, father!" Liu Xiao said happily.
Liu Jin waved his hand and said meaningfully
"Xiao'er, you must remember that a ruler should be kind, know how to appoint people, and clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment.
Hu Qing is a man of great medical skill and a magnanimous character. He is a man of talent. This good relationship may benefit both the country and the people in the future."
Liu Xiao took note of it solemnly.
He personally watched Fu'an pack the medicinal materials and wrote a short reply letter to Hu Qing, asking him to focus on saving people.
The medicinal materials were sent to Yaowang Valley as quickly as possible.
At this time, Liu Xiao and Liu Cong did not know that this life-saving "Seven Star Lotus" would not only save an old man's life, but also uncover a long-forgotten past.
And that past event is inextricably linked to the baby swap case fifteen years ago that changed the fate of countless people...
The victory news from the northern border is coming soon, and the prince in the rear has become more calm after going through trials and tribulations.
The conspiracy in the deep palace is still growing secretly, and in the distant Yaowang Valley, a rescue operation concerning life and truth is underway.
All the clues are quietly converging, indicating that a bigger storm is coming.
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