Chapter 58 The Changes in the Grand Canal
Qin Chuan seemed to be the type to speak his mind, and he was right.
Chu Jiubian, who was used to engaging in all sorts of scheming in the capital, found it quite pleasant to encounter someone so straightforward. So he cut to the chase and said, "I do have something I need you to do."
Unaware of Qin Chuan's intentions, he replied, "Please give your orders, High Priest."
Chu Jiubian was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't even done anything yet, so why had Qin Chuan already accepted working for him?
Despite his doubts, he didn't delay and said directly, "Go to Southern Zhili and verify the identities and character of these people."
A sheet of paper with more than a dozen names on it appeared on the table, and Qin Chuan picked it up.
As soon as he touched the smooth, white paper, a dark glint flashed in his eyes.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the handwriting on the page was small and delicate, and although it had a sharp edge, it was definitely not written with a brush.
Is this what is meant by things from the celestial realm?
Indeed, it's quite peculiar.
Qin Chuan showed no outward expression, casually counting the names one by one, but the more he looked, the faster his heart beat.
The day before yesterday, the palace sent him a letter, asking him to go to Southern Zhili in person.
Attached to the letter was a list, which Qin Xiao wanted him to investigate the background and character of these people in Southern Zhili.
Qin Xiao did not distrust Wei Yi; it was just that some secrets could only be uncovered by people in the martial arts world through their connections.
The matter of the Grand Canal was of paramount importance, and he had to ensure that everything went perfectly.
The names the high priest is giving us now are all on the previous list!
Moreover, the task the High Priest asked him to do was exactly the same as the task Qin Xiao asked him to do!
Qin Chuan didn't believe in coincidences.
He inevitably thought of the Grand Tutor Chu in the palace.
Chu Jiubian must know what Qin Xiao is planning to do, so is it possible that the High Priest and Chu Jiubian are...
Qin Chuan put down the list and looked up at the deity: "Why did you order me to do this?"
“We are destined to meet,” Chu Jiubian said in a cryptic tone, “and you have this ability.”
"May I ask why you are investigating these people?"
Chu Jiubian did not answer, but said, "After the matter is accomplished, I can grant you a treasure."
He didn't know what Qin Chuan needed yet, so he could put the treasure on hold for now, and later he could buy whatever he wanted from the system.
Chu Jiubian knew he would definitely agree.
Given Qin Xiao's personality, to ensure everything goes smoothly, he would definitely send someone else to investigate secretly, in addition to Wei Yi's investigation.
Qin Chuan was the most suitable candidate.
Therefore, Chu Jiubian guessed that Qin Chuan must have obtained this list from Qin Xiao.
Qin Chuan was already planning to investigate this matter, so taking on Chu Jiubian's task along the way was a highly profitable deal.
Therefore, unless Qin Chuan is stupid, he will definitely accept this task.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Qin Chuan spoke up: "I can do this for you."
Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows.
He only said half a sentence; was the other party trying to negotiate with him?
Qin Chuan considered his tone before speaking again, "But I wonder what kind of treasure you are talking about?"
Does this mean they want something from me?
"What do you want?" Chu Jiubian asked with interest.
Qin Chuan sensed the interest in his tone and couldn't help but examine the tall statue hidden in the clouds more closely.
Although their exact appearance was unclear, it was vaguely visible that the deity seemed to have long, silver-white hair.
Like Chu Jiubian.
Are all gods like this, or are only Chu Jiubian and the High Priest like this?
With a change of heart, Qin Chuan said, "The High Priest possesses supernatural abilities, and the treasures he bestows are certainly rare in the world. However, as I travel the world, I am bound to suffer falls and injuries, and I may even be seriously injured."
His eyes were bright as he asked, "I wonder if the High Priest could bestow upon me a life-saving elixir?"
Chu Jiubian: "..."
He asked in his mind, "System, does such a thing exist?"
[Some hosts are available, but you do not have the permission to purchase.]
"Why?"
[The items a host can purchase in different worlds are only things that could have appeared in that world in the past or future. For example, the fine salt you purchased earlier is something that would have appeared in that world in the future. Your purchase simply brings forward the appearance of such items, it doesn't create them out of thin air.]
[Life-saving elixirs exist only in the world of cultivation. Since your current world, neither the past nor the future, contains any immortal techniques, you cannot purchase such items.]
Chu Jiubian instantly grasped the key point and asked, "If Qin Chuan or other believers are seriously injured, can I use future medical techniques to save them?"
[Yes, host. You only need to purchase relevant books and medicines to master them. The range of medical skills you can purchase includes the world you once lived in, as well as future interstellar worlds several hundred years in the future. (Medical techniques in interstellar worlds are advanced; as long as a living being has a breath left, they can be cured.)]
That strong?!
Chu Jiubian was pleasantly surprised.
It seems he needs to find time to read through the descriptions of all the medical books in the system store so he can buy them immediately when he needs them.
"What if I need surgery? Is there a sterile environment?"
[Special circumstances can be handled in the Divine Realm, but it will deduct 500 points from the host's account.]
Five hundred?!
Although Chu Jiubian's points are still increasing, the increase is much slower than at the beginning, and he also has more expenses.
Even now, he only has less than a thousand points left.
If it really comes to the point where surgery is needed, he will not only have to lose 500 points, but also have to buy books and surgical tools and equipment...
In other words, if he agrees to Qin Chuan's request, he must have at least 600 points on hand to be safe.
Chu Jiubian had a headache.
Compared to Qin Chuan, the three believers were like three little angels!
However, given Qin Chuan's special status, Chu Jiubian didn't think he could easily subdue him.
After pondering for a while, he said, "Fate is predetermined, and I cannot defy the will of Heaven to bring the dead back to life or heal the wounded. But if you still have a breath left, I can save you."
Qin Chuan was a little nervous after asking the question.
Elixirs of immortality and life-saving pills are just things made up by Taoist priests and storytellers.
But what did he hear right now?
The high priest actually said that as long as he had a breath left, the other party could revive him!
Qin Chuan's heart pounded wildly, but he maintained his composure and asked somewhat arrogantly, "What if I wanted to ask you to save someone other than me?"
“Okay, but you only have one chance,” Chu Jiu argued.
Qin Chuan immediately stood up and knelt down respectfully before Chu Jiubian, kowtowing three times as if worshipping in a temple or Taoist monastery.
When he finished kowtowing for the third time and looked up, he found that the scene in front of him had completely changed.
Gone are the ethereal realm of gods, gone are the roars of dragons and the cries of phoenixes, and gone is the magnificent and enormous statue of a god; all that remains are the carved bed frames in the guest rooms.
He suddenly sat up and looked around.
They've already returned.
He took out a tinderbox and lit it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a piece of paper on the bedside table, so he picked it up and read it.
He didn't even need to look closely at the contents; just by touching it, he knew it was the magical paper he had touched in his dream!
It's amazing that things from my dreams can actually come into reality!
Qin Chuan folded the paper into a square shape, then got up and went to the table, lit the oil lamp, and quickly ground the ink.
He wanted to send this message back to the capital and tell Qin Xiao about his meeting with the High Priest.
As for whether the High Priest learned about the selection of people for the Grand Canal transport in Southern Zhili through Chu Jiubian's words, or whether he was simply a person of great supernatural power, let Qin Xiao investigate for himself.
Qin Chuan unfolded the yellowed, rough paper and dipped his brush in ink.
[Encountering a fairy in a dream, and obtaining...]
He had just written the fifth character when he suddenly stopped, staring intently at the words on the paper.
Those words slowly "dissolved".
The ink smudged and soon the original writing became illegible.
His heart skipped a beat, and he started writing again, but no matter how carefully he chose his words or how tactfully he phrased them, the words on the page would disappear.
He set the ink-stained paper aside, then began writing on a new sheet: "Greetings, brother."
He waited after writing it, but the words never changed.
He then tried writing after those few words: "[I have arrived in Southern Zhili, and had a dream last night...]"
The words began to melt again, but only the words "encountering a dream at night" and the words that followed melted.
Qin Chuan looked at the bruises and felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
He put down his brush, walked to the window, opened it, took out a whistle, blew it once, and then stepped back a few paces to stand still.
The whistle was crisp and clear, like birdsong. In less than two breaths, a dark figure silently leaped in through the window, bowed, and said, "Alliance Leader."
"I just..." Qin Chuan felt the words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say them.
It's not that the sound is erased, it's that even the lip movements can't be made!
His subordinate looked up at him: "What are your orders, Alliance Leader?"
Qin Chuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and after a few breaths, he said, "Tomorrow morning, go to the city of Ruyang to visit the owner of Ruihua Tower. Remember to buy some of her favorite pastries."
Ruihua Tower is located in Ruyang Prefecture, Southern Zhili Province. It is the largest brothel in the entire Southern Zhili Province. The owner is the famous Ruihua Lady, who also has extensive knowledge of all kinds of intelligence in the Southern Zhili Province.
Naturally, the other party was also Qin Chuan's close friend.
After receiving Qin Xiao's message, Qin Chuan brought his men to Southern Zhili. He had just met with his old friends in Suiyuan Prefecture today and asked them to help investigate several local students on the list.
He is currently at the home of one of his friends, and plans to go to Ruyang Prefecture tomorrow.
The subordinate immediately bowed and said, "Your subordinate obeys."
After his subordinates left, Qin Chuan walked to the table again, where the ink stains on the paper were still there.
He burned both pieces of paper.
The flickering firelight reflected in his deep eyes.
He could not tell anyone about the divine realm, not even his closest relatives.
Inside the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian crossed his legs and propped his face up with one hand, watching the images projected onto the card screen.
It seems that Qin Chuan really cannot tell Qin Xiao about what happened in the Divine Realm.
Chu Jiubian waited so long to call Qin Chuan in because he wasn't confident he could get Qin Chuan to serve him.
He was now implying to the other party that he had a relationship with Chu Jiubian and was standing with him, which meant that the High Priest and Qin Xiao were standing together.
Therefore, as long as it does not jeopardize Qin Xiao's interests, Qin Chuan remains a very useful follower of the High Priest.
However, Chu Jiubian does not intend to let Qin Chuan meet with the other believers for the time being.
Aside from Lu Yao, this extraordinary person needs Qin Chuan's protection.
Furthermore, Qin Chuan cannot reveal Lu Yao's identity to Qin Xiao at the moment, so even if Lu Yao is admitted to the Imperial Academy, Qin Xiao will not know that he is the High Priest's man.
In the video, Qin Chuan has given up writing the letter and turned to go to bed to sleep.
Chu Jiubian then turned off the screen and asked the system routinely, "Is Lu Yao still not going to sleep?"
Yes, host.
Chu Jiubian: "..."
If the system weren't so reliable, he would have thought Lu Yao wasn't even human.
However, he also knew that there were differences between people in terms of both intelligence and physical skills.
Some people have the ability to stay awake all the time, but they don't not sleep; rather, they compress and break down this rest time into brief moments.
In that very second, they can enter a state of deep hibernation.
Then immediately regain a high level of focus.
For example, after an hour of intense mental work, they would give themselves a minute of rest, and then a few minutes later, they would take a short nap for a second or two. In this way, they would get enough sleep throughout the day to meet their body's basic needs, but this would still cause some damage to their health.
Moreover, Lu Yao is only nineteen years old. He should take better care of his health at such a young age and not squander his youth.
After he calls the other party in, he insists that he make sure the other party gets five to seven hours of sleep every night.
Chu Jiubian withdrew from the Divine Realm, yawned, and then rolled over and fell asleep.
There's still something to say at the morning court session tomorrow.
The rain that had lasted for days has stopped, and now it's been sunny for several days in a row.
Early in the morning, officials gathered outside the palace gates.
The follow-up matters in Hexi County have been mostly handled, with only some minor issues remaining, which can be handled directly by the newly appointed Prefect Han Yuandao.
Currently, there is no prefect in Hexi County, and Han Yuandao, an ordinary agricultural official, has become the highest authority in Hexi County. The extent of the pressure he faces is not mentioned.
Meanwhile, Jian Hongzhuo, the Minister of Works who had stayed there to oversee the work, and Liu Junqi, the newly appointed Vice Minister of Works, both rushed back to the capital before the city gates were locked yesterday.
Therefore, the entire procession of officials has finally arrived.
The group exchanged pleasantries, but it was hard to tell how much of it was genuine and how much was not.
Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites, looked at Xiao Huaiguan, who seemed to be in increasingly better spirits, and couldn't help but find it rather strange.
This old man used to look like he was about to die, but now he seems to be getting more and more energetic every day. Could it be that he has found some kind of magic pill?
Xiao Huaiguan noticed his gaze, turned his head to look at him, and laughed, "Why is Minister Wang looking at me like that?"
"Lord Xiao looks increasingly younger these days," Wang Zhiyuan said with a smile. "Could it be that with no more young members of the Xiao family in the court, Lord Xiao can only borrow a few more years of his life from the heavens?"
There were still younger members of the Xiao family in the court, and quite a few of them were officials of the fifth rank or above who could attend court.
The only problem is the lack of the exceptionally capable Xiao Wendao; Xiao Huaiguan is indeed a lone pillar in the court, unable to hold his own.
Xiao Huaiguan was unsure of what he was thinking, but he didn't seem annoyed. He smiled gently and said, "Naturally, it can't compare to Lord Wang's triumphant mood. This court is practically your Wang family's."
“Lord Xiao, you are mistaken,” Wang Zhiyuan said. “The Wang family members have always been upright and honest, and we are only serving His Majesty.”
“That’s true,” Xiao Huaiguan said. “I heard before that the Wang family head and the young master were at odds, but that must have been a rumor.”
As the saying goes, "Don't wash your dirty linen in public." These prominent families are most afraid of outsiders saying that they are not united, as this would make the family members seem petty and calculating.
It's really not presentable.
Not to mention the Wang family, who were known for their etiquette, they considered this a disgrace.
However, the head of the family, Wang Huan, insisted on his own way, pushing his own son further and further away. Now, the two factions within the Wang family are almost irreconcilable.
Wang Huanzhi was determined to replace Wang Qichen, the young master, and send his second son, Wang Wenyao, to the position.
He was able to have this idea because the Wang family had always chosen the most outstanding member from each generation to succeed as the head of the family.
Even if there is a young master, he may be replaced.
However, among the younger generation, apart from Wang Pengyi, who holds the high-ranking position of Vice Minister of Revenue, there are actually few outstanding individuals among the younger generation in the family.
However, once they enter the court as officials, they have no energy to manage their families, so the head of a noble family and a high-ranking official in the court can never be the same person.
Now that Wang Pengyi has entered the court, it is impossible for him to continue as the head of the family.
Furthermore, Wang Pengyi is soft-hearted and easily swayed, and sometimes he likes to act on emotion, so he is actually not suitable to be the head of the family.
Even in the imperial court, he could never be as outspoken as Xiao Wendao.
That being said, apart from Wang Pengyi, the Wang family had indeed been unable to find anyone else capable of taking on the role of family head.
But things are different now.
Wang Qichen changed his previous carefree and dissolute demeanor, actively interacted with his close relatives, and wrote many brilliant articles, gradually revealing the brilliance of a young master.
Wang Huanzhi, however, felt not pride, but anger.
He's like a clueless idiot, obsessed with fighting with his own son. Now, this family scandal has spread to the ears of all the powerful and influential people in the capital.
Wang Zhiyuan could barely contain his smile as he listened to Xiao Huaiguan's sarcasm.
"What outsiders see are just rumors and gossip," he said, feigning indifference. "The position of head of the Wang family has always been held by the most capable, so some harmless exchanges and debates are perfectly normal."
Just then, the palace gates opened.
Wang Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Huaiguan glanced at him, and the gentle smile on his lips faded slightly.
The Wang family is now in a state of great prosperity, but internal strife is brewing.
But the Xiao family wasn't much better off.
The head of the family, Xiao Yao, damaged his health in his efforts to quit datura and is currently recuperating. None of the younger generation in the family are capable of taking over, and with Chu Jiubian keeping an eye on him at the Ministry of Personnel, it would be difficult for Xiao Huaiguan to pull strings to promote Xiao Wendao again.
Right now, all they can do is wait for an opportunity to help Xiao Wendao achieve another merit, so that they can rightfully promote him.
However, how could Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian possibly give them that opportunity?
As for the marriage between Jiannan King and Su Xier, Xiao Huaiguan had no expectations from the beginning, but Xiao Yao said that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. After all, their Xiao family and Su Sheng, who was a loyal minister, were not on good terms. It would be best if it worked out, but it wouldn't matter if they offended him if it didn't.
Unable to persuade the other party, Xiao Huaiguan could only watch coldly from the sidelines.
As he expected, the marriage failed, but the young emperor gained the trust and loyalty of loyal ministers because he was able to protect his subordinates and was so intelligent at such a young age, able to vaguely see the political situation.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they lost both their wife and their army.
Xiao Huaiguan claimed that the Wang family was in turmoil, but in reality, the Xiao family wasn't much better off.
As the Minister of Revenue, he was somewhat estranged from the head of the family, Xiao Yao, and they could not truly rely on or trust each other.
Even the other family members had their own thoughts and schemes.
As a tree grows large and branches out, people's hearts also become increasingly scattered.
Xiao Huaiguan slowly exhaled and strode towards Fengtian Hall.
And Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue whom he had just set his sights on, is not having an easy time either.
On the surface, he was still a loyal subject, devoted to the emperor, but Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had begun to doubt whether he truly had a "master" to whom he was loyal.
After the palace banquet, he even went so far as to recount how he had been exposed.
But no matter how much he thought about it, he still couldn't figure it out.
He had his doubts, wondering if Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian's suspicions were unfounded, but he dared not gamble.
What if these two people do have some kind of evidence?
This worry made him unsure of how much he had exposed or whether it had implicated the person behind him, which made him increasingly cautious in his actions recently, feeling as if he were walking on thin ice.
And Su Xier.
His perfectly healthy daughter was thus sent away from the capital.
He harbored resentment towards the Xiao family, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The Xiao family is a behemoth, not on the same level as Zhao Qianhe before.
With their own thoughts, the group arrived at the Fengtian Hall and, unsurprisingly, saw Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao.
The morning court session begins.
The newly appointed Vice Minister of Works, Liu Junqi, stepped forward first and began to talk about the construction of the dikes and post-disaster reconstruction in Hexi County.
The human and material resources lost in this disaster were enormous, but thankfully it is finally over.
The people have begun to rebuild their homes, but their lost relatives and friends will never come back.
Then several officials came forward to talk about local affairs.
For example, the silk production in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions has decreased significantly, and the Northwest Frontier Army has submitted another memorial requesting military pay, etc.
Almost everyone is saying that they are receiving less money, but spending more.
After reporting on these matters, Chu Jiubian looked up at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao subtly met his gaze before speaking, "I also have something to discuss with you gentlemen."
After everyone looked over, he said, "The other day I received a memorial from the south, saying that the middle section of the canal is silted up, making it difficult for merchant ships to sail."
Upon hearing him mention the Grand Canal, Qiu Heng, the Minister of Justice, sensed something was amiss.
The Qiu family has been in charge of the canal transport for so many years, and no one knows the problems on the canal better than him.
Qin Xiao looked at Qiu Heng and said calmly, "In recent years, there have been more and more merchant ships coming and going on the canal, but the management is lax and there are often bandits."
Qiu Heng frowned slightly.
He thought to himself, "So these are the things I'm talking about."
It is true that there are bandits on the canal from time to time, but if the merchant ships that come and go give the Qiu family enough tribute money, then these merchant ships can fly the official flag, and the bandits cannot touch them.
As for those who did not offer tribute silver, or whose transported goods pleased the Xiao family, they would not receive an official flag.
The bandits would then plunder ships with impunity, and the looted goods would be split 40/60 with the Qiu family, with the Qiu family taking 60%.
Over the years, the Qiu family has amassed an untold fortune through these means.
However, neither Emperor Chengzong nor Emperor Yingzong had taken these matters seriously, since the Qiu family paid the most taxes to the court each year.
But just because those two muddle-headed emperors were unaware doesn't mean Qin Xiao was unaware.
Although the Qiu family pays a lot of taxes every year, they receive even more from the imperial court and from the grain transport system.
They prioritize short-term gains over long-term benefits; this has always been their practice.
But what is Qin Xiao trying to do by bringing up the canal now?
Is the goal to get the Qiu family to pay more taxes to fill the gap, or is the goal to seize power from the Qiu family directly?
If it's the former, it's just a matter of losing money to avoid disaster.
But if it were the latter, Qiu Heng dared not imagine how great the losses would be for the Qiu family.
"Minister Qiu," Qin Xiao called out.
Qiu Heng hurriedly stepped out of the queue and bowed deeply: "My lord."
Qin Xiao said calmly, "When Emperor Wuzong was in power, he gave you the authority to manage the grain transport. Now, more than 30 years have passed, and it's time to collect almost all the money that the Qiu family gave Emperor Wuzong to help him conquer the country."
His words clearly implied that the Qiu family had embezzled a huge sum of money from the grain transport business.
But that is the truth.
But Qiu Heng could not admit it, and immediately said in fear, "This humble official dares not! The Qiu family has received His Majesty's favor and has been managing the canal transport affairs diligently without daring to slack off, much less to ask for anything from it."
"Bandits have been rampant on the canal for quite some time now," Qin Xiao said. "If I remember correctly, it's been at least ten years."
Qiu Heng pursed his lips, not daring to utter a sound.
Qin Xiao continued, "In ten years, the bandits have not only not been curbed, but have become even more rampant. Since your Qiu family is so incompetent, then you should no longer get involved in the canal transport business."
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