Chapter 933: Chapter 51: Aftermath and the Arrival of the Imperial Decree
His next stop is Dayuan Prefecture, Nanyang County, which is also his hometown.
"Swish~"
Zhao Xing quickly arrived at the divine temple of Nanyang County.
Upon entering the temple, Zhao Xing flicked his fingers, and the incense burner began to burn.
"Where is the Day and Night Wandering God?"
"Buzz~"
The true spirits of two divine statues appeared.
The original Day and Night Wandering Gods had died. The current ones were newly appointed from the Yin Realm, their powers still insufficient and their figures somewhat ghostly.
"Greetings, Inspector."
The lower-grade Yin Gods salute officials, and that was the Yin Gods saluting the official.
"Where is Zong Shichang, the seventh-rank Pinghuai Commander of Nanyang County, located now?"
"Patrolling in Wang Village of Yuhe County."
"Good, you may retreat now."
Finding out the location, Zhao Xing vanished from the temple.
Zong Shichang was of the eighth grade in the 22nd year of the Jingxin Calendar, and now in the 36th year, he was only promoted to Secondary Seventh Rank.
Being an official in a small place is like this, not necessarily moved for a decade or more.
Zong Shichang’s climb from eighth-grade to seventh-grade was due to Zhao Xing giving Mr. Zong a chance when he returned to Nanyang County, so the Prefectural Governor of Nanyang County gave him an opportunity.
However, seventh grade is the most he could reach, as Middle Grade officials are not easily promoted.
Now, as Pinghai State emerges from chaos, opportunities arise.
Of course, Zhao Xing also needs to assess Mr. Zong’s thoughts and abilities before forcing him into a Middle Grade official position, which would do him harm.
Yuhe County, Wang Village.
"Where is Gongsun Bo’s Guiyuan Water Wheel? Why has it not been set up yet?!"
"Mr. Zong, Lord Gongsun says the weather is too cold, and the mechanical masters of the Heavenly Workshop can’t work in the water, so the construction time is delayed for a few days."
"Nonsense, the old thing is just being lazy! Go, find Inspector Wu, and have him drag that old dog out of his kennel!"
"This..."
"Go!"
As soon as Zhao Xing arrived, he heard Zong Shichang cursing someone.
"Mr. Zong, you wield quite the authority!"
"Who?!"
Zong Shichang turned sharply, seeing a familiar face smiling at him.
"Hahaha, Zhao Xing!" Zong Shichang exclaimed with joy. "Why have you returned?!"
"Don’t ask me yet, what is going on?"
Zong Shichang snorted at the question: "What else? It’s freezing, and the people from the Heavenly Workshop don’t want to work."
"Let me tell you, Gongsun Bo, that old dog, is simply a scoundrel..."
Snow fell heavily from the sky, and on the ground, Zong Shichang poured out his grievances.
The two stood by the rushing river, one listening, the other speaking.
Occasionally, blocks of ice would join the mighty river waters, advancing forward to conquer and claim territory.
Listening and calculating, Zhao Xing released his fingers.
He immediately understood the situation.
The water disaster, stirred up by the Southern Barbarians using the Canglan River’s power, indeed caused some impact.
All the towns and counties near the Canglan River have had extra water this year.
Nanyang County, including Dayuan Prefecture, was never occupied by the enemy during the turbulent times, and any small groups of rebels were quickly extinguished. From start to finish, it was under the court’s control.
So, it was never designated as a "disaster area" by the court.
Since it’s not a disaster area, manpower and materials were prioritized elsewhere and didn’t gain much attention.
In the eyes of the higher-ups, it didn’t affect the bigger picture much.
But for the rural folks, most of the villages and towns along the river were flooded, and to their eyes, it was a major disaster.
Mr. Zong, being the Pinghuai Commander, manages the rural rivers.
He wants to build more mechanical water wheels and open channels in the rural areas.
But there’s neither funding nor sufficient manpower.
For the past two years, the finances and manpower across Pinghai State were insufficient.
Rebellions could be quelled, the world could be pacified, but economic losses couldn’t be restored overnight.
To see relief, it would have to be during the Da Zhi Period.
After a long tirade, Zong Shichang finally calmed down: "Well, it can’t really all be blamed on them. It’s my lack of ability to coordinate all parties, and the court hasn’t sent down any funds, alas..."
Zhao Xing gently nodded: "If Mr. Zong were in a higher position, you could better serve the people."
Zong Shichang didn’t catch Zhao Xing’s meaning, just lamenting, "What skills do I have? I can’t even manage these small rivers... Huh?"
Suddenly, Zong Shichang suspiciously looked at the sky and instinctively loosened his collar: "Why has it gotten warm, and why has the river level dropped so much?"
Zhao Xing smiled: "It seems your efforts have moved heaven and earth, and Wang Village’s disaster has been alleviated."
"Really?" Zong Shichang looked doubtfully at Zhao Xing, and then rushed into a nearby bamboo shed.
"It really has decreased, the Yin Yang Instrument tilted left by a quarter and three minutes, according to Wu Ji’s Agricultural Book, that’s a sign that the disaster is dissipating."
"Five leaves have fallen from the spiritual water grass, and the Temperature Bottle also dropped by seven levels..."
"Could it be that I truly moved the heavens?"
"I don’t even worship the gods often."
Zong Shichang didn’t understand but was greatly astonished.
After receiving messages from various subordinates, he finally confirmed that the disaster was indeed abating, not just in Wang Village.
"Mr. Zhao, was this your doing?" Zong Shichang asked, turning back. "Did you invite some great figure to intervene?"
"It is indeed related to me."
"Ah, it really was you."
Zong Shichang was somewhat incredulous; having never witnessed the methods of a High Grade Minister of Agriculture, his understanding was that Zhao Xing seemed increasingly formidable, but he dared not imagine such heights.
"If you’re so capable, could a brother not ride on your coattails for promotion and wealth? Hahaha." Zong Shichang joked.