"Your Highness, what is the situation?" Xiao Changyan's advisor hurried forward to greet him upon his return to the county office.
Xiao Changyan took his seat at the head of the room, accepting the teacup offered by a servant. His sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes conveyed solemn authority. "The Crown Princess acts just as boldly as when she confronted His Majesty at the mountain retreat—completely unabashed."
Shen Xihe had openly demanded to take over the disaster relief responsibilities from him, leaving Xiao Changyan baffled by her motives. Nearly all roads into Wendeng County were severed. Even Shen Xihe and her party had endured considerable hardship, taking lengthy detours through mountain paths with extensive stretches requiring travel on foot.
Transporting large quantities of grain, medicinal supplies, and cloth materials was utterly impossible. The entire county's reserves couldn't sustain the populace for more than five days. Even if the rain ceased tomorrow, clearing the roads within the remaining four days would be unfeasible.
Moreover, Xiao Changyan believed this deluge wouldn't cease anytime soon. How could Shen Xihe fail to recognize this? Yet she deliberately chose this moment to take on this hot potato, inadvertently granting him a perfect opportunity to cut his losses.
He had maintained a record of zero famine or plague-related deaths since his arrival. Now that Shen Xihe was assuming this mess, any subsequent supply shortages would become her sole responsibility. He would forever remain the official credited with meritorious service!
"This..." The advisor was equally perplexed after hearing Xiao Changyan's detailed account. "Unless... the Crown Princess could conjure up sufficient supplies for the entire Wendeng County."
"Conjure?" Xiao Changyan scoffed derisively, as if hearing sheer fantasy.
Having been stationed here for months, he controlled not just Wendeng County but virtually the entire Deng Prefecture. Unless this Crown Princess possessed supernatural abilities, she absolutely couldn't resolve the impending crisis.
The advisor also doubted Shen Xihe's capacity to materialize supplies—that would make her some kind of monster.
"What was Prince Xin's stance?" the advisor redirected.
"Fifth Brother remained aloof, never uttering a word of opposition." Xiao Changyan recalled thoughtfully. "He didn't obstruct the Crown Princess—even the Crown Prince supported her."
This deepened Xiao Changyan's confusion. While he reserved judgment about Xiao Huayong, Xiao Changqing certainly understood the consequences of taking on disaster relief now. Yet he had remained silent.
Could Shen Xihe truly possess some miraculous solution? Had she already informed Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changqing, thus facilitating this situation?
The thought made Xiao Changyan restless. Setting down his teacup, he stood and commanded, "Bring me the terrain maps."
He needed to meticulously examine whether he might have overlooked something.
If Shen Xihe actually managed to transport provisions, his culpability would be severe. The wealthy households he had coerced into relief efforts would surely submit joint petitions condemning him. The public grain he had requisitioned would eventually require reimbursement in the imperial government's name to quell public resentment.
He'd have created an immense predicament for His Majesty!
After thorough analysis of Wendeng County and surrounding routes, Xiao Changyan confirmed no passage existed for large-scale transportation and finally relaxed.
"Spread word about the county's current grain and medical reserves," he instructed. "Also ensure everyone learns how the Crown Princess expressed dissatisfaction with my leveraging wealthy households for relief, thereby prohibiting my further involvement in disaster management."
The advisor's eyes gleamed with understanding. "At once."While Xiao Changyan was inciting the common people to pressure Shen Xihe, the memorial submitted by Xiao Huayong was also transcribed onto cloth scrolls and tied to palace messenger pigeons. At present, Wendeng County truly had to rely on these pigeons to deliver messages.
The pigeons were extremely fast, delivering the message to the Youning Emperor on the same day. After reading it, the Emperor remained expressionless, pondered for a moment, and then summoned several ministers.
Shen Xihe requested that His Majesty issue an edict in the name of benevolence and righteousness, proclaiming to the world the need to alleviate the crisis in Dengzhou by gathering supplies such as grain, medicine, and cloth. The Youning Emperor was quite satisfied with this approach, as the national treasury could no longer provide disaster relief supplies.
The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.
There was no shortage of benevolent and righteous individuals in the world, and the Youning Emperor did not feel that this would bring shame to the court. After all, the court had already provided aid to Dengzhou once and could not exhaust all its resources to supply Dengzhou indefinitely.
The Youning Emperor could lead the civil and military officials in setting an example. In this way, gathering supplies would not be difficult. The real challenge was how to transport them into Wendeng County.
Xiao Huayong’s letter did not specify the method, but since he dared to request supplies, he naturally would not let them go to waste.
The Youning Emperor also studied the maps but ultimately could not devise a solution. He held onto a glimmer of hope, eager to see Shen Xihe’s capabilities.
Yes, Shen Xihe’s capabilities. Although the memorial was submitted by Xiao Huayong, its tone and style were entirely unlike his usual approach. Not only the Youning Emperor but also the ministers who reviewed it, led by Cui Zheng, believed it was the work of the Crown Princess.
She had just acquired the power of the Imperial Harem and was already eager to enhance the Eastern Palace’s prestige and win the people’s favor.
Everyone had their own thoughts. Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong had left their residence early in the morning, and no one knew their whereabouts. Even the common people, incited by Xiao Changyan to gather and demand answers, only received one message: the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince had gone out to gather food for them.
"Here…" Shen Xihe stood at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by flat terrain. They had traveled here by carriage and were still within Wendeng County. Behind the gray curtain of rain, the outlines of distant mountains were faintly visible. Two mountains stood far apart, with a wide river flowing between them. Due to the continuous rain, the river surged and roared, its tumultuous sound echoing with immense force.
"Right, this is the place," Xiao Huayong nodded. "The supplies will be transported by sea from Suzhou Port. Once they reach Dengzhou, they can no longer travel by sea. They will turn into a tributary here and enter the river. This is the safest route. The ships will dock by the mountain on the opposite shore. That area is not within Dengzhou and has not been affected by the heavy rain. The river there is calm, allowing ships to anchor safely…"
Xiao Huayong pointed to the map he had brought.
After studying the map, Shen Xihe looked up toward the opposite shore. It was impossible for ships to reach this spot, as the river here was too fierce. If the ships were to dock on the opposite shore, so far away, how would the supplies be transported across?
As if sensing Shen Xihe’s unspoken question, Xiao Huayong gave Tianyuan a meaningful glance. Tianyuan made a gesture, and immediately, a group of people emerged from the forest. They carried wooden stakes, selected several locations, and swiftly drove the stakes deep into the ground, securing them firmly.After they completed these preparations, Xiao Huayong blew the bone whistle. A sharp cry pierced the gray sky as Haidongqing's massive form tore through the rain curtains, soaring toward Xiao Huayong. The eagle seemed to be carrying a thick, intricately crafted iron cable in its beak, which it dropped to the workers driving the wooden stakes. They threaded it through the thick stakes and secured it tightly.
Haidongqing wheeled back and soon returned with another cable. One by one, iron cables were suspended mid-air, vanishing into the impenetrable mist and connecting to the opposite shore.
"Grain and supplies will be wrapped tightly in oilcloth, then secured with specially designed iron chain nets to slide across from the opposite bank to here, before being transported to the county town."
Though somewhat laborious, the process wouldn't be slow. By setting up multiple sliding tracks and selecting strong civilians to work alongside government officials, even vast quantities of grain and cloth could be transported within just a day or two.
"Xiao Beichen, you are truly a genius," Shen Xihe remarked with admiration, amazed that he could devise such a method.
"No, I simply encountered an extraordinary bird," Xiao Huayong replied, lifting his gaze to watch Haidongqing bringing yet another iron cable.
As if sensing Xiao Huayong's praise, the massive eagle tilted its body and curved through the air in an arc, mimicking the joyful, dancing movements of a child receiving compliments. The sight drew an involuntary laugh from Shen Xihe.
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