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While Xiao Changyan was recuperating from his injuries and Xiao Huayong was "convalescing," Xiao Changfeng had followed the traces to investigate but found no leads on Xiao Juesong. Subsequently, he joined Xiao Changqing in the busy relief efforts. About five or six days later, the canal planned by Tao Zhuanxian and Zhong Pingzhi was finally completed.
The two men meticulously inspected it from both ends, repeatedly confirming that it was error-free and ready for water release before notifying Xiao Huayong and Shen Xihe.
"Water can be released tomorrow," Shen Xihe said with pleasant surprise.
This matter had been a knot in their hearts. Moreover, although the common people had taken turns digging the canal, they had been soaked in water for days. While medicinal soups warded off the cold, their hands and feet were peeling from the mud, and many had suffered cuts but refused to rest. Despite timely cleaning, some wounds showed signs of festering. Shen Xihe could only ensure their basic needs—warmth, food, and medicine.
An early conclusion to this ordeal would bring relief to everyone.
"Indeed, water can be released tomorrow. However, after discussing with Tao Gong, I suggest we first offer sacrifices to the River God before releasing the water," Zhong Pingzhi proposed.
"That is only proper. Let the county magistrate arrange it. Tao Gong and Zhong Gong should rest well for a day," Xiao Huayong nodded.
"For the River God ceremony, could the Crown Prince attend in person? Tao Gong and I have heard that the people wish to see the Crown Prince," Zhong Pingzhi added. The common people were deeply curious about Xiao Huayong, who had traveled a great distance despite his illness, received divine guidance, and remained enigmatic. They held him in genuine respect and gratitude.
Of course, they were also deeply moved by Prince Xin, Xiao Changqing, who had fought alongside them on the front lines without missing a single day. This deepened their reverence for the Youning Emperor, as both Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changqing were the Emperor's sons. The fact that the princes could personally involve themselves and treat the people with kindness made them the ideal imperial heirs in the people's eyes.
From the princes' conduct, the people could see that the Emperor valued them greatly. Since the disaster struck, the Emperor had never cut off their supplies and had even issued decrees to requisition grain and goods from merchants, stooping to their level. How could they not be deeply moved?
Shen Xihe also looked at Xiao Huayong, who smiled faintly and said, "Very well, I will go."
He couldn't let their reverence go to waste. Naturally, Xiao Huayong felt he deserved their gratitude—while he hadn't contributed physical labor, without him, the supply of grain and goods would never have arrived, and the people would have lacked the strength to work.
Although the canal was dug, the rain had not ceased, so the River God ceremony had to be simplified. It was held at the city gate, where the people managed to perform a lion dance under limited conditions and went to great lengths to light firecrackers that finally crackled to life.
Yu Gong, the prefect, had been executed, and the new prefect of Dengzhou had not yet arrived. Xiao Huayong summoned the inspector of Henan Circuit to preside over the ceremony. The inspector, a scholarly man in his forties, delivered an impassioned speech from the city tower. Only then did Xiao Huayong, draped in a heavy cloak and supported by Shen Xihe, make his appearance.
At the sight of Xiao Huayong, the crowd grew restless, disregarding the damp ground as they prepared to kneel in reverence.
Seeing this, Shen Xihe glanced to the side, and Mo Yuan struck a bronze gong with a deafening clang. The startling sound made the people forget their actions and instinctively straighten up, though a few, startled, thudded to their knees."Fellow townspeople, His Highness has come here in response to your sincere devotion. It would be unfortunate if anyone were to catch cold from standing in the rain," Shen Xihe raised her voice. "His Highness requests that you refrain from excessive courtesy. As members of the royal family, receiving the people's affection and working for their welfare is our fundamental duty. Having the opportunity to share hardships with all citizens of this city is both His Highness's and my honor. We only pray that Dengzhou may enjoy favorable weather, that your granaries may overflow with abundance, and that our empire may prosper with peaceful stability."
"Full granaries and national prosperity!" Shen Xihe's brief words ignited the crowd's enthusiasm. Young men with robust voices shouted these auspicious wishes, and soon everyone joined in unified chanting.
Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong smiled at them before descending from the city tower. They proceeded directly to the floodgate reservoir. While Xiao Huayong remained in the carriage, Shen Xihe - dressed in a lapel robe today - was escorted by Zhenzhu to the site marked with red silk ribbons. The provincial governor yielded his position to Shen Xihe, who proceeded to open the first floodgate.
The remaining heavier floodgates were operated by pre-arranged guards who strained with loud shouts to push them open. When fully opened, the nearly full reservoir released torrents of water that surged forward with tremendous force.
Standing at a distance, they watched the water rush along the channel toward the sea. Many hearts raced with lingering anxiety as they observed the roaring currents emptying into the ocean. People stationed along the shore intently monitored the sea level.
As time passed and the fierce outflow gradually diminished into smaller streams, their feared catastrophe failed to materialize. An impulsive young man burst out shouting: "Success! We've succeeded!"
The news spread rapidly throughout the county. Residents long plagued by flooding experienced sudden joy, then tears, before finally embracing each other in celebratory shouts.
The jubilant cheers drowned out the rain, hovering over the drizzly county town like a canopy - even the troublesome rain now seemed gentler and more endearing.
Witnessing these scenes, Ziyu couldn't help sighing: "How easily they find happiness."
"The common people ask for very little - just freedom from disaster and illness, with adequate clothing and food," Shen Xihe remarked with soft eyes, lowering the carriage curtain. She glanced back at Xiao Huayong leaning inside the carriage. "Next comes road repair. I still have some matters to arrange."
The road repair referred to their departure route, while other roads would be handled by local authorities. Tao Zhuanxian and Zhong Pingzhi couldn't return to the capital immediately. The current water channel represented only a temporary solution to the immediate crisis - further refinement and complete implementation of the water conservancy project required their continued supervision before they could depart.
"What matters remain, Youyou?" Xiao Huayong pondered but couldn't identify any oversights.
"Recent review of historical records about floods shows they often trigger plague outbreaks. There are numerous precedents. While uncertain if it will occur this time, taking early precautions seems prudent regardless," Shen Xihe explained to Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong's gaze deepened: "Youyou, your heart truly belongs to the people."
This consideration had escaped him and others - not from ignorance, but because their concern for the people lacked Shen Xihe's pure sincerity."I merely perused a few more ancient texts, how could that possibly warrant such praise from you?" Shen Xihe himself did not feel his actions were particularly righteous.
In truth, the method to prevent the plague was quite simple in Shen Xihe's view. For your convenience in future readings, you can click the "Bookmark" below to save your progress (Chapter 680: Wholeheartedly Serving the People). The bookmark will appear when you next open your bookshelf!
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