Chapter 113: Leveraging Kindness for Reward

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Everyone knew where the problem lay, but no one had the slightest idea how to solve it. Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, and the others had worried themselves gray-haired. Sitting together, they could come up with no effective solution and could only sigh helplessly.

“How much grain do we have left?”

Fang Xuanling turned and asked an official from the Ministry of Revenue. Du Ruhui took up the question, rubbing his aching head as he said, “No amount of grain will be enough. Everyone in the entire Guanzhong region needs to eat. Even after the floodwaters recede, we still have to survive until the spring sowing and autumn harvest next year. How much grain do you think that will require?”

“There’s no need to think that far ahead. Once grain is brought in from other regions, the shortage will naturally ease. The real question is what we do now. Some people have already resorted to theft. If this trend cannot be curbed, it will only grow worse. Before long, breaking into homes and robbing people may become commonplace.”

Fang Xuanling spoke gravely. When a person was desperate for food, there was almost nothing he would not do—especially once he discovered how quickly robbery could bring in money. At that point, the situation would become impossible to control.

For now, the refugees’ desperation had not yet swollen into something more dangerous. But if someone deliberately stirred them up, a catastrophe was inevitable.

Dai Zhou sat with his head lowered, saying nothing. Ever since the beginning of spring, everyone of any importance had been reaching out to him for money and grain. He sometimes wished he could take his hoe into the fields and dig about, just to see whether he might unearth a little food.

But now that they were asking him to provide grain, he could only spread both hands helplessly. The granaries were so empty that not even a mouse could be found inside. Most likely, the mice had packed up and moved away for fear of starving to death.

“Old Dai, stop sitting there with your head down! You’re in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. You can’t pretend to be mute at a time like this!”

Fang Xuanling immediately singled him out.

“This matter cannot be handled by the Ministry of Revenue alone. We must pool everyone’s efforts. The storehouses are empty, and though we have plowed the land, not a single grain has been harvested. Truly… truly, there is nothing I can do.”

Dai Zhou raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and his beard was a disordered mess. There was not the slightest trace of an official’s dignity left in him.

Nor was any censor likely to step forward and criticize his appearance. There were plenty of officials in the same condition. They barely had time to sleep, let alone make themselves presentable.

“You didn’t keep any reserves?”

“Of course we had grain set aside for emergencies, but it was used up long ago. There simply wasn’t enough! And to make matters worse, some of it was swept away by the flood.”

Dai Zhou’s face was filled with anguish. So much grain had been soaked and ruined!

Another silence fell over the room. Without money or grain, there was nothing they could do.

Even if those refugees were redeemed, once hunger returned, they would have no choice but to sell their wives and children to wealthy households again. Some would sell their entire families together, condemning their descendants to remain hereditary servants. They would be ruined for generations.

“Actually, it isn’t that there’s no solution.”

Someone spoke softly from the corner.

Every head in the room turned toward him at once.

He was a minor official in a green robe, someone who normally had no right to speak in such a gathering. His role was merely to prepare documents and keep records for the powerful men present.

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“You just said there was a solution?” Fang Xuanling asked, not at all the sort of man who looked down upon officials of lower rank. A trace of hope entered his voice.

“Yes.”

The green-robed official spoke with difficulty. He would never have dared to interrupt them; he had simply let his thoughts slip out by accident.

“Then speak quickly. If your suggestion proves effective, I will certainly petition for you to be rewarded.”

Seeing the man’s timid expression, Fang Xuanling had already lost some of his expectations. Even so, he questioned him in the hope that there might be some chance of success.

“This humble official is a neighbor of Meng Baolai, commander of the New Army. I heard him say that the Cai family’s caravans have opened several new trade routes, and grain is being transported continuously from every direction. At Cai Family Village, the disaster relief consists of thick porridge, and I’ve heard that meat broth is distributed from time to time as well. Many refugees have been making their way there.”

“You’re certain?”

Fang Xuanling sprang to his feet, unable to believe what he was hearing. The government had expended enormous manpower and resources, yet was still struggling to transport grain. How could the Cai family possibly be moving such vast quantities?

“It’s true. I heard that the Marquis of Chang’an invented a cart with only one wheel, which a single person can push while carrying several hundred pounds of grain.”

“Did Meng Baolai tell you all this?”

“Yes. It was the day before yesterday. We happened to meet after work and began chatting. I thought that if we could borrow grain from the Cai family, it might solve our immediate crisis.”

“There can be no mistake. This wasn’t a chance remark. Cai Cong deliberately let the information slip. I heard that he offended the Retired Emperor and was sternly ordered by His Majesty to return home and reflect behind closed doors. He’s using someone else’s mouth to make us go to him of our own accord!”

Du Ruhui rose excitedly. He did not care what sort of person Cai Cong was. So long as the crisis before them could be resolved, that alone would let them sleep soundly tonight.

“That is almost certainly the case. Brother Du, it seems we have no choice but to go to his door and endure his displeasure.”

Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly, and Du Ruhui did the same. Most of the officials with any standing wore similar expressions.

They had spared no effort spreading rumors and composing scathing accounts that portrayed Cai Cong as a great traitor. Now Cai Cong had released this news precisely to make them come to him.

Given his vengeful nature, this would not be an easy door to knock upon.

“I’ll accompany you. Back then, Yan Silu and I composed a rhapsody to vindicate his mother, so there is at least some affection between us. He values loyalty and sentiment; perhaps he will show us a little consideration.”

Li Gang rose and spoke without either sorrow or joy.

When he had composed that rhapsody, he had acted from the sincerity of his heart. Today, however, he intended to call upon Cai Cong’s gratitude. It violated the principles he held dear and left him deeply tormented.

“Then we are much obliged to you, Master Li,” Fang Xuanling said gratefully.

Even the emperor did not possess enough face to ask Li Gang to call in a favor. Only the starving common people could move him to do such a thing.

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Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had once helped advance Cai Cong’s career when he had first entered officialdom. But Cai Cong’s conduct had become impossible to accept—utterly contrary to established principles. Thus, when the great clans and their scholars smeared Cai Cong’s name, the two men had merely stood by with folded arms. They had neither stopped it nor fanned the flames, simply watching from the shore as the fire spread.

“There’s no time to lose. Let us leave at once!”

Du Ruhui spoke loudly, entrusting all remaining matters to Changsun Wuji before departing the government office.

Changsun Wuji nodded. His position was awkward. His rank was high, but his official post was low. In terms of merit for assisting the emperor’s rise, he stood first among all others. Yet he had a younger sister wholly devoted to public duty, and several times she had suppressed the emperor’s attempts to promote him.

On the road to Cai Family Village, they saw groups of commoners supporting one another as they made their way there. Once they arrived, there were even more people. Makeshift huts stood everywhere outside the village, while masses of refugees lined up to receive porridge. The elderly and young children could even receive soft steamed buns. Faces everywhere shone with gratitude and renewed hope for life.

This strengthened their conviction that Cai Cong possessed enormous stores of grain. Otherwise, who would dare provide disaster relief with such extravagance, offering an apparently endless supply?

When the carriage reached the Cai residence, Meng Baolai was already waiting at the gate. According to the original plan, the New Army was supposed to follow Cai Cong in traveling everywhere to provide disaster relief. That plan had fallen through; now, everyone could simply watch the spectacle unfold.

Meng Baolai himself had consequently become idle. Seeing the three men approach the entrance, he smiled and said, “Master Li has come as well? Please, come inside. The marquis has been awaiting you for quite some time.”

Fang Xuanling shook his head with a smile and said to Du Ruhui, “Brother Du, did you hear that? He has been waiting for us. It truly was no coincidence.”

“Haha! Since I dared to come, I was prepared to wipe the spittle from my own face. Come—let us see what this boy intends to do.”

Laughing heartily, Du Ruhui strode into the Cai residence ahead of the others. His action did not mean that he considered himself the most distinguished among them. Rather, it showed that whatever humiliation awaited them today, he was willing to bear it himself.

Cai Cong was lying prone. When he saw Du Ruhui enter first, he smiled. But the instant he saw Li Gang following behind, his face darkened.

“This young man greets Master Li and the two gentlemen. I am unable to rise and offer proper courtesy; please forgive my disrespect.”

From that simple sentence, the difference in closeness between them was unmistakable. Fang Xuanling had once helped Cai Cong advance, but when Cai Cong took his stand against the great clans, that small debt of gratitude had faded away.

Fang Xuanling now addressed him with a genial smile. “Please forgive us for coming without notice. We have come today to ask the Marquis of Chang’an for assistance.”

“Of course, of course. But why do I see only Master Li and not Mr. Yan Silu? Bring Mr. Yan here as well. With the two of them together, I will agree to anything.”