The Great Weapon
It was because of Wei Zhi's foul and stubborn behavior. Even when Wei Zhi dared to confront him, the emperor feared no one.
Although the Governor and the Inspector of Yizhou had reported the situation to the capital, they had not accurately portrayed the severity of the situation.
Yizhou was far from the imperial capital, and the emperor, lacking clairvoyance and a keen sense of hearing, naturally remained unaware of the actual situation there. It was believed by him and the court officials that each province not only had its own granaries but also had two large granaries in the Governorate of Jiannan. They all thought that the locals could handle the situation.
However, it was not until the Magistrate of Xindu County and some prominent families from Yizhou rushed to the capital to lodge a complaint that he learned about the severity of the flood disaster in Yizhou.
In several villages near the Jianwei Dam, it was reported that not a single person had survived, as they were engulfed by the flood in an instant.
Thus, the emperor was enraged, leading to the immediate execution of Wei Zhi.
Wei Zhi had offended the emperor in the past, which led to the emperor making several attempts to have him killed and exiling him as well. However, the emperor brought him back to the capital, where they would exchange insults while utilizing each other's abilities.
Therefore, Wei Zhi's stubbornness was renowned in the realm, and in times of chaos, it was necessary to use strict measures. Such disorders should be addressed decisively.
Not to mention that even the most prominent figures in Yizhou, such as the King and the Governor of Jiannan, did not dare to challenge him as Wei Zhi did.
However, when faced with Wei Zhi's acerbic remarks, some individuals may struggle to endure them. What if someone accidentally ran him over while on the road?
The emperor's heart was filled with a mix of complex emotions: sadness, anger, and anxiety.
In the end, all these emotions drowned out the faint sense of strategy in his mind. He pondered whether, even if there was a need for someone to be killed, he should be the one to take action.
Thus, the emperor summoned the Imperial Guards and ordered them to head to Yizhou along the official road to find Wei Zhi.
Meanwhile, Wei Zhi had just left Qili Village and, guided by Bailao, traversed a series of small paths to bypass Luojiang County and return to the main road.
Bailao escorted them only to the main road before saying goodbye.
Wei Zhi handed him a note, saying, "If there are any issues in the future, you can use this note to come to me in the capital."
While he gave one to Liushi, he felt it necessary to give one to Bailao as well in case Liushi did not seek him out in the future.
Although they had only spent a brief four days together, Wei Zhi could already sense that the elderly lady had a fiery personality and was not keen on inconveniencing others.
Bailao accepted the note and watched Wei Zhi depart.
Not far from Jiannan Road, Wei Zhi noticed the Imperial Guards searching for him. He remained out of sight and delegated the task of dealing with them to his guards.
This was due to his oversight and lack of trust in the capital, which resulted in his failure to report his movements to the authorities. If the Imperial Guards do not rescue him at this critical juncture within two days, the people in Yizhou will learn that he has been stranded on Jiannan Road for four days.
Although he had cleaned up his tracks, it was best to leave as little evidence as possible.
After all, Liushi and her grandson met the Zhou family by chance.
The risks were too great for Wei Zhi, Liushi, and the Zhou family to endure.
Therefore, he chose not to appear in person but instead sent a guard to quietly discuss with their leader. Then he continued heading back to the capital discreetly while the Imperial Guards continued their search on Jiannan Road.
The news of Wei Zhi's disappearance spread rapidly on Jiannan Road, prompting many people to start searching for him. In Mianzhou, there was an influx of people, including not only the inspector but also many others scouring the area.
Some even found Qili Village.
This was because Bailao's family resided there, and no one knew whether Wei Zhi had found out about Bailao. What if he came looking for them...
The primary concern was that the three individuals sent to Qili Village had lost contact, and it was unclear where they had encountered trouble.
Yet, Qili Village remained calm. The villagers decided to plant winter wheat for the season when they were not too busy. They were digging and composting in various locations.
Can each household have only two compost piles near their homes?
No problem. There was plenty of land outside the village, so they simply chose a spot and began digging. It was not as if they were occupying the land to construct houses, and the village chief did not bother to intervene.
Lao Zhou had big ambitions. With his family, he opened four compost heaps near the barren land that Zhou Sirlang had cleared.
Every day, Zhou Sirlang's family climbs the mountain to dig up fertile soil and clear the fallen leaves in the woods. With the recent surge in demand for compost, they decided to save time by collecting large, leafy branches, chopping them up, and transporting them down the mountain to add to the piles.
These tree leaves were not easy to decompose, and it was clear that one to two weeks would not be sufficient. However, winter wheat was still growing, and these compost heaps were not solely for the winter wheat; they were also being prepared for the spring planting next year.
Otherwise, why would everyone be so busy this early?
Wasn't it because they feared that if they planted winter wheat now, they would run out of compost in the coming year?
Yes, we rural folks plan ahead like that.
However, not all were following suit. Many people were taking their time, thinking that the villagers were overreacting.
There was still about half a year until the spring planting next year. By winter, for example, even after the winter solstice, it would not be too late to start preparing.
It was almost time to harvest and thresh the wheat. Why disturb them now when they could take a couple of extra days to rest and rejuvenate their spirits?
The village chief and the elders had lectured them several times, but upon seeing their lack of response, they decided to overlook the matter.
Text: ### Turning around to witness the fervent activity of the Zhou family, which included the beloved Manbao completing his homework before heading to the mountain with a small bamboo basket to assist with gathering dried leaves, the village chief shook his head and sighed, "No wonder the Jin family is prospering." ### Look at how hardworking they are, and then look at these few…"
An elder also shook his head, saying, "During the time of Jin's, their family was the poorest in the village." It was all because their daughter-in-law made a good match. "Since the Qian family entered the picture, each day has been better than the last."
Except for those few years of natural disasters.
As they were talking, Manbao passed by them dragging a tattered bamboo basket. He waved his hand and said, "Uncle Five, Uncle Six, Uncle Po, Village Chief, you're out and about." "What are you up to now that you're back?"
The village chief, the youngest in terms of seniority but not age, replied, "Just taking a stroll." "Manbao, are you going to the mountain to pick leaves?"
"Yes, and I am also looking for mushrooms." "It rained last night, and many people found mushrooms while on the mountain this morning."
These were grass mushrooms, not difficult to find. After the rain, mushrooms would often sprout abundantly. Even without any meat at home, the vegetables were delicious when cooked on their own.
Of course, adding a few eggs to the mixture would enhance the flavor even more.
Recently, their younger sibling also had some experiences, and a few adults smiled and agreed, telling Manbao, "Go ahead and search, but don't venture too deep into the mountains."