xymnovel Chapter 50 Who Has the Canal in Their Hands—No Need to Draw a Sword
Chapter 50 Who Has the Canal in Their Hands—No Need to Draw a Sword
When the eunuch reported this, Liu Shan had just put down his pen.
"Li Duhu requests an audience."
Jiang Wan's rotation list is still on the table.
The third batch. Four people.
Chengdu Magistrate's Office Granary Officer. Shu Commandery Tax Officer.
Salt and Iron Commissioner of Jianwei. Water Conservancy Commandant of Guanghan.
The granaries and tax offices came first, followed by the salt, iron, and water conservancy projects.
The first two batches replaced low-level officials. This batch, however, has encountered those with real power.
The ink on the character "准" (zhun) wasn't completely dry. Liu Shan flipped the list over and placed it face down on the table.
"please."
Li Yan was dressed casually, not in court attire. He spoke as soon as he entered.
"I have heard in the south that there are iron mines in Zangke. The reserves are not small. I would like to send craftsmen from the Central Protectorate to explore and smelt them for military purposes."
iron ore.
Liu Shan served tea and took a sip.
Last time, the military settlements were seized. This time, they've changed their approach.
They talk about mining, not military force. They talk about sending craftsmen, not mobilizing people.
The moment the people from the Central Protectorate entered the south, they reached out their hands.
"Iron ore is crucial. However, the mining operations in southern China are under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General of Yijiang. How will the Protector-General coordinate with Li Hui when the artisans go there?"
"My craftsmen are only responsible for exploration and smelting. All other matters are to be handled by Governor Li."
"Then let Li Hui draft the plan. Submit it to the Prime Minister's office for approval. Only leave after approval."
It's just going through the motions again.
Li Yan dug his fingernails into his palm. He smiled.
"Your Majesty is wise."
He put the tea down. He left.
The door closed. A piece of silk was passed in from under the curtain. A sentry.
"The Protector-General left the palace. Fei Guan waited outside. Before getting into the carriage, the Protector-General said five words—'He was turned away again.'"
Liu Shan retrieved the diagram from a hidden compartment.
A vermilion brush. Next to Li Yan. Two characters were added below "Nanzhong Wasteland".
Mining waste.
The atlas had just been retracted into the hidden compartment when the curtain moved again.
The bamboo tube was one size thicker than usual.
The seal was covered with the sealing wax of the General of the Western Expedition's residence. I tapped the threshold. It was heavy.
Three and a half days. From Hanzhong to Chengdu, the normal delivery time by post is six days. This letter was sent by military express courier.
Liu Shan pulled out the stopper. Inside was a whole scroll of bamboo slips.
Wei Yan's calligraphy. Bold. Each stroke struck the bamboo surface with sharp, decisive lines, never deviating from the intended path.
"Your subject, following the imperial decree, investigated population changes in Hanzhong around the third year of the Zhangwu era. In the three counties of Mianyang, Nanzheng, and Chenggu, seventeen households had their merchant registrations cancelled. Eleven households migrated normally, and their whereabouts can be traced."
"There are six other households. The reason given for canceling their registration was that the whole family had returned to their hometown."
"Original place of origin—it's all fake."
Liu Shan's thumb left an indentation. Decline.
Turn to the second page.
Three households made cloth, two households traded medicinal herbs, and the remaining household made jade.
Jade Household. Ruichang Ship.
Cancellation period: From the third to the ninth day of the fifth month of the third year of Zhangwu (7 days in total).
Wei Yan added a paragraph at the end. The handwriting was more hasty than before, as if it was hastily added just before departure.
"One of the cloth merchants had a shop assistant. He was recognized by the old farmer Cheng Gu. He spoke with a Guanzhong accent. After drinking, he said, 'Once I go back to the north, I will never come to this poor place again.'"
North.
The bamboo slips continue.
"Six registered merchants acting as guarantors. After investigation, they all point to the same person."
"Sun Huan, former Chief Clerk of Hanzhong Commandery."
"He was transferred to Jianwei in the second year of Zhangwu. He resigned in the third year of Zhangwu and his whereabouts are unknown."
"The portrait has been secretly distributed to all levels."
Liu Shan placed the bamboo slips on the table. His thumb sank into the dent. He'd reached the bottom.
Six shops. Three different trades. A clerk sits overseeing the household register.
A pen. You can stuff whoever you want in.
The late emperor passed away. Seven days later, six families were evacuated. Not a single thread was left behind.
Liu Shan pulled a strip of silk from his sleeve. He wrote three lines of text on it.
First line: Wei Yan—Distribute his portrait discreetly. Keep quiet. A living man is more valuable than a dead one.
Second line: Check Sun Huan. Where did he come from? Who recommended him for the position of Gongcao? In the second year of Zhangwu, he was transferred to Jianwei—who approved the document?
The third line: The six shops have been established for seven years. The late emperor also spent seven years in Hanzhong.
Fold it neatly. Tuck it into the gap in the curtain. "For Dong Yun."
The curtain was taken away.
The hall fell silent.
Liu Shan bent down and pulled out a diagram from the bottom of a hidden compartment. A vermilion brush.
Sun Huan. Fill in these three characters next to the Ruichang ship. Extend the line upwards.
Masked man. Tranquilizing incense. Jade pendant fragments. More and more are being discovered. The source has not yet been revealed.
Guanzhong accent. Northern accent.
The pen hadn't been put down. One link was missing. Once Sun Huan's background was clarified—the connection would be complete.
The atlas was retracted into the hidden compartment. The cover was pressed firmly.
into the night.
Jiang Wan arrived. She spoke standing up. She didn't sit down.
When will the third batch be launched?
"Three days later. Start with the warehouse manager. The rest will be dealt with one every five days."
"Who will replace the Commandant of Water Conservancy in Guanghan?"
"Two candidates. The first is the Registrar of Water Conservancy in Jianwei, who has served for six years. The second is the Colonial Clerk transferred back from Jianning, who has managed water conservancy in the south."
"Use the second one."
Jiang Wan paused for a moment.
"Those who return from the south are released in Guanghan. The powerful families of Yizhou have taken note—the imperial court does not consider background when appointing people."
Jiang Wan nodded and left.
Liu Shan turned the list over. He circled the fourth name.
Commandant of Water Conservancy in Guanghan.
The Dujiangyan branch canal is located in this area. The Wang family relies on that canal for irrigation, which accounts for 70% of their farmland.
No need to ransack the house. No need to carry sticks.
Whoever controls the canal controls the people.
Keep the list safe. The lights went out.
He left the imperial study. The winter wind slipped into his sleeves.
Chen Dao led his White Feather Soldiers to stand guard under the corridor. Liu Shan paused for a moment.
"Uncle, how many new recruits have been screened out?"
"Less than 200 qualified."
"That's enough. Let's practice first."
Chen agreed.
Liu Shan walked towards his bedchamber. Moonlight bathed half of the corridor.
He took a few steps. A eunuch carrying a food box approached him. A new face. Not Xiao Shunzi.
Liu Shan didn't even lift his eyelids. He walked past.
The man stood there, holding the food box. He didn't follow. He didn't turn around either.
Xiao Shunzi hasn't appeared in this corridor for three days. Someone else has taken his place. A different face has appeared.
The new guy—stood still in place. He neither squatted down to listen nor walked those twenty steps to the west.
It's heavier than Xiao Shunzi.
Liu Shan didn't turn around. He entered the side hall. The door closed.
My thumb went into the dent. It reached the bottom.
Only one bean lamp remained in the hall.
The sound of chiseling could be heard in the distance outside the window. A road construction site. They hadn't finished work yet.
[End of Chapter]