Because her accounting ledger got dirty, someone not only helped copy it but also offered to help with the calculations.
Qin Zheng was happy to let him help.
Before he started writing, she still couldn’t help but ask, “How good are you at abacus calculations?”
Chu Chengji glanced at her, “Afraid I’ll make mistakes?”
Qin Zheng didn’t dare to say it directly, so she replied, “I always double-check my calculations. This way, you calculate once, I calculate once, and if our results match, we won’t need to check again.”
Chu Chengji didn’t respond.
As Qin Zheng recited numbers, he barely touched the abacus, running them through his mind and writing down the results.
Qin Zheng took another brush to perform her calculations on a separate sheet.
Before she finished, she noticed he had already written the results in the ledger.
Worried he might be wrong, she double-checked and found their numbers matched perfectly.
Not convinced, Qin Zheng quickly calculated the next item.
Again, their results matched.
After five or six more calculations, all consistent, Qin Zheng couldn’t help but remark, “With your accounting skills, it’s a waste you’re not a bookkeeper.”
Chu Chengji, still writing, glanced up, “Aren’t I doing that now?”
Caught off guard by his remark, Qin Zheng pretended to be calm and picked up a book to read.
Chu Chengji glanced at her, a faint smile on his lips.
With the budget complete, Qin Zheng began the river excavation project.
When mobilizing the local villagers, she only mentioned it was for irrigation.
Knowing it would benefit their crops and provide a day’s wage, many villagers brought their whole families to help.
To account for varying labor efficiencies and prevent slacking, wages were based on the amount of dirt excavated and transported.
Adopting this piece-rate pay system meant that officials didn’t have to closely supervise the workers, who were all highly motivated.
To ease the transportation of the excavated dirt, villagers even brought their oxen, horses, and mules.
Despite her limited energy, Qin Zheng managed the excavation of the floodway, irrigation channels, and ensured secrecy.
She had to delegate the silt dredging of the lower Yuan River to Song Heqing.
Song Heqing, despite his old age, frequently worked on the river, which took a toll on his health.
Qin Zheng considered replacing him with Cen Daoxi but was concerned about his lack of seniority and potential resistance from others.
She mentioned it to Chu Chengji, who suggested, “Let Lu Ze do it.”
Qin Zheng was puzzled, “Isn’t Lu Ze in Xuzhou?”
Chu Chengji flipped a page of his book, “With the war imminent, I’ve recalled him as a precaution.”
Realizing Lu Ze’s sudden transfer indicated a shift in the situation, Qin Zheng pondered.
Xuzhou was a strategic location bordering Prince Huaiyang’s territory.
Despite Lu Ze’s loyalty, Chu Chengji had to be cautious.
If Lu Ze betrayed them and handed Xuzhou to Prince Huaiyang, it would be a significant loss.
With Xuzhou lacking a strategist and only Zhao Kui guarding it, the situation was not sustainable.
Qin Zheng asked, “Who will you appoint as the Xuzhou strategist?”
Chu Chengji closed his book and asked, “What do you think of Cen Daoxi?”
Qin Zheng considered, “Mr. Cen is knowledgeable and proficient in military strategy.
He should be able to replace Lord Lu without issue. But... won’t this cause Lord Lu to overthink?”
Chu Chengji said, “If just transferring Lu Ze to another position can make him disloyal, then he isn’t trustworthy.
Assign him to manage the silt buildup in the lower reaches of Yuanjiang. This isn’t a demotion.”
Moreover, it’s not safe to put Lu Ze in another important position, so having him work on the river to prevent floods is perfect.
Firstly, this task isn’t trivial.
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It’s a significant responsibility and won’t make Lu Ze feel marginalized.
Secondly, the area downstream belongs to Prince Huaiyang, who wouldn’t want it flooded.
Therefore, even if Lu Ze turns against us, it won’t affect the dredging progress.
After settling the positions of these two, there’s another person who’s been troubling Qin Zheng for a long time. “I still haven’t decided where to place General Dong Da’s son, who came to seek refuge earlier.”
Technically, Dong Cheng, Dong Da’s son, could manage his father’s former troops, but they have been integrated into Meng County.
If Dong Cheng, influenced by villains, believes his father was killed by Chu Chengji, giving him control over his father’s old troops would be like handing over Meng County.
But if placed elsewhere, Qingzhou already has capable generals like Lin Yao and Yang Yi, and Dong Cheng’s qualifications don’t stand out.
Xuzhou is strategically important, so sending him there might be risky.
In Huizhou, only Wang Biao is guarding the place.
Sending Dong Cheng there could work, but his rank isn’t high enough to be a deputy general.
Making him a lesser officer would seem disrespectful.
Chu Chengji said, “I’ll meet this young man myself. If he’s as talented as rumored, I might personally mentor him.”
Being by Chu Chengji’s side would make him a future close confidant of the emperor.
Even without a formal position, he’d be seen as important.
These matters were tentatively decided, but sending Cen Daoxi to Xuzhou needed his consent.
The next day, Chu Chengji called Cen Daoxi to ask about his intentions.
Given Xuzhou’s strategic importance, it was definitely a promotion.
Cen Daoxi gratefully accepted, “Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will not fail.”
Chu Chengji replied, “I entrust Xuzhou to you.”
Moved by Chu Chengji’s serious demeanor, Cen Daoxi bowed deeply, “As long as I have breath, Xuzhou will not fall.”
That afternoon, Cen Daoxi packed his bags and left for Xuzhou.
Before leaving, he handed Lin Yao a letter to give to Lin Zhao.
Holding the thin envelope, Lin Yao glared at Cen Daoxi’s departing figure with a gloomy expression, asking many about how Cen Daoxi got involved with his sister, but found no clear answers.
Hearing Qin Zheng might know something, he hesitated but eventually asked her.
Qin Zheng, overwhelmed with work, had almost forgotten about Lin Zhao throwing Cen Daoxi into the lotus pond.
“I don’t know what conflict arose between Ah Zhao and Mr. Cen.
Mr. Cen said he misunderstood Ah Zhao and tried several times to apologize, but she wouldn’t see him,” Qin Zheng briefly explained.
Relieved it wasn’t what he thought, Lin Yao still grumbled, “Ah Zhao is only fifteen, and Cen Daoxi is twenty-six. Isn’t it ridiculous for a grown man to argue with a young girl?”
Just then, Chu Chengji entered and overheard the last part:
“...”
Seeing Chu Chengji return, Lin Yao quickly saluted, “Your Highness.”
Chu Chengji nodded slightly and asked, “General Lin, why are you here?”
For some reason, Lin Yao felt the prince seemed a bit cold.
Wondering if he was in the way, he promptly said, “I was asking the princess about my sister. I’ve finished, so I’ll take my leave.”
After Lin Yao left, Qin Zheng chuckled, “What’s with the stern face today?”
Chu Chengji sat down beside her, naturally hugging her and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Nothing much. I sparred with Dong’s son this afternoon, broke my weapon, and need to find a new one.”
His eyelids drooped.
Twenty-six, and already considered old?
Qin Zheng didn’t notice his unease at all.
Upon hearing about his spar with Dong Cheng and the broken weapon, she immediately examined him up and down, asking, “Are you injured?”
“No, I’m not,” he replied.
Qin Zheng couldn’t help but scold, “Sparring is just for practice. How did you end up breaking your weapon?”
Chu Chengji recalled the scene in the sparring arena and just shook his head. “That kid from the Dong family is quite reckless.”
The young man had willingly asked for pointers, so Chu Chengji couldn’t refuse.
Despite his innocent appearance, during the sparring, the kid couldn’t contain his aggressiveness.
Chu Chengji remained composed on the surface but understood the situation clearly.
Dong Cheng either resented him or had a naturally aggressive disposition.
Whatever the case, keeping an eye on someone like that wouldn’t yield any good results.
Thinking he was genuinely upset about the broken weapon, Qin Zheng offered some advice, “Good weapons are hard to find. What weapon did you use before? Shall I have a new one made for you?”
Chu Chengji shook his head, “Wrought iron is rare, and there’s only one Fangtian Ji made of it in the world.”
With this revelation, Qin Zheng realized getting another one made was impossible.
Wrought iron was heavier and harder than regular iron, and crafting it into a weapon required exceptional skill.
Even though the Fangtian Ji he used before was buried with the emperor, it was a well-known artifact.
If taken out abruptly, it would surely be recognized.
Retrieving it secretly from the imperial tomb was impossible.
Qin Zheng reached out to affectionately stroke his head, “Take your time. You might find a suitable weapon in the future.”
Chu Chengji, preoccupied with other thoughts, looked at Qin Zheng and sighed almost imperceptibly.
....
The courtiers looked at Qin Jian with admiration and respect.
Indeed, only Cen Daoxi could match him in the art of cursing.
Upon hearing Qin Jian’s tirade, Song Heqing visibly felt relieved.
Previously, Qin Zheng had only seen Qin Jian’s written curses, which were full of passion and eloquence, and assumed they were carefully crafted.
Now, witnessing his spontaneous outburst, she realized what it truly meant to be articulate.
But after the cursing, they still needed to find a solution to the current problem.
Qin Zheng pondered for a moment and said, “Li Xin is spreading rumors to sow discord among our troops and shamelessly fabricating fish intestines containing books and emperor’s stone tablets. What if we also use such tactics to boost our own image?”
Song Heqing’s eyes lit up. “What do you mean, Your Highness?”
Qin Zheng explained, “Since His Highness was born with a fate similar to Emperor Wu, we could capitalize on this.”
“It’s said that Emperor Wu wielded a Fangtian Ji made of wrought iron, which was buried with him in the imperial tomb.
We could set up a grand altar outside the tomb, claiming that Emperor Wu appeared in His Highness’s dream, instructing him to retrieve the Fangtian Ji to exterminate the rebels and pacify the seas, thus bringing peace to the realm.
What do you all think of this plan?”
Qin Zheng surveyed the crowd below.
The advisors showed expressions of joy, and after some discussion, they all nodded and praised, “Your Highness is wise. This plan is ingenious!”
Qin Zheng thought to herself that it was just an opportunity to retrieve the weapon from his past life, which he claimed he didn’t have.
It would be a legitimate reason to enter the imperial tomb and retrieve his former weapon.
However, one elderly advisor hesitated, “It’s said that the Fangtian Ji made of wrought iron weighs over 180 catties. Only Emperor Wu could wield it back then...”
His implication was clear.
If the Crown Prince couldn’t lift it, it would be a laughingstock.
Qin Zheng hesitated when she heard the weight.
Even though she knew it was the weapon Chu Chengji used in the past, it was hard to say if his current body could handle it.
Song Heqing offered a solution, “There’s no need to worry. We can secretly have another Fangtian Ji made, identical to the one Emperor Wu used.
Then, when the time comes, His Highness can use the fake one. The purpose is to stabilize morale.”
With no further objections, the matter was settled.
When Dong Cheng heard of this plan, he laughed heartily, “Great! On that day, I’ll demand a demonstration from His Highness in front of the entire army.
When everyone realizes that the Fangtian Ji they took out is just a piece of fake iron, I want to see how Chu’s face changes when facing the world!”