Chapter 288

Chapter 288

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 9: The Calamity of Drought and Locusts, Flying Troops to Liaodong Chapter 288: The Drought is Coming

In the first year of Jian’an, during the exhibition of the new roads in Chang’an, Ni Heng wrote “The Parrot Rhapsody” to compete with Wang Can, showcasing the superiority of Chang’an compared to other places.

However, the quality of an article is not judged by the number of obscure characters used, but by how accurately and clearly it conveys its meaning to the readers.

In this regard, Wang Can’s “Goddess Sends Off the Expedition Rhapsody” is more comprehensible.

Moreover, Wang Can’s narrative structure is more complete, and the transitions in his rhapsody are much more exciting than those in “The Parrot Rhapsody,” so Ni Heng naturally couldn’t rank above Wang Can.

Despite this, as he made it into the top three, his rhapsody was published in the Leping Monthly Report according to the reward conditions set by Qiao Yan and distributed to various prefectures.

Ni Heng had already gained a reputation as an eccentric scholar in his early years, and his critiques of various figures after entering Chang’an made it abundantly clear that he was a man of arrogance and talent.

Thus, after the appearance of his “Parrot Rhapsody,” everyone thought he had been intimidated by the series of things Qiao Yan had presented and had finally shut his loose mouth.

However, to everyone’s surprise, while Wang Can, the top scorer, went to Qiao Yan’s Grand Marshal’s residence to take up the position of a document officer, Ni Heng showed no signs of movement.

Even though he attended the wine-tasting event in the outskirts of Chang’an with Yang Xiu, it didn’t affect his leisurely life in Chang’an, and he showed no intention of serving Qiao Yan.

Some thought Ni Heng’s behavior might be due to dissatisfaction with Qiao Yan not giving him the top spot, but if Ni Heng were to speak for himself, losing is losing. Despite his boundless arrogance, he knows how to accept facts.

He’s just too lazy to take up an official position.

With his talent for writing rhapsodies that can be exchanged for wine, it’s not difficult for him to survive in Chang’an.

As the price of paper gradually decreases, the life of such a talented scholar becomes even more comfortable.

Perhaps the only thing that’s a bit difficult is—

Chang’an has a liquor restriction.

According to the agreement between Qiao Yan and Liu Yu, this liquor restriction will last for two years, until May or June of this year.

So, in Chang’an now, liquor is still restricted.

At most, because Ni Heng is a good friend of Yang Xiu, he can buy a bit more liquor during the New Year from Yang Xiu, and then, under the influence of alcohol, curse Qiao Yan’s liquor restriction.

This lifestyle of his lasted for a year and a half, to the point where everyone in Chang’an knew—

Ni Heng wrote “The Parrot Rhapsody” purely out of his own itch to write, and it had nothing to do with any admiration for Qiao Yan.

It would be good if he didn’t do something like drumming and cursing Qiao again.

It was precisely because of his stance that no one thought his sudden encounter with Chunyu Jia and his sharp critique of the latter on the street could be considered as speaking for Qiao Yan.

Who is Ni Heng?

Even someone as dignified and outstanding as Xun Yu could be commented by him as “Xun Wenruo can use his face to mourn for others,” making him a sharp-tongued, unrestrained critic.

He doesn’t even care much about his own scholar’s image, let alone Chunyu Jia’s face.

According to Yang Xiu’s evaluation of Ni Heng, the man is sharp-tongued but has a keen eye for things.

If it weren’t for this, he wouldn’t have pointed out at the wine-tasting event that “if everyone in the world could be selfless, there would never be two courts, the Chang’an court and the Ye court.”

So he could also see that Qiao Yan’s temporary halt in military actions and focus on agriculture was precisely the most appropriate move to accumulate strength at this time.

The disputes in the Chang’an court couldn’t be hidden, as they had been brought to the formal stage, and naturally reached Ni Heng’s ears.

He didn’t think that Qiao Yan’s actions in the three prefectures, and even Yizhou, would make her appear hesitant or fearful of war, so this move to resist the drought seemed very worthy of deep thought.

Preparing for war or preparing for famine, for someone capable of going to war, choosing the latter must involve some trade-offs.

Such a choice is not easy.

It certainly has more logical footing than those who only know how to argue in court.

So while muttering that he didn’t want the liquor restriction to last another two years, he went to block Chunyu Jia’s path.

Perhaps because he was a bit stimulated by Wang Can, he has now learned a new way of picking fights.

Isn’t it necessary to set the stage before getting to the main point?

Ni Heng first chatted with Chunyu Jia, saying he heard that you criticized the Grand Marshal’s decision in court today? I want to talk to you about this.

Chunyu Jia knew quite a bit about the grievances between Ni Heng and Qiao Yan, especially Ni Heng’s eccentric temper.

He concluded that Ni Heng obviously thought Qiao Yan’s move was inappropriate, hence he came to him.

Ni Heng must think that they should take advantage of Chang’an’s current superiority and take down the eastern court in one go.

It seems this kid is on his side!

Chunyu Jia, having been blocked and ignored by Qiao Yan in court, still hadn’t figured out why they should consider the non-existent disaster relief first, and was still holding a grudge, wishing someone would join him in criticizing Qiao Yan. Now, meeting an obvious ally, he was overjoyed.

But before he could say a few words, he suddenly heard Ni Heng ask, “Have you ever farmed?”

Chunyu Jia, puzzled by the sudden question, just shook his head blankly.

Ni Heng replied, “I haven’t either, so when I pass by fields, I walk on tiptoe, afraid that stepping on the ridges might affect the fields on both sides, quite blocking the light.”

Chunyu Jia: “…?”

Ni Heng asked again, “Have you ever fought in a war?”

Chunyu Jia still shook his head.

Ni Heng said, “I haven’t either, so I usually avoid soldiers, because I know one of them can take on five of me, and someone like me, who easily offends, might get beaten up in a sack, making it even harder to fight.”

“…” Ni Heng had indeed been beaten in a sack during a previous expedition, making his words quite credible.

But these two sudden questions left Chunyu Jia both confused and feeling something was off.

He frowned, realizing Ni Heng might not be here to join forces with him, and quickly asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Ni Heng replied, “As the poem says, ‘Without strength or courage, one becomes a source of chaos.’ I think Minister Chunyu is in such a situation.”

“You!”

Ni Heng calmly spread his hands, “Just telling the truth. Minister Chunyu knows nothing about farming or warfare. If, like me, he spent his days with poetry, tea, and wine, wandering the streets, listening in teahouses, and occasionally visiting the Hongwen Hall to soak in the scholarly atmosphere, it would still be a life of a literary eccentric. But to meddle in things he knows nothing about, what kind of logic is that?”

He paused, then added, “By the way, Minister Chunyu, being well-read, must have heard of the name Shu Diao?”

“In the past, Guan Zhong once commented on Shu Diao, saying—’No one loves their own body more than themselves. Shu Diao does not love his own body, how can he love his lord?’ Minister Chunyu also fits this description.”

“Pretending to understand, making baseless criticisms, is not loving one’s own reputation. If one does not love oneself, how can one love their lord? This principle has already been proven, so does Minister Chunyu truly love his lord? How can he talk about quickly unifying the world!”

Chunyu Jia’s lips trembled with anger.

How could he not know who Shu Diao was!

Shu Diao, Yi Ya, and Kai Fang were the villains around Duke Huan of Qi, a hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period.

Shu Diao, to gain Duke Huan’s trust and show his loyalty, even castrated himself. Guan Zhong commented that Shu Diao, who did not love his own body, could not be expected to love his lord.

Indeed, when Duke Huan was critically ill, Shu Diao and his gang caused chaos, leading to Duke Huan’s death by starvation, proving Guan Zhong’s point.

Ni Heng’s sophistry was saying that Chunyu Jia, who points fingers at things he doesn’t understand, doesn’t even love himself.








He doesn’t even cherish his own reputation, and likewise, those who don’t cherish themselves won’t cherish their lord. Yet he insists on offering advice for the grand cause of unifying the world. Truly, his intentions are condemnable!

As for whether Ni Heng cherishes himself or his lord, there’s nothing to criticize. After all, he doesn’t seek office, lives a simple life, and enjoys his freedom!

This is just the beginning of Ni Heng’s street provocations.

No wonder, by the time Qiao Yan received the news, Chunyu Jia was already so angry he was spitting blood.

Hearing the entire argument from those who witnessed it, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but find Ni Heng somewhat more agreeable.

When it comes to scolding, you really have to hand it to these trolls.

He hasn’t even stopped yet. Chunyu Jia, having recovered, looked ready to settle accounts with Ni Heng, who sighed helplessly, “Those who don’t understand the past and present are like horses and oxen; scholars who don’t know shame are like dogs and pigs. Ah, how pitiful and lamentable!”

Finally seeing Qiao Yan arrive, Chunyu Jia turned and shouted, “Grand Marshal, how could you let someone insult me like this!”

Suddenly targeted, Qiao Yan felt quite innocent, “You’re blaming the wrong person. I never speak falsely. I’ve already made my rebuttals clear in court. Why exaggerate?”

“Shu Diao was a treacherous eunuch, yet you, once a scholar during the Prohibition of Factionalists, also suffered imprisonment. Comparing you to Shu Diao is inappropriate. He supported the young lord’s ascension, causing chaos in Qi, while you have no personal ties with His Majesty’s son. This is another inconsistency.”

Even Dong Zhuo would admit that every word in her proclamation was a piercing truth.

“If Ni Heng’s actions were under my orders, I would have altered his words. Don’t you agree?”

Ni Heng’s words didn’t align with her aesthetic.

Chunyu Jia’s face turned increasingly red.

Though Qiao Yan’s words distanced him from the likes of Shu Diao, she never refuted the core accusation Ni Heng made against Chunyu Jia—he had little talent but insisted on meddling in unfamiliar fields.

Thinking that he had to meet the busy Grand Marshal again because Ni Heng had publicly insulted him to the point of spitting blood, Chunyu Jia felt another surge of anger, almost spitting blood again.

Even though the surrounding crowd had been dispersed by the guards, leaving few to hear Qiao Yan’s words, Chunyu Jia still fainted from sheer frustration.

Qiao Yan and Ni Heng exchanged a glance over the medics attending to Chunyu Jia.

In that moment, both silently blamed the final straw on each other.

It’s not her (his) fault…

With Chunyu Jia’s example, those in Chang’an who had objections to Qiao Yan’s decisions dared not voice them during such a critical time.

With the court’s power firmly established in Guanzhong, Qiao Yan wasn’t surprised by the emerging opposition.

Rather than opposing her decision to prioritize people’s livelihood over conquering the world, they were actually opposing her position as Grand Marshal, which placed her above any official in Chang’an.

Now, however, regardless of their private thoughts, no one openly interfered with her plans.

For Qiao Yan, this was enough, as she didn’t need to control everyone’s tongues.

The construction of water channels and water storage in Chang’an proceeded smoothly, with all factors potentially affecting the water flow during dry seasons being investigated from the source of the Wei River to Tong Pass.

Time flew from January to February, and soon to the end of February.

Before spring plowing, these time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks were completed, with part of the granary’s reserves used to pay the laborers.

Previously, Qiao Yan preferred using the five-zhu coin as the common currency across the three provinces, but due to the special circumstances, she made some adjustments.

This was to prevent the accumulation of money among the people, which could lead to skyrocketing rice prices in Chang’an if a drought occurred, quickly disrupting the order she aimed to maintain.

These preparations weren’t limited to Guanzhong but also included Bingzhou and Liangzhou.

Though young, Fu Shou had been practicing water conservancy in Guanzhong with Bi Lan for two years and had prior hydrological experience. Recommended by Qiao Yan, she was transferred back to Bingzhou to oversee waterway supervision.

Liangzhou’s affairs were entrusted to Jia Mu.

With such clear divisions, any anomalies could be quickly reported to the central authorities.

Qiao Yan busily navigated the pre-spring preparation period, while other regions were also active.

However, unlike her active preparations for drought, Yang Province was preparing for war.

As Chunyu Jia knew, Sun Ce planned to attack Huang Zu at the start of spring!

The troops previously pacifying Kuaiji Commandery had all advanced to Yuzhang Commandery.

Sun Ce’s confidence in this battle was evident.

With superior morale and military strength, there was no reason for failure.

After this battle, he would surely slay Huang Zu, avenging his father’s death in an ambush.

As he stepped out of the main tent, he saw Zhou Yu, also in Yuzhang, looking at the sky with a grave expression.

“What worries you, Gongjin? I won’t lead a lone army deep into enemy territory this time. The recent clear weather won’t hinder us, and Yuzhang, being in Yang Province, has no terrain to exploit. The outcome of this battle is already clear!”

Sun Ce’s confidence wasn’t arrogance but a conclusion drawn from analyzing the current situation.

When Dong Zhuo assigned Huang Zu to Yuzhang as a counterbalance to Qiao Yan’s recommendation of Sun Ce as Kuaiji’s Prefect, Huang Zu’s clan support in Jing Province significantly diminished.

If he had retreated to Jiangxia instead of confronting Sun Ce in Yuzhang, he might have lived longer—since Sun Ce, as the Governor of Yang Province appointed by the Chang’an court, wouldn’t rashly invade Jing Province.

But Yuzhang…

As the Governor of Yang Province, Sun Ce had the authority to oversee and lead here.

And Sun Ce was no longer the young man who reluctantly came to Yang Province!

No one could save Huang Zu now!

Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce, seeing his determined resolve to defeat the enemy, which was infectious.

He replied, “I’m not worried about Huang Zu.”

Huang Zu couldn’t be their main concern.

If not for the mountain tribes and noble families in Yang Province hindering Sun Ce, and the clan-dominated southern regions, Huang Zu wouldn’t have survived last year.

Fortunately, with new farming methods increasing grain production in Yang Province, even after tribute to Chang’an, there was enough to recruit soldiers.

With increasing support, once Yuzhang was secured, Sun Ce would truly be the master of Yang Province.

But one issue troubled Zhou Yu.

“Bofu, we know the climates differ between north and south. Northern springs are often dry, but we’re in Yang Province.”

In the south, rain is common as the weather warms, but now in March, during spring plowing, rain is scarce, with continuous clear days—good for battle but bad for the people.

Especially since Yang Province’s crops are mainly rice, requiring more water than northern millet and wheat. The current drought can be mitigated by the southern water network, but if it continues, what then?

After all, summer droughts are more likely in the south than spring droughts.

Zhou Yu murmured, “Perhaps Chang’an’s predictions and preparations were correct.”

The earlier dispute in Chang’an, once a topic of casual conversation, now showed the necessity of one side’s actions.

A drought is coming…