Chapter 299 – Dongqing and Chongzhou
“Isn’t there a rough estimate of the time?”
Jiang Pengji vaguely speculated in her heart, but there was no solid evidence.
She had read so many books before, and indeed, there were mentions of Cold Food Powder scattered throughout.
According to historical texts, a wandering Taoist once presented the Emperor of Great Xia with a miraculous recipe for longevity and vitality, which made men vigorous and robust during intimate moments. That recipe was Cold Food Powder, which also had the efficacy to treat typhoid.
Before the Five Nations Separating Xia, Cold Food Powder had always been a court secret, not disclosed to the public, only the Son of Heaven could enjoy it.
Later, after the Five Nations split away from Xia, even the once-holy Cold Food Powder disappeared without a trace.
When it reappeared, it had evidently become a popular trend sought after by high-ranking noble families.
Feng Jin frowned and shook his head, saying, “I’m not sure about that. If Lan Ting is curious, I’ll look into it for you.”
Jiang Pengji nodded, “Then I’ll trouble you.”
Feng Jin turned his head, feeling that Jiang Pengji’s sudden inquiry was a bit strange.
“Is there a problem with Cold Food Powder?”
Jiang Pengji scoffed coldly, “There’s a huge problem. Just look at those who’ve used Cold Food Powder for too long—who still has any vigor? They wander around in a daze, looking as if they’re about to meet their ancestors, completely unfocused, acting absurdly, and their tempers are as unpredictable as the weather. Now they’re even publicly stripping after taking it. Under normal circumstances, who would expose themselves to others like that?”
Feng Jin had heard how useful Cold Food Powder was and how enjoyable it was once consumed, but he had never touched it.
If he were to indulge in Cold Food Powder like those idle rakes, his father, Feng Ren, would be the first to deal with him.
Hearing Jiang Pengji’s reminder, he began to grasp the situation vaguely.
“Cold Food Powder can be addictive,” Jiang Pengji said with a cold expression. She didn’t regard this backward thing highly, but people from ancient times had too poor physical quality; the chance of addiction was high. “If you use it for too long, even attempting to quit becomes extremely painful, something an ordinary person can’t endure.”
Feng Jin’s expression turned a bit peculiar.
“But this Cold Food Powder is mostly used by nobles; the common people won’t be implicated…”
Jiang Pengji laughed coldly, “Look at how you say it, as if the common people are in charge now.”
Feng Jin was instantly left speechless.
After a moment, he said, “I’ll look into this matter when I get back.”
Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze.
She wasn’t sure if Cold Food Powder was part of a conspiracy, but she was certain that it acted like a catalyst, igniting already existing hidden dangers.
Leaving the Royal Villa, she sat in the carriage alone, her face cold as she browsed through the information she found about Cold Food Powder from the audience.
Similar to what she saw in the historical texts, in that audience’s world, Cold Food Powder was initially used to treat typhoid. However, due to some reckless changes to the formula, the medicine became a poison, spreading within the aristocracy and turning into a fashionable commodity.
In the current world, Cold Food Powder was presented to the Emperor by a wandering Taoist as a means of health preservation, yet the Great Xia Emperor misused it rampantly.
After the Five Nations split from Xia, this court secret of Cold Food Powder also fell into the hands of a certain nation.
“This harmful stuff…” Jiang Pengji couldn’t help but shake her head.
Returning to the Feng Manor, Ta Xue had already prepared hot soup and clean clothes.
Jiang Pengji took a bath, her long hair damp, and Ta Xue used a dry towel to wipe her, soaking up the moisture.
“Xiaoyu, help me fetch the Kunyu Map.”
Jiang Pengji unfolded that map, which she had personally copied. It was filled with many tiny notes.
As her hair dried, Jiang Pengji dismissed Ta Xue and said to Xu Ke, “Father is likely going to retire.”
Xu Ke was startled and quickly looked up at her.
“Master wants to retire? But…”
Liu Zhi was only a few years old now?
Under forty and just past the age of standing, why would he think about retiring?
“Hu County is too hot to handle; if it weren’t for my father’s strong hand, how could we have held onto it now?”
A cold light flashed in Jiang Pengji’s eyes. “There have been grain disasters in the nearby two states; we managed to hold on with just Hu County. Who wouldn’t be envious? Not only would the high-ranking noble families be envious, but that Emperor is also extremely envious and is likely to stir up trouble. Father had already had thoughts of retiring before coming to the capital, so it’s likely going to happen…”
Xu Ke frowned and quietly said, “But if Master loses Hu County and has no backing, it won’t be stable for him then.”
After all, although Liu Zhi hadn’t exterminated the gentry of Hu County, he had offended quite a few.
Jiang Pengji said, “Then it’ll depend on how to choose. Hu County is easy to attack and hard to defend, and its military strength is relatively weak. If it were Dongqing… it will become a coveted prize for everyone; what’s the difference between that and a child carrying gold through a bustling market? Better to give up temporarily and change to another place, retreat to advance.”
After listening, Xu Ke remained silent for a while and said, “I believe if Master submits his retirement petition, he’ll likely be promoted to a state governor.”
It was clear to anyone with eyes that Hu County was already a major grain-producing region, the best land in all of Dongqing.
Liu Zhi had taken years to govern it to this state; if he retired now, outsiders would only speculate that the Emperor was too greedy.
To silence the voices of the masses, once Liu Zhi says he wants to retire, he will likely be appointed as a state governor to demonstrate the Emperor’s benevolence.
Although it was a façade for a downgrade, it would sound better.
“I think so too. Right now in Dongqing, out of the six states and twenty-one counties, only Yuanzhou lacks a state governor…”
Upon hearing Yuanzhou, Xu Ke’s face suddenly grew cold, “But Yuanzhou…”
Yuanzhou is located north of Dongqing, bordering the Northern Frontier, with two counties, Shangyu County and Changhe County.
Qi Guanrang is from Shangyu County.
The six cities that were lost back then were all within Shangyu County; currently, three cities still remain in Northern Frontier’s hands.
That aside, because of years of conflict between Northern Frontier and Dongqing, Yuanzhou had turned into a wasteland, with a population in decline.
Now that Dongqing has married into the Northern Frontier, and Nan Sheng is seeking help with soldiers, given the current Emperor’s erratic character, he could very well mobilize the troops stationed at the borders, leaving Yuanzhou directly facing the Northern Frontier’s three clans’ threats. Being the state governor there would not be easy.
However, precisely because it’s not easy, it is where Liu Zhi could maximize his benefits.
Jiang Pengji had initially targeted this place.
“Only in Yuanzhou can one recruit soldiers and buy arms openly… After all, even with the two nations’ marriage, the three cities in Shangyu County still belong to the Northern Frontier, and territory cannot be lost,” Jiang Pengji said, with Xu Ke listening intently. “Yuanzhou has another crucial advantage…”
She wrote down four characters: the gentry is scarce.
The scarcity of the gentry means fewer constraints and restrictions.
Xu Ke contemplated seriously, vaguely understanding Jiang Pengji’s choice.
Yuanzhou seems perilous, but it actually hides immense opportunities.
“Yuanzhou borders Hu County. Father has managed Hu County for so many years, and surely he has kept some reserves secretly. The governor dispatched by the court won’t be able to fully control Hu County in a short time; in other words, Hu County is still in my father’s hands…”
The troops from Yuanzhou and the grain from Hu County, the combination of these is what Jiang Pengji desires.
“Moreover, there’s one more important reason: Chongzhou abounds in cypress and sandalwood.”
Cypress and sandalwood, confirmed by the audience to be similar in quality to the Qing sandalwood in their realm, can be used as raw material for Xuan paper.
