"Mr. Li, we haven’t even reached Kaiyang yet, and the drought along the way is already getting more severe. I’m afraid it will be even more terrifying when we arrive in Kaiyang."
On a section of the official road, under a few large trees, Cui Yongquan was eating dry rations, looking at the desolate scene around him with so concern.
The withered ground, the rising heat, and the dry yellow trees along the way left him feeling alard.
These few large trees for cooling down were specifically chosen as a resting spot.
"Previously, people reported that there was a severe drought in Kaiyang, but it seems the drought is still spreading and even showing a trend of spreading towards Shengjing City..."
Li Qingmu summarized the situation along the way and ca to a grim conclusion.
The drought is spreading.
This is troubleso.
"It’s strange; the weather was favorable and there were good rains earlier this year, so why has this situation arisen in the second half of the year?"
Recalling the previous incidents at Nanyuan Palace, Cui Yongquan couldn’t help but feel alard. He was also present at the ti and was among those affected by the poison. However, as a court minister, he was treated well and wasn’t used as a guinea pig by Master Qian Jia.
"Guyang County is right over there by Kaiyang."
For so reason, Li Qingmu thought of "Guyang County," the hotown of Duanmu Nan.
"Since His Majesty the Emperor has sent us to assist the local people in combating the drought, the first step is to understand the local situation. Otherwise, it would just be empty talk. Mr. Cui, we should hurry on!"
Li Qingmu drank so water, ate so dry rations, and then got up to urge everyone to get on the road quickly.
Cui Yongquan, being quite hot-tempered, imdiately urged everyone along with him.
Traveling under the scorching sun was exhausting, but fortunately, most of the officials in this dispatched group were resilient. By evening, everyone finally reached a nearby small town to rest.
After several days of travel, Li Qingmu was a bit disheveled. Finally reaching the small town, he checked into an inn and took a comfortable hot bath before preparing to rest.
Just as he was about to extinguish the lamp, a shadow flickered outside the door, followed by Cui Yongquan’s voice.
"Mr. Li, at this pace, we should arrive at Kaiyang County by tomorrow evening. We need to consult with the local officials to discuss drought relief strategies. I’ve already devised so strategies on my end. How about we discuss them together?"
Though a bit weary, Li Qingmu knew this was for the benefit of the country and the people, so he donned his robe and got up to open the door.
"Mr. Cui, please co in."
Cui Yongquan sowhat sheepishly said, "Sorry to disturb you at this late hour, Mr. Li. It’s just that the drought is urgent, so I had to be presumptuous."
"Mr. Cui, you’re too kind. Please, co in."
Li Qingmu, who is always friendly, t Cui Yongquan’s courtesy with courtesy of his own, especially since Mr. Cui was distantly related to the current Pri Minister Cui Yuanhe, who often looked after him in officialdom.
With this mutual understanding, Li Qingmu naturally regarded him as an elder.
Once inside, Cui Yongquan got straight to the point: "Mr. Li, the most important thing in this drought is diversion. In every dynasty, droughts have been countless, yet so managed to endure while others didn’t. Why is that?"
"Because in so dynasties, local governnts diligently managed water conservancy."
Cui Yongquan looked approvingly at this young man. No wonder both the Emperor and Pri Minister Cui valued him highly. There was a reason for his favoritism.
Li Qingmu had clear thinking and got straight to the point.
"These local officials feed off the people’s fat and marrow, yet do little to benefit them. Water diversion and reservoir construction are their responsibilities, but they are just lazy! Now, faced with drought, all they do is repeatedly petition the court for aid. Hmph!"
Cui Yongquan snorted coldly and said angrily, "These local parasites! Even if the court allocates relief food and funds, how much of it actually reaches the people’s hands after layers of embezzlent from above?"
"Less than ten percent!"
Li Qingmu pondered for a mont and said.
Cui Yongquan was once again astounded: "You figured it out so accurately? How did you calculate that?"
"Earlier..."
Li Qingmu hesitated; Qi Yun had shown him so docunts before, but he couldn’t disclose that!
"I previously consulted with other elders."
"Oh..."
This answer was flawless, and Cui Yongquan couldn’t probe further about who exactly was asked. That would be inappropriate.
Still, Li Qingmu’s performance left him amazed. Cui Yongquan looked at him with gratitude and said, "Nephew, your insight is penetrating, and His Majesty indeed has remarkable judgnt! So, what ideas do you have regarding the upcoming drought relief?"
With just a few short exchanges, they beca familiar with each other.
Li Qingmu personally poured Cui Yongquan a cup of tea, poured one for himself, and then took out his writing tools to sketch on the plain rice paper.
Beside him, there was also a map of the area surrounding Kaiyang.
"Mr. Cui, you see, there are actually quite a few water systems around Kaiyang County. Here, here, and here are all traversed by major rivers. Even in a drought, it’s not to the extent that crops should wilt and people have no water to drink."
Cui Yongquan looked at the positions Li Qingmu indicated and nodded, "Indeed, this area has a well-developed water system. It only requires proper managent and assistance from the local governnt to help the people dig channels."
"Mr. Cui, in fact, many of these areas already have channels, but they have been neglected and blocked by silt over the years. Just a bit of clearing will do..."
Just as Li Qingmu was saying this, suddenly, a flicker of candlelight illuminated the windowpane behind, and a shadow flitted past the window paper.
"Who’s there?"
Li Qingmu shouted angrily, imdiately getting up and pursuing after breaking the door.
This is the instinctive reaction of people; such a shadow creeping around the door and window, what was its intent?
"Bang!"
Li Qingmu rushed out and glanced around. The inn’s corridor was empty, with no trace of anyone.
"Nephew, what’s going on?"
Inside, Cui Yongquan’s confused voice echoed. Li Qingmu returned and said calmly, "Nothing, maybe I was mistaken."
He said, preparing to step into the room, only to see soone behind Cui Yongquan.
Rather than a person, it was a child.
However, the child’s appearance was too peculiar, with a head as large as an adult’s, but a body very small, comparable to a seven or eight-year-old child.
Such a strange figure made one’s skin crawl involuntarily.
"Mr. Cui, be careful!"
Li Qingmu stepped forward, pulling Cui Yongquan behind him while watching the little figure warily.
Cui Yongquan was utterly baffled, still unsure of what had happened. When he turned around and saw the big-headed child standing not far away, his mind exploded.
He stepped back in panic, stamring, "Wh-what is this creature?"
With such an odd appearance, and silently entering Li Qingmu’s room, continuing to believe it was rely a pitiable malford child would disqualify him as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.
Cui Yongquan felt a chilling sensation on his scalp, with the first thought being that he would likely die here.
"Mr. Cui, leave imdiately!"
Li Qingmu kept his gaze fixed on the deford child opposite him. He could feel that its eyes were firmly locked onto him. This was... directed at him!
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