Chapter 0140: No Need to Beg Heaven Hereafter, Your Subject Shall Fulfill Your Wishes

After Old Gu finished redrawing the blueprint, he had a rough estimate in mind. Shaking his head, he clearly found the matter rather challenging. “Second Prince, with the currently available manpower in Liaozhou, I’m afraid we won’t meet the deadline.”

The snowfall in Liaozhou was too heavy. To clear roads for grain transport, nearly everyone had been mobilized. Gathering a large workforce again to rush the preparations for the Ice Sculpture Festival…

If we proceed at a leisurely pace, it’s certainly possible. But completing everything before the New Year? Difficult.

Upon hearing this, Xie Chengze furrowed his brow.

Although he had anticipated this possibility, actually hearing about the manpower shortage still troubled him.

He had already accounted for all his household troops. If that still wasn’t enough, then borrowing workers from neighboring prefectures would be the only option.

“I’ll handle the worker shortage. Old Gu, you first lead the team to Hun River to rush the snow and ice sculptures. If we ultimately can’t borrow enough hands, then we’ll have to scale back part of the plan.”

Xie Chengze tapped his finger on the desk, making the final decision.

Old Gu nodded. “Understood.”

The group began discussing specific details of the “Ice Sculpture Festival.” The candle in the room burned through the night, melted wax repeatedly flowing down the candle body only to freeze again. It wasn’t until daybreak that the door finally opened. Old Gu stepped out invigorated, ready to showcase his skills at the Hun River ice rink.

He had a premonition that this would become another achievement during his lifetime worthy of eternal fame and historical records!

Su Qinghe and the two estate managers also emerged from the room, showing no signs of drowsiness or fatigue. Being accustomed to late nights, this all-nighter meant nothing to them.

As the group dispersed, only Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan remained in the room.

The young man quietly organized the blueprints on the desk. Beside him sat a bowl of warm congee delivered early by Zhu Xiaobiao to soothe the stomach, but the youth had no appetite. He merely lowered his head, aimlessly stacking the drawings together, then stared vacantly at the contents on the paper. His thumb and index finger incessantly rubbed a corner of the drawing, repeatedly leaving crumpled marks all over the surface.

Shen Yuan stirred the hot congee in the bowl with a spoon and asked calmly, “Thinking about where to borrow workers?”

Xie Chengze’s consciousness returned slightly. He nodded, “Mm.”

Borrowing workers from other prefectures was rather troublesome. Not only did they need provisions, accommodation, and sanitation arrangements, but they also had to ensure these workers were diligent and capable. It wasn’t as simple as posting notices in the prefectures to hire suitable laborers.

Moreover, the hiring process would be extremely time-consuming, which was why Xie Chengze found it so headache-inducing.

He sprawled across the desk, his small head rolling back and forth like an unpeeled round potato being stirred in a wok, and cried out in frustration, “Heavens! Couldn’t you just drop some workers down for me! Is that so difficult? I’m not asking for the stars, moon, or sun!”

Hearing this, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle. His broad, slender palm pressed down on the restless head on the desk, his index finger slightly bent as he tapped the youth’s hard little skull. “Don’t struggle alone with this. Haven’t I told you? You can pass difficult problems to me.”

“You have a solution?” Xie Chengze’s eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Shen Yuan expectantly.

“Eat first.” The man curved his lips into a light smile, handing the gently stirred congee to the youth. His calm and composed demeanor felt profoundly reassuring.

He said, “From now on, there’s no need to pray to the heavens. I shall fulfill Your Highness’s wishes myself and summon troops for you.”

The heavens couldn’t hear his vows, but he could.

…

Somewhere in Shenzhou, a vast army was temporarily camped on a partially cleared snowy field. Using worn iron pots, they boiled thin, watery noodle soup with melted snow. To add some substance and make it less pitiful, some soldiers dug up wild greens and tree bark from the snow and tossed them in. Once softened, it was barely edible.

“Your Highness, our military provisions are nearly exhausted.”

The captain walked anxiously to a large rock where a man sat expressionless. Clad in dark, heavy armor and holding a highly distinctive black dragon-tasseled spear, he was none other than the current eldest prince, Xie Shoujun.

“Does His Majesty not want us to return?” the captain complained. “He knew about the heavy snow and alerted all the prefectural cities, yet he alone overlooked us!” Withholding pay is one thing, but giving us such meager rations—how are the men supposed to sustain themselves back to Jingcheng?”

Xie Shoujun wiped his spear, lifting his eyes slightly at the words. His handsome, stern face betrayed no emotion.

“Disaster prevention requires substantial funds. The court is likely strained and unable to spare more silver,” he said calmly. “Regardless, I will lead you home.”

He knew that although Emperor Jian had permitted him to return to the capital with his troops, he was wary of the military power Xie held. Fearing that prolonged time at the border might foster rebellious intentions, the emperor had subjected them to hunger and cold along the journey. This way, by the time they reached the capital, the exhausted army would lack the energy to rebel.

The emperor’s suspicion and caution were understandable—Xie was both his subject and his son.

Xie Shoujun had no desire to rebel. For him, guarding the northern frontier had become his life. He held no interest in the throne nor confidence in his ability to govern a nation.

He simply wished to return and see his second younger brother, to witness how he had grown and whether he was well.

“I will resolve the provisions issue,” Xie Shoujun said, lowering his dark eyes and thoughtfully stroking the black dragon-tasseled spear. “Tell the men not to skimp on food.”

They had been surviving on thin broth for days. In this freezing weather, marching on empty stomachs would make it impossible to endure the harsh cold.

The captain nodded and left, though he didn’t allow the soldiers to eat freely—only permitting them a slightly larger portion of rice.

After the meal, the troops continued toward the nearest county town. There were few military camps in the northern prefectures capable of accommodating armies, so they often had to set up tents outside city walls and light fires for warmth, as they did this time.

By evening, the army reached a relatively larger county town. The captain, clinging to a faint hope, went to negotiate with the city gate commander, asking if there were any surplus old provisions to aid the troops.

He didn’t notice someone silently slipping away from the army, disguising themselves to enter the town.

Gold Jade Pawnshop.

“Shopkeeper, I wish to pawn something.”

A low, hoarse voice stirred the dozing shopkeeper, who rubbed his eyes to see a tall, imposing man at the counter. His demeanor was extraordinary, much like a martial arts expert from the jianghu.

“What for?” His gaze fell upon the counter, where a pitch-black long-tasseled spear lay. Its blade had been polished to a brilliant shine, exuding an aura of bloodlust—clearly a weapon that had claimed many lives.

The shopkeeper showed no surprise at someone pawning such an item, merely asking, “For personal use, or someone else’s?”

If it had been stolen after killing its owner, the price would certainly drop.

“Personal,” the man replied indifferently. “This spear has slain Xiongnu. I’d appreciate if you could raise the price.”

Oh? It’s killed Xiongnu?

The shopkeeper was startled and couldn’t help but scrutinize the man again, silently speculating about his identity. Meanwhile, he reached out to touch the Mo Long spear, sensing immediately that it must be the work of a master craftsman. The shaft, wrapped in black iron, was exceptionally wear-resistant, with no trace of wood anywhere.

This was a rare, fine weapon—why pawn it?

Though curious, the shopkeeper found himself utterly captivated by the spear. “Redeemable or absolute pawn?” he asked.

“How much for redeemable?”

“For redeemable, only thirty taels of silver. But if you’re willing to make it absolute, I can offer this much.” The shopkeeper extended his thumb and forefinger. “Eighty taels of silver.”

This price was already higher than usual. The shopkeeper had received news that a grand festival was soon to be held in Liaozhou, where many wealthy merchants from other regions would be invited, and even the current emperor might attend. Thus, the Liaozhou Chamber of Commerce had earnestly invited the Shenzhou Chamber to help set up the venue and bring local treasures to sell at good prices.

With the added gimmick of “having slain Xiongnu,” this spear could undoubtedly fetch an even higher price when resold later.