Chapter 0023: The Second Prince Lost in Desire, Xie Chengze Emulates Heaven and Earth

The mountain rain continued to fall incessantly, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Xie Chengze and Bian Yangchun continued their conversation. When the topic turned to the flood disaster in Yi Province, Ouyang Jiu, caught up in the moment, used a charred piece of firewood to sketch the official map of Yi Province issued by the court onto the stone wall.

With his skillful hands, he reproduced the map of Yi Province with perfect accuracy, revealing both his practiced drawing technique and exceptional memory.

“The Min River has a drop of over a thousand meters. In summer, after the mountain snow melts, the snowmelt combined with torrential rain pours down from this great height. The volume and impact of the water are not to be underestimated—ordinary Jiangdi simply cannot withstand such flood discharge force.”

Ouyang Jiu pointed at the midstream outlet of the Min River. “This is where the people of Yi Province reside. With its favorable climate, vast land, and fertile soil, if not for these flood disasters, Yi Province could support hundreds of thousands of people, ensuring everyone has shelter, farmland, and food!”

“Perhaps even more than that,” Jing Ze, who had been quietly attending nearby, suddenly spoke up, his voice as clear and firm as plum blossoms. “Yi Province could become a treasure of Jian’an, with grain production and military reserves sufficient to benefit the entire realm!”

Ouyang Jiu turned to him in pleasant surprise. “Are you also a scholar, sir?”

Jing Ze bowed slightly, somewhat embarrassed. “Though lacking in talent, this humble scholar indeed harbors lofty ambitions.”

“To recognize its military strategic importance—you are too modest, sir.” Ouyang Jiu expressed great admiration and, impressed by Jing Ze’s measured speech, engaged in further conversation with him.

Xie Chengze studied the map of Yi Province, finding it somewhat familiar.

Zhu Xiaobiao leaned in to look at the provincial map on the stone wall but couldn’t discern anything noteworthy. Still, he felt compelled to contribute. “This Min River appears to have only one channel? What if we could split it in two, diverting half of the river flow into the Jiangdu Plain? With half the water volume gone, wouldn’t that prevent flooding?”

Ji Songhua immediately laughed. “This natural river is majestic and born of heaven’s will—how could it be split in two? Moreover, with mountains blocking the way, creating a new channel is impossible. Splitting it is utterly unrealistic!”

Zhu Xiaobiao scratched his head sheepishly. “Haha, I don’t understand these matters—just thinking aloud.”

Ji Songhua nodded understandingly. “You likely haven’t studied these texts, so you wouldn’t know that flood control has been an unsolvable problem throughout dynasties. Opposing nature is an immensely difficult task. Heaven shows no mercy; we can only strive to survive as best we can.”

Meanwhile, Ouyang Jiu and Jing Ze lowered their gazes in contemplation.

Zhu Xiaobiao wasn’t entirely convinced but tempered his tone when addressing a scholar like Ji Songhua. He murmured softly, “I heard you say that splitting the river is impossible because of the mountains blocking the way. Why not level the mountains then?”

“Level the mountains?” Ji Songhua found this preposterous. “Do you know how massive Yu Ji Mountain is? It would require countless people decades, even a century, of day and night excavation to possibly level it!”

Zhu Xiaobiao’s young master temper flared. Stiffening his neck, he retorted, “If it benefits future generations, what does it matter if it takes a hundred years! Someone must set the precedent!”

“I won’t speak with you anymore!” Ji Songhua was so furious he felt Zhu Xiaobiao was like rotten wood that couldn’t be carved. “Even if we flattened this mountain, would the river obey you and flow to Jiangdu Plain? Do you think you’re some immortal deity?”

He turned and growled at Ouyang Jiu and Jing Ze who were still conversing, “Look at him! He’s going to be the death of me!”

Jing Ze glanced toward Zhu Xiaobiao, who finally restrained his temper and muttered quietly, “I was just saying…”

Seeing them quarrel, Bian Yangchun hurried over to mediate. “Alright, alright, isn’t this gentleman’s perspective quite interesting? Brother Ji is also correct – leveling mountains truly can’t solve Yi Province’s current problems. Addressing the immediate situation is more crucial now.”

Ji Songhua snorted while Zhu Xiaobiao fell silent and returned to sit by the campfire.

Xie Chengze listened to their conversation while examining the map of Yi Province, finally realizing why it looked familiar.

Perhaps he knew how to manage Yi Province’s flood disasters after all.

Xie Chengze spontaneously ruffled Zhu Xiaobiao’s head. Though significantly younger, he somehow projected an older brother’s protective aura as he whispered, “Xiaobiao, I actually think you’re right.”

Zhu Xiaobiao immediately beamed, replying equally softly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Jing Ze cast a brief glance their way before indifferently looking away.

The rain had ceased.

The group extinguished the firewood and prepared to resume their journey.

With several scholars as companions, the travel gained refined amusement. When inspiration struck, Bian Yangchun would compose bold poetry facing the landscapes, Ouyang Jiu would follow with resonant folk songs, and Jing Ze would pluck a green leaf to whistle melodies. Poetry, songs, and tunes intertwined, creating elegant grandeur across the silent, expansive wilderness.

Yet Bian Yangchun’s group weren’t the only scholars heading to Yi Province.

After crossing the Qin Eight Ridges, human traces remained sparse. But when reaching Jiangling to descend the Three Gorges, they visibly encountered many thread-robed scholars carrying book baskets bargaining with boatmen along the shore, pooling funds to charter vessels to Yi Province.

“Brother Cheng, are you truly still proceeding to Yi Province?” Bian Yangchun had by now adopted this address. Tall and forthright, he’d come to regard the gentle-hearted Xie Chengze as a younger brother during their travels, thus worrying such an innocent scion would suffer hardships there.

“As Brother Bian noted, Yi Province’s people endure famine. Though I hold no official position, I share compassionate empathy and should contribute what I can to aid them!” Xie Chengze declared without batting an eye.

“Hahaha, I knew I judged Brother Cheng rightly!” Bian Yangchun warmly clasped his shoulder, thumping his own chest. “Rest assured, I have a fairly well-off friend in Yi Province. We can seek shelter with him first to assess the situation.”

Xie Chengze nodded. “That would be ideal. Many thanks, Brother Bian.”

…

Upon entering Yi Province, the desolation of mass starvation became palpable.

This area remained relatively distant from the Min River, unaffected by flooding. But likely to relieve other disaster-stricken counties, taxes had multiplied severalfold. County granary reserves were forcibly transported for emergency relief, causing grain prices to skyrocket. Commoners, unable to afford food while still laboring, naturally appeared sallow and emaciated, exuding palpable misery.

Continuing further inward, one could see how the Min River’s floodwaters had swept away tile-roofed houses, poultry sheds, and drowned corpses, piling them all amidst the remaining homes and fields. The jumble of debris emitted a putrid, fishy stench, with swarms of mosquitoes and flies buzzing incessantly. The common folk, their faces numb, cleared away the wreckage and scattered limbs. A child wailed loudly, only to have its mother tightly cover its mouth, fearing the child would grow hungry from crying too much. And they…

Had no surplus grain left. Perhaps they wouldn’t even survive the winter.

Bian Yangchun sighed, his voice choked with emotion, “Heaven shows no mercy.”

Xie Chengze watched these scenes unfold, his gaze gradually deepening. “Heaven shows no mercy, but humans can emulate the ways of heaven and earth.”