Chapter 0031: Commoners with Full Bellies, Commoners Who Only Want to Live
Liang Wanda actually managed to accomplish it—by pressuring several wealthy gentry to level their private gardens for farmers to grow short-term crops.
Xie Chengze was also quite cooperative. He went to the inn and found Ouyang Jiu. “Brother Ouyang, could you create a few paintings for me? I can pay.”
At that time, Bian Yangchun and the others were troubled by the backbreaking work of moving stones, which earned them little silver. To make matters worse, Ji Songhua tripped while moving stones and sprained his foot, forcing him to stay at the inn to recuperate.
So when Xie Chengze offered this timely help—like providing charcoal in snowy weather—Ouyang Jiu sensed something amiss but still accepted the job.
They were simply too short on money.
Xie Chengze also invited a few clever students with painting skills at the inn, providing them with brushes, ink, and paper.
Once everything was ready, he set off with Jing Ze and several students. Zhu Xiaobiao, claiming concern for the Second Prince’s safety, tagged along for the excitement.
The group pretended to pass by the Porridge Shed. Seeing Governor Liang performing acts of kindness, Xie Chengze stopped and stood there, moved by the scene. Zhu Xiaobiao, playing the “treacherous minister,” immediately suggested that such a touching moment should be captured in painting to be preserved for posterity, serving as a model for future officials.
Xie Chengze deeply agreed and thus ordered the students to paint the scene.
The other students noticed nothing unusual, merely thinking this wealthy young master was empathetic and sentimental. They were also impressed by Governor Liang’s approachability and compassion, pouring their own emotions into the paintings to depict this harmonious scene of officials and commoners coexisting in mutual affection.
At the end of the day, the students happily dispersed with their earnings from the paintings. Only Ouyang Jiu hesitated, seeming to want to say something before leaving.
Jing Ze, however, spoke bluntly, “Young Master, it feels a bit deliberate, your actions.”
Xie Chengze feigned surprise, “Is it that obvious?”
Jing Ze nodded slightly, frowning, “Not exactly obvious, but it does seem like you’re deliberately crafting a image of Governor Liang as a benevolent official who loves the people like his own children.”
He didn’t understand what the Second Prince was trying to achieve. During these days at the government office, he had only seen Xie Chengze idle about, accomplishing nothing substantial for Jiangdu Xian. Now that he finally took action, it turned out to be just superficial gestures.
Jing Ze felt an indescribable disappointment—worried that Zhu Xiaobiao hadn’t found a wise master, angry that no one cared about the lives of Jiangdu’s people, and frustrated by his own powerlessness.
Was following the Second Prince truly the right path?
Somehow, Jing Ze thought of Shumishi Shen Yuan, who had left the city to address the disaster. He believed that official was the one who genuinely had the people’s interests at heart.
“Brother Cheng,” Ouyang Jiu spoke up at that moment.
Xie Chengze turned to look at him.
Ouyang Jiu gave a slight bow and returned the money pouch to Zhu Xiaobiao. Lowering his eyes, he said softly, “I won’t be coming tomorrow.”
There was some money he didn’t want to earn.
Xie Chengze wasn’t angered; instead, he raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Even if doing this could benefit the people of Jiangdu?”
Ouyang Jiu was taken aback, a puzzled look in his eyes.
“Brother Ouyang, why be in such a hurry? Take the money pouch back. If in a few days you still feel this money is dirty, you can return it to me then.” Xie Chengze slightly lifted his chin, signaling Zhu Xiaobiao to give the money to Ouyang Jiu.
Ouyang Jiu hesitated for a moment, recalling the genuine warmth and sincerity Chengze had shown throughout their journey south—utterly unfeigned. Clutching the money pouch tightly, he said in a low voice, “Alright.”
After Ouyang Jiu left, Jing Ze asked, “What exactly is Your Highness planning? Are you truly going to collude with that Governor Liang?”
Zhu Xiaobiao quickly tugged at his sleeve and forced an awkward smile toward Xie Chengze. “Your Highness, Jing Ze is blunt by nature. Please don’t take his words to heart.”
“It’s fine.” Xie Chengze waved his hand dismissively. Watching the faces of the people in line for porridge light up as the gruel thickened again, he murmured softly, “Look at them—they’re so simple.”
As long as their bellies were full, it was enough.
As long as they could survive, it was enough.
As long as they could hold on until Shen Yuan returned, it was enough.
Thinking of Shen Yuan’s incredulous expression upon seeing the revitalized people of Jiangdu Xian upon his return, Xie Chengze couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips and hum a soft tune from his hometown.
…
Two days later, a carriage loaded with seeds quietly entered the city under the cover of night. The next morning, Governor Liang issued a proclamation detailing the current hardships in the city and his refusal to surrender. He called upon scholars and commoners alike to gather at a designated location to till the soil, plant crops for self-sufficiency, and overcome the crisis together.
Out of curiosity, many went and discovered that free grain seeds were being distributed at the entrances of the gardens. Everyone who entered could form teams and receive a small plot of land to grow short-term crops, alleviating some of their hunger.
Though they knew this wouldn’t solve the immediate famine, having land gave the farmers a sense of security. The faint green sprouts emerging from those small patches of soil symbolized hope—a sign that if they endured a little longer, there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
Governor Liang’s initiative earned widespread praise from scholars and commoners alike. Some emotional farmers broke down in tears, kneeling to kiss the ground with fervent gratitude.
What they saw was not just food, but the hope of survival.
With hope came unity.
And unity was precisely what Xie Chengze sought.
A white chess piece was quietly placed on the board. Looking across the vast chessboard, shrouded in a haze of black mist, the situation remained unclear and indistinct.
Yet that single white piece, insignificant as it seemed, emitted a faint glow.
…
Sitting under the eaves, Liang Wan Da looked somewhat despondent.
The Second Prince’s strategy wouldn’t hold for long. After all, the relief grain in the city was severely limited, and the depths of the granaries were filled with aged, rotten rice and chaff. Sooner or later, they would run out of porridge to distribute, and public anger would erupt once more.
By then, no matter how much he emphasized the city’s difficulties, all their previous efforts would be erased. The scholars would surely whisper among themselves, “So Governor Liang isn’t all that impressive after all.”
His dream of becoming a court official would be shattered!
Damn it! If he had known it would come to this, he never should have listened to that official’s empty promises and embezzled the disaster relief funds, leaving them with no grain now. If he had honestly purchased relief supplies, he might have already achieved great deeds and been taken to Jingcheng by the Second Prince to serve as a court official!
And those old bastards were truly ruthless—each of them skimmed half of the relief silver, leaving him with barely anything. If the embezzlement were exposed, he would be the first to suffer!
To hell with them! Since they showed him no mercy, he wouldn’t hesitate to stab them in the back!
Xie Chengze was completely unaware that the casually drawn promise he had made had manipulated Liang Wan Da to such an extent. When he woke up and stepped outside, he found Liang Wan Da sitting under his eaves, looking both distressed and resentful.
“Governor Liang, what are you doing here?” Xie Chengze asked with a cheerful smile.
“Second Prince!” Liang Wan Da quickly stood up and bowed. “After careful consideration, this humble official believes the current situation is unsustainable. Once the granaries are depleted, the people will riot again, and the scholars will see through our plan. It would be better to find an excuse to send them away from the city as soon as possible…”
Xie Chengze gestured for him not to panic. “Governor Liang, I noticed the granaries are quite full. How could they be depleted? They will surely last until the Jiangdi is rebuilt.”
Liang Wan Da found it difficult to voice his concerns. “Your Highness, I…”
Seeing Liang Wan Da hesitate, Xie Chengze smiled faintly, a subtle chill flickering in his eyes. “Governor Liang, there’s no need to worry. I am here to handle everything. Moreover, Heaven will assist you…”
His tone sounded mystical. Puzzled, Liang Wan Da looked up, only to see Xie Chengze’s brilliantly radiant smile—a face so captivating it could easily dazzle anyone.
Soon enough, Liang Wan Da understood why Xie Chengze claimed he had Heaven’s help.
Torrential rain poured down once more, and the Min River flooded again.
This time, the raging waters surged toward Jiangdu Xian as before.
In the original text, Yi Province suffered two consecutive floods, with the second occurring after Shen Yuan and the Crown Prince arrived.
By then, Shen Yuan had already uncovered evidence of Governor Liang’s corruption, but the sudden flood destroyed the granaries, rendering all efforts futile.
Xie Chengze didn’t know the exact day the storm and mountain flood would occur. He happened to be treating Bian Yangchun and others to a meal at an inn when Ouyang Jiu, who enjoyed observing cloud patterns, predicted a heavy rainstorm in the coming days. It was then that Xie Chengze realized the day had finally arrived.
He immediately ordered Governor Liang to organize the people from nearby counties to evacuate to the highest peak of Yu Ji Mountain.
As light rain began to drizzle, the common folk didn’t understand why they had to suddenly leave the city and climb the mountain. Leading their livestock through the rain, they whispered complaints among themselves. Some tried to turn back or rest along the way, but the fierce-looking Yamen Runners blocked their path, forcing them to resignedly continue the ascent.
Only when the rain intensified did the farmers react first, urging everyone to hurry up the mountain. By the time the mountain flood poured down, violently submerging the counties along the way, the people and scholars who had reached the mountaintop finally recognized Governor Liang’s foresight. They wept with gratitude, thankful to have escaped with their lives.
Naturally, the granaries were washed away.
Fortunately, the edible grains had already been transported up the mountain by the officials, providing enough supplies to last for some time. Having experienced this life-and-death ordeal, the people found their inability to afford food insignificant in comparison. Instead, they felt renewed hope and anticipation for the future.
All because they had a good governor—a wise and courageous leader like Liang Wan Da—they believed they could survive and overcome the flood disaster.
One farmer, steeling his heart, decided to slaughter his ox to help everyone through the crisis and repay Liang Wan Da for saving their lives. Liang Wan Da promptly declined the kind offer.
“This old ox is not only our companion in farming, but also no different from family. How could I, as an official, ever consider eating it? Once the mountain flood recedes, we must reclaim the land and make the fields of Yi Province flourish again with golden grains. We cannot do without this old ox, just as I cannot do without your support and cooperation.”
These words moved the common folk to tears, while the scholars felt their hearts surge with inspiration, vowing that upon achieving success in the imperial examinations, they would emulate Governor Liang’s every word and deed—treating the people as their own children and serving the nation with benevolence.
Seizing the momentum, Xie Chengze painted an even grander picture for Liang Wan Da, “Look, Governor Liang, these scholars are all likely to become your colleagues in the official circles someday. They will help you secure your position in the court and ensure you get whatever you desire!”
Liang Wan Da: !!!
Zhu Xiaobiao, Jing Ze, and the others nearby: …
Second Prince, that’s enough—you’re practically swindling the man into a stupor!!!