NOVPUB"A grand undertaking for a hundred generations! Even the entire plan, once Zijing has finished preparing it, I could package and sell it to the Five Great Merchants and lease it to them for fifty years. They might even raise the funds for the construction themselves," Chen Xi said gravely, "It contains immense economic and political value, so it can’t just be given to them..."
"A project worth over a hundred billion coins, even the Qin Emperor’s Great Wall doesn’t have such figures," Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile, "I really don’t know where your confidence comes from."
"Because in this regard, I don’t think there’s anyone in this world who could have a better plan than mine, nor could anyone see further than I do," Chen Xi said, placing a hand on Zhuge Liang’s shoulder and gazing out over the river with a hint of confidence, "Besides, I won’t lose. History will witness all of this.
"Suit yourself. Just remember to notify me when the day comes that you’re ready to propose this plan; I want to see the feasibility of what you’ve planned," Zhuge Liang said after looking at the confidently resolute Chen Xi for a long time.
"The feasibility is one hundred percent; it’s just a matter of time and manpower. I don’t know if Zijing has solved that yet," Chen Xi said with a yawn.
"I suddenly realize that Zijing has quite the tragic existence; it seems he has so much to handle. No wonder he barely leaves the Administration Hall, working diligently every day. The prosperity he governs, apart from your plans, is probably more due to Zijing’s efforts," Zhuge Liang said with a wry smile, no wonder every time he saw Lub Su, apart from being so cold that he trembled, he was always working away diligently.
At Fenggao of Mount Tai, in the Administration Hall, Lub Su was calling on Sunx Qian, asking him to recruit more people during the agricultural off-season to undertake infrastructure construction.
"Zijing, do we really have that much infrastructure work to do? Mount Tai is already flourishing as it is," Sunx Qian asked, puzzled after receiving the order. The roads were already well connected.
"Once the roads are completed, it’s time for water conservancy projects, digging canals, reinforcing levees, find some people to research the Jianghuai Heji waterway system, then arrange for research on the Si River, Bai River and other Xuzhou waterways," Lub Su replied without even lifting his head, if he couldn’t do the Grand Canal, he would work on something else first, starting with the branches.
Indeed, Lub Su was the only civil official who currently knew what water conservancy projects Chen Xi wanted to undertake; the others didn’t even know that Chen Xi planned to work on water conservancy.
When the construction plan costing over a hundred billion was laid out in front of Lub Su, it shocked him so much that he spilled half his tea and dropped the fruit he was eating onto the table. He immediately slammed the table and directly vetoed the plan.
However, as Chen Xi gradually revealed the entire project, Lub Su also began to consider the feasibility of this construction amidst his resistance, and ultimately concluded that the project was necessary. It would connect the east, west, south, and north - with the west reaching Chang’an and Luoyang, the north to Jizhou, the south to Jianye; when completed, apart from the Shu region, almost the entire world would be connected, making it difficult to divide and nearly impossible to return to a situation of separate northern and southern governance.
The benefits were numerous, but the expenses were equally great. Lub Su, with his vision, could naturally see the benefits, and after Chen Xi’s persistent cajoling, Lub Su finally accepted the task, with Chen Xi promising not to cause chaos.
"Yes," Sunx Qian nodded his head. With the severe drought this year, water conservancy projects indeed needed to be carried out, so he accepted the command without giving it much thought.
[Take it slow, Zichuan’s task probably won’t be completed for twenty years. This guy always works on long-term plans; I’m nearly driven mad by the short-term planning. I need to find someone to help me manage the politics. Wang Xiu, though a competent official, can’t be involved in this plan; Li Wenru would be suitable for the job, but he’s gone to Xuzhou! I need to find someone to handle the political affairs!] Lub Su thought somewhat frantically. Chen Xi had given him short-term plans, but just thinking about the short-term plans included in a twenty-year long-term project was enough to drive a person mad.
[Recall Li Wenru back, recall him, and let Chen Yuanlong temporarily take the position of Xuzhou Inspector!] Lub Su was handling policies related to taxation while thinking that he had reached a certain level of multitasking.
Chen Xi had guessed that Lub Su might be busy, but he never imagined that Lub Su was so busy that his head was spinning. After all, everyone from Fenggao of Mount Tai who was supposed to assist Lub Su had left, leaving him as the only high-rank civil officer in charge of Mount Tai’s governance.
The ledgers left by Liu Ye needed to be handled by Lub Su, the plans left by Chen Xi required Lub Su to fill in the details, the administration of the provinces and counties that were reported up needed Lub Su to review, and he was already in charge of the logistics of the military affairs. The slack season’s work-for-relief program had restarted, and the water network needed him to dispatch people for onsite surveys before construction, summarily laying the entire burden of the administration of the two provinces squarely on the shoulders of this high-rank civil officer.
Although trivial matters could be delegated to the lower levels for independent decisions, when everything landed on Lub Su’s shoulders, he harbored thoughts of throwing in the towel. If it weren’t for his extreme sense of responsibility, he would probably have angrily abandoned this mess and headed to Qingzhou by now.
"I don’t know why, but I suddenly have a bad feeling when I bring up Zijing," said Chen Xi inadvertently.
"I have the same feeling," Zhuge Liang glanced sideways at Chen Xi and nodded, "I plan to go back and properly advance my studies."
"When you go back, you should follow Zijing for internal governance training. You’ve learned enough; what you lack now is practical experience," Chen Xi patted Zhuge Liang, pointing out that there weren’t many subordinates he could work to death at his disposal, and even a minor Zhuge Liang would be of significant assistance.
"Alright," Zhuge Liang glanced at Chen Xi and then nodded in agreement.
Elsewhere, after the cold mist was dispersed, Taishi Ci, along with Guann Hai, rapidly leaped onto Gan Ning’s ship. Once the parties joined forces, they immediately began to convey orders to Gan Yi in the rear, preparing to purse and attack. Of course, when Gan Ning saw Sunx Ce’s army fleeing faster than rabbits, he knew they couldn’t be caught. He was simply coming to terms with the gap between his navy and Sunx Ce’s and realized that if the battle continued and the Jiangxia Navy arrived, it would be difficult for them to retreat.
"You didn’t capture Sunx Ce?" Gan Ning looked at the somewhat disheveled Taishi Ci and said, "I didn’t think he would be that formidable."
"Couldn’t kill him," Taishi Ci shook his head, "His strength is no less than mine now, and he will likely be even stronger the next time we meet."
"…" Gan Ning frowned and glanced at Taishi Ci’s right thumb before sighing, "If you can’t kill him, there’s nothing we can do. I couldn’t kill Zhou Yu, either. It seemed like from the beginning they were just probing. Their boats were small and light, as if they were ready to leave at any moment. Old fellow, are you alright?"
"I’m fine," said Guann Hai tersely. "I’m going to the ship’s cabin. Continue your discussion and don’t look for me if it’s not important."
Taishi Ci looked at Guann Hai, perplexed. What was going on with this guy?
"Ha, don’t mind him. People have their own ambitions, and his recent goal is just to lie down and sleep in the ship’s cabin," Gan Ning casually made up a reason and explained with a nonchalant expression on his face. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
