Chapter 670

The Office of Works made an infinitely enlarged version of a sled; the rails that contact the snow are inlaid with a thin sheet of shipbuilding‑edge iron. Such a crude flat cart is not laborious to pull on snow. Of course, the precondition is that the horses can run in half‑meter‑deep snow, only then can it be used.

The thickness of this snow, while not making ordinary Great Jin horses completely immobile, certainly prevents them from running. But the King doesn't have ordinary horses—his main mounts are Black Wind Horses bred from the cultivation world's Thunderbolt Horses, possessing unstoppable leaping power, able to charge in heavy armor on the battlefield, certainly not to be halted in the snow. Moreover, the King has already set his sights on the mythical beast and the eagle.

First, pack some food and digging tools for Cover‑the‑Sky, locate Tang Family Isle on the map and have it airdrop there. "Do you see? In the valley of this mountain there are several villages; houses are buried under the snow. You see people digging—would you mind dropping the supplies here? Then wait for me here?"

When the other side demanded postage, the King scooped up a handful of sorrowful tears and began his act: "Nothing left. The beast‑fodder pills have all been exchanged for white rice. The common folk are buried in the snow with nothing to eat or drink—what happens to people buried in the snow without food or drink? They die! And you're still here asking for disaster relief silver to buy snacks?! Others are suffering terribly, yet you—look at yourself, eating well, drinking well, living in a lofty jade palace!" The King waved his hand backward, gesturing for it to look at his old home, now covered in a layer of white snow and resembling an immortal palace more and more.

The King was greatly excited; the crowd behind him stood silent as chickens, daring only to think in their hearts, "Isn't this jade palace yours to live in? Now it belongs to Lord Cover‑the‑Sky."

Obviously Lord Cover‑the‑Sky isn't that scheming; it can see the villages half‑covered by wind and snow on the full topographic map, and the Rolling Cloud Eagle has already distinguished friend from foe—these people are its own. It yielded, so… it will collect the debt another day.

The King's arrangements were orderly; he himself rode the difficult xiāo, while the White Dragon and Little Date had cold‑proof tents and supplies tied to them, and everyone else, together with the sleds, used Black Wind Horses exclusively. He quickly prepared some food, clothing and supplies, stuffed the snow‑towed carts full and tied them tight, and everything was ready to set out for Ping‑Kang Tang Family Isle.

No one greeted this fellow; he left the palace straight from Donghua Gate, then headed straight to the Northern Border Medical Bureau, where in no time Zhang Tonghe and his apprentice were snatched away by the Owl Riders.

The King laughed sweetly on Little Gold's back: "Doctor Zhang, long time no see, how have you been?"

Zhang Tonghe was hastily pulled out; he was only told to bring people and medicines to the severely snow‑hit area for a clinic visit. In the rush he managed to grab whatever medicines he could, and he hadn't even caught his breath yet. Hearing the voice, he narrowed his eyes to look—it was Bai Li Jing, whom he hadn't seen in ages, now grown a notch.

In the face of great disaster, the King smiled without a trace of gloom.

He was a little surprised: "Your Majesty, are you also going personally to Ping‑Kang?" This fellow is no longer a princely king—how did the court agree to it!

The snow cleared from the medical bureau that morning still hadn't opened the road; just a moment ago soldiers had been lifting him onto his horse. It's the same throughout Youzhou City—one can imagine how deep the snow is in the low, wind‑sheltered spots. With such a strong constitution, he had only been outside a short while when he felt the chill reach his bone marrow. Snowfall isn't the coldest time; the cold wave has just begun, and what lies ahead is unknown. He couldn't fathom why the courtiers would let a sovereign risk himself like this.

The old doctor never imagined that the whole court would be blocked inside his mansion, leaving no chance for them to voice their opinions.

"If I dare not go there, how could I let my soldiers go!" the King declared solemnly. Zhang Tonghe noticed that the soldiers' faces on the horses behind him showed emotion, thinking this person's essence hasn't changed at all.

The King hadn't finished speaking when he said, "Under heaven, I and my Great Jin Iron Cavalry can reach anywhere."

The Owl Riders held their heads ever higher, chests puffed out.

Zhang Tonghe: ……

Protesting, huh—who asked you?

Probably he inadvertently revealed a bit in his gaze; the King bared his teeth at him fiercely: "So don't even think of running—just stay in Youzhou and keep training more and more divine doctors for our Great Jin~"

Zhang Tonghe: ……

Everyone assembled, the King gave the order and set off for Ping‑Kang.

This fellow had once experienced a swift gallop in the wind; upon setting out he decisively put on a mask and a neck warmer. He himself wasn't cold, but the wind scraping Little Gold's face hurt his own face.

Wei Shen initially followed the King on horseback, but who knew the snow was so deep that the horses' strides became huge leaps when they ran, making the ride bumpy and cold; he quickly gave up and switched to riding the snow cart.

Together with Doctor Zhang and the others he hid behind the supplies in the wind‑sheltered spot, caught his breath, then looked up—Little Gold had already carried the King off into the distance……

"Doctor, do you say someone is born unafraid of the cold? Look at Wei Taiping—under his cloak he isn't even wearing cotton."

Zhang Tonghe pondered for a long time, then said: "Your Majesty's master is extremely formidable; perhaps he has been conditioning your body since childhood."

Wei Shen: ……Where did a master come from!

Wei Shen fell silent; there was nothing to talk about that day.

The King's goal was clear; Little Gold's legs were unstoppable, and with the White Dragon and Little Date he reached Ping‑Kang in no time, leaving the Black Wind Horse sled convoy far behind—even Commander Ling couldn't catch up. Originally he hadn't planned to linger in Ping‑Kang City, for the conditions inside were a hundred times better than those of the surrounding villages, so he had no worries.

He was merely passing by, glanced casually, and saw a group of people foolishly standing idle at the city gate.

The King was speechless—ah, the middle one still wore official robes. Aren't you supposed to be surveying the city's losses instead of standing here gazing eastward, begging heaven for blessings!

The King flew into a rage, veered over, and upon seeing that official uniform shouted from afar: "Zhao Jun, why are you standing there like an idiot? Shall I have me go inspect the disaster situation for you!" He still knew what the Ping‑Kang county magistrate was called.

Old Zhao, hearing himself addressed as "Your Majesty," went weak‑kneed and knelt. "Your Majesty～I am terrified! From the county office to the east city gate, on this short stretch I've already found five people dead in the blizzard…" This man, once excited, blurted everything out, having no mind to conceal or under‑report.

When the King heard there were still frozen corpses in the city, although he himself wasn't cold, his chest began to feel a chilly draft.

"Then why are you still standing here like an idiot? The outside roads are blocked—work things out inside Ping‑Kang. I don't care whether you borrow or beg; have the wealthy households free up space or share supplies. Starting today I don't want to hear of anyone in the city dying from the cold wave—or else, watch your head!" Not thinking he doesn't know that this Zhao comes from the Yizhou scholar clan; he has more than enough ability to steady Ping‑Kang.

Zhao Jun knelt, trembling, not knowing whether from the cold or from fear of this martial‑virtue‑filled young emperor actually following through.

"Ping‑Kang still has villages buried under the snow, and I'm very busy. If you can't even keep the city stable, I can't think of what use the Zhao clan of Zhaoyang would be to me!" That pause was devoid of feeling, pure threat.

Great King finished berating the person, gave Xiao Jin's back a pat, "Let's go!"

That bold soldier quietly lifted his eyes, discovering the little emperor riding alone, leading two steeds laden with not a few things, heading south on his own.

Living up to its reputation, a ruthless person.

【Long wait everyone! I rested at home these two days and wrote an outline for the next part; starting tonight, regular daily updates will resume (ノ^o^)ノ】