Chapter 351: Miao Chef Chapter 353: Pressing and Urging

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Upon seeing that thick stack of official documents, Li Zhai couldn't help but frown before he'd even read them.

Here we go again!

The Six Routes Transport Commission had sent documents several times, their explanations shifting back and forth; at first they kept singing of difficulties, putting up a defense, saying river transport capacity for boats and horses was limited, manpower insufficient, they couldn't deliver that many things the way he wanted, let alone that fast.

But by the time the latest dispatch arrived, the reported quantities of tribute grain and supplies they could deliver had increased more than tenfold over the initial report, and they kept demanding craftsmen, timber and bamboo materials, and so on.

Among their proposals was using fascine works and timber works as barriers to raise the water level for boat passage — a method with precedent — but river transport conditions are complex; just how to set up fascine and timber works is a major headache, and moreover fascine works aren't sluice gates, they don't open and close conveniently, fundamentally inconvenient for both holding back water and releasing it.

If Wang Shuji weren't consistently reliable and not one for big talk, seeing him blow hot and cold and boast so wildly now, Li Zhai would almost not want to deal with him.

He took the documents handed by his subordinate, glanced at the beginning, and his brows — originally only slightly furrowed, just enough to grip a mosquito's leg — instantly became deeply, heavily furrowed, furrowed enough to crush a fly.

"Wanting more people? Haven't several batches of craftsmen and laborers already been sent over?!"

But this time, the subordinate who always handled coordination of local supplies, who usually had many complaints and had grumbled several times about Wang Shuji eating salty (meddling beyond his station), surprisingly did not chime in.

The man laughed dryly: "Vice Commissioner, I see... it seems not bad either; this time Wang the Official isn't asking for craftsmen, just those students; either way we're too busy to spare hands to manage them, no one watching over them, they're all novices, using them isn't very effective, they just waste rations here; if we go by his word, more students could help increase transport capacity by twenty percent, better to send them over!"

Seeing his subordinate react this way, Li Zhai was somewhat surprised, and couldn't help but look up at him.

The other chuckled: "I read what's inside, quite reliable; Wang the Official has been in the Jianghuai regions for years, good reputation, and there's that Han Li, though a student, isn't he working with the Du Shui Jian's Wu Guiren, connected with Hua Prefecture's Wang Jinghe? The students are probably being requested for Han Li..."

He pointed at the stack of documents on the desk and added: "Students used by students, mostly more handy than us using them — I remember last time Hua Prefecture requested merit, many were students, not even Taixue students; this batch has even better material, give them to him, if they really can exchange for grain faster and more, it's a win-win!"

Hearing this, Li Zhai lowered his head and flipped through the documents in hand.

A stack of documents, each stating only one matter, divided very clearly.

First, Wang Shuji explained the transport progress of grain, fodder and supplies: already en route, if nothing unexpected happens, the fastest batch needs just two more days to enter Chan Prefecture territory, but manpower is currently insufficient, severely affecting progress.

Then he opened his mouth to request students, explaining what role students could play.

Besides that, there was a separate detailed document explaining how the south-to-north cargo transport was originally planned to go, and how it's now planned to go using the fascine water-blocking method.

Both routes had diagrams showing where to set fascine works as sluices, how to set them, where to deploy students — one for ship scheduling and hydrological monitoring, two for helping calculate how many craftsmen and how much material needed.

Also provided a comparison, explaining why using fascine works saves time and how it increases total transport volume, and so on.

Those diagrams were drawn truly clearly, the calculation methods also plainly laid out on paper.

Wang Shuji had explained before, actually much the same as the content drawn on these diagrams, but with diagrams for reference, it truly becomes clear at a glance.

This document bore no name, but Li Zhai flipped through it twice, front and back, and suddenly said: "This is Han Zhengyan's handwriting, right."

"This... this official doesn't know..."

Whether he knows or not, no need for the other to speak; Li Zhai already had the answer in his heart.

Look at the brushwork, the style, this patient, accessible writing, plus simple straightforward diagrams — exactly like the memorial Wang Jinghe submitted to the Capital that day, making it hard not to believe the claims, and to act according to what's said.

Soon, Li Zhai summoned several clerks to verify the various calculation methods and figures inside.

But he already knew Han Li very well, had much trust in him, knew that things coming from his hands, whatever else, definitely wouldn't have errors or omissions.

Sure enough, when everyone finished verifying, there were no discrepancies.

"Give it to him." Li Zhai decided immediately, "See which students can be pulled from here right now, send them over together."

Things here just settled, the official holding the grain and fodder distribution method hurried over, narrated the situation, and handed over the manuscript.

This time, Li Zhai was much more cautious.

Wang Shuji's side only wanted some students, and for Chan Prefecture city to prepare to receive grain and fodder, not a large expense; this side, however, immediately and concretely affects the rations of the whole city, the relief soldiers going out, and a whole group of disaster-stricken commoners.

He didn't have his subordinates verify for errors, but mentally calculated once himself, then took up a brush separately, wrote a few figures himself, and ordered: "Based on these, run the calculations once, see how to use less grain, fewer laborers, fewer soldiers."

【38】 He had many affairs, set the tone, naturally subordinates handle it, won't inquire too finely.

So a subordinate who received the order went to fetch the roster, and with colleagues discussed drafting the list of students to send to Wang Shuji and Han Li.

Upon asking who could be pulled, someone hesitated.

"Those students originally did surveying work; with the river breaching dikes this time, they haven't been assigned proper work for a long time, all can be mobilized, only a few injured or sick, or those from the High Platform gathering who were frightened..."

Since those young masters had the incident, Li Zhai has received no few letters from the Capital asking favors.

Some Marquis's cousin, some high official's distant relative, some imperial clan's old acquaintance, so-and-so...

There's no wall that doesn't let wind through; his subordinates follow at his side, naturally know those people can't be disposed of lightly — an incident already happened, if they send people to such a faraway place again, and something else goes wrong...

Everyone facing the roster, picked out those young masters — fortunate that Cai Xiu did meticulous work, clearly annotating every person's family background, saving them much effort in distinguishing now.

Once selection finished, that Assistant Magistrate arrived on hearing the news, said: "Others can be pulled, but one — that Taixue Cai Xiu, must be kept for me, I have work arranged for him!"

Turned out just now Li Zhai assigned recalculating by different standards, the head took the order and entrusted the task to him.

This Assistant Magistrate has a pile of work, naturally can't do it himself, inevitably passes the buck, prepared to throw it to Cai Xiu again.

Before he could throw it, he walked halfway and heard the news, knew that once the yamen picked names, the group of students would immediately depart south to do odd jobs for the Six Routes Transport Commission; unable to mind the rest, he hurried over first to intercept the person.

Keeping one or two more students isn't a big deal, subordinates can decide themselves; a moment later documents processed, list confirmed, taken to Li Zhai for reporting; since it was urgent and coincided with Li Zhai convening officials for a meeting, all superiors present, in less than a moment the approvals were signed through, and people arranged to take transfer orders to notify students.

When the proclaimer reached the door of the room where the students were, inside was a clamor.

"We all said he's no good, you've suffered losses so many times, fallen every time, how do you still not learn — if I hadn't helped deliver documents and happened to see the manuscript on Assistant Magistrate Liao's desk signed only with the two characters 'Cai Xiu', we'd all still be in the dark!"

"Talk about us, aren't you the same? The City West District Four figures weren't you calculating? The day before yesterday he rushed you, you still pulled two all-nighters! How are you any better?!"

"Exactly! Everyone's a pig brain, no one laugh at anyone!"

Amid the noisy quarreling, someone still holding a sliver of hope couldn't help but say: "Could there be a misunderstanding! Didn't Cai Xiu say, this time he'd fight for merit for us..."

The person hadn't finished, when a cold snort sounded beside them: "You daydream in broad daylight, do it yourself, what are you defending him for — I didn't believe it either, specially had someone inquire, Assistant Magistrate Liao doesn't know our names at all! He thought it was all written and calculated by Cai Xiu alone, heard he even praised him to the sky in person, patting his chest promising to speak well of him before the Vice Commissioner!"

Before this person finished speaking, a cold snort rang out from the side: "You want to daydream, do it yourself; why make excuses for him — I didn't believe it either, so I specially entrusted someone to help inquire; Magistrate Liao doesn't know our surnames or names at all! He thought it was all written and calculated by that Cai Xiu alone; heard he even praised him for half a day to his face, patting his chest and guaranteeing he'd go before the Administration Commissioner to put in a good word for him!"

"If he comes looking again later, I'll pay him no mind, I'd be a fool if I did!"

"If he comes looking for me again, I'll deal with him then—I'm just a fool!"

"You were a fool to begin with, and so am I! But if he comes looking for work, can we really turn him away? When the time comes, if he tells the superior and a summons gets sent back to the academy, saying we're in the wrong……"

"Thinking like that plays right into his hands — if he doesn't bully you, who will he bully!"

"Then you tell me what to do?? Wait for him to come, and I'll see how you deal with him!"

"Deal with him I will — Laozi will curse him for you all to see, curse him until blood flows from a dog's head, until he's utterly ashamed!"

This man was fuming with indignation, yet was punctured by the one sitting at the side, who said: "Apart from saying a few harsh words behind his back, when the man actually arrives, which time have you not just hidden in the back glaring, not even daring to spit!"

The man in front wanted to retort, opened his mouth several times, but in the end couldn't say anything good; after a long while, he could only purse his lips and sit off to the side, head drooping in dejection.

"Speaking truly, quickly think of a way! What if he makes us work again?"

A roomful of people fell utterly silent, each at a complete loss; after a long while, someone suddenly said: "I have a method, don't know if it'll work — why don't we pretend to be sick!"

"That idea's not bad! I'm sick already, how can I work for him??"

"Right! Right! I'm sick! I…… I've got diarrhea!"

"I've got a fever!"

"Then I've got a cold! I've got wind-cold!"

"I've got wind-cold too, I caught it from you! Who let the two of us share a room?"

"I'll have diarrhea too, we ate the same thing!"

A group of people were here racking their brains, wishing they could go find a few medical books to come back and, facing the books, "contract" every good illness under heaven, when that Chai Guan brought the adjustment summons in.

The various students huddled in this corner storeroom, where few people normally came, exiled just like those sent to Qiongzhou and Leizhou — who would have expected a superior to suddenly burrow up from underground? Thus when they spoke, they had no restraint whatsoever; now hearing someone clear their throat, they turned their heads, and each and every one was mortified, for a moment neither sick nor not sick.

The official pretended not to hear, merely explained the matter gently and amiably, then handed over the transfer order, saying: "Right now the yamen is busy everywhere and can't get away, so the various officials entrusted me to come deliver you a trip……"

He relayed a round of formalities, and finally said: "Right now foul water covers the ground, you also came out of Liu Ta He, so you know best how severe the disaster is; the Transport Commission is pressing hard, once it's over you must all help properly — the faster that side is, the less suffering the commoners here endure — the Transport Commission says they happen to have boats coming today, so you quickly pack your things and gather at the dock by Shen Hour to wait for boarding; if you're late, they won't wait!"

By now it was already past Wu Hour, and the distance to Shen Hour was barely over one double-hour.

The several students weren't familiar with that official, so they didn't dare ask much to his face; only after he left did they start muttering to each other one by one.

"What does sending us to the Transport Commission mean?"

"They didn't say where we're going! Just get on the boat — is that reliable??"

"Reliable or not, we still have to go! What else can we do? Cai Xiu, you've endured this long already, I don't believe going somewhere else could be worse than following him to work??"

"Even this one we know inside and out is like this; swap for one of unknown origin, who knows, it might be even worse!"

"The transfer order's already down — miserable or not, what we say doesn't count!"

"To hell with it, if we run into another Cai Lvfen then, I'll just pretend to be sick!"

"Is Cai Lvfen going or not?"

Immediately someone scrambled to check the adjustment summons, read from top to bottom, and didn't see Cai Xiu's big name, nor that batch of young masters; instantly everyone felt thoroughly refreshed, feeling like their days finally had something to look forward to.

A group of people packed their things in a flurry and rushed to the dock to wait; seeing the urging this urgent, and not knowing what the situation was, they couldn't help but feel uneasy in their hearts.

Right in the midst of their trepidation, they saw the boats arriving on time — three in total; as soon as a boat stopped, a person walked out from the cabin of the lead boat.

In an instant, almost immediately someone cried out.

"Kong Fuyang!"

"Fuyang!!"

"How is it you?? You came to receive us??"

"Since you're here, doesn't that mean Han Li came too??"

This person spoke while looking toward the cabin behind Kong Fuyang, voice full of surprise and joy, and asked again: "This trip to the Transport Commission, are you going together with them??"

"Han Li came too?? Where is he??"

Seeing everyone ask about Han Li the moment they saw him, and seeing them all full of expectation, Kong Fuyang, who originally had a belly full of resentment, found that anger settle down considerably.

——The Zheng Yan letter wasn't wrong; these many students, without a reliable leader, and he himself couldn't get away — apart from himself, who could come lead them?

He'd have to put in the hard work himself!

What a pity! Clearly he was about to return to the Capital, only a few days left; as the mainstay holding down Wang Jinghe, without the head chef, he truly thought of it day and night, drool flowing along with sweat vat after vat; the food ledger for his return to the Capital was already written eighteen thick pages, just waiting to enter the city and go to Suanzao Alley to beg Song Xiaoniangzi to make them one by one in order, so he could shake his jowls and chew heartily.

Now forced to detour…… of old there was Great Yu passing his door three times without entering; now there is Kong Fuyang with delicacies before him — for the sake of smooth river transport, timely delivery of grain and fodder supplies, and not delaying disaster relief — he actually managed through sheer willpower to achieve not moving a step forward!

Such sacrifice, a duty-day essay…… forget it, last time the one who got a Zheng Yan article to make his name was Xin Feng, he'd be too embarrassed to push forward……

But no article, there should at least be food!

Only hoping to finish this errand quickly, the evil fruits brewed by Liu Ta He quickly subside, so he can return to the Capital one day earlier, make that surnamed Han pay with face and silver, and set up seventy-eight-ninety days of banquets at Song Ji, so he can eat to his heart's content!

Kong Fuyang thought this while unconsciously rubbing his mouth with his hand, confirming no drool had flowed down, only then raised his head and urged everyone to hurry aboard.

Waiting until everyone entered the cabin, their buttocks not yet settled, he already held the roster and swiftly divided the people into ten groups, then pointed at ten large box cages in the corner, saying: "Everyone catch your breath; while the sky's still bright, we'll start work in a moment."

He explained what needed doing and how to do it once, then emphasized again: "When done, remember to sign; who did it, who double-checked it, all must be written clearly — later for assessing merit or assigning blame, it'll all be based on this!"

——Hurry up and work!

That surnamed Han with his heart of iron and stone comes to press and urge him, so he'll press and urge others!

Bah! No one thinks of running!!