Chapter 310: The Balance of Fortune Momentum

In the side hall study of the Hall of Martial Virtue, candlelight flickered.

Outside the window the night was dark and heavy; only the cicadas' cries persisted tirelessly.

Chen Wen did not retire; before him on the wide purple-sandalwood imperial desk lay piled memorials from all circuits and prefectures.

They were not all urgent military affairs or major state matters; most were records concerning local livelihood, seasonal phenomena, celestial signs, and even trivial "chicken-feather and garlic-skin" details.

His gaze was calm as he turned through them one by one.

In the Shannan East Circuit the drought persisted; local officials organized laborers to dig wells day and night, with little effect;

In the Huainan West Circuit a leaking pond, after simple repair, collapsed again in a small part due to a modest night rain; fortunately no casualties occurred;

In the Jingdong Circuit a tract of forest that had inexplicably died showed signs of expanding……

These scattered, seemingly unrelated events across different regions, in Chen Wen's eyes, appeared to be linked by an invisible thread.

His fingertip brushed over each memorial, yet what surfaced in his mind was the subtle but clear sensation of Fortune Momentum consumption felt at the Tongji Canal worksite half a month earlier.

"Cost……"

He murmured softly to himself.

If he used his ability to accelerate the nation's fortune, a price must be paid, and that price manifests as various kinds of "misfortune" and "minor mishaps".

Then, what is its pattern?

How great is it?

And what relation does it have to the intensity and scope of the ability employed?

He needed an answer.

A basis that would allow him to employ this power more prudently in the future.

"Attendant."

A duty-bound eunuch appeared silently at the doorway.

"Your Majesty."

"Convey my oral command: order Commander Qian Gui of the Jing'an Bureau to enter the palace immediately to see me."

"As you command."

Within less than half an hour, Qian Gui hurried to the Hall of Martial Virtue study.

He wore a dark-blue robe, travel-worn, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, clearly unaware why the Emperor had summoned him urgently at night.

"Your subject Qian Gui pays his respects, Your Majesty."

"Please rise."

Chen Wen did not beat around the bush, but asked directly.

"Qian Qing, what special news have the Jing'an Bureau's agents planted in False Song territory recently brought back?"

"Especially, concerning its internal seasonal conditions, phenology, and even some unusual trifles?"

Qian Gui blinked slightly, then quickly composed himself and replied:

"Your Majesty, there are indeed some scattered reports."

"According to reports, in False Song territory, especially around its capital region and Henan Prefecture, it has lately seemed…… favorable weather and timely rains."

"The spring wheat is growing well, with no major calamities observed."

"Furthermore, there is nothing particularly worthy of note."

"Favorable weather and timely rains……"

These four words, like a stone dropped into a calm lake, sent ripples spreading in Chen Wen's heart.

They formed a subtle yet striking contrast with the initial signs of drought appearing in several circuits of Great Chen.

Could it be……?

A bolder hypothesis gradually took shape in his mind.

Could the consumption and accumulation of this "Fortune Momentum" not be isolated, but related to a waxing-and-waning contest of "Qi Fortune"?

By using his ability to accelerate Great Chen's construction, he consumed his own Fortune Momentum, causing internal "misfortune";

Meanwhile, False Song, which walks upon the "script," having followed procedure without overstepping, instead enjoys "favorable weather and timely rains"?

Is this a zero-sum game?

Or is it a contrast deliberately engineered by some hidden hand to prove the "correctness" of its "script"?

Chen Wen's gaze fell once more upon the memorials on the desk.

He needed more concrete data, a more systematic comparison.

"Qian Gui."

"Your servant is here."

"Effective immediately, the Jing'an Bureau shall establish a 'Wind Hearings Office' tasked with gathering and organizing, within our court and False Song territory, all information concerning seasonal conditions, phenology, disasters, auspicious signs, and even market rumors and price fluctuations—seemingly trivial matters."

"Compile monthly summaries, conduct comparative analysis, produce charts, and submit them directly to me."

"Remember, no matter how great or small, nothing may be omitted!"

Though Qian Gui's doubts grew deeper, yet out of absolute obedience to the Emperor he immediately bowed and replied:

"Your servant, I receive the order! I will swiftly establish the Wind Hearings Office."

"Go."

After Qian Gui withdrew, the study returned to silence.

Chen Wen alone walked to the window, opened the lattice pane, and the night breeze brought in a hint of coolness, slightly dispelling the summer night's stuffiness.

He gazed up at the starry sky, the stars scattered seemingly at random, yet in fact following some profound law.

The Fortune Momentum within him, too, was like that star‑sky—vast and mysterious.

Previously, he only knew it could reflect the nation's strength and could be passively aroused to form a domain opposing dark energy.

Now, he finally truly grasped its deeper function—a means of maintaining balance, or rather… the 'currency' used to pay the 'price'.

To wield power beyond the norm and push the dynasty forward, one must consume this 'currency'.

And the result of that consumption is various possible 'negative contingencies' that may arise within the dynasty.

Conversely, if the dynasty proceeds step by step, develops steadily, and accumulates popular support, this 'currency' will grow, and the nation's fortune will naturally flourish.

Perhaps the False Song's 'favorable weather' is not mere luck, but because it strictly followed that icy 'script', never 'deviating', thus needing to pay no extra 'price', and might even receive some kind of 'reward' for 'conforming to expectations'?

Having realized this, Chen Wen did not feel relieved; instead, his mood grew even heavier.

This means his struggle against the behind-the-scenes black hand is not only on the battlefield, in the court, and in the artisan workshops.

But also on the inscrutable level of 'fate'.

Each of his attempts to accelerate could provoke internal troubles; yet if he remains stagnant, he may instead be gradually surpassed by the False Song, which acts according to the 'script'.

This is a dance upon a steel wire.

It demands utmost caution and wisdom.

"One must not give up eating because of choking."

He gazed at the night sky, his eyes gradually becoming resolute.

"Ability must be used, and Great Chen must move forward."

"But, we must find that 'balance point'."

"Between the accelerated gains obtained from using ability and the possible 'price' incurred, find the optimal solution."

"Furthermore, we must devise how, through other means—such as better governance, faster technological breakthroughs, stronger popular cohesion—to compensate for, or even offset, this 'price'."

He returned to the imperial desk, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and slowly wrote four characters on a blank sheet of xuan paper:

【Fortune Momentum Balance】

This is not only a principle he must constantly keep in mind when governing, employing troops, or even using his personal abilities in the future.

It is also the core of his prolonged game with this world's invisible 'rules' and that behind-the-scenes black hand.

The night grew deeper.

Chen Wen blew out most of the candles, leaving only one lit, and continued to flip through those memorials recording the dynasty's subtle pulse.

He knew that to accurately grasp the wondrous 'Fortune Momentum Balance', he must understand this dynasty better than anyone—knowing each of its breaths, each heartbeat.

This road is long, and also difficult.

But he must go on.