Chapter 347

South of Xing Prefecture, the panic in Li Family Village did not subside with time; instead, like a stone thrown into a still lake, ripples kept spreading.

The village head Li Fu's urgent report had not yet reached the prefectural office, and several nearby villages also successively reported similar news.

At first, only a few fields had turned gray and felt compacted;

Then more farmland showed similar symptoms, spreading from the village head to the village tail;

Next, the small river connecting the village, the irrigation ditches, and even the water wells in some households began to emit that unsettling pale-blue foam.

"Heavens! This is not letting us live!"

An old woman knelt on the ridge of her own field, looking at the wheat seedlings that had visibly begun to wilt, their tips yellowing, and she slapped her thigh and wailed.

Her crying drew more villagers to gather, each face filled with bewilderment and fear.

Land is their root, river water is their life.

Now the root seems to be rotting, the lifeline seems poisoned; this threat to the very basis of survival is more desperate than any military disaster or banditry.

"The village head has already gone to report to the officials!"

"The officials…… can the officials have any solution?"

"Could…… this not be…… a plague? A plague of the land?"

Someone trembled while guessing, causing a greater commotion.

Panic began to spread like wildfire across the countryside.

Some tried scattering wood ash on the ground, others desperately carried water from the unpolluted upstream to irrigate, but both had little effect.

The compacted land and the abnormal water seemed like a stubborn plague, firmly clinging to this land.

The news finally reached the Xing Prefecture prefectural office at the fastest speed.

Prefect Cui Renshi had just finished handling a batch of routine affairs when he saw the Registrar almost stumbling in, his face devoid of color.

"Sir! Not good! Urgent reports from several southern villages: land and water anomalies have appeared!"

Cui Renshi's heart sank sharply; he set down his brush and said in a deep voice, "Don't panic! Tell me in detail!"

"Yes! According to reports, in many places the farmland has inexplicably compacted, turned gray and withered, and the seedlings have wilted;

Near water sources, strange blue foam has appeared, emitting a foul stench;

The people are panicking, fearing it may spark a popular uprising, Sir!"

Cui Renshi rose abruptly and walked around the long desk.

He was nearly fifty, experienced in governing localities, but such a strange, widespread simultaneous problem with land and water was unheard of.

"Has it been inspected? Could it be poison leaking from nearby mines or workshops?"

"Replying, Sir, preliminary inspection found no newly established mines or large workshops.

Moreover, moreover, the scope of this anomaly is quite broad, almost simultaneous occurrence, not like ordinary pollution."

The Registrar's voice trembled with tears, "I… I suspect… could it be an omen of the earth dragon turning over? Or… could it be demonic mischief?"

"Enough nonsense!" Cui Renshi shouted sternly, though his own palms broke out in cold sweat.

He forced himself to calm down.

"Immediately summon all officials in the prefecture versed in agriculture and waterworks, plus medical officers, to form an inspection team, with you personally leading it, rush to the site!"

"First, record all anomalies in detail, take samples of soil and water, and send them quickly to the Bian Liang Ministry of Works!"

"Second, pacify the populace, strictly forbid drinking the anomalous water and eating the withered crops!

Open the prefectural relief granary, allocate grain as needed, and stabilize public sentiment!"

"Third, closely monitor movements everywhere; if anyone spreads rumors or incites uprising, arrest them immediately and show no mercy!"

"Yes! I, your subordinate, obey!" The Registrar received the order and hurried away.

Cui Renshi paced a few steps on the spot, his unease growing stronger.

He walked to the window, gazing southward, where lay the fertile lands under his governance.

Yet now it has inexplicably suffered this calamity.

"Land and water anomalies…… occurring simultaneously……" he muttered to himself, recalling recent court reports about the False Song and the Iron Crow Army; a terrible notion rose in his mind.

"Could it…… really be sorcery emanating from there?"

Almost at the same time, urgent reports also arrived at the prefectural office from Lu Prefecture on the Hedong Circuit and Bo Prefecture in eastern Hebei.

The content was largely the same as that from Xing Prefecture: land compacted, water bearing blue foam, crops withered.

Although the scope was not as concentrated as in Xing Prefecture, the distribution was scattered, likewise provoking local panic.

The news flew via express courier on the post roads, like snowflakes toward Bian Liang.

Bian Liang, the imperial palace.

Chen Wen stood before a huge sand table, on which the mountains, rivers, prefectures and counties of Great Chen were clearly marked.

At this moment, several palace attendants, according to the just-received urgent reports, were inserting small wooden plaques painted dark gray to represent the anomalous areas into the corresponding spots for Xing, Lu, and Bo Prefectures.

Although only a few dots, scattered across the vast territory, that ominous portent made the attendants standing beside—Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and Zhao Lao'nian, who had just been hastily summoned to the palace—turn grave.

"Your Majesty, the urgent reports from the three places show nearly identical symptoms.

Land compacted and lifeless, water sources producing unknown blue foam, crops withered.

The populace already harbors panic."

Zhang Cheng's voice carried suppressed anxiety, "Prefect Cui Renshi of Xing Prefecture has already sent people to take samples; they are now rushing to the capital by express horse."

Wang Ru added, "The Scouts of the Jing'an Bureau locally also reported that, so far, no traces of deliberate poisoning or large-scale enemy activity have been found.

The anomaly seems…… to have appeared out of nowhere."

Chen Wen's gaze swept over those glaring gray dots on the sand table.

His inner abundant Fortune Momentum seemed also to faintly sense from those areas a subtle yet persistent feeling of "separation" and "withering."

This exactly matches the terrestrial qi anomaly he had sensed earlier.

"It's not a natural disaster." Chen Wen spoke slowly, his tone certain, "It's 'Bone-Eroding'."

He looked at Zhao Lao Nian: "Zhao Qing, what do you think?"

Zhao Lao Nian furrowed his brow, still holding in his hand a draft diagram recently taken from the Investigation of Things Institute, titled "Preliminary speculation on the impact of Yuneng subsidence on soil structure".

"Your Majesty, I believe this is definitely caused by highly condensed Yuneng pollution."

"Yuneng is violent in nature and opposes vitality."

"Such high concentration and extensive subsidence infiltration could not be formed naturally."

"Its target is clear: to destroy our farmlands, poison our water sources, and shake the foundations of the state!"

"This blue foam is likely a certain tangible residue or byproduct produced after Yuneng corrodes matter, and it is toxic."

He walked to the sand table, pointing at those several points: "Your Majesty, please look; these places are not the core of our army garrison, nor are they the areas of greatest Fortune Momentum, but they are all key grain-producing regions."

"The enemy choosing to strike here is extremely vicious!"

"Can it be purified?" Chen Wen asked the most crucial question.

Zhao Lao Nian pondered for a moment, his face showing a difficult expression: "I... need to conduct an on-site survey to be certain."

"Yuneng has already seeped into the groundwater system; this is no trivial matter."

"'Heart-Guarding Talisman' mainly protects the spirit; its effect against such material-level corrosion is likely limited."

"The Investigation of Things Institute previously, based on the 'Vortex Runes' and Fortune Momentum resonance principle, designed several small 'Land-Pacifying Discs' and 'Clear Flow Devices' for purifying local areas; they are still in trial stage, and I never expected they'd be needed so soon."

"But whether we can cope with pollution of such scale and depth... I dare not guarantee."

Chen Wen nodded, not surprised by this.

"The Ministry of Works' technological development is swift, but the enemy's methods are also endless."

"Zhang Qing."

"I am here."

"Immediately, in the name of the Council of State, transmit to all prefectures and counties, strictly investigate this kind of ground-water anomaly."

"Once discovered, report it immediately, and following the precedent of Xingzhou, pacify the populace, allocate grain reserves, and stabilize order."

"Order local officials to organize laborers to dig deep wells as much as possible, seeking uncontaminated water sources."

"Strictly forbid the people from using abnormal water sources or consuming suspicious crops."

"I obey the decree!" Zhang Cheng bowed and received the order.

"Wang Qing."

"I am here."

"The Jing'an Bureau will continue its in-depth investigation, focusing on screening these areas for any recent appearance of abnormal persons or objects."

"At the same time, closely monitor the movements of the remnants of the False Song and the Iron Crow Army."

"Strengthen guidance of public opinion, dispel rumors such as 'plague' and 'monster', and can proclaim that it is subterranean foul qi rising; the Imperial Court already has countermeasures to avoid exacerbating panic."

"Yes!" Wang Ru responded solemnly.

Chen Wen finally looked at Zhao Lao Nian, his gaze calm: "Zhao Qing, I grant you full authority."

"The Investigation of Things Institute under the Ministry of Works is at your disposal."

"All required materials and personnel will be given priority."

"You personally lead the team, carrying all possibly useful equipment, and immediately head to Xingzhou, where the situation is most concentrated and severe."

"I don't want 'I dare not guarantee'; I want you to quickly find a method to suppress, and even purify, this Bone-Eroding poison!"

Zhao Lao Nian felt the weight on his shoulders, as well as the emperor's resolute trust in his words.

He took a deep breath, tugged at his oil-stained old official robe, and straightened his back.

"Your Majesty, rest assured! This old official will, even if he lays his old bones in Xingzhou, certainly dig out the root of this Bone-Eroding and devise a solution!"

"Give me three days... no, two days to prepare equipment and personnel, then we will set out!"

Chen Wen nodded.

"Go."

"I am in Bian Liang, awaiting your news."

Zhao Lao Nian said no more, performed a salute, turned and strode away with long steps; although his gait was somewhat unsteady from years of desk work, it carried an unquestionable determination.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru also received the order, took their leave, and hurriedly went to deploy all matters.

In the Hall of Solemn Reverence, only Chen Wen remained.

He once again directed his gaze toward the gray dots on the sand table.

Those were not merely a few markers on the map, but the land on which his subjects depended for survival, the foundation of the Great Chen dynasty.

"Bone-Eroding..."

He softly repeated the word.

Feeling the ceaseless withering intent coming from afar, and the faint opposition it formed with the mighty whirl of Fortune Momentum turning within his body.

This is a silent war.

The enemy no longer merely brandishes swords, but injects poison into the earth.

And he must safeguard the vitality of this land.

He walked to the hall's door, gazing at the outside sky, still clear and bright.

Sunlight bathed the city; Bianliangcheng remained bustling and prosperous, seemingly untouched by the distant calamity.

But Chen Wen knew that the intangible "Bone-Eroding" poison was silently eroding his realm.

If not stopped soon, today's panic in Xingzhou and Luzhou could spread to more places tomorrow.

He clenched his fist, and Fortune Momentum accelerated its flow within him.

"No matter what means you use..."

This land, I will never let you take it away easily.