Chapter 374

Inside the Hall of Purple Majesty, the lights were bright.

Inside the Hall of Purple Majesty, the lights were bright. (Same as 【2】 but we can keep same.)

The night was deep; outside the window all sounds had ceased, only the occasional slight crackle of candle flames bursting in the hall, and Chen Wen's occasional repressed low cough broke this tranquility.

The night was deep; outside the window all sounds had ceased, only the occasional slight crackle of candle flames bursting in the hall, and Chen Wen's occasional repressed low cough broke this tranquility.

On the imperial desk, two memorials lay side by side.

On the imperial desk, two memorials lay side by side.

One came from the south, a report of joy from the Transport Commissioner of the Huainan West Circuit concerning eased drought and promising autumn grain.

One came from the south, a report of joy from the Transport Commissioner of the Huainan West Circuit concerning eased drought and promising autumn grain.

【13】

note about keeping place names as pinyin.

Thus we will translate: "One came from the south, a report of joy from the Huainan West Circuit Transport Commissioner concerning eased drought and promising autumn grain;" Let's refine: "One came from the south, a report of joy from the Huainan West Circuit Transport Commissioner about eased drought and promising autumn grain;" We'll keep the semicolon.

【17】

The other came from Xiongzhou, a routine border defense report submitted by Shi Dun, between the lines revealing the frontier's temporary peace.

【20】

Translation: "Chen Wen's gaze slowly moved between the two memorials."

His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the good news from the south, his gaze deep, showing no joy or anger.

Translation: "His finger unconsciously tapped lightly on the southern joy report, his eyes deep, showing no joy or anger."

【24】

Translation: "The drought in Huainan West Circuit began at the height of the battle at Xiongzhou."

He forcibly activated "Concentrated Ability Granting thirty-twofold" on Shi Dun and his personal guards, reversing the battle situation, and he himself coughed up blood on the spot;

【26】

Almost on the same day, several southern provinces reported: "Heaven-sent omen, a thousand li of scorched earth."

【28】

He now firmly believes in the connection among these events.

Translation: "He now firmly believes in the connection among these events."

【32】

Translation: "It is certainly no coincidence."

"Using ability consumes Fortune Momentum, invoking a cost……"

Translation: "\"Using ability consumes Fortune Momentum and incurs a cost... \""

【36】

Translation: "He softly repeated this pattern, proven by countless big or small 'coincidences'."

This cost sometimes comes as a sudden natural disaster, such as drought, hail, or flood;

Translation: "This cost is sometimes a sudden natural disaster, such as drought, hail, or flood;"

【40】

Translation: "sometimes it is an unforeseen man-made misfortune, like an accident caused by a minor oversight, or a tiny hidden crack within."

In the battle of Xiongzhou, he exerted power beyond what he had before, and the price he paid was especially severe—

Translation: "In the battle at Xiongzhou, he used power surpassing the past, and the price he paid was especially severe——"

【44】

Translation: "Not only did the southern provinces suffer months of severe drought, causing cracked fields, sharp drops in grain yield, and panicked populace;"

It also dealt a severe blow to his own foundation; to this day he still feels his vitality not restored, his body far weaker than before.

Translation: "but also a severe blow to his own foundation; to this day he still feels his vital energy not restored, his body far weaker than before."

【48】

Translation: "\"The Balance of Fortune Momentum... \""

These four characters have now been etched into his heart like a brand.

Translation: "These four characters have now been etched into his heart like a brand."

【52】

Translation: "To wield that power beyond the mundane is by no means a gift without cost."

Every extravagance requires the entire dynasty and myriad commoners to jointly bear its backlash.

Translation: "Each extravagance requires the entire dynasty, the myriad commoners, to jointly bear its backlash."

【56】

Translation: "This seems an intangible warning, reminding him that power must be restrained, and the dynasty's fate must flow like a trickle of water."

"Fukuan." Chen Wen raised his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of weary hoarseness.

【58】

The chief eunuch who had been standing in the shadows immediately bowed and stepped forward.

Translation: "The chief eunuch who had been standing in the shadows immediately bowed and stepped forward."

【62】

Translation: "\"Old servant is here. \""

"A few days ago I had you send to the Secretariat the memorial concerning tax reduction of thirty percent this year for the Huainan West Circuit and permission to use labor in lieu of relief to repair waterworks; how did Zhang Xiang and the others discuss it?"

Translation: "\"A few days ago I had you send to the Central Secretariat that memorial concerning tax relief for Huainan West Circuit—reducing this year's taxes by thirty percent and allowing labor in lieu of tax to repair waterworks—how did Chancellor Zhang and the others decide? \""

【66】

"In reply, Zhang Xiang has consulted with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, and they deem this strategy excellent."

Translation: "\"Replying to all, Chancellor Zhang, together with the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Works, has decided that this strategy is excellent. \""

【70】

Fukuan answered respectfully.

Translation: "Fu Quan answered respectfully."

【75】

Translation: "\"It can both comfort the disaster victims and display the court's benevolence, and also take this opportunity to orderly manage southern waterworks, preventing future harm. \""

【79】

Translation: "\"The imperial order has already been stamped yesterday and sent to Huainan. \""

【82】

Translation: "Chen Wen gave a slight nod."

If using ability brings disaster, then, by striving to remedy the disaster, comforting the people, constructing waterworks, and developing production, could it instead consolidate and accumulate Fortune Momentum?

Translation: "\"If using ability brings disaster, then by striving to make up for the disaster, comforting the people, building waterworks, developing production, could that instead stabilize and accumulate Fortune Momentum? \""

【86】

This is the path he has been contemplating and practicing recently.

Translation: "This is the path he has been contemplating and practicing recently."

【90】

Translation: "Tax relief means a temporary reduction in state treasury income;"

Using labor in lieu of relief requires substantial investment of funds and manpower.

Translation: "Labor in lieu of relief requires large inputs of money, grain, and manpower."

【94】

Translation: "This appears to be a 'loss-making' transaction."

But if it can win popular cohesion, strengthen waterworks facilities, and bring long-term stability to the region, then in the long run this might truly be a profitable state policy.

Translation: "But if it can earn popular cohesion, strengthen waterworks facilities, and bring lasting stability to the localities, then in the long run perhaps this is truly a 'profitable' state policy."

【98】

Translation: "Fortune Momentum, profound and yet more profound."

It seems closely related to popular sentiment, national strength, and even the dynasty's "health" level.

Translation: "It seems closely related to the people's sentiments, the strength or weakness of national power, and even the dynasty's 'health'."

【102】

Translation: "\"Moreover, \" Chen Wen continued to ask."

"The Memorial submitted by the Ministry of Works regarding the full promotion of the 'vortex machine' in state-run workshops in places like Bian Liang and Luoyang has been approved by me."

Translation: "\"The Ministry of Works has submitted a memorial requesting full promotion of the 'vortex machine' in state-run workshops in places like Bian Liang and Luoyang; I have approved it. \""

【106】

"Have someone go to the Ministry of Works to convey my oral order, letting Minister Zhao ensure this item is closely monitored; it benefits production, is a tool for consolidating the foundation and nurturing the origin, and must not have any leaks."

Translation: "\"Have someone go to the Ministry of Works to convey my oral order, urging Minister Zhao to keep a close watch—this device aids production, it is a tool for consolidating the foundation and nurturing the essence, and must not suffer any negligence. \""

【110】

"If effective, it should be gradually promoted among the populace."

Translation: "\"If effective, it should be gradually rolled out among the populace. \""

【114】

Translation: "\"Old servant obeys the order. \" Fu Quan bowed again."

Chen Wen's train of thought is very clear.

Translation: "Chen Wen's train of thought is very clear."

【119】

Translation: "\"Ability Granting\" is like a sword that can cut through the thorns before one's eyes, but if wielded too fiercely, it will injure one's own foundation;"

【123】

Translation: "while promoting technologies like the 'vortex machine' that boost basic production efficiency, though slow to show results, they solidify the dynasty's foundation in earnest, slowly and steadily accumulating that intangible yet real 'Fortune Momentum'."

【126】

Translation: "One fast, one slow."

One sharp, one dull.

Translation: "One sharp, one dull."

【132】

Translation: "How to weigh, how to choose, how to act decisively when thunderous means are needed, and how to endure in daily life, silently cultivating—this measure is the continual study he, as emperor, must undertake."

We need to keep the meaning.

He picked up a vermilion brush and began to annotate the memorial of good news from the south:

Translation: "He picked up a vermilion brush and annotated the southern good-news memorial:"

【137】

Translation: "\"Understood. Post-disaster relief and waterworks repair must not be relaxed. Order local officials to properly settle the displaced, lest they lose their livelihood. \""

【140】

Translation: "Just as the brush tip touched down, a faint footstep sounded from outside the hall."

The figure of Qian Gui, Commander of the Jing'an Guard, appeared silently at the palace gate, and only after receiving Chen Wen's glance did he step lightly inside.

Translation: "The figure of Qian Gui, Commander-in-Chief of the Tranquil Peace Office, appeared silently at the hall gate, and only after receiving Chen Wen's eye signal did he step lightly inside."

【144】

"Your Majesty," Qian Gui's voice remained low.

Translation: "\"Your Majesty, \" Qian Gui's voice remained low."

【149】

Translation: "\"On the False Song side, there are new developments. \""

【153】

Translation: "\"Zhao Guangyi has basically controlled the court situation, begun implementing his 'New Policies', the core being to rectify officialdom, encourage agriculture and sericulture, and also try to emulate our dynasty, encouraging artisans to improve their skills. \""

Chen Wen put down his pen and listened quietly.

According to the scouts' report, within False Song's territory, many places have recently seen abnormal calamities.

Qian Gui added, this is the main point of his report this time.

"Locust plague in Jingdong Circuit, heavy rain damaging crops in Hebei Circuit; although the scale is not as great as our previous southern drought, the timing is rather delicate."

Chen Wen's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Oh? Do you know if the False Song has recently employed that kind of power on a large scale?"

Qian Gui shook his head, his face showing difficulty.

"The light curtain blocks passage; detailed information is extremely hard to obtain."

"But based on fragmentary information, during the False Song's internal purge, the Iron Crow Army or its allied forces likely acted covertly to assist Zhao Guangyi in eliminating rivals."

"These calamities may perhaps be the price."

Chen Wen remained silent.

It seems the rules of the Fortune Momentum Balance apply not only to him alone, or rather, not only to the Cow Horse System he possesses.

The eerie power of the Iron Crow Army, which originates from the Nether Energy Crystal Ore, is likewise subject to some restriction.

To wield extraordinary power inevitably invites extraordinary backlash.

This seems to be a latent, ruthless law between heaven and earth.

"Keep monitoring." Chen Wen ordered.

"Especially, I want to know how Zhao Guangyi will deal with the False Song's response to these calamities."

"I understand." Qian Gui received the order and withdrew quietly.

Once again, only Chen Wen remained in the hall.

He rose, walked slowly to the window, and opened a slight gap.

The early spring night wind brought a chill that rushed in, refreshing his spirit slightly.

The southern drought eased, the northern border was temporarily at peace, and the False Song's internal strife likewise faced obstruction by heavenly disasters…

The situation seemed to be developing in a direction favorable to Great Chen.

But he felt no ease at heart.

The backlash from the Battle of Xiongzhou still faintly ached in his body, the treasury drained by southern relief efforts still needed time to be replenished, the False Song's new policies and the Iron Crow Army's movements remain unknown, and the shifting situation of the Khitan to the north is a hidden undercurrent…

This "Fortune Momentum Balance" is like walking a tightrope over an abyss ten thousand feet deep.

One misstep, and perhaps eternal doom.

He must be more cautious, meticulously calculate the gains and losses of each use of power, and devote himself to managing every detail of this dynasty.

Accumulating Fortune Momentum is like the grass in a spring garden—though its growth is unseen, it increases day by day;

Consuming Fortune Momentum is like a whetstone—though its wear is unseen, it decreases day by day.

He drew a deep breath of cool air, felt the faint throbbing in his chest, and slowly closed his eyes.

In his mind appeared the dark faces of the laborers at the Bian River worksite, the hopeful gazes of the southern disaster victims, the wary eyes of the northern frontier soldiers, and the still-youthful yet striving-to-straighten back of Crown Prince Chen Hong.

This realm and its subjects are all he needs to weigh and protect.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and returned to the imperial desk.

There, more memorials concerning state affairs and people's livelihood awaited his review and decision.

Every vermilion mark could affect that delicate and crucial Fortune Momentum Balance.

The night is still long.

The empire's helmsman, under candlelight, continued his lonely and heavy deliberation.