Chapter 381

Just as the "Explorer" was conducting wave‑breaking trials in Jiaozhou Bay, drawing the empire's gaze toward the azure deep sea;

A bitter cold surge from the far north, with unprecedented force, is sweeping down.

Its fury is directed first at the vast northern frontier where Great Chen borders the Khitan.

This snowfall came without warning and is extraordinarily fierce.

At first it was fine snow pellets, pattering on the stone bricks atop Xiongzhou's city walls with a rustling sound.

But within half a day, the pellets turned into goose‑feather‑like snowflakes, covering heaven and earth, pouring down.

Wind aids the snow, snow borrows the wind's might.

The bitter north wind is like countless icy scrapers, entraining dense snowflakes, wildly lashing the land.

Between heaven and earth, soon only a vast white expanse remained.

Visibility was compressed to the extreme; beyond a few zhang, objects could hardly be distinguished.

Temperature plunged, breath froze into ice.

"Damn it! This damned weather!"

Inside Xiongzhou's commander's residence, Shi Dun gazed out the window at the world turned into a snow curtain, and couldn't help cursing.

His brows knotted into a lump; the usual ferocity on his face vanished, replaced by a solemnity in the face of nature's might.

"Issue the order! All military camps and beacon towers, enter highest alert immediately!"

"Deploy double the scouts, closely monitor Khitan movements! In such weather, the enemy is most likely to find a gap!"

"Also, immediately tally the grain, fodder, firewood, and medicine stores in the city and all camps! Especially anti‑freeze fats and thick clothing!"

"Received!" the deputy general dared not delay, turning at once to arrange it.

The orders were swiftly issued, but Shi Dun's unease did not lessen.

This snow is too great.

It far surpasses snowfalls of the same period in past years, and exceeds any first snow he has ever seen in the northern frontier.

The threat it brings is not merely military.

More deadly is its devastation of livelihood, logistics, and the entire order of the northern frontier.

Sure enough, bad news came one after another.

First, the small border markets that had formed relying on military camps near Xiongzhou reported that sheds were collapsed under heavy snow, trapping merchants and civilians.

Then, several main southern routes were forced to close due to excessive snow accumulation and sudden "avalanches" (actually snow slides) on some stretches.

Worst of all are the villages scattered across the vast northern frontier lands.

They lack the sturdy walls and ample stores that Xiongzhou possesses.

When the blizzard persisted into the third day with no sign of letting up, the first emergency report of villages snow‑bound, people freezing and starving to death, arrived on Shi Dun's desk.

"……Willow Tree Village, registered thirty‑seven households, now fewer than twenty…… over half the houses collapsed, food stores utterly destroyed……"

Reading this report brought back at the cost of the scouts' lives, Shi Dun's hand trembled slightly.

It is not just a string of numbers; these are the border folk he swore to protect!

He slammed his fist onto the desk, making the brush and ink jump.

"Damn!"

"We can't wait any longer!"

"Pass my order! The Xiongzhou garrison, except for the necessary city‑defense troops, shall move by battalion, carrying snow‑shoveling gear, cold‑weather supplies, dry rations and medicine, to march to every affected camp, market and village!"

"The primary task is to save lives! Clear the roads, transfer the trapped populace to safe places, and distribute supplies!"

"Act swiftly! Anyone who dawdles will be punished under military law!"

Military orders are as immovable as a mountain.

Although the wind and snow still rage outside, visibility remains extremely low.

Yet, squad after squad of soldiers braving the wind and snow, under the leadership of officers at all levels, resolutely marched out of the relatively safe Xiongzhou city, like a white torrent, charging toward the land blanketed in ice and snow, a land of death.

At the same time, the eight‑hundred‑li urgent snow‑disaster alert, at the utmost speed, threaded its way through the difficult, wind‑snow‑blocked routes, racing all the way south to the Huangcheng of Bian Liang.

Bian Liang, the Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Chen Hong was bent over his desk, reading the report sent by Zhao Lao Nian's people concerning the follow‑up improvement plan for the "Explorer".

Outside the window, fine snowflakes were drifting down, but compared with the northern frontier, it was nothing short of a gentle caress.

A eunuch hurried in, bearing the urgent military report of the northern frontier snow disaster, together with the emperor's oral summons for him to go at once to the Zichen Hall.

Chen Hong's young face instantly turned solemn.

He set down the drawings in his hand, quickly changed clothes, and hurried to the Zichen Hall.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

Chen Wen sat behind the imperial desk, his countenance calm, but the slight furrow of his brow betrayed his inner unrest.

Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru and several other core ministers had already arrived, evidently also just summoned in emergency.

"Everyone, have a look."

Chen Wen handed the emergency military report issued by Shi Dun to Fu Quan, who passed it around for the ministers to peruse.

"A blizzard unseen in a century in the northern frontier has left soldiers and civilians in distress, roads cut off, and there are already cases of death from freezing and starvation."

As the ministers passed the report around, their faces turned grim.

Zhang Cheng spoke first, his tone heavy:

"Your Majesty, the urgent priority is to allocate relief supplies and rush them northward."

"I will at once calculate the stores of grain in the Grand Granary, textiles in the treasury, medicines, etc., and draft a plan."

"But… with the roads blocked, how to get the supplies through is the biggest problem."

Wang Ru then said:

After a snow disaster, epidemics often follow. The Imperial Medical Bureau must immediately devise cold‑prevention and epidemic‑control plans, prepare the relevant medicines, and send them north with the relief teams, or dispatch them in advance to the various prefectures of the northern frontier.

The Ministry of Personnel must also issue orders to the northern frontier prefectures and counties, strictly commanding local officials to devote themselves to disaster relief and to pacify the populace; anyone who neglects duty or embezzles relief supplies shall be severely punished without leniency!

Chen Wen listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the newly entered Crown Prince Chen Hong, who stood respectfully to the side.

"Hong'er, what is your opinion?"

Chen Hong had not expected his father the emperor to ask him suddenly; his heart jumped, but he quickly composed himself.

He recalled how, at the grain‑transport worksite, Zhang Cheng had taught him the ideas of 'balance' and 'practicality,' and how, during the northern frontier troop review, the emperor had urged him to 'treat the frontier defenders kindly.'

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and although his voice still held a youthful tone, his thoughts were clear:

"Your Majesty, I believe that what Master Zhang and Master Wang have said are all urgent priorities."

"I also wonder, could we…… could we employ the power of the 'vortex'?"

He looked at Chen Wen, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

"For example, does the Ministry of Works possess any equipment that could help clear the snow from the imperial roads quickly?"

"Or we could order the northern frontier garrison, while prioritizing rescue efforts, to try to make use of existing tools, and even…… to beg Your Majesty, as was done at the Battle of Xiongzhou, to lend a little of that 'vital force' temporarily for snow‑clearing and road‑opening, so as to reopen the lifeline as soon as possible."

"After all, opening the route even a moment sooner could save countless lives."

When these words were spoken, the hall fell into a slight hush.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru exchanged a glance, both eyes showing surprise.

That the Crown Prince could think of using existing technology, and even associate it with the emperor's mysterious ability for disaster relief, shows a rare combination of quick wit and benevolence.

But to employ that power……

Everyone's gaze quietly turned toward Chen Wen seated on the throne.

Chen Wen looked at his son, a flash of complex appreciation crossing his eyes.

The fact that the Crown Prince could think of this shows that he is indeed considering and trying to employ every possible means.

However……

Chen Wen slowly shook his head, his voice carrying a deep weariness and helplessness:

"The Crown Prince's benevolent heart brings me great comfort."

"But the state's great implements must not be lightly moved."

"The cost of the Battle of Xiongzhou still weighs on us; the southern drought remains before our eyes, and only after enormous expenditures from the treasury has the situation been eased."

"The northern frontier snow disaster, though grim, still lies within the normal course of heavenly affairs."

"If I were again to recklessly stir the fundamental forces, provoking an unpredictable backlash, the disaster might not remain confined to a corner of the northern frontier but could visit calamity upon the whole nation, in which case casualties could well double."

"This is not a matter of balance; it is a gamble with the nation's fortune, and I…… cannot do it."

His words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting Chen Hong's heart and also the hearts of the assembled officials.

Chen Hong's young face turned slightly pale; he immediately grasped his father's deep meaning, as well as the ruthless rule behind the 'Fortune Momentum Balance.'

"Your subject…… has not considered thoroughly; I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

"It's fine. That you could think of it shows your concern for the people."

Chen Wen's tone softened somewhat.

"Since ordinary methods cannot quickly open the roads,"

"Minister Zhang,"

he looked at Zhang Cheng.

"Besides land routes, could we attempt transport by canal or sea? Though it would be a detour, it might share part of the burden."

"Especially the newly launched vessel 'Explorer,' could it sail south along the coast, transship some supplies to Deng and Lai, and then have the local authorities there attempt to move them northward?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng's eyes lit up.

"Your Majesty's sagacity! I had not even thought of this point!"

"Sea transport may be slow, but it carries large cargo and is not impeded by snow on land!"

"I will immediately coordinate with the Ministry of Works and the Grain Transport Office, seeking to allocate sea vessels and try this route!"

A new, roundabout disaster‑relief line of thought was opened.

Chen Wen then promptly issued a series of edicts:

Order Zhang Cheng to coordinate supplies, giving priority to securing the northern frontier;

Order Wang Ru to rectify officialdom, strictly guarding against corruption;

Order Qian Gui to closely monitor the movements of the False Song and the Khitan during the snow disaster;

Order Zhao Lao Nian to give full assistance, providing any possible technical support;

At the same time, appoint Crown Prince Chen Hong as deputy envoy for the northern frontier snow‑disaster relief, to assist Zhang Cheng in handling specific coordination matters and to follow through throughout.

The edicts were swiftly transmitted downward.

The entire imperial bureaucracy began to revolve around the 'northern frontier snow disaster' as its center, operating at high speed.

Having received the order, Chen Hong immediately plunged into the intricate coordination work.

He followed Zhang Cheng to learn how to allocate supplies, how to calculate transport capacity, and how to communicate with the various bureaus;

He examined the snow and disaster reports submitted from all regions, grasping their urgency;

He even personally made a trip to the granaries near Bian Liang, watching the laborers brave the wind and snow as they loaded sack after sack of grain and bundle after bundle of cloth onto carts, his heart filled with a sense of urgency.

He knew that these supplies, if they could reach the northern frontier even a moment earlier, might perhaps save a few more lives.

This was the first time he had truly participated in a national crisis response that concerned the lives of tens of thousands.

No longer merely an observer or a learner, he now bore real, substantive responsibility.

Outside the window, the snow over Bian Liang continued to fall.

But within the Hall of Purple Majesty, and indeed throughout the imperial center, the northern frontier's disaster filled the air with tension and busyness as they struggled against the wind and snow.

The Empire's heir apparent is undergoing the most severe trial in this sudden heavenly disaster.