Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 858 Cotton as White as Snow
The water of the Tongji Canal flowed day and night, and in just over a month, patches of tender green appeared on the once barren Gobi Desert. Cotton seedlings broke through the soil and, under ample sunlight and careful care, unfurled their leaves at an astonishing speed.

Xia Lin inspects the cotton fields every day. Seeing the increasingly lush greenery, the anxiety caused by the urgency of time in his heart is slightly relieved.

He squatted on the edge of the field, carefully fiddling with the leaves of the cotton seedlings, and said to the agricultural official beside him, "They're growing well, but isn't the density a bit too high? Poor ventilation makes them prone to insects."

The old agricultural official looked at him with admiration: "General, you are indeed very knowledgeable. This is indeed a bit too dense. We are organizing people to thin the seedlings these days."

"Don't forget crop rotation." Xia Lin stood up and patted the dirt off his hands. "We can't just plant cotton; we have to rotate it with beans and alfalfa to nourish the soil."

"Don't worry, Commander, everything is being arranged according to the booklet you provided."

Just then, Sun Jiuzhen strode over, his face not looking too good: "General, a secret report from Fuliang originated from Chang'an."

Xia Lin took the small wax pill, cracked it open, took out the paper strip, quickly glanced through it, and said with some emotion, "Old man Changsun really stretches his reach far, even into the Western Regions."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shiji looked over and asked, "What trick has he come up with this time?"

"What else could it be?" Xia Lin handed the note to Xu Shiji. "He instigated a group of upright censors and his cronies in the Li Tang court to jointly create a fuss, saying that I, Xia Lin, am waging war in the Western Regions, engaging in large-scale construction projects with the intention of brutally conquering the Western Regions, and that I have had affairs with many foreign women, behaving improperly and damaging the dignity of a high-ranking official of a great nation. They called on His Majesty the Li Tang Emperor and the court to distance themselves from me, and even hinted that we should unite with the Northern Han to 'jointly curb the tyrannical Wei'."

After reading it, Xu Shiji lit the note on the candle and watched it turn to ashes: "It's intended to sow discord, shake the foundation of your cooperation with the Li Tang, and try to isolate you. The Empress must be under a lot of pressure, right?"

"That goes without saying." Xia Lin snorted. "This trend isn't going to stop. He's forcing Third Sister to either distance herself from me under pressure or to confirm that she disregards Li Tang's reputation. Heh, he's playing the sowing of discord game quite well. To put it bluntly, he's currently creating a public opinion environment within Li Tang that suggests a woman in charge will cause the house to collapse."

“This is a psychological tactic,” Xu Shiji said thoughtfully. “Daosheng, you need to respond, otherwise the rumors will spread and greatly damage your prestige in the Western Regions and your cooperation with the Tang Dynasty.”

"Respond? Of course we must respond." A fierce glint flashed in Xia Lin's eyes. "Didn't he say I was waging war and engaging in massive construction projects? I'll show him what kind of mess I've made with all this construction! Jiuzhen, go and invite the envoys from various countries, as well as the prominent spies from Chang'an and Northern Han. Tell them I'm inviting them to observe the autumn harvest in the Western Regions! Also, have our caravans spread the news of the bountiful harvest in the Western Regions, along with my letter to the Western Regions and the world! In this war of public opinion, we must be evenly matched, not giving an inch. Also, invite a group of poets and scholars. Tell them Xia Daosheng has invited them to the Western Regions to appreciate the autumn scenery!"

In the Western Regions in autumn, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and the summer heat was gradually fading. Xia Lin's invitation, issued in the name of the commander of the Western Regions Construction Corps, to "enjoy the harvest together and share good stories," was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples all over the world.

The invitation was quite elegant, a far cry from Xia Lin's previous image as a rogue soldier. It not only depicted the magnificent scene of the Tongji Canal flowing and the cotton fields just beginning to appear, but also included a short poem that was supposedly written by him, but which any discerning person could tell was just someone else's work: "The vast sea draws in clear streams, white cotton reflects the golden autumn. I wish to invite scholars from all over the world to get drunk together at Yuezhi Tower."

However, at the end, it was stated generously that the Western Regions Construction Corps would bear all the costs of travel, food, and lodging.

This scale and grandeur, coupled with the various interesting stories circulating beforehand, as well as the rumors of the completion of the Tongji Canal and the initial greening of the cotton fields, are enough to arouse the curiosity and longing of countless people.

In fact, ordinary people don't really care about national dignity or etiquette. Even the people of the Tang Dynasty would secretly discuss in their spare time whether the Empress's child was that tiny little bean sprout or that tall, handsome, and capable General Xia. In fact, everyone has their own scale in their heart. Anyone who isn't blind can tell whose child the Crown Prince is just by looking at his face. What need is there for rumors between the two of them?
Inside Fuliang City, Old Zhang held the invitation card, clicking his tongue in amazement. He laughed to his advisors, "This kid has really made a name for himself in the Western Regions. Very well, I'll go and see if he's really turned the Gobi Desert into a paradise on the frontier."

Although he now holds a sinecure as the ship's helmsman in Fuliang, his influence in the literary world remains. Naturally, he will bring along a few of his favorite students on this trip, intending to write some travelogues and poems. If the scenery is not good, they will give Xia Lin a good scolding; if it is acceptable, they will spare no effort in writing about it.

Scholars and literati in Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and other places received copies of the invitations forwarded by acquaintances, and there was much discussion about them. Some were disdainful, thinking that Xia Lin was just a military man who was merely pretending to be cultured. Others were curious and wanted to see for themselves the legendary "moving figure" and "cotton as white as snow".

Even more eager for fame and fortune saw this as an opportunity to gain the favor of influential people. In a short time, the official roads leading south and north were filled with the carriages of many scholars traveling in groups.

The reaction in Chang'an was more complex. In the imperial court, Prince Qin, Li Jiancheng, facing the messenger who had come to deliver the message, laughed loudly in front of all the officials: "Since General Xia has such an elegant interest, it is truly a blessing for the Western Regions and a great event for the literary world. I should send scholars from the Hanlin Academy to go there, firstly to observe and learn, and secondly to demonstrate the prosperity of the culture and education of our Great Tang Dynasty."

However, after the court session, the atmosphere in the secret room of Changsun Wuji's residence was completely different.

"Celebrating the harvest together? Hmph, it's nothing but a trick to whitewash the situation and win people's hearts!" Changsun Wuji's face darkened as he threw the invitation onto the table: "He wants to use the words of all the scholars in the world to sing praises for his actions in the Western Regions!"

A trusted aide whispered, "Sir, should we stop this...?"

"Stop? How can we stop it?" Changsun Wuji sneered, "The King of Qin has already expressed his support, and Your Majesty... Your Majesty is with him in the Western Regions... If we try to stop it now, wouldn't we be giving them a handle to use against us?"

He pondered for a moment, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "However, our people must also go. Not only must they go, but they must also go with their eyes and ears! They must see just how much wealth Xia Lin has, whether the cotton is real or fake, and also observe His Majesty... Tell the men below to be alert and gather all usable intelligence, especially any inappropriate sights!"

"Yes, I understand."

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in the Northern Han court, Liu Bilie looked at the invitation in his hand, his rugged face revealing neither joy nor anger. He glanced at the haggard-looking Liu Min sitting below him, as well as the advisors he had sent. "Xia Lin invites everyone to see his cotton fields," Liu Bilie's voice was deep and resonant, even tinged with amusement. "Don't I have my own cotton fields? I also have potato fields! What do you all think?"

One of the strategists bowed and said, “Great Khan, this is Xia Lin’s open scheme. He intends to showcase his achievements in developing the Western Regions, stabilize the people’s hearts, attract merchants to invest, and enhance his reputation among scholars. If he succeeds, the foundation of the Western Regions will be more solid, which will be of great disadvantage to us.”

Another person said, "However, the momentum has already been established, and forcibly stopping it may backfire. It would be better to send a few people there as well, ostensibly to observe, but in reality to investigate its strengths and weaknesses, especially the details of its water conservancy projects and those new crops."

Liu Bilie looked at Liu Min: "General Liu, you have dealt with Xia Lin the most, what do you think?"

Liu Min gritted his teeth, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Xia Lin is a cunning man, and he must have some ulterior motive this time. I think we should send a careful person to investigate not only his outward appearance but also the details of his military equipment, food supplies, and dealings with the Li Tang dynasty!"

Liu Bilie nodded slowly: "Hmm. Then send a team with the best painters and scribes to record everything they see for me. Remember, observe more, listen more, and speak less. You people are far too inadequate to compete with my younger brother."

In the Western Regions, the kings and chieftains of various countries who received the invitation regarded it as a great honor and opportunity.

The King of Kucha had already ordered people to prepare generous gifts and wonderful songs and dances, intending to show off his talents at the grand event.

Old Wang from Yutian carefully packed up his treasured pieces of jade, hoping to win Xia Shuai's favor.

Even some small tribes that were originally ambiguous in their attitude sent envoys with local specialties, hoping to take this opportunity to integrate into the new order led by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

As a result, in the still unbearably hot Western Regions, the roads leading to Shanshan City became bustling like never before.

The camel bells jingled, and the carriages rumbled.

On the official road, Old Zhang and several renowned scholars from Fuliang rode in a spacious carriage. The carriage was filled with the aroma of wine, and they chatted and laughed. One of them lifted the curtain and looked at the gradually changing scenery outside the window, sighing, "Many years have passed in the blink of an eye. I still remember when I went to explore the mountains and fields with Commander Xia. At that time, Fuliang was still a desolate wilderness. Now, almost twenty years later, it looks just like Shengjing."

Old Zhang took a sip of his wine and chuckled, "That kid may not be good at anything else, but he's quite the expert at construction. Let's go see if his claim of 'cotton as white as snow' is an exaggeration. If it's just bragging, I'll make fun of him in my poems for three years!"

Now, Old Zhang is forty years old, the age to call himself an old man. However, he still seems quite frivolous. In Xia Lin's words, when others call themselves "old man," it means they are highly respected, but Old Zhang only deserves to call himself an old dog.

On another small road that detoured from the direction of Tibet, several seemingly ordinary caravans were traveling at a leisurely pace. Inside the carriages, several burly-looking men with wary eyes were talking in hushed tones; they were the spies sent by Changsun Wuji.

"Remember your instructions, sir, and pay attention to anything unusual. In particular, make a great deal of note of His Majesty's contact with Xia Lin, and also check those cotton fields to see if they are really as large as they claim."

"Understood. I heard that Xia Lin even created a self-moving iron cart last year? If I have the chance, I'll definitely try to find out more."

The observation group from Northern Han was much more high-profile. Although Liu Bilie did not come, his son did. The boy is now in his twenties and looks much smarter than he did back then. He and Xia Lin had a master-disciple relationship, and he brought a generous gift this time.

Even more so, groups of Jiangnan literati, riding mules and accompanied by their pageboys, would travel along the way, composing poems and enjoying the contrasting scenery from the Jiangnan water towns to the northern frontier.

Those whose journeys were shorter were so excited when they first saw the desolate desert and the setting sun over the long river after leaving Yangguan Pass that they danced with joy and took out paper and pens to record their observations. Others marveled at the water conservancy projects under construction and the well-organized settlements and villages they saw along the way.

"Brother Wang, look at that irrigation canal! It actually brings water from the snow mountain to this place. It's truly a masterpiece of nature!"

"Yes, if it is as the invitation says, with cotton fields everywhere and trade routes open, this place will become another prosperous land. Although Commander Xia is unconventional, he is indeed exceptional."

"No, Brother Wang. What kind of person are you to comment on Marshal Xia?"

People from all directions, with different intentions, converged on Shanshan City like trickling streams. Some openly, some covertly, some expectant, some scrutinizing, but all were undoubtedly drawn into this land of dramatic change in the Western Regions by Xia Lin's generous invitation.

The approaching autumn winds stir the clothes of travelers and also stir the future chessboard of the Western Regions. Everyone wants to know what kind of spectacle Xia Lin has meticulously prepared for this harvest feast will present, and how this spectacle will affect the course of the world's affairs.

(End of this chapter)