The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 774 What reward does the Shen family want for working for the Prince's Mansion?
Director Wang narrowed his eyes, staring at Shen Le without saying a word. Coming from a prestigious family and having long held a high position, his stern face naturally exuded an aura of authority.

Shen Le slightly raised her head to meet his gaze, her smile faint, her breathing unchanged. After a long while, Director Wang suddenly said:

"How did you know?"

"what do you know?"

"The Langya Prince's Mansion intends to bring local aristocratic families south." Wang Dao stared intently at Shen Le, observing every change in his expression, every movement of his body, even the frequency of his breath, and asked in a deep voice:

"This matter has only been circulating among a limited number of prominent families in the area for the past few months. You live in Mao County, your family's official rank is only county lieutenant, and you don't have any renowned teachers. How did you learn about these things?"

Shen Le looked up at him, smiling, smiling, a calm smile. The two remained silent for a while, and seeing that smiling alone wouldn't work, he finally answered matter-of-factly:
"Isn't this obvious? How many rounds of turmoil has the central government experienced in recent years? How many people have died? Given this situation, there's only one way to break the deadlock—"

He suddenly stopped smiling, and spoke each word clearly and heavily:

“Chong Er is safe and sound while he is away from home.”

Director Wang finally stroked his beard and nodded. Before Shen Le could catch his breath, he quickly pressed on with another question:
"Then why do you say that a large number of refugees will follow suit?"

Shen Le thought to herself, "Don't I know you guys too well?"

When Emperor Yuan first established his capital in Jianye, both the public and private sectors were impoverished. Whenever he obtained a pig, he would treat it as a delicacy. One particular morsel from the pig's neck was especially delicious and was always offered to the emperor. None of the officials dared to taste it first, and it was called the "forbidden morsel" at the time.

They were so poor, so poor it's recorded in historical texts; their poverty is enough to bring tears to your eyes. The Langya Prince's Mansion probably wasn't without resources, so their extreme poverty likely stemmed from excessive expenses incurred during their journey…

He answered fluently:
"Without clansmen and tenants, a noble family is no longer a noble family. If there is any way, they will take all their people with them even if it means death."

Besides, there are many smart people out there. Even those who aren't particularly smart know to observe what the truly powerful and influential do. I'm just an ordinary citizen. Seeing that all my neighbors have left, I have to find a way to latch onto their coattails and follow suit…

"How can so many people possibly leave?!"

Wang Dao disagreed and refuted this. He argued that even a ruined home could be worth a fortune, and most people simply couldn't bring themselves to relocate until the very last moment.

Moreover, their assets cannot withstand such a devastating forced eviction...

"You don't need to go all the way, just a small part will do." Shen Le shrugged nonchalantly.

"How many people live in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou? How many have become refugees, unable to survive? I saw quite a few on my way to climb Mount Tai—"

Besides, ordinary refugees won't do; there are also handsome refugees!

Wang Dao suddenly fell silent. "Refugee leader"—what a chilling term! It evoked images of leaders from the Green Forest Army, the Red Eyebrow Army, or the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

It was their existence that united the displaced people who had to beg for food from village to village and town to town into a cohesive force.

When the water from the four streams converges into a raging river, it can breach the dikes and submerge everything, including these aristocratic families, and even one or several royal palaces...

If he hadn't seen the large number of refugees already appearing near Luoyang, he would never have tried so hard to persuade the King of Langya to return to his fiefdom or even go south to Jianye!

He pondered for a moment, having already made up his mind, but still had some questions to ask. Especially the most important one:
“The sea route is treacherous. Moreover, as you said, the transport capacity is limited, and it can only transport a limited number of dozens of people. I’m afraid that… it’s just a drop in the ocean.”

"The risks of sea routes are indeed greater than those of land routes," Shen Le readily admitted.
"However, the risks of sea routes are limited to wind and waves; the dangers of land routes are numerous. Why does the Prince's Palace seek speed and secrecy when heading south? I'm afraid their concerns are not just about natural disasters."

Director Wang finally fell silent. Shen Le didn't press further, lest she embarrass him, and simply continued:
"The Prince's move south is certainly not just to escape disaster; he must have something to achieve. In that case, what's wrong with arriving a day earlier so that he can begin making arrangements in Jiangnan sooner?"

"Once the core forces arrive safely, half the battle in Jiangnan will be won. The subsequent arrival of the Central and Ming forces will merely be bolstering our forces."

Wang Dao finally let out a long sigh. Three transactions, three shipments—he had already seen the safety of the Shen family's fleet, but the safety of the Prince of Langya was simply too important. He pondered for a moment and said:
"It's not that I don't trust you, young friend—it's just that, could you possibly make another trip to transport a group of elite guards, and then transport the King and the others—"

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Le shook his head violently, silencing him completely. Once Director Wang shut up, Shen Le immediately continued:
"No. It's already mid-May, and a round trip for the fleet will take at least a month to a month and a half. Starting in July, there will definitely be strong winds at sea that will blow away the ships."

If you're going to leave, you have to leave quickly, otherwise you'll have to slowly travel along the inland rivers, or wait until September, after the whirlwind season, before setting off at a leisurely pace!

He paused and added:

"Sima, rest assured, I will personally lead this fleet, and I will personally steer the lead ship. The men and tenants of the Shen family will serve as the captains and guards—I guarantee with my own life and the lives of my entire family that we will arrive safely on this journey!"

Wang Dao listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table unconsciously. His own Wang family alone—clan members, relatives, retainers, and guests—would number over a thousand, not to mention the other aristocratic families and their relatives.

It is conceivable that if large numbers of men and women from the Central Plains were to flee to the south of the Yangtze River, the Sishui River and the Han Canal would be completely blocked, and it would not be unusual for them to take two or three months to travel on the road...

If we can arrive within a month, and if we can take up a command post in Jianye before the main force heads south, then everything will be saved!

He pondered for a long time, then went through Shen Le's plan from beginning to end. The main route involved a large force; this force needed to gather enough strength to form a foundation for the Langya Prince's mansion's southward advance.

The leader of this group has enough officials and manpower in the Prince's Mansion, and his cousin Wang Dun is outstanding in talent and can keep the team in check.

In the central area, the Prince's Palace has several loyal subordinates, so protecting important figures and core gentry should not be difficult.

As for the most crucial route... he silently calculated in his mind: would the Prince of Langya, himself, and dozens of important officials and elite guards have enough manpower after arriving in Jianye, and how would they make a breakthrough...?

It's difficult, but it's enough! Compared to dragging a large number of refugees, in a sorry state, possibly running out of food along the way, struggling all the way to Jianye, seeking help from various sources, and arriving months later, the chances of winning are actually much greater...

The only problem is... "We are not familiar with the prominent families of Jiangnan. Are you confident in the ability to transport our ships by sea to the river? Or, where should we change ships?"

Shen Le smiled slowly. This question had hit a nerve:

"Rest assured. Our boat is wide, flat-bottomed, and shallow-draft, allowing it to sit on flat ground. It can navigate close to coastal sandbars, as well as rivers and lakes. It can smoothly transition from the ocean to rivers without needing to change boats."

These boats can even sail along the Yong River directly into the inland lake and stop right in front of our house—don't worry,"

Director Wang nodded silently. After a long while, he finally made up his mind:
"Then it's up to you! Start modifying the boats now. Manpower, timber, what else do you need? Just tell us. The Prince's Palace will provide whatever manpower or supplies you require, quickly and safely!"

Shen Le bowed deeply and took out a roll of cloth from his sleeve. The writing on it was deep black, and each stroke was neat and precise, clearly indicating that he had already prepared a plan.

Wang Dao gave him a deep look, slipped the silk scroll into his sleeve, and strode away. Just before stepping out of the room, he paused, turned back, and said:
"Aren't you going to ask what reward the Prince's Mansion will give the Shen family for accomplishing this?"

"Even if it costs a fortune to buy a horse's bones, we can't give less." Shen Le smiled broadly.
"Otherwise, how will the Prince's Mansion win over the powerful families of Jiangnan in the future?"

Wang Dao finally had nothing more to say. He waved and left quickly. Not long after, a group of craftsmen, carrying tools, timber, and various modification materials, hurried to the port and began to partition the cabins.

Several days later, west of Langya Kingdom, in a secluded harbor, a gangplank was erected high, leading to several quietly moored ships.

Under the cover of night, dozens of figures silently boarded the three largest sand barges in three groups. Sailors used ropes and bamboo poles to protect them from falling into the water.
Shen Le waited at the ship's side, giving a quiet bow:
"My lord, please. The wind is just right, and we have enough food and water. We may head south at full speed!"

Sima Rui was dressed in casual clothes and had a calm expression, but Shen Le could tell from the bulge of his fist in his sleeve that he was not at peace.

Shen Le didn't ask any more questions, and bowed to lead him to the captain's cabin, a separate, comfortable, and somewhat luxurious cabin.

Wang Dao and a few other key figures followed closely behind, followed by a few personal guards who silently settled into the cabin next to the VIPs.

The remaining lower-ranking guards rushed into the cabin and were guided by the sailors to their rooms below deck. From beginning to end, they made no noise and did not argue about whether they were comfortable in their rooms.

Thank goodness! Shen Le breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and stood at the bow of the ship, holding the sextant, and took one last measurement of the altitude of Polaris.

He glanced back at the cabin behind him, at the figures who would decide the future of Jiangnan, took a deep breath, and gave the order in a deep voice:
"Set anchor, hoist the sails!"

The huge sails were filled with wind, making a rustling sound. The Juexi lone fishing boat was in the lead, like an arrow released from a bow, and it sailed away from the harbor. A bright light on each side of the boat pointed out the way for the sand boats behind it.

A moment later, the sand barges cast off their moorings and plunged into the deepest darkness before dawn. Heading towards the deep sea, towards the south, towards Jianye, which would become the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty a century from now, they sailed through the waves.

The voyage was not without its storms. On the second day after boarding, Director Wang was vomiting so badly that he felt nauseous, but he miraculously recovered on the third day.

He peered in surprise at the ship's side for a while, then turned to look at Shen Le, who was steering the ship and giving orders to the sailors to pull the sail rigging.
"This boat is so stable! Much more stable than boats on inland rivers! Last time we traveled to Langya by water from the Yellow River, the journey was much bumpier—the waves at sea are incomparable to those on the Yellow River. How did the Shen family manage to do this?"

Shen Le smiled slightly. This question could be answered simply or in a complex way, such as by giving Director Wang a lecture on fluid mechanics and ship dynamics.

Of course, Shen Le wouldn't make things difficult for them like that, he simply said:
"It's just a minor family skill, not worth mentioning. Sima, you'd better hurry back to the cabin, be careful the sail ropes don't whip and knock someone overboard—"

The ship sailed straight east for a long distance before turning south. The vast sea stretched as far as the eye could see, with no land in sight, not even a fishing boat.

Even Director Wang was a little flustered, having no idea where the ship was—when they traveled to Langya by water before, they relied on the scenery along the shore to determine their route, but now…?
He only had a vague sense of unease because he had previously handled the cargo and received a report from his subordinates. Looking around, he saw only calm and composed sailors on the ship, showing no sign of panic. Several inquiries yielded the same answer:
"Since the patriarch is personally steering the boat, he naturally knows where we are. What is there to be afraid of?"

Then look at Shen Le. He was either carrying around some strange-looking thing, looking at the sun during the day and the stars at night, or every now and then having the sailors throw ropes down from the side of the ship to count the ropes and keep recording the data.

It was impossible to tell what he was doing; all that could be seen was his confidence. When pressed further, Shen Le simply smiled.

"Isn't it a good thing that we're far away, so no one can see us and no one will know?"

That's true—avoiding all possible eyes and ears along the coast means that you'll never be intercepted along the way.

Director Wang felt a little relieved, but he didn't truly breathe a sigh of relief until the coastline came into view.

Arrived!

Finally, we can see land!
"Don't get distracted! Handle the boat carefully! Use flag signals, let the red bird lead the way, scout for shoals, and keep the captain informed!"

Shen Le showed no surprise or relief; instead, she became even more focused.

A man on the mast waved a flag vigorously. Among the three fishing boats that were flanking the Juexi River, the one with two red dots painted on its bow moved forward lightly, occasionally dropping anchor stones to measure the water depth.

The lone salvage boats glided past like birds, followed by the massive sand barges, avoiding the treacherous sands and rapids, and steadily sailed into the Yangtze River waterway.

Going upstream, the waterway, as wide as the sea, gradually narrows, and the gentle tide turns into a rapid current. Passing Guangling and Jingkou, the outline of Jianye City finally comes into view—

Led by fluttering banners, the dock was already prepared by the palace guards who had escorted the goods last time. Wang Dao, with slightly unsteady steps, stepped onto solid ground and couldn't help but look back to the north:

Less than twenty days had passed since they set off from Langya!

This route is several times faster than the previously planned route south along the Sishui River and the Hangou Canal!
His gaze fell on Shen Le once more. Shen Le seemed oblivious, continuing to issue orders, directing the fleet to lower its sails and dock. Wang Dao leaned close to Sima Rui and whispered:

"This young man is extraordinary. Your Majesty, you must not let him slip through your fingers!"

(End of this chapter)