Love Lock

Chapter 218 Ashes Mixed into Honeycomb Briquettes

The scorching August sun baked the land of Cangzhou, and in the fields outside Yong'an City, newly reclaimed farmland gleamed with a brownish luster under the sunlight.

Zhao Zun stood beside the crenellations of the city wall, shading his eyes with his hand as he gazed into the distance. Sweat trickled down his temples, soaking the collar of his moon-white brocade robe.

He just arrived here from Ganluo County today. The road paving project in Ganluo County is progressing smoothly, and the new supervisor of the construction team has quickly matured, so he can completely delegate authority.

Therefore, after handing over the road paving project in Ganluo County and the construction of military camps by Song Yuanqing to the engineering team to operate independently, he returned to Beiguan.

Zhao Zun's gaze followed the soldiers working outside the city. The men, dressed in coarse cloth and short jackets, were bending over weeding between the ridges of the fields, while in the distance, several waterwheels creaked and groaned, diverting water from the moat into newly constructed ditches.

This wasteland was reclaimed after the bastion was built and the soldiers were stationed to cultivate the land, so the planting was a whole solar term later than in Qingshui County and Fufeng County.

"How are the potatoes and corn growing?" Zhao Zun asked, tapping lightly on the blue bricks of the city wall with his fingers.

Li Erniu, the garrison commander of Yong'an City, unfolded the booklet in his hand: "Your Highness, with the fertilizer provided by the Princess Consort, the crops are growing very well. The agricultural official inspected them yesterday, and they will bear fruit in about a month. However..."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm afraid the harvest won't be possible until around the time of the Frost's Descent."

Zhao Zun nodded in satisfaction. "It's only the beginning of the year, and although it's a little late, it's better than nothing. The weather in Beiguan has been good this year, so the harvest should be good."

A cool breeze carrying the scent of grass swept across the city wall, dispelling the afternoon's sweltering heat.

Zhao Zun took a deep breath, the unique freshness of the grassland refreshing his heart and soul.

He raised his binoculars and gazed into the depths of the grassland. His gaze, behind the lenses, seemed to pierce through the layers of heat, as if trying to penetrate that vast green ocean.

He heard from Li Erniu that Princess Yujia's delegation had quietly left Beiguan and returned to the grasslands a few days ago.

Thinking of the Turkic delegation, for some reason, he suddenly recalled the day Tang Xiaotong mentioned in Ganluo County that he wanted to establish trade relations with the Turks.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the sword and pistol at her waist clinked softly together, producing a crisp sound.

Zhao Zun put away his binoculars and lowered his eyes, his fingertips tracing the two lines of interlaced text on the sword sheath.

The scabbard is inscribed with the same prayer for peace on one side, with the winding Turkic script on the other.

He slowly closed his eyes, his eyelashes casting fine shadows in the sunlight.

In the instant he closed his eyes, a vivid picture appeared in his mind—

On the watchtower of Yong'an City's bastion, only a few soldiers leisurely gazed into the distance; in the military camp, soldiers who had taken off their armor were sweating profusely in the fields.

Farmers bent over as they moved through the golden wheat fields, their wrinkles filled with smiles; children chased butterflies, their silvery laughter carried on the wind.

Outside Yong'an City, camel bells jingled as caravans lined up in long queues on the grassland.

The drivers hummed melodious tunes, their whips tracing graceful arcs through the air. Caravans laden with grain headed north, while others carried herds of cattle, sheep, and medicinal herbs southward…

He slowly opened his eyes, gazing intently into the depths of the grassland, when a series of hurried footsteps behind him interrupted his thoughts.

"Your Highness!" Pingchuan rushed up the city wall, beads of sweat on his forehead, a thin bamboo tube clutched tightly in his hand. "A message from the capital, delivered by carrier pigeon, is for Cao Xiong. Look..."

Xiao Zhengfei went to Qingshui County to recruit and reorganize deserters. After Pingchuan and the others completed their mission in Jingzhou, they returned and stayed by Zhao Zun's side.

Upon hearing that it was a secret letter addressed to Cao Xiong, Zhao Zun raised an eyebrow and took the bamboo tube. The tube still carried the warmth of Pingchuan's hand, and the red seal of the Ministry of War was clearly stamped on the wax seal.

He used his little fingernail to pry open the lacquer seal and pulled out a piece of paper as thin as a cicada's wing.

As his gaze moved across the words, Zhao Zun's lips gradually curved upwards, and he eventually burst out laughing.

The laughter echoed on the empty city wall, attracting the attention of several guards nearby.

"Your Highness, what makes you so happy?" Pingchuan asked curiously, his hand unconsciously resting on the sword at his waist.

Zhao Zun handed over the letter: "Read it yourself. Those old men in the court have finally woken up."

Pingchuan took the letter, and Scarface and several other guards gathered around. The letter, written neatly in regular script, read:

"The Ministry of War urgently issues a personal edict to Marshal Cao Xiong of the Northern Pass: Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, has privately taken in over ten thousand deserters from Jingzhou and is secretly amassing troops, plotting rebellion. You are hereby ordered to immediately investigate the matter secretly. If it is indeed true, quickly deploy troops to control key passes and prevent him from growing in power. This matter is confidential and must not be leaked. Imperial edict from Minister of War Cao Ge."

"Hahaha!" Scarface was the first to burst out laughing, his scars contorting with his laughter. "Cao Xiong? Investigate? That guy's bones are probably all turned to ash and mixed in with honeycomb briquettes!"

Pingchuan couldn't help but chuckle: "Cangzhou has blocked the news, and the imperial court is now deaf and blind. Naturally, they don't know that Cao Xiong has already died in the Yinshan coal mine. They probably still think that Cao Xiong is firmly in the position of marshal of the Beiguan garrison!"

Charcoal Head cautiously reminded him, "Your Highness, although this matter is laughable, it also shows that the court has become suspicious. I wonder how the news of the deserters reached the capital?"

Zhao Zun's smile gradually faded, and his gaze deepened. He turned to face the outside of the city, his fingers unconsciously stroking the love lock hanging around his neck.

In the distance, several soldiers were pushing wheelbarrows loaded with fertilizer across the field ridges; their figures appeared exceptionally small in the sunlight.

“If I’m not mistaken, it must be Wei Dabao,” Zhao Zun suddenly said in a low voice. “Didn’t he leave Cangzhou in such a sorry state with his family? He must have gone to the capital to file a complaint.”

Scarface spat: "Damn it, it must be him. The prince confiscated his property, he must be holding a grudge and went to his uncle to complain. Your Highness, why don't we go to the capital now and kill him?"

“No.” Zhao Zun raised his hand to stop him, and after thinking for a moment, he said, “Taking action now would only confirm the charge of treason. It would be better to let him suffer the consequences himself.”

Then he turned to Pingchuan, "Is Cao Xiong's seal still there?"

“It’s stored in the storeroom of the Ling’an City camp, along with his personal seal,” Pingchuan replied. “Does Your Highness intend to…”

Zhao Zun's lips curled into a smile, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Pingchuan, go to Ling'an City and reply in Cao Xiong's name. Tell him..."

He pondered for a moment, then said, “After investigation, it is confirmed that the King of Cangzhou did indeed take in many deserters from Jingzhou. However, Cangzhou is barren and has no food to feed them, so he has incorporated the deserters into the serf system, guarded by five hundred soldiers, who whip and drive them to clear wasteland day and night. The deserters are unarmed and like beggars, so they are not a threat. With 100,000 troops stationed at the northern pass, even if the King of Cangzhou has ulterior motives, he will not dare to act rashly.”

Pingchuan listened and nodded, then smiled and said, "Your Highness's plan is brilliant. It not only dispels the court's doubts but also shows that Cao Xiong is still in control of the situation."

“Yes, yes, yes.” Tan Tou laughed, “In this way, we can focus on development again. Cangzhou has reclaimed so much wasteland. Once the autumn harvest is successful this year, the people will be able to breathe a sigh of relief.”

Zhao Zun nodded; this was exactly what he meant. "Let me add one more thing. Say that the King of Cangzhou is young and impetuous, fond of grand achievements, and spends his days building roads, hunting, and playing, wasting people's money and resources, which has aroused widespread resentment among the people."

Scarface frowned upon hearing this: "Your Highness, aren't you just tarnishing your own reputation?"

Zhao Zun scoffed: "Reputation? That's the cheapest thing. It's better for the court to think I'm a truly carefree prince than for them to think I'm a threat."

He turned to Pingchuan, "Remember, send the letter out in ten days. Write it in a rough and crude style, in line with Cao Xiong's uncouth writing style." "Understood," Pingchuan replied, bowing.

Scarface scratched his head: "Your Highness, what about Wei Dabao... are we just going to let it go like this?"

Zhao Zun looked towards the capital, his eyes growing cold: "Wei Dabao is nothing but a clown; someone will deal with him. We should focus on the autumn harvest right now and avoid creating unnecessary trouble."

"Yes! I understand." Scarface nodded solemnly.

He understood Zhao Zun's meaning. Cangzhou suddenly had tens of thousands of refugees and deserters, and food supplies were the biggest problem at the moment.

Currently, the troops in Beiguan are all supported by the imperial court. If the autumn harvest cannot be guaranteed, and they turn against the imperial court, Zhao Zun will not be able to support the troops even if he has them.

Therefore, Zhao Zun's current attitude towards the court is to coax and deceive, hoping to delay as long as possible.

Suddenly, Tan Tou realized something and said, "Your Highness, I'm worried that the court won't believe a single report from Cao Xiong. They might send spies, in case..."

“Therefore, we must strengthen internal investigations.” Zhao Zun interrupted him. “Starting today, a travel permit system will be implemented throughout the region. All migrant workers must be registered, and each village and town will be held jointly accountable. Any suspicious individuals must be reported immediately. Charcoal Head and Scarface will handle this.”

Everyone responded in unison. Zhao Zun waved his hand, signaling them to leave, leaving only Pingchuan behind.

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing a refreshing coolness.

As Zhao Zun gazed at the gradually changing clouds on the horizon, he suddenly asked, "You've returned from Qingshui County. How is the training of the newly formed cavalry there going?"

Pingchuan lowered his voice: "Commander Xiao said that, as the prince instructed, they have been dispersed to various counties' wasteland projects, using horse herding as cover for day and night training. There are currently three thousand light cavalry, eight hundred heavy cavalry, and two thousand archers."

“That’s not enough.” Zhao Zun shook his head. “Among the deserters from Jingzhou, those who are skilled in riding and archery should be organized into a separate battalion. We should also buy some good horses from our merchants, and we need to be quick.”

Hirakawa looked slightly worried: "With such a grand display, what if..."

Zhao Zun interrupted him, his voice cold and stern: "Therefore, we must prepare before the court reacts. We should also send all five hundred trained soldiers to counties bordering other prefectures, in case the court attacks from other prefectures."

"Yes! I understand." Pingchuan bowed.

Zhao Zun nodded and said, "Go. Remember, send the message by carrier pigeon in ten days. Also, send people to keep a close watch on all the main roads leading to the capital."

Pingchuan bowed and withdrew. Zhao Zun stood alone on the city wall, his figure as upright as a pine tree as the sun set.

In the distant fields, the soldiers had finished work and lined up to return to camp, singing the military songs that Han Lei had taught them last time.

The song echoed across the wilderness, mingling with the sound of the wind, and surprisingly, it possessed a majestic quality.

Zhao Zun gently stroked the bricks and stones on the city wall; the warmth of the day still lingered between the bricks.

This border town, this land, is now deeply imprinted with his mark.

The court's suspicions followed him like a shadow, but he knew that the real game had only just begun.

...This is a dividing line for asking for votes...

Sunlight streamed onto the country lanes of Huachang County. Han Lei raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring light, gazing at the rolling fields in the distance.

When Zhao Zun decided to "take action," the first person he notified was Luo Hai. Under Luo Hai's execution and arrangement, wasteland projects have been promoted in various places, but the progress varies.

Huachang County was the territory of Sun Wenyuan, the former governor of the prefecture. It was the last place where the wasteland project was promoted after Sun Wenyuan was taken down.

Huachang County has the most fertile land in the entire Cangzhou, but relatively little wasteland. That's why Sun Wenyuan chose to live here and occupied a large amount of fertile land.

Since it was her first time visiting Fufeng County and she didn't want to scare anyone, Han Lei bought a simple indigo blue coarse cloth dress in Qingshui County and only wore a wooden hairpin in her hair.

She looked no different from any other farm girl, except for her bright, star-like eyes that revealed her extraordinary temperament.

"Your Highness, that's the old tenant village of the Sun family just ahead," Da Yi said, walking quickly to Han Lei's side and pointing to the scattered thatched huts not far away.

When Han Lei came to Fufeng County for this inspection, she specially brought along Da Yi and others, not to protect her safety, but just to act as her guide or run errands for her.

Han Lei nodded, her gaze sweeping over the farmers working in the fields. They were bent over, working, and occasionally a few words of laughter could be heard, a stark contrast to the lifeless atmosphere of the tenant farmers working for Sun Wenyuan's family.

"After Sun Wenyuan was taken down, the people here can finally breathe a sigh of relief," Da Yi sighed, a look of relief appearing on his dark face.

"That scoundrel used to take 70% of the rent, and if a family couldn't pay, he'd kidnap their daughter to pay off the debt. We didn't even have enough to eat all year round and ended up owing money to the Sun family. Now that Lord Luo has become the prefect, he loves the people like his own children and is promoting a wasteland project. Everyone's scrambling to sign up!"

Han Lei squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil, and rubbed it between her fingers. The fertile black soil emitted a faint, fishy smell; it was indeed excellent farmland.

“There is plenty of fertile land and little wasteland here, so it is indeed not suitable for reclamation and farming. Uncle Luo’s decision to build a large-scale breeding farm here is a wise move, taking advantage of local conditions.”

Just then, a commotion arose in the distance. A dozen or so villagers, carrying hoes, ran toward them, led by an elderly man with gray hair.

"Your Highness, are you the Princess of Cangzhou?"

The old man ran while shouting excitedly, a smile spreading across his wrinkled face.

"I am Li Laoshuan, the village head of Lijia Village. Yesterday, the county magistrate sent someone to announce that you are coming to inspect today. Everyone is looking forward to it!"

Han Lei quickly stood up to greet him. Li Laoshuan excitedly grabbed her hand, as if he were holding a family member, feeling the warmth of his rough palm.

"Thanks to you and Lord Luo! After that corrupt official Sun Wenyuan was brought down, we can finally have enough to eat. Now all the young people in the village are working at the livestock farm, earning twenty coins a day!"

"Uncle, this is you." Han Lei asked kindly, "How is the construction of the breeding farm going?"

Han Lei looked past the crowd toward the distant hillside, where several rows of newly built sheds could be vaguely seen.

The old man grinned from ear to ear: "There are many people working, it's almost finished!"

A young woman wearing a headscarf squeezed forward, holding a toddler in her arms.

She looked Han Lei up and down, who was dressed simply, and continued, "My husband is a carpenter at the chicken and duck farm. He said he'll be able to finish everything in three to five days. It's just..." She hesitated for a moment, "...I just don't know when the piglets and chickens and ducks will arrive?"

Han Lei smiled slightly: "That's exactly why I'm here. The farm will be ready to deliver as soon as it's completed." She then turned to the freshmen and said, "Let's go check on the progress of the farm first, and then..."

She suddenly stopped speaking as a system notification rang out in her mind.

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