Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 493 Be prepared for danger in times of peace
Chu Jiangshen didn't think he was grasping at straws. Lu Zheng was able to receive literary energy from the half-saint of Anguo, and even get the emperor of Great Chu to speak on his behalf. He had traveled to many places and caused so much trouble without any incident. He must have his own unique insights and ways of dealing with certain matters.

Seeing Chu Jiangshen staring intently at him, Lu Zheng thought for a moment and said, "I am not familiar with the situation here in Jiangzhou. Please tell me in detail, Chu Jiangshen. What are you most worried about?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Jiangshen couldn't help but say, "To be honest, the situation in Jiangzhou is more complicated than in other prefectures. It is close to the Shu Kingdom and is a frontier area."

"Over the years, there have been many disputes between our Great Chu and the Shu Kingdom. In times of famine, if there is any major chaos, this place will likely be the first to bear the brunt."

"I am the God of Chujiang. This great river is extremely important to both countries, and I bear a lot of pressure in this position..."

In terms of terrain, the area where the Yangtze River is located is a strategic location that military strategists must contend for.

Previously, the Shu Kingdom had occupied the territory of the Chu Kingdom and had always coveted Jiangzhou.

Chu Jiangshen's biggest worry was that once the great battle broke out, he, as the river god, would inevitably be drawn into it.

It should be noted that during the war with the Shu Kingdom, a piece of Chu territory was taken away, and many officials were either killed, injured, or dismissed.

Chu Jiangshen didn't want to follow in his footsteps, so he needed to prepare some escape routes for himself as soon as possible.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng asked curiously, "Does the Shu state now intend to attack Chu?"

Chu Jiangshen said, "There's no definite information on that. It's said that the current Shu emperor is obsessed with beauty and immortality, and has no interest in conquering the world. However, the general stationed on the frontier under his command is a ruthless man. Back then, it was that General Wang who seized over a thousand miles of territory from our Great Chu..."

"General Wang Meng?" Lu Zheng asked.

Chu Jiangshen nodded. "It is indeed this person."

Speaking of this great general of Shu, Chu Jiangshen couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.

It was this man who launched a surprise attack on the Chu state, causing the Chu army to suffer repeated defeats and seizing thousands of miles of Chu territory.

Lu Zheng had also heard a little about the deeds of this General Wang.

I heard that Wang Meng comes from the royal family of Shu and is the uncle of the current emperor of Shu. He holds great power and his army is the most elite force in Shu.

Chu Jiangshen took a sip of spiritual wine to suppress his inner turmoil and said quietly, "That General Wang is currently stationed with his troops across the river from Jiangzhou. His military camp is visible from across the river."

Lu Zheng thought to himself, no wonder this Jiang Shen was under so much pressure, it turned out that the pressure came from the Shu Kingdom on the other side.

After all, if the Shu army were to sail down the river and attack the Chu state, this Chu River God would have to face them directly.

If it really comes to that, even the gods and immortals might perish.

"I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me for saying this," Chu Jiang said quietly. "I was thinking, in case something really happens... I'd like to make some preparations in advance and accumulate some merits so that I don't end up making amends for my mistakes."

He had no idea that the soldiers and priests of Jiangzhou could withstand Wang Meng's army.

If I achieve some outstanding political achievements now, even if I make mistakes later, I can make amends and won't be too embarrassed.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Jiang Shen's ability to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace already surpasses that of many others."

Chu Jiangshen forced a smile. He felt that he wasn't just being cautious in times of peace, but genuinely felt that danger was at hand.

Lu Zheng pondered for a moment and then asked, "Has Jiang Shen not considered transferring me to another place?"

"Transfer?" Chu Jiangshen shook his head and smiled, explaining, "Young Master Lu may not be very clear about the situation here."

Chu Jiangshen patted his seat and sighed, "I don't know how many people are eyeing my position! This place is not like other prefectures and counties. If I dared to request a transfer, the higher-ups would immediately replace me. I, the god of the river, am afraid I can only become a minor local official..." He did want to change places, but there had to be a suitable position, right?

Not only is there no place for him now, but many people are eyeing his spot.

He just hadn't made any major mistakes, so those people couldn't find a reason to bring him down.

The reason I was so polite to Lu Zheng when we first met, trying to downplay the incident, was because I was afraid of giving anyone leverage over me.

Hearing Chu Jiangshen's words, Lu Zheng felt that being a river god was really not easy.

"What is Jiang Shen's idea?" Lu Zheng asked.

Chu Jiangshen said, "That's why I want to do something simple that will easily win the hearts of the people. In case something goes wrong later, if I have merit and the people's support, it won't be easy for the higher-ups to be too harsh on me..."

“The City God of Yongzhou is a case in point. Although his behavior was somewhat inappropriate, he did do some good things, and the emperor could not do anything to him.”

"However, his actions, which implied an intention to obtain offerings from other deities, were explicitly prohibited by the authorities in Yingdu. It was not advisable to follow suit."

Chu Jiangshen paused for a moment, then continued, "To be honest, I will distribute the grain seeds I received from Young Master Lu today in his name, ensuring that the people of Jiangzhou will benefit..."

The reason for using Lu Zheng's name is quite simple: he is the god of the river, and the people's agricultural affairs are not under his jurisdiction. His spreading of grain seeds is not his responsibility, and it is inevitable that it will involve the interests of some gods and men.

Lu Zheng is currently riding high, so it's unlikely that others would want to obstruct him too much if he stepped in to share the burden.

In that case, he can also gain some good reputation in the process.

Chu Jiangshen chuckled and said, "Young Master Lu shouldn't mind, right?"

This is also an opportunity to gain fame, and since the seed originally belonged to Lu Zheng, he's just helping to spread it.

Lu Zheng replied, "Jiang Shen, please do as you please."

As long as it benefits the local people, Lu Zheng doesn't care whether he receives a bad reputation or a good one.

Chu Jiangshen was startled. "Alright, but my trusted confidants are not good at farming, and there are some things they don't understand. I'll need Young Master Lu to give me more advice."

Lu Zheng said, "If Jiang Shen wants to win the hearts of the people, it's not difficult. Within your capabilities, you can do many things... Jiang Shen probably understands some of these things, so I'll say a few more words here."

Lu Zheng calmly and slowly put forward some ideas.

Not only did he make a suggestion, but he also explained the more specific procedures to Chu Jiangshen.

Chu Jiangshen listened attentively and immediately understood that Lu Zheng was truly familiar with these matters and was not just a theorist.

After speaking for a while, Lu Zheng finished his story and said, "These are all the suggestions I can offer. It's up to Jiang Shen to decide what to do."

"Very well, very well, thank you so much, Young Master Lu..." Chu Jiangshen raised his cup again in a toast, "Young Master Lu is indeed very learned, may I ask what books you usually read?"

Chu Jiangshen realized that he needed to read more books so as not to fall behind others.

“You’ve read quite a lot,” Lu Zheng said. “Some of these books are not widely known. If Jiang Shen likes them, I can give you a few.”

"What book?" Chu Jiangshen asked with a hint of curiosity.

(End of this chapter)