Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 368 I Got the Chance
News came from the south that the drought in Rong State was getting worse and worse. The food production in several states was almost exhausted, affecting tens of millions of people. This was not just a problem in the disaster-stricken areas. The chain reaction affected all aspects of the entire Rong State!
Although Rongguo had been actively preparing when the disaster first showed signs a few months ago, the disaster area was too large, and the coordination of all aspects was an extremely huge and tedious task. Now that chaos has occurred in Rongguo, the consequences of ineffective disaster relief are unimaginable.

Throughout history, great disasters are always followed by great epidemics, and that is the most terrifying thing.

If Rong State cannot resolve this disaster relatively properly, it is very likely that Rong State will be in a mess for the next few years, and that is if the surrounding countries do not add insult to injury.

Under such circumstances, Rong State sent letters many times in an attempt to marry Princess Fuyao, but they were all rejected by Emperor Shang Xuan. As a second choice, he took the initiative to marry the princess, only asking for the purchase of grain from Jing State at a fair price. The court did not make a direct statement on this, and there was obviously room for negotiation. In the face of Rong State's repeated requests for disaster relief, Jing State has so far symbolically provided one million stones of grain support, which is already on the way.

A million dan of grain might seem like an astonishing number to ordinary people, but it was a drop in the bucket in the face of the disaster that affected several prefectures in Rong State. After all, the grain needed to be transported, and how much would be lost in the process? How much would actually reach the victims?
Faced with such a devastating disaster, Rong State naturally could not place all its hopes on Jing State. While actively facing the disaster, it was also trying to seek help from the more distant Yuhua State and Shuangyue State. The specific details were not something that ordinary people in Jing State could know.

The war between Yuhua and Shuangyue has escalated again. Several military conflicts involving more than 100,000 people have occurred, and the total number of casualties on both sides has exceeded 100,000. A larger-scale conflict is already brewing.

Neither side would give up that gold mine. After the large-scale military conflict, they had sat down to negotiate joint mining many times. However, with the discovery of associated black gold ore in the gold mine, there was no room for negotiation on joint mining.

If gold mines are just pure monetary wealth, then black gold mines are rare strategic resources!
Metal such as black gold is mixed into the armor when it is forged. Wearing this kind of armor is enough to withstand the sharp slashing of internal and external energy. It does not require a lot. If there are 5,000 soldiers wearing this kind of armor, they can face the pursuit and slashing of 100,000 troops. If black gold is mixed into the weapons when they are forged, then the weapons will have the effect of breaking armor, which is equivalent to the enemy's armor being made of "paper", and the horizontal training can cut it with a knife or penetrate it with an arrow.

Who would give up such an important strategic resource? The situation between Yuhua and Shuangyue countries will not end until they have beaten their brains out.

Of course, although the metal of black gold is powerful, its output is very low and it is also a by-product in gold mines. It is equivalent to refining one thousand taels of gold in a gold mine, but it may not be possible to extract one tael of black gold. One tael of black gold mixed with other materials can only barely make a set of armor.

This kind of thing is only effective in the acquired realm, and is barely effective in the innate realm, unless the body is covered with weapons and armor made of black gold. In that case, a person in the acquired realm will be able to fight against a person in the innate realm, but the cost of such a set of armor and weapons is too high. If they are replaced with elixirs, skills and resources, they can build up a person in the innate realm.

In short, the two countries will never give up that gold mine.

As the situation in the surrounding countries was tense, especially with the disaster about to happen in Rong State, Prince Qing, who was stationed in the south to defend the gates of Rong State, repeatedly petitioned the court for money, food, weapons and military support to prevent the disaster in Rong State from causing mobs to attack the gates of Jing State, or even Rong State itself to be desperate and send troops to plunder.

No one can ignore the importance of the border. The Jing Kingdom court has already tilted resources towards Prince Qing, but the other two countries have to be on guard as well. There is no trivial matter between family and country, and a single move can affect the entire body.

In addition, the Frost Moon Kingdom and the Rong Kingdom once again sent hostages to the capital. The last time there was a dispute over the death of King Yu and King Luo, there was no follow-up at all. On the surface, the dispute was still going on, but in fact it had come to nothing.

The hostages who arrived again were very low-key, and not many people knew about it. After secretly entering the capital and entering the hostage palace, they never went out. It was probably because they were afraid of death, or it might be to prevent them from dying and being placed under house arrest by all parties.

Wuxiang Temple, one of the leading martial arts schools in Jing State, remains tightly closed. It's unclear what they're up to, and there's no news of their master's passing. They're keeping a low profile, while the Taixuan Sect has been increasingly active lately...

These things happened in less than a month. If you say they have nothing to do with the common people of Jing Country, then yes, they are closely related, but they do not have a direct connection with their daily meals.

There are still two days before the Autumn Examination on the eighth day of the eighth month in Jing State. Early in the morning of this day, the Menxia Province, one of the three provinces of Jing State, the highest review body, led by its Menxia Assistant Minister, with the tacit approval of the two chief and deputy ministers of Menxia, ​​wrote to the court to verify the Cangbu Division under the Ministry of Revenue, one of the six ministries, on the grounds that the autumn tax was about to begin. After a brief discussion, Emperor Shang Xuan issued an edict on the spot, ordering the Menxia Province to supervise the work, with the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to assist, and the Ministry of Revenue must cooperate!

When this imperial edict was issued, many people in the court were a little confused, because Emperor Shang Xuan's edict was not only to verify the Ministry of Granaries, but the entire Ministry of Revenue. However, the imperial edict had already been issued, and the emperor was not joking, so a vigorous investigation began.

The imperial edict was issued in the morning, and a large number of officials from the Ministry of Revenue were thrown into prison in the afternoon, including the Minister of Revenue and a Vice Minister. As a result, several secretaries and many clerks were insignificant.

The operation was so swift that people couldn't react in time. Not only were high-ranking officials imprisoned, but their families were also packed up and sent in before dark. People were being arrested everywhere, and for a while, there were many different opinions and people were in panic.

Among them was Gao Jingming's father-in-law and his family. Even as the Chief Secretary of the Cangbu Division, his family was one of the first to be arrested. However, some people knew in their hearts that such arrests were a form of protection.
As one of the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Revenue is an extremely critical department. With the Shangshu and a vice minister both imprisoned, and a large number of officials also in attendance, it is difficult for the department to function properly. So, the Right Vice Minister who escaped the disaster has been temporarily appointed to take over. If he performs well, he may even be able to replace the previous Shangshu.

The sudden change in the situation is overwhelming and it is too sudden. This matter is not a small matter in itself. Many people have vaguely smelled the scent of impending storm. Perhaps this is just the beginning!
Gao Jingming had already put down his books five days before the start of the Autumn Examination. He had been actively preparing for the exam for so long, working hard every day. He also understood the principle of combining work and rest, so when the time really came, he simply relaxed.

On the afternoon of the day his father-in-law was killed, Xiao Gao received the news. He was completely stunned. Bang!

Gao Jingming sat by the window above a restaurant. The table was a mess, with more than a dozen empty wine jugs. His clothes were disheveled, his eyes hazy with drunkenness. He waved his hand and smashed a wine jug, his eyes filled with confusion, bitterness, disbelief, and anxiety. He muttered through the reek of alcohol, "How could this happen..."

Wei Song was beside him, bewildered, and said, "Master, you're drunk. Drink less. The exam is the day after tomorrow. You have to take care of your health. Business is more important. You've studied hard for more than ten years for this. Don't let something like this affect your exam."

Gao Jingming said nothing, just kept drinking, his brows furrowed and his mood heavy.

Wei Song didn't know how to persuade him. He was powerless in the face of this situation. Geng Hong, Zhao Erhe and others beside him also looked at a loss as to what to do. They kept winking at Chen Xuan, saying, "You have a good relationship with the young master, so comfort him quickly."

"Young Master, you are drunk and it is getting late. Go back and rest. There is no rush for this matter. Let's go back and think of a solution. See if we can use our connections to find out the specific situation, what stage it has reached, and whether it can be remedied," said Chen Xuan on the opposite side with a heavy face, as if he felt the same as Gao Jingming.

Xiao Gao smiled bitterly and looked up, "How can I rest? What else can I do? But... but... Anyway, even if I ask my brother-in-law for help, it won't quench my thirst. Besides, His Majesty is furious. Who dares to speak at this time?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan's expression changed, and he said helplessly: "But Master, the exam is about to start. Don't let this affect your performance, otherwise all your years of hard work will be wasted. Don't think too much, finish the imperial examination first and then consider other things."

"A Xuan, I understand this logic, but it's too late to do anything after the imperial examination is over. What's more, something happened over there, and my relationship with you may affect the examination itself," Gao Jingming was a little incoherent, depressed and hesitant.

His father-in-law had committed a crime. Although they had not yet gotten married, no one could guarantee that he would not be implicated because of this relationship. What if the examiner rejected him because of this?

Seeing that no matter how he persuaded her, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment and made up his mind to say: "Master, business is the most important thing. Let's take it one step at a time and put everything else aside. Sorry for the offense..."

As he said this, he hit Gao Jingming on the back of the head with a knife. Little Gao's eyelids fluttered and he fainted on the table.

Then Chen Xuan stood up and said, "Pay the bill and take the young master back. He can't go out before the imperial examination is over. Everyone, please don't mention other things in front of him. Be happy."

"Um……"

Then a few people paid the bill and carried Gao Jingming back.

After returning to his residence, Gao Jingming, who had fallen into a coma, suddenly woke up. He touched the back of his head and took a deep breath and said, "Ah Xuan, are you serious? You are doing this on purpose, right? You are really not seeking revenge for personal gain?"

"What is your relationship? Do you have any grudge against each other? Just act realistically. It will be painful if you just bear with it, and it will pass," Chen Xuan said with a laugh. I told you to show off your love to me, and now I've got the chance.

Gao Jingming curled his lips, touched the back of his head and said seriously: "A Xuan, what do you think of my performance just now?"

"I don't care about what you say. It's a bit exaggerated, but it doesn't matter. As long as you show that you are upset, it will be fine," Chen Xuan said with a roll of his eyes.

He had to go all out in the play. Even though some people had already fallen into the trap, Gao Jingming still had to put on an act.

With no outsiders around, Gao Jingming regained his composure and said thoughtfully, "Ah Xuan, I can't act rashly right now. Please help me go visit them later. We already have connections, so we can just go directly..."

(End of this chapter)