The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 139 I would like to ask you for some advice, young master.

The order was quickly passed on.

Despite the fact that many of the specific terms were unheard of, the officials and clerks carrying out the task all wore obvious confusion on their faces, and even some murmured among themselves, but no one dared to question the Crown Prince's decision.

The banner representing the emperor's presence stood outside the imperial camp. The crown prince had been acting more and more steadily lately, and the occasional cold glint in his eyes made them dare not be negligent in the slightest.

"Dig a deep pit? Burying it isn't enough, why spread so much lime? What's the point of that white stuff?"

"Who knows... His Highness the Crown Prince must have had a deeper meaning."

"Also, do people with fever and diarrhea need to be separated? In this year of great disaster, who doesn't have a headache or fever? If everyone is separated, where will we find so many places and people?"

"His Highness has given a strict order, so we must do as he says. Didn't you see that Grand Tutor Dou is personally overseeing the operation? If anything goes wrong, no one can afford to take the blame."

Bags of lime were allocated from the accompanying supplies.

Lime urgently procured from surrounding states and counties was transported here, and under the operation of soldiers and temporarily recruited disaster victims working as labor relief workers, white powder began to appear in those filthy corners.

In particular, a pungent odor permeated the areas where more remains were found.

The disaster victims watched from afar, their faces showing the same bewilderment and numbness.

They didn't understand why they had to bury their dead fellow villagers again and sprinkle them with this pungent white powder.

Some people even showed fear, whispering among themselves whether it was some kind of exorcism ritual or whether the court considered them unclean.

However, when the clerk in charge of the announcement repeatedly emphasized that this was "a measure taken by His Highness the Crown Prince to prevent the epidemic and ensure everyone's health," and that it did indeed provide job opportunities in exchange for food rations, silent obedience became the mainstream.

When faced with survival, understanding or not seems less important.

Inside the headquarters, Li Chengqian had just finished listening to Dou Jing's report on the progress of the "purification" and "isolation" matters. Although there was considerable resistance in the initial implementation, it had finally begun under the forceful order.

He rubbed his temples, about to inquire about today's harvest from the salt-for-grain exchange, when suddenly a series of hurried and joyful footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" Wang Cong practically ran in, his face beaming with an unusual excitement he hadn't shown in days. "They've arrived! The grain has come!"

Li Chengqian suddenly stood up from behind the desk: "They've arrived? Is it the grain for bond redemption?"

"Exactly!" Wang Cong said excitedly.

"The first batch! About three thousand shi of millet, along with a lot of cured meat and dried vegetables! The escort is a grain merchant from Jiangnan."

"They said they heard His Highness was issuing disaster relief bonds and rushed here day and night! They're waiting to see him outside the gate!"

A surge of immense relief and indescribable excitement welled up in Li Chengqian's heart, as if the heavy pressure he had been under for many days had finally found an outlet.

He took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain the dignity of the crown prince, but his voice still carried a hint of urgency.

"Quickly announce it! No, I will personally go out to greet him!"

Outside the gate, a young man dressed in a lake-blue silk robe was waiting quietly.

He was in his early twenties, handsome, with a refined and lively air nurtured by the water towns of Jiangnan.

What's even more remarkable is the composure he maintained in such a situation.

Behind him was a long convoy of carriages, loaded with sacks, and some men dressed as attendants were tending to the vehicles.

Upon seeing Li Chengqian emerge surrounded by his officials, the young man immediately straightened his robes, stepped forward, and performed a clean and crisp salute in a clear voice.

"This humble subject, Shen Cong, from Suzhou, greets Your Highness! Wishing Your Highness a long life!"

"Shen Cong?" Li Chengqian stepped forward to offer a helping hand, his gaze quickly sweeping over the other man and the endless convoy, a genuine smile appearing on his face.

"Very well! Young Master Shen, there's no need for such formalities! Your timely assistance has relieved my and the people of Shandong from their urgent crisis, and I am deeply gratified!"

Shen Cong stood up, his attitude respectful yet neither servile nor arrogant.

"Your Highness is too kind. My father often taught me that even merchants must keep the world in mind."

"The locust plague in Shandong has caused great suffering to the people. I happen to have some stored grain at home. I have heard of Your Highness's benevolence in issuing bonds to provide relief to the disaster victims."

"Therefore, I have taken the liberty of gathering provisions and traveling day and night to come here, hoping to do my part to exchange the bonds and alleviate Your Highness's worries."

These words were spoken tactfully and elegantly, expressing goodwill while also indicating that the visit stemmed from confidence in the bond's creditworthiness.

It was not simply charity; it gave both parties considerable dignity.

Li Chengqian felt even more relieved upon hearing this, and the frustration he had been feeling for days, caused by the local officials' shirking of responsibility and the tragic plight of the disaster victims, dissipated considerably.

"Young Master Shen is a man of great integrity and possesses such courage; he is truly an outstanding individual!"

Li Chengqian praised, then turned to the side to acknowledge.

"This is not the place to talk. Young Master Shen, please come inside the tent to discuss this matter."

Upon entering the main tent, guests and hosts took their seats.

Shen Cong took out a list from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

"Your Highness, this is a detailed list of the grain and supplies that have arrived this time. Please take a look. There are a total of 3,000 shi of high-quality millet, 500 jin of cured meat, and 300 jin of various types of dried vegetables that can be stored for a long time."

"All items have arrived. Your Highness may send someone to check and inspect them at any time."

Wang Cong took the list, quickly glanced at it, and nodded slightly to Li Chengqian to confirm that the quantities were correct and the quality descriptions were excellent.

Li Chengqian felt reassured and said gently, "Young Master Shen is reliable in his work, and I trust him."

"Regarding the bond exchange, I will instruct Wang Cheng to contact you immediately."

"Your Highness's promise puts my mind at ease."

Shen Cong cupped his hands in greeting, and then said, "To be honest, Your Highness, besides exchanging bonds, I also have something to report to you."

“My father has already written to merchants in various parts of Jiangnan, outlining His Highness’s disaster relief plan and the benefits of the bonds.”

"If this goes smoothly, more grain ships should come north. I am willing to set an example and do my best to make this happen."

These words were nothing short of giving Li Chengqian an even greater sense of reassurance.

The light in his eyes shone even brighter.

"With the strong support of the grain merchants from Jiangnan, how can we not alleviate the disaster in Shandong! Young Master Shen, I will remember your contribution!"

Shen Cong quickly declined, saying, "Your Highness is too kind. It's just my duty."

The two talked for a while longer. Although Shen Cong did not discuss the disaster situation along the way or the local governance in depth, his occasional mentions were always to the point, revealing a sharpness and insight beyond his age.

The more Li Chengqian looked at the boy, the more he felt that he was extraordinary and took a liking to him. However, he was busy with government affairs at the time, and Dou Jing, Wang Cong and others had given him signals many times. There were still countless urgent matters waiting for him to handle.

"Young Master Shen must be tired from your journey. Please go and rest first. The exchange matters will be handled properly by Wang Cheng. I will discuss the details with you after I have finished dealing with my urgent matters."

Although Li Chengqian was reluctant, this was all he could say.

Shen Cong tactfully got up.

"Your Highness is very busy with state affairs, and I dare not disturb you. It is an honor to be summoned by Your Highness. I take my leave."

After bowing, he left the main tent under the guidance of Wang Cong.

Li Chengqian watched his figure disappear behind the tent curtain, and thought to himself, if there were more merchants like him who were shrewd, capable and kind-hearted, the court would not be in such dire straits.

He withdrew his gaze and refocused on the mountain of documents.

The arrival of the first batch of grain was like a shot in the arm, but it failed to change the current predicament of countless problems.

That young man left a good impression on him, but that was all.

He was too busy to savor the opportunity or recruit further.

However, Li Yichen noticed this young grain merchant.

As Shen Cong left the main tent and was led by a minor official to his temporary lodgings, Li Yichen quietly followed him and called out to him at a bend in the road.

"Young Master Shen, please wait." Shen Cong turned around at the sound and saw a young man dressed in a blue official robe, with a calm demeanor, quite different from the officials who had been in a panic in the tent just now.

Although he did not recognize Li Yichen, seeing that he could follow him out from the core area of ​​the Crown Prince's residence, he guessed that he was no ordinary person, so he immediately stopped and politely cupped his hands in greeting.

"Sir, what advice do you have for me?"

"My name is Li Yichen, and I am honored to serve as His Highness the Crown Prince's study companion."

Li Yichen gave a brief self-introduction and then directly stated his purpose.

"I just heard Young Master Shen's words, and his insight is remarkable. You have come from afar and must have had a long and arduous journey. You must have made unique observations about the situation along the way."

"Yichen is being presumptuous, but would like to ask the young master for some advice."

Upon hearing that he was the Crown Prince's study companion, Shen Cong's eyes lit up, and his attitude became even more respectful.

"So it's you, Li, my study companion! My apologies! If you, my study companion, may inquire, I will certainly answer to the best of my knowledge."

The two then stood in the shadows of a relatively secluded tent.

Li Yichen skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Young Master Shen, was your journey north with the grain transport smooth? Aside from the disaster, did you encounter any other... troublesome events?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Cong's polite smile vanished, and he hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

“Since Li asked, Cong dared not hide it. The journey… was indeed not peaceful. Flood victims were everywhere, and cries of sorrow filled the land. This was a natural disaster, and there was nothing that could be done about it.”

"But... Cong noticed that the closer they got to the core disaster area in Shandong, the more the groups of refugees they encountered along the way seemed... seemed to be somewhat different from before."

"Oh? What's the difference?" Li Yichen's gaze narrowed slightly.

"The disaster victims we encountered earlier were mostly families traveling westward aimlessly, just trying to survive. Although the situation was chaotic, they were not yet organized."

Shen Cong's voice lowered even further.

"But after entering Yanzhou territory, Cong's guards discovered several large groups of refugees, with a significantly higher proportion of young and middle-aged men, and... their movements seemed quite methodical."

"They avoided the towns and patrol stations where the government troops were mainly stationed, and their eyes... did not show the despair of ordinary disaster victims, but rather a fierce and ruthless aura."

He paused, looked at Li Yichen, and spoke with a hint of uncertain speculation.

"I dare to guess that these people... are probably not just refugees fleeing famine. Perhaps... there are bandits and outlaws mixed in among them, or even... some famine victims who could not survive may have been coerced or gathered on their own, becoming a new scourge."

Li Yichen felt a chill run down his spine; this was exactly the situation he had been worried about.

Natural disasters and man-made calamities often go hand in hand.

When order collapses and survival becomes hopeless, the number of people taking desperate measures will increase dramatically.

He remained expressionless and continued, "Has the young master had any conflict with them? Or have you heard any concrete information?"

There has been no conflict.

Shen Cong shook his head.

“Cong’s main task on this trip is to transport grain, and his guards are quite strong, so they may be wary of him.”

"But we did hear some rumors along the way, such as some merchants being robbed and some small villages being looted... The news was confusing and it was hard to tell what was true and what was false."

"However, there's no smoke without fire. My lord, His Highness is here to provide disaster relief. Besides comforting the victims, I'm afraid... we also need to be wary of these potential disturbances."

Li Yichen nodded slowly.

“What you say is absolutely right, young master. I will keep an eye on this matter.”

He didn't delve deeper into the topic, but instead asked, "I heard you're from Suzhou, young master. How is the situation in Jiangnan these days? Are grain prices still stable?"

Seeing that Li Yichen changed the subject, Shen Cong wisely refrained from discussing the banditry further.

"Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune, the weather in Jiangnan has been favorable this year, and the harvest is decent. Although grain prices have fluctuated slightly due to the disaster in the north, they are generally stable."

"However, the canal transport is busy and the transport capacity is tight. If we want to transport grain to the north on a large scale, it will probably take a long time."

"Hmm." Li Yichen seemed thoughtful, then asked casually.

"After redeeming the bonds, does the young master intend to return to Jiangnan immediately, or does he have other plans?"

A perfectly timed hint of regret appeared on Shen Cong's face.

"To be honest, my companion, I originally wanted to stay a few more days. If I could find another opportunity to listen to Your Highness's teachings, I would be extremely fortunate."

"However, I still need to take care of the business at home. This grain transport has already delayed me for quite some time. I expect to stay for another two or three days to finish the handover and then set off south."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming sincere.

"However, Cong has already ordered someone to send a letter home at full speed, explaining in detail His Highness's benevolence and the credit of the bonds, and earnestly requesting my father to do his best to raise another batch of grain and transport it north as soon as possible to support His Highness's disaster relief efforts."

Li Yichen watched him quietly, his opinion of the young businessman rising even higher.

They are shrewd, perceptive, and adept at assessing situations and seizing opportunities.

He not only completed the transaction, but also attempted to use it to establish a deeper connection with the Eastern Palace and the Crown Prince.

That phrase, "to listen to Your Highness's teachings again," was probably the real reason he wanted to stay a few more days.

"You're too kind, young master," Li Yichen said calmly.

"It would be a good thing if Your Highness could receive continued support from the Shen family of Jiangnan."

He paused for a moment, as if mentioning it casually.

"By the way, young master, you must have seen many suffering victims along your journey. I wonder... how you dealt with them?"

Shen Cong was slightly taken aback, then said frankly, "I dare not deceive you, my companion. Seeing the plight of the disaster victims, I cannot bear it either."

"But with the heavy responsibility of transporting grain and a large convoy, directly distributing it might cause unrest, which would be counterproductive."

"Therefore... Cong ordered his guards to go ahead and set up a temporary porridge station a few miles away before the convoy passed through some sections of the road where disaster victims gathered, to spread the news and lead the disaster victims there."

"In this way, we fulfilled our intentions without delaying the journey and ensuring the safety of the grain convoy."

A barely perceptible hint of admiration flashed in Li Yichen's eyes.

This method preserves one's inherent kindness while also taking into account practical advantages and disadvantages, demonstrating considerable thoughtfulness.

This Shen Cong is not only shrewd, but also acts with great method, and is not a person who is only after profit.

"Young master's thoughtfulness is truly commendable."

Li Yichen simply nodded in the end.

"In that case, we will not disturb your rest any longer, young master. We wish you a safe journey home."

"Thank you for your companionship, Li."

Shen Cong bowed again, watching Li Yichen turn and leave until the blue figure disappeared between the tents.

A light flashed in his eyes.

This tutor to the crown prince was composed and serene.

Li Yichen, however, was not at peace as he left.

The news that Shen Cong brought about the possible gathering of mountain bandits was like a stone thrown into water.

Disaster relief is already so difficult; if it's compounded by civil unrest or banditry...

Furthermore, the attitude of the local people made Li Yichen feel a strange sense of threat.

(End of this chapter)