lcionline Chapter 207 Drought
Chapter 207 Drought
Inside the imperial palace of the Si Dynasty, the palace was magnificent and resplendent, yet it could not conceal the oppressive heat of the summer sun.
Emperor Liu Xinhao, sitting on the dragon throne, had a hint of worry in his eyes.
He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of authority and helplessness.
"The weather is hot, and I have heard that there are many complaints among the people. Their lives are difficult. Is there any way to resolve this?"
Upon hearing this, Minister A immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the people's grievances are mostly due to their difficult living conditions."
Your Majesty, I believe that reducing taxes is the most urgent task, so that the people will have more surplus grain to cope with the current difficulties.
Liu Xinhao nodded slightly, his gaze deep.
"Reducing taxes is indeed a necessary measure, but it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Can we guide people to develop other industries to reduce their over-reliance on agriculture?"
At this moment, Minister B stepped forward, his voice loud and full of confidence.
"Your Majesty, I believe we should vigorously encourage the people to develop commerce and improve their living standards. This two-pronged approach will surely yield remarkable results."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinhao's eyes flashed with approval: "Good! This matter will be entirely in your hands."
"We must promptly introduce relevant policies to guide the people in developing diversified industries and create a new era for the dynasty."
But amidst the harmonious discussions in the imperial court, the eldest prince Liu Yao was secretly experiencing turbulent emotions.
He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was churning like a volcano.
The eldest prince, Liu Yao, thought to himself: "Hmph, this old man obtained that rare treasure, the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Pill, a few days ago. He should reward me, but he hasn't made a move yet."
Now that he's still pretending to care about the people's affairs, I think it's time for the throne to be given a new owner.
I will wait for the right opportunity to stir up trouble in the court, so that he loses all his prestige, and then gradually implement my plan to usurp the throne.
So Liu Yaoqiang suppressed his anger and impatience and stepped forward.
He feigned respect and said, "Father, I believe that the development of industry and commerce should be carefully considered and planned for the long term."
Your son has recently heard that prices in the city have skyrocketed, making life difficult for the people.
Implementing new policies rashly could cause market chaos, increase the burden on ordinary people, and ultimately be counterproductive.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinhao turned his gaze to Liu Yao, his eyes revealing a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction.
"Yao'er, the ministers and I have our own judgment on this matter and will weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. You may leave now and focus on your studies. Do not let me find out that you have spoken so rashly again."
Liu Yao was furious, but he still tried to remain calm and bowed.
"Your subject is only concerned with the country and its people, and your sincere heart is evident to heaven and earth."
I humbly request Your Majesty to discern the truth and not misunderstand my good intentions.
After Liu Yao finished speaking, he stepped aside, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness and determination.
He continued to plot his coup in his mind.
Waiting for the right opportunity, they will stir up a huge upheaval in the imperial court and bring Liu Xinhao down completely.
He ascended to the supreme throne and became the new ruler of the dynasty.
The vast land was shrouded in a thick layer of drought.
It was as if the entire sky was sealed off by an invisible barrier of heat waves, and for months on end, not a single drop of rain was seen to nourish it.
This once fertile land has now become barren and desolate, inspiring despair.
On this land, eight nations—the Gou Clan, the Gu Xuan Dynasty, the Ling Kingdom, the Qin Kingdom, the Xia Dynasty, the Xian Dynasty, the Yu Wai Kingdom, and the Si Dynasty—were all unable to escape this unprecedented drought disaster.
The river's water level gradually dropped, and the water surface shrank to the point that the riverbed was almost exposed. The gurgling sound of the flowing water also became weak and powerless.
The once sparkling lake is now just a patch of dried-up mud, emitting a pungent, fishy stench.
Crops are the lifeblood of the people on this land, but this year's drought has dealt them an unprecedented blow.
The withered yellow crops in the fields drooped their heads, as if praying to the sky for rain.
The farmers looked at the devastated scene with eyes filled with helplessness and despair.
Although there are some water sources in the mountains and forests, they are far from sufficient to meet the needs of the general public.
People living in remote mountainous areas have to trek dozens of miles over mountains and valleys to get water.
Their shoulders ached from the weight of the wooden barrels, but their hearts were filled with worry and fear about the future.
The imperial court was also helpless in the face of the drought, and officials could only watch helplessly as the people fell into misery.
Although they tried their best to distribute food, the amount of food was far from meeting the needs of the people.
However, some merchants took the opportunity to inflate prices, driving up the price of grain and making people suffer even more.
This year's grain harvest was almost zero, plunging people into an unprecedented predicament.
They not only face the threat of hunger, but also the fear of disease and death.
On this land shrouded in drought, people's lives are like candles flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
Inside the Phantom City, in the spacious yet somewhat oppressive hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.
Daya frowned, deep in thought as she stared at the map spread out on the table, her finger lightly tapping on it.
Shui'er paced anxiously to the side, and finally couldn't help but speak up.
"Big Sister Ya, we need to hurry to the town and bring Uncle and Aunt back."
As the weather gets hotter and hotter, I'm really worried about how they're doing over there.
Xiao He nodded vigorously from the side and chimed in, "That's right, Sister Daya, I've always been thinking about everyone."
In this heat, I wonder if they have enough water to drink, and if their accommodations are cool.
Daya raised her head, her eyes revealing decisiveness.
She readily agreed, "Okay, let's get going without delay, let's set off now and come back as soon as possible."
Xiaoyue interjected, "I'll go tell General Yue right away, and we'll get ready to set off immediately."
After Xiaoyue finished speaking, she turned around and quickly walked out of the council hall.
When Xiaoyue arrived at Yue Zhiyang's place, she politely bowed and said, "General Yue, we plan to go to the town to pick up the villagers from Sujia Village."
Upon hearing this, Yue Zhiyang stopped what he was doing and immediately said, "There might be dangers along the way. I'll send a squad of soldiers with you so we can look out for each other."
Xiaoyue shook her head and politely declined, saying, "General Yue, we appreciate your kindness."
"We're just going to bring everyone back to Phantom City. Besides, the four of us are more flexible and can adapt to any situation that might arise."
After thinking for a moment, Yue Zhiyang felt that Xiaoyue's words made sense, so he nodded in agreement.
So Daya, Xiaoyue, Shuier, and Xiaohe went to the stable and brought their respective horses.
These horses were their daily companions, and they seemed to sense their owners' urgency.
The four mounted their horses and set off for the town.
The blazing sun hung high, baking the earth, and waves of heat rolled along the way, making the air seem distorted from the heat.
Not only were the women sweating profusely from the heat, but even their horses were panting heavily, their steps becoming increasingly heavy.
But they were eager to get home and dared not stop for a moment. They hurried along and finally arrived in the town just as night was about to fall.
The four arrived outside the courtyard where the Su family lived. Yuan'er was practicing martial arts inside the courtyard when she suddenly heard a familiar sound of horses' hooves coming from outside.
Her eyes lit up instantly, and a strong premonition surged in her heart.
She ran to the wall in a few steps, and with a nimble leap, she climbed onto the top of the wall.
When Yuan'er saw Da Ya and the others, her eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up uncontrollably.
She shouted excitedly, "Sister Daya, Sister Xiaoyue, Sister Shui'er, Sister Xiaohe, it really is you!"
Immediately afterwards, she shouted loudly into the yard.
"Grandma, uncles and aunts, Da Ya and the others are back! Da Ya and Xiao Yue are back!"
As she shouted, she leaped over the wall toward Daya.
With quick reflexes, Daya caught Yuan'er with both hands.
Yuan'er's petite body gracefully leaped onto the back of the tall horse, like a nimble little bird finding its roost.
She stretched out her slender arms and tightly embraced Daya's waist.
It was as if they were afraid that if they let go, they would lose the warm support in front of them.
Nestled in Daya's broad, soft embrace, Yuan'er's tears flowed like a burst dam, sobbing and wailing uncontrollably.
The cries were like the sound of a broken string, heartbreaking; they were also like the cry of a cuckoo, filled with endless longing and worry.
"Sister Daya, you've been gone for over a year, and I've been worried about your safety every day."
My mind is filled with images of you defending the border against foreign enemies. I'm afraid you might encounter some misfortune, afraid you might be harmed by those fierce and brutal enemies..."
As Yuan'er spoke, her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her face.