Li Fuxiang had just left the capital when he ordered his entourage to put away the ceremonial procession for the southern tour. Along the way, regardless of where they passed, local officials were strictly forbidden from being informed in advance. Orders were also issued prohibiting any welcoming banquets. If the local officials were insistent on showing their hospitality, they could arrange for a casual outing instead.
When the orders were passed down, none of the accompanying officials could find fault with them.
This move not only demonstrated Prince Xiang’s impartial and business-like approach but also avoided alienating those seeking to build rapport.
There was even an air of camaraderie with the people embedded in the gesture.
Kong Shishu’s predictions were correct. The Emperor had already paved the way for him. As long as Prince Xiang showed even a modicum of capability, this southern tour would be enough to win the hearts of the empire’s civil officials.
A few days into the journey, Gao Yuexing received a letter from the capital.
It was a family letter from Gao Jing.
However, upon opening it, the first thing she saw was Yagu’s handwriting.
Under the lamplight, her expression immediately turned grave.
Yagu had deliberately refrained from sending the letter directly through Prince Xiang’s residence, likely considering the potential risks on the road, such as interception. Instead, she had managed to borrow the hand of the Gao household—her father’s hand.
The letter stated that Fu Yun had been acting suspiciously.
Shortly after their departure from the capital, Fu Yun had finally left her residence and met with someone in secret, engaging in a lengthy, private conversation in a hidden location.
That person was Jiang Qi, the concubine of Prince Xin.
Gao Yuexing clenched the letter tightly, her palms beginning to sweat.
Prince Xin.
Was it a problem with his concubine, Jiang Qi, or was Prince Xin himself problematic?
In her room at the inn, Gao Yuexing waited until Li Fuxiang returned from handling official matters. As soon as he entered, she ordered guards to tightly secure the doors and windows, with even the roof beams occupied by Jinyiwei, forbidding anyone from approaching.
While Li Fuxiang removed his outer garments, he asked, “What happened? Is there trouble?”
Gao Yuexing spread the letter on the table for him to read.
Li Fuxiang’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter as he read.
Gao Yuexing calmly and methodically recounted her months of planning and investigation to him.
Li Fuxiang hadn’t expected that his wife had spent countless sleepless nights in the capital. Watching her now, his heart ached indescribably. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? It’s all my fault.”
Gao Yuexing replied calmly, “You have your own responsibilities. The war in the western border is no less treacherous than the intrigues of the capital. I’ve been managing the household; you don’t need to worry too much about it… However, this matter has now yielded solid evidence, and we need to prepare in advance. The clues are already surfacing. If we’re caught off guard again, you and I will both be failures.”
Li Fuxiang comforted her, saying, “I understand. Leave it to me.”
That night, four Jinyiwei soldiers departed in four directions, returning to the capital, each carrying letters to various key locations.
Only then did Gao Yuexing feel a bit more at ease.
They continued their journey south and reached the Huai River region by early summer.
When they last passed through, they hadn’t paid much attention to the traces left by Kong Shishu in the area. This time, however, Gao Yuexing intentionally kept an eye out and indeed came across several temples dedicated to Kong Shishu along the way.
Gao Yuexing looked up at the longevity plaques in the grand halls of the temples, then glanced at the clear sky above, sighing helplessly.
Among the accompanying officials was Xue Shanhui, a subordinate of the Ministry of Revenue. For some reason, he had joined Gao Yuexing’s escort. Seeing her sigh deeply before Kong Shishu’s longevity plaques, he couldn’t help stepping forward. “Is the Princess Consort lamenting the unfairness of the heavens?”
Instead of answering, Gao Yuexing asked in return, “Why do you assume that?”
Xue Shanhui smiled faintly. “Because that’s exactly how I feel.”
Gao Yuexing turned to look at him. “You’re an official of the Ministry of Revenue, one of Kong Shishu’s subordinates.”
Xue Shanhui, still young and carrying the arrogance of youth, replied neither humbly nor haughtily, “I am a servant of the Great Xu dynasty, a minister of the common people.”
Gao Yuexing smiled faintly and nodded. “Scholars like you are rare in the capital.”
Xue Shanhui joked, “You must not have attended court. The censors in our court may not act boldly, but their words are sharp when they criticize others.”
Gao Yuexing laughed more sincerely at that.
Xue Shanhui turned his gaze back to Kong Shishu’s longevity plaque. “Back then, His Majesty was determined to bring forth solid evidence of Kong Shangshu’s crimes and to execute him on the spot… He [Kong Shishu] knew his time was limited, so he rallied the people of the Huai River region overnight, submitting a petition signed by ten thousand citizens, pleading with His Majesty to pardon him in light of his efforts to save countless people from hunger and cold. Kong Shishu himself knelt before the court, confessing his mistakes with tears and swearing to reform and never err again.”
Gao Yuexing could only comment, “Kong Shishu truly had a way with things.”
Xue Shanhui replied, “At that time, the people of the Huai River region were impassioned, arguing that the court was filled with corrupt officials, so why was Kong Shishu the only one being prosecuted? They claimed that either all corrupt officials should be punished, or Kong Shishu shouldn’t be touched at all… Officials who plunder the people can return a portion of what they’ve stolen and suddenly become great benefactors, saviors. It’s laughably infuriating.”
Gao Yuexing said lightly, “What do the common people know? They were merely incited.”
Xue Shanhui muttered, “The Princess Consort is truly magnanimous.”
Hearing his dissatisfaction, Gao Yuexing responded, “To not distinguish right from wrong, to not study the words of sages, and to focus only on the survival of their families—you cannot say they are unworthy of being human. It is these diligent commoners who sustain our dynasty. Being angry with them for so many years is not worth it.”
Xue Shanhui pondered deeply. “What you say is reasonable, but… we cannot allow them to distort right and wrong. With the precedent set by Kong Shishu, over time, our people might come to believe that corruption and bribery are not serious crimes. Those in court with ulterior motives may be emboldened to take risks under such encouragement. At that point, what will become of our nation and its people?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “The people indeed remember gratitude, but they also remember resentment. Human forgetfulness is great. In time, without any intervention, Kong Shishu, having elevated himself so high, will eventually fall. He saved many people, but he harmed even more. For every person grateful to him, there will be even more who resent him.”
Xue Shanhui felt as though a fog in his mind was starting to clear but remained on the cusp of realization. He stood dazed for a moment, and when he turned back, Gao Yuexing was already gone.
They continued south, eventually passing through Jiangluo Town.
That night, Gao Yuexing once again couldn’t sleep.
Li Fuxiang ordered some local red sugar cakes and, noticing how much thinner her face had become, tentatively asked, “Are you still thinking about that dream?”
Gao Yuexing replied earnestly, “It wasn’t an ordinary dream. It left me with a profound sense of unease.”
Li Fuxiang reassured her, “The river defenses in the six cities have already been reinforced. You’ve done everything you can. Please, don’t dwell on it anymore.”
Gao Yuexing could never bear to refuse his requests, so she gently nodded and said, “Alright.”
Words are one thing, but her mind could not help but dwell on it.
During her free days, Gao Yuexing ordered her people to retrieve hydraulic maps of the six cities in Jiangnan and summoned Kong Rangchen.
When Kong Rangchen arrived, his appearance was somewhat disheveled. His robes were stained with both water and mud. He stopped outside the door, unwilling to enter, and requested permission to return to his room to change and bathe.
Gao Yuexing said it wasn’t necessary and beckoned him to come in and look at the maps with her.
She remarked, “You’ve been to the dam, haven’t you?”
Kong Rangchen replied cautiously, “Yes.”
Gao Yuexing continued, “Jiangnan isn’t in the flood season right now, so I imagine there’s not much to see?”
Kong Rangchen shook his head. “The Princess Consort is mistaken. The flood season is precisely when there’s little to observe. To repair river defenses and plan water flow, one must investigate during the dry season.”
Gao Yuexing asked, “So, what did you find?”
Kong Rangchen shook his head helplessly. “What is there to find? Natural disasters have always been hard to prevent. No matter how solidly river defenses are built, they can only guard against minor floods, not major ones.”
Gao Yuexing sighed. “That’s true.”
Kong Rangchen added, “There’s only one exception: the Dujiangyan irrigation system built by Li Bing and his son on the Min River. That is truly a miracle—diverting water without a dam, protecting the local people for hundreds of years. No one else in the world has ever possessed such extraordinary talent.”
Gao Yuexing raised her eyes and looked at him. “Who says there isn’t? Aren’t you one?”
Kong Rangchen was so startled that he almost knelt on the spot.
Gao Yuexing had only been teasing him lightly and immediately resumed a serious tone. “Since the water cannot be stopped by defenses alone, we must think of solutions involving people. If a flood occurs in the future, in your opinion, how can we minimize casualties?”
Kong Rangchen lowered his head and studied the map before him earnestly. He hardly hesitated, indicating this was not the first time he’d considered the issue. He pointed out, “The riverbed is higher than the embankments, and floodgates are nearly useless against a true deluge. Therefore, we should focus on flood discharge and flow control, or even evacuate the local people in advance. Losing farmland is secondary; preserving lives is the priority.”
Gao Yuexing shook her head. “The people value their land more than their lives. Without their fields, they would rather die.”
Kong Rangchen sighed as well. “That’s true.” He then pointed to a specific location, precisely where they were now—Jiangluo Town. He said, “This area has the lowest terrain. If necessary, we could use it to discharge floodwaters and redirect the flow, minimizing the damage to surrounding towns and cities.”
His suggestion was to breach the dikes at Jiangluo Town, using its terrain to contain the overflowing water heading east.
Gao Yuexing asked, “Would it hold?”
Kong Rangchen replied, “It could at least buy some time.”
Gao Yuexing began considering another possibility. “What if we relocate the people of Jiangluo Town now and excavate this area?”
Kong Rangchen remained silent for a moment before responding, “Jiangluo Town has more households than the surrounding villages and towns combined, making it a major settlement. If you do that, they might very well raise their hoes and revolt.”
Gao Yuexing had no choice but to abandon the idea.
Kong Rangchen asked, “Why is the Princess Consort interested in these matters?”
Gao Yuexing simply said, “This is the second time I’ve passed through here. Watching the water flow east along the river, I’ve felt a vague sense of unease. There must be a reason, and I dare not take it lightly.”
Kong Rangchen nodded and praised, “The Princess Consort is truly a heroine among women.”
They stayed in Jiangluo Town for a few days before continuing westward along the Yangtze River. It was now early summer, and Gao Yuexing counted the days on her fingers—only one summer, only a few months had passed.
The catastrophe looming over their Great Xu dynasty was almost upon them.
At the beginning of July, they stayed briefly in the mountainous region of Yunnan. Meanwhile, the first rain of the season fell on the six cities south of the Yangtze River.
The southern tour entourage had begun to reorganize troops and prepare for the return to the capital.
Gao Yuexing, intentionally or unintentionally, used Li Fuxiang’s authority to hasten their pace.
Li Fuxiang noticed but said nothing.
For half a month, a light drizzle persisted over the six cities south of the Yangtze, and the river’s water level began to rise. When the southern tour entourage returned to Jiangluo Town, the first torrential downpour began and showed no sign of stopping through the night.
As soon as Kong Rangchen arrived in Jiangluo Town, he donned a raincoat and went to inspect the water levels.
The local prefecture, upon hearing that Prince Xiang was staying in Jiangluo Town, braved the rain through the night to kneel outside the inn with their officials, begging the prince to relocate.
They all understood the danger this place posed.
If the floodwaters surged, Jiangluo Town would be the first to be submerged.
Some farsighted locals had already packed their belongings and sought refuge with relatives, but these were few. Most people clung to their land and refused to leave.
Gao Yuexing waited for Kong Rangchen in the inn.
The rain continued relentlessly.
At dawn, Kong Rangchen returned, soaked to the bone and looking utterly disheveled. The first words out of his mouth were, “It’s not good.”
Gao Yuexing asked, “How many days can we hold out?”
Kong Rangchen replied, “At this rate, five days at most.”
Gao Yuexing turned to Li Fuxiang and said, “Evacuate the people of Jiangluo Town.”
Upstream, fertile farmlands had already been flooded. Refugees poured into Jiangluo Town, but knowing it wasn’t a safe haven, they grabbed some food and hurriedly moved on. Meanwhile, local officials braved the rain, knocking on doors one by one to persuade people to evacuate. Those with relatives elsewhere were urged to seek refuge; those with nowhere to go were temporarily relocated by the government to safer areas.
But it was all in vain. Most doors remained shut.
Kong Rangchen stomped his feet in frustration. “Why are they so stubborn?”
Gao Yuexing paced the room. “I’ve heard that a few scholars have already convinced their relatives and neighbors to leave.”
Kong Rangchen nodded. “Scholars always understand reason better!”
A murderous gleam flickered in Gao Yuexing’s eyes. “Some things can only be done by scholars. A sharp tongue is more effective than anything else. Jiangluo Town is a major settlement. If there are scholars here, there must also be successful candidates of the imperial examinations. Send someone to investigate whether any officials hailed from Jiangluo Town or if there are students from here currently studying at the Imperial Academy. Dispatch the Jinyiwei to handle this immediately. Once they find someone, bring them back to me.”
Kong Rangchen hesitated. “I’m afraid there won’t be enough time. A round trip would take at least half a month, and with the rainy season upon us, travel is even more difficult.”
Realizing the validity of his concern, Gao Yuexing decisively changed her approach. “Then find a few eloquent local scholars. If they can persuade the townspeople to evacuate, reward each household ten taels of gold.”
Kong Rangchen was utterly stunned. “Jiangluo Town has at least 200 households. This is a major town! Princess Consort, we mustn’t deceive the people. Where will you find so much money?”
Li Fuxiang, who had rarely voiced his opinions, finally spoke up. “Isn’t our largest treasury right before us? Pry up a few bricks from your father’s secret vault. Kong Shangshu’s noble deeds of disaster relief and aid to the people are well known. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to contribute.”
Kong Rangchen’s face turned beet red.
Li Fuxiang glanced at him and, with utmost seriousness, explained, “You are you, and your father is your father. I wasn’t targeting you in any way. Don’t overthink it.”
Kong Rangchen was at a loss for words, unable to respond.
Meanwhile, the prefecture officials came once again to request that Prince Xiang relocate.
Facing his entourage of officials, Prince Xiang declared, “Anyone who wishes to leave may go with the prefecture officials. They will ensure your safety at a secure location. However, the Princess Consort and I will not leave. As long as there is even one family left in Jiangluo Town who has not evacuated, we will not move.”
One by one, the officials accompanying the southern tour stepped forward, offering no grand speeches but simply stating that, as officials of the court, they would never abandon the people who were about to face disaster for the sake of their own comfort.
The local government quickly gathered a group of scholars and informed them about the rewards. Scholars, who often valued integrity and righteousness, were addressed with careful and tactful words, as instructed by Gao Yuexing. The officials emphasized that this effort was for the livelihood of the common people and appealed to their sense of doing good and accumulating virtue. This approach persuaded the scholars to undertake the task willingly.
By appealing to reason, stirring their emotions, and enticing them with rewards, the scholars went to work persuading the townsfolk.
The townspeople, bombarded by repeated persuasion, began to relent. When Gao Yuexing added more silver as compensation, a significant portion of the town was soon evacuated.
However, there were still those who remained stubborn, determined to stay and guard their homes and land.
These individuals feared neither death nor sought monetary compensation. Instead, they knelt before the scholars who had come to persuade them, pleading to be allowed to stay.
To be honest, it was a difficult situation to handle.
For three whole days, Gao Yuexing barely slept.
On the fourth day, at dawn, military reports from the western frontier arrived in Li Fuxiang’s hands.
The report stated: Xumo’er has silently crossed the Hucha Sea and set up camp less than twenty miles from Xiang City. By the time the report left Xiang City, they had already fought a brief skirmish.
Xiang City’s defenses are struggling; reinforcements are urgently needed.