We said we would experience life, fairy, how did you become real?.

Chapter 59 Resigning from old age and returning home

After leaving Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo took office in Beihai Prefecture.

Beihai Prefecture is named after Beihai, which is located near Beihai.

In recent years, whenever he had free time, Xiao Mo would read some local chronicles and compare them with the geomantic maps of the Great Qi Dynasty, intending to create a map of the rivers and mountains.

If Ru Xue wakes up, she will want to walk along the river.

The best route is to start from Ganyuebo, then enter Siming Lake, head towards Chunsong River, and finally pass through Luoshui River and Yunya River before entering Beihai.

Based on Xiao Mo's understanding from the literature he has consulted over the years, the further one travels along the river, the more difficult it becomes. Therefore, he needs to thoroughly explore this final section, Yunya River, to prepare for Ru Xue's journey.

Three months later, Xiao Mo arrived in Beihai.
Zhang Qianzhi had previously served as the prefect of Beihai Prefecture for several years, accumulating considerable prestige.

Xiao Mo was Zhang Qianzhi's student, not to mention that Xiao Mo's reputation had long been known throughout the State of Qi.

Therefore, the powerful families and officials of Beihai Prefecture were very cooperative in accepting Xiao Mo's appointment as governor.

However, in the second year after Xiao Mo arrived in Beihai Prefecture, he received a letter.

Mr. Zhang felt he was dying, so he called Xiao Mo over, wanting to see Xiao Mo and Fang Ling one last time.

Xiao Mo traveled day and night and arrived at the Zhang residence within half a month.

When Xiao Mo entered Mr. Zhang's residence, everyone wore a sorrowful expression.

At the door of the old man's room, his children, grandchildren, servants, and maids were all quietly wiping away tears.

"Xiao Mo, come in. Your teacher is waiting for you inside," Fang Ling said as she came out of the house.

"Yes, senior brother."

Xiao Mo bowed to Fang Ling and went into the house.

On the bed, when Mr. Zhang saw Xiao Mo walk in, his aged eyes suddenly lit up: "Xiao Mo, you've come."

“Teacher.” Xiao Mo quickly stepped forward and sat down beside Mr. Zhang’s bed, his face filled with sorrow.

"Hehehe," Mr. Zhang looked at Xiao Mo and chuckled, "When we first met, you were a young man not yet twenty. Now look at you, your temples are all white, you're almost fifty, and you're still not married."

Xiao Mo shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "I'm so old now, I'm used to being alone."

"You."

Mr. Zhang sighed.

In the past, Mr. Zhang had said that he wanted to marry his daughter to him, but Xiao Mo declined.

The late emperor had several attempts to find a wife for Xiao Mo, but Xiao Mo politely declined each time.

After that, Zhang Qianzhi knew that he was determined to wait for that woman to return.

“Immortals are immortals after all, and mortals are mortals after all. The separation between immortals and mortals is not just a saying.” Old Mr. Zhang held Xiao Mo’s hand. “But most of our lives have passed since then. If I tell you these things now, you won’t listen, and it will be useless.”

Xiao Mo lowered his head and remained silent.

Mr. Zhang continued, “I believe that it won’t be long before His Majesty will reinstate you and Fang Ling. His Majesty is just young and immature, but in fact, if His Majesty makes up his mind, he is no less capable than the late Emperor. His Majesty can see the deep-seated problems in Qi.”

You just need to focus on your own work and serve the people wholeheartedly.

Xiao Mo nodded: "Student understands."

Mr. Zhang raised his head, looking at the ceiling, his pupils gradually dilating:

"Xiao Mo, a hundred years of life is really too short. I have lived long enough, but I still feel that there are many things I have not finished."

Don't end up like me!
Keep going.

He is worthy of the people's trust.

They are worthy of heaven and earth.

I have a clear conscience.

As Mr. Zhang finished speaking, his hand, which was holding Xiao Mo's, fell limply to the edge of the bed.

"Father!"

"Grandpa!" Mr. Zhang's children cried uncontrollably.

Xiao Mo stood up and bowed deeply to the gentleman.

Four years later, Xiao Mo was over fifty years old.

Big flood in Beihai Prefecture!
Xiao Mo braved the heavy rain to go to the disaster-stricken areas and dangerous sections of the dikes to personally inspect the disaster situation, water levels, breach locations, and flooding extent.

Xiao Mo mobilized government officials, couriers, and even fishermen and boatmen familiar with the water to transmit information about the disaster situation, water level changes, and dike conditions in the upstream and downstream areas and various villages. He quickly drew up a sketch of the disaster-stricken area, marking dangerous areas, high ground, material points, and transportation routes. He personally presided over the opening of granaries for disaster relief, resettlement of disaster victims, and focused on epidemic prevention.

In addition, Xiao Mo carried out work-for-relief projects, including digging diversion canals, confining water to flush away sand, and constructing section-by-section embankments.

In this once-in-a-decade flood, the speed at which the victims were comforted and the extent of the impact were the best since the founding of the State of Qi.

Afterwards, Xiao Mo conducted an in-depth investigation of the rivers in Beihai Prefecture, and carried out water conservancy projects to divert water for irrigation.

Areas that were once easily destroyed by floods have been transformed into fertile fields.

Xiao Mo also wrote "Essential Techniques of Water Conservancy in the State of Qi", which explained various methods for managing rivers and responding to floods, and even formulated relatively detailed standards.

From then on, Xiao Mo's reputation in the world reached its peak.

At the age of fifty-three, Xiao Mo suddenly received the devastating news that his senior brother Fang Ling had passed away in his former residence.

Holding the letter sent by his senior brother, Xiao Mo sat in the courtyard, remaining silent for a long time.

The following year, Xiao Mo received news that Magistrate Sun was seriously ill and immediately set off, but ultimately failed to see Magistrate Sun one last time.

In the twelfth year of the Jianle reign, Xiao Mo, who was over fifty-five years old, received an imperial edict.

The Qi ruler summoned Xiao Mo back to the capital.

In the thirteenth year of the Jianle era, Xiao Mo became the Prime Minister of Qi and initiated another round of reforms!

Xiao Mo paved the way with his reputation, and no matter what kind of aristocratic family or clan it was, they all had to be wary of such a prime minister who had bestowed favors upon the world and already had the reputation of a "sage".

Moreover, the Great Qi is not yet terminally ill. With His Majesty's support, Xiao Mo has recruited many ambitious individuals to carry out reforms.

Xiao Mo knew that he didn't have much time left. He wanted to do as much as he could in this life, so that he could live up to the expectations of the late emperor, his teacher, and his senior brother.

In the sixteenth year of the Jianle era, the new laws of the Qi state were implemented.

In the twentieth year of the Jianle reign, four years after the implementation of the new laws, the world had already taken on a completely new look. At this time, Xiao Mo was already sixty-three years old.

In the twenty-fourth year of Jianle, Xiao Mo was already sixty-seven years old. At this time, the turmoil in the court had all subsided.

The following year, at the age of sixty-eight, Xiao Mo submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting to retire and return to his hometown.

Qi Zhu tried to persuade him to stay, but Xiao Mo was determined to leave.

He could sense that he didn't have two years left and only wanted to return to his hometown.

In the end, the ruler of Qi had no choice but to agree.

However, Xiao Mo was not removed from his position as prime minister, and Zheng Mohan, the Minister of Personnel, temporarily assumed the duties of prime minister.

The reason why Xiao Mo was not removed from his position as Prime Minister.

It's because Xiao Mo has offended too many powerful families and clans.

With the position of prime minister still in his grasp and the protection of the nation's fortune, Xiao Mo can live out his later years in peace.

On this day, just as Xiao Mo finished packing his belongings and wrote his last memorial to His Majesty.

Xiao Mo paused, his brushstrokes faltering.

The nearly seventy-year-old man seemed to sense something and looked in one direction.

There is a mountain in that direction.

Outside a cave halfway up the mountain, purple hydrangea and green iris flowers bloom in abundance.

Inside the cave, a white python gradually changed shape.

Finally, a woman in a white dress lay on the ground.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

(End of this chapter)