Human Martial Venerable: Starting from the Synthesis Technique

Chapter 88 Cao Heng of the Eastern Army

the next day.

Early in the morning, a pretty maid came to the bedroom and carefully helped Feng Xiu with his clothes and makeup.

"Young Master, please raise your hand higher."

After a short while, the headdress is straightened, the wrinkles are smoothed out, and jade ornaments are added; the whole process is then complete.

One of the maids was also putting invigorating spices into the waist pouch that Feng Xiu always carried.

After it was done, the maids filed out.

"Young Master, the carriage is ready."

After pushing open the door, Zheng Bohe stepped forward.

"Um."

A carriage was parked in front of the stone lions of the mansion, driven by Zheng Bo himself.

The wheels rolled over the stone slabs, heading towards the Jade Belt Pond Reservoir outside the city.

The Yunzhou River Valley Basin receives ample sunshine, resulting in an extremely short growth cycle for golden wheat.

Water once in spring and twice in summer.

These are all rules that are never broken, but this year's spring planting was a little late.

In addition, the great rain festival caused grain prices to fluctuate wildly, and this summer irrigation after the Eastern Army entered the city also carried a special meaning.

Along the way, outside the carriage curtains were the luxurious carriages of various grain merchants.

The yamen runners cleared the roads early, and the vendors and stalls who were busy making a living in the city were also driven to the sides of the streets.

They watched with awe and envy as the carriages drove out of the city gate.

In the field of vision, there were also many gray official vehicles belonging to civil servants from the Wencheng, Yaosuo, and Sanban Liufang departments.

"Brother Feng."

Upon reaching the outer city, a familiar carriage came into view.

Lin Che lifted the carriage curtain, exchanged a glance with Feng Xiu, and nodded slightly to each other.

They all lowered the curtains again.

This summer's watering was a massive affair, with almost the entire Qingyan City, including both legitimate and illegitimate factions, as well as large and small families, all present.

Inside the train carriage.

Feng Xiu played with the coiled dragon jade, his expression calm.

"This time, I've incurred a huge favor again."

He muttered something to himself, then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep again.

I don't know how much time passed.

The overlapping sounds of wheels gradually faded away.

The carriage stopped.

"Young Master, we've arrived," Zheng Bo's voice rang out.

Feng Xiu got up and got off the train.

This sluice gate opening ceremony is of extraordinary significance; therefore, the ceremony will not be held on the reservoir dam.

Instead, it was at Wangshui Pavilion.

The Yudaitang Reservoir project is extremely large in scale. The three mountains of Juliu, Fenzui, and Danghe tightly lock the water of the reservoir into a vast lake.

Wangshui Pavilion is located on the top of Juliu Mountain.

Behind Juliu Mountain lies the spur of the Jade Belt Mountain Range.

A winding river flows into the main stream along its tributaries, passes through branching points, and finally converges into the pond and reservoir.

Outside the carriage, there were over a hundred people, all dressed in luxurious clothes except for the constables and yamen runners who were maintaining order.

The noise was a bit loud, as everyone was searching for familiar faces.

Upon seeing Feng Xiu, Zhou Mingde, Zhao Mingyuan, Liu Wenyuan, and the other family heads showed a slight joy on their faces.

"Young Master Feng," Zhao Mingyuan said, bowing slightly.

Feng Xiu nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The expressions of the crowd were slightly more composed than yesterday.

Regardless, the Grain Commissioner's approval of the Agricultural Decree gave them peace of mind.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Mingyuan led his clansmen to walk behind Feng Xiu.

Zhou Mingde, Wang Boyong, and other family heads exchanged glances, nodded, and followed suit, seeing that several families had set an example.

Lin Che smiled and, with the Lin family patriarch and Lin Chumo beside him, all gathered towards Feng Xiu.

Soon, grain merchants of all sizes throughout Qingyan City gathered into a considerable group.

A group of people gradually formed in the open space at the foot of the mountain.

Lin Che was filled with excitement and was about to step forward to speak with Feng Xiu when Lin Chumo pulled his sleeve and stopped him.

"Don't go, wait."

Lin Chumo said in a low voice.

He squinted and looked around at the neutral families in the open space: the three sons of the Wu family, the head of the Yan family, the eldest son of the Gu family, and Chu Yun of the Chu family.

After looking around, Wu Yuanheng finally gritted his teeth and came over with his younger brother.

After the Wu family made their statement, Chu Yun quickly followed suit.

Before long, only those who had never been involved in the grain business and mid-level officials from within the city remained.

As for the Ma Gang, the Gray Gang, and other underworld forces, they had long since hidden behind Zhao Mingyuan.

They knew better than anyone that the only way to maintain their position in the upcoming reshuffling of power was to follow the crowd.

Cavalrymen don't stay in one place for too long.

The remaining families looked at each other, their expressions hesitant.

Someone looked up and saw Feng Xiu calmly playing with the jade, but in the end, he didn't dare to make any rash moves.

Tapping.

Just then, at the entrance where the carriages were lined up like a dragon, a man in a green robe strode forward, leading the way.

With swift and decisive steps, behind him were Qin Huan from the River Law Office, Fan Ling from the Fan family, Fan Yue, the head of the family, Du Huaiying from the Grain Commissioner's Office, Li Wencheng, Zhang Yaosuo, and the chief clerks of the three classes and six departments.

And an elderly man with white hair who was helped off the carriage by two attendants.

At this moment, Cao Heng stared at Feng Xiu with a half-smile, scrutinizing him carefully.

Feng Xiu, with a calm expression, took the lead and walked towards the old man.

"Feng Xiu of the Feng family greets City Lord Xiao."

Feng Xiu remained neither humble nor arrogant, his expression respectful, and he bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

The people behind him also bowed slightly.

"You...you are Feng Yujin's child." A thoughtful look flashed in Lord Xiao's cloudy eyes, then he smiled with an aged expression.

"Exactly."

"Alright, alright. Since you're in charge of the ceremony, I'm relieved. Just don't let it ruin your relationship with the head constable."

Lord Xiao chuckled again.

Cao Heng, standing beside him, also bowed slightly, expressing the proper respect to Lord Xiao.

"Look at you all, I'm just an old bone, haha~"

After a brief opening speech, Lord Xiao waved his hand, and his attendants carefully helped him into the carriage.

The group watched the carriage slowly depart.

The atmosphere in the open space suddenly became subtle. The chief ministers were deep in meditation, their hands tucked into their sleeves, and they remained silent.

Du Huaiying, however, gave Zhou Mingde and the others a reassuring smile.

At this moment, Cao Heng slightly turned his head, raised an eyebrow, and Fan Lingzhi came out.

"Hey, Wenzheng, long time no see~"

Fan Ling laughed heartily, opened his arms to Feng Xiu, as if to embrace him.

"Jingming, what brings you here? Oh, look at my memory! When our teacher came to see me, he said he cherished our childhood friendship and asked me to get together with you sometime."

Feng Xiu also showed a hearty expression of reunion with a friend, and stepped forward to give Fan Ling a big hug.

The force was rather strong, causing Fan Ling to stumble back two steps, wincing in pain.

"Back when we were holding the Ganlin Grand Ceremony, we agreed that once the River Law Office opened the sluice gates, the Feng family's farm would be prioritized. You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Feng Xiu chuckled again, his eyes fixed suspiciously on Fan Ling, who was rubbing his chest.

Fan Ling's expression changed slightly, but before he could speak, the voice came again.

"Director Qin, changing the order of boiling water this year shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Qin Huan smiled faintly, "Of course, no problem, but this place should be changed."

This statement came out.

The faces of many family heads instantly darkened, and Feng Xiu waved his hand, looking displeased.

"Director Qin, what are you saying?"

"The Governor's Office needs land and grain, and my Feng family will be the first to support it," Feng Xiu patted his chest to express his stance.

But he looked somewhat troubled. "Back then, some short-sighted river officials insisted that the weather was unpredictable, which delayed the spring planting and caused a large influx of refugees in the city. I couldn't bear to see the order collapse, so I opened the public and private treasuries, set up soup kitchens, and sold grain at low prices. As for the Golden Ear Grain project, I'm afraid I'm powerless to do so."

At this moment, the sun rises, and the scorching heat intensifies.

After Feng Xiu finished speaking, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"As Young Master Feng has said, everyone in the city knows the Feng family has ample resources; how could a mere private treasury possibly cause them any serious damage..."

A faint smile appeared on Qin Huan's gaunt face.

Pa~!

Before he could finish speaking, Cao Heng's face turned ashen, and he turned around and flicked his wrist with a sharp crack.

In an instant, Qin Huan staggered back three steps, a clear five-finger mark appearing on his face.

He froze, his face burning with pain, and he reached up to cover it, a hint of fear in his eyes.

Cao Heng's sudden attack startled everyone.

"You slut, is this how you do things?" Cao Heng's eyes were icy cold as he stared at Qin Huan.

A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Qin Huan's mouth, but he still lowered his head, his body trembling slightly.

Immediately, Cao Heng's anger subsided, and he regained his composure.

Their eyes met perfectly.

"Your martial arts skills are quite good."

As someone with a military background, Cao Heng could certainly tell.

The person before me was completely different from the other family heads, both in his posture and his breathing.

He chuckled and commented.

"Who is this?"

Feng Xiu, with perfectly timed surprise, stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked.