My wife, Wei Gui, was 1.9 meters tall and fought against the Tang dynasty for the throne.

"Fifteen ships?" Wang Yu slammed his fist on the table. "We have thirty ships of grain; how are we going to load them onto fifteen?"

"That's your business," the warehouse supervisor said, shrugging. "I'm only in charge of dispatching ships."

Li Ju restrained Wang Yu and asked the warehouse supervisor, "Who gave the order?"

The warehouse supervisor hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't know exactly who gave the order."

Li Ju did not ask any further questions.

He walked out of the transshipment warehouse, stood by the dock, and looked at the empty river.

Fifteen ships. Half the capacity. If transported in batches, there won't be enough time. If transported all at once, it won't fit.

"Li Cheng," Wang Yu followed out, lowering his voice, "is one of Li Zixiong's men."

"I know."

"What should we do?"

Li Ju thought for a moment and said, "Go find Wei Feng. He has troops stationed in Ji County. Ask him to lend us a few warships."

"A warship? That's against regulations."

"If the military rations don't arrive, that's also a violation of regulations." Li Ju looked at him. "Choose the lesser of two evils."

Wang Yu glanced at him, then turned and left.

Wei Feng arrived very quickly.

He brought five warships with him, and personally escorted them.

"Li Cheng," he jumped onto Li Ju's boat, cupped his hands in greeting, "are five boats enough?"

"That's enough," Li Ju returned the greeting. "Thank you, General Wei."

"No need to thank me," Wei Feng said in a low voice. "My uncle sent me. He said the Wei family's merchant ships are on their way, and you can send whatever you need."

Li Ju's heart stirred, and he deepened his cupped hands.

"I thank Lord Wei on behalf of Li."

Wei Feng patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned to direct the naval fleet.

Wang Yu leaned closer and whispered, "Li Cheng, what's going on with the Wei family—"

"Don't ask," Li Ju interrupted him. "Get to work."

The fleet continued north.

With the addition of the Wei family's warships and merchant ships, the transport capacity was sufficient. However, Li Zixiong's obstruction did not stop.

At the next stop, half of the laborers' wages were deducted.

(Please remember the website 20 ...

At the next stop, the distribution of supplies was delayed.

At the next stop, the sluice gate on the river was deliberately closed, and the fleet waited for a day and a night before being allowed to pass.

Li Ju remained calm and composed. He meticulously recorded the reason, time, and person responsible for each delay in his ledgers. He let the data speak for itself and stood firm with the facts on the ground.

At each stop, he would first report the facts and then continue on his way.

No appeals, no enemies. Just get things done.

Du Chen did some calculations on the boat.

"Lord Li, at the current pace, we will be three days behind the imperial court's deadline."

Li Ju stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the gradually widening river ahead.

"It's not too late."

"How can we get here in time?"

"They row the boat in shifts, without stopping at night. The boats never stop, even when the people rest."

Du Chen glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

For the next five days and five nights, the fleet did not stop.

They rowed during the day and at night. The laborers worked in two shifts, taking turns. Li Ju himself didn't rest either; he inspected the boats during the day and watched the waterway at night. When he was extremely tired, he would just close his eyes for a short while on the deck.

Wang Yu couldn't bear to watch, so he took off his cotton robe and draped it over him.

"Li Cheng, if you fall, who will lead this fleet?"

Li Ju didn't speak, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was even.

Wang Yu thought he was asleep.

After a moment, Li Ju spoke up: "How much further?"

Wang Yu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "At this rate, we should arrive by tomorrow evening."

Li Ju opened his eyes and sat up.

"Pass down the order: keep up the good work. I want to see the docks of Zhuojun before sunset tomorrow."

Zhuojun Wharf.

The first batch of grain ships arrived one day ahead of the deadline set by the imperial court.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue stared blankly at the row of grain ships on the dock for a long while.

"This...this is from Luoyang?"

Li Ju stood on the dock, looking tired, but his posture was upright.

"Li Ju, the Assistant Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau, has been ordered to oversee the transport of grain from Luoyang to Zhuojun. Thirty grain ships are fully loaded with military provisions, not a single shi (a unit of dry measure) missing. Please inspect them."

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue inspected the ships one by one, and their expressions changed when they returned.

"Lord Li, the ledger says thirty ships, but you...you have more than thirty, don't you?"

"Thirty-five ships," Li Ju said. "The extra five are goods transported by the Wei family's merchant ships along the way, and they are not included in the public accounts."

The official from the Ministry of Finance glanced at him, asked no further questions, and stamped the document.

"Li Cheng, you've worked hard. The supplies have been collected; please return now."

Li Ju cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, then turned and left.

Dushuijian.

The water envoy received the document from Zhuojun, read it three times, and confirmed that he had not misread it.

One day in advance.

Thirty-five grain ships, not a single grain was missing.

He put down the documents, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.

"Someone come here."

"exist."

"Go and invite Li Ju. No—" He paused, "When Li Ju returns to Luoyang, I will personally go to welcome him."

Lee Chi-hung's residence.

Mr. Sun, the staff member, hurriedly entered the study, his face not looking too good.

"General, news has arrived from Zhuojun."

Li Zixiong was reading a military report, not even looking up: "What? Li Ju is late?"

"No," Mr. Sun said. "It was a day earlier than planned. All thirty-five grain ships, not a single grain was missing."

Li Zixiong's hand paused.

He slowly put down the military report and raised his head.

"Thirty-five ships? Where did he get those ships?"

"The Wei family. The Wei family dispatched merchant ships to assist with transport along the way."

Li Zixiong's face darkened.

"The Wei family..." he gritted his teeth as he uttered those two words, then slammed his hand on the table. "The Wei family again!"

Mr. Sun lowered his head and remained silent.

Li Zixiong stood up and paced back and forth in the study, his pace becoming increasingly hurried.

"Why would the Wei family help him so much, when he's just a low-ranking official of the seventh rank?"

Mr. Sun thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it's because of the Liyang incident; the Wei family owes them a favor."

"A favor?" Li Zixiong sneered. "Would Wei Kuangbo, that kind of person, use the Wei family's merchant ships to help a minor official of the seventh rank just to do a favor?"

Mr. Sun fell silent.

Li Zixiong stopped and stood by the window, watching the sky gradually darken outside.

"This Li Ju," he said slowly, "is not simple."

Mr. Sun cautiously began, "General, shall we—"

"No need." Li Zixiong raised his hand to stop him. "He has the Wei family backing him now, so he can't be touched. It's not too late to deal with him after the Wei family falls."

He turned around and looked at Mr. Sun.

"Keep an eye on him. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes."

Li Zixiong sat back down at his desk, picked up the military report, but couldn't concentrate on reading it.

He closed his eyes, and the image of that young face appeared in his mind—respectful, humble, and impeccable.

It's like a rock; you can't kick it, you can't break it, and it hurts your feet.

He opened his eyes and threw the military newspaper on the table.

"Li Ju..." he murmured the name, his voice soft but cold.