Receiving the Royal Envoy

The night was deep.

Red Mountain trotted back to camp.

Liang Qu strode back to his tent, and someone beside him lifted the curtain, their tone full of mockery.

"Back from joining the fun?"

Liang Qu recognized Ran Zhongshi's voice. Before he could answer, Xiang Fangsu in the other tent also lifted the curtain.

"A Shui, you made quite a scene at the sacrificial ceremony in Yi Xing Town last time, and even got three Spirit Monster involved. When you got to Hua Zhu County, you even went out of your way to light a fire. Is there something going on behind the scenes? Why don't you tell us about it?"

Liang Qu shrugged. "You didn't grow up by the water, so you don't understand what it means. Actually, doing this is quite enjoyable."

Xiang Fangsu raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? Chief Priest is the same as being a great general. Tomorrow I'll go ask around if they send Sending the Wang Boat, and I'll take you to try it out."

"Is it really that amazing?"

Xiang Fangsu walked out of the tent. After Liang Qu's words, he suddenly felt an itch to do something.

Who hasn't dreamed of becoming a great general? Are the two really the same? Ran Zhongshi shook his head and stopped rambling. "Just a reminder to you two, the imperial court will be coming in a couple of days. Those who deserve rewards will be rewarded, and those who deserve punishments will be punished. Be mindful of your movements and don't run around or be impolite."

Liang Qu knew that someone must have notified him in advance; it was part of the procedure.

"Finally! I really didn't want to stay in this tent, it's stuffy and damp."

Xiang Fangsu stretched his body and exhaled stale air.

The issues in Hua Zhu County have been largely resolved, and the remaining matters can be handled by the people at the lower levels, but they cannot leave.

Without an official order from the imperial court, who would dare return to Ping Yang County first? "Hey, by the way, how are Kai Yun others? Someone came to inform them, did they give us any hints?"

Ran Zhongshi said, "Wei Lin and the eldest brother will have their salaries suspended for three months, Kai Yun and Yi Peng will be dismissed, and Yu Dayi be demoted."

Xiang Fangsu stared in disbelief. "No, really dismissed? Then Kai Yun and the others won't come to the River Conservancy Office anymore?"

"I don't know." Ran Zhongshi shook his head. "It depends on what Kai Yun and the others think. If they come back in a few days, things might take a turn for the better."

Where is A Shui?

There will be a reward, but I don't know the specifics. Promotion is unlikely.

"The River Conservancy Office will be responsible for the breached dike, and given A Shui's young age, I guess it's because of Great Merit merit and elixir within the River Conservancy Office. Or perhaps there won't be Great Merit, but there will be a Merit Selection Authority. A Shui is about to condense his true qi, right?"

Liang Qu nodded.

Ran Zhongshi snapped his fingers, "That's most likely the Merit Selection Authority! Good martial arts have a significant impact on True Qi."

"The Merit Selection Authority is useless. A Shui, don't you use a gun? I saw that the marksmanship you use is quite high-quality."

Liang Qu shook his head. "My martial arts technique is incomplete; it only has the first half, not the second half."

"That Merit Selection Authority is quite important. If we're lucky, we might be able to find the other half through the imperial court?"

"I hope so."

The hallmark of the Wolf Smoke Realm is the condensation of True Qi, and the quality of True Qi affects the strength of Martial Master.

If someone is skilled in grappling techniques, they will undoubtedly concentrate their True Intention understanding of grappling techniques into it, attempting to cultivate it into the true essence of eagle-like martial arts, such as the well-known Peng Demon True Qi.

One can condense True Intention through martial arts of intermediate or higher level, but the success rate of cultivation is involved.

Therefore, the advantages of superior martial arts become apparent, and by practicing step by step, one can almost always cultivate a specific type of true qi.

But Liang Qu wasn't in a hurry.

He has a plan for his true qi, and it's even possible that it won't involve any martial arts.

After a brief chat, the three returned to their respective tents.

Liang Qu sat on the bed and spoke with Ze Cauldron to check on the night's harvest.

[Cauldron Master: Liang Qu]

[Refine Marsh Spirit: Marsh Ape (Azure) (Fusion Degree: 52.6%)]

River's Favor: 1.0178

Favorability of 0.0177.

The combined population of several villages is barely equal to that of the former Yi Xing City, consisting entirely of ordinary people.

Barely satisfactory.

After all, it didn't take much effort; it was just lighting a fire, which was practically free.

"I wonder if the Flood Dragon will react?"

The first time Liang Qu offered sacrifices, it received even less Favorability; the Flood Dragon did not move that time.

They guessed the amount was too small and didn't notice. Last time they got a little closer, things got pretty messy, and a deep malice flowed through the entire Jiang Huai River.

They're clearly getting anxious.

This time, I'm in the middle...

Once might be a coincidence, but a second time would probably drive the Flood Dragon mad.

"I'll have Fat Catfish go find out what Toad is thinking another day..."

The next two days.

Liang Qu wandered around and unexpectedly discovered that there were two more places where the Sending the Wang Boat.

It seems everyone's Auspicious Day day wasn't the same; I wonder if they all consulted the same Daoist priest.

With sacrifices being held at two different locations simultaneously in one day, Liang Qu was overwhelmed.

Based on the scale, he assigned a small Xiang Fangsu to Xiang Fangsu, and the second task to him personally, earning him another 0.0098 Favorability.

The Favorability immediately rose to 1.0276.

It's like getting it for free.

That evening, Xiang Fangsu returned with a rosy complexion, still feeling quite satisfied.

The feeling of being the center of attention, in a solemn atmosphere, with all eyes focused on you, as a torch burns down the long row of paper boats beneath the vast and boundless sky, and you watch them sink to the bottom of the river...

"That was so awesome!"

Ran Zhongshi was extremely surprised. "No, are you serious?"

For people who usually find ancestor worship tiring and tedious, do they really find it enjoyable?

Xiang Fangsu sighed, "It's a pity that the paper boats aren't strong enough. These are all poor villages. If only we had wooden boats, I heard that the rich towns are all made of wooden boats, which would burn longer."

"Wooden boats are not as fast to make as paper boats. By the time the sacrificial ceremony is held, it will be the end of October."

Xiang Fangsu seemed to be thinking, "No wonder A Shui, are willing to pay for the River God Sacrifice yourself."

Liang Qu encouraged, "Brother Xiang, if you want, you can contribute some funds, and I can hold another event in Yi Xing Town this winter."

Xiang Fangsu was surprised. "It can be like this?"

"In Yi Xing Town, my word is law."

Xiang Fangsu agreed wholeheartedly and did not refute, but hesitated. "Isn't that a bit inappropriate? Wouldn't it be too much of a burden on the people?"

"If we don't spend money, we won't burden the people. In winter, when everyone has no work, they can get a full meal by participating in the sacrificial ceremony. How can that be considered a burden on the people?"

"Can one hundred taels handle it?"

Xiang Fangsu really liked that feeling, but felt it wasn't worth spending too much.

"One hundred taels can buy one hundred bushels of rice, which is more than enough."

"You two are ridiculous!"

Ran Zhongshi remained silent, lifted the curtain and returned to his tent, leaving Liang Qu and Xiang Fangsu to discuss the matter.

On the morning of the third day.

The entire camp was noisy and restless.

Liang Qu recalled Ran Zhongshi's instructions.

As expected, Chen Jiechang immediately ran over to inform Liang Qu that the envoy was coming and asked him to come out of the tent to greet him.

At 1:15 AM, everyone lined up at the entrance of the camp.

Liang Qu looked around and was about to join the queue.

"Liang Qu, come to the front!"

Xu Yuelong waved from the front.

Liang Qu looked around, bypassing the complex gazes of the crowd, and lined up behind Xu Yuelong.

Wei Shao was also standing behind Wei Lin. When he saw Liang Qu standing next to him, he surprisingly nodded to him.

Liang Qu scratched his temples, faced north, and looked down at his nose and mind.

In early October, the sun was so hot it felt slightly hot.

Before long, two columns appeared on the horizon, rapidly approaching the North Korean camp and raising billowing dust.

The flag bearers leading the way waved their banners, which fluttered loudly, and rode their horses to the left and right, forming a long procession before planting the flags in the ground.

The leader cracked his whip and sang loudly.

The envoy in the green robe dismounted and presented the imperial edict.

Everyone knelt down on one knee.

The messenger unwrapped the scroll inscribed with the four characters " By Decree of Heaven's Mandate" and took three steps forward.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

If one is truly acting in the interest of the people, then protecting the people is the only way to safeguard the nation... I have heard of the calamity of the breached dikes...

After a brief explanation, everyone finally heard the key points of the reward and punishment.

Everyone looked tense as they heard one familiar name after another.

"Wei Lin... will have his salary suspended for three months..."

Xu Yuelong... suspended from receiving salary for three months...

Lu Kaiyun... dismissed from office...

Ren Yipeng... dismissed from his post...

For his meritorious service in controlling the floods, Liang Qu captured the ringleader of the crime and was awarded a Origin Aperture Great Pill, a selection of superior merits, two Great Merit within the River Conservancy Office, and a thousand taels of silver.

Wei Shao commended for his meritorious service in flood control and for his dedication and responsibility. He was awarded...

"By imperial decree."

The envoy carefully put away the Decree of Heaven's Mandate, but did not order everyone to get up immediately.

He looked around and suddenly asked a question.

"I wonder who this Lord Liang Qu of the River Conservancy Office is?"

Looking for me?

Liang Qu was taken aback, then looked up and bowed. "It is indeed this humble servant. May I ask what instructions Your Excellency has?"

After observing for a moment and seeing that no one around him denied it, the envoy said solemnly, "His Sacred Emperor has issued a decree specifically ordering me to convey it to Lord Liang."

An imperial edict?

Everyone was utterly astonished.

Why was a separate oral instruction given to Liang Qu?

Clouds drift across the sky, sometimes dark, sometimes bright.

The envoy cleared his throat, his expression solemn and his tone dignified.

"Build bridges and construct irrigation canals; you must strive to do so."