Fawning Upon the Gods

"Please look, my lord. This is a waterworks plan. I already have a plan in place; I did not come to speak to you on a whim. I believe locust eradication and waterworks do not conflict at all—they can be built side by side."

As Zeng Qi spoke, he drew a simple waterworks map from his sleeve, unfolded it, and handed it to Qi Hongxin, who had turned to look at him.

By then, several officials had gathered around, all peering over curiously.

Those with nerve and sharp eyesight could even make out the general layout of Zeng Qi's waterworks plan.

Yet Qi Hongxin merely glanced at the map without examining it closely. His gaze shifted from Zeng Qi to Su Ziji's face, carrying displeasure and a trace of bitter disappointment.

That look was as though he were staring at a younger man who had strayed onto the wrong path.

"Absurd!" Qi Hongxin frowned and rebuked Zeng Qi. "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, force, disorder, or spirits. To sacrifice to spirits that are not one's own is flattery—how much more so to govern by them?"

"You are past forty and a Provincial Graduate. Do you not know the sages' attitude toward ghosts and gods? How can you rely on such talk in a matter of such importance, one that concerns the people's livelihood and the common folk?"

"The waterworks map is originally a secret archive of the government. This prefecture will not, for now, ask where you obtained it. But this prefecture must tell you this: as an official and a scholar of the Book of Documents, you must never govern merely because of a word from ghosts and gods!"

His attitude had already grown somewhat stern.

Su Ziji was startled. He knew Qi Hongxin had become