Chapter 305

As if timed to perfection, just as the preparations for the ceremony on the city wall were complete, the large vessels carrying the main army came into view, slowly drawing closer. A grand yellow flag embroidered with a golden dragon fluttered majestically on the leading ship. Wang Xiujin couldn't help but think that whoever designed this flag must have had terrible eyesight—embroidering a yellow flag with gold thread, did they not think the colors blended together too much?

He could not express these thoughts aloud, of course; others likely found it magnificent and exceptionally imposing. Shaking his head inwardly, Wang Xiujin watched the ship draw near. He set aside his silent criticisms and straightened his posture, stepping half a pace behind Li Linshan. Though he did not know how he looked at the moment, after standing in the wind on the city wall for half the day, he certainly would not cut an elegant figure.

Standing at the bow alongside the commander, the Fourth Prince puffed out his chest upon seeing the people on the city wall. He felt a trace of embarrassment; having taken credit for Li Linshan's achievements, he naturally felt indebted. The Fourth Prince was already scheming how to compensate Li Linshan in other ways, though the exact nature of the compensation would require consultation with his imperial father.

Once the ship reached the foot of the wall, the protocol official stepped forward, unfurled a pre-prepared silk scroll, and began to chant aloud. Wang Xiujin felt the official's voice was far inferior to that of the Emperor's personal attendants who read imperial edicts. Although the official read the text with dramatic cadence, his voice cracked after only a few sentences, lacking the steady composure of the imperial attendants. Wang Xiujin shook his head inwardly. Fortunately, he had lived in this ancient era long enough; otherwise, he would have burst out laughing.

As the protocol official read from the scroll, his attendants performed various rituals in accordance with his words, and everyone followed suit. The entire sequence took nearly two hours. No one dared to show any displeasure, but Wang Xiujin felt such ceremonies were better off avoided. Looking at the pale, exhausted faces of the returning soldiers—who had already endured the hardships of war and spent days drifting at sea, only to suffer through this ordeal just as they were about to disembark—he doubted anyone truly enjoyed this spectacle.

Once the ceremony concluded, Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin descended from the city wall and took a smaller boat to rendezvous with the main army. Upon reaching the shore, they disembarked first and stood by the sea, waiting for the large ships to dock. First, the soldiers disembarked and formed ranks, and finally, the general and his lieutenants stepped ashore. After exchanging formal greetings, they proceeded toward the city together. The local officials, leading the townspeople, stood at the city gates to welcome them. Unconcerned with the expense, the officials had dug up firecrackers usually reserved for the New Year, intending to set them off the moment the army entered. To their surprise, as the commander led his men near the gates, he halted and waved his hand. The soldiers immediately set about pitching camp, and before long, rows of tents were erected.

The local officials watched in dismay and hurried forward to inquire. They had prepared a welcoming feast; if the army did not enter the city, what was to become of the banquet? Wang Xiujin cared little for the feast, though he did long for a comfortable bed. However, it was not his place to speak. The Fourth Prince gave the local officials a harsh scolding before sweeping his sleeves and entering his tent. Wang Xiujin looked at the officials with a touch of pity. Whether this man was the prefect or the county magistrate, he was truly foolish. The Emperor had recently issued a decree stating that marching soldiers must not disturb the local populace unless absolutely necessary.

So soon after the decree was issued, this city official wanted to host a banquet for the returning generals, among whom was the Fourth Prince. Was he genuinely celebrating their triumph, or was he trying to trap the prince? Whichever it was, the man was unlikely to keep his post.

Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin stayed in the camp, while the protocol official, after much hesitation, decided to enter the city. Li Linshan watched the official's departing figure with a meaningful look in his eyes. If the completely oblivious official knew he was being suspected simply because he chose not to stay in the military camp with the commanders, he would probably die of regret, cast aside his lifelong restraint, and shout a few curses.

After resting outside the city for the night, they packed their bags and departed before dawn the next day. Wang Xiujin and Li Linshan left in a carriage, traveling much faster than the marching troops on foot. Because the protocol official had stayed in the city, he did not travel with them. Setting off late, the official first caught up with the main army. Assuming Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin would be with the troops, he searched the ranks but found no sign of them. He questioned some ordinary soldiers, but they were unsure whether the two had gone ahead or stayed with the commanders. After some thought, the official decided to ask the generals directly, hoping to make an appearance before the Fourth Prince as well. He had no intention of causing trouble; he merely hoped to leave a favorable impression on the prince.

Little did the protocol official know, the Fourth Prince had taken note of his decision to stay in the city. Although civil officials sent to supervise the front lines usually stayed in the cities behind the lines, this official was different—he had come to welcome the returning army. The army camped outside, yet he returned to the city to sleep. What did that mean? Even he, the Fourth Prince of Daliang, ate and slept in the military camp, yet a minor protocol official stayed in the city. Did he look down on the prince's concubine-born status? Or was he trying to curry favor with the prefect? The army had already set off, and the official was nowhere to be seen. Was he welcoming the army, or was the army supposed to wait for him?

The Fourth Prince gave the protocol official a cold reception. The official felt uneasy, wondering how he had offended the prince. He looked toward the other generals, but they ignored him completely, as if he were invisible. The military officers already held a low opinion of civil officials, and the official's departure the previous day seemed like a direct slight to their rank. Since he looked down on them, why should they bother with him? Besides, they had no regard for a mere protocol official anyway.

The official had no idea what was going through the minds of these veteran soldiers. Even regarding the prince, he didn't realize he had offended him, assuming instead that it was just the prince's arrogant nature. Unable to find the couple, Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin, in the camp, he guessed they had probably left ahead of time to make preparations in the capital. Fearing that a late return would cause delays, the official hastily boarded his carriage and headed straight for the capital.

The protocol official's carriage was naturally no match for the one ridden by Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin. While catching up to them was impossible, he still traveled faster than the army lagging behind. Hurrying along, the official arrived in the capital two days late. Upon entering the city, he went straight to the Ministry of Rites without even stopping at home. The officials at the ministry, seeing the protocol official return from the harbor, showered him with smiles and praise. They knew that after Li Linshan and Wang Xiujin returned to the capital, they had been summoned to the palace by the Emperor. The Minister of Rites had also been present. When the Emperor asked about the ceremony, the imperial merchant reported that everything had gone smoothly. The Emperor was delighted and praised the Minister highly.

Listening to the slightly envious praise of his colleagues, the protocol official repeatedly and humbly claimed it was merely good fortune. The Minister of Rites then summoned him to an inner chamber to ask about the details, inquiring whether he had dined with the Fourth Prince that evening and if the prince had said anything. The official's heart skipped a beat. He had entered the city as soon as his duties were done. Now that the Minister was asking, the official finally realized the gravity of his mistake. The Fourth Prince had stayed in the military camp, and even the imperial merchant, who held a higher rank than him, had stayed there too. Yet he had stayed in the city. How was he to explain this?

Meanwhile, back at home, Wang Xiujin was busy with his shops. Shopkeeper Wang mentioned that some regions were suffering from drought this year, and crop yields were likely to decrease. Wang Xiujin nodded, acknowledging the news. In ancient times, farmers were entirely at the mercy of heaven; if the heavens were displeased, a year's hard work would go to waste. "Did we prepare extra stocks of the potatoes and sweet potatoes I ordered to be planted earlier?" he asked.

"We prepared the same amount as in previous years," Shopkeeper Wang replied, instantly catching his master's drift. "I will immediately have men transport them to the drought-stricken areas."

"Find someone reliable," Wang Xiujin instructed. "Once they arrive, don't be in a hurry to distribute them. See how the local government reacts first. If they refuse to open their granaries, send the supplies directly to the villages. Don't do it right under the government's nose, and don't charge any money. Treat it as an act of charity." With his current wealth, Wang Xiujin did not mind the expense; he viewed it as doing a good deed. "Tell them to keep watch. If anyone tries to profit from this, they shouldn't expect any mercy from me. Do it well, and everyone will be rewarded upon their return."

Shopkeeper Wang immediately assented, carefully noting the drought-stricken regions. "Master, should we not send someone to verify the situation first? What if the reports were exaggerated..."

"His Majesty is wise; no one would dare use this as a pretext for deceit." Wang Xiujin believed no fool would risk their life for a bit of grain money. Had they not introduced multi-season rice, it might have been possible, but now grain prices had dropped significantly. The heads of the local governments were not stupid; stealing grain money was far more dangerous than embezzling other funds.

Shopkeeper Wang nodded repeatedly, praising the Emperor's wisdom, and then proceeded to report on the other shops and workshops.

Wang Xiujin listened attentively, nodding from time to time. Once Shopkeeper Wang finished, he recalled something. "If you have some free time lately, find a plot of land in a not-too-remote part of the city and have it fenced off. When the expedition to the overseas territories returns, we might need to build a new workshop. Make it as large as possible, and it must be a single, contiguous plot, not scattered pieces."

Shopkeeper Wang was taken aback for a moment at the mention of a new workshop, but he quickly straightened his back and promised to find a contiguous piece of land.

Wang Xiujin forgot that their definitions of "large" differed. To him, a plot the size of a large manor was enough, whereas to Shopkeeper Wang, "large" meant comparing it to their largest carpentry workshop.

Currently, more and more people in the capital were riding wooden bicycles. Wang Xiujin couldn't help but frown at these wooden contraptions, wondering when iron ones would finally be made. Aside from the wooden bicycles, an exceptionally long carriage had appeared on the streets. Though still pulled by horses, its wheels ran on wooden tracks. Just two horses could pull a large carriage full of passengers from the east to the west of the city. This saved the horses' strength and accommodated many passengers, making it highly convenient for ordinary citizens. Four wooden tracks had been laid in the capital—two running east-west and two running north-south. When service first began, it attracted many citizens eager to try it. But with so many residents in the capital and only a few carriages running back and forth, it was impossible for everyone to have a turn. Firstly, they feared exhausting the horses, and secondly, they worried the carriages could not bear such immense weight.

Each carriage had a passenger limit; once it reached fifteen people, no more were allowed to board, and they had to wait for the next one. After the first few days, the drivers thought the citizens' interest would wane, especially since riding cost money. To their surprise, the passengers included not only ordinary citizens but also officials. Initially, some officials tried to put on airs and charter the entire carriage. The drivers refused them outright. When the officials tried to use their authority to intimidate them, the drivers simply brought up Wang Xiujin's name: "Our master said that these tracks are a public service approved by His Majesty. If you wish to charter the carriage, My Lord, perhaps you could obtain an imperial decree? Or should we ask our master to speak on your behalf?"

Who would dare make Wang Xiujin step forward? The officials gritted their teeth, but they were not fools. If they dared to mistreat the drivers, Lord Wang behind Wang Xiujin would certainly deal with them. Moreover, the country was currently at war. Although the national treasury had not suffered much loss, who knew if the Emperor might use a strained treasury as an excuse to shake them down, perhaps even branding them with charges of corruption in the process? They couldn't afford to take that gamble!

Wang Xiujin found the matter quite amusing when he heard of it. In the palace, the Emperor was rather pleased with the reports coming in, feeling highly satisfied with Wang Xiujin. The citizens of the capital surely knew now that their Emperor truly cared for them.