In the study room of the Han Prince Mansion, Wen Daoji and Lin Qing were inquiring about Zhao Yao’s whereabouts from He Lianfang. They had important matters to discuss with Prince Han, but he was not at the Han Prince Mansion.
Since the Lantern Festival, Prince Han had beco as elusive as a dragon, and no one had seen him since.
"Mr. Lian, where exactly did His Highness go?" Not many knew He Lianfang’s identity, only those close to Zhao Yao were aware. Wen Daoji and the others did not know. He Lianfang had once saved the Lin Family and persuaded them to support Zhao Yao, but Lin Muyuan did not know He Lianfang’s true identity. He, like Wen Daoji, thought He Lianfang was just a strategist by Zhao Yao’s side. This belief was not entirely wrong. "His Highness attended the morning assembly on the sixteenth and then disappeared. Do you know where he is?"
Lin Muyuan also had important matters to report to Zhao Yao: "Mr. Lian, His Highness previously instructed the Ministry of War to organize a military parade. I’ve drafted the plans and wish to have His Highness review them."
The Lin Family was a renowned general family during the previous dynasty, with a history going back a hundred years. The previous dynasty had also held military parades, and the Lin Family had certainly participated, but Zhao Yao’s instructions for Lin Muyuan’s parade were different from those of the past.
"You haven’t seen His Highness for so ti, and neither have I." Ever since Zhao Yao went to the North Mountain to work on Black Fire Weapons, He Lianfang had not seen him. He had expected Zhao Yao to return after completing the Black Fire Weapons, but he ended up getting busy with other matters.
Wen Daoji was shocked: "Has His Highness really not returned to the mansion all this ti?"
Lin Muyuan couldn’t help but worry: "Could sothing have happened to His Highness?"
"He’s fine; he’s currently working on so terraces." Although Zhao Yao hadn’t returned to the mansion, he had sent soone to inform He Lianfang of his whereabouts. "He plans to finish the terraces before spring plowing, so he has been busy with that these days."
It was the first ti Wen Daoji had heard the term "terraces," and he asked curiously: "Mr. Lian, what are terraces?"
"They are a type of new farmland." He Lianfang didn’t know much about agriculture; Zhao Yao hadn’t returned to explain specifically what terraces were, so he wasn’t sure exactly what they entailed. "His Highness said the farmland in Lingnan is too scarce, coupled with the uneven terrain, making it unlikely to develop the common type of farmland, so he intends to develop terraces that suit the Lingnan topography."
After listening, Wen Daoji beca very excited: "I previously discussed with His Highness that the arable land in Swamp Prefecture was relatively scarce. If there was a way to develop more land, the grain production in Swamp Prefecture might quadruple or even more." At the ti, His Highness had said he would find a way to develop more farmland. "With His Highness’s intellect, he will certainly be able to create these terraces." His Highness was a genius; everything he created was astonishing. This ti, whatever terraces he was working on would undoubtedly be extraordinary.
He Lianfang smiled faintly and said: "With his abilities, he will surely succeed."
"Mr. Lian, do you know where His Highness is working on the terraces? I’d like to go and see." As the state pri minister, it was his duty to inspect such a significant livelihood project.
"On the Southern Mountain."
"I’ll go find His Highness later."
Lin Muyuan echoed: "I’ll go too."
Knowing Zhao Yao’s whereabouts, Wen Daoji and Lin Muyuan did not disturb He Lianfang any further and hurriedly set off for the Southern Mountain to find Zhao Yao. After inquiring around a few tis, they eventually found Prince Han on a hillside.
When they saw Zhao Yao in coarse clothes, crouching in the dirt talking with an old farr, they were taken aback. If it weren’t for seeing Tong Xi, they wouldn’t have believed that the muddy-faced person was their prince.
As Wen Daoji and the others approached, ready to salute Zhao Yao, they were stopped by Tong Xi. Tong Xi put a finger to his lips, signaling Lin Muyuan and the others to stay quiet.
They understood and didn’t disturb Zhao Yao, imdiately walking over to Tong Xi’s side.
"Eunuch Tong Xi, what is His Highness ..." Wen Daoji saw the hillsides with many crooked... let’s call them ditches, but these ditches were not very long, and they seed too wide. "What are these crooked ditches?" Unable to find another term to describe them for the mont, he called them ditches.
Lin Muyuan, looking from top to bottom, noticed that the whole hillside was filled with these winding ditches. They resembled steps.
Tong Xi raised his chin slightly with a proud expression and said: "Mr. Wen, these are terraces."
Reviews
All reviews (0)