Chapter 21: Could You Be One of the Ancient People of the Emperor Xi?

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Upon hearing Qin Feng’s words, Li Zhen hurriedly stood up and snorted, “Once and for all? It’s easy for you to say, but who in history has ever managed to control a river once and for all?”
“Even the father-son duo Li Bing dared not boast so recklessly! How many times have you governed rivers for the court? And how many days have you spent surveying the waterways?”
“You’re so young, probably haven’t even seen the Yellow River, yet you dare speak such arrogant nonsense?”
Li Zhen’s words shocked all the officials present!
Here was a mere county magistrate from a plains county, boldly confronting Qin Feng, who was currently favored by the emperor, right before His Majesty’s eyes.
Truly, the courage of a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger!
The officials in the hall watched this spectacle intently.
Li Zhen’s direct confrontation with Qin Feng delighted the civil officials—it was a rare chance to vent their frustrations.
Qin Feng asked, “Then what achievements do you have in river management? Why does your name not appear on the list of river officials?”
“I…”
Li Zhen blushed, unable even to respond.
In truth, he had once been a river official.
But in the third year of the Hongwu reign, due to poor flood control, he was demoted to be county magistrate of a plains county.
“What do you mean ‘I’? If you have no outstanding achievements in river control, on what grounds do you speak so arrogantly here?”
Li Zhen flushed with anger and grit his teeth, “Then what achievements do you have? Do tell me!”
“I have none either.”
Pfft!
The officials nearly burst into laughter.
To them, Qin Feng was like a clown, here only to entertain.
If you have no achievements, how can you demand others to have them?
Since everyone starts from the same line, a little respect in speech would be appropriate.
Li Zhen laughed heartily three times, pointing at Qin Feng, “You’re just an ignorant youth, shameless beyond measure!”
The court ministers secretly gave Li Zhen thumbs up, admiring his bravery.
Well said!
He voiced what many dared not.
Qin Feng ignored Li Zhen’s insults and instead drew a scroll of blueprints from his sleeve.
“But I do possess a comprehensive flood-control strategy and a miraculous device for river management. I ask Your Majesty to examine them!”

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Wang Jinghong quickly took the blueprints from Qin Feng and presented them to Elder Zhu.
Elder Zhu had already reviewed Qin Feng’s plans and had summoned the crown prince to study them for hours in the Qianqing Palace.
In the hall, Elder Zhu feigned a thorough glance and said in a low voice, “Pass these blueprints around. Is there anyone who can propose a better flood-control plan than Qin Feng’s?”
As the blueprints circulated among the ministers, the military officials groaned at the dense black characters, while the civil officials all shook their heads silently.
Most civil officials knew nothing about river management; they only knew that river posts were lucrative.
Every year, the court allocated millions of taels of silver to river management, but how many officials truly cared?
All they did was build embankments, which would later breach, only to be rebuilt again.
In the end, their efforts were futile, so why waste all that silver?
Only by appointing trusted men to river posts could Hu Weiyong rest easy.
Li Zhen was Hu Weiyong’s sole trusted man in river affairs, a distant relative of the late Chancellor Li Shanchang.
Naturally, Hu Weiyong wished for Li Zhen to be promoted to river governor, allowing him to enjoy the benefits.
But suddenly Qin Feng appeared, and it seemed His Majesty intended to appoint Qin Feng as river governor.
If Qin Feng truly took that position, what then?
Would their corrupt deeds in river management be exposed?
Thinking this, Hu Weiyong immediately stepped forward, “Your Majesty, I find Qin Feng’s flood-control plan inappropriate!”
He then exchanged glances with Minister of Works Wang Hu and Minister of Revenue Li Tai.
Understanding his signal, both ministers stepped forward to echo, “I too believe this flood-control plan is unsuitable!”
Elder Zhu narrowed his eyes, shifting lazily on the dragon throne, and asked, “Hu Weiyong, you just said you don’t understand river affairs. How have you suddenly come to comprehend Qin Feng’s plan?”
Hu Weiyong trembled, prostrating himself, “I indeed don’t understand river affairs, but Qin Feng’s plan is so strange it seems unsuitable.”
Elder Zhu snorted, “Then explain how it’s unsuitable.”
Sweat poured from Hu Weiyong’s forehead as he glanced helplessly at Ministers Wang Hu and Li Tai for assistance.
Wang Hu promptly replied, “Your Majesty, I think the proposed construction of a water-reducing dam is ill-advised.”
“Building such a massive structure will exhaust the people and drain the treasury, increasing burdens on the people of Great Ming.”
“Moreover, no one can guarantee it will effectively control the river. Such wastefulness may provoke public unrest!”
Minister of Revenue Li Tai agreed, “Minister Wang speaks rightly. Constructing such a colossal structure requires immense manpower, materials, and funds. Our treasury is already depleted; we cannot support such a project.”
Seeing both ministers defend him, Hu Weiyong relaxed and pleaded, “Your Majesty, the disasters in western Huai have not yet been resolved. If we spend heavily on such a contraption, Great Ming will be doomed.”
Under this triple assault, Elder Zhu’s mind was unsettled. Indeed, the court was financially strained.

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He could barely afford the officials’ salaries; there was truly no money left to build Qin Feng’s water-reducing dam.
“Monster? Does Lord Hu regard everything unknown as a monster? Are you some ancient sage from the time of Emperor Xi?”
“Fire was invented by Suiren, houses built by Youchao, paper created by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han, wooden oxen and gliding horses by Zhuge Liang…”
“All worldly inventions stem from innovation. Do you call unknown things monsters?” Qin Feng retorted coldly.
Hu Weiyong, red-faced, pointed at Qin Feng, “You… you are silver-tongued and deceitful…”
Qin Feng bowed to Elder Zhu, “Your Majesty, if Great Ming truly lacks funds, I will help earn the treasury money.”
“But for river affairs, the water-reducing dam must be built to ensure the Yellow River’s peace and prevent floods, achieving permanent control.”
“Continuing to deepen and widen the river channel will only cause further disasters in western Huai!”
Elder Zhu glanced at all the ministers below, then looked deeply at Qin Feng.
Compared to the ministers’ alarmist words, Elder Zhu trusted Qin Feng more.
After all, Qin Feng claimed to be from over six centuries in the future; could his insight be less than these corrupt scholars?
Elder Zhu asked Qin Feng with no expression, “Qin Feng, can you truly help Great Ming replenish its treasury?”
“If Your Majesty trusts me, I will gather all funds needed for the dam’s construction before year’s end.”
Qin Feng’s words caused an uproar among the ministers!
To raise millions of taels of silver before the year’s end?
Such nonsense!
Elder Zhu beamed and immediately banged the table, declaring, “From today onward, Qin Feng shall have full authority over river affairs!”
Hearing this, Hu Weiyong felt as if plunged into an icy abyss, his mind dazed in the hall.
At that moment, Minister of Justice Han Shiyuan suddenly stood up in opposition, “Your Majesty! The river governor position must never fall into such a vile man’s hands!”
Elder Zhu frowned, “Han Shiyuan, why do you oppose?”
Han Shiyuan knelt, coldly pointing at Qin Feng, “Your Majesty, Qin Feng is a treacherous villain! He harbors imperial criminals—an unforgivable crime! I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”
The fox’s tail was finally revealed!
The mastermind behind the scenes emerged!
Elder Zhu and Qin Feng exchanged smiles, both looking at Han Shiyuan with bright eyes.
Uncomprehending, Han Shiyuan suddenly felt a sinister chill sweep through the hall…