From cute to empress

Chapter 245 The County Magistrate's Transformation

I took the blueprint and examined it carefully. The crisscrossing lines outlined a completely new drainage system. My eyes fell on a detail, and a thought struck me: "You mean... building a high canal?"

"Exactly!" The doctor of agronomy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Traditional drainage ditches are dug following the terrain's topography, which only provides simple drainage. They become overwhelmed by heavy rainfall. High channels, on the other hand, are different. They follow the terrain's topography, sometimes high and sometimes low, directing water farther, completely solving the flooding problem."

"Great!" I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "This is a good way to solve the problem once and for all!"

The county magistrate, however, frowned. "But Your Majesty, building the high canal is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Where can we find so much manpower and resources?"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to take the lead!" The silent old farmer Tian suddenly spoke up, his dark face full of determination. "We farmers can't just sit there and wait for death. As long as we can keep our land, we are willing to endure any hardship or fatigue!"

"Yes! We all listen to Your Majesty!" Other farmers also echoed, their weather-beaten faces full of hope.

I looked at these simple farmers with deep emotion. Their support was my greatest motivation. "Alright! Since everyone's willing to work together, let's get started!" I took a deep breath and turned to the doctor of agronomy. "Doctor, I'll leave the construction of the high canal to you. Just let me know if you need anything. I have your full support!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best!" The doctor of agronomy nodded solemnly.

In the days that followed, the entire field became a bustling construction site. Led by Mr. Tian, ​​the farmers toiled day and night, digging ditches and moving earth and rocks. Their enthusiasm was infectious. I visited the fields daily, cheering them on and working alongside them.

Watching the high canals gradually take shape, my heart is filled with hope. I know that although this rainstorm has caused us huge losses, it has also made us more united and stronger.

That day, Zhen Youcai and I were patrolling the ridges of a field when a group of people suddenly appeared in the distance. Leading them was none other than the wealthy businessman A who had been watching from the sidelines. He walked quickly towards us, a complicated expression on his face...

Merchant A approached us, and I noticed that his initial skepticism and hesitation had been replaced by admiration and emotion. He bowed deeply to me and said, "Your Majesty, I was previously skeptical of your and this agronomy doctor's novel ideas, and even secretly mocked them. But now, seeing the people working together so unitedly, I'm truly moved. I'm ashamed of myself."

I quickly helped him up. "It's understandable that merchants value profit. I hope you understand my painstaking efforts."

"Your Majesty, I have come here to contribute my humble efforts." He paused, then spoke firmly, "I am willing to contribute funds to promote the construction of this high canal to more disaster-stricken areas! I also hope that Your Majesty will allow us to participate and learn this good method that will benefit the people."

I nodded with satisfaction. "I thank you on behalf of the people for your kindness." Then I turned to look at Mr. Tian. "Uncle, what do you think?"

A smile broke out on Mr. Tian's wrinkled face. "Great! Great! With everyone's help, we will definitely be able to overcome this disaster!"

That night, I lay awake for a long time, my mind reeling from the bustling scenes of the fields. The people were sweating, their eyes gleaming with hope. Their combined strength would ultimately overcome all difficulties.

"Mengmeng, what are you thinking about?" Zhen Youcai's gentle voice brought me back to reality.

I turned to look at him and found that there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but more of it was unconcealable joy.

"News has come from the border that the enemy has been repelled and the border is temporarily stable."

My heart suddenly relaxed, and the long-held worry was finally put to rest. I held his hand, my eyes full of gratitude, "Youcai, thank you for your hard work."

Zhen Youcai shook his head gently. "For you, for our country, any hardship is worth it." He paused, a hint of pride in his tone. "Now that the border is stable, I can rest assured to stay and help you. Those stubborn old guys should shut up."

I knew who he was referring to, so I smiled and jokingly said, "Why? Do you want to use force against the county magistrate?"

Zhen Youcai raised his eyebrows, "I dare not, but..." He leaned close to my ear and whispered, and I couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Your Majesty, the county magistrate requests to see you." A palace maid's voice came from outside the door.

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged a glance; it looked like the show was about to begin. I took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Let him in."

As Magistrate B entered the hall, I noticed a slight relaxation of his tense expression, though a lingering worry remained. Apparently, the sight of the disaster area after the rainstorm, and the hope regained by the people, had touched him.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." He saluted respectfully, but his tone was not as tough as usual.

"Please stand up, magistrate." I gestured for him to stand up and said gently, "What is the important matter that brought you here today?"

He hesitated for a moment, looked up at me, then looked at Zhen Youcai who was standing next to me, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

I signaled Zhen Youcai to leave, and only County Magistrate B and I were left in the hall.

"Your Majesty..." He took a deep breath, "I have offended your decision before. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."

I smiled faintly, "My Lord, the County Magistrate is also thinking about the people. I understand your difficulties."

"Your Majesty is wise!" He knelt excitedly. "But, can this novel technology really completely solve the food problem? If it ultimately fails..."

I helped him up. "I believe that as long as we work together, no difficulty can stop us."

I led him to the fields. Looking out, we saw that the farmland, once ravaged by torrential rain, was now thriving. Irrigated by the high canals, the newly planted rice seedlings were thriving, their lush greenery blanketing the earth like a soft carpet. The people, beaming with joy, toiled diligently, seemingly oblivious to the hardships of the recent past.

Magistrate B looked at everything before him for a long time without saying a word. I noticed that his initially suspicious gaze gradually softened, and even a barely perceptible smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"What do you think? Does the county magistrate still have any doubts now?" I asked softly.

He shook his head. "The smiles on the people's faces are the best proof." He paused, a hint of guilt in his tone. "I am short-sighted. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."

I nodded with relief, knowing that he had begun to change slowly.

Back in the palace, I felt much more relaxed. Just then, a guard hurried in and said, "Your Majesty, you have a letter."

I took the letter. There was no signature on the envelope, only an exquisite wax seal. It was a blooming Lycoris radiata, enchanting and eerie. My heart tightened for no apparent reason, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.

I slowly opened the envelope, quickly glanced at the contents, and my face turned pale instantly...

The letter slipped lightly from my hands, each word like a sharp knife, piercing my heart. The letter explained that the war on the border was intense, and the enemy had sent a mysterious magician who could control a strange, venomous red insect. These insects could only be controlled by a herb called "dragon blood grass." Dragon blood grass grows in extremely cold lands and is extremely rare, but Zhen Youcai happened to have a plant...

"Someone come!" I almost shouted, with an unconcealable tremor in my voice.

The guard immediately knelt down and asked, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Pass on my order and send someone to the border immediately to deliver this letter to General Zhen personally!" I held the letter tightly in my hand, as if I wanted to crush it.

The guards took their orders and left, but I couldn't calm down. The contents of the letter were like a tangled mess, lingering in my mind. The border war, the mysterious magician, the strange and poisonous insects, and that crucial dragon's blood grass... It all seemed like a carefully planned conspiracy, and Zhen Youcai, at the center of it, was in a precarious position.

No, I can't just sit there and wait for death! I stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the hall, anxiously thinking of a solution. Suddenly, as if I remembered something, I quickly walked to the bookshelf and started searching. Finally, I found the map of the border among a pile of memorials.

I carefully examined the map, my gaze finally settling on an inconspicuous dot—Luoxia Valley. It was the only way to the extremely cold land, and also… I suddenly looked up, my eyes determined. "Pass the order down, prepare the carriage, I must leave the palace!"