Novels online

Chapter 493: A Sound Calculation

After crossing the Longmen Bridge, their journey swiftly brought them to Han City, a vital location within the Tongguan Circuit.

As a formidable military stronghold and a crucial transportation artery, the city remained firmly under the imperial court's control.

Shi Kefa deliberately sought out a grain store, inquiring about the prevailing prices. Just as he’d anticipated, the closer they approached Chengcheng County, the more affordable the grain became. Here, a *dou* of grain now fetched only 120 *wen*, a figure barely higher than during years untouched by calamity.

The immediate consequence of these plummeting grain prices was a sweeping revival across the city. Every trade flourished anew, the streets pulsed with restored vibrancy, and both industry and commerce sprang back to life. A collective sigh of relief seemed to sweep through the populace, as smiles once again graced the faces of ordinary folk.

Shi Kefa had barely taken a few steps along the bustling street when his attention was caught by a storyteller at a roadside teahouse. The orator, with dramatic flourishes, was captivating his audience: "Now, this fellow, Shi Jian, he journeyed to Gao Family Village in Chengcheng County. He slaved away for days, earning just enough for his efforts, but a thought gnawed at him: 'How can a man ever truly prosper by simply toiling for wages? No, I must acquire a skill!' And so, he packed a sack of flour, grabbed two ounces of cured meat, and set off, hoping to apprentice under a master blacksmith. Yet, just as he emerged from his humble dwelling and approached the bamboo grove, he felt a sudden, searing pain at the back of his head—*thwack!*—and promptly collapsed, knocked clean unconscious..."

Even Shi Kefa, despite his pressing duties, found himself unexpectedly drawn in. He halted, compelled by a sudden curiosity, eager to learn the continuation of the strange tale.

But with a flourish, the storyteller snapped his fan shut. "For the thrilling continuation of this epic," he declared, a twinkle in his eye, "you must return for the next installment!"

Shi Kefa, taken aback, exclaimed, "Continue! You cease just as it becomes enthralling! What kind of performer cultivates such frustrating habits?"

"Please, noble sir, calm your temper, and let me offer you some tea." The waiter, ever solicitous, promptly presented him with a steaming cup of fragrant brew.

Shi Kefa casually raised the cup to his lips, taking a perfunctory sip. But his expression instantly froze, his eyes widening. An ordinary citizen might never discern the difference, but he, with his refined palate, recognized it at once: this was supreme-grade Longjing tea, harvested before the Qingming festival! Was this some elaborate jest? Even in the affluent cities of the Jiangnan region, tea of this exquisite caliber would never grace the humble tables of a mere roadside teahouse.

Such indulgence was typically reserved only for the highest officials and wealthiest gentry.

Yet here, in Han City, a humble, unassuming teahouse by the road simply pours me a cup?

Shi Kefa demanded, his voice edged with surprise, "From where did you procure this tea?"

The waiter beamed, a wide, genuine smile spreading across his face. "Our owner's younger brother brought it! He serves as a teacher at the Gao Family Village School in Chengcheng County. They say this tea was a special token, a 'comfort gift' for the instructors, personally bestowed by the Heavenly Lord Himself! He doesn't much care for tea, you see, so he simply sent it back to the owner. And the owner, not being a connoisseur either, thought it best to offer it to our esteemed guests."

The moment the words "Heavenly Lord" were uttered, Shi Kefa's comprehension clicked into place. What was tea of such unparalleled quality, really, when the Heavenly Lord possessed the power to directly bestow an entire Yellow River Bridge upon the mortal realm?

He clapped the waiter gently on the shoulder. "Inform your owner," he urged, a hint of genuine concern in his tone, "that this tea is not easily procured, even in the affluent Jiangnan region; it is exceptionally valuable. You should not, under any circumstances, serve it so freely to just any patron."

The waiter blinked, astonished. "Oh? Is it truly *that* exquisite a tea?"

In the span of that brief distraction, the storyteller had vanished, leaving Shi Kefa profoundly disappointed at having missed the story's conclusion. "So," he asked, a sigh escaping him, "what *was* the rest of that tale the storyteller recounted?"

The waiter chuckled. "He was reciting a chapter from 'Gao Piao.' Truth be told, most folks in Han City have already devoured the comic books. The storyteller simply adds his own colorful embellishments, a bit of dramatic flourish, to entertain the crowd. If you're intrigued, noble sir, you might find a copy of the comic book at the local shop."

Shi Kefa promptly inquired, "And where might this bookstore be located?"

The waiter gestured. "Just around that corner, noble sir."

Upon reaching the bookstore, Shi Kefa found its shelves brimming with volumes. Roughly half comprised the classical literary works he recognized: the venerable Four Books and Five Classics, epic narratives like *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* and *Water Margin*. But the other half was utterly baffling: titles such as 'Chinese,' 'Mathematics,' 'Physics,' and 'Chemistry' stared back at him. By name alone, he could only grasp the first two; the very concepts of 'Physics' and 'Chemistry' left Shi Kefa utterly perplexed.

Beyond these academic texts lay a vast assortment of illustrated books. The title "Chronicles of the Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan: Demon Slayer" immediately captivated his gaze. Recalling the astonishing feat of the Heavenly Lord bestowing a monumental bridge, he didn't hesitate for a moment, purchasing the entire six-volume set and instructing his attendants to carefully bear them.

Further into the shop, a myriad of other comic books beckoned: *Generals of the Yang Family*, *The Legend of Yue Fei*, *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, and nestled amongst them, the very copy of 'Gao Piao' he had initially sought.

Shi Kefa, a man of considerable wealth, indulged a sudden impulse. "What matters it?" he mused, and then proceeded to embark on an impromptu shopping spree. He acquired every book he had not previously encountered, both textual and illustrated, instructing his increasingly burdened attendants to carefully bear their new loads.

His original intention had been to procure 'Gao Piao,' to finally unravel the mystery of Shi Jian's sudden incapacitation. Yet, amidst the considerable stack of new acquisitions, the book that truly piqued his curiosity, to his own surprise, was 'Chronicles of the Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan: Demon Slayer.' And so, as he continued his journey, he began to eagerly flip through its pages.

Before long, his entourage had departed Han City, pressing onward, their destination Heyang County.

Mounted on horseback, Shi Kefa remained engrossed, poring over the comic books. Devouring all six volumes one after another, he finally began to grasp the true nature and power of the "Heavenly Lord."

A profound realization then dawned upon him, leaving him inwardly thunderstruck: "The very deity I encountered at the Dragon Gate Ferry was none other than this Heavenly Lord of whom the books speak! He had manifested his divine presence in the mortal realm, speaking directly to me!"

"My lord," an attendant reported, once Shi Kefa had finally closed the book, "the crops in Heyang County's fields are flourishing beyond all natural expectation. Their growth is... unnaturally vigorous."

The attendant, observing that his master had finally concluded his reading, promptly approached with his report.

Shi Kefa closed the book, lifting his gaze to survey the landscape. Indeed, the surrounding farmlands presented a truly joyous spectacle, the verdant crops undeniably promising a bountiful harvest—one, it seemed, several times greater than any year in recent memory.

Had he not just immersed himself in 'Chronicles of the Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan: Demon Slayer,' he would undoubtedly have been utterly astounded. But with that knowledge fresh in his mind, he spoke with a calm assurance, "This bounty stems from the Heavenly Lord’s divine gift of Celestial Fertilizer to these diligent farmers. Once their crops are nourished by it, the yield is said to double. Indeed, the third volume of this very book elucidates this phenomenon. I suggest you all study it closely."

The attendant accepted the book, quickly scanning a few pages, and a look of sudden comprehension dawned on his face.

Shi Kefa retrieved a confidential dispatch from his sleeve, rereading the passage where he had written: "Grain prices are suspiciously low." He sighed, a soft, contemplative sound. "Chengcheng County and Heyang County, during the Tianqi reign era, collectively housed a population of approximately 160,000 to 200,000 souls. This implies that, in the absence of drought, these two regions could naturally sustain nearly 200,000 people with their grain output. Now, with yields having doubled compared to average years, these two counties alone possess the capacity to feed 400,000! And if we account for the additional reclamation of barren land, sustaining a staggering half-million people is well within their grasp."

Shi Kefa continued, his voice thoughtful. "I confess, I had earlier penned a confidential report, expressing my doubts about the inexplicably low grain prices here and their astounding capacity to absorb such a deluge of refugees. But now, with this fresh calculation, accommodating this number of displaced people proves to be no formidable challenge at all. Even without the direct intervention of the Heavenly Lord, the sheer abundance of grain from their own fields could easily sustain hundreds of thousands of disaster victims—not to mention the intermittent provisions and supplies the Heavenly Lord continues to bestow."

Shi Kefa's assessment was, indeed, remarkably precise!

Ever since Li Daoxuan's divine intervention brought abundant rain to Chengcheng County and introduced the miraculous chemical fertilizers, the grain he bestowed began to diminish, a deliberate move to foster self-sufficiency in both counties. The diligent populace, eager to prove worthy of his trust, had indeed surpassed his expectations. They had long since achieved the ability to sustain themselves entirely with their own cultivated harvests, even generating a substantial surplus that could be sold to the village treasury.

This surplus was then systematically managed by San Shier, drawn from the village treasury, and allocated to the labor reform prisoners.

As for the provisions Li Daoxuan now divinely bestowed, the bulk of them were directly transported to Shanxi.