Chapter 636: Master Bai is So Powerful
Smoke billowed from every chimney in Mengjin County. The desperately hungry townspeople had each received a share of flour and were now hastily kindling fires to cook. Everyone muttered the name "Master Bai" with gratitude.
Yet, the Mengjin county magistrate inwardly mused, "In these times, a single *shi* of grain fetches at least three or four taels of silver. Five hundred *shi* amounts to nearly two thousand taels – no small sum at all. For Master Bai to bestow such a grand gift upon Mengjin County with a mere wave of his hand... if he is genuinely benevolent, then so be it. But if there are conditions attached, I fear they will be substantial."
With these thoughts weighing on him, he knew he had to handle Bai Yuan with utmost caution.
Standing on the city walls, overlooking the vast, muddy expanse outside the county town, the magistrate finally lowered his voice. "Master Bai," he began, "as the saying goes, 'one accepts no reward without earning it.' You’ve arrived and presented such a magnificent gift; might I ask what you require of this county?"
Bai Yuan smiled. "Your Excellency, you overthink matters. I have no demands whatsoever."
The magistrate uttered, "Eh?"
Bai Yuan continued, "When I arrived, I saw the people of Mengjin County had opened the South Gate and were digging away the silt on the official road to the south."
The magistrate nodded. "Yes, Mengjin County now resembles an isolated island. For the townspeople to survive, their only option is to head south, clearing the official road to Luoyang. Otherwise, we'll remain trapped here, facing certain death."
Bai Yuan replied, "Forgive my frankness, but clearing the official road to Luoyang may not prove as useful as you think."
Bai Yuan elaborated, "Can the Luoyang authorities truly rescue Mengjin County? The Yellow River has changed its course, raging across the entire Henan plain. It’s not just Mengjin that’s submerged; countless county towns have become isolated islands, and untold numbers of common folk are displaced, unable to make a living. How many counties can Luoyang possibly save?"
The magistrate froze.
He realized: indeed, how many counties *could* Luoyang save?
If all the surrounding counties appealed to Luoyang for aid, there was a high probability that Luoyang's officials would decide to "save no one, and let them fend for themselves."
The magistrate’s hands trembled; he was at a loss for what to do.
Bai Yuan offered, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to clear the official road to the west."
The magistrate questioned, "To the west? Hengshui Town?"
Bai Yuan confirmed, "Precisely. First, dig away the silt to the west, opening a path toward Hengshui Town. Hengshui Town was spared by the Yellow River floods and remains intact. Once there, my caravan will be able to easily provide relief to all of you."
Only then did the magistrate understand that this man didn't just intend to deliver five hundred *shi* of grain and be done with it; he planned to continue aiding Mengjin County.
What magnificent generosity!
But wait, there was a problem!
The magistrate lowered his voice again. "Hengshui Town is only twenty *li* from Eagle Beak Mountain. The Yellow Turban Fortress on Eagle Beak Mountain is swarming with river pirates. Master Bai, your caravan... in Hengshui Town..."
Bai Yuan smiled. "Don't worry. The river pirates of the Yellow Turban Fortress on Eagle Beak Mountain have already been wiped out by me. My fleet can now transport grain from Shaanxi, unloading it at the base of Eagle Beak Mountain. Your people can pass through Hengshui Town to the Yellow River bank to collect the goods and transport them back to Mengjin County. The entire round trip is about forty *li*, achievable in a single day. This way, all the townsfolk will have a chance to survive."
"Wiped out the river pirates?" This truly startled the magistrate. For over a thousand years, successive dynasties had failed to fundamentally resolve this problem, and yet this Master Bai standing before him claimed to have done it?
Seeing his expression, Bai Yuan knew he had shocked him. To avoid further complications, he immediately changed his tune, chuckling, "I exaggerated a little just now. In truth, I merely breached one location, the Yellow Turban Fortress on Eagle Beak Mountain. As for places like Shizu Mountain, Huanglu Mountain, Mopan Mountain, Basket Hollow... and all the other pirate strongholds, they remain uncleared."
"Phew!" The magistrate finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was normal for them *not* to be cleared. This was more like a legitimate merchant! If you truly could clear all the river pirates from Xiaolangdi, I'd have to take you for an immortal."
The magistrate cupped his fists. "Since Master Bai has put it that way, this official will organize the laborers to dig away the silt in the direction of Hengshui Town, striving to open the land route as soon as possible."
Bai Yuan also smiled slightly. "Very well. Before the road is clear, we can use mud-sleds to transport supplies and communicate. Before I leave, I'll provide twenty mud-sleds to you. Your Excellency, if you need to contact me, send someone to paddle a mud-sled to Hengshui Town, and they can find the contact point I'll leave there."
A thought stirred in the magistrate's mind. "Perhaps, when Master Bai departs later, this official could send some people to accompany you on the mud-sleds, to see your side of things?"
Bai Yuan replied, "That would be excellent."
With an agreement reached, the magistrate went to organize his personnel. He dispatched his trusted aide, Liu Bawan, and selected about a dozen capable constables and hangers-on, forming a small team of twenty men.
Bai Yuan had his subordinates set aside twenty mud-sleds and handed them over to the twenty men to practice navigating.
The contraptions weren't difficult to use; one could learn in a single try. However...
After just a few pushes, they would find themselves covered head-to-toe in mud.
Only Bai Yuan himself didn't participate in the "driving"; he was merely a "passenger," so naturally, he remained spotless. His white robes fluttered elegantly, a picture of dashing poise, as he led the large convoy of five hundred mud-sleds westward.
From Mengjin County to Hengshui Town, the straight-line distance was a mere twenty *li*.
Mud-sleds could reach a top speed of forty *li* per hour, and even the unpracticed constables could manage twenty to thirty *li* per hour. Thus, in about half an hour, the group arrived at Hengshui Town.
Upon reaching their destination, the mud-sleds became useless.
Hengshui Town had not been flooded, and its ground was free of silt.
Liu Bawan, the aide sent by the magistrate, leapt from his mud-sled, his feet landing on solid ground. A measure of calm finally settled in his heart.
He looked up at Hengshui Town before him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
Hengshui Town was actually undergoing construction...
It was massive earthworks: constructing town walls, rebuilding houses, leveling roads – clearly aiming to create an entirely new town. Large numbers of common folk were carrying burdens on their shoulders and by hand, working with desperate energy.
Liu Bawan, the aide, couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Hengshui Town is just a small, dilapidated place, with little population, close to Eagle Beak Mountain, and frequently plundered by river pirates. Now, immediately after a disaster, they're already starting construction?"
Bai Yuan smiled and told him, "Because the river pirates of Eagle Beak Mountain have been cleared out, this area has become safe. Furthermore, many of the affected common folk are currently idle anyway. If they eat their fill but don't use their strength, wouldn't that be a waste? It's better to let them expand the town here; they can even earn some wages in the process."
Liu Bawan exclaimed, "So that's it, that's truly it! Huh? Wait a minute, wages? Who is paying the wages for building this town?"
Bai Yuan pointed to his own nose. "I am!"
Liu Bawan was filled with immense admiration, thinking, "This Master Bai truly is an extraordinary philanthropist! Not only does he provide porridge to aid the people, but he even pays them wages. This goes beyond mere benevolence; his power is incredible!"
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