Chapter 310: Spring Drought

Spring returns to the earth, and the weather turns warm again, though still with a chill.

Wu Ming set out in the first month of the sixth year of the Peaceful Reign. He traveled through Dingzhou, roamed across the land, and finally settled the will of the Primordial Deity in Shangzhou, gaining control of the Temple of the Primordial.

Returning now, he just made it back in time for the arrival of spring.

However, the journey there and back had changed him profoundly.

As he approached the border of Chufeng Prefecture, Wu Ming slightly furrowed his brows.

The weather…seemed a bit too dry.

Although the shrubs on both sides of the road were sprouting tender shoots, he could sense the lack of vitality, a result of insufficient moisture.

“It’s the weather…”

Wu Ming looked up at the sun, which shone brightly, warmly, even oppressively hot on the skin. He narrowed his eyes: “If this continues…it could affect spring plowing…”

Spring rain is as precious as oil!

In an era when agriculture depended entirely on the heavens, even a minor drought or slight temperature imbalance could easily bring catastrophe to farming.

In his previous life, the historical Little Ice Ages not only led to invasions by northern tribes but also caused dynastic changes. One could not afford to be careless.

“It’s just the time for spring plowing…if there’s even a slight drought, E Xu will have trouble…”

Seeing one leaf fall and knowing autumn is near! In the past, Wu Ming might not have had the leisure to think so deeply, but lately, with his pace slowed, his mind naturally wandered far.

“Hmm…it seems that after staying here for a while, my mindset is gradually becoming like that of the ancients, no longer feeling that sense of urgency where one’s life is uncertain from day to day…”

Wu Ming savored the subtle changes in his inner state.

At this moment, he arrived at a stable that rented out oxen and horses. The smell of livestock hit him as he approached the wooden fence. The workers inside were accustomed to it, carefully tending to these ancestors of labor.

After all, in ancient times, oxen and horses were often a family’s most valuable asset, even more precious than human life.

“Sir, are you looking to rent an ox or horse?”

A man dressed in silk, clearly a shopkeeper, approached. Seeing Wu Ming’s appearance, he immediately showed great respect.

“Yes, I need to rent an ox cart to Chufeng Prefecture City!”

Originally, he could have walked, but what was the point of that when he could let someone else do the hard work while he relaxed on the cart, leisurely observing the scenery?

“An ox cart to the prefectural city…”

The shopkeeper smiled. “It can be done in one day if we include the driver’s food and lodging. Five hundred copper coins will suffice…”

“Fine!”

Wu Ming didn’t know whether the price was fair or if he was being overcharged, but he nodded indifferently. The shopkeeper immediately went to make arrangements. Soon, he returned with a man who looked like a driver.

“This is Old Luo, one of our most experienced drivers. His hands are steady…”

Old Luo looked like an ordinary old farmer, the kind of face that would disappear in a crowd. However, his hands were large and calloused, and when he held the reins, there wasn’t the slightest tremor, giving a strong sense of reliability.

Wu Ming paid half the fare, two hundred and fifty copper coins, and immediately climbed onto the ox cart. The remaining half would be paid upon arrival at the city.

Creak! Creak!

The ox cart steadily rolled forward. The sound of the wheels, the lowing of the oxen, and the slow pace easily made one drowsy.

Inside the cart, however, Wu Ming was in high spirits.

“Oxen are slower than horses, and with the terrible road conditions of ancient times, riding a horse cart would be a torment. An ox cart, on the other hand, reduces the jolting. Plus, with horses being rare and government policies affecting their availability, it’s no wonder that aristocrats and officials prefer ox carts. Of course, this also has to do with the slow-paced lifestyle of ancient times…”

Wu Ming lifted the curtain of the cart and saw neat rows of farmland on both sides of the road. Occasionally, he could see oxen and horses working in the fields.

Of course, the most common sight was entire families working together, with men, women, and children all carrying water for the crops.

“Judging by this scene…E Xu won’t be able to wage war anytime soon…”

Wu Ming mused silently. He turned to Old Luo and said, “It seems the land reclamation around here has been quite prosperous lately, with so many oxen and horses…”

“All thanks to the blessings of the Jiedushi (military governor)!”

Old Luo grinned widely. “The government recently introduced the ‘Ox Loan Law’ and ‘Horse Loan Law,’ renting out oxen and horses to farmers at prices 20% lower than what the wealthy landlords charge. If only the heavens would provide more rain this year, we’d surely have a bumper harvest…”

This level of insight was quite impressive. However, a cart driver who travels far and wide naturally has a broader perspective than a farmer confined to his own plot of land. Wu Ming wasn’t surprised.

He was thinking even further.

“It’s not just that…if someone with ill intentions takes advantage of this drought, it could immediately become an issue of heavenly mandate…”

Imagine this: because Wu Zhi (a female ruler) disrupted the natural order, heaven has sent a drought to punish Chufeng and Nanfeng! With such a heavy accusation, no ancient ruler could withstand the pressure!

Moreover, this argument could be quite convincing.

Not only the scholar-official class, but even the common farmers could easily be swayed by such rhetoric. At that point, Wu Zhi’s legitimacy as a ruler would immediately be challenged.

This wouldn’t be a matter of her going out to attack Dingyuan Prefecture anymore—it would be a matter of external forces uniting to overthrow her.

“It seems Wu Zhi didn’t get along well with the River God of Nulong…”

Ao Nu, as the River God of the region, was in charge of rain and wind. If he had fully supported her, the situation wouldn’t have gotten this bad.

The River God, who controls clouds and rain, might not be able to influence the entire Dingzhou, but shifting the weather slightly and bringing a few more rains to Chufeng and Nanfeng would still be within his power.

In this regard, even a Taoist Master would be inferior, as their expertise lies elsewhere.

Although a Taoist Master can summon clouds and rain, even if Wu Ming were to go from place to place praying for rain now, it would be exhausting, regardless of the results.

However, while this might be a catastrophic problem for Wu Zhi, requiring her to pour all her efforts into dealing with it, to Wu Ming, it was just another minor issue.

With the vast resources at his disposal, he could confidently say that even if he wanted to conquer the world, he would have a good chance of success.

To put it another way, if Wu Zhi’s chances of fulfilling her grand wish to pacify the world were only one in ten thousand before she met Wu Ming, now that he had become the Sovereign, her chances had soared to over 50%.

If the masters of the various hidden paradises didn’t intervene, her victory would be all but certain.

Even if they did try to hinder her from the shadows, once Wu Ming repaired the Temple of the Primordial or advanced in his own cultivation, they would become nothing more than chickens and dogs—easily dealt with.

“Besides…even with the current state of the Temple of the Primordial, there are still ways to help E Xu…”

As the Sovereign, aside from the Temple of the Primordial, Wu Ming’s most valuable asset was the more than a thousand reincarnators under his command! To be blunt, each of these thousand individuals was at least a Level 1 supernatural being, and their collective strength was no less than that of some well-established hidden paradises.

In fact, their complex connections might even surpass them, forming a terrifying web of influence.

For example, in Dingzhou, there was a major pawn he could use.

“Qi Lin, the Jiedushi of Pingshan Prefecture!”

Wu Ming stroked his chin. This regional military commander was also a reincarnator!

In fact, with a mere thought, Wu Ming could now access all of this man’s information, including every detail of his past missions.

To Wu Ming, this man had no secrets left.

“This person was born with great fortune. It is said his mother dreamed of a qilin entering her arms before giving birth to him. As he grew, he excelled in both literary and martial arts. Diviners who examined his aura described it as brilliant and radiant, shaped like a qilin…such a person, yet he has been locked in a stalemate with the Duke of Dingzhou for so long without victory…and it turns out he’s a reincarnator!”

Although the Temple of the Primordial can rapidly strengthen reincarnators, the occasional Primordial missions are also quite deadly.

For a lone wolf, this might not be a big deal, but for a regional military governor…disappearing for a few days here and there? How could he keep his subordinates loyal? What about state affairs and military matters?

The fact that Qi Lin has managed to keep his position until now is already a sign of extraordinary luck.

“He has ability! He has ambition! He is a talent!”

Of course, the most important thing is that he is also a local warlord in Dingzhou. If he were to ally with Wu Zhi, the situation would be decisively in their favor. Not only would they have overwhelming strength, but the Duke of Dingzhou in Dingyuan Prefecture would certainly be unable to resist.

Once he falls, the three prefectures of Rinan, Zhuwu, and Jiude, which are under imperial control and led by aging, ineffective leaders, would likely surrender without a fight.

Dingzhou is one of the nineteen prefectures of the Zhou Dynasty. If they control it completely, they would be nearly powerful enough to declare themselves kings.

“Originally…it would have been impossible to subdue this person, but since he is a reincarnator, it becomes much easier…the simplest way would be to assign him a Primordial mission, and he would immediately have to obey. Unfortunately, I can’t just take him over!”

If I were to directly issue a mission ordering all reincarnators to pledge allegiance to E Xu, our strength would increase instantly. But Wu Ming would never do such a foolish thing. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be obvious to even a fool that Wu Zhi and the Temple of the Primordial have a special relationship? It would only take a moment for someone to trace it back to himself.

After all, with two previous Celestial Immortals having perished and the current chaotic times, many powerful cultivators would inevitably emerge. At a time like this, to act too openly would be nothing short of suicide!

“As for other options, I could pretend to be a reincarnator and make contact, or directly issue orders under the name of the Blood Oath Alliance…”

Wu Ming was very glad that he had previously taken the alias of Gongsu Zhe.

At this point, there was no need to go in person. He could simply disguise himself as the leader of the Blood Oath Alliance or as a senior elder and give orders to Qi Lin. Would he dare to disobey?

In this way, although there was still some risk, it would be within manageable limits.

“Still…there’s no need to go to such lengths…after all, it’s E Xu who wants to dominate the world, not me…”

Wu Ming lazily stretched. “Only through hardship can one achieve greatness. Without experiencing storms, how can one become a true dragon? Besides, E Xu is a woman, and she will inevitably face even more trials!”

Heaven helps those who help themselves! If heaven won’t help, then I will!

Wu Ming felt that he still shouldn’t intervene too early. Otherwise, if Wu Zhi ran to her bedroom to ask her husband for help every time she encountered a problem, would he help or not?

“I don’t want my newly gained leisurely life to turn back into one of constant travel and hardship…”

Wu Ming smirked. “Also…what to do with these reincarnators is a big issue…”

It must be said that since he became the Sovereign, these reincarnators seemed to have entered a long period of happiness without any Primordial missions.

But would everything really be that simple?

So many resources, left unused, would not only possibly lead to some unpleasant speculations from below, but also be a huge waste if not properly utilized!