BXBX NOVEL Chapter 29 - 29: Ulterior Motives
“It looks like there won’t be any rain again,” Zhu Minglang muttered to himself. The forest had its own way of storing water, dense shrubs, thick soil, and those leaves that oozed water when the sun steamed them, while the towns in the valleys were so dry that even the ground was cracked.
It wasn’t that people had no water to drink, but rather that the fields and livestock lacked a substantial amount of water, and winter was coming; people needed to stock up on some food.
Little White really was lazy. It clearly had wings and had just woken from a long sleep, yet it didn’t want to flit through the lovely forest, preferring to just lounge on Zhu Minglang’s shoulder…
Determined not to come down and walk on its own if it could ride on someone.
Luckily, the little guy was light; if Big Black Tooth shared that same attitude, Zhu Minglang felt he might as well change careers and become an armorer, leaving the Dragon Shepherd profession behind.
“There’s a cliff ahead in the valley, it’s not suitable to continue this way. Look around and see if there’s another path,” Zhu Minglang said to Bai Qi.
Bai Qi seemed reluctant to leave this comfortable perch, its little head nuzzling uD to Zhu Minglang’s face. acting sDoiled.
“Lazy will be the death of you,” said Zhu Minglang, torn between laughter and tears.
Forget it, I’ll go explore myself.
Zhu Minglang bypassed the stream and discovered that the terrain of the forest ahead suddenly rose, with several spots that were so steep there was no place to climb…
“Strange, why are there traces of a path here?”
As he skirted the steep area, Zhu Minglang noticed that some vines and brambles in the forest were cut, and there was a clear path underfoot, just like the mountain paths frequented by woodcutters.
With some suspicion, Zhu Minglang followed the path to higher ground and, according to his memory, located the position of Stream River… But the sight that met his eyes made Zhu Minglang speechless.
A water dam!
There was a dam, perfectly positioned at the steep area to completely block the stream.
The water conservancy methods of Ancestral Dragon City weren’t archaic; it would have been normal to find a water dam in such a place.
The water dam was meant to store water during times of abundant rainfall and release water during droughts, which was a completely standard agricultural water management practice.
Yet behind this water dam, the water was as plentiful as a mountain lake, not showing the slightest sign of drying up, and the high stream, though not much, was still continuously pouring into this valley water dam!
With the storage capacity of this water dam, it could completely irrigate the dry fields of Rong Valley City and sustain the livestock, as long as the stone sluice gate of the dam was opened!!
“What’s going on here??” Zhu Minglang was somewhat bewildered.
The young City Lord had clearly stated that Rong Valley City was out of water, making irrigation and feeding a huge problem, yet here this dam had amassed a full source of water—was it deliberate, to put the common people in crisis!
Zhu Minglang had a somewhat good impression of the young City Lord, who was neither servile nor overbearing when facing Dragon Shepherds, who articulated matters in an organized way, and who even considered some of the hazards brought by nighttime rainfall…
However, seeing this full reservoir, seeing the securely locked sluice gate, seeing the meager stream that flowed into the mountain fields and pastures,
Zhu Minglang felt a strong disgust and disappointment toward the young City Lord!
Water abounded, but they wouldn’t release it.
The suffering of the people, ignored.
Such suspicious intentions!
On the way back, Zhu Minglang felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
Though he harbored no great ambitions, he couldn’t stand the sight of such loathsome bureaucratic corruption. It would be best to inform Teacher Duan Lan of the matter as soon as possible.
In contrast, Teacher Duan Lan was truly a person of great kindness. He didn’t mind flying thousands of miles to the eastern Rong Valley City, just for a rain ritual that brought him no benefits, and he also established a valuable concept for the Dragon Shepherd trainees that “those who are capable should bring welfare to the toiling masses.”
At noon, beams of intense light struck like whips upon all things, fruit orchards withered, fields cracked open, and although it was autumn, which should bring ample warmth, it only made people feel colder at heart.
With the temperature varying greatly between day and night, Zhu Minglang returned to Rong Valley City already soaked in sweat. He walked along the street toward his residence and saw vendors hastily packing up their wares, looking somewhat panicked.
Upon arriving home, Zhu Minglang didn’t see his teacher and classmates, who had probably gone to the ritual altar. After asking a servant for directions, he made his way there.
Just as he stepped out the door, he encountered someone coming toward him. Seeing Zhu Minglang, the man acted as if he had been searching for him, his expression somewhat peculiar.
“Is it Brother Zhu?” The man bowed deeply.
Zhu Minglang looked at him but remained silent.
This man was the young City Lord, Zheng Yu.
Zheng Yu stood before Zhu Minglang, maintaining his bow, which made Zhu Minglang wary and ready to call upon Bai Qi at any moment.
“I heard Brother Zhu went to the Stream River upstream, did you see the water dam?” Zheng Yu continued to ask, his tone unchanged.
“I did,” Zhu Minglang said, ready for what might come next.
“Are you going to inform Commanders Duan Lan and Ke Bei?” Zheng Yu asked again, still in the same tone.
“Speak your mind directly,” Zhu Minglang said, ready to act.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Brother Zhu. Zheng Yu is but a weak scholar who does not understand the Way of the Dragon Shepherd, and I harbor no ill intentions toward you. Before you inform the two commanders, could you please hear me out? If Brother Zhu still wishes to expose my disgraceful actions to the public and to the teachers after listening, I will not stop you and am willing to accept punishment,” Zheng Yu said, rising and showing a hint of sincerity.
Zhu Minglang glanced at the sky.
A moment ago it had been cloudless, but now, it was overcast, and he wasn’t sure if this was another sudden change in weather or if Teacher Duan Lan was already casting the Azure Dragon Mystics.
It was no longer scorching, but it started to feel oppressive.
“Then, City Lord, please speak,” Zhu Minglang said, not in a hurry, as the man had come this far in conversation.
“Brother Zhu, do you know of Wutu, do you know that fifty miles away, soldiers are fighting against the Wutu Rebels?” Zheng Yu began.
“I know,” Zhu Minglang nodded.
Wutu, where he had fond memories… fond memories of growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms.
“I see Brother Zhu as a wise man, so what is your take on this war?” Zheng Yu asked.
“I’m only listening to you,” Zhu Minglang said indifferently, though inwardly, he started to see Zheng Yu in a different light.
This man’s actions might be disgusting, but he was clear-sighted, a world apart from a certain small trader at the bridgehead.
(Let’s change the update time, eh? Two chapters before seven in the evening If I don’t have drafts stored, I usually write all afternoon and then postCough cough, here comes the flavor you’re familiar with….)