Chapter 338: The Fleet is Coming

Lord Feng’s concerns were certainly well-founded.

Li Daoxuan privately thought: Unlike officials, bandits didn’t fight city by city. Instead, they hopped around, weaving and striking unpredictably. When land routes were blocked, they took to waterways, making surprise attacks everywhere—no surprise there.

If his vision had reached Qiachuan Port, he could have deployed his ship model to deal with the bandit fleet immediately. But his vision hadn’t quite reached there yet, which was quite awkward.

He still had to urgently save the citizens of Heyang County!

As long as most of Heyang County’s citizens felt happiness and joy, surrendering their “Rescue Index,” wouldn’t his vision reach Qiachuan Port then?

“Yiye, tell Thirty-Two. Our village must fully support Heyang County’s disaster relief—full support! Have Heyang County initiate work-for-relief immediately. At the same time, I will go at once to bring rain to Heyang County.”

Gao Yiye quietly relayed Li Daoxuan’s divine decree into Thirty-Two’s ear.

Thirty-Two rushed with pride: “Lord Feng, we already discussed aiding Heyang County last time. Without delay, let us begin at once. But as you surely know—give a man a full bowl of rice and he feels gratitude, but give him a dou of rice and he grows resentful. Simply handing out grain to Heyang’s citizens does them no good. Therefore… we must provide aid through wages.”

Feng Jun nodded. “That would be excellent. Mr. Bai and I discussed this last time. Let’s simply construct two roads: one from Quangou Village straight to Heyang County, and another from Gaojia Village to Yang Village… I will organize numerous laborers. The aid and food from you will be distributed to them as wages. After careful thought, I believe keeping workers at half-satiety daily would make them work quite happily.”

Thirty-Two shook his head with a smile. “Who has strength to work at half-satiety? They must eat their fill! Moreover, additional wages must be paid—three jin of flour per day, delivered without fail.”

Feng Jun: “Ah?”

His first impression of the “work-for-relief” scheme had been like distributing congee to help citizens—laborers working to barely eat. Little had he expected Gaojia Village to insist on full meals plus three jin of flour daily as wages—this was…

This far exceeded his expectations!

Feng Jun’s nose bled instantly. He wiped at it; the blood on his face formed two curved lines, like a smile.

Feng Jun: “Is this real?”

Thirty-Two: “Perfectly true.”

Feng Jun rejoiced: “Then this is truly excellent!”

Bai Yuan also stepped forward. “Once work-for-relief is announced, every young adult man will want labor. The militia in your county will disband. Yet Wang Jiayin’s fleet could strike at any moment. If bandits arrive while your militia is digging roads, Heyang County will stand in grave danger.”

Hearing this, Feng Jun’s expression darkened again. “You’re right! What then? I can’t order the militia not to build roads. Cutting off a man’s livelihood is like killing his parents—long before bandits attack, the militia would have rebelled.”

Bai Yuan smiled. “Therefore, we must rethink how your militia is organized.”

Feng Jun: “?”

Bai Yuan continued, “Pay the militia wages. Let them focus wholeheartedly on this promising career without wandering off to other jobs. Gaojia Village will provide their wages, ensuring their income exceeds road construction labor. Thus, they can guard against bandits with peace of mind.”

At first glance, Feng Jun thought the plan excellent.

But on deeper reflection, something felt amiss. Fresh blood gushed from his nose. Wiping his face smeared the blood downward, warping his expression strangely. He muttered lowly, “Laborers pose no issue… but if Gaojia Village pays and supports the militia… something just feels wrong.”

Bai Yuan spread his hands. “Lord Feng overthink things. Militias have always been sustained by local gentry. Since when has the government funded them? Even without Gaojia Village covering the cost, some Zhang Yuanwai, Mr. Li, Wang Yuanwai, or Zheng Yuanwai would fund them. How could any trouble arise?”

Feng Jun found this reasoning somewhat persuasive.

Left this way, it felt off. Right that way, it made sense.

Back and forth, his mind jammed.

In truth, militias differed little from private retainers. They were “civilian forces” maintained by local gentry through wealth—much like mercenaries, loyal to their paymaster.

In ordinary gentry’s hands, they became vital protectors.

In the hands of rebels? They’d barely differ from bandits.

Feng Jun pondered deeply: Heyang County already hosted local gentry maintaining several militias. Recently, they eradicated Fan Shanyue’s remnants. Even harboring vile motives, Gaojia Village couldn’t simply seize militias from local gentry, could they?

Let Gaojia Village support militias if they wished—at worst competing in wealth with Heyang’s gentry. No serious threat.

Perhaps he needn’t worry much here.

Ultimately, Shaanxi drowned in chaos. With the imperial court indifferent, Feng Jun had to save himself through any means necessary—even extreme measures.

Once clear-minded, he dismissed the conflict.

“Good! Let us proceed!”

Now that County Magistrate Feng Jun approved, matters proceeded smoothly.

Gao Yiye smiled. “Since road construction is settled, only one task remains: Gaojia Village will now perform a ritual, inviting the Dragon King to rain upon Heyang County, granting its farmers tangible benefit.”

Her words baffled Feng Jun. “Perform a ritual? Invite the Dragon King for rain? What sorcery is this? If this involves cult practice, I refuse.”

Li Daoxuan had instructed Gao Yiye to say precisely this intentionally.

Previously for Chengcheng County, he’d gradually influenced locals through comic books, then dispatched priests like Third Lady and believers for elaborate groundwork before manifesting divinity.

But that was too slow!

Wang Jiayin’s fleet threatened imminently. Li Daoxuan urgently needed vision over Qiachuan Port and reach into the Yellow River. Lacking leisure now, he resorted to brash “divine being” theatrics.

Gao Yiye continued smiling. “Rest assured, Lord Feng, we practice no cult. Ma Tianzheng—Daoist Ma of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate sect—resides here at Gaojia Village. Simply invite him to Heyang County to perform the ritual, and he shall summon the Dragon King. See how our village escapes drought? The Dragon King brought that rain.”