Saving My Life By Simping For My Empress - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Qin Ji is in the light, so he will go into the shadows.

After leaving a letter for Mo Ziqian, the fleet set sail once more. Qin Ji traveled with Wei Yu all the way to the border at Guanzhou before disembarking to travel by land to Ningzhou, which bordered the State of Wei.

However, Ningzhou no longer directly bordered the original Wei territory. Since Qin Ji had demanded three cities from Wei Qiong, the border line had shifted; the contact point between the two nations was now the three cities that formerly belonged to Wei but were now part of Qin.

The party stopped in Ningzhou. Zheng Lu personally welcomed Qin Ji into the city and arranged for him to stay at the General’s Manor. This manor, a gift from the late Emperor, had been recently renovated and was much finer than the Ningzhou Governor’s residence.

“I knew that with your capability, you would settle things quickly,” Qin Ji said during a private talk with Zheng Lu after seeing Wei Yu off to rest. “I was actually startled when you sent word that the border was already stabilized.”

According to Qin Ji’s estimates, it should have taken until June at the earliest for Zheng Lu to fully integrate the three cities into Qin territory. He hadn’t expected the task to be finished by the end of May.

Zheng Lu bowed and said, “Your Majesty may not be aware, but the taxes collected by Wei are much higher than ours. After occupying those cities last year, I learned the border people were suffering. I sent agents to spread word of Qin’s tax policies. The people of these three cities already harbored resentment toward Wei, and now that they’ve been bartered away to get back that incompetent diplomatic mission, their dissatisfaction is profound. It took very little effort to bring them to order.”

“Oh?” Qin Ji asked. “How much tax did Wei Qiong collect?”

Zheng Lu: “Replying to Your Majesty—fifty percent.”

“Fifty percent?” Qin Ji was shocked. “Why didn’t Wei Qiong just go out and commit highway robbery instead?”

The border between Qin and Wei consisted of barren land where life was already hard. Collecting half of their harvest was effectively a death sentence. Qin Ji inwardly cursed Wei Qiong as a black-hearted bastard.

“It’s like this: because the border requires a large standing army, it costs a fortune. Since Wei Qiong ascended the throne, he wanted to cut military spending, so he shifted the burden of supporting the border troops onto the local regions. The local governments had no money, so they had to squeeze it out of the commoners.” Zheng Lu, having guarded the border for years, knew every detail.

Qin Ji sneered. “If I were a Wei commoner, I’d have a problem too.” No wonder they were happy to throw themselves into Qin’s embrace. Qin only collected ten percent tax at the border, with the central treasury covering local administrative costs.

“Tomorrow, we go to Xianzhou for a look,” Qin Ji mused, deciding to see the situation for himself.

…

After Zheng Lu left, Qin Ji met with Zheng Shou.

“The Wei mission was handed over safely, right?” Qin Ji lowered his voice. “Did you manage to fatten them up a bit?”

Zheng Shou: “Rest assured, Your Majesty. Every meal I served them was rich and oily.”

With heavy food and traveling by carriage, it would be a miracle if they didn’t gain weight.

“Good,” Qin Ji smiled meaningfully. With a “plump” Wei Wuxia returning, Wei Qiong wouldn’t be able to claim she suffered in Qin once Wei Yu arrived at the Wei capital.

Thinking about his upcoming separation from Wei Yu, Qin Ji’s mood plummeted. “Zheng Shou, remember what I told you. You must protect Wei Yu.”

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. As long as I am there, no one will touch a single hair on the Prince’s head.”

…

Shortly after, the Governor of Ningzhou, Zeng Yi, arrived in a panic. “Subject Zeng Yi, Governor of Ningzhou, greets Your Majesty. I failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive me.”

Qin Ji waved him off. “I am traveling incognito. I didn’t want a fuss.”

“Your Majesty, I have come to seek your instruction on a matter.” Zeng Yi presented a folded paper.

Qin Ji opened it. After reading the two short sentences, his expression turned grave. “Is this for certain?”

Zeng Yi: “This was calculated by the Imperial Astronomers (Sitianjian) and sent down to me. There is no mistake.”

Qin Ji brooded. An earthquake wasn’t like a flood; it couldn’t be prevented with money. What kind of luck was this? Shortly after taking the three cities, a massive earthquake was predicted, and the epicenter was right in one of the ceded cities.

“Aiqing, if I remember correctly, Yungui City is a major provincial center.”

Zeng Yi: “Precisely. It connects Qin to the east, Duogua to the north, and Cangzhu to the south. It is a vital hub with a large population. If left alone, the losses will be catastrophic.”

Qin Ji had a headache. There were tens of thousands in Yungui. He had to order a total evacuation. He didn’t have historical records for this area, as Qin was only a hundred years old.

“Regardless, we must move the people out of the city,” Qin Ji muttered. He ordered the government and army to coordinate a total evacuation. Those with relatives could go to them—even if they wanted to go back to Wei, they shouldn’t be stopped. Those with nowhere to go would be housed in tents.

Zeng Yi hesitated. “Your Majesty, an earthquake is dangerous. Perhaps you should…”

“If I leave now, the whole world will laugh at me. I’m not going anywhere,” Qin Ji smiled. “Don’t worry, the quake won’t reach Ningzhou’s foundations. I’ll be fine.”

…

“Gao De, issue a decree. Order Zheng Shou to ready the mission. They depart for the Wei capital tomorrow immediately.” Qin Ji didn’t care about his own safety, but he wouldn’t put Wei Yu in danger.

“But Your Majesty, will you not tell the Prince?” Gao De worried. “He will be furious if he finds out later.”

Qin Ji: “It’s precisely because he’ll be angry that I can’t tell him. Let him go settle his old scores without distraction.” If Wei Yu knew about the earthquake, he wouldn’t leave.

Qin Ji then ordered Zheng Lu to prepare all available military tents to house the refugees. He also had to prepare for the possibility of the surrounding nations—Wei, Duogua, or Cangzhu—using the disaster as an opportunity to harass Qin.

…

Wei Yu finally saw Qin Ji at dinner and immediately asked, “What happened? Why are you sending me away tomorrow?”

Qin Ji looked away. “Nothing… I just want you to go and come back early. The weather will get too hot for travel soon.”

“Qin Mingche, stop fooling me,” Wei Yu said. “You never lie to me. You can’t hide your feelings in front of me at all.”

Qin Ji: QAQ!

Under Wei Yu’s silent gaze, Qin Ji surrendered. “I’ll tell you, but you still have to leave with Zheng Shou tomorrow. An Emperor’s decree shouldn’t be changed on a whim.”

He handed Wei Yu the note. Wei Yu scanned it. “An earthquake? Is this true?”

Qin Ji nodded. Wei Yu gripped the paper, searching his memories of his past life. In his previous life, the Tyrant hadn’t taken these cities. He vaguely remembered hearing about a great earthquake in Wei territory back then, but as a hostage, he hadn’t known the details.

“I know you worry about the people, but you can trust me,” Qin Ji said seriously. “I’ve learned from you and Teacher for so long; I can handle this. Besides, Zheng Lu is here.”

Wei Yu lowered his head and took Qin Ji’s hand. “I will leave Ningzhou with the mission tomorrow.”

He knew staying would only distract Qin Ji. Moreover, if he didn’t return to the Wei capital, he couldn’t stop Wei Qiong from plotting against Qin from the shadows. Qin Ji would handle the “light,” and he would handle the “dark.”

“A-Yu.” Qin Ji hugged him, pressing his cheek against Wei Yu’s. “I’m sorry.”

Wei Yu shook his head. “Between us, there is no need for that.”

…

The next morning, Qin Ji saw the mission off. He gave Bailu strict instructions to protect Wei Yu.

“A-Yu, no matter what answers you find, come back quickly.” In front of the crowd, Qin Ji couldn’t be too intimate, so he untied his personal jade pendant and fastened it to Wei Yu. “Keep this as a protective charm.”

Wei Yu stroked the jade and, in front of everyone, kissed Qin Ji on the cheek. “Wait for me. I’ll be home soon.”

As the mission vanished into the distance, Qin Ji immediately mounted his horse. “Gao De, stay at the Manor. Handle the reports. Send the urgent ones to me, keep the rest.”

Gao De was horrified. “Your Majesty, you are going to Yungui City!”

“I have to see the situation myself,” Qin Ji gripped the reins. “Zheng Lu, Zeng Yi—let’s go!”

…

Qin Ji arrived at Yungui City by lunchtime. He didn’t eat, heading straight for the county yamen. Yungui had been downgraded from a provincial capital to a county under Qin rule. The current Magistrate, Zhou Xian, was a former Wei official and a local who stayed behind to protect his people.

When Zhou Xian saw the Emperor sitting in the hall instead of the Governor, he was stunned.

“Magistrate Zhou, you should have received the word. A great earthquake is coming. Everyone must evacuate,” Qin Ji said.

Zhou Xian reported that there were over 20,000 people to move. Qin Ji ordered the military to assist without conflict.

Qin Ji went out into the streets. The city was in chaos. Not everyone believed the government’s notice. Some, especially former Wei soldiers, were defiant.

He encountered a middle-aged man in Wei armor, Zhang Gong, screaming at his family for trying to leave. “I am a soldier of Wei! I won’t be ordered around by Qin people!” He threw their packed bags into the mud.

When his elderly mother tried to stop him, he pushed her to the ground. When his wife intervened, he raised his hand to strike her.

“Chen Xuanwen,” Qin Ji’s face was dark.

Chen Xuanwen grabbed Zhang Gong’s hand and gave it a light twist, making the man howl. “Brother, pushing your mother and hitting your wife? That’s not right.”

Qin Ji helped pick up the family’s meager belongings. “Someone, escort this family out of the city.” Two Imperial Guards stepped forward to help the woman and the old lady.

“Who do you think you are?” Zhang Gong struggled. “I’m the head of this house! I say we stay!”

Qin Ji was amused by the man’s arrogance. “You’re the head of nothing.”

The man’s wife and mother left him behind, protected by the guards. Zhang Gong screamed about his loyalty to Wei.

Qin Ji replied coldly, “People of any nation have the right to survive a disaster.” He remembered how Wei Yu, despite being from Wei, worked for the Qin people.

“Chen Xuanwu, send word: anyone who obstructs the evacuation will be dealt with by military law.”

Zhang Gong began hurling insults, accusing his wife of having an affair with “this pretty boy” (Qin Ji). Qin Ji closed his eyes.

“Master, how should we handle him?” Chen Xuanwen asked after dislocating the man’s jaw to shut him up.

“Throw him outside the walls of the nearest Wei city. Since he refuses Qin’s protection, Qin will no longer provide it.” Qin Ji turned away.

He didn’t care about the man’s resentment toward Qin, but a man who beats his mother and wife was beneath contempt. If a man doesn’t love his family, how can he talk of loving his country?

“Master, what next? Back to the yamen?” Chen Xuanwu asked.

Qin Ji shook his head. “Have everyone grab some dry rations. We’re going to help the people move house.”