TSWRLM -Chapter 316 Cutting Off the Water

After court, the imperial study was crowded with people.

His Majesty sat at the desk, his expression cold and stern, with high-ranking civil and military officials lined on either side. Shen Qingyuan and the Crown Prince were also present.

Xiao Yechen reported that Wengzhou had completely fallen into Yuexi hands. Xuanyuan Lang had stationed 30,000 troops in the city, planning to use Wengzhou’s grain as military supplies after the autumn harvest to provoke war once again.

Neighboring Yuzhou and Lizhou were also heavily affected by the incense, with nearly 30% of the troops exposed.

The situation was even more serious than anticipated.

Wengzhou bordered Yuexi, but vast deserts provided a natural barrier. Now, Xuanyuan Lang had silently breached it using the Xiao Hun incense, stationing 30,000 soldiers inside Wengzhou. Once the autumn harvest arrived, with ample supplies, the Yuexi forces could strike suddenly—it was difficult to predict the outcome.

Even if they realized the conspiracy now, time to respond was limited.

“What do you all think?”

His Majesty spoke solemnly. The atmosphere in the study grew heavy.

The General of the Nation spoke first: “I believe we should immediately mobilize troops to Wengzhou and, before the harvest, annihilate the Yuexi forces in one stroke!”

The Chancellor shook his head: “It’s reckless to act rashly. Wengzhou still has tens of thousands of civilians. If Xuanyuan Lang uses them as human shields, we cannot risk their lives for a siege. But if we hesitate for the people, Xuanyuan Lang could escape unscathed, leaving us outmaneuvered.”

Xuanyuan Lang’s schemes had already caused many families to perish. His plan had to be crushed and he had to be captured and severely punished to reassure the populace and quell public anger.

But accomplishing this would not be easy.

The room fell silent again. The Crown Prince spoke: “To spread the incense to Zhaoling, Xuanyuan Lang enlisted Li Huaijing and his wife, who then recruited Prince Ying. To obtain the complete incense-making method, Prince Ying secretly went to Wengzhou. By his side is someone named Lanshu, fluent in Yuexi, who can pass along information. We can turn this to our advantage: before the autumn harvest, trap Xuanyuan Lang in the city and catch him like a fish in a barrel.”

With insiders, the plan became much more feasible.

The officials were encouraged, and Shen Qingyuan added: “Wengzhou’s climate is dry. In recent years, a lot of labor and resources have been spent digging canals to bring water, improving crop yields. But this also has a fatal flaw: if the upstream water is cut off, Wengzhou will become a city without water.”

The Duke of the Nation immediately volunteered: “Then cut off their water! I am willing to lead troops to Wengzhou at once and capture Xuanyuan Lang alive.”

Shen Qingyuan shook his head: “It’s not so simple. Upstream, rainfall is frequent in summer and autumn. Bringing water to Wengzhou has reduced floods in recent years. Cutting off Wengzhou’s water could inundate vast fertile fields upstream, causing huge losses in this year’s harvest. Upstream residents would need massive resources to relocate. Wengzhou is Zhaoling’s breadbasket—any disruption now would put us at a disadvantage. The timing of the water cut must also perfectly align with troop movements to strike the enemy without alerting them, ensuring their morale is shattered and minimizing our casualties.”

The matter was urgent. His Majesty summoned officials from the Ministry of Works for consultation.

It wasn’t until late at night that Shen Qingyuan left the palace.

There were too many uncertainties with the water-cutting plan. After hours of discussion, no real progress had been made.

Exhaustion showed on Shen Qingyuan’s face as he returned to the main residence, only to find the small kitchen still lit.

He walked over and saw Chun Xi busy at the stove.

The child was almost six months old; Chun Xi’s belly had grown prominently. Shen Qingyuan frowned and pulled her gently: “I told you to rest earlier and not wait up for me. Even if you wanted to wait, you shouldn’t be preparing food yourself.”

His tone carried a hint of reproach. Chun Xi quickly tiptoed and covered his mouth: “Husband, keep your voice down. If Nanny Li or Nanny Zhang hears me, all my effort is wasted!”

She then pulled two baked sweet potatoes from the stove.

Nanny Li and Nanny Zhang had spent decades in the palace, carefully managing Chun Xi’s diet during pregnancy. She had wanted baked sweet potatoes for a long time, but they wouldn’t allow it. Having woken up hungry after a nap, she had secretly taken two to roast.

“I wasn’t intentionally waiting for you—I just woke up hungry after a nap.”

Chun Xi wiped them clean with dry straw, compared them carefully, and handed the slightly larger one to Shen Qingyuan: “Husband, you take the bigger one, I’ll take the smaller one. Don’t tell the nannies, okay?”

“All right.”

Shen Qingyuan peeled his sweet potato. Chun Xi eagerly broke hers apart. The soft, sweet aroma immediately filled the air.

She bit into it without caring about the heat, her expression instantly lighting up: “Finally! So good!”

Shen Qingyuan had been stressed over the water-cutting plan, but seeing Chun Xi so happy over a simple sweet potato relaxed him. Together, they savored the flavor.

The sweet potatoes were small and quickly finished.

Chun Xi clapped her hands and suddenly hugged Shen Qingyuan.

He was momentarily surprised but returned the embrace, softly asking: “What’s wrong? Aren’t you full?”

Chun Xi shook her head: “No, it’s just… you looked tired when you came back. I can’t help you, so the baby and I can only hug you.”

They were close; her belly pressed against him. Just as she spoke, Shen Qingyuan felt a gentle movement in her abdomen.

“Husband, the baby is moving—can you feel it?”

Chun Xi’s eyes sparkled. Shen Qingyuan had already felt the movement before, but this still touched him deeply.

He nodded and softly explained the plan to cut off water and besiege the city.

Chun Xi didn’t understand hydraulics, but thought seriously and said: “The ministers are skilled in waterworks, but having been in office so long, they may not know the actual situation. To make the best plan, we should inspect the land firsthand, speak with locals, and study recent climate changes.”

Shen Qingyuan praised her generously: “You make perfect sense.”

Chun Xi smiled, then asked after a pause: “This plan was your idea first. Why don’t you volunteer? Isn’t that letting someone else take all the credit?”

“Anyone could do it, but you and the child need me. I can’t leave.”

“What are you saying?” Chun Xi pushed him gently, hands on her hips, frowning. “You’re not a doctor or midwife. You won’t be able to do anything in the delivery room, and the country is in peril. You think I’m the type to care only about myself, ignoring the greater good?”

“I never thought that…”

Shen Qingyuan tried to explain, but Chun Xi continued: “These days, the princess, He’er, and I have seen how much the noblewomen suffered when addicted. The Yuexi hurt so many innocent people in such a vile way—they deserve to die. If you go to the front because of this, I won’t feel helpless. I’ll be proud of you.”

“…”

The next day, Shen Qingyuan volunteered and went with eight Ministry of Works officials to inspect the upstream region of Wengzhou.

That same day, the Duke of the Nation secretly left the capital, carrying the tiger tally to coordinate grain and troop deployments.