After submitting the remonstrance, Yan Heng kept waiting. But two days passed with no news, and after five days there was still no news.

Yan Heng couldn’t help frowning.

Even if Gou Xi wasn’t as diligent as before, after five days he should have seen it by now, right?

Yan Heng wasn’t some naive youth fresh from his studies. With a thought, he knew his remonstrance had been suppressed. So he angrily climbed out of his sickbed and wrote another one!

With this burst of energy, even his illness seemed to improve somewhat.

Yan Heng handed the written remonstrance to his servant, instructing with a dark face, “Deliver this letter to General Pei and ask him to pass it on.”

Hmph, did Gou Chun think only he had connections?

After years of service at the General’s side, Yan Heng’s network was no less than Gou Chun’s.

The servant acknowledged this and took the letter to General Pei.

At this time, Zhao Hanzhang had just received Zhao Zhongyu’s letter.

Letters traveled much faster than people—three days was enough.

She casually opened it, then her body slowly straightened…

Ji Yuan, who was waiting with her to discuss matters, couldn’t help but look up.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help standing and pacing about. “Uncle is confused! Someone like Yan Heng—how can he think of having him killed? Wouldn’t it be better to bring him over to work for us?”

Hearing this, Ji Yuan’s eyes flashed with understanding. He asked, “Yan Heng has had a falling out with Gou Xi?”

Zhao Hanzhang handed the letter to Ji Yuan. “Not yet, but it’s not far off.”

Ji Yuan scanned through it quickly and said thoughtfully, “If Gou Xi can no longer employ Yan Heng, he won’t allow him to leave alive either.”

Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “A worthy bird chooses its tree. If lord and minister cannot harmonize, they should part ways.”

What company would kill an employee just because they had different philosophies?

Yan Heng was just working for him, after all.

Ji Yuan closed the letter. “For others there might be a chance, but Gou Xi—he’s very domineering. He won’t allow Yan Heng to live.”

Zhao Hanzhang had only heard from history books about Gou Xi’s reputation for integrity and incorruptibility, as well as regret over his later corruption. This was the first time she’d heard someone call Gou Xi domineering.

Seeing her curiosity, Ji Yuan smiled. “I accompanied the Old Master and met him a few times. These aren’t my words but the Old Master’s conclusion.”

He continued, “When Gou Xi was upright and incorruptible, he had standards for himself. He not only held himself to these standards but judged others by them as well. In fact, because they were others, he always had doubts, so his demands were even more severe.”

“This is different from your grandfather’s incorruptibility.” Zhao Changzhang was stingy. He lived frugally himself but was very good at management. He’d rather hide away all the money he earned than spend it on enjoyment—naturally, he wouldn’t let others enjoy it either.

So he was stingy with himself and stingy with others, but he didn’t demand that others be stingy with themselves.

Thus, Zhao Changzhang’s incorruptibility was limited to himself. Then, leading by example, he would ask colleagues to be like him—a bit more incorruptible, not to exploit the people so much.

Gou Xi was different. He was just and impartial, incorruptible and devoted to public service. He demanded this of himself and judged others by the same standard, even making even more severe demands of others, expecting them to be like him.

“We can’t say he was wrong, but affairs in this world are hard to explain clearly. His demands were like a rope—when he kept pulling the rope toward himself with all his strength, the people on the other end were provoked to rebellion and wanted to go in the opposite direction. Then the rope became taut, and when both sides exerted force, the rope snapped.”

Ji Yuan continued, “Moreover, Gou Xi was not only harsh with his colleagues but even more so with the common people and soldiers. The rules he set, no one was allowed to violate.”

“But there are many ignorant people in this world and few who are wise. The common folk are used to being lax. The requirements set for them should allow them a rope’s length of room to move about. Only then can they function within that range. But Gou Xi would only give them a finger’s width of rope, requiring them to work within such a short range. How could the people not violate his rules?”

Once violated, they would be punished. That’s why there were rumors among the people of Yanzhou that Gou Xi was too severe. But no one dared say it to his face.

“However, Gou Xi is indeed extraordinarily capable. With him there, Yanzhou is like an iron fortress. The Xiongnu find it difficult to invade, and wandering armies find it hard to cause trouble in Yanzhou. The people can barely live in peace.”

So although the people felt Gou Xi was harsh, they also respected him greatly. If he had truly changed beyond recognition as the letter stated, would that respect still exist?

Ji Yuan’s eyes flickered. He looked up at Zhao Hanzhang. More than once, she had told them that whether they were seizing territory, fighting the Xiongnu, or wresting power from the court, their ultimate goal was for the people under their governance.

When the people were stable, the realm would be stable, and only then could they be stable!

Zhao Hanzhang also turned to look at him, their gazes meeting. She looked somewhat puzzled at Ji Yuan. “What’s the matter, sir?”

Ji Yuan smiled and shook his head. He didn’t know what the future would hold. At least for now, Zhao Hanzhang thought this way and acted accordingly.

He returned to the main topic. “In short, it won’t be easy for you to win Yan Heng over. The difficulty isn’t with Yan Heng himself but with Gou Xi. Yanzhou is his territory. Snatching food from a tiger’s mouth won’t be easy.”

Zhao Hanzhang grew troubled but was still unwilling to give up. “We must try.”

So she passed this difficult problem to Zhao Zhongyu. One person’s ideas are limited; two people’s are better. Moreover, Zhao Zhongyu was in Yuncheng—perhaps he would have a solution?

She told Zhao Zhongyu: Uncle, we need to broaden our perspective. Since you think Yan Heng is so capable, why not persuade him to come to Luoyang? Why must we either have Gou Xi kill him or keep him for his own use?

Zhao Hanzhang had always shown great eagerness for talent, so she immediately wrote the letter and had it sent to Yuncheng.

“Uncle’s letter also mentioned that Shen Ruhui and three others are already on their way to Luoyang. They are all officials from the Sinong Temple and Water Department, not only knowledgeable about water mills but even more proficient in other water conservancy projects.” She said, “In these years, Luoyang has barely maintained water conservancy. The ditches are full of mud, branches, and leaves. As a result, there’s water shortage in spring and autumn, yet in summer the stagnant water becomes foul. I’ve long wanted to clear them out.”

“But Luoyang has few people. Some fields can’t even be planted yet. Opening them would waste manpower and slow down the irrigation of fields already sown. I also wanted to make some modifications—water conservancy projects that store water better. So their arrival is just in time. The Sinong Temple has been established; the Water Department should be set up as well.”

Ji Yuan frowned slightly and reminded her, “My lady, you’re only a regional inspector. You don’t have the authority to establish a Water Department. Why not change the name? If word gets out, people will think you have disloyal intentions. His Majesty’s reputation will also suffer.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded readily. “I was thinking the same thing, so I’ve decided to organize a Ministry of Works.”

“Ministry of Works?”

“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “From now on, all civil engineering, water conservancy projects, machinery manufacturing, mining, weaving, and similar matters within our territory will all be under the Ministry of Works’ jurisdiction.”

Ji Yuan’s mouth fell open. “That, that’s the office of Minister of Works, isn’t it?”