The Empress’ Livestream
chapter-429

Chapter 429: Rebuilding Xiangyang District (XIII)

Some construction machinery was requested but as they’re yet to be invented in this era, the remaining construction machinery and techniques are outdated.

If it were a bystander commenting on this, Meng Hun may brush it off, but it’s Jiang Pengji who said this!

Who amongst the troops were ignorant about the improved bows which were invented by her?

As the troops’ main military trainer, no one understood more clearly how much the improved version of bows has enhanced their military strength than he did.

To put it plainly, if not for the improved version of bows, these 3000 troops would have died countless of times over.

“The Mo family… I haven’t really heard about them…”

Meng Hun pondered carefully but a pity he couldn’t find any useful recollections.

Though it’s a generation with many schools of thought, due to the influence of revering only the Confucius scholars from the previous dynasty, Confucius scholars are still the most esteemed. They dominate a large portion of the market while Mo family is underrated amongst many families. Perhaps there aren’t many disciples under the Mo family just yet, but many of them live in disguised identities, their reputation is not well-known. To identify some brilliant scholars from the Mo school of thought in Dongqing, Meng Hun foresees that it’d be difficult.

“Forget it, it’s not too late to mention it another time,” she says. She wants to poach scholars from Mo family not because she wanted something from them.

Speaking of battle weapons, who on this earth is more insightful than her?

She only wants to point them in the right scientific direction, to plant the scientific seed on this earth.

Stubbornly holding on to traditions does not only stifle the growth of a generation, it may even cause the era to go backwards.

Jiang Pengji aspires to create a brand-new era, and it’s impossible by herself. She requires more “starters and initiators”.

However, these goals are too far off for her now.

Rather than consider these, she’d rather deliberate about Xiangyang district’s rebuilding work.

There are many options available and each have their strengths.

As Jiang Pengji expected, Qiguan Rang didn’t disappoint her.

He had to rely solely on 1000 imperial guards and 2000 newly recruited soldiers to safeguard the Xiangyang district.

The Tsing Yi army doesn’t have enough rations, they could only hold the fort for two to three days and a long haul will take a toll on them. They also lost over a 1000 men intermittently during the war and could only choose to retreat in the end.

Qiguan Rang stood at the edge of the city wall, regrettably watching the Tsing Yi army retreat while he fanned himself gently.

Sighing softly, he said, “What a pity.”

If not for the limitations in manpower, within the city lies a heap of ruins, he desperately wishes he can swallow Tsing Yi army whole.

Luoyue heard this, and thinking something was wrong, he asked after him.

“Master Qiguan Rang guarded the Xiangyang district and caused the Tsing Yi army to lose thousands of men, it’s not an easy feat.”

Qiguan Rang just wore his usual smile and ordered the men to clean the battleground.

—-

That very afternoon, the sun set from the west.

The guards on duty standing at the sentry tower noticed a group of people, in step with the twilight of sunset, approaching from afar, nearing the Xiangyang district.

The events that happened left everyone on their toes, they still thought their enemies were approaching and sent out the signal.

Qiguan Rang has been on guard duty for a few days, he almost never rested nor slept. Moreover, he saw the signal at present, and inevitably mustered his energy and climbed up the city walls. He squinted his eyes for more than half a day but the distance was too vast and in that short span of time he could not determine where these people hailed from.

After a while, he remarked, “Nothing’s wrong, our lord has returned.”

Their lord is back?

The guards on duty heard this and almost jumped with joy.

Qiguan Rang widened his red-rimmed eyes. “Send men to inform Feng Langjun and the rest,” he said hoarsely.

He raised his hand to wipe his face. Having not washed his face for days, a layer of oil had accumulated on his face.

Luckily Qiguan Rang wasn’t obsessed with cleanliness… if this happens to Feng Jin, he would surely be mad.

He got someone to bring him water to wash his face. After washing up, his face started brimming with unbridled joy. “Let’s go to welcome our lord.”

It is hard not to be overjoyed, seeing Jiang Pengji’s team: it has a strength of minimally 4000 men.

After a season of rest, that would be 4000 men in action!

Qiguan Rang naturally curled the sides of his lips, yet doubts took root in his heart.

Something was amiss… he seemed to have forgotten something.

He stayed up for so many nights to meditate that his brain is not as sharp. Qiguan Rang determined in his heart he will stop forcing himself to think of what he had forgot.

From far off, Jiang Pengji witnessed the Xiangyang district’s pathetic state: the few remaining city walls stained with the blood of countless men.

Sensing this, Qiguan Rang, though he secured the Xiangyang district, the stress involved was obviously huge.

“Rang welcomes my lord!”

Jiang Pengji jumped off the horse, she held Qiguan Rang up who came out to welcome her. His eyes were bloodshot, his dark eye circles became increasingly vivid, the viewers in the livestreaming room were felt sorry for him at the sight. Jiang Pengji’s heart softened, is a rare occurrence, and said, “These few days of securing the city, Wen Zheng has worked hard. Leave the remaining business to Xiaoyu, the rest and myself, you can return to rest first before you collapse from exhaustion.”

This time Qiguan Rang didn’t stubbornly refuse to admit he was tired.

Disregarding all else, he felt he could sleep immediately once his head touched the pillow.

Feng Jin and the rest received the news and hurried over. They saw Jiang Pengji return safely and were relieved.

A relatively small scale army attacked the Xiangyang district. Moreover, the Tsing Yi were just an unruly group of people, while they had the advantage of the city walls and machinery to defend the city. Comparatively, Jiang Pengji and the rest who were outside carrying out relief efforts were at greater risk.

Seeing that she came back in one piece, Feng Jin and the rest felt a heavy burden lifted from their hearts.

Yet, as they looked left and right, they couldn’t help but wonder where was Qiguan Rang?

“Wen Zheng is too tired from safeguarding the city the past few days, so I agreed to let him return to rest,” Jiang Pengji finished her words and turned towards Feng Jin. “I will leave it to you, Huaiyu, to help settle down the prisoners of the Tsing Yi army and the people from Fengyi county. There are many young and strong men in their midst who can be of use.”

Feng Jin got news that the Xiangyang district will increase in house ownership, he secretly pitied Qiguan Rang.

You must know this unlucky brother oversaw the registration of households.

When there are more people, his workload increased proportionally.

In ancient times, there weren’t computers or typewriters, for Qiguan Rang to compile the household register, he has to write every word.

Not to mention that even the few girls he borrowed from Jiang Pengji have also stayed up late till their dark eye circles formed.

Surprisingly, Xiangyang district has an increase in their population by thousands, this indicated that there’ll be endless overtime to do.

Qiguan Rang didn’t show any reaction on the surface, but who knows? Perhaps his heart is already fuming mad and he’s gnashing his teeth inwardly.

Feng Jin secretly thought this in his heart, but stopped his mouth instead to say, “Jin will surely make arrangements for them.”

Jiang Pengji then turned to Xu Ke, “With a few thousand more mouths, the rations in the warehouse cannot be wasted anymore. Recruit more labourers amidst the residents quickly to let them work for their meals. After all, we aren’t a charity, we cannot give out free meals for much longer.”

Xu Ke nodded, though his workload increased, compared to Qiguan Rang, he can accept it.

Humans cannot help comparison.

“As for the troops…” As Jiang Pengji mentioned the troops, she couldn’t help recalling the fact that she lost close to half of them. Just thinking of it made her heart break. “Military trainer Meng, let all the troops take one day of leave. We have been traversing everywhere all the while, everyone is tired. As for those brothers who are sick, based on the severity of their illness, use your discretion to give them time off work and they don’t have to join in the works of Xiangyang district just yet. When they recover from their injuries then arrange a role for them.”

Meng Hun cupped his hands and said, “Your servant will obey.”