Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress
Chapter 345 - 342: Worries About Future Troubles - Part 1

Chapter 345: Chapter 342: Worries About Future Troubles - Part 1

"Hijacked?"

Bai Qingyan raised her eyebrows and thought of Ji Tingyu. Could it be that Ji Tingyu led people to hijack it?

But Xiao Rongyan had many experts under his command. The goods they protected were considerable in number. How then could they have been hijacked by Ji Tingyu’s people?

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes to look at Xiao Rongyan, who had a meaningful smile in his eyes, and immediately understood the implication in his words.

She retorted, "Although the Bai family’s ancestral home is in Shuoyang, we have never lived in Shuoyang. How could someone as wise and perceptive as Mr. Xiao not know this?"

"Since I came to find you, Commandery Princess, it is because I believe that only you can help me with this matter." Xiao Rongyan almost admitted that he knew the "bandits" who hijacked his goods were Bai Qingyan’s people.

Rather than asking her to introduce a family that owned tea mountains, it was more like Xiao Rongyan was reminding her to return his goods.

She was not afraid of Xiao Rongyan knowing that the so-called bandits were her people. After all, she also knew Xiao Rongyan’s biggest secret: his true identity.

Bai Qingyan’s people posing as bandits did not threaten Xiao Rongyan’s interests or those of the Yan Kingdom. Xiao Rongyan would not make an enemy of her before Yan became strong enough to dominate other nations.

What Yan had to do now was to work secretly in this chaotic world, preparing for future dominance.

Since Xiao Rongyan already knew, she decided not to play games with him.

"Mr. Xiao, you are indeed beady-eyed and sharp-eared."

"It’s not that I’m beady-eyed and sharp-eared. The last time I went to Shuoyang, it was to check the local business and the hijacking of my tea. I spent a lot of effort, and it was only this morning that I finally got the news back..."

Bai Jinzhi, hearing the conversation between Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan, felt a jolt in her heart. She understood that Mr. Xiao had found out that the "bandits" were from their Bai family, which was why he came to find her eldest sister.

However, Mr. Xiao was unwilling to break the matter openly. He would probably keep it a secret.

Bai Jinzhi really did not expect Xiao Rongyan to be so formidable. If such a person could join the Bai family and help her eldest sister, that would be great.

Considering the many capable people under Xiao Rongyan, she admired Ji Tingyu, who was under Bai Qingyan. It had taken until this morning for the matter to be discovered, which was impressive.

Had Xiao Rongyan’s men not seen Ji Tingyu in front of the Bai Mansion and been moved by his loyalty in returning the bamboo slip to the Bai family, they might not have linked those bandits to the Princess of Zhen.

It was precisely because they knew the bandits were from the Princess of Zhen that Xiao Rongyan’s men did not kill them but reported back to Xiao Rongyan for a decision.

The Crown Prince knew early on that Xiao Rongyan’s goods had been hijacked. He had previously said: "Although there are no troops to spare for bandit suppression, the Crown Prince can order the local officials to help Xiao Rongyan recover his goods."

This morning, learning that Bai Qingyan’s people had hijacked his goods, Xiao Rongyan went to the Crown Prince’s residence before coming to the Princess of Zhen’s residence. He said it was unnecessary to trouble the Crown Prince. He sought the Princess of Zhen’s help in introducing families in Shuoyang that had long managed tea mountains, hoping to deepen his relationship with the Commandery Princess and begging the Crown Prince not to involve local officials in this matter.

The Crown Prince laughed, saying Xiao Rongyan was willing to forgo his goods for a chance to be with a beauty. He then withdrew his order to the local officials to help Xiao Rongyan recover his goods.

"Mr. Xiao is too modest. Regarding the famine in Yanwo, you knew much earlier than the Jin court. Isn’t that beady-eyed and sharp-eared?" Bai Qingyan had a faint smile on her lips.

Xiao Rongyan rubbed his fingers slightly inside his sleeve, his long eyelashes half-closed against the glaring sunlight. "It seems your information is also very well-informed, Commandery Princess."

"Elder Sister, let’s not stand outside the mansion to talk. Let’s invite Mr. Xiao in for a cup of tea!" Bai Jinzhi’s eyes were bright, and she bowed to Xiao Rongyan. "Does Mr. Xiao have any other engagements?"

Xiao Rongyan did not answer. With a smile, his dark eyes turned to Bai Qingyan, as if wanting to see her opinion before responding.

Bai Jinzhi had already extended the invitation, and Bai Qingyan needed to ask Xiao Rongyan about the famine in Yanwo.

"Mr. Xiao, please..." Bai Qingyan made a gesture of invitation toward Xiao Rongyan.

Xiao Rongyan nodded. "Then I shall accept your invitation out of respect."

After entering, Bai Qingyan ordered tea to be served. She then asked Xiao Rongyan, "When do you need this batch of white tea, Mr. Xiao?"

Xiao Rongyan replied, "By the 20th of this month at the latest."

Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then looked at Xiao Rongyan, who had a faint smile, and said, "Mr. Xiao, rest assured and wait for the news. It will not affect your business."

"Thank you for your kind words, Commandery Princess," Xiao Rongyan gave a light bow to Bai Qingyan. "Since the Commandery Princess has helped me this time, how can I repay you?"

"Mr. Xiao, why don’t you candidly tell me, when did you learn about the famine in Yanwo?" Bai Qingyan asked.

"Earlier this year..." Xiao Rongyan answered truthfully.

Bai Qingyan glanced at Bai Jinzhi, then asked Xiao Rongyan, "Do you know when Yan began preparations to draw the refugees from Yanwo into Yan?"

Xiao Rongyan slowly began to explain from the beginning...

"When Yanwo was still part of Yan, Empress Ji ordered the renowned water conservancy expert Sima Sheng to supervise the construction of the Guanghe Canal. Although it was intended to alleviate the flooding in Pingyang City north of the Niuliang River, Yanwo, a long-dry region, also benefited. Thanks to this canal, it became fertile land."

Bai Qingyan nodded.

"Due to insufficient financial and human resources during construction, Mr. Sima was worried about the water disaster harming the people. After careful design, water only flowed into the Guanghe Canal during the flood period of the Niuliang River, ensuring ample supply. However, this method meant the Guanghe Canal could only last twenty years. To ensure the canal’s benefits for centuries, it was necessary to overhaul and extend it to the Changhe River after twenty years."

"Afterward... Yanwo became Jin territory, and no one mentioned canal repairs again. The Guanghe Canal has been completed for twenty years now. Last July, the canal dried up. The County Governor of Yanwo thought this year it would be alleviated, but Yan already knew this was just the beginning. Even Yan didn’t expect that Yanwo, like Yan, would suffer a severe snowstorm in winter. This caused the Guanghe Canal to overflow during the Niuliang River’s flood season, accumulating until the March torrential rains. The abandoned canal, not connected to the Changhe River, naturally led to disaster!"

"It just so happened that Yan had recovered Nanyan and had enough grain and farmland to accept the refugees. Naturally, they would seize the opportunity." Xiao Rongyan said with a smile.

Bai Qingyan suddenly understood.

"Regarding Mr. Sima, I have already informed the Crown Prince. But whether Jin now has the capacity to repair the Guanghe Canal is uncertain. After all... War between Daliang and Jin may break out soon." Xiao Rongyan said.

Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the teacup. Xiao Rongyan wasn’t the kind of person who would speak without basis. If he said there might be a war, there probably would be a war.

She looked up at Xiao Rongyan, wondering if this had anything to do with him.

After all, with Yan’s main force heading to Rong, a war between Jin and Daliang would leave Yan without worries.