Chương 424: Using the "Favorable Weather Card," Prefect Su Gu of Hanzhong

In the first year of Chuping, mid-December.

Winters in Luoyang are dry and cold; the wind feels like knives on your face.

But in the greenhouse in the backyard of the Prince of Yan's mansion, it was as warm as spring, and the flowers and plants were growing vigorously, showing no signs of winter.

Liu Ce, dressed in casual clothes, reclined on a lounge chair in the greenhouse, holding a cup of hot milk tea in his hand, and took a satisfied sip.

On the small table next to it were freshly baked pastries and a plate of cut fruit.

The greenhouse was built by Song Yingxing and his team. It was heated by charcoal fires, and the temperature was perfectly controlled.

"Ah, these days are so comfortable." Liu Ce crossed his legs, squinted at the flowers and plants in the greenhouse, but his mind was elsewhere.

There's also a "Good Weather Card" lying in the system.

"System, open the panel," Liu Ce silently instructed in his mind.

A virtual screen unfolded before his eyes, visible only to him.

Above the screen, a glittering gold card floats, with five large characters written on it: "Favorable Weather Card".

Below is a line of smaller print: "After use, it will ensure that the host's prefectures and counties will have a suitable climate, sufficient rainfall, abundant harvests, and no major disasters for the next year, guaranteeing a bumper harvest. This is a one-time use item with a validity period of one year."

Liu Ce stared at the card for a long time, a smile playing on his lips.

"This thing is more effective than an army of 100, 000."

He thought to himself, it's December now, and the new year is just around the corner.

If used now, the effect should cover the entire second year of Chuping.

Moreover, the area he now controls spans ten provinces, from Youzhou to Jingzhou, and from Liangzhou to Xuzhou, encompassing tens of millions of people.

These places have just finished fighting, and some were even ravaged by Dong Zhuo... What are the common people most afraid of? Natural disasters.

A drought, a locust plague, or a flood can wipe out a year's hard work and stir up the newly stabilized public sentiment.

A single "Good Weather Card" can bring a bountiful harvest to ten states and peace of mind to tens of millions of people. What a bargain!

We're going to attack Yangzhou next year, and if the weather goes well, we'll have far fewer worries.

"Okay, let's use it now." Liu Ce silently recited in his mind, "Use the Weather Card."

"Ding~" The system made a crisp sound.

[The favorable weather card has been used. Climate regulation has been activated within the host's controlled area. The next year will be characterized by suitable climate, ample rainfall, and no major disasters; grain production is projected to increase by more than 30%.] Liu Ce was taken aback and said, "Thirty percent? That much?"

As soon as the system's voice finished, Liu Ce felt as if something around him had changed.

It wasn't temperature, it wasn't wind, it was an indescribable feeling, as if the atmosphere between heaven and earth had suddenly become gentle.

He looked up at the sky.

The clouds in the sky slowly dispersed, and the sunlight became warmer.

In the old locust tree in the yard, several sparrows were chirping and chattering, much more cheerful than before.

"That's it?" Liu Ce was a little confused.

"I thought there would be auspicious omens or colorful clouds appearing from the sky, but it just happened so quietly?"

The system ignored him.

Liu Ce didn't care; anyway, the system was quite aloof.

He shook his head, picked up the milk tea, and took a sip.

Oh well, as long as it works, that's fine.

With production increasing by more than 30%, next year's granaries will be overflowing with grain once again.

This is more real than any fancy auspicious omen.

Unbeknownst to him, from the moment he clicked to use it, the soil in the states and counties under his control gradually deepened in color, the air became more humid, and the winter wheat in the fields grew more vibrant.

And these changes are being noticed by countless people.

Liu Ce knew that from this moment on, the ten provinces he controlled—You, Ji, Bing, Liang, Sili, Jing, Yan, Yu, Qing, and Xu—would usher in a year of favorable weather and abundant harvests.

"A good omen," Liu Ce smiled and continued lying down.

...

Meanwhile, in Hanzhong Commandery of Yizhou.

In the study of the prefect's mansion, Su Gu was holding a military report sent from the north, his brows furrowed as he read it.

The news on the table was piled high: Liu Ce, the King of Yan, had pacified the north... captured Jingzhou without bloodshed... Zhu Fu of Jiaozhou had also expressed his willingness to submit...

Most of the world now belongs to the King of Yan.

Su Gu put down the military report and rubbed his temples.

He is in his forties and has been the governor of Hanzhong for several years. He believes he has managed his small territory quite well.

But now, his position is becoming increasingly awkward.

To the north was Liu Ce, the Prince of Yan, and to the south was Liu Yan, the Governor of Yi Province. He was sandwiched in the middle, like a sandwich cookie, living in constant fear that one day the two sides would fight and crush his Hanzhong first.

"Sigh, when will this suffering from both sides ever end..." Su Gu picked up his hot tea and took a sip.

The tea tasted good, but he always felt it was bitter. It wasn't the tea that was bitter; it was his heart that was bitter.

Just then, the registrar rushed in, holding a document stamped with the imperial seal, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Your Excellency! An imperial edict from Luoyang orders you to depart immediately to report on the affairs of Hanzhong!"

"Oh? An imperial edict?"

Su Gu paused, raised an eyebrow, reached out and took the document, opened it and glanced at it.

The inscription was written in a grand and imposing manner: "Hanzhong is the gateway to Yizhou, and its stability is of paramount importance. Therefore, Prefect Su Gu is hereby summoned to Luoyang to personally report on government affairs and discuss local matters." It ended with a bright red imperial seal, making it seem quite legitimate.

But Su Gu laughed after reading two lines.

He placed the document on the table, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip. He knew perfectly well what the imperial court was doing in Luoyang now. The entire country was under the control of Liu Ce, the Prince of Yan. This edict, though seemingly issued by the court, was in reality Liu Ce's will.

They want to talk to him about the ownership of Hanzhong.

After all, Hanzhong is the gateway to Shu. If Liu Ce wants to take Yizhou, the first step must be to seize Hanzhong.

The registrar beside him turned pale, leaned forward, and said in a low, flustered voice, "Your Highness! This... won't going to Luoyang be risky? Everyone says the Prince of Yan is decisive and ruthless. If you go, what if..."

"What if what?"

Su Gu waved his hand, his face calm, and said, "If the Prince of Yan wants to take Hanzhong, he'll send Xu Da, Xue Rengui, Zhang Liao, and others with ten or twenty thousand elite troops. My troops in Hanzhong aren't even enough to fill their teeth. Why would I need to set up a trap for them?"

He paused, then added, "Besides, I, Su Gu, have been loyal to the Han Dynasty my whole life. The Prince of Yan is now the backbone of the Han Dynasty. If he summons me to Luoyang, how can I refuse?"

He stood up, stretched, and instructed the registrar:

"Stop standing there! Quickly pack your things! Gather all the household registration records, treasury ledgers, and troop deployment maps from Hanzhong, and make sure they're all properly packed up. Also, make sure my official seal is securely wrapped up. We'll set off for Luoyang in a few days!"