The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 303 The Backbone at the Middle Stream Comes When They Say They Will (Second Update)

Chapter 303: 303 The Backbone at the Middle Stream Comes When They Say They Will (Second Update)

The Department of Equipment was located near the Northern City Gate of Shangjing, chosen for its convenience in moving machinery.

Li Xianyun was awakened by the noise in front of the Department of Equipment as the carriage approached.

She had been tormented relentlessly by Yelu Yan these past days, feeling as though Yelu Yan had drained her completely. Yawning ceaselessly, she was listless and wilted, falling asleep on the desk as soon as she sat in the carriage.

Although her sleep was disturbed, Li Xianyun had at least managed to rest for a while and felt much more awake.

She opened the carriage window and lifted the curtain to look outside.

Before the solemn entrance of the Department of Equipment, a crowd of agitated Khitan citizens had gathered, each holding broken tools, demanding an explanation.

"If you want us to farm, at least provide us with decent tools. Look at this shovel, it’s all rusty at the front and blunt, it can’t turn the soil at all."

The Khitan were a nomadic people with no experience in developing farming on barren lands, and their tools were even more rudimentary.

To get the citizens to farm, the Imperial Court promised to provide them with tools.

"Indeed, how can we work with such useless tools? Are we supposed to dig with our hands?"

"You said we could use these for now and exchange them for new ones in ten days. It’s been how many days already, and there’s no sign of the new tools."

"All you do is pass the buck. The County Government Office told us to come to the Department of Equipment to solve this issue. Now you’re sending us back to them. It’s like playing a game of kickball: you kick to me, I kick back to you. You officials have it easy, but we the people are suffering."

"When you first encouraged us to farm, you made it sound so promising and even had us sign contracts. Now look, the planting season is almost over, we haven’t even irrigated the land, and we have no tools."

"We commoners worked day and night carrying water to irrigate the fields. Are you officials blind?"

"They call themselves our parental officials. When it comes to collecting taxes, they remember everything clearly, but when it’s time to get something done, they turn a deaf ear and pass the responsibility."

The more the citizens talked, the angrier they became. Whether it was within the jurisdiction of the Department of Equipment or not, they expressed every grievance they had.

They had to vent all the frustrations they had been holding in, or they felt they would truly go insane.

The mood was so incendiary that the few soldiers at the Department of Equipment were clearly unable to cope. Li Xianyun turned to Jinwu.

Jinwu, having followed Yelu Yan for so many years, was not only skilled in martial arts but also adept at reading situations. He immediately bowed and said, "Your humble servant will handle this at once."

Li Xianyun spoke, "These citizens are making a fuss out of desperation. If the Imperial Court doesn’t give them some reassurance, even if the situation calms down this time, it will flare up again."

Jinwu asked with confusion, "What does Your Highness suggest..."

Li Xianyun looked at him and said, "Show them the Khan’s token and tell them the Khan has learned of their hardships and has specially ordered someone to solve the tool and watering issues. Then lead them to the County Government Office to receive tools."

This would not only stabilize the morale of the people but also help build a good reputation for Yelu Yan, killing two birds with one stone.

"Reporting to Your Highness," Jinwu began, "You’ve heard their conversation. They were sent here by the County Government Office, which probably doesn’t have any tools either."

Li Xianyun’s lips curved upward, "Have you forgotten that last night the Khan had people arrested for digging ditches? Those people’s tools are all new."

If she wasn’t mistaken, Yelu Yan should have had the Department of Equipment manufacture farming tools for the people, but the County Government Office, having received these tools, distributed them amongst those with connections who loafed around and had taken possession of the good tools.

It was time for the tools to return to their rightful owners.

Jinwu’s eyes lit up instantaneously. How had he not thought of this? With those people arrested by the Khan, the tools they had taken were now idle and without use.

Li Xianyun continued to instruct, "Take two people from the Department of Equipment with you. When distributing the tools to the people, make sure to record everything clearly to avoid any confusion."

Jinwu bowed and praised, "Your Highness is truly thoughtful; I am impressed."

His attempts at flattery were often misplaced, so he had stopped trying to flatter people lightly.

This time, his praise for Li Xianyun was heartfelt.

"Hurry up."

"Yes!"

Jinwu took the lead, galloping forward and took out the token as instructed by Li Xianyun.

The common people did not recognize Yelu Yan’s token and were skeptical, but seeing the Imperial Guard Token hanging at Jinwu’s waist, they dared not disbelieve.

They all knelt on the ground and paid their respects.

Jinwu delivered a passionate speech to the people, who were all deeply moved and extremely grateful to Yelu Yan.

When Jinwu saw Li Xianyun step down from the carriage, he said to everyone, "This is the expert that the Khan has invited to solve the irrigation problem, so you can all rest assured. The Khan has you in his heart, and the water problem will soon be resolved."

"Thank you, Khan!" the crowd called out.

Jinwu asked the people to wait and said they would later go to the County Government Office to collect tools, then he brought Li Xianyun to the Department of Equipment.

The main officials of the Department of Equipment were gathered in the hall, looking utterly distressed.

"What shall we do? We clearly made some tools and delivered them to the County Government Office, and now they are demanding more. With so many people and so few of us, when will we ever finish?"

"Damn it, the County Government Office is just bullying us too much. So blatant, is there no law left?"

"Law? All I know is that the Department of Equipment is a scapegoat, powerless and insignificant, enduring grievances from both the County Government Office and the common people. We can only seek to survive through the cracks."

Everyone was talking at once, but Sang Yanlin, the head official of the Department of Equipment, had not spoken a word.

Sang Yanlin, a man in his thirties, was Han Chinese and very experienced in crafting tools, recently promoted.

An official could not contain his impatience and asked, "Director Sang, please say something."

Sang Yanlin’s indifferent voice came through, "Your discussions today are futile. If you want the Department of Equipment to truly become powerful, the only way is..."

"The only way is what?" Hope was sparked among them.

"The only way is if a person of great importance comes to the Department of Equipment, someone capable of turning the tide."

When the officials heard this, they were extremely disappointed, for everyone knew that the Department of Equipment needed a stalwart pillar to stand firm.

But Sang Yanlin was a Han Chinese and had just been promoted, with no solid foundation, so naturally, he was only to be manipulated by others.

Just as everyone’s faces were filled with worry, Jinwu arrived with Li Xianyun.

Sang Yanlin felt a sense of kinship at the sight of a Han Chinese gentleman.

As soon as Jinwu entered, he produced Yelu Yan’s token.

It was not strange that the common people did not know Yelu Yan’s token, but the officials all did.

Before being assigned their official posts after passing the literary or military examinations, they had to undergo a centralized training which included understanding the structure of the Khitan Imperial Court and the tokens of the various departments.

The token that left the deepest impression was that of the Khan, both the most magnificent and the most authoritative.

Seeing the token, the officials quickly knelt to the ground.

Jinwu solemnly declared, "The Khan has ordered Master Li to solve the irrigation issue, and the entire Department of Equipment must comply with Master Li’s arrangements."

"Yes!"

Aside from Sang Yanlin, the others were very doubtful of Li Xianyun’s capabilities.

She appeared so frail, clearly not someone who seemed capable of getting things done.