Luo Min smiled apologetically, saying, "I just walked down to the riverbank, unintentionally stepped into the mud, and lost composure. I apologize."
Witnessing this rare display of shyness from the elderly man, Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "I don't mind. However, if the inspectors from the Supervisory Office were to see you in such a state, it might complicate matters for them."
Luo Min responded, "Why am I going through all this trouble? Isn't it for the benefit of the people in Jiangsu? Even if the inspectors report to the emperor, I would still speak the same."
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Report to the emperor? I believe Lord Luo is anticipating that day eagerly. A few light reprimands, but it showcases to the emperor your devotion to the people. You've truly mastered this art."
Familiar with this rhetoric, Lin Wanrong saw through the polished words. Phrases like "benefit the people in Jiangsu" were mere political maneuvers, and Lin Wanrong didn't buy into Lord Luo's seemingly altruistic motives.
Aware that she couldn't deceive him, Luo Min smiled awkwardly, "I won't hide it from you, Lin Brother. What you said is not entirely false. But if I can both climb the ranks and benefit the people, why not?"
Luo Min's assessment of Lin Wanrong seemed accurate. Lin Wanrong speculated that Luo Min had once been an ambitious individual, but now, with a protruding belly, those ambitions seemed to have faded away.
Luo Ning brought clean official robes for her father, and noticing Lin Wanrong's interest in Luo Ning, Lord Luo teasingly remarked, "Lin Brother, what did you talk about with my daughter? She seems quite happy."
Surprised by the sudden change in address, Lin Wanrong responded, "Just some discussions about ideals and life."
"Is that all?" Lord Luo, with a skeptical look, blinked his eyes.
Lin Wanrong grinned, "What else would you like us to talk about?"
Lord Luo sighed, "Ning'er not only looks like her mother but also shares her character. Independent and assertive, rarely finding someone easy to talk to."
Uninterested in gossip, Lin Wanrong cut to the chase, "Lord Luo, you called me here for more than just a heart-to-heart, didn't you?"
Lord Luo laughed, "I enjoyed our conversation so much that I almost forgot about the main topic. Lin Brother, what do you think of the embankment project?"
"It's impressive, with a large scale and many people. Quite lively," Lin Wanrong replied, feigning ignorance.
Lord Luo sighed, "Is that all you see?"
Curious, Lin Wanrong asked, "What else should I know?"
Lord Luo, usually a cunning strategist, appeared impatient, "Without beating around the bush, Lin Brother, I brought you here because I need your help figuring out how to raise funds quickly."
Pretending surprise, Lin Wanrong asked, "Need money? Lord Luo, as the governor of Jiangsu, you have control over finances. Why worry about money?"
Lord Luo lamented, "Lin Brother, you may not know. Though the position of Jiangsu governor looks splendid, it's a challenging task. The tax revenue from Jiangsu is closely monitored. With the unrest in the north and the upcoming war against the nomads, coupled with internal issues like the White Lotus rebellion, the funds needed are enormous. All the taxes from Jiangsu go straight to the imperial treasury, leaving us with nothing."
Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Lin Wanrong commented, "That makes sense. As a prominent position, the Jiangsu governor's job must have many challenges, especially during troubled times."
Lord Luo continued, "This year, Jiangsu received only ten thousand taels for river defense from the Ministry of Revenue. Take Jinling City as an example – if we don't repair the dam before the rainy season next year, with the floods from Xuanwu Lake and the upstream Yangtze River, the city will be submerged, causing destruction and loss of lives. This is not an exaggeration; it's a real threat."
Feeling the gravity of the situation, Lin Wanrong empathetically said, "That's a serious issue. The river defenses are crucial, and the lack of funds poses a significant challenge."
Lord Luo elaborated, "The river defenses in Jiangsu span over a thousand miles, covering more than twenty-one counties along the rivers. In addition to the dangerous Yangtze River, there's also the need to manage the Huai River, Taihu Lake, and Hongze Lake. Summing it up, we are facing a deficit of over two hundred thousand taels. How can I handle this?"
Lin Wanrong pondered and replied, "Lord Luo, solving these water management issues won't happen overnight. It may take a decade, or even a century. Urgency won't make it happen faster."
Lord Luo sighed, "I understand the time required, but I don't want to repeat past mistakes. Four years ago, during the major flood, to protect Jinling, we had to open the floodgates upstream, flooding thousands of miles of fertile land. I feel ashamed in front of the people of Jiangsu."
Understanding the burden on Lord Luo, Lin Wanrong suggested, "Lord Luo, my advice is that you should discuss these matters with the officials in your government office. I am just a commoner, managing a tavern at best, making some small money. Talking to me about these matters won't be of much help."
Lord Luo sighed again, "Lin Brother, I've done everything I could – fundraising, allocation of resources, various methods. But with a deficit of tens of thousands of taels, how can I fill the gap? Without money, the river defenses will cease soon. If we don't repair the dam before winter, come spring with the rainy season, we'll be facing a disaster."
Lin Wanrong, observing Lord Luo's desperation, contemplated the situation. "Lord Luo, I understand the urgency of the matter. Let me think about it. I'll see if there's any solution I can come up with."
Lord Luo gratefully said, "Lin Brother, if you can help Jiangsu overcome this crisis, I won't forget your kindness."
Lin Wanrong nodded, "I'll do my best, Lord Luo. I'll get back to you once I figure something out."
With that, Lin Wanrong bid farewell to Lord Luo, pondering the issue as he walked back to his tavern.
The three individuals hastily raised their heads to look. It turned out to be a middle-aged peasant laborer carrying a mud bag passing by. Upon noticing the literati engrossed in their paintings, he became enchanted. In that moment, some mud and sand dropped, landing precisely on Hou Yuebai's table, tarnishing the meticulously crafted landscape bird's-eye view painting.
The peasant, an ordinary man, had never encountered such a calamity. Terrified, his face turned pale, and his legs trembled. He anxiously raised his sleeves to wipe away the marks, inadvertently making it dirtier.
"Sir, old man didn't mean any harm," the elderly man knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing and crying.
For warriors, it's their love for swords, and for literati, it's their affection for paintings. This landscape painting was specially created by Hou Yuebai to please Luo Ning. Witnessing it ruined by a coarse person, how could he not be furious? He ruthlessly kicked the old man's face.
Snap! Lin Wanrong's anger flared up; he threw the teacup on the ground and rushed forward. Taking hold of a young lad carrying mud, he said, "Brother, do you want to earn some silver?"
"Yes," the young man replied.
Lin Wanrong took out ten taels of silver from his pocket, picked up a stone, and handed them to him, saying, "I'll give you ten taels of silver. Follow me."
The man asked, "Big brother, what do you want to do?"
Lin Wanrong looked at Hou Yuebai, gritted his teeth, and said, "Beat the hell out of him."