Chapter 805: The Cycle of Time

Rongshan's aid was like a timely rain. The first installment of 3.7 million silver taels hadn't even fully arrived, yet all parties were already eager to reap some benefits.

Of course, the use of the funds would still be subject to Rongshan's supervision. As the creditor, it had the right to monitor where the money went. This was explicitly written in the contract; if the Iris Royal Court wanted further aid, it could not breach the agreement.

None of this surprised He Lingchuan. Just as rot doesn't only affect the heart of a tree, a country so vast has countless needs for money. The closer one was to the money, the greater the gains. Ordinary citizens, however, had no connection to these 3.7 million, or even 7 million, silver taels.

He Lingchuan pondered for a moment, then asked He Yue, "With the court debate so fierce, what did Father say?"

"Father said nothing," He Yue replied. "When His Majesty asked about the allocation of military funds, Father simply said it was entirely up to His Majesty."

He Lingchuan couldn't help but smile. "It's a tactical retreat to gain ground."

He Chunhua had something he wanted to secure, but the Iris King was unwilling to grant it, leading to a stalemate between the two. Hence, He Chunhua's stance was clear: if he didn't get what he wanted, the war couldn't be fought effectively.

"But that's too obvious," He Yue whispered, since He Chunhua wasn't present. "Father's pressuring His Majesty like this might lead to estrangement between ruler and subject in the future."

He Lingchuan dismissed it. "The relationship between ruler and subject is also a matter of offense and defense."

And in offense and defense, circumstances can reverse, and strengths can shift.

Madam Ying shushed him. "Naughty boy, mind your words!" He Lingchuan grinned and said, "Yes." He knew his mother was looking out for him; walls have ears, especially given the He family's current delicate position.

Regarding the current monarch, Father held little genuine respect in his heart. He believed He Yue had long since noticed this and understood the reasons clearly.

Ruler and subject estranged? Hmph, it would be strange if they weren't.

As it stood, their relationship was merely one of superficial harmony with underlying discord.

Before the remnants of the meal were cleared, He Chunhua suddenly returned. His face beaming, he strode through the central courtyard. He Lingchuan even saw the peach blossoms falling from the trees being swept aside by the powerful breeze he created.

"Wife, Chuan'er, Yue'er," He Chunhua announced, standing tall and vibrant, his eyes shining. "The man standing before you is now the Governor of Yazhou and the commander of the military forces for three provinces!"

Madam Ying covered her mouth with a soft gasp. Instinctively, she wanted to embrace him, but after taking two steps forward, she remembered her sons were watching from behind and hesitated to reach out.

The He brothers instantly stood up, exclaiming in unison:

"Congratulations, Father!"

He Chunhua had finally attained the position of Governor of Yazhou and the military authority he had yearned for!

Even He Chunhua, with his profound composure, couldn't help but show his elation upon returning home, laughing uproariously towards the sky! His plans were coming to fruition, step by step.

Madam Ying, clutching her chest, happily declared, "I'll tell the kitchen to prepare more dishes!"

The He family enjoyed that meal filled with laughter and joy.

He Yue asked his father, "You'll be setting off for the campaign soon, won't you?"

"Soon," He Chunhua replied, feeling a lightness he hadn't experienced in a long time. "Military funds will be fully allocated within three days. The army will be reorganized in six days, then we'll march south to quell the rebellion!"

With money and power, everything became manageable.

After the meal, He Chunhua took He Lingchuan to his study. The He family had only recently moved to Iris City, and He Chunhua's study was still half-organized, with most shelves empty.

He Lingchuan, seizing an unguarded moment, patted his chest to signal the mirror to work.

The Soul-Sucking Mirror quickly replied, "I know, I know, I'm watching!"

He Lingchuan also took a quick look around the study, casually picking up a few books to flip through.

He Chunhua smiled at the sight. "You used to despise reading so much that you'd start yawning the moment you touched a book. Who would have thought that among my two sons, you'd be the one turning out more capable now."

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "What are you talking about, Father? Second Brother is inherently gifted; he's clearly material for a regent."

"Indeed," He Chunhua mused. "Your discerning eye has also improved."

He Lingchuan scratched his chin. "Why the sudden praise, Father? Did something happen?"

He Chunhua chuckled, playfully scolding him, "Can't I praise you unless something's happened?"

After days of shared indulgence and toasts, the relationship between father and son had eased considerably, settling into a delicate balance. From He Lingchuan's perspective, this was mainly due to his cooperation in the asset mortgage evaluation, which had made things smooth for He Chunhua.

However, he was merely following normal procedures. Since He Chunhua, the Iris King, and the Rongshan Sect all wanted to quickly resolve the military supply shortage, the funds would naturally be disbursed swiftly. Of course, the approval and use of subsequent funds would still have to go through He Lingchuan, which was a significant reason for He Chunhua's renewed amiability toward him.

The current He Lingchuan was no longer the original self, easily moved by a smile or a few kind words from his father.

Just then, the Soul-Sucking Mirror secretly told He Lingchuan, "Can't find it. It seems that book isn't here."

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered.

Before entering He Chunhua's study, he had instructed the mirror to search carefully for "Annotated Jade Flower Collection." This was the book Sun Hongye had entrusted Zhu Xiuer to pass to him; it was also the cipher key.

Without this book, He Lingchuan wouldn't know what Sun Hongye wanted to tell him. He held onto a sliver of hope that the book might be hidden in He Chunhua's study.

However, it wasn't there.

He Chunhua walked into the inner chamber of the study, where a sand table was set up.

"You have a good eye," he said. "Come over and help me figure out how best to fight these battles."

He manipulated it a few times, and the topography of mountains and rivers began to appear on the sand table.

He Lingchuan took a few glances, and his pupils contracted slightly.

One lake after another appeared on the sand table, scattered like constellations, resembling beads strewn across the ground. Although the lakes varied slightly in size, location, and distance, He Lingchuan recognized the place at a glance—

Longchuan!

This was the map he faced daily in the Coiling Dragon World; he certainly couldn't be mistaken!

So, He Chunhua's destination for quelling the rebellion in the south was actually Longchuan?

Right, the territory of Western Ji from over a century ago was now within the Great Iris domain. The location of Longchuan and the southern trade route from back then was precisely in the southern part of the current Iris Kingdom, within Yazhou!

Then it was the suppression of bandits in Jade Pivot City; now it was He Chunhua quelling a rebellion. Time intertwined, as if it were another cycle.

He had to maintain a puzzled expression. "Is this Father's target? The terrain looks very complex."

"Precisely," He Chunhua said, pointing to the sand table. "There are two main rebel forces. One is in the southeast, numbering over ten thousand. I haven't heard of any troublesome figures among them, and they were recently defeated by government troops."

"This rebel force should be easy to deal with."

"The difficulty lies with the other rebel force in the south. And the biggest challenge in quelling the rebellion is Longchuan itself," He Chunhua said, pointing to the chain of lakes. "They've established Longchuan as their stronghold, numbering fifty thousand strong. They've repelled government troops three times already and have gained significant notoriety locally, with many villagers nearby rallying to their side."

He Lingchuan nodded. He had witnessed the true nature of Iris Kingdom officials. When the state was corrupt, conflicts between officials and common people were numerous and intensified. This was precisely why rebel forces rose up, and why their ranks would swell after just a few victories.