Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 68: Chapter 59: Retiring to One’s Hometown

After leaving Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo took up his post in North Sea State.

North Sea State was so named for its proximity to the North Sea.

In recent years, whenever Xiao Mo had a spare moment, he would consult local gazetteers and compare them with the topographical maps of Great Qi, planning to create a River Map.

The best route for Ruxue to walk the rivers, once she awakened, would be to enter at Ganyue Port, proceed into Siming Lake, follow the Chunsong River, and finally pass through the Luo River and Yunya River before entering the North Sea.

Based on the documents Xiao Mo had studied over the years, he knew that the further one progressed in walking the rivers, the more difficult it became. Therefore, he had to survey this final leg, the Yunya River, with utmost care to prepare the way for Ruxue.

Three months later, Xiao Mo arrived at the North Sea. Because Zhang Qianzhi had previously served as the Governor of North Sea State for several years and had built a considerable reputation, and since Xiao Mo was Zhang Qianzhi’s student—not to mention that Xiao Mo’s own fame had long since spread throughout the Qi Kingdom—the Noble Families and officials of North Sea State were all extremely cooperative when he arrived to assume the governorship.

However, in Xiao Mo’s second year in North Sea State, he received a letter.

Mr. Old Zhang felt his time was running out. He summoned Xiao Mo, wanting to see him and Fang Ling one last time.

Xiao Mo traveled day and night, rushing to the Zhang Mansion within half a month.

When Xiao Mo walked into the Zhang Mansion, everyone wore a look of sorrow.

At the door to the old master’s room, his children, grandchildren, attendants, and maids were all quietly wiping away tears.

“Xiao Mo, go on in. The master is waiting for you,” Fang Ling said, having just stepped out of the room.

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

Xiao Mo bowed to Fang Ling and entered the room.

On the bed, Mr. Old Zhang’s aged eyes suddenly lit up when he saw Xiao Mo enter. “Xiao Mo, you’ve come.”

“Master.” Xiao Mo hurried forward and sat by Mr. Old Zhang’s bedside, his face etched with grief.

“Hehehe…” Mr. Old Zhang chuckled as he looked at Xiao Mo. “To think, when we first met, you were a young man not yet twenty. Now look at you, with white in your hair. Almost fifty years old, and still unmarried.”

Xiao Mo shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, “I’m already so old. I’ve grown used to being alone.”

“Ah, you…”

Mr. Old Zhang sighed.

Once, Mr. Old Zhang had offered to betroth his daughter to him, but Xiao Mo had politely refused.

The late emperor had also tried to find a wife for Xiao Mo on several occasions, but Xiao Mo rejected them all.

After that, Zhang Qianzhi knew that he was dead set on waiting for that woman to return.

“An immortal is an immortal, and a mortal is a mortal. The divide between them is not just an empty saying.” Mr. Old Zhang held Xiao Mo’s hand. “But half a lifetime has already passed. It’s useless for me to say these things to you now; you wouldn’t listen anyway.”

Xiao Mo lowered his head, silent.

Mr. Old Zhang continued, “I believe it won’t be long before His Majesty reinstates you and Fang Ling. The current emperor is merely young and his temperament immature. But in truth, if His Majesty sets his mind to it, he will be no less capable than the late emperor. He can see the long-standing problems of the Qi Kingdom.

You just need to do your duty and serve the people with all your heart.”

Xiao Mo nodded. “This student understands.”

Mr. Old Zhang looked up at the ceiling, his pupils gradually dilating.

“Xiao Mo… a hundred years of life is truly too short. I have lived long enough, yet I still feel there is so much I haven’t finished.

Don’t be like me…

Walk your path well.

Live without shame before the people.

Live without shame before heaven and earth.

Live without shame before your own heart.”

As Mr. Old Zhang’s last words faded, the hand holding Xiao Mo’s fell limp at the side of the bed.

“Father!”

“Father!”

“Grandfather!”

Mr. Old Zhang’s children and grandchildren cried inconsolably.

Xiao Mo rose and gave his master a deep bow.

…

Four years later, Xiao Mo was over fifty years old.

A great flood struck North Sea State!

Xiao Mo immediately braved the heavy rain to visit the hardest-hit areas and perilous sections of the dikes, personally inspecting the disaster’s extent, the water levels, the locations of breaches, and the flooded areas.

He mobilized Government Officials and Posthouse Soldiers, even conscripting fishermen and boatmen familiar with the waters, to relay information about the disaster, water level changes, and dike conditions between the upper and lower reaches and among the various villages. He swiftly drew up a sketch of the disaster zone, marking dangerous areas, high ground, supply points, and key transport routes. He personally oversaw the opening of granaries for disaster relief, the resettlement of victims, and emphasized disease prevention.

Furthermore, Xiao Mo implemented work-for-relief programs, digging diversion channels, using constrained water flows to scour away silt, and building cofferdams in sections.

In this once-in-a-decade flood, the speed with which the victims were pacified and the minimal impact of the disaster were both unprecedented since the founding of the Qi Kingdom.

Afterward, Xiao Mo conducted in-depth surveys of all the rivers in North Sea State, launching water control projects and creating channels for irrigation.

Areas that were once easily washed away were transformed into acre after acre of fertile farmland.

Xiao Mo then wrote the *Qi State Water Control Techniques*, a book that explained various methods for managing rivers, detailed response measures for floods, and even established relatively comprehensive standards.

From then on, Xiao Mo’s reputation in the mortal world reached its zenith.

At the age of fifty-three, Xiao Mo suddenly received terrible news: his senior brother, Fang Ling, had died of illness in his old home.

Holding the letter his senior brother had sent him, Xiao Mo sat in his courtyard, silent for a long, long time.

The following year, Xiao Mo received word that Magistrate Sun was gravely ill. He set off at once, but in the end, he was not able to see Magistrate Sun one last time.

In the twelfth year of the Jianle era, Xiao Mo, now over fifty-five, received a Holy Decree.

Lord Qi summoned Xiao Mo back to the capital.

In the thirteenth year of Jianle, Xiao Mo was appointed Prime Minister of the Qi Kingdom and once again initiated reforms!

Xiao Mo used his reputation to clear the way. No matter which of the Noble Clans they were, they all had to be wary of a Prime Minister who had benefited the entire world and already earned the name of “Saint.”

Moreover, Great Qi was not yet beyond saving. With the support of His Majesty, Xiao Mo recruited many ambitious and capable individuals to carry out the reforms.

Xiao Mo knew that his own remaining time was short. He would do as much as he could in this life, so as not to betray the trust of the late emperor, his master, and his senior brother.

In the sixteenth year of Jianle, the new laws of the Qi Kingdom were implemented.

In the twentieth year of Jianle, four years after the new laws were implemented, the realm had taken on a completely new look. By this time, Xiao Mo was already sixty-three years old.

In the twenty-fourth year of Jianle, Xiao Mo was sixty-seven, and the tempests in the Imperial Court had all subsided.

The following year, at the age of sixty-eight, Xiao Mo submitted a memorial to His Majesty, requesting permission to retire to his hometown.

Lord Qi tried to persuade him to stay many times, but Xiao Mo’s mind was made up.

He could feel that he did not have even two years left and only wished to return to his old home.

In the end, Lord Qi had no choice but to agree.

However, Xiao Mo’s position as Prime Minister was not rescinded. Instead, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zheng Mohan, was to temporarily perform the duties of the office.

The reason Xiao Mo’s position as Prime Minister was not rescinded was that he had offended too many of the Noble Clans.

By retaining the title of Prime Minister, he would be protected by the Mountain and River Fortune, allowing him to live out his final years in peace.

On this day, just as Xiao Mo finished packing his belongings in the mansion and was writing a final memorial to leave for His Majesty, the tip of his brush paused.

The old man, nearly seventy, seemed to sense something and looked in a particular direction.

In that direction, there was a mountain.

Outside a cave halfway up its slope, Purple Sun Grass and Cyan Dragon Flowers bloomed in abundance.

Inside the cave, a White Python began to transform.

Finally, a woman in a white dress lay on the ground.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly.