In the Xuanehui Hall, Wen Daoyuan burst into hearty laughter.

His laughter resonated like the sound of metal and stone, echoing through the hall and causing various ornaments to tremble with a rustling sound.

"Such grand and marvelous ideas exist in the world, truly a plan for the ages! Hahaha..." Amidst his laughter, Wen Daoyuan held the manuscript, pacing rapidly within the hall.

This was a manifestation of his deep inner contemplation, emotions so intense they were beyond control.

The last time he was this way was when Wen Daoyuan comprehended his own path, on the verge of becoming a Great Scholar.

The Emperor himself had never seen Wen Daoyuan so excited, momentarily staring in awe.

Wen Daoyuan held the manuscript, muttering incessantly.

"The excessive deforestation around Longchuan, this old man had long felt uneasy. Mountains and marshes rescued from fire, the planting of trees as the wealth of the nation—how can there be such reckless logging?"

"Nurturing the national forests, restoring the earth and conserving water—what an excellent choice of words!

This old man has spent half his life studying the transformative path of the five elements, thinking he had reached a pinnacle, yet he somehow missed the idea of restoring the earth and conserving water."

"Reveal the clouds and see the sun! Reveal the clouds and see the sun!

Marvelous, my Great Li genius. Though there are inevitably slight hesitations, such extraordinary ideas and grand plans could only be conceived by one blessed by the heavens."

"Transferring water from south to north, balancing water and drought—such a plan surpasses countless uses of wind summoning and rain-calling divine powers.

If this plan were implemented earlier, how could the drought demon in the Northern Border have formed?

Indeed, this plan is not merely the foundation of eliminating the locust demon!"

Wen Daoyuan murmured continuously, his pace accelerating.

Finally, at a certain moment, there was a sudden crunching sound.

It turned out that Wen Daoyuan, pressing down with force, had unknowingly cracked the azure jade floor tile of the Xuanehui Hall!

Wen Daoyuan, however, seemed oblivious, stopping after the crack, and finally spoke a phrase he could not keep bottled up inside:

"This plan, clearly is fundamentally eliminating the drought demon... Hahaha!"

Under the Emperor's wide-eyed gaze, Wen Daoyuan quickly walked towards him, with a tone more exhilarating and excited than ever:

"Your Majesty, the glory of generations lies at this moment, please grant permission for the water transfer plan from south to north!"

The Emperor couldn't help but step back, his gaze sweeping over the cracked floor tile.

However, this was evidently not the time to worry about a floor tile; the Emperor, infected by Wen Daoyuan's enthusiasm, felt his heart pounding.

He suppressed countless thoughts in his heart and quickly asked, "Master Wen, what exactly is the south-to-north water transfer? What does this manuscript actually say?"

Wen Daoyuan's eyes burned brightly: "Your Majesty, why not see for yourself?"

The Emperor chuckled and said, "I am getting on in years, and my vision blurs when looking at things. Please enlighten me, Master Wen."

He doesn't look; he didn't even look at the purplish manuscript!

Wen Daoyuan sighed inwardly and succinctly and precisely expressed the essence of Chen Xu's manuscript.

He was a Great Scholar, and with his interpretation, even a thoroughly ignorant person could understand at least some of it.

Though the Emperor was reluctant to read through the manuscript himself, he finally understood the term "south-to-north water transfer" upon hearing Wen Daoyuan's concise explanation.

And he finally grasped why this one strategy against the locust demon had drawn such shocking celestial brilliance.

He became somewhat dazed for a moment.

Could it really be a blessing for Great Li? That at this extremely challenging moment, such an extraordinary talent as Chen Xu descended from the heavens!

If such talents could be utilized for his purposes...

The Emperor's emotions couldn't help but surge, and he asked Wen Daoyuan, "Master Wen, about the great northern drought..."

Wen Daoyuan spoke once again: "Please permit the south-to-north water transfer plan, Your Majesty, I can promptly summon all cultivators of the Sea of Literature from Ziwei Academy to assist in the construction.

Now the drought in the Northern Border cannot be delayed; wind summoning and rain-calling divine powers are of no use, so we must dig waterways, build canals, plant trees, reclaim the earth, and conserve water.

Striving against the heavens, fighting against time. If the earth can be changed, what is there to fear from the drought demon?

Your Majesty, the glory of generations lies in this endeavor!"

Wen Daoyuan spoke with profound persuasiveness, and he also looked at the Emperor with an unprecedented gaze of expectation.

The Emperor's face flushed, his lips trembling.

Could it truly be so? The glory of generations lies in this endeavor?

The Emperor knew he should immediately agree with Wen Daoyuan.

But then, however...

The Emperor spoke with a trembling voice, "Master Wen, such grand projects, how can I decide them in a single word? I'm afraid it requires careful deliberation, consultation with the cabinet, and detailed protocols from the Ministry of Works to proceed."

Wen Daoyuan said, "As long as Your Majesty agrees now, the three thousand students of Ziwei Academy can move at any time.

I can also pave the way for Your Majesty.

Your Majesty can also summon Master Xuan Ming from Qingxu Daoist Palace to act together; undoubtedly, Master Xuan Ming would be delighted to join."

He spoke with such resolute determination, his spirit soaring.

A venerable Great Scholar, yet now he seemed like a formidable warrior.

However, in the face of Wen Daoyuan's demeanor and his seemingly "obtaining" glory of generations, the Emperor ultimately gritted his teeth, saying only:

"Master Wen, you wait for me to think it over carefully again.

Some things are easy to say but difficult to do.

The manuscript strategy can be completed with a brush, but such earth-changing projects can't be easily realized. Master Wen, you wait for me to think it over carefully, over again."

A dignified Emperor, yet at the critical moment, he dared not decide.

Procrastinating and evasive.

Is this what an Emperor should do?

Wen Daoyuan suppressed his disappointment and ultimately urged once more: "Your Majesty, seize the moment, time waits for none!

Jade Capital is also in the Northern Land; if the drought in the Northern Border cannot be resolved swiftly, even with the mountain and river defense array in Jade Capital area blocking the drought demon from entering.

If the Northern Border is completely devastated, the mountain and river defense array will likely diminish in power.

The Imperial Dynasty's concerns are not limited to today.

Since there's already a marvelous plan, why can't Your Majesty implement it? Could it be..."

Could it be, we must wait until the day the Dynasty falls?

This last statement was too severe! Wen Daoyuan ultimately left it unsaid.

But how could the Emperor not understand?

He stammered, ultimately saying: "Master Wen, it's not that I don't want to, but I do indeed have difficulties—you, you always know my difficulties."

What difficulties?

It's just being constrained by the cabinet, controlled by Liu Shao.

The ambitious Emperor of yesterday now seemed like a "complaining husband" trapped in the deep palace!

Yet, in Wen Daoyuan's view, the Emperor could truly employ dozens of methods to counter Liu Shao.

Why doesn't he act? Is it because he dares not or does not wish to?

Wen Daoyuan deeply looked at the Emperor, no longer speaking.

The Emperor seemed to be pained by his gaze, unable to endure, turned his head slightly, and still softly said:

"Master Wen, some things are extremely difficult for me to do. But if Scholars wish to act, if Qingxu Daoist Palace desires to act, how could I possibly stop them?"

Hey! This statement is intriguing.

Wen Daoyuan strode away.

The Emperor was stunned again, couldn't help but hurriedly exclaim, "Master Wen, what are you doing? I, I still want to keep you for a meal."

Wen Daoyuan didn't turn his head as he said, "Your Majesty, I'm going to do what Your Majesty desires but is powerless to do."

His stride was strong and wide, his silhouette about to vanish from the Emperor's sight.

Suddenly, Wen Daoyuan added: "Your Majesty, I'm going to witness the demeanor of the world's foremost genius.

To pave the way for this genius, Your Majesty has no objection, does he?"

With a bitter smile, the Emperor said: "Master Wen, how could I have any objection? Don't perceive me as a monstrous beast.

Am I such an unkind ruler?"

But Wen Daoyuan didn't finish hearing his words.

This Great Scholar laughed aloud, his slender silhouette finally swallowed up by the layers of palace courtyards.

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