Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Within two days, the Shi family's shops, which had incurred public outrage, were, as expected, completely smashed to pieces by the influx of victims. Elmwood counters were broken in two, abacus beads were scattered all over the floor, mixed with the spilled flat bean soup, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of burning.

Yang Zhao, leading a team of county constables, expressionlessly dispersed the still-angry crowd and affixed a seal bearing a bright red official seal to the broken door. The cinnabar ink stood out against the sawdust-strewn doorframe, like a bloodstain announcing the end.

At this moment of despair, a golden invitation arrived at the back hall of the county government office, surprising Zhang Jingwei, who was already struggling with the Shi family's mess. It was Shen Kaiyang, the head treasury of Gaoyanglou, inviting him, the newly appointed county magistrate, to officiate at the upcoming "Opening Cultivation Festival."

The so-called "Opening Plough Day" is a crucial festival marking the beginning of agricultural activity in the Celestial Empire. A popular proverb goes, "On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head, and families of all stripes use their oxen for the plow." It's mid-spring, when the dormant dragon awakens and yang energy rises, making it an auspicious time to prepare for the plow. On this day, wealthy rural families often tie red silk around the horns of their oxen, about to be used in the fields, praying for good weather and a bountiful harvest. While not an official ritual established by the imperial court, this occasion was deeply rooted in the people's lives and crucial to their livelihoods.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon raises its head. The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, but Gaoyang County was already buzzing with the festive atmosphere. Zhang Jingwei, dressed in a brand-new seventh-rank official robe with a gargoyle patch and a black veil on his head, wore a solemn expression with a subtle hint of seriousness. He was followed by several of his family members, all dressed up, and then by several prominent clerks from the county government. They walked steadily through the still-deserted streets toward Gaoyang Tower, the city's most prestigious restaurant. Gaoyang was a small county, lacking a spacious altar dedicated to sacrifices. Therefore, the open space in front of Gaoyang Tower became the city's preferred venue for large-scale events.

Upon arrival, Gaoyang Tower was already decorated. Auspicious wormwood and pine branches hung from the door lintel, and a simple anteroom made of several long tables was covered with red cloth. Shen Kaiyang had been waiting for a long time. He was dressed in a brand new ochre silk robe, his face flushed. Upon seeing Zhang Jingwei and his group arrive, he immediately put on a warm smile, walked quickly to greet them, and bowed deeply.

"Good morning, Lord Zhang! We sincerely welcome you! Your presence is truly a blessing to the people of Gaoyang, and it brings honor to our humble home!"

Zhang Jingwei nodded slightly in return, but his eyes subconsciously scanned the crowd behind Shen Kaiyang and around the podium, his brows furrowed slightly. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Shopkeeper Shen, please don't be polite. Hmm... why isn't Mr. Shi showing up at today's plowing ceremony? As a county gentry elder, Mr. Shi should be presiding over such a folk event related to agriculture and sericulture." The Shi family's shop had just been sealed, and it was strange that the "master" of the Shi family was absent from such an important public occasion.

The smile on Shen Kaiyang's face remained unchanged, as if he had already expected this question. He bowed slightly and spoke in a smooth and respectful voice: "Your Excellency, my master has been immersed in Taoist practice recently. It is a critical juncture and he needs to be contemplative and inconvenient to see guests. Therefore, he has specially ordered me to take full charge of today's affairs and repeatedly urged me to convey his piety to agriculture and sericulture and his respect to you. I hope you will forgive me for not being able to welcome you in person."

"Oh?" A flash of understanding flashed in Zhang Jingwei's eyes, and he nodded calmly, "I understand. I understand. Elder Shi's devotion to the Dao is a good thing." Inwardly, he sneered: Cultivating? Perhaps to avoid disaster? At the height of the Shi family shop's destruction, Elder Shi had indeed "cultivated" in time. Shen Kaiyang's flawless answer only confirmed the unsettling nature of the situation.

"Your Excellency is so considerate!" Shen Kaiyang's smile deepened. He leaned over and pointed to the red-covered dais. "The auspicious time is approaching. Please move to the dais and take a seat. When the auspicious time arrives, I will trouble you to personally hang a red silk ribbon on our Gaoyang's 'plowing ox'. With the blessing of the county lord, may our Gaoyang have abundant granaries and a prosperous family this year! The people are eagerly awaiting this."

Zhang Jingwei straightened his official robes and stepped onto the stage. Many villagers, having heard the news, had already gathered below, their eyes fixed on the newly arrived official with awe and anticipation. He swept his gaze across the crowd, then past the distant, vaguely visible Shi family shop, sealed with a glaring seal, before finally resting on the red silk that symbolized the beginning of farming. He suppressed his thoughts and spoke aloud:

"Manager Shen, you're too kind. Encouraging agriculture and sericulture is the duty of an official; praying for a good harvest is the common hope of the people. Working for the people is only natural. Today, I will tie this red silk with my own hands and pray for a good harvest with the people!"

His voice was steady and powerful, spreading through the morning air and drawing a murmur of agreement and anticipation from the crowd.

Before long, the prominent gentry and wealthy families of Gaoyang County arrived in front of Gaoyang Tower, exchanging greetings and greetings. Their attire was plentiful, filling the small empty space to the brim. The air was filled with the clamor of a festival and a subtle hint of wait-and-see attitude—after all, the Shi family had just fallen, and with the new county lord present, everyone wanted to see which way the tide would blow. Seeing that everyone was present, Shen Kaiyang's spirits lifted. He straightened his clothes, grinned, and with an almost exaggerated smile of enthusiasm, he stepped a few steps to the center of the stage, gathered his strength, and shouted to the audience:

"The auspicious time has arrived! Lead the spring ox!"

Before he finished speaking, the crowd spontaneously parted to form a path. A burly, shirtless man, leading a dull-haired, steady-footed old yellow ox, slowly approached the red-draped stage. The ox had clearly seen some of the world and wasn't particularly stage-frightened. It only occasionally flicked its tail and snorted, its large eyes calmly scanning the crowds around it. The sunlight on its coarse fur revealed the marks of years of hard work.

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Zhang Jingwei. He took a deep breath and took a piece of brand new, cinnabar-colored red silk from the hand of the clerk standing beside him. The silk felt smooth and cool to the touch. Zhang Jingwei stepped forward steadily, approaching the docile old ox. He extended his hand, and the old ox tilted its head slightly, its moist breath brushing the cuffs of his official robes. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhang Jingwei's movements seemed unusually agile—he didn't simply wrap it around the ox's horns, but with flying fingers, he deftly tied a rather delicate bow on the thick ox's horns! The red silk blossomed on the gray-brown ox's horns, bright and eye-catching, drawing a low, well-intentioned exclamation from the audience. This fancy tying method showed a bit of "cleverness" that didn't quite match the solemn official uniform.

Shen Kaiyang watched closely from the side, his eyes gleaming. He immediately seized the opportunity, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Zhang Jingwei. His voice was loud and flattering, "Excellent! Your Excellency tied the red ribbon with exquisite technique, which symbolizes good luck! Gaoyang can expect a good harvest this year!" He paused, his smile widening with a touch of just the right amount of "expedience." "I've heard that Your Excellency Zhang is a man of profound learning and literary talent, known as the 'penman of heaven.' Today's grand plowing ceremony marks the beginning of our agricultural work in Gaoyang and is of extraordinary significance. I, Shen, have the audacity to ask Your Excellency for a poem of congratulations to add color to this auspicious day and to pray for our Gaoyang farmers. I wonder if Your Excellency will bless the people?"

His words were very beautiful, praising Zhang Jingwei and firmly establishing the "petition for the people" label as a petition. Hearing this, the gentry in the audience echoed, "Please give us your calligraphy, Your Excellency!" "Your Excellency's literary talent is a blessing to us!"

Zhang Jingwei was overwhelmed by the sudden flattery and public support. He already prided himself on his talent, and now he felt even more invigorated. He waved his hand with dignity and said loudly, "Manager Shen, you are too kind. However, since this is a grand event for my hometown and a prayer for the people, how can I refuse? Then I will present my humble performance!"

A tactful clerk brought out the prepared brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Zhang Jingwei picked up his brush and dipped it in thick ink. His eyes swept across the eager crowd below the stage, then passed over the old cow tied with a red silk bow. A familiar melody and image flashed through his mind like lightning—it was a song about busy farming season he had seen on television while conducting research in a southern region. The lyrics were simple and plain, yet the artistic conception was broad, and the melody was cheerful and catchy. He had once, on a whim, rehearsed a performance at the annual government office in Beijing, leading several young female colleagues in a rehearsal. They sang and danced in costume, to the applause of the entire audience, a scene he still vividly remembered. It was fitting for the occasion, and using it now would be both approachable and elegant!

His mind set, he felt no more hesitation. His wrist moved, and his brush flew like a dragon. The wolf hair brush, saturated with thick ink, swished across the rice paper, and lines of vigorous and powerful cursive script appeared on the paper:

The country is based on its people, and a peaceful country means the well-being of its people.

Food is the most important thing for people, and the harvest of grains keeps farmers busy.

Look at the vast earth and the abundant harvest.

Watch the slightest movement and you will see the cattle and sheep.

A great country will benefit from it, and its people will be prosperous.

Zhang Jingwei put down his pen and surveyed his "masterpiece" with satisfaction. He had written the lyrics so smoothly, in one breath, that if the paper hadn't been so small, he could have copied all the lyrics onto it.

Shen Kaiyang immediately stepped forward and recited aloud, his voice so resonant that it echoed throughout the entire venue.

"Master Zhang's poem is magnificent and profound. It is truly a perfect prayer for the start of farming in Gaoyang! Wonderful! Wonderful!"

The gentry in the audience naturally erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers, bringing the atmosphere to a climax. However, a subtle hint of confusion crossed the faces of the veteran farmers, those who actually worked in the fields and were familiar with local farming practices. This phrase... sounds quite beautiful. "The vast land," "the wind stirring the grass," "herds of cattle and sheep"... the artistic conception is broad, but it feels... a little "down-to-earth"? It seems to describe lush pastures, not the rolling hills of Gaoyang, where rice and wheat are the main crops. "Cattle and sheep everywhere"? Gaoyang farmers mostly raise cattle for ploughing, not sheep... This phrase is beautiful, but why does it sound a bit... Southern?

Zhang Jingwei, engrossed in the praise and the pride of his own quick wit, was oblivious to the subtle anomaly in the audience. He put down his brush and smiled, accepting the compliments. Shen Kaiyang, even more so, was overjoyed. He carefully picked up the calligraphy and instructed his staff to frame it. The sun shone on the vibrant red silk bow tied to the ox's horn, and also on the high-spirited County Magistrate and the beaming Shopkeeper Shen on the stage.