The number one spendthrift woman in the capital actually brings glory to her entire family?

"But, sir, this place is all hard sand and soil, and it has no stickiness. It collapsed shortly after it was built, so there is no way to build a strong city wall."

Li Ji frowned and said that they knew that in this situation, a simple city should be built temporarily to house the disaster-stricken people, but he had just surveyed the terrain and found that the sandy soil here was not suitable for building city walls.

"Yes, that is indeed a problem, and I have considered it as well. The temperature difference between day and night here is extreme, and with the blizzard ahead, it's incredibly cold even during the day, with an average temperature below minus twenty degrees Celsius. If it weren't for the special terrain nearby, this place would probably be no exception to the blizzard's destructive power." The Minister of Works' eyes gleamed with wisdom as he calmly and composedly said, "Here's what we'll do: tomorrow, immediately organize the soldiers to build the city. Have them build the walls while simultaneously pouring water on the completed sections. Also, have some soldiers go to the mountains opposite to cut some timber and make some simple wooden beds and furniture. If we're lucky, we might build an ice city here, becoming the first refugee shelter in the Northwest region."

"Ice City?"

Li Ji murmured to himself, looking at Sikong Jin with disbelief and a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Lord Sikong didn't intend to explain further, and smiled, "Trust me, you won't go wrong. Tell the soldiers to be careful. The further we go, the more dangerous our situation will become. In this chaotic year, with such a famine and riot, there are many bandits and outlaws. No one will have a peaceful life. After the Ice City is built, I will divide the army into three large groups. One group will stay here, you will lead one group to find and help the nearby disaster victims and settle them down, and I will lead one group to the border to deal with the riots."

"My lord, I should go to the border. It's too dangerous there. Just now, a scout reported that the number of rioters who instigated the uprising has grown considerably, now numbering in the tens of thousands. They looted the government office in Dakou Town, occupied the town, and are using it as a base to recruit refugees everywhere, attempting to form an army to fight against the border garrison. It's said that the Liao Dynasty is secretly providing them with strategies and supplies. They are quite powerful. The garrison in Talan City is staying indoors, not daring to engage them at all..."

Li Ji said worriedly.

Sikong Jin nodded and smiled calmly, "That's exactly right. That's why I must personally take action and help my brothers make a fortune from the war. This is my first good gift to everyone."

"War profits? Sir, what do you mean by that...?"

"Don't worry, you'll all get your share."

Sikong Jin smiled mysteriously, then turned and walked towards the campfire.

Li Ji was stunned for a long time, and after thinking for a long time, he still didn't know what Lord Sikong meant. In the end, he could only give up and go back with him.

Early the next morning, Li Ji, following the orders of the Minister of Works, commanded the soldiers to dig soil and mix mud to begin building the city. Then, some soldiers poured water on the walls they had built, while Zhang Feng led a group of soldiers into the mountains to chop firewood...

While Lord Sikong was busy dealing with the famine and riots in the northwest of Dayong and was exhausted, someone in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty was living a comfortable and leisurely life.

Inside the grand and luxurious residence of the Crown Prince of the Northern Kingdom in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The afternoon sun gently enveloped the Crown Prince's residence in a peaceful and tranquil golden light. In an elegant and luxurious waterside pavilion in the backyard of the residence, a noble and aloof man sat by the railing, his body slightly turned to the side, gazing calmly at the fish swimming in the water below.

The man was dressed in a black robe with luxurious golden auspicious clouds embroidered on the hem. His cold and bewitching face was adorned with an indifferent expression that showed no fear of life or death. His deep eyes were as deep as the sea and as unpredictable as the clouds. On the railing beside him sat a jet-black, shiny sable with purple eyes.

"Your Highness, a letter from Lord Su Yu."

Feng Yang carefully presented the letter.

Since being slapped into the water by His Highness the Crown Prince, Feng Yang was also seriously injured. However, he survived by virtue of his strong will and returned to the Great Zhou. The first thing he did was to go to the Crown Prince's residence to apologize to His Highness and express his determination to be loyal to him to the death.

He had thought that even if His Highness the Crown Prince pardoned him, he would at least punish him accordingly. However, to his surprise, His Highness the Crown Prince simply glanced at him calmly and told him to go back and lead his 200,000 Imperial Guards, without mentioning a word about what had happened before.

Feng Yang was so grateful he almost cried. He knew he had nearly crossed the Crown Prince's line, yet the Crown Prince had let him off so easily, which showed...

Di Beizun reached out and took the letter, opened it, glanced at it casually, his handsome brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Feng Yang also glanced at it quickly and vaguely saw that it seemed to mention something about Lord Sikong, a riot in the northwest of Dayong, and that Princess Tuoba Wulan, who was coming from Tiansheng for a marriage alliance, had already departed from the Tiansheng Imperial City. Before he could finish reading it, the letter had already turned into dust in the Crown Prince's hands.

"Your Highness, has something happened to Lord Sikong?"

Feng Yang asked cautiously and tentatively.

As soon as Feng Yang said this, the sable, who had been squinting and relaxing, opened its purple eyes in an instant, its ears perked up, and stared intently at its master, Di Beizun.

Every time the name of this Minister of Works was mentioned, His Highness the Crown Prince's expression would change, and his unfathomable gaze would become complicated, a complexity he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Have the envoys who escorted Princess Tiansheng on her visit to Dayong been properly investigated?"

Emperor Beizun did not answer, but instead asked this question indifferently.

"It's the fourth prince of Tiansheng, Tuoba Kang!"

Feng Yang responded respectfully.

"Tuoba Kang?" Crown Prince Dibei murmured, his brows furrowing slightly. He tapped the railing lightly with his slender fingertips, pondering for a long time before saying softly, "Just as I expected."

"Your Highness, should I send someone to investigate Tuoba Yu's movements?"

Feng Yang asked for instructions.

Di Beizun's eyes held a faint, dark light, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "No need. I know where he is."

"Does Your Highness know?"

"If I'm not mistaken, he should be near Xichuan in Southern Liang right now. If you want to get involved, let's see what you're capable of, Tuoba Yu..."

Emperor Beizun slowly stood up and walked down the steps with an elegant and calm demeanor. "To reorganize the troops, I will personally go to Xichuan."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yang was startled, his expression changing slightly. He quickly advised, "Your Highness, the New Year is just over a month away. If you leave the capital like this, won't His Majesty and the Empress... Besides..."