Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 921 - 400, caught in the middle, intentions hard to fathom

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New Yu Era, Year 1332, October 26

In Xiapi County, contrary to the raging storms of Longxiang County, the sky here is clear and cloudless. The sunlight is not particularly intense, yet strangely, the earth has already cracked in layers, countless lakes and rivers have dried up and ceased to flow, and the vegetation on the surface has withered in large patches. Not to mention crops, even the growth of weeds is very concerning.

On the streets of the Prefectural City, there are hardly any pedestrians. Considering the high temperature outside the city, it is even higher within the densely populated and built-up area of the Prefectural City. Naturally, people do not dare to go out and all hide at home, figuring out ways to beat the heat.

Unlike the quiet streets, in the City Lord's Mansion of Xiapi, two groups of people are arguing fiercely. The City Lord, Cao Keyuan, sits above, his face sullen as he listens to the debate.

"Lord Cao, it's the sixth day, we can't keep distributing grain to other counties. If this continues, the surplus grain of the Prefectural City will quickly be exhausted. By then, even if the other five counties are preserved, our Prefectural City will fall into chaos. The higher authorities will definitely blame us!"

"If we don't save the five counties and let them fall into chaos, we'll still be blamed."

......

"Lord Cao, there's no need to think anymore, just report it directly to Tao City, and let the Family Head decide.

Our Xiapi County is originally along the river, one of the main grain-producing areas among the four prefectures of Hexi. The grain is usually supplied to other places, and we never retain much ourselves. This drought is unprecedented and we don't know how long it will last. We're currently surviving on surplus grain, but we won't last for long. I estimated that at most one month, within a month, if people still can't go out to farm and harvest normally, the second season's grain harvest of the year will definitely be gone. Then it won't just be about starving people to death, the whole Hexi will be affected, and then we'll truly be criminals."

The arguing crowd quieted down after hearing this person's words. They all lowered their heads and pondered for a moment, then lightly nodded in agreement.

Cao Keyuan did not express approval, but instead turned his head to survey the crowd, a slight flicker in his expression as he softly asked:

"What, you all think there's something wrong with this drought?"

Everyone exchanged glances, and after a long while, someone stepped forward, speculating: "This time of year is not supposed to be the dry season. There is nothing abnormal about the sun in the sky, and theoretically, there shouldn't be such a severe drought. The water level of Gujiang has dropped by over a hundred meters. Every river and lake within Xiapi has dried up and ceased to flow. It's a rarity even in a hundred years, how did it just happen to us?"

With someone taking the lead, the others also began to speak up.

"Forget about a hundred years, I've consulted the records of Xiapi County, and this kind of drought has only occurred three times, all at the end of the Wuzong era."

"Rumor has it that this drop in the water level of Gujiang is only happening in our section, while other areas remain normal. This news is yet to be confirmed, but if verified..."

The crowd fell silent at once.

If the entire water level of Gujiang is only dropping in the Xiapi section, then they don't need to worry about the drought but about something even more serious.

Cao Keyuan looked at everyone, a slight flicker in his expression, and said: "The people from Xuanting Bureau say..."

Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, he continued: "In Zhaoyang and Nanping prefectures, it has rained torrentially for five consecutive days. The situation along the river is most severe. Si Shui County is flooded, and the floodwaters are already spreading towards Longxiang County City and the other four counties."

"What!"

"Five consecutive days of torrential rain?"

"This......"

......

Xiapi County belongs to Jianye Prefecture. As far as they know, this drought has already affected the Jianye and Xingnan prefectures. Now, hearing from Cao Keyuan that Zhaoyang and Nanping prefectures are experiencing floods, everyone suddenly stood up from their chairs, faces full of shock and disbelief.

The four prefectures of Hexi, although relatively expansive, are nothing compared to The World's thirteen provinces. Since all four prefectures have vast riverside areas, the climatic conditions are generally similar. Two prefectures experiencing drought while two suffer from floods sounds outrageous.

The expressions of the dozen or so people quickly became as gloomy as Cao Keyuan's.

If previously they suspected something was wrong with this drought, now they could be certain that this drought is no ordinary natural disaster...

"The people from Xuanting Bureau say... City Lord, you've already contacted Tao City?"

Suddenly, one person realized something and asked Cao Keyuan, his face brightening. The others quickly realized the implication: Xuanting Bureau and the Thousand Cities Bureau operate independently and typically have no contact unless in exceptional cases. Cao Keyuan wouldn't contact Xuanting Bureau without reason. How did he get information from them?

Cao Keyuan shook his head slightly and said: "On the third day of the drought, when news came of the disasters in the other five counties, I had already reported it. I've already consulted the records of Xiapi County. In over a thousand years, such inexplicable droughts have never occurred. Given our capabilities, we probably can't resolve it, so we can only have experts sent over from Tao City."

"Wise, my Lord!"

Upon hearing Cao Keyuan's words, everyone was filled with joy. They were also officials of Xiapi County, and handling this issue improperly would subject them to punishment from Tao City. At least timely reporting can mitigate some blame, so Cao Keyuan has indeed helped them.

Cao Keyuan looked at everyone, inadvertently shaking his head slightly.

People are ultimately different. Speaking of which, the dozen or so people before him, their cultivation is on par with his, all in the Grandmaster Realm, yet in terms of insight and foresight, they are several levels behind him.

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