The weather was cold, and it was nearing dusk.
In Gucheng, household fires lit up one by one, making the thick clouds seem even heavier.
The snow on the ground was a foot deep, and it was still falling, seemingly getting heavier.
A biting north wind lifted the snow from the ground, blanketing the entire Gucheng in white.
Zhao Zheng stepped on the thick snow, carrying a sturdy rope on his shoulder, forming a forty-five-degree angle with the ground, his little face flushed red.
He exerted all his strength, trying to drag the plow behind him, but the snow was too thick, and the plow was deeply embedded in it. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move it an inch.
He slipped, and Zhao Zheng fell into the snow.
Where he fell, he lay down, panting:
"Big brother, I can’t drag it anymore!"
Zhao Xing pulled the plow out of the snow and leaned it against the wall, "Get up, go swap for the small shovel, and keep shoveling."
"Oh." Zhao Zheng floundered out of the snow and went to fetch the shovel from the courtyard.
Each household cleared their own snow. At this time in Kangping Square, neighbors came out one by one to clear the snow for people and horses to pass through.
Zhao Xing looked up at the sky, sensing a bit of coldness as well.
It was already the Small Snow Solar Term.
Half a month had passed since the last Xuantian Sect attack.
"When the Small Snow term has heavy snow, the Great Snow term will be without snow."
"First stage, the rainbow hides and is not seen; second stage, the air rises, and the earth veins descend; third stage, it seals and turns to winter."
"During this term, even sensing the earth veins became somewhat difficult for me, and I couldn’t lower the height of the clouds."
"However, the power of the Ice Rain Spell only increased. Although the earth veins descended, as long as the Yin Wind could be summoned, its power significantly increased compared to before."
Zhao Xing and his little brother almost finished shoveling the snow in front of the door, then carried a few pounds of Mrs. Cai’s pickles, cured meat, and dried fish, heading towards the Xue Mansion.
Upon arriving at Xue Mansion, there was no need to announce it; the doorman opened the door as soon as he saw Zhao Xing.
The Old Minister of Agriculture was busy in front of a high stove in the courtyard at this time.
"Teacher, why are you up so early brewing Small Snow Wine?" Zhao Xing put down his things and ran over to help.
"Nothing much to do, can’t sit idle." Xue Wenzhong smiled as he took the long spoon Zhao Xing handed him, standing on a ladder to stir the wine cellar.
A young man in thin clothes came in from the firewood room, carrying a bundle of firewood.
Looking six to seven-tenths similar to Xue Wenzhong, he was Xue Bai, recently released after serving his sentence.
"Little Master Uncle."
"Hmm, give it to me." Zhao Xing took the firewood from Xue Bai’s hands.
Xue Bai was the grandson of the Old Minister of Agriculture. He had been released a few days after the Start of Winter.
At that time, Zhao Xing had gone to the county city with Xue Wenzhong to receive him.
Upon his release, Xue Bai spoke slowly, behaved respectfully, and called Zhao Xing "Little Master Uncle" after learning that he was a disciple of his grandfather. It was hard to connect him with the previously reckless young man who had injured someone out of jealousy.
Perhaps he had been severely beaten in prison. In any case, Zhao Xing had a pretty good impression of Xue Bai after a few encounters.
Xue Wenzhong was also happier; his grandson’s reformation was the best outcome.
With his student performing excellently, brighter than his teacher, Xue Wenzhong was in a joyful mood these days, greeting everyone with a cheerful look, and even his overall spirit was much better than before.
After busying for a while, Xue Wenzhong came down from the ladder.
"You don’t need to always come to see me. After the winter review, the Start of Spring is the Temple Examination."
"The court’s examination, especially the theory, will involve the Heavenly Time and Earth Advantage of different regions in the nineteen states as well as plants. You should study more and focus on your preparation."
"Yes, I will go back to study after we finish eating." Zhao Xing said.
"It’s still early for meals. Go read in my study." Xue Wenzhong clapped his hands and smiled, "The only thing I can teach you now is this theoretical knowledge."
December 7, Great Snow.
East Lake was already covered with a thick layer of ice, and many waterways around Gu County were frozen, impassable.
Only a few main streams barely operated, but it significantly affected commercial activities in Nanyang County.
Nanyang County heavily relied on waterway transportation. If navigation were not ensured, with the waterways frozen for a month or two, city prices would soar.
"Heavy snow and ice affected various places in Nanyang, and Gucheng also suffered."
"This could be considered an ice disaster of considerable severity."
"In previous years, Nanyang County had never experienced such extreme weather."
As the ice disaster arrived, officials from the Minister of Agriculture Supervision in each area began to get busy.
Since it involved the entire Nanyang County, unfreezing just one county wouldn’t suffice; the county had to coordinate.
Otherwise, if you unfroze the section of the river in Gucheng, the ice from upstream would float down in less than a day and freeze again.
It would also impact the downstream, with water overflowing the ice surface, potentially causing unknown effects.
If a flood occurred in the winter, it would be disastrous.
Chen Shijie had to fulfill his last duties and thus led the Minister of Agriculture Supervision officials, running around the four areas. He hadn’t returned for several days.
"If you alter the Heavenly Time excessively under normal circumstances, without proper Five Elements balance, the hidden problems will accumulate and lead to a significant disaster." Xue Wenzhong analyzed the causes of this snow disaster for Zhao Xing at the mansion.
"In the twelve counties, including Mountain County, Hu County, Mingshan County, Shuihe County, the Minister of Agriculture Supervision officials either were lazy or incompetent and repeatedly altered the weather with magic in the first three seasons."