Li Daoxuan's field of vision was expanding at an alarming rate.
After conjuring rain over Heyang County and hauling in vast amounts of grain, the locals finally stopped living in permanent crisis mode. The moment people felt secure again, points of light rose everywhere. The Salvation Index didn't just increase—it went into full exploit mode.
Just as he had learned before:
saving individual lives paid crumbs.
Saving an entire way of life?
That was where the real numbers were.
The common folk worked for grain, watched the Four Seas Dragon Kings personally clock in to provide rain, and—just like that—hope came back online. The Salvation Index surged like a broken counter.
His northern vision pushed deeper into Huanglong Mountain.
To the west, it crossed Chengcheng County and reached the Yaotou Kilns—Bai Shui County was next in line.
To the east, Heyang County was fully revealed, the edge of his vision steadily creeping toward the Yellow River.
Li Daoxuan spent his days hammering the box's East / South / West / North buttons like a player desperate to clear fog-of-war.
Unfortunately, mechanics were mechanics.
No points meant no unlock.
Just like math—you can't brute-force what you don't understand.
Eventually, he spotted a thin blue line labeled Xiadang River, a tributary that theoretically fed into the Yellow River.
The keyword was theoretically.
Years of drought had reduced it to a damp rumor clinging to the riverbed. His ship model was far too large to float there—not even close.
So much for the side-route cheese.
Plan dead.
Back to waiting.
Dusk settled.
At Qiachuan Wharf, Feng Jun, Bai Yuan, and Zhang Yuanwai stood watching the Yellow River surge past.
Even with the empire locked in drought and minor rivers quietly uninstalling themselves, the Yellow River remained over two li wide—roaring eastward, vast, relentless, and completely unconcerned with human suffering.
Because of its speed, most upstream sections couldn't support docks. But Qiachuan had a small backwater bend, shaped like a stomach pouch. The current slowed there, which was why the wharf existed at all.
In good years, ships from downstream brought grain and all kinds of Jiangnan luxuries—proof that civilization still remembered this place.
Feng Jun pointed at the decaying pier.
"Look at it. Barely any ships left."
Bai Yuan nodded. A few fishing boats lingered. Not a single merchant ship in sight. The place felt like history had already moved on.
Feng Jun surveyed the terrain, his expression tightening.
"This bay is calm. Perfect for bandit landings. If Wang Jiayin's fleet shows up here, it'll be a serious problem. Gentlemen—any ideas?"
Zhang Yuanwai shook his head immediately.
"I'm out of my depth. Let Bai-xiong speak."
Bai Yuan straightened, completely unruffled. Dao Xuan Tianzun had already laid out the plan—panic was unnecessary.
He pointed at the open ground above the dock.
"We build a small fortress here. Garrison it with militia. Cannons, muskets, bows, rolling logs, falling stones—everything. Put the entire dock inside the fortress's firing range. Landing won't be easy anymore."
Feng Jun frowned.
"A fortress on flat ground? Stone alone would take ages. Quarrying, transport, construction—it's not trivial."
Bai Yuan smiled faintly.
"Feng-daren worries too much. Gaojia Village has a special material—cement. You've seen it. Roads, houses, workshops. Our craftsmen are experienced. Send a few over to guide the local laborers, and we'll have a cement fortress here in days."
Feng Jun brightened, then hesitated.
"And the weapons? Cannons, muskets? I'm not the Shanxi commander. I don't have Western artillery lying around."
Bai Yuan paused.
"That… I'll handle."
Feng Jun's thoughts spun.
Just who is this man?
If he could source artillery, his connections had to be terrifying—possibly even tied to the new Shaanxi Governor Liu Guangsheng.
With someone like this backing Heyang County, survival no longer felt optimistic. It felt plausible.
Bai Yuan continued,
"Until the fortress is complete and weapons arrive, we'll have to guard the wharf manually. Zhang-di, this is your territory. We'll need your men first."
Zhang Yuanwai clasped his fists.
"Understood. I'll bring four hundred militia immediately."
He left at once.
Feng Jun followed.
"I'll return to the county and deal with administration."
Bai Yuan nodded.
"Safe travels, Feng-daren."
Soon, only Bai Yuan and his retainers remained.
He stood by the Yellow River, hands behind his back, wearing a smile that made no obvious sense.
A retainer whispered,
"Master… why are you smiling?"
Bai Yuan chuckled softly.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun intends to save the world. And this river leads to half of it. Qiachuan Wharf will be our starting point."
"…Isn't that thinking a bit far ahead?"
Before he could answer, a lookout shouted,
"Master! Trouble! Large numbers of ships approaching from the north!"
Bai Yuan's smile vanished.
"Wang Jiayin? Already? Damn it—we haven't deployed anything."
He rushed up to look.
Clusters of fishing boats, mixed with merchant ships, were sailing straight toward Qiachuan.
"What do we do?" the retainer asked.
"What do you think?" Bai Yuan snapped.
"With just us, we can't stop a landing. Withdraw—now. Go get reinforcements."
They ran west, putting distance between themselves and the river.
Then Bai Yuan stopped.
He laughed quietly.
"Master?" the retainer asked. "Why stop?"
"We can't fight head-on," Bai Yuan said calmly.
"But from a distance? One shot is doable."
He turned back toward the river, eyes sharp.
"I'll aim from shore. Before the bandit leader even steps off the boat—
I'll drop him right on the prow."
"If that doesn't scare them off," he added,
"then this era has truly decided to grief us."
Trivia :
Qiachuan Wharf (洽川码头)
A real Yellow River landing point benefiting from a rare backwater bend. Such locations were economic lifelines—and military liabilities. Calm water invited trade. It also invited trouble.
Why docks are dangerous
A dock without fortifications is just an invitation written in wood. Calm water removes natural defenses, making prepared firepower the only deterrent.
River logistics
Control of rivers meant control of movement, supply, and surprise. Most rebellions failed not because of courage, but because they underestimated boats, timing, and math.
In short: the river isn't neutral. It's a multiplier. Whether it multiplies survival or catastrophe depends entirely on who reaches the shore first.