It so happened that after traveling for over a hundred li, they encountered Chi Zimo, who was making quite a spectacle of himself.
He was not at all discreet, traveling with numerous attendants and all sorts of baggage. One might have thought he was moving house.
"Chi Zimo is truly fortunate to meet an old acquaintance here."
His face wore a harmless smile, but Xiao Tingyi and Feng Jinyao both knew he had deliberately waited here upon hearing that they were heading to the southwest.
"Patriarch Chi is indeed well-informed."
Although Xiao Tingyi had not deliberately concealed his journey, he had been very low-key.
He hadn't expected Chi Zimo to not only know the news but also to arrive ahead of them while carrying so much.
His capabilities were undeniable.
This also indirectly confirmed the Chi family's influence in Jinling City; indeed, no news could escape his notice.
"Your Highness is too kind. I am merely concerned about the grain that has been sent, and thus intended to personally go and inspect it. I never expected to encounter Your Highness! What a coincidence."
For the dignified head of the Chi family to personally embark on a journey to the southwest for ten million piculs of grain would surely make outsiders laugh their heads off.
Yet, he had the audacity to use this as an excuse, and Xiao Tingyi did not expose him.
Instead, an idea struck him, and he decided to make use of Chi Zimo.
"I also find this quite coincidental. Since that is the case, let us go together. I have long heard that the Chi family not only excels in maritime transport but also has a say in river transport. Traveling by water is much faster than by land. In at most six days, we should be in the southwest."
The distance between Jinling City and the southwest was at least several thousand li. Traveling by horse would take fifteen to twenty days at the fastest, and with Feng Jinyao and others traveling by carriage, it might even take a month.
However, traveling by river transport, the speed was self-evident.
Six days?
Chi Zimo could not help but be astonished by Prince Ding's audacious request once again.
He was truly adept at using people.
While large ships were stable, they were slower. Small boats were fast but could be dangerous in turbulent rivers, especially as they approached the southwestern region where the flood situation was uncertain. Therefore, he was not entirely confident he could travel all the way to Shuzhou.
It was precisely Prince Ding's words that put him in a difficult position.
If he succeeded, he would only receive a few words of praise. But if he failed, wouldn't the Chi family become a laughingstock?
With a single sentence, he had put Chi Zimo in a bind, which was typical of Xiao Tingyi.
Both of them wore smiles, but the mutual probing in their eyes was evident.
Qiao Shanwei rode his horse to the side of the carriage and whispered to Feng Jinyao inside.
"If you talk about ruthlessness, Your Highness is still a cut above."
Feng Jinyao did not speak. She had known the Prince Ding's capabilities for two lifetimes, and she didn't care what others said.
A moment later, Chi Zimo slowly spoke.
"Since Your Highness has such a desire to appreciate the scenery along the way, I will certainly make proper arrangements."
As expected, they soon arrived before a ship bearing the Chi family's insignia.
Compared to official ships, it was much more delicate and smaller, but just by looking at its exterior, one could tell it was not cheap.
Its frame was made entirely of fragrant fir wood, lacquered with tung oil. The front of the ship was sharp, ideal for navigating rivers, while the middle was wide for comfortable seating. The boatmen on board looked strong and healthy, which surprised Feng Jinyao and the others.
"This is a specially built fast ship of my Chi family. At its fastest, it can travel a thousand li in a day."
Chi Zimo's few words silenced Xiao Tingyi.
As far as he knew, the fastest military fast ships could only travel six hundred li a day, and that was under favorable wind and water conditions.
This Chi family ship was nearly twice as fast, no wonder they had dominated maritime transport to this day; they truly possessed some skill.
He glanced at Xu Lin and Yang Zhao, his meaning obvious.
Since they would be on this ship for several days, they naturally had to thoroughly examine it.
Even if they couldn't build such a ship, they must at least gather its general design.
Chi Zimo did not mind Xiao Tingyi's "sneaky" intentions and was quite magnanimous.
He extended his hand and invited him forward. Xiao Tingyi did not stand on ceremony.
"Well, in that case, I shall not refuse."
He turned to look at Feng Jinyao. She followed him and stood behind him. Then, he casually took her hand and boarded the deck.
The attendants by their side were already accustomed to this, but Chi Zimo was amused.
When he saw her last time, it seemed this Miss Feng San was still somewhat resistant to Prince Ding. This time, she was openly allowing him to declare his ownership?
It seemed many interesting things had happened recently.
With this thought, the smile on his face became even more pronounced.
After all the luggage and horses were loaded onto the ship, the Chi family's fast ship set sail directly towards Shuzhou.
Actually sitting on the ship, Xiao Tingyi's shock was no less than Feng Jinyao's.
Not only was this ship fast, but it was also very stable.
They could barely feel any significant swaying, which was very friendly to those prone to seasickness.
Furthermore, the ship seemed to have been prepared in advance, with fresh water, food, and all necessities readily available.
The cook on board was specifically brought by Chi Zimo and was skilled in making delicious Jiangnan cuisine. Because of this, Feng Jinyao's appetite improved considerably.
Seeing her eat so comfortably, Xiao Tingyi even considered taking the cook.
However, Chi Zimo was unwilling to part with her.
"Chef Wei's cooking is something I've enjoyed since childhood. Please, Your Highness, do not insist."
Having said that, Xiao Tingyi could not press the matter further. However, it was not a problem. There were many chefs who could cook well in Jiangnan, and it wasn't just this one. As long as A'yao liked it, let alone Jiangnan cuisine, he could find authentic dishes from the northern deserts.
Thus, they arrived in the southwestern region in just five days, traveling smoothly.
The Chi family's fast ship could have continued all the way to Shuzhou.
Unfortunately, the flood situation in the southwest exceeded their imagination. Not only had the river water surged, but the weather also refused to cooperate, with continuous rain.
According to the locals, it had been raining for three consecutive days.
It wasn't a downpour, but the dikes and fertile fields that had already been washed away, with this added rainfall, were now a muddy mess, a truly desolate sight.
Therefore, they had to disembark and continue on land.
Fortunately, they were not far from Shuzhou. If they walked quickly, they should reach it in two to three days.
As they walked, they saw common people everywhere digging for anything edible.
The dikes were breached, the fertile fields were submerged, and although the houses were not severely damaged, the food for sustenance had greatly diminished.
It had been over half a month since the flood. Their stored grain was not much, and with careful rationing, it was barely enough to last a month. But what about after a month?
The common people did not know, so they could only do their best to prepare as much as possible before the imperial court sent aid.