The minor officials were in complete chaos, flying around like headless flies, trying everything to save their lives. The former officials were also no better than them at this time. The minor officials were trying to find a way, but they could only find managers at most.

But the officials were different. If they wanted to save their lives, or keep their prosperity and wealth, they could only find a higher level.

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At present, the highest level in Hanyang was Lin Yuan, and under Lin Yuan was Chen Baisong. But under Chen Baisong, there was no object of concentration of power.

In other words, Lin Yuan could still push Song Shizhao or Wu Changqing out before, but now there was no such person.

So some officials set their sights on Lin Yuan, while more looked to Chen Bosong.

After all, giving gifts or showing loyalty to Lin Yuan was not uncommon. Lin Yuan was already the lord of Hanyang, but Chen Baisong was different. There was a Lin Yuan over his head.

“So, there are quite a lot of people who came to give you gifts recently?” Lin Yuan looked at Chen Baisong with a smile but no one could tell what he was thinking. Chen Baisong was stared at by Lin Yuan, and his body became a little stiff, only coming back to his senses after a few breaths.

Chen Baisong said: “I did not accept any of them.”

Lin Yuan: “Why not accept them? What they send to you shouldn’t be anything ordinary.”

Chen Baisong pursed his lips, and he remembered the conversation Song Shizhao had with him before he left.

Song Shizhao said to him: “General Chen, His Lord treats you sincerely, that is His Lord’s business, but you must not become arrogant.”

“His Lord has not announced kingship now, but when he does in the future, it will not just be a king. It is better for General to understand this earlier.”

“There is still a wall between brothers, let alone between monarchs and officials. General, Song advises you, only knowing when to advance and retreat will you have peace.”

Chen Baisong also knew in his heart that he was Lin Yuan’s nanny brother who grew up with him since they were children, and even though they were separated for some time, it didn’t last long. When he returned to Lin Yuan’s side, his original subordinates were not dispersed and compared to the other generals who had to hand over their tally at any time, Lin Yuan really favoured him very much.

But there was a limit to favour, and Chen Baisong had no doubt that once Lin Yuan found out that he had done anything to disappoint him, Lin Yuan’s patience and favour for him would instantly disappear.

Likely, Song Shizhao also saw that Lin Yuan was a tolerant person, but this tolerance was still very limited. His tolerance would be given to his citizens, but not to those who held power. If the common people failed him, he might not take it to heart. But if his officials, his generals failed him, Lin Yuan would change his face.

When killing officials, Lin Yuan didn’t show any dismay at all.

Sometimes Lin Yuan was a gentle and amiable gentleman, and sometimes he was a ruthless and cruel tyrant.

No one wanted to see his cruel side.

Chen Baisong restrained his thoughts, bowed his head and said: “Those who give gifts to me are for benefits, and if I accept them, I will be complicit.”

“What’s wrong with receiving it?” Lin Yuan patted Chen Baisong on the shoulder. He stood beside Chen Baisong. He was clearly not as tall as Chen Baisong, but Chen Baisong still felt an indescribable sense of oppression.

His own young master was becoming more and more like a ruler.

Lin Yuan’s tone was mild, and one could not detect any extra emotion in his voice: “It just so happens that it cost a lot of money to capture Hanyang. If they send it, you will accept it.”

Lin Yuan sighed and said, “Unexpectedly, no one gave me gifts, and when showing me loyalty there are also no practical benefits.”

Chen Baisong: “…..”

He had thought about it so much, and it turned out he had really worried too much.

Lin Yuan also complained about this: “It’s fine in Gaoyou. After all, there are Song Shizhao and Wu Changqing. No one would give me gifts, which was something I expected. But now when I came to Hanyang, I didn’t push anyone out. They gave you gifts but not to me. What is the reason? Do I look like I am not at all short of money?”

Lin Yuan did not have his own private treasury. Although he was an uncrowned king, he had not enjoyed much. Everyday he was so busy he barely had time to rest. Fighting wars needed money, military provisions needed money, feeding the common people needed money. Everywhere needed money and the taxes were simply not worth anything at all.

After all, as soon as the taxes came in, he had to spend it again. Besides, who were the ones paying taxes? They were all big households, and there were not many.

And the common people who numbered much more had just barely managed to support themselves. If Lin Yuan collected taxes from them, all the efforts in the early stage would go up in flames.

In Lin Yuan’s expectation, the common people would be able to support themselves in five years, without any more subsidies, and reach a financial balance within ten years.

Paying taxes within 20 years as the country’s economy strengthened was already pretty good in his book.

So someone sending money was a good thing, of course he was willing to accept it.

Although the merchants have money and were willing to send him money, it was not a long-term solution after all, and it was impossible for him to let the merchants monopolize the market after he really took that imperial position.

The national economy was the lifeblood of the country, and he could allow businessmen to compete against each other within the limits he had set for greater benefits.

But he would not allow businessmen to want to control the national economy.

“If they send it, you will accept it, and then keep a count. Let your staff organize the account book and send it to me. It must also be reported how the money is spent, but everything else is up to you.” Lin Yuan said to Chen Baisong. “You have to keep a good watch on the people below you. People might be able to resist sharp knives and sharp blades. But sugar-coated cannons can sometimes be more powerful than sharp blades.”

Chen Baisong smiled: “Naturally I shall follow your order.”

Lin Yuan touched his chin and sighed, “I think I look quite approachable, why didn’t no one give me gifts?”

Chen Baisong comforted: “How about I give them some hints.”

Lin Yuan’s expression became serious in an instant: “No, I want them to give it to me willingly!”

“Wanting benefits in exchange for such a small amount of money. Where can there be such a cheap thing in this world?”

Lin Yuan made a final decision, and as a result, Hanyang officials and big households instantly had a hard time.

The officials everywhere had to go see the managers constantly, and the managers didn’t tell them anything clearly either.

They just said: “Milords all have been living a really good life. There are fine wines and beautiful ladies. Unlike our South Bodhisattva, who is working hard for the people, and even when sitting down for a drink of tea, only drinks the crude tea that milords disdain.”

Having said this, these people instantly understood.

But they still dared not give gifts to Lin Yuan.

Those with a little bit of brains know, if you give gifts at this time wouldn’t that prove your guilty conscience?

If it was dug up in the future, it would be evidence of their crime.

So they all waited to see if anyone gave the first gift. If the person who gave the gift was fine or got a reward, it would not be too late for them to give gifts then.

But not long later, the managers came knocking at the door.

What they said this time was a bit ugly.

The general idea was:

“You are living so well, which can be seen that you don’t care about the people at all. If you care about the people, how can you live in a big house and eat all kinds of delicacies while the people are still starving outside! You say that it’s common for the common people to go hungry. Then fine, but our South Bodhisattva is also starving, it’s just that the South Bodhisattva doesn’t say it, but you are not sympathetic at all.”

The officials were forced out of any methods, and could only take the path of Chen Baisong first.

So Chen Baisong received more gifts, so much that Chen Baisong himself was a little at a loss.

He had been fighting in wars for so many years, and he had seen all kinds of rare treasures, and so long as it was a rare treasure, it was valuable.

If no one buys it, then the rare treasure would no longer be a rare treasure.

But the money from these officials was constantly being sent over every day, as if they were sitting on hills of gold and silver and they simply didn’t have to worry about eating and drinking for a few lifetimes.

Lin Yuan got even more angry when he got the ledger from Chen Baisong.

“Absurd!” Lin Yuan scolded with anger, “They are just some small officials yet they have such financial resources! Even to feed the people of a city, they can support the expense for several years! And this Hanyang was only in Xu Shouhui’s hands for a few years yet they have raided so much wealth! It’s dumbfounding!”

Chen Baisong: “Kill them all?”

Lin Yuan took a deep breath: “No hurry, I will settle accounts with them in the future.”

“If all the officials in the world are such people, then what is the point of talking about the prosperity of the country and the strength of the people? What is the point of talking about the admirations from all surrounding territories? Isn’t this just a laughable joke?”

After the officials opened up the route through Chen Baisong, they began to give gifts to Lin Yuan. At the beginning, they only dared to do it secretly. When they sent it, they didn’t dare to say who gave it. But seeing Lin Yuan accept it, their courage gradually grew, Lin Yuan’s acquiescence fueling their arrogance.

These people even started to compete, compete on who gave Lin Yuan more.

Countless gold and silver treasures were sent to Lin Yuan, but when Lin Yuan saw these things, there was no smile on his face.

These things were all cast from the flesh and blood of the common people, and each of them was stained with countless blood.

The whole of Hanyang suddenly became restless, but the common people had the reassurance of the managers, so there was no trouble.

However, there was a murky atmosphere among the officials, and they have resumed their old behaviors, forming cliques and alliances.

Hu Yu also took this opportunity to make a fortune, but what he didn’t expect was that in addition to the minor officials, there were even officials who gave him gifts.

In the past, he could not even enter their doors. But nowadays, people not only gave him gifts, but also told him all kinds of nice words, all kinds of flattery. And the servants and maids of the big families with eyes on the top of their heads now became ingratiating and subservient.

There was even someone willing to marry his daughter to him, and it was not the position of the official wife, but the concubine’s. Not only was he willing to marry his legitimate daughter to him as a concubine, he was also willing to send his concubine’s daughter to him, either as a slave or a maid.

Had it not been for Hu Yu still thinking of marrying Zhou Qiuniang, he likely would have agreed.

He now even felt that his wife was in the way, so how could he go and marry another bunch?

It seemed that Hu Yu, having been a minor official for so many years, naturally knew that to please people, he had to show sincerity.

No matter how powerful the character and status of this Lord Sun who wanted his daughter to marry him was, now that the sky above his head had changed, what use was it anymore?

Zhou Qiuniang had followed the Southern King when he was still a landowner, and she was the first woman to be an official. Her connections and court power which have accumulated for so many years, how could a mere official of the Tian Wan regime compare?

Hu Yu made his own calculations in his heart, money, he accepted.

People, he rejected.

When others invited him to a banquet, he would go.

But what requests other people asked of him, he would agree to them face to face, but after turning his head he would deny it.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

He took more benefits, and offended more people.

There were countless people wishing for his death.

Hu Yu was now ready to divorce his original wife and find a matchmaker to propose marriage to Qiu Niang.

TN: haven’t been all that good replying to comments lately sweatdrop but I do enjoy reading all of them 😁

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The minor officials wanted to give gifts, bribe their way, and save themselves. After all, Lin Yuan didn’t send anyone to go seize and confiscate the homes of these minor officials. They still have some savings in their hands, and even if they didn’t, there were always some rare knick-knacks at home.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

As the saying went, little ghosts were difficult to deal with. Whether they were large affluent families or ordinary commoners, they were unwilling to entangle themselves in troublesome things. Most of them were willing to spend money to avoid problems.

However, the minor officials were unable to find a way despite their efforts now.

It was not easy to give gifts. Gift giving was also a matter of skill, to whom and what to give.

Give it to Chen Baisong? That was impossible. Would the generals lack these little favors? If they really sent it, that was the same as handing out their weakness to the other.

If they want to send a gift, it must be sent to a villain who had access to news, often deceived superiors and kept subordinates in the dark, but did not hold a lot of power.

The minor officials searched for a long time before finally finding this person.

——Zhou Qiuniang.

She was a manager, and not a minor manager. She was in charge of reporting matters, and she was responsible for counting the number of reports.

In the eyes of the minor officials, women were easier to deal with than men. What they wanted was simple, either jewelry or money, and just a few sweet words could make them feel dizzy.

Therefore, in addition to being busy with her own affairs these days, Qiu Niang had to meet with these minor officials.

“Manager Zhou, someone outside asks for a meeting.” A soldier stood at the door, bowing his head to report.

Qiu Niang put away the memorized book and said, “Take them to the reception room. I’ll be there later.”

The soldier stood straight, and left after answering with a confirmation.

Qiu Niang was promoted. She was just a small manager before, and there were not many people under her command.

Now she was the chief manager, and she was in charge of more than forty minor managers, and there were also people under those minor managers.

When going out, the look in people’s eyes also changed when they looked at her.

This time coming to Hanyang, Qiu Niang took the initiative to offer herself for the assignment. She had been in Gaoyou for these years, and she had taken care of everything that needed to be taken care of. She knew in her heart that if she didn’t come out, she wouldn’t be able to come out again.

Qiu Niang walked to the reception room. She now lived in a courtyard residence with three attached courtyard houses. Of course, she was not the only one who lived here. The female managers all live here, and Qiu Niang was their leader.

Sometimes they would also have meetings in the reception room, report on work, and communicate with each other about the problems they have encountered.

In the past, Qiu Niang was the only female manager. Later, there were more female managers.

There were too few scholars who were willing to deal with trivial matters. Many of them come from families with wealth and did not lack food or clothing. They would rather be an idle person and wait to die than doing things that they found was below their status.

So, many orphans or widows who had read and studied books like Qiun Niang started to work.

They had no men and no wealth or assets, so they could only rely on themselves if they wanted to survive.

Because Gaoyou’s atmosphere was good and women could work too, so apart from some women who went to Gaoyou to find someone to marry, most of the women who were literate in Gaoyou accepted Lin Yuan’s recruitment, and soon took office and became a part of Gaoyou’s political system.

These women were also unexpectedly united. They would naturally gather together, and slowly, Qiu Niang became their leader.

After all, everyone knew that Qiu Niang was a “veteran”, and that she had been with the South Bodhisattva when he was still a landowner.

This made her identity unique.

“It’s those people again.” Qiu Niang was a little tired. She hadn’t slept well for a long time. Even when dreaming she would dream that she was working.

Yun Niu followed Qiu Niang and whispered, “They must definitely have come to give you something again.”

Qiu Niang smiled: “They all think I am shallow and shortsighted.”

Yun Niu: “Those are all good things.”

Qiu Niang’s expression went cold: “It’s all dirty things stained with blood.”

Knowing that she had said the wrong thing, Yun Niu quickly patted her mouth to indicate that she won’t say any more.

Qiu Niang walked into the reception room. This was the main courtyard, with the best space and the most light. The door was always open. As soon as she entered, she saw five or six people, all with ingratiating smiles that were particularly obvious.

As soon as Qiu Niang stepped in, they began to take turns flattering her.

“This is Manager Zhou, right?”

“Manager Zhou is really a woman who is a match for men!”

Qiu Niang smiled at them and said, “Don’t know what important matters everyone has come with? These days are too busy so if there has been any lack of hospitality, please forgive me.”

“What is Manager Zhou talking about?” Hu Yu pushed the others behind him and stood in front of Qiu Niang with a wide smile on his face. “We all admire Manager Zhou. I heard that Manager Zhou has dealt with big and small matters, loved the people like your own children, and treated others kindly and amiably, so we all came over.”

“It is for the reporting matter, correct?” Qiu Niang sat on the main seat, “Everyone, have a seat.”

The several people didn’t want to sit at all, but Qiu Niang had no expression on her face. They were afraid of being driven out, so they could only sit down.

Qiu Niang: “The reports have not yet been resolved. If you have anything to say, it is better to speak up at this time.”

The several people looked at each other and one of them said, “Manager Zhou, as you know, originally in Hanyang it was not us minor officials who had the final say. There were lords who were in charge of us and the commoners did not listen to us. Sometimes when doing things, it comes across as a little…..rough…..”

“You say, it is not easy for us people, but there is no other way. The common people know nothing and are stubborn. So sometimes we inevitably overdo it.”

“Now that this reporting matter is established, the common people will report the slightest dissatisfaction with us. Then aren’t we very much wronged?”

“That’s right, we should at least have a place where we can address our grievances and speak reasonably, right?”

Qiu Niang picked up the tea cup and took a sip, a smile on her face: “What the common people have reported is not just a little bit of roughness.”

“Forcibly snatching women and robbing family wealth, these things are probably trivial things in your opinion, right?”

Qiu Niang’s tone was heavy, and the expressions of these people changed, but they did not dare to speak harshly to Qiu Niang.

Even if they used all kinds of foul language to describe these female managers in private, they couldn’t let out even a fart when they were in front of them.

There was also more than one soldier guarding outside the house, and they were holding real weapons. They didn’t want to bet on their heads to test what they could say to Qiu Niang.

“Manager Zhou, it cannot be spoken like this. We are all honest people and we haven’t done the things you said, but some things have been circulating as rumors, and some things can not be spoken clearly, don’t you think so?”

Qiu Niang’s expression didn’t change, and she still continued smiling: “Since it can’t be spoken clearly, then you might as well not say anything. It will save you money as well as trouble.”

Hu Yu was anxious: “Manager Zhou, you can’t do this, we are all honest officials!”

“The common people are talking nonsense. What do they know? All day long, except for eating and sleeping, no different from pigs.”

“If you listened to them, the world would be messed up long ago!”

Qiu Niang glanced at Hu Yu. She knew who this person was. Her superiors had already notified her about him a long time ago. At this time, she smiled and said, “It’s Hu Gongzi. I didn’t expect you to be here. Is the tea still to your taste? Do you want to change to another pot? Do you have anything you want to eat?”

Hu Yu was taken aback for a moment. He had never seen this Manager Zhou before. Before the Southern King’s people arrived, he didn’t even know that a woman could be an official.

“Manager Zhou is too couteous, I…..” Hu Yu was just about to ask questions.

Qiu Niang: “Yun Niu, exchange a pot of tea for Hu Gongzi, exchange it for the Longjing I brought back.”

Hu Yu was flattered. Was it possible that this Qiu Niang was a relative of his own family who had seen him but never met him?

It shouldn’t be…..even if it was a distant relative, she should be named Hu instead of Zhou, and there was no marriage with any family with the Zhou surname in his family tree.

After cycling through his thoughts, Hu Yu ended up dizzying himself.

The other people’s eyes when looking at Hu Yu also became different.

Qiu Niang acted very polite to Hu Yu, and from her words it sounded like there must be a relationship between the two.

Hu Yu secretly thought to himself: This surnamed Zhou was not interested in him, was she?

Although this surnamed Zhou was a bit older, her looks were not bad.

——That wife of his at home, ever since she miscarried, looked much older and haggard, not even as good as the one he kept outside.

Hu Yu was born with an inexplicable confidence in himself.

He began to flirt with Qiu Niang.

Even if Qiu Niang didn’t look at him for more than a few moments, he felt that Qiu Niang was trying to play hard to catch with him.

Even after they were led out, Hu Yu was still dizzy and didn’t know what Qiu Niang had said.

“Too impressive.” His friends surrounded Hu Yu, “Brother Hu, only you have a way. What is your relationship with that woman? Looking at how she talks to you, I even think she will do whatever you tell her to do.”

Hu Yu smiled proudly.

He had a backer before, and he didn’t need to go out and socialize with others himself, instead the little shrimps below would flock over to him.

He was domineering, but he dared not provoke those higher ranking officials. However, he also did not ingratiate himself to them. He just hid in his own world where he became the little overlord.

So he was a very straightforward person. When others praise him, he couldn’t think of anything else.

“Brother Hu, you have a relationship with that Manager Zhou, so please help us say some nice things when the time comes.” They surrounded Hu Yu, like the stars surrounded the moon. Hu Yu had been flattered like this before, but it was the first time he had been treated to such sincere flattery.

It was as if he was their heaven, and he could control everything about them.

Hu Yu had never felt this feeling before. For the first time, he even forgot his first name and last name.

He answered with an affirmative no matter what the others said, as if there was nothing he couldn’t handle.

“Brother Hu, on this matter we are all relying on you, I want to treat you to have a drink tonight at the restaurant, the best restaurant!”

“Then since you will be treating today, I will treat brother Hu tomorrow. Brother Hu, don’t be polite with us, we can only count on brother Hu in the future.”

Hu Yu walked in the middle of them, with arms thrown over shoulders, and went off to drink all night.

After this night, Hu Yu seemed to have become the most popular guy in town. Wherever he went, his former colleagues all nodded and bowed at him.

There were also more people approaching him.

He was originally a gift-giver, but now he had become a gift-receiver.

With more and more money, the gifts received were naturally more and more expensive. Even pearl woven tunics and other things that money might not even be able to buy were now in his possession. Hu Yu seemed to have become a rich man overnight. So much so that even when sleeping the corners of his mouth would be curved up in a smile.

From time to time, he would go to Qiu Niang for a chat. Qiu Niang’s attitude toward him remained consistent, speaking softly and politely. Hu Yu hinted several times, and Qiu Niang did not decisively refuse.

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He used to rely on his uncle before, but then his uncle fell from power.

If he could marry Qiu Niang this time, he could then rely on his wife.

So long as they were a family, then everything was easy to handle.

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Hanyang had gradually stabilized, everything was back on track, and people had begun to adapt to the new order. And judging from the current situation, the common people had adapted well.

This was beyond the expectation of many people, such as the original upper class in Hanyang. This group of people consisted of scholars, officials, and wealthy merchants. None of them thought that the common people could change. After all, in their eyes, the common people were ignorant and only cared about what was in front of their eyes.

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But now they suddenly discovered that the common people were not afraid of change. To be precise, it was not that they were not afraid, but that they adapted quickly. When they found that this change could not be reversed and could not be stopped, their acceptance was even higher and stronger than that of the people above.

Lin Yuan looked at the aristocratic patriarchs and wealthy businessmen sitting below, and said gently, “Have some tea.”

Although most of the social units today were small families, patriarchs still existed. They would integrate the power of the entire clan and seek greater development. Such families would have many conflicts, but one thing was clear, that was, they could gather a huge organization, and this organization was tied by blood, coupled with traditional ideas. It seemed that it could be easily disintegrated, but in fact it had its indestructible side.

The ones who could be invited over by Lin Yuan were naturally the ones with the most presence and were the most powerful among all the clans.

They also knew that Hanyang had changed hands, and they didn’t give Lin Yuan a cold face. From now on, they had to make a living under Lin Yuan’s hands, and so wasn’t fighting against Lin Yuan just looking for death?

So all of them were aa docile as quails in front of Lin Yuan.

The merchants didn’t care who the boss over their heads was. They only cared about whether they could continue their trade routes and whether they could continue to make money. So long as Lin Yuan didn’t seize and confiscate their wealth, and allow them to continue making money, then of course whatever Lin Yuan said would be the law.

The scholars in Hanyang were more sensible than the scholars in Changshu, and they were all very well-behaved. They didn’t even lift their heads as they sat below in the hall.

They had already undergone a change. Hanyang moved from the hands of the imperial court to the hands of the rebel thieves. Besides, they had no support for the Yuan Dynasty in the first place, and no one in their family was an official of the Yuan Dynasty. They had lived perfectly fine in the hands of Xu Shouhui so now when it came to Lin Yuan’s hands, they naturally also wanted to live well.

If they could get an official job, it would be an unexpected delight.

After the meeting was over, Lin Yuan had a good idea of ​​what they were thinking, and only after returning to his room at night could he have a good rest.

Chen Baisong was always following him today. Lin Yuan also deliberately brought along Chen Baisong. It was not a bad thing to only know how to fight wars, but when he captured a place in the future, he must be able to keep guard over the place. It was never a bad thing to learn more. Lin Yuan himself had no example to learn from and had to do things while feeling along the way. As a result, he had also accumulated some experience and insights, which was just right to teach Chen Baisong.

“Having talked to them all day, what did they say?” Chen Baisong poured Lin Yuan tea.

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “Those opportunists who go whichever way the wind blows, what can they say?”

“It’s the minor officials at the bottom who are intricately intertwined and are much more interesting. Don’t see that they don’t have much power in their hands and just dismiss them. If they really want to make a move, even ants can swallow the elephant, and all they need is a leader.”

Chen Baisong looked at Lin Yuan: “Has the leader come out?”

Lin Yuan shook his head: “No, but these minor officials, if they are not used, I think it will be a waste. After all, they have been working for a long time, they know more than the people I brought, and they are also familiar with Hanyang. But if I use them, I am afraid they will be rebellious and become a concealed danger.”

Who knew if there were any loyal supporters of Xu Shouhui, or informants left by Ni Wenjun?

Lin Yuan asked: “What do you say?”

Chen Baisong: “Kill a batch and keep a batch.”

Lin Yuan laughed and said, “It’s easy to kill, but how do you kill? How do you know who is right to kill? A wrong step will make it difficult later.”

Chen Baisong looked at Lin Yuan, and the two met eyes. In the end, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but smile and said, “Think about it again.”

Chen Baisong: “Let the common people…..how do you say it again?”

Lin Yuan: “Report.”

Chen Baisong seemed to breathe a sigh of relief: “Yes, report, the common people can report, and if it is verified, behead.”

Lin Yuan asked strangely: “How to verify?”

Chen Baisong: “Whoever gets the most reports, cut off his head.”

Lin Yuan: “…..Although it is crude, it is not useless. It is a method that can be used. Then how do you distinguish an informant?”

Chen Baisong looked at Lin Yuan seriously. Just when Lin Yuan thought he would have an idea, Chen Baisong said straightforwardly: “I can’t think of it.”

Lin Yuan: “Think again.”

Chen Baisong poured himself a cup of tea, and after drinking the tea he still said, “Difficult.”

Lin Yuan sighed and said, “If the one who has been reported the most is kept, the informant will naturally go look for him.”

Chen Baisong: “Why?”

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “The one who oppresses the common people the most is naturally the one with the strongest backer. When the informant finds him, he can also get more information. In addition, we are also protecting him. The informant will naturally believe us to be his original backer or one of our people. So it’s easiest to find him to dig for information. After all, they were both originally Hanyang’s minor officials and had greeted each other before, so there is already a relationship there.”

Chen Baisong understood: “This is putting up a target.”

Lin Yuan finally picked up the teacup at this time: “It’s good that you can think of having the common people make reports. Take your time.”

Chen Baisong had already satisfied Lin Yuan if he could think of the common people.

Most scholars who have received higher education in this era believed that the common people didn’t need to think about anything. They only needed to reproduce, work and farm food. The people had very little power. Even if there is a law protecting them, generally, this kind of law was only useful when the imperial power was strong.

When the imperial power fell and the centralized power dispersed, the officials below became the local emperors, and the regulations became a piece of blank paper.

If Chen Baisong was replaced by Wu Changqing to accompany him today, Lin Yuan clearly knew that although Wu Changqing would also want to kill a batch and leave a batch, he would never think of letting the common people make reports.

Because “common people” were useless, and “public opinion” was useless.

The common people had no power, and their thinking was not taken seriously by the upper echelons. The common people themselves were also used to this behavior pattern for thousands of years, and no one thought it was wrong.

Over time, the people at the upper echelons would naturally not have any regard for “public opinion” in their eyes.

After all, this stuff was vague and useless.

It was impossible for anyone to become the emperor by relying on “public opinion”. Even to be a good official who won the hearts of the people, when the emperor wanted to behead him, it would happen, if only after a little delay.

Public opinion was neither a golden tablet that allowed exemption from death, nor could it allow one to climb up the official ranks or gain an aristocratic title.

Soon, Hanyang began a vigorous reform movement——as named by Lin Yuan himself.

The common people gathered together, and they told the inspector of the names of the minor officials they remembered who had bullied them. The inspectors would write it down and then count them. There was such an office in every three streets.

The common people reported during the day and they would tally up statistics at night.

After working so hard for half a month, a much clearer and more general data had come out.

The most reported person was a minor official named Hu Yu. He was the nephew of a county official and was a product of nepotism. Because he had never studied books, he couldn’t become a proper official and could only be a minor official. There was no shortage of oppression of the people he committed. He clearly didn’t have much salary, but every meal contained meat and fish dishes, and he also often entered and exited gambling houses.

He had a lovely wife at home, and his wife was also a beauty, who was forcibly snatched home by him at that time.

He also had a mistress outside.

Many minor officials who had no backing were willing to follow him, so long as they followed him, they could get more and bigger benefits.

When Hanyang City was breached, Hu Yu stayed curled up at home. He didn’t dare to go anywhere. He didn’t care about his wife either and forgot his mistress. He packed his own things and fled when the situation was not right.

Now it was peaceful, and the newly-arrived Southern King seemed to be ready to reuse original Hanyang officials like them, so Hu Yu appeared again, but this time he didn’t dare to act domineering like before. After all, his backer had fallen and he must now live with his neck tucked in.

After he found a new backer, did he dare to return to his previous behavior.

The minor officials had their own circle, and the original friends gathered together once again to discuss the most popular thing now, which was the reports from the commoners.

“I don’t even know if I am on them…..” One of them frowned and took a sip of wine.

“Then, let’s run away?”

“Can you escape? There are heavy guards everywhere, unless you can fly out?”

“What are you worried about? There are many who did bad things, could the common people remember all of them? Surely they can’t remember.”

“Easy for you to say, did you forget? Last year, you saw that someone’s ancestral jade jade was good, but they won’t give it to you so you almost beat him to death. Tell me, would they go to report you now or not?”

“Don’t talk about me, aren’t you the same? Going to a brothel and not paying money, and even smashing the store. It is like killing one’s parents to cut off one’s livelihood. They will definitely report you.”

“You played to death two prostitutes! Throwing them out in the wild, you will definitely not have anything good waiting for you if they find out about this matter!”

“Don’t say anymore! We are just getting ourselves flustered here. Naturally, some people are more flustered than us. We know what other people are like. We may not be directly cut down as soon as the Southern King comes? Take a few steps back and think about it, if he really wants to cut us down, it won’t be now. He would have just cut us down when he entered the city as it’s most convenient then.”

“So don’t worry, don’t panic, maybe the Southern King is just scaring us, and then chop off a few heads as an example. This is not uncommon, don’t you think?”

Hu Yu said on the side: “What about me? I should be okay, right?”

His friends glanced at him, smiled with some difficulty, and comforted: “Maybe you’ll also be fine.”

Although he called them friends, Hu Yu used to have eyes growing on the top of his head, and had no regard for anyone. Even if they were all minor officials, he would act violently if he was unhappy with someone, and the others would also not dare to fight back.

In the long run, the people who ended up following him were all yes-men.

And these yes-men also wished misfortune on him.

Hu Yu was still worried: “You say, should I find a way to give some gifts?”

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When these words were spoken, everyone had an expression of realization that conveyed “there is actually this way.” Having been corrupt officials for so long, they had actually forgotten the nature of their own jobs. Bribery was their own job!

“Right, right, find someone to give gifts, find a way.”

“Go and ask around tomorrow, and be careful!”

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The neighbors suddenly discovered that the Zhao family next door was actually cooking. They could smell the aroma of food even from inside their own home. It was just ordinary mush, but when i haling the aroma in their noses, the smell became that of a fairy banquet.

The several households all became a little restless. They were neighbors after all. They also knew how much food supply their neighbors had. They were almost out of food, and yet their neighbors still had so much food left?

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“You go and ask at night?” The wife said to her husband, “Where did they get the food? It’s definitely not the previous supply, or they wouldn’t dare to cook so much.”

The husband also wondered.

Sure enough, a few neighbors’ households all slipped out in the middle of the night and jumped over the courtyard wall. The few people looked at each other, and didn’t expect that they would share the same thinking with so many people.

It startled the Zhao family however. They didn’t invite anyone into the house——who knew what these people would do? Although they had been hungry for so long, after all, they were still young and strong men, and it would be unfortunate if they were really ill-intentioned.

So the Zhao family made it clear how to buy food.

“Can the soldiers be so kind?”

The several people squatted in the corner and spoke quietly.

“I don’t believe it, do you even hear yourself?”

Zhao Da: “I went to buy the food myself. If they wanted to take the food, they would have killed me long ago. How can I still come back safe and sound?”

The several people looked at each other.

“Then…..shall we go tomorrow too?”

“Go together, we can look out for each other.”

“Okay, my food barrel has bottomed out anyway. If I don’t go out, I’ll starve to death sooner or later. If you ask me, the soldiers didn’t seem to have knocked on anyone’s door. Except for those officials’ homes being seized, it seemed that they really didn’t kill any people.”

“I heard that it is because the South Bodhisattva loves the people like his children.”

“I’ve heard of the South Bodhisattva before. They say that everyone can eat fully and dress warmly in the places under his rule. So Gaoyou is said to have gold everywhere. Even women and handicapped people can find work and feed themselves.”

“Don’t say anymore, if you say anymore, I will want to go over.”

“Then, let’s go together tomorrow morning.”

After the few neighbors made the appointment, they left the house just after dawn.

There was no curfew now, because no one went out during the day, let alone at night.

“It’s so early…..is anyone even selling food at the market?”

“Then find a place where no one is watching and wait, going out early is safer.”

As soon as the few people arrived at the market, they saw the food that had been put out on the table. There were coarse grains and fine grains and they were neatly divided into categories. They were not mixed together as before. Coarse grains were on one side, fine grains on the other, vegetables on the other side, and meat and eggs on the other.

They felt that they had arrived in heaven.

They looked at each other and then they all rushed into the market.

When you buy food, you naturally you have to spend money, and if you spend money, you have to find ways to make money.

The soldier reminded them: “If you are short of money, go to the county office. Someone is registering people inside. If you register, you will be assigned work.”

Although they were still afraid of the soldiers, making money was more important than this. That was the source of survival: “Then what work is the best?”

The soldier said: “If you have craftsmanship and skills, you earn more. Like blacksmiths and carpenters. There is also physical labor. If you are literate, work will be much easier and you also earn a lot.”

“I, I know how to do woodwork!” One of them said enthusiastically, “My father taught me!”

The rest of the people looked at him enviously.

The soldier said: “Then you will definitely earn a lot, maybe you will earn more than me in the future.”

The few people were then led by the soldier to the county office in a daze. After they registered, they received their own wooden tablet ID. Each had something to do, and they had to report to their work unit the next day.

——Although they had never heard of the word work unit, they could understand it after thinking it over.

The soldier also said: “You guys came early, so you got a good post. If you came late, I’m afraid you could only do the most tiring work as well as earn less.”

These few people went back again dazedly, repeating what the soldiers said to their families. Their wives were then ready to go back to their natal family to tell them of this news.

The husbands also felt that they were all family, and if the in-laws had a good life, then their family would also benefit.

So the news was just passed on like this, and the people finally dared to walk out of their homes and take to the streets.

At first, there were not many people, and the people still felt a little scared. Later, when they discovered that both relatives and neighbors had gone out and had work to do, they rushed out in a swarm.

The county government office was overcrowded every day.

The minor officials were so tired yet they had to put on a smiling face——after all, they also had tasks, as well as a pennant and rewards system. While answering the people’s questions, they tried their best to have others give them pennants.

So long as there were visible benefits, people’s patience could be extended indefinitely.

The common people also felt that these minor officials had become different. The “lord officials” who used to be unfriendly and approachable suddenly acted much nicer to them. Before, even if they had questions, they never dared to see the officials, whether big or minor. As even if their problem was not solved, they would still have to give benefits to these officials. They were just ordinary common people, and their savings were not much. Where could they get much money from?

But now?

The lord officials would not beat them nor scold them. If they didn’t understand, the officials would also explain to them well.

The people’s fear of officials was inscribed in their bones. No one dared to disturb the order. Although they didn’t understand the rationale, they would not go wrong if they followed what other people did.

People began to take to the streets, and Hanyang gradually regained its former vitality.

In fact, it was better than in the past. Except for lazy people, the common people all had work to do, they had salaries to receive, and money to buy food.

These changes only took less than two months.

Zou Pusheng saw it in his eyes, and the more he looked at it, the more he was shocked.

It was not difficult to conquer a place. What was difficult was to not damage the original order of this place.

Many cities were destroyed by wars and could not be restored for several years.

However, this South Bodhisattva only regulated the market and established a reward mechanism and supervision system for minor officials and soldiers. And Hanyang was really stabilized by him. Not only was it stabilized, the common people’s vitality was even better than before.

Zou Pusheng sighed: “Skillfully solving a big problem using minimum strength and resources. It is indeed impressive.”

He also suddenly felt cold sweat covering his back. According to the methods of the South Bodhisattva, if he hadn’t bowed his head at the time, the other really would have killed him, and then promoted the people below him, such as Ding Pulang or Fu Youde.

The people brought by Lin Yuan were not enough to fully support the operation of Hanyang. He dismantled all the original minor officials of Hanyang and divided them into various departments, so that they would not have the opportunity to gather together. His people in the departments would assimilate them.

Most people have a herd mentality, and even if someone was rebellious, no one would respond.

Zou Pusheng suggested to Lin Yuan: “Does the Southern King know, Zhao Pusheng possesses political and military talent, and he is also very popular in the army. Why not spare his life and let him work for the Southern King?”

Lin Yuan also knew that Zhao Pusheng was very capable, but he had enough generals in his hands. It was not a good thing if he had Zhao Pusheng, who had been a general, become a small military official, and Zhao Pusheng felt injust and displeased. But if he let him continue being a general, his forces would be dispersed more widely.

Zou Pusheng saw Lin Yuan’s concerns: “Why don’t the Southern King send someone to persuade him?”

Lin Yuan turned his head and smiled at him:  “Imperial Tutor, are you making a self-recommendation?”

Zou Pusheng said seriously: “How can I dare to not follow your orders?”

“Then go, Imperial Tutor.” Lin Yuan smiled, but his eyes were very cold, with the shrewdness of one in the position of authority.

Zou Pusheng stepped back respectfully, and it was not until he walked out the door could he finally let out a sigh of relief.

He had never seen such presence on Xu Shouhui or Ni Wenjun.

It was as if wherever this person stood, he was the king of that place. Everyone must listen to his instructions and obey his orders.

Since ancient times, all the founding emperors had been like this.

Almost all the founding emperors acted arbitrarily and held most of the power in their hands. Later, when the position passed down to the children from one generation to another, the power would be divided and the emperor’s power would lessen.

Zou Pusheng touched his neck and came away with a handful of sweat.

He strode forward with a smile on his mouth.

This Imperial Tutor must be by the side of the true dragon for there to be any meaning to it.

Lin Yuan did not trust him now, but he was not in a hurry, he would be able to make him trust in him eventually.

Wasn’t Genghis Khan also the same? After conquering and building an empire, the empire was then ruined by his descendants.

Zou Pusheng walked forward, thinking about things in his mind, and then he thought of Song Shizhao. He knew that Lin Yuan had an old official he regarded with importance named Song Shizhao, who was a capable official and a civil official.

It seemed that there was alsp another named Wu Changqing.

Zou Pusheng smiled and let out a sigh.

After he won Lin Yuan’s trust, then he’ll talk about the future.

“Are you not afraid that he is looking for Zhao Pusheng to discuss countermeasures?” Chen Bosong brought Lin Yuan pastries, “Have something to eat, you didn’t eat much during the day.”

Lin Yuan picked up a piece of cake, took a few mouthfuls and drank a sip of hot tea. He said to Chen Baisong, “He is a smart man, and smart people are tactful and know to submit to circumstances. Besides, if he really wants to ally with Zhao Pusheng to fight against me, do they even have soldiers or people?”

“Besides, if they do manage to raise a revolt, I will then be able to eliminate dissent in one fell swoop, which saves a lot of effort.”

Lin Yuan: “This pastry is good.”

Chen Baisong: “I know that you love sweet pastries, so I told them to put more sugar.”

Lin Yuan nodded: “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, right?”

Chen Baisong: “It will be here in half a month.”

Lin Yuan thought for a while: “Perfect, take this opportunity to have the barracks come up with some programs, whether it’s boxing or football, make some lively fun that the common people like to watch.”

Chen Baisong didn’t understand, why did being a soldier have to work as an actor now as well?

Lin Yuan patted him on the shoulder: “Can’t figure it out?”

Chen Baisong nodded honestly.

Lin Yuan smirked: “If you can’t figure it out, then don’t think about it anymore and go back to sleep. Make sure to relay what I said, just say that the best boxer or the best player will be rewarded, all will be rewarded two taels of gold.”

Chen Baisong smiled and said, “Then they will definitely put in hard work.”

If you want a horse to run, you naturally have to feed the horse. Lin Yuan knew this truth well.

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Just like when he went to work before, the boss always wanted to save money, so the employees were not motivated. If one still earned the same as not doing much work despite putting in a lot of hard work, then who would fight for more work? They would want nothing more than to push all the work to others.

When soldiers in the barracks learned that they would be rewarded two gold taels if they performed well during the Mid-Autumn Festival, every one of them rolled up their sleeves in preparation for the fight.

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Zou Pusheng looked at Lin Yuan. Of course he knew Lin Yuan, and he knew what Lin Yuan had done along the way.

Zou Pusheng had never underestimated anyone who managed to gain a foothold in these troubled times, and he also knew when he should hold himself proudly and when he should bow his head.

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He said to Lin Yuan: “The Southern King has come to see me, naturally, there is something important.”

Lin Yuan smiled and said: “Having just arrived in Hanyang, we naturally need the elders to lead the way.”

Zou Pusheng: “Zou naturally listens to the Southern King.”

He even said mischievously: “Compared with a sharp knife, it is naturally more preferable to have wealth and and honor.”

Lin Yuan looked at such an old middle-aged man pretending to be cute, and the goosebumps he shook off nearly covered the entire floor.

The people of Hanyang were now hiding in their houses.

At night, they didn’t even dare to light up the candles. The entire family shrank in a small room, hoping that early tomorrow morning, their life would return to what it used to be. It didn’t matter if it was good or bad, it was at least stable and the kind of life they were familiar with. They didn’t want to make any changes.

Those with rebellious spirits had all been killed long ago, and those who lived to this day were basically as meek as cattle and sheep.

Lin Yuan remembered that he had watched on TV once, someone saying:

“China’s working people are the most hard-working people in the world.”

“When the wealthy life is not guaranteed, the people only want to be able to eat fully and dress warmly. When food and clothing are not guaranteed, the people only want to live in peace. But when even the bottom line of a peaceful life is crossed, the people will take up arms to rebel.”

Without being driven to a dead end, the people only hope to live through their own efforts.

“There is almost no food at home.” The woman scooped out the last bit of grain from the barrel and turned to look at her husband and in-laws. The wrinkles on her face were like the dry cracked land, and there was no light in her eyes. Her child sat at her feet, sobbing softly about being hungry.

When people were hungry to the limit, they would cry. The feeling was indescribable.

Just give them a bite and you could ask them to do anything.

And this memory of being extremely hungry would accompany them throughout their lives.

“Cook a bowl of porridge for your man.” Her mother-in-law was lying on the kang, motionless, her eyes closed.

Her father-in-law did not speak. When one was at the end of the line, all resources must be given priority to the breadwinner at home.

So long as the strongest one survived, then the others would also have a chance to survive.

The woman looked at the bowl of coarse grains with saliva collecting in her mouth.

She wanted to eat a little bit, even if only a little bit. So long as there was something in her mouth, she wouldn’t be so uncomfortable.

The man suddenly stood up: “I’m going out to find food.”

The entire family looked at him.

The man resolutely said: “Mother, even if only I eat it, there is no food at home, so sooner or later we’ll all starve to death.”

“You can’t go out!” The mother-in-law’s eyes widened, “The outside is in such upheaval, if you are gone, we won’t be able to live!”

The man had already reached the door: “Mother, I will be extra careful.”

He did not dare to look back, fearing that he would not be able to hold onto the courage to go out and continue staying instead. But he also knew that after staying, he would face death from thirst and starvation.

There was no one on the streets. Except for some soldiers who were not Hanyang’s soldiers on patrol. He avoided these soldiers for fear of being seen by them. He knew that these soldiers did not see lives as lives at all when they fought. If they killed someone, they also wouldn’t have to face any punishment. As for those who died, no one would find justice for them.

The man hurriedly walked through the alleys. He didn’t know where to find food, but he had no other way.

In his anxious state, he bumped his head into the back of someone.

The man froze, and he regretted that he didn’t think to take a knife along with him.

He could only stand there stupidly, watching the man in military uniform who had been knocked into turn around.

He was about to die. The man took a deep breath and wanted to put up a last desperate fight.

Unexpectedly, the soldier smiled with teeth when he saw him. He smiled as he said, “It’s rare to see common people coming out. Are you here to buy food?”

The man opened his mouth several times, but he couldn’t utter a word. His whole body was shaking, cold sweat was dripping from his forehead, and he didn’t know what he was even thinking.

“Go now, it’s still the old market, but these days, we are doing rectification. If you want to buy food, you have to walk a few steps forward.” The soldier said, “Should I take you there?”

The man stammered: “No, no need…..I can…..”

The soldier smiled and said: “Coincidentally, I’m not on duty right now, I’ll take you there.”

As he said, he patted the man on the back. The man did not dare to resist. He could only follow the soldier while looking for opportunities to escape along the way. Who knew what the soldier wanted to do, maybe he wanted to trick him to a more desolate place to kill him.

As a result, the man just looked for a chance all the way. After all, he had gone hungry for a long time and had little strength. He didn’t dare to resist, so he could only subtly find a chance to escape.

But in the end, even until they arrived at the place, he still hadn’t been able to run away.

“Here, you can go buy whatever you want by yourself.” The soldier said, “By the way, my name is Zhou Dashan. I belong to the 3rd company, 2nd platoon, 4th battalion, 8th squad’s foot soldier. If you think I am a good person, you can go to the barracks and give me a pennant. This is called making it convenient for each other.”

His superior had said that so long as they did things for the people and the people were grateful to them and sent pennants to the military camp, they would get bonuses and award money.

If you received a lot of pennants, you could even get a house.

The soldiers were all eagerly wanting to perform well, and it was now a race to be the first to get the house reward.

The houses awarded from above were all good houses with good locations and large spaces. There were vendors and markets in the front and back. It was the kind of house that you might not even be able to buy with money. If there was such a house, there was definitely a bigger possibility of marrying a wife in the future.

The man could only nod his head vigorously to show that he understood.

Zhou Dashan was satisfied: “Then you go buy what you need yourself, I’m leaving now. If you have any difficulties, just find a soldier, they will not ignore you.”

At this time, the man looked at the market in front of him and couldn’t say a word.

And Zhou Dashan had already left.

Was this still the messy and filthy marketplace in his memory? In the past, people just sold their goods on the ground. There were rotten vegetable leaves and eggshells that were inedible on the ground, as well as many puddles and mud. Now there were tables set up on the roads that reached up to a height of a grown man’s waist, and the ground was flat and clean. There was food on the table, and behind the table was a food seller.

The man looked at the food on the table and swallowed fiercely.

He had been hungry for a long time, and he could even eat raw food if he had any.

“This big brother, do you want to buy food? My food is all fresh.” The young man guarding the food stall waved to the man.

The man couldn’t hold back, he walked over and asked, “Which is the cheapest?”

The young man smiled and said: “Soy beans, this is the cheapest, but soybeans are a good thing. Stir-frying it with a little salt makes it very delicious. After grating it, you can drink soy milk and eat bean curd cakes.”

The man took out the money from his pocket: “I want this.”

Young man: “You didn’t bring a cloth bag?”

The man was taken aback for a moment, that was right, how would he bring it back?

The young man said again: “I have a cloth bag here. How about this, I will use my cloth bag to fill you half of the soybeans. Go back and get your cloth bag, and when you return mine to me, I will fill your bag up with the rest.”

The man whispered: “If you don’t give it to me…..”

The young man smiled and said: “Your soybeans are worth about the same money as my cloth bag, not to mention, there is a supervisor here. We can go to the supervisor and have him be the witness, if I don’t give you the rest, they will arrest me and I will have to go to jail.”

The man still didn’t believe it: “If you team up with them to lie to me, what should I do?”

The young man was exasperated: “Then what do you say?”

The man thought for a while: “I will go back to get the bag. I won’t take advantage of you, and you can’t take advantage of me.”

After finishing talking, the man got his money back, and his body, which was clearly weak from little food, ran off at the speed of a sprint.

There was food! They could buy food! The soldiers didn’t kill him!

With a smile on his face, the man ran back home all the way.

When his family saw him come back with his hands empty, their eyes dimmed a lot, and his wife said chokingly, “Sit down for a while, and I will cook mash for you.”

The man waved his hand: “Go, take out all our money and cloth bags, I’m going to buy food!”

“What? There is food? Can we still buy food now?” The family looked at him with hope in their eyes.

Food meant being able to survive.

The man patted his chest and promised: “I just went out and ran into a soldier. He took me to the market. The market is now completely different from before. It is clean and big. Everything is very clear and organized. I will go buy some soybeans, and then buy some rice that hasn’t been hulled. Let’s have a full meal today.”

“The soldier took you there?” His wife wanted to ask some more.

The mother-in-law said: “I’ll get the money, you get the cloth bags! Ask later when the food is bought back!”

The man took the money and the cloth bags and went straight to the market. There were soldiers on the way asking him if he needed help. He was able to speak now. After turning down several people, he arrived at the market to buy food. Carrying one bag on his shoulder, and carrying another big bag in his hand.

He didn’t feel that it was heavy at all, he felt that if he had another hand, he could carry another bag back.

“Hey, you are still here.” Zhou Dashan came over, “I thought you already finished buying and went back.”

The man said cautiously: “Forgot to bring the bag.”

Zhou Dashan took the bag from him insistently.

The man’s eyes widened and he was terribly scared.

He knew it, he knew that these soldiers were not good things, and they wanted to rob his food! Rob the food that allowed him to stay alive!

Zhou Dashan: “Don’t look at me like that. I’m afraid you will be crushed before you get home. Go, I will send you back. Remember to send me the pennant!”

After he finished talking, he went ahead.

The man didn’t dare to dawdle, so he could only follow. He wanted to take his bag of food back, but there were soldiers patrolling on the road.

When they arrived at the door of the man’s house, Zhou Dashan put down the food bag and once again reminded: “You must send me a pennant, don’t forget.”

Then he repeated which squad he belonged to.

The man nodded vigorously, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief when Zhou Dashan left.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

He knocked on the door of his house and moved the food in.

Looking at the two large bags full of food, the man finally had some smile in his eyes.

“Wife, go and cook, cook more, we will all be full!”

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Zhu Yuanzhang and the others have gone after Ni Wenjun, and Lin Yuan was about to start planning Hanyang.

He first sent people to gather the merchants in the city and had them reopen the food market. The people could still buy food so naturally they knew that order was still there. Even if they dared not go to the streets for a while, they would soon go out when they became short of food.

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Then he asked Chen Baisong to deal with the prisoners of war, feed the prisoners of war, and treat their wounds. The nurses were incredibly busy, but with women in the military camp, in addition to treating the wounds, their presence could also calm people’s hearts.

Lin Yuan also had to meet with a lot of Xu Shouhui’s subordinates.

In any case, when one became busy there wasn’t even time to eat hot meals.

In the courtyard house where Xu Shouhui was detained, Lin Yuan was sitting on a stone bench. Behind him was a tall pear tree. At this moment, the leaves were green, the grass was lush, and everything was thriving. But Xu Shouhui’s mood was not good at all. He looked at Lin Yuan, no matter what, he could not have imagined that the slightly thin young man in front of him turned out to be the invincible, scheming, and ruthless Southern King from the rumors.

“Brother Xu, sit down.” Lin Yuan made a gesture of invitation, “Hanyang City is captured, so I won’t call you the emperor.”

Xu Shouhui smiled bitterly and said, “I’m a captured prisoner, so the Southern King is free to call me whatever you like.”

Lin Yuan poured a cup of tea for Xu Shouhui. The two sat under the tree with the breeze blowing gently at them, as if they were close friends.

“The imperial tutor, he…..” Xu Shouhui said suddenly.

Lin Yuan smiled at the corner of his mouth: “Imperial Tutor Zou is doing well, after all, those who practice Taoism live better than ordinary people.”

The more one understood the way, the more one knew to cherish one’s life and would not hold onto unrealistic illusions.

Xu Shouhui lowered his head: “Yes, I wonder what is next now that the Southern King has taken Hanyang?”

“I’m not afraid to tell you.” Lin Yuan only dared to say these words in front of such a prisoner, one who no one could influence, “I want to capture Haozhou and Anfeng then head directly to the capital to kill Borjigin. At that time, if I established myself as the emperor, who would dare to stop me?”

Xu Shouhui suddenly smiled and said: “You also want to be the emperor. Everyone in the world wants to be the emperor. But look, what is my end now?”

Lin Yuan sighed and said, “Brother Xu, I captured Hanyang and I can still keep you alive. If I didn’t capture Hanyang, would Ni Wenjun still keep you?”

Xu Shouhui heard Ni Wenjun’s name, and suddenly breathed heavier: “That servant, that servant betrayed me!”

“Brother Xu, since ancient times, when the ruler is humiliated his officials ought to die.” Lin Yuan said softly, “But the ruler and the ministers have always been competing for personal interests and power. In this world, it is either the eastern wind suppressing the western wind or the other way around. Rather than blame Ni Wenjun for betraying you, it is better to blame yourself, why did Ni Wenjun dare to betray you?”

Xu Shouhui was stunned.

Lin Yuan: “The ruler is strong and the minister is weak, or the ruler is weak and the minister is strong. I don’t need to say anymore on this truth, do I?”

Suddenly Xu Shouhui said: “The Southern King is not afraid that your generals will also be like Ni Wenjun?”

Lin Yuan laughed: “Brother Xu, you and I are different, and do you know what this difference is?”

Xu Shouhui looked at him.

Lin Yuan: “Without you, your generals can still deploy troops. So what difference does it make whether there is a tally or not?”

“But without me, who can dispatch my army? Without me, the common people will avenge me.”

“With me here, they will be able to keep their prosperity and wealth. Without me, they will just fall apart and the world will be chaotic once again. What they need is someone like me.”

Xu Shouhui: “Because you spread the belief that you are an immortal, you are the incarnation of a Bodhisattva?”

Lin Yuan: “In the beginning, these rumors accumulated the most primitive reputation for me. Even if people don’t believe me, they will still remember me. When they face choices, they will naturally choose someone who is more familiar.”

“It was different later. I gave them huge benefits. Once I am gone, these benefits that were in their hands will disappear.”

“There is nothing comparable to what you hold in your hands.” Lin Yuan, “Our difference is that you entrust your power and your destiny to the loyalty of your subordinates, while my power and destiny are entrusted to the hands of the common people. “

“The common people are the root and foundation of everything.”

“Water can carry or overturn a boat. This saying seems hollow, but the truth is very real.”

Xu Shouhui looked at Lin Yuan: “The Southern King is a madman.”

Lin Yuan laughed: “That’s right.”

His ambitions were gradually expanding. He had already reached this point, and he didn’t want to go back. Let him go back and run an oil plant or become a landowner? He couldn’t do it at all.

Xu Shouhui: “The Southern King has now taken Hanyang, and Xu’s life seems to have come to an end, is that correct?”

Lin Yuan looked at him: “What does brother Xu think?”

Xu Shouhui realized that he was going to die soon, and the words of people who would die soon were often the truth. He laughed in a lowly: “When I first led the uprising, I was ambitious, thinking that there was no one in the world who could match me, Xu Shouhui. But the result?”

“Being an emperor, but having no power in my hands, one step taken wrong and every step following becomes wrong. In the end, I actually became a prisoner.”

Xu Shouhui looked at Lin Yuan with jealousy, envy, and confusion in his eyes. In the end, it all turned into hypocrisy. He already knew where he had lost, but he couldn’t even hate Lin Yuan because he knew what caused all this. The culprit was himself.

Even if he had a chance to do it again, he didn’t think he would do a good job.

Was he wrong to give the generals power? But how could they deploy troops and fight wars without power?

Was he wrong to give the generals money and food? But how could he raise soldiers without money? What reason were these generals loyal to him if there was no food or money?

But once he did this, people like Ni Wenjun would come out.

His power would also gradually disperse, and over time, he lost power completely.

It was impossible for him to not use people, as he did not have three heads and six arms or split himself into many parts. So long as he needed to use people, power would inevitably be divided out. What held in the hands of the common people? The common people have never had power in their hands. They only needed to have food, clothing, and shelter.

The more Xu Shouhui couldn’t figure it out, the more he knew that he couldn’t compete with Lin Yuan, and now, he had no capital to compete.

“I ask that the Southern King treat my former subjects kindly.”

Lin Yuan said gently: “Your people are now my people. I will naturally treat them kindly. As for your courtiers…..”

Xu Shouhui looked at him.

The smile on the corner of Lin Yuan’s mouth was a little cold: “What’s the use of deceiving officials? They have benefited from you and if I use them, they naturally will want to try if they can get the same benefit from me. Although it won’t affect me, it’s better not to keep feeding the fleas on the body.”

Xu Shouhui said: “Go ahead, I have suffered and eaten bitterness, and I have been an emperor and enjoyed blessings. So even if I die now I won’t lose out.”

Lin Yuan: “You think I am going to kill you?”

Xu Shouhui was surprised: “You have told me so much, and you’ll still let me live?”

“Why not?” Lin Yuan, “No matter how much I tell you, it is not the key to my decision to kill you or not to kill you.”

Xu Shouhui pursed his lips. He was not the kind of person whose face was more important than anything else. Otherwise, he would have committed suicide when he became a puppet monarch. If one could continue living, who wouldn’t want to do so?

Lin Yuan: “I will give you an aristocratic title, give you a manor, and there will be servants to serve you. Other than the fact that there will be no gold and silver jewelry for you to enjoy, nor can you go out on the streets at will, it is no different from your previous days.”

Xu Shouhui: “…..Why?”

Lin Yuan glanced at Xu Shouhui: “In life, one should learn to ask less of why, that way you can live happier.”

After finishing these words, Lin Yuan stood up. He passed through the arch and disappeared from Xu Shouhui’s field of vision.

Xu Shouhui sat on the stone bench and finished his last sip of cold tea. He knew that he would be locked up in this big house for his whole life. Maybe one day when the world was peaceful and the world was harmonious, he would have the chance to go out.

Before that, he was just a prisoner of the Southern King.

Lin Yuan had to go see Zou Pusheng after seeing Xu Shouhui.

Zou Pusheng was an odd person. He was a blacksmith and also knew how to command soldiers. He was the imperial tutor next to Xu Shouhui and when Chen Youliang arrived, he also became Chen Youliang’s imperial tutor.

Not only that, he was also a Daoist and Feng Shui master.

Basically, so long as it was a profession that was popular in troubled times, he would be involved in.

If Ni Wenjun controlled the military power, then Zou Pusheng controlled the political power.

Judging from the results, Zou Pusheng was the winner, and Ni Wenjun was curshingly defeated.

Lin Yuan knew that Xu Shouhui was easy to deal with, and Zou Pusheng was the problem. If he wanted to completely subdue the Tianwan regime in a short time, Zou Pusheng was the key.

Zou Pusheng was obviously not worried that Lin Yuan would kill him. He was eating chicken legs and looked very happy.

His style of dressing was not at all serious or solemn. On the contrary, it gave people a sense of sloppiness and slovenly appearance, but with his status as the imperial tutor, this sloppiness had become an eccentricity. He stood up as soon as he saw Lin Yuan, with oil from the chicken legs still on his mouth. His beard would tremble with his mouth when he spoke.

“Southern King, it’s an honor to meet you ar last.” Zou Pusheng gave Lin Yuan a bow.

Lin Yuan: “Imperial Tutor, please rise.”

Zou Pusheng stood up straight and said, “Now Zou is not the imperial tutor, and the Southern King can call Zou by my courtesy name Ye Yun.”

Lin Yuan: “Drifting clouds and wild storks, this name is a good one.”

Zou Pusheng: “Please look, I don’t have anything to entertain you here. What can be done?”

Lin Yuan sat on a chair and said, “It’s of no matter, I’m not thirsty or hungry, what about the Imperial Tutor?”

Zou Pusheng smiled and said, “I won’t hide it from you, it is only at this time Zou has the mind to eat and drink. See, I just finished eating a chicken and filling my stomach. Only full can people have strength.”

Lin Yuan knew that Zou Pusheng was going around in cricles with him, and it was normal to go around in circles. After all, everyone wanted to fight for greater benefits for themselves. Zou Pusheng’s bet was that Lin Yuan would not dispose of himself, but would instead give himself benefits.

“The name Tianwan is not very good.” Lin Yuan said, “Heaven is going to end you.”

Zou Pusheng: “Zou also does not feel that it is a good name.”

Lin Yuan: “How many years have Imperial Tutor Zou and Ni Wenjun fought?”

Zou Pusheng said seriously: “How is this called fighting, with each performing our own duties, there is always a little conflict that cannot be avoided.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lin Yuan: “This conflict does not seem to be a small one.”

Zou Pusheng pretended to be stupid: “Well, people always have their own ideas.”

Lin Yuan said gently: “Imperial Tutor, you have a choice right now. If you choose the right one then in the future, I can give you riches and honor. If you choose wrong, I can only give you a sharp knife.”

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