Lin Yuan lacked talents, talents who were literate and flexible and could judge the current situation. Some of these people could be officials, some could be advisors, but Lin Yuan hoped that their desire for power would not exceed their own abilities.

Having been on the top for too long, when Lin Yuan looked at a person, he would measure the value of the person, what value could be created, what trouble they would bring, and whether the value was greater than the trouble.

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

But those he could see were all at the upper level. As for the middle and lower levels, that was the task of important officials, and the management of subordinates would also be counted in their political achievements.

Officials also need to be evaluated, but what was evaluated was their reputation among the common people. If the happiness index of the common people in a region was high, then it did not matter whether the official had outstanding political achievements. After all, major events that need to be resolved were not happening everywhere, and so using this alone to determine political performance was not comprehensive.

Towards this person, Yang Shaowei, Lin Yuan had paid some attention to before. After all, Song Shizhao was a domineering person. He looked amiable and approachable, but he was actually very shrewd and selfish. Even if he gave his disciples to Lin Yuan for use, he never told Lin Yuan who was good at what, whether they were excellent talents or possessed any flaws.

Lin Yuan didn’t care about this little bit of scheming. Whether people had real talents and knowledge, it was all revealed through their handling of practical issues. Just basing it all on one mouth, even if Song Shizhao said it, Lin Yuan would not immediately believe it.

Only Yang Shaowei was the only disciple who was kept at Song Shizhao’s side.

Judging from Song Shizhao’s bad habits, Yang Shaowei must have his own outstanding qualities.

“Let him try.” Lin Yuan put his chin on his hand and said to Chen Baisong, “It has been so long since any new officials have been appointed, and the people below are also anxious.”

While they believe in the South Bodhisattva, they would also not abandon the pursuit of self-interest.

Chen Baisong’s current thinking mode was still far away from Lin Yuan’s, but he had learned to pretend to understand. When Lin Yuan asked him, he would answer the question clearly and logically. But after asking him again, he couldn’t remember anything he had said previously.

This could also be counted as a kind of talent.

Lin Yuan even felt that Chen Baisong was doing this deliberately.

The people beside him were all old foxes like Song Shizhao.

Most of them were smart people.

Whereas people who were both loyal and simpleminded were rare.

“Look at what capability he has.” Lin Yuan smiled.

The low shacks did not even have a yard. The roof tiles were almost all broken yet there was no tile picker hired to fix it. The countless years of weathering the wind and sunlight caused the house to look crude and rough. Although it could keep out the wind, it was difficult to keep out the rain. It was hard to imagine that an official who once had real power in the Tian Wan regime would willingly move from an exquisite mansion to this kind of residence.

When Yang Shaowei stood in front of this shack, he also sighed in his heart. That Sun Yunzhou really knew how to choose, and acted decisively. Once such a person insisted on something, it would be difficult for others to persuade him from it.

But was he, Yang Shaowei, just another fellow?

The corner of Yang Shaowei’s mouth hooked up in a smile and he knocked on the door of the Sun family’s house.

It was an old servant who opened the door. He had gray hair that was a little messy. Only after he informed him, did he take Yang Shaowei to see Sun Yunzhou.

Although this house was small, it was considered to have all the necessities. Yang Shaowei was taken to the study.

He wanted to spend the least amount of time to persuade Sun Yunzhou to surrender to the South Bodhisattva. It was too troublesome and took too long of a time to use methods, so it was better to have a face-to-face conversation with Sun Yunzhou.

If Sun Yunzhou persisted, it would not be too late for him to use other means.

Sun Yunzhou had never seen Yang Shaowei before, nor did he know who Yang Shaowei was.

But he knew that Yang Shaowei worked for the Southern King, and Yang Shaowei did not hide this when he introduced himself.

“Yang Gongzi.” Sun Yunzhou was originally sitting in front of the desk with pen, ink, paper and inkstone placed out on it. His handwriting was very excellent, and he had a serious and solemn face with a goatee. He looked at Yang Shaowei without any expression on his facr. It seemed that he knew he would be found a long time ago. He said in a deep voice, “When Sun has finished writing this word, Sun will go with you.”

Yang Shaowei was gentle and polite with him: “Where do you want to go, Lord Sun?”

Sun Yunzhou looked at him: “Can Sun actually pick a place myself?”

Towards these provocative words Yang Shaowei acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. He smiled and said, “Why don’t I be the host, and treat Lord Sun at the teahouse to enjoy some tea? I heard that the new Biluochun is very good, will Lord Sun give me this face.” (TN: biluochun=a type of green tea grown in the Dongting Mountain region near Lake Tai)

Sun Yunzhou looked directly at Yang Shaowei, and did not make any concessions: “That is not necessary. I’m not of the same path as Yang Gongzi, so there is no need to travel together.”

“Why do you say we are not of the same path?” Yang Shaowei, “Is it possible that Lord Sun just wants to stay in Hanyang and serve Xu Shouhui, an emperor in name only?”

Sun Yunzhou glanced at him: “Yang Gongzi is trying to provoke me?”

“Yang Gongzi, you can forget about using a psychological approach to get Sun to do as you wish. Sun has always had a clear conscience.”

The expression on Yang Shaowei’s face became solemn, and he said to Sun Yunzhou: “I was wrong to have taken Lord Sun lightly.”

Sun Yunzhou was unmoved.

Yang Shaowei also said: “Lord Sun, what merit of Xu Shouhui allowed him to gain such a loyal minister like you? He has neither vision, the ability to judge people, nor the skill to govern others. If one day, he did rule the empire, how much better does Lord Sun think he will be when compared with the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty?”

It was not that Sun Yunzhou did not understand this truth, but understanding and doing were always two different things.

Sun Yunzhou: “If Yang Gongzi is here to talk to Sun about this, then you don’t need to waste your breath anymore.”

Yang Shaowei sneered and said, “Does Lord Sun think you are a rare loyal minister?”

Sun Yunzhou asked him back: “And what is Yang Gongzi’s motive?”

To be an official, one always had something they were after. What Sun Yunzhou wanted was reputation and fame. No matter in front of outsiders or behind them, he must have a good reputation. Therefore, he never coveted things from the common people. To be an upright official, he only had a wife and did not even have a single close maid. There were no concubines, and no past of frequenting brothels. He wanted to make himself a perfect person.

Yang Shaowei smiled and said: “What I am after, I am afraid that it will be hard for Lord Sun to ever reach in your lifetime.”

Sun Yunzhou was not angry: “Why don’t Yang Gongzi tell Sun? Let Sun have an understanding?”

Yang Shaowei changed the topic: “Lord Sun was born in a famous family, unlike in myself, I was born in a small family. And with my birth, I was destined to be a poor scholar in the future. And who knew when I would be able to marry a wife and have children. When the world went up in chaos, what I thought at the time was where my next meal would be.”

“I’m afraid Lord Sun had never worried about this. A family that can raise someone like Lord Sun, who wants to leave a mark in history despite barely passing middle age, must be a famous one. Is my guess correct?”

Sun Yunzhou: “So what? Yang Gongzi went out to be an official, for fame or profit?”

Yang Shaowei smiled and shook his head: “It is neither for fame nor profit.”

Sun Yunzhou: “Not for fame or fortune, then I imagine it is to build up the manifestations of heaven and earth’s spirit, to build up a good life for the populace?”

Yang Shaowei laughed: “Lord Sun, I am inferior to Zhang Zai (TN: Chinese philosopher and politician who wrote the above). How can I be compared with him? Does Lord Sun know what the outside world looks like now? And do you know why Hanyang has no power to stand against our army or any other enemy? And do you know how heart-stirring it is when the sky changes its master?!”

“Lord Sun, after sitting in the well and watching that single piece of sky for a long time, I really thought that the sky was only that big.”

“The South Bodhisattva is intelligent and decisive, the people under his governance live and work in peace and contentment. He knows how to judge people and make good use of them, and those people who he uses he will use without suspicion. I am fortunate to have a mentor and teacher. I am not afraid of you laughing when I say this, but my teacher himself has said that he is jealous and petty, but the South Bodhisattva never treated him with suspicion.”

Yang Shaowei: “If Lord Sun insists on opposing the South Bodhisattva, have you thought about the consequences?”

Sun Yunzhou: “Yang Gongzi doesn’t need to persuade me anymore. Sun has made up my mind, and I won’t change it in this life.”

Yang Shaowei glanced at Sun Yunzhou: “Lord Sun, remember your words.”

Sun Yunzhou: “Sun will never change.”

Yang Shaowei left. After leaving the Sun family’s house, he stood in front of the door and looked at the door without expression. He would make Sun Yunzhou regret and make Sun Yunzhou unable to raise his head high in his presence.

Since Sun Yunzhou didn’t want to walk the easy path, then he shall wait, wait for Sun Yunzhou himself to beg him for a ladder.

Yang Shaowei smiled at the corner of his mouth and turned to leave.

When Sun Yunzhou discovered that the people’s support he relied on was not on his side, Yang Shaowei’s goal would be achieved.

“He really thinks he is some kind of virtuous official.” Yang Shaowei cursed while drinking tea, “Your name going down in history? It truly cannot sound better than singing. Why don’t you go to bed all day and night and see if it will happen in your daydreams!”

His servant asked in a low voice, “Does Gongzi have any countermeasures?”

Yang Shaowei: “If there is no countermeasure, what am I doing complaining to you?”

The servant breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the gongzi had been unhappy these days.

After coming to Hanyang for so long, he was finally entrusted with an important task, but he also encountered a stubborn opponent. He didn’t dare to provoke the gongzi again, and quickly said: “Gongzi, would you like to use some snacks?”

Yang Shaowei took a deep breath: “Serve it up, and when I’m full, I will settle accounts with him.”

The servant hurriedly went out, leaving Yang Shaowei alone in the room.

After Yang Shaowei had eaten and drank his fill, he called over his people and discussed for a whole night. The several people fell asleep in the room with their clothes still on, and if anyone thought of something in the middle of the night, everyone was called up to continue the discussion.

The next day, the storytellers walked into the teahouses again as well as took to the streets.

The common people didn’t have much entertainment normally. If they could listen to some stories, then that was already a good pastime. The storyteller on the streets didn’t ask for money, but if they were willing to give some rewards afterwards then wonderful, and even if they didn’t want to then there was nothing to it.

The common people liked to listen to the stories about the Three Kingdoms or Farewell My Concubine. The bigger the battles, the more beauties there were, the better.

But this time the storytellers were no longer telling these familiar stories.

They began to talk about Hanyang, the history of Hanyang, and the great people who had appeared in Hanyang, praising Hanyang’s water and soil and the people it raised.

Then the tone changed and the storytellers began to criticize the Tian Wan regime.

But their criticism was very tactful. They criticized Tian Wan for deceiving the people, using the people, and then hurting the people.

The common people were very naive. Their way of thinking was almost a straight line. They felt that what the storyteller said at the beginning was right, and therefore what followed couldn’t be wrong either. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that after Xu Shouhui became the emperor, they were no better off than when they used to live under the Yuan Dynasty.

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

So Xu Shouhui became an incapable emperor, and his officials naturally became sycophantic and traitorous officials.

“I want to tell him a truth, there will never be any virtuous officials under an incapable emperor.” Yang Shaowei stood by the windowsill, watching the common people on the streets surrounding the storyteller, and said with a smile, “If you are a virtuous official, how can you follow an incapable and ignorant monarch? What a laugh.”

AN: Sun Yunzhou: “I’m just a bit too concerned about my face.”

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TN: bonus chapter💕

As time went on, more and more minor officials gathered together, but most of these minor officials were formerly involved in embezzlement and bribery, and oppressing the people. And those who were truly incorruptible, most of them became marginalized people, wandering outside the collective, so at this time, of course, there was even less room for them to speak.

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

“It’s strange, most corrupt officials form cliques and parties, whether they are high-ranking officials or minor officials, so that they have greater voice and power.” Lin Yuan looked at the report in his hand, “but honest and clean officials, almost all of them are fighting alone, each acting independently. So for a long time, once the person above is incapable, the corrupt officials will be one step farther, while the honest officials will be in a more difficult situation.”

Chen Baisong said: “The upright officials have integrity.”

Lin Yuan sighed: “Sometimes this is called integrity, and sometimes it is called not being flexible.”

Chen Baisong asked strangely: “Not being flexible?”

Lin Yuan shook his head and said: “If one day, I become greedy for pleasure, wantonly and recklessly use sycophantic and traitorous officials, what would you do?”

Chen Baisong: “…..Pledge my life to remonstrate?”

Lin Yuan: “That’s upright, not loyal. I would doubt if you want to force me with your death. If I really listened to you, that would bring about your good reputation, while I would become known as an incapable ruler.”

Chen Baisong then said: “Then I won’t remonstrate, I’ll just give whatever you want.”

Lin Yuan: “Then you are a sycophantic official. The person above is incapable, and if the person below follows along, the country will become unstable. Will you be able to take upon this crime? When I turn back to the righteous path, you will undoubtedly die.”

Chen Baisong: “…..”

He had a look of exasperation.

Lin Yuan: “Go think some more by yourself.”

Chen Baisong discovered that Lin Yuan was really not planning to answer this question, so he could only shut up and go ask Luo Ben later.

He really didn’t know how to deal with smart people.

Just when Lin Yuan was talking with Chen Baisong, someone from outside came to report.

“That Sun Yunzhou and others have been taken into custody, and Hu Yu has also been put in jail, waiting to be questioned and executed according to the previous report.”

The whole body of the soldier was trembling with excitement.

The person in the house was the South Bodhisattva, the live one! Could speak! Not a statue, but flesh and blood, the soldier almost couldn’t breathe.

Sun Yunzhou was a big fish caught by the bait that was Hu Yu.

He became a county official when the Tian Wan regime was at its height, and he could attend court to discuss politics, as well as had his own circle of peers.

He also had a good reputation and was very generous with charity, and as a result, he was known as a good official among the common people.

He was one of the few officials who cared for the common people.

He came from a farming background, and he had followed Xu Shouhui since Xu Shouhui’s uprising. He was not very well-known and could not be compared with Zou Pusheng and the others, but he still had a certain influence.

And he was very loyal to Xu Shouhui.

Many old subordinates who were loyal to Xu Shouhui also gathered around him.

After Lin Yuan checked Sun Yunzhou’s life and his political achievements, he had to admit that this man was a good official and also a talent. He had all the virtues that officials should have in this era. He had only one wife and one daughter. Even though his wife didn’t become pregnant anymore during the past many years, he didn’t have a concubine, or even any maids. He lived very harmoniously with his wife, and his love was the same as always. Towards his daughter he also brought her up with a boy’s education.

He upheld this principle of integrity and fairness when he treated the common people as well, and even took out money from his salary to subsidize the people who had difficulties living. During famines, he also spent all of his family wealth to provide free porridge for the common people.

These were all reported by Lin Yuan’s people, even visiting many of the common people under Sun Yunzhou’s administration, all of whom had nothing but praises for him.

Lin Yuan looked over the report many times, frowning.

If this person was a corrupt official and wanted to oppose Lin Yuan for his own benefit, even if he was executed, Lin Yuan would not feel guilty or distressed.

But for such a good official, a principled, capable, and experienced official, Lin Yuan was reluctant to execute them.

As for the money he took to bribe Hu Yu, he obtained it through the sale of his own property and house. He took his wife and moved to a low shack in the cheapest area where the common people lived.

He said that he wanted to marry his daughter to Hu Yu, whether it was a legitimate daughter or a daughter of a concubine. Though this was all false. He believed that Hu Yu would not accept it, so he just used the opportunity to express sincerity.

Lin Yuan was a little curious. If Hu Yu really agreed, would Sun Yunzhou marry over his daughter and then adopt a few more daughters and say that they were daughters of concubines?

“Ignore him for a few days.” Lin Yuan said to the soldier.

The soldier promised with an energetic spirit, and left with his head held high.

Lin Yuan watched Chen Baisong drinking tea and eating snacks, and felt that he was here exhausted to death, and couldn’t even compare with Chen Baisong who knew how to enjoy life. So he also sat over. As soon as Chen Baisong picked up a cake to send it to his mouth, Lin Yuan’s head moved over, opened his mouth, and swallowed the dessert in Chen Baisong’s hand, catching Chen Baisong’s fingers on the way.

Lin Yuan opened his mouth and Chen Baisong’s fingers regained freedom.

“Take a tissue to wipe.” Lin Yuan handed the coarse paper over. The papermaking process still could not produce delicate toilet paper, but coarse paper was fine. So Lin Yuan used these low-priced coarse paper as toilet paper.

Chen Baisong took the coarse paper, but did not wipe his fingers. Lin Yuan didn’t care and ate as he spoke, “I would have brought Song Shizhao here if I knew earlier. Even if Song Shizhao can’t come, Wu Changqing is also fine, lest I have to worry about everything by myself.”

“By the way, didn’t Song Shizhao’s disciple come to Hanyang?” Lin Yuan finally remembered this, “Where did I leave him?”

Chen Baisong was really unfamiliar with civil officials. Even with Song Shizhao he did not have close contact with. Even Lin Yuan had forgotten the person, so Chen Baisong naturally couldn’t remember.

Lin Yuan ordered: “Bring Yang Shaowei over.”

The people waiting outside quickly agreed and went to find the person.

Yang Shaowei was now in the government office. He was in charge of the common people’s livelihood and pacifying the common people. Every day it was just trivial matters. However, when facing the common people, he couldn’t be impatient, couldn’t shout, couldn’t drive them out, as these would affect his future political achievements. If he didn’t do well, he wouldn’t be able to get promoted.

Yang Shaowei had a smile on his face all day long. In order to earn a good performance, he must muster up a chipper attitude, and even his face had gone stiff from the smiling.

But while his face was stiff, his body was tired, and his spirit was exhausted. Whether the South Bodhisattva had seen his performance or not, whether he knew him or not, he still had no idea at all.

What to do if he had suffered in vain?

Although he had performed excellently when under Song Shizhao, there were too many apprentices and disciples around Song Shizhao, and there was no place for him to show that he had any impressive position. The only thing that counted as his accomplishment was to bring Toqto’a over with Song Shizhao.

In addition to this, Yang Shaowei himself felt that he had not achieved much accomplishments at all.

“These are all sorted out.” Yang Shaowei said to his subordinates, “make sure the clauses are clearly distinguished, don’t mix them up, otherwise you will get what’s coming to you.”

Just when Yang Shaowei was about to start working, a soldier came over.

“Yang Gongzi.” The soldier had a smiling face.

Yang Shaowei’s heart started to beat fast. He had not been awarded an official position so his colleagues all called him the ambiguous Gongzi title. After so long, he didn’t even get a position as a manager: “Is there something the matter?”

The soldier smiled and said: “It’s happy news, the South Bodhisattva wants you to go over to see him.”

Yang Shaowei was taken aback, his whole person was struck dumb and he could only stand there motionless.

“Follow me.” The soldier walked ahead, “Don’t let the South Bodhisattva wait.”

Yang Shaowei reacted and said excitedly: “Please walk first, please walk first.”

When Yang Shaowei left, the people under his hands began to whisper——

“Our boss is going to be promoted, right?”

“Then won’t we be poultry and dogs rise to Heaven.” (TN: Once one man gets a government position, all his cronies get in too)

“You’re the one who’s a chicken, you’re the one who’s a dog!”

“But I think it must be a good thing. If it is a bad thing, our boss would not be invited over, but be arrested directly.”

“We actually also managed to wait for success.”

“Then we have to do things even more carefully, lest the South Bodhisattva send someone to investigate. Only to see us in a mess, I’m afraid we will be demoted, let alone rise up the ranks.”

“We don’t even have an official position…..where else can we be demoted to?”

“Anyway, this is an opportunity, it all depends on the boss.”

“Are you all willing to do these tasks for the rest of your life?”

Yang Shaowei stood in front of Lin Yuan. He lowered his head and did not dare to look directly at Lin Yuan’s face.

He remembered the teachings of his teacher and understood the relationship between monarchs and ministers and the principles of how they interact peacefully.

A minister was a minister, even if he was the emperor’s imperial teacher, he was still a minister.

One cannot forget who was the superior and who was the inferior for even a moment.

Lin Yuan: “Yang Shaowei?”

Yang Shaowei said solemnly: “Caomin is here.”

Lin Yuan: “Raise your head and look at me.”

Yang Shaowei raised his head.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, “Younger than I thought.”

Chen Baisong, who was next to him, glanced at Yang Shaowei.

Suddenly Yang Shaowei’s legs felt a little soft, he swallowed, then lowered his head again, not daring to raise it again.

He could only stumble over his words: “Don’t dare…..caomin don’t dare…..”

Lin Yuan laughed, don’t dare to be young?

Yang Shaowei also found out that he had spoken mistakenly, and anxiously began sweating on his forehead.

Lin Yuan: “Young people, just don’t know how steady they are when doing things.”

Yang Shaowei took a deep breath: “If the South Bodhisattva has orders, caomin will do it for the South Bodhisattva even with my life on the line.”

“Remember what you said.” Lin Yuan smiled and said, “These are the life accomplishments of Sun Yunzhou.”

He pointed to the booklet on the table: “I will give you ten days to convince Sun Yunzhou.”

“If not, I can only send you back to Song Shizhao.” Lin Yuan looked at him.

Yang Shaowei hurriedly knelt down: “If caomin fails, caomin will bring my head to see you.”

Lin Yuan sometimes felt that these people didn’t regard their lives with enough importance.

However, he still said: “You can go.”

Yang Shaowei walked away in a daze.

Though he hadn’t forgotten to take away the booklet.

If he succeeded, he would be awarded an official position, right?

His teacher was getting older, and maybe he would leave this world anytime. At that time, as his first disciple, and added to the fact that he also had political achievements to his name…..

Yang Shaowei had a dreamy smile on his face.

He devoted himself to South Bodhisattva, worked diligently and rushed to do everything that needed to be done, even if it was rough manual work, he didn’t complain at all.

Wasn’t it just to wait for the day he could amaze the world with a single brilliant feat, and then soar into the sky?

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

Even if he couldn’t successfully persuade Sun Yunzhou in the end, even if his head would fall to the ground.

He also did not regret his gamble today.

AN: Yang Shaowei is an important character, and Song Shizhao has led a wolf into the house.

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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.

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

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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