Unlike Gaoyou, all of Pingjiang’s policies were slowly and imperceptibly changed by Lin Yuan. He was now used to calling a bunch of people over to discuss matters, and then choose to adopt the suggestions that spoke to his own heart. This way it would not seem like a dictatorship, but in fact it was still a dictatorship. His own policies were just being spoken from another person’s mouth.

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Lin Yuan now finally understood why the people above would not listen to the opinions of the people below.

The eyes of the people below were easily confined to the small acre of land in front of them. There were few people who possessed a big picture of the overall situation. Everyone had a mouth, had their own thinking, and had interests they wanted to fight for.

If results were to be achieved, everyone had to think in one direction, work hard towards the same goal, each performing their own duties, neither asking too much nor thinking too much. Only this way would things be done quickly and beautifully.

Lin Yuan knew that he was walking on a very dangerous road. Once he made a mistake, it would be the common people who didn’t know anything paying for his mistakes. But he also knew that he had to walk this way, and he had to firmly believe that the path he was taking was correct.

Recently, Lin Yuan has become more and more taciturn. The more he thought, the more thoughts he had, the feeling he gave people changed even more.

Song Shizhao faced Lin Yuan every day, and he could sense the feeling most obviously. In Song Shizhao’s words, Lin Yuan was “reserved and introverted.”

“Before you were like a blade. Although sharp, it was also fragile.” Song Shizhao poured tea for Lin Yuan while saying, “Now you have a scabbard.”

After washing away the restless impatience, Lin Yuan became more and more steady and unflustered.

Lin Yuan looked at Song Shizhao earnestly. He hadn’t looked at people so earnestly for a long time. Was Song Shizhao so old?

“These years, it’s all thanks to Mister,” Lin Yuan said earnestly.

Song Shizhao has also changed recently. His temper had improved, Lin Yuan could feel it. Last year Song Shizhao was not as amiable as this year. At that time, he probably regarded everyone as imaginary enemies, wishing nothing more than to tear everyone apart, leaving only him being of use by Lin Yuan’s side.

But Song Shizhao’s loyalty was beyond doubt.

Lin Yuan took the tea that Song Shizhao handed over. The monarch and the minister sat by the window and drank tea together. There was a square table under the window sill and a chess board on top. Lin Yuan had become interested in Go recently and would play it occasionally.

Song Shizhao put down a black stone and said without looking up: “The north has been settled. Whether it is the imperial court or anyone else, they won’t be able to cause any storms in the next few years. But not in the south. Various forces from all quarters are eyeing each other covetously.”

Lin Yuan nodded and placed down a white stone. The two sides exchanged moves back and forth.

Song Shizhao smiled and said: “My Lord’s chess skills have become more and more exquisite. Given time, it may be difficult to find an opponent.”

Lin Yuan laughed: “This flattery is layed beautifully.”

Song Shizhao also laughed.

Song Shizhao sighed: “I wonder when Xiao Ming Emperor and Liu Futong will…..”

Most of the rebels now rebelled under the name of the Red Turban Army. Where did the Red Turban Army come from? From the White Lotus Sect. Who was the orthodox Red Turban Army? Naturally, it was Xiao Ming Emperor. Although Han Shantong died, his son succeeded his position and Xiao Ming Emperor was the continuation of orthodoxy. Even if Liu Futong now held the most power in the regime by representing the Xiao Ming Emperor, he would not dare to kill Xiao Ming Emperor and succeed him.

The reason was simple. If even the so-called orthodox ruler could be killed, then as he himself was not even orthodox, wouldn’t he be even easier to kill?

Just like the Yuan Dynasty, after the first case of rebellion, subsequent rebellions emerged endlessly.

If Liu Futong himself set an example of killing the monarch, there would be many people who would also want to do the same and replace him.

In addition to this, there was another point and that was resistance to Liu Futong. Among those who followed Xiao Ming Emperor, there was also a faction that supported Han Shantong and the so-called orthodoxy.

Once Xiao Ming Emperor fell, the Red Turban Army would no longer “have a just cause”. Although those who held power would not let go of their power and authority, the common people did not understand these kinds of things. At least within a short period of time, the Red Turban Army would suffer heavy losses.

At that time, it would be their opportunity.

The more Song Shizhao thought about it, the more he wanted to just rush over to Liu Futong or Xiao Ming Emperor and tell them to kill each other.

So long as he was allowed to go over, he would definitely encourage the ambitions of one of them and instigate them to fight each other to the death!

Ai! If it hadn’t been for Pingjiang having too many things to deal with back then, he would have set off on his own a long time ago, so how could he have asked An Laosi to go instead?

Song Shizhao lowered his head. It seemed that he should assign the tasks and responsibilities to those below. He suppressed the people under him and did not let them emerge. But when something really needed to be done, not even one could be found to handle things.

Lin Yuan looked at Song Shizhao’s expression and knew what he was thinking. He said with schadenfreude amusement, “Now you know that one person can’t do everything?”

Song Shizhao crinkled his old face into a smile: “That’s also because my Lord cares about this official.”

Lin Yuan also earnestly said: “Then don’t become too proud and spoiled from the favor.”

Song Shizhao also answered playfully: “Ai, the young man’s heart is like an intangible wind, and this official is now old, not as good as the wild flowers and grass outside. How can I keep the heart of the young man without using some means?”

Lin Yuan drank a sip of tea, motionless like a mountain: “You just want nothing more than to be the only one of use in this world, but you are already at this age and you should know to combine work and rest. Otherwise once you fall down from tiredness, the people below will still jump out. And at that time when I use them you will become jealous again.”

Song Shizhao suddenly stopped talking.

Lin Yuan’s half-joking words sounded in his ears and landed in his heart, his nose suddenly stinging a bit.

He discovered that Lin Yuan had really been showing tolerance for him and caring for him all this time. He had been occupying the position beside him in a domineering way and it was not that Lin Yuan didn’t know this, he just didn’t mind indulging him.

This caused Song Shizhao’s heart to surge like the waves, and it was difficult to calm down.

Lin Yuan asked him: “Is there anyone under you who can be of use?”

Song Shizhao didn’t hide it this time, and said, “I have looked them over. Some can only be minor officials and I’ve found jobs for them already. There are also a few good ones, only that their tempers are too hard and need to be polished.”

Lin Yuan nodded, suddenly saying, “I remember there was one named Zheng Qingfeng, how is he?”

“A man who has been frustrated for half his life.” Song Shizhao’s eyes had a tiny trace of pity in them, but this bit of pity wasn’t worth all that much. “Being a civil official is enough.”

“He would make a clean and uncorrupted official.”

Lin Yuan: “That’s fine, there just happened to be a need for a district head.”

Pingjiang had its administrative work units replanned——village heads, town heads, county heads, district heads and city mayors.

As for Lin Yuan, he did not yet have a clear political title. Everyone called him Lord, and the common people called him South Bodhisattva.

Although ambiguous, it was not a bad thing.

Song Shizhao also agreed.

According to Song Shizhao’s words: “Even if my Lord has not yet been named emperor, he is already holding the emperor’s power. As long as he has power, the title is not as important.”

The district head did not seem to have much power, but in fact he was considered to be half a senior provincial official. The city mayor looked to have a lot of power, but his power was divided.

Generally speaking, the district head had more real powers than the city mayor, but the city mayor also had the power to supervise and inspect. The district head did not need to be transferred, but the city mayor must be replaced every five years.

“Zheng Qingfeng has finally met with great lucky.” Song Shizhao thought in his heart, if the monarch was someone else, who would use such an official? Just based on what he did before was enough for him to be left out in the cold until his death.

Lin Yuan placed down his last white stone: “The people under you, find a place for them as soon as possible, and make the best use of them, otherwise it’s a waste of food.”

Song Shizhao quickly responded: “Yes.”

“And Wu Changqing.” Lin Yuan didn’t have any expression, “Go and give him a reminder, lest his head get too big.”

Song Shizhao lowered his head, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Wu Changqing meeting with misfortune makes him very happy!

Wu Changqing was talented, but there were also drawbacks. Lin Yuan used him because of his talents, but because of the drawbacks in his personality, he dared not trust him.

He had a common problem common to ordinary scholars, he loved power. He also had a common problem common to all sycophantic officials, he loved to play with power.

Now that Wu Changqing had a certain prestige among scholars, he was eager to challenge Song Shizhao in the arena.

But Lin Yuan was not willing to help him.

To be precise, Wu Changqing did not have the same importance as Song Shizhao did in his heart.

He could be sure that Song Shizhao would not betray him no matter what situation he was in. Even if he died, so long as his bloodline was still alive, Song Shizhao would be loyal to his bloodline.

But he was not sure whether Wu Changqing could do the same.

Besides, there was only one Song Shizhao, whereas there were tens of millions of Wu Changqings.

Without Wu Changqing, he would let out a few regretful sighs at most, bestowing his family a gift during the New Year’s every year, and then forget him after a few years.

But without Song Shizhao, he might have a headache for a long time, and maybe he might never find a successor to take Song Shizhao’s place.

Song Shizhao drank the last sip of tea and said to Lin Yuan: “My Lord wants to give him a warning, then why not promote one of the people under him? Aren’t those scholars gathering around him just for this chance?”

Lin Yuan raised his eyebrows: “Mister already has a candidate.”

His words were an affirmative statement, not a question.

Song Shizhao lowered his head, and said humbly: “I just observed more and inquired more, all to share the worries for my master.”

Lin Yuan didn’t bother to pick on this matter with him either: “Tell me.”

Song Shizhao: “Now there is one in his manor, whose surname is Yang, and his name is Yang Shaocheng. I am not clear how he is as a person, but he was an advisor who had handled many cases before. He is quite good at solving cases and we lack such a person.”

Lin Yuan thought for a while: “Have him go work as a lizheng.”

Lizheng was a new name. It had been implemented in Gaoyou, and basically meant a judge. Lin Yuan divided the power, different departments managed different things, and personal power would be reduced. Although he was not sure whether this would be better than before, it at least would not be worse.

——

“How bold of him!” Wu Changqing nearly fell down with anger, “I had treated him very well!”

Wu Changqing’s eldest son looked at his father’s face, and hurriedly went over to console: “Father, don’t be angry, it will be bad for your health. People like him originally only came for this.”

Wu Changqing was so angry that he slapped the table, his veins popping out: “Yang Shaocheng! Despicable villain, shameless rascal!”

The eldest son did not dare to speak, his father had the biggest say in the family, and whenever his father was present, no one could override his words.

“How vexing! How vexing!” Wu Changqing clutched his stomach, his stomach hurting with anger, “I shouldn’t have let him stay in the manor!”

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The once guest of the old days had now climbed up the sky ladder, and this sky ladder that he stepped on was him, Wu Changqing. He had to send him off with a smile on his face, but without outsiders, this anger finally exploded.

He might not be ignorant of the mindset of those above.

But he could not hate Lin Yuan, he could only hate Yang Shaocheng.

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The fire in the barracks had not yet been extinguished and the soldiers sat chatting around the bonfire. They were wearing newly handed out cotton-padded clothes——all of the same color and the same size. They were tightly tightened with their belts so the thinner ones could also wear it with no problem. Holding a cup with hot water in it, many even took off their shoes to roast their feet by the fire.

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Soldiers couldn’t leave the barracks without order. Even the commanders above would face execution if they secretly ran out of the barracks. They were strictly managed, and those who executed the military law did not give face to anyone. And because of this, the common people living near the barracks didn’t have to be so scared or on edge.

The soldiers must stay in the barracks for a month before they could get two days off. For these two days, they also had to report their itinerary clearly.

But there were also a lot of entertainment activities in the barracks——for example, Lin Yuan had people create game sport equipment like basketballs and cuju (TN: ancient Chinese football). There were also some simple fitness equipment, similar to the equipment found in gyms. So after their required training for the day was over, soldiers could also find things to amuse themselves.

Zhao Laosi was holding a cup of water. He pulled out a sweet potato from the embers of the extinguished fire under his feet, peeled it and ate it in two bites.

The person next to him laughed at him: “You actually still hid one, what are you so anxious for? It’s not as if you won’t have anything to eat, in fact there will be meat broth tomorrow. Isn’t that better than just eating this alone?”

Zhao Laosi finished the sweet potato in two bites and didn’t feel all that full. He had fled over here as a refugee and his wife and children died on the road. He had nowhere to go and had no relatives in Gaoyou. He knew that being a soldier was dangerous and risky but he still gritted his teeth and joined the army.

“Such a good thing, there will actually be more tomorrow?” Zhao Laosi licked his teeth, wanting to lick any remaining sweet potatoes from his teeth.

His colleague laughed at him: “How is this considered a good thing? Nowadays, it is planted the most outside.”

“This thing grows faster, and its yield is quite a lot.” His colleague was also a farmer in the past, and when mentioning this topic he became particularly energetic. He moved closer and chatted with Zhao Laosi in detail, “Every day the growth is visible to the eye!”

“Just a little bit, and you can harvest so much.”

The skin of the colleague was dark, and when he smiled all of his teeth were exposed.

Zhao Laosi said: “I like to eat sweet potatoes the best.”

The people around him said: “I also like to eat sweet potatoes. Regular potatoes are not as sweet as sweet potatoes and not as fragrant.”

“Then sweet potatoes and potatoes, can it only be grown here?” Zhao Laosi asked in a low voice.

Colleague: “These two things aren’t picky on the land very much. You can grow it even on inferior land, and still their harvest is more than that of the others.”

Zhao Laosi’s eyes widened: “Then…..Then on my way over here, I didn’t see anyone planting it.”

With the rapid increase in the production of sweet potatoes on Lin Yuan’s land, the consistently high food prices had slowly begun to fall down. However, Lin Yuan had been keeping the prices of sweet potatoes and potatoes from decreasing too much so that people would know that planting these two crops could still make money. People were naturally profit-seeking, perhaps when still hungry, they would think it was a good thing to grow sweet potatoes and potatoes, but once the problem of filling the stomach was solved, of course they would want to earn more.

Now, other than a few big cities that could achieve a balance of income, self-producing and self-consuming, other small cities still had to rely on him for handing out food supplies.

As a result, the sweet potatoes and potatoes did not spread beyond his territory, after all, his own people still didn’t have enough food.

It was not that no one wanted the seeds. There were many inquiries from various forces.

Rations and fodder were the top priority no matter when. Soldiers would only be obedient and have the strength to be able to fight on the battlefield when fully fed.

But not even three years had passed since the last time Lin Yuan carried out executions and established his prestige. The merchants were tempted, but few really dared to make any moves. They were all staring at each other and wanted to see when someone else would make a move.

Sometimes violent deterrence could indeed bring relatively long-term stability.

“Some people will be drawn to visit the town in three days. How will they make the draw this time?”

The soldiers were still chatting. Zhao Laosi was a newcomer, and he didn’t understand what the others were talking about, looking at his colleagues blankly.

His colleague explained: “It is to bring food and clothing to those in the poor mountains and remote areas.”

Zhao Laosi was taken aback: “Why bother, isn’t that…..” A waste?

Colleague: “Do you know whose soldier you are?”

Zhao Laosi wondered: “The general’s soldier?”

The colleagues laughed loudly: “We are the soldiers of the South Bodhisattva! You don’t even know this? Our South Bodhisattva was born with a Buddha’s heart, and can’t bear to see anyone suffer. That’s why we are sent to save those who are suffering.”

Zhao Laosi was even more puzzled.

These soldiers actually sincerely love that South Bodhisattva?

Wasn’t the truth in the world that good people would be deceived, and good horses would be ridden by others?

Zhao Laosi had also seen good people, and most of them had no good ending. On the contrary, the selfish, the mean and the cruel people lived better.

“Without the South Bodhisattva, I would have died from starvation a long time ago.” His colleague pointed at his own nose, “I was thin and lame at the time. But after entering the army, it was all thanks to my colleagues for taking care of me and helping me recuperate. Back then, who would waste food on me?”

The crowd was noisy and lively. Don’t know who started talking first, but the topic soon turned to talking of the time before, and the idle chatting quickly turned into a memorial meeting.

When the soldiers were called early the next morning, Zhao Laosi was also selected for the visit to the town.

The comrades in the same squad all expressed their envy to Zhao Laosi after the training.

“It’s a rare visit outside the barracks, so don’t frown. Although traveling on the road is a little rough, it’s also quite interesting.”

Zhao Laosi felt strange: “Interesting?”

His colleague hooked his shoulders and said: “It’s better than being bored in the barracks. You can also compete in hunting and all the prey you hunt is yours. If there is no prey, you can eat dry rations. Traveling during the day and camping at night. It’s tiring but it’s a rare, happy kind of tiring.”

However, Zhao Laosi said: “I don’t want to go out, I just want to stay in the barracks.”

He really liked the barracks. There were thick and warm clothes, at least two sets a year. He could eat his fill every day and even if there was no meat, he could eat as much sweet potatoes and potatoes he wanted. Each person had his own bed and although it was small, there was no problem fitting a grown man and even turning over was not difficult. No one had ever slept in a bed back in his old home.

He was afraid of going out this time, what if he was left behind halfway on the road? What if he got lost? He wasn’t familiar with the area, maybe he might starve to death on the road.

Zhao Laosi couldn’t sleep. He was afraid of being dragged away in the middle of the night, and he didn’t want to go anywhere.

When it was time to gather in line, the officer in charge who counted the number found that there was a missing person. The military discipline in the barracks was strict, and there was no such thing as being late or leaving early. Moreover, the system was squad based so it was not easy for people to have the courage to make mistakes as it would implicate the entire squad.

“Zhao Laosi? Which squad is this? Where is the squad leader?! Call the squad leader over!”

The squad leader was also very speechless: “I heard him say before going to bed yesterday that he didn’t want to go out, but I didn’t expect him to have the guts to be a deserter.”

It was impossible for such a big living person to disappear from under people’s eyes in an instant.

“I’ve said before that it’s best not to select new recruits.”

Recruits all had this problem. They would stay in the barracks happily at first, and would be unwilling to take a step out of the barracks even if beaten to death. Only when they got acquainted with the rest and knew the operations inside the barracks would they become at ease.

There were no deserters here——but soldiers who were unwilling to leave the barracks were no different from deserters to some extent.

Zhao Laosi was finally found under his bed. Don’t know how he squeezed in and now he could barely even get out, so they could only take apart the bed. Zhao Laosi didn’t dare to move and lay on the ground crying. While crying, he said: “I don’t eat a lot of food, I won’t go out, don’t drive me away…..”

A big grown man crying with tears and snot, it really gave people goosebumps.

The squad leader could only say to the officer in charge: “He probably won’t be able to go like this.”

The officer sighed: “If you ask me, newcomers shouldn’t be given this chance to go out.”

Zhao Laosi got his wish and did not follow the team out. He preferred the small dormitory and the same training every day.

Replacing Zhao Laosi was also a new recruit in the same batch. His name was Feng Gousheng. He was chosen because of his good performance, not too weak looking physique, and being more courageous than Zhao Laosi. Feng Gousheng was carrying a backpack, each soldier was carrying this thing on his back, which contained dry rations and some other necessities.

These backpacks were all sewn by women. They were made of the strongest coarse cloth and had a large capacity. There were two shoulder straps and a cloth strip underneath which could be tied around the waist, making it much easier when traveling or marching.

Feng Gousheng had traveled on the road before, but he never traveled like this. Back then, his stomach was always deflated and he was always thinking about whether he could find work after he reached the destination. Now his stomach was full and although tired, his body still had energy. He even had the energy to look around the farmland when the team rested.

“This has been barren for several years.” Feng Gousheng looked at the barren land, feeling distressed.

Others sighed: “One can’t eat enough while staying on this land.”

Farmers planted the land, but they abandoned the land and left their hometown because they couldn’t have enough to eat. This sounded like a joke but it was very true.

Feng Gousheng remembered that when he was in his hometown, his parents were busy farming all year round, like hard working oxen. They never had a rest day. When it came time for harvest, the field would be covered in golden wheat, rustling in the breeze. But in contrast, their granary would always only have a little bit of grain.

At that time, he didn’t understand why he still couldn’t get enough to eat despite there being so much food in the field.

Feng Gousheng bent down, pinched a handful of soil, and put it in his mouth. He said to the person next to him, “This land is good, it’s fertile land.”

“You also have the ability to distinguish soil?”

“Don’t only old verteran farmers know this?”

Feng Gousheng smiled shyly: “Not necessarily accurate, I just know a little bit.”

“By the way, since there are so many fields here, why don’t I see any villages?” Feng Gousheng stood up and looked into the distance strangely.

Someone replied: “The original people here either fled or died. Few people remember what the village was originally called.”

“But I estimate that it will get better in the future.”

Feng Gousheng asked: “What do you mean? Those people will come back?”

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“That’s probably not going to happen, but the South Bodhisattva will definitely have people come over.”

“Yes, the South Bodhisattva is here, so people will definitely come.”

“The South Bodhisattva is just too kind-hearted.”

“It’s all thanks to the South Bodhisattva…..”

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After having been stagnated for nearly two years, Lin Yuan once again felt the large-scale influx of the population. However, unlike before, in addition to the Han people from other places, there were even Mongolians flooding in——although the number was not large, about 20-30, and they were all from the same family.

They probably heard the news that Toqto’a was in Pingjiang. Although they were still not sure, they took the risk. Toqto’a was still very popular. He himself also sighed when he heard about this. The imperial court did not remember his good deeds but there were some people who still remembered.

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This family had a high degree of Sinicization, and even the oldest of them could speak Chinese. Only their clothing and dressing style maintained their own ethnic style. Lin Yuan could only have someone to settle them first, and then call Toqto’a over.

Unlike the Han people, the Mongols generally followed their own regime. When the Yuan Dynasty still existed, they all gathered at the capital whenever something happened. Later, when the Yuan Dynasty was defeated, they all migrated back to the northern grasslands. Although they lived mixed with the Han people, and after so many years there have also been many intermarriages, there were still very few truly equal interactions.

Toqto’a adjusted his clothes. Standing in front of the door, he was both nervous and uneasy.

“Father?” Hala Zhang was still holding fried dough sticks in his hand and a bowl of soy milk in his other hand. He asked strangely, “What are you doing standing at the door?”

Toqto’a turned around and glanced at Hala Zhang.

After all, Hala Zhang was still young, and young people easily forget.

He seemed to have already forgotten life back in the imperial court, and that his meaning in life was to inherit his father’s position.

Now no one mentioned this anymore.

In recent days, Hala Zhang was practically absent from home almost all day long. Toqto’a just watched and never asked for any explanation.

Hala Zhang was no longer the child who needed parental care. He was learning this new world by himself, wanting to find his own place in this new world and take back the glory that once belonged to his family.

How could Toqto’a say to Hala Zhang: “Give up, we are Mongolians, and you can only sit around waiting to die.”

He couldn’t bear to say this to Hala Zhang.

Rather than living soberly, sometimes it was better to be a little confused. This way life would be happier.

Hala Zhang and Chu Lin have gotten very close recently. The two were about the same age and they were also living in the same place. Hala Zhang was angry with Chu Lin at first. Although he knew that they had different standpoints and Chu Lin couldn’t do anything else. But it didn’t feel good to be deceived, especially since he was sincere on his part while Chu Lin’s sincerity was compromised.

It was Chu Lin who visited several times and made a bunch of guarantees before the two reconciled their relationship back to before.

Now Hala Zhang was doing business with Chu Lin. The business Chu Lin had to take care of was very varied. He could be found wherever there was a need for someone——no one dared to let him do important things as Chu Lin was really not someone who could do practical things, but small, unimportant tasks were still fine.

For example, receiving envoys from the imperial court.

The imperial court now sent people to Lin Yuan every few months, mainly for recruiting him over and expressing goodwill.

——

After Hala Zhang had breakfast, he separated from Toqto’a, the two having different things to take care of. Toqto’a looked at his son’s back and sighed silently.

In the eyes of Hala Zhang, was it likely that there was no place for the emperor anymore?

Even if there was, it was no longer the one in the Yuan imperial capital.

Hala Zhang was tall and vigorous. He was young and moved like the wind. He was like a young cheetah who while still being young, was able to stand on his own. In addition, as his appearance was obviously different from that of the Han people, no matter where he went there were always many people watching him.

“Brother Chu!” Hala Zhang ran to the side of Chu Lin who was chatting with people on the street.

Seeing that he arrived, Chu Lin hurriedly said to the stall owner: “I really am busy! I have to leave first, sorry!”

After saying this, Chu Lin grabbed Hala Zhang’s sleeve and ran away like a ghost was chasing behind him.

Hala Zhang was puzzled. So, after the two stopped, Hala Zhang asked: “What are you running for? That uncle doesn’t look like he has a bad temper. Did you offend him in some way?”

Chu Lin’s face blushed. He was born too good-looking, and when the blush stained his cheeks, it only emphasized his red lips and pale skin, his eyes seeming to be like two pools of spring. With just a glance from him like this, it could captivate 0and enchant people.

Hala Zhang swallowed, looked away and said, “Where are we going? What are you doing today?”

Chu Lin said depressedly: “Entertaining the envoys, I only sent one away last month, and another one is here again this month, ai, always eating and drinking with them, my dad said I even look a little fatter than before.”

Hala Zhang said seriously: “You’re not fat.”

Chu Lin smiled at Hala Zhang. And for some reason, Hala Zhang let out a shudder, and his face also turned a little red. But his skin was dark and it couldn’t be noticed as easily.

The two of them walked forward along the road. Hala Zhang wanted to say something several times, but when he opened his mouth he didn’t know what to say. He secretly looked at Chu Lin’s profile. Chu Lin was born too good-looking, no matter how one looked at him, he was always beautiful. If before Chu Lin’s beauty only existed on the outside, then Chu Lin’s beauty now went deep into his bones.

After washing away the low self-esteem and confusion, Chu Lin was like a gem that had the dust covering it wiped away.

Hala Zhang suddenly asked: “Your parents haven’t arranged a marriage for you yet?”

When these words were spoken, both of them were taken aback. Chu Lin shook his head and said, “I am not going to marry.”

He was now doing even better than his older brother. When going out, others would call him Lord Chu. Even if he did not have an exact official position, everyone knew that the South Bodhisattva liked him and was willing to use him.

Now if he was to find an in-law, it would definitely be a better family than that of his sister-in-law’s.

At that time, how would his older brother act?

Once he married, he would have to face a more complicated situation. Would he have to fight for the position of the next patriarch with his older brother in the end?

He would definitely win, but what about his older brother?

It was better not getting married, anyway, he didn’t have much interest in the female sex.

Hala Zhang felt his throat become hot and dry, and he felt that his face had become even hotter. He was clearly walking on the streets, with many people passing by. But when he heard Chu Lin say that he wouldn’t marry, his heart couldn’t help becoming hot. Impulsively and without thinking he also said: “I’m not going to marry either.”

Chu Lin looked at Hala Zhang strangely, and Hala Zhang was also looking at him.

Chu Lin quickly retracted his gaze as if frightened by something, and said, “Walk quicker, lest the envoy waits for too long. Although he is a member of the court, courtesy must not be lacking, and let others get a handle on us.”

While he said so, he quickened his pace.

Hala Zhang didn’t understand, but he also followed Chu Lin quickly. On the way, Hala Zhang wanted to talk to Chu Lin again. But every time he spoke, Chu Lin would change the subject.

Compared with Hala Zhang, Toqto’a’s situation was different. He was sitting in a carriage, and the destination of the carriage was the house of that Mongolian family.

The name of the head of this family was Bu He. He had a big dark face, broad hands and feet, a strong body, and his shoulders were also extremely wide, making his head look rather small.

Bu He married a Han Chinese wife. His wife gave birth to three sons and three daughters. Both the eldest son and the eldest daughter had already married.

According to what Bu He said——as early as a few hundred years ago, his family was likely servants of Toqto’a’s family. In short, he insisted on a relationship of some sort with Toqto’a.

When Toqto’a was invited to the main seat, he did not refuse. Only when he sat down could the others sit down.

“Where did you come from?” Toqto’a also felt strange. When most Mongolians see that something was wrong they would generally take their families to the imperial capital so how come they came to Pingjiang instead?

Bu He’s wife poured two cups of milk. Toqto’a took a sip, and suddenly sighed.

He hadn’t tasted such a flavor in a long time.

Bu He: “We came here from Zhongqing.”

He rubbed his knees and said with a smile: “On the road, I heard people say you are here, so we came.”

It was simply impossible to continue traveling on the road.

There were too many people and belongings. Although they didn’t bring cattle and sheep with them, they brought everything else they could.

With so many things, naturally they couldn’t make a long journey.

Toqto’a didn’t know what to say.

He thought they would have some other plans and considerations, but he was just told very honestly: “There is nothing else, we just couldn’t bear the cost.”

Toqto’a could only console: “Since you are here, then just live with peace of mind.”

Bu He still had his own worries. He said in a worried tone: “They are all Han people!”

The relationship between the Han people and them was not bad a few years ago. But as the state of the world got worse, their relationship also got worse. The Han people felt that the Mongols would harm them, and the Mongols also felt that the Han people would harm them.

Toqto’a asked him: “Then what can you do?”

Bu He counted with his fingers: “I only have two daughters left to be married, and two sons not yet married.”

He said: “I’m going to find a matchmaker!”

This was Bu He’s wisdom.

Becoming in-laws was the best way to assimilate into a new environment. He quickly found a son-in-law. There was no shortage of son-in-laws. There were young men eager to marry a wife all over.

But Bu He couldn’t find wives for his remaining two sons——so he did another shocking thing. After asking Toqto’a, he stuffed his two sons respectively into the homes of two widows.

Both widows were not newly widowed. They had been widows for at least ten years, since before the world became chaotic. They also had no children. Because they were widows, their parents and brothers could not visit them too much. They lock themselves up at home all year round, sometimes even the neighbors don’t even remember when was the last time they had come out.

When everyone was still watching the show, Bu He had already gained a firm foothold in Pingjiang.

The two girls married into a big local family——this kind of big family refers to the large number of people within the clan.

The two sons married the widows, and the widows’ natal family also started making contact with them.

Bu He also rented land outside the city near the mountains, bought cows and sheep, and quickly became familiar with the surrounding residents. The ewes and cows they bought had just given birth to their young, and were full of milk. So Bu He sold the milk bucket by bucket.

With a place to live, with “relatives and friends”, and with work, their hearts could finally be at ease.

——

Lin Yuan looked at the dairy products that his servants brought over. There was a lingering smell on the tip of his nose as unprocessed raw milk could not avoid such a smell.

Lin Yuan said to the servants, “Go and ask Bu He if his family can make milk tofu.”

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

If it could be made, the soldiers would have more convenient food to replenish energy when they march.

The people below would not report such trivial matters to him. If it was reported to him, he really would be annoyed to death, but if it was not reported to him, he would be unable to stop himself from thinking about it all the time.

Lin Yuan sighed, feeling that he was born to toil.

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