Chapter 102 The Power of the Provincial Governor

Yan Xing nodded helplessly at his forehead: "Why do you not value your reputation so much?"

Lu Chenyang chuckled and asked, "Have you dealt with all the spies sent by the emperor? Will anything bad happen?"

The reason why Lu Chenyang dared to be so arrogant in Yanquan County was not because of his troops, but because Yan Xing could deal with the spies sent by the emperor.

If the emperor knew what Lu Chenyang had done, he would have been unable to sit still.

Yan Xing said succinctly: "Don't worry, he will never know!"

Yan Xing was more worried than Lu Chenyang that the emperor would know the situation in Yanquan County, so Lu Chenyang was relieved.

After finishing the memorial, he immediately sent it to the post station. The provincial governor's method of communicating with the capital was much faster than that of the county magistrate.

After Lu Chenyang finished writing the letter, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Just when I was thinking about whether I could relax for a while, a soldier came to report that Gao Ming wanted to see me.

Gao Ming was recruited by Lu Chenyang as a legal advisor. He was the most accomplished of the group, a juren (a scholar) in his forties. He wasn't a local, but had come from abroad to study and was stuck in the prefectural capital. After a series of misfortunes, Lu Chenyang took over the prefectural capital. Seeing the notice Lu Chenyang had issued, Gao Ming applied for the position.

As a juren, he should have been able to enter the court as an official, at least as a chief clerk. However, he was disappointed with the officialdom, so for many years he had no intention of taking the exam again.

He admired Lu Chenyang's character and courage, so when he saw Lu Chenyang recruiting a legal advisor, he became interested.

By the way, as soon as he arrived, he helped Lu Chenyang to sort out the household registration and food distribution of the refugees, and he also used his connections to help Lu Chenyang buy a large amount of food.

In this day and age, no one who can study abroad is poor. He is from a Jiangnan gentry family and is also the direct branch of his family. He has many connections in Jiangnan.

As soon as he heard that Lu Chenyang wanted to buy food, he agreed to contact Lu Chenyang without saying a word.

"Let's buy 30,000 to 50,000 stones first." Gao Ming said lightly.

Lu Chenyang, who felt that even eating an egg was a luxury, said: "..."

As expected, he was the only poor person.

I've gone off topic. Gao Ming came in soon.

"Sir, these are the account books of the governor's office. They have been sorted out. Please take a look." Gao Ming said respectfully.

"Mr. Gao, there's no need to be so polite. Please take a seat." Lu Chenyang said in a gentle voice.

Gao Ming bowed and sat down. He explained to Lu Chenyang, "There were some expenses incurred this time for purchasing food and settling the people. I've already marked them down. This is the surplus." After a pause, he said, "This Governor's Mansion is truly wealthy. Has your Excellency thought about how to spend this money?"

Lu Chenyang thought for a moment and said, "Let's organize another caravan. Merchants from the Shen and Zhao families will also come to the capital to open shops. I'll have them bring multi-season rice seeds. Starting next year, at least 30% of the arable land in all the counties in Lingnan will be planted with multi-season rice. Also, I've asked the workshops in Yanquan County to send people to teach us. Farm tools will be gradually updated. By next year, at least half of the people will be using new tools."

A gleam of light flashed in Gao Ming's eyes. Lu Chenyang was using the resources of Yanquan County to support all the counties in Lingnan!

Lu Chenyang had acquired that multi-season rice after negotiations with the Dongyi people. The reason it wasn't planted throughout the entire county was because there wasn't enough seed. However, if it wasn't distributed to other counties, more people in Yanquan County would be able to plant multi-season rice. Lu Chenyang was a citizen of Yanquan County, so he should have been thinking about the county. However, he was concerned about the other people, hoping that the people in other counties could survive.

The farm tools were made by Lu Chenyang after he had his craftsmen try to make them time and time again. It consumed a lot of manpower and material resources, and he was willing to use them to benefit the people of Lingnan.

Because he had a kind heart and could not bear to see the people suffer.

Gao Ming was deeply impressed and quickly stood up and saluted, saying, "Your Excellency is indeed a man of great righteousness. I admire you. The people of Lingnan are blessed to have you!"

Lu Chenyang smiled and reached out to help him up. "I've studied for many years, hoping that one day I can use what I've learned to help the people live a good life, and that my years of hard work will be worthwhile. There shouldn't be any distinction between lives. As long as what I do can help more people survive, then I think it's worth it."

Thanks to growing medicinal herbs, the conditions of every household in Yanquan County have greatly improved. Even if they don't plant all the crops of rice, they can still survive. But it's different in other counties. They can really survive with just a little more food.

Lu Chenyang smiled bitterly: "It's just that my ability is limited. After working so hard for so long, I can only say that I can feed them. It's really my incompetence."

Even the emperor couldn't guarantee that the people would have enough to eat, and Lu Chenyang still said that he was incompetent. Then all the officials in Dagan should die to apologize.

Gao Ming said, "Your Excellency has great ambitions, but the road ahead is bumpy. I am a humble student, but I am willing to accompany you and do my best to help you."

Lu Chenyang smiled and said, "Then we all have to work hard."

Yan Xing just watched quietly. With just a few words, he fooled Gao Ming into taking him as his close friend and being willing to fight for him. He admired him very much in his heart.

Gao Ming smiled and nodded. He said, "Sir, should we invite the magistrates of other counties to gather at the Governor's Mansion?"

Although the governor has not been replaced yet, they should know who is in charge now.

Lu Chenyang nodded, "It's time to ask them to come back and see me."

Gao Ming agreed. He looked at Yan Xing and said with a smile, "I'll need your help when the time comes."

Yan Xing nodded slightly.

So after receiving the news, a group of county magistrates came to the provincial capital again. It was still the governor's residence and the same room, but the person sitting in the main seat was different.

In addition to the county magistrates, there was also a team of elite guards in the house, each armed with a weapon. The big knife was shiny and shiny. It was the latest weapon delivered by the workshop in Yanquan County. The latest equipment was all from Lu Chenyang's guards.

Not only that, when they came in, they saw the garrison patrolling the governor's mansion, which made them tremble with fear.

Among these county magistrates, Deng Mingbo and Zhang Tao had the most complicated feelings.

Deng Mingbo and Lu Chenyang were good friends. When he went to Yanquan County to ask Lu Chenyang for help, he called him Brother Lu. The two were equals. In a blink of an eye, Lu Chenyang captured Yan Yuanjie and held the power of the governor.

Zhang Tao felt the same as him. He had come to Yan Yuanjie to complain about Lu Chenyang. Now that Yan Yuanjie has been arrested by Lu Chenyang, what will be his fate?

Looking at the elite soldiers around him, he became even more frightened. He shrank his head and wished he could become a quail.

Lu Chenyang glanced at the crowd and said, "Yan Yuanjie colluded with the rebels, and this official is deeply saddened. Fortunately, I have lived up to your trust and successfully suppressed the rebellion. Now, we in Lingnan should have a set of rules in the future." He looked at Zhang Tao first and said, "County Magistrate Zhang, County Magistrate Fang, your two counties have suffered the most from the disaster this year. This year's autumn taxes will be reduced. I will transfer a batch of grain for disaster relief, as well as three-season rice seeds and farm tools. These must be delivered to the people."

Fang Qing is the county magistrate of Zhangtai County. This year, Deng Mingbo went to Lu Chenyang for help on behalf of Jiufang County and Zhangtai County. Lu Chenyang got a batch of grain to provide disaster relief to these two counties.

The two were stunned for a moment. They didn't expect Lu Chenyang to take the initiative to ask for a meeting. Especially Zhang Tao, he thought he had offended Lu Chenyang and Lu Chenyang would settle the score with him.

"Thank you... Lord Lu for your compassion. I would like to thank Lord Lu on behalf of the people." Zhang Tao said hurriedly.

This was a very awkward thing to say. They were both county magistrates, so why should he call himself a subordinate? But facing Lu Chenyang's face, he couldn't say anything else.

Lu Chenyang looked at the other county magistrates again and said, "And everyone, I have sorted out the disaster situation in each county this time, and I will send a batch of disaster relief supplies to the people to help them through the winter. I don't want to pursue the past, but from now on, I hope everyone can join me in leading the people through the difficulties and live a good life. If I find out in the future that the disaster relief food I sent did not reach the hands of the people, I will not tolerate it! Yan Yuanjie is the governor, and it is not easy for me to deal with it on behalf of the emperor, but in Yanquan County, no one should care if a county magistrate dies!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.

They had thought Lu Chenyang was soft-hearted, but he turned so ruthless the moment he turned around. Everyone remembered someone, not Yan Yuanjie, who was imprisoned, but Du Wei. Rumors had it that Lu Chenyang had killed Du Wei with his own hands, and in broad daylight.

And the court has not given an explanation so far.

If they die, they may really die.

Now no one dared to hope for luck anymore and immediately stood up and agreed.

Lu Chenyang didn't say it explicitly, but now he is the real governor of Lingnan.

Everyone agreed in unison, their attitude extremely humble.