Chapter 80: A missing person notice was published in the newspaper of Anling County...

When Chi Xi opened his eyes again, he saw the people of Chaozhou and the staff of the Sifang County Administrative Office who were there to greet them.

He glanced at Zhong Mingqi, who was equally bewildered.

The two were greatly puzzled.

The young female prefect stepped forward, revealing a gentle smile, "Hello, I am Mo Jingchun, the prefect of Sifang County."

Chi Xi: "..."

Zhong Mingqi: "..."

The people of Chaozhou, who understood what she was saying, were speechless.

Everyone was shocked!

Mo Jingchun remained composed. "Welcome to Sifang County! From this day forward, you are citizens of Sifang County. I hope that under the leadership of the Goddess, you will create a beautiful new home!"

Everyone stared at her in silence.

Mo Jingchun's smile remained unchanged. "A few months ago, there was a flood in your Chaozhou. The Goddess rescued thousands of people from the flood, and they all live in Taoxi County of Anling Prefecture now. If any of your family members or friends are among them, and you wish to live in Taoxi County, we will allow that."

Everyone's expression changed, and their gazes towards her were filled with disbelief.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Chi Xi, Zhong Mingqi, and several military officers under Luo Boyuan were invited into the reception room of the prefectural government by Mo Jingchun and others.

The legendary goddess sat in the only chair in the very center, her expressionless face meeting their gaze.

She seemed somewhat different from others, exuding an aura of mystery and danger.

But to say she's a goddess...

Chi Xi and the others had some doubts.

He Qinglan didn't care.

She calmly said, "Those with relatives or friends in Taoxi County, Anling Prefecture, can settle in Taoxi County, but we will not be responsible for escorting them."

"Those who remain in Sifang County must obey Mo Jingchun's orders and abide by the laws of Sifang County. Those who violate these rules will be dealt with by the Ministry of Justice."

"Sifang County is currently engaged in land reclamation and road construction, which requires a large amount of labor. The people of Sifang County must participate in the construction."

"The Executive Office will take care of orphans and elderly people without children."

"Children who are five years old or older, regardless of gender, will all be sent to the Half Hill Academy (under construction) to study after the spring."

"Workshops, administrative offices, academies, city guards, and military camps are all recruiting. Whether you are a commoner or not, everyone can choose the place they think is suitable to apply based on their own abilities."

"However, there's something I need to make clear to you beforehand. I don't care what position you held with Luo Boyuan before, but here you'll all start from scratch. Of course, if you do well, you can be promoted."

After the goddess finished speaking, her cool gaze swept over everyone, and she asked indifferently, "Any more questions?"

Zhong Mingqi spoke first, somewhat impatiently, "You...the mysterious woman the people were talking about during the flood, the one who brought...their families away from the water, is that you?"

As he said this, his eyes were fixed on He Qinglan, without blinking.

He Qinglan nodded. "It was me. They should have died in the flood, but I brought them back to Anling."

A military officer had a sudden thought, and asked in a trembling voice, "You saved the people of Chaozhou City, but... a year ago, the people of a certain city in a certain prefecture were massacred..."

Zhong Mingqi stared wide-eyed at his former colleague in shock: You think...

But looking into the other person's red eyes, filled with expectation, he couldn't bear it and turned his face away.

Chi Xi and the others also knew that their former colleague's family lived in that city. A year ago, the city was captured by the refugee army, and the entire population was massacred. Upon hearing the news, the former colleague couldn't sleep for nights on end.

Seeing him ask the "goddess" this question, they felt both saddened and sorrowful for him; how could such a good person exist...?

But then the female prefect said, "Before massacring the city, the goddess led all the people of the city back to Anling."

Military general: "..."

Everyone: "!!!"

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck from the sky, leaving them unsure whether it was day or night.

The military officer knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly to He Qinglan, crying, "Thank you so much! My family lives in that city, thank you for saving them!"

Mo Jingchun suddenly realized this and hurriedly said to Chi Xi and the others, "Two years ago, in the summer, the goddess came to Yunhe County in Anling Prefecture. Since then, all the people in the city who were about to be massacred have been saved by the goddess, and they are currently living in Anling Prefecture."

Seeing the burning gazes, Mo Jingchun quickly explained, "But to find out exactly who lives where, we need to check the list at the Civil Affairs Department of Anling County. It's quite troublesome to check, and we won't get the results in a short time."

Tang Ya from the Secretariat suggested, "We can discuss with Minister Gu about publishing a missing person notice in the Anling County newspaper."

She said, "There are many people in Chaozhou City, and the goddess has saved many people, but apart from Taoxi County, there probably aren't many who happen to have relatives or friends there. I think we can find our relatives through a missing person notice."

Yun Youning thought it was highly feasible. "I think it's a good idea. Let's arrange for everyone to stay in Sifang County and assign them houses."

"If they find relatives or friends in the future and want to move to Anling County, or have their relatives or friends move to Sifang County, the civil affairs departments of our two counties can coordinate."

After speaking, Yun Youning turned to Mo Jingchun, "What do you think, Prefect?"

Mo Jingchun had no objection.

"Let's release the news in a little while."

This was a huge surprise for Chi Hee and the others: even if they didn't have any relatives among them, they would still be happy to know that other people's family members and friends who were supposed to be dead were still alive!

How fortunate they are to be blessed by the goddess!

The second question was raised by Chi Xi.

He glanced at He Qinglan, then at the staff of the Sifang County Administrative Office, ranging in age from twenty to sixty, both male and female.

He asked in a deep voice, "You mean that the academies in Sifang County allow both boys and girls to study there?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Shanxing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, who has a fourteen-year-old sister and a three-year-old daughter at home, subconsciously revealed a slight aggressiveness. He asked Chi Xi, "Does Your Excellency have any objections?"

Unexpectedly, Chi Xi said, "I have no objection, I just want to confirm."

Lu Yi, the prospective dean of Banshan Academy, said, "It's true. All the academies in Anling County admit both boys and girls. Our academies in Sifang County will do the same, admitting eligible students from Sifang County, regardless of gender."

He paused, then smiled and said, "Sifang County will also implement the fine traditions of Anling County, where all adults will attend night school to learn some simple characters and arithmetic."

Adults are going to night school?!

No, what exactly is going on with Sifang County and Anling County?

Chi Xi's face was blank.

One of the military officers stammered, "If I were to join the army..."

Mo Jingchun smiled, "The military also offers cultural and theoretical courses."

The general's pupils trembled.

Lu Yi explained righteously, "As soldiers, if we can't read, how can we even understand a map? Moreover, offering cultural and theoretical courses is also to improve everyone's comprehension and communication skills, so that everyone can fight better."

The military commanders: "..." What do you mean by "making everyone better able to fight battles"?

In short, Sifang County is a magical place.

After leaving the county government, Chi Xi and the others saw a square under construction. People were either transplanting evergreen plants into flower beds, laying blue bricks on the ground, or transporting a stone sculpture of a white dragon to the center of the square...

They worked with great enthusiasm, not at all like they were being forced.

Further ahead is the Banshan Academy, which is under construction.

Several teaching buildings were constructed simultaneously, and gardens and playgrounds were also planned.

Some people argued excitedly, "I think we should build a small pond here and plant some lotus flowers."

Those who objected chuckled, "So the kids can go swimming, right?"

Someone loudly suggested, "Raise the wall to prevent people from climbing over it!"

Another person said, "I think instead of raising the wall, we should stick some sharpened bamboo strips into the wall."

On the streets that have been paved with blue bricks, men and women are sweeping with brooms.

Children are playing games happily.

There were also old men and women chasing after young and middle-aged people with wooden sticks, shouting in a loud voice, "I told you not to litter!" "You dare to urinate in the street! Just wait, I'll drag you to the city guard!"

...

This place is teeming with life that no one has ever seen before.

As Zhong Mingqi looked at it, he couldn't help but laugh. "I'm actually looking forward to life here."

An advisor asked him, "Sir, do you intend to go to the government office or the military camp?"

Zhong Mingqi smiled slightly, "Would I have a second answer?"

He was a disciple of the School of Diplomacy, and he was about to meet his fellow disciples on the battlefield.

Unexpectedly, it was Chi Xi.

"I want to enter Banshan Academy," said Luo Boyuan's most trusted strategist.

The strategists and generals all looked at Chi Xi, unable to understand his decision.

"Zhongming isn't going to the military camp?"

"Their administrative office has just been established and there is a lot to do. If you go in now, you will probably be promoted very quickly."

"Does Zhongming have no interest in becoming an official?"

Chi Xi turned to the side and looked at the Banshan Academy (under construction) next to her, her eyes glistening with tears.

He smiled and said, "My initial dream was to have students all over the world."

He preferred to be a teacher rather than an official.

If he does well, he might even become the headmaster of the academy in the future.

Military camp.

Fang Qin spread out a map, pointed to the border between Sifang County and Yuanxi County, and said to the generals present, "We will send troops to attack Yuanxi County in three months."

He explained, “Firstly, we can use the battle to keep Yuanxi County’s troops tied up in their own territory, preventing them from sending troops to invade our territory and disturb our people’s production.”

"Secondly, it can also deter the surrounding counties and prefectures, so that they dare not arbitrarily invade our territory, and we can even talk about cooperation when necessary."

One general asked, "Is it possible for us to do this at this stage?"

Fang Qin replied, "Everyone has rested enough, and the new recruits have trained enough to go to the battlefield."

Another general said, "Aren't we about to recruit new soldiers again?"

Fang Qin said, "New recruits need some training to be able to go to the battlefield or be stationed in the four counties. Real combat is the best way to hone one's skills."

Ning Huai'an said, "We must conquer more territory as quickly as possible to expand our power, in order to prevent the governor of Jinzhou from cooperating with the governors of other states to launch a pincer attack on us in the future."

"It's settled."

He looked sharply at his subordinates and said in a deep voice, "Next, let's discuss the preparations we need to make."

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Author's Note: I've been quite busy with work lately. My new company just started, and there's just too much to do, so I haven't been able to update daily.

I will try my best to update according to the list.