Chapter 393: The Ten Crows' Calamity (Part 3) [Requesting Double Monthly Tickets]

Although the envoy [Zixu] gave Shen Tang some buffer time, it was limited, as there were simply too many things to clean up.

The news was not deliberately concealed, and within two days it spread throughout the entire Heyin region, causing sorrow among the common people.

In the two years since Shen Tang took over as the governor of Heyin, they have lived a peaceful and prosperous life, and the gloom of the past seems to have faded away.

But this doesn't mean they've forgotten. They've simply buried those unbearable memories deep within, only occasionally dredging them up to relive them, mostly to express their gratitude for their good fortune in having encountered a good prefect, finally bringing them relief from their suffering...

But these good days were too short!

It was far too short! Many elderly commoners even ran to the gate of the government office and wept bitterly, nearly fainting!

The younger ones, without exception, cursed the royal court and the messenger who made the decision behind their backs.

But no matter how much people criticize, the facts are already set in stone.

The officials were filled with anxiety.

On the third day, Shen Tang held a meeting.

However, the content of the meeting was different from what they had expected.

"You have all heard about what happened a few days ago, but as long as I have not resigned from my post as the Prefect of He, I will remain the Prefect of He. I hope that during this time, you will all stay at your posts and perform your duties, and not be careless."

The officials exchanged bewildered glances.

They have been tossing and turning these past few days.

I'm very worried.

What's there to worry about?

She was debating whether or not to go with Shen Tang.

Logically speaking, Lord Shen treated them and He Yin well. If it weren't for Lord Shen's ruthless intervention, He Yin would still be a barren and impoverished land, a breeding ground for bandits, and they would never have the prosperous and happy life they enjoy today...

It was the right thing for them to do was to leave with Shen Jun.

but--

They are all natives of Heyin, who have lived here for generations. They have parents, wives and children, and even their ancestral property and graves are here. How can they just leave?

Even if they could walk, could their relatives endure the long journey?

Even if they could endure it, Longwu County was a place where there was always the danger of being robbed by the Ten Black Horse Bandits. How could they bear to watch their loved ones, who had only been living peacefully for less than two years, be in danger? Torn between loyalty to the country and filial piety, they were tormented, worried that Shen Jun would ask them if they were willing to go with him, and also afraid that if Shen Jun left, they would be left without a leader.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but what Shen Tang said next was completely different from what they had expected. The current focus was still on the upcoming autumn harvest, packing up belongings, taking stock of the personnel, and making arrangements for the aftermath.

Shen Tang was serious about handling the aftermath.

The first priority is to reclaim all the "slips".

When Shen Tang was still the governor of He County, she could strictly control the process, and the common people were willing to exchange "strips" for goods because it was backed by the government and Shen Tang's reputation. As for Xu Jie, who was about to take over, Shen Tang did not distrust him and believed that he was not a reckless person, but Xu Jie's trustworthiness did not mean that everyone around him was trustworthy.

To avoid any potential problems, she would give advance notice, allowing commoners with "strips" to come to the government office to exchange them for corresponding goods.

As for the "notes" held by merchants from outside the region, there are account books to record them, and Xu Jie can help them cash them out later.

The Fugu Department Store can be handed over to Xu Jie to continue operating, and this model is quite useful for He Yin at present.

Ordinary people have also become accustomed to this way of shopping.

Other matters, such as reservoir and river maintenance, the arrangement of officials, and the management of farmland within the jurisdiction of the River Governor, were all meticulously documented by Shen Tang in writing. Any other businesses that could be monetized were sold off as quickly as possible to convert them into grain and fodder.

The morning meeting lasted for an hour.

The subordinates, who looked somewhat haggard, spoke one by one.

Finally, it's nearing its end.

One of the officials couldn't sit still any longer.

He stammered, "Shen Jun—"

His eyes seemed to want to say something, but he hesitated.

Shen Tang immediately guessed what he was thinking and smiled lightly, "I also have a plan for you all."

The officials perked up and listened intently.

Feeling anxious and nervous, I swallowed involuntarily.

But then Shen Tang said, "I recommend a new governor of the River Prefecture to the envoy. This man is quite familiar with you all; he is Xu Jie, the head of the Xu family of Tianhai. Given his literary talent and temperament, he will surely be able to work well with you all. The governorship of the River Prefecture will be entrusted to you."

The officials were immediately dumbfounded.

What Mr. Shen meant by that...

So they're planning not to take any of them?

"Jun Shen!"

Shen Tang didn't wait for them to say anything.

With a moving expression, he sighed, "The journey of the River Governor over the past two years has been fraught with difficulties, each step heavy and slow. The hardships endured are beyond the comprehension of outsiders. You have all witnessed its gradual transformation into its current prosperous state... In this world, it is extremely difficult for ordinary people to find a place to settle down. You understand the River Governor, and I believe that as long as you are dedicated to serving the people, stability is assured. I hope that in the future, you can work together with Wenzhu to protect it. Perhaps next year, we will have the opportunity to share a drink and celebrate together..."

Shen Tang had discussed with Qi Shan and others in detail over the past few days whether or not to take these officials with them.

The conclusion is not to take it.

Firstly, the river lord needs them.

Secondly, the situation in Longwu County is unclear, so their presence there wouldn't be of much use, and Shen Tang already has enough manpower.

Thirdly, leaving one's hometown voluntarily and being forced to leave one's hometown are two completely different experiences, and Shen Tang disdains to force anyone.

Let's part ways amicably.

Officials inside the hall were already shedding tears.

Given the special circumstances, Shen Tang was too lazy to hide anything any longer and directly recruited soldiers on the spot, making such a commotion that it alarmed the neighbors next door.

When they heard what had happened, they were all speechless. Apart from lamenting Shen Tang's bad luck and Zheng Qiao's cunning, they showed no sign of wariness and even generously provided some supplies.

Among them, Wu Xian of Tianhai was the most generous.

Firstly, since Shen Tang is going to that wretched place, Longwu County, if he doesn't bring more troops, he'll just be sending his own people to their deaths. They were worried that Shen Tang wouldn't be able to recruit enough troops.

Secondly, once Shen Tang leaves He Yin, he will no longer be a threat.

It's really unseemly to be petty and narrow-minded at a time like this.

Their destination in Heyin County also became a major concern.

only--

Wu Xian spat out a mouthful of tea: "Who are you talking about?"

Whom did his younger brother recommend?

"...Yes, text annotation."

"Brother Shen recommended Wen Zhu..." Wu Xian froze, unable to react for a long time. "He...Brother Shen..."

At this moment, Wu Xian had only one thought—

Shen Di's love for him is truly profound!

Even Wu Xian wouldn't dare say that he would hand over Tianhai County to a "close friend" he had only met a few times, since he had worked hard to build up his wealth over two years.

It took two years and seven or eight hundred days and nights of hard work to achieve this!

He knew the current situation of He Yin all too well. It could barely be considered a prosperous and peaceful place. He just gave it away like that... Why didn't Shen Tang recommend his subordinates to be the governors of He Yin?

Whether Wang Ting agrees or not remains to be seen, but this action...

Wu Xian couldn't think of a second word besides "true love".

Even close relatives might not be this generous and selfless; they would be secretive and suspicious of their own children. So what difference is there between Shen Tang recommending Xu Jie, who was under his command, and handing over the governorship of He to Wu Xian?

Previously, he was more wary than trusting.

At that moment, all doubts collapsed.

"...Where's the annotation?" Wu Xian hurriedly asked about Xu Jie's whereabouts. Xu Jie was always traveling and it was common for him to be out of sight.

The messenger said, "...I have received the message and am on my way to He Yin. He says that Lord Shen has something to hand over to him..."

Wu Xian pursed his lips, and all his subordinates remained silent.

Even Qin Li, Qi Shan's number one hater, fell silent.

He began to believe—

Shen Jun's actions moved Qi Shan, who was plotting evil.

"Alas... I am not as good as my younger brother Shen..."

Wu Xian sighed, his eyes slightly red.

Despite the somewhat disruptive atmosphere, Qin Li still had to ask, "What does my lord intend to do with General Zhao?"

Wu Xian: "..."

This is a real problem.

Logically speaking, within two years, Zhao Feng fulfilled his promise without any compromise—helping Shen Tang gain a foothold in He Yin, which could be considered repaying the debt of saving his life.

But at this critical juncture, even the thick-skinned Wu Xian couldn't bring himself to recall Zhao Feng. The man was willing to hand over the River Governorship, which he had painstakingly built up, while Wu Xian, with his petty mind, suspected Zhao Feng's ulterior motives…

It cannot be fully described by the four words "kicking someone when they're down".

Given Zhao Feng's temperament, he wouldn't agree to come back.

Wu Xian's head was throbbing with pain again.

"...Let Da Yi decide this matter himself."

He chose to pass the buck back, and then added, "Gong Su, carrying my order, dispatched 10,000 shi of grain to the River Governor, which can be considered as my elder brother seeing off my younger brother Shen. I hope that on your journey to Longxi, you will truly soar like a dragon entering the sea, rising like a dragon among the clouds..."

"only."

Shen Tang has accumulated a considerable fortune over the past two years.

The slogan for recruiting soldiers was just two words.

[Full capacity!]

In these chaotic times, those two words were more alluring than gold. Many young men and swordsmen from neighboring counties rushed over upon hearing the news, and within just half a month, five thousand men were recruited.

This is even with thresholds set.

If there were no entry requirements, one could easily earn 30,000 to 50,000 yuan.

During this time, Shen Tang also did a small thing.

They secretly ordered their men to conceal their identities and search for girls and young women with potential in remote, chaotic areas.

Last year, the refugee crisis caused chaos and poor harvests in various places, forcing countless ordinary people to leave their homes, with many freezing and starving to death along the way.

Human life is as cheap as grass.

In just over a month, they had recruited nearly a thousand people.

These people will naturally be handed over to Bai Su. Bai Su had already begun preparing to form a women's team, but she had done so very quietly, all behind closed doors, and at most only a hundred people had joined. If they were to go to Longwu County, that would also have to be put on the agenda.

Shen Tang has been extremely busy lately.

Xu Jie only breathed a sigh of relief when he arrived at He Yin.

"The annotations are back."

Having not slept for several days, Shen Tang's face was pale, her lips as white as her complexion, and her eyes had faint dark circles. Xu Jie, unusually, did not tease her about her overly familiar manner, but simply nodded in response: "Yes, I'm back."

"Was the journey tiring?"

Xu Jie said, "It wasn't hard work at all; everything went smoothly."

"Sigh, as long as everything goes smoothly..."

Xu Jie sat down at Shen Tang's suggestion.

Shen Tang asked, "Wen Zhu should have received the letter by now, right?"

Xu Jie: "Received."

"Do you have any thoughts on this matter?"

Xu Jie said, "This is too unfair to Shen Jun."

Shen Tang laughed nonchalantly: "Whether it's fair or not, I haven't thought that much about it. Longwu County does need a reliable leader. The king transferred me there, which I suppose is an acknowledgment of my achievements over the past two years. If I can defend Longwu County well, deter the Ten Crows and prevent them from daring to invade Longwu again, thus saving innocent civilians from slaughter, then it doesn't matter where I am..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jie was greatly shocked. After a long while, he said with a choked voice, "Shen Jun's character... Jie is ashamed!"

"As for the matter of the River Governor... it was wrong of me to pass on this burden of the River Governor to you without consulting your opinion... but I really can't think of another person I can fully trust for the time being..." Shen Tang rambled on as if chatting about everyday matters.

Xu Jie lowered his head: "Jie, I'm afraid I'll let Lord Shen down."

Shen Tang sincerely said, "It's not that I haven't considered the others under Brother Zhaode's command, but... firstly, I haven't had much contact with them and don't know their character, so I'm hesitant to entrust them with such matters; secondly, most of the others come from powerful and influential families, with high social standing and naturally complex relationships. They were born into privilege, so how could they possibly be willing to immerse themselves in understanding the lives of ordinary people? They might not be able to wholeheartedly care for the common people of Heyin, and I'm afraid they'll become victims in the power struggles. On the other hand, the Xu family of Tianhai has simpler clan relationships and has been in business for generations, dealing more with the common people. Wen Zhu, in particular, is constantly traveling, so he's likely more empathetic to the needs of the common people..."

Xu Jie remained silent for a long time, until the steam from the tea on the table dissipated and it cooled to lukewarm. Only then did he become slightly red-rimmed and, for once, show a rare moment of sentimentality: "The Xu family started as merchants and has always been criticized. Today, Lord Shen does not regard the Xu family's humble origins and is willing to entrust us with his complete trust. I, Jie, swear on my heart that I will do my utmost to protect the River Governor for the rest of my life and will not let Lord Shen down..."

Shen Tang also said emotionally, "Very well, very well, in that case, I can rest assured when I am in Longwu County in the future!"

After a heart-to-heart talk, their relationship naturally improved considerably.

Shen Tang led Xu Jie to a place.

She meticulously organized all the trivial matters concerning the River Magistrate, detailing which officials were usable, which could be transferred, and which could be replaced. Only then did Xu Jie truly understand what kind of River Magistrate Shen Tang had left behind.

A wealthy...

Every household has enough grain for two years...

The number of registered residents has tripled or quadrupled in two years...

Heyin County!

If things continue this way, in at most another year they'll rise to become a formidable force among the four, even giving Tianhai a headache. While their military strength is still insufficient, they've already accumulated enough resources…

Even if it's inconvenient to take action against the other three, they can still expand outwards... Of course, it's possible that the neighbors might feel threatened and retaliate. But regardless, to hand over such a favorable situation so easily—what magnanimity!

Shen Tang was still rambling on about this year's autumn harvest.

"Judging from the condition of the fields, this year should be a bumper harvest. I plan to take some of the land tax with me after collecting it, and leave the rest to ensure the normal operation of the government office. Wenzhu, you don't need to worry about this..."

Xu Jie sighed inwardly.

"It is up to Mr. Shen to decide everything."

Shen Tang smiled faintly: "That won't do. You will be the future governor of Heyin County. We need your permission first. Otherwise, it would be seen as overstepping our bounds, which would be detrimental to your control of Heyin County. You can't be so casual in the future... or people will look down on you."

Xu Jie remained silent.

It gave me a long-lost feeling of being cared for by my elders.

The person in front of him, Shen Jun, was much younger than him.

The two talked for a long time, mostly about the future development and arrangements of the River Governor. Shen Tang and his subordinates had clearly planned out every step the River Governor would take in the next ten years, and Xu Jie only needed to copy the plan to get a high score.

He listened attentively.

It wasn't until the servants came in to light the lamps that they realized it was already dark.

By the dim candlelight, Xu Jie gazed at the dashing young man, now taking on the appearance of an adult, shrouded in shadow. A complex mix of emotions welled within him: "The journey to Longwu is long; we'll need strong and courageous martial artists to protect us—"

"If Lord Shen does not mind, I will recommend someone."

─=≡Σ(((つω)つ

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(End of this chapter)