Chapter 885: A Handsome Man Delivered to My Door (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Bei Qiu seemed to resign herself to her fate and confessed everything.

In her childhood, she followed her teacher and mingled in the lower classes. The people she and her teacher interacted with were all ordinary people from all walks of life. Not to mention someone like Shen Tang who stood at the pinnacle of power, even the gatekeeper who guarded the local landlord was someone she dared not easily provoke.

I've heard that the powerful and wealthy hate people who betray their own people the most.

Bei Qiu prided herself on not having trespassed, but she had been leading others to profit from the situation—not only had she not contributed much to Shen Jun, but she had also taken advantage of him, studying his painstakingly crafted work, stealing the sacred text *Tiangong Kaiwu*, and even "bringing her family" to live off the government's rations without prior notice. If she were Shen Jun, she would surely hate such a despicable person to the extreme.

The more Bei Qiu thought about it, the more frightened and saddened she became.

He bowed down and confessed his guilt before Shen Tang could speak.

Close your eyes and await the final verdict.

The people present: "..."

“I beg your forgiveness, my lord. She was poor when she was young and only survived because of the support of her fellow Mohists.”

Although Yun Ce knew that Shen Tang wouldn't blame Bei Qiu for such a trivial matter, he still stepped forward to plead for him and give his lord a way out—after all, Bei Qiu's matter could be considered a big deal or a small one. On the one hand, it could be considered favoritism, and on the other hand, it was just providing jobs for a few Mohists. These Mohists were selected by Liao Jia to come and provide support, so their skills must be qualified, and it wasn't considered drawing a salary without working.

However, the negative impact is ultimately unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The lord may not intend to punish the Northern Crows, but he must maintain a certain stance externally.

Yun Ce pleaded for her life, and she took the opportunity to handle the matter gently.

“…Zhoukou was favored by our lord, so I thought of helping my benefactor. Although I had selfish motives, I had no ill intentions. In the end, it was because she was sincere and grateful…I hope our lord will be lenient and punish her lightly.” After saying this, Yun Ce received a grateful look from Bei Qiu.

Yun Yuanmou is so loyal; this friendship with him was truly worthwhile!

Shen Tang saw through Yun Ce's plan at a glance and couldn't help but find it amusing, but she went along with it: "...Yuan Mou has always been aloof. Since he has already pleaded for you, I can't refuse him. So let's not do it again. However, I will have to give the Mohist disciples recommended by Bei Qiu a good test. I never keep idle people or incompetent people under my command!"

Bei Qiu had no idea about the banter and teasing between the people present, and genuinely believed that Yun Ce's plea had worked.

The tension in his heart eased slightly, and he firmly memorized Shen Tang's words. As for the "assessment" Shen Tang mentioned, he wasn't worried at all. The Mohists were no ordinary craftsmen; their skills were absolutely top-notch, and true gold fears no fire!

"Thank you, my lord!"

Looking at Bei Qiu's face, which was filled with gratitude, Shen Tang nodded solemnly: "You are the first Mohist in the world who can cultivate. Don't waste this extraordinary opportunity. Cultivate well and strive to become a future Mohist master, so as to bring glory to your sect!"

Bei Qiu suppressed her excitement: "I definitely will!"

Shen Tang used the excuse of sending Bei Qiu to visit the Mohists who had inexplicably fallen into a coma to remark, "The little girl is so innocent."

Bei Qiu seemed completely unaware of how astonishing it was that she, as a woman, could cultivate. Without this element, it always felt like something was missing, and there was no excitement to watch.

Yun Ce coughed lightly: "Zhoukou has always been like this."

Bei Qiu is only shrewd when it comes to things related to the Mohists; he seems clueless about everything else, and he's completely helpless against shrewd old foxes. Shen Tang simply watched Yun Ce silently, but the usually aloof and icy young man seemed guilty as he avoided Shen Tang's gaze: "Is there something wrong with Ce's face?"

"I'm just surprised that Yuanmou talked so much today."

In Shen Tang's view, Yun Ce was different from other military generals. Compared to his identity as a military general, he was more like a martial artist. His desire for strength far outweighed his desire for military power and fame. Although he was the senior brother, he often acted as the deputy to his junior brother Xianyu Jian. Whether it was recruiting soldiers, settling farms, or training troops, for Yun Ce, it was all Shen Tang's order, and he was simply following orders.

If he has no official business to attend to, he can meditate all day long.

If it's a morning meeting, he'll simply be a pleasing backdrop. While other military officers are arguing fiercely over the quarterly pay distribution, he'll remain slow and unhurried. As long as others haven't taken his share, he won't bother to actively fight for it.

Today, he actually took the initiative to plead for Bei Qiu.

It's like the sun has risen in the west.

Of course, Shen Tang didn't think too much about it.

Yun Ce was indeed handsome, but in a way that calmed people down. One glance revealed his detached, almost ethereal nature. She simply assumed he was helping out of consideration for his past friendship with Bei Qiu. Asking for help wouldn't have wasted much breath.

Yun Ce said without blinking, "Zhou Kou and I met in obscurity, but our friendship is extraordinary. Even if our lord is magnanimous and won't be harsh on her, wouldn't it be chilling for people to stand by and watch coldly?"

Shen Tang was convinced by Yun Ce's reasoning.

"Yes, that's true."

If Yun Ce were to remain indifferent to his friend's predicament and only know how to protect himself, then this would not be the Yun Ce she knew.

Liao Jia blinked frantically as he listened to their conversation.

My heart was filled with speechlessness and astonishment.

Isn't the Lord even more cunning than the old fox?

Why do they act like they're blind when it comes to this?

He couldn't help but glance at Chu Yao, who seemed unfazed and even gave Liao Jia a look to keep quiet—a clueless lord is always endearing. One should do what one is meant to do at each age; not making the most of one's youth to build a career is a waste of time!

Liao Jia: "..."

He hesitated, then realized that Chu Yao's words made sense!

"Alas, lust is a double-edged sword, and a stumbling block on the road to success." Liao Jia imagined his lord with a charming male concubine on his left and a beautiful woman on his right, spending his days in debauchery. It was a nightmare!

Shaking his head like a rattle drum, he extinguished the terrible thought.

"You can't say that. You can have your cake and eat it too." A familiar voice reached his ears, and Liao Jia turned his head to see his lord's face looming in front of him. He was so startled that he leaned back. Shen Tang frowned, "Shao Mei was distracted just now. Did she do something bad?"

For example, they persecuted her, their lord.

But she checked and found that she hadn't lost anything.

Furthermore, Liao Jia had written her a letter half a year ago, saying that he had found a clue to further refine the Way of the Scholar, and now that he was using the Way of the Scholar again, he shouldn't be able to take her money again. Shen Tang was very gratified by this, especially since Liao Jia had been in the rear and hadn't had the opportunity to use the Way of the Scholar. It was a relief that Shen Tang hadn't lost anything during all these days of fighting.

Liao Jia forced a smile and said, "No, no."

"So you want me to be your matchmaker?" Otherwise, why would he suddenly mutter "lust is a knife above one's head" for no reason?

Shen Tang suddenly became interested, her eyes shining so brightly that Liao Jia was afraid: "Speaking of which, Shao Mei is of marriageable age, it's normal for her to settle down and start a family. I'm just not Abbess Miejue, I won't stop my subordinates from pursuing happiness, and Shao Mei shouldn't neglect her own life for my career. Come, come, tell me which lady you've taken a fancy to? If she's interested in you too, I'll step in and help you get together, I'll definitely make you the first subordinate I've ever worked so hard to get out of being single, I mean it!"

Liao Jia: "...But Jia didn't..."

He could tell that his lord was serious.

Their approach to pressuring someone to get married was more professional than that of parents.

Shen Tang interrupted his explanation: "Don't be shy! Your lord doesn't mind the trouble at all, you just need to admit it!"

If even one person finds a partner, it will dispel the rumors.

Liao Jia said solemnly, "No!"

Then I saw the obvious disappointment on my lord's face.

She also lamented, "You all never settle down, and as your lord, I'm very worried. There's no one left to harvest the next generation of leeks (a metaphor for being exploited)."

With the birth rate of her trusted confidants at zero over the years, Shen Tang worried that if this continued, more scandalous rumors would surface in front of her.

Liao Jia: "..."

He had no choice but to bite the bullet and change the subject.

"Does my lord also wish to go and see those Mohists?"

Shen Tang headed in the same direction as Liao Jia, who was going to visit a group of craftsmen he had brought. Most of these craftsmen had participated in the reconstruction of Longwu County and Sibao County, and a few were veterans from the He Yin era. They were all skilled workers with rich experience in urban construction, not to mention that there were even Mohists among them who could cultivate, and who knew how they would affect the future situation.

If we could learn their secrets in advance...

This will allow us to be one step ahead in the future.

Shen Tang fell for it as expected: "Mm."

She went to make connections and win people over.

There were a total of twenty-one unconscious Mohists, but only five were male; the rest were female Mohists. They were placed in different tents. Inside each tent, besides the unconscious Mohists, there were also several ordinary Mohists. Shen Tang was not surprised by this.

On the way here, Liao Jia had already informed her.

Bei Qiu brought in fifty-five Mohists in one go!

Yes, Bei Qiu thought he was being cautious, but in reality, everything was being done right under his and Qi Shan's noses. They knew perfectly well which of the recruited craftsmen were ordinary artisans and which were Mohists who had infiltrated the ranks. Only Bei Qiu was unaware of this and remained trembling with fear.

These Mohists were indeed more skilled than ordinary craftsmen.

In some ways, they are more like ascetics among craftsmen.

For various reasons, nine out of ten members of the Mohist school are women. In this chaotic world where only men can unite their literary and martial spirits, manipulate the winds and clouds, and wield absolute power, the Mohist school's principles of universal love, non-aggression, frugality, belief in ghosts, and the will of Heaven serve as a beacon of light in the spiritual world of the poorest women at the bottom of society, allowing them to survive with a glimmer of hope.

When Shen Tang arrived, everyone felt extremely awkward.

Suddenly, I had a feeling of a wolf infiltrating a flock of sheep.

Shen Tang coughed lightly, offering a few words of comfort and reassurance. Seeing that everyone was still hesitant, she turned to instruct Bei Qiu, sat for a short while, and then left with Liao Jia. The two had barely taken a few steps when they heard a flurry of activity erupt in the quiet tent. People were chattering amongst themselves, their comments revolving around phrases like, "So this is what Lord Shen looks like," and "Not as terrifying as the rumors say..."

Then they continued to press Bei Qiu with questions.

Bei Qiu revealed "non-aggression," and everyone exclaimed in surprise.

Bei Qiu then revealed "universal love," which elicited another round of gasps.

Shen Tang chuckled and said, "You're quite lively."

"After all, this is the first time I've seen my lord. What ordinary person wouldn't be afraid?" No matter how kind and approachable my lord is, it's still in comparison to other feudal lords. To the common people who live at the bottom of society, most feudal lords are the same—their hands are stained with blood.

Dealing with feudal lords is a recipe for disaster; one wrong move and your whole family is wiped out.

It's impossible not to feel cramped.

Shen Tang sighed: "Time will tell."

Only time will tell if she's a good boss.

Shen Tang considers himself a good boss.

The most typical example is the powerful families who had previously offended her. After she gave them a warning, they reached a pleasant cooperation agreement, and she never tried to sabotage them again. Occasional disagreements were resolved amicably, but she never expected the powerful families to hold a grudge!

"Sigh, I don't know how the First Emperor managed to do that..."

She thought her orders were clear and the standards were uniform, and everyone just needed to cooperate. However, the actual implementation was fraught with difficulties. Even when Qin Li presented maps of the entire territory, local powerful families still caused trouble. It wasn't that they weren't cooperating; they were cooperating very diligently, but they would frequently write to Shen Tang to ask questions.

For example, when Shen Tang stipulates the size of one mu of land, they will ask whether two fields with different elevations can be combined for calculation. They will also ask how many fen (a unit of land measurement) a good field in a certain area is short of one mu, and whether to transfer it from other good fields to make up the difference, or directly transfer it from an adjacent inferior field. Can one mu of land be half good field and half inferior field?

The surveying stage was already this complicated, and the allocation of land for rent was even more problematic. The aristocratic families would submit their family members' lists, inquire whether adopted members could be allocated land, whether married women who had not been transferred from the household registration could be allocated land, whether clan members who were still within the five degrees of kinship but did not live locally could be allocated land, whether widows in the clan could be allocated land, and whether women who had married into the family but remarried could be allocated land...

Shen Tang: "..."

The key point is that this kind of question isn't asked just once.

They changed the subject and continued asking the question!

It wasn't just one company asking; it was several!

Shen Tang could easily understand the complex interpersonal relationships and entanglements between various families just by reading these documents. Even after Shen Tang gave a reply, she would ask similar questions again a couple of days later.

This made Shen Tang suspect that they were doing it on purpose.

He was deliberately retaliating against her previous criticism.

But to say it was intentional...

The head of the household looked completely innocent, as if he wanted to take notes.

Shen Tang: "..."

She was able to remain calm at first.

After a while, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

A long-absent roar erupted from the tent: "Is this on purpose? They're doing this on purpose, aren't they? They're even arguing with me about how to fill out the recruitment resume. What's your surname, your given name, what's your first name? Are these things so hard to fill out? They even asked me where to put my nickname, what to do if I changed my name, how to fill in my kinship, and they even asked me whether to write my legal mother, stepmother, or biological mother in the mother section! Should they write down all the women in their father's backyard? Look—there's this little idiot who actually asked how to fill in the father section, whether to write my biological father or stepfather. His mother remarried four times. What does it matter to me how many times his mother remarried?"

This is just the father and mother.

There are also those who don't know how to fill in their age.

Because different regions use the traditional Chinese age system (虚岁) and the actual age system (实岁), and some people even falsify their age under the guidance of masters due to issues with their birth charts (八字), how should this situation be filled out...?

As for place of origin, there are quite a few issues as well.

Should I fill in my birthplace, my ancestral home, or even all of them? As for my education, areas of expertise, and self-introduction… these are the worst areas! So bad that Shen Tang is considering giving up on resume-based recruitment altogether!

|ω`)

(End of this chapter)