Chapter 145 Fengxian Construction, Subduing Subordinates...

Several walls of the county government office collapsed. Zhang Ting led the county magistrate to inspect the area and found that the original pillars were no longer sturdy. Well, given the current state, it would be faster to rebuild than to repair them.

She was a decisive person, and immediately summoned several county officials to discuss the matter. Fortunately, everyone was busy at the foot of the mountain during the day, so it was convenient to call them over.

The mud has just been removed, and the house is still under repair. A few people gathered under the shade of a tree.

The county magistrate and the county registrar arrived in a hurry. After greeting Zhang Ting, the four of them stared at each other in disbelief, only to find that there wasn't even a table and chairs for discussing state affairs.

County Magistrate Gu Qing's face changed, filled with regret. She had been engrossed in discussing government affairs with the magistrate and hadn't even noticed that the magistrate didn't have a place to stay.

How can we let adults just stand there!

"I have not thought this through, sir. Please wait a moment, I will have someone bring some chairs."

At the same time, County Lieutenant Zheng Mengchang and County Registrar Lu Mingqiu felt extremely guilty and said, "We came in a hurry and have neglected you, sir. We will go find some chairs and stools right away!"

Why waste time? It's almost noon, and Zhang Ting just wants to finish the arrangements quickly; her husband and children are waiting for her to come home for lunch.

They stood under a huge banyan tree, with a gentle breeze blowing from time to time. Zhang Ting called the three of them back, "Come back! Aren't you all hot in this weather?" The banyan tree roots were thick, and she sat down with a thud, "You sit down too."

The three men's eyes welled up with tears, deeply moved. Their leader was clearly a towering figure, a dragon among men, yet he possessed not a trace of arrogance and was so considerate of his subordinates. He was truly… truly wonderful!

"Hey!" The three wiped their eyes, smiled broadly, and sat down. "Thank you for your kindness, sir."

Zhang Ting: "

Why are you crying and laughing at the same time? And why are you thanking her again?

Unable to figure it out, Zhang Ting didn't dwell on it and simply listed out the matters that were on her mind one by one.

First, the county government office is severely damaged and needs to be rebuilt;

Secondly, in order to prevent further flooding, the river will be diverted, which will also facilitate irrigation of the fields.

Third, the issue of food supply, including the distribution of grain from granaries and the planting of new grain crops.

Gu Qing pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "I usually enjoy depicting mountains and rivers, and I have also drawn walls and tiles. I participated in the renovation of the county government office before, so I know a bit about materials and construction. The redesign and layout of the county government office can be entrusted to me. However, the county government office is poor and really cannot afford to purchase more bricks and tiles."

"I have my own arrangements for the bricks and tiles." Zhang Ting smiled and nodded, not expecting that there was someone in the county who understood architectural design. "Then the reconstruction of the county government office will be entirely handled by Gu Qing." He patted her shoulder solemnly, "I never thought there was such a talent as you in the county. It has truly broadened my horizons."

Gu Qing was both excited and embarrassed by the praise, "This humble official will certainly live up to your expectations and do my best to supervise this matter!"

County Lieutenant Zheng Meng scratched her head anxiously. Gu Qing had already received praise from the adults, and she couldn't fall behind. But what could she, a mere female warrior, do? After thinking it over and over without finding a solution, she suddenly clasped her hands together in a flash of realization: she had strength and soldiers under her command!

In the blink of an eye, Zheng Mengchang stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble official is not skilled in fine arts, but possesses only strength and soldiers under his command. I am willing to take on the responsibility of diverting the river."

Zhang Ting saw that she was strong and robust, and that he knew she was reliable in her actions over the past few days, so he was naturally very satisfied. "It is a blessing for the people that Fengxian has such a good official as Lord Zheng who cares about the well-being of the people."

Zheng Mengchang was often praised in the past, but he had never felt so satisfied as he did at this moment. He smiled sheepishly and said, "I will certainly live up to your expectations, sir!"

Finally, only the grain matter remained. County Registrar Lu Mingqiu was a step behind and only took on this task, which was somewhat regretful. "A few days ago, the magistrate ordered people to purchase seeds from the prefectural city. I will deliver them to the people in batches. Once the county town is repaired, farming can probably resume."

"I will urge this matter to be handled properly. Does Your Excellency have any further instructions?"

Zhang Ting had been listening and thought it was about time to go home for dinner, but when the county clerk asked him that question, he paused. If it was about living people, then there were countless of them.

Since they had practically offered him work, Zhang Ting naturally couldn't refuse their kind offer. "I've observed that most of the county residents use river water, but the river is quite polluted at this time of year. I plan to dig a new well, and I'll entrust this task to Mingqiu. What do you think?" To be honest, she had a little selfish motive behind digging the well; it was inconvenient for her family not to have one. Since she was already digging one for the people, it wouldn't be unreasonable to dig one for the county magistrate's family as well, would it?

When Lu Mingqiu heard her describe how filthy the river was, his gaze sharpened, and a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Suddenly, he realized that many of the people in the county who used to suffer from dysentery lived along the riverbank. Could it be that...?

She was deeply shocked. None of the lowly officials who had lived here for a long time had ever investigated this matter, yet the magistrate had so easily seen through it all. What an unprecedented insight this was!

She's only been in this county for less than two months, and she's been busy with disaster relief and calming the people. She's been working non-stop, yet she still manages to spare a thought for the humble common people. It's as if she has an invisible chessboard in her mind. Mountains and rivers, land, money, food, soldiers, people, and the hearts and minds of the people—everything is under her control and arrangement. She can even mentally deduce and plan the past and the future, meticulously and flawlessly, always leading everyone to the most correct and beneficial path!

What is this? This is what the book refers to as "having a vast mind and a profound understanding of the universe"!

Lu Mingqiu's eyes shone brightly, his heart surging with emotion. How could this be a realm that a mortal could possibly reach? This was clearly the insight and wisdom that only a god could possess!

After a long silence, Zhang Ting assumed she wasn't going to agree, and her brow furrowed involuntarily as she wondered if she had gone too far in exploiting her subordinate.

"Does Mingqiu have any doubts?" Lu Mingqiu's daily affairs were usually very complicated. She had to manage documents, money and grain, and household registration, as well as supervise the restoration of agriculture in the whole county. Zhang Ting felt unusually uneasy. What a useful county official she was! Well then... let's give her more responsibilities in a couple of days!

Lu Mingqiu forcibly suppressed the tremor in his heart, looked at her with a resolute gaze, and bowed. "As you command, I, Mingqiu, will do my utmost." He took a deep breath. "With you here, Fengxian is truly blessed, accumulated over thousands of years!"

Why praise her when she's doing all the work herself?

Zhang Ting didn't understand, but he readily accepted it and enthusiastically encouraged the county clerk's proactive efforts. "Why do you keep praising me? Zhang Ting is just an insignificant link in the chain. It's Fengxian's good fortune to have three of them." He looked at everyone with gentle eyes, but his tone left no room for argument.

Upon hearing this, the three women covered their faces and wept. How could the lord value them so much? They were clearly the most insignificant link in the chain; if it weren't for the lord stepping forward to offer advice and prepare funds and provisions, they... they wouldn't even have been able to do the most basic thing of calming the people's hearts...

What merit or ability do they possess to deserve such high praise from adults?

A surge of emotions welled up within them, and the three men's gazes hardened with unwavering resolve; only death remained!

Zhang Ting looked up at the sky, then at her shadow on the ground. It was getting late. She smiled at everyone and said, "Gentlemen, it's getting late. You should all go back and rest. We still have a tough battle to fight this afternoon." She was going back for dinner.

The three men were once again moved by her meticulous care. "Your humble servant obeys."

Zhang Ting turned and left satisfied, without a trace of regret.

The three men stared intently at her retreating figure, unable to forget it for a long time.

"You're so kind, so kind."

...

As Zhang Ting strolled leisurely home, talking to Zheng Er beside her, they were suddenly stopped by a group of people.

Zheng Er's eyes darkened, and he took two steps forward to shield his master behind him, drawing his sword.

A moment later.

Looking at the row of obedient thugs standing before him, Zhang Ting asked in surprise, "You want to come and join me?"

"Yes." Zhang Cun San spoke first, his voice firm and resolute, but he couldn't help feeling nervous. He and his sisters had often gone against the county magistrate's wife in the past. Would she agree?

Why wouldn't Zhang Ting accept free labor? She gladly took these people in, since she just happened to have extra manpower to build brick and tile kilns.

Heaven is helping her!

After counting them one by one, there were thirty-five people. To be honest, there weren't enough laborers. Zhang Ting wished she could suddenly conjure up a few thugs and ruffians, but even the smallest fly is meat, and she wasn't going to complain. Her brain worked at lightning speed, assigning each of the thirty-five laborers to a job, and she was extremely satisfied.

Before recruiting laborers, a grand ceremony is held—brainwashing… I mean, cultivating a sense of mission.

Zhang Ting stood on a stone pier, taking in the expressions of the thirty-five people below. Her expression was solemn and dignified, as if she was about to make some kind of 'sacred' speech.

“You are all citizens of Fengxian, and therefore all subjects of this official. The court and you are as close as family, but since you all want to follow the court on the right path, then I naturally cannot abandon you.”

"I have seen all your efforts over the past few days. You are all kind and honest people. You retrieved floating corpses, allowing relatives and friends separated by death to reunite; you dug latrines, creating a better environment for the people; you buried corpses, allowing the deceased to rest in peace; you felled trees, creating the material foundation for the people to rebuild their homes; you collected herbs, brewed medicine, and rescued the people; you hunted animals, enriching the people's food sources; you repaired caves..."

Zhang Ting was stunned when she heard the news. Had she managed to trick these thugs into doing so much recently? She subconsciously counted their numbers again. Oh no, there were thirty-five of them, not three hundred and fifty!

She felt a pang of guilt, but her expression remained calm, her eyes fixed intently on them, exuding an air of righteous indignation. After a while, she comforted herself with a sense of peace: this could be considered giving them a unique life experience, right?

Hearing her words, many of the hooligans couldn't help but cover their faces and cry. It had only been about a month, yet it felt like they had done the work of three lifetimes. They were busy every day, getting up earlier than the roosters and going to bed later than the dogs—it was truly unbearable!

The floodwaters had finally receded, and they were able to stroll down the mountain. Why would they willingly walk into the lion's den?

Zhang Ting awkwardly composed himself, then elevated the first half of his speech, making it grand and powerful, his words resounding: "You have all toiled so hard, you are all brave and righteous men of Fengxian. Without you, the people of Fengxian would be separated from their families and friends, unable to even see each other one last time; cholera might even break out among the people, and the entire county would be devastated... Your merits are so great, the people will remember your kindness for generations to come."

The hooligans' grief faltered, and they blushed with excitement at the praise. Their hearts were stirred, and countless heroic ambitions arose within them. They never imagined that they were such a magnificent and powerful woman.

Zhang Ting scanned the room, not bad, not bad. The next step is to paint a grand picture, or rather, to plan for everyone's bright future.

"Now that the flood has receded, a bright future awaits us in the Ming Dynasty. As the magistrate of this county, I will naturally not let you suffer any longer. As Fengxian develops, I will ensure that everyone lives in brick houses and has an endless supply of rice, grain, meat, and eggs..."

These heartfelt words brought tears to everyone's eyes. They were both excited and thrilled. The county magistrate's wife had been so kind to them; she was truly a benevolent person who had been blessed for ten lifetimes! They were eating meat and living in fine houses. What kind of brick and tile houses were these? They had only ever seen them in the county government office their whole lives! And now they could live in them?

Zhang Cun San wiped away his tears, his eyes red and swollen, "Grandma County Magistrate, we've decided to follow you for life! We'll work for you!"

"Yes, yes, Grandma County Magistrate, whatever you ask us to do from now on, we'll do it!"

The atmosphere was lively and excited, filled with joy and jubilation.

Zhang Ting quietly raised a finger, speaking sincerely and frankly: "It's just that the brick houses that are so close by need everyone's help."

"Are you all willing to build another solid support for Fengxian?"

At this moment, everyone was at the height of their sense of responsibility and mission, and they immediately said, "Let's do it! We'll do it!"

"Fengxian is my home, so it's only right that I do anything for it!"

"I'll do whatever you tell me to do, Grandma!"

Zhang Ting smiled faintly, stood with his hands behind his back, concealing his achievements and fame.