Chapter 121: Be true to your conscience and be true to your actions
Lu Chenyang said, "I'm not a domineering person. I won't tell them that those who obey me will prosper and those who disobey me will perish. As long as they cooperate and don't get in my way, I will naturally give them a way out. If they insist on making things difficult for me, I won't let them go either."
Gao Ming agreed: "The capital of Nanyang is in dire straits right now, so you can be more assertive, my Lord."
Chen Songyuan said, "Actually, there's another way." He looked at his master's handsome face and elegant demeanor. "The Prince of Nanyang has quite a few concubines and maids in his backyard, most of whom come from wealthy families in Shu. If you're willing to make friends with them, a marriage alliance would be a good option."
Gao Ming nodded in agreement. His master was so handsome, dignified and talented that he believed that as long as the women could marry him, they would definitely do their best to get their families to support him, which would achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Lu Chenyang's hair stood on end: "No way!" He flatly refused, and would never betray his body: "I wouldn't rely on women to gain benefits, would I? I disdain to do such a thing!"
Lu Chenyang looked righteous.
The two of them sighed inwardly as they looked at his unyielding expression. After all, his family was young, and the young man Mu Ai probably didn't want to exploit his marriage to gain benefits.
Chen Songyuan and Gao Ming exchanged a glance. Could it be that Lu Chenyang had someone else in his heart? The Chen family had previously offered to marry a girl to him, but Lu Chenyang had refused.
Why is Lu Chenyang so opposed to this matter?
The three of them discussed some official matters, and then Chen Songyuan and Gao Ming said goodbye.
They didn't go back to rest either, they wanted to chat in private. Chat, did Lu Chenyang have a sweetheart?
Who was this person? What kind of beauty could have attracted such attention from his master?
Everyone has a gossipy heart.
Lu Chenyang watched them wink at each other in front of him, his face full of helplessness.
After Lu Chenyang finished explaining the affairs of Lingnan, he left. He had to return to Shu.
There is not much to say about Lingnan. Just continue to develop according to the current situation, plant more land, have more children, and open more academies.
Gao Ming and Chen Songyuan are both familiar with the job.
Lu Chenyang said: "You two gentlemen can train more assistants. When they can take over in the future, I still hope that you two gentlemen can stay by my side."
Chen Songyuan smiled and said, "You're right, there really is a good talent. His name is Zhang Zhongwen, and he graduated from the county school in Yanquan County. He's diligent and meticulous in his work, and most importantly, he's smart and adaptable. The county school has truly cultivated an outstanding student."
Lu Chenyang knew him. He was also one of the first students to come to the provincial capital to help.
He nodded: "Very good, take good care of her for a few years, we will go to many places in the future."
Gao Ming and Chen Songyuan exchanged glances, both quite startled by the implications of this statement. Yet, they also felt that it was as expected.
Lu Chenyang’s target is not only Lingnan, but even more than Shu.
The two of them never communicated about what his goal was.
Several children were skipping and running past them with bright and innocent smiles on their faces.
"Zhang Tiedan, you've gone out to play again. Be careful or you won't be able to recite the book. The teacher will punish you!"
"You're Zhang Tiedan! Your whole family is called Zhang Tiedan. My master gave me that name! If you call me that wrong again, I'll beat you!"
The two gentlemen watched the children running past. They had never seen such a scene before, and they believed that it would be difficult to find another place like this in Dagan.
There will be children from common families who go to school happily.
All this happened in Lingnan, the poorest place in the country.
The two people put aside their worries. No matter what, what they are doing now is to benefit the people. As for the future, they will talk about it later.
If... if the people in every place in Dagan could be like Lingnan, then everything they did would be worth it.
What they are doing now is right, the people they support are right, and they have no regrets in their conscience and actions, and that is enough.
The two of them didn't think any more about it, and went back to continue serving Lu Chenyang, training his deputies, and going to Shu as soon as possible to assist Lu Chenyang.
Lu Chenyang returned to Shu. The people of Shu were relieved to see him. When they saw him walk into the palace, they went back to work with peace of mind.
As soon as Lu Chenyang came back, he saw that his office study was piled with various documents, and he felt dizzy.
He stretched out his hand and called Zhao Xi, "Come, help me up."
Zhao Xi supported him with a distressed look on her face, blaming herself. She couldn't handle the paperwork and couldn't help the adults.
Lu Chenyang rubbed his cheeks and encouraged himself: "I can do it, I can do it!"
He is the best!
Lu Chenyang comforted himself and went to handle official business. In fact, most of these were the mess left by King Nanyang.
For example, when the King of Nanyang imposed corvée labor, many people died in the process. Now that the household registration is being sorted out, the families of these people need to be resettled.
Some families could no longer afford to support themselves. The King of Nanyang even spared no one, an elderly man in his fifties, leaving only his wife and a seven-year-old granddaughter at home.
After Lu Chenyang learned about this, he asked someone to investigate how many such people there were in the entire Shu area. Now that the investigation is completed, Lu Chenyang will start to deal with it.
The King of Nanyang imposed forced labor in order to build a temporary palace, as he felt that the current Nanyang Palace was no longer worthy of his status.
Lu Chenyang was so angry that he immediately took people to search the newly built palace of King Nanyang and the Nanyang Palace, leaving no place untouched.
As a result, Lu Chenyang made a fortune. Fighting is a way to make money quickly.
This is getting off topic. Lu Chenyang also wants to spend this money on the people. As for how and where to spend it, he has to approve it. He has replaced some of the officials in Shu, but most of them are still from Shu, so he is not very confident.
Lu Chenyang had no choice but to do it himself and worked himself to death.
Zhao Xilai brought him midnight snacks and felt distressed when he saw him reading official documents with his head down.
Yan Xing came to see him the next day and was surprised to see that he looked exhausted.
"Is the journey so hard?" Yan Xing asked.
Lu Chenyang sighed: "No, I was processing official documents until midnight last night."
Yan Xing said: "I wanted you to have a good rest, so I didn't come to see you yesterday. I didn't expect that you still didn't get a good rest."
Lu Chenyang asked, "What happened?"
Yan Xing said, "The King of Nanyang has sent a letter, wanting to exchange hostages with you."
The concubines that Lu Chenyang captured this time were all concubines of King Nanyang. The Princess of Nanyang and the legitimate prince were escorted out of the city first.
However, those who did not escape were the Prince of Nanyang’s beloved concubine, his three sons and five daughters.
It was said that his favorite was Concubine Cui, who had given birth to a son and a daughter for him. The reason the Prince of Nanyang sent this letter was to replace Concubine Cui. He did not mention the other concubines.
Lu Chenyang asked, "What does he want in exchange?"
Yan Xing said, "He said he would use the captives from Quzhou in exchange for 5,000 people for Concubine Cui and their two children."
Lu Chenyang captured the captives and did not abuse or blame them. He even released them and let them go home to live a good life. But King Nanyang was not so magnanimous. These soldiers who were captured by him became his slaves and lived a miserable life.
Lu Chenyang's face darkened with anger. "Five thousand people? That's quite a lot!" He sarcastically said, "But it's only five thousand people. It's not like he, the King of Nanyang, can't afford it. But he doesn't care about his other concubines and children?"
Lu Chenyang took his anger out on Yan Xing: "Look at what kind of allies you've found. They're worse than beasts!"
Yan Xing immediately distanced himself from the King of Nanyang: "We are not allies. He and I are not friends. At most, we are mutually beneficial."
Yan Xing also looked down upon the Nanyang King's behavior. If he wanted to change them, then he would change them all. Otherwise, they would no longer be his women or his children. Even for this, he was not afraid of being laughed at by the world.
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