Yuwen Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
Ordinary clerks like the Minister of Works should not report directly to him unless they believe there is something they care about that is inconvenient to pass up through layers of bureaucracy.
"Let him come over."
He waved his hand, leaving Wei Yao and Wang Zebang to wait where they were, while he and the young man went to another quiet place.
As Mu Gongguan strode over with the roster in hand, he inadvertently noticed the craftsmen kneeling on the ground and a pile of broken wooden artifacts not far away. His face showed surprise, but he felt that this was not his business, so he immediately lowered his head and composed himself.
"Give it to me."
Just as Mu Gongguan was considering how to speak, he heard the general speak first.
Even the slow-witted man understood that the general was in a bad mood and had no patience for his opening remarks, so he didn't waste any words and handed over the booklet, explaining, "I shouldn't be bothering the general at this time, but I remembered that the general had sent someone to instruct me..."
Mu Gongguan explained as briefly as possible, while Yuwen Sheng's gaze smoothly swept down and stopped directly on the third name on the list.
Was it him?
He tapped the name rhythmically with his gloved index finger, and a sudden, inexplicable smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
In his final conclusion, Mu Gongguan said, "...If there is any news about Sang Xuanqing, it must be reported immediately."
"Why would he come to answer the call for a stonemason?" His gaze finally shifted from the paper.
Mu Gongguan recalled what Zhang Er had said.
"They must be short of money. I heard that Sang Xuanqing's house was burned down and they only recently rebuilt it. They are poor, and when they heard that the government was offering a large reward for stonemasons, they sent their sister to sign up."
Yuwen Sheng didn't care about Sang Xuanqing's family situation at all, and he only mentioned that Sang Xuanqing had a younger sister.
He spoke slowly and cryptically: "Do you think it's normal for a carpenter to do stonemasonry work?"
For a moment, Mu Gongguan couldn't figure out what the general was thinking. Was he criticizing him for not following the rules, or did he think that he had meddled in other people's business?
"...His sister said he also knows how to be a stonemason."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Sheng chuckled softly, his gentle and harmless gaze, like a gentle breeze and fine rain, weighed heavily on Mu Gongguan's head: "You wrote his name down. What, do you think what his sister said is true?"
Mu Gongguan broke out in a cold sweat.
He now truly empathized with the kneeling craftsmen, and wished he could bang his head on the ground and cry out, "I am guilty, just kill me! Stop torturing me with these sarcastic remarks!"
Unfortunately, he didn't dare.
"General, this...this may be an exaggeration by Sang Xuanqing's sister, but Sang Xuanqing does know how to build houses. I have heard other carpenters praise the houses she has built, saying that her method of building houses is a combination of wood and stone structures, which is unprecedented. If I hadn't been busy with official duties lately, I would have liked to go and visit her."
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Sheng suddenly thought of Zheng Quchi's house. Her residence was the most uniquely designed house he had ever seen in the village. Of course, there were more exquisite, unique, and luxurious palaces, but in terms of innovation, those "beautiful but decaying old things" could no longer produce such "fresh and tender branches".
Could Sang Xuanqing possibly build a house even more creative and unique than this?
"Since Foreman Mu recommends him so highly, let's keep him for now. But since this is a cross-disciplinary project, let's test his skills before paying him."
If he's after money, then lure him with money. But if you don't give him some real achievements, then don't even think about taking a single penny.
Yuwen Sheng used Mo Ye as a lead to lure out spies from Julu Kingdom in Fu County. After a sweep and arrest, a corpse was also found among them.
It was that corpse that made Yuwen Sheng realize that Sang Xuanqing was mostly a spy for the Julu Kingdom.
The body, upon examination, was found to be dark-skinned, short, with large knuckles and muscular arms—the very same Giant Deer Scorpionfish tribe member they had been searching for.
Although this could clear Sang Xuanqing of most suspicion, Yuwen Sheng had a gut feeling that he must have other secrets and could not possibly be just an ordinary country carpenter.
I've been ignoring him for long enough; it's time to give him a chance to "perform".
Hearing that the general was finally willing to give him a swift end, Chief Engineer Mu breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, I will take care of it right away. I will take my leave now."
Watching Engineer Mu's hurried figure, as if he were escaping from a den of demons, the people in the distance couldn't help but show envy.
Yuwen Sheng walked over, each step almost landing on their hearts with a thunderous roar.
Waaah... I guess today is the day they meet their end on the training ground.
"Today, the weather is nice, the sky is just right, so this time, I won't hold it against you for how this pile of garbage was created."
Yuwen Sheng smiled gently at them, as if he were a god bestowing light upon them, with a kind and benevolent face... A face of Buddha but a heart of a snake, it was even more terrifying, terrifying to death!
The general's sudden change of attitude shocked them even more than his absurd reasons for forgiveness.
So, just like that, cheap... ugh, so you're just going to spare their lives like that?
They were mixed with surprise and joy.
They were all wondering what Mu Gongguan and the general had discussed that made the general's mood change from "unpredictable" to "good weather" so suddenly.
Although I still can't figure it out in the end, who would want to die if they could live?
They quickly kowtowed, afraid that if they were a moment too late he would change his mind: "Thank you, General, for your forgiveness."
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