Chapter 164 Eagle's Gaze and Wolf's Gaze!
Shen Lanxi kept an eye on the female guards for two days, and then Madam Song reported: "My lord, there isn't enough room for everyone!"
Shen Lanxi: "Have Wang Songbai take people to the county to inventory empty houses, inns, and rent houses from the people. If you provide enough money and food, they will be willing!"
"yes!"
...
Ma Feng glared at Shen Lanxi with a dark expression: "Do you know what kind of impact this will have once it becomes popular?"
Shen Lanxi lowered her eyes and clasped her hands in a fist salute: "I only know to fulfill my military orders and cultivate all the land in the four counties with grain!"
Ma Feng stared at Shen Lanxi for a while with a gloomy face, then suddenly broke into a big laugh!
"Indeed, if all my soldiers were like you, how could we not accomplish great things!"
"To fulfill military orders, sometimes you have to be unconventional. Women can farm, weave cloth, and sew clothes and shoes. What do you say, Commander Lan?"
Lanxi: "Yes, I will go back and gather the materials needed for weaving. Once the cotton-padded clothes and shoes are made, I will send them to the General as soon as possible!"
A relieved smile spread across Ma Feng's face.
"You can recruit more women. The soldiers are very hardworking in protecting their country. What do you say, Lord Lan?"
A cold glint flashed in Shen Lanxi's eyes as she lowered her gaze and said, "This subordinate understands!"
"Alright, Fuchun and Wujin counties are right around your jurisdiction, so these two garrisons will also be under your management!"
Shen Lanxi: "Yes!"
After leaving the Ya Jiang's residence, Shen Lanxi glanced back at him with a sinister look.
Liu Yan, who was waiting outside, and Wei Dongzhu and the others raised their eyebrows and exchanged knowing glances, silently saying: "Eagle-eyed and wolf-like!"
Upon returning to the garrison, Shen Lanxi immediately issued the order: "Take over the garrisons of Fuchun and Wujin counties. Kill any who resist!"
"yes!"
Shen Lanxi personally led 300 soldiers to Wujin first, and then to Fuchun!
"My lord, should we go and scout ahead beforehand?" Feng Wu suggested.
Ma Feng is unlikely to relinquish power so readily unless something is going on!
There are essentially two issues: first, the two counties are disobeying orders; second, the two counties are unmanaged!
"No need," Shen Lanxi said coldly.
Three hundred soldiers braved the snow and arrived at noon the next day.
Why is there no one here?
Wei Dongzhu: "I'll go ask around nearby!"
Fifteen minutes later, Wei Dongzhu returned.
"The garrison commander was killed by Ma Feng's men, and his body is still hanging on the garrison flagpole!"
Shen Lanxi: "The commander-in-chief is disobeying the orders of the traitors?"
Wei Dongzhu: "It should be that the soldiers in the garrison were either killed or taken away. A couple of days ago, some soldiers' families came looking for them, but after seeing the bodies hanging on the flagpole, they all went home!"
Shen Lanxi: "Take the body down and bury it!"
"yes!"
Xiao Fang: "I guess the situation in Fuchun County is the same as here, so there's no need for you to go there in person, I'll take some men to check it out!"
Shen Lanxi: "Okay!"
The two county towns must first restore their basic military strength; recruitment notices will be posted soon!
The two county magistrates rushed to the garrison to pledge their loyalty.
Shen Lanxi wrote a letter and had it delivered to Chang Daoyan, who soon appeared before her.
"The magistrate of Fuchun County was corrupt and lawless. I heard that he had allowed his subordinates to seize land, killed three tenants, and colluded with merchants to encroach on other people's shops."
Shen Lanxi interrupted him: "According to the law, what should be done?"
Chang Daoyan glanced at her and said, "Execute her immediately!"
Where are his family members?
Chang Daoyan's brow twitched, but he still said very frankly, "His crimes are enough to implicate his family!"
Shen Lanxi coldly replied, "In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. Lord Chang, what do you think?"
Chang Daoyan scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: "I think his family can be considered on a case-by-case basis..."
"Lord Chang is a kind and benevolent man, truly a role model for me. The ringleader should be executed by a thousand cuts, the accomplices should be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public, and their family members should be beheaded or exiled to the army as slaves, depending on the severity of their crimes. What do you think?"
Chang Daoyan gasped: You've already made the judgment, why are you asking me?
"Lord Chang, don't assume that the women and children in the back courtyard are innocent. Sometimes, the back courtyard is no cleaner than the officialdom."
Everyone says the backyard is full of beautiful flowers, but little do they know that the fertilizer buried underneath is a forest of bones!
"The well, pond, and artificial hill in the backyard have claimed the lives of countless women and children every year!"
Chang Daoyan was so shocked by these words that his scalp tingled and his back was covered in cold sweat.
"I will immediately conduct a thorough investigation and will not let any heinous criminal go unpunished."
Shen Lanxi remained expressionless, her gaze gently falling upon him.
"Is there another line after that: 'Absolutely no innocent person should be killed'?"
Chang Daoyan was sweating profusely, but he didn't dare to even lift his hand to wipe it.
Shen Lanxi raised the corners of her mouth and laughed loudly.
"I'll leave the affairs of the two counties to Lord Chang. I have only one request... to make their crimes public and have them executed as a warning to the public!"
Chang Daoyan bowed and said, "Yes!" He then wiped his sweat and quickly withdrew.
The snow fell for seven days, and during those seven days, the recruitment office was bustling with people!
Three large pots were set up at the entrance, constantly boiling rice porridge.
The stomachs of the people queuing to enlist rumbled louder than their voices. The closer they got to the recruitment area, the more nervous they became, making the recruitment area the quietest place.
For the next seven days, the soldiers trained for half an hour each day, spending the rest of their time shoveling snow.
After clearing out the garrisons, the next step was to clear out the main roads of each county.
Chang Daoyan is currently in charge of the two counties of Fuchun and Wujin, plus Shilipo, which he also governs, making it a joint administration of the three counties.
He shuddered at the memory of yesterday's bloody scene.
But seeing the soldiers clearing snow in an orderly manner on the main road, I felt a surge of warmth in my heart.
Lord Lan is a capable military commander; it would be better if he weren't a traitor.
Chang Daoyan would sigh whenever he thought of this!
"You guys, hurry up and add water to the pot. The soldiers have worked tirelessly to clear the snow for us. We can't do much else, but we must have a bowl of hot water and some soup!"
...
Today, Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanxu were on leave. The two bought some things and went home together!
"Yuanjing, you're so lucky to be by Lanxi's side. When you two have meetings, what do you discuss? Can you tell your brother?" Shen Yuanxu asked with envy.
Shen Yuanjing was a little embarrassed: "You were transferred out to recruit soldiers, but once recruitment is over, you'll still be by Big Sister's side!"
"Each time we had a meeting, it was nothing special. The older girls would talk and I would listen, but most of the time I didn't understand anything!"
Disappointment flashed across Shen Yuanxu's eyes.
"If your older sister wants to teach you something, could you teach your older brother a little bit in private?" Shen Yuanxu asked shamelessly.
Shen Yuanjing first frowned, then smiled.
"The eldest sister didn't teach us much, but after the snow is cleared in a few days, Master Hu said he'll teach us military strategy!"
Shen Yuanxu glanced at Shen Yuanjing and raised his arm to put it on his shoulder.
"Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons go to war together. From now on, we brothers must help and support each other!"
Shen Yuanjing responded forcefully.
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