Chapter 1606 IF Scenario: What if Shen Tang woke up earlier (20)
Ji Sunyin: "..."
Why do I have a feeling that someone, no, a god, has stolen his partner?
The young man looked at the cloth letter in his hand with a worried expression.
This was his regular monthly communication with his strategist, Wei Lou.
The previous letters, besides various political exchanges and suggestions, were also subtle expressions of their evaluation of His Highness, a twisted mix of admiration and entanglement. Ji Sunyin couldn't help but chuckle at the complex emotions of those who were filled with sorrow.
I received another reply today.
The letter only contained a reply on the solution to the problem from the previous communication and the next steps, with no further information about His Highness.
It's not that Ji Sunyin has any issues with Shen Tang.
But he understood his own strategist.
Wei Lou is inherently stubborn; he's the kind of person who, once he has an opinion about someone, will become fixated on it and won't easily back down, even if he hits a brick wall. He won't be easily persuaded by others, much less change his existing beliefs and judgments, unless he comes to his own conclusion.
Let Wei Lou figure it out himself...
That's very difficult.
But Wei Lou just happened to understand.
Ji Sunyin: "...It seems he has figured it out."
A normal person, once they've figured things out, will communicate with their superiors in a professional manner, evaluating Shen Tang's strengths and weaknesses from a fair perspective, identifying areas for improvement and lessons to be learned. But Wei Lou, as the chief strategist, avoids even discussing his own duties, omitting reports related to His Highness. What does this indicate? Does it mean Wei Lou intentionally concealed this information, deeming it unworthy of reporting?
Or is it to protect this part from Ji Sunyin's knowledge?
Ah~~~
My lord, you are truly difficult to guess.
Ji Sunyin stared at the letter silently for a long time.
Until his subordinates came to see him outside.
The other party came to report on the progress of the construction of winter refugee houses.
"The construction is a bit slow, but judging by the time, it should still be on time." Ji Sunyin's words caused his subordinates to show a strange expression, and they lowered their heads guiltily. Ji Sunyin had been in the outside world for many years and was no longer the clueless newbie he once was.
Working for His Highness will bring you generous rewards.
The speed and quality of work directly impact the amount and rate of payment. With incentives in place, the donkey will naturally work harder and more diligently. While there are rewards for working for one's own family, they simply don't compare to the former.
Those subordinates who could communicate with Ji Sunyin would not and dare not be perfunctory, but the people below them were different, and complaints were inevitable.
Work efficiency naturally cannot be improved.
Fortunately, they didn't go too far.
Ji Sunyin pretended not to notice and took the initiative to change the subject: "New Year's Day will be here soon, have you thought about how to celebrate it?"
The subordinate said, "Huh?"
Ji Sunyin: "This year we're a little better off, so naturally we should live a better life. This year has been too depressing, so it's a rare occasion to have a joyous occasion and let everyone relax a bit."
Subordinate: "This... I didn't expect that..."
Survival is a challenge, and any form of entertainment is a luxury.
Ji Sunyin said, "Then let's go back and let everyone think about it carefully. By the way, I remember that people usually exchange gifts on New Year's Day. Shen Jun has helped us a lot, so it's only right and proper that someone be sent to thank him. We can't just go empty-handed. Do you have any good suggestions?"
He carefully observed his subordinates' reactions.
If his subordinates harbored any ill will toward Shen Tang, they would certainly show their displeasure at his suggestion—he was already the most straightforward and guileless of his men, and couldn't hide his thoughts.
As expected, Shen Tang's subordinates had an extremely good impression of him.
Ji Sunyin smiled at the warm and friendly response.
"You seem to have a very good impression of Shen Jun?"
The subordinate scratched his head, showing no fear or suspicion of having said something wrong in front of his superior, but instead honestly said, "Shen Jun is indeed worthy of being a woman."
"As expected of a woman?"
"...Even more...kind-hearted?" The subordinate couldn't find a better word to describe it. "If he were a man, he probably wouldn't be so generous as to give us so much..."
Ji Sunyin: "That doesn't sound like a compliment."
The subordinate hurriedly waved his hand, afraid that his lord would misunderstand: "No, no, no, I was really praising him, I had no intention of being sarcastic. When they were recruiting people over there, quite a few of my men went. Everyone who came back said the same thing, saying that it was rare for them to be treated like a human being."
He was neither an invincible blade in anyone's hand, nor a sword only used for killing and fighting; he was simply a living, breathing human being. Even though they hadn't done particularly strenuous work, someone came to reward them, inquire about their well-being, and care about their basic needs. That Mr. Shen would even listen to their troubles in his spare time, offering guidance and comfort with the wisdom of an elder. This was a kind of care that most people's parents never gave them.
Even if some people say this is her way of winning people over.
But honestly, even if you told those high-ranking warlords and powerful figures about this method, would they be willing to stoop down and listen to their complaints? Even if it's just a trick to win people over, at least they did it.
His subordinates didn't believe it at first either.
Until he saw Shen Tang with his own eyes and spoke to her in person.
He discovered that the message conveyed by the troupe was still incomplete.
This Shen Jun was even more saintly, benevolent, and kind than the person they described, yet she was not without sharp edges. Although he didn't know why Shen Jun, as a woman, could cultivate, he knew she was very strong. Strong enough to defend her territory and people like a mother beast.
So what reason is there not to like it?
The subordinate replied earnestly, "There's no reason not to praise him."
Ji Sunyin considered for a moment: "If that's the case, then you—"
He swallowed the rest of his words as he spoke.
No, now is not the time to ask.
The subordinate waited a while but heard nothing more, so he started imagining things and shook his head vigorously, saying, "No, no, no."
Ji Sunyin asked in bewilderment, "What is unacceptable?"
For the first time, a faint blush appeared on the subordinate's dark face, and he stammered, "This humble general is not worthy."
Ji Sunyin: "???"
A small head, a big confusion.
No, be clear, what do you mean by not being good enough?
The subordinate earnestly replied, "My lord, you're testing me today... aren't you just trying to use a honey trap to woo me into a marriage alliance?"
It was common practice for the two factions to exchange beauties as gifts.
Since Shen Jun is a woman, it's natural to send her a man.
This man must be someone the lord can trust, someone who excels in all aspects and cannot be easily swayed by others to defect.
Ji Sunyin's face darkened, and she almost kicked him out.
"If you truly wanted a marriage alliance, would you need to be sent there?"
Ji Sunyin also had a younger brother who could betray him.
Ayu is good-looking, smart and capable.
She's capable in both formal and informal settings, managing the household and assisting in governance. Isn't she much better than this blockhead? The key is that Ayu is a member of the Gongxi clan, and now she's a candidate for high priest and a future divine servant. She's legitimate in every way.
His subordinate looked embarrassed, and his face turned even redder.
"However, your suggestion is not without merit."
Ji Sunyin could send someone to Shen Tang as a New Year's Day gift.
Of course, it's not about giving away beds.
To send people off to work.
As long as they are all so captivated by Shen Tang that they lose all sense of reason, when he makes his decision in the future—when the future arrives—their resistance won't be too strong. For Ji Sunyin, his goal has always been clear: he hopes for peace in the outside world.
I hope that everyone he meets can live and work in peace and contentment.
Before this, he thought no one would step forward to take the lead, so he did. Now that a more suitable candidate has emerged, and he doesn't want the two sides to fight each other for the same goal, needlessly adding to the sins of bloodshed. This should be the best outcome.
only--
I've made up my mind, but I still need to observe a bit more.
Until the time is truly right.
It seemed like only a blink of an eye before New Year's Day arrived.
During this time, Shen Tang took Wei Lou and his group on another hunting trip, raiding two cities and rescuing thousands of ragged refugees from every nook and cranny. It wasn't that Shen Tang lacked the energy to continue causing trouble, but rather that she had become depressed after rescuing a child from a pottery urn. When Wei Lou arrived, he saw Shen Tang with her hands on the shoulders of the seven- or eight-year-old child, her eyes red-rimmed.
A faint glimmer of water could still be seen.
Wei Lou asked, "My lord, what's wrong?"
Shen Tang did not respond.
The girl, whose face was blue and purple from the cold and who was shivering in her dark cloak, was unaware of this and just looked timidly at Wei Lou.
"Does the wise ruler know this child?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Unable to get an answer, Wei Lou turned to the girl, deliberately softening his voice: "Child, what's your name? Which family are you from?"
Girl: "Jiao is from the Lin family."
Wei Cheng notified Wei Lou, who had also inquired about the girl's background before arriving. She was just an ordinary farm girl. Although her clothes were tattered and her ragged summer cloth barely covered her, for many commoners, this was the warmest thing their family had. Yet, it was worn by a farm girl about to be cooked, showing that her parents had done everything in their power to protect her.
Of course, in the end, they couldn't protect it.
Her parents were eaten before Shen Tang and his troops arrived.
It is impossible that they are descendants of the Gongxi clan left behind.
I don't know why Shen Jun reacted so strongly.
Wei Cheng couldn't understand it, and Wei Lou was even more clueless.
Only after Shen Tang calmed down did she ask her the reason.
Shen Tang said, "I don't know why, but looking at her is like seeing an old friend. She must be someone I have a connection with."
Upon hearing this, Wei Lou looked more closely at the child curled up in Shen Tang's arms. It was a little girl, so thin that her appearance was frighteningly ugly. One could only vaguely tell from her bone structure that she was pleasing to the eye. Apart from that, there was nothing special about her.
"A destined connection?"
Shen Tang: "It breaks my heart to see her looking so pitiful."
Wei Lou nodded, then scrutinized the little girl again with a harsh gaze, only stopping when she lowered her head in fear. After a long while, Wei Lou said meaningfully, "The ways of the world are always mysterious. Since the wise ruler says she is destined for you, it must be a joyous occasion. Her parents are both dead, and she has no relatives in the world. Why not keep her by your side and raise her?"
Shen Tang said, "That's what I'm planning to do too."
With just a few words, the little girl's destination was decided.
Shen Tang took the little girl back with her.
Ji Mo Cong said, "Since Your Highness likes this child, why not include her in the Gongxi clan's genealogy? That way, she can be taken care of in the future."
Shen Tang: "That's fine too."
After all, she'll have many things to do in the future and can't always take care of the child. Raising a child isn't like raising a pet, where you can just feed them and be done with it. Educating a child well takes a lot of effort.
With the child joining the Gongxi clan, the high priests can also help share the burden. Shen Tang looked down at the little girl who had finally gained a little weight after a few days of care and said, "The clan is different from the outside world. You will have to abandon your old surname in the secular world and take the surname Gongxi instead."
The little girl nodded.
"As for a name?" Shen Tang pondered for a moment, racking his brains, "Feng, the wind beneath the forest, hoping that you will be virtuous and wise in the future."
Gong Xifeng, with a serious little face, awkwardly bowed to express his gratitude, which made Shen Tang quite amused: "Who taught you that?"
"It was Lord Wei. He said that we should be respectful and courteous to our lord."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang said nothing more.
She didn't know why Wei Lou would show goodwill to Gong Xifeng and personally give him guidance. As long as there was no malice, nothing else mattered.
Shen Tang instructed Ji Mo Cong and others to allocate a batch of grain and winter clothing, distributing them according to the number of people. The official explanation was that this grain was an advance payment from future land taxes, to be made up by the farmers; in reality, it was no different from giving it away for free. After all, the farmers' ability to make up this advance payment depended on stable farming in the coming years and Shen Tang's power remaining secure. Without this premise, the accounts would be in disarray.
What if things can stabilize in the next few years?
For farmers, it's a sure-fire way to make a profit.
Many refugees have come seeking refuge during this period, mostly those who have already settled down and spread the word through word, which is how others came to know about this kind-hearted person. As long as those who come seeking refuge are willing to work diligently, follow instructions, and abide by the law, they can receive preferential treatment they never dared to imagine before. Of course, those who cause trouble are severely punished and driven out of the area to fend for themselves.
Although refugees are foolish, they are not ignorant of death.
You said two families' children froze to death?
Wei Lou could tell that Shen Tang was in low spirits, but he still had to keep to his official duties: "Well, although the wise ruler ordered the reconstruction of houses and built earthen beds, firewood and charcoal for heating are still scarce. Even if farmers go out to collect some weeds, it won't last long..."
Another reason is that they couldn't bear to use firewood.
Even if my family members freeze to death, I can't bear to see them go.
Adults and the elderly can endure it if they can, but children really can't.
Shen Tang sighed, then a solution came to mind: "Since they are reluctant to light a fire for warmth, let's build another hall in the village. There's not much farm work in winter, so we can send people to the hall, and the government can provide the charcoal. We can say that we're teaching them to read and writing, and that it's a task we assigned them."
While we're at it, let's also do some literacy training and learn a few characters.
Being literate and understanding principles will reduce friction when issuing government orders in the future.
Wei Lou: "...Okay."
Shen Tang didn't expect him to agree so readily.
Amused and sarcastic: "Why is the response so straightforward? Aren't you worried about the high cost of literacy equipment, and even more about hiring expensive lecturers?"
"A wise ruler has a large family and vast wealth, so a little extravagance is nothing."
His words were sarcastic and unsettling.
Shen Tang chuckled, and the gloom in her heart dissipated a little: "That's true. If you should spend money, someone else will spend it for you someday. Rather than letting others benefit, you might as well enjoy it yourself."
Wei Lou said seriously, "Who else will spend it for you?"
Shen Tang was surprised by his reaction: "Ahem, it's just a colloquialism. Speaking of which, why do you only call me 'Wise Ruler'?"
Weren't you calling him Shen Jun perfectly fine before?
Wei Lou's response was to roll his eyes.
Shen Tang was puzzled: "No, did I upset him again?"
(ω)
In this "what if" scenario, the heir will be Lin Feng's past life. And who will Lin Feng's disciple be in that past life? It's so hard to guess!
(End of this chapter)
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