Chapter 285: Adding Poverty to Poverty [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Winter in Heyin begins with the first snow.
The first snow of the year came earlier than usual. The north wind howled, its mournful sound sending a chill down your spine. Fortunately, the snowfall wasn't heavy. But as a chemistry exam question aptly put it—snowfall isn't cold, melting snow is.
People carried only a limited amount of warm clothing.
The valley was rich in food, but not suitable for wintering. Therefore, even though they knew it was not the right time, Shen Tang and Qi Shan discussed it and decided to lead their troops to He Yin ahead of schedule.
After nearly twenty days of covert sweeping, incorporation, and training, the force, including the original troops, barely increased to two thousand. With the addition of one thousand men who were kindly helped by Zhao Feng, the force of three thousand was not too shabby and was barely presentable.
The expected targets have been initially achieved.
River Yin Official Road.
On this day, light snow was falling from the sky.
As noon approached, thousands of people appeared on the official road.
These people are a bit strange.
The outermost circle of people stood in uniform formation, mostly young and strong men dressed in similar or identical clothing. Occasionally, a sharp glint would flash in their eyes, and their brows carried a faint air of menace. Some rode on horseback, others on foot, all wearing slightly worn cloth armor and carrying various weapons.
Be constantly vigilant against any unexpected events that may occur in the outside world.
The people in the very center circle were thin, haggard old people, women and children, whose clothes had been patched and mended countless times.
The entire caravan moved like slow-moving worms along the official road, their movements barely orderly except for the occasional murmur of footsteps and horses' hooves. Perhaps it was the approaching destination and the glimmer of hope that brought a hint of joy to their faces, and even their heavy, weary steps seemed to lighten...
However, that's not the strangest thing.
Fine snowflakes were falling, yet not a single one landed on anyone's shoulders; a biting north wind was blowing, but even the infants in the group felt little cold... The snow and wind were all kept at bay by an unseen force.
Not to mention the harshness of the ice and snow, even the wind blowing on them carried a wisp of lazy warmth.
"Hehe, Word Magic is really useful."
At the very front of the line.
Shen Tang took out a few candies from the money pouch at his waist and tossed them into the air. The motorcycle beneath him tilted its head back, opened its mouth, and swallowed them with a loud groan.
She popped one into her mouth.
He then generously shared it with Lin Feng and Tu Rong.
"Here, have a taste."
Chu Yao: "Eating too much can easily cause tooth decay."
Wulang would feed the two children candy whenever he had the chance. What child could resist the temptation of sweets? Even if they used a toothbrush to clean their teeth twice a day, they would still easily get cavities. Shen Tang didn't think so. The two children were observing a mourning period and were living a hard life. They had to avoid this and that. It wouldn't hurt for them to eat a couple more pieces of candy to satisfy their cravings.
Even if your teeth are bad—
Perhaps there are still magical words in the world that can cure toothache.
Anything is possible.
The focus of the prayer is not on the "bad teeth".
"Words of power are useful, but not in this way."
He discovered that any kind of incantation would become "abnormal" in the hands of Young Master Shen. For example, now he actually suggested that several literary scholars take turns using incantations to maintain the temperature of the marching environment.
Although the troops have been shrunk as much as possible to alleviate the pressure on the literati, the number of soldiers and civilians is still over six thousand! No matter how much it is shrunk, it is still quite considerable.
If Zhao Feng hadn't "couldn't bear" seeing this and hadn't offered his suggestion that his thousand men were quite capable of keeping warm, things would have really been tough.
Shen Tang touched his nose.
Some felt guilty for "exploiting" her too much.
But there was nothing she could do.
Firstly, she was poor and couldn't afford enough warm winter clothing; secondly, the elderly, women, and children accompanying them didn't have much warm clothing either. If they didn't use this method to maintain their temperature, many people would die just from marching in the snow.
Shen Tang spoke with conviction.
"Whether it's a literary or martial incantation, as long as it works to solve problems, it's a good incantation. Who says that an incantation like 'warm sun and gentle breeze' can't be used like that?"
It's good that they didn't use "How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you."
Phrases like "Warm rain and clear breeze first break the ice, willow buds and plum blossoms, already feeling the stirrings of spring," and "The late sun shines on the beautiful landscape, the spring breeze carries the fragrance of flowers and grass," are not entirely unacceptable. Consuming a little literary energy can save a significant amount on winter clothing expenses—a very worthwhile trade!
Qi Shan: "..."
He knew Shen Tang's temperament well and was used to some things, but Young Master Shen always managed to play with words in creative ways.
Qi Shan knew that this would not be the last time.
Haha, his guess was correct.
He Yin was in a poor and desolate place, and Shen Tang had no one to use. He did not expect talented and capable scholars and warriors to do more work. How could he expect the common people who were suffering from hunger and poverty and who had not even achieved the freedom to farm to do the work?
Shen Tang had already planned out how to use Zhao Feng and the others, but she didn't say it, and Gu Chi didn't say it either.
The area of Heyin is not large.
It's called a prefecture, but it's actually only slightly larger than a county.
The administrative center was located in a small place called "Fugu".
Shen Tang had already sent someone with his official seal to Fu Gu to inform them. As soon as they entered Fu Gu's territory, the few officials there had been waiting for quite some time. Compared to the leisurely demeanor of Shen Tang and his entourage, these officials were filled with apprehension.
He Yin was isolated from news.
They didn't know much about Shen Tang.
Upon first glance, the group was perplexed.
Looking at the few young scholars beside Shen Tang, he wondered to himself, which one of them was the new prefect Shen Youli?
They each have their own unique charm, and they all seem to look alike.
Until Shen Tang stepped forward and revealed his identity.
The group: "..."
Unaware of their thoughts, Shen Tang said, "No need for formalities. Let's find a place to settle my men first."
Looking at the faded official robes of the men, with patches of similar color on their clothes, she wondered to herself – the river magistrate's place was poor and remote, a small and poor place with many rich and wicked people, but it was not very scientific for the officials to be so poor.
The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
Shen Tang noticed the troubled expressions on their faces.
He then asked, "Is there a problem?"
One man steeled himself and said, "Lord Shen, you may not know this, but Fugu's treasury is empty. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it won't be able to accommodate so many people."
Shen Tang said, "I brought provisions."
I thought it was something serious.
The group breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
In fact, Fugu was even poorer than they said; it would be difficult to support even a few hundred people, let alone several thousand.
On the way, Gu Chi and Shen Tang whispered to each other.
He asked with a smile, "Does my lord know how poor Fugu is?"
Shen Tang rolled her eyes inwardly. The streets were filled with dilapidated houses, and there were hardly any ordinary people. Each person had more than a dozen tattered patches on their clothes, and they relied on shivering and their faith to keep warm... She had some idea of how poor they were. But to her surprise, Gu Chi said, "It's not just that."
oh?
And that's not all?
Isn't this poor enough?
Shen Tang had done her homework; she learned a lot about the situation under the jurisdiction of the River Governor from Bai Su, especially about the capital, Fugu. But Gu Chi's words made her uneasy.
But Gu Chi looked resolute, a teasing smile playing on his lips: "These officials will fall ill in a few days."
The term "transferring sick leave" refers to requesting leave on the grounds of illness.
Of course, this is a euphemism for resigning.
Shen Tang: "???"
Gu Chi sighed, "Three of them haven't received a single penny of their monthly salary for thirteen months..."
The rest are also in a sorry state.
The family was so poor they couldn't even afford to eat.
I'm still staying at my post because of a sense of responsibility.
The treasury was so poor that even rats didn't want to visit it.
Some of the lower-ranking officials have already fled.
These officials planned to subtly inquire whether Shen Tang would be willing to help pay off his overdue monthly salary out of his own pocket. No matter how much, it would be enough to get him home for the New Year. As for "transferring his illness," it was simply because they were living in poverty and wanted to find other ways to make a living.
Furthermore, Shen Tang had brought quite a few people with him, and there should be someone to take over their work after they "transfer their illnesses," which strengthened their resolve.
Shen Tang: "..."
This is so tragic...
But when she saw the place she was about to stay...
She then realized that she had been thinking too soon.
"Cough cough cough—how long has it been since this was cleaned?" Shen Tang casually wiped away a handful of dust, good heavens, a thick layer.
Look up at the roof beams again—
"This is definitely a dangerous building, isn't it?"
Shen Tang was poor, and the administrative center was poor.
When these two get together, they become even poorer.
She suspected that if she kicked a pillar, the entire house would collapse, burying them all alive. Shen Tang felt that the most urgent task was not to solve the survival crisis, but to find some people and some wood to reinforce the dilapidated house.
Otherwise, she wouldn't sleep soundly at night.
The officials were apprehensive upon seeing this.
He was afraid that Shen Tang would be unhappy because of this.
"It really is... dirt poor..." Shen Tang covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve to breathe, which made him feel a little better. He turned to the officials who had followed him and asked, "Do you usually handle the administrative affairs of the government office? Do you have any files or household registers? Where are the keys to the treasury?"
If this were a wealthy place, Shen Tang, the new official, would have wanted to "seize power" as soon as he took office, and the original team would have been unhappy and would not have cooperated. But He Yin was too poor, and these officials were eager to escape.
When Shen Tang brought it up, they readily handed it over.
Then--
Gu Chi heard Shen Tang scream inwardly, clutching her head.
Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap—
He instinctively raised his hand to cover his ears.
However, it was of no use.
Gu Chi said, "My lord!"
Shen Tang looked completely pale.
He said listlessly, "Leave me alone."
All she wants right now is some peace and quiet.
Good heavens! Several rooms were crammed full of unfinished official business, with various files and bamboo slips almost reaching the rafters, leaving barely any room to step. For a moment, she didn't know whether to be thankful that even if the rafters collapsed, they wouldn't crush her, or to lament her foreseeable corporate slave life…
She should just become a bandit.
I feel so sorry for myself, I need to hug myself tight.
The officials watched Shen Tang's face turn pale and then flushed, their hearts pounding with anxiety. They feared that Shen Tang would use this as an excuse to accuse them of "dereliction of duty" and establish his authority. They didn't want to, but the river region was in a state of extreme disorder, with various incidents occurring daily. The number of people in the administrative office was dwindling, and they were powerless to resolve the issues even if they wanted to.
We can only pile them up day by day.
Then--
It keeps piling up.
These were the result of his ex-wife secretly taking some firewood to keep warm during the harsh winter when there was no charcoal to burn; otherwise, there would have been even more. Shen Tang could only sigh deeply, a sigh heavy and sorrowful, carrying a heartbreaking complexity.
"Let's go check the treasury again."
She never gave up.
Perhaps the claim that even mice don't frequent the area is an exaggeration.
However, when she saw the dust-covered warehouse and the stench of decay that had been kept out of the light for so long, she was utterly devastated.
this--
It's a complete mess.
Shen Tang put her hand to her forehead.
She realized she had completely overthought things. There was no need to gather bandits near He Yin first, because poverty was the biggest survival crisis. As the governor of He Yin, she wouldn't be feared by those powerful families at all, given how poor He Yin was.
"Mr. Shen, the account books have been brought over."
Clang, clang, clang, several baskets.
Shen Tang knew without looking that the deficit was a number she couldn't even imagine, but she still glanced at it unwillingly—she endured the headache as she looked at the complicated records that she wasn't used to, and quickly did a rough calculation in her mind—and then, her heart died even more.
Even with a pacemaker, it didn't work.
Seeing the dejected look on Chen Xiaolang's face, Qi Shan comforted him, "Everything is difficult at the beginning, even though we're a bit poor..."
Shen Tang corrected his wording.
“It’s not that we’re ‘a little poor’.”
Not only were they poor, they were also in debt.
Qi Shan: "--But on the bright side, it is precisely because we are penniless and have no way out that we are better positioned to make our move."
The only advantage of a place so poor that people are practically starving is that there are fewer people who try to sabotage it, and more people it brings with it. Once someone takes office, all policies can be implemented without any obstacles. Taking over a county where older officials are interfering is much more troublesome.
That was the only way Shen Tang could console herself.
Anyway, she's not getting any of the good life.
Led by several officials, Shen Tang toured the small city of Fugu, silently noting in his mind where repairs were needed and where demolition and reconstruction were necessary. Before long, a rough outline of the new Fugu city came to mind.
The walls of Fugu City are not high, and parts of the walls have collapsed and crumbled, with withered vines and moss creeping through the cracks. Only a few gray-haired old soldiers stand guard at the city gate. The wind is very cold, and their clothes are not enough to keep them warm, so they can only huddle behind the dilapidated gate and stamp their feet to keep warm.
Upon seeing Shen Tang and his group, he turned pale with fright.
Seeing his expression, Shen Tang didn't react with the harshness he expected. Instead, she waved her hand, signaling him to go about his business. The official, seeing this, believed Shen Tang was a good-natured person, but also felt sorry for her young age.
The problem in Heyin is not just as simple as poverty.
If they were merely poor, these officials, though mediocre and certainly not capable of bringing wealth to the people, would certainly not be this poor. After all, they all came from impoverished backgrounds and understood the suffering of the common people. They could not bring prosperity to the people, but they would not commit evil deeds either.
"Shen Jun, watch your step."
The steps of the city wall are of varying heights.
In some places, the bricks and stones are still loose.
Stepping on it can easily cause you to lose your balance.
Shen Tang, however, walked as if on flat ground, easily climbing to the highest point and looking out over the entire Fugu City, which exuded an air of poverty. She soon noticed that the city's buildings were somewhat strange.
If you divide Fugu City into nine sections with the central axis as the center, the northeastern area, which is close to the core, features neat and heavy tiled eaves and an elaborate gate layout.
The long corridor winds and twists, with artificial hills and flowing water.
It exudes a touch of luxury in its understated elegance.
Beyond that, it's scattered and messy.
They are clearly two completely different worlds.
Shen Tang had a guess in her mind, but still pointed.
Where is that?
The officials' expressions changed drastically, and they stammered.
Shen Tang said, "There's nothing I can't say."
They figured that Shen Tang would eventually find out everything about Fugu City, and that Shen Jun would know even if they didn't tell him.
They then confessed everything.
However, they didn't want to offend the local bullies.
They were worried about incurring retaliation.
They all spoke tactfully.
It was only said that those few households were all wealthy families in Fugu City.
Oops, I forgot that the free trial period for Dingdeng was 48 hours...
The extra chapter will be released on Saturday after the free trial ends.
P.S.: Also, it's almost the end of the month, so I'm asking for your monthly votes. We currently have 5286 monthly votes, let's get to 6666 this month and start 2022 off to a good start! Hehehe.
(End of this chapter)
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