Chapter 518: A Day in the Life of a Corporate Slave (Part 2) [Happy Mid-Autumn Festival]
Qi Shan's letter to her friend was not kept secret. Gu Chi and the other shrewd people knew what was going on after a little thought, especially Jiang Sheng and Xun Zhen. The two of them kept their composure and pretended not to know anything about it, while Chu Yao and Kang Shi merely raised an eyebrow.
Only Gu Chi knew some of the inside story, so one day he took the initiative to bring it up and ask Shen Tang if she knew about it.
Shen Tang said, "I know."
Gu Chi's expression was somewhat indescribable.
Shen Tang was engrossed in eating.
The rim of the ceramic bowl was twice the size of her face—this was her special request. Otherwise, if she ate from a small bowl, she would have to refill her bowl thirty or forty times per meal, and people who didn't know her would think she was a reincarnated glutton. The large bowl was much more convenient; she only needed to refill it a few times.
She swallowed the rice in her mouth before continuing, "Sigh, I'm just worried that Yuanliang will suffer. Although Xian Deng and Han Zhang are both reasonable people who won't bring personal grudges into official business, they don't get along with Yuanliang. Yesterday, his Su Shang beat Wu Hui's dog again, and Wu Hui's face is quite dark today... Sigh, I'm afraid that if this continues, Yuanliang will develop health problems."
I counted them on my fingers.
Qi Shan's popularity is surprisingly poor.
The only people on his team who were close to him were his nemesis cousin Kang Shi and his frenemy Gu Chi, whom Shen Tang worried might develop workplace depression.
Having a couple more like-minded best buddies means you can go out for a stroll hand-in-hand during holidays, or visit each other with a destination in mind.
Thinking about this, I feel even more that I am a good boss.
Gu Chi ignored Shen Tang's bewitching inner voice.
He asked her, "Isn't the lord worried about causing conflict?"
Shen Tang was fearless: "Yuan Liang is my second life. How many lords would rather die than have him? Do you think Xian Deng and the others would be wary of him? We are all smart people, and we will know where the bottom line is. In Yuan Liang's eyes, anyone who can become his enemy or friend is not an ignorant fool. He is bound to me by life and death, and he would not invite such a person to cause trouble."
Gu Chi: "..."
Those who praise our lord as a paragon of virtue and an upright gentleman should come and see for themselves; they'll learn that he's far more cunning than they think. But—that's what I mean—Gu Chi isn't here to tattle, but to share some gossip.
After slurping up the last mouthful of soup, Shen Tang wiped his mouth.
"What news?"
"Qi Yuanliang's enemies and friends are almost the same."
Shen Tang almost thought she had misheard.
"What?"
Birds of a feather flock together.
That's all he could say.
Shen Tang: "..."
Gu Chi smiled and said, "But with your extraordinary abilities, my lord, you should be able to handle this with ease, right?"
Shen Tang: "..."
I had a nightmare that night.
Qi Shan smiled sinisterly, casually pulling up one strategist after another, each seemingly burdened with the "useless lord" debuff, for her to examine. Shen Tang trembled with fear and helplessness at the sight of each one, her nightmares waking her up as she tossed and turned until dawn.
Fortunately, Qi Shan was unaware of this.
If they knew, they would definitely have said a few harsh words.
Sending a letter is one thing, but getting a response is another. Literary figures are often proud and ambitious, each with their own pursuits, and very few are unsuccessful for various reasons. Those like Xun Zhen, Kang Shi, and Gu Chi, who remain single for extended periods due to various reasons, are always a minority. Most, once they gain fame, are offered gold, silver, power, and status, with invitations to return to public life.
After all, even the most brilliant literary figures need to make a living or support their families; they can't just sit in one place, determined to wait for the person who best suits their taste. His letters will most likely disappear without a trace; getting even one reply would be considered lucky.
Even if they replied, a check of Shen Tang's meager resources might scare her away, just as she had said before—she couldn't afford to recruit her. Qi Shan's letter was just a gamble.
If we could just stumble upon something by sheer luck, that would be wonderful.
If not, there's no loss.
Gu Chi is the most despicable of all, deliberately scaring people.
Shen Tang recovered from the lingering effects of the nightmare in just one afternoon.
It wasn't that she was carefree; rather, as a corporate slave facing heavy workloads, she had no right to wallow in melancholy. With the border threat temporarily eliminated, Shen Tang could now fully dedicate herself to the construction of Longwu County.
In the first few days after arriving in Longwu County, she was busy settling the disaster victims and building temporary charitable halls. After that, she went to Shiwu without stopping, and had no time to calmly learn about the situation in Longwu County. She was shocked by what she found.
A complete mess!
This is only the result of Qi Shan and others handling part of it.
She couldn't even imagine how bad things had been before.
The most serious issue wasn't the mountain of wrongful convictions, but rather the household registration system and tax revenue. Longwu County was frequently embroiled in war, and in recent years, due to the weakening of its border defenses, bandits had increased their raids and plundering, making population decline a natural consequence.
However, the bandits fought small-scale battles and dared not cause a big disturbance. With Chu Jie guarding Yonggu Pass, they were able to defend it to the maximum extent possible. Longwu County also had a former prefect in charge, and their troops could be dispatched quickly to provide support. But the number of deaths reported each time was unusually high.
Longwu County is not a large county.
But less than a thousand households remain in one county.
Shen Tang pointed at the table and sneered, then asked the veteran officials of Longwu County, "Don't you think this is outrageous?"
The people below looked at each other in bewilderment.
No one dared to speak first.
The prestige Shen Tang accumulated during the Battle of Shiwu had little deterrent effect or value elsewhere, but it was sufficient in Longwu County. Shen Tang took a deep breath and said, "The city alone has taken in more than three thousand households of refugees, and more are arriving one after another. I ask you—why is there only nine hundred and sixty households registered in the county government's records? Why are there so many other households reported?"
Good heavens, are all two thousand-plus households ghosts?
The group remained silent, unwilling to be the first to speak up.
Once you become the one to stick your neck out, Shen Tang might be satisfied, but the person you offended will definitely be very unhappy!
Shen Tang stared at the group with a stern face.
After a long stalemate, Shen Tang finally waved for them all to leave. These were all timid old hands; they could be used when things were peaceful, but in crucial moments, they absolutely could not be allowed to get involved, as they would only cause trouble.
Even though they didn't say it, Shen Tang knew.
Naturally, some people took advantage of the bandits' looting to report living people as "dead"—how could "dead" people pay taxes per head? Don't underestimate the small amount of tax evaded per person; if there are many such "dead" people, wouldn't it add up over time? These "dead" people can still work in the fields, and they can pay whatever rent the tenants ask for, because they have lost their household registration!
Who benefits most from this?
Hehe, of course it's who did it.
So who did it?
Naturally, he must have owned countless fields and properties.
They are the owners of the land, but they cannot work in the fields themselves, so they need people who eat the least amount of food and do the most work. If it weren't for the fact that people would die if they didn't eat, it would be best if people who don't eat, drink, or sleep would work the land for them.
Shen Tang rubbed her temples and called Qi Shan over.
He asked softly, "How's the evidence gathering going?"
Without resolving the land and household registration issues, Shen Tang's position as prefect is merely nominal. Forget about supporting an army; she can't even pay the salaries of her makeshift staff! The national treasury of Shiwu can't afford to allow her to restock every year; she'll simply be living off its resources.
Qi Shan understood what Shen Tang was asking.
“Three families took advantage of this opportunity to eliminate them, and they did it cleanly, so no one will suspect us. The evidence has also been collected and stored properly. However, other wealthy and powerful families in Longwu County seem to be on guard, and we cannot deliberately let the bandits into the country at this time…”
You can't do something so risky.
Once exposed, Shen Tang's reputation will be ruined instantly.
After all, the fact that a prefectural head was "colluding" with bandits was explosive negative news. Zheng Qiao was still the king; if someone reported this, Shen Tang would be exiled or transferred again, and that would be the end of him. Qi Shan was hesitant to act rashly at this moment.
According to his original plan, he could have completely eradicated these malignant tumors in one fell swoop by using the bandits. However, his colleagues were too helpful, and with the miraculous assistance of Xun Zhen and Yan Xingning, the losses at Yonggu Pass were minimized.
The number of bandits who invaded Longwu County was small.
Sigh, I'm incapable of accomplishing great things.
Shen Tang hardened her heart: "Then let's make an example of this."
These local tyrants and bullies have committed so many evil deeds that they've long lost all sense of awe. Some of them even dream of welcoming the Ten Kings' army so they can rise to power overnight. They bully the former prefect because he died a tragic death, and they bully Shen Tang because she's young and new to the area…
Doing things doesn't necessarily mean cleaning up the mess.
They're now bald and covered in lice.
They can seize any excuse to make a fuss.
Qi Shan and Shen Tang shared the same idea: "Does the lord mean to take action under the guise of this thorough household registration investigation?"
Shen Tang nodded coldly: "Yes, find an opportunity for a surprise inspection! Screen every piece of land in Longwu County! With so many living people, can they hide in the sky or underground? If even one doesn't match, I'll kill them!"
Population is related to taxation.
Hiding one's population is tax evasion.
It won't shed a layer of skin no matter where it's placed!
Using this as a pretext, and with the evidence Qi Shan had gathered, Shen Tang intended to show no mercy this time and go all the way. Although taking drastic measures could cause serious damage, it was better than letting the decaying flesh erode the marrow and eventually become incurable, wasn't it?
Shen Tang added, "Leave this matter to our own people. I don't trust the officials from Longwu County. Send people to keep an eye on them. If they tip anyone off, lock them up and settle accounts with them later."
Qi Shan nodded: "That's natural."
Shen Tang licked her dry lips.
A strong, faint smell of blood could be detected at the tip of my nose.
She didn't want to raise the butcher's knife, but someone was forcing their way into it. Since that was the case, why not accept it? Besides the household registration and taxation issue, another major problem lay before her. Spring was approaching, but the reality was—no seeds, no oxen, no farming tools, no land, and not even people to cultivate it… How was she supposed to survive this year?
Shiwu's treasury was very rich, but at this critical juncture, everyone was tightening their belts. Apart from the landlords, who had any surplus grain? Gold and silver could be exchanged for grain, but the price would definitely be high, making it clearly a losing proposition.
Shen Tang wavered back and forth because of this.
Can we really expect Lin Feng to support the entire county's population all by himself? Even if we sold the little girl by weight, it wouldn't last a day.
Shen Tang's spring plowing prophecy worked again; without arable land and seeds, crops could not possibly grow out of thin air...
After much deliberation, if that still doesn't work—
She had to find another way.
For example, pleading poverty to an old neighbor.
It seems that Wu Xian and the others have gotten used to this.
Shen Tang rested her chin on her hand, absentmindedly pondering how to ask for credit. Before she could come up with a solution, another blow struck. Zhao Feng, having completed his handover, wanted to submit his resignation.
He worked for Shen Tang for two years to repay her kindness.
Two years of work for nothing.
If this drags on any longer, we won't even know who the boss is anymore.
Wu Xian's side gradually began to complain, and Zhao Feng thought that he had done enough to repay his debt of gratitude. Shen Jun no longer had any external threats in Longwu County, and with two years of steady progress, he should be able to settle down. So, he prepared to speak up and take his men back.
Shen Tang let out an "Ah".
My first instinct was to ask Zhao Feng where he went.
Then she realized that she wasn't Zhao Dayi's boss—and she was embarrassed. She had been so used to managing people these past two years that she had forgotten how to use the word "cold shoulder." Although she felt regretful, she knew she had no reason to force him to stay.
It is rare in the world for someone to repay a debt of gratitude to Zhao Dayi. If I don't let him go, how can I stand on my own two feet?
He asked in a gentle voice, "When will our righteous preparations begin?"
Zhao Feng was a little embarrassed: "Ten days later."
Although he had worked for free for two years, Shen Tang hadn't neglected himself. He prioritized his own troops in terms of supplies and military provisions, showing remarkable generosity. Zhao Feng initially worried that his troops' strength had declined over the past two years, but the battle at Yonggu Pass proved otherwise. Not only had they not regressed, but they had actually improved significantly, with their martial energy becoming several times stronger.
After thinking it over, it must be related to the unlimited supply of alcoholic beverages in the past two years, which are not cheap.
Zhao Feng corresponded with his family and learned from snippets of their letters that Shen Jun's brewed wine was selling like hotcakes in Tianhai and the surrounding areas, with each jar being extremely rare. If it weren't for supplying him, this wine would have brought Shen Tang even greater profits if it had entered the market.
Therefore, in Zhao Feng's honest and simple heart, he actually still owed Shen Tang a favor, but he really couldn't delay any longer.
He himself is doing well, but many of his brothers have families and are separated from their loved ones for a long time, and they miss them terribly.
"Ten days..." Shen Tang murmured, "Alright, I'll throw a farewell banquet for Dayi later. I've delayed you too much these past two years."
"No, no, no, Mr. Shen, please don't say that."
These past two years have definitely been the most comfortable and fulfilling two years of his life. He even found enjoyment in farming. If there is no more war in the future, farming and living in seclusion would be a good option.
Shen Tang's prompt agreement to let them go brought him a great sense of relief.
I'm really afraid that Shen Tang will say something she doesn't want to say.
Keeping it or not is not an option.
Zhao Feng left, and Chu Yao came again.
It was dark by then, and servants lit lamps for illumination.
"Why is Wu Hui here at this time?"
Judging from his serious expression, it must be something important.
"I suddenly remembered something I need to tell my lord."
Chu Yao became serious, and Shen Tang followed suit.
"Let's talk about it without obscurity."
"This matter is related to the Imperial Seal and General Zhao."
Shen Tang's heart sank slightly: "Dayi is unaware of the matter of the Imperial Seal, and he's not someone who can hide his thoughts..."
They were afraid that Chu Yao would say something about killing Zhao Feng.
If Zhao Feng suddenly stops acting, everyone will suspect her. It's like burying your head in the sand, and Wu Xian won't let it go.
But clearly, Shen Tang was overthinking it.
That wasn't Chu Yao's purpose in coming.
ヾ(ω`)o
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, my darlings!
Have you eaten mooncakes yet?
(End of this chapter)
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