Lin Run climbed up to the top of Xiawei City Wall and looked out at the farmland outside the city.

It is harvest time now, and the rice fields are like a huge golden carpet, starting from the city and stretching to the distance.

The farmlands are dotted with farmers wielding sickles to harvest the rice, and ox carts carrying the harvested rice ears to the threshing grounds under the city. It is a scene of a bountiful harvest.

This was also the reason why Lin Daoquan was reluctant to go out before. The harvest season has arrived and he has to look after the house!

Lin Run took a deep breath of the rice fragrance and asked, "Were there originally so many fields here?"

"Originally, Xiawei Village had less than 100 households and 1,000 mu of land." Lin Daoqian said proudly, "After I was settled here, I tried my best to recruit people to cultivate the land, and finally expanded it to the current scale of 10,000 mu."

Lin Run took a look at Zhao Hao and thought to himself that this guy was just a low-profile version of Xiao Zhao. No wonder that guy liked him.

"Okay, agriculture is the foundation of the people. It's good that you realize this. I didn't misjudge you." Lin Run praised and tapped twice, saying, "But be careful not to encroach on the land of the people, and don't forcibly conscript men to give them an excuse to attack you."

"Yes." Lin Daoqian nodded, finally revealing a trace of the rebelliousness of a bandit: "But if they want to attack me, they can always find an excuse."

"Don't worry, I'm here for you." Lin Run waved his hand and said, "Come to Xiawei in person this time, and you'll know what's going on here. If someone falsely accuses you in the future, I'll speak for you. But you have to do your best and don't embarrass this hospital."

"Yes, I will never discredit Zhongcheng!" Lin Daoquan was really moved. He truly felt Lin Run's sincerity.

"Let go of the psychological pressure and work hard." Lin Run patted his shoulder and continued to encourage him gently: "In the past, you were wary of others who might harm you. But now we have our court in the province and Sima Zhao in the government - he is a kind and trustworthy elder, you can completely trust him."

He pointed to Li Chengli, the adjutant general of the Guanghuichao naval defense who was standing beside him and said, "And your immediate superior, come and express your opinion."

How could Li Chengli control a nominal guerrilla like Lin Daoqian who had his own army? Lin Zhongcheng asked him to express his opinion to give him face. So Li Chengli was also very sensible and expressed his absolute trust in Lin Youji, hoping that everyone would unite in the future to fight against the bandits.

"Yes." Lin Daoquan could not say anything else except nodding his head.

"Take advantage of this great opportunity and work hard in the next few years to make more contributions and change people's prejudices!" Lin Run said earnestly, "When you have made more contributions, you will find that your reputation has completely improved. No matter who is in charge of Guangdong and Chaozhou in the future, you don't have to worry about it being bad for you."

"Yes." After listening to Lin Zhongcheng's wise words, Lin Daoqian was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He knelt on one knee and swore, "I will definitely do a good job and will never let Zhongcheng down!"

"Okay, I believe you." Lin Run helped him up again and said softly, "From now on, you will be under the control of Sima Zhao, okay?"

"As you command!" Lin Daoqian responded without hesitation. Being supervised by superiors is a reflection of being in the system. If no one is in charge, it means being out of the system, which is also very uncomfortable.

Of course, if someone else was his superior, he would not agree even if Lin Run asked him to do so.

~~

It was already late when we came down from the city wall, but the days were long in summer and the sky was still bright.

Lin Run had a lot of official business to deal with in the evening, so he declined the dinner arranged by Lin Daoquan and asked him to cook a bowl of vegetarian noodles with a few light and refreshing cold dishes, and send it to the study, so that he could eat while working.

Zhao Hao also lost his appetite due to the heat, so he asked the guards to spread bamboo mats in the patio, set up a low square table, and light mosquito coils.

He asked Qiaoqiao to prepare some cold dishes, some fresh fruit dips, and some iced wine. Then he, Xu Wei, Lin Daoqian, and Tang Baolu sat down and started drinking.

The most relaxed person at this time was Xu Wei. He took off his outer robe, only wearing a pair of silk shorts, and even took off his wig...

It's not that Old Xu is arrogant and unruly, so he shaved his head. It's that he is bald. But not completely bald, with a few sparse hairs left.

The Fire Cloud Evil God type... was really too ugly. So he found a wig and wore it all the time except when he was bathing or sleeping.

When Zhao Hao went to Tianlao to see him for the first time, Xu Wenchang was completely naked, but he was still wearing this thing on his head.

When he arrived in Guangdong, it was so hot that he didn't care about anything else. He would rather admit that he was bald than not take it off to keep cool.

Mr. Zhao was so envious that he wanted to go shirtless and shave his head. Guangdong is really not a place suitable for hair and clothes.

Unfortunately, Master Zhao still had to pay attention to his image in front of Lin Daoquan, so he just changed into the most transparent and cool gauze dress, sat cross-legged in the upper seat and talked to him.

Although his butt was covered in sweat, his face remained calm and he asked with a smile, "How is it? Are you relieved now?"

"I'm relieved. I'm 100% relieved." Lin Daoquan said sincerely convinced.

"I will definitely do what Mr. Qingteng promised you. Not only will the governor endorse you, but the governor will come soon." Zhao Hao said with a smile. No one would think he was bragging no matter what he said now. At least Lin Daoqian would not.

"No, no, this is enough." Lin Daoqian was shocked. What he feared most was Yin Zhengmao, who claimed to "keep half". No matter whether he came with words or force, he would have to peel off a layer of skin.

And most likely, not even a bone will be left.

He waved his hands and said with an apologetic smile: "Sir, there is really no need to do this. In fact, it is enough to ask Minister Lin to issue a letter. If I trouble the Governor-General to come in person, I will be guilty of a great sin."

"You may not understand my style." Zhao Hao smiled faintly and said domineeringly: "I always keep my promises and will never break my promises for any reason."

Tang Baolu, who was chewing on a chicken foot in sauce, almost stuck a chicken bone into his throat when he heard this. When did you have this rule, young master? Isn't this too childish?

Xu Wei knew that Zhao Hao was talking nonsense. Could Yin Zhengmao be the same as Lin Run? Not to mention that Zhao Hao didn't even know Yin Zhengmao, just talking about Governor Yin's bad reputation of "keeping half", who would dare to take the initiative to greet him? Aren't they afraid that he would take away three feet of the land in Chaozhou Prefecture?

~~

As if seeing the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Zhao Hao suddenly laughed and said, "It seems that I ruined the atmosphere. Well, I was joking, I didn't invite Yin Butang."

"Ah..." Tang Baolu let out a long sigh and spit out the chicken bone.

"Haha, young master is so humorous." Lin Daoquan cursed in his heart, laughed dryly, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, feeling lucky to have escaped death.

But Zhao Hao changed the subject and gasped, "But unfortunately, he came uninvited."

"What?" Lin Daoqian's face immediately turned green. "Really?"

"Really? I just found out about it yesterday." Zhao Hao nodded and smiled bitterly, "Yesterday, Lin Zhongcheng told me that the Governor-General is planning to wipe out the bandits led by Lan Yiqing and Lai Yuanjue who are entrenched in the mountainous areas of Huizhou, Chaozhou."

"This is a good thing." Lin Daoqian's voice trembled a little as he said, "But what does this have to do with Xiawei?"

"Governor Yin will personally go to Jieyang County to take charge, so the Eastern Route Army will also take the sea route into Rongjiang, and join forces with the Eastern Route Army led by Zhang Yuanxun to attack the bandit camp from both sides." Then Zhao Hao said in a heavy tone:

"Lin Zhongcheng speculated that the reason why Governor Yin chose to go to the eastern route instead of Huizhou was probably to regain his position - his trusted and beloved general Li Zuoguo, the prefect, disappeared in Jieyang. By the way, Brother Lin, do you have any news about the prefect?"

"No, whenever His Excellency comes to Xiawei, I will of course personally escort him back to the city as soon as possible." Lin Daoqian quickly clarified.

"Don't be nervous, I'm just asking casually." Zhao Hao smiled and said, "Where were we talking just now? Oh, yes, with Governor Yin's rebellious temper, I don't know how to deal with Jieyang County!"

"Alas..." Lin Daoquan sighed with a sad face and lowered his head.

He was not worried about Jieyang, but Xiawei City was built beside the estuary of Rongjiang River. To go to Jieyang by water, one must pass through Xiawei. Referring to Zeng Yiben's worry about him, by the same logic, how could Yin Zhengmao hand over the retreat to a surrendered general with his own troops?

Governor Yin happened to be leading a large number of troops, so it was very likely that he would be killed.

Or, to be more particular, he and his men could be conscripted to follow the bandits into the mountains, and used as cannon fodder in the mountains of inland Guangdong...

Lin Daoqian was completely panicked when he thought of this. He clenched his hands tightly and could not speak, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.

I didn't expect that the hope I just saw would be shattered in the blink of an eye. And the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment...

For a moment, he even wanted to lead his army out to sea and escape immediately.

The atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

~~

"Silly boy, what are you worrying about? Come, light a cigarette for your father." Lin Daoquan was in a daze when he heard Xu Wei say in a bad mood from the side.

"Oh..." Lin Daoquan subconsciously picked up the fire starter on the table and blew it a few times before it lit.

Looking at the orange light on the tinder, he suddenly had an idea. If he was going to die soon, why did Lin Zhongcheng say those New Year greetings to him? Wasn't that asking for trouble?

Thinking about it this way, every word Lin Zhongcheng said clearly had hidden meaning!

Lin Daoqian's ears rang with Lin Run's earlier words:

"Let go of the psychological pressure and work hard. In the past, you were wary of others who might harm you. But now we have our court in the province and Sima Zhao in the government—he is a kind and trustworthy elder, you can completely trust him."

"We should take advantage of this great opportunity and work hard in the next few years to achieve more and change people's prejudices!"

"Then from now on, you will be under the command of Sima Zhao, okay?"

So there must be a solution to the problem! And the key lies in Sima Zhao!

Lin Daoqian suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhao Hao. Sima Zhao was not here, and neither was Sima Zhao's son!

The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it!

"Please teach me... No, please save me!" Lin Daoquan forced himself to calm down and kowtowed.