60 Juntian
"You've got a tough hand."
When Xu Youcai caught up with the main force of the Black Flag Army at full speed, the army had just passed Yiyang County. A hundred miles or so from Yiyang County was the Shule River.
Currently, the troops are stationed outside the city.
The Shatuo had been pursued all night and was now fleeing in panic.
Last night, the two sides fought another tough battle.
Zhu Xie and Ge Bo led their men in a frontal attack, and Xiao Pingchuan met them in battle. The two sides fought each other openly and frankly.
The Shatuo troops were exhausted, and their morale waned with each battle. In the end, Xiao Pingchuan broke through their ranks and annihilated many of them.
Xu Youcai entered the tent, where Xiao Pingchuan and Shi Ye were discussing whether to directly eliminate Zhu Xiegebo.
Xiao Pingchuan's meaning was that Zhu Xiegebo had to be kept alive. The reason was simply to allow this good-for-nothing to secure his throne, so that the Black Flag Army could have time to recuperate and prepare for a complete attack on the Shatuo royal court.
Shi Ye thought so too, but with such a tempting piece of meat right in front of him, he couldn't bear not to take a bite.
"Otherwise, we can capture him alive and have the Shatuo people exchange him for something," Shi Ye said.
"Let's see if there's an opportunity..."
Just then, Xu Youcai reported: "General, Your Highness, I have something important to report."
Upon hearing Xu Youcai's voice, the two assumed something had happened to Shen Suqin and quickly invited him in.
"Didn't I tell you to protect her properly? What are you doing here?" Xiao Pingchuan asked Xu Youcai abruptly upon seeing him.
"It was Madam who sent me," he said aggrievedly, not forgetting to bow to the Crown Prince as he spoke, "Your Highness."
Shi Ye waved his hand: "Speak, what's the important matter?"
"My wife asked me to pass on two messages to you: the time for equal land distribution has come, so don't miss the spring planting."
A bright light flashed in Shi Ye's eyes: "She's really decided to go all out and do it?"
Xu Youcai: "That's what Madam said."
“Then I must hurry back to Ningyuan,” Shi Ye said excitedly. “Spring plowing is just around the corner, and equalizing the land distribution is a huge project. But Jinzhou is your territory, so I have to ask for your opinion.”
Xiao Pingchuan waved his hand, "Stop with this nonsense. Do whatever you want. No one in Jinzhou will dare to disrespect you."
Shi Ye hugged him: "Good brother!"
Xiao Pingchuan pushed him aside slightly and asked Xu Youcai, "Did Madam give any additional instructions?"
Xu Youcai: "No."
"Didn't she ask me?"
Xu Youcai shook his head: "No, Madam is very busy in Ningyuan. She is in charge of building heated kang beds and warm sheds."
Xiao Pingchuan knew about the heated kang bed; someone in Yiyang County had paid someone to repair it, and he had seen it; it was indeed warm.
"What is a greenhouse?" Xiao Pingchuan asked.
"The lady said it's a greenhouse where fruits and vegetables can be grown in winter."
This time, Shi Ye couldn't hold back any longer: "Where does she get so many ideas all day long?"
Xu Youcai disagreed, saying, "My wife is well-read and knowledgeable, so naturally she has many ways to make money, all for the sake of the people."
"Yes, yes, yes, those are all good things that benefit the people." Shi Ye said the second half to Xiao Pingchuan, "If we want to reform the land system, it's not appropriate for her and me to do it ourselves. I'm afraid you'll have to borrow our general's seal for a while."
Jinzhou was, after all, Xiao Pingchuan's territory. He was a general's wife and Xiao Pingchuan was the crown prince. It would be illegitimate for them to interfere.
“I’ll let you take it with you when you leave,” Xiao Pingchuan said.
Shi Ye's tone was somewhat jealous: "Hundreds of officials have been pressuring you for years, but you haven't given in to hand over the seal of office. You've only just married a new wife, and you're already offering it up with both hands?"
"Just tell me if you want it or not."
"Yes, of course I want it."
At this point, Xiao Pingchuan's patience ran out. He grabbed Shi Ye by the collar and threw him out of the tent.
"Is there anything else, Madam?"
Xu Youcai shrank his neck: "That's all. We already have the general's seal, so documents and such are no longer important."
Xiao Pingchuan: "How much do you know about that eulogy?"
"Oh, Madam said that according to the timeline, the previous 300,000 shi of grain should have been used up, so she wanted to find a way to get the court to do some work."
Xiao Pingchuan guessed that was the reason, but he had read that eulogy many times. It was full of emotion between the lines and was definitely not a perfunctory or utilitarian work.
"When you go back, please take this to her for me."
He took out a wooden box from his pocket. The box had no patterns, but it was clearly polished and quite exquisite.
Xu Youcai took it and asked curiously, "What's this? Can I open it?"
"Can't."
"oh."
Shi Ye had seen it when he was polishing it before, and he said, "I don't think she might like it, it's too flashy."
Xiao Pingchuan thought to himself that he must ask her in person when he had the chance, and if she didn't like it, he would try to persuade her to do something else.
Early the next morning, Xu Youcai took Shi Ye and the general's seal and headed towards Ningyuan.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhao, the owner of Ningyuan Xingyuan Restaurant, has been extremely busy these past few days.
Ever since the Reunion Pot became famous that day, everyone who comes to eat here asks him when the pot will be served.
However, this copper hot pot was exquisitely crafted. He asked the blacksmith to make it overnight, imitating the pot given by Shen Suqin. Several days passed and he only managed to make two or three.
Fortunately, the old blacksmith was skilled, and the things he made were quite good. Even Shen Suqin said they were better than her original ones.
Right now, the pot has been secured, but the menu is still undecided.
In winter, everything in Daliang withers and there are no fresh vegetables to eat. The most common foods are cabbage and radishes stored up in autumn, as well as dried wild vegetables, pickled vegetables, and so on. Everyone eats these every day and every meal until they are tired of them.
This is precisely why Shen Suqin insists on building greenhouses to grow vegetables. Some common leafy green vegetables can mature in about a month. If the greenhouses can be built in half a month, the vegetables can be on the market before the Chinese New Year.
If it's launched alongside hot pot, it's sure to make a fortune.
Therefore, Shen Suqin instructed Manager Zhao to make more copper hot pots so that the managers from various places who were going north to settle accounts could take them back with them.
"Don't worry, boss, I'll definitely get it done for you," said Manager Zhao.
Shen Suqin smiled and said, "I naturally trust the manager to do things."
As they left the restaurant, Ju Tao draped a fox fur coat over Shen Suqin and whispered, "That person is heading towards Ningyuan."
Shen Suqin frowned: "What's he doing here?"
After saying that, she paused for a moment, and continued, "Yes, about the land distribution. But it's not appropriate for him to get involved."
"Why?"
"With the issuance of the land equalization order, he has declared war on the powerful clans. Does this mean he doesn't want to return to the capital and doesn't want to be the crown prince anymore?"
"I don't understand this at all. I just heard from my subordinates that the two of them traveled day and night and were working very hard."
"Alright, when you get back, help tidy up and make room for him in the courtyard." Her eyes darkened as she said this, "Does Aunt Jiang still forbid you from interfering in the affairs of the General's Mansion?"
"Yes."
"What about the silver? Did she ask you for it?"
"We'll take it without fail."
"Tsk."
"Sister Qin, I don't understand. The general clearly instructed that you would be in charge of the general's mansion. Why does this Aunt Jiang dare to hold on to it, and why are you unwilling to touch her?"
You should know that in the capital, that old nanny in the Shen family didn't have a good life; she was beaten every few days.
"Aunt Jiang is the general's wet nurse, which is equivalent to half a mother. I am an outsider and it is not appropriate for me to make a move."
"But she not only cuts off your food and clothing, she also won't allow you to repair your house. The tables, chairs, and benches are old and rotten, which is really not in line with the general's status. In the future, shopkeepers from all over the country will come to visit the general's mansion. What will they think of you when they see you like this?"
Ju Tao allocated a considerable amount of silver to the mansion and had already instructed the servants to repair the houses, renovate the furniture, and buy a few maids and servants.
But Aunt Jiang accepted the money but refused to do any work, insisting that there were too few people in the house to accommodate everyone, and that the furniture was fine and they should just make do...
Shen Suqin pressed her temples and said, "Take advantage of the opportunity to receive that person, and you can skip Aunt Jiang and go straight to the repairs. If there's anything, have her come to me."
"good."
"Also, does Yuanxiang know what she does, leaving early and returning late every day?"
Ju Tao recalled that she hadn't paid much attention to this person, mainly because the girl was quiet and reserved and didn't talk much.
"I'll have someone investigate."
"Um."
In the days that followed, Shen Suqin had a little more free time and was in the mood to lean against the veranda and read some leisurely books.
Sometimes Xiao Hei would sweep the yard with a broom, and the two of them would stand on opposite sides, neither of them bothering the other.
That day, the sun was a bit dazzling. Shen Suqin closed her book, squinted at Xiao Hei for a while, and asked him, "Have you grown taller?"
When she first brought him home, Xiao Hei only seemed to reach her chest, but now he's probably as tall as her.
Little Black nodded.
"You've grown so fast, like you're shooting up a tree." Shen Suqin put the book aside. "I've never asked you before, what did your family do before?"
“Open a private school.”
"Your parents?"
"Dead."
"My parents are dead too."
Little Black choked.
Shen Suqin then asked, "How old are you this year?"
Seventeen.
"Huh? You're only two years younger than me. How old were you when you started living on your own?"
"Twelve years old."
“I was older than you, I was five years older.”
Xiao Hei was stunned.
"If your family runs a private school, your name shouldn't be Xiao Hei, right?"
She named him Xiao Hei randomly because his eyes were black and bright.
"Um."
"What's it called?"
"Liu Zimu."
"The 'self-cultivation' in 'a humble gentleman' refers to the self-cultivation through humility?"
"Um."
Shen Suqin sighed: "Do you want to study?"
Liu Zimu shook his head: "I just want to have a full meal."
“I’ll provide you with meals. From today onwards, you will study with me. I am a student of Ji Weiya, so I should be qualified to teach you.”
Liu Zimu was stunned once again. He knew Ji Weiya, the mountain his father had described as unattainable.
He hesitated for a long time before saying, "But I hate you."
Shen Suqin felt a tightness in her chest for a moment. She remembered that the first thing Xiao Hei said to her was, "How can I repay you?"
She thought that even if he wasn't grateful to her, he at least didn't hate her, which is why she decided to take him in.
"You were lying to me back then?" Shen Suqin asked him.
Liu Zimou: "That day you gave us some bread, but then you ignored us and we had to find our own way out. In the middle of the night, we encountered a blizzard, and everyone huddled together. Because I was small, I was treated like a child and protected in the middle. I remember that there were hands and feet all around me, and I was so pressed down that I couldn't breathe. At that time, I thought, if only you could save us again."
"But you didn't come, and I watched them die one by one. I hate you. I know it's unreasonable, but you should either not save them at all or save them completely. Why did you give us hope only to destroy it with your own hands?"
When Liu Zimu spoke these words, his voice was fluent and his tone was flat, as if he were simply stating something completely unrelated.
Shen Suqin remained silent.
The sun overhead was still very strong and bright.
“You have to understand, given the circumstances at the time, not many people would have chosen to stop,” Shen Suqin said.
"Then why did you save me later?"
Shen Suqin said gently, "Because I lost my mind. You're still young, there's no need to give up such a good opportunity. One day, you'll be the one to personally save the millions of suffering people in the world, wouldn't that be better?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Zimu slowly lowered his eyes.
After a long pause, he replied in a low voice, "Okay."
Shen Suqin nodded, got up, went into his study, picked up a few books, handed them to him, and said, "After you finish reading these books, write me an essay every day. It doesn't matter what you write. I want to test your knowledge."
"Um."
At this time, Shen Suqin had no idea what kind of talent she was cultivating for Shi Ye's empire.
During the few days that Shen Suqin was resting, the General's Mansion was undergoing renovations to welcome the Crown Prince, and the clanging and banging noises everywhere were so loud that it hurt people's ears.
In addition, Aunt Jiang kept a close eye on the construction workers like a thief, and would shout loudly that this couldn't be moved and that couldn't be moved at any time.
Later, she even went directly to the main courtyard to find Shen Suqin and said, "Although you are the lady of this house, you are still young and do not know the cost of firewood and rice when you are not in charge of the household. This is not how you spend money."
Aunt Jiang was clearly unaware that Shen Suqin managed hundreds of restaurants.
“Auntie is right,” Shen Suqin replied perfunctorily, “but the Crown Prince is of noble status after all. If we mistreat him, it may affect the general’s career. So even though I feel bad about spending this money, I have no choice but to spend it.”
When the topic of its impact on Xiao Pingchuan's career came up, Aunt Jiang was speechless. She smoothed her meticulously styled hair at her temples and said, "Let's leave it at that for now."
After saying that, he quickly went downstairs.
But less than the time it takes to eat a meal, she came over again and said, "You can't keep young and pretty maids in the mansion."
"Why?" Shen Suqin lifted her eyelids.
Aunt Jiang lowered her voice: "You don't understand men. With young and beautiful girls around, it's hard not to be tempted. Keeping maids is just making things difficult for you."
"But the mansion can't be without servants to clean and tidy it up."
"I can do it myself, or you can hire some quick-witted old women."
Shen Suqin didn't want to waste time on this, so she said, "Auntie, you decide what to do."
Two days later, Xu Youcai returned with Shi Ye.
The moment I entered the mansion, I felt the difference. First, the broken floor tiles had been replaced with bluestone slabs, which looked much cleaner and more refreshing. Then, the roof tiles and beams had been repaired, making it look much brighter. Finally, the tables, chairs, and benches had all been replaced with nanmu wood, which is quite precious.
He clicked his tongue and whispered, "It's really different when the General's Mansion has a mistress."
Shi Ye didn't hear what he said clearly and asked, "What did you say?"
Xu Youcai shook his head: "I'll take you to see Madam."
Shi Ye nodded.
Shen Suqin knew they were returning today, so she didn't go out and waited in the mansion.
When the gate opened, she was in the study reciting her lessons.
This child is exceptionally talented, able to draw inferences from one instance to another and possesses a photographic memory.
She listened with her eyes closed as he recited his lessons with intonation and rhythm, feeling very relaxed.
This scene, witnessed by Shi Ye who hadn't seen Shen Suqin for a long time, stirred his emotions deeply for some reason.
Perhaps it was because the previous times he had met her, they had either been confrontational or fraught with danger, and he had rarely seen her so serene and elegant.
"Madam, His Highness has arrived," Xu Youcai called out from afar.
Shen Suqin opened her eyes and waved her hand to signal Liu Zimu to stop: "Go down and read your book yourself."
Liu Zimu nodded, took the book and came out of the study, his eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring Shi Ye's scrutinizing gaze.
"Your Highness," Shen Suqin greeted through the window, "Brother Xu, you've worked hard."
Xu Youcai quickly shook his head, stepped forward, and handed her the seal, saying, "The general's seal and documents are here, and this box is what the general asked me to give you. You two chat, I'll go down first."
"good."
After Xu Youcai left, Shi Ye took two steps closer and sat down on the veranda through the window.
He was quite tired after traveling day and night for the past two days.
Shen Suqin noticed the weariness on his face but didn't say anything, just sat quietly with him.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Shi Ye spoke first: "What are your thoughts on the matter of equal land distribution?"
"I want to use the general's authority to order the entire state to clear and measure the land, and then distribute it."
"If anyone objects."
"beat."
"If you don't accept the fight."
"kill."
Shi Ye chuckled: "You've got some serious skills."
Shen Suqin: "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Therefore, it is not convenient for you, Your Highness, to intervene in the matter of equal land distribution."
Shi Ye naturally knew: "I know. I came back this time just to participate in this matter personally. If it is to be implemented throughout Daliang in the future, I will know the details so that I will not make any mistakes."
He never intended to show his face; if you're trying to escape, you should be aware that you're trying to escape.
Shen Suqin had always known that this man cared about the people of the world, which was why he had always treated him with a kind and gentle demeanor.
"That's good. I'd like to temporarily entrust this matter to Brother Xu. What do you think?"
Shi Ye disagreed: "It would be better to have someone who is good at handling all situations step forward. It would require weighing the various forces involved, and Xu Youcai is not influential enough."
Shen Suqin: "I disagree. This is the northernmost part of the northern border, Jinzhou, a place known for its fierce people. It's not the capital. There's no need to weigh the pros and cons. As long as our fists are strong enough, that's all that matters."
Shi Ye was speechless for a moment, then thought about it and realized it was indeed true. He said, "I misunderstood. Then I will be General Xu's deputy."
Shen Suqin remained noncommittal.
"Do you think you can handle it before spring planting?" she asked.
"What kind of manpower is needed to survey the entire prefecture?"
“Brother Xu has some veterans who retired from the Black Flag Army and can be used.”
"Can you gather enough people?"
"Yes, but we can't use it for free; we have to pay to hire someone. I don't have much money left."
This statement left Shi Ye speechless, unsure of what to say.
He sorted out his thoughts: "Since you're a veteran, it's only right to give you money. If you don't have money, has Xingyuan gone bankrupt?"
Shen Suqin was so angry that she laughed. When she laughed, ice and snow melted away, and she was incredibly beautiful.
“Your Highness, military rations, salaries, winter clothing—none of these don’t cost money. I’ve been spending money without earning any lately; even with a fortune, I couldn’t keep going. Besides, land redistribution isn’t my private matter; why should I have to pay for it out of my own pocket?”
"Well... alright then, I'll think of a way."
Shen Suqin sat back down: "Your Highness must be tired from your long journey. I'll have someone take you to rest. The matter of equal land distribution must be handled slowly. We can discuss the implementation details in detail later."
Shi Ye stood up; he was indeed tired. "Thank you."
After seeing Shi Ye off, Shen Suqin's gaze fell on the wooden box on the table.
Before opening it, she imagined many things, guessing that it might contain a dagger, a mechanism, or some other weapon. After all, General Xiao had given her a curved sword before, so it was possible that he would give her another one.
But when she opened it, she was somewhat surprised.
Inside is a bright red agate hairpin with a simple design of flowing clouds. The jade is translucent and flawless, smooth and lustrous, clearly indicating its high value.
She took out the hairpin and gently stroked it with her fingers. The hairpin was smooth and even, but she just couldn't tell that it was not crafted by a skilled artisan.
However, it still looks very nice.
She wore very little jewelry, and to keep things simple, she loosely tied her hair back with a silver hairpin; her entire outfit was utterly plain.
She immediately removed the silver hairpin from her hair and inserted the agate hairpin instead. The bright red agate looked even more vibrant against her black hair.
Shen Suqin stared at himself in the bronze mirror, seemingly examining his own face for the first time.
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