Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Xiao Zhen was appointed as the military commander of Ding City and also led the cavalry camp. Both Ding County and the cavalry camp were close enough to Wei City, so after finishing the land distribution, Xiao Zhen would return every two or three days.

Xiao Yan was in Cheng County, two hundred miles away. When the old man made him the commander of Cheng County, the rebel king had just been defeated, and the five counties urgently needed their own people to take over. With the old man's military order, Xiao Yan came to Cheng County with great enthusiasm to manage the major affairs. However, once the recruitment of the five thousand-household units was completed and the old man sent reliable commanders to help train the troops, Xiao Yan began to miss his wife at home.

At this time, he wrote the first letter to the old man, saying that the city had restored order, the troops were being trained properly, and he hoped to return home for a visit.

The old man replied: Land distribution is as important as training troops. Keep a close eye on it and don't let cunning households take advantage and pretend to be poor farmers to seize land.

Xiao Yan was born in Lingshui Village and grew up hearing the villagers' emphasis on land. He sympathized with the poor and landless while hating those who were insatiable. Thus, he suppressed his longing for his wife and carefully managed the accounting and land distribution.

Unlike the old man and Xiao Zhen, Xiao Yan carried a fierce and ruthless aura. The new magistrate was responsible for explaining the details to the villagers, while Xiao Yan only rode his horse. Those farmers who wanted to take advantage saw his grim appearance and shrank back, swallowing their complaints about unfairness. Surprisingly, the land distribution went more smoothly than in Wei County.

By the end of November, Xiao Yan wrote a second letter to the old man, asking if he could now return home for a short stay.

The old man replied: Are you saying it's done? Wait for me to inspect it myself before you can come back.

Xiao Yan: ...

---

On the first day of the twelfth month, the old man called Tong Sui and Xiao She, leading fifty soldiers, and set out from Wei City early in the morning heading west.

The old man was concerned about the people and the new army in the other six counties. It wasn't enough to just read the reports from the commanders; he had to personally inspect them.

If there was no one on the road, they would gallop quickly, but whenever they encountered civilians, the old man would call everyone to stop, and he would dismount with Tong Sui and Xiao She to ask about the conditions of the people and the villages.

The original landowners were grateful to the Xiao family for bringing peace to the area, and the newly land-allocated poor farmers expressed gratitude to the Xiao family while also complaining about the lack of seeds for planting.

Xiao Mu kindly promised, "Don't worry, the county will distribute seeds to all the villages before next spring's plowing, ensuring that everyone can plant their land. When the harvest comes in summer and autumn, you only need to return the amount of grain borrowed from the government."

"Will there still be land taxes?"

Xiao Mu: "If the court hasn't sent someone to take over by then, I will continue to serve as the commander of the seven counties. We will collect only half a dou of grain tax per mu of land to stockpile food for the soldiers in the seven counties."

"Half a dou? That's great! I wish you could be our commander forever!"

Some civilians also reported grievances, such as village ruffians bullying others or wealthy families using tactics to force poor farmers to give up their newly allocated land.

The large and medium landowners in the other five counties had been killed by the rebel king, but those in Wei and Ding Counties survived, behaving honestly during the turmoil and gradually showing their true colors as life returned to normal.

Xiao Mu asked Tong Sui to write down these complaints and send people to investigate later.

They set off in the morning, stopping occasionally, and didn't reach the gate of Ding City until after noon.

Xiao Zhen and He Lianqing had been waiting for a long time.

He Lianqing wore his magistrate's robe, while Xiao Zhen, like the old man, continued to wear plain clothes. He Lianqing bent his waist respectfully.

After the formal greetings, Xiao Zhen glanced at his wife and asked the old man, "Did something delay you on the way, Grandfather?"

The old man remained expressionless: "I am inspecting the counties as the commander of the seven counties, conducting official business."

Xiao Zhen promptly corrected himself: "Did something delay you on the way, General?"

Xiao She glared at He Lianqing: "How do you manage your county when there are still wealthy families causing trouble in the villages, and you haven't found out?"

The old man turned and glared at his grandson: "Do not be disrespectful to Magistrate He."

Xiao She: "..."

He Lianqing hurriedly said, "No harm done, no harm done. Please, General, inform me of the details, and I will thoroughly investigate."

Xiao Mu helped him stand straight and stroked his beard: "On the way, we met some civilians. When we asked about their recent conditions, most were happy to live in peace and prosperity, but some complained about village ruffians and wealthy families bullying others. This shows that we have only focused on resolving disputes in the cities and have overlooked the well-being of the towns and villages in Wei and Ding Counties."

Since it was a situation in both counties, He Lianqing felt slightly relieved and replied, "General, please don't worry. Previously, we were busy recruiting troops and distributing land. Now that these tasks are done, we can focus on the well-being of the people. I suggest we first investigate whether any village headmen are oppressing the people, retain the good ones, and punish the bad ones. Then, we can post notices encouraging civilians to report grievances, which the village headmen will record and submit to the county office for verification."

Xiao Mu approved: "This method is sound and should be implemented in all seven counties. Please, Magistrate He, copy six more documents for me to distribute to the other six counties."

He Lianqing sighed: "General, you flatter me. This is part of my duty as a magistrate. Unfortunately, due to corruption in the bureaucracy, scholars like me have to compromise to support our families. If I had met a wise ruler like you earlier, I wouldn't have ended up bending the knee for a mere bowl of rice."

Xiao She: "Speaking of rice, let's go into the city and eat. I'm starving!"

He Lianqing: "..."

Xiao Mu smiled helplessly.

The group had lunch at the county office. Afterward, the old man led the team to inspect the four military camps in Ding City, which Xiao Zhen managed. The new recruits were well-fed and clothed, full of spirit, and their drills showed the discipline of a regular army.

After a brief rest, Xiao Mu took only Xiao She and Tong Sui to conduct covert visits in the streets.

The lives of the people in Ding and Wei Counties were similar. During the turmoil, they all hid in their homes in fear, but now that peace has returned, they dare to go out again. Shops reopened, workers resumed their jobs, and children played and ran through the streets.

Most of the people in Ding County did not recognize Xiao Mu, seeing him only as an energetic elder. Their responses were casual.

With Xiao Zhen and He Lianqing in the city, no one dared to cause trouble for the moment.

The day was busy and soon coming to an end.

In the evening, the three returned to the military camp.

On the first day Xiao Zhen arrived in Ding County, He Lianqing had arranged a house for him, but Xiao Zhen never stayed there, preferring to live in the military camp.

The family of four had a big pot meal together. After dinner, Xiao Zhen sent the old man and Fifth Younger Brother to a camp room and brought Tong Sui to his side.

As soon as Tong Sui entered the room, she set the rules: "We must leave for Cheng County early tomorrow, so no funny business tonight."

Xiao Zhen looked at her slightly flushed face and confirmed, "Is it no funny business, or no business at all?"

Tong Sui stepped on his shoe.

---

The second day's inspection would be in Cheng County, from east to west.

Upon entering the territory of Cheng County, the number of people encountered on the road was noticeably less than in Wei and Ding Counties, due to the rebel king's slaughter of many middle and wealthy farmers for money and grain.

As they passed a steep mountain peak, Tong Sui caught a glimpse of a figure darting across the summit.

The old man also noticed and signaled to Xiao She with his eyes.

Xiao She immediately shouted up the mountain, "Who’s skulking around up there? If you want to kill or rob, come down if you dare, or I’ll come up!"

Tong Sui: ...

Fifth Younger Brother might be simple, but his roughness wasn't much different from Xiao Yan and Xiao Ye.

After a while, a voice came from the mountain, "Are you General Xiao and Second Lady below?"

Xiao Mu replied, "It is indeed this old man."

The person seemed very nervous, "General Xiao, we are fifty-seven in total, all forced into hiding in the mountains by corrupt officials who left us no way to live. We have not committed any heinous crimes; we have been hiding in the mountains, just trying to survive. Recently, we heard that you defeated the rebel king, and peace has returned to the lowlands. The mountain sent me to find out if we can return to being law-abiding citizens."

Xiao Mu: "If you truly have not done evil, go to the county office and explain your situation. If everything is true, not only will you be allowed to return to a normal life, but the poor among you will also be given land."

The person called out happily, "Great, I'll go spread the word!"

Tong Sui was also moved by the genuine joy. Living in the mountains without proper shelter made washing and cooking extremely difficult, and life was like that of wild beasts. Given any other choice, no one would choose to hide in the mountains.

By noon, they reached the county town.

Xiao Yan dismounted and rode forward to greet them, his gaze sweeping over Tong Sui as he said to the old man, "Grandfather, you’ve finally arrived. If everything goes well in the city today, can I go home for two nights?"

Xiao She: "Sure, you go home, and I’ll take over here."

Xiao Yan: "You wouldn’t know how to command anything, Grandfather. How about switching me with Second Brother? I’ll guard Ding County, and he can guard Cheng County."

Xiao Mu: "You’re smarter than Fifth Younger Brother, but are you smarter than He Lianqing?"

Xiao Yan: "All seven counties are under our control. If He dares to scheme against me, I’ll cut him down with one stroke."

Xiao Mu: "A scheme that you can see through isn’t really a scheme. Enough talk, I’m hungry."

Xiao Yan: ...

He diligently served the old man for half the day until the old man completed his covert inspection in the city and returned to the camp. Then, Xiao Yan mustered the courage to ask again, "Grandfather, can I go back now?"

Xiao Mu: "Arrange everything in the camp properly. You must return by noon on the fifth."

Xiao Yan was overjoyed. He ran to instruct his subordinates, skipped dinner, and galloped out of the city.

Two hundred miles, even at full speed, it would take two hours to reach Wei City, and he would need the guards to open the city gates for him.

The old man shook his head but was also pleased. Seeing his grandson’s eagerness, he knew Xiao Yan had not been involved with any other women in Cheng County.

Wei City.

Lin Ningfang went to bed as soon as it got dark and slept until she was awakened by the sound of urgent hoofbeats.

She lay still in her bed, while Ah Zhen, in the adjacent bed, clutched the blanket nervously.

"Open the door, I’m back!"

The hoofbeats stopped outside the Xiao family gate, followed by Xiao Yan’s voice.

Ah Zhen quickly dressed and rolled up her bedding. As she carried it out of the western annex, Xiao Yan rushed over.

From the eastern wing, He Shi hurriedly opened the door and called out to her son, "Third Son, why did you return in the middle of the night?"

Xiao Yan barely stopped, turned back, and explained, "Grandfather gave me a two-day leave. It’s too late, Mother, go back to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning."

He Shi: "..."

Xiao Yan strode into the room and saw Lin Ningfang sitting on the kang, wrapped in a quilt, her long hair loose and her face flushed from sleep.

Xiao Yan’s throat tightened.

Lin Ningfang looked him over and reminded him, "Wash up first. I’ve asked Ah Zhen to heat some water."

Xiao Yan glanced at himself, remembering the dust and wind on the journey, and stepped out, saying, "No need to heat it, I’ll take a cold shower!"