Chapter 246: The Simpleton Levels Up

Inside the document office of the Shengle City Defender’s yamen, Siniang sat upright in the seat of honor. A large stack of documents requiring review and instructions lay across the desk before her.

Shengle City was not particularly large, and the population under its administration was not especially great.

At present, during peacetime, local officials in the State of Yan could still frequently go out hunting with friends, while local officials in the State of Qian would gather at the slightest excuse to feast, drink, compose poetry, and write essays.

But here, everything was handled down to the smallest detail.

After all, this was ultimately the first territory that truly belonged to them. There was no way they could start talking about governing through inaction at a time like this.

Besides, construction and organization on every front were only just beginning. The clerks represented by the Wen Clan group had not yet fully familiarized themselves with their positions or adapted to their work. The Blind Man and the others were still following Master through the Tianduan Mountains and had yet to return.

Naturally, much of the burden had fallen onto Siniang’s shoulders.

From top to bottom, there were countless matters requiring her coordination and decisions.

Liang Cheng, on the other hand, had it easy. All he had to do was throw himself into the military camp and drill the troops.

At this moment, seated below Siniang was the Blind Man’s wife, Yuexin.

Siniang had arranged for her to work in the document office as well.

After all, she was the granddaughter personally taught by that old fox Wen Sutong. She was naturally intelligent, and even ordinary administrative affairs only needed to be explained once before she understood them.

Her quick mind was enough to make even Siniang marvel.

Unfortunately, Zheng Fan and the others had not yet returned.

If they had been here to see this scene in the document office, then given Xue San’s habitual love of “sowing discord,” he would definitely have muttered quietly—but just loudly enough for Master to hear—

“Isn’t this Wu Zetian and Shangguan Wan’er?”

Siniang set down her brush and massaged her wrist.

Inwardly, she sighed.

Even doing needlework with Master had never been this exhausting.

Yuexin stood, personally came over, and refilled Siniang’s tea.

“Miss, if you’re tired, you should rest for a while.”

“If Elder Sister isn’t resting, then I’m not tired either.”

Siniang smiled without answering.

Yuexin also smiled reservedly.

“Alas. Counting the days, it’s already been so long and Master still hasn’t returned.

“I’ve heard the savage girls have fiery temperaments. Maybe he got tired of the fresh delicacies at home and wanted to change flavors and sample some mountain game.”

“The household is rather quiet anyway. If he brings back a few mountain hens, it would add quite a bit of liveliness.”

“You’re taking it very well.”

“I learned from Elder Sister.”

“Girl, don’t blame Elder Sister for dragging you over here to handle these mundane affairs.

“If you weren’t helping me with all this, I’d probably be busy from morning until night without a moment to spare.”

“This is what your younger sister ought to do. Grandfather often says at home that the rice jar has no grain for useless people.”

“Hehe. Speaking of the old master, has he sent any letters from Yanjing?”

“One arrived the day before yesterday. Grandfather said everything is fine in Yanjing.

“His Majesty intends to have him take charge of the Imperial Academy, but Grandfather declined on the grounds that he is old and frail.”

“Actually, living the way the old master does now is rather comfortable.

“He no longer needs to worry about anything and can peacefully enjoy his old age.”

“Elder Sister is right. When one is young, what one seeks is to obtain. When one grows old, what one seeks instead is to let go.”

“Girl, do you usually talk to A’Bei like this too?”

“My husband is even better with words than I am.”

“That’s certainly true. That mouth of his really is… mm? Why are you blushing?”

“Elder Sister, there’s something your younger sister doesn’t know whether she should say.”

“Go ahead. There are no outsiders here.”

“These past few days, your younger sister has been looking through the account books Elder Sister prepared.

“The expense of maintaining troops truly is considerable.

“But in times like these, one genuinely cannot feel secure without soldiers in hand. That money ought to be spent, and it cannot be reduced.

“But the school, the clinic, and all those other things…”

“Girl, do you think they aren’t worth it?”

“They’re wonderful things. Of course they’re worth it.

“Throughout history, what so many sages and worthies sought was no more than this.”

“Then?”

“Your younger sister only feels that right now, while our household and holdings are still small, we can still afford to do things this way.

“But in the future, if the family grows and the enterprise expands, continuing like this will become impossible to sustain.”

Siniang nodded.

“For now, we’re doing this to strengthen the foundation.

“As for what happens later, we’ll let the future deal with itself.

“Doing the present well is the real task.”

“Elder Sister, this…”

“First use this to secure the foundation and win people’s hearts.

“As for the future, we’ll talk about it later.

“If there really is a future, no one will dare accuse you of having changed.”

“Your younger sister understands.”

“You’re clever and quick-witted.

“Learn more, observe more, and whenever you can help, help more.

“Don’t look at those girls I keep in the rear residence. Every one of them is charming and beautiful, but not one can come out and handle this sort of work.

“Besides, in Yan it is already customary for women to come out and show their faces while working.

“It isn’t like you great-household daughters in Qian, who are expected to strictly observe propriety.”

“That is what allows one to be free.

“Life is easier that way too. It doesn’t feel stifling.”

“I know you’re not the kind who can sit idle.

“Though telling you to treat us completely like family is probably a little too much empty courtesy… at the very least, strive to become someone useful.”

“…”

Yuexin.

At that moment, Xiao Yibo, the steward of the City Defender’s residence, came in to report.

“Mr. Feng, Master and the others have returned.”

…

The bathhouse in the rear residence had already been completed.

It had been built even faster than the school and clinic.

After all, no matter how hard life became, one could hardly let the leadership suffer.

At this moment, Zheng Fan was soaking in the hot bath with his eyes closed, enjoying the comfortable temperature.

A stone with a towel draped over it floated beside Zheng Fan, occasionally releasing a few bubbles.

Father and son had already developed the habit of soaking in baths every day back in Tiger Head City.

Now, it was almost as though they had returned to those days.

Siniang wore a thin gauze garment, her body half-submerged in the water as she scrubbed Zheng Fan’s back.

“Master, A’Cheng has already led two thousand troops into the mountains.”

“Mm. Make sure we tie up all the loose ends.”

The matter of the Helian Clan’s treasure vault was best handled quietly.

After all, if word of it spread, it would inevitably provoke the imperial court’s displeasure.

As for Yao Zizhan, because less than ten percent of the wealth in the Helian Clan’s treasure vault remained, Zheng Fan believed the old man would help keep the secret.

If the treasure vault had truly been filled to the brim, whether the old man agreed to keep silent would have been beside the point.

Zheng Fan would never have allowed him to leave this place alive.

“Everything has been arranged properly.

“The barbarian soldiers will enter the treasure vault, remove the wealth, repackage it, and transport it out disguised as mountain goods.”

“Mm. You’ve worked hard these past few days.”

“It wasn’t hard at all. This is what this servant ought to do.

“Master, on the other hand, absolutely must not put yourself in danger like that again next time.”

“Mm. Fine.

“Oh, right. Arrange something for Helian Baozhu.

“We still don’t know her true identity, so place her somewhere separately for now.”

“Yes. This servant understands.”

“As for Yao Zizhan, go to the red tents in Shengle City and hire two aunties for him.

“Pick the sturdy kind.”

“Master, he is still one of the literary sages of the age. Is it really appropriate to treat him like that?”

“He’s used to tender, delicate beauties.

“There’s nothing wrong with changing flavors once in a while.

“He’s a poet. Poets need to experience more of life if they want to write poetry grounded in reality.

“We’re simply adding a little more worldly flavor to his life.”

“Master speaks with reason.

“Then does Master himself want to change people and experience a little more too?”

“Hmm?”

Zheng Fan pretended not to understand the hidden meaning behind Siniang’s words.

Instead, he asked in pleasant surprise, “We can change locations again?”

…

At dawn, the rooster crowed with tremendous enthusiasm, as though it genuinely believed the sun had risen because it called.

With the weather gradually warming, Zheng Fan had already changed into a sweatshirt.

He walked along the walls of Shengle City with Yao Zizhan accompanying him.

Yao Zizhan’s face was somewhat pale.

His back was also slightly hunched.

All in all he had clearly been drained quite severely.

“Master Yao, what do you think this city of mine will become in the future?”

The question was much like attending the opening of someone’s company and being asked about its future prospects.

The host merely wanted to hear a few auspicious words.

He was not actually asking you to conduct some professional market analysis.

Yao Zizhan pondered for a moment before saying, “Shengle, Shengle—the name carries the meaning of flourishing and peace.

“This old man believes that under Little Brother Zheng’s governance, the people of Shengle will surely live in safety and enjoy peace forever.

“Eh, right. Little Brother Zheng, why not submit a memorial to your Emperor of Yan and have this city renamed ‘Yongle’?

“Wouldn’t that be even more fitting?”

“Yongle?”

“Yes. Yongle.

“Your Emperor of Yan only recently changed the reign title to Yongping.

“By custom, after a change of reign title, some cities should also be renamed to accord with the emperor’s wishes.

“Jin territory has only recently submitted.

“Renaming Shengle as Yongle would also carry an auspicious meaning.”

“So if the renaming really succeeds, I’ll become the City Defender of Yongle?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn’t seem very good, does it?”

“What’s inappropriate about it?”

“It looks a little too ugly.”

“What’s ugly about it?”

“A little too direct?”

“What’s direct about it?”

Seriously, if Zheng Fan had not known that Yao Zizhan was not a transmigrator, he would have thought the man was encouraging him to rebel just as enthusiastically as Zheng Fan himself had once egged on the Sixth Prince.

“I’ll return and discuss the matter with my advisers.”

“Naturally. Naturally.”

“Master Yao, have you been satisfied with life here recently?”

“So happy I’ve forgotten Qian.”

“As long as you like it.

“Tomorrow I’ll have someone send Master Yao a jar of tiger-penis wine.”

“I could ask for nothing better.”

“Hehe.”

Zheng Fan and Yao Zizhan parted ways.

Yao Zizhan was heading to the school, which was still less than half-built, to teach the children.

Truthfully, having one of the greatest literary masters of the age instruct children in basic learning was rather like using a butcher’s cleaver to kill a chicken.

And it was not as though these children would somehow absorb literary qi and soar into the heavens simply because he taught them.

The important thing was borrowing Yao Zizhan’s reputation to advertise himself, add some prestige, and increase his public presence.

The people of Yan might verbally disdain the weakness of Qian’s scholars, but deep down there was still a certain lack of cultural confidence.

There was no harm in farming a little prestige whenever the opportunity appeared.

Zheng Fan, meanwhile, returned to his own residence.

In truth, he had very little government work that required his personal attention.

Every three days, during the evening gathering, the others would report any important matters—or anything requiring his opinion and decision—at the dinner table.

Zheng Fan was perfectly happy to be a hands-off boss.

When he returned to the rear residence, Zheng Fan saw Fan Li walking out of his room with a set of tools in hand.

“What were you doing in there?” Zheng Fan asked.

Fan Li scratched his head and gave him a simple, foolish grin.

Siniang came out of the room and pointed inside.

“Master, A’Li came over and installed a flush toilet in our room.”

Zheng Fan froze.

Then a wave of emotion rose in his heart.

He walked over to Fan Li and patted him on the shoulder.

Fan Li even crouched slightly to make it easier for Master to reach.

“You were thoughtful.”

“Hehehe.”

Fan Li chuckled foolishly.

Then, Fan Li’s aura suddenly began surging wildly!

[End of Chapter 246]