knife

Chapter 152 If the hearts of the people are to be satisfied, it will be nothing but a dream.
With a splash, a cup of soup with tea leaves was splashed directly onto Chen Liang's face.

Chen Liang calmly looked at Linghu Zhishu, who was staring at him like a hungry wolf. He wiped the water off his face, opened his palm to look at the few extra tea leaves in his hand, and flicked them to the ground with his slightly bent fingers.

"It's such a waste that these are top-quality Longjing teas from Jiangnan!" Chen Liang said.

Linghu Zhishu took a deep breath and said, "General Chen, don't forget, without the commander-in-chief, your whole family would be dead long ago."

"I would never forget it for a moment!" Chen Liang bowed and said, "But this time, I don't think I've done anything wrong!"

"Heh!" Ling Duzhi said coldly, "When Shaliewen and Xiao Changche were fighting fiercely, what did it have to do with your Yuntai Wilderness garrison? You actually mobilized your troops and conducted military exercises? You must know that if you do this, the Yuan army in Qingtongxia and Yezhuling will be on high alert for your movements, and thus dare not send reinforcements to Yuan'an. As a result, Shaliewen suffered a great defeat under the walls of Yuan'an, ruining the commander-in-chief's great plan!"

"I don't think so!" Chen Liang said, "Yuntai Wilderness is so close to the battlefield. If a major battle breaks out between the two sides and Yuntai Wilderness turns a blind eye and doesn't even react in the most basic way, what will the people outside the pass think of us? Are you trying to tell everyone that we are colluding with the Yuan people?"

Linghu Zhishu was speechless.

Chen Guohua, who had been sitting silently, stood up and said, "General Chen's words make perfect sense. Now is the time for us to compete with Xiao Changche for the hearts and minds of the people and the army outside the pass. No matter what is going on inside, we must do what we should do on the surface. Zhishu, you are too rude. Apologize to General Chen!"

"That's not necessary. I am naturally willing to follow the Commander-in-Chief if he intends to do great things, but in my opinion, both the Yuan people and Xiao Changche are our enemies," Chen Liang said calmly. "Therefore, Secretary, if there is an opportunity in the future, we should seize places like Qingtongxia. I am reporting to you today. If it doesn't work out, I will obey the Commander-in-Chief's orders without question!"

"Alright!" Li Guohua nodded. "I will discuss this matter with the commander-in-chief when I get back. The Yuan army suffered a great loss this time, and they will definitely take some action next. You should also be careful here."

"Of course!" Chen Liang said, "We pick on the weak! The Yuan people suffered a great loss at Xiao Changche's hands and want revenge, but they are afraid of Xiao Changche, so they might take it out on me. If they dare to come, I will let them know that Xiao Changche is not the only one who knows how to fight outside the Great Wall!"

Li Guohua patted Chen Liang on the shoulder with a smile, "General Chen's talent is highly appreciated by the commander-in-chief! Otherwise, he wouldn't have placed you on such an important strategic point as Yuntai Wilderness."

"I'd go through fire and water for you!" Chen Liang bowed with his hands clasped in the direction of Zhenwu City.

The group left the Yuntai Wilderness Camp.

Li Guohua turned around and saw Chen Liang still standing there outside the camp, waving to them repeatedly.

"Secretary Zhang, do you really believe what Chen Liang said?"

Li Guohua said calmly, "Does it matter whether you believe it or not? Since the deed is done, regardless of Chen Liang's initial thoughts, Shaliewen has lost everything. Perhaps Chen Liang's actions prevented the Yuan army from providing support, or perhaps internal strife within the Yuan dynasty led to this outcome. The ferocity of the succession struggle is unimaginable. What difference does it make if Shaliewen's ten thousand or so men die?"

Linghu Zhishu nodded: "That's true!"

Twenty-five years ago, a coup d'état resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, not to mention those within the Great Wall, but just in the purges outside the Great Wall alone!
"You were too impulsive today, this isn't like you at all!" Li Guohua glanced at Linghu Zhishu: "What made you lose your composure like this?"

Linghu Zhishu lowered his head and remained silent.

“Chen Liang is a general whom the commander-in-chief has deliberately courted. Although he is not as good as Xiao Changche, he is still a very talented man. Since you did not apologize to him in person today, you must prepare generous gifts and visit his family at the Chen residence when you return.” Li Guohua’s tone left no room for doubt.

"Understood!" Linghu Zhishu replied.

"A temporary setback is nothing, and a temporary lag is nothing to worry about!" Li Guohua said to Linghu Zhishu, who looked somewhat dejected. "Life is a long marathon. A temporary lead does not mean that they will reach the finish line. Zhishu, by putting yourself on the edge of a cliff, which seems to be full of danger, isn't it also giving yourself a chance to make a desperate charge towards the peak?"

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Li!" Linghu Zhishu said softly.

“Since you’re comparing yourself to figures like Xiao Changche and Li Dachui, you can’t afford to relax for a moment. What you’re competing against isn’t just military or intelligence; it’s a contest of all aspects!” Li Guohua said. “Your behavior today has disappointed me greatly.”

"After I return, I will apologize to my uncle!"

"Yes!" Li Guohua nodded. "Shaliewen's crushing defeat has created another problem with the Yuan army's commander-in-chief. We can only wait for the outcome in Yandu. During this time, while keeping an eye on Yandu, you need to focus more on the Black Domain. It's spring planting season, and those people in the Black Domain should be running low on money and supplies. They should be out and about!"

Upon returning to Baoping City, Li Dachui was busy for several days, mainly to settle the group of doctors from Changchun Valley.

Having finally managed to get these top experts out of retirement, Li Dachui naturally had to take good care of each of them. The medical business in his territory would depend entirely on these people from now on.

The fact that the infant mortality rate is as high as 50% and the average lifespan of ordinary people is less than 45 years is something that Li Dachui finds hard to accept.

Human beings are the foundation of everything.

If you are given a piece of land so fertile it's practically dripping with oil, but no one cultivates it, this land will only become a paradise for birds and beasts.

The main reasons for such a sparse population are disease and war.

Given the convenience of Changchun Valley, why not make use of it?
Although these people talk a lot of nonsense, their medical skills are undeniable.

Use them first, then slowly lure them into this great cause, and when they are unable to extricate themselves, use them to the extreme.

Li Dachui's three-step method of employing people has always been successful. Taking a break from his busy schedule, Li Dachui invited Scholar Zhang Ruo.

Now, Scholar Zhang is considered a figure in the area outside the Great Wall, serving as the Vice Censor-in-Chief and Inspector General of the area. In other words, he is a sword hanging over the heads of the Protectorates of Andong and Anxi, but of course, this is only when the imperial court is powerful.

Now, we need the two protectorates to give us face.

It's hard to say what will happen in Andong, but in Anxi, both Xiao Changche and Li Dachui are very respectful.

"Vice Protector Li, I was just about to talk to you!" Zhang Ruoren had lost weight, but she looked more energetic, radiant, and full of spirit.

A man ultimately needs to have his own career to ignite a second spring in his life.

When Zhang Ru first came to the area outside the Great Wall, he was a frail old man, a completely different person compared to now.

"Please speak, sir!" Li Dachui personally brought Zhang Ru a seat and brewed tea for him, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Now that I am the Censor-in-Chief of the Outer Pass, in charge of the supervision of the two Protectorates of Andong and Anxi, it is not appropriate for me to stay in Baoping City indefinitely, otherwise people will gossip!" Zhang Ruo said.

"Oh, you mean?"

"I plan to relocate the Censorate to another place!" Zhang Ruo said. "I also need Protector-General Li's strong support!"

Li Dachui laughed and said, "What's the problem? We'll give you people if you need them, and money if you need money. Where do you want to go?"

"It's not completely finalized yet; Yuan Rong is handling this matter right now!" Zhang Ruo said.

"No problem, no problem!" Li Dachui said with a smile.

Human desires are indeed boundless; Li Dachui couldn't help but think of the poem "The Song of Insufficiency":
They toil all day for hunger, and once they've had a full meal, they crave clothes.

With both food and clothing in abundance, he also longs for his beautiful wife.

He married a beautiful wife and had children, but lamented that he had no land and little foundation.

The fertile fields are vast, yet there are too few horses to ride when going out.

If the stable master has mules and horses, he fears he will be bullied if he has no official position.

He thought being a seventh-rank county official was too lowly, and he wanted to wear purple robes in the imperial court.

He was a first-rank official and prime minister, yet he still coveted the throne.

He was content to be the emperor, yet he also desired immortality.

Once you obtain the elixir of immortality, then you can challenge God to a duel.

Not content with what one has, what can one do about life?
If you want to satisfy the hearts of the people, it will only be a dream.

Zhang Ruo is probably in this mindset now. Having just been liberated and restored to his official position, he immediately wants to establish his own independent entity outside the Great Wall and become a relatively independent third party.

Li Dachui felt this was a good thing for him, as it would better motivate Zhang Ruo's enthusiasm for work.

In any case, Linghu Ye's side doesn't care much for this so-called censor. If Zhang Ru wants to carry out his work effectively, he can only rely on himself. The harder he works and the more results he achieves, the more he will benefit in the future. So why not support him?
Zhang Ruo's choices were actually limited; he couldn't choose places within his own territory, nor could he choose places within Linghu Ye's territory. Therefore, the places he could choose were extremely limited.

If he could really get an ally, Li Dachui would be willing to prepare a feast and then try to steal a bottle of "Human World" from Master Fu to celebrate for him.

After all, such a hardworking employee deserves his high praise.

Having received Li Dachui's affirmative reply, Zhang Ruo was overjoyed: "What does Deputy Protector Li want to talk to me about?"

"I would like to ask you, Scholar, to make a business trip. It's quite far, and a round trip would probably take more than a month!" Li Dachui said, "I'm just afraid it will delay your work on establishing the Supervisory Office!"

"It's alright, it's alright!" Zhang Ruo said, "Where are you going?"

“Xuanwu Prefecture, Cai Bin!” Li Dachui said, “Next, his place will probably become the focus of our struggle with Linghu Ye again!”

(End of this chapter)