With the rise of my family, I can summon the Daoist Soldiers' Nest.

The fleet continued its journey downstream along the dock, searching for and killing monsters and clearing the waterways.

This time, however, the guards had few opportunities to distinguish themselves.

When encountering ordinary monsters, Tian Han would lead the twenty river patrol guards he had initially selected, as well as the two crocodile-armored stealth guards he had contracted himself, to fight them.

This not only cleared the river channel but also allowed the patrol guards to become familiar with naval warfare and improve their teamwork in actual combat, laying the foundation for independent river patrols in the future.

If they encounter an unfamiliar or second-rate monster, the remaining six uninjured Crocodile Armor Guards will go forward first to probe and find out its strength, and then the fleet will work together to kill it.

Over five days, the main waterway of Wushui was completely opened up, connecting most of the towns along the river.

During this period, they killed more than a dozen third-rate monsters, mostly common monsters such as the Copper-Armored Beaver and the Jade-Eyed Fat Toad.

Besides the Azure Poisonous Cold Python, they also killed two second-rate demonic beasts: a Green Scale Water Python and an Iron-Backed Swamp Crocodile.

These were all familiar monsters, and without exception, they were all torn into pieces by the Crocodile Armor Guards.

Although two more Dao soldiers were injured, fortunately, their injuries were able to heal slowly over time and were not serious.

As you travel along the river, the scenery on both sides of the river is different each time.

Some towns are well-preserved, with fields being reclaimed and people busy in the fields; others are sparsely populated, with fields lying fallow, showing signs of desolation.

As they passed through several towns, many people gathered on the shore, waving to the fleet from afar, seemingly welcoming their arrival. It seemed the news had already spread, and everyone knew the Lin family's fleet had returned.

However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, the fleet did not dock or enter the town. Instead, they camped on the deserted shore at night to remain on guard.

This would reassure the local gentry and people along the river without disrupting the newly restored order, and leave enough room for the subsequent officials to officially take office.

Eight days had passed by the time the fleet sailed upstream back to Yandang Lake and docked at Linjiawu.

Lin Ye stood on the city wall, watching the fleet.

The ship was in good condition, and the flag was undamaged.

He breathed a sigh of relief, finally seeing the fleet return. Judging from the situation, the river clearing should be going relatively smoothly.

The riverbank below the city wall was already crowded with people, mostly the families of the guards, as well as many locals who had come to see the spectacle after hearing that the fleet had returned.

As the fleet gradually approached the shore, and everyone on the deck was seen to be unharmed, along with the Crocodile Armored Submarines patrolling the water, the atmosphere was instantly ignited, and cheers erupted.

Some people even set off firecrackers, children jumped around the adults, and women smiled and wiped away tears, releasing all the worries and concerns that had accumulated over the past few days.

The river channel has finally been dredged, and now we can begin the development of Xiang County.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the main hall of the fortress was already bustling with people.

The officials from various towns were waiting here early in the morning. There were clan heads and members of the Lin family's collateral branches. They all stood up straight, their faces showing their eagerness and anticipation.

After finishing his morning practice, Lin Yechen changed into some casual clothes and sat down in the main seat of the hall.

Looking at the eager expressions below, seeing them rubbing their hands together and ready to try, he couldn't help but smile and get straight to the point.

"Now that the river is open, I won't keep you any longer. If you're ready, take your people, money, and supplies and head to your respective towns to take up your posts."

"Since each family has its own martial artists, I won't arrange extra guards."

As for those without guards, I will send guards to accompany them, but I cannot guarantee that everyone will be assigned a third-rate martial artist.

With limited manpower, we can only prioritize the towns that need it most.

Lin Ye paused, then emphasized his words.

"There is one more thing that needs to be made clear beforehand—apart from the taxes already set in advance, no additional fees are allowed to be collected locally, and no one is allowed to exploit the people under any pretext. Anyone who dares to violate this rule will be severely punished."

With joy on their faces, everyone bid farewell to Lin Ye and left the hall.

When Zhang Yuan, the head of the Zhang family, came out of the fortified village, it was just getting light.

He hurried along, not even bothering to carefully tuck his riding whip into his sleeve, and rushed back to the Tian family home.

As Zhang Yuangang stepped into the courtyard, he heard a great commotion in the front hall. Boxes, sacks, and wooden barrels were neatly stacked against the wall, and several young clansmen were busy tying up the last few pieces of household items.

The women gathered around the table to count the dry food and medicinal herbs, while the children, held by the hands of the elderly, looked on with curiosity and a touch of reluctance at the busy scene.

In the courtyard, a dozen horse-drawn carriages were lined up in a row, their decks piled high with grain sacks, seeds, ironware, woodworking tools, and some everyday utensils. The drivers were checking the condition of the animals one by one, adjusting the yokes to ensure that there would be no mishaps on the road.

"The lord said we can set off today," he announced loudly.

Then, bowing to the crowd, he said, "Everyone, except for my eldest uncle and third uncle, who are staying behind to look after the ancestral home and land, the rest of you will depart today to take up your posts in Changwu Village!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement erupted both inside and outside the hall, and everyone beamed with joy.

The group pushed carts, caught up with horse-drawn carriages, and set off in a grand procession towards the Yandang Lake ferry.

Upon arriving at the lake, several large cargo ships that had been specially requisitioned were already moored on the shore.

These ships were much larger than ordinary passenger ships, with cargo in the lower deck and passengers in the upper deck. They had railings on the sides and reinforced decks, clearly indicating that they had been carefully prepared.

Zhang Yuan directed his clansmen to sit in cabins according to the elderly, weak, women and children, and was about to give the order to board the ship.

Suddenly, a group of people gathered at the dock diagonally opposite, with the character "田" embroidered on their banners—it was Tian Liang, the head of the Tian family, leading his clansmen, also preparing to take a boat to their new post.

Upon meeting, Zhang Yuan and Tian Liang exchanged greetings with clasped hands.

"Brother Tian, ​​the journey is long and the lakes are deep and the waters are wide. I hope we can look out for each other."

"Brother Zhang, rest assured, if you need anything from the Tian family when we get there, just let us know."

After a few polite but sincere words, the two men led their respective tribesmen onto the boats. The boatmen untied the mooring ropes, and with the sound of oars hitting the water, the two families' fleets slowly left the shore, heading towards their respective destinations one after the other.

After sailing for most of the day, as the sun began to set, the outline of the river bend ahead gradually became clear.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Zhang Yuan looked into the distance. Changwu Village was built along the water, but it was in a state of disrepair—several sections of the earthen walls had collapsed, the thatched roofs were sparse from the wind and rain, and some of the fields were overgrown, while others had only been turned over but not sown.

But the town wasn't deserted. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys.

Zhang Yuan had already sent the fastest boy in the clan to the town in a fast boat to deliver the news, so a lot of people had already gathered on the shore.

The welcoming crowd on the shore gradually differentiated into different groups.

Leading the way were several prominent local gentry. Although their clothes were not as splendid as before, they still maintained a certain level of decorum. However, each of them had a cautious expression, and even a hint of unease.

Behind them followed a group of townspeople who had come spontaneously, mostly young and able-bodied men.

This was the first time the new lord, Lin Ye, had implemented his policies in the town, and it was also the day the new steward officially took office.

The news of the destruction of the Liu family in Shitie Town had already quietly spread throughout the towns of Xiang County some time ago, and the swift and decisive action made many local gentry uneasy.

Welcoming Zhang Yuan today is not only welcoming a new manager, but also welcoming a set of rules and authority they have never seen before.

Therefore, although the leading gentry walked steadily, his back was slightly hunched, and his eyes darted between the fleet and Zhang Yuan, wanting to please them but also afraid of making a mistake.

The townspeople, however, felt quite differently. They thought that with the new manager in charge, the river would be dredged, the monsters would be gone, the roads would be easier to travel, merchant ships could come in, and they could continue their old lives.

As soon as Zhang Yuan stepped ashore, the leading local gentry immediately took the lead in bowing respectfully, saying, "Welcome, Manager Zhang, to Changwu Town! We, the townspeople, have been waiting for you for a long time."

Zhang Yuan smiled slightly and returned the greeting, saying, "You've all worked hard. I've come here for the stability and prosperity of Changwu Village. From now on, everything will be done according to the rules set by the lord. I'll need your cooperation."

As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of cheerful discussion erupted among the townspeople, with some even waving their hands vigorously as if in response to the promise.

The gentry's expressions relaxed slightly, but they still dared not be careless, reminding themselves in secret that this steward was backed by Lin Ye's new policies, and could not be neglected or offended.

At almost the same time, welcoming scenes unfolded in different towns in Xiang County. Some were bustling and lively, led by local gentry. Others were quiet and deserted, with hardly anyone present.

Different towns have different attitudes toward the new officials. It is estimated that the officials in each town will have to put in a lot of effort before they can integrate the whole county and reach the level of Yun County.