My lord, spare his life!

"The point isn't who owns the wheelchair, isn't the point that you got into a fight? And you even got into a fight with someone who can't walk properly..." Zhang Yang didn't expect Fan You to value a wheelchair so much. Could it be that this wheelchair really appealed to him?

Fan You frowned: "How can it not be important?"

Then, even more self-righteously, he said, "So what if we take action?"

Their attitude became unexpectedly tough.

Zhang Yang said, "Didn't you say 'a gentleman uses words, not fists'? You fought him, is it because you couldn't out-argue Han Fulong?"

"...I'm being lenient by not kicking him."

If Han Wo hadn't changed his identity, Fan You really would have kicked him.

Zhang Yang said, "Aren't we going to talk about gentlemanly conduct now?"

Fan You retorted: "When you encounter a gentleman, you should observe the manners of a gentleman; when you encounter a petty person, you should use the methods of a petty person. This is especially true for someone like Han Wo."

Zhang Yang couldn't understand why Fan You was acting this way. After learning that Han Wo had been an exchange student at Mingde Academy, Fan You's attitude had been visibly friendly, treating him like a fellow alumnus. Now, he was acting like an enemy—a complete 180-degree turn. Was it just because Han Wo had taken his wheelchair?

"You don't like him?"

"dislike."

"If you don't like it, then kill it."

"...Well, it's not that disgusting."

He knew Zhang Yang wasn't joking. Given her temperament, if he really said "kill," Han Wo wouldn't see the sun rise tomorrow. Fearing Zhang Yang would strike first, Fan You could only swallow his displeasure and save Han Wo's life.

Zhang Yang was puzzled: "Liking is liking, and disliking is disliking. Why would there be an opinion that 'it's not that disliked'?"

Fan You: "..."

Not everyone is like their lord, who kills at the slightest displeasure.

"I just don't like that he's taken my wheelchair for himself."

Zhang Yang: "...It really is for a wheelchair."

She added a note to Fan You's friend list.

Fan You (courtesy name Shuyan, a wheelchair enthusiast)

Han Wo no longer had a wheelchair, but fortunately, those with star power heal quickly and didn't need to lie in bed for two or three months to recover like ordinary people. The next day, he was able to get out of bed and move around with the help of a pair of crutches. When he saw Fan You, Han Wo regarded him as a plague god.

"He has a calm and reliable face, but who knew he still has the mind of a brat. He gets angry when he can't win an argument, and when he gets angry he resorts to violence, bullying a poor patient like me who can't walk properly." Han Wo couldn't help but complain to her best friend Zhe Meng, her face full of disgust.

Zhe Meng said, "That can't be, can it?"

Recalling Fan You's appearance and behavior, he was not the same person as the unruly and unreasonable brat Han Wo had described: "Fan Shuyan is, after all, a graduate of Mingde Academy, with a profound family education. If not a model Confucian scholar, he should at least be a refined gentleman. Why would someone push you and then snatch your wheelchair?"

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just too bizarre. Fan Shuyan is my adoptive mother's confidant and her strategist. If he weren't a steady and reliable person, how could he help my adoptive mother manage all the trivial matters?" Although Zhe Meng had a biased view of Zhang Yang, she had to admit that her adoptive mother wasn't a very steady person, and there must have been a strategist behind her who could handle internal affairs.

"...Am I the kind of person who would make things up?"

Zhe Meng laughed and said, "That's hard to say."

Hanwo has tricked Zhemeng before, too.

Because his own people understood each other, Zhe Meng guessed that Han Wo's words had gone too far and crossed Fan You's bottom line, forcing a perfectly upright gentleman to take action instead of talking.

Han Wo: "..."

He rolled his eyes without any attempt to hide it.

Zhe Meng pushed a pot of fine wine towards Han Wo and said softly, "Calm down, calm down. You two will still have to work together in the future. If you and Fan Shuyan don't get along, won't you be the one who suffers the most?"

Han Wo glanced down at the wine but didn't take it.

Zhe Meng knew how to coax people. She cleared her throat and said, "When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Just bear with him for a year or two, and once you've gained a foothold, find a chance to teach him a lesson. What do you say? Isn't there a saying, 'A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years'?"

There is a chance to retrieve Fan You's wheelchair.

Han Wo drank the fine wine and said, "I won't bother with this man."

"You think highly of Lord Zhang?" He looked at the patterns on the wine cup in his hand, abandoning his casual conversation. It was clear that Zhe Meng believed Zhang Yang's power was not a flash in the pan, but could develop steadily and for a long time.

Zhe Meng made no attempt to hide his feelings: "Yes, watch closely."

Han Wo suddenly let out a sigh.

Zhe Meng: "Guess what happened to Bodu County?"

She remembered that Han Wo's family, including his elders and teachers, were all living in Bodu County. The whole family hadn't been settled in Bodu County for long when this matter with her adoptive mother came up. If Bodu County didn't surrender, her adoptive mother would definitely mobilize troops. Once war broke out, no matter how strictly her adoptive mother forbade her soldiers from harassing the people, it was impossible for the populace to remain completely unaffected; there would always be unscrupulous individuals taking the opportunity to commit evil deeds and crimes.

Han Wo's worries were understandable.

He said, "A fight won't break out."

The Pak Du County will surely surrender.

Zhe Meng poured him a drink: "That's a good thing, have a drink."

Han Wo was in a bad mood, not with the anger he felt when he rebuked Fan You for taking his wheelchair, but with a deep-seated melancholy. Zhe Meng could more or less guess why; it was nothing more than being reminded of similar unpleasant past events by the sight of the scene.

Hanwo suffered a massacre.

Over ten thousand corpses were left to rot and swarm in the city, turning a once bustling town into a ghost town. A few survivors fled in disarray. Han Wo was also separated from his brothers and clansmen, eventually settling down in Bodu. After a few years of peace, he encountered his adoptive mother, Zhang Yang.

"Sigh, my stepmother isn't the type to massacre an entire city, so relax."

The three prefectures of Chesi, Zongzheng, and Zongren are all doing well. Some remote and isolated areas within the territory are unaware of the war outside, and some are even lamenting that the prices of rice, grain, meat, and eggs have dropped significantly.

Han Wo: "..."

He said that Bodu County wouldn't resist, but deep down he wasn't sure. Human hearts aren't something you can simply calculate and control; the more people involved, the greater the variables, and the greater the margin of error in your calculations. However, Zhe Meng's reassurance did have some effect; his anxiety lessened somewhat.

That evening, people arrived from outside the city.

The envoy who persuaded the commandery of Bodu to surrender brought back good news.

Bodu County agreed to Zhang Yang's terms, but they also hoped to welcome back the Bodu natives who had gone to war and release the captured Bodu civil and military officials. From then on, Bodu County would be under Zhang Yang's command, and all administrative, financial, judicial, supervisory, and military powers within its territory would be under his control. Zhang Yang could send personnel to take over Bodu County.

Also present was a seal of Bodu County.

Zhang Yang did not show much joy at the news: "Those who understand the times are heroes, and Bo Du is more sensible than the people of the Zongzheng clan."

Knowing they couldn't win, they still insisted on fighting.

In the end, he got a good beating for nothing.

Why bother?

"Whom does the lord intend to send to take over?"

This question stumped Zhang Yang.

Her biggest predicament right now is the lack of manpower, or more precisely, the scarcity of people she both trusts and is loyal to her. The people she can use are mostly newly recruited, people she doesn't know well, and the adjustment period hasn't ended. If she rashly places them in newly conquered territories, they'll be ready to defect without any effort at all. Is Zhang Yang more familiar with these territories, or are they more familiar with them?

There's no need to even think about this problem.

Zhang Yang scratched his head and looked around his friend list.

"That's a good question, I don't know."

Fan You: "..."

"...Does Uncle Yan have a good candidate?"

"...Han Fulong, he's the best among the short ones."

He spoke reluctantly, clearly still remembering the fact that the other person had used his wheelchair—after all, it had only been a night since their conflict. Zhang Yang asked, "Doesn't Shuyan dislike him?"

"Personal preferences should not dictate interests; we cannot allow our own selfish desires to jeopardize our lord's ambitions," Fan You said. "Last night, I investigated Han Fulong's background and discovered that he is currently the most suitable person to succeed the governor of Bodu. His ancestral home is in Bodu, but he did not grow up there. Due to the early death of his parents, he went to live with relatives and was raised by them. After the massacre of the city, he was separated from his family and returned to Bodu with the remaining members of his household... In other words, his foundation in Bodu has only been established for a few years, which is not very deep."

The foundation is neither too deep nor too shallow, just right.

Zhang Yang scratched his head: "Alright, I'll listen to you."

On the same day, he presented the seal of the Prefect of Bodu to Han Wo.

Han Wo saw Zhang Yang sitting opposite him and assumed the man wanted to consult him for advice, but it turned out Zhang Yang had just come to deliver something. He opened the box, saw the prefect's seal, and snapped the lid shut.

"What is this?"

"The seal of the prefect, from Bodu Prefecture." Zhang Yang thought the other party hadn't recognized him, so he specially explained to Han Wo, "The seals of prefects all look pretty much the same. The seals of Tianyue Prefecture and Bodu Prefecture look similar. The only difference is the arrangement of the stars on the seal."

"It's not that I suspect the seal is forged, but I don't understand why it was sent to me." Han Wo felt it had been sent to the wrong place.

"For you."

"For me?"

His expression clearly showed deep confusion.

Han Wo truly couldn't understand Zhang Yang's arrangement. He hadn't achieved anything significant, nor did he have much of a reputation before. His acquaintances knew of his abilities, but before he could even demonstrate them, he encountered the unreasonable Zhang Yang. Yet Zhang Yang entrusted him with the important seal of the prefectural governor?

"I was only entrusted with the ambition of Zhuge Liang by my teachers, but I am not the real Ge Gong..." Without hesitation, he returned the seal.

This is a hot potato; it's uncomfortable to hold onto it for now.

He will earn what he wants through his own achievements.

Zhang Yang felt the other person was muttering something incomprehensible: "What does this have to do with your teacher's expectations? Uncle Yan said you were more suitable, so he recommended you, and I thought it was okay, so I agreed. Are you all show and no substance?"

Only someone without ability would be afraid to take on the task, right?

Han Wo thought he had misheard.

"This was recommended by Fan Shuyan?" This stingy fellow would even snatch a wheelchair, yet he'd actually give up the position of prefect?

Is there some huge pit waiting for me to jump into?

Zhang Yang nodded: "Mm."

Han Wo: "..."

He didn't want to agree, but he also didn't want to be looked down upon by Fan You, who had taken his wheelchair. Whether the other party was testing him or bluffing, Han Wo couldn't simply give in to their wishes. The words of refusal were forced stuck in his throat.

Han Wo looked at the seal of the prefect.

He asked, puzzled, "Why wasn't it Fan Shuyan who concurrently held the position?"

Zhang Yang: "He's now the Chief Clerk of the Imperial Palace."

Han Wo said, "That doesn't matter."

Zhang Yang really didn't know what Fan You was up to. Just as he was about to go back and ask, Han Wo had already reached out and accepted the prefect's seal.

"In that case, it would be impolite to refuse."

"After you take over Bodo County, you can't follow the old ways. You have to keep Bodo County and my other territories in sync..." Zhang Yang finished speaking and noticed Han Wo's puzzled look, so he explained, "That means keeping in step. The basic policies must be the same, such as the currency used in the territory, such as the laws adopted... Other aspects can be adapted to local conditions and adjusted according to the characteristics of Bodo County itself."

"Adapt to local conditions?"

"People should be taught according to their aptitude, and local governance should also be adapted to local conditions. What's so strange about that?" Zhang Yang said. "The geographical location of Bodu County is too close to the Dongfan Mountains. Geographically speaking, external forces can hardly threaten this place. Therefore, I hope that after you take over, you can focus on people's livelihood and governance and reduce military supplies. Bodu County is my territory. If I see the shadow of the enemy at my doorstep in the future, it means that I am not far from death."

Han Wo frowned subconsciously: "This—"

Zhang Yang: "Is that not allowed?"

Han Wo: "Does my lord know the consequences of doing this? Bodu County has reduced its military supplies, which is tantamount to a tiger pulling out its own teeth."

Zhang Yang disagreed with him.

"You still think of yourself as a lone wolf, treating Pathu County as a separate entity. Pathu County was like that before, but from today onwards, it is not an entity but a corner of my territory, a corner located in the heartland. I will protect my weak point."

Han Wo straightened up: "I would like to hear the details."

Zhang Yang: "???"

What is it? I'd like to hear the details.

She wasn't planning to say anything.

Zhang Yang remained silent for a few moments, which Han Wo interpreted as her being shrewd and calculating, weighing the pros and cons. Han Wo didn't urge her, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light. He wasn't actually interested in Zhang Yang; having suffered a defeat and been captured, he had no choice but to surrender. If he had a better option than Zhang Yang, he would have chosen it without hesitation. He never expected Zhang Yang to pull this stunt.

This aroused Han Wu's intense interest.

Zhang Yang said, "Mad Dog mentioned you to me this morning, and that's how I learned that you two have a good personal relationship. I wonder if she told you that I'm planning to integrate the entire mountain region? Che Si County, Zong Zheng County, Zong Ren County, and Bo Du County are not enough for me."

Han Wo nodded; he also had some guesses.

Zhang Yang's ambitions certainly wouldn't stop there.

"The mountain prefectures are surrounded by two mountain ranges, possessing natural defensive barriers. If they could be integrated into one, troops could be stationed at only two exits, concentrating manpower and resources to build an even stronger barrier." Previously, the prefectures were scattered, resources were dispersed, and each warlord could only attend to their own small territory, resulting in poor quality and scale of military defenses. Prefectures like Zongzheng, Zongren, and Bodu, which formed a community of interests through marriage alliances, could not possibly consolidate resources for unified command and control.

Therefore, Zhang Yang gained the upper hand by launching a surprise attack.

"...This kind of dispersion will cause a great deal of unnecessary waste," Zhang Yang said. "The result of each prefecture fighting its own battle is that each side doesn't have much money. If they use that money to support their troops, they can't support the common people within their territory. If they use it to manage people's livelihoods, they're afraid that their neighbors will attack in the middle of the night. But now that I've come, I've gathered them into one territory, and the money is also concentrated in one place."

A small portion of the money was used to build two more robust fortresses – this is called using the best resources where they matter most – while the rest was used to support people's livelihoods and raise children.

That's what Zhang Yang thought.

However, Han Wu did not think that way.

On the contrary, he felt that Zhang Yang's scheme was an open conspiracy—a somewhat despicable but very tempting one, using a high-sounding pretext to openly and legitimately eliminate the fertile ground for local armies and the emergence of new warlords. Tsk, truly, you can know a person's face but not their heart.

The new ruler is so cunning!