My lord, spare his life!

"You can no longer adopt goddaughters so casually."

When Fan You heard that Zhang Yang had adopted Chao Tan as her goddaughter, his face turned ashen. Given his lord's overly simple and kind nature, he decided to tell her in the most direct and straightforward way possible—she could no longer adopt children indiscriminately!

Zhang Yang: "Why? Are you afraid you can't afford to raise them?"

Fan You said, "Is this a question of whether or not one can afford to raise them?"

Zhang Yang remained silent, seeking an answer with his eyes.

Fan You decided to try a softer approach when force failed: "All the people under the Lord's rule are like children, why adopt them again? In the eyes of outsiders, it will seem like the Lord is particularly fond of these three, which is unfair to others. Lu Bafeng and the others will also be criticized because of their status. In the future, no matter what great achievements they make, people will always maliciously speculate that they are benefiting from their status rather than from their own strength."

Zhang Yang was confused, but she had a mouth and asked questions.

"Uncle Yan, do you also want to call me godmother?"

He has three adopted daughters, but not a single adopted son yet.

Fan You: "..."

When neither gentle persuasion nor harsh methods worked, he changed his strategy. Today, instead of practicing calligraphy by copying model texts, he changed it to, "I will never adopt children casually again!"

The meaning of a book becomes clear after reading it a hundred times; the same applies to practicing calligraphy.

Zhang Yang: "..."

She couldn't take it anymore after practicing for two days.

"Uncle Yan, I promise I won't agree to that so easily."

Fan You didn't make things too difficult for Zhang Yang, because the problem wasn't entirely her fault; he also bore some responsibility—if he hadn't instilled the idea in his lord beforehand, she wouldn't have dared to respond to anyone calling her "godmother." It was a 50/50 split.

Regarding military power, Zhang Yang appointed Chao Tan to guard the mountain prefectures, granting him the authority to mobilize troops stationed in various places to suppress rebellions, and appointed Changsun Wang as his assistant. Internal affairs were mainly handled by He Wen and Zeng Sheng. Zeng Sheng never expected to be hit with such a huge windfall.

Zhe Meng also privately gave his brother-in-law a warning.

"With your abilities, you are not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility. I know this may be harsh, but you can't deny it." Zhe Meng was blunt with Zeng Sheng, saying directly, "Your godmother trusts you, so you must be extremely careful and not do anything foolish."

Zeng Sheng's expression did indeed stiffen.

However, he was of a steady nature and did not harbor resentment because of this.

On the contrary, he was grateful to Zhe Meng for being willing to give him pointers.

He smiled and replied, "We're family. When family members talk, there's no such thing as nice or unpleasant words. Aren't we all doing it for our own good? Rabies is highly trusted by the lord, so naturally I need your guidance on certain taboos so I know what to do and what not to do."

Zhe Meng was naturally satisfied to see that he was willing to listen.

"Treat your adoptive mother as your own children. Just do what ordinary parents do to raise their children. It all comes down to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Show them warmth and care, and make sure they are well-fed. Don't spoil them too much and let them do whatever they want, nor be too harsh and make them fearful. All education should be done patiently and gently." Zhe Meng paused as he spoke. "Don't create any wrongful convictions, don't embezzle or accept bribes, and don't let anyone use your name to commit crimes. Your adoptive mother will not only deal with the culprits, but also the accomplices."

The last sentence is the most important.

He may not have made great achievements, but he absolutely cannot have made any mistakes.

Zeng Sheng summarized, letting out a sigh of relief: "In short, just be a good official in the eyes of your youth."

Who didn't have similar ideals when they were young?

However, ideals are too luxurious.

Zhe Mengwen said gently, "If you encounter any difficulties, send me a message. As long as it's the right thing to do, your godmother will be your biggest support."

There is no need to bow down to any unfair treatment.

The mountain counties are just the starting point for his adoptive mother. He must not miss out on a bright future because of a momentary lapse in judgment.

Zeng Sheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

A family banquet was held as a farewell dinner.

During the banquet, Zeng Sheng took the initiative to speak, saying, "Mad Dog, you went on this expedition with the lord and don't know when you'll return. I imagine it must be hard for your brother to take care of the children alone at home. If he's willing, he can take the children home for a while. His mother has been missing him."

Zhe Meng's lips twitched, and he cursed Zeng Sheng's cunning in his heart.

However, it's a good thing that this fellow is willing to relent. Sooner or later, that old fox Zeng Sheng will have to "release" his mother-in-law.

What kind of behavior is it for a legitimate son to deliberately detain his stepmother!

It's not like they don't have their own children to support them in their old age.

Zeng Sheng's words at this moment reassured Zhe Meng considerably. It was indeed worrying that she was away with her adoptive mother, leaving her husband and children at home alone. If they suffered any injustice, she wouldn't be able to support them promptly. As her husband's elder brother, Zeng Sheng, even for the sake of mutual benefit, wouldn't dare mistreat him. Thinking of this, Zhe Meng smiled and raised his glass to toast Zeng Sheng and his wife.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, brother and sister-in-law."

Upon hearing the address, Zeng Sheng's smile deepened.

"We're all family, so we shouldn't speak like strangers. That's only natural."

With both sides showing goodwill, the family dinner atmosphere was extremely warm.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Zhang Yang led his troops on their way.

Starting from Dou County, the route passes through the border area between Hu County and Huanguan County.

At noon that day, the army took a short rest along the way.

From afar, Zhang Yang could see a dense row of green names huddled together at the edge of her vision, the system logs flashing. She asked, somewhat puzzled, "Xidan, did you hear anything?"

Ge Zhou listened intently: "My lord, there is indeed movement."

Fearing an ambush, she rode out to investigate.

Before long, she received accurate information from the scouts and returned with a strange look on her face: "My lord, they are commoners from the coast."

Zhang Yang: "Let's go see, perhaps there's some injustice done to us?"

That was her first reaction.

She led Fan You and the others, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, towards the direction of the green-named individuals. As the riverbank appeared, people on the opposite bank came into view. The people on the other side were all surrounded by a dense cluster of green names; not a single yellow name was visible. A scout who had gone to investigate crossed the river, his expression showing a hint of panic: "My lord, the common people along the riverbank heard that our army was passing by and came here to welcome us."

Zhang Yang exclaimed, "Is there any injustice involved?"

The scout blushed with embarrassment and stammered.

"It's not that I'm wronged, but rather that I'm expressing my gratitude to my lord for his great kindness and virtue."

Zhang Yang led her troops to provide disaster relief, saving lives from the floods and leaving them with food. Before leaving, she even rebuilt the collapsed houses. Even though she had to leave due to military matters, she did not forget to instruct local officials to take over the matter with county clerks.

This has never happened before.

Hearing that the army had finished its battle in Doujun and was preparing to return home, and that it was highly likely they would pass through this area, the common people along the river rushed over. Everyone carried something in their hands, mostly straw sandals and raincoats, while some brought plain water, rice porridge, and flatbread. They waited for a long time.

We eagerly awaited their arrival, and finally they came.

Fan You and the others were all taken aback, seemingly not expecting this. In contrast, Zhang Yang's reaction was rather calm. In the game world, players sometimes do foolish things, but more often they act chivalrously, and it's normal to be surrounded and grateful by the NPCs they've helped.

"Send someone to accept their offer, and send some money and grain over as well. If they refuse, we won't accept it either." Zhang Yang doesn't lack these things, but those who have just experienced a great disaster do. She can't take advantage of them, and she certainly can't let them tighten their belts and go hungry.

"If you suffer injustice in the future, feel free to tell me. Even the King of Heaven himself wouldn't dare to stop you." Zhang Yangchong clasped his hands in a fist salute on the opposite bank, clearly conveying her voice. "Though mountains are high and rivers are far, we'll meet again."

When parents leave home, children always cry and fuss. But life's hardships force these families to part with their loved ones. Zhang Yang had an idea—she would go out to work, leaving her child at home to care for themselves. Would the children across the street be considered a type of "left-behind child"?

Everyone thought their lord would be moved to tears.

Upon closer inspection, the lord's face was full of worry.

Fan You gave Xiao Sui a meaningful look, and Xiao Sui raised her fan to cover her eyes, preferring not to see it. Fan You had no choice but to ask her himself.

"Why is my lord troubled?"

The people are won over, but the ruler is unhappy?

Zhang Yang shared his thoughts.

"Left-behind children?" Fan You's lips twitched. He had never heard of this term before, but he understood its literal meaning without any difficulty. He secretly took a deep breath. "In that case, my lord should strive even harder so as not to let down the sincere hearts of his people."

Zhang Yang nodded: "Shuyan is right."

She didn't deliberately stop them, and news of the people seeing them off spread throughout the army. Some soldiers who participated in the rescue that day even received straw sandals, insoles, and other items. The items weren't valuable, but holding them attracted red eyes and undisguised envy.

This was a level of treatment they never dared to dream of before.

Let alone receiving straw sandals as a gift from commoners, it was considered a good thing if they didn't avoid them like the plague or curse them behind their backs as despicable soldiers. The common people feared soldiers more than bandits. Bandits might plunder a little, but soldiers and bandits would skin you alive.

After that section of the road, the journey became quite smooth.

Zhang Yang also took down several bandit groups in the vicinity.

Upon reaching the border of Chesi County, He Wen had already dispatched troops to welcome them, and the army would rest there for the night. Zhang Yang had no free time and seized the opportunity to meet with the county magistrate to see if they had been negligent. He Wen also brought his cousin to meet her parents.

When Lu Yuan saw his daughter, his heart softened.

"She's grown quite a bit since I last saw her." Gently stroking her daughter's hair, she said to He Wen, "Thank you, you've taken very good care of her."

He Wen's expression softened for once, but his words remained firm: "Why should you thank me? She's also my sister, and my uncle's only bloodline. I naturally cherish her like a treasure, and taking care of her is my duty. Have you been making things difficult for my uncle lately?"

Lu Yuan's lips twitched: "We should ask him if he made things difficult for me."

Who can bully He Zhi, this male ghost?

I felt so stifled being watched by him every day.

He Wen tucked his hands into his sleeves and sneered, "Clever words and a flattering face. Your uncle is weak and frail; how could he possibly make things difficult for you?"

He was constantly worried that his uncle would be bullied by that shrewish woman, Lü Yuan.

Was Lu Yuan bullied by his uncle?

This was something he never dared to even imagine.

Lu Yuan: "...Why don't you look at the poor guy who got shot through the heart by him before you say that? He's weak, he can't withstand his underhanded tricks. Who can guard against a cold arrow from the shadows?"

He Wen only listened to what he wanted to hear: "Hmph."

Lu Yuan: "...Neither you uncle nor nephew are reasonable!"

Thinking that her daughter was still alive, Lu Yuan didn't argue with him.

She had to stay with her adoptive mother and couldn't bring her child with her, so she had to leave the child in He Wen's care. He Wen didn't care where she went, only about his uncle: "Why did Uncle also have to get involved in that mess? Did you force him?"

He Wenting is content with the status quo.

Zhang Yang's decision not to choose to rest and recuperate is something he cannot understand.

The mountainous terrain is advantageous, with two passes to the north and south, allowing the counties to be self-sufficient and keeping them away from the outside world's conflicts and wars.

Lu Yuan rolled his eyes: "Are you blind?"

He Wen could not scold his mother in front of his daughter, so he covered his sister's ears.

He said, "A vulgar bunch."

Lu Yuan chuckled and raised an eyebrow at He Wen: "Is that vulgar? I can do even more vulgar things. Want to find a place to listen in private?"

He Wen was so enraged that his face turned red.

As soon as He Zhi arrived, He Wen immediately went to greet him.

The uncle and nephew were on good terms, and He Wen also got the answer from He Zhi: "The counties in the mountains can indeed be independent, but in addition to the counties in the mountains, the lord also has Tianyue in his hands, and Dongxian also has the intention to submit. Tianjiang is attacked from both sides, and its submission is not far away. Closing the two passes can keep the counties in the mountains away from the outside war, but it cannot do so in these three places. No matter how unwilling the lord is, he will be dragged into the water."

He Wen didn't spend much time with Zhang Yang, and treated the latter mostly in a businesslike manner, his heart leaning more towards his own family: "It's her business if she gets dragged into this, it's not difficult for your uncle to stay in the mountains..."

He Zhi raised his hand to stop him, his expression serious.

He Wen felt uneasy under the intense gaze: "Uncle?"

It's only been a short time since we last met, and my uncle is already defending Zhang Boyuan?

He Zhi's gaze fell on his daughter to the side, his expression softening slightly: "You and I have joined the Lord's ranks, how can we stand aside? No matter how peaceful it is in the mountains, how many more years can it remain so? Besides, I only have this one child in my life, so naturally I must plan for her future. I don't know when Lü Bafeng's old illness will relapse... If he doesn't change his ways and can't focus on the child, I can't let my daughter suffer. My future is the foundation for her future."

Lu Yuan became increasingly displeased as he listened.

She just couldn't do it because the child was there.

"Hey, do you think I'm dead? Making cricket noises right in front of me?"

He Zhi immediately retaliated.

"Didn't you just pretend I was dead and make fun of my nephew?"

Ritsumoto: "..."

He Zhi gritted his teeth: "Mind your own business."

Lu Yuan scoffed, "Then you keep a close eye on things."

He Wen felt a chill run down his spine, feeling both ashamed and angry. He cursed Lu Yuan in his heart for being a leopard that could never change its spots, and felt sorry for his uncle for running into such a shameless scoundrel.

The daughter rolled her eyes and glanced at the three adults.

Upon seeing that familiar gaze, He Zhi instinctively raised his hand to cover it, and whispered soothingly, "Don't be like your mother."

Having one scoundrel like Lu Yuan is enough to cause trouble.

Zhang Yang heard that Lü Yuan's daughter was also there, so he made a special trip to see his grandchildren.

The child said in a clear voice, "Grandson Lu Chu greets Grandmother."

Except for Zhang Yang, everyone else present twitched their expressions.

"Good boy." Zhang Yang stuffed a red envelope into the child's hand. "This is money to ward off evil spirits during the New Year. I'm afraid I won't be able to give it to you in time for the New Year this year."

The child, with a sweet tongue, accepted the red envelope and offered his New Year's greetings in advance: "Thank you, Grandma. I wish you a healthy and long-lasting New Year."

Everyone stared blankly.

Zhe Meng also looked at Lu Yuan in shock.

I had a strange sense of dread about a crushing defeat: "How despicable."

Lu Yuan will stop at nothing to win favor!

"Sows of Millet" by Song of Thorns

[Ancient Farming and Infrastructure Construction: The Adorable Baby SuSu's Struggle]

A little baby with fair skin and rosy cheeks was swept down by a flash flood; it was a girl!

Oh my! There's no shortage of girls these days!

The village headman, however, made the decision: "She survived the mountain torrents unscathed; she's blessed! Let's keep her!"

The bewildered little child opened his big eyes and mumbled incoherently, following the voice in his head:

? [Sleep, sleep...]

The village headman took one look and laughed: "It can talk now! Let's call it Su Su!"

At that moment, a voice echoed in the little child's mind: "Hello, host. I am the Mysterious Maiden Education System, number 003..."

? ......

Why are you called Su Su?

Because although it is small and insignificant, it can save millions of lives!

? ......

[Millet: the fruit of a fine grain. When millet rained down from the heavens, Shennong cultivated and planted it. This signifies continuation.]