Chapter 153: Restraint and Unrestraint
Lu Youpeng said that he was given so many assignments in one breath. Yes, this year he returned to Cuiping Mountain and planned to set up a water dredging team to dredge the Minshui River, the main transportation channel of the Shenwei Army, during the dry winter season to ensure shipping safety.
Zhao Yulin gave him a thumbs up and said that he had thought about it too. The last time he went to Jiading for smear campaign, the boat was going too fast and almost ran aground.
The explosives we have now are quite powerful. If we organize the craftsmen and engineers in the mines to work together, shipping will be safe and it will be convenient for ordinary people to travel.
Lao Lu said that's what he meant.
The two of them met by chance and clinked their tea bowls together in celebration.
At this time, Li Chuan came in and reported: The prefect of Luzhou has arrived.
He and Lao Lu went to greet them together, and Zhao Yulin introduced the chief general of the Shunfeng Division of the Shenwei Army to the prefect.
The prefect immediately said that he had heard about it a long time ago and wanted to thank the chief steward. Without favorable winds, it would not be so easy to fight corruption and control tyranny in Luzhou.
The three of them actually started to be polite to each other.
After Li Chuan served the tea, Zhao Yulin simply asked the prefect what he was doing there.
He knew very well that the prefect would not come to his Cuiping Mountain for no reason.
The prefect first told him how he had praised the Shenwei Army in Lin'an, how the emperor was delighted when he inspected the Shenwei Army, and how the Lin'an court officials and people praised the Shenwei Army. Then he tactfully asked when the local officials would go back and take up their posts now that Renhuai Fort had been pacified.
Zhao Yulin had already expected that the prefect was coming to claim territory.
He smiled and said that it was okay at any time, and the Shenwei Army was stationed there in accordance with the emperor's order.
Those places had poor soil and had experienced war, so he suggested not to send too many officials there for the time being. Firstly, there was nothing to do and so many people were not needed.
Secondly, the Shenwei Army is not like other armies. It not only maintains local security, but also helps the people do things, which reduces the burden on local officials. Luzhou also reduces unnecessary expenditures accordingly.
The prefect found Zhao Yulin's words very interesting and felt that there was something else behind them.
Lu Youpeng helped Zhao Yulin click it. He said that the Shenwei Army was stationed in Renhuai, and while maintaining local stability they also had to be self-reliant and develop production.
Otherwise, tens of thousands of soldiers will be left helpless. We will have to rely on your help in the future.
This is the key to Zhao Yulin.
At the beginning, not long after Li Yunqing came back, he asked Chen Xian to arrange for the master craftsmen of Guigu in Cuiping Mountain to go to Renhuai to search for treasures with new instruments. They had already received news that there was coal, iron, gold and silver there.
Fairy Banban, these are good things, how could Zhao Yulin let go so easily?
The prefect then realized that the Shenwei Army was occupying the land and refused to leave. He had been excited to take back the ownership of the land, but suddenly he lost interest.
He changed his mind and realized that this place was indeed as barren as Zhao Yulin had said, with not even a few decent small sloping lands. No matter how he managed it, it would be a losing business. So he might as well send some capable officials in as Zhao Yulin had suggested.
After the two sides reached a consensus, the Longmen Formation was set up. Zhao Yulin invited the prefect to eat beggar's chicken, and the prefect also wanted to invite Zhao Yulin in return to thank the Shenwei Army of Luzhou for their help.
Zhao Yulin couldn't resist and led the way to the Beggar's Chicken restaurant by the Jinsha River to have a drink.
Zhao Yulin and Lu Youpeng saw off the prefect of Luzhou. Looking at the clear sky and the fresh air, he had some leisure time, so he invited Old Lu to go up to the city wall with him for a walk.
Under the management of the Shenwei Army, more and more streets were built in Cuiping Mountain, and it has expanded more than five times compared to the original size.
Lu Youpeng said with great emotion that when he first came here, it was almost desolate and broken, and now there is no trace of the original state.
Zhao Yulin pointed to the preserved stone archway on the North-South Avenue and said with a smile, "Isn't that it? There are also two old sites and a well on the dock. If archaeologists come and tinker with it, they will definitely dig deep into the Li and Tang Dynasty."
Lu Youpeng laughed, it’s true.
But the original desolation is no longer there, and instead there is a prosperous scene.
At this time, Li Chuan came up and whispered: The real lady of Bozhou, Madam Shun, is here.
He looked at Lu Youpeng in confusion. Old Lu told him that he was the head of two chieftain families in Bozhou, and wondered what his purpose was.
Li Chuan said that the two ladies wanted to see him alone and he didn't want others to know that they were coming to Cuiping Mountain.
Zhao Yulin found it even more strange, so he asked him to pass on the message and lead the way to the military camp. He and Lao Lu walked down the city wall and went straight there.
The two men walked into the small tea room in the military camp, and Zhao Yulin saw two women, one old and one young.
Madam Zhen was a pretty little lady, while Madam Shun was much older. Both were dressed in the finest southern barbarian attire. On their left and right stood four sturdy men in short brown clothes.
After Zhao Yulin introduced him and Lu Youpeng, he simply asked the two ladies what they wanted to see him about.
The elderly Mrs. Shun looked at Lu Youpeng hesitantly and said that they had something important to say to the commander.
Zhao Yulin smiled and pointed at the four strong men behind them and said, "Do walls have ears?" We already have seven or eight people here, what are we afraid of?
He said that General Manager Lu was in charge of Renhuai Fort, so why didn't he let the General Manager know?
How to do things?
There was a sudden silence in the tea room, and the two ladies looked at each other with hesitation on their faces.
At ease, the young Madam Zhen spoke with a righteous look, saying that they came for the common people of Bozhou. They hoped that the Shenwei Army would stay in and not leave, and that other officials would not come to exploit Bozhou anymore, as the common people could not afford it anymore.
Zhao Yulin was confused after hearing what he heard. He turned around and asked Lao Lu: Have our people ever caught someone committing adultery, bullied civilians, or violated military discipline?
Lao Lu looked even more confused and asked him how to start.
He pointed at the two ladies opposite and said, what they meant was that our Shenwei Army’s arrival had put pressure on them.
The two ladies spoke at the same time and said no, no, they hoped that the Shenwei Army would protect Bozhou and did not want other officials to come to Bozhou to take charge.
This is a matter that could cost them their lives. The officials in Lin'an will definitely not forgive them if they know of their plan.
Only then did Zhao Yulin understand what the two ladies meant.
He said with a smile, "Madams, why bother? The Shenwei Army will not leave once they enter Renhuai, and will definitely stabilize the place."
As for the officials, I have just discussed it with the prefect of Luzhou. Each city and county still needs to send a chief officer. He must be an impartial and honest official. Otherwise, our Shenwei Army will not agree. Anyone who dares to bully the people and exploit the villagers will be put to death directly.
The two ladies looked at each other, as if they felt they were a little too late.
Mrs. Shun hesitated for a moment, then said firmly that they came to Cuiping Mountain to invite the Shenwei Army to enter Bozhou, expel the original garrison, clean up corrupt officials and bullies, and give the Bozhou people a way to survive.
Mrs. Shun started to cry as she spoke. The officials and troops sent by the Song Dynasty oppressed the people and increased taxes wantonly. They even took the property of the headmen's families. Young and beautiful women could not escape their clutches.
He is simply lawless and has become a local tyrant. No wonder the people are rebelling.
The two of them had heard stories about the Shenwei Army a long time ago. They had strict military discipline, never harassed the people, and helped the people build houses, bridges and roads.
This is the army they support, like and want to keep.
Madam Zhen said that both families have given it their all and asked the Commander to help them change their fate.
Zhao Yulin was silent. He had never thought that these officials in the border areas would corrupt the Song Dynasty so much. The people in the already poor land were exploited by the local government, and their lives were hard to imagine.
Seeing that he didn't say anything, the two ladies asked in unison that the commander should save them.
The two of them told Zhao Yulin that they had sent their daughters to his house, and that they would be the women of the Zhao family even if they had to work like a slave. This was to tie the fate of the master and their families together, and make them a family for life.
Zhao Yulin looked at the two ladies in surprise, then turned to look at Lu Youpeng.
Old Lu looked at him happily. There was no solution to this problem, so Lu Youpeng waved his hand helplessly and stood up to say goodbye.
The two ladies stood up, saluted Zhao Yulin, and asked him to save the people of Bozhou.
Zhao Yulin quickly asked them to sit down and said there was no rush. There was always a way to solve the problem.
He told the two ladies that he would first arrange personnel to investigate and punish corrupt officials, and then find a way to transfer the official troops from Bozhou and let the Shenwei Army station there.
When the two ladies heard this, they were delighted.
Zhao Yulin went on to say that the imperial court's control system would not be conducive to the prosperity of the people of Bozhou in the long run, and he would petition Lin'an to set up prefectures and counties and implement administrative management like the Han area.
In the future, the Shenwei Army will send educated teachers and skilled craftsmen to help Bozhou establish academies and schools, open factories and workshops to develop livelihoods, and let everyone live a good life.
Madam Zhen looked at Madam Shun in surprise, and both ladies smiled when they heard it.
Zhao Yulin immediately said that all the girls should be taken back. General Miao Gui, General Huo Fenghuang and General Bao Wenli of the Shenwei Army were all barbarians and were one family with him. They were all brothers and sisters, so there was no need to do this.
Madam Shun said firmly that their little sister must stay in the Zhao Mansion. It was a must. Otherwise, how could they believe what the adults said?
What if the adults betrayed them?
Madam Zhen also nodded continuously, saying that the two younger sisters must become his women, so that both families would feel safe.
My god, this is really happening to me.
Madam Shun winked at Madam Zhen and walked out without waiting for him to come to his senses. Zhao Yulin quickly asked Li Chuan and the captain of the guard to follow and take the person away.
He went out and found Lu Youpeng on the training ground, where Old Lu was spinning in circles.
Zhao Yulin said helplessly that they had sent maids to his house, and there were two of them at once, what should he do?
Lao Lu said with a smile, "Brother, accept them all. It's just two more women. Brother is handsome and in good health, and there is enough room for him at home. What is there to be afraid of?"
Oh, Lao Lu even joked that he was here.
Zhao Yulin couldn't find a suitable solution for a while and was very embarrassed. He knew that he had to solve it himself.
His mind was in a mess. He looked up at the sky. The sun was setting and the colorful clouds were illuminating the sky red.
On second thought, there is actually no need to take it to heart. As long as you live towards the sun and follow the light, you will have no fear of the vicissitudes of life as long as you have the warm sunshine in your heart .
