Chapter 297: Chapter 290: Know People and Make Good Use of Them
Nangong Heng was panting heavily, so enraged that his vision blurred, but he truly no longer dared to seek death. His staff, more perceptive, said, "Miss Feng San, you’re new here and unfamiliar with West Continent. Our State Mansion has its difficulties as well. Please give us a few days to discuss this further."
"West Continent follows my command. There is no room for negotiation!" Fengyu rose to her feet, looking down at the crumpled figure of Nangong Heng on the ground. "On that basis, I will consider your requests at my discretion. Lord Nangong, I respect your loyalty, but I do not accept your governance strategy for West Continent. West Continent has fallen into ruin under your hands. There’s a saying, ’It’s never too late to mend the fold once the sheep are lost.’ That applies even more to you. If I were you, I’d find every possible way to restore West Continent to its prosperity of more than a decade ago."
Fengyu swept her sleeves and left. Nangong Heng shouted desperately at her retreating figure, "You don’t even understand the situation in West Continent. You... you won’t be able to manage it!"
Fengyu turned back and smiled at him. "I can!"
The things you couldn’t achieve don’t mean I can’t.
From childhood, whenever she set her mind to accomplish something, she never failed.
Nuanyang remarked, "This Lord Nangong is truly foolishly loyal."
"Isn’t the Marquis the same?" Fengyu chuckled. "Someone like me, with little sense of belonging and no concern for orthodoxy, is ultimately in the minority. Lord Nangong ranked highly in the imperial examination and was outstanding in policy analysis. Back in the Ministry of Revenue, he had achievements too. How did he end up governing West Continent like this? Nuanyang, send someone to investigate the situation at the mines. I will go find Zhang Hu."
"Understood!"
They were still unfamiliar with the situation in West Continent and required a more detailed understanding.
The bandits Xie Xun had eradicated were composed of several factions. Bandits in West Continent had one shared trait—respect for the strong. Despite their different factions, they shared a consensus. If they intended to settle and live as ordinary citizens in West Continent in the future, the major leaders had to establish peace. Among them, Zhang Hu stood out as one of the strongest. Though the bandits weren’t from the same faction and usually had no major conflicts, once they entered West State City, the major leaders worked together to carve out livelihoods for their people. There had been small disputes, but no violent incidents.
Back in Yunzhou, Fengyu had formed ties with Zhang Hu’s wife, Zhang Lin, seeking medical treatment for their young son. As a result, Zhang Hu and his wife were more than willing to pave the way for Fengyu in West State City.
This group of over ten thousand people had taken up residence in the Southern City. Being mountain bandits who once ruled their respective territories, they already had a talent for managing affairs. They efficiently arranged for the resettlement of over ten thousand people. By the time Fengyu arrived in West Continent, Zhang Hu had essentially mapped out the area, excluding the mines.
"Miss, within West State City, it’s actually the Salt and Iron Department that holds power, not the State Mansion. Most of the residents live mixed together in East City; the west side is home to smelting factories guarded by people from the Salt and Iron Department, who control both smelting and transportation. The Su Family’s Trading House handles sales. The State Mansion collects dividends from this arrangement. There are about 4,000 soldiers stationed; the Salt and Iron Department, now controlled by bandits, has transformed its people into officials overnight. The mine is guarded by 20,000, and security is impenetrable. The Salt and Iron Department has two Iron Officials: one surnamed Su, the shopkeeper of the Su Family’s Trading House, and another named Zhu Shengkai, the former leader of the bandits at Ma Wei Slope in West Continent. During earlier confrontations, his younger brother was killed. A few years ago, he led 10,000 bandits to seize the mines, later recruiting another 10,000. Now they co-control the iron mines with the Su Family’s Trading House. With 20,000 men stationed at the mines and several thousand under the Salt and Iron Department’s command, there are fewer than 1,000 ordinary households in the region. The rest of the residents were once all ruthless bandits."
Nuanyang had a headache. "So except for the regular households, West State City is now full of bandits?"
Zhang Hu and the other major leaders exchanged looks and laughed meaningfully. "Don’t forget, the Prince sent us here!"
"General, we’re all law-abiding citizens now!"
Nuanyang: "..."
The ruggedness of West Continent’s future residents seemed predictable!
Nuanyang secretly thought to himself, reinforcements would be necessary.
Fengyu had already grasped the general situation of West Continent. Among the bandits were a few who excelled in organization, and Fengyu singled them out. She ordered someone to request the household and land records from the State Mansion.
She couldn’t micromanage everything but insisted on employing the right people. "Once we have the household and land records, start organizing. One part should catalog the arable land in West Continent, and another should list the vacant houses in the city, creating new records. The houses, depending on size and location, I will set prices for. After the harvest, you’ll all be able to settle down. The money must be submitted, but for now, I will advance it for you. If the residents who left West Continent return one day and find their homes occupied, I will personally handle compensation and adjustments. If they still wish to reclaim their old homes, you must vacate them. I’ll either arrange alternative accommodations for you or let you build your own homes on land allocated by the State Mansion."
The major leaders were in an uproar. They had occupied the best residences in the Southern City, but Fengyu softened her tone and, with great eloquence, eventually convinced them.
"Land distribution will be simpler. It will be divided uniformly by household. The land will remain under the State Mansion’s jurisdiction. You’ll lease it for farming. Half of each household’s land must grow millet or wheat, while the rest can be cultivated as you wish, with profit or loss at your own risk. The State Mansion will provide seeds in the first year. Land taxes will follow new policies, with the State Mansion only collecting rental fees. Specific policies will be announced once the mining situation stabilizes. I also encourage you to raise livestock. Chicks, ducklings, goslings, calves, lambs, and colts for the first year will be supplied by me. Oxen for plowing and farming tools will also be transported to West Continent. Do what you’re skilled at, and I’ll provide assistance as needed. In the first year, I will impose high taxes to recover the initial investment. After that, taxes will return to normal levels, and it will be up to you to sustain yourselves." Fengyu’s voice was gentle yet firm. "The commerce of West Continent will surely recover. Unite and build a prosperous West Continent together—this will be your home."
Shelter from the wind and rain and a piece of land to sustain themselves were their foremost concerns. Fengyu had addressed both succinctly. Rebuilding a city involved many dimensions, which would inevitably bring countless new challenges. Progress couldn’t happen overnight. With homes and livelihoods in place, the rest could be tackled gradually.
"Rest assured, Miss. As long as we can support our families and establish roots, we’ll do anything." Zhang Hu said solemnly, "Miss has given us land, seeds, and will even open trade routes. As the first group rebuilding West Continent, we won’t let you down."
The other major leaders listened, their hearts ablaze. Fengyu had essentially laid out the foundation for their survival—land, houses, seeds, even young livestock. While Xie Xun’s anti-bandit campaign had confiscated some of their wealth, they still had enough savings to survive on their own efforts.
"Gentlemen, until I secure control of the mines, you must maintain stability in the rear. Do not have conflicts with the city’s residents. The State Mansion has laws, and the bandit habits must be curbed. West Continent will be governed by law, and offenders will face justice without leniency." Fengyu emphasized her instructions, worried that these former bandits might revert to their old ways, and made sure the leaders restrained their men.
Each bandit group had its own leader. As long as Fengyu kept these leaders in check, governance would not be difficult.
"Understood, Miss. Rest assured, anyone who dares misbehave will face my blade first." The leader’s tone was fierce as he pledged, before grinning and asking, "Miss, when will the seeds and livestock you promised us arrive?"
"I will oversee West Continent for three years. I will not go back on my word. Rest easy."
"Miss will oversee West Continent?" Zhang Hu was surprised. He had thought Fengyu would return to Jinzhou after handling matters here. The conditions were harsh, and Miss Feng San, a heavenly beauty seeming untouched by mortal struggles, did not look like someone who could endure hardship.
Fengyu replied, "Yes, I will share the burdens and joys with everyone."
Nuanyang thought to himself, Miss, I dare not truly let you suffer.
The first night in West Continent, Fengyu worked until 5 a.m. When she went looking for Zhang Hu and others, Zhang Da had already found a house in the Southern City. It was a former residence of a wealthy gentry family, abandoned for years, now overgrown with weeds. However, it was spacious and well-preserved, so they decided to settle there for the time being, even in the pitch-dark night.
While Qiuxiang and Chunlu were cleaning the house, Fengyu lit a lamp and examined records on the Salt and Iron Department, the State Mansion, and the development trajectory of West Continent over the past ten years. She began to understand why Nangong Heng had governed West Continent so poorly.
Nangong Heng lacked autonomy. West Continent was a cesspool of collusion between bandits and merchants. Had Nangong Heng never reported the Twelve States’ iron mines issue to the court all these years?
And had Feng Shu failed to notice the iron mine situation in West Continent over all these years? The Salt and Iron Department in West Continent must have had expert advisors. As long as they continued to supply military provisions honestly and avoided obvious fraud, the authorities wouldn’t question the flow of the mined iron. With high-quality weaponry and armor, the cavalry wouldn’t bother tracking where the iron went. Fengyu’s finger paused lightly on the account books—overall finances of the Twelve States were stretched thin. Even if they resorted to extortionate trade practices, there wouldn’t be much silver to squeeze out. Where exactly was the wealth from these iron mines converted into liquid assets?
Nangong Heng must know!
Qiuxiang and Chunlu worked through the night cleaning the house. Fengyu slept just one hour before Qiuxiang woke her. The sky was already lightening.
The Su Family’s Manager Su and Manager Li had come requesting an audience with Fengyu.
Rubbing her bleary eyes and stifling a yawn, Fengyu felt more exhausted than ever despite her improved constitution over the years. The recent sleepless nights had taken their toll.
"Let them wait," Fengyu said sternly. "I’ll sleep another hour."