Chapter 452: Chapter 452. Managing The City of Jin
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Bullsh * t Imperial Court? They were the rebels who should be executed the most.”
Chen Qingzhou wasn’t afraid. He carefully rolled up Xiao Zeyu’s calligraphy and cherished it very much. Based on this domineering calligraphy, Young Master Xiao was like a dragon among men. He was willing to assist Young Master Xiao in accomplishing his grand ambitions.
Xiao Zeyu and Su Qing didn’t know what had happened in the teahouse after they left, but someone behind them had reported Chen Qingzhou’s performance to Xiao Zeyu. His impression of this noble Chen Qingzhou was even better, and he was looking forward to his performance in the winter exam.
“Qing’er, go to the inn to sleep.”
No matter what, Xiao Zeyu would not allow Su Qing to go to the blacksmith shop again. No matter how worried he was, he would not disregard this day. He coaxed and forced Su Qing into the inn and asked for a special room for her to rest.
“Shopkeeper, prepare a bucket of hot water.”
Xiao Zeyu sent Su Qing upstairs and asked the shopkeeper to prepare hot water for her. A hot bath would make her sleep better.
Su Qing was also genuinely tired. Seeing Xiao Zeyu thinking of everything, she just quietly enjoyed it. It felt so good to be taken care of by someone. She didn’t even need to say anything.
“Qing’er, have a good rest. 1’11 go take a look at the injured soldiers.”
Xiao Zeyu sent Su Qing upstairs and was about to leave when Su Qing stopped him.
“I’ll get you some healing medicine.”
Xiao Zeyu was already used to Su Qing’s ability to take out things so quickly. He was very interested in her sect’s immortal sect. It was simply too convenient to have such an immortal sect. He wouldn’t have to worry about anything being stolen.
Xiao Zeyu left with the medicine and buns. Su Qing stretched her stiff neck and sat on the bed. This inn was spotless, and the bedding did not smell. Su Qing was delighted.
She was too tired and fell asleep as soon as she leaned against the bed. After an unknown period, she suddenly opened her eyes when she heard a knock on the door. A cold light flashed in her eyes, and her hands clenched.
When she heard the waiter’s voice, she retracted her murderous aura and shouted coldly,
“Come in.”
Two waiters carried a wooden bucket for bathing and walked in. Behind them was a cloth shop’s waiter. He was holding a tray in his hand. On the tray was a woman’s dress. The light green robe was Su Qing’s favorite color. The waiter smiled at Su Qing as he entered the door and said,
“Young Master Xiao ordered this lowly one to deliver the clothes.”
“Alright.”
Su Qing nodded, her heart filled with warmth. Being protected by Xiao Zeyu, she was like a little daughter, enjoying his care.
While Su Qing bathed and changed, Xiao Zeyu returned to the barracks with food and medicine. The leader had already prepared a pot of hot porridge, and the injured soldiers had all been bandaged. Everyone was tired and sleepy, so they leaned together and fell asleep.
“Get up and eat. After you eat, change shifts and sleep.”
Xiao Zeyu felt sorry for his brothers, who had been through life and death with him. He called everyone to eat buns and handed the healing medicine Su Qing gave to the military doctor.
“This pack is for external use; this pack is for internal use. Don’t mix it up.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The military doctor cherished the medicine Su Qing gave him. Miss Su’s miraculous cure could bring the dead back to life. He was very impressed with her.
After Xiao Zeyu was done with the arrangements for the military camp, he immediately rushed to the government office.
The personal guards had brought people to arrest the Zhizhou and the bailiffs. This Zhizhou was also a scoundrel. He did not dare to lead the bailiffs to resist and was captured without a fight.
“Young Master, many commoners have already submitted their complaints. This Zhizhou has done many bad things not long after he took office. Look, these are all complaints against him, and these are all complaints against the bullies of Jin City.”
The personal guards reported the charges to Xiao Zeyu. Xiao Zeyu sat at the Zhizhou’s office and looked at his crimes. He had stolen a wealthy merchant’s mansion, bullied men and women, and had no regard for human lives. He had done many bad things that were enough to be beheaded.
These bullies in Jin City colluded with the Zhizhou to bully the market and commit all kinds of evil deeds, especially the two big grain merchants in the city who hoarded and raised the price of grain. They were rich and heartless.
“Men, arrest these people and confiscate their property.”
Now that the army needed a lot of money and food to expand, it was an excellent opportunity to use these villains as a target. He would take from the rich and give to the poor, confiscate their ill-gotten gains, and immediately bring those who had committed the most heinous crimes to the crossroad intersection to be beheaded. He would open the granary to release food, issue a notice of peace for the people, and take all sorts of measures to love the people. Xiao Zeyu’s actions were loved and supported by the people of Jin City.
Knowing that the city gate was to be built, the people in the city tore down their shed and transported the wood to the city gate. Carpenters who knew carpentry took the initiative to help build the city gate for free.
The people of Jin City had never been so willing to give. Everyone was enthusiastic and hoped that the Xiao Family’s Army would not leave Jin City so that the people could live a good life.
The day of the winter examination was here. Only a few candidates came to register, but Xiao Zeyu wasn’t discouraged. Those who dared to come were good people. Those who were talented but timid were not worthy of being put in an important position.
Among the examinees, he saw Chen Qingzhou, whom he had met at the teahouse that day. He had bathed and changed his clothes, dressed himself up, and stood in the crowd with his head held high. His eyes emitted a confident light, making him stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens.
Xiao Zeyu nodded at him. Chen Qingzhou cupped his hands and bowed deeply. Xiao Zeyu retracted his gaze and looked at the dozen examinees before him.
“Everyone’s courage to participate in the winter exam is commendable. I hope you can all have good results. The Xiao Family Army is now in need of a workforce. As long as you have the ability, you can stand out.”
Xiao Zeyu’s speech was very encouraging. These people who dared to participate in the winter examination were all ambitious. They were dissatisfied with the absurd and lawless court and hoped to benefit the ordinary people.
They dared to come because they respected General Xiao Heng and trusted the Xiao Family Army. They hoped that they could get a wise ruler.
The winter exam had begun, and Xiao Zeyu was supervising everyone for the exam. All of the questions today were written by him. Let’s see who’s the best. Let’s see who’s ambitious. Let’s see who has the strategy to govern the country.
The content of the autumn examination was utterly different from the previous years. It was not limited to the knowledge in books, allowing everyone to have room to express themselves.
Xiao Zeyu sat in the principal examiner’s seat and looked at the examinees writing furiously. He realized the dozen or so examinees who had come today were alright. He was in urgent need of talent. If these examinees’ results were not bad, he wanted to keep them all for his use.
Of course, he had to investigate the background of these people first to prevent spies from taking advantage of them.
Two days of exams had passed. The examinees had finished answering all the exam papers and were waiting for the results nervously.
Xiao Zeyu personally graded the papers while Su Qing helped him grind the ink.
Su Qing knew nothing about these papers. She couldn’t continue reading them because the classical Chinese was too slow. She only wanted to see whose handwriting was more beautiful. The writing was like the person’s. If the writing were neat, the person would be rigorous. If the handwriting were sloppy, the person would be careless. She had read all the papers that Xiao Zeyu had graded. When she saw the last paper, she was attracted by the flamboyant handwriting. She suddenly asked Xiao Zeyu,
“Whose paper is this?”