Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Change
Jiang Shaohua stayed in the Personal Guard Camp for a few days, then set off again.
Liu Hengchang left over a hundred new recruits and accompanied with six hundred trusted aides. Each person had two horses, the sound of hooves thundered, raising dust and smoke, conveying an overwhelming sense of security amidst the clamor.
Lu Cong struggled to keep up with the group on horseback. After riding for half a day, leaning against a tree to drink water and eat hard biscuits, Lu Cong couldn’t help but ask Ma Yaosong: "Did the Commandery Princess travel so arduously during last year’s patrol?"
Before Ma Yaosong could respond, Chen Jinyu said: "How can this be considered arduous? We’re only traveling fifty li a day. When the Commandery Princess urgently led troops to Li County last year, they marched a hundred li in a day. That was truly arduous."
Lu Cong silently looked at his trembling legs, suddenly wanting to cry.
If given another chance, would he still come to Nanyang County seeking employment?
Of course, he would come. He shouldn’t have wasted those past three years and should have practiced riding and archery diligently, saving himself from today’s embarrassment, not even comparing to a fourteen-year-old girl.
Naturally, Jiang Shaohua had no time to pay attention to these matters. Occasionally casting a glance at the exhausted and weary Lu Sheren, she didn’t give it a second thought.
To work under her command, one must first shed their previous laziness and arrogance. If Lu Sheren can’t even adapt to this, he might as well return to his old home early to enjoy himself!
After four days of traveling, they finally arrived in Li County.
County Magistrate Cai was already leading a group of officials to await outside the city gate.
"Your servant greets the Commandery Princess." County Magistrate Cai knelt down and respectfully performed a full ceremony. The officials behind him also followed suit, kneeling in unison.
Jiang Shaohua personally reached out to help County Magistrate Cai up: "Please rise quickly, County Magistrate Cai, and all of you may rise." Then, jokingly added: "Only been a little over a month, and County Magistrate Cai has tanned quite a bit."
County Magistrate Cai laughed: "I, as the County Magistrate, am not used to sitting in the office, almost going out every day. Of course, the tan is not only due to the fierce sun, it’s mostly natural."
Jiang Shaohua laughed, and everyone else followed with laughter.
Outside the city gate was a stretch of fertile fields, during this time of spring plowing. The people led the cattle, the cattle pulled the new plows steadily and quickly. The soil that had been frozen over the cold winter was turned up by the plow, revealing the black earth.
This was the beautiful scenery in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes.
Jiang Shaohua watched for a moment, then stepped forward. As they approached the city gate, Jiang Shaohua suddenly exclaimed: "The city walls seem taller than before."
"Yes," County Magistrate Cai quickly took over the conversation: "After last autum’s harvest, I was building granaries while having people repair the city walls."
"The granaries are now all built, it is estimated that it will take two to three years to gradually store enough grain. Repairing the city walls is not an easy task, and we can’t delay the people’s spring farming. I plan to repair it during the slack farming seasons each year, raising the walls by three feet. It will also take two to three years."
Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed with approval, she nodded approvingly: "County Magistrate Cai has put his heart into it, well done."
This is how it should be. One shouldn’t wait for her, the Commandery Princess, to dictate everything but should be proactive and responsible. This is being conscientious.
Each County Magistrate envied County Magistrate Cai’s luck, not knowing, it was her good fortune to have such capable and diligent subordinates.
County Magistrate Cai’s face reddened under the praise.
The Chief Clerk beside him quickly picked up the thread: "The County Magistrate is extremely diligent in his duties, personally involved in everything, leading by example. Before and after the New Year, while the city walls were being repaired, the County Magistrate came to the city gates every day to work alongside the citizens."
"We are all sincerely convinced of the County Magistrate’s dedication," the County Magistrate chimed in with compliments, not wanting to fall behind.
Jiang Shaohua glanced at County Magistrate Mo with a smile: "Why doesn’t County Magistrate Mo speak? Or is he still unconvinced?"
Throughout the recent half a year, County Magistrate Mo had his temper worn down, where would he dare show any defiance, he hurriedly replied: "County Magistrate Cai has his heart set on the people, busy and worried for the people all day, I admit I am far from his level and have long been convinced of County Magistrate Cai’s capabilities."
"It’s good to be convinced." Jiang Shaohua gave a faint smile: "Only when the officials work together in unity can a county be well-governed. Those busy with scheming and struggles are better off leaving Nanyang County early. I, as the Commandery Princess, have neither the patience nor the time to deal with such people, they will be straightforwardly expelled."
County Magistrate Mo felt a chill down his spine, his smile suddenly becoming more genuine: "Commandery Princess, please rest assured. With County Magistrate Cai leading us, we are entirely focused on our duties with no other intentions."
Jiang Shaohua turned to ask County Magistrate Cai: "County Magistrate Cai, is everything County Magistrate Mo said true?"
The Commandery Princess is publicly backing him!
County Magistrate Cai felt a warmth in his eyes, he nodded affirmatively.
Actually, County Magistrate Mo had made quite a few small moves in secret. However, the Chief Clerk and the County Magistrate both stood by him, the constables in the county government also followed his lead. County Magistrate Mo couldn’t stir up any trouble and was gradually getting settled now.
Such small matters didn’t need to be mentioned. The Commandery Princess was occupied with the livelihoods of Nanyang County’s populace, he had to assist her in reducing her burdens, ensuring her that the position of County Magistrate was stable without worrying her.
The changes in Li County, from the farming outside the city, to the city walls raised by a foot, and the smiling faces of the citizens along the way, were evident.
Jiang Shaohua settled down in the county government and said to County Magistrate Cai: "I, as the Commandery Princess, will wander around at my leisure, so you should proceed with your duties."
County Magistrate Cai was a straightforward person. Since the Commandery Princess said so, he complied.
For the following days, as expected, he was out from dawn till dusk, without a trace.
County Magistrate Mo, the Chief Clerk, and the County Magistrate each had their own duties to keep them busy.
Lu Sheren was once again astonished.
In his days in office, let alone a superior’s inspection, even when colleagues visited, duties had to be put aside for a few days to accompany them!
The Commandery Princess didn’t want any accompaniment, instead changed into ordinary clothes to wander through the marketplace and roam in the citizens’ homes... Yet County Magistrate Cai truly didn’t pay mind to it.
The county magistrates of Nanyang County, it seemed, were all doing their duties this way!!!
...
Jiang Shaohua spent three days in Li County, then made a trip to Black Pine Mountain.
The camp they had hastily set up back then was still there, and with some tidying, the trusted aides could settle in.
Chen Jinyu curiously looked around: "Commandery Princess, when you slaughtered a few hundred bandits, were the corpses all buried?"
Jiang Shaohua replied with a smile and pointed to a large mound of earth in the distance: "They’re all buried over there. The trees around that area are growing exceptionally lush."
Chen Jinyu giggled.
Lu Cong shivered all over.
Concerned, Ma Yaosong softly asked, "What happened to Lu Sheren? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lu Cong squeezed out a smile: "I’m fine. By the way, what was that about a few hundred bandits Chen Sheren mentioned?"
Ma Yaosong casually recounted the Commandery Princess’s feat of banditry suppression.
Chopping off all the bandits’ heads, exposing the corpses for ten days, making Lu Cong’s face turn white with cold sweat pouring down.
Jiang Shaohua did not intervene, smiling while watching Ma Sheren intimidate Lu Sheren.
"Commandery Princess, the citizens gathering to collect herbs in the mountains have assembled." Qin Huma, Meng Sanbao came together to report: "County Magistrate Cai is also here. When does the Commandery Princess plan to enter the mountain?"
"Enter the mountain immediately."