IDWBE -Chapter 568 Stone Slab Spring

Lin Yi stretched lazily and walked out of his study, strolling up to the tower of Prince Jin’s residence.

From this high vantage point, the entire Prince Jin’s estate was laid out before him, and beyond that, the bustling streets stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Have someone set off some firecrackers at the four gates, make it lively a bit. This atmosphere is far too dull.”

In times of war, the ones who suffer most are always the common people.

Pingcheng had been under siege for three long months, and over a thousand people had starved to death!

“Yes.”

Shen Chu responded but hesitated before adding, “Your Highness, there is one matter… I am unsure if I should mention it.”

“Then don’t.”

Lin Yi replied irritably.

Shen Chu was taken aback. Their lord still had the same temper.

He didn’t press further and boldly said, “Now that the war in Jinzhou has settled, I would like to request to go to Chuanzhou.”

“What are you thinking? If you leave, who will manage Jinzhou?” Lin Yi shot him a glance. “You’ve been in Jinzhou a long time and understand it well. That’s better than transferring someone else in, who would be completely clueless. Don’t say more. This time, I am determined to carry out a thorough military reform. You will serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Jinzhou military district.”

He had already done military adjustments back in Sanhe, even listing ranks for corps, regiments, brigades, and divisions.

But inertia was strong.

Everyone still arranged positions as usual: tour generals, chief commanders, governors, and a host of others.

According to the latest Liang regulations, he should be called Military Commander Shen Chu, but in the Ministry of War’s records, he was listed as Chief Commander, often leaving the clerks confused.

Liang Yuan, in particular, had complained about it to Lin Yi multiple times, both openly and in private.

“Commander-in-Chief?”

Shen Chu wasn’t unfamiliar with the word “Commander.” He had always been a minor local official.

Just adding “Chief” to the title made him higher ranked?

“Don’t worry about the details. From now on, all military decisions in Jinzhou are yours to make,” Lin Yi said thoughtfully. “If you’re worried about your family, bring them along.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Seeing Lin Yi so firm, Shen Chu didn’t argue further.

After all, whether he liked it or not, he couldn’t go to Chuanzhou, nor could he return to Ankang City.

Lin Yi continued, “The cabinet has proposed that Shi Quan serve as Jinzhou’s Provincial Administrator. Jinzhou is newly stabilized, so all efforts should focus on economic development. You two must support each other.”

“I will fully cooperate with Lord Shi and will not interfere with Jinzhou’s economic development,” Shen Chu said.

He wasn’t a fool—he clearly understood the meaning behind Lin Yi’s words.

“Focus on economic development” meant, in plain terms, that Shi Quan was in charge!

As the military commander, he had to step aside.

Do nothing unnecessary.

Lin Yi’s tone was clear, and he had to obey.

“That’s settled. Your next task is to carefully eliminate bandits within Jinzhou. Those with severe crimes should be punished harshly; those who haven’t taken lives can be put to work on road construction. In short, do everything to ensure smooth trade routes,” Lin Yi said slowly. “Everything is for development, for the sake of development.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Shen Chu replied loudly. “I will actively implement Your Highness’s economic development strategy.”

“Good, good. Progress,” Lin Yi praised. “Not only must you implement it, but also pass it down to your subordinates. Make them understand the importance of economic development, and also make them aware that anyone who cuts off my finances, I will cut off their careers.”

“I understand,” Shen Chu replied.

Lin Yi nodded. “Then there’s nothing more to discuss. For now, send out scouts to prepare for Lord Shi’s arrival. Also, recall the former officials of Jinzhou and Pingcheng. Whether they are capable or not doesn’t matter; at least they understand Jinzhou’s situation. Let them maintain things for now. Whether Shi Quan uses them later is his concern.”

“These people are schemers. They even dared to embezzle relief grain,” Shen Chu said with a forced smile. “Recently, I took matters into my own hands and executed over ten. It’s better to let the suppliers do the work. The staff at Tianfu Restaurant may be young, but they’re competent. During the recent food distribution, nothing went wrong.”

“Are you endorsing them?”

Lin Yi asked, surprised.

Shen Chu smiled. “Many of these employees are from Jizhou, born poor. They know some characters, but taking the civil service exam would be nearly impossible. I thought, why not just recruit talent regardless of formalities?”

“Like those old clerks—you can let them help, but wanting to become officials? Forget it,” Lin Yi smiled. “Exams are mandatory. It’s a system. Don’t break it, or chaos ensues. Today you bypass rules, tomorrow someone else does, and it’s all ruined.”

Shen Chu hurriedly said, “I have no selfish motives.”

“I know, but we can’t guarantee others don’t,” Lin Yi insisted. “If they’re truly capable, let them take the exam. That’s the right way.”

After taking over the Liang dynasty’s administration, he had abolished the imperial examination system, replacing it with an academic and civil service system.

It caused a stir, but it wasn’t as difficult as imagined.

The exam was simple; some scholars who had studied for ten years finished elementary school material in one year and passed the exam effortlessly, obtaining an elementary school diploma.

Chemistry, physics, math—all “fixed knowledge.”

For these old scholars, understanding buoyancy was much easier than debating abstract Confucian concepts.

One plus one is two. Two plus two is four. There’s a standard answer.

Once they had the elementary school diploma, they could directly take the civil service exam—and many passed!

If they disagreed, they would be fools.

All the old arduous studying methods were outdated.

Now, if one still needed to study that way, it meant their intelligence was insufficient.

Exams weren’t perfect, but they were better than nepotism, which left poor families with no chance.

“You are correct, Your Highness,” Shen Chu bowed.

“Anyone without an elementary school diploma—forget holding office, even minor clerks are impossible. This is a matter of principle,” Lin Yi emphasized again. “From now on, this applies even to village heads.”

The north wind howled, whipping the dry roadside trees. Sand and gravel stung Lin Yi’s face.

He wrapped his jacket tighter and looked toward the approaching carriage road. “I must hurry before the snow comes. Once roads are blocked, returning to Ankang City will be miserable.”

Lei Kaishan said, “I’ve made preparations, waiting only for Your Highness’s order.”

He, too, hoped Lin Yi would return soon. Otherwise, they couldn’t handle any mishaps.

---

Shi Quan sat in the carriage, arms around a heater, eyes half-closed. When the attendants said they were near, he lifted the curtain slightly and saw a large crowd—likely to welcome him—but paid it no mind.

After all, he was now a local official; this was normal.

But as they drew closer, he sensed something off.

Armored guards, weapons drawn—what was going on?

Even Shen Chu wouldn’t put on such a grand military display for him, would he?

Anxiously, he asked, “Has the front been scouted?”

After the sound of hooves, a young servant reported, “Master, it’s Lord He, Lord He himself has come to welcome you!”

“Ah!”

Shi Quan was startled!

He knew Lord He was in Pingcheng, but he never imagined he would personally come to greet him!

Lord He never practiced “courteous treatment of subordinates.”

His principle was always: “If you don’t do it, there’s someone else who will.” He had even said, “Three-legged toads are rare, but two-legged people are everywhere.”

In Lord He’s eyes, their importance probably didn’t match even the blacksmiths at the Academy.

If there was a reason, it was Lord He’s admiration for science and disdain for formalities.

The court even wished all memorials were written in vernacular so he could understand them.

Too much explanation is just tears.

Shi Quan quickly got out of the carriage and shouted at a mounted servant, “No mistake, right?”

The servant adjusted his hat and said loudly, “Master, even if I mistake anyone, I wouldn’t mistake Lord He!”

Shi Quan squinted and looked into the distance. “True enough.”

This servant was from Sanhe. Lord He often wandered the streets of Baiyun City, so many recognized him; mistakes were impossible.

Besides, who else could have Shen Chu arrange such a display but Lord He?

It couldn’t be wrong!

The servant continued, “Master, our Lord really values you.”

“Silence,” Shi Quan scolded, then told the coachman, “Move quickly, don’t keep Lord He waiting.”

As the carriage neared the city gate, the figures ahead became clearer.

When close enough, he jumped down, ran a few steps, and knelt, shouting, “Your servant Shi Quan pays respects, Your Highness, long live, long live, a thousand times!”

Lin Yi drew in his neck, folding his sleeves. “Rise. You’ve traveled far and still make such a scene—don’t tire yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Shi Quan stood and saw beside Lord He: the Prince Nanling, the Prince Jin, Yang Changchun, and Mei Jingzhi. He was about to salute when Lord He impatiently said, “Enough. Whatever matters there are, discuss them back at home. It’s cold out here.”

“Yes.”

Shi Quan smiled wryly.

Luckily, he was used to Lord He’s temper.

It was already a huge honor that Lord He personally came to greet him—a privilege no one could earn.

He got into his carriage, heading to Prince Jin’s residence.

The servant leaned into the carriage, whispering, “Master, someone just said we can’t enter Prince Jin’s residence. We’re being directed to the Pingcheng government office.”

Shi Quan nodded. “Then follow their arrangement.”

Servant: “Master, who will attend to you? You’ll have no one around.”

Shi Quan: “They have their reasons. No need to fuss.”

“Yes.”

At the residence, Shi Quan got out with the servant’s help, gave a few instructions, and followed a steward to freshen up.

The wind picked up, and the temperature dropped.

Lin Yi, freezing, complained to Prince Jin, “You go all out for a show outside, but can’t heat the inside? You tolerate winter so well?”

Prince Jin was stunned.

How could he be blamed for this?

Prince Jin stacked his sleeves, smiling. “Your Highness may not know: this room is for receiving guests. No heated kang here, there’s a proper warm room for autumn and winter.”

“Forget it, it’s a bit early for the warm room anyway,” Lin Yi said, holding a hot teapot. “Sit, everyone. Why stand there like fools?”

“Thank you, Regent,” they chorused.

“Bring food, and add more charcoal,” Lin Yi shivered. “Will it snow soon?”

Prince Jin: “Soon.”

“Then I must hurry,” Lin Yi said to Shi Quan. “Since you’re here, familiarize yourself quickly. Winter isn’t to be taken lightly—people could die.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness,” Shi Quan stood. “I’ve arranged with Lord Gan Mao. Before winter, 100,000 dan of grain will arrive in Jinzhou.”

Lin Yi frowned. “Gan Mao is that generous?”

100,000 dan of grain would cost him his life!

Even Lin Yi wouldn’t have gotten it from Gan Mao easily, let alone Shi Quan, whose relationship with Gan Mao was mediocre.

Shi Quan looked around, seemingly hesitant.

Lin Yi said, “Speak freely; everyone here is one of us.”

Shi Quan said, “Jinzhou produces coal. I used coal as collateral to secure these 100,000 dan of grain.”

He then glanced at the frowning Prince Jin.

Lin Yi laughed. “Almost forgot, brother, you’re Jinzhou’s biggest coal boss. What’s yours is mine. I won’t be polite.”

Prince Jin hurriedly said, “The Regent is wise.”

He remembered Lin Yi’s words: the greatest pain in life is living without money!

Now, seeing his property go into someone else’s pocket, it stung.

After three rounds of wine, Lin Yi felt warm and removed his jacket. Raising his glass, he said, “General Mei, General Yang, cheers!”

“Thank You, Regent!”

The two stood, drank their wine, and smiled.

“These past days, I may have been neglectful. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Not at all.”

“Don’t be discouraged,” Lin Yi continued, glancing at them. “As the saying goes: the faded courtesan reforms, a lifetime of past pleasures doesn’t hinder; the chaste woman loses her husband, a life of hardship isn’t in vain. I share this with you!”

He raised his cup again.

“Thank you, Regent!”

The two were internally displeased—comparing them to courtesans?

Yet, they obediently raised their cups and drank.