Chen Ping's Sword

"I’ve already said it, His Highness King Ping has finished his work. If there are any important matters, just report them directly. Why do I need to accompany you on this trip?"

This was the voice of Fang Qingzhu.

Of course, the sound of teeth chewing on meat couldn’t be missed.

Chen Ping chuckled silently and pushed open the door, only to see Feng Yuantu’s somewhat embarrassed expression, using a folding fan to cover half of his face. Beside him stood a slightly impatient Fang Qingzhu and her servant Xiaoyu.

Besides these three, there was another person.

A middle-aged man, plump and round, dressed in official robes with a properly worn headdress, slightly bent over, smiling with a hint of obsequiousness.

"This humble official greets His Highness King Ping."

The plump middle-aged man hurriedly paid his respects upon seeing Chen Ping.

His manners were exceedingly proper.

So, Chen Ping understood. There must be an issue with the livelihood aspect of Guangyun Prefecture, and the plump man dared not act on his own or delay, so he came to request an introduction from Military Advisor Feng Yuantu.

As for Feng Yuantu, knowing that he himself was in the midst of cultivation, dared not disturb, yet somehow managed to persuade Fang Qingzhu and her servant to come along.

This person’s mind is truly sharp, never failing in his strategies.

However, as he used to follow the True Martial King, opposing King Ping’s army, after surrendering post-defeat, there was a certain lack of closeness.

When handling matters, there was always a bit more restraint and less intimacy.

But it’s not really his fault.

"What, are the snacks in Guangyun Prefecture so delicious? You’ve been eating for three days and still can’t get enough?"

Chen Ping nodded, indicating the group to have a conversation by the small lakeside pavilion, turning to ask Fang Qingzhu.

Between people, destiny is crucial.

Chen Ping views people with his own method of analysis.

The attitudes vary when interacting with them.

Like the plump man before him, named Qin Yuan, Qin Guanhai, who rose from the ranks of successful candidates in the seventh year of Yuanzhen, was accustomed to fawning and doing things thoroughly, his ability to govern and administer was notably good, which managed to climb him to the position of Prefect of Guangyun.

Speaking of which, local officials are not as good as capital officials.

But it also depends on the nature of the local official.

For instance, the Lord of large prefectures like Xingqing Prefecture and Guangyun Prefecture holds quite a respectable position.

Not to mention governing a jurisdiction for even a term, benefitting one area; even if one were to accumulate wealth, it would exceed others.

Qin Guanhai, in fact, had no other faults but his love of money.

His reputation for loving money even reached the ears of the evaluating officials at the Ministry of Personnel.

Yet, this guy possessed the skill, achieving medium evaluations year after year, gaining benefits without harsh reproof; indeed, if there were no changes in Jiangdong, he might even have an opportunity for promotion.

The reason Chen Ping did not replace him, allowing him to continue as Prefect, was also based on practical considerations.

When the army first marched into Guangyun, Qin Guanhai immediately opened the city gates and proactively came to surrender.

Moreover, he used all his wealth just to save his own life.

The most impressive part was that when entering the city, Chen Ping found that the city’s residents did not hold resistance against his army, instead, many waved flags to welcome them, demonstrating a complete "Open Gate to Welcome the Rebel King" stance.

Furthermore, with his extremely keen ears, he could hear many citizens whisper excitedly about the governance policy of "Jun Tian and Lighter Taxes," envisioning the good life ahead.

Because of this, even without considerations of "buying horse bones with a thousand gold," Chen Ping wouldn’t easily deal with this chubby Prefect.

This man must fear death so much to prepare so many maneuvers in advance.

For a moment, Chen Ping almost believed that Guangyun Prefecture was not enemy territory, but rather like his own Xingqing Prefecture, which, truthfully, felt not too far off in atmosphere.

It is conceivable that without a ten-day to half-month-long public opinion campaign, citizens could not have welcomed King Ping’s army so warmly.

Especially considering the recent incident when Imperial Forest Grand Governor Yan Beifei visited this place, achieving such a level is truly commendable.

Sending people to inquire a bit about Qin Yuan’s usual personality revealed that his love for money was true, his capability of getting things done was also true, and indeed, he held some bottom lines without carrying too much of a bad reputation.

At least, he wouldn’t use his power to unjustly cause fatalities.

Therefore, not only did Chen Ping not change his position as Prefect, but even the Assistant Officials and Staff Officers within the prefecture were not replaced.

In this current standing, personal preferences are actually not too important, attitude matters more.

Chen Ping intended to send a signal and attitude to the world.

As long as one truly submits and diligently handles affairs, a few shortcomings are of no great concern.

Moreover, he wouldn’t hold previous transgressions against them.

Past matters, as long as they didn’t incite public wrath, would be forgiven.

It was precisely due to such an attitude.

Fifty-two cities were quickly pacified, without waves or storms.

Even after Imperial Forest Grand Governor Yan Beifei’s defeat, the sixty-three cities on the West Shore of the Wenshui immediately relinquished thoughts of resistance, with the Chief Officials of each city rushing to surrender.

It saved a lot of effort.

Of course, in the Jiangdong territory, there would definitely still be many hidden dangers, and public sentiment might not necessarily submit in the short term.

But this is not a fear, as Zhuo Yunfei leads his eloquent subordinates, who had long been dispatched to each city, reorganizing the poor to serve as village chiefs.

Also, quietly instigating a trend of surveillance and reporting from the hardest-hit low levels, while simultaneously promoting some doctrines of "Peace and Contentment."

Currently, with hidden dangers unfazed, several combined strategies are in place.

Ensuring that the Jiangdong territory would soon transform into the likeness of Jiangnan.

Even if Chen Ping leaves this place...

Even if those noble families return, they would find no place to establish themselves anywhere.