CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: RETURN

Once the Commandery Princess spoke, the three of Qin Zhan showed no anxiety, each raising their spirits: "Rest assured, Commandery Princess, we shall diligently train the soldiers."

"Just wait and see, Commandery Princess! Our Second Camp will definitely take the first place in the drill next time."

Usually reserved and low-key, even Liu Hengchang was high-spirited today: "Apart from military formations, the individual martial arts and archery of the Third Camp won’t lose to the First and Second Camps."

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan cast a sidelong glance together.

Liu Hengchang raised an eyebrow with a smile, responding calmly.

Jiang Shaohua saw this, and smiled contentedly.

As a ruler, to control a group of haughty and fierce generals, you must put in effort.

After Qin Zhan and the others left, Song Yuan said in a low voice: "The Commandery Princess has already won over Liu Hengchang."

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment: "Not yet. It will be the day when he takes the initiative to fight for things."

Song Yuan laughed: "That day won’t be too far off."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes curved in laughter as well.

During her inspection of the counties in Nanyang, she could be imposing and overwhelmingly successful. For one, because of her status as Commandery Princess; and secondly, most importantly, because she had two thousand loyal personal soldiers at her command. Wherever she pointed, her trusted aides would swarm to level the ground ahead.

Therefore, the Tang and Ma families quickly submitted, and even the highly-esteemed monks of the White Cloud Temple had to yield voluntarily.

The Nanyang Army now also fell back under her control, and gradually training and expanding her forces in the future would make more usable people under her.

However, maintaining so many soldiers is also a heavy burden for Nanyang County.

Thinking of the impending drought, locust plague, and famine in the next two or three years, Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but sigh. Song Yuan, sharp as always, immediately guessed Jiang Shaohua’s concerns: "Is the Commandery Princess troubled about money and grain for maintaining the army?"

"Silver isn’t the problem." Jiang Shaohua said in a low voice: "We can send more people to the silver mine. However, when famine years come, no amount of silver will be useful."

After all, it’s when the fields bear grain that lives can be saved.

Song Yuan said: "All counties are building granaries, next is to purchase and store grain. The Commandery Princess has already ordered the Tang family to buy grain. No matter what, it’s always a good thing to have more grain prepared."

Jiang Shaohua nodded.

Relocating the military camp is quite complicated, requiring bedding, weapons, warhorses, armor, and the splitting of the kitchens and the military doctors into three parts.

The siblings Sun Guangbai and Sun Zelan both stayed behind, as did Bao Er and Fangniang, newlyweds in the kitchen.

It must be said, the Third Camp, which remained in place, gained an advantage.

Under Liu Hengchang’s command, everyone wore a joyful smile, with Huang Xin, his trusted aide, saying with exuberance: "The Commandery Princess treats our Third Camp wonderfully. I always thought we were the ones who’d have to move! Never expected the Commandery Princess would let us stay."

Liu Hengchang glanced at Huang Xin: "Being favored by the Commandery Princess, do you know what to do in the future?"

"Of course!" Huang Xin straightened his back: "From now on, we’ll follow the Commandery Princess in anything, even if it means braving the knife mountain and sea of fire without hesitation."

The integrity of civil servants is revered, while military generals are about loyalty.

Half a year ago, when people mentioned the young Commandery Princess, they secretly murmured in dissatisfaction. Now it’s different, everyone says ’our Commandery Princess’.

Liu Hengchang glanced around with a smile.

Not just them, even he himself was now full of enthusiasm!

...

A few days later, the Commandery Princess led two hundred personal soldiers back to the Prince Mansion.

It only takes more than half a day from the Personal Guard Camp to the Prince Mansion.

The people of the Prince Mansion had long gathered at the main gate awaiting, and from a distance, seeing the rising dust and hearing the sound of galloping hooves, Chief Historian Feng Wenming was the first to relax his brow, turning to Yang Zheng and Shen Mu: "The Commandery Princess is finally back!"

Yang Zheng, who had been spirited off twice on the way, chuckled: "The Commandery Princess has been tirelessly inspecting the counties over the past half year."

Shen Mu, who was now darker and thinner, as usual, said nothing.

Beside Shen Mu stood a not-very-tall, handsome youth, who was Cui Du.

Over the past six months, Cui Du had grown taller, his face had filled out slightly, and his dark eyes were smiling, amiable, and pleasing.

Also waiting to welcome the Commandery Princess back were Prince Consort Lu Junma and Aunt Mei with her child. Since returning from Ye County, Lu Junma had rarely appeared in public, not even attending literary gatherings he liked, spending every day in the study.

Today as he appeared, Lu Junma’s skin was much paler, and he wore a gentle and appropriate smile on his face.

"Mother, is the Commandery Princess sister back?" Lu Ruohua looked up and asked Aunt Mei.

Aunt Mei gave a sound of assent, touching her daughter’s small face and quietly instructing: "Later, you must pay your respects to the Commandery Princess."

Lu Ruohua nodded obediently.

Lu Ying didn’t need any instruction.

Lu Ying was very clever and precocious. Since returning from Ye County last time, she had keenly noticed the subtle changes in her father and mother’s attitude. Her father had become reclusive and lost his temper much less often, while her mother seemed more composed.

A dozen fine horses halted at first, followed by several carriages arriving slowly.

Jiang Shaohua stepped down from the first carriage.

Following her, Chief Historian Chen, Chief Clerk Wen, Chen Sheren, and Housekeeper Ma each dismounted from the carriage and surrounded the Commandery Princess with Song Yuan to the main gate.

"Your subordinate welcomes the Commandery Princess back," Chief Historian Feng led everyone in greeting.

Jiang Shaohua laughed lightly, reaching out to support Chief Historian Feng: "Over the past half year, while I was not at the mansion, all miscellaneous matters fell on Chief Historian Feng. You’ve worked hard!"

Chief Historian Feng, stifling the excitement of reunion after a long absence, responded with a smile: "The Commandery Princess has been toiling outside; it’s you who have truly been working hard. It is my duty to relieve the Commandery Princess of worries."

Then he turned to Chief Historian Chen: "Chief Historian Chen has lost some weight."

Chen Zhuo smiled with self-mockery: "These old bones can hardly withstand the journey. Next year, young ones will accompany the Commandery Princess on inspections."

Chief Historian Feng had long noticed the two young people beside the Commandery Princess.

Chen Jinyu was a familiar face, and the other, a handsome youth of about fifteen or sixteen, should be the Housekeeper Ma mentioned in Chen Zhuo’s letters.

Jiang Shaohua greeted Shen Mu, who had been tirelessly working in the workshop: "Over the past half year, Shen Gongzheng has been busy manufacturing new-style plows, you’ve worked hard."

Shen Mu bowed: "The Commandery Princess overestimates me. The workshop, not failing the Commandery Princess’s expectations, has produced five hundred new-style plows in this half year, already distributed to each county as per your arrangement."

Of course, five hundred is far from enough. But with the number of craftsmen in Nanyang County, it would take the workshop another year or two to ensure every household has a new-style plow.

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, suddenly turning to ask Chief Historian Chen: "Have the new-style plows sent to the court been promoted?"

Chen Zhuo sighed: "It’s not that easy. I heard the Ministry of Industry has been studying the blueprints of the new plow since receiving it. It will take at least two to three years to start manufacturing and promoting."

No doubt, this is the efficiency of the court’s work.

To get things done, one must suppress all opposing voices and cut off the hands reaching out openly and in the dark.

Partisan strife harms the country, that’s how it is.