CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: OPERATION

Chen Jinyu spent an hour drafting an official document, feeling passionately that it was immensely brilliant, and deliberately took it to show the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua, after reading it, smiled and said, "The court’s official documents are usually handled by Chief Historian Chen. Why not let Sister Jin Yu’s draft be seen by Chief Historian Chen?"

Chen Jinyu went with her head held high and chest out.

Then, she was ruthlessly scolded by her own grandfather: "Official documents for the Prince Mansion need to be straightforward and clear, so they can be transcribed and posted once sent to the county government. What is this you’ve written, do you think you’re writing a storybook?"

"Take it back and rewrite it! If you keep being so clueless, you might as well stop being a housekeeper and return to Bowan County to learn embroidery and cooking to prepare for marriage!"

Chen Jinyu returned in a dejected state, unable to resist mumbling, "The Commandery Princess could also see my writing was flawed, and yet she didn’t say a word. She even let me go to Grandfather, causing me to get severely scolded."

Of course.

As the Commandery Princess, she has to mix benevolence and power to win people’s hearts. Such unpleasant tasks naturally fall upon Chief Historian Chen to alleviate.

An hour later, Chen Jinyu returned with a rewritten document to present to the Commandery Princess.

This time, it was much more concise, needing only to state clearly what the county government needed to do without explaining the causes and consequences.

Jiang Shaohua nodded satisfactorily: "This is very good. Chen Sheren, make another copy, and with the Prince Mansion’s seal, have someone send it to Zhi County and Li County."

That night, the document was dispatched by fast horse.

Zhi County was nearby, taking just over half a day to reach. Li County was distant, taking two days by fast horse. Upon receiving the document, the two County Magistrates were elated.

"The Commandery Princess is indirectly lowering taxes, showing grace to the people," County Magistrate Lei muttered to himself. "These things must be carefully explained to the people, and the grain sent must stay at home, not be sent to White Cloud Temple."

County Magistrate Cai of Li County, being a County Magistrate for a few months, was like a tireless mule working day and night. After receiving the document, he personally copied it ten times, instructing government officials to post it all around, and explained the document’s meaning to all inquiring citizens.

Twenty pounds of grain a month was unquestionably a heavenly blessing for the people struggling to survive half-fed and hungry. Some people, upon hearing the news, knelt down and kowtowed towards the Prince Mansion, chanting long life to the Commandery Princess.

The other counties, upon learning of this document, were all envious.

Grain, who wouldn’t want more? Their people also found it difficult to raise children!

The County Magistrates thickened their skin to write letters of greetings to the Commandery Princess. Even County Magistrate Cui of Ye County penned a letter with great audacity.

Jiang Shaohua stayed in Wuyin County for five or six days, received seven or eight letters of greetings, read them, and smiled, instructing Chen Sheren to draft a reply.

The content of the reply was simple: the Commandery Princess gratefully accepted the greetings, however, grain aid for the poor was not available. If the county government had surplus grain, it would be a good deed to assist.

The women’s family status in Ye County improved significantly, working with determination, and silk woven during this time filled the merchants’ carts.

The Tang Family in Xi’e County, following the instructions of the Family Head, Grandmaster Tang, was operating at full capacity. Almost all the direct descendants of the Tang Family were sent to buy grain. Not only for Xi’e County but also for Wuyin County which lacked grain,

In short, the Tang Family was showing its sincerity in allegiance to the Commandery Princess through proactive actions.

The Ma Family in Biyang were not idle either, breeding horses and dispatching caravans outside the border to buy fine warhorses back.

The Commandery Princess plans to expand the Personal Guard Camp, the more warhorses the better. Moreover, the Nanyang Army has been lacking horses for years. A few years ago, the Prince Mansion ignored this, but now that the Nanyang Army is back under the Commandery Princess’s command, the issue of warhorses has naturally been put on the agenda.

The iron mine in Bowan County was bustling, constantly mining and smelting fine iron to send to the workshops in Nanyang County. The weapons used by the Personal Guard Camp and the iron farming tools used by the people of the Nanyang Army came from these workshops.

At the silver mine, following the Commandery Princess’s instructions, work done for the day was rewarded on the same day, greatly stimulating the enthusiasm of the condemned criminals to mine. Recently, the daily output of silver ore had doubled.

Such news trickled in, brightening the mood.

In the following month, Jiang Shaohua toured the remaining five counties.

The initial plan was to complete inspections of the fourteen counties within three months, but the various thorny and complex issues encountered extended the time by two additional months. Setting out in March, the return journey didn’t commence until August. Nearly half a year was spent.

On the return journey, Jiang Shaohua made a special trip to the Nanyang Army Camp.

...

"This humble general welcomes the Commandery Princess!" Commander Yu Chong of the Nanyang Army galloped out ten miles to meet her, with a group of military generals behind him, all cupping their hands, their voices thunderous.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "General Yu, please rise, all generals, please stand."

The military generals expressed their gratitude to the Commandery Princess for her benevolence, then mounted their horses and rode alongside her.

This entry into the Nanyang Army Camp was entirely different from a few months ago. The soldiers looked ruddy and full of spirit, and although the camp was originally the most solemn place, it now thrived with vitality.

"Greetings to the Commandery Princess," the soldiers had long received orders not to approach but were so eager to see the Commandery Princess, they shouted loudly from afar.

One of them, overly excited, even shouted in a cracked voice, sparking a burst of laughter.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes curved as she smiled, "Since General Yu became the main general, the Nanyang Army is indeed different from before."

Yu Chong, in high spirits, was especially deferential in front of the Commandery Princess: "This is all due to the grace left by the Commandery Princess, this humble general is merely acting on her instructions."

Jiang Shaohua looked over with a smile, "General Yu, no need to be so cautious. I genuinely commend General Yu for effectively managing the army, it is not meant as criticism."

Yu Chong visibly relaxed, smiled, and said, "Over the past months, the achievements of the Commandery Princess in inspecting the counties have become well-known, earning much admiration. This humble general’s little thoughts cannot be hidden from the Commandery Princess’s discerning eye, giving her reason to laugh."

It was clear, the Commandery Princess’s tactics and means were evident.

In front of the Commandery Princess, it’s best to be cautious and mindful.

Jiang Shaohua saw Yu Chong’s caution and smiled it off.

Loyalty and awe towards one’s leader are expected of military generals. The saying goes, "Too close breeds disrespect, too distant breeds resentment," understanding how to manage subordinates is also a skill.

Li Tie, too, looked obedient, smiling as he stepped forward: "There is something, this humble general must report to the Commandery Princess. The court has sent news that Zuo Zhen has already been impeached and relieved of his duties."