Chapter 27: Where Hearts Turn

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Was I not once young myself, brimming with pride and burning ambition?

Zhongli Xiu felt a deep resonance with those words. After sighing over them, he came back to himself, yet could not help marveling inwardly.

This boy was practically a demon. He had nearly fallen into the trap just now and signed up for the army along with everyone else!

Indeed, the young men of Pei County were already eagerly enlisting below the platform.

Seeing her father’s reaction, Zhongli Wanxue suppressed her laughter and said, “Father, that is the way a true man ought to conduct himself.”

Zhongli Xiu gave a few tactical coughs and ignored her.

A wise man knew when to pretend to be deaf and dumb…

Watching the crowd below, aflame with enthusiasm, Liang Xiao was deeply gratified as well.

A ruler could not rely on empty words alone to urge others to make selfless sacrifices.

Whatever ought to be given had to be given in full. At the very least, those below had to believe that he treated them generously.

For ten years, these common people had suffered exploitation and oppression. Now, merely because he had done what was expected of him, they were already profoundly grateful. It was difficult not to find that tragic.

They were all his subjects—his very first subjects!

Wang, the County Registrar, Cao Chen, and the others standing to either side were already utterly convinced.

This county magistrate was truly extraordinary!

Even the former Pei County garrison soldiers assigned to maintain order below the platform were immensely stirred. They secretly warned themselves: They absolutely must not be eliminated!

While the clerks below registered the volunteers, Liang Xiao summoned Zhuo Zifang and the other officials and repeatedly issued his instructions.

“Remember this well. Investigate their backgrounds as thoroughly as possible so that we can select elite soldiers later. We do not accept local ruffians, boastful loudmouths, cowards, or people with warped, stubborn temperaments. Give priority to those whose parents, wives, and children are settled in Pei County. Beyond that, choose men who are strong and sturdy, solidly built, clear-eyed, and honest.”

Everyone readily agreed.

Under Liang Xiao’s terms—board, a monthly stipend, and tax exemptions for their families—there would be no shortage of young men eager to enlist.

Pei County’s true population exceeded one hundred and forty thousand. Judging from the spectacular scene before them, there would be at least five thousand local young men signing up, leaving ample room for selection.

It had been only ten years since Western Qin had returned Pei County to the Wu Dynasty.

As people of the northern frontier, they had experienced the suffering of war firsthand, especially those who had migrated to Pei County from elsewhere.

Standing behind her mother, Qin, Zhongli Wanxue gazed dreamily at Liang Xiao, her heart overflowing with joy.

This was the man she was going to marry!

“Tsk… Wipe your drool.”

Her father’s disdainful hiss reached her ears. Zhongli Wanxue came to herself, her pretty face flushing. She instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth, only to realize that she had been tricked.

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“Father!”

Looking at his embarrassed and indignant daughter, Zhongli Xiu felt conflicted.

At least, as a father, he had managed to regain some ground. For now, he and his daughter stood at one victory apiece.

“Father… c-can I enlist too?” Zhongli Qingfeng asked timidly.

Zhongli Wanxue immediately covered her mouth and snickered.

Zhongli Xiu’s face turned livid. “Have you gone mad? I’m counting on you to inherit the family business!”

Zhongli Qingfeng looked utterly bored.

He had seen it clearly just now: his father had been so excited that even his beard was trembling, and he had looked ready to rush over and sign up.

Those bold declarations had left both father and son unable to calm down for a long while.

On the way home, Zhongli Wanxue shared a carriage with her mother.

She whispered excitedly, recalling Liang Xiao’s imposing bearing, her eyes shining with admiration.

Qin was also thoroughly pleased.

No matter what the boy’s future held, he was worth her precious daughter fighting to win.

When the family returned to the main hall of the Zhongli residence, Zhongli Xiu sat down in silence, his expression more complicated than ever before.

“Father, our family…”

Before Zhongli Wanxue could finish, Zhongli Xiu interrupted her.

“If he were the son of a noble clan, I would naturally be delighted to see the two of you together. Unfortunately, he is bound to offend the Sima family, and his future is deeply uncertain…”

Zhongli Wanxue cast him a resentful look, yet she knew all too well that she had no grounds to argue. She began calculating silently.

She could never betray the kindness her parents had shown in raising her.

Still, if matters took a turn for the worse in the future, eloping with Liang Xiao might not be out of the question.

“We can all understand your concerns, husband,” Qin finally said. “But think about it. He has the authority to rule Pei County outright, and he is also the descendant of the Loyal and Martial Marquis. Perhaps he is someone the Emperor intends to cultivate with all his might. Even if that is not the case, having displayed such ability, might he not still win the Emperor’s favor in the future?”

Zhongli Xiu fell silent for a moment before sighing. “You understand the power of the great noble clans better than I do. Our family should wait and watch for a while longer. Let us see what news comes from the capital.”

Seeing Zhongli Wanxue’s disappointment, Zhongli Xiu could not bear it and consoled her. “At the very least, I will not speak ill of him anymore, nor will I make an enemy of him.”

Only then did Zhongli Wanxue feel somewhat better. She reminded him, “Father, even if he turns out to be a corrupt official, we still must not offend him. We cannot skimp on the money our family ought to offer him.”

“I know, you silly girl…”

At dusk, a crowd of subordinate officials accompanied Liang Xiao back to the county office, surrounding him from front to back, each more eager than the last.

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Yesterday, Liang Xiao had given them a chance to reform instead of condemning them outright merely because they had once served Yuan Bailong.

Today, he had won over the soldiers and civilians of the entire county.

As new recruits continued joining the army, the original soldiers had even less courage to cause trouble. Most of them had been hoping to continue serving Liang Xiao and drawing a salary from the state in the first place.

In Liang Xiao, they saw another kind of hope.

They would not need to flatter anyone or live in constant fear. In the future, they might even have the opportunity to follow Liang Xiao in establishing great achievements—and perhaps earn the love of the people.

Senior clerks such as Wang were the most expectant of all.

They believed that this county magistrate would surely rise to become a commandery governor, perhaps even a provincial governor.

When that day came, the original staff of Pei County might well benefit from his success.

Take County Assistant Zhuo, for instance. They could all see that wherever Liang Xiao might be promoted in the future, Zhuo would certainly remain the foremost figure beneath him.

After everyone had dispersed, Zhuo Zifang sat facing Liang Xiao and analyzed the situation for him.

“With our current resources, we are still far from being able to rest easy. If we want to build an elite force capable of dealing with mounted bandits and barbarian cavalry, we will need fine bows and crossbows, shields, armor, and long weapons. Even at the lowest possible cost, each soldier will require an investment of at least twenty taels of silver.”

“Expanding the urban district and reinforcing the city walls will cost at least twenty thousand taels of silver, and there is no upper limit.”

“Military provisions, emergency supplies, the maintenance and replacement of equipment, and grain for laborers handling logistics will also require a considerable sum.”

“Adding everything together, without two hundred thousand taels of silver, it will be difficult to maintain enough elite troops over the long term while keeping Pei County functioning normally.”

Liang Xiao nodded in deep agreement. “I intend to summon the wealthy families of Pei County and ask them to donate money and grain. This will allow us to gauge their attitudes, making it easier to cultivate a merchant caravan loyal to our own interests in the future while restricting the growth of those who oppose us. Of course, once the time is right, I must also establish my own commercial empire. That will secure the army’s payroll and prevent us from having to depend on others.”

“Excellent! This matter should be undertaken sooner rather than later. In times of adversity, true loyalty reveals itself. Assistance offered only after success has already been achieved is ultimately less meaningful.” Zhuo Zifang praised him with a smile.

Night fell.

Pei County, where hidden currents had surged for years, rarely enjoyed such tranquil moonlight.

Outside the Pei County military camp, many young men were still lining up to enlist, afraid they might miss their chance.

Zhongli Xiu was resting in the courtyard when his steward came hurrying in from outside, his face tense with anxiety.

“My lord! The county magistrate has summoned all the prominent families of Pei County to discuss donations for the county!”

Zhongli Xiu’s expression changed.

“He has been in Pei County for only two days, and he already dares to come asking every family for money?”