"Xiji once tried to open a trade route through Longchuan. Compared to cutting across Hunlong Ridge, it would have shaved off at least two days, and the road is flat and easy to travel. But because of the bandit menace, the route simply could never get going," Wen Daolun continued briefing him. "These bandits use the marshes as their base, repeatedly raiding merchant caravans on the southern road. When government troops arrive, they flee; when the troops leave, they return."
He Lingchuan nodded. "As expected, the crux of the problem lies in Longchuan."
To pull weeds, one must dig up the roots; to rid a house of rats, one must clear out the nest.
"Longchuan is also home to many demon beasts that collude with the bandits." Wen Daolun pointed at the sand table. "Qianjin Stronghold is one of the largest bandit gangs. Their main stronghold is built right in the middle of a lake, guarded by water demons patrolling the surrounding waters. Xiji once attacked this water fortress, only to suffer a miserable defeat."
"Commander Zhong suspects that several bandit gangs in Longchuan are backed by official powers. Over the past month or two, their armor and weapons have suddenly improved."
"Colluding with external enemies?" Internal and external collusion had always been the thorniest problem. He Lingchuan's gaze shifted slightly. "Thank you, Lord Wen. I understand."
Looking again at Yuheng City's geographic position, He Lingchuan realized it lay very close to both the eastern border and Longchuan to the south.
The mission Zhong Shengguang had assigned him was no easy feat: he had to defend the frontier while also ensuring the Longchuan trade route was safe and clear.
Panlong City's emphasis on this new trade route went without saying. Zhong Shengguang had yearned for an outlet to the sea for so many years; how could he allow dozens of bandit nests to threaten Panlong City's new lifeline?
Bandit suppression was an imperative.
Wen Daolun added, "Commander Xiao left in a hurry. If you want to know about the situation in the military, you can ask Deputy General Chao Qian."
It was late, so after chatting with him a bit more, He Lingchuan rose to take his leave.
The clerk seeing him out said, "Commander He, the official quarters prepared for you are right in back—"
Before he could finish, He Lingchuan cut in, "Can I find my own place outside?"
"Huh?" The clerk was taken aback. "O-of course you can!"
Could he tell his superior what to do?
"Have you already chosen a place to stay, sir? Should I send over the furnishings?"
"How long have you been in Yuheng City?"
"This humble subordinate grew up in Yuheng City. I'm... I'm a Xiluo native!"
"Then you must know the place well?" He Lingchuan smiled. "How about doing me a favor and helping me pick out a good place?"
"Ah? Yes, of course, right away."
He Lingchuan went to the academy to fetch Sun Fuling, enlisting the clerk as both guide and broker for the two of them.
The clerk truly lived up to his reputation as a local know-it-all. After inquiring about their requirements, he stood rooted to the spot in deep thought for a good while before clapping his hands. "There is one! Yes, yes, there's a house the two of you are sure to love!"
One house? But Master Sun had explicitly said they should be neighbors again. He Lingchuan glanced at her discreetly, and seeing that she raised no objection, he pretended not to notice anything amiss. "Let's go have a look, then."
The clerk immediately led them toward the hill behind the government office.
Night had deepened, leaving the mountain path rather dim. Fortunately, the clerk soon knocked on the gate of a large household.
This was a prominent local family in Yuheng City surnamed Yang. All four houses halfway up the mountain belonged to him. Landlord Yang lived in one himself, rented out two, and the last large compound was still vacant.
This vacant compound was divided by a wall into two courtyards of equal size, identical even in layout.
Upon hearing that these two were Yuheng City's new commander and the academy's new teacher, Landlord Yang immediately grabbed his keys and personally showed them around.
Sun Fuling took a liking to it the moment she stepped inside.
It sat on high ground; standing outside the courtyard, one could look down upon the scattered lights of Yuheng City.
A dozen-odd zhang away flowed a stream, frozen over at this time of year, but the landlord said that before the third month arrived, the water would be gurgling and alive with swimming fish and shrimp.
Dense wisteria vines trailed down the courtyard walls, currently blanketed in snow, but in the coming year, flowers would blanket the entire wall.
Most importantly, both the courtyard and the rooms were five times larger than their lodgings in Panlong City!
Sun Fuling held a hand to her chest and whispered to He Lingchuan, "There's even a woodshed here!"
In Panlong City, they had lived in wood-grade houses where the bed was two paces from the door and firewood had to be piled in the yard. How could it compare to the spacious luxury of this mountainside home?
Seeing her eyes sparkling, He Lingchuan asked, "You like it?"
Sun Fuling nodded vigorously, her dimples appearing once more.
For the first time, He Lingchuan saw in her a joy as pure and candid as a child's.
"Do you want to look at others?" he whispered. "This is only the first place we've seen. I imagine the houses in Yuheng City are all fairly large."
When shopping, one compared goods across three shops; didn't the same apply to house hunting?
Sun Fuling shook her head repeatedly. "I think this place is wonderful. I'm very happy with it."
Seeing her smile bloom like a flower, He Lingchuan felt an unexpected pang of melancholy.
The Panshan Residence he had stayed at in Lingxu City was at least ten times larger than this place. Not to mention Xiangxue Residence or Pianxiang Villa, which occupied half a mountain each, filled with all manner of luxuries he had grown accustomed to.
Yet Sun Fuling had never seen such magnificent estates, had never enjoyed the privileged life of those standing above others.
Just an ordinary side courtyard with a woodshed, and she was this contented?
"Then this is the place." He Lingchuan paid Landlord Yang a deposit, took the keys, and handed one to Sun Fuling. "It's late. Let's stay at an inn tonight and tidy up the rooms tomorrow."
Having Yuheng City's commander live in his property—what an enormous source of prestige to brag about! Landlord Yang grinned from ear to ear, seeing them down the mountain with boundless hospitality and waving goodbye.
He Lingchuan tried to gift an ingot of silver to the clerk as an errand fee, but the man adamantly refused to accept it.
"No, no, that won't do at all! Panlong City has strict rules; I wouldn't dare make an exception." The clerk beamed. "Doing work for Commander He is something I couldn't be happier to do!"
He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "Thanks."
Once the clerk had left, Sun Fuling smiled faintly. "You are now the commander of Yuheng City. When a subordinate runs an errand for you, do you simply gift him money?"
Gift? He Lingchuan felt a jolt of realization and immediately halted, straightening his expression. "Master, you make a good point. I was wrong!"
He had grown so used to playing the young master, and even in Lingxu City his status had been as a guest elder of the Chiyan people, where tossing money to dismiss or reward others had been perfectly normal.
But now he was a leader wielding real power, and he needed to adjust his methods.
When getting subordinates to do things, spending money was the worst approach.
The word "gift" Master Sun used also held deeper meaning.
If one truly wished to give gold or silver to subordinates, that was a bestowal, a reward—never a "gift."
A "gift" was meant for peers or outsiders.
This was what it meant to distinguish superiors from inferiors, to balance grace and authority with proper measure.
He Lingchuan's status had shifted without his even realizing it, and with a few light words, Sun Fuling had reminded him to mind the divide between ranks.
Sun Fuling shook her head. "Saying that to me is one thing. But before your subordinates, this 'I was wrong' of yours is yet another mistake."
A leader must never admit fault lightly.
It was not that they could never admit it, but that they must not do so lightly.
Once you admit you are in the wrong, you hand leverage to your rivals and give them something to hold against you; how then are your subordinates supposed to carry out their duties?
The nuances within were difficult to put into words.
Chapter 717