158: Chapter 0158 Harmonious Marriage

"General!"

Qin He hurriedly reined in his warhorse and reported, "Lin Xiao, something has happened at the Lincang Prefecture docks. My Lady asked me to find you and have you come over as soon as possible!"

"The docks?"

Lin Xiao asked curiously, "What happened?"

"I heard that Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan of Cang Province issued an order, and all cargo ships coming from upstream have been intercepted by Qin Water Prefecture. They haven't released them for three days."

"The local merchants paid for their goods, but they aren't receiving them. They are worried sick!"

Water transport accounted for seventy percent of all freight in the Great Gan Dynasty, and its importance went without saying.

Qin Water Prefecture was located upstream to the south of the Cang River, so it was indeed capable of blocking goods from heading north.

Lin Xiao had previously wondered if someone might block the waterway just to spite the Zhenbei Army.

However, he hadn't encountered it before because there were no major cargo docks in Baishui or Wu Mountain.

Unexpectedly, the enemy had started as soon as he arrived in Lincang!

Prefect Cai Heng's expression turned grim when he heard this, and he hurriedly reminded him,

"General, over thirty percent of the men in Lincang Prefecture rely on the docks for their livelihood."

"If you include the merchants and shops that provide food and drink for those at the docks, the number is even higher."

"Even if the wealthy merchants can afford to wait, the common boatmen, porters, and peddlers all rely on the docks to support their families!"

"These people live hand-to-mouth. If they go many days without work, they won't have the income to buy food or coal, and many people will die!"

Lin Xiao frowned; he didn't know much about the affairs of the docks.

Hearing this, he realized it was indeed a vicious scheme!

After riding at full speed, they arrived at the docks to find the area already teeming with people.

Although the Zhenbei Army was maintaining order, hundreds, if not thousands, of commoners had already surrounded the Water Transport Office completely!

When someone saw Lin Xiao appear, they immediately began to shout,

"Look! Lin Xiao is here!!"

"It's Lin Xiao! Everyone, come and beg Lin Xiao for help!!"

The commoners pleaded loudly, and some even knelt directly on the cold ground.

"Lin Xiao! Our whole families are starving! Please, save us!"

"My mother is sick and is waiting for my wages to buy medicine…"

"Lin Xiao, please have mercy! Tell Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan to open the gates and release the ships…"

The commoners did not know that Lin Xiao had killed Inspector General Jiang Shengyuan's brother-in-law, nor that they belonged to opposing factions; they simply assumed the two had a good relationship.

Lin Xiao did not rush to make a statement. After all, he did not understand the situation, and making rash promises could easily trap him.

Upon arriving inside the Water Transport Office, he found Xiao Qingxuan and Mu Wanying discussing something with several Lincang officials.

Lin Xiao was able to perceive the situation and the content of their conversation from quite a distance away.

The Water Transport Commissioner, Wei Hai, was under fifty, yet his hair had already turned quite white, and at this moment, his face was full of anxiety.

"My Lady, we have done everything we could. But the Inspector General has issued an order to meticulously inspect all cargo ships. Our words carry no weight, and we simply cannot exert any influence."

Xiao Qingxuan said coldly, "Everyone, there is no need to make excuses to shirk responsibility."

"If you had reported this matter two days ago, how could the situation have deteriorated to this extent!?"

"It has been three days, and the commoners are anxious as if their eyebrows were on fire, yet you only just told the Generals Mansion that Qin Water had blocked the cargo ships?"

"What is this? Now that things have reached a breaking point and you cannot handle it, you want my General to clean up your mess!? Or perhaps you want him to take the fall for you!?"

Having been an Empress, her display of anger revealed a royal majesty that made all those men tremble!

"My Lady, please see clearly! We would not dare!"

"Because communication is always slow during the winter, we only just understood what was going on this morning…"

Wei Hai and a group of officials fell to their knees!

They did not understand how such a stunningly beautiful woman could possess such an aura.

Xiao Qingxuan sneered, "For Lincang Prefecture, dock freight is the lifeline of the common people."

"The moment you noticed something was wrong, even if it was just one ship missing, you should have reported it immediately! Yet you dare to argue with me here!?"

"Mu Wanying, how should such dereliction of duty be dealt with?"

Mu Wanying cooperated, "According to military law, failing to report information that is known is punishable by twenty strokes of the cane. Delaying military affairs is punishable by an additional twenty strokes, or in severe cases, execution!"

"Ah!?"

Wei Hai and the other officials were so scared that their faces turned ashen.

"My Lady, we are officials of the Great Gan Dynasty, not officers of the Zhenbei Army! You cannot treat us like this!"

Xiao Qingxuan snorted coldly, "My General guards the northern border for His Majesty and acts on behalf of the people. What is improper about dealing with you!?"

"Drag them out! Let them reflect on their actions in front of the commoners!"

"I obey!"

Dressed in her battle robes, Mu Wanying was strictly professional as she ordered the soldiers to drag Wei Hai and the other primary officials out.

Wei Hai shouted that he was being wronged, but the Zhenbei Army was strictly disciplined and paid no attention to his cries.

Lin Xiao deliberately hid in the shadows and waited a while before walking into the council hall.

"Husband!"

Seeing that Lin Xiao had returned, Xiao Qingxuan immediately recounted what had just happened.

When she spoke of dragging Wei Hai and the other officials out to be punished according to military law, a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.

"I acted on my own authority just now, and I hope my husband will forgive me…"

Lin Xiao saw the worry in her eyes and naturally understood what was going on.

Xiao Qingxuan had always had an internal conflict.

No matter how willing she was to be a virtuous wife, the education she had received since childhood was to be a noble ruler.

However, she also worried that being too "strong" would affect their marital harmony.

Lin Xiao had once had similar worries, especially when they were just starting out at Stone Fortress.

But now, Lin Xiao had "entered the Dao through martial arts," and worldly imperial power was no longer rare to him.

Xiao Qingxuan's concern was naturally unnecessary.

"My wife, you did the right thing. What sin could there be?"

Lin Xiao praised her directly, "Compared to corruption, incompetent officials who just slack off are even more shameful!"

"When I was away, you and Mu Wanying protected the reputation of our Zhenbei Army. I am very gratified."

Xiao Qingxuan and Mu Wanying's beautiful eyes lit up with radiance; they were so happy that words could not express it.

If they hadn't still been in the office, they would have pounced on him.

They simply cared too much about Lin Xiao and were afraid that this matter would damage his reputation, which was why they hated the incompetent officials like Wei Hai.

The man could understand, and they felt a warmth in their hearts.

"Let's go. Come out with me. Since we have taken Lincang Prefecture, we should be responsible for its people."

"Now that this has happened, we must give the people an explanation!"