281: Chapter 0281 A Great Ruler

"My husband wants the soldiers to completely become the Zhenbei Army, instead of thinking of themselves as the White Kings Army or the Yan Kings Army. I understand that."

"But you are the Earl of Cangbei appointed by the Emperor, and the Zhenbei Grand General of the imperial court, not a commoner."

Xiao Qingxuan frowned and said, "If the soldiers are only loyal to the common people, they certainly won't fight for you wholeheartedly."

"And so?"

Lin Xiao asked in return, "My lady, do you think that deep down, I wish for the Zhenbei Army to fight only for me? That they should all be loyal only to me, Lin Xiao?"

"Isn't... that how it should be?" Xiao Qingxuan asked, puzzled.

Lin Xiao sighed, "My lady, you think the Zhenbei Army should be loyal to me because, as I am now, I am worthy of their following."

"But if one day I become addicted to pleasure, extort taxes, or wage war recklessly... would the soldiers still need to be loyal to me, Lin Xiao?"

Xiao Qingxuan was a bit angry, "Nonsense! How could my husband become like that? You possess both literary and military talents, and your heart embraces the common people. You are the true hero in my eyes!"

"My lady, calm down and think carefully. Do people... truly never change?"

Lin Xiao looked at the woman with deep, thoughtful eyes.

Xiao Qingxuan clenched her hands and fell into silence.

Since childhood, she had studied history extensively, not just of Western Shu, but also of the former Great Zheng Dynasty and others. The capable ministers and emperors of past dynasties were all clear in her mind.

In history, there were no shortage of emperors who, upon ascending the throne, strove to govern well and accepted advice widely.

But often, by the middle or later stages of their reigns, they would fall into the predicament of being stubborn and surrounded by treacherous sycophants.

Every dynasty found it difficult to avoid such a cycle.

She still remembered her own father, the Emperor; early on, he did not take concubines and was deeply loving with her mother, the Empress.

But after she came of age, her father would select concubines every year, and he rarely spent a single night in the Empress's palace throughout the year.

When she ascended the throne, Western Shu was a complete mess, riddled with holes, and corrupt officials had caused the people's resentment to boil over.

That was why the Prince of Nanling was able to easily strike at the Western Capital, leading to the destruction of the nation and her family...

"My husband, are you saying... that human hearts will change sooner or later?"

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes were red. Could it be that one day, she too would fall out of favor?

Lin Xiao realized that this question was too cruel for her.

He hurriedly stepped forward to hold the woman's hand and said with a serious expression,

"My lady, the heavens and earth rotate, the four seasons alternate, and all things are changing at every moment. How can human hearts be any different?"

"Isn't what we need to do to change in a positive direction, rather than becoming something ugly?"

Beside them, Mu Wanying and Zhao Caiwei no longer had the heart to eat their dates and were also lost in thought.

Feeling the warmth of the man's hand and looking at Lin Xiao's gentle gaze, Xiao Qingxuan's emotions gradually stabilized.

"I have lost my composure. My husband is right; the most fickle thing in the world, since ancient times, has always been the human heart."

Lin Xiao let out a sigh of relief. It was good that she could see reason.

"My lady, as long as we persist in seeking the well-being of the common people, the soldiers will naturally support us!"

"To put it plainly, whoever ensures they have food, shelter, and military pay will naturally earn their awe and love."

"The soldiers' eyes are sharp. They will follow whoever treats them well; this is an obvious fact!"

"And we ourselves can remain vigilant, so that we won't become ugly people like Prince Bai once we attain immense power."

Lin Xiao said earnestly, "My lady, the people are like water; water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it!"

Upon hearing the end, Xiao Qingxuan's delicate body trembled, as if she had been enlightened; she was suddenly clear-headed!

"Water can carry a boat... but can also... overturn it..."

She seemed to see a vast world she had never seen before, and many things she couldn't figure out before now had answers.

"My husband is truly a divine man. Wanying and I were worried that doing this today would make the army's morale unstable."

Zhao Caiwei sighed with emotion, "It was our shallow understanding."

"Indeed, whoever treats the common people well, and treats the soldiers well, they will naturally support."

Mu Wanying smiled knowingly, "Such a simple truth, yet we failed to understand it."

The three women's doubts were resolved, and they felt a sense of relief.

"Although we understand, most soldiers, after all, have not read many books, and many are even illiterate."

Xiao Qingxuan shook her head, "My husband wants to rely on just a few days to make them understand these things; I fear it will be fraught with difficulties."

"No matter!"

Lin Xiao waved his hand, "This time, I only want to select some sparks, to take root among the grassroots soldiers. Sooner or later, they will form a prairie fire!"

Looking at Lin Xiao's spirited and handsome appearance, the three women's beautiful eyes shone with brilliance.

They faintly felt that their man was doing something truly remarkable, perhaps even greater than unifying the land!

"By the way, how are the four of us sleeping tonight?"

Lin Xiao suddenly changed the subject and said with a grin, "My wives, why don't we squeeze in together?"

"Caiwei, you haven't spent time alone with my husband since you arrived. Wanying and I will sleep in the carriage today."

Xiao Qingxuan had already made arrangements; she pushed Zhao Caiwei directly into Lin Xiao's arms and ran out, pulling Mu Wanying with her.

Lin Xiao was naturally disappointed, but it had been a long time since he had sparred with Zhao Caiwei.

"Caiwei, how about I teach you some new moves tonight?"

"I will listen to my husband..."

Zhao Caiwei's delicate face was flushed like a peach blossom. Once a cold beauty is moved by passion, she is even more refreshing, like a plum blossom in the depths of winter.

Balance work and rest.

Over the next two days, Lin Xiao led a group of book-reciting experts and reclaimed hundreds of acres of fields in Shuangxigou.

At the village chief's suggestion, everyone's names were first recorded in the Earth Temple, and in the future, they would be slowly carved onto a stone wall.

That evening, Lin Xiao also received hundreds of "answer sheets."

After the soldiers returned to the barracks, they waited for the next day with anxious hearts.

Immediately after, Liu Tongguang and more than eighty other soldiers were summoned to the reviewing stand at the main drill ground.

Lin Xiao personally issued them appointment documents. From then on, the Zhenbei Army had an unprecedented ninth-rank official position — "Supervisory Captain."

When he returned to the camp, Liu Tongguang was immediately surrounded by several old comrades, including Xu Zhao.

"Not bad! Old Liu! How much military pay does this Supervisory Captain get?"

Liu Tongguang couldn't help but smile, "Two extra strings of coins every month!"

"Oh my! What does this Supervisory Captain do? Why get so much money?"

Liu Tongguang said proudly, "Lin Xiao said our main task for now is to ensure the entire battalion can recite the 'Eleven Rules,' and to supervise the soldiers in adhering to these military regulations."

"Not only that, we have special privileges; we can bypass our superiors and report any violations directly to Lin Xiao!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhao and the others' eyes lit up with intense envy.

"Doesn't that mean... the generals are afraid of you?"

Liu Tongguang said, "If the generals strictly adhere to the Eleven Rules, why would they fear us Supervisory Captains? By the same token, if we make mistakes, we will also be punished according to military law!"

When everyone heard this, it made sense; this restriction was actually mutual.

"Old Liu, what exactly did you write in your answer? How did you land such a good job?" someone nearby asked curiously.

Liu Tongguang took a deep breath and revealed the answer he had stayed up all night to decide on:

"We soldiers should be loyal to the Great Zheng common people."

"Loyal to the common people?"

Inside the tent of the Cold Iron Guard.

Zhao Yunting was drinking tea. After hearing what Zhao Caiwei said about the "Supervisory Captain," his old eyes revealed a deep, sharp glint.

"My son-in-law is truly daring."

Zhao Caiwei poured tea for her father, "Does Father think my husband's action is inappropriate?"

"I only know how to lead troops in battle; I don't know much about governing the country and bringing peace to the people."

"But managing an army requires strictness; there must be a clear hierarchy to ensure orders are carried out. If a general wants to go north, the soldiers must not go south; otherwise, how can they fight?"

Zhao Caiwei smiled, "Father, you don't need to worry. Why not give my husband some more time and see the results first?"

"Heh, I'm at this age, so naturally I won't meddle. Even for your sake, I have to hold back."

Zhao Yunting lowered his voice, "Caiwei, those women around Lin Xiao are not to be trifled with. You came late, so you must push yourself harder and have a child as soon as possible."

Zhao Caiwei's pretty face turned red. She lowered her head and stammered, "Father... why are you mentioning these things..."

"Sigh... I am old, and besides, your mother is no longer here. If I don't bring it up, who will?"

Zhao Caiwei bit her flower-like lips and muttered to herself: Giving birth to Lin Xiao's child, how could it be that easy?

The other sisters who came half a year earlier haven't had any response yet...

Meanwhile.

At the city gate of Yong Province.

"Many thanks to Grand Marshal Lu for the escort along the way."

Official Xie Tong, in the carriage, cupped his hands to thank Lu Sanchuan, who was beside him.

It wasn't until they reached the vicinity of Yong Province that Lu Sanchuan and his men appeared, stating that Lin Xiao had sent him.

"Official Xie Tong is too polite. Being able to escort the imperial envoy is my honor."

"Then I shall take my leave first."

"Take care, my lord!"

The two didn't say much more; they weren't close, and talking more was useless.

After Official Xie Tong's carriage entered the city, a Silver Armor Army cavalryman came to Lu Sanchuan's side and handed over a report.

After reading it, Lu Sanchuan frowned, then smiled with an amused expression.

"Eleven Rules... Supervisory Captain? Just this? Did Lin Xiao not mention revoking designations, changing military ranks, or reorganizing the army?"

The soldier reported, "He did not. Lin Xiao only said that they cannot accept military pay for nothing, and that he will send a large army to various counties and prefectures on another day to start building cement roads throughout the Northern Territory."

"Building roads?"

Lu Sanchuan was confused. For a moment, he didn't know whether to say Lin Xiao was too bold or that he knew nothing at all.

Two hundred thousand soldiers, each standing on their own turf—instead of first winning over the generals, stabilizing the army's morale, and making them loyal to you, you dare to make the soldiers build roads in the freezing cold!?

Does he think these one-in-a-hundred elite cavalrymen are just porters and laborers?

The more Lu Sanchuan thought about it, the more he felt like there was a bone stuck in his throat. The person he wanted to follow was a great ruler of a generation; this couldn't go on!

"Where is Lin Xiao now?"

He had to go and offer his counsel!