41: Chapter 0041 The Master is Afraid of His Wife

[Xiao Qingxuan, 20 years old, Empress of the fallen Western Shu, Aptitude: Mysterious Yin Physique, Heaven Grade]

[Traits: Monarch (Legendary), Statecraft Talent (Legendary), Natural Allure (Special)]

Lin Xiao was dumbfounded!

Holy crap! How does hers look even more badass than mine!?

The key is... this Natural Allure, hehehe!!

No wonder she's so captivating!

"Wife, you've come at just the right time. Although I've stirred up the waters in Baishui Prefecture, there are too many loose ends and things to deal with."

"I was hoping you'd come and help me straighten out all this mess!"

Lin Xiao gently held the woman's soft, delicate hand and spoke sweet words.

With her Statecraft Talent, letting Xiao Qingxuan handle the affairs of a small prefecture was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

Xiao Qingxuan was slightly startled. She looked at General Zhao Kuan beside them and immediately shook her head modestly.

"Husband, please don't joke. Such important matters should naturally be discussed with General Zhao."

General Zhao Kuan waved his hand and said, "Madam Lin, don't be so modest. Although Lin Xiao is nominally my subordinate, from the first time I met him, I felt that he was no ordinary man!"

"Madam Lin can call Miss Leng her sister and is so well-bred and polite; you are certainly no ordinary woman either."

"Now, the brothers of our Shibao Border Army are only alive thanks to Lin Xiao!"

"Actually, I've had an idea for a while now, which is to become sworn brothers with Brother Lin. I wonder if Brother Lin would mind my age?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao thought to himself that General Zhao Kuan really knew how to handle things!

[General Zhao Kuan, 45 years old, garrison general of the Shibao Border Army, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Traits: Keen Eye for Talent (Special), Administration, General]

So that's it! This old fellow actually has a keen eye for judging people?

This ability is quite good; he can help find talent in the future to ensure people are used effectively.

"Brother Zhao, you're too kind. I'm already grateful that you were willing to give me the chance to go from a lowly soldier to a Commander so quickly."

Lin Xiao cupped his fists directly. "In that case, from now on, we shall address each other as brothers!"

To put it bluntly, General Zhao Kuan's move was the choice of a wise man.

Otherwise, with General Zhao Kuan's capabilities, if he tried to throw his weight around in front of him, he wouldn't be far from death.

Xiao Qingxuan saw this and also gave a graceful curtsy.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao, for thinking so highly of us as a couple!"

"Haha, sister-in-law, you're too polite! In that case, Brother Lin, let's enter the city quickly and settle the people of Stone Fortress!"

General Zhao Kuan didn't feel he was losing out at all; he even felt he had gained something.

He had a premonition that if he didn't take this chance to build a good relationship with Lin Xiao, he might not be able to reach him in the future!

When the other soldiers of the Border Army saw this, they all thought it was reasonable; Lin Xiao's strength had already won them over.

Over a thousand people entered the city in a grand procession, naturally attracting the attention of many original residents of Baishui City.

Lin Xiao noticed that many people were casting looks of contempt or disgust.

After all, to the city folk, Stone Fortress was just a barbaric countryside.

The key issue was that so many people arriving would definitely consume Baishui City's food supplies.

Under Official Lu Yang's exploitation over the years, the common people of Baishui City hadn't been living well either, so they naturally couldn't handle the upheaval.

Lin Xiao saw this and felt anxious; to gain a firm foothold here, he had to appease the hearts of the people.

Everyone first led the Border Army and the elderly, weak, women, and children to an open space within the city to set up a temporary camp.

This place was originally used for holding occasional temple fairs and other events, but in these chaotic times, there were no celebrations.

Lin Xiao took out some of the silver he had looted and sent people to purchase a few days' worth of food.

Only when the able-bodied men from the main force arrived could they find a place to build houses, reclaim land, and officially settle down.

After a period of busy activity, Lin Xiao returned to the Prefects Mansion with Xiao Qingxuan and the officers.

Just as they reached the meeting hall, they saw Fiscal Officer Zheng Siqi waiting with an account book.

Lin Xiao introduced everyone. Zheng Siqi bowed to each of them. He was slightly taken aback to see that Xiao Qingxuan had heterochromatic eyes, but he didn't dare say anything.

"My Lord, the assets of the Lu Manor have been inventoried. They are all here, please take a look!"

Lin Xiao took the account book and looked. Although he was a layman, he could see everything clearly.

It had to be said, this old man Zheng was indeed a good accountant!

"One hundred and three thousand, six hundred and twenty-five taels... Official Zheng, your estimate was very accurate."

Fiscal Officer Zheng Siqi cupped his fists and said, "My Lord, besides the military pay, the prefecture also owes a lot of wages to the laborers who built the city walls. I wonder if..."

"Oh? We still owe labor wages?"

Reminded, Lin Xiao asked again, "Are there any other debts?"

Zheng Siqi nodded immediately. "There are also debts to some merchants. For example, Official Lu's garden renovations, jewelry for his wives, and the young master's debts at gambling dens and brothels..."

"Enough, enough. Just tell me, how much does Official Lu Yang owe in total?"

"At least fifty thousand taels of silver..."

Lin Xiao smiled bitterly. This meant that even if all this money was spent, it wouldn't be enough!

No wonder the residents' eyes were so dissatisfied when the people from Stone Fortress arrived; they probably thought he was also there to exploit them!

"Brother Zhao, what's your opinion?" Lin Xiao asked.

General Zhao Kuan thought for a moment and said seriously, "I believe the military pay must be distributed. Otherwise, with only our three thousand Border Army brothers, we won't be able to hold out if Prince Bai sends people to suppress us!"

"Only by giving enough pay will the soldiers be willing to risk their lives, giving us a chance for survival!"

"As for the rest... that's the business of the Lu father and son. What does it have to do with us?"

Lin Xiao nodded and looked at Xiao Qingxuan again.

"Wife, what do you think?"

Beside them, Zheng Siqi looked puzzled. Why was this Lord Lin asking for a woman's opinion? Could he be henpecked?

Xiao Qingxuan pondered for a moment and said, "I believe that in addition to the military pay, the money owed to the common people must also be repaid."

"War depends on people, provisions, and the hearts of the people. Among the four classes, what we need to value most now are the laborers and farmers!"

"Baishui Prefecture is located on the border and isn't a major grain-producing region. If Prince Bai cuts off our supplies, we will need to be self-sufficient even more."

"I feel that if we can mobilize the subordinate counties to reclaim wasteland and plant a few thousand more acres of wheat before autumn, it would be more useful than anything else."

Zheng Siqi was stunned. Was this something a woman could say!?

General Zhao Kuan looked on in admiration, thinking to himself that Lin Xiao's woman was indeed extraordinary!

"Sister-in-law makes a good point, but the problem is that reclaiming wasteland requires a lot of manpower and resources."

"Work-for-relief."

Lin Xiao immediately thought of this term.

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes lit up. "Husband, your summary is truly brilliant! Yes, that is exactly what I meant!"

"Giving this money to the merchants is just a drop in the bucket for them, but for the common people, it's life-saving money."

"Especially the people who moved from Stone Fortress; we provide for their food and drink while they reclaim the wasteland."

"Once they have land, they will naturally have a place to settle down and make a living."

"Working together will also deepen the bond between the people of the two places, ensuring they are united when war comes."

"As for the other things like jewelry and brothel debts..."

Xiao Qingxuan said with a smile, "Since the Lu father and son are gone, every debt has its debtor. What does it have to do with us?"

"On the other hand, the family members of the Lu Manor have lived in luxury all these years. It's time for them to cough some of it up. Why not let them pay off the debts?"

Hearing this, General Zhao Kuan and Zheng Siqi gasped!

Well then, it's true that women are harshest toward other women!