Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 428 Children's Family Affairs
Before being transferred, local officials had to go to Yongle City to report on their work. Originally, this work was presided over by Su Ze himself.

However, Su Zeyuan was in Hengzhou now, so he was convened by the Government Affairs Hall and the County Duke's Office for a routine questioning.

Hou Jing's performance was much better this time. He answered all the questions about his tenure as the governor of Qinzhou one by one, and there was no problem with either military or civil affairs.

All the ministers in the Government Affairs Hall were amazed at Hou Jing's growth, and it was truly "a man should be looked at with new eyes after three days of absence."

Only Hou Jing knew how many books he had read in the inner house during this period, and how many official documents he had to deal with every day, which led to the result today.

"The general is back!"

At Hou Jing's mansion, he still followed the military custom and had his servants call him "General", and the maids who came with Li's daughter as a dowry also used this title.

Putting down the book in her hand, Ms. Li touched her belly and nodded to indicate that she understood.

Not long after arriving in Qinzhou, Ms. Li became pregnant.

When Princess Chenliu heard that Li's daughter was pregnant, she sent the female physician who had taken care of her during her pregnancy (the "Gynecological Master with Miraculous Hands to Bring Back the Dead") to Qinzhou to help Li's daughter with her pregnancy. When Hou Jing came back to report on his work, Li's daughter's pregnancy was already stable, and she returned to Yongle City accompanied by the female physician.

Hou Jing returned to the inner house and first held his wife's belly and listened for a while, then he said proudly:

"Today, the ministers did not find fault with me. This is all thanks to my wife!"

It was indeed thanks to Li's daughter that Hou Jing was able to grow so quickly.

Hou Jing was just a grassroots military commander in the Six Garrisons, and he couldn't understand the twists and turns in the officialdom.

Although Li Gou, the father of Li's daughter, was not a high-ranking official, the Longxi Li family was a prominent family in Guanxi, with many family members in politics and well-versed in the rules of officialdom. With the help of Li's daughter, Hou Jing quickly mastered the operating rules of the provincial government.

In addition, the Longxi Li family also sent a number of young men to serve in the governor's office. In addition, the power of the local nobles in Qinzhou had already been almost weakened by Mozhe Tiansheng, which allowed Hou Jing to take control of the situation so quickly.

In addition, Li's daughter often accompanied Hou Jing to study.

Moreover, the book list that Mrs. Li prepared was very practical. It was all based on Hou Jing's interests. Apart from military books, the rest were historical books such as "Records of the Grand Historian". It did not require Hou Jing to read those fascinating Confucian classics all at once.

Lady Li looked at her husband with a smile and suddenly said:

"My dear, my grandfather came today and wanted me to go home to take care of my pregnancy, so I won't go with you to Liangzhou."

"What? Didn't His Highness agree that you could follow me?"

Lady Li smiled and said:

"Let's give it a try now. Where is Qinzhou located? It is in the heart of Guanxi and close to Yongle City. However, Liangzhou is far away from the mountains and rivers. If I go to Liangzhou with my husband, how can the county mansion feel at ease?"

Hou Jing was unwilling to be separated from his wife, and muttered:

"The Duke and His Highness will not be worried."

Lady Li hugged him and said:
"The Duke and His Highness will definitely trust my husband, but there are other people in Yongle City. What if they alienate my husband?"

"Besides, why would you be worried about me going back to my parents' home to take care of my baby?"

"My dear, you should think about why the Duke asked you to go to Liangzhou to earn a fortune for our children."

When Hou Jing heard this, he immediately said excitedly:

"The Duke asked me to go to Liangzhou because he thought Governor Yang was too soft! He wanted to teach Shu a lesson!"

Since Chen Qingzhi's Northern Expedition, Xiao Ji, the governor of Yizhou in Southern Liang, began to become restless.

When Hou Jing was still in Yizhou, Xiao Yan recalled his cousin Xiao Wei to Jiankang and sent his son Xiao Ji to serve as the governor of Yizhou.

When Xiao Ji first entered Shu, he was still a teenager. The affairs of Yizhou were handled by auxiliary officials appointed by Xiao Yan. At that time, Xiao Wei had just been defeated by Hou Jing, so Yizhou was very peaceful.

But as Xiao Ji grew up, he began to constantly compete for power with the regent officials and started to cause trouble on the border.

When Yang Kan was the governor of Liangzhou, he adhered to the idea of ​​not provoking border conflicts easily and was very tolerant of Xiao Ji's provocations.

After Chen Qingzhi's Northern Expedition this time, Xiao Ji became even more excited and even sent troops to attack Nanzhong City, an important town in Hanzhong, which was the city where Hou Jing defeated Xiao Wei that year. Although it was defeated by the support of Yang Kan's troops, Xiao Ji also captured a thousand households of civilians and returned to Yizhou.

Hou Jing had worked with Yang Kan for many years and had great respect for him. He said:
"Governor Yang is a gentleman. It is useless to use gentleman's methods to deal with these villains in Nanliang."

Lady Li smiled and said:
"My dear, you know that we are going to Liangzhou to fight, so why do you have the heart to take me with you?"

Hou Jing knew that his wife was just comforting him, but what she said made sense. Anyway, Li's family was also in Yongle City, so staying here seemed to be a better choice.

Hou Jing said:

"Wait until I win a great victory! Then I'll ask the Duke to take you over!"
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Yu Jin also returned to Yongle City to report on his work.

Yu Jin was still the governor of Huazhou, but the last time Su Ze went to Luoyang, he occupied Hedong County along the way. This time Su Ze also incorporated Hedong County into Huazhou, and Yu Jin's burden became heavier.

Although Hedong County is in Guandong, it is integrated with the defense of Guanzhong. Guanzhong with Hedong County is a place that can be attacked and defended. Guanzhong without Hedong County is a prison. Hedong County is Su Ze's biggest gain in the Luoyang Rebellion, except for the little emperor.

In addition to Hongnong, the Puzhin Ferry where a floating bridge was being built, the Longmen Ferry across the river from Yongle City, and the Yubi City which was being built to defend Bingzhou were all under the jurisdiction of Hedong County.

It can be said that Hedong County was the strategic fulcrum for Su Ze to leave Guanzhong. Only by occupying Hedong could Su Ze have the strategic initiative against Erzhu Rong's Bingzhou Group and Chen Qianzhi's Luoyang Group.

Su Ze moved the capital of Huazhou from Huayin to Hongnong because Hedong County was of great importance and must be firmly controlled in his hands.

The attitude of the Government Affairs Hall towards Jin was different from its attitude towards Hou Jing.

Yu Jin has always been mature and prudent, so no one worries that he will cause any trouble. Su Ze also sent a message to Yongle City to meet all of Yu Jin's requirements.

Su Cho said gently:

"Yu, the governor, the county lord said that he would support all your requests."

Yu Jin thought for a moment and said:
"I need a deputy in government affairs."

Su Cho nodded. Hedong County was a newly annexed area and was not that stable. It was normal for Yu Jin to need an assistant.

Yu Jin looked around and said:
"I want the Prosecutor Wang Sizheng, the Prosecutor Su Wen (a cruel official who tells stories based on rumors), and the Prosecutor Su Renjie (a judicial official who solves cases like a god)."

Su Chao said hesitantly:
"The post of the Inspector is not in the hands of the Administrative Office, but in the hands of the County Lord. The Administrative Office dare not take the initiative, and will report to the County Lord before giving the governor a reply."

Yu Jin nodded slightly, and then he continued:

"I also want Di Gan and Hulu Jin to be my cavalry commanders."

At this time, Su Liang, who was in charge of military affairs, said decisively:
"That's no problem. These two will serve under the governor today. We just need to report to the county lord."

Yu Jin cupped his hands and said:

"Yu Jin is fine now."

Su Ze had his reasons for handing over Hedong County to Yu Jin.

Li Shen, the garrison commander of Tongguan, and Guo Quan, the garrison commander of Puzhindu, were all former subordinates of Li Chong.

There's no way, defending a city is a technical job.

This is just like a factory transferring its production line. The technical backbones are often hired back with high salaries. In ancient battles, many generals were allowed to continue guarding the old city after they surrendered.

The defenders have to consider where the city is weak and where it is strong, which areas are water sources nearby, and the local people's support.

After Li Shen and Guo Quan surrendered, Su Ze promoted them to higher positions and sent his own troops into Tongguan and Pujindu, but still retained their positions.

Yu Jin is the son-in-law of Li Chong's son Li Shizhe. These old members of the Li family can be easily used by him, and at least they will not cause any trouble under his rule.

Yu Jin finished the meeting and returned home. His wife Li Ruiniang immediately came over with their one-year-old daughter.

When Yu Jin took office in Huazhou, he did not bring his wife with him. His daughter had never seen her father since she was born. She looked at her father with open eyes and showed a happy expression.

In comparison, Yu Jin's five-year-old son was a little reserved. Yu Jin, as his name suggests, was serious and upright at home, and he would always test his son every time he came home.

After putting her daughter down, Li Ruiniang started chatting about recent family affairs.

"My uncle has also moved to Yongle City recently. He had a quarrel with my grandfather a few days ago, and it was very unpleasant."

Li Ruiniang's uncle was Li Shengui. After the battle of Beizhong City, he fled to Guanzhong and was raised by Su Ze with a high position and generous salary.

However, Li Shengui was restless. A few days ago, he went to the Government Affairs Hall to ask for official positions for his children and old subordinates, and even went to Li Shizhe.

Li Shizhe was also a restless person in the past, but he has been much more obedient since he entered Hezhou. He has always been careful to protect the family business. The children in his family also followed Yu Jin and did not want to help Li Shengui at all. The two broke up after a big quarrel.

"Grandpa said that if my uncle asks for my husband, don't agree to it."

Yu Jin finally smiled. In his opinion, Li Shengui was not that stupid. He was asking for some insignificant positions, and the Government Affairs Hall did not reject him completely. It just said that they had to follow the procedures and sent the scholars he recommended to Chongwen Pavilion.

Li Shengui probably just wanted to show his presence and hoped that Duke Su would not forget his contributions.

"Grandpa sent someone to say that someone else wants to arrange a marriage for Jun'er."

Jun'er is Yu Jin's one-year-old little daughter. Aristocratic families often arrange marriages very early, so arranging child marriages is a normal practice.

Many people naturally miss Yu Jin's legitimate daughter, but Yu Jin shook his head and said:
"I'm afraid we can't make the decision on Jun'er's marriage."

"Ah? Are you talking about the Duke's son?"

Yu Jin nodded.

(End of this chapter)