Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 81 All I Want is the North Wind

Shuofeng City has tens of thousands of soldiers and people. Taking complete control of it is not so easy. After Wei Wusheng entered the city, he supervised the whole process and personally comforted the people. It was not until midnight that he was finally able to rest a little.

Suddenly remembering what Zheng Tong had told him, he took Xin Yue and went to the prison office to visit Song Shi'an.

Once inside, he was seen to have a large pile of files spread out on the table, and he was personally reviewing each one.

"What's this, Shi An?" Wei Wusheng asked curiously.

When Song Shi'an saw Wei Wusheng, he looked up and replied with a smile, "This is a list of all the prison cases in Shuofeng City."

This reflects the judicial environment of this area.

At the same time, it can basically reflect the political ecology of the entire Shuo County.

"rule".

“If Lord Zhang is having such a headache, why not use the army for complete control?” Wei Wusheng said. “In any case, just gather all the grain and family members in the city.”

As the saying goes, after you die, don't worry about the deluge.

“This is naturally the simplest way, but it is absolutely unacceptable as a means of governing counties,” Song Shi’an explained.

The principle is actually very simple.

Song Shi'an wasn't going to run away after pulling off this one job.

After defending the city, he still had to return to the imperial court.

Ultimately, the world is still governed by powerful families.

Indiscriminate attacks—that was Huang Chao.

Not to mention childish ideas like killing one to warn a hundred, wiping out Zhang Gong's entire family to intimidate others.

The Great Yu Dynasty only had six prefectures. How could the governor of one prefecture be killed so easily, just because he was the uncle of the governor's own mother?

Throughout history, there has never been a case of wiping out an entire family without any basis and gaining positive benefits.

Not to mention that they would arbitrarily accuse anyone who opposed them of "colluding with the enemy" and kill them all.

That's called the White Terror.

What if we kill one?

Still not working.

Cao Cao's biggest regret in his life was not killing Lü Boshe, but killing the famous scholar Bian Rang, which led to the rebellion of the entire Yan Province. He was left with only three cities and was almost killed by Lü Bu, and was about to surrender to Yuan Shao.

Wei's current strength is far inferior to Cao Cao's, who controls a province.

Zhang Gong, as the leader of the first aristocratic family in Northern Liang, was far more powerful than the famous scholar Bian Rang.

"Moreover, Shuofeng is just a county. If we maintain complete control over the city, we can definitely control it and allocate all its resources."

Seeing that Wei Wusheng had these thoughts, Song Shi'an reminded him again: "But if Your Highness wants to resist Qi, you will definitely have to give up half of Shuo County to your side. Your attitude towards powerful families like Zhang Gong is actually your attitude towards the entire Northern Liang aristocratic families. People outside the city are watching."

Although it is only half of Shuojun, it is still a large prefecture.

This half is equivalent to one and a half of the other counties in Liangzhou.

Wei Wusheng nodded, agreeing with his statement, and jokingly added with a smile, "Then An must have a plan when he says that?"

“I have a basic understanding.” Song Shi’an closed a case file, a smile curving his lips. “Even someone as domineering as Lord Zhang always seeks a just cause in Shuofeng. So I have a general understanding of this person.”

“Then I won’t interfere. Go ahead and do it.” Wei Wusheng said to Song Shi’an with absolute trust, “I’ll take care of everything.”

Thank you, Xiao Wei.

"With Your Highness's words, I am relieved."

Song Shi'an slowly bowed.

At this moment, a jailer came to report. Upon seeing the Sixth Prince, the jailer immediately knelt on one knee and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Wei Wusheng raised his hand and said, "If you have something to say, just tell Lord Song directly."

"Yes." So the jailer said to Song Shi'an, "Lord Zhang has sent someone to invite you to his residence for a gathering."

Upon hearing this, Wei Wusheng and Xinyue both became alert.

"Why not come in person?" Song Shi'an asked.

Upon hearing this, the jailer said rather awkwardly, "Lord Zhang said that the Zhang family is afraid that the magistrate will punish the visitor again, so they can just pass on the message at the yamen gate. If that's inconvenient, then we can arrange to meet again next time."

B. Zhang Gong is quite humorous.

"Okay, I'll go now. Please pass on the message, and I'll get ready."

Without a second thought, Song Shi'an answered immediately.

After the jailer left, Wei Wusheng said with great concern, "Will this trip be dangerous?"

"Your Highness, rest assured, absolutely not," Song Shi'an said with great certainty. "Zhang Gong is a smart man and knows that I am Your Highness's confidant. If he dares to kill me now, Your Highness will surely kill his entire family. This trip is to discuss business."

Seeing Song Shi'an's unwavering conviction, Wei Wusheng couldn't very well object. However, still unwilling to take any risks, he said, "Then Xinyue will go with you."

Hearing this, and remembering her rebellious act last time, Xin Yue stiffened for a moment. But the next moment, after meeting Song Shi'an's gaze, she quickly pretended that she had just been in a daze and hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Highness."

To be unable to face Song Shi'an because you're worried that His Highness might be suspicious is the real sign of a guilty conscience.

Xinyue understood that continuing to do her job well was true loyalty. "Alright, let's go now."

Song Shi'an had expected Zhang Gong to come looking for him, because they had no choice but to face the completely insane Xiao Wei and himself. But he didn't expect that Zhang Gong would reconcile with him so soon after being beaten; Zhang Gong was still able to bend and stretch.

That's just how politics is.

There are only interests, no grudges.

So, without taking anything with him, Song Shi'an and Xin Yue left the office together.

Wei Wusheng, on the other hand, felt a sense of reassurance looking at the many files in the room that had shown signs of being read.

.........

As soon as Xinyue and Song Shi'an stepped out of the yamen, Zhang Gong's men arrived in a carriage at the gate.

A servant from the Zhang household extended his hand and smiled, saying, "Please."

Then, the two of them got into the carriage together and sat down together.

"The Sixth Prince didn't punish you, did he?" Song Shi'an asked.

Xin Yue shook her head, but still said somewhat dejectedly, "But I don't know what Your Highness is thinking."

“A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions, and by intentions, no one in the world is perfect,” Song Shi’an comforted her. “Since His Highness hasn’t said anything, we shouldn’t presume to know his magnanimity. That would be unfair to His Highness.”

Often, people like to guess what the other person is thinking, assuming they are petty or suspicious. Then, they mold an unfounded person into what they perceive as a bad person.

If we think about it this way, then who exactly is the stingy and suspicious person?

Song Shi'an's words untied Xin Yue's knot in her heart. Looking at him, she slowly nodded: "Mm."

Before long, their carriage arrived at the Zhang residence.

After getting off the carriage, a servant led the way, and we quickly arrived at the main hall.

An elegant elderly man sat down opposite a square tea table. On the table were two teacups.

Upon seeing Song Shi'an, Zhang Gong slowly extended his hand.

After giving a slight bow, Song Shi'an slowly walked over.

He sat down opposite him.

Xin Yue, who carried a sword, stood to the side, guarding Song Shi'an.

The servant also closed the door.

Late at night, the hall, filled with lamps, was brightly lit, its antique charm shining through.

"My servant was ignorant and offended Jingxiu. Please forgive him."

Zhang Gong took the initiative to pour half a cup of tea for Song Shi'an.

"Does Master Zhang also know Shi An's courtesy name?" Song Shi An asked.

"Because of the north wind and the blockade, I was unaware of the situation. But with the arrival of the army, I have learned a little about the situation outside," Zhang Gong said with a smile.

Without making a sound, he demonstrated his iron fist, which also had people in the Langya army.

That's understandable, though. He's the governor's uncle and the head of the most powerful clan in Northern Liang. It would be impossible for him to be without some influence.

"Now that we know what's going on outside, Shi An will no longer hide his purpose from Zhang Gong."

Song Shi'an first extended his hand to offer him tea, and then said, "Shuofeng will definitely hold out to the death. The Sixth Prince has made up his mind. No one can stop him."

"If we defend the territory of Dayu, who would stop us?" Zhang Gong smiled. "I also hope that the Qi bandits will retreat and that our borders will remain peaceful."

“Zhang Gong is right,” Song Shi’an said earnestly. “The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. As a renowned scholar of Beiliang and the governor’s uncle, Zhang Gong should lead us in defending our territory and protecting our people at this time.”

"Very well, very well." Zhang Gong laughed. "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. I heard before I came that Jingxiu was a talented scholar, able to compose poems on the spot. Now that I see him, it is indeed true."

"What does Master Zhang think of this statement?" Song Shi'an pressed.

“Of course it would be good.” Zhang Gong nodded, then looked into his eyes and asked, “What can we, as powerful clans, do to resist Qi?”

Without hesitation, Song Shi'an said, "All the powerful clans will donate all their grain, which will be distributed uniformly by the army. Of course, your survival will be given priority. Then, all the servants and families of each clan will participate in the construction of the city's defenses, except for Lord Zhang, his wife, and the young master, who are respected."

Xin Yue was taken aback when she heard these words.

This is tantamount to forcing everyone to perform corvée labor, leaving no grain for the powerful clans?

Didn't Song Shi'an say we shouldn't be reckless...?

Did they just say those words like that?

"Jingxiu."

With a faint smile, Zhang Gong looked at this remarkable scholar and asked, "Have you thought about what will happen after we defend the city?"

"No."

Song Shi'an did not hesitate.

Zhang Gong's gaze gradually hardened as he stared at him, asking with a hint of accusation, "Young man, what exactly do you want?"

Similarly, staring at Zhang Gong, Song Shi'an raised his finger and tapped it lightly on the table, saying word by word, "I only want the north wind."

(End of this chapter)