Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 354: Questions (Part 1)

The next morning, before dawn, Tang Youyin got up and went to the county government.

The Commandery Princess was already at the martial arts field.

This martial arts field, where the government officials usually gather to train, is not large, approximately twenty meters square. From afar, a burst of silver light flashes suddenly, swirling and dazzling with the speed of a startled swan.

"The Commandery Princess truly has excellent skills." Tang Youyin voluntarily went to find Ma Yaosong.

Ma Yaosong responded with a smile, "Indeed! Outsiders only know that the trusted aids of the Nanyang Prince Mansion are all experts, yet they do not know that the Commandery Princess alone can counter ten trusted aides."

Therefore, this is the greatest confidence the Commandery Princess has when traveling for patrol. With her skills and abilities, what is there to fear?

Tang Youyin watched intently for a moment and sighed with some regret, "When I was young, I didn’t like reading or martial arts, and now I’m neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts, which is truly unfortunate."

"Brother Tang is too modest." Ma Yaosong chuckled softly, "You come from a merchant family and have been adept at running and dealing since childhood, skilled in calculations and proficient in accounting. Such skills are hard to find in all of Nanyang County. It is much better than being both literate and martial!"

That’s true.

Looking at the Commandery Princess’s unconventional use of people, one can tell that she doesn’t emphasize the Imperial Examination nor cares about one’s background—she uses people with real skills.

Tang Youyin was about to say some more modest words when Ma Yaosong leaned closer and jokingly asked, "How does it feel to return home in glory?"

Tang Youyin thought seriously, "Not enough yet. After ten or eight years, when I’m in Chief Historian Feng’s position, that’ll be the real return in glory."

Ma Yaosong laughed heartily. Tang Youyin, usually calm and quiet, is actually quite humorous in private.

Jiang Shaohua, swinging a long spear, observed everything and also smiled slightly.

Tang Youyin didn’t know that the Commandery Princess had overheard his joke, and continued to laugh softly, saying, "I was just casually joking, don’t spread it around. If people find out I have such ambitions, I’ll definitely be laughed at."

Ma Yaosong nodded in understanding, "Don’t worry, I won’t spread it." Then he lowered his voice, "To be honest, my goal is Chief Historian Chen."

The two men with grand ambitions exchanged smiles.

An hour later, Jiang Shaohua calmly put away the long spear with a light sweat on her forehead.

Chen Jinyu was already prepared and stepped forward to offer a silk handkerchief. This close task was something Ma Yaosong could never grab nor argue for, waiting honestly for assignments. Now, another person waiting for assignments was Tang Youyin.

Jiang Shaohua glanced around and called the two forward, "Today, I will go to Xi’e County to inspect the new village. Ma, you arrange transportation and horses. Tang, you find County Magistrate Zou, and request the household register and the account book."

The two responded and left.

Now for Tang Youyin, after meeting County Magistrate Zou, everything went smoothly. County Magistrate Zou was prepared and personally brought out the household register and account book.

"It’s all here." County Magistrate Zou smiled, "There are three hundred and twenty-six households, a total of one thousand one hundred and twenty-two people. Oh, and a male infant was born a few days ago; it’s registered in the household register."

"The account book is also established independently, with the money and food allocated by the Prince Mansion clearly recorded. Please present these two books to the Commandery Princess for review."

Tang Youyin, of course, did not dare to open them in front of County Magistrate Zou and courteously received them.

County Magistrate Zou suddenly grabbed Tang Youyin’s sleeve, discreetly slipped him a purse, saying, "If the Commandery Princess has any inquiries about the account book or household register, please maneuver on behalf of this official."

How could Tang Youyin dare accept it, hurriedly returning the purse, "Lord Zou, this is too much for me. I’ve been fortunate to receive your guidance for years, and now I’m luckily serving the Commandery Princess. If the Commandery Princess gives any orders, I’ll certainly comply. I absolutely can’t accept this purse. Please take it back."

County Magistrate Zou, seeing Tang Youyin’s persistence, had no choice but to put away the purse, saying a few good words with a vague unease in his heart.

Settling the refugees was initiated by Li County first. With County Magistrate Cai taking the lead, other counties have followed suit.

However, some things are impossible to learn. For example, County Magistrate Cai personally received the refugees, settling them household by household with detailed understanding. Distributing food was exceptionally meticulous. During land reclamation, County Magistrate Cai inspected and guided every day...

County Magistrate Zou considered himself a good official. But County Magistrate Cai was like a tirelessly hard-working old ox, impossible to compare.

Uncertainty lingered about whether the Commandery Princess would discover any issues when inspecting the refugees.

...

So-called incognito inspection was basically impossible in Nanyang County.

Young and beautiful, Jiang Shaohua carried an imposing aura, accompanied by strong and tall trusted aides, along with Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong. Such an entourage certainly drew attention wherever they went.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t deliberately change clothes or dress up, proceeding as usual to ride into the new village.

At present, it’s the busy farming season, with every household busy in the fields, leaving only children or elderly unable to work in the village.

As Jiang Shaohua and her people appeared, several children fled in fright, and two elderly at the door sitting and chatting immediately knelt and bowed.

Ma Yaosong stepped forward to intercept, bringing the two elders before the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua smiled warmly, "Don’t be alarmed, dear elders, I am the Nanyang County Princess."

The elders had already guessed this, and upon hearing the Princess’s name, they became even more emotional, with one elder shedding tears, "We were hit by a locust plague, left with no livelihood, and luckily the Commandery Princess took us in. The Commandery Princess is truly our savior!"

The other elder’s eyes reddened and insisted on bowing before the Princess.

The commendable start by County Magistrate Cai was duly learned by County Magistrate Zou, who repeatedly emphasized the grace of the Commandery Princess when receiving and settling the refugees. So in the refugees’ hearts, the Commandery Princess was like their heaven.

In this respect, County Magistrate Zou was deemed competent.

Jiang Shaohua smiled, "Since you’ve come to Nanyang County, you’re my people. Rest assured and settle here peacefully."

Then, she inquired about their daily life.

The two elders were quite excited, eager to reply when questioned by the Princess.

As Jiang Shaohua listened, she discerned some problematic details, "You’ve just settled for a few months, and now are reclaiming land and planting new crops, without a harvest this year yet. Why is the food ration from the county government only half?"

Tang Youyin quickly checked the account book. The recorded numbers indeed differed from those mentioned by the elders, by half.

Where did this food go?

The two elders feared they were in trouble and hurriedly knelt again, "Calm your anger, Princess! We also don’t know what happened. Initially, the food was enough for the whole family, and over the past two months, the rations have been halved."

"However, we forage for wild vegetables daily and mix them into porridge, which still fills our stomachs."