Chapter 2159

Everyone felt reassured seeing his amiable demeanor.

He Lingchuan immediately promulgated Does Bailie's governance plan on the spot to address the concerns of the Lu family.

He knew Does Bailie was undergoing great upheaval, people's hearts were inevitably unsettled, and taking concrete action now was more useful than empty boasts.

People's hearts need comfort, and the best way to comfort them is with black-and-white words and tangible action.

Having governed Yangshan, He Lingchuan was exceptionally familiar with Does Bailie's administrative, economic, and agricultural-forestry systems, and had continued observing Does Bailie during the campaign to seize Shanjin. Thus his proposal addressed current ills, roughly in several aspects:

First, Does Bailie's local administrative system needs to replace the old with the new, and an accompanying list is provided. Current local officials, many of whom belong to the Lu Zhensheng father-son faction, He Lingchuan naturally would not retain. New officials taking office will help better implement the new head's decisions.

Second, Does Bailie's economic crops need updating.

Does Bailie's local land and water are fertile, basically anything can grow and thrive. He Lingchuan presented the revolutionary new seeds from overturning the seas to Does Bailie, demanding they begin promoting cultivation after the spring harvest ends. These new varieties involve textiles, oil crops, grains, and several new economic crops suited to Does Bailie's hydrology and soil. Under the broader backdrop of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy revival, their yield and quality will see tremendous improvement.

Third, Does Bailie and the Shanjin Plains shall establish trade routes, expand investment and trade.

This is reasonable, after all Shanjin and Does Bailie now both fall under the jurisdiction of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, so mutual exchange is natural. The Shanjin Plains are currently poor but have infinite potential; Does Bailie people understand that early roots mean early harvests. He Lingchuan also intends to guide Does Bailie's money, grain, and people into the Shanjin Plains.

Fourth, the Shanjin Plains will dispatch four thousand Dragon Spirit Troops to be permanently stationed in Does Bailie.

Does Bailie's geographical position is special, surrounded by multiple national powers, and it is the ancestral land of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, so stationing troops there is justified. Does Bailie people welcome it greatly—having a strong nation's garrison, who would dare come to Does Bailie to plunder in the future!

Observant people could immediately see the new headmaster's policy benefits Does Bailie, so the Lu family ate this meal in cheerful spirits. However, after He Lingchuan took Does Bailie, he did not indulge in all-night revelry, but after the meal summoned Xun Yu and handed him a document:

"You shall immediately send someone to rush to the Ducheng of Qing State and deliver this document to the Qing King."

This matter has been delayed for a long time; now the time has come, and it should be done.

Thereafter, he quietly instructed a few more sentences.

Xun Yu received it respectfully, walked backward to the door, then turned and left.

He came from the Original Village Association, once served as a strategist under Boss Situ He, and during the Dragon Spirit War urged Boss Situ He not to oppose He Lingchuan. After He Lingchuan founded his state, he awarded merits and recruited talents; Xun Yu, due to his eloquence and steady temperament, was appointed Deputy Right Secretary of the Qinghong Bureau, overseeing over two hundred people.

The Qinghong Bureau's main function is dispatching envoys and handling foreign correspondence; in special periods it even bears responsibility for foreign adjudication.

The Great Emperor did not have Xun Yu personally go to Qing State, but rather send someone, because foreign liaison particularly emphasizes "matching rank."

Clearly, the Master of Cangyan believes Qing State is not yet worthy of having the Qinghong Bureau's Right Secretary personally undertake the mission.

Thereafter, He Lingchuan summoned Wanqi Feng.

Wanqi Feng was in the process of assigning Does Bailie's garrison; the Great Emperor's order naturally had to be executed immediately.

He received the command and hurried over, just finished a salute, when He Lingchuan personally handed him a seal.

"Emperor?" Wanqi Feng flipped over the great seal and looked up sharply.

"Afu Hai has already been reclaimed." He Lingchuan patted his shoulder, "I promised you, the Bailong clan will surely return to their homeland. From now on, Afu Hai will again become the homeland of the Bailong clan; you may relocate your people back."

Wanqi Feng, who had followed He Lingchuan south and north, experienced countless battles, and was a man of iron bones and steadfast will, upon hearing this reddened his eyes and fell to his knees with a thud.

Afu Hai has generation after generation been the homeland of the Bailong clan; in the past, Ya State expelled them, tens of thousands of Bailong people were forced to leave their homes and flee to foreign lands.

Thereafter, day and night, the Bailong people never ceased longing for their homeland, to the point that even the wind and sand of their homeland became endearing.

When He Lingchuan subdued Wanqi Feng in the Yangshan Islands, he had once promised him that one day the Bailong people would surely return to their homeland.

Five years have passed; the Yangshan Island Master has transformed into the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, Master of Cangyan, yet has not forgotten his promise to the Bailong people.

Wanqi Feng can also imagine how his clan will react upon hearing this joyful news—what cheers and leaps.

"Emperor's mercy!" Wanqi Feng bowed deeply three times, "I am willing to offer my liver and brains to the Great Emperor, the Bailong clan swears to die in loyalty to the Emperor!"

"Rise." He Lingchuan helped him up personally, "The Bailong clan's task is not light either—Afu Hai to the west borders Mu State."

"Yes!" The Bailong clan's mission after returning to their homeland, Wanqi Feng also understands clearly, "The Bailong clan will surely guard Does Bailie, repelling Ya and Mu armies beyond the national gates."

South of Afu Hai is Ya State.

Therefore, the Bailong clan must establish the first line of defense on Cangyan's western frontier, needing to guard the southwest border and also watch over the Great Emperor's ancestral land Does Bailie, facing future pressure from two nations dispatching troops.

The burden on the Bailong clan is indeed heavy.

However, Wanqi Feng feels no worry, only joy—Afu Hai's geographical position is this important, the Bailong clan's mission is this important, meaning the Great Emperor increasingly values the Bailong clan.

"Alright, go attend to your duties." He Lingchuan still had military affairs to handle, "By evening, prepare for another deployment."

"Yes!"

……

Dao Feng Port, Yin hour, three quarters.

Haigang was shrouded in thick mist, all peaceful. Wu Tingju slept soundly, even dreaming of promotion and ennoblement in his sleep.

Suddenly, urgent footsteps sounded outside the gate.

Soon, he was shaken awake:

"The King urgently summons you to enter the palace for audience!"

"Ah?" Wu Tingju mumbled dazedly, "When? What time is it now?"

He glanced outside; the sky was still dark.

"They say it's a matter of utmost urgency!"

Wu Tingju was startled by the words "utmost urgency." Since he became an official, he had only once received a midnight summons from the palace, when the Qing King's consort was trapped by Ya State's great army in Qingxu City.

Moreover, what major event domestically would concern Dao Feng Port, otherwise why seek him, the head of the Maritime Trade Office?

Wu Tingju felt a deep ominous premonition.

Fortunately, Qing State's territory is not large; the distance from Dao Feng Port to Qing Ducheng is not long, and the official road is straight and easy to travel. Wu Tingju, though whipping his horse to rush through the night, only reached the palace by Chen hour.

Upon entering, he saw it was dire—Qing State's close ministers were nearly all crowded in the Qing King's deliberation hall, each face grim.

"You've come." The Qing King also had no mind for pleasantries, seeing Wu Tingju he got straight to the point, "The Cangyan State ruler has sent a state letter, demanding to take Dao Feng Port, and claims he holds the old lease agreement!"