Chapter 334: Welcome Home

There is just over a month left until New Year's Day, and the weather has also reached the coldest time of the year.

After Chen Yan's grand wedding to Li Lizhi, he paid his respects to Li Shimin and Empress Changsun, and spent the next few days visiting relatives and friends.

It wasn't until December 5 that Du Gou sent a message insisting that he return, and only then did he bring his whole family back to Weinan County.

He also didn't forget to bring along that heartless little one from the Imperial Palace.

The moment he arrived back in Weinan County, Chen Yan first asked whether any major events had occurred there, and then immediately examined the ledger for that period.

Ma Zhou said gloomily, "Magistrate, some time ago Commander Li came with an imperial decree and took away half of the Xianlya's funds; we now have just over four hundred thousand strings left."

"They only took half?" Chen Yan was surprised, then laughed, "I thought His Majesty would take seventy percent."

Ma Zhou: "......"

Do we have to thank them just because they only took fifty percent?

Du Gou soothed, "Lord Ma, why the such expression?"

"Anyway, this money belongs to the Xianlya and to His Majesty; if His Majesty wants to take it, he can, and we still have four hundred thousand strings left, don't we?"

Fang Yizhi laughed, "I guess Lord Ma is feeling sentimental; I vaguely recall that last time he was hoping to amass a million strings before New Year's Day, but that seems impossible now."

"No, no, don't talk nonsense," Ma Zhou hurriedly explained, "It's not my money, why would I be sentimental? I'm just worried it might affect the Magistrate's expansion plans."

Du Gou and Fang Yizhi instantly gave him a disdainful look.

Those words were just to placate the ghost.

At the current expansion rate, even if Li Shimin took seventy percent of the funds, it wouldn't hinder the expansion.

Because acquiring raw silk materials here has become increasingly difficult, lacking raw material makes any further workshop expansion pointless.

Are we just feeding a whole bunch of people for free?

Chen Yan flipped through the ledger, examined the expenditures on raw material purchases, and frowned, "Before I left last time, I told you to send people farther away to acquire raw materials; has that been done?"

Du Gou replied, "Of course, we've been following your plan. I've already ordered Wang Lao Wu and his men to procure them, but so far no news has returned."

Fang Yizhi said gravely, "Something feels off. Those four merchants were personally selected by Brother Chen; they already have plenty of channels in this field, especially Wang Lao Wu, whose business is silk trade. Though he doesn't manufacture, his contacts should be numerous."

"We sent them out in mid-last month, and now not a single report has come back; that's unlikely."

Chen Yan recalled what Du Ruhui had told him, and his gaze turned cold.

"Brother Chen, what shall we do?"

Du Gou asked.

The other two looked at Chen Yan.

He tapped his fingers on the table, thought for a moment, and said, "We'll do it this way for now; I'll handle the rest later, and the other matters will continue to develop steadily as before."

New Year's Day is fast approaching; in the meantime, you all should work hard to compile all ledger revenues, county land, population changes, case numbers, tax income, and the current development status of Weinan County, and write a report that will be presented to His Majesty.

"What I need is a concise, clear document that lets anyone see at a glance how Weinan County arrived at its present state, including the overall changes in the county seat and its towns... a report."

"That's difficult," Du Gou said bluntly.

Putting other matters aside, just the Weinan County ledger has been unknown in quantity since Chen Yan took office, let alone the need to tally exact land figures.

Writing such a concise report is no ordinary difficulty.

"Even if it's hard, we must do it!" Chen Yan insisted, "This concerns next year's Tang Dynasty overall plan. Last time I suggested to His Majesty using a survival-of-the-fittest method to manage county magistrates, and His Majesty wants us to set the example."

"Regardless of the method you use, I must have this report before the New Year's Day grand court meeting; next year, the year after, and every year thereafter!"

Those words caused all three to shudder.

After exchanging glances, they solemnly nodded in agreement.

"......"

After Chen Yan gave the order, the Xianlya became busy that very day.

Even Chen Yan himself stayed, no longer slipping away home to slack off as before.

At first, Du Gou, Fang Yizhi, and Ma Zhou were deeply moved by the sight.

Chen Yan......

Finally, he actually behaved like a person.

But the feeling lasted only ten days, and Chen Yan ran off again.

That really upset the three, leading to a round of harsh scolding.

However, this time Chen Yan wasn't trying to slack off; he truly had no choice.

Because Empress Changsun gave birth to a princess, he had to take Gao Yang and Li Lizhi back to Chang'an.

After two days away, he hurried back in a panic and joined everyone in the rush.

Finally, three days before the New Year's Day grand court meeting, the report that satisfied Chen Yan was finally completed.

When it was done, it was already late; Chen Yan, carrying the report, stretched lazily and returned to the County Magistrate's residence.

He immediately found Li Lizhi, lay on her lap, and enjoyed a gentle massage.

"Sorry, I've been busy these days and haven't had time to be with you."

Li Lizhi was startled, smiled faintly and shook her head, "My husband is busy with important matters; there's no need to apologize to me."

"As long as I'm in your heart, I'm satisfied."

"I..." Chen Yan was about to speak when a series of urgent shouts suddenly came from outside.

"Lord... Lord Bo!"

"I'm... I'm back!!"

Chen Yan frowned, recognizing the voice as Xiao Shunzi's.

What kind of thing came back?

He rose, puzzled, and stepped outside, seeing Xiao Shunzi panting heavily.

"Xiao Shunzi, what are you saying?"

"What came back?"

Xiao Shunzi panted heavily, his eyes still full of excitement, "Lord Bo, Xue... Xue Li, Xue Li has returned!"

"Oh, Xue Li!"

Chen Yan suddenly understood, fell silent for a moment... then immediately bolted out.

While running wildly, he couldn't help but get excited.

Xue Li has returned, does that mean...

Li Chunfeng has returned too?!

Damn!

Before he could think too much, he saw three figures walking toward him.

Chen Yan took a glance and saw it was indeed Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang, and Xue Li, the three of them.

Although they looked extremely disheveled, he would definitely not mistake them.

"Grand Historian!"

Chen Yan ran to Li Chunfeng, excited beyond control, wanting to ask but stopping himself, afraid the answer wouldn't be what he wanted.

However, before that, he suddenly forced himself to suppress his emotions and said solemnly:

"Welcome home, heroes who left their homeland!"

"..."