Chapter 280: with translation of chapter title

If one does not act for oneself, heaven will punish and earth will destroy.

Du Shanü had known this saying long before.

But upon seeing Ruansizong again, she still couldn't help letting a faint smile appear.

That day, in the front hall confrontation, this person was full of arrogance, sleeves flicked away in resentment.

But after only a few days, when he came again to seek an audience, he already bowed his head, his posture respectful and humble.

Even this time, compared to his previous visit, he was more reverent and thorough, observing propriety to the utmost, wholly a posture of bowed submission, showing no trace of his former arrogance.

Behind him followed two local officials in neat official robes, their builds and appearances starkly different, distinguishable at a glance.

The person on the left was tall and thin, spine straight, face gaunt, brows and eyes restrained, hands held at his sides, movements stiff and rigid; the person on the right was short and stout, slightly round physique, kindly complexion, brows and eyes hinting at worldly smoothness, but at this moment his expression was uneasy, somewhat nervous.

The two had long been entrenched in the counties under Yongzhou's jurisdiction, frequently interacting with Ruansizong in daily life, and thus knew something of his temperament.

At this moment, closely following Ruansizong inside, seeing him bow deeply before Du Shanü, showing utmost humility, their hearts were already secretly shaken—

"This Ruansizong, who doesn't even give a pleasant face to the former prefect—"

"What kind of new master could make him act so respectfully?"

"The rumored daughter of the Deposed Crown Prince Huan......"

"Turns out she is truly formidable?"

The two dared not be negligent; they hurriedly imitated, both bowing low, performing the salute of subordinate officials, posture obedient.

But the two's hearts were not settled; unlike Ruansizong, seasoned in officialdom and concealing his sharpness, in the moment they bowed, their eyes would occasionally furtively glance at Du Shanü on the main seat, their gazes wandering, evidently somewhat uneasy.

After the salute, Ruansizong straightened his posture, spoke first, tone respectful:

"Your Highness, today this humble official dares to call, merely wishing to recommend two capable persons."

"Both are magistrates of the two counties under Yongzhou, having long guarded their lands, familiar with local sentiment, tax and household registers, and petty city-defense matters; their nature has always been obedient and law-abiding, never acting arrogantly or recklessly."

Ruansizong's words were gentle, each sentence laying groundwork for the two, he slowly explained his purpose, deliberately downplaying their past faults, leaving only what could be used:

"In the past, the two held low positions, subject to the former prefect Li Yu's jurisdiction, lowly and powerless, often having no choice."

"During Li Yu's tenure, to fill his private coffers and curry favor with superiors, he repeatedly exerted strong pressure, forcing the two counties to over‑levy taxes, layer upon layer of exploitation. At that time the two could not oppose superior orders, could only comply, thus incurring some faults."

"Now the former prefect Li Yu's whereabouts are unknown, and Yongzhou has fallen into Your Highness's hands. The two, recalling their past faults committed under duress of power, feel panicked and uneasy, fearing retribution for old misdeeds, anxiously day and night, they simply wish to find a place to settle, sincerely submit to Your Highness's command, hoping only to continue guarding the land and pacifying the people, to make amends through service."

His speech was seamless, rational and emotional, both exonerating the two's past faults and highlighting their obedience and sincerity; without fanfare, it laid bare their situation and intentions.

Du Shanü sat calmly on the main seat, expression indifferent, quietly listening to his words, her eyes clear and untroubled, while inwardly she silently laughed and cursed him as an old fox.

Ruansizong's words seemed earnest recommendation, but in fact each word hid deep meaning.

He explicitly said the two were controlled by their former lord, not responsible for their faults, and emphasized their obedient, mediocre nature, keeping to their station—nothing more than telling her—

These two have neither great talent nor great fault, neither arrogance nor ambition; they are easily handled, readily dispatched mediocre officials, and can be safely bought and employed to help her solidify local grassroots administration......

She hadn't expected.

She truly hadn't expected.

The power of her move was actually this great.

Just a single letter could actually dupe that old fox Ruansizong into laboring willingly and working hard......

Du Shanü lowered her eyes, hiding the smirk in her depths, and remained silent.

Hearing this, the two magistrates knew Ruansizong had already paved the way for them; they hurried forward, becoming ever more respectful, daring not to hesitate in the slightest.

Each held up with both hands the token and household register of his own county, bowing high, attitude earnest to the utmost:

"We were foolish before, subject to superiors, have committed faults, and feel remorse a thousandfold!"

"Now the new lord has appeared; Your Highness is benevolent and upright. We two wish to cast off the old and embrace the new, henceforth breaking with the old order, fully submitting, handing over the troops, household registers, and taxes of our jurisdictions entirely to Your Highness's dispatch; thereafter we will look only to Your Highness's lead, faithfully fulfill our duties, swear death‑bound loyalty, harboring no second thoughts!"

The so‑called token, perhaps few have heard of it.

But if one speaks of the tiger tally, many will surely have heard it like thunder.

Yet the difference between them is actually slight; the distinction lies only in—

The name 'tiger tally' is usually circulated only among the military.

Except for a few special passes and garrison towns, an ordinary county cannot maintain large forces, so naturally it does not possess a complete tiger tally for mobilizing troops.

But in an ordinary county, one can, under the pretext of garrison duty, use tokens to dispatch clerks and militia.

Even a county with no troops, relying on tokens, can muster a couple thousand able‑bodied men in an emergency—no difficulty.

Thus handing over the token means surrendering the city's military authority, and also completely yielding one's official prospects—a genuine act of surrender.

Du Shanü's gaze lightly swept over the tokens in their hands, then fell back onto their timid, apprehensive faces; she harbored her own calculations.

She recalled that a few days prior, during the bloody battle and collapse of the prefectural seat, all of Yongzhou trembled, and most of its subordinate counties merely stood by as spectators.

These days she also carefully investigated who, together with Chinu, had vied to be the 'Fisherman'; those soldiers were all troops dispatched from Horizontal City.

The two magistrates of Jingcheng and Ancheng before her, from beginning to end, never sent a single soldier to aid the prefectural seat; they neither helped the old lord defend the city nor prematurely joined the new force, merely hunkering down in their territories, watching passively, awaiting the outcome......

The temperament of these two is just like the names of their cities.

One Jing, one An.

Jing is the 'jing' of 'pacify'; An is the 'an' of 'seek peace'.

The meaning of pacification......

Is nothing more than buying a brief peace through compromise and retreat.

Just as the former prefect had them collect taxes, they merely added more levies.

Just as when the prefectural seat was breached, they dared not send militia to help......

As long as there is a road to retreat, they will repeatedly yield, fall back, and stubbornly hold one side.

In this world, people like Chinu, Afang, Yu Lve, Chunri Jian, and even someone like Ruansizong are exceedingly rare.

Most are timid as mice, profit‑seeking, harm‑avoiding, fickle‑minded sorts.

They lack loyalty and courage, possessing only a mediocre skill for self‑preservation.

In chaotic times, such people are the most timid and also the easiest to control; as long as the situation is stable and the intimidation is sufficient, they will obediently bow their heads and obey orders, never daring to rebel rashly.

However, their shortcomings are precisely Du Shanü's advantages.

If they were not such people, then if she still needed to send troops to attack Peaceful City in the future, her soldiers would inevitably suffer even greater losses of vitality......

Du Shanü surely does not want to waste troops needlessly; since there is a city being given away for free, why not take it?

Ruansizong truly lives up to his name—he actually sent her such a great gift!