Chapter 1154

"The Qin Clan..."

Chen Wuji muttered, "They're only now willing to invest, but their posture is at least passable."

Zhao Chen said: "My lord, these great clans consider things more long-term and deep; getting them to make a choice is actually quite difficult. The Qin Clan and these few clans being able to split half their clansmen for southern migration—this attitude... is indeed passable."

"But frankly, they just don't want to put all their eggs in my basket." Chen Wuji gave a light chuckle.

Because of Qin Zhanhong and his elder brother-in-law, Chen Wuji actually has a fairly good impression of the Qin Clan.

He also knows the Qin Clan is a bloated colossus; many matters aren't something one or two people can decide with a single idea.

But likewise, whatever attitude the Qin Clan shows him, he will show them in return.

With the Qin Clan being so cautious and meticulous, he could never treat them as honored guests.

"These clans have always been like this." Zhao Chen said.

Chen Wuji pondered briefly and ordered: "When they arrive, have someone settle them."

"Affirmative!"

……

One month later, the Uyghur winter had basically passed.

Although morning and evening temperatures still varied greatly, occasionally seeing one or two snowfalls, the grassland now had wildflowers, and the mountains had turned green.

At this time of year, the Uyghur were completely pacified.

Those few tribal forces still trying to make a last stand were utterly wiped out under the powerful encirclement and suppression by the five great generals of Nan Jun.

Wei Zhonghe and Zhuge Xun had already arrived in Uyghur the previous month.

They followed Chen Wuji's orders to begin establishing the commandery-county system in the old Uyghur territories and to demarcate the regions.

Accompanying them were several county magistrates and scholars from Nan Jun, all of whom were about to take office as prefects and county magistrates in Uyghur.

Wei Zhong and Zhuge Xun were doing their old trade.

Before raising troops, they were prefects; now they still are.

Only, it seems they're even worse off than before—they now don't even have a single functioning county magistrate under them, only a few clerks sent from Nan Jun to assist, meaning they must handle both prefectural and county magistrate duties.

"Old Wei, you and I... does this count as exile?" Zhuge Xun tugged at his cotton jacket and muttered.

Wei Zhong's mindset was much better than Zhuge Xun's: "A defeated general being able to attain this position is already not bad; you should just say less."

"But we did surrender, didn't we?" Zhuge Xun countered.

Wei Zhong chuckled: "We surrendered, but surrender doesn't change the fact that we're defeated generals—hahaha."

"Your elder brother became an assistant officer, yet you and I ended up in this bitter cold place—I can't figure it out." Zhuge Xun was very dissatisfied.

Wei Zhong patted his old friend's back: "Zhuge brother, these are all trials."

"What do you mean?"

"If Zhuge brother were Marquis Zhenyuan, would you dare place us three, who just surrendered, in important positions?"

Zhuge Xun froze for a moment, then shook his head.

"You wouldn't dare, and naturally Marquis Zhenyuan wouldn't either." Wei Zhong laughed: "The old Uyghur lands are waiting for revival; as long as we handle affairs here well, we'll become regional grandees. Marquis Zhenyuan will only employ us after first seeing our loyalty and ability."

Zhuge Xun, lost in thought, nodded slightly: "What you say makes sense, but why is your elder brother..."

"My elder brother's assistant officer post and those others' are different—he, in fact, is also being tested." Wei Zhong said: "If my elder brother's type weren't placed under close observation to see his true caliber, who could rest easy?"

Zhuge Xun suddenly realized: "Wei brother, your sudden cleverness makes you seem strange to me... very well, I believe what you say is true."

Wei Zhong let out a long sigh: "Before, I had to worry about provisions, training, and logistics for tens of thousands of troops, plus the livelihoods of people across dozens of prefectures behind me; amidst all that, I still had to scheme with everyone inside and out. With my abilities, doing a mediocre job, unable to reach the grand stage—I consider that normal, already at my limit."

"Now, I only need to consider a few simple things—what's there not to understand?"

Zhuge Xun was silent for a long while: "Then what am I?"

"What are you? You've gone off on a tangent—what else could you be?"

"……"

"Come on, let's talk properly with our staff, discuss how to divide the territories, and quickly draft a charter for the Marquis. Though this land has a longer winter, it's actually a good place."

"Please!"

……

Deng Zhao arrived.

Chen Wuji personally met this man, called one of the Three Heroes of the Southeast, at the Hezhou General's Mansion.

He was tall and powerfully built, yet dressed like a scholar, appearing more like a well-read literatus.

Standing there, Chen Wuji almost thought he was seeing Cao Mu.

In demeanor and physique, they were at least eighty percent alike.

"General Deng's courage impresses me greatly." Chen Wuji personally poured Deng Zhao a bowl of wine, laughing and teasing.

Deng Zhao held the bowl with both hands, first thanked Chen Wuji, then said: "Your Highness, your noble bearing and integrity can tolerate the Wei brothers, so naturally you can tolerate me. In talent and virtue, I consider myself superior to them—this is also the people's judgment."

Chen Wuji returned to the main seat, raised his wine bowl toward Deng Zhao, and said: "Having lost so much power and territory, General Deng, are you truly resigned?"

"Not hiding it from Your Highness, I actually am quite resigned." Deng Zhao said: "I know my own limits—I've always been clear about my few catties and taels. As for why I've come to this position, it can't be credited to my ability; it's because some people have ambition without ability, and are utterly useless."

"Oh?"

Deng Zhao drained the bowl, his face blank, and said: "Your Highness, I was originally a minor county clerk, with only over a hundred clerks under me—this was my starting point. After court turmoil began, the county descended into chaos, and those little beasts started causing trouble at the slightest provocation."

"Bandits in the mountains, clan rebels, the wealthy in the city—anyone with slight influence began raising military units, doing business poorly, and instead turned to killing and plundering, destroying families and exterminating clans to get rich. I... had no choice but to fight them."

"In the process, killing again and again, our county magistrate began taking orders from me. I refused countless times, but that magistrate didn't know if he had a brain problem—he actually threatened death, leaving me no choice but to make decisions for him."

"At that time, having exterminated those unlawful forces, I had gathered nearly three thousand men under me. After the county situation stabilized, I wanted to disband them, but coincidentally, the neighboring county was seized by a mountain bandit, who sent people in the dead of night to request aid."