Chapter 673: All States Surrender

The spring sunlight carried warmth and the scent of flowers, grass, and trees, sweeping over the ruined battlefield outside Wuyang City, resting upon the surrounding mountains and waters, and also falling upon that leisurely figure in Wuyang City who sat with eyes closed, nurturing his spirit.

The war had ended, and Mr. Chen was now at leisure.

Everyone has their own way of resting, but Chen Wuji uniquely loves a pot of tea and a chair, leisurely basking in the sun to replenish his yang energy in the most natural way.

In Nan Jun, where the seasons are not distinct, he still favored the spring sunlight.

The spring sunlight seemed to carry a magical power that could make one's mood better.

This is a quality completely lacking in the other three seasons.

The summer sun is too harsh, the autumn sun always gives a sense of bleak desolation, and the winter sun adds a touch of cruelty. Only this spring sunlight is gentle, carrying the earth's clear qi, as if it instantly opens one's heart and mind.

A faint footstep sounded in the courtyard, then quietly ceased.

Chen Wuji heard the movement and opened his eyes, "Sir, when did you become so cautious?"

Xu Zengyi saw Chen Wuji resting, turned his head as if to leave, but hearing the voice he came over, "As a subordinate, being careful while the lord rests is only natural. If I made a great noise, wouldn't that be overstepping?"

Chen Wuji gave a silent chuckle, "Your hat is buttoned up high enough—good, that's you buttoning it for yourself."

"The lord cannot disregard the distinction between superior and subordinate; now that he holds all of Nan Jun, some things truly cannot be taken lightly." Xu Zengyi advised, "Although this is a small matter, matters like this should have rules to follow."

Chen Wuji: …

Damn it, the lecture is back again.

As a transmigrator, he indeed has some things that are rather casual.

But in the grand direction, he still follows the ancient rules of this land.

As for those trivial matters, in Chen Wuji's view, there's really no need to make a big deal out of them.

"Okay, okay, I got it; I'll pay attention from now on," Chen Wuji said hurriedly.

He had to respond quickly, otherwise letting Xu Zengyi continue would inevitably lead to quoting scriptures and classics.

No matter the era, this seems to be the standard version for civil officials—they like to use the past to illustrate the present, taking past events as examples to advise the present.

"Sir, you just said I hold Nan Jun, but what about the other few prefectures—have they shown any movement?" Seeing Xu Zengyi still pondering there, Chen Wuji quickly changed the subject and asked.

Xu Zengyi gave Chen Wuji a helpless glance, slightly nodded, and set down the bundle he held in his arms, "These are documents sent by the prefects of the remaining prefectures, including the yellow registers of the various prefectures and letters from those prefectures to the lord. However, they seem to have secretly formed an alliance, none of them mentioning surrender."

"They don't surrender, yet they send the yellow registers?" Chen Wuji frowned and asked.

Xu Zengyi said, "I haven't looked at those letters, so I don't know the exact details, but in their verbal explanations they never mentioned this, and their accounts were completely consistent."

"Let me see what they say first," Chen Wuji said, casually picking up a letter case and opening it.

Paper has recently been selling well, yet these people's letters are still written on bamboo slips.

The market gap remains large.

Chen Wuji examined each letter sent by those prefectures one by one; his expression instantly turned somewhat strange, "Sir, your guess was correct—they really did secretly form an alliance, and even their words hardly differ. In terms of muddying the waters and inventing pretexts, this bunch is still quite capable."

"They actually think that since the court appointed me as Nan Jun Jiedu Guanchasi, they ought to be under my administration and thus my subordinates. It's just that earlier Lu Ping'an rebelled, making it hard for them to tell truth from falsehood, which is why they haven't sent taxes to Hezhou or dispatched troops."

Xu Zengyi gave a cold snort, "They're all a bunch of wind‑following opportunists."

"It must be that the lord defeated Langdu in a great battle at Wuyang; they know even a confederation of the various prefectures couldn't withstand his military might, so they had no choice but to surrender—yet they're quite good at putting a gold face on themselves."

"My lord, in my view, not a single one of these prefectures can be kept; they should be replaced as soon as possible. As you implement new policies in Nan Jun, if they remain, they will surely obstruct from within and affect your grand plan."

Chen Wuji nodded, "We still need to send troops on a tour; Sir, do you think Qian Fugui can handle this important task?"

"Cannot!" Xu Zengyi replied bluntly, "Although Qian Fugui's performance in warfare has been commendable, when it comes to governance he still needs to cultivate himself further; this lad is too impulsive."

Chen Wuji rubbed his face, "If he's unsuitable, who else should we send? We have no manpower to spare."

"Why not let Li Run go?" Xu Zengyi suggested.

Chen Wuji smiled, "Li Run would surely curse upon hearing this—he's truly a brick of Nan Jun, moving wherever there's difficulty. Still, for now he seems the most suitable; no one else can free themselves."

In Nan Jun, the various prefectures have a hundred neglected affairs awaiting revival; it's a one‑radish‑one‑hole situation, with absolutely no surplus manpower.

Wait another two or three months and this situation should greatly ease, but right now it's indeed difficult.

"For now there really is no way; let him curse if he wants. After we get through this period, the situation should ease somewhat," Xu Zengyi said.

"Hmm." Chen Wuji flipped through the letters sent by the various prefectures, "Why is there no letter from the prefect of Songzhou? This old brat really intends to pit his single prefecture against me in a test of strength?"

Xu Zengyi shook his head, "Not really clear; Songzhou currently has no other intelligence either. However, judging by the situation, the prefect of Songzhou seems to have that intention. Still, my lord need not worry over this single prefecture—Qian Fugui ought to be able to settle it well."

"What's the name of the Songzhou prefect again?" Chen Wuji asked.

"Yu Ren."

Chen Wuji pondered, then asked, "Surname Yu—could he be of the imperial clan?"

"Even if he were of the imperial clan, so what? An imperial clansman serving as an official in Nan Jun would still hold little status." Xu Zengyi said, "There are tens of thousands of imperial clansmen under heaven; if his lineage were prominent, he couldn't possibly be just a lowly prefect."

"That's also true." Chen Wuji nodded, "Send someone to inspect Songzhou; right now all the other prefectures have surrendered, leaving only Songzhou holding out there. If we don't settle it quickly, I'll feel uneasy."

"Right, and give Qian Fugui that dog‑thing a proper greeting—he's been written to, yet he still hasn't reported the details; does he really think that a commander abroad can ignore imperial orders?"

Xu Zengyi answered with a sound, picked up his pen, and wrote down the two things Chen Wuji had just mentioned.

Chen Wuji lifted the tea kettle from the stove, not knowing how long it had been simmering, poured two cups of tea, and asked while doing so, "Have the casualties from this battle not yet been tallied?"

"They have." Xu Zengyi lifted his teacup, took a sip, and his face instantly scrunched up.