Chapter 138: Generosity and Stinginess

Qingyang Shuo paused for a moment and continued, "Wei Tiezhu!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Notify the Weaponry Workshop to rush the production of a batch of fine weapons as quickly as possible, and deliver them to General Zheng in three days!"

"Yes!"

Once Qingyang Shuo gave the order, the entire Yintan City began to bustle with activity.

Hu Xi'er set up another chessboard for Qingyang Shuo.

Qingyang Shuo smiled faintly: "Are you unable to hold back a little?"

Hu Xi'er gave a faint huff: "I certainly am not, let's play, let's play!"

Qingyang Shuo shook his head: "That Zhang Xiao is known as the number one talented woman of Longyan. You were already indignant about her years ago; heh, have you no interest in going to meet her?"

Hu Xi'er glared at her old man in annoyance and huffed: "If I truly wanted to compete with her, wouldn't that imply I am inferior to her?"

Qingyang Shuo said, holding a piece, placing it down gently, and said indifferently: "The trip to Baiya will determine whether the Viscount can truly make a name for himself in the world. Do you really not intend to go and provide some assistance?"

As soon as Hu Xi'er heard Liu Zheng, her eyes flickered with evasion: "I, I, I... who cares if he lives or dies? If he cannot even pass this hurdle, how is he worthy of my old man's assistance?"

Qingyang Shuo laughed: "If he had to personally attend to everything, what need would he have for you or me?"

Hu Xi'er's delicate body trembled, and she pursed her lips in thought.

Qingyang Shuo said: "This Baiya Prefecture seems to be a trap that Zhang Xiao has been plotting all along. The Viscount is a variable..."

He suddenly looked at Hu Xi'er: "If a matter you were ten-tenths sure of suddenly had a variable, what would happen?"

Hu Xi'er's pretty face changed: "Old man, are you saying that bastard will be in danger? How is that possible, there are still thirty thousand troops outside the city..."

"What if it is not the work of the Taishoufu?"

"Xi'er, where is the Great Leader of the Baiya Army right now?"

Hu Xi'er's face turned deathly pale, and she stood up abruptly.

Yang Ke had drunk a few cups of wine, his face turning bright red. Watching him enjoy himself with this group of brothers, he then sat down beside Liu Zheng and whispered: "Viscount, how can the current predicament of Baiya be resolved? You must teach me!"

Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then realized that this Yang Ke being able to become the number one Military Advisor and second-in-command of the Baiya Army was definitely not an empty reputation.

In reality, he had long since seen the multiple contradictions facing the Baiya Army.

Beset by internal and external troubles, yet this guy, known as the number one strategist of the Baiya Army, truly had no Method at all.

The so-called "three feet of ice does not form in a single day"; the current Baiya Army had reached this state step by step.

Liu Zheng laughed: "Although I do not know who that Zhang Xiao is, watching this woman step by step erode the Baiya Army from an ideological perspective, this woman is definitely not a good person!"

"Ideological perspective?"

Yang Ke was a bit confused.

Liu Zheng nodded.

This was the cleverness of the Taishoufu. During the Baiya Army's period of strength, they chose to retreat three steps, even willing to be puppets, letting the Baiya Army grow unchecked. In the worst-case scenario, the Baiya Army had seventy thousand troops, while the Taishoufu's Garrison had a mere twenty thousand.

However, it was very clear that this Zhang Xiao had come up with an extremely ingenious Method.

That was, to delegate power to the Baiya Army!

You don't want to rule Baiya?

Here you go!

Including taxes, they are yours too!

Then, urban construction is also handed over to you!

At this time, the Baiya Army, having suddenly gone from grassroots outlaws to masters of a city, was actually full of ambition. However, this was the step where they began to fall into the abyss...

Urban construction, military-political balance, revenue and expenditure, the will of the people—how could a bunch of grassroots heroes handle these well?

At this time, the issue of generosity mentioned earlier began to appear.

The Baiya Army, having just obtained power, naturally conceded benefits to the people. They opened the granaries, repaired roads and houses, and squandered the Baiya Army's wealth.

The people were very happy at first.

But slowly, this excessive spending began to give the Baiya Army a headache. In this situation, what would they do? Suddenly become stingy? That obviously wouldn't work; the people would be unhappy. The saying "a peck of rice breeds gratitude, a bushel breeds enmity" refers to exactly this.

Last year you gave the people of Baiya two taels of silver each.

This year it became one tael; fine, the harvest was bad, so let it be.

As a result, next year you don't want to give even one tael, and you even want to levy a tax of one tael from us!

Would the people be willing?

At this time, if you stand up and mention the roads you repaired, the city walls you built, and the city you managed, who among them would understand you?

Generosity, naturally, became a vice.

However, coupled with the psychological changes of the hundred-plus "heroes" of the Baiya Army, corrupted by luxury—why shouldn't they enjoy the days they fought and bled for?

Alienation from the masses.

What else is there to play with now?

Liu Zheng laughed: "Second Leader, if I guess correctly, this imperial villa was also gifted to the Baiya Army by the Taishoufu, right?"

Yang Ke gave a bitter smile: "The Viscount is truly talented, hitting the nail on the head! I once advised the Great Leader, but, but, sigh..."

Liu Zheng glanced at him, smiling without a word.

It seems the interior of this Baiya Army... is not exactly of one piece.

"Viscount, may we step aside to talk?"

Yang Ke had completely lost interest in the eating and drinking by now, so he left with Liu Zheng and came to the guest room the Baiya Army had prepared for Liu Zheng.

Who would have thought that as soon as they entered, Yang Ke would kneel down and burst into tears: "Viscount, save my Baiya Army!"

Liu Zheng was greatly alarmed and hurriedly helped him up: "Second Leader, you must not!"

Yang Ke did not rise, but shook his head and shed tears: "Young Master, Yang Ke is dull; I truly have no more methods. All these years, I have been trying every way to balance the relationship between the Taishoufu and the common people... Yet now, now... it is truly Yang Ke's fault!"

As he spoke, Yang Ke was already weeping bitterly and filled with remorse.

Liu Zheng's heart stirred, and he said: "The Second Leader is being too serious. Baiya Prefecture is a prosperous prefecture, famous throughout the world; who does not know it is the Second Leader's contribution? It is just that... just that..."

Yang Ke was finally helped up by Liu Zheng, and he gave a self-deprecating smile: "It is just that in the end, I still fell into that little girl's trap, didn't I?"

Liu Zheng was instantly speechless.

How should one evaluate this?

Although Yang Ke possessed great talent, he was, after all, not like him, having transmigrated from a later age, and in terms of some far-sighted perspectives, he was still somewhat lacking.

As for Zhang Xiao, who had set up such a scheme...

In Liu Zheng's view, this was truly a monstrous level of existence.

Liu Zheng did not waste words and said: "Second Leader, regardless of how things are, since it has come to this, the Baiya Army at least still has a very solid foundation in Baiya. And ruling power. Although it is currently precarious, you must believe that the common people are easily numbed and form habits. The Baiya Army has been established for many years, and the people's desire for change is not strong. Unless some other sudden situation occurs..."

Yang Ke listened, stunned, and it took him a long time to understand what Liu Zheng meant.

He was immediately even more full of admiration for Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly: "Therefore, the stance of the Baiya Army this time is very important!"

He looked at Yang Ke and said indifferently: "To put it bluntly, whether this War Horse Fair can be a success directly affects whether the public will continue to support the Baiya Army!"

Yang Ke was like one awakened from a dream, and he took a deep breath: "Young Master's words are absolutely correct!"

Since Baiya Prefecture has already developed toward "mercantilism," then the common people will only care about how much profit this War Horse Fair can bring them! Or rather, the matter had already become this straightforward long ago—if the Baiya Army cannot lead the people to make money, will they still support the Baiya Army?

Liu Zheng chuckled: "So, Second Leader. Whether you can run the War Horse Fair well, and whether you can ensure the horse farm remains in the hands of the Baiya Army, is what is most important!"

Yang Ke cupped his hands: "Young Master hits the nail on the head; Yang Ke is not as good!"

Liu Zheng shook his head and said: "I am merely a bystander who sees clearly. I suspect that if the Taishoufu truly wants to stir up trouble, they will definitely find a way at the venue!"

He emphasized: "The security of the venue must be controlled by the Baiya Army; you must not let the Taishoufu intervene!"

"Ah? Young Master, this..."

"What is it?"

Yang Ke held his forehead: "Tomorrow I will take Young Master to the horse farm to have a look!"

The next day, he got up.

Yang Ke and Du Biao had come to pay a visit early on. Seeing Liu Zheng washing and tidying up alone, Du Biao could not help but laugh: "With Liu Brother's status, how can there not be a woman by his side? Even a maidservant would do!"

Yang Ke also joined in the teasing.

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly: "The two brothers should stop making fun of Liu Zheng. Let's go, let's hurry to the horse farm; I really want to see what this world-famous horse farm is actually like!"

Du Biao looked proud: "The number one horse farm in the world, how could it be an undeserved reputation?"

Half an hour later, Liu Zheng realized that this world-famous horse farm was indeed worthy of its name. At this moment, the three of them stood on a small hill in the Grassland, looking out; a grassland connected to distant high mountains, and as far as the eye could see, it was all patches of green that could touch the sky, and on this grassland, there were countless War Horses of all sizes! Some were galloping in between, some were leisurely eating grass, some were playing with each other... Liu Zheng was stunned at once.

He had thought this horse farm was large, but he had not thought that this was simply a natural horse farm!

It was indescribably large, and the horses were indescribably numerous!

If one had to measure by quantity, just looking at this, there were probably at least one hundred thousand horses! Not to mention the distant places that could not be seen!

The number one horse farm in the world was indeed extraordinary!

Du Biao was very satisfied with Liu Zheng's stunned state and laughed loudly: "How is it, Liu Brother?"

"This, this, this..."

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

This Baiya Army horse farm was even much larger than his own Yintan City!

Yang Ke smiled bitterly: "So, Young Master Liu, with the horse farm being so large, how can we guard it during the War Horse Fair? My Baiya Army now only has twenty thousand troops left; it is truly a case of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak!"

Liu Zheng was also somewhat unable to laugh or cry.

Who would have thought that at this moment, a white horse suddenly galloped over from the side, charging recklessly, and when it came before the three of them, it did not want to slow down; just as it was about to hit behind Liu Zheng, the person on the horse pulled the reins, making the white horse narrowly flash past Liu Zheng.

Extremely thrilling!

"What are you doing?"

"Wei Rong, how dare you be so rude to Young Master Liu!"

Liu Zheng was startled, and Du Biao and Yang Ke also angrily rebuked him.

On that white horse, a young man with a face like jade stared at Liu Zheng with a playful, cold sneer: "Second Leader, is this brat that fame-seeking Liu Zhoutong?"

"With thirty thousand troops pressing on Baiya, may I ask Liu Zhoutong, what is the intention here?"

Liu Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly.

It seems the situation of the Baiya Army was still slowly developing in a bad direction.

That Wei Rong laughed loudly: "Right, this person was invited by your Second Leader; could it be that the Second Leader cannot help but want to sit in the top chair?"

"You..."

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Presumptuous!"

The two men's rebukes had not yet finished.

Who would have thought that a flash of killing intent would appear in Wei Rong's eyes, and without a word, the horse whip was about to land on Liu Zheng's head.

Liu Zheng cursed inwardly at once.

Having only arrived in Baiya for a few days, how many beatings was he going to have to endure?

【Author's Note】

My stomach hurts like crazy today. I don't know what I ate that was bad, ah ah ah ah. It directly affects the quality of my writing.