Chapter 997

First Volume, Chapter 997: Beixi County Household Registration

This matter is not yet finished.

The brawl between the Wang and Zhou families served as a wake-up call to Qin Feng: verbal promises alone were far from enough, and the number of commoners who could directly approach Qin Feng was minimal.

The vast majority of commoners didn't even know what Qin Feng looked like.

Distance breeds gaps; gaps breed shifting hearts.

To consolidate the people's loyalty in Changshui County, Qin Feng decisively ordered that, as an exceptional measure, every household send one representative to the County Yamen to collect Beixi County Household Registration.

Qin Feng personally presided at the County Yamen, personally signing the household registration documents for the people.

This matter was no trivial affair; Liu Ming dared not take it lightly and hastily tidied up the Beixi County Courthouse.

First, he moved a small table to the entrance, then dispatched sixteen Tianji Camp Guards to secure the perimeter of the County Yamen.

Although Qin Feng repeatedly emphasized that the County Yamen was perfectly safe and that the commoners posed no threat to his person, Liu Ming remained resolute—since "security matters" had always been under Ning Hu and Liu Ming's jurisdiction, even Qin Feng's own words held little weight, so Qin Feng let it go and allowed Liu Ming to proceed as he saw fit.

Qin Feng sat behind the small table himself, readying paper, ink, and brush, waiting for the people to come collect their household registration documents.

Yet he waited a full half a Envoy, and no one appeared.

Qin Feng was utterly disappointed: "The people of Changshui County still don't trust me."

Qin Feng sighed inwardly; he could understand. After all, in this age, there was no such thing as "migration"—once the people of Changshui accepted Beixi County Household Registration, they would officially be traitors to Liang.

If Qin Feng kept his word and truly brought them back to Beixi County, it would be one thing.

But if Qin Feng later reneged, the fate of everyone who had received Beixi County Household Registration was obvious.

Ning Hu, who had been standing by his side all along, grumbled: "These people are blind. To be handed Beixi County Household Registration for free is like falling treasure from the sky, yet they don't even appreciate it."

"Nowadays, Beixi County has become the most coveted county in the land."

"Before coming to Beidi, I heard County Magistrate Lin say that every day, long lines formed outside the County Yamen of Beixi County, with people waiting to join its household rolls. Because Beixi County's population was already too large, County Magistrate Lin issued only ten household documents per day—just three hundred per month."

"I've heard that some merchants even secretly used silver money to bribe officials, paying anywhere from dozens to hundreds of taels. Though these coins were wasted—swindled away by jianghu fraudsters—they prove just how valuable Beixi County Household Registration truly is."

Ning Hu's words were no exaggeration.

Qin Feng had also heard from the Brocade Clothing Guard that many now compared Beixi County Household Registration to Jingji Household Registration, and a popular saying had even emerged: the only household registration comparable to Beixi County's was Jingdu Household Registration.

Either be a subject of the Heavenly Son, or be a subject of the Northern Border.

To be honest, Qin Feng disliked this comparison—if it reached the Liang Emperor's ears, it would inevitably stir his sensitive nerves.

Yet Beixi County's fame had grown so immense that even if Qin Feng wanted to lie low, he couldn't.

Moreover, Qin Feng noticed that Ning Hu seemed resentful about distributing household registrations to Changshui's people—he clearly didn't want to give such a valuable prize away so easily.

Qin Feng softly reassured him: "Little Marquis, don't dwell on temporary gains or losses. On the battlefield, we can kill without blinking—but off the battlefield, among the folk, we must always keep a kind heart."

"It's easy to conquer a realm, hard to hold it. War demands sharpened weapons and trained troops; governance demands the people's hearts. Both are equally vital."

"The people of Changshui County were dragged into this war against their will. Though they've faced hardship, they've still helped us. They are our own. Without Beixi County Household Registration, they will eventually be purged."

"I don't care what others do—but I will never betray those who have stood by me."

Hearing Qin Feng's words, Ning Hu sighed helplessly: "I know. But the problem now is—they don't even want it."

Qin Feng was also frustrated: such a valuable Beixi County Household Registration, and no one wanted it?

You know, once relocated to Beixi County, one didn't even need to work hard—just lie on the ground begging, and one could still grow fat.

In blunt terms, grasping Beixi County's favor meant instant social ascent.

The reason the people of Changshui County were so indifferent to Beixi County Household Registration was simply that they lacked understanding of Beixi County.

But Qin Feng would never force them. He had opened the door—if they refused to walk in, let it be.

Qin Feng decided to wait another half a Envoy; if no one came, he would pack up.

But after only one incense stick time, a young girl crept forward cautiously.

The girl appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen, dressed in tattered clothes—clearly from a poor family.

Faced with the burly, menacing Tianji Camp Guards surrounding her, the girl was terrified; the closer she came to Qin Feng, the sharper and more hostile the stares became.

Especially the two Tianji Camp Guards flanking Qin Feng, their tiger-like eyes fixed unblinkingly on the girl.

As if she might suddenly pull a dagger and stab Qin Feng in the back.

Qin Feng felt a mix of amusement and dismay: he was glad Ning Hu had trained the Tianji Camp Guards so well—even their professionalism rivaled that of the Palace Guards.

But he was troubled: the guards had become too cautious, too hypersensitive—even facing a fourteen-year-old girl, they assumed a murderous stance, ready to draw blades at any moment. This severely undermined Qin Feng's policy of approaching the people.

Seeing the girl on the verge of fleeing in fear, Qin Feng immediately signaled Liu Ming to bring her forward, then ordered someone to fetch Xiao Xiangxiang and Shu Feng from the Inner Courtyard to assist in distributing the household documents.

The advantage of women was obvious: their presence eased tension.

When Liu Ming brought the girl forward, her eyes were red with tears, on the verge of sobbing.

Qin Feng wanted to comfort her, but changed his mind and cut straight to the point: "What is your name? How old are you? How many in your household? What class? Do you have any Official Residence ties?"

Though still trembling, the girl mustered the courage to answer.

"Young Lady is surnamed Zhang, has no given name—my family calls me Zhang Mei. There are five of us: my mother and my four siblings—we are all lowborn…"

Hearing the girl's answer, Qin Feng was deeply moved.