You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 142 Employing Talent Without Being Bound by Conventions
Yinzhou, Dahengshui Town.

The Liao people who fled from the north are waiting for relief from Yinzhou.

These tens of thousands of refugees, once they left Liaodong and came to the legendary Dingnan Army, were as if they had been granted a pardon.

The Jurchen Tartars were truly ferocious, more terrifying than evil spirits.

Countless Liao people set up tents and dug out dugouts outside the outskirts of Dahengshui Town, waiting in an orderly manner for arrangements under the supervision of the Yinzhou Army.

The refugees lived in shelters, receiving daily rations of rice, firewood, and coal from the military commanders of Yinzhou. Those who were strong and able-bodied joined in the digging of irrigation canals near Yinzhou, earning a little money through their physical labor.

Although it wasn't a lot, it was enough to buy some sauces and vegetables to add some flavor to the bland and barely filling porridge in the refugee camp, and to provide some tattered clothes for the family members who had fled all the way to cover themselves and keep warm.

The ways and means by which the two states of Yinxia and Xia received refugees differed.

There are many fortified villages, fertile fields, and large pastures near Xiazhou.

Most of the Liao people were assigned to fortified villages and settled down as garrison troops. In their spare time, they farmed and herded livestock, and manufactured weapons, arrows, and leather goods for the Xiazhou army.
In Yinzhou, because there were many towns, there were not many places to settle refugees. So they could only select those who could ride horses and drive carts to join caravans.

The rest were all transported to the heart of Xingling. This land of Western Xia had been the site of nearly two hundred years of war, and was sparsely populated, full of opportunities. They could support twice the population.

Some of these refugees even migrated specifically to Hexi to fill the vacancies left by Chen Shao's relocation of the Hexi Uyghurs to Yinxia.

Geng Nanzhong was beaten up in Xiping Prefecture. He was extremely angry, but there was nothing he could do. Moreover, he dared not slow down, for fear of being beaten again.

He traveled all the way from Xiping Prefecture and witnessed the expansion of the Dingnan Army, which made him even more apprehensive.

In the past, if the Dingnan Army had expanded its army so arbitrarily, it would have naturally aroused fear from all levels of government. Countless memorials from various circuits in Shaanxi would have been sent to Bianliang to lodge complaints, and the officials in the court would have been on high alert, immediately dealing with the Dingnan Army.

But now...
They wanted to file some kind of complaint in Bianliang, hoping that the central government would step in and deal with the arrogant military officials.

A little thought reveals that it's impossible.

The Song Dynasty's carefully maintained policy of prioritizing civil affairs over military matters was on the verge of collapse after the campaign against the Liao Dynasty.

Geng Nanzhong felt ten times more distressed than before. The physical pain was only temporary, but would there be a chance to reverse the disparity in their status in the future?

What alarmed him even more was the sheer size of the Dingnan Army. They had come all this way without any defenses, allowing anyone to look around freely.

How many troops are there along the Hengshan line?

They were densely packed and seemingly endless, escorting refugees between the two locations, their commands authoritative and their military bearing impeccable.

After Tong Guan's crushing defeat in Hebei, who in the world could possibly subdue him?

At this juncture, the wisest choice for the imperial court would be to immediately sever all ties with the Dingnan Army and begin imminent sanctions; otherwise, the Dingnan Army's military strength would only continue to grow.

But does the imperial court have the necessary conditions?

We may be forced to continue raising a tiger that will become a threat.

A sense of powerlessness suddenly overwhelmed him. After much thought, Geng Nanzhong decided not to leave for the time being.

He wanted to take another look around Dingnan Army to see what it was really like there.

If Bianliang is unable to resolve its current predicament, then the future of the world—
Today, Chen Shao was not wearing light armor and a military jacket, but rather a narrow-collared long robe. In Guangyuan Hall, he listened to Wang Yin talk about the corruption of officials in Yanzhou.

"These scoundrels, under the guise of resettlement, plotted to seize women and embezzle public funds. Their hearts are corrupt, their conduct is immoral, and they have failed to live up to the great kindness of the righteous general!"

Chen Shao said, "Just deal with it according to the law. Such things are inevitable. We just need to conduct regular inspections. There's no other way."

“When we are so short of money, they still act like this. I really want to tear them all to pieces.”

Wang Yin said through gritted teeth, and it was clear that he harbored some resentment towards corrupt officials.

After all, he came from a poor background and had suffered at the hands of these corrupt officials.

Yanzhou is indeed a special place; it's incredibly lucrative. The trade in blue and white salt can earn tens of millions of strings of cash every year.

When the Song Dynasty cut off their salt trade routes to the Central Plains, even though the Western Xia was weak, they immediately and decisively launched a war.

Because once this road is cut off, their finances immediately decrease by more than half.

Chen Shao was thinking to himself that he should ask Wei Li to optimize the local official staffing.

Power need not be centralized, because things can be done entirely according to the rules, and there is little need for a decision-maker.

Salt and iron were one of the main sources of revenue for the Dingnan Army, and the most lucrative of them all.

“We need to have our own system for selecting officials.”

Chen Shao naturally couldn't hold the imperial examinations on his own territory, but by this time it was no longer the early stages of his career, and many people had lost their chance to rise to prominence.

This is not a good situation.

"Call Wei Li and the others over; I need to discuss something." With the number of corrupt officials increasing, Chen Shao felt it was time to develop his own unique system for selecting officials.

Nowadays, the major policies of the Dingnan Army are all proposed by Chen Shao as the general direction, and Wei Li and others go back to discuss, finalize the details, and come up with specific plans, which are then reviewed by Chen Shao.

This is very convenient, and it also ensures that his power will not be secretly undermined.

Before long, Wei Li arrived with two clerks and his deputy, Xu Jin.

After they came in, they found a place to sit down. Everyone in the Dingnan Army was quite relaxed.

Chen Shao didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Several corrupt officials have emerged in Yanzhou, and I've already instructed Guangyuan Hall to deal with them. I've noticed that our officials haven't been rotated for a long time. As the saying goes, 'How can the canal be so clear? Because it has a living source.' Do you think there are any good policies for selecting officials that can be promoted?"

Wei Li and Xu Jin exchanged a glance, surprised that today's topic had become so important.

Wei Li pondered for a moment and then said, "Why not start an examination?"

Chen Shao did not agree with this, saying that the curriculum was the same old thing, and the things learned were difficult to apply.

Even if we were to open a department, it would have to be reformed first.

He still preferred to have a place to conduct research, even though Chen Shao's forces had not developed any new technologies other than improving the power of gunpowder.

Even so, Chen Shao felt it was very meaningful, because the emergence of new things is often explosive.

I have already guided the trend onto the right path, and with the gradual accumulation of experience and knowledge, I will reap the rewards sooner or later.

"I have an idea, and I'd like you to give me your opinions." Chen Shao stood up and said as he walked, "We can start from the fortresses and towns, and then gradually establish academies and schools at each level, all the way up to the prefecture. We can then select students at each level. What do you think?"

Although Wei Li and Xu Jin were not entirely in favor, since Chen Shao had brought it up, they had to carefully consider whether it was feasible.

Xu Jin said, "General, this is a long-term plan, but it's a long-term solution that can't solve an immediate problem. We need a group of officials to take over right now."

Chen Shao thought for a moment and said, "That doesn't prevent us from implementing it first, just as a pilot program. We can also recruit some unsatisfactory officials from the Central Plains. As long as they are knowledgeable about money, grain, and criminal law, they can be hired."

Wei Li smiled and said, "That's simple."

Chen Shao then said, “In Hexi, we will build a Buddhist academy to teach them to combine practical knowledge with Buddhist teachings, and cultivate a group of charlatans to serve us.”

Wei Li and Xu Jin suddenly started coughing together, their eyes looking rather strange.

Chen Shao said, "What's the big deal? If you've reached this level and still don't understand the importance of this matter, then you've worked in vain!"

The two of them actually understood, but they didn't expect the commander to be so blunt. "Students for the Buddhist academy should be selected based on their physical condition. Being a monk is a good thing; they can be sent out as spies in the future to spy, instigate defections, or assassinate."

“Let’s set up another military academy, and gather those middle and lower-ranking military officers and generals together for a few days each year to study.”

The art of warfare cannot be learned solely by military generals through life-and-death battles on the battlefield.

Some experiences can be passed down orally and through personal example.

Chen Shao nodded. "Let's leave it at that for now."

For him, promoting it among the Dingnan Army was relatively easy.

If it proves to be truly useful, we will continue to improve it and promote its further development.

This matter sounds like a big deal, but in Wei Li and Xu Jin's view, it's not that troublesome.

There were originally many schools in the fortified village, where students learned to read and write and to acquire craftsmanship.

With a little more manpower, a few scholars can be found from their respective fortresses to educate the children.

As for the Buddhist academy, the two felt it was still very necessary, and the marshal's idea was indeed very good.

Because Buddhism is so important in the Northwest, we need to keep the power of interpreting scriptures in our own hands.

To prevent it from being used by those with ulterior motives to mislead and undermine the unity within the Dingnan Army.

After the two left, Chen Shao didn't want to stay in Guangyuan Hall anymore; he felt that the place was filled with a heavy yin energy.

There are indeed dungeons underground, but they don't hold many people.

Generally, once you get inside, you'll be confessed very quickly; not many people can withstand it.

Those who can withstand it are no longer ordinary criminals, but die-hard, stubborn criminals, so they are simply killed.

Guangyuantang usually only takes action after obtaining evidence of their crimes.

As a newly emerging force from out of town, Chen Shao's rule was bound to have many people who were dissatisfied with him. The existence of Yipin Guangyuantang was precisely to deal with these people.

He led Da Hu and several guards out of the Jietang Hall, just as a man emerged from the courtyard of the merchant caravan inside the Yipintang Hall. He was dressed in a simple white cotton coat.

She was Xiao, the wife of Xili, the leader of the Hexi Uyghurs.

Lady Xiao glanced at him, lowered her eyes, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Commander."

Chen Shao had heard from Wang Yin that she had managed the Hexi caravan very well, and that it was almost surpassing the tea-horse trade tax revenue of Xia Prefecture.

Chen Shao also wanted to give her an important position, but he was not sure if she was loyal, so he thought he would observe her for a while longer.

Upon hearing that Silly had suddenly died some time ago, Chen Shao comforted her, saying, "Please accept my condolences, Madam."

"Thank you, General." Madam Xiao bowed again. Chen Shao glanced at her. When she spoke of her deceased husband, she didn't seem to feel any grief. However, her expression was flawless, serious with a hint of sadness, and there were still some tear stains on her eyelashes.

Just as Chen Shaogang was about to leave, Madam Xiao suddenly said, "General, may I say a few words?"

"You said."

“Since last year, I have been serving the General and have worked diligently in Guangyuan Hall. I dare not say that I have made any contributions. I am grateful to Steward Wang for his kindness and for his promise to report to the General so that I can be put in charge of the caravan.”

As she spoke, Xiao's tone was tinged with resentment, "Why did you stop mentioning it after it was reported? But what did I do wrong? I beg the General to reprimand me in person."

Chen Shao had seen all sorts of people, and he had often seen people asking for official positions, but he never expected that Xiao Shi, a woman, would have such a strong desire for officialdom.

It was clear that Xiao Shi, who had just lost her husband, wasn't truly heartbroken; her grief and weeping were feigned. However, the fact that Chen Shao hadn't given her control over the caravan made her genuinely distressed, and her tearful expression was far more real than before.

Chen Shao coughed lightly and smiled, "Actually, you did a very good job, and I have carefully reviewed the accounts. But we haven't known each other for long and we're not very familiar with each other yet. I need to observe you for a while longer. As you know, in the art of employing people, talent is one aspect, but loyalty is also very important."

Xiao had not expected Chen Shao to be so honest.

That's really straightforward; she really likes this style—direct and voluntary.

"General, there is another way to show you my loyalty."

Hearing the softness and charm in her voice, Chen Shao couldn't help but swallow hard. This Madam Xiao was really eager to improve herself.

Although he knew that the body wrapped under the white clothes was very alluring, Chen Shao still thought about it carefully.

There doesn't seem to be any danger. Guangyuantang has already investigated her background thoroughly; she's a fallen noblewoman from the Liao Dynasty.

Her husband also died.

Seeing Chen Shao standing there without speaking, Xiao's smile became somewhat awkward, almost like a complex, fake smile frozen on her face. However, she was a quick-witted person and did not continue to speak.

Chen Shao thought about it and realized it made perfect sense. Now was the time when talent was needed. If they could make good use of Madam Xiao, the caravan could earn more money, and the benefits would be immense.

For the sake of the great cause, what does it matter if I have to pay five or eight hundred million?

He said with his hands behind his back, "There are still some things I don't quite understand about the caravans in Hexi. Madam, come to my place later and we can have a proper discussion."

Xiao lowered her head, blushing with embarrassment.

After returning to his residence, Chen Shao whispered a few instructions to his personal guards and then waited in the courtyard.

When he was bored, he would brew tea at the table.

A moment later, someone escorted Xiao Shi in. Her face was flushed, and she had lost her shrewdness. She just kept her head down.

The water on the stove boiled, and white steam rose in the air. Xiao hurriedly said, "This concubine will serve the General."

"what?"

"Let's have some tea."

Chen Shao looked her up and down. Although she was without makeup and dressed in a plain white linen dress, her round, beautiful oval face and the vaguely beautiful figure hidden under the loose linen dress were still very alluring.

Especially her phoenix eyes, which revealed a hint of a smile, seemed to be full of tender affection, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Xiao stepped forward, poured a bowl of tea, and knelt down to present it to Chen Shao on the cutting board with both hands.

Chen Shao didn't reach out to hold the teacup, but instead touched her face. The atmosphere between the two was originally awkward, but the slight physical contact made them both more relaxed, and Xiao's eyes subtly revealed a hint of something more.

When Chen Shao looked at her face, her delicate, snow-white skin reflected the red glow of the stove fire, as if adding a touch of shyness.

Xiao had her eyes closed, but her hand, which was bracing against the wall, suddenly pressed against the wooden window, and with a "whoosh," she accidentally pushed the window open.

Xiao, who was leaning against the wall, exclaimed in surprise and leaned forward, startling her so much that she quickly grabbed a basket by the window.

In the courtyard, the flowers were in full bloom, and a splendid spring scene unfolded before their eyes.

Chen Shao tensed up, watching the petals shaken off the window and land on his fair and delicate skin, and his emotions surged up.

Spring is here!

(End of this chapter)