Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

Zhang Zezhong was dressed in a long robe and held a bamboo slip, resembling an official from Zhuili.

Upon seeing Zhong Bai and Zhuang Weiyang appear outside the city at the same time, a look of surprise involuntarily appeared on his face.

"Brother Weiyang, Brother Bai, what's going on with you two?"

"cough!"

Zhuang Weiyang felt a little embarrassed. Yesterday, she had solemnly advised Zhang Zezhong to stay away from Zhong Bai, but today she was hanging out with this kid again.

Zhong Bai, completely oblivious, replied, "Brother Zezhong, my brother-in-law wanted to see where people were living in misery, so I brought him here. I don't know what he's up to..."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Weiyang immediately interrupted:

"Brother Zezhong, I had nothing better to do and wanted to find out the differences between Zuili and Suzhou, so I came outside the city to investigate."

Zhang Zezhong nodded, not pressing further, but instead pointed to the public fields beside him and the houses behind him, saying:

"They're all here... Alas! The people of Zuili are in dire straits, unable to even guarantee production from public fields, far worse off than those in Suzhou."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Weiyang's eyes lit up. Suppressing her excitement, she tentatively asked:

"Ahem, Brother Zezhong, is there anything I can help you with? If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Zhang Zezhong gave a wry smile: "I have a lot of things to deal with right now. Weiyang is an expert in military strategy. If I need anything, I will definitely ask Brother Weiyang."

Then Zhang Zezhong looked up at the sky, calculated the time, and prepared to take his leave:

"Brother Weiyang, the Second Young Master assigned me to manage the public fields. Although Lord Zhao did not make things difficult for me, he also did not leave me any assistance."

Now, all matters concerning the common people are decided by me alone, and I really can't spare the time.

It's time now, and I need to attend to some matters concerning the public fields, so I'll take my leave. Brother Weiyang, you and Brother Bai, please make yourselves at home and wander around as you please!

After saying that, Zhang Zezhong was about to leave, and Zhuang Weiyang became a little anxious.

With Zhang Zezhong gone, wandering around the village by himself would be too conspicuous.

In the present world, commoners are considered inferior, and the saying "etiquette does not extend to commoners" refers to them.

For a cultivator like myself, wandering aimlessly through the village when I'm bored is no different than squatting by the roadside counting ants.

Zhuang Weiyang immediately stopped Zhang Zezhong, and under his questioning gaze, Zhuang Weiyang smiled and said:

"Brother Zezhong, I have been studying political classics at the academy for a year. Now that I have some free time, could you allow me to sit in on your lectures on governing the common people? Perhaps I can be of some help to you."

"I couldn't have gotten it."

Zhang Zezhong, without suspecting anything, led Zhuang Weiyang to the village.

Seeing that neither of them paid any attention to him, Zhong Bai hurriedly followed.

"Wait for me! Brother-in-law, why are you drunk and yelling at a singer?!"

"That's called blaming the cook after you've had your fill!"

With Zhong Bai joining them, the atmosphere immediately became much more lively.

Although Zhong Bai didn't say anything useful, he kept talking as he walked.

"Brother-in-law, you don't know Zhao Xiuwen! He took over all the soldiers as soon as he entered Taihu! My sister came back from Taihu with a hundred personal guards."

"I see."

"Sigh... I have no choice but to hand over all my troops to my sister. After all, she needs to break through to the second realm, and having soldiers on hand will make it easier for her to practice her spells."

"I see."

"Alas, without soldiers, I've lost even a tenth of my strength! As a result, I can no longer go out into the wild to kill demons, and can only drink and make merry when I have nothing to do."

"I see."

"Brother-in-law, you're so cold. Can't you say something else?"

"..."

Before long, Zhang Zezhong arrived at a temple in the village. The temple was old but not dilapidated, and the faint scent of incense wafted out.

Outside the temple, two people dressed in court robes, holding precious jade, stepped forward respectfully to pay their respects.

"Your humble servant, Yan Boyuan, the magistrate of Ze County, pays his respects to Grand Master Sui!"

"Your humble servant, Zhao Zonglin, the magistrate of Lin County, pays his respects to Grand Master Sui!"

"Zezhong has been promoted too. Grand Master Sui is the chief of all the savages." Zhuang Weiyang's doubts also rose. "Did Zhao Zhennan just so readily relinquish his power to govern the savages?"

Zhuang Weiyang stood silently to the side. After the two county officials finished exchanging greetings, they stepped forward and respectfully handed the jade in their hands to Zhang Zezhong as a gift.

Their manners were so impeccable that no one could find fault with them.

Whether in this world or in a past life, the principles are the same.

It's never wrong to be overly polite.

After exchanging gifts, the two men glanced at each other, their expressions shifting. Yan Boyuan, unable to contain himself any longer, said, "Lord Zhang, we have already resigned from our posts with Minister Zhao. We have come to say goodbye to you, Lord Zhang."

Zhang Zezhong raised an eyelid, a forced smile on his face:

"I see. Since Minister Zhao has agreed, I, the mere physician, have nothing more to say. In that case, you two may depart!"

The two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly left.

"Zezhong, what's going on with these two? Being a county magistrate is a good job! They just quit like that?"

Zhang Zezhong sighed, his face showing worry, and the atmosphere seemed to drop considerably.

"Not only the county magistrate, but also seven or eight out of ten public land officials have left. Currently, I have less than twenty people under my command."

Zhuang Weiyang then realized just how difficult Zhang Zezhong's situation had been.

The Grand Master Sui, who managed tens of thousands of peasants, had only a handful of capable men under his command.

Zhang Zezhong carries so many responsibilities that even a weightlifting champion would have to shake his head in disapproval.

Public land cultivation, the safety of the savages, the management of officials, temple sacrifices... all matters, big and small, rest on Zhang Zezhong's shoulders. How could a few people possibly be enough to handle them?

Zhao Zhennan is probably just waiting to see Zhang Zezhong make a fool of himself! Then he'll make his heroic appearance and logically take back Zhang Zezhong's power.

However, Zhao Zhennan has probably miscalculated.

Zhuang Weiyang looked at Zhang Zezhong, only to see that the look of dejection on Zhang Zezhong's face had vanished, and he said:

"Without the county magistrate, the common people won't cause trouble for a day or two! The most urgent task is to resume summer planting so that we can gather enough people to transport rice to the king during the autumn harvest, so that the second young master won't be criticized for poor governance."

Zhang Zezhong spoke clearly and logically, showing no signs of discouragement, and Zhuang Weiyang couldn't help but agree:

"Well done, Brother Zezhong, you didn't embarrass the Second Young Master."

While studying at the academy, Zhang Zezhong wasn't the smartest student, but he was definitely the most hardworking and resilient!

Such difficulties are not enough to defeat him.

Zhang Zezhong smiled at the teasing, "Brother Weiyang, I'll be troubling you quite a bit lately!"

"Don't say anything distant!"

"Haha, let's go, to the public fields first! Summer planting is coming soon, and it's time to clean up some of the lesser demons! Brother Weiyang, Brother Bai, please cover for me!"

After Zhang Zezhong finished speaking, his heart was filled with a surge of energy, and he began to use his magic.

"Take charge! Rise!"

Zhang Zezhong bowed towards the palace, and a golden light gathered from all around, enveloping the three of them.

When the political and magical arts of governance are employed by Zhang Zezhong, who holds the official position of Sui Dafu, the resulting enhancements are terrifying!

Zhuang Weiyang moved his hands and feet around, then gathered a gust of wind and threw a punch!

"Bang!"

With a whooshing sound, Zhuang Weiyang couldn't help but exclaim, "The title of Grand Physician Sui is truly useful! This governing technique has increased my combat power by 50% for no reason!"

Zhong Bai also looked surprised. As a soldier cultivator, he had never enjoyed this bonus before.

"That's not right, Brother Zezhong! Your administration, transformed into a martial art of slaughter, combined with your official position, its power is probably approaching that of the Bright Radiance Realm. With such power, what use are we two?"

"Snapped!"

"How dare you speak to Brother Zezhong like that? Using you is an honor!"

Zhuang Weiyang raised her hand and slapped Zhong Bai on the back, making him stagger.

This kid never thinks before he speaks; people might think he doesn't want to help!

Zhang Zezhong didn't think much of it. Looking at Zhong Bai, who was baring his teeth, he bowed and said, "This technique, when used as a killing move, will be much less powerful if it is far from the ancestral temple. There are many small demons near the public fields, waiting for an opportunity to peck at the rice seeds."

Without your help, Zhongcai would be in real trouble!