The fiercest soldier of the border army

Xie Anzhi acted like an angry young man, staring intently at Tang Shun, as if he would turn on Tang Shun on the spot if Tang Shun didn't give him an explanation.

The military governor sent him here, firstly to assist him, and secondly to supervise him!

But from yesterday until now, all we've heard is complaints and curses from the people! Not a single person has received any relief!

Tang Shun even demanded that the county government stop distributing porridge!

Tang Shun didn't stop walking. His gaze swept over the shops and the refugees under the eaves, and he said indifferently, "I wouldn't call it brilliant insight, but I do have some methods."

Xie Anzhi frowned and asked curtly, "I'd like to hear the details!"

Not only him, but also Wei Zong and the others beside him looked on with curiosity.

Tang Shun explained calmly, "Actually, whether it's ninety-three coins per dou or two hundred coins per dou, there's not much difference."

"Ordinary people can't afford it."

Xie Anzhi gritted his teeth, "But if the price goes down, there will always be people who can afford it..."

"Please calm down, my lord! Please calm down!"

Just as Tang Shun was about to explain, he bumped into Zheng Wenhan rushing over.

Zheng Wenhan got up early in the morning, only to hear that the pacification commissioner had already led his men to inspect the streets and alleys.

This is outrageous!

If he were to find out anything, I'd be in serious trouble!

Zheng Wenhan was wearing an official robe, his hat was askew, and he was sweating profusely, clearly because he had been rushing on his journey.

He spotted Tang Shun at a glance, and hearing the surrounding people still cursing the "Pacification Commissioner," his heart sank. He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and his voice trembled.

"Your Excellency, please forgive me! This humble official... this humble official failed to suppress public opinion in a timely manner, resulting in such outrageous remarks. This is truly a dereliction of duty, and I beg Your Excellency to punish me!"

Tang Shun, who was originally calm and composed, instantly changed his demeanor.

His face darkened, his eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp, and he stared at Zheng Wenhan, shouting, "What are you talking about, suppressing public opinion?!"

"Magistrate Zheng, I only arrived yesterday, yet these grain merchants are already pointing the finger at me!"

"The people are in uproar! What do you intend to do?!"

Tang Shun questioned him sharply, clearly furious!

Zheng Wenhan explained with a smile, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief, "My lord, please calm down, my lord, this is a huge misunderstanding."

"I'll have the shopkeepers explain things clearly later; we can't tarnish the magistrate's reputation."

"Hmph!" Tang Shun snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the people who had just cursed him. "These are all vagrants, with nothing better to do than curse this official!"

Zheng Wenhan quickly replied, "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will immediately drive them out of the city and forbid them from returning!"

"No!" Tang Shun waved his hand, his voice cold. "Killing them is too easy on them!"

"The only reason someone has the energy to swear is because they're too idle!"

"Get these refugees under control!"

"The county government office is cramped and uncomfortable to live in. Let them all go and renovate the county government office!"

"Just give them two bowls of thin porridge every day when the granary opens; enough to keep them from starving!"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a hammer blow.

The surrounding people heard it clearly, and the cursing stopped abruptly, with everyone standing there stunned.

Xie Anzhi's pupils contracted, and he suddenly looked at Tang Shun.

The people are already suffering so much, and yet they are being forced to requisition their property to repair the county government office?!

Zheng Wenhan trembled, forcing down his joy, and hurriedly replied, "Yes! Yes! This subordinate will take care of it immediately! Summon the constables right away, count the number of refugees, and get to work as soon as possible!"

Tang Shun turned and walked away with his hands behind his back, no longer looking at him.

Cheng Feng, Wei Zong, and Zhou Lin followed closely behind.

Xie Anzhi hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.

The street was quiet for a moment.

The wind blew up dust, sweeping past the crowded entrance to the rice shop.

The people were furious, but dared not utter a sound.

Officials can really kill people!

Tang Shun stopped in front of the rice shop and said to Zheng Wenhan, "The matter of conscription must be settled within seven days."

"Report the number of people, their food rations, and the division of work sections to me in seven days."

Zheng Wenhan bowed: "Yes! This humble official will personally oversee the matter and will not dare to delay!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Team leader Zhou Bing was speechless, but remained silent.

Xie Anzhi's face turned ashen as he stared at Tang Shun, as if trying to see what sinister plot was hidden beneath his skin.

Ignoring the reactions of the crowd, Tang Shun suddenly looked up at a gray-tiled, high-eaved temple at the end of the street and asked, "What place is that?"

Zheng Wenhan followed the gaze and hurriedly replied, "Your Excellency, that is Qingming Temple, the most popular temple in the county. It enshrines Buddha, and people come to burn incense every day."

Tang Shun nodded, then asked, "How many temples like this are there in the whole county?"

"There are five temples. Qingming Temple is the largest. The other four are located near the east, west, south, and north gates, and people often come to worship there as well."

Tang Shun smiled slightly, "Alright, we're all from the battlefield, we're too full of killing intent, and we're plagued by bad luck."

"Today is perfect, let's all go and see, pray to Buddha, and ask the gods to get rid of all that filth on our bodies."

As he spoke, he turned and walked away, his steps light and quick, as if he were really going to offer incense and pray.

Cheng Feng was taken aback, and subconsciously followed.

Wei Zong's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything and also started walking forward.

Zhou Bing looked around and stood protectively on the flanks.

Xie Anzhi stood there, his fists clenched, his chest heaving.

As he watched Tang Shun's retreating figure, he suddenly felt that this person was incredibly unfamiliar.

A warrior from the border army, used to making decisive killings, now wants to worship Buddha and seek blessings?

The so-called pacification commissioner, who claimed to be a petitioner for the people, turned around and ordered the forced conscription of displaced people into labor service.

However, people from ordinary backgrounds actually complained that black charcoal stung their eyes and wanted to replace it with white charcoal.

What exactly does he want to do?

"Lord Tang!" Xie Anzhi finally spoke, his voice strained, "Do you really think that burning a few sticks of incense and kowtowing a few times will keep the people from going hungry?"

Tang Shun did not stop walking, but said calmly, "Why not? All the gods and Buddhas in the heavens would surely not want to see the people suffer."

Absurd! Absurd! Absurd!

Xie Anzhi felt that none of the absurd things he had encountered in his life could compare to even one ten-thousandth of them!

The dignified pacification commissioner, instead of thinking about disaster relief and compensation, actually placed his hopes on gods and Buddhas!

Xie Anzhi wanted to shout, to tell the military governor and the crown prince face to face that they had misjudged the situation!

Tang Shun led his group up the steps and they had reached the front of Qingming Temple.

The temple gate was half-open, and incense smoke curled upwards.

He stepped over the threshold, glanced back at the crowd behind him, and said in a relaxed tone, "Come on, come in. Today, after touring the five temples and offering incense, it will be considered a meritorious deed."

Xie Anzhi stood outside the temple, his robes billowing in the wind, frozen in place.

Cheng Feng lowered his head and entered the door.

Wei Zong glanced back at him one last time before going inside.

The two of them knew that Tang Shun had his reasons for doing so.

"Why is it so dilapidated?"

Tang Shun frowned as soon as he entered the room.

He turned to look at the county magistrate beside him, "Magistrate Zheng, how can such a dilapidated temple dispel our bad luck?"

"Are the other ones the same?"

Zheng Wenhan was stunned. Qingming Temple was a famous temple in Lingzhou!

Inside the temple, the dragon-embracing pillars are exquisitely patterned, and a gilded plaque hangs high in the center.

Incense burners on both sides emitted wisps of smoke, and the Buddha statues inside the hall were solemn and dignified, their golden bodies gleaming.

Pilgrims came and went in an endless stream.

How could such a magnificent temple be described as dilapidated?

"This...My lord...this..."

"The other temples are far inferior to this one..."

Zheng Wenhan was at a loss for words and didn't know what to say.

"Rebuild it! It must be rebuilt!" Tang Shun exclaimed in a fit of rage. "How can this dilapidated temple possibly dispel evil spirits?"