From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 443: Chapter 444: Mutual Checks and Balances

Ancient Wen Heng knew General Zhou must have helped him a great deal behind the scenes. He had only just taken charge of his subordinates, yet there was little opposition. The orders he gave were carried out swiftly.

Unfortunately, the recent events had truly frightened the populace. No matter how the government officials tried to persuade them, no one was willing to take the risk.

Ancient Wen Heng knew these things couldn’t be rushed; he could only make changes one step at a time. After handling matters at the government office, he was about to head back to the rear courtyard for a good rest and to prepare for another day of hard work.

Just then, however, Ming Feng brought him several invitation cards.

Seeing the officials who had arrived together, Ancient Wen Heng chuckled to himself. ’So they couldn’t sit still any longer?’

After they introduced themselves and insisted on observing the proper courtesies, the three men, supported by their attendants, stood obediently to the side, waiting.

However, since they were all injured, Ancient Wen Heng certainly wasn’t going to make things difficult for them. He quickly had them shown to their seats.

"We should have come to pay our respects to you, Your Excellency, two days ago, but we were afraid our sickly appearance might be an affront.

We specifically consulted with a doctor over the past two days and only dared to come after he confirmed there was no issue," Xiao Yuling said, standing up respectfully.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Gentlemen, you’ve suffered a terrible misfortune. There’s no need for such empty formalities with me. Please, sit and speak freely."

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" The three of them were quite astute, adopting a very humble posture for this visit.

The three were eager to flatter, and Ancient Wen Heng, for his part, wanted to learn more from them. With this give-and-take, the conversation flowed quite well.

When He Gaofei and his two companions heard the news, they couldn’t sit still. They wanted to storm over and give the other three a piece of their mind. ’Didn’t they say they couldn’t even move? And now they’re making social calls?’

"We can’t just sit here and wait to be defeated," Lu Shenggen said, unable to stay seated. "I have to go over there and listen, see what kind of nonsense they’re spouting."

Today, when Ancient Wen Heng had been assigning tasks in the main hall of the government office, he had looked their way several times, only to hesitate and say nothing. The three of them had been forced to endure everyone’s stares, losing face completely.

Though they seethed with resentment, they had to accept reality. They held no real power, and the Holy Emperor hadn’t officially dismissed the previous officials, leaving them in a difficult predicament.

When a guard reported the arrival of He Gaofei and his two companions, Ancient Wen Heng, of course, did not bar their entry.

From his brief conversation with the first group of three, an idea had already formed in Ancient Wen Heng’s mind.

The meeting between the two factions was surprisingly calm. As far as they were concerned, Ancient Wen Heng was the ally they all wanted to win over, so of course, none of them would dare cause a scene in his presence.

A confrontation of verbal sparring was, however, unavoidable.

Cradling his warm tea, Ancient Wen Heng enjoyed the show.

When they had all argued until their mouths were dry, he even had the presence of mind to ask Ming Feng to refill their tea.

Ancient Wen Heng waited until they had just about exhausted themselves before offering his conclusion. "Sigh... to be honest, I’m at a loss regarding your current situation. All I can do is submit a memorial to the capital and see how the higher-ups wish to handle it."

But between the time for the journey there and back, and with the heavy snows about to block the roads, a response likely wouldn’t arrive until after the spring thaw.

Neither side was willing to accept this. ’This is my rightful position,’ they each thought, ’and now there are all these complications. Why can’t the other side just give in?’

With both sides thinking the same thing, neither was willing to yield an inch.

Ancient Wen Heng said, "We are all subjects of the court, drawing a salary from the treasury. Naturally, we must act in loyal service to the Holy Emperor. Since the court has not yet made a final decision regarding your positions, why don’t you all work together to restore normalcy to Lu City as quickly as possible."

All six of them understood his unspoken meaning. He wanted to remain impartial and offend neither side.

Inwardly, each of them cursed him for a cunning fox, but outwardly, they dared not show the slightest offense.

If they angered him and he chose to side with their opponents, the loss would far outweigh any gain.

Xiao Yuling and his faction were still resentful. After all, they had been entrenched here for so many years. It would be a miracle if they felt at ease with sudden intruders arriving to take everything from them.

But this was the reality of the situation. Their rivals had arrived with official documents to assume their posts, so they had no choice but to tacitly accept Ancient Wen Heng’s proposal.

Besides, if they did nothing, in time, who would even recognize their authority anymore?

Zhou Shixiong had just finished wiping out a small squad of bandits when he heard the news. He couldn’t help but rub his forehead and burst out laughing. "What a little devil he is! Does this mean he’s gained six capable generals for free?"

Vice General Wang found it amusing as well. When he had been managing the administrative affairs of Lu City, Xiao Yuling and his group had constantly used their injuries as an excuse to shirk their duties and avoid assisting him.

Now, they were getting their just deserts. In the future, they would probably have to fight tooth and nail just to be assigned a task.

It was a shame the bandits had been growing more ferocious lately, forcing them to patrol constantly along the borderlands. Otherwise, he would have loved to go and see their pathetic predicament for himself.

"Great General, once things have settled down a bit, shouldn’t we pay a visit to the newly appointed Magistrate and extend a proper host’s welcome?"

Wang Liqiang was one of the few people who knew about the connection between Ancient Wen Heng and General Zhou.

Zhou Shixiong nodded. "It’s been too long since we brothers have seen each other. I truly do miss him.

These damned bandits must be desperate. Coming wave after wave in this freezing weather... It seems they’re having a hard year, or they wouldn’t be so reckless."

Vice General Wang also detested these troublemaking bandits. "It’s a shame we can’t reach their territory. Otherwise, I’d love to solve this problem once and for all."

...

* * *

Unlike the turmoil and crisis here, Jin Qianqian had thought returning to Fu County would mean a peaceful and comfortable winter.

She hadn’t expected an endless stream of banquets—if it wasn’t one family celebrating a new daughter-in-law, it was another celebrating the birth of a grandson.

Now that life had improved for everyone in Kao Mountain Village, it seemed they had all unlocked a new skill: competitive one-upmanship.

From competing over income, to marrying off sons, to having grandsons, and now to the scale of their banquets and the prestige of their guests, it certainly broke the monotony of being cooped up all winter.

As the wife of the highest-ranking official in the clan, everyone considered it a great honor to be able to invite Jin Qianqian to their feast.

They were all fellow villagers. If she accepted one family’s invitation, she couldn’t refuse another’s. Sometimes, to deal with all the banquets, Jin Qianqian would simply stay over in her small courtyard there.

"Madam, perhaps you should go and stay in Fu County for a while," Lichun suggested, massaging her temples. "The banquets here aren’t like the quiet, refined gatherings of prominent families. Everyone just shouts at the top of their lungs. After a full day of it, Jin Qianqian’s head was throbbing."

Jin Qianqian waved her hand dismissively. "I’d rather stay here.

’Do you think those ladies in Fu County are any easier to deal with?’"

’They want me to mediate the most trivial disputes, and some even want me to act as a matchmaker. I have no idea what goes through their heads.’

"Where are Luo Luo and Cancan? Why is it so quiet today? I haven’t heard them making a racket at all."