Chapter 898: Heavenly Dao's Reward

“Oh?” Seeing his confident demeanor, Zhong Shengguang became curious. “How will you do it?”

“When I custom-ordered uniforms and waist tokens for these river bandits, I got my hands on their roster,” He Lingchuan said seriously. “The bandit leaders tried to hide some names, but I told them that all dividends and supplies would be distributed according to the head count on the official list. Anyone not registered would receive no money.”

“If they didn’t report everyone, they’d receive less money, and even less to distribute to their subordinates. In turn, their subordinates would suspect them of embezzling funds,” He Lingchuan continued. “They weren’t fools; they submitted names of idle people to claim extra dividends. However, I posted a large public notice about it in several major villages and towns, causing a huge uproar within Qianjinzai and the Ball Gang. I heard they had several heated arguments, and although they were reluctant, they eventually submitted the complete list.”

Zhong Shengguang was delighted. “You got the names? Good, excellent!”

One of the main reasons the Longchuan river bandits were so difficult to deal with was that Yuheng City couldn’t distinguish between hardened criminals and law-abiding citizens within the marshland.

Even villagers within the marshland would conceal the bandits.

Previously, when Xiao Maoliang led troops into Longchuan to suppress the bandits, he inadvertently injured too many civilians. This provoked fierce resistance from the local tribes in Longchuan, who then joined forces with the bandits against him.

Now, He Lingchuan had obtained the bandit roster without shedding any blood. Apart from the Xi Ji puppet army, most of the bandits were registered, making identification easy.

In the future, if they tried to rebel, the Yuheng City army could act with precision, following the map.

“The Longchuan bandit problem was difficult to eradicate because they were like weeds: a wildfire couldn’t burn them all, and they’d sprout again next spring,” He Lingchuan said. “I won’t eradicate the weeds; I’ll domesticate them into crops!”

“How will you do that?”

“Power and profit,” He Lingchuan replied earnestly. “The bandits can be transformed into guards for the trade route. But once they’re guards, they can’t revert to being bandits. Robbing people at knifepoint is certainly not as comfortable as sitting back and collecting money. Once they put on uniforms and wear their tokens, it won’t take two months for them to realize that their salaries aren’t coming from their former bandit leaders at all, but from Yuheng City! Their true superiors will no longer be those bandit chiefs, but the Yuheng Army.”

“By then, they’ll know whose orders to follow: their old leaders' or mine? If they choose to listen to their old leaders, they’ll either die by the Yuheng army’s swords or return to Longchuan to resume their unpromising old ways. If they listen to me, they can continue to make money comfortably.”

He Lingchuan extended his uninjured left hand and made a throat-slitting gesture. “At that point, I can begin reorganizing these river bandits, thereby breaking the existing power structure within Longchuan and registering every household in the villages.”

Zhong Shengguang raised an eyebrow, understanding.

“This young man is quite the schemer.”

“This plan minimizes resource expenditure for Yuheng City and the army, and takes the shortest amount of time. We can then devote more energy to training troops and defending the borders.”

He Lingchuan elaborated on some details, and Zhong Shengguang listened with intense concentration.

Finally, he said, “If this can be executed smoothly, it would indeed be an excellent strategy, but it requires Old Wen’s cooperation. Your ideas are innovative, and he governs the city well, but he’s not as adaptable as you are. As the heads of Yuheng City’s civil and military affairs, you two should communicate more often.”

From his tone, He Lingchuan understood that his report had finally been successful. Now, he needed to strike while the iron was hot and push further:

“Commander Zhong, there’s something I’d like to ask, if I may?”

Zhong Shengguang retorted irritably, “Then don’t ask.”

“I never noticed this young man was so articulate before. Did he develop it in Yuheng City, or was he just good at hiding it?”

He Lingchuan smiled. “Why did you transfer me to Yuheng City?”

Zhong Shengguang remained silent. He couldn’t tell him that after Panlong City conquered Xi Ji, they simply promoted new generals to gain experience, not expecting the river bandits to collude with foreign enemies and cause such a massive problem. And even less did he expect this newly appointed commander of Yuheng City to perform so remarkably, eliminating the bandit menace that even Xiao Maoliang couldn’t handle.

He could only say, “As you mentioned, the Longchuan trade route is too vital for Panlong City.”

“However, it’s not easy to secure the Longchuan trade route, even after the bandit problem is eliminated,” He Lingchuan said seriously. “Beijia has already set its sights on us. If one plan fails, they’ll certainly have a backup. Yuheng City isn’t as strong as Panlong City. We must train our military and strengthen our forces within a limited time, otherwise, the Longchuan trade route will be in peril.”

Zhong Shengguang frowned. “You’re a city commander. Are you telling me you can’t protect the Longchuan trade route?”

“We can protect it!” He Lingchuan immediately replied, “As long as certain conditions are met!”

“Oh? Tell me.”

“Yuheng City must re-enter a state of military readiness, with everything prioritized for military affairs!”

Zhong Shengguang was startled. He stared at him for a moment before realizing, “Clever boy, you’ve gone to great lengths just to ask for more authority!”

Prioritizing military affairs would mean domestic affairs take a backseat. Was this young He trying to become the top authority, even above Old Wen?

“Panlong Wasteland and Xi Ji won’t always be peaceful,” He Lingchuan said seriously. “Time is precious. Don’t you want another ace military force under your command?”

Zhong Shengguang stared intently at him, trying to discern his true intentions in his eyes.

He Lingchuan met his gaze frankly.

Zhong Shengguang picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip of cool tea, and said, “Let’s go. Mr. Lu should be back by now.”

When Wen Daolun returned to the office with Lu Xun, they happened to see Zhong Shengguang and He Lingchuan emerging, both looking relaxed.

Zhong Shengguang smiled and said, “Mr. Lu, how about we dine at Juxian Zhuang?”

Lu Xun readily agreed.

On their way to the restaurant, He Lingchuan and Lu Xun chatted animatedly, while Wen Daolun looked at Zhong Shengguang with an inquiring gaze.

Zhong Shengguang subtly shook his head at him.

Wen Daolun was somewhat surprised. Commander He actually managed to persuade Commander Zhong?

Could Commander Zhong truly agree to continue spending money on the river bandits?

Zhong Shengguang smiled at him, a thoughtful look in his eyes:

“If things unfold as smoothly as He Lingchuan plans, that would be wonderful.”

Lu Xun suddenly turned back and asked Zhong Shengguang, “Commander Zhong, when did the dragon head pattern appear on the wall?”

The three followed his gaze and indeed saw a dragon head pattern on the wall. The wall was built of green bricks, so the dragon head pattern, which protruded slightly, was also made of green bricks and was remarkably lifelike.

It was a bas-relief.

Hearing this, Zhong Shengguang looked at Wen and He. He had only arrived in Yuheng City a little before Lu Xun and had no idea when the pattern appeared.

He Lingchuan and Wen Daolun had so much to report that this detail wasn't even mentioned.

“Three days ago,” Wen Daolun replied. “That morning, we discovered the dragon head pattern had appeared on four walls across the city.”

At the time, it had attracted curious onlookers from the city’s residents.

After all, there were few Panlong people here, and most residents hadn’t seen this pattern before.

At that moment, a little boy was drawing on the wall with ochre, first sketching two turtles, and then coloring the majestic dragon eyes on the dragon head pattern with ochre.

The adults watched from the side, not stopping him.

The boy sensed something behind him, looked back, and saw several adults staring intently at him. Frightened, he scurried away.

Only then did Lu Xun step forward, reaching out to touch the dragon head. “So Yuheng City has received the Way of Heaven’s approval! This is excellent, truly excellent!”

The Way of Heaven? He Lingchuan couldn’t help but ask, “The Way of Heaven… approval?”

This had been a long-standing mystery for him, but he always forgot to ask about it when facing General Hong or Zhong Shengguang.

He hadn’t expected Lu Xun to reveal the answer so casually today.

“Have you not heard the saying, ‘The Way of Heaven is clear as day’?” Lu Xun nodded repeatedly. “This is a sign that Yuheng City is acting on behalf of Heaven and following its principles. The Way of Heaven’s endorsement proves that Brother Zhong and Panlong City’s determination to resist the Heavenly Demons is exceptionally firm. When I return to report, I will specifically mention this to the Council of Elders!”

A sudden turn of events, this matter has suddenly taken a positive turn? Zhong Shengguang beamed. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Lu.”

Wen Daolun also said, “Is the dragon head pattern really that important? It appeared in Panlong City a long time ago.”

“It is an important consideration.”

He Lingchuan asked, “Have dragon head patterns appeared anywhere else?”

He thought of Yuanguo.

In the visions before Yuanguo’s collapse, he had also seen the dragon head pattern.

“Of course, it’s the Way of Heaven’s affirmation and reward,” Lu Xun smiled. “The Council of Elders has actually studied this, and this symbol typically appears in places where righteous acts are performed and where the resistance against the Heavenly Demons is most fierce.”

He Lingchuan immediately followed up with, “If it’s a reward, what kind of tangible benefits does it bring?”

His question was very practical, but Panlong City’s culture had always been pragmatic, so Zhong Shengguang and Wen Daolun had no objections.

Lu Xun nodded. “There are. Wherever the dragon head pattern appears, the climate gradually becomes mild, resources become abundant, and disasters and misfortunes are few. These benefits require no use of elemental power; they are quietly bestowed by Heaven, nourishing everything.”

He Lingchuan considered this and realized it was true: the Red Steppe Plateau, where Panlong City was located, had exceptionally fertile land and water conditions, like a different world compared to the Panlong Wasteland. Crops and grain flourished there every year; otherwise, how could it support so many people?

He had originally thought it was due to Zhong Shengguang’s allocation of elemental energy, but he hadn’t expected it to be a reward from the Way of Heaven, requiring no effort from the people themselves.

Now, under Panlong City’s jurisdiction, a second city favored by the Way of Heaven had appeared.

This also indirectly indicated that Wen Daolun and He Lingchuan’s governance of Yuheng City was quite successful.

Zhong Shengguang smiled. “We’ve arrived at Juxian Zhuang. My treat today!”

This was a cause for celebration, so he personally paid for it.

By the time He Lingchuan returned to his residence, the moon was high in the sky.

As he was injured, Zhong Shengguang didn’t allow him to drink. After they had eaten the meal, he sent him home to rest.

His personal guards escorted him to his courtyard gate and then returned.

He Lingchuan was about to push open the door when he saw Sun Fuling walking down a mountain path. She was dressed in a pale yellow gown, as soft and delicate as a spring egg yolk, and her abundant, beautiful hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, appearing elegant yet lively.

Looking at the beauty under the moonlight, her complexion was still a little pale. He Lingchuan also noticed that she had lost a bit more weight.

She saw He Lingchuan’s right arm in a sling across his chest, and her delicate brows furrowed slightly. “You went to Baisha Bay, but why are you injured?”

“On the way escorting the distinguished guest, we encountered an ambush by Fushan Lie.”

That single simple sentence made Sun Fuling’s expression change.

But she didn’t ask further. Since He Lingchuan was able to return here and stand before her, it meant he had come back safely.

“Have you eaten?”

“At Juxian Zhuang. Commander Zhong was hosting, and I was accompanying him.”

Sun Fuling immediately leaned close to him, narrowed her eyes, and sniffed gently a few times before saying with satisfaction:

“Alright, no smell of alcohol.”