Chapter 713: The Eunuch Arrives
Hedong City.
Xing Honglang, leading a group of her subordinates, stood by the city's east gate, her posture ready for the arriving guests.
Being an official of the imperial court had its drawbacks, chief among them the endless bureaucratic formalities. She detested such customs, yet for the mission entrusted to her by the Heavenly Lord, she had no choice but to endure them.
The Heavenly Lord, smiling broadly, stood beside her. "Don't fret," he chuckled. "Think of it as indulging a performance by clowns. There's a certain amusement in that, too."
"The Heavenly Lord speaks truly," Xing Honglang replied, a hint of weariness in her tone. "I'll simply consider it playing along with the court officials."
As they spoke, a large procession, accompanying a grand carriage, slowly advanced toward them.
From the carriage descended an old man, radiating the aura of a scholar.
This was none other than Dai Jun'en, the newly appointed Governor of Shanxi —a poet and a writer.
The moment Dai Jun'en caught sight of Xing Honglang, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. "A female general! What a magnificent and awe-inspiring woman general you are! I've heard that General Xing decisively defeated numerous bandit groups, saving Hedong Circuit, and not long ago even encircled Zijing Liang in the Battle of Houjia Village. Truly, a heroine who rivals any man!"
Dai Jun'en clapped his hands. "Ah, seeing the lady general, I'm suddenly inspired to write a poem! Forgive me, I must compose this verse before we continue our conversation."
Two house guards promptly stepped forward from behind him, offering writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone with both hands.
Dai Jun'en quickly scribbled a poem onto the paper. Yet, no sooner had he finished than he seemed dissatisfied, crumpling the sheet into a ball and tossing it aside.
He then turned back, his expression sheepish. "Oh dear, my apologies. I'm getting on in years, and when inspiration strikes, I must commit the lines to paper immediately, lest I forget them later. I often neglect my guests because of this... Now, where were we?"
Xing Honglang could only offer a wry smile.
Li Daoxuan chuckled, interjecting, "Elder, we haven't said a word yet. You've been doing all the talking."
Dai Jun'en turned to glance at Li Daoxuan, his face suddenly brightening with delight. "What a splendid young knight-errant! So handsome and graceful, with such a composed bearing. I'm suddenly moved to write a poem for you!"
Behind him, his house guards sprang into action instantly.
Dai Jun'en picked up the brush and, with swift strokes, quickly composed another poem.
Li Daoxuan, genuinely curious to see what the man would write about him, leaned in to peek. His view was partially obstructed by Dai Jun'en's body, revealing only the latter half of the poem: "Green mountains and clear waters, tales of a thousand years; a bright moon and ancient pines, a path in the wind."
After reading it, he seemed displeased, crumpling it into a ball and tossing it aside.
He then turned back to Li Daoxuan. "My apologies, I was just caught up in my poetry... Now, where... where were we?"
Everyone collectively reeled in shock. *This man as a governor? Was he truly reliable?*
Li Daoxuan pressed on, "Elder, let's get straight to the point. What brings you to Hedong Circuit this time?"
"Ah, yes, yes, the point," Dai Jun'en nodded vigorously. "This old man has come to Hedong Circuit this time to introduce someone."
He gestured behind him. "This gentleman is the eunuch sent by His Majesty to supervise the salt administration, named... now, what was your name again?"
From behind him stepped a middle-aged eunuch, pale-faced and beardless, slightly stout, and clad in official eunuch attire. He gave a wry, helpless smile. "My surname is Lan, and my given name is Xingyang. Those in the palace simply call me Eunuch Lan."
Only then did Dai Jun'en turn back to Xing Honglang. "This, then, is Eunuch Lan, from the palace. From now on, he will remain in Hedong Circuit to oversee the salt administration."
Everyone present understood the unspoken implication: Emperor Zhu Youjian was clearly wary of Xing Honglang, hence dispatching a eunuch to supervise her.
There was no need for explicit pronouncements; comprehension was enough.
They had their machinations, but Gao Family Village had its countermeasures. Whatever challenge arrived, they would meet it.
Eunuch Lan stepped forward, an arrogant sneer twisting his features, as if all beneath him were mere dust. "This humble servant has come by imperial decree to oversee the salt administration here. There's no need for further pleasantries; first, take this humble servant to see the situation at the Xie Lake salt villages."
Xing Honglang glanced at Li Daoxuan, who returned a reassuring nod.
If the eunuch wished to see, then they would let him see!
After all, Gao Family Village had long prepared for this.
"Very well," Xing Honglang assented. "I will escort His Eminence to observe the current state of Xie Lake."
Eunuch Lan commanded, "Lead the way."
Dai Jun'en piped up, "This old man shall also join you to have a look."
The party departed from Hedong City, making their way toward Xie Lake.
Xie Lake was vast, stretching over forty *li* in length and four or five *li* in width.
Gao Family Village had long been prepared for the imperial inspection.
The salt villages, constructed by Gao Family Village and boasting formidable salt production capabilities, had all been deliberately situated in the southeastern corner of Xie Lake. Meanwhile, the salt villages closest to Hedong City, lining the lake, were intentionally made to look old, dilapidated, and worn.
As the entourage reached the lakeside, the first sight to greet them was a half-burnt, derelict village.
Xing Honglang explained, "Eunuch Lan, please observe. This place was originally called Donghu Village. During the last bandit uprising, when Hedong Circuit was breached, this village was burned, and all its salt makers were slaughtered..."
Eunuch Lan gasped. "Oh!"
He was utterly startled. He had assumed his assignment here was merely an opportunity for graft and profit, but the grim state of the village jolted him back to reality. Shanxi, he remembered, was a hotbed of bandits, and here, he was constantly in peril.
Witnessing the scene, Dai Jun'en could only shake his head and sigh deeply. "Alas!"
The group continued their trek along the edge of Xie Lake, heading northeast.
Along their path, they passed several more burnt-out villages, each devoid of a single salt maker.
After some time, they finally approached a salt village where people were present. A group of salt makers diligently practiced the most ancient method of sun-drying salt.
This, of course, was another deliberate arrangement by Gao Family Village. There were always a few departments specifically tasked with handling inspections.
The difference was, in later eras, inspections were met with hastily arranged, grand displays to impress officials.
Gao Family Village, however, did the opposite: they presented temporary, dilapidated scenes for the officials' viewing.
Eunuch Lan's scalp tingled with unease. "Are all the salt villages by Xie Lake in such a dismal state now?"
Xing Honglang shrugged. "What can be done? This is Shanxi, after all. If I hadn't been stationed here to repel the bandits, not even these few salt makers would have survived. Eunuch Lan, if you were to visit other counties in Shanxi, you would truly understand what 'nine out of ten houses empty' means."
Eunuch Lan gasped, "This... this situation... can enough salt truly be delivered?"
"Of course," Xing Honglang cackled, a chilling edge to her voice. "We'll simply assign more tasks to the remaining salt makers and force them to work themselves to the bone. Anyone who refuses to work hard enough will be whipped severely. If they *still* don't cooperate, I'll skin them, pull out their sinews, and use their body fat to light lamps. As long as one is ruthless enough, it's always possible to collect sufficient salt."
Cold sweat beaded on Eunuch Lan's forehead. *So ruthless! Even more ruthless than this humble servant! I only wanted to line my pockets, but this woman intends to take the salt makers' very lives! Truly, she's a brutal, brutal, former salt smuggler turned pacified bandit. Too ferocious!*
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