Where Immortals Once Walked

“West Ji once wanted to open a trade route through Longchuan. Compared to taking Turbid Dragon Ridge, the journey is at least two days shorter, and the road is flat and easy to travel. But because of the bandit problem, that route simply could not be opened.” Wen Daolun continued introducing the situation to him. “These bandits use the marshes as their strongholds and repeatedly raid the southern-route caravans. When official troops come, they flee. Once the troops leave, they come back.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “Sure enough, the crux is all in Longchuan.”

To cut weeds, one had to remove the roots; to exterminate rats, one had to dig out the den.

“There are also many monsters and beasts in Longchuan, and they collude with the bandits.” Wen Daolun pointed at the sand table and added, “Qianjin Stockade is one of the largest bandit gangs. Its main camp is built in the middle of a lake, and the water monsters swimming around it are all its guards. West Ji once attacked the water stockade and came back utterly disgraced. Guard Commander Zhong suspects that several of the bandit gangs in Longchuan have official forces supporting them from behind. Over the past month or two, the armor and weapons they use suddenly became better.”

“They’re colluding with foreign enemies?” Internal and external collusion were always the hardest to deal with. He Lingchuan’s gaze shifted slightly. “Thank you, Lord Wen. I’ve got a much better understanding of the situation now.”

Now that He Lingchuan looked at Yuheng City’s geographical position again, he realized it was close to both the eastern border and Longchuan to the south.

The task Zhong Shengguang had assigned him would not be easy. He had to guard the border pass and also ensure the safety and smooth flow of the Longchuan Trade Route.

Panlong City’s emphasis on this new trade route went without saying. Zhong Shengguang had yearned for a route to the sea for so many years. How could he allow dozens of bandit dens to threaten Panlong City’s new path forward?

Bandit suppression was imperative.

Wen Daolun added, “Commander Xiao left in a hurry. As for the military’s internal situation, you can ask Deputy General Chao Qian.”

The hour was already late. He Lingchuan chatted with him a little longer, then rose and took his leave.

The clerk who escorted him out said, “Commander He, the official residence prepared for you is just behind here...”

Before he could finish, He Lingchuan cut him off. “Can I live outside on my own?”

“Ah?” The clerk froze. “O-of course!” Could he tell his superior what to do? “Have you already chosen where to stay? Shall I have the household items delivered there?”

“How long have you been in Yuheng City?”

“I grew up in Yuheng City. I-I’m from West Luo!”

“Then I take it that you’re very familiar with this place?” He Lingchuan smiled. “Can you help me out and pick a good place for me?”

“Ah? Of course, of course.”

He Lingchuan went to the academy to call Sun Fuling, then asked this clerk to serve as a guide and broker for the two of them.

This man was worthy of being a local of Yuheng City. After asking clearly what the two of them needed, he stood in place and thought for a long while before suddenly exclaiming, “There is one. Yes, yes, there is one house. The two of you will definitely be satisfied!”

One? But Ms. Sun clearly said that we’d still be neighbors. He Lingchuan quietly glanced at her. Seeing that she raised no objection, he pretended not to notice anything unusual. “Then let’s go have a look.”

The clerk immediately led them toward the back mountain behind the government office.

It was already deep into the night, and the little path up the mountain was somewhat dim. Fortunately, the clerk soon knocked on the front gate of a household.

This was a wealthy local family of Yuheng City, bearing the surname Yang. The four houses on the mountainside all belonged to his family. Mr. Yang lived in one himself, rented out two, and the last large residence was still empty.

This vacant residence had been divided by a wall into two courtyards. The two courtyards were the same size, and even their layouts were completely identical.

The moment Mr. Yang heard that these two were Yuheng City’s new commander and the academy’s new teacher, he immediately grabbed the keys and personally brought them to view the house.

The moment Sun Fuling stepped inside, she liked it very much.

The terrain here was high. Standing outside the courtyard, one could look down over the dotted lights of Yuheng City.

A little creek flowed more than thirty meters away. In this season, it was already frozen over, but the landlord said that before the third month arrived, the water would be murmuring and fish and shrimp would be swimming freely.

Dense wisteria vines hung down from the courtyard wall. Now they were covered in snow, but next year, flowers would bloom all over the wall.

Most importantly, the courtyard and the house were both five times larger than their residence in Panlong City!

Sun Fuling clutched her chest and whispered to He Lingchuan, “There’s even a woodshed here!”

When they lived in the wooden house in Panlong City, opening the door and taking two steps brought them to the bedside. Firewood had to be stacked in the courtyard. How could it compare to this spacious and luxurious house on the mountainside?

He Lingchuan saw her bright, shining eyes and said, “You like it?”

Sun Fuling nodded hard, and her dimples appeared again.

For the first time, He Lingchuan saw a childlike, pure, and straightforward joy in her.

“Do you want to look at other places? This is only the first house we’ve seen. I think the houses in Yuheng City are all fairly large.”

When buying something, one compares three shops. Was there no need to do the same when looking at houses?

Sun Fuling kept shaking her head. “I think this place is good enough. I’m very satisfied.”

Seeing the beauty’s smile bloom like a flower, He Lingchuan somehow felt a little ache in his heart.

The Mount Pan Residence, which he had lived in back in Lingxu City, was at least ten times larger than this. As for Fragrant Snow Residence and Fleeting Thoughts Manor, there was no need to even mention them. They occupied half a mountain, and the various luxuries inside were things he had already grown used to.

But Sun Fuling had never seen such grand mansions and large courtyards. She had never enjoyed the comfortable life of someone above others.

It was merely a side courtyard with a woodshed, yet she was already so satisfied.

“Then let’s take this place.” He Lingchuan paid Mr. Yang the deposit, took the keys, and gave one to Sun Fuling. “It’s late tonight. We’ll stay at an inn first and come back tomorrow to tidy the house.”

The Commander of Yuheng City was living in his family’s house. How much face would that give him if word got out? Mr. Yang smiled so broadly his eyes disappeared, and he was especially enthusiastic as he sent the two of them down the mountain and waved them farewell.

He Lingchuan wanted to give the clerk a silver ingot as payment for running the errand, but the other party refused no matter what.

“No, no, that won’t do. Panlong City has explicit regulations. I wouldn’t dare make an exception.” The clerk smiled brightly. “Being able to handle a matter for Commander He is something I could only hope for!”

He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. “Thanks.”

Only after the clerk left did Sun Fuling smile faintly. “You’re already Yuheng City’s chief commander now. When a subordinate handles something for you, you simply gift him silver?”

Gift? He Lingchuan’s heart tightened. He immediately stopped, straightened his expression, and said, “You’re right. I was wrong!”

He had been used to being a young master in the past. Even in Lingxu City, he had held the status of Chiyan guest official, so there was nothing inappropriate about using money to dismiss others.

But now he was already a leader holding power, so he had to pay attention to changing his methods.

Using money to make subordinates do things was the worst method.

The word “gift” that Teacher Sun had used also held a deeper meaning.

If one truly wanted to bestow gold and silver upon a subordinate, that was a grant, a reward. It was absolutely not a gift.

A “gift” was for equals, for outsiders.

This was what it meant for superior and subordinate to have distinction, for favor and authority to be measured properly.

He Lingchuan’s status had changed without him realizing it, and with a light, deft sentence, Sun Fuling reminded him that he now had to begin paying attention to the difference between above and below.

Sun Fuling shook her head. “It is fine here with me. But with subordinates, that sentence ‘I was wrong’ was another mistake.”

Those in higher positions could not admit fault lightly.

It was not that they could not admit fault, only that they could not do so lightly.

If you yourself acknowledged that you were wrong, you were giving your opponents a verbal handle to seize and a pretext to use against you. How were your subordinates supposed to act in the future?

The subtlety within this was difficult to explain clearly.

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