Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Upon hearing this, Li Yunzhang and his group were taken aback. Li Yunzhang had occupied Wutai County for many days, and naturally, through the words of the people, he had learned about Geng Songfu, who was considered a rare good official.

During the time Geng Songfu governed Wutai County, the people's lives were at their best.

Otherwise, when the Celestial Master Thieves invaded, the people would not have helped Geng Songfu escape.

The locals still had considerable trust in Geng Songfu.

On Li Yunzhang's side, many people were already moved.

These individuals were not entirely deserters from the Qingzhou Army; some were recruited locally by Li Yunzhang, promising to protect the security of Wutai County's people.

Hu Qiang also stepped out from the battle circle, approaching Li Yunzhang.

The tokens he held were Geng Songfu's personal seal and the official seal of Wutai County's County Magistrate.

Faking these two items would be extremely difficult.

Li Yunzhang remained vigilant, instructing Hu Qiang to stop at the same position as Wei Qing, and then sent someone to retrieve the tokens, calling for someone who knew Geng Songfu for verification.

When Geng Songfu issued announcements, he often used the official seal, so one merely needed to find previously issued announcements, then use the token provided by Hu Qiang to stamp and compare them.

"Who among you is willing to accompany me into the city for inspection? Rest assured, whether true or false, I won't harm your lives. But if they're fake, please leave immediately," Li Yunzhang said.

Seeing the other side being so cautious, Wei Qing and Hu Qiang exchanged a helpless smile, then Hu Qiang said, "I'll go with you."

"Very brave," Li Yunzhang praised admiringly. To dare to venture alone into an unknown place indeed took courage.

The matter was easy to verify.

Less than an hour later, Li Yunzhang confirmed that the tokens indeed belonged to Geng Songfu.

Locals immediately inquired about Geng Songfu's current situation.

Hu Qiang said, "Lord Geng is highly valued by our County Magistrate and is currently serving as County Magistrate in Pingting County."

After speaking, Hu Qiang recounted their origins once more, then said, "If you trust Lord Geng, you can accompany us to Pingting County. The County Magistrate and County Minister will make proper arrangements for you."

The County Magistrate had told him that since some of Wutai County's people could tame Gao Pu Wild Horses, it showed that they were qualified horse trainers and horse managers.

This was talent; if brought to Pingting County, they could train horses and teach locals about horse management.

"Is this Lord Geng's suggestion?" Compared to Hu Qiang, the locals apparently trusted Geng Songfu more.

Hu Qiang nodded.

Many local people were tempted, though they did not fully believe Hu Qiang's words. Given the current situation, survival in Wutai County was difficult, and they were willing to take a chance.

Eventually, Hu Qiang and his group stayed in Wutai County for a week, captured twenty Gao Pu Wild Horses with the locals, and then set off with twenty Gao Pu Wild Horses, thirty already tamed Gao Pu Wild Horses, and two hundred seventy Wutai foals.

Originally, Wutai County had far more horses; at its peak, every household seemed to have a tamed Gao Pu Wild Horse and two to three Wutai horses.

But with some being stolen by the Celestial Master Thieves and others slaughtered recently for food, plus some people unwilling to sell, Hu Qiang could only take these.

Indeed, Hu Qiang bought the Wutai horses with three taels of silver per head.

But the locals had little use for money; what they needed was food.

Hu Qiang could purchase over two hundred horses because the vendors also decided to follow him to Pingting County.

Not all locals were willing to go to Pingting County with Hu Qiang; some were still observing.

Li Yunzhang did not accompany Hu Qiang but instead sent ten of his most trusted subordinates to accompany Hu Qiang.

He was also observing, and if these ten subordinates returned to Pingting County and found it as Hu Qiang described, he would consider bringing the rest over next time.

...

Meanwhile, before Hu Qiang and his group had set off on their return trip.

Outside Pingting County, a bustling harvest began.

Pingting County had thirty-five thousand acres of fertile land. (This number references Tongcheng County during the Qing Dynasty, which had forty thousand acres of fertile land, so there was a slight reduction here.)

In the Great Song Dynasty's fertile fields, an acre could yield about three hundred to four hundred pounds of grain.

Before Chen Mo divided the land among the people, noble clans from the Wang, Li, and Yi families occupied a total of twenty thousand acres, with severe land merging.

Of course, only half of the thirty-five thousand acres were cultivated this time.

Firstly, some land was barren; secondly, before Chen Mo occupied Pingting County, the seeds left in the hands of the locals weren't enough to plant so many acres.

After using the grain, Chen Mo bought some from the locals to fill the newly constructed granary.

When Chen Mo initially established his team, he promised to exempt one year's taxes and start with a ten-in-three levy the next year.

Without trust, one cannot stand.

Chen Mo could not go back on his word,

Of course, the purchase price was far below market value.

The backyard of the County Government Office.

[Archery count +1, Cloud-Chasing Arrow experience +1.]

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 17.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Proficient 2065.6/10000).]

[Realm: Qi Absorption (Fifth Grade).]

[Power: 712+56.]

[Skills: Great Sun Qi Slash (Basic 536980/5000000), Cloud-Chasing Arrow (Intermediate 13650/50000).]

Practicing archery is much more exhausting than practicing swordsmanship. Chen Mo maintains his daily training intensity at around 400 to 500 arrows.

He originally wanted to practice some close-combat martial arts, like palm techniques and fist techniques.

But thinking it over, he decided against it.

He really didn't have the energy to do so much.

For the sake of archery practice, he's already set aside his sword technique.

If he were to practice close-combat martial arts, his archery would have to be paused again.

Because to achieve the power of his swordsmanship and archery in close-combat martial arts, he would certainly need to break through tiers, which requires a significant amount of time and effort.

With that time, he'd rather focus on swordsmanship and archery.

Of course, Chen Mo also lacks a speed-oriented martial art, in other words, a lightweight skill.

But in the vast Pingting County, there is surprisingly no such type of martial art available.

"Husband, wipe your sweat."

Seeing her husband stop training, the young girl Xiaolu bounced over and took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off Chen Mo's face.

"Xiaolu, when you have free time, you can do your own things, you don't have to always hover around me," Chen Mo said.

These days, except for going to the restroom, Yi Shiyin basically hasn't left his sight.

Yi Shiyin paused, her voice trembling, "Hus...band, are you disliking me?"

"That's not what I mean."

Chen Mo didn't dislike Yi Shiyin clinging to him, it just seemed like she was losing her sense of self. He held Yi Shiyin's hand, thought for a moment, and said, "Xiaolu, is there anything you want to do yourself?"

Hearing this, Yi Shiyin thought for a moment, then shook her head.

Since birth, almost everything didn't require her involvement. Her father loved her dearly, so he didn't demand anything from her. If she wanted to practice, she practiced; if she wanted to play, she played; when tired, she could sleep.

She never had to worry about basic living needs.

Without worries, there were no goals.

Now being married, her only goal is to take good care of her husband.

So, without focusing on her husband, she wouldn't know what to do.

Seeing this, Chen Mo paused for a moment, thought it over, and said, "Xiaolu, how about I teach you something?"

"Sure, Husband, tell me quickly, I will definitely ease your worries." Yi Shiyin was very happy to hear she could help her husband, because she always felt she couldn't be of any help to him.

"Help me raise a Tail-eyed Spirit Fish, and after it lays eggs, raise the little fish to maturity, okay?" Chen Mo said.

Upon hearing this, Yi Shiyin's eyes twinkled, she patted her somewhat flat chest, and said, "Leave it to me."

Fish farming was something she was quite adept at.

Yi Shiyin was very proactive, and right after Chen Mo explained, she immediately went back to the village and put the over thirty-jin Tail-eyed Spirit Fish into the pond at the Yi Family Courtyard.

On the other side, Lu Yuan also returned from Jiangnan.

This time, the trade was relatively smooth overall.

"County Magistrate, this time the one thousand jins of refined salt we transported sold for 710 strings of coins, and the thirty bottles of perfume sold for 136 strings, totaling 846 strings. The toll fees were 16 strings. Here's the account book." Lu Yuan took out the account book and handed it to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo looked at the account book. This price still met his expectations.

But what was up with these toll fees?

"Didn't you say last time that, with the face of Shenghuang Commerce Association, you could waive the toll fees?" Chen Mo frowned slightly.

"County Magistrate, what you may not know is that Prince Huai's Loyalist Army has already started battling with Xu Guozhong's forces, so those water bandits have also started ignoring the Shenghuang Commerce Association's influence," Lu Yuan said.

After all, previously, during peacetime, those water bandits feared Prince Huai's military might. Now that the Loyalist Army has started clashing with the Court's forces, the water bandits see that Prince Huai's army is occupied, so naturally, their thoughts have changed as well.

Of course, these water bandits haven't completely fallen out with us, otherwise, they would not just be collecting toll fees.

"It's started already, huh, that's fast. But now, business might become more challenging..."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. Now that the south has started fighting, the Celestial Master Army certainly won't remain idle, the war is imminent.

"In two days, take a rest, and next time take five thousand jins of refined salt over there. We've produced 300 bottles of perfume, take them all too."

While those water bandits still have some limits, quickly sell off the stock in storage. Once the situation deteriorates, it will become much harder to sell.

Lu Yuan nodded and then smiled, "I missed the County Magistrate's wedding this time, but I can't skip the gift. This is an agate bracelet I bought in Yangzhou. This bracelet is very popular in Jiangnan, and the County Magistrate can give it to his wife as my congratulatory gift."

"You shouldn't have spent so much." Chen Mo accepted it without pretense.

Chen Mo had Lu Yuan sell goods, and there was a commission involved, plus his monthly salary was as high as ten thousand coins.