In this era, the transmission of information was slow and antiquated. Without special channels, it was nearly impossible to obtain news from another province. For instance, while the battle between Liu Bei and Yuan Shao might decide the fate of the empire, the people in the southern regions remained blissfully ignorant.
"You've missed out on quite a lot," Jia Xu nodded, "Don't get too caught up in your affairs with women. Go and establish your own achievements. Don't you want to be like Zichuan, dressed in the attire of a prince, welcoming your bride?"
Fazheng fell silent. Ever since Jiang Ying had returned, he had indeed been slacking off. The reason was obvious, and now, with Jia Xu's reminder, he quickly snapped out of his complacency. It wasn't yet time for him to rest on his laurels.
"Please have someone compile a summary of major events from around the country every three days and send it to me," Fazheng said, his resolve returning as he spoke with a steady tone.
"Rest assured, as long as you need it, it will be done. Guo Fengxiao suggested this sort of system when he went north, but later deemed it too troublesome and only requested updates on northern affairs. He didn't want to be notified about the south unless something major happened," Jia Xu nodded.
Seeing Fazheng's now calm demeanor, Jia Xu added with a meaningful tone, "Kongming has had the habit of reviewing intelligence regularly for a long time. He goes over reports from all over the country every three days, and reviews major events on the day they occur."
"That guy..." Fazheng muttered in dissatisfaction, "He's really annoying, but that's just like Zhuge Kongming."
"It seems you're no longer at odds with Kongming," Jia Wenhe nodded. "Among the younger generation, you and Kongming are the standouts. After Zijing, Kongming will undoubtedly be the one to take over. After me or Fengxiao, it will be you. Get along with Kongming."
"I knew it wasn't going to be that simple. So Kongming is going too, huh? Don't worry, I won't make trouble for him," Fazheng said, looking a bit frustrated. After hearing Zhuge Liang mentioned earlier, Fazheng had already suspected that Zhuge Liang would also be part of this mission.
"Good. Make sure to exchange ideas with him. I believe you two can complement each other," Jia Xu patted Fazheng's shoulder and then sighed, "In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much."
Fazheng rolled his eyes. What did he mean by "in the blink of an eye"? And complementing Zhuge Liang—how unreliable did someone have to be to suggest something like that? If he and Zhuge Liang were together, Fazheng could barely suppress his impulse to argue; if they didn't end up fighting, it would already be a miracle.
Jia Xu shook his head and said no more. The tension between Zhuge Liang and Fazheng was something they would have to resolve on their own. Although everyone believed that if they could work together smoothly, they would be an unmatched pair with capabilities far greater than when separated, the two of them just couldn't see eye to eye!
After Jia Xu left, Fazheng hurried to give instructions to Jiang Ying and then brought his sister-in-law, Wang Yi, back home.
Wang Yi had been living happily in Taishan since her arrival, with no intention of returning to Fufeng. Fazheng, although vengeful towards his enemies, treated his own people very well, and thus he treated Wang Yi, who had brought his wife to him, with great kindness.
Compared to the barren lands of Yong and Liang, nothing could match the prosperity of Taishan, the most thriving city in the empire. Naturally, after arriving, Wang Yi was nearly dazzled by the luxury and had no desire to return to her homeland. Over time, she had developed the habit of daily shopping trips, accompanied by a few servants.
Unlike Jiang Ying, who was worried about Fazheng's departure for military duties, Wang Yi was much more carefree.
"That's how it is. I may not return until summer, but when I do, I'll formally marry you," Fazheng reassured Jiang Ying.
"Brother-in-law, my sister and I will miss you. Remember to bring us gifts when you return," Wang Yi said cheerfully, showing no concern at all.
"I will. I'll bring gifts for both of you. But while I'm away, your sister has a soft nature. If anyone from Fufeng visits and I'm not around, you'll need to handle it," Fazheng said calmly, knowing that Wang Yi's words had already eased Jiang Ying's worries.
"Don't worry, brother-in-law. If anyone from the Jiang family comes, they'll behave themselves. Just make sure to bring those gifts back, and I'll make sure Jiang Jie is dressed beautifully for your return," Wang Yi responded confidently. Though she was somewhat dazzled by the prosperity around her, she was still a sharp-minded woman.
"Ying'er, while I'm away, if your cousin wants to buy anything, just let her. The Fazheng family may be small, but we're not lacking in wealth," Fazheng said. He knew that to get someone to work hard, you had to keep them happy. Jiang Ying was frugal and thrifty, completely different from Wang Yi, who expressed her personality freely. He worried that while he was away, Jiang Ying might try to curb Wang Yi's spending.
"And you, if anyone bullies you, don't try to handle it on your own. Run back here and tell the doorman, then have him take you to Xing Si to find Man Baining," Fazheng instructed Wang Yi. He wasn't worried about his wife, who rarely left the house, but Wang Yi loved to go out and explore.
"Oh..." Wang Yi drawled in response, as if wondering why she needed so much protection.
Fazheng sighed as he watched Wang Yi's casual attitude, knowing she hadn't fully grasped the seriousness of what he was saying.
"Forget it. Do you want to be an official?" Fazheng asked, exasperated. Compared to Mi Zhen, Wang Yi was still more reliable, at least in Fazheng's eyes. "If you want, I can get you a position as a lady official."
"Is that even possible?" Wang Yi asked in surprise. She realized that perhaps she had underestimated Fazheng—her brother-in-law was quite capable after all.
"Just say if you want it or not," Fazheng said, feeling helpless. If he could convince Wang Yi to take an official position, at least someone would be keeping an eye on her. Moreover, he noticed that Wang Yi tended to do whatever he suggested, rarely changing her mind once she agreed.
"It's not just a tea-serving position, is it?" Wang Yi's eyes gleamed with interest, but she was clever enough to specify that she wasn't interested in menial tasks typically assigned to female officials, whose real purpose was often just to be seen and married off.
"..." Fazheng didn't reply immediately. He had indeed considered tricking Wang Yi into such a position to keep her out of trouble.
Seeing the look of disdain on Wang Yi's face, Fazheng sighed internally, realizing that his sister-in-law was too clever to be easily fooled.