Lu Ming wasn't obsessed with women, but after getting up from Diao Chan in the morning, he lingered, reluctantly touching her fair, jade-like legs. If she were wearing stockings and high heels, he'd surely be exhausted to death!
Adding to Diao Chan's youthful appearance, he felt a sense of guilt every time he slept with her, leading him to become increasingly infatuated with her.
Beauty is a curse, a woman who brings ruin to the country!
After getting up, Lu Ming went into the city to handle its affairs, leaving this matter to Xu Shu, while he returned to the military camp to sleep with his aunt. A night passed, and he wondered how Xu Shu was doing.
When Lu Ming finally saw Xu Shu, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept all night.
This startled Lu Ming. Staying up all night was bad for his health; there were many books, files, and documents to process.
To prevent his strategist from working himself to death, Lu Ming brought out several bowls of ginger tea and handed them over, saying, "Yuanzhi, drink this ginger tea to refresh yourself, then go and rest later."
Footsteps sounded outside, and Meng Jian and his two companions entered carrying files, seemingly there to help. Their eyes were red and swollen, indicating they hadn't slept all night.
Xu Shu explained, "It was I who asked Guangyuan and the others to help. There were so many documents; I simply couldn't manage them all. Fortunately, with the assistance of Guangyuan, Zhouping, and Gongwei, I was able to barely sort things out."
Lu Ming pushed the ginger tea towards them, "Gentlemen, please have some ginger tea to refresh yourselves. Thank you for your trouble. Yesterday's actions were hasty and unavoidable; in chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. I had no other choice; there was no time to delay any longer. Only by quickly opening the passage between Anding and Longxi and gaining control can we have the resources to quell the rebellion in Liangzhou. The rebels in Bingzhou and Youzhou, along with the Yellow Turbans, have joined forces with the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and other foreign tribes, ravaging the borders. His Majesty has ordered me to support Bingzhou in six months; it was truly a last resort. I will bear the sin of this killing alone!"
Shi Tao took the ginger tea, drank a few sips, and found the taste particularly good, especially the spicy flavor, which was quite stimulating and slightly intoxicating.
Setting down his teacup, Lu Ming cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Lu Ming. "My lord," he said, "we are willing to serve you. Yesterday's journey was arduous, and after much thought last night, we wished to inform you today."
"With the assistance of these three gentlemen, I am like a tiger with wings, a fish in the sea, a bird soaring to the sky. I entrust the affairs of Guangyuan, Zhouping, and Gongwei, as well as the affairs of Xiji City, to you, Yuanzhi. In ten days, I will lead my army to Longxi. This matter must be resolved here. All the land of the Han and Fan families will be incorporated into the government's domain. While cultivating the land, trees must be planted to stabilize the sandy soil." Lu Ming carefully explained his thoughts and strategic plans.
Each city is an independent entity. All roads within Liangzhou must be paved with cement to improve accessibility.
Cultivating the land is merely for storing grain. Moreover, Lu Ming genuinely needs more grain, both for fermenting into rice wine and for making other goods.
In chaotic times, gold is not the most attractive commodity; grain is paramount. Nothing is more important than food, and in ancient warfare, there were many ways to win wars.
The most typical example is the Battle of Wuchao during the Battle of Guandu. Burning the granaries to the ground meant hundreds of thousands of mouths to feed. Once they were starving, wouldn't they rebel?
Listening to Lu Ming's explanation, the three men had a deeper impression of him.
This lord, though seemingly young, was actually very insightful and far-sighted, not fixated on short-term gains or losses.
Such an act of opening granaries for disaster relief was almost unthinkable in the past!
"My lord is wise!" Shi Tao couldn't help but bow in admiration. He was looking for a wise lord who would delegate authority. They had clearly seen yesterday the extent of Xu Shu's power.
Scholars hate it when laymen direct experts, and Lu Ming did this quite well.
Lu Ming waved his hand humbly, saying, "All of this requires your efforts to achieve; otherwise, it's all just a mirage. Gentlemen, I entrust this matter to you."
"My lord, please take care." The four men rose and bowed to see Lu Ming off.
After leaving the county office, Lu Ming found Zhang Chun, who was now quite terrified.
Yesterday's decisive action, wiping out the Han and Fan families, was a precise and effective method that allowed Xiji City to be captured with minimal damage!
If a normal war had been waged, the grain depots and granaries might have been burned, yielding little benefit from the conquest.
As for Lu Ming's annexation of the Han and Fan families' land resources, that was insignificant. Large landowners are large landowners; there was nothing wrong with that.
"Zhang Chun, you can still do business in Xiji City. You've probably heard of Lü Buwei's exploits. I'm not Qin Shi Huang, nor do I have that ability. You won't become Lü Buwei, but as long as we cooperate sincerely, I guarantee your Zhang family will prosper and enjoy wealth and honor!" Lu Ming directly recruited him, without beating around the bush. Faced with overwhelming power, everything else was futile and useless.
Zhang Chun's eyes darted around. As a businessman, he knew how to be opportunistic. He had managed to survive the combined pressure from the Han and Fan families; he was a capable man.
Even in Luoyang, there were ministers he paid tribute to, though those ministers had already been banished to Xuzhou to take up their posts.
That person, coincidentally, was Wang Lang!
Wang Lang's wife and daughter had also been taken by Lu Ming; they were almost three months pregnant now, and soon he could have them!
Gritting his teeth, Zhang Chun decided to go all out, so he clasped his hands and said, "This humble official, Zhang Chun, is willing to pledge allegiance to my lord."
"Ding, Zhang Chun has become a follower."
Followers must act spontaneously, using their inner loyalty to move the system to become a follower.
Once a follower becomes a follower, they are branded, and Lu Ming can know everything about their whereabouts and actions, but their loyalty will not waver.
Therefore, followers are rare, but very reliable.
Lu Ming hadn't expected Zhang Chun to change his mind so quickly and even pledge allegiance to him. Did he possess some kind of domineering aura?
Regardless, this was a good thing, indeed a good thing, a very good thing.
So he smiled and said, "Good, if you will not betray me, I will not betray you."