Supreme Emperor of Mist

"Marquis, please spare the people of Wuyue County. We will unconditionally surrender as long you willing to give us a road to live." the magistrate official from White Jade Town said. He was the highest-ranking official amongst everyone else here.

From the look of it, it seems the official was struggling to keep himself together. It was evident that he's trembling before Qin Lan.

The feeling of having a cumbersome boulder on their back was holding them down. Qin Lan's silence only made them worrier because the gate was fully opened. As long as Qin Lan gave an order, the ten thousand soldiers standing outside of the City of Yue will storm inside and start slaughtering them mercilessly.

Their situation is no different from standing on top of a thin sheet of ice. The slightest hint of movement was all it needs to decide what is the outcome.

Sweat as large as a bead rolled from the magistrate official's forehead. The silence was hard on him as the magistrate official continue to wait for Qin Lan to reply.

Soon, the sound of footsteps approaching them can be heard. From the tremors it gave, it was evident that the number of people coming to the city's entrance is not in a small number.

'Dear heaven... Please don't let me be the sinner of our Wuyue County. Heaven has mercy on the people, please!' the magistrate official begged. In his life, perhaps this was the third or fourth time he's asking heaven for a favor.

As for his first few times, it was natural for the sake of getting a wife, getting a child, and staying alive.

"White Jade Town's secretary, walk with me into the city, please." Qin Lan said after keeping himself quiet for so long. With a wave of his hand, he ordered his soldiers to control the four city's entrance.

By the time the cause of the footsteps and tremors was here, it was eventually revealed to be the detained soldiers that once served under the Wuyue County Lord.

It seems that Qin Lan didn't treat them ill as they're all looked much better than the villagers that suffered under the ridiculous treatment of the County Lord's soldiers.

"My child!"

"Father! Father is not dead!" 

"Our brothers are home! Our brothers are home!"

The villagers that had the men in their family forcefully conscripted into the army ran out of the city to hug their blood relatives. Although it was unavoidable that some people are bound to be filled with sadness, it was still a positive outcome.

In the afternoon, more soldiers came from the border between Shuiyue and Wuyue.

From the look of it, they're here with the provision prepared earlier before the start of the war. This assurance to ensure Qin Lan's soldiers were well fed now turning into a ray of hope to the people in the City of Yue.

To the hungry people living in this county, food was the best thing to persuade them to shift their loyalty to Qin Lan.

Currently, only a few thousand soldiers were garrisoned around the road leading to the other three provinces that belonged to the Country of Shu. Although the trade merchants are allowed to come into the county again, there was no reason to do so.

It's not like the aftermath of the battle can be settled in a matter of a day or two.

But the efficiency of Qin Lan's people exceeded their expectations.

Having offered a lucrative wage for helping, the students from the Shuiyue Military Academy and teachers from the six villages collaborated and came to help Qin Lan settle the people down.

They're still divided based on the villages they came from. But this time, the registration method used was following the practice of the people from Wu, and not Shu.

There are not many changes, but it was the most efficient way for Qin Lan to get an estimated number of people under his ruling.

In just a single week, the number of soldiers on the border increases from 1,000 men to 2,000. The newcomers were actually the newly conscripted soldiers that worked under the County Lord before Qin Lan took control of the county.

They can be differentiated by the gear they had on them.

"Milord, all the foundation work you've ordered us to lay down was almost complete. Do you have any other orders?" the officer asked. Behind him stands Secretary Qian, the magistrate official of White Jade Town, and the Village Chiefs from six villages.

In addition, it seems that the son of a village chief was here. But a hint of worry is on his face because he was the instigator for the riot that happened a week ago.

Based on their understanding, people like him hardly manage to live to his father's age because of his recklessness. In a world where strength still reigns over all other rights, people like him often had a short lifespan.

"Since everyone was here, I suppose we can start our conversation." Qin Lan said as he runs his eyes across everyone present inside this office.

"First of all, I would like to extend my apology for involving everyone in this battle. Although it was too late to speak about it, I still owe the people an apology. But if I was to be given another choice, I will still repeat what I did." Qin Lan added after he cupped his hands and apologized.

"Milord, we understand your point of view. As a part of the people, it is inescapable. Instead, we're grateful that heaven blessed us with a wise leader." everyone else repeated the same thing, except for the Crimson Mist officer and Secretary Qian.

"Alright. I believe everyone knew why I've summoned all of you here." Qin Lan returned to his seat.

"Yes, Milord." the others instantly replied.

"Wang Jian, step forward." it was the middle-aged guy's turn soon to be called. He was nervous to the point his hand was trembling while walking to the front.

"Wang Jian here." he kneeled down before Qin Lan.

"After speaking with the people and also the seven settlement chiefs here, everyone believes that you should be given a chance. Hence, I decided to place aside your mistake of being the instigator of this riot that happened a week ago." Qin Lan said.

"Thank you, Milord! Thank you for your mercy!" Wang Jian lowered his head and slammed his forehead hard on the ground after hearing that he was spared from the death penalty.

"This peasant willing to be a slave if the lord wishes for. I'll follow Milord's order without questions," he added.

"Good. Then from tomorrow onwards, go to the White Jade Town and learn how to manage the town. You'll be promoted to a Magistrate Official from this moment onwards." Qin Lan said.

"This slave under... Sorry, Milord?" Wang Jian was puzzled by his punishment. Did he hear wrongly?

"What? Are you hoping that I'll shove you into the stable to clean the horses for life?" Qin Lan chuckled. Looking at Secretary Qian, he nodded to the latter as the latter clapped his hand twice.

A soldier came inside with a tray in his hand. On the tray is two sets of neatly folded clothing worn by the magistrate official under the Country of Wu.

"Your position token will be ready by the time you finish learning how to manage the town from your predecessor. Make sure you study as much as you could before you and don't bring shame to your father and your family." Qin Lan added.

"This slave... Ah no... This subordinate understands! I will work hard to not disappoint Milord's expectation!" Wang Jian cupped his hands before accepted the tray from the soldier.

"Then, let us continue with the discussion about the settlement's contribution, resources, and also the allocation of manpower. Get your seat, everyone." Qin Lan said.

...

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"Good news. It seems that our young master won his first battle against the county beside the land he's ruling. I wonder what will our young master do next?" a table of four individuals was having a light conversation as they're having dinner together.

The clothing on there was different from the others. It was bound to get attention from everyone else who walked past them because of its exquisite tailoring and effort in making these clothes.

"What he's going to do next? I hope he'll get us over to where he is. It felt like I'm not contributing to the clan without being by the young master's side." said one of the four. He was the tallest amongst them and also the bulkiest.

Their dinner was accompanied by wine and meat. But in the conversation, the word "young master" never stops coming up as if they're obsessed with him.

It was until a pair of twins came into the restaurant looking for them.

"Do all of you know how busy the clan is? How dare the four of you sneaked outside and enjoy food in the restaurant and adding up trouble to the kitchen?" the younger twins said.

"Quickly come back. The lady is breaking through soon. By the time she comes out from her training, she'll be just like the four of you, A half-step Bone Reconstruction Layer expert." she added.

"Her advancement is a little too fast, don't you think so?" one of the four said.

"It is... By the time they're all ready, I wonder will we relocate to Shuiyue County and serve the young master once again..." he added.

"By that time, I think the four of you will be left here while everyone else is going." someone else interrupted their conversation.

"Brother Lu Yi!" they turned their head around and looked at him.