Although Fengyu was reviewing the account books, she hadn’t ignored the state of the city. She also knew that tensions between the two sides were escalating. That group of brute soldiers under Chen Jiangdong had quickly grown close to several city guards, and it was clear that the city was lawless, the emperor far away, and everything revolved around the Salt and Iron Departnt. The original residents had been incited to exclude them, thinking that since these bandits were brought here by her, she would naturally favor them and wouldn’t handle disputes impartially.
She believed that talking was useless; actions spoke louder than words. Zhang ng had volunteered to set an example for her, leading to the current events. But who would have thought Fengyu would actually take action, not even bothering to let him cushion his rear?
Fengyu asked, "Will twenty taels comfort you?"
Zhang ng was so startled he almost fell off the bed, while Zhang Hu gasped, "Miss, next ti there’s such a task, you can send . Ten taels will suffice for ."
Zhang ng was furious. "Brother, you’re being unfair! Even a job like this you’re trying to take? Are you as tough as ?"
Fengyu instructed the doctor to take good care of Zhang ng. Although she had deliberately started this skirmish, she was vexed by one issue: the city was filled with unruly bandits, conflicts and clashes were inevitable, and the laws needed to be stricter and more precise.
She had always been soone who walked a perilous path. A typical governor would never resort to such tactics to manage a town, but Fengyu was different. She wanted a swift resolution, even if she had to employ unconventional thods.
After resolving the tensions with the original residents, Chunlu and a few key leaders organized the people to clear land and open fields for farming. The oxen and farming tools had already been sent over. The original residents had long started planting, and a few warm-hearted won were even willing to lend out their household tools and oxen in exchange for goods. Quietly, a barter system had started to take shape among them.
Fengyu knew she couldn’t be everywhere at once and couldn’t sway Nangong Heng into action right away, so she first approached the original stewards of the State Mansion. The stewards and staff in the mansion were not to be underestimated.
They were familiar with the daily affairs of the city, the division of farmland, taxes, and legal matters. They could also offer her strategies and advice. Fengyu assigned people to investigate the background of these stewards and staff, targeting them individually. Those who had stayed in West Continent likely had their own attachnts to the place, and they had families to support as well.
The land clearing was in full swing across the city, and this did not go unnoticed by these stewards and staff. Who wouldn’t want a peaceful and prosperous life? Fengyu personally visited them three tis, and she also sent Chunlu with so approachable, eloquent won to build rapport with the original residents. Over ti, the stewards and staff gradually beca less resistant and even started participating in West Continent’s various affairs.
Salt and Iron Departnt.
Zhu Shengkai slamd the table in rage, violently hacking at two wooden posts in the mansion. "These money-grubbing beasts! They actually let themselves be cowed by a snot-nosed girl! Given ti, her reach will surely extend to the mines. I’m going to kill her!"
"Master, please calm down. Fengyu has a group of military generals protecting her, never alone for a mont; there’s no chance to strike," Su ngwei, who had already sent people to investigate, reported.
"You are her uncle. Arrange to et her alone. Poison her, stab her, I don’t care how—just make sure she dies! She killed my younger brother, and now she’s trying to seize control of West Continent. If she doesn’t die, we’ll all end up in hell!" Zhu Shengkai had been inciting the townsfolk to resist Fengyu, but she had resolved the city’s conflicts within seven days. Now, large-scale land reclamation was underway, and while tensions still lingered, diators were in place, and the once-chaotic scene now showed a rare vitality.
"Master, she and I are relatives in na only; there are no real ties between us," Su ngwei replied coldly. "That girl has been pampered and cushioned her whole life; she won’t be able to endure West Continent’s hardships for long. We just need to et the iron cavalry’s needs for weapons and armor, and she won’t stay in the West Continent for much longer. How could a young lady who’s grown up in luxury possibly bear to suffer here?"
"I want her dead. Did you hear ?" Zhu Shengkai grabbed Su ngwei by the collar fiercely. "She killed Sheng Liang. I demand her life as repaynt!"
"Master, please think this through. She is Prince Qin’s fiancée, not yet wed. Do you intend to provoke trouble?" Su ngwei’s gaze turned icy and dismissive. If it weren’t for his instigation that led bandits to cause trouble and Sheng Liang to go head-to-head against Fengyu, believing she wouldn’t dare unleash a bloodbath in West Continent, how else would Sheng Liang have ended up dead?
"Master, sothing bad has happened... sothing bad..." A deputy from the Salt and Iron Departnt rushed in. "The Third Miss has stationed five hundred guards at each of the city’s four main gates. Starting today, all departures from the city will undergo strict inspection. West State City has resud city governance, and she has officially assud the role of City Lord, overseeing all matters in the West Continent."
"What?!" Su ngwei and Zhu Shengkai gasped in shock.
Due to years of neglect, the city gates of West State City had always been unguarded, with people free to co and go. Before Xie Xun sent the bandits over, the residents all lived inside the city, while the farmland and herds were mostly outside the southeast city gates. The two northwest gates served as transport routes, long left unmonitored. They were also the main pathways for exporting iron ore from the mines. After stationing guards at the gates, Fengyu had also started reinforcing the city defenses, with iron cavalry beginning construction work on the gates.
Under the persuasion of the stewards and staff, the city guards were gradually brought back under the State Mansion’s command. Fengyu expanded the guard force, and several leaders personally led their n to enlist eagerly, giving the city defense an ergent foundation.
As this unfolded, Zhu Shengkai and Su ngwei panicked. The six major mines surrounding West Continent connected as one, with only a single main road leading out of the mountains. This main road linked directly to the Salt and Iron Departnt within the city. The ore was transported into the city for slting into goods, as only the city had slting facilities. Back when West Continent was operational, the mine’s production had to be recorded at the Salt and Iron Departnt, checked by its officials, tallied against records, and then transported out through the two northwest gates.
Now, the Salt and Iron Departnt had unchecked power, with ore leaving directly through the gates unaccounted for. With guards now stationed at the gates, all ore shipnts would inevitably be inspected by the gatekeepers.
"What is that girl trying to do?" Only after Fengyu stationed guards at the gates did Zhu Shengkai feel constrained. He hadn’t minded her efforts in farming within the city, but now he was desperate to drive her out.
When Su ngwei went to see Fengyu, she served him tea. The tea leaves were a local specialty of West Continent, slightly bitter, and needed salt to improve their flavor—sothing Fengyu seed to relish drinking.
"Ayu, what’s the purpose of stationing guards at the gates?"
"Uncle, the city now has nearly sixty thousand permanent residents. Proper governance is necessary. The four main gates now have guards to ensure strict inspections, and by year-end, I plan to open up West Continent’s trade routes. This half-year period will acquaint everyone with the new order," Fengyu replied with impenetrable composure. "Where under the heavens have you seen a city of sixty thousand residents with gates left unregulated? It’s far too unsafe."
"Ayu, would it be possible for the Salt and Iron Departnt to receive a passage order? Our ore wagons frequently need to exit the city; inspections will only cause inconvenience."
"I was just about to discuss the Salt and Iron Departnt with you." Fengyu took a sip of her salted tea, the rich flavor rolling across her tongue. She smiled faintly and said, "After the ore is mined, it’s brought into the city for slting and is currently recorded by the Salt and Iron Departnt. However, it is not inspected when leaving the city. I find this deeply troubling. From now on, before the ore enters the slters, the Salt and Iron Departnt will conduct inspections and report the figures to the City Lord Mansion. After slting into tools, they’ll be counted again, reported to the mansion, and only then cleared for transport outside the city."
Su ngwei’s face turned pale as his thoughts raced chaotically. Yet Fengyu remained composed, sipping her tea as if nothing had happened.
"Ayu, the Salt and Iron Departnt is ultimately subordinate to the imperial court. State Mansion affairs have traditionally stayed out of its business."
"Tis have changed. West Continent now has a City Lord, and the City Lord Mansion oversees all civic matters. The mines belong to my family. I want to account for my family’s assets. Uncle, are you intent on obstructing ?"
Su ngwei’s expression darkened. During his interactions with Fengyu since her arrival ten days ago, he had regarded her as a clever yet mild-tempered girl, easy to guide.
He had voluntarily presented the mine records to her as a gesture of goodwill, and she had refrained from making things difficult for them.
She had quelled the skirmishes in the city, placated the fury of the original residents, balanced the disputes between both sides, and persuaded the State Mansion’s stewards and staff to assist her—each action revealing exceptional acun.
When discussing Fengyu, Zhu Shengkai and Su ngwei assud she had soone advising her behind the scenes, perhaps one of Xie Xun’s aides offering strategies. Otherwise, how could a girl barely past her coming-of-age ceremony accomplish such feats?
But now, for the first ti, Su ngwei truly looked at this Third Miss, who was smiling gently, composed and unhurried.
He had thought he could intimidate her into staying out of business matters, and that the ledger books he provided would take her at least six months to untangle. He believed her singular focus on agriculture would keep her out of the mines. Yet at the peak of their smugness and lack of vigilance, Fengyu had dealt them a blow they could not have anticipated.
Su ngwei realized he and Zhu Shengkai needed to strategize soon. If this continued, the mines’ secrets would inevitably be exposed.
"My mother often said she and Uncle shared a bond like siblings and that she always thought of you fondly. As the saying goes, ’Siblings may quarrel indoors, but they unite to face outside enemies.’ Yet here you are acting like a cuckoo in soone else’s nest. Forgive , Ayu, but I cannot condone it. I leave the Twelve States Trading House alone, but its master—I remind you—is , not you." Fengyu’s tone grew steely. "Uncle, I want both you and Zhu Shengkai to withdraw your people from the mines. I will take over full control of the mines in West Continent."
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