plumnovel Chapter 48 Taking Control of the Village, Step 1
Chapter 48 Taking Control of the Village, Step 1
Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Li Sheng's deeds of killing the rebel bandits, despite being just a local militiaman, have spread throughout the village, and Li Zili has remembered his name.
Later, when he heard that the county was going to appoint Li Sheng as the head of Siyang Pavilion, he put aside his original idea of leaving, wanting to see for himself what kind of person this legendary brave warrior was.
If he is truly a worthy leader to follow, then he will stay.
Otherwise, he would have turned twenty this year, which would have been the perfect time to leave his official residence and join the army, to try his luck in this chaotic world.
These days, although Li Sheng has not yet taken office, he has already heard many stories about him in the county town and is increasingly fascinated by him. He just wants to meet him to see if the rumors are true.
After spending just half an hour together, Li Sheng gave him a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.
Li Sheng did not look down on him because of his humble origins; on the contrary, he was gentle in every way.
Upon hearing the words "Would you be willing to walk the same path with me?", the fire in my chest finally ignited in my throat.
Although he was not well-educated, he had heard the saying, "A scholar will die for one who understands him."
So he bowed deeply, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice.
"With the head of the pavilion above, Li Zili is willing to follow him and work together to build a great cause."
Seeing Li Zili bowing down so readily, Li Sheng laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, self-reliance! I need self-reliance to help me; it's like adding wings to a tiger!"
"what?"
Li Zili and Liu Lu both exclaimed in surprise.
"Is he (himself), Li Zili, really that important?"
The two of them were puzzled almost simultaneously.
Seeing their puzzled looks, Li Sheng didn't explain to them.
In his eyes, a minor official like Li Zili, who was well-versed in grassroots affairs, was far more valuable than those powerful clans and gentry. He could utilize Li Zili's talents without corrupting the integrity of his subordinates.
"Zili, from this day forward, you are a guard at Siyang Pavilion."
Li Zili's body stiffened for a moment.
"...The head of the village?"
He looked up, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Li Sheng turned around and his gaze fell on his face.
"You've lived in this pavilion for many years, and you know every blade of grass and every tree here better than anyone else. Now that I've just arrived, I'm in dire need of someone as knowledgeable as you. All the old friends in the pavilion are gone, but you can't leave."
He paused.
"Of course, if you don't want to, I won't force you. You can tell me if you have any other ideas..."
Li Zili remained silent.
His lips trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened.
For so many years, no one had ever given him a second glance, yet the village head showed him such trust upon their first meeting…
He took a step back, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.
"Li Zili...is willing to serve the village head with utmost loyalty!"
His voice trembled slightly, but every word was firm and resolute.
Li Sheng reached out and patted his shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy.
"Get up. There's no need for you to do anything valiant. Just do your job well in the pavilion; that will be the greatest help you can give me."
Li Zili straightened up and nodded vigorously.
Liu Lu then poked half his body in through the doorway, grinning.
"Hey, Zili, we're brothers now. My name is Liu Lu, you can just call me Brother Lu."
Li Shi glanced at Liu Lu and said to Li Zili in a low voice.
"In our Dongyang Village, regardless of social status, we all address each other as brothers and sisters, and respect Brother Sheng as our elder brother."
Seeing this scene, Li Zili felt a warmth in his heart and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting to Liu Lu and Li Shi respectively.
"Zili greets Brother Liu and Brother Li."
Li Sheng returned to his desk and sat down, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.
"Be independent. I have a question for you."
"Please speak, Pavilion Chief."
"Um?"
"Sheng...Brother Sheng, please speak."
Seeing Li Zili change his tune, Li Shengcai smiled slightly.
"Please tell me more about the location of our Siyang Pavilion."
Li Zili paused for a moment, clearly not expecting Li Sheng to ask this question again.
He paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts.
"Replying to Brother Sheng. The post station is located in the center of Siyang Township, connecting Xiangyang Village to the north, Dongping Village to the south, the official road to the west, and various villages to the east. Most travelers and merchants traveling from south to north or from east to west pass through here."
He paused, then added.
"It can be said that Tingyi is the gateway connecting the surrounding villages to the outside world."
Li Sheng nodded, his gaze deep.
"Portal".
He repeated the two words, then stood up and walked to the simple map hanging on the wall.
It was a rough map of Siyang, drawn on coarse linen. The ink had faded, but the general outline was still visible.
The settlements, roads, and rivers in the village were all marked on it.
The post station is located right in the center of this map.
Li Sheng's gaze lingered on the map for a moment before he turned around.
"Zili is right. Post stations are the gateways connecting the surrounding villages to the outside world. Whoever controls these gateways controls the initiative."
Liu Lu blinked, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Li Shi seemed to be deep in thought, and nodded slightly.
Li Sheng intended to teach them by example in his daily life, so he continued.
"Think about it, how do county officials send orders down to the countryside? They rely on the pavilions. What can be done in the countryside—taxation, corvée labor, thief apprehension, or disaster relief—without the pavilions? Though small, the pavilions are the only tentacles the government can extend into the countryside."
He pointed to the location of the post station on the map.
"What about the powerful clans and aristocratic families? No matter how strong their fortified villages are, no matter how much grain they have, they still have to travel to transport their goods out and bring in goods from outside. And to travel, they have to pass through pavilions."
Li Sheng's judgment was not biased. Based on his investigation over the past few days, he found that although the fortified village economy of the powerful families was thriving, it had not yet reached the peak of the self-sufficient manor economy during the Jin Dynasty.
Therefore, the importance of village post stations is self-evident.
Li Sheng looked at everyone, his gaze calm.
"The post stations are the inescapable knot between the government and the powerful."
Upon hearing this, Liu Lu couldn't help but speak up.
"Brother Sheng, do you mean... controlling Ting is equivalent to strangling both ends of the river?"
Li Sheng glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"It's not so much about strangling them, but at least we must keep a firm grip on them."
He raised his hand and made a pinching gesture.
Li Zili stood aside, listening to these words, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Having lived in Tingyi for many years, he naturally recognized its importance. However, due to his low status and limited influence, he didn't say much.
Now, after listening to Li Sheng's analysis, he knew in his heart that this newly arrived village head was no ordinary person.
His talk of achieving great deeds probably goes beyond simply protecting the borders and driving out the Yellow Turbans.
There are rumors that the Han dynasty's mandate has come to an end. Now might be the perfect time for bandits to rise up and for powerful figures to emerge from the land!
Li Sheng did not continue his long-winded discussion, but instead changed the subject.
"Of course, those are things for later. Right now, let's get the pavilion up and running."
He looked at Li Zili.
"Zili, make a list, clearly stating what the pavilion lacks and what needs to be repaired. Weapons, buildings, and daily necessities should all be listed."
"promise!"
Li Zili clasped his hands in a fist salute, responded crisply, turned around and walked to the desk in the corner, spread out the bamboo slips, and began to write.
Li Sheng then looked at Liu Lu.
"Liu Lu, go back and tell Liu Wu and Li Feng to expedite the selection of the village guards. I need speed, but more importantly, quality; ability is the priority."
"clear!"