Winning hearts

The next day.

As the sun rose, a thin layer of mist enveloped the streets, making the entire city appear as if it were veiled in a hazy mist, giving it a bluish hue.

However, this color quickly faded completely.

After a night of deliberation, Emperor Kaide finally decided to send Fang Weiyan to govern Jiangling Commandery.

Jiangling Commandery comprised eleven counties, with its capital at Pingjiang, and a population of 14,000.

The Emperor Kaide's dispatch, and the sudden appearance of the prefect Fang Weiyan, puzzled some of the ministers from different factions.

Who exactly is this Fang Weiyan, and where did he come from?

Why was Fang Weiyan suddenly assigned to govern Jiangling Commandery?

The ministers, who had just discussed tampering with things at the Wu River yesterday, were now wondering if the Emperor had discovered anything.

But then I thought about it again, and realized that was absolutely impossible.

After all, the Dragon King's offspring are destined for Human Tribulation; this is a heavenly secret, how could outsiders possibly know?

Moreover, it seems that the Emperor holds this prefect in high regard.

That's perfect timing. If the other party goes to Pingjiang, the county seat, they'll be drowned in the city by the enraged Dragon King of the Wu River.

The ministers sneered inwardly, then began to praise the Emperor's Sagacity.

Seeing this, the other officials quickly echoed the sentiment.

I don't know what's wrong with those ministers today, they're unusually supportive of the emperor, so naturally they can only follow suit.

Emperor Kaide found it somewhat strange to see his ministers echoing his sentiments.

I thought about it for a while, but I couldn't come up with a solution.

They assumed that these people didn't care about Jiangling Commandery.

That makes sense, as Jiangling Commandery governs eleven counties, one of which, Linbei, was almost wiped out.

The situation in other counties is not much better.

Under such circumstances, it's understandable that these ministers didn't pay much attention to Jiangling Commandery.

Today's morning court session was unusually pleasant for Emperor Kaide. After the session ended, he sent Commander Yan to fetch Fang Weiyan.

Fang Weiyan once again received his orders and entered the palace.

Fang Weiyan originally planned to continue inquiring about the deeds of some masters on the street.

However, Commander Yan arrived, Fang Weiyan could only let Cheng Feng and the other continue to inquire.

When Fang Weiyan arrived at the palace with Commander Yan, they happened to arrive just as Emperor Kaide was having a meal.

Upon seeing Fang Weiyan arrive, the Emperor Kaide had a chair brought over for him to sit on, and casually asked, "Have you eaten?"

"I have already eaten."

Upon hearing this, Fang Weiyan quickly replied.

He felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the emperor eat. If he were offered to eat the emperor's food, he promised to go to the hospital for a checkup immediately.

Seeing that Fang Weiyan seem hungry, Emperor Kaide didn't force him.

After finishing his meal, he waved his hand, signaling someone to pack up their belongings and take them away.

Emperor Kaide dined in the Imperial Study. He took an imperial edict from the dragon table and had a guard hand it to Fang Weiyan.

"Since you wish to govern a prefecture, then Jiangling Commandery will be entrusted to you. However, the imperial court is short of funds and grain, and the prefecture's capital alone has over ten thousand households. Are you certain you can govern it well?"

Fang Weiyan is capable, but this prefecture is much larger than Linbei County.

Emperor Kaide looked intently at Fang Weiyan.

The imperial court couldn't afford the funds and provisions, and Fang Weiyan was going to govern a prefecture—the difficulties involved were far from minor.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that Emperor Kaide had agreed, Fang Weiyan was overjoyed.

He won 200,000 yuan from a scratch-off lottery yesterday. Even if the lottery doesn't make money, Fang Weiyan can just buy some scratch-offs when he's short of cash.

In such a vast country, Fang Weiyan felt he could easily win millions by scratching lottery tickets anywhere in the country.

There's no need to worry about money; with money, you can buy anything.

"Only..."

Fang Weiyan paused slightly at this point, his tone tinged with hesitation.

Emperor Kaide narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing this, knowing that Fang Weiyan wanted something in return, but he still went along with it and asked, "But what?"

"Your Majesty, I fear that I may encounter some colleagues who secretly sabotage me in Jiangling Commandery. Therefore, I would like to request Your Majesty to grant me the authority to execute these colleagues."

Fang Weiyan cupped his hands and said.

Although they hadn't reached the prefectural capital yet, Fang Weiyan felt that there were definitely some guys there secretly causing trouble.

He hoped that he could go there and clean up all those officials, replacing them all with his own people.

Emperor Kaide was taken aback when he heard this, probably not expecting Fang Weiyan to make such a request.

After a moment's thought, it became clear what Fang Weiyan's purpose was: to replace the entire county with his own people, so that Fang Weiyan could do whatever he wanted.

This has both advantages and disadvantages.

The downside is that no one can control what Fang Weiyan wants to do.

But this is also the advantage: if Fang Weiyan is wholeheartedly devoted to the people, then no one will stop Fang Weiyan, allowing Fang Weiyan to fully utilize his talents.

Emperor Kaide thought for a moment, then smiled to himself.

The purpose of putting Fang Weiyan down was to allow Fang Weiyan to fully utilize his talents.

If Fang Weiyan were to be obstructed when he arrived in the prefecture and tried to use his talents, it would contradict his original intention.

Moreover, this entire prefecture is already in such a state; it cannot be rebuilt without destruction.

It's good to let Fang Weiyan govern as he pleases. We can see what Fang Weiyan does and use that as a basis for evaluating Fang Weiyan.

Thinking of this, Emperor Kaide nodded slightly, "I grant your permission."

If the officials below are just incompetent and hold their positions without doing any work, then killing them is fine.

The Jiang Kingdom is doomed; what's the point of keeping these treacherous officials around?

Seeing that Emperor Kaide had agreed, Fang Weiyan was overjoyed and then said, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing."

"Speak," Emperor Kaide said succinctly.

"I fear someone intends to harm me. I wonder if there are any Cultivation Method I could practice?"

Fang Weiyan was slightly nervous at this moment. Although he probably thought it was unlikely, he still wanted to ask.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor Kaide's eyes widened. What was this kid thinking?

If he had this, would he have ended up in such a state?

Is he relying on this little bit of spirit medicine to survive?

"Where in the Jiang Kingdom can you find this?"

Emperor Kaide snorted. He wanted that very thing too.

He had already started cultivating himself, and had also made the princess cultivate.

Fang Weiyan felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this. Although he had guessed it to some extent, he still couldn't help but feel disappointed after hearing it.

Forget it, I still have to go back and try to get some divine power from the local earth god.

Emperor Kaide glanced at Fang Weiyan, thinking that this guy was currently his most favored candidate. He gritted his teeth and picked up the brocade box beside him.

He then reached out and broke off a section of the root inside, wrapped it in red cloth, and had the guard deliver it to Fang Weiyan.