Fourth Uncle Ye was worried that the hearts of the people of Ye Family Fort could not be united. Only by letting go of past grudges could they truly serve their own interests best.
When Fourth Uncle Ye had died in his previous life, because he could not rest assured about Ye Family Fort, he even died with his eyes open.
Things could absolutely not continue this way in this life.
Ye Suijin tapped her fingertips on the armrests of her chair. "Outsiders think our Ye family must be divided, so let them think that. It works to our advantage if they believe so. Why don't we make use of this?"
Her gaze did not waver at all from this matter that everyone had intentionally avoided mentioning in the past.
Fourth Uncle Ye felt somewhat uneasy and stole a glance at her. Ye Suijin's eyes were fixed on him. "Fourth Uncle, do you think this could work?"
Her gaze was upright. She was not mocking or ridiculing. She was sincerely asking Fourth Uncle Ye for his opinion.
Fourth Uncle Ye looked left and right. Finally he gave a cough and asked solemnly, "Sanlang, do you think you can do it?"
Ye Sanlang scratched his head. "I can try."
Zhao Jingwen laughed. "Or it would be even more foolproof if Fourth Uncle went personally."
Mr. Yang's smile faded somewhat.
But Ye Suijin humphed, "Du Jingzhong isn't even worth it."
Mr. Yang smiled again.
Ye Suijin called for Duan Jin, "Bring out the maps."
Everyone was a bit surprised.
Duan Jin carried over a box.
Mr. Yang was overjoyed and kept turning around, looking at this map and touching that map. "Where, where did you get these?"
Strange. Ye Suijin had asked him yesterday if he had any news about maps. Today she already had maps.
Ye Suijin smiled. "They fell from the sky."
After joking, she explained, "They were hidden away by an old soldier from the Xuanhua Army back when the war broke out. He took them home during the chaos."
Mr. Yang suddenly understood and rubbed his hands together happily. Maps made using the official standard of the court!
Duan Jin efficiently spread out the maps they needed.
There were still no pointers. Ye Suijin told Duan Jin, "Make me a stick later, this long, as thick as a finger, with the tip rounded off."
They would have to make do for now. Ye Suijin took a writing brush and held it reversed in her hand, pointing, "Here, Neixiang, Rang County, Nanyang. Here, Fangcheng. This is good. I remember Fangcheng was quite famous for its millet production, with very good yields."
"In recent years, Du Jingzhong has wrecked it. The fields are in ruins." Fourth Uncle Ye waved his hand. "Not to mention nine rooms empty out of ten, at least four or five households must be empty. Much of the land has been abandoned."
Millet was the staple grain for making military provisions.
Ye Suijin was extremely distressed. "So what's he occupying Fangcheng for? It should belong to us."
Fourth Uncle Ye still felt it wasn't quite right, but Ye Suijin spoke in such a justified tone that he didn't know how to refute her.
They discussed the geography and terrain of Fangcheng.
Fourth Uncle Ye had assumed he ought to be the person most familiar with Fangcheng, or Mr. Yang might know a bit more.
But he hadn't expected Ye Suijin to also know Fangcheng like the back of her hand.
She had come and gone from Fangcheng countless times. She was very clear about the terrain. She just couldn't remember the specifics of Du Jingzhong's situation.
"I need to know how Du Jingzhong has set up defenses here, here and here."
"Although he's a reckless fellow, being from the Xuanhua Army, fighting is his specialty."
"Third Brother, we may look down on him as a person, but we can't look down on his abilities."
Ye Sanlang answered steadily, "Alright, I'll remember that."
Even Fourth Uncle Ye couldn't help but glance over at Ye Suijin.
This niece was much more steady than he had thought. It was a bit unexpected.
Looking again, if she really was this reliable, he could feel at ease handing over everything in Ye Family Fort to her.
He would keep observing.
Ye Suijin did not assign anyone to go with Ye Sanlang. Instead, she asked him directly, "Who are you planning to take with you?"
Ye Sanlang pondered and looked at Fourth Uncle Ye, then reported several names. Fourth Uncle Ye was worried and added another very reliable subordinate.
Ye Suijin nodded at them all.
Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Jingwen said, "Xiang Da is also from the Xuanhua Army like Du Jingzhong, so they have some connection. It would be better for him to go too."
In their previous lives, Xiang Da was among the first group who went out adventuring with Zhao Jingwen, and also one of the earliest people to throw in his lot with Zhao Jingwen.
Actually, Ye Suijin had intended to have Xiang Da go with Ye Sanlang as an intermediary. She just hadn't expected Zhao Jingwen to speak up first.
Since someone had provided a step for her, Ye Suijin agreed.
Fourth Uncle Ye and Ye Sanlang went out to make arrangements.
With them gone, the steward who had been waiting outside came in to report, "I've brought all the children you wanted, for you to select from."
Ye Suijin called Duan Jin over, "Jin'er, you go pick."
She instructed him, "Choose six children. Two to take shifts in the study, attentive, taciturn, and tight-lipped. Four to be by my side, clever, able to read situations, and articulate." So the affairs of the study and being by Ye Suijin's side would now fall to these newly chosen children.
What about him then? What was he to do?
Previously, all these matters around Ye Suijin were his responsibilities.
Unlike his usual immediate acknowledgment, Duan Jin's eyes naturally revealed anxiety.
He was quite tall, but still a child after all.
Ye Suijin said gently, "This way, you'll be freed from these trifling affairs to properly assist me."
With just that one sentence, the youth's face lit up radiantly.
He gave a clear acknowledgment and went out, only to be called back by Ye Suijin, "Pick ones with sturdy builds. Don't choose sickly ones."
They would inevitably need to rush around with her in the future. Frail bodies wouldn't do.
Duan Jin's footsteps were light as he happily went off.
Mr. Yang stroked his beard. "Grown up now and thinking more."
"Of course." Ye Suijin laughed. "He even knows how to compete for favor now."
Mr. Yang could hear the doting tone in her voice.
But Zhao Jingwen laughed. "Servants and slaves are often like this."
He was not a servant or slave, but of higher status. Yet he competed for favor all the same.
Mr. Yang stroked his beard and lowered his eyes, smiling without speaking.
Ye Suijin glared at him. "Don't take advantage of the young and poor."
"I won't. Our Jin'er will be a steward later no matter what." Zhao Jingwen said, "Hurry and find him a wife so he can settle down."
Mr. Yang had turned his face to one side, still stroking his beard.
Ye Suijin said, "No hurry. What's the rush? He's only fifteen. As a servant, if he marries now, what good wife could he get? We'll talk about it later."
Zhao Jingwen joked, "What, are you going to find some young lady of a prestigious house for him to marry?"
What was wrong with young ladies of prestigious houses?
In the capital, countless young ladies of prestigious houses wanted to marry the supreme military commander Duan Jin, but were unable to.
Those who tossed sachets down from tall buildings, those who deliberately bumped into his sedan chair on the streets, those who encountered him while offering incense at the temple, those who twisted their ankles to block his path in the mountains.
If Duan Jin wanted to marry, with his status and wealth, what young lady could he not obtain?
But Wu Shi was pregnant with Zhao Jingwen's child, and even gave birth.
What's more, Duan Jin had known all along!
Although she had calmly set goals for herself after rebirth, intending to overturn her previous life and start over completely, Ye Suijin suddenly could not restrain her anger and it surged forth.
She slammed her palm on the desk with a bang. "Let's get back to business!"
Zhao Jingwen and Mr. Yang were both frightened.
Zhao Jingwen was baffled. The atmosphere had been relaxing and they were joking around. When had he struck one of Ye Suijin's sore spots to make her so angry?
If they were alone, he would have no qualms about lowering his status to gently and tenderly coax her. But Mr. Yang was here.
He glanced at Mr. Yang, rather embarrassed.
Mr. Yang said, "Yongtang and Sanlang might be too busy. Young Master, could you go help them?"
Zhao Jingwen looked at Ye Suijin.
Since someone had provided a way out, Ye Suijin said, "Go on."
Zhao Jingwen tactfully left.
Duan Jin came out. In the covered corridor outside the study, a row of half-grown children were lined up. The youngest only came up to his waist, while the oldest looked to be around ten years old.
They were all children born in Ye Family Fort. He asked each of their names and ages, as well as who their parents were.
He first pulled out the clever ones, then questioned them closely to select the best to present to Ye Suijin.
Zhao Jingwen came out and saw his back.
Contrasted with the children, he looked even taller and straighter.
He stared over for a while before leaving.
Duan Jin also glanced back at his retreating figure.
Mr. Yang still hadn't come out. He was still inside discussing things.
What was that Zhao fellow doing? Sent out to work? Or not qualified to listen in, so driven out?
Duan Jin bared his teeth in a grin.
Inside the study, Mr. Yang asked, "Why did you get so angry?"
He didn't like Zhao Jingwen much, but Zhao Jingwen didn't seem to have said anything that would make people angry just now. Ye Suijin's sudden rage also left him confused.
Ye Suijin also knew that she had just lost control of her emotions, which was a big taboo for her superiors.
"I was just thinking of something annoying, and he was chattering again, so I couldn't help raising my voice for a moment," she said, pausing, then added, "I was in the wrong."
Mr. Yang had intended to advise her, but she admitted her mistake first. So Mr. Yang didn't say anything more, just held out his hand: "Come, come."
Ye Suijin glanced at him, resigned, and also held out her hand.
Mr. Yang took her pulse.
Mr. Yang was not only an advisor, but also skilled in documents, money and supplies. In addition to that, he was quite knowledgeable about medicine. When he was free, he would often take the pulse and prescribe medicine for people in the fort.
Nothing could be hidden from reading the pulse. After feeling her pulse, he was surprised: "What made you so angry? Maybe you could tell me about it?"
How to say it? There was no way to say it.
Ye Suijin looked up at him.
"Uncle Yang," she said, "A wise bird chooses a tree to nest in. One day, if I let you down completely, you needn't worry about my father's feelings, you can freely choose to pledge allegiance to a better master."
Mr. Yang was stunned.
"However, if I'm not that bad," she said, "not bad enough to make you completely disappointed, still redeemable, please don't give up on me so easily, Uncle Yang."
Mr. Yang gazed at her for a moment, then smiled: "Alright."
Zhao Jingwen brought Xiang Da back and they entered the study.
Fourth Uncle Ye and Third Son Ye came a bit later, with a few others, and also entered the study.
Duan Jin had already picked six children. This matter was less important than the affairs in the study, so he sent the others away and waited in the courtyard with the six children.
Among the six children were some he knew, who whispered and asked him: "Brother Jin, is the master good-tempered? Will he beat us?"
Duan Jin tried to scare them: "If you don't work hard, you'll get the stick on the spot, with your pants stripped bare for a beating on your bottom."
The children all had fearful expressions.
Duan Jin had to cover his mouth as he chuckled softly, not daring to laugh out loud for fear of disturbing the people in the study.
It wasn't until noon that the people in the study came hurrying out. They all had bright faces and walked hastily, making appointments with each other at the door to set off in the afternoon.
After Fourth Uncle Ye, Third Son Ye and the others left, Duan Jin listened closely and heard Xiang Da say to Zhao Jingwen: "Thank you for recommending me to the fort master."
The one surnamed Zhao laughed cordially: "You're still so polite with me."
Duan Jin called out to the children: "Stand up straight, you'll meet the master soon."
Yet he cast a glance in that direction, then quickly drew it back.
That Zhao really knew how to win people's hearts.
It was the master who had called Xiang Da to speak with him at length yesterday. Although it wasn't stated at the time, Duan Jin could sense that the master already intended to include Xiang Da today.
But Zhao had brought it up first, and was now selling Xiang Da a favor here.
If Xiang Da accepted his favor, he would naturally be a little less grateful for Ye Suijin's discerning eye as his patron.
Duan Jin couldn't help but softly "humph" out loud.
Ye Suijin's voice came from the study: "Where's Jin? Has he finished picking them?"
Duan Jin immediately perked up and raised his voice: "Master, I've picked them, they're all here."
A moment later, Ye Suijin stepped out of the study and stood on the stairs: "Just these few?"
Duan Jin cheerfully replied: "Yes! Master, take a look, do you approve?"
He looked up, and his master Ye Suijin stood in the sunlight, her body like a willow branch, her face outshining the bright peach blossoms and red plums. The bright light illuminated her.
Just like in his dreams every night.
He couldn't remember when it started, but she was always appearing in his dreams.
