Chapter 2621 - 2594: Returning Home

Governor Yu escorted them out of the city; Bai Shan was eager to go home, and this group of officials were not ones for lingering farewells. Besides, the capital and Qizhou were too close for such goodbyes to feel final, so they simply exchanged nods and mounted their horses to leave.

Bai Shan and Lord Tang rode in the lead, and Governor Yu watched as their sleeves fluttered in the wind, slowly fading into the distance. Stroking his beard, he said, "What a pity."

The deputy general asked, "What’s the pity?"

"It’s a pity we can’t recruit him," Governor Yu glanced at him, "If you had even a third of Lord Bai’s cleverness, I wouldn’t need to say this."

The deputy general replied, "...If I had that, I wouldn’t be a soldier; I’d pursue literary studies and take the imperial exams. Even passing the exams in my thirties or forties wouldn’t be a loss."

Governor Yu remarked, "You have the audacity to say that."

He turned and said, "Let’s go back."

After walking a few steps, he remembered something and turned to the Chief Clerk, "I’ve reviewed the household registers recently and found that many Cheng Ding have not been allocated land in the past two years. Prepare the list for each county and report back to me. Compensate those who haven’t received Yongye Fields within three years."

The Chief Clerk hesitated for a moment before asking, "Sir, should the land be allocated from redeemed fields or from other official lands?"

Governor Yu waved his hand dismissively, "Nearby, wherever their families reside, allocate the land to them. However, the crops are already planted this year, so redistribute after the autumn harvest. For now, compile the statistics; I want to personally review the planned allocations and name lists."

The Chief Clerk agreed, then hesitated.

Governor Yu glanced at him, wanting to exude authority as he did in Yunzhou, but remembering this was Qizhou, not the bandit-ridden Yunzhou, he restrained himself. With a stiff smile, he said, "Speak if you have something to say."

"Sir, we can only allocate Yongye Fields from other official lands because the contracts for the newly redeemed fields have been taken away by Lord Tang."

"They’ll send them back after the Ministry of Revenue’s audit."

The Chief Clerk remained silent.

Qizhou isn’t far from the capital. Due to its geographical position, the Ministry of Revenue frequently interacts with Qizhou, intending to allocate some official lands there.

The official lands near the capital and Yongzhou are nearly saturated. Although the imperial lands aren’t heavily encroached upon, there are instances of gradual encroachments, bit by bit each year, until the official lands are insufficient.

Therefore, the officials in Qizhou frequently deal with the Ministry of Revenue. Minister Liu, who has held the position for nearly ten years, wouldn’t simply return the three large boxes of land contracts without some trouble.

Seeing the Chief Clerk’s expression, Governor Yu paused for a while before realizing, and stomped his foot, "Alas, a miscalculation—"

He immediately turned to look at the now disappeared convoy.

The deputy general also became anxious, asking, "Sir, should we pursue them?"

Governor Yu turned in circles on the spot, finally stomping his foot hard, "If we pursued them now, we’d lose our friendship, and there’s no guarantee we could reclaim the contracts."

The Chief Clerk also feared a conflict between the governor and the capital officials, quickly saying, "Exactly. Perhaps we’re overthinking it. After Minister Liu reviews them, he may return the contracts. If not, we can push for it with official documents in a few days?"

Governor Yu could only nod, "Tell the counties to quickly compile their lists. We’ll explain to the Ministry of Revenue that we’re urgently using these lands for Yongye Fields."

The Chief Clerk acknowledged.

Voluntarily returning them is unlikely. Minister Liu walked around the three boxes with his hands behind his back, quite pleased, and gestured to a few clerks, "Bring some experienced people here to audit them. If there are no issues, approve their request."

Lord Tang handed the land contracts to the Ministry of Revenue, turned to enter the palace to report, then called Bai Shan, "Come on, let’s go to the palace together."

Bai Shan followed, but reporting was the responsibility of the main officials, so he didn’t go to the Taiji Hall but instead wandered over to the Imperial Hospital.

The imperial doctors saw him, smiled, and after greeting him, said, "Lord Bai has returned?"

Bai Shan nodded with a smile, his eyes scanning the hall, he peeked toward the back office, asking, "It’s hot in the summer; have the imperial doctors been busy recently?"

Imperial Doctor Zheng noticed his continual glances toward the back and chuckled to himself, nodding solemnly, "Yes, as soon as the heat rises, more people fall ill."

"The imperial doctors must be vigilant, careful of any outbreaks."

Imperial Doctor Zheng nodded repeatedly, "Rest assured, Lord Bai. We’ve always been cautious."

Bai Shan had nothing more to say, having lingered and talked for quite some time, yet Manbao hadn’t emerged.

That means...

Bai Shan cast another glance inside, unable to resist asking, "Is Lord Zhou not in the Imperial Hospital?"

"Oh, so Lord Bai is looking for Imperial Doctor Zhou," Imperial Doctor Zheng chuckled, "Imperial Doctor Zhou went out for consultations; she should return by afternoon, would Lord Bai like to wait?"

"No need, no need," Bai Shan laughed, "I came to request a bottle of pills for heat relief and stomach health."

Imperial Doctor Zheng smiled and fetched it for him, and Bai Shan left amidst the warm gazes of the imperial doctors.

Outside the Imperial Hospital, he exhaled, thought for a moment, and decisively went for a stroll at the Central Secretariat, reported his tasks, and then returned home.

Since Manbao went out for consultations in the morning, she’ll likely return home for lunch and rest.

Bai Shan returned home with Daji and a guard, and as soon as he dismounted, someone ran out of the door.

Both brightened upon seeing each other, Bai Shan tossed the reins to Daji and ran forward, "Are you heading out?"

Zhou Man, her eyes bright, shook her head and looked up at him, "No, I heard from a guard that you’d returned. Did you deliver your report?"

She thought he was still at the palace submitting his report, so planned to visit him, but he had come home instead.

Bai Shan took her hand and turned to go inside, laughing, "I just came from the palace. Just checking in at the Central Secretariat was enough; Senior Brother Tang and Censor Liang reported to His Majesty."

Hand in hand, they happily walked back.

Having conversed with the emperor for half an hour, and delayed by Censor Liang’s complaint for another hour, Lord Tang was ravenous when he left the palace.

Standing at the palace gate, he suddenly remembered, "Father, Bai Shan was also in the palace, and I forgot to invite him out."

Originally, he wanted Bai Shan to wait in the Taiji Hall’s side chamber so he could be introduced if the emperor summoned him, but Censor Liang was dissatisfied with Governor Yu and entered a complaint right after Lord Tang finished his report.

A kindly palace guard said, "Lord Tang, Lord Bai left the palace more than an hour ago."

Lord Tang: ...

Old Lord Tang glanced at him then turned to leave, "Let’s go; your wife is waiting for you at home. Look at the state of you after such a short time out on duty, all untidy. Meeting the emperor, and you didn’t even bother to tidy yourself up before."

Lord Tang silently followed.