"I have a plan that can resolve Your Excellency's worries."

Zhou Ping'an's words had just ended.

From the second low seat to the left, a man stood up.

This person was dressed in a white long robe and a bamboo hat, with a square face and bright eyes.

If it weren't for the fact that his robe was washed to the point of being fluffy and yellowing, his bearing might have seemed even more impressive.

"Scholar Zi He, there's no need to be formal, today we celebrate repelling a powerful enemy, and this banquet is held for a joyful drink and casual conversation, so feel free to speak your mind…"

Zhou Ping'an waved his hand.

For these retainers summoned by his recruitment notice, he had always treated them with great respect.

Of course, they couldn't harbor ill intentions.

They had to be sincere in their work.

Not only did he remember the name of the man who spoke, but also he had a very deep impression of him.

Initially, when selecting candidates for the Director of Household Affairs, Zhou Ping'an particularly favored two scholars of ability, one of whom was Li Shida, the instructor of classical studies from Qingxi Academy.

The other was this young scholar under thirty standing before him.

Later on, the reason he had chosen the Li Shida, who was in fact Li Yuankang in disguise, to be the Director of Household Affairs, in charge of domestic affairs, was mainly because Li Yuankang's performance was simply too perfect.

Firstly, he had a wife and daughter.

He also had a clear background and an impeccable reputation.

After all, who doesn't hope for someone with steady emotions, family responsibilities, and who is an upright and impartial gentleman to hold great power?

Such people are reassuring to employ, and one needn't worry that they won't work hard because, after all, they need to provide for their family.

Of course, as reality proved, even the wisest and most divine rulers could still be deceived by those below them.

In any world, the best actors are always the officials.

Li Yuankang was exactly this kind of person.

Having cultivated the Five Desires Evil Art to perfection, he could hide his emotions, acting the part of a man or a ghost with equal ease. But there's no need to go into that…

What's most coincidental was that this person had not joined the military but appeared as a civilian officer, not subject to control by the Tiger Talisman.

Therefore, Zhou Ping'an could only judge his abilities and character based on his behavior.

Of course, the most important point was that Zhou Ping'an had deceived himself.

The Li Shida that Li Yuankang had portrayed had contributed Wish Power Threads to him.

Although they were pure white threads, the feelings of admiration and trust could not be faked at all.

Even his innermost thoughts contained words of worship.

This was somewhat outrageous.

From then on, Zhou Ping'an understood.

Even enemies could contribute Wish Power Threads; there's a term to describe it, "admiration shared by rivals." I admire you, trust your character, and even sing your praises every day, but it doesn't stop me from plotting to kill you.

Human nature is just that complex.

And he couldn't rely on the Red Lotus Visualization Method to discern friends from foes, which was actually quite misleading.

Thinking of the former County Magistrate's son, Li Yuankang, who had turned into nothing but bones.

Zhou Ping'an looked at the young scholar before him with even gentler eyes; talent was indeed precious.

After the "Iron-faced Scholar" was executed according to the law, the man took over as Director of Household Affairs and did a commendable job.

However, unlike when Li Yuankang held the position, this person had an austere way of handling things and extremely strict methods, but a terrible reputation.

Because he only followed rules, with no regard for personal feelings.

Although he seemed like the Iron-faced Scholar on the surface, the essence was different.

Because this set of principles only applied to others, not to himself.

When going out, he would inevitably be surrounded by attendants, carried by eight, eating only the finest foods, and savoring the most delicate dishes.

In other words, this man had harsh demands on others, arranged things with utmost order and demonstrated great capability, but he himself was enjoying life.

Compared to when Li Yuankang played the role of the "Iron-faced Scholar" who would even let his wife and daughter starve... could he win the hearts of the people? Once compared, the better and the inferior immediately became apparent.

Sometimes, Lin Huaiyu also felt that this man's actions were a bit too overbearing, failing to set an example as a senior official.

To Zhou Ping'an, however, this fellow was doing it on purpose.

The reason was simple: if a subordinate gained a reputation so great it was celebrated by all, what would be left for the lord to do?

If all the good reputation was taken by the subordinates, would the lord only be left as a useless figure?

Therefore, Zhou Ping'an thought that this scholar named Shang He actually had great ambitions.

Shang He clasped his hands and said gravely, "The general is kind-hearted, unable to bear the hardship of the people, taking care of the civilians as if they were infants. But with this, since they can always be well-fed and at peace, why bother working hard?"

"At the moment, not much time has passed, and the refugees have yet to enjoy their good days for long, so they haven't grown lazy yet, and the problem isn't too severe. But already, some people outside the city pretend to work hard while clearing and building, and it won't be surprising if more follow...

Civil laborers are like this, and soldiers won't be any different. With time, everyone will become complacent and obese, retreating in the face of the enemy."

"How can you be sure of that?"

Tang Lin'er, somewhat discontented, stood up to rebut.

Was he implying that the soldiers under his command lacked loyalty? Wasn't that saying he was ineffective as a leader?

"Commander Tang, please do not be angry, I'm only discussing the matter at hand. Let me ask you, if you had to be the first to fight and risk your life for ten years in every battle,

but in the end, you would eat the same food and enjoy the same supplies as those soldiers who hid at the back without any merit, would you be satisfied?"

"Of course…"

"Think about it more carefully. Don't you want to become a general, marry and provide for your children, and live in luxury? Don't you want to split the territory and become a marquis?"

"I…"

Tang Lin'er, after all, was not the kind of person who could speak blatant lies. After looking at Shang He, he finally did not throw a punch and dejectedly said, "Yes!"

"Hehe…"

A muffled chuckle spread from all around.

Clearly, they all wanted it.

If someone had even a shred of ambition, why work hard if not to stand out from the crowd?

Rather than swimming against the tide, might as well just lie flat—if one doesn't starve to death, might as well wish for nothing more.

"Therefore, it comes back to the distribution of food; I believe that recruiting soldiers and acquiring horses is imperative, but the distribution need not be equal.

Those who have merited service should be granted official posts and land, and receive more rewards. As for those without achievements, merely ensuring they don't starve should suffice."

As soon as Shang He's words fell,

a chorus of gasps echoed around him.

My, oh my.

These words, if spoken, would raise a thousand accusations.

And not just from a thousand people.

Within Qingyang Territory, there are five to six hundred thousand common folks.

Guaranteeing not to starve and being well-fed are two different things.

Being only ten to twenty percent full, drinking a bowl of porridge daily, the eyes turn green with hunger, but indeed, one won't die just yet.

That's a world away from living well-fed and basking in the sun—it's entirely different lives.

With such a policy, hundreds of thousands of stones of grain could be saved.

Malicious.

Too malicious.

The scholar spoke of ways to save food, and he wasn't even done, he still spoke confidently.

"In my view, those with military achievements should be entitled to eat more and receive more, and could have servants at their disposal. In a similar vein, diligent workers should also be rewarded, their hard work compensated.

On the other hand, those who retreat before the enemy or are lazy in their duties should be treated distinctly, prompting everyone to strive and move forward."

"Do you have detailed regulations?"

Zhou Ping'an frowned and asked.

"Yes, I have drawn up a system of rewards and punishments for ten ranks and twenty titles for your review."

Shang He seemed to be waiting for Zhou Ping'an to ask this.

Upon hearing this, his heart leaped with joy.

He hurriedly pulled out a document from his bosom, walked forward five steps, raised it above his head, and presented it to Zhou Ping'an.

Zhou Ping'an took it, unrolled the scroll, and what burst forth into his sight was a shocking sight.

[Five households make one wu, two wu make one she, ten she make one li, ten li make one pavilion, ten pavilions make one township, ten townships make one county, ten counties make one prefecture...]

[First Rank Scholar: Salary of fifty stones, 1.5 qing of land, 1.5 residences;

Second Order Artisan: Salary of a hundred stones, 2 qing of land, 2 residences;

Three-pendant Niao: Salary of a hundred and fifty stones, 3 qing of land, 3 residences; Fourth Rank: Salary of two hundred stones, 4 qing of land, 4 residences...]

[Tens of thousands of people live together, monitoring each other; any signs of dissent reported by others, when proven, are heavily rewarded.]

[Gather poetry and songs from the people, recite laws and regulations daily, the sovereign's words...]

"Pop!"

Zhou Ping'an, sweating at the forehead, read on.

He snapped the scroll shut in an instant.

A surge of murderous intent rose in his heart.

Looking again at the young scholar before him, whose robes had faded from washing, he sighed secretly as he observed the brilliance in the other's eyes.

[A stigma for a thousand years, indeed a stigma for a thousand years. Buddy, you've offered such a strategy; while it may make me powerful for now, in the future aren't you afraid of being torn apart by chariots, having your entire family executed, and leaving a name to be cursed by history...]

At first. Zhou Ping'an merely thought the system presented seemed familiar.

But after listening carefully and especially upon seeing the "Five Techniques for Controlling the People," my goodness.

This person couldn't possibly be the Shang Yang from another world, could he?

"Allow me to ponder this, you may leave."

Zhou Ping'an's feelings were complicated.

Back in modern society, he too would stomp his feet and curse at the skies, denouncing that surnamed Shang as utterly inhumane. For thousands of years, the pain of the people of Zhuxia was caused by these machinations, its poison enduring without end.

His theory was treated as an essential tenet by successive rulers; all of them spurned it, yet all of them used it.

So much so that,

even after three wars, it still left the people in dire straits, still believing themselves fortunate.

It's like being buried up to one's neck in a hole and still shouting gleefully for the soil to be packed in tighter because it's cool.

In this place, Zhou Ping'an felt some hesitation.

...

"What do you think?"

After dismissing his subordinates,

only Lin Huaiyu and Green Lady remained in the hall.

One managed internal affairs, the other oversaw intelligence; both had already bound their futures and lives to Zhou Ping'an, to say nothing of the subtle affection they felt for each other.

Considering their relationship of mutual prosperity and mutual loss, there was really no need to be constantly on guard against each other.

"What's there to think? I actually find it quite good. Such a policy would unify the strength of six hundred thousand people. When leading troops north, wouldn't the momentum be unstoppable?" Green Lady first seemed puzzled, then immediately exclaimed in admiration.

"Especially the method of granting titles for military achievements—it's truly ingenious.

Everyone would surely fight to the death for land and titles, making it much more effective than any other incentive.

No longer would there be an immediate collapse upon facing setbacks... avoiding the chaos of today."

Don't I know it would be extremely effective?

Back in modern society, the Great Qin Dynasty annihilated the six nations using this very method, their military might unmatched under the heavens.

But this is the Book of Lord Shang.

It's Imperial Art.

Using it costs dearly in moral terms.

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