Chapter 99

Chapter 99

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 3: Galloping Through Bingzhou, Troops Depart Hedong Chapter 99: The Young Governor

Belonging to the book:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 99 Young…

Should we first suppress Qiao Yan’s position as the Governor of Bingzhou, or should we first compete for the clearly established positions of the Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou?

This doesn’t seem like a difficult question to answer.

Even though the bandits in Liangzhou have not been pacified, Liu Hong has already appointed Huangfu Song and Dong Zhuo to lead troops to lift the siege of Chencang. With Huangfu Song’s combat skills, even if he cannot completely annihilate the bandits in Xiliang within one winter, it should not be difficult to stabilize the Han military camps and gradually push the counterattack front.

Even though the southern part of Jingzhou is filled with bandits, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the seventh year of Guanghe has exacerbated its chaos, there are also many noble families and famous scholars in Jingzhou. With military support, there should be opportunities for countermeasures.

Just occupying half of a province is enough to be called the power of a feudal lord.

In comparison, Bingzhou may face the threat of invasions by the Xianbei and Xiongnu at any time. If it weren’t for Qiao Yan’s decisive methods, it might not be any better than Liangzhou or Jingzhou.

Indeed… there is no need to be fixated on this.

Lu Zhi couldn’t help but look at Qiao Yan with a complex gaze when he turned to follow the sound.

When she mentioned to Liu Hong that she should not be the Governor of Bingzhou, she deliberately pointed out that if the situation in Yizhou and Youzhou were to establish governors, these four provinces should also have governors, and not just give such an honor to Bingzhou—

Was this a refusal, or was it a decoy to divert attention?

And Liu Hong actually continued her words without hesitation, firmly placing Huang Wan in the position of Governor of Yuzhou. This was clearly not a decision that could be made hastily, showing that her words had perfectly gauged the emperor’s intentions.

This girl, who also did not sleep at night, stood in the corridor in front of the courtyard wrapped in a cloak, making Lu Zhi vaguely remember that she had also come to the Quzhou camp at night.

After three and a half years, almost four years, her gaze was still as clear and sharp as it was back then, but her height and mature face made one suddenly realize how time flies.

Seeing her seemingly wandering at night rather than being troubled by the heavy responsibilities placed on her, Lu Zhi couldn’t help but ask, “Could you trouble Ye Shu to tell me one thing, is the position of Governor of Bingzhou what you desire?”

Because of the cold moonlight, Lu Zhi’s thin face added a bit of solemnity.

Qiao Yan did not avoid his gaze and replied, “Before answering Lord Lu’s question, I would like to tell Lord Lu a few stories.”

Seeing Lu Zhi nod, she said, “Three years ago, when I first arrived in Leping, I took in the Black Mountain Bandits and used the bark of the mulberry trees in the Taihang Mountains to make clothes, which later spread throughout Bingzhou as mulberry bark clothing.”

As soon as Qiao Yan said this, Lu Zhi realized that this was likely the truth that she would not casually reveal to outsiders, as in the external messages, mulberry bark clothing was not created in Leping.

Qiao Yan’s willingness to reveal this special information to him clearly indicated that there was no need to hide the answer to this question.

He listened as she continued, “When the first mulberry bark clothing was made, I invited a county resident to test the effect of the clothing. He told me that fortunately, the texture of the mulberry bark is hard and not easy to eat, otherwise, where would so much intact bark be left to make paper clothing for warmth? These words, heard three years later, still have a deafening effect.”

“This is the first story.”

Qiao Yan paused, then said, “Two years ago, when I held Governor Zhang Yi hostage and decided to exterminate the locusts, I passed through the farmland south of Taiyuan County and saw farmers wailing over their crops, carrying fishing nets to catch locusts in exchange for grain. Two years later, after I lifted the house arrest, I rode past and saw that all the wheat in their fields had been removed and replaced with soybeans.”

“I asked, soybeans are not a staple food, and their yield is not high, why plant soybeans instead of wheat? He told me that the locust disaster is unpredictable by human power. Today, the Marquis of Leping holds the governor and issues locust extermination policies, but tomorrow if someone else is in charge of Bingzhou, it may not be the same. So having something to eat is better than starving to death.”

“But within Bingzhou, even though the Fen River provides irrigation, the agricultural output cannot compare to that of Jingzhou and Yangzhou. If they plant soybeans for a living, after paying taxes, there is little left. But he deeply believed this method was feasible, and I didn’t know how to dissuade him.”

“This is the second story.”

Qiao Yan’s tone was calm, and her emotions seemed undisturbed, but to Lu Zhi, these stories were not just about her at that time.

Lu Zhi had seen poverty, but since he was young, he had studied under Ma Rong, and all he heard and saw were the pillars of the Han dynasty. He had never heard anyone say things like “fortunately, we didn’t eat all the bark” or “to survive the locust disaster, it’s better to plant beans instead of wheat.”

They sounded half absurd and half bitter.

Qiao Yan continued, “I have seen the Black Mountain Bandits jump into traps for thirty thousand dan of grain, and I have also seen them plant and harvest a million dan of grain on the mountain fields, taking their due share.”

“I have seen the White Wave Bandits fight among themselves for food to survive, and I have also seen them bravely kill bandits in exchange for food.”

“Lord Lu, in today’s world, everyone wants to survive. If I am confident in my ability to govern a province and save its people, then why can’t I be the Governor of Bingzhou when Youzhou and Yizhou have governors?”

This also seems like a question that is not difficult to answer.

Lu Zhi looked into Qiao Yan’s eyes, which were filled with the bright moonlight, making him clearly see her exceptionally firm expression.

In front of this elder who had given her the praise of “Talent to Assist a King,” she did not avoid the question of whether to compete for the position of Governor of Bingzhou, but openly stated that since she had the ability and the opportunity, why not compete!

Then those refutations about the feudal theory of governors, the argument that Cui Lie had done nothing wrong as the Governor of Bingzhou, and the suggestion to let the emperor listen to the court’s words, all three steps back were just to ensure that the final step forward would not fail.

But it was precisely this frankness that made Lu Zhi feel that her scheming was not unacceptable.

If it were during Dong Zhuo’s chaotic rule and the decline of the Han dynasty, when governors had become a threat to the unity of the Han dynasty, Lu Zhi, a loyal and upright minister of the Han, would never support Qiao Yan’s extraordinary promotion.

But in the current situation, where fires are breaking out everywhere but the Han dynasty still maintains its situation, it is still feasible.

The “Ling” in Emperor Ling of Han’s posthumous title is not so easy to achieve.

Chaos without loss, this is the current world.

Lu Zhi let out a long breath, watching it condense into a white mist in the winter, suddenly feeling a bit relaxed.

He did not express any approval or disapproval of Qiao Yan’s shift from pleading guilty to seeking the position of Governor of Bingzhou, but suddenly said, “When you return to Bingzhou, send more paper.”

If he hadn’t connected mulberry bark clothing with the Marquis of Leping’s paper earlier, it might have been difficult to see the connection between paper and paper clothing, but if both came from Leping, then there was no need to doubt.

If mulberry bark was used to make paper, then the so-called cost was completely her nonsense. Lu Zhi did not believe that with the maturity of the paper she had sent earlier, she wouldn’t have some stockpile.

Sure enough, he immediately saw Qiao Yan bow to him and reply, “I will follow Lord Lu’s wishes.”

Not only did Lu Zhi feel relieved, but Qiao Yan also felt a bit more at ease.

Liu Hong was indeed wary of Lu Zhi’s military power, but he did not disregard Lu Zhi. Given Lu Zhi’s current position as the Minister of the Interior, although whether the emperor listened to his advice was up to Liu Hong, his influence was another matter.

If Lu Zhi, while taking on the responsibility of educating her while she was in the capital, also opposed her taking the position of Governor of Bingzhou, it would undoubtedly be bad news for Qiao Yan.

Fortunately…

Fortunately, Lu Zhi was not a pedantic person!

But what really surprised Qiao Yan was when He Jin’s brother He Miao was the first to say in the court meeting that it was inappropriate for a woman, even a fourteen-year-old girl, to hold the position of Governor of Bingzhou, Lu Zhi asked He Miao, “What merit do you have to ask such a question?”

Since the topic of the debate was related to her, Qiao Yan was also present.

The court meeting was early, and because it was winter, the sky outside was not yet bright, and the hall still needed candles for lighting, which also clearly illuminated Lu Zhi’s displeasure when he faced He Miao.

One was in civil affairs, the other in military affairs, and they happened to be in positions where they could almost face each other, one as the Minister of the Interior and the other as the General of the Chariots and Cavalry.

Qiao Yan had a title but no official position, standing behind the two, and could clearly see the confrontation.

He Miao replied without thinking, “I quelled the Xingyang rebellion.”

The Xingyang rebellion? This was indeed He Miao’s notable achievement.

In the fourth year of Zhongping, which was this February, the Xingyang rebels killed the magistrate of Zhongmu and rebelled, and this battle was quelled by He Miao.

He had previously been appointed as the Colonel of the Yue Cavalry Camp and the Governor of Henan, promoted to General of the Chariots and Cavalry, all thanks to his sister Empress He. Only because of this battle’s victory was he enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jiyang, which was his own merit.

Because of this, he spoke with utmost confidence.

But he immediately heard Lu Zhi reply, “The Xingyang rebels were only a thousand people, and the General of the Chariots and Cavalry led three thousand to quell the rebellion, isn’t that like cutting wood with an iron axe, how easy. If this can earn the position of a top three general and the title of Marquis of Jiyang County, then the Marquis of Leping, who pacified two provinces alone, should be the Grand General.”

“Minister Lu.” As soon as Lu Zhi finished speaking, Liu Hong above spoke, clearly meaning for him to be cautious.

But Liu Hong looked at Lu Zhi and Qiao Yan and did not mind this defense.

The later Fanyang Lu clan began to rise with Lu Zhi and flourished in the hands of his son Lu Yu. Currently, although Lu Zhi was wary of Liu Hong because of his military achievements, it was not because of his background.

In a way, Lu Zhi and Qiao Yan had something in common.

Looking at Lu Zhi’s fearless reports, one could see that this man was a loyal minister of the Han.

What Liu Hong feared was that Lu Zhi had many disciples, and if he were a local general, it might cause problems.

But if it was just to facilitate Qiao Yan’s position as Governor of Bingzhou at this time, it wouldn’t make him feel like it was any kind of factionalism.

At most, he needed to remind Lu Zhi not to offend He Miao too much.

Lu Zhi bowed to He Miao, “General of the Chariots and Cavalry, do not take offense, and do not say that I am biased, as the Minister of the Interior, I am just speaking impartially.”

Lu Zhi’s words blocked He Miao again.

He Jin glanced at He Miao’s expression, somehow feeling like he was seeing himself from yesterday.

These literati’s rhetoric was really not something he could handle.

It just so happened that today was a grand court meeting, and none of his General’s Office staff could attend, leaving him with no one to offer advice.

He tried to recall the draft Chen Lin had prepared for him yesterday, but he had forgotten most of it after waking up, only vaguely remembering something like—stealing the tripod, overturning the heavy vessel, the hen’s crowing, the family’s ruin.

Then, what was next?

Sixteen words were not enough for momentum.

He Jin turned to Yuan Shao for help.

At this time, although Yuan Shao relied on He Jin, his own position was still respectable. He was currently serving as the Colonel of the Tiger Guard in Luoyang, and naturally, he was also in this court meeting.

But at this moment, Yuan Shao was keeping his gaze vacant, clearly not intending to take on He Jin’s look.

As Qiao Yan had guessed, after Qiao Yan’s reasons for refusal received a positive response from Liu Hong and she threw out the bait of the Governors of Jingzhou and Liangzhou, the Yuan clan’s internal decision was indeed to temporarily refrain from opposing the appointment of the Governor of Bingzhou.

Instead, they would first ensure that their people, or those they promoted, could secure these two vacant lucrative positions.

Yuan Wei had once suffered a loss in Qiao Yan’s enfeoffment, always feeling that this person was somewhat mysterious.

Moreover, in their view, even if Qiao Yan were stripped of the position of Governor of Bingzhou, what good would it do?

Han Fu, the former subordinate of the Yuan clan as the General of Du Liao, although subject to Qiao Yan’s command, could be seen from her choice to inform the Yuan clan about the Eight Schools of the Western Garden that there might be room to ease relations. On the contrary, if they were to obstruct in every way, it might exacerbate the conflict.

Whether the position of Governor of Bingzhou would be settled or not, her title as Marquis of Leping was still here, and with Bingzhou’s environment and Qiao Yan’s bandit troops…








Han Fu is likely to suffer a great loss.

It would be better for everyone to take a step back.

On the other hand, the other two positions are more valuable to compete for.

Huang Wan, the Governor of Qingzhou, being appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou, might be a signal from Liu Hong to show goodwill to the noble families, as Huang Wan was recommended by the late Yang Ci.

For the Yuan Clan, Huang Wan becoming the Governor of Yuzhou is actually a good thing.

According to the principle of the Three Mutual Laws, the Yuan Clan cannot have anyone become the Governor of Yuzhou.

But what about the Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou?

That is possible.

While Yuan Shao was distracted, he unsurprisingly heard little opposition in the background, and even the few objections were refuted by Lu Zhi. Then, Liu Hong asked, “What does the Grand Commandant think?”

The Grand Commandant? The head of the Three Excellencies, Cao Song, who bought his position to enjoy the thrill of being an official.

He felt a bit lost, much like Cui Lie when Liu Hong called on him earlier. But he quickly thought about what his son and grandson had said about Qiao Yan last night and decided it wouldn’t be wrong to follow their advice.

He replied, “I believe appointing the Marquis of Leping as the Governor of Bingzhou is acceptable. Huang Wan as the Governor of Yuzhou and Qiao Yan as the Governor of Bingzhou, together, they symbolize the brilliance of jade and the auspiciousness of the occasion.”

“…” Even though Liu Hong expected Cao Song not to oppose, he still stiffened for a moment upon hearing the words “auspiciousness.”

Is this something that can be said in court?

He waved his hand, deciding not to ask him further, and allowed him to keep his position as Grand Commandant, considering the billion coins he had paid.

“What do the Minister over the Masses and the Minister of Works say?”

The Minister over the Masses, Ding Kong, and the Minister of Works, Xu Xiang, had witnessed the former Grand Commandant Zhang Yan being slandered by eunuchs and executed. They had become somewhat disheartened and had been seeking to avoid mistakes rather than achieve merits in their positions over the past year. They were unlikely to express any opinions now.

From Liu Hong’s demeanor, the tendency was clear. Even if they had some doubts, they simply replied, “No objections.”

However, Yang Biao stepped forward at this moment.

“What does the Commandant of the Guards have to say?” Liu Hong, feeling a headache from being manipulated by the noble families, thought that throwing Huang Wan, whom he had previously favored, into the position of Governor of Yuzhou would at least silence the Yang Clan. But now, Yang Biao had stepped forward.

But come to think of it, if he remembered correctly, hadn’t the young master of the Hongnong Yang Clan, Yang Xiu, stayed in Leping for a while?

Yang Biao, holding his tablet, replied, “I have no objections to the Marquis of Leping taking over as the Governor of Bingzhou. I just thought of a saying: ‘To be in a position, one must perform its duties.'”

“Liu Bo’an, the Governor of Youzhou, served as the Governor of Youzhou, the Chancellor of Ganling, and the Director of the Imperial Clan before becoming the Governor of Youzhou. Liu Junlang, the Governor of Yizhou, started as a Gentleman of the Household, then served as the Magistrate of Luoyang, the Governor of Jizhou, the Prefect of Nanyang, the Director of the Imperial Clan, and the Minister of Ceremonies before becoming the Governor of Yizhou.”

“Marquis Qiao’s talent in military leadership is undeniable, and her performance during the locust plague was commendable. However, the Governor of Bingzhou oversees the provinces below and reports to the Son of Heaven above. It is not a position that can be handled solely by quick thinking and pointing swords at the Xiongnu. The administrative tasks are complex, and overseeing the officials in the province cannot be done solely through correspondence. She needs capable assistants.”

“I, Yang Biao, dare to ask Marquis Qiao, if the Son of Heaven appoints you as the Governor of Bingzhou, how do you plan to handle this?”

Yang Biao seemed genuinely serious in his inquiry, making it difficult to discern his true attitude towards Qiao Yan taking over as the Governor of Bingzhou.

But to Qiao Yan, the timing of his question was perfect.

She stepped forward and replied, “If Your Majesty does not reconsider the appointment, I would like to request two edicts to ensure I can fulfill my duties as Governor.”

Liu Hong was somewhat surprised by Qiao Yan’s response but allowed her to continue.

“First, since Lord Cui is the Prefect of Taiyuan and shares the same location as the provincial government, I request Your Majesty to allow him to continue his teaching duties. He has served as a Prefect and then as the Commandant of Justice, excelling in administrative documents, and can assist and guide from the side.”

Whether this was assistance or supervision, Liu Hong had his own judgment. Her proactive mention of this showed she understood the excessive power of the Governor of Bingzhou and the need for some restraint.

This slightly alleviated his regret from earlier when he felt he had no one to rely on.

“What is the second request?” Liu Hong asked.

“Second, the former Grand Commandant Zhang Boshen was dismissed for poor performance in battle, which is justified. However, I have heard that Lord Zhang is good at recognizing talent and has promoted many knowledgeable individuals to the Grand Commandant’s office. Among them, there must be several well-versed in legal documents. Could we select a few to serve in Bingzhou?”

The Grand Commandant’s office?

Liu Hong, residing in the Southern Palace, knew more about the situation in the Three Excellencies’ offices than before. In his view, there weren’t many talented individuals in the Grand Commandant’s office, but they should indeed be knowledgeable about legal documents.

Considering Cao Song was just there to pass time, it was feasible to assign a few from the Grand Commandant’s office to Qiao Yan.

This request, though unusual, was indeed feasible.

With Qiao Yan in Bingzhou, there should be no problem in setting the overall strategy. What was lacking were people to refine and correct her directives and then draft them into documents according to the Han laws. Selecting personnel from the Grand Commandant’s office was indeed feasible.

It was also a response to Yang Biao’s question.

After granting permission, Liu Hong saw Qiao Yan reply to Yang Biao, “The position of Governor is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly. My strength lies in daring to use Xiongnu blood to forge our Han borders, but I lack experience in governance. However, I am determined to be cautious in every detail and will not act on assumptions. What does the Commandant of the Guards think?”

“Marquis Qiao’s words are enough to convince me,” Yang Biao smiled slightly. “Daring to use Xiongnu blood to forge our Han borders—I hope Marquis Qiao will take this as her ambition.”

With that, he stepped back into the ranks.

This indicated he had no further objections.

Liu Hong looked at the officials below, who no longer seemed inclined to speak, and his gaze lingered longest on Qiao Yan.

In the candlelight of the hall, his expression was not entirely clear, as if he were pondering something, but he finally spoke.

“Since none of the ministers have objections, then—

I have decided to appoint the Marquis of Leping as the Governor of Bingzhou, in charge of the military and administrative affairs of Bingzhou.”

As Qiao Yan stepped forward to thank him, Liu Hong slowly added, “Yue Shu, do not disappoint me.”

This is the Governor of Bingzhou!

May she truly be the fire that continues the foundation of the Han Dynasty, capable of suppressing Han Fu, the General Who Crosses the Liao, and guarding the borders of Bingzhou while leading troops to aid when necessary.

His thoughts condensed into these six meaningful words.

Fortunately, with Lu Zhi’s assistance and Yang Biao’s questioning, much of his effort was saved.

The room was heated by a charcoal brazier, but Liu Hong felt a chill seeping into his bones, perhaps due to his worsening health. He gathered his spirits and said, “As for the Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou—”

“Currently, the rebellions in Lingling and Guiyang in Jingzhou are being controlled by Sun Wentai, the Prefect of Changsha. The bandits in Liangzhou are being handled by Huangfu Yizhen, and the situation is gradually stabilizing. However, the Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou must be both civil and military talents to be competent.”

Upon hearing these two key positions being offered by Liu Hong, Qiao Yan even felt for a moment that her newly appointed position as the Governor of Bingzhou might be transparent.

Everyone’s attention had already shifted to these two positions.

But considering Liu Hong’s intention to further balance power, it was unlikely anyone would easily obtain these positions.

Sure enough, he immediately added, “The Governors of these two provinces are of great importance. I have a selection method I would like to discuss with everyone. Is that acceptable?”

“Those with outstanding political achievements and the courage to face such situations may submit self-recommendations to me. In the documents, they should clearly state how to resolve the bandit issues in Jingzhou, how to handle Ma Teng and Han Sui in Liangzhou, and how to settle the Qiang people. I will select the most suitable candidates and discuss the final decision with the ministers.”

This method…

Yuan Shao pondered for a moment, exchanged a glance with Yuan Ji, and believed there was room for the Yuan Clan to maneuver.

Analyzing situations through essays was their forte.

It seemed there was indeed a chance to compete!

The Yuan Clan thought so, and so did others. Since everyone was on the same starting line, it was better to go back and plan accordingly.

As Qiao Yan stepped out of the Chongde Hall, she saw many ambitious faces around her, appearing somewhat strange in the early morning light. Then, she heard someone call her from behind. Turning around, she saw it was the Commandant of the Guards, Yang Biao.

He spoke first, “Today’s questioning in the hall was out of official duty. I hope Marquis Qiao will not take offense?”

Qiao Yan replied, “Without your fair questioning, I would not have been able to request those two edicts from His Majesty. How could I feel offended? Promotions beyond the norm should be handled with caution. Your questioning was absolutely correct.”

“There is also some personal concern in my words,” Yang Biao sighed. “My son, Yang Xiu, is currently observing mourning for my father in Hongnong. Due to the urgency of the situation, I returned to court. In our correspondence, I heard he intends to return to Leping to serve under you after the three-year mourning period.”

“According to the old customs of noble families, this is not the norm. I cannot dissuade him, so I had to ensure that Marquis Qiao’s office would have more officials to handle administrative tasks.”

Yang Biao seemed quite troubled by Yang Xiu’s belief that Leping was a place for him to grow.

When Yang Ci was alive, Yang Xiu was still young, and a bit of willfulness was acceptable. But at this age, with a young county marquis like Qiao Yan as a shining example, this idea was somewhat inappropriate.

Therefore, it was better to have more capable officials in Bingzhou.

With this, Yang Xiu would either become more ambitious, and it wouldn’t matter if he spent a few years in Bingzhou, or he would retreat and grow according to the planned path.

His thoughts culminated in that question in the hall, and now he said to Qiao Yan, “What needed to be said has already been said in the hall. Now, I just offer my congratulations to Marquis Qiao.”

“No,” he turned back after taking two steps, “I should say, Governor Qiao of Bingzhou.”

Governor Qiao of Bingzhou…

Qiao Yan was momentarily stunned.

This was indeed a fresh title.

Adding the province’s name after the surname was an honor not even granted to a Governor, only to a Governor.

No wonder these people were willing to give up suppressing her for the titles of Governor of Jingzhou and Liangzhou.

For example, Yuan Shao, after some analysis, gave up competing for the Governor of Liangzhou and instead aimed for the Governor of Jingzhou.

To He Yong and Xu You, just like the selection of the General Who Crosses the Liao and the establishment of the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, this essay competition for the Governor positions, if the essays were insightful, might also earn the Emperor’s favor and appointment.

And the situation in Jingzhou was most suitable for Yuan Shao to showcase his strengths in the essay.

Yuan Shao was no mediocrity, especially after Qiao Yan had taken the lead. He simulated the situation in Jingzhou for a long time and wrote a lengthy essay overnight, submitting it to the Southern Palace the next day.

But perhaps no one expected that among the submitted essays, someone had cheated.

Saying “cheated” might not be entirely accurate; perhaps it was more like malicious underbidding in the bidding process.

This essay was from Liu Biao, a member of the imperial clan.

In his essay, he summarized:

Others would need to borrow troops from His Majesty to pacify Jingzhou, or at least borrow grain to support the troops. But I am different. If I were to become the Governor of Jingzhou, I would ride alone into Jingzhou and negotiate with the Kuai and Cai families in Nanyang, surely resolving the chaos in Jingzhou for His Majesty.

The fact that he required no troops or funds already made his essay stand out among the rest. Moreover, Liu Hong indeed preferred members of the imperial clan.

But there were also complications.

Liu Biao had caused trouble with the Imperial Academy students during the Prohibition of Factionalists and was implicated. Now, he was just a Commandant of the Northern Army. Appointing him as the Governor of Jingzhou would be even less convincing than appointing Qiao Yan.

What a headache…

Qiao Yan, however, paid no attention to Liu Hong’s dilemma.

Since she was staying at Lu Zhi’s residence, many who wished to interact with the young Governor were intercepted, giving her the leisure to visit the Grand Commandant’s office to select suitable officials for Bingzhou.

And she wasn’t just randomly choosing from the Grand Commandant’s office.

Facing the group of officials available for selection, she finally stopped in front of a middle-aged scholar, a faint smile on her lips, “May I ask, are you Jia Wenhe from Liangzhou?”