Chapter 144: The Complete Handover

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At the same time, Fang Xian was delighted to discover that Jianmen County was exceptionally rich in medicinal herbs. It frequently supplied all kinds of herbs to Guangyuan Commandery and other regions. This came as a wonderful surprise to him, for with such abundant medicinal resources, he would be able to cultivate more elite soldiers.

That was not all. Jianmen County lay deep within remote mountains, and in its one town, six strongholds, and numerous settled villages, most of the inhabitants were hunters. They either knew a little martial arts or were skilled with bow and arrow, making them all exceptionally capable recruits.

“General Zhao, please tell me about the garrison forces.” Fang Xian nodded, refilled both men’s teacups, then raised his own and took a sip before turning to Zhao Yueqian.

Zhao Yueqian was over forty, with thick brows, large eyes, and a square, sharply defined face that gave him an imposing air. Yet when Fang Xian sensed the energy within him, he found that although Zhao was a first-rate expert, his aura was unstable. He must have been suffering from an old injury.

“Reporting to Your Excellency, the permanent garrison of Jianmen County numbers thirty thousand soldiers, or thirty-two thousand including logistical personnel. Apart from the ten thousand stationed permanently at Jianmen Pass, we must also guard the eight military strongholds. Three thousand are stationed permanently at Jiange, while each of the other seven strongholds has one thousand men.

“These seven military strongholds are actually the one town and six stockades under Jianmen County: Fengsheng Town, Little Jian Stockade, Baimian Stockade, Baken Stockade, Lianggu Stockade, Longju Stockade, and Tuoxi Stockade.

“Thus, the thirty thousand garrison troops rotate their duties. At any given time, ten thousand soldiers remain stationed in the barracks outside the county seat, where they train, take leave, reclaim wasteland, or hunt.” Zhao Yueqian spoke concisely, though he occasionally gave a light cough.

“General Zhao, do you still have an internal injury that has not healed?” Fang Xian nodded after listening and asked with concern.

“Five years ago, I fought against the border forces of the Xia Kingdom and was struck by a stray arrow. It did not endanger my life, but it left behind a lingering ailment,” Zhao Yueqian replied.

“When I was in Wudu, my medical skills earned me the title of miracle physician among the people there. I may be able to cure your old injury completely.” Fang Xian smiled at Zhao Yueqian, whose eyes immediately brightened.

“That is true. Although we are far away in Jianmen, we have heard merchants from Guangyuan City speak of it. The Prince Consort even cured the former Crown Prince’s terminal illness. An old injury like the general’s should be a simple matter for him,” Huang Dayuan hurriedly added.

Fang Xian immediately took Zhao Yueqian’s pulse. After using his mysterious energy to examine Zhao’s body, he discovered that the man’s left lung had suffered some damage, while several of the surrounding meridians were partially blocked, hindering his cultivation.

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Fang Xian fetched a set of silver needles and swiftly treated Zhao Yueqian. With the aid of his mysterious energy, he caused Zhao to spit out several mouthfuls of foul blood in less than half an hour. Afterward, Zhao Yueqian’s spirits lifted, and he felt his entire body grow lighter, as though something that had been binding him had vanished.

He soon realized that the meridians around his heart and lungs, which had been obstructed for years, had been cleared as well. His internal energy could now flow freely, and he would once again be able to cultivate. For several years, he had been unable to practice properly.

“I will also prepare a prescription to restore your body. If you take the medicine on schedule for half a month, you should make a complete recovery.” Fang Xian then picked up his brush and wrote out a prescription, instructing Zhao Yueqian to obtain and decoct the medicine himself.

“This humble officer thanks Your Excellency for your great kindness. I shall gladly devote my life to you and never shrink from death.” Zhao Yueqian immediately dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully.

“Good. From now on, I will have to trouble General Zhao with the defense of Jianmen Pass.” Fang Xian nodded. He could not yet be certain whether he had truly won Zhao Yueqian’s allegiance, but at the very least, the man would no longer oppose him openly or covertly.

“I had heard that the Prince Consort’s medical skills were miraculous, but I still harbored some doubts. After witnessing it with my own eyes today, I can only say that even if Hua Tuo himself had returned to life and Bian Que had been reborn, they could do no better.” Having watched Fang Xian treat Zhao Yueqian’s old injury, Huang Dayuan was filled with admiration.

“If anyone in your family falls ill in the future and the physicians at the medical hall are unable to treat them, you may come to me,” Fang Xian said generously. Of course, his status was different now, and he no longer had much time to practice medicine. He would not treat ordinary ailments; only patients with difficult, incurable, or otherwise extraordinary illnesses would receive his attention.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Huang Dayuan was overjoyed by this promise and immediately clasped his hands respectfully.

“Beginning tomorrow, the Grand Princess will personally bring people to the county office to take over Jianmen County’s various documents and records. Lord Huang, make the necessary arrangements. From now on, the Grand Princess will oversee Jianmen County’s administrative affairs.

“If you are willing to remain here, you may continue serving as Magistrate of Jianmen. If you wish to leave Jianmen County, the Grand Princess can write to the Ministry of Personnel and have another post arranged for you.

“As for military affairs, beginning tomorrow I will assume complete authority over all matters concerning Jianmen Pass. General Zhao, return first and inform every commander remaining in camp to assemble tomorrow for the transfer of duties. Afterward, accompany me to inspect Jianmen Pass and all the military strongholds.” Fang Xian issued his orders to the two men.

“Yes. We shall obey the Prince Consort’s command,” they replied in unison. Afterward, they had lunch with Fang Xian before returning to make preparations.

The next day, Fang Xian and the Grand Princess, Wu Qingluan, went separately to the military camp and the county office to take full control of Jianmen County’s civil and military affairs. From that day onward, everything in Jianmen County would be decided by the two of them.

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When Wu Qingluan arrived, she brought with her various talented officials from the Grand Princess’s household, as well as a number of recruited advisers. They were perfectly suited to managing Jianmen County’s internal and administrative affairs. Wu Lanxin was also naturally gifted in management. She coordinated the overall arrangements and delegated the work to her subordinates, meaning Wu Qingluan did not need to concern herself with the details.

In the end, Huang Dayuan decided to remain. He had served as an official in Jianmen County for more than a decade, married and raised a family there, and become thoroughly integrated into the local community. Moreover, he was no longer young, and there was little chance of climbing any higher. It was therefore better to stay and accomplish something here. He would not have to work as hard as before, while still earning enough to support his family.

Wu Qingluan did not make things difficult for him. On the contrary, she appointed him as Wu Lanxin’s deputy. Huang Dayuan knew Jianmen County’s circumstances exceedingly well—one could say he knew them by heart. With his help in managing various affairs, Lanxin’s burden would be considerably lighter.

In the military camp, after Fang Xian took charge of the army’s defenses, he appointed Wu Ji and Li Daqi as Eagle-Raising Generals. Together with Zhao Yueqian, the three of them would serve as Fang Xian’s deputies.

In addition, apart from several first-rate experts such as Big Ox and Zhou the Bold, who entered Fang Xian’s personal guard, he assigned the other twenty-odd first-rate experts to the army, giving each command over five thousand troops.

Of course, Jianmen’s main camp currently held only sixty thousand soldiers. Another twenty thousand guarded Jianmen Pass and the various stockades, bringing the total force to merely eighty thousand.

Three days later, the Grand Princess’s residence issued new administrative regulations. From then on, the people of Jianmen County would need only to pay medicinal herbs as their taxes; all grain levies were abolished. At the same time, the government would purchase large quantities of various medicinal herbs at prices no lower than those offered in Guangyuan City.

The Jianmen Army was also formally established. The former Imperial Guard Army and the garrison forces were incorporated into it, while young men were recruited from among the common people. Those skilled in martial arts were especially welcome to enlist and would receive priority access to cultivation manuals, along with other resources to aid their training.

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