Someone surnamed Yun should naturally live in the Cloud Dream Marsh, just like a mouse returning to its mouse hole. It’s just that now his old nest had too many idle miscellaneous people. Standing in this military review tower that should have been called Yueyang Tower, his thoughts were myriad. Others reflected on a thousand years past, but Yun Ye’s thoughts spanned a thousand years into the future. Before long, a fellow named Li Bai would inscribe poetry on the pillars, and a fellow named Du Fu would write poems here. Several hundred years later, someone named Fan Zhongyan would write a famous piece for this tower—those two lines “worry before the world worries, rejoice after the world rejoices” must be ignored in Great Tang, because Li Er would eliminate this kind of sage who merged himself with the world. Han Yu merely submitted a memorial distinguishing Buddhism and was immediately exiled far away to Lingnan.

The Li family was very stubborn. They believed people with this kind of all-encompassing mindset could only be imperial clan members, preferably the Emperor—even the Crown Prince shouldn’t think this way. The ideology of family-controlled empire firmly shackled their minds. They allowed you to have small ambitions and would even be happy about it. If you were completely selfless to the extreme, they would immediately place you on a shrine or send you to hell.

From one tower you could see society’s myriad conditions. Meng Haoran could write the famous line “steam rises from Cloud Dream Marsh, waves shake Yueyang city” because of Great Tang’s broad-mindedness. A prosperous national situation would nurture romantic talents like Li Bai and Meng Haoran. Of course, during unfortunate times it would breed compassionate fellows like Du Fu and Bai Juyi. You need only place “Heaven birthed my talents for a purpose” together with “In death I know all worldly matters are empty” to thoroughly taste how social prosperity or decline influenced individual destiny.

Fan Zhongyan could rejoice, could worry—Yun Ye couldn’t. Maintaining a mindset of still waters was very important. Strolling through the military review tower, watching the world where water and sky were one color, in the deep twilight mist savage beasts seemed to lurk. High in the sky an eagle was soaring…

How to transform invisible enemies into visible ones—this was the problem Yun Ye had been considering these past few days. You yourself stand beneath the great sun while they hide in shadows you can’t see. Wanting to deal with people you can’t find at all is impossible.

However, now he didn’t need to think about it. With refugees and water bandits everywhere covering the mountains and fields, those people would definitely be unable to resist this temptation. Wouldn’t controlling these people and engaging Yun Ye in real combat be even more interesting?

He was just afraid they wouldn’t act! Liu Fang sent word saying he’d already arrived in Yueyang, but Yun Ye hadn’t seen even a shadow. In the vast eight hundred li of misty Dongting Lake, throw in a hundred tigers and you still couldn’t see traces. He didn’t know how Old Liu would force those people from the shadows into real combat with Yun Ye. This required great perseverance and wisdom. Fortunately, Liu Fang lacked neither quality.

Those people didn’t follow rules at all. The ghost-faced corpse had clearly been given to Zhangsun Chong, so why create another one now? Dongting Lake’s waves continuously struck the military review tower. A large wooden barrel was sent by the waves beneath the tower. After one glance discovering it was a ghost-faced corpse, Yun Ye ordered people to carefully write “sent to wrong address” three characters on the corpse, then had the corpse towed by boat and sent back to Dongting Lake. Whether it was effective or not, first dispute it, then talk. Whether they corrected it was up to them. Whether you disputed it was up to you. Since you had this right, why not exercise it? You should know that casually giving up any of your rights was foolish.

Their challenging spirit would never stop. Yun Ye could only write proclamations telling the refugees covering the mountains and fields that as long as they emerged from the wilderness marshes, they would receive government care. All previous crimes could be written off with one stroke. Guan Tinglong had long wanted to do this, but unfortunately his official position gave him no authority to do so.

A third-rank senior official serving as regional governor—this was also unprecedented. Luoyang and Jinyang, these superior prefectures, had governors who were merely third-rank officials. A lower prefecture like Yuezhou having a fifth-rank official as governor was already overqualified. However, this had one benefit: here Yun Ye completely had the final say. Those officials who dared debate with Guan Tinglong could only continuously acknowledge loudly before Yun Ye. A national marquis’s words weren’t something you, a mere minor local official, could question.

So when Yun Ye said to forgive refugees’ crimes, they were forgiven. If problems arose, the punishment board could in no way land on his own backside. Yuezhou now had a huge head that could not only shade sunlight but even block rain. Subordinate officials’ enthusiasm for handling affairs rose. Doing right earned rewards, doing wrong brought no punishment—only those who didn’t work would be dealt with by the Governor.

This counted as gaining insight. The subordinate official evaluation books that previous governors treated as treasures were thrown by Governor Marquis into the fire basin like garbage. Watching pale blue flames rise from the basin, some were gloomy, some joyful, others planned to perform the full prostration ceremony. Everyone’s past disappeared—whether past achievements or stains, all vanished without trace. Other governors could use this thing to threaten subordinates and truly control local power. Yun Ye didn’t need to—no one was so blind as to fight a national marquis for gubernatorial authority.

Burning that thing violated regulations, but everyone very cleverly maintained silence. Who could drag people from the Bai Qi Si out of the hall for questioning? The Governor could. Bai Qi Si people were very unaccustomed to exposure in broad daylight. When the Governor inquired clearly about his official position, he was kicked out of the hall. The reason was his position was too low—he wasn’t qualified to know the Governor’s affairs. He must find his superior before being told.

Yuezhou Administrator Han Cheng’s sweat beads fell with crackling sounds. The reason was he’d just discovered his subordinate official was actually a Bai Qi Si person, and this person had always been his most trusted one.

“You three don’t need to come out. They’ve all been exposed. Without supervision in Yuezhou wouldn’t be good either. However, record what you should record—don’t jump out and cause trouble. I, the Marquis, don’t need to answer to anyone for beheading a few small soldiers.”

Qian Sheng very much wanted to jump out and curse loudly, but he didn’t dare. What Yun Ye was doing was more terrifying than not exposing Bai Qi Si people. Now who was friend, who was secret agent—only heaven knew. Whether there were any or not, perhaps only Yun Ye himself was clear. Three? Go fool ghosts.

Yun Ye, as grand commander, naturally had to live on the ship. The great ship was moored beside the military review tower, surrounded entirely by warships. Seagoing warships brought into the great lake—that crushing-all imposing power absolutely made people marvel. Moreover, the densely installed catapults and eight-ox crossbows were even more awe-inspiring.

Every two hours, water ghosts would dive down to inspect the great ship. Yun Ye didn’t plan to emerge from the military camp again. Having powerful advantages without borrowing them—at least Yun Ye couldn’t do that. All these methods were to force enemies from the shadows into the open. Once the two armies faced each other, Yun Ye felt he’d already secured victory.

Government orders continuously issued from the ship. Yuezhou’s government fully mobilized. Many officials mounted green donkeys and brought old servants to the wilderness to persuade those refugees to grasp this once-in-a-millennium opportunity—quickly register, and at that time fields would be distributed. Yuezhou’s Governor had specially obtained His Majesty’s grace exempting Yuezhou from three years of money and grain taxes. Three years without paying taxes—what more could you want?

That captured refugee leader also returned. The words he brought back weren’t the same as what the government said. Want to convert to civilian registration? Not so easy. You must first do a full year of hard labor. The government provides meals. After finishing hard labor after a year, you’re distributed land. Want to work? Wages will be distributed. Treated the same as those good citizens.

Hearing these words, Qian Sheng laughed heartily. He rode his donkey among the refugee water bandits telling them that as long as they walked out of the great marsh, they could obtain civilian registration. If anyone was willing to walk out with what Yun Ye said, that would be strange. A perfectly good meritorious deed was destroyed completely by Yun Ye’s crudeness and ignorance.

People in the world always believe they came to the mortal realm to suffer. Those officials riding donkeys spoke nonsense—where were wolves that didn’t eat meat? Where were dogs that didn’t eat dung? Who would believe in unprovoked grace? Think of the government’s proclamations in the worst way, then lower it another level before you can believe.

Isn’t that right? Big Dog brought back the most accurate news: punished to do hard labor for one year. What hard labor? Just digging earth, carrying bricks, smashing stones at construction sites. The government has no one to order around, so they reluctantly gave everyone a way to live. Everything became clear. Since they needed people, they wouldn’t go too far. Do hard labor for one year, then do it. Heard they provide meals—where aren’t you just filling your belly? More and more people in the great marsh—constantly fighting endlessly over territory, constantly people dying. Forget it, better to leave the marsh and accept government oppression. They must talk some sense at least.

Under Han Cheng and Qian Sheng’s uncomprehending gazes, large numbers of refugees began walking out of the Cloud Dream Marsh. Upon seeing government personnel, they asked whether doing hard labor really provided meals.

Qian Sheng told them they didn’t need to do hard labor—just register with the government to be distributed land. Speaking pleasantly still couldn’t make them believe. A white-haired elder continuously bowed saying: “Have mercy, sir! We just seek a peaceful bowl of rice to eat. Please don’t deceive us. Just tell us where to work for food and that’s enough.”

Qian Sheng once again explained the government’s attitude and swore oaths saying there was absolutely no deception. He’d already brought out his ancestors, but still couldn’t gain trust. What greeted him were pairs of disdainful eyes.

A rough and bold man carrying a whip walked over, slammed his waist knife into a pillar, and loudly said: “Listen up! At daybreak go to the construction site, return to quarters at sunset. Damn it, you’ve really lucked out. The Marquis said recently it’s all heavy labor. People can’t work without eating their fill, so three full meals a day. Work a full year and you’ll be given civilian registration. Damn it, all the good fortune has fallen on you. If the Marquis wasn’t desperate for labor, wanting such good fortune—dream on!”

“Each one looks like a ghost! Go south—the military has large stoves, millet rice, heard there’s even meat soup. First eat your fill, sleep one night to recover your strength, tomorrow go to the construction site. Did you hear or not?”

Hearing there was food, the refugees’ eyes immediately brightened. Calling to children and wives, they followed that fierce big man south to eat. As long as there was solid food today, tomorrow there would definitely also be some.

Leaving only Han Cheng and Qian Sheng unable to comprehend despite much thought, looking at each other speechlessly.