Xing Honglang stood beneath the east gate of Hedong City, personally overseeing the arrangements for the governor's welcome.
Cheng Xu, Zao Ying, Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu, and the rest had all made themselves scarce. Court etiquette was stiff, tedious, and unbearable to them. Lao Nanfeng was still in Puzhou and not within the Hedong Circuit, so he was naturally absent as well.
Truth be told, Xing Honglang disliked such formalities just as much. But as the nominal leader on the ground, there was no escaping it. She could only grit her teeth and lead a formation of regular militia soldiers to receive the officials.
Soon enough, the procession arrived.
It was a grand and intimidating display—nearly two thousand people in total.
Not only had the newly appointed Governor of Shanxi, Xu Dingchen, arrived, but accompanying him was Shanxi's General-in-Chief, Wang Guoliang.
In fact, Wang Guoliang had been frightened half to death upon hearing that Hedong Circuit had fallen into rebel hands. The imperial salt storehouse could not be lost. He immediately scraped together fifteen hundred troops and rushed out.
Along the way, he encountered Xu Dingchen, who had only just entered Shanxi to assume office. The two decided to travel together.
When the three parties met, an avalanche of formal greetings followed—mutual compliments, polite concern, and hollow praise piled atop one another like bricks.
We will spare the reader a million words of insincerity and proceed directly to the substance.
Xu Dingchen spoke first.
"On my way to assume office, I learned—just after crossing into Shanxi—that Hedong Circuit had fallen to rebels. I was truly shaken. Fortunately, less than three days later, news reached me that General Xing had retaken the city. That was a great relief."
Xing Honglang replied promptly, "My official post is that of Puzhou garrison commander. Leaving my station to intervene in Hedong was, strictly speaking, improper."
"Nonsense!" Xu Dingchen interrupted at once. "Puzhou and Hedong are only seventy li apart. When rebels were wreaking havoc here, and you acted decisively as the Puzhou commander, what crime could that be? Had you waited for a formal appointment and transfer order, the opportunity would have been lost."
He sighed.
"If those rebels had held Hedong City for even one more day, the suffering of the common people would have been immeasurable. General Xing, your swift recapture of the city was a great merit."
Xing Honglang smiled inwardly.
If that's how you see it, then so much the better.
She bowed slightly. "Now that Your Excellency the Governor and the General-in-Chief have arrived, this humble general should return to Puzhou."
Xu Dingchen turned to Wang Guoliang. "The Salt Inspector is dead, and nearly a thousand garrison soldiers have been lost. How should Hedong City be handled from here on?"
Wang Guoliang's face flushed.
Handled how? he cursed silently.
Shanxi was already crawling with rebels. The previous governor, Song Tongyin, had been forced to abandon most of the province and retreat to Taiyuan just to hold the line. Although Taiyuan had survived, other cities were devastated, and Song Tongyin had paid for it with his post.
Wang Guoliang's own troops were stretched to the breaking point. Most were tied down in northern Shanxi, fighting Zijing Liang, Wang Ziyong, Chuang Wang, the Dashing General, and the West Camp's Eight Great Kings.
Even the Sichuan White Pole Soldiers sent as reinforcements were mired in chaos, with soldiers and bandits mixed together in a complete mess.
Where was he supposed to find troops to garrison Hedong?
Should he cut himself into three thousand pieces and turn into three thousand soldiers?
Leaning closer, Wang Guoliang lowered his voice.
"Your Excellency Xu, this humble general truly has no men to spare for Hedong."
Xu Dingchen frowned. "Then what should be done?"
Wang Guoliang subtly gestured toward Xing Honglang.
"She may be useful."
Xu Dingchen hesitated. "She was once a pacified rebel. What if she rebels again?"
Wang Guoliang explained, "She used to be a salt smuggler, but she can read, handle accounts, and manage enterprises. I've heard she's set up textile workshops, pig farms, chicken farms, and cotton fields in Puzhou. She's involved in everything."
Xu Dingchen raised an eyebrow.
Wang Guoliang continued, "Someone who has built that much property is extremely unlikely to rebel again."
Xu Dingchen nodded slowly.
There was truth in that. The more a person owned, the less willing they were to gamble everything. Otherwise, why would people say those with nothing fear nothing?
He also recalled the Emperor's words before his appointment: Xing Honglang had rendered meritorious service suppressing bandits and deserved reward. It was left to subordinates to decide how to commend her.
Now, promoting her seemed perfectly appropriate.
In chaotic times, rigid rules could not be followed too strictly.
Xu Dingchen slapped his thigh.
"Very well."
He turned to Xing Honglang and announced, "General Xing, you have rendered great service in suppressing bandits and rescuing Hedong Circuit. During this period, you have also stabilized the populace and managed the circuit in an orderly fashion. The reported losses among salt artisans and the adjusted salt output have been clearly documented."
"I will therefore make an exception and appoint you Hedong Circuit Military Preparations Commissioner, concurrently serving as Salt Administration Commissioner!"
Xing Honglang felt a surge of joy—but she deliberately hesitated.
"But Puzhou… this humble general still has many enterprises there."
Xu Dingchen smiled.
"I have reviewed your battle reports. It is said you have a capable subordinate, known as Lao Nanfeng, formerly a Guyuan rebel vice centurion. He joined due to unpaid wages, later reformed, and has since rendered repeated meritorious service. Such talent should not be wasted."
"I will appoint him as the new Puzhou garrison commander."
Xing Honglang lowered her head, suppressing a victorious smile.
It's done.
The 'optimal outcome' of Dao Xuan Tianzun's plan has appeared.
In truth, it wasn't so much the best outcome as the only possible one.
With Shanxi in utter chaos, what alternatives did Xu Dingchen truly have?
Ignore a proven commander and appoint some useless court-connected fool instead?
Once the arrangements were made, Xu Dingchen had no desire to remain. Northern Shanxi was burning, and he urgently needed to deal with it.
The Xuan–Da Supreme Commander, Zhang Zongheng, had been relentlessly impeaching Shanxi officials—one day for failing to supply border troops, the next for allowing rebel chaos to threaten frontier security.
The memorials had piled up before the Emperor like a mountain, and imperial patience was wearing thin.
Xu Dingchen spoke briskly.
"General Xing, I entrust Hedong to you. Defend it well, so that I may suppress the northern rebels without worry."
Xing Honglang clasped her fists.
"This humble general will give her life to the task."
With that, Xu Dingchen departed, leading Wang Guoliang northward at speed.
Just like that, Xing Honglang became Hedong Circuit Military Preparations Commissioner, stationed at the empire's most critical salt storehouse.
All of Zhao Sheng's prior arrangements could now be executed.
Half the salt artisans were "dead."
Half the salt quota would be delivered to the court.
As for the rest—
Gao Family Village would accept it all, with thanks and without apology.