The Jinyang Governor’s Mansion was originally a residence temporarily occupied by Sima Teng. Therefore, the mansion was much more luxurious and spacious than a typical government office. It was over twice the size of the Shangdang Governor’s Mansion and featured pavilions, towers, and other architectural marvels. Even the main hall for official business was lavishly decorated.
Liang Feng did not start by touring the provincial governor’s mansion. Instead, he proceeded directly to the main hall and summoned all the officials within the mansion. When a new official took office, it was customary to attend a welcoming banquet, but Liang Feng chose to hold a meeting in the main hall, demonstrating his dedication to governance. However, nobody in the provincial governor’s mansion dared to gossip. The resounding cheers from the crowd of citizens outside the mansion had yet to subside, and their enthusiasm could still be heard from a considerable distance. Displaying such authority made it clear that no one in their right mind would dare to speak ill at this moment.
Sitting in the main hall, Liang Feng began, “During the recent siege of Jinyang, all of you, the officials and guards of the city, have made significant contributions. I will review the records with the chief clerk and submit requests for commendations to the court.”
In contrast to what many people might have expected, Liang Feng began by praising the officials present, which immediately relieved the tension in the room.
However, Liang Feng didn’t stop there. He continued, “I have been sent by the court to Jinyang with the mission of restoring peace and stability to Bing County. Jinyang has suffered consecutive calamities in recent years, and even the prestigious families have been unable to find security here. I understand that many of you may have considered relocating your families to safer places. However, just as trees need roots, a person needs a homeland, and Bing County is the foundation of all. As long as we haven’t achieved stability in the County, your hearts will never be at ease. I implore all of you to work together with me to help restore peace and stability to Bing County.”
This statement resonated with the local officials, including those who had been wary or even scornful earlier. Old families, generation after generation, had their roots in this land. Regardless of their official ranks or social status, they needed a stable home to thrive. Losing their long-established foundations would endanger their family legacies and positions. Therefore, there was no group of officials more eager for Bing County to return to peace and stability than these hereditary officials.
However, not everyone in the room leaned towards the court; there were those with the mindset of watching from the sidelines. Not to mention the outsider officials who were not native to Bing County. For them, ensuring their own survival might take precedence over stabilizing the county
Liang Feng changed the topic, “However, let me be clear: in such challenging times, not everyone can bear the burden. If anyone proves inadequate, I won’t hesitate to remove them from their positions and replace them with capable individuals. I hope all of you will exercise caution.”
As the provincial governor, one of Liang Feng’s most critical functions was recommending talents to the court. His evaluations had a significant impact on the promotions and appointments of officials. Moreover, as a provincial governor, even without command of the military, he still held the authority as an envoy of the emperor. He had the power to remove or even execute those who defied orders or broke the law. Faced with such absolute power, even the most confident scholars had to think twice.
After addressing these matters, Liang Feng turned to Zhang Sima and asked, “I wonder, Zhang Sima, have you made arrangements for the Provincial Governor’s Office?”
With these words, Zhang Sima’s expression became even more unpleasant. When Sima Teng was in charge, the Governor’s Office and the General’s Office shared the same building. After all, he was the commander of the army and the governor, so there was no need to separate the two offices. However, now that Liang Feng was suggesting this, it meant that they, the future staff of the General’s Office, would be evicted from the Governor’s Office.
But such a decision wasn’t entirely wrong. Was the new general supposed to occupy the governor’s office? Establishing a new office for the general was a sign of respect.
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Zhang Sima replied in a low voice, “I plan to vacate a mansion near the armory for the General’s Office.”
“Good,” Liang Feng nodded without expressing approval or disapproval. “In that case, please clear the stores, armaments, and logistics as soon as possible for the transition.”
Transition? Transition to whom? Was it for the new general? Faced with Liang Feng’s resolute decentralization of power and his intent to audit accounts, Zhang Sima had no choice but to comply. With him as the figurehead, the other officials in the room also grasped the situation. The assertive nature of this governor meant that friction was likely in the future with the general. Taking sides had become a necessary choice for these provincial officials in Jinyang.
Should they choose the unproven general, or the assertive governor with military achievements who had gained the people’s trust?
As various thoughts swirled, the officials left the hall. Liang Feng didn’t linger in the front courtyard and led his people to the back for accommodations. A squad of soldiers took over the security of the rear mansion, and servants and maids arranged the living supplies in various rooms. However, Liang Feng’s possessions, modest compared to the extravagant Governor’s Office, barely filled the rooms.
Liang Feng didn’t mind the sparseness, focusing instead on bringing Duan Qin into the study.
“Lord, it’s likely that there are those who harbor resentment over your entry into the governor’s office,” Duan Qin had been accompanying Liang Feng closely and had been observing the expressions of the officials in Jinyang. While it was normal for a new official to shake things up, the provincial government was often influenced by powerful local clans. Governors often had to contend with these influential families. If not, they’d be manipulated and become mere puppets.
However, with the chaos in Jinyang persisting for so long and many prominent families leaving during Sima Teng’s time, coupled with Liang Feng’s entrance with private soldiers, he had already displayed his power in advance, which deterred any rash actions. The situation afterward depended on his tactics.
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Liang Feng said indifferently, “Caution in people’s hearts is better than disdain. And what’s crucial now is to stabilize the affairs of the Governor’s Office as soon as possible. Tomorrow, have the Chief Clerk send over the officials’ performance evaluations. I want to see what talents the Governor’s Office has to offer. Furthermore, we should expedite the recruitment process. Without horses, there can be no cavalry!”
The shortage of personnel was still Liang Feng’s biggest problem. Managing a single county was challenging enough, not to mention overseeing an entire province. Therefore, selecting officials for the Governor’s Office was an urgent matter. The most important selections were the Assistant Governor1 and the Magistrate2. In the Jin Dynasty, the Assistant Governor had certain social status requirements. They had to come from prominent families and had to be graduates of the Imperial Examinations. In effect, they were like deputy governors, the second-in-command of the provincial government. Such an important position couldn’t be filled with mediocrity or someone who only served the interests of powerful local families. It was indeed a challenging task.
So, as one of his first acts, Liang Feng wanted to assess the officials’ performance. This served not only as a basis for reporting accomplishments to the imperial court but also as a method for him to select qualified talent. The significance of recruitment was even more important. If they could bring in talented individuals from outside, it could effectively circumvent the current state of the bureaucracy and find new ways to break through.
Duan Qin nodded, saying, “I understand. In addition, there are many stationed troops within Jinyang. Should the Lord summon a few generals for an audience?”
At this moment, the new General hadn’t arrived yet, and it was the perfect time for Liang Feng to take action. No matter who led the troops, they would need to rely on these mid-level officers. Therefore, winning their support in advance was also a strategy. The power struggle between the General and the Governor might not only play out on the political stage but could also have consequences on the battlefield. In troubled times like the late period of this collapsing dynasty, one couldn’t predict the course of events.
This was also the reason Liang Feng insisted on bringing his private soldiers to Jinyang. With troops at his disposal, he could maintain some leverage. Just looking at his 2,000-strong retinue would give the new General pause. When these generals saw his military strength, they would also weigh their options. After all, it was they who would be on the battlefield, and none of them wanted an inexperienced superior. In the chaotic situation of Jinyang, they didn’t even know how they would die.
“Tomorrow, send an invitation to General Linghu to visit the Governor’s Office for a meeting,” Liang Feng said.
The “General Linghu” referred to here wasn’t Linghu Kuang, but his uncle, Linghu Sheng. He was not only a brave general but also a prominent figure in Jinyang. Linghu Sheng held a crucial position within the military. Now that Linghu Kuang was effectively under Liang Feng’s command, this indirect relationship was becoming increasingly significant.
“Understood, my Lord,” Duan Qin nodded.
With so many affairs to handle on his first day in office, it was far from easy to sort them all out. Liang Feng and Duan Qin discussed them one by one. But before they could finish, a messenger came to report, “Announcing to the Governor, envoys from the Huai’en Temple seek an audience.”
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Liang Feng raised an eyebrow and remarked, “They came quite quickly.”
Earlier, when the common people lined the streets to welcome him, it was actually the result of Duan Qin going to the Huai’en Temple and asking the abbot to spread the word. In times of war and turmoil, people’s religious beliefs tend to become stronger. With a significant population of ethnic minorities in Bing County, Buddhism was already thriving compared to other regions. Combined with Liang Feng’s support, it had made the Huai’en Temple even more popular.
When you send someone to do a favor, you naturally expect something in return. However, they hadn’t anticipated that the Huai’en Temple would act so swiftly. Liang Feng hadn’t even warmed his seat as the Governor, and they were already at his doorstep.
Duan Qin also hadn’t expected such a proactive response. He whispered, “Shall I receive them on your behalf?”
On the first day of taking office as the Governor, meeting with a monk before any high-ranking officials had a political significance that couldn’t be underestimated. If someone decided to make an issue out of it, it could be quite problematic.
However, after a brief moment of contemplation, Liang Feng said, “The Abbot is not a hasty person. If they’ve sent envoys, there must be an important matter.”
The old abbot of the Huai’en Temple was a person Liang Feng had dealt with on numerous occasions. He was highly experienced and wise. Given his wisdom, he wouldn’t act rashly for trivial short-term gains. If he was visiting on the very first day of Liang Feng’s appointment, it was undoubtedly for something significant.
Upon hearing Liang Feng’s words, Duan Qin remained silent. It wasn’t long before footsteps approached. Guided by the attendants, two monks entered the study.
The one leading was a disciple of the Huai’en Temple’s abbot, whom Liang Feng had interacted with before. He was well-acquainted with Liang Feng. Behind him, surprisingly, was a Hu monk with a high nose and deep-set eyes.
The Jinyang Governor’s Mansion was originally a residence temporarily occupied by Sima Teng. Therefore, the mansion was much more luxurious and spacious than a typical government office. It was over twice the size of the Shangdang Governor’s Mansion and featured pavilions, towers, and other architectural marvels. Even the main hall for official business was lavishly decorated.
Liang Feng did not start by touring the provincial governor’s mansion. Instead, he proceeded directly to the main hall and summoned all the officials within the mansion. When a new official took office, it was customary to attend a welcoming banquet, but Liang Feng chose to hold a meeting in the main hall, demonstrating his dedication to governance. However, nobody in the provincial governor’s mansion dared to gossip. The resounding cheers from the crowd of citizens outside the mansion had yet to subside, and their enthusiasm could still be heard from a considerable distance. Displaying such authority made it clear that no one in their right mind would dare to speak ill at this moment.
Sitting in the main hall, Liang Feng began, “During the recent siege of Jinyang, all of you, the officials and guards of the city, have made significant contributions. I will review the records with the chief clerk and submit requests for commendations to the court.”
In contrast to what many people might have expected, Liang Feng began by praising the officials present, which immediately relieved the tension in the room.
However, Liang Feng didn’t stop there. He continued, “I have been sent by the court to Jinyang with the mission of restoring peace and stability to Bing County. Jinyang has suffered consecutive calamities in recent years, and even the prestigious families have been unable to find security here. I understand that many of you may have considered relocating your families to safer places. However, just as trees need roots, a person needs a homeland, and Bing County is the foundation of all. As long as we haven’t achieved stability in the County, your hearts will never be at ease. I implore all of you to work together with me to help restore peace and stability to Bing County.”
This statement resonated with the local officials, including those who had been wary or even scornful earlier. Old families, generation after generation, had their roots in this land. Regardless of their official ranks or social status, they needed a stable home to thrive. Losing their long-established foundations would endanger their family legacies and positions. Therefore, there was no group of officials more eager for Bing County to return to peace and stability than these hereditary officials.
However, not everyone in the room leaned towards the court; there were those with the mindset of watching from the sidelines. Not to mention the outsider officials who were not native to Bing County. For them, ensuring their own survival might take precedence over stabilizing the county
Liang Feng changed the topic, “However, let me be clear: in such challenging times, not everyone can bear the burden. If anyone proves inadequate, I won’t hesitate to remove them from their positions and replace them with capable individuals. I hope all of you will exercise caution.”
As the provincial governor, one of Liang Feng’s most critical functions was recommending talents to the court. His evaluations had a significant impact on the promotions and appointments of officials. Moreover, as a provincial governor, even without command of the military, he still held the authority as an envoy of the emperor. He had the power to remove or even execute those who defied orders or broke the law. Faced with such absolute power, even the most confident scholars had to think twice.
After addressing these matters, Liang Feng turned to Zhang Sima and asked, “I wonder, Zhang Sima, have you made arrangements for the Provincial Governor’s Office?”
With these words, Zhang Sima’s expression became even more unpleasant. When Sima Teng was in charge, the Governor’s Office and the General’s Office shared the same building. After all, he was the commander of the army and the governor, so there was no need to separate the two offices. However, now that Liang Feng was suggesting this, it meant that they, the future staff of the General’s Office, would be evicted from the Governor’s Office.
But such a decision wasn’t entirely wrong. Was the new general supposed to occupy the governor’s office? Establishing a new office for the general was a sign of respect.
Advertisement
Zhang Sima replied in a low voice, “I plan to vacate a mansion near the armory for the General’s Office.”
“Good,” Liang Feng nodded without expressing approval or disapproval. “In that case, please clear the stores, armaments, and logistics as soon as possible for the transition.”
Transition? Transition to whom? Was it for the new general? Faced with Liang Feng’s resolute decentralization of power and his intent to audit accounts, Zhang Sima had no choice but to comply. With him as the figurehead, the other officials in the room also grasped the situation. The assertive nature of this governor meant that friction was likely in the future with the general. Taking sides had become a necessary choice for these provincial officials in Jinyang.
Should they choose the unproven general, or the assertive governor with military achievements who had gained the people’s trust?
As various thoughts swirled, the officials left the hall. Liang Feng didn’t linger in the front courtyard and led his people to the back for accommodations. A squad of soldiers took over the security of the rear mansion, and servants and maids arranged the living supplies in various rooms. However, Liang Feng’s possessions, modest compared to the extravagant Governor’s Office, barely filled the rooms.
Liang Feng didn’t mind the sparseness, focusing instead on bringing Duan Qin into the study.
“Lord, it’s likely that there are those who harbor resentment over your entry into the governor’s office,” Duan Qin had been accompanying Liang Feng closely and had been observing the expressions of the officials in Jinyang. While it was normal for a new official to shake things up, the provincial government was often influenced by powerful local clans. Governors often had to contend with these influential families. If not, they’d be manipulated and become mere puppets.
However, with the chaos in Jinyang persisting for so long and many prominent families leaving during Sima Teng’s time, coupled with Liang Feng’s entrance with private soldiers, he had already displayed his power in advance, which deterred any rash actions. The situation afterward depended on his tactics.
Advertisement
Liang Feng said indifferently, “Caution in people’s hearts is better than disdain. And what’s crucial now is to stabilize the affairs of the Governor’s Office as soon as possible. Tomorrow, have the Chief Clerk send over the officials’ performance evaluations. I want to see what talents the Governor’s Office has to offer. Furthermore, we should expedite the recruitment process. Without horses, there can be no cavalry!”
The shortage of personnel was still Liang Feng’s biggest problem. Managing a single county was challenging enough, not to mention overseeing an entire province. Therefore, selecting officials for the Governor’s Office was an urgent matter. The most important selections were the Assistant Governor1 and the Magistrate2. In the Jin Dynasty, the Assistant Governor had certain social status requirements. They had to come from prominent families and had to be graduates of the Imperial Examinations. In effect, they were like deputy governors, the second-in-command of the provincial government. Such an important position couldn’t be filled with mediocrity or someone who only served the interests of powerful local families. It was indeed a challenging task.
So, as one of his first acts, Liang Feng wanted to assess the officials’ performance. This served not only as a basis for reporting accomplishments to the imperial court but also as a method for him to select qualified talent. The significance of recruitment was even more important. If they could bring in talented individuals from outside, it could effectively circumvent the current state of the bureaucracy and find new ways to break through.
Duan Qin nodded, saying, “I understand. In addition, there are many stationed troops within Jinyang. Should the Lord summon a few generals for an audience?”
At this moment, the new General hadn’t arrived yet, and it was the perfect time for Liang Feng to take action. No matter who led the troops, they would need to rely on these mid-level officers. Therefore, winning their support in advance was also a strategy. The power struggle between the General and the Governor might not only play out on the political stage but could also have consequences on the battlefield. In troubled times like the late period of this collapsing dynasty, one couldn’t predict the course of events.
This was also the reason Liang Feng insisted on bringing his private soldiers to Jinyang. With troops at his disposal, he could maintain some leverage. Just looking at his 2,000-strong retinue would give the new General pause. When these generals saw his military strength, they would also weigh their options. After all, it was they who would be on the battlefield, and none of them wanted an inexperienced superior. In the chaotic situation of Jinyang, they didn’t even know how they would die.
“Tomorrow, send an invitation to General Linghu to visit the Governor’s Office for a meeting,” Liang Feng said.
The “General Linghu” referred to here wasn’t Linghu Kuang, but his uncle, Linghu Sheng. He was not only a brave general but also a prominent figure in Jinyang. Linghu Sheng held a crucial position within the military. Now that Linghu Kuang was effectively under Liang Feng’s command, this indirect relationship was becoming increasingly significant.
“Understood, my Lord,” Duan Qin nodded.
With so many affairs to handle on his first day in office, it was far from easy to sort them all out. Liang Feng and Duan Qin discussed them one by one. But before they could finish, a messenger came to report, “Announcing to the Governor, envoys from the Huai’en Temple seek an audience.”
Advertisement
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow and remarked, “They came quite quickly.”
Earlier, when the common people lined the streets to welcome him, it was actually the result of Duan Qin going to the Huai’en Temple and asking the abbot to spread the word. In times of war and turmoil, people’s religious beliefs tend to become stronger. With a significant population of ethnic minorities in Bing County, Buddhism was already thriving compared to other regions. Combined with Liang Feng’s support, it had made the Huai’en Temple even more popular.
When you send someone to do a favor, you naturally expect something in return. However, they hadn’t anticipated that the Huai’en Temple would act so swiftly. Liang Feng hadn’t even warmed his seat as the Governor, and they were already at his doorstep.
Duan Qin also hadn’t expected such a proactive response. He whispered, “Shall I receive them on your behalf?”
On the first day of taking office as the Governor, meeting with a monk before any high-ranking officials had a political significance that couldn’t be underestimated. If someone decided to make an issue out of it, it could be quite problematic.
However, after a brief moment of contemplation, Liang Feng said, “The Abbot is not a hasty person. If they’ve sent envoys, there must be an important matter.”
The old abbot of the Huai’en Temple was a person Liang Feng had dealt with on numerous occasions. He was highly experienced and wise. Given his wisdom, he wouldn’t act rashly for trivial short-term gains. If he was visiting on the very first day of Liang Feng’s appointment, it was undoubtedly for something significant.
Upon hearing Liang Feng’s words, Duan Qin remained silent. It wasn’t long before footsteps approached. Guided by the attendants, two monks entered the study.
The one leading was a disciple of the Huai’en Temple’s abbot, whom Liang Feng had interacted with before. He was well-acquainted with Liang Feng. Behind him, surprisingly, was a Hu monk with a high nose and deep-set eyes.
