Chapter 801 Cangzhou Huang Dynasty
On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, the heavy snow in Jinling finally stopped a little.

The lives of the people in Jinling City have been getting better and better in recent years. Now colorful lanterns are hung up, and the streets and alleys are crowded with people, making it quite lively.

On this afternoon, a special family came to the backyard of King Wu’s palace. Li Feng, dressed in a scholar’s robe, walked in front, and behind him was a well-dressed woman in her thirties. After entering the palace, the woman pinched the corner of her clothes with her hands, looking quite nervous.

Behind these two people, there were four children. The older two were girls who looked to be between sixteen and fourteen years old. The younger two were sons who looked to be around twelve or thirteen or thirteen or fourteen years old.

Obviously, this is Li Feng’s family.

The end of the year is a time for family reunion. Li Yun discussed with Queen Xue and invited the whole family into the palace to celebrate the New Year together.

Led by the guards, the family quickly entered the harem of the palace and went into a side hall. Li Feng took his wife’s hand, patted the back of her hand gently, and signaled her not to be nervous.

Not long after, the family entered the side hall. The stove had been lit in the hall and it was warm as spring.

Li Yun sat in the main seat, holding a baby in his arms, while Xue Yun’er sat not far away with Li Yuan.

In addition, Liu Su and Lu Huan, each with their own children, were also talking in this side hall. The two were a brother and sister, both three or four years old, laughing and playing.

Xue Yun’er was sharp-eyed and was the first to see Li Feng’s family coming. She stood up, looked at the palace servants guarding the door, and said, “Everyone, please leave. We don’t need anyone here anymore.”

“Yes.”

Several palace servants quickly retreated, and only the two families were left in the room.

Li Yun handed the baby in his arms to Liu Su, stood up and walked in front of Li Feng’s family.

Queen Xue glanced at Li Yun. Seeing that Li Yun didn’t say anything, she took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face: “On New Year’s Eve, the family is finally reunited.”

Li Yun looked at Li Feng, then at the woman hiding behind Li Feng, and forced a smile on his face: “Brother and sister-in-law, Happy New Year.”

Li Feng then breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to look at his wife.

Before coming, he did not tell the truth to his wife. He only said that he and the King of Wu were cousins ​​from the same clan, with close blood ties, and had known each other since childhood.

Madam Li was relieved when she heard this. This woman from a wealthy family looked up boldly at Li Yun, then at Xue Yun’er, and bowed politely, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”

Xue Yuner smiled, took Madam Li’s hand and walked to the side, and said with a smile: “We are a family, so you’re welcome, sister-in-law.”

At this time, Liu Su and Lu Huan also came up to pay their respects. After they greeted each other, Xue Yun’er pulled Madam Li aside and went to talk to Liu Su and Lu Huan.

After they left, Li Feng looked at the baby in Liu Su’s arms and asked, “Has the child been named?”

“got it.”

Li Yun smiled and said, “My name is Li Cang.”

“Li Cang.”

Li Feng thought of Cangshan Dazhai and nodded silently: “This is a good name.”

After that, he turned his head to look at his children behind him and said in a deep voice: “Come… give your second… give your uncle a kowtow and pay your respects.”

The four children all looked up at Li Yun with great curiosity, but they all came forward obediently and kowtowed to Li Yun, calling him uncle.

Li Yun was well prepared. He took out a number of heavy sealed red envelopes from his arms, handed them to the four children, and then asked their names one by one.

After asking the name, Li Yun looked at his niece Li Shu, who had grown to Li Feng’s shoulders, then looked up at Li Feng and said with a smile, “When we were in Luoyang, Li Zheng mentioned to me that my niece has grown into a beautiful lady and can be betrothed to someone.”

“He also said that he wanted to marry the child to Meng Qing, one of the chief generals in my army.”

Li Yun pulled Li Feng to sit down, and said with a smile: “At that time, I didn’t quite agree, but now that I see you, I have changed my mind.”

“It may be possible.”

Li Yun handed over a cup of tea and said with a smile: “Meng Qing, you will most likely be a first- or second-rank military commander in the future. Big brother, do you want to let the two of you meet?”

Li Feng took the tea, hesitated for a moment, and then asked: “Can I refuse this?”

Li Yun smiled dumbly: “Of course.”

“This is the first time I’ve met this niece. Do I have to force her into marriage?”

Li Feng was relieved and asked, “How old is General Meng this year?”

“Early twenties.”

Li Yun thought for a moment and replied, “About 22 or 23 years old.”

In this era, it is quite common for the man to be twenty-two or twenty-three years old and the woman to be fifteen or sixteen years old, which is considered the normal age for marriage.

Li Feng lowered his head to drink tea and said, “I will discuss this matter with her mother after I return.”

“it is good.”

Li Yun clinked his glasses with Li Feng and said with a smile, “It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t agree, but don’t just marry anyone. My wife is kind-hearted. Ask her to find a good one for my niece.”

Li Feng nodded in agreement.

Li Yun looked at his two young nephews again and said softly, “They both need to study hard.”

Li Feng said “hmm” and nodded silently.

The two brothers clinked their teacups, and Li Yun said slowly: “From now on, as long as I am around, we can all get together at the end of the year.” “At least it will feel like a family.”

Li Feng nodded and was about to agree when he saw Xue Yun’er saying something to Li Yuan not far away. Li Yuan trotted up to the two brothers and kowtowed to Li Feng.

“uncle.”

Li Feng stood up almost immediately. He supported Li Yuan with both hands and responded hurriedly.

“Eh.”

After responding, he quickly helped Li Yuan up, hurriedly took out an object that had been prepared from his arms, stuffed it into Li Yuan’s hand, and then patted Li Yuan on the back.

“Good boy, good boy.”

…………

Happy days always pass quickly.

Li Yun, who had finally had a few days of free time during the New Year, was pulled into intensive work by Du Qian, Xu Ang, Zhuo Guangrui and others just a few days after the New Year.

First of all, there is the issue of the appointment and removal of a large number of officials.

In the new year, there are at least three-digit vacancies in Jiangdong. Du Qian can decide and appoint most of these vacancies by himself, but there are also some relatively important officials, such as provincial governors, county governors, and front-line leaders.

On the table, Du Qian handed a document in front of Li Yun and said, “Sir, there are already quite a few gentry from the Central Plains and some sons of wealthy families who have entered Jinling around the end of the year. Some of them have great reputations in the old Zhou Dynasty and hold high official positions.”

“Your Highness can take time to meet him these few days.”

At this point, Du Qian paused and continued, “Some of them are experts in governing a country, and they are no less capable than me.”

Li Yun looked up at him and said with a smile, “Really?”

“You will know once you have seen it.”

Du Qian smiled and continued, “Another thing is that as our territory grows larger and larger, it will no longer be possible to manage it if we only use states and counties as units.”

Du Qian whispered, “We also need some officials who can manage a region. We will divide each state into prefectures and send officials to manage each prefecture.”

Administrative divisions must be made. If the divisions are not clear at each level, it will lead to administrative difficulties, incomprehensible government orders, and low efficiency.

Today’s Jiangdong, or “Wu State”, has to divide itself into some “first-level administrative regions” to manage the second-level administrative regions in various places.

The so-called second-level administrative regions refer to local states and counties.

Li Yun touched his chin and thought for a while, then shook his head slightly and said, “I’m afraid there is no suitable candidate.”

“There aren’t many candidates right now.”

Du Qian said, “We can recruit some useful talents from these old Zhou noble families and take over these tasks temporarily.”

At this point, Du Qian smiled and said, “You may not know that these old Zhou nobles and gentry have already started to make connections in Jiangdong and want to send some young men to serve in the counties under our Jiangdong.”

“They have already seen the situation clearly and recognized the superiors. As long as the superiors give the order.”

“There is no need to worry about the vacancies this year.”

Li Yun lowered his head to drink tea and asked with a smile: “Why do these wealthy families have their eyes on our Jiangdong county magistrate?”

Du Qian smiled but said nothing.

Zhuo Guangrui didn’t say anything either.

Xu Ang groaned, “I don’t know who spread the news that the superior once said that only county officials can enter the central government. Of course, those aristocratic families want to…”

He did not continue.

Li Yun probably understood what he said. He thought about it carefully and then said, “Write me a list of the people I should meet. I will try my best to meet them. As for the young people from the aristocratic families.”

Mr. Li snorted: “Let them finish the exam first.”

The three civil servants all nodded their heads.

Li Yun reached out and knocked on the table, and said, “Also, our Jiangdong governor Huang Chao.”

“Send him an imperial edict to transfer him to the post of governor of Cangzhou.”

“Cangzhou?”

Du Qian was stunned and said: “The superior, that is Hebei Province…”

“It’s out of the way.”

Li Yun smiled and said, “Do as I say.”

“Our Envoy Huang has arrived in Hebei Province…”

“Maybe it’s just right for me.”

(End of this chapter)