Chapter 458 Loyalty! (Thanks to the book friend maxfan for the reward!)
Dongning, Military Governor's Office.

In the study, Ye Mingsheng was writing furiously, making his own comments on the plan for opening a new mine in Posa Prefecture. After finishing this, Ye Mingsheng picked up the report on the losses of Changqing Prefecture in response to the small-scale harassment of the Luobi people. Now that the weather is getting colder, the Luobi people on the grassland have become restless. They are not good at production and can only invade and plunder from the south like in previous years. Therefore, the defense of Changqing Prefecture has also been put to a great test during this period...
Fortunately, perhaps the upper echelons of the Luobei people also knew that Liaoyang was not a wealthy place. If they wanted to carry out large-scale plundering, they would go to the relatively more wealthy Youyan, and would not go to Liaoyang to start a war.

According to the report from Changqing Prefecture, among the dozen or so groups of Luobi people who were found heading south to plunder, the largest group had only three to five hundred people, and the general group was around a hundred or so. Because of the reserve policy implemented by Ye Mingsheng, the militia and local militia in various towns and villages have also undergone a lot of military training, so they can still deal with this scale of Luobi guerrillas!

In addition, the standing army stationed in Changqing Prefecture took the initiative to attack and encircle and suppress the enemy everywhere. Therefore, the Luobi people in Liaoyang not only did not plunder wantonly and robbed a lot of money as in previous years, but instead suffered heavy losses in Changqing Prefecture. According to the report from Changqing Prefecture, 535 Luobi people have been killed, 326 have been captured, and more than 1,000 cattle and sheep have been seized, effectively ensuring the safety of life and property of the people in Liaoyang...
Regarding the situation in Changqing Prefecture, Ye Mingsheng also gave his own instructions. He first affirmed the achievements made by Changqing Prefecture in guarding against the Luobi people, and then warned them to be cautious and not to be careless, always pay attention to the movements on the grassland, and guard against the Luobi people's angry invasion!
In addition, Ye Mingsheng also gave a solution for the captured Luobi people. First, he paraded them through the streets for public display and allowed the people to throw rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at them, in order to enhance the self-confidence of the people of Changqing Prefecture who had been robbed by the Luobi people for many years.

Then they were sent to Posuo Prefecture to open mines. Due to the underdeveloped production technology in that era, mining was a very risky business.

After knowing the risks of mining, Ye Mingsheng also sympathized with the difficulties faced by the miners and demanded that their rights and interests be strictly protected. While this won Ye Mingsheng the love of the miners, it undoubtedly also increased the cost of mining.

Now, for these Robe people who burned, killed and looted, joining the mines to open mines is naturally a good way to save costs. It can also be regarded as a way for them to atone for the crimes they committed.

As for the captured cattle, sheep and other livestock, they were distributed to the people who were unfortunately harassed by the Robe people, as a way of making up for their losses.

Without raising his head, Ye Mingsheng worked non-stop for more than two hours. He thought that there would be fewer official documents on his desk, but when he saw Qi Dechao entering his study with a thick stack of memorials, Ye Mingsheng couldn't help feeling discouraged.

"Why are there so many? Aren't the people in the Governor's Office working?" Ye Mingsheng asked in confusion:
Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Qi Dechao said helplessly:
“Lord Cui Shao Cui often takes leave from the Provincial Government. Even if he comes, he just reports for work in the morning and doesn’t care much about government affairs. In the afternoon, he either goes to the teahouse to drink tea and listen to storytelling, or returns to Cui’s house to rest. Lord Gu is busy with diplomatic affairs, so the officials of the various departments below dare not make the decision, so they send all the matters to the Governor-General’s Mansion…”

Hearing this, Ye Mingsheng was a little amused and didn't know whether he should be happy or unhappy about Cui Shao's actions.

According to the system of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the military inspector was in charge of the military affairs of a province and was not allowed to get involved in government affairs. Only the governor-general could be in charge of the military and political affairs of a province. Therefore, theoretically speaking, Ye Mingsheng could not touch government affairs. The government affairs of a province should be the responsibility of the governor.

What Ye Mingsheng is doing now is absolutely exceeding his authority. If this happened during the heyday of the Great Zhou Dynasty, not only would he lose his head, but his family would also be in trouble. But of course, times are different now. Now even the Great Zhou court is divided into two, and people's heads are about to be beaten into dog heads. Naturally, no one will care whether Ye Mingsheng exceeded his authority in Liaoyang or not.

Cui Shao, the legitimate governor, was also a smart man. He knew that Ye Mingsheng would definitely take charge of both military and political affairs. If he insisted on government affairs, he would definitely have conflicts with Ye Mingsheng. So he simply handed over all government departments to Ye Mingsheng and became a governor in name only. Ye Mingsheng, don’t you want to take charge of both? Then all the eyebrows and beards will be given to you...

At first, Ye Mingsheng was quite happy about Cui Shao's understanding. However, facing the endless stream of memorials, he was very busy. However, he knew the importance of power in his hands and his sense of responsibility to the people. Therefore, even if he was busy, Ye Mingsheng was cautious and did not dare to take military and political affairs lightly.

It was this seriousness that caused Ye Mingsheng to be so busy all day long that, except for going to the toilet, he would spend the whole day in the study dealing with military and political affairs. Sometimes he even slept in the study with his clothes on at night. Although Ye Mingsheng was young, strong and energetic, he began to feel overwhelmed after a long time.

So in order to relieve his own pressure, Ye Mingsheng also consciously delegated power to Gu Sansi, Zhang Juning, and even to Ma Runshan and others. But unfortunately, Gu Sansi and Zhang Juning had a lot of things on hand and could not help Ye Mingsheng too much...
Now, listening to Cui Shao, the genuine governor, living such a leisurely life, Ye Mingsheng, who was already annoyed by the government affairs reports, could not help but feel a little envious. He knew the example of the Wild Boar Skin Fourth Master very well. This was just Liaoyang. If he conquered the world and continued like this, wouldn't he be exhausted to death by the government affairs reports?

Ye Mingsheng gradually made a decision in his mind. He couldn't overdraw his body like this and let Cui Shao, the old villain, live so freely and comfortably!
Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng hesitated for a moment and asked Qi Dechao:

"Are there any particularly important ones among these memorials?"

Qi Dechao heard this, thought for a moment, then shook his head and said:
"The recent important matters are mainly the harassment of the Luobei people in Changqing Prefecture and the mining in Posuo Prefecture. You have just dealt with them. The new memorials are mainly some minor matters with little impact!"

Ye Mingsheng had made up his mind after hearing this and said:

"Go and return these memorials to the Provincial Government and ask them to ask Governor Cui to handle them! Governor Cui can't just sit there and do nothing when he's being paid!"

"Sir, give these to Cui Shao..." Qi Dechao was startled when he heard this, and then asked with some doubt:
Ye Mingsheng asked back:

"The Chief Secretary has a second Chief Minister Cui?"

After hearing what Ye Mingsheng said, although he didn't know why Ye Mingsheng acted out of character, but seeing that Ye Mingsheng didn't seem to be joking, Qi Dechao also understood what to do. He picked up the memorial again, nodded, and said to Ye Mingsheng:
"My Lord, I understand! I will send it to the Chief Secretary right away!"

Seeing the piles of thick memorials being taken away by Qi Dechao, Ye Mingsheng felt much more relaxed. When he saw that it was still early outside, he couldn't help but think about visiting teahouses and theaters to relax in the city life. Feudal society did not have as many entertainment options as modern society. The ways to relax and have fun could be counted on one's fingers. Drinking tea, listening to operas and storytelling were one of the few ways Ye Mingsheng liked. However, due to official business, Ye Mingsheng had not gone out to play for almost three months. Although he had listened to a few operas in his own yard before, listening to them in the governor's mansion and in teahouses and theaters were two completely different concepts...

When performing in the Governor's Mansion, the actors were afraid of the majesty of the Governor's Mansion. Although the plays they sang were good, they were also very rigid and cautious and did not dare to overstep the line in the slightest. Moreover, Ye Mingsheng himself was the center of attention in the Governor's Mansion, and his every request was met, which made Ye Mingsheng aware of the responsibilities and pressure on him at all times.

He is just an ordinary person hiding his identity in the teahouse and theater. This helps Ye Mingsheng forget those things temporarily and concentrate on relaxation and enjoyment!
Now that the decision had been made, Ye Mingsheng did not delay any longer. He asked Ye Kui to change into casual clothes, and took seven or eight capable guards with him to go out of the house to have some fun in Dongning City. Seeing that Ye Mingsheng was in a good mood today, although Ye Kui was worried about Ye Mingsheng’s safety, he also knew that he could not persuade Ye Mingsheng. However, for Ye Mingsheng’s safety, he also tried his best to ask Ye Mingsheng to wait in the house for a while, so that he could arrange plainclothes soldiers to protect him secretly, and the personal guard camp would be on standby at any time...
Although he felt somewhat helpless, Ye Mingsheng also understood his subordinates' work very well, so he waited in the mansion for another half an hour before changing into casual clothes and quietly slipping out from the back door of the Governor's Mansion. At this time, Ye Mingsheng, who was walking on the street with his guards, looked like a rich young man. No one would have thought that this young man was the Governor-General who trembled with every stomp of his feet!

Looking at the pedestrians coming and going and listening to the shouts around him, Ye Mingsheng felt particularly relaxed. When he had gone out of the house to go to the General Staff Headquarters, to the north city camp, and to inspect various departments, for safety reasons, his subordinates had asked the City Patrol to arrange in advance for the entire street to be cleared of any outsiders.

Looking at the steaming buns and wontons sold by the vendors around and smelling the faint aroma, Ye Mingsheng, who had just come out of the mansion and had not eaten yet, couldn't help feeling a little hungry. Ye Mingsheng did not hesitate and walked over directly. Seeing Ye Mingsheng walking towards the stall, Ye Kui couldn't help but remind him:

"Sir, you can't eat outside..."

Although he knew Ye Kui meant well, Ye Mingsheng turned a deaf ear to it and walked straight to the stall and said:
"How much are the buns and wontons?"

Hearing the question, the shopkeeper glanced at Ye Mingsheng and the several followers behind him, and said without hesitation:
"Vegetable buns are one cent each, meat buns are three cents each, vegetable wontons are three cents a bowl, and meat wontons are ten cents a bowl. How much do you want, sir?"

Ye Mingsheng nodded with satisfaction at the shopkeeper's answer. The price was still very affordable. It also indirectly showed that the grain price in Liaoyang had dropped from its high point in winter and the grain supply was sufficient. This undoubtedly showed that his reforms were effective!
Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng turned around and looked at Ye Kui and the guards behind him and asked;
"Are you going to eat?"

In response to Ye Mingsheng's question, Ye Kui subconsciously wanted to answer that he didn't want to eat, but after changing his mind, he smiled and said:

"They all had their meals just now, and I'm the only one left. Master, please bring me a portion of whatever you're eating!"

Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng didn't think too much and said directly to the store owner:

"Two bowls of meat wontons and six steamed buns!"

"okay!"

The store served the food very quickly. In just a cup of tea, they brought over a steaming bowl of wontons and six buns and said:

"Sir, your remaining bowl of wontons is cooking in the pot..."

"Ok!"

Ye Mingsheng responded casually and was about to pick up the chopsticks to start eating, but Ye Kui took the lead and took the chopsticks and started eating without caring that the wontons and buns were still hot. Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng was a little annoyed. Why was Ye Kui snatching food from him? But the next second, he understood the intention of Ye Kui's action.

Ye Mingsheng also knew that he couldn't persuade Ye Kui so he could only shake his head. Ye Kui was good in every way except that he was very methodical and sometimes a little too serious!

Looking at Ye Kui who was eating voraciously, Ye Mingsheng patted him and said:
"Don't be in a hurry, eat slowly! You eat first, and I'll eat later. I'll wait until you finish before I eat, okay?"

Hearing this, Ye Kui slowed down his swallowing speed. Half a cup of tea later, the shopkeeper brought another bowl of wontons. Seeing that nothing happened after he finished eating, Ye Kui nodded to Ye Mingsheng with relief, and Ye Mingsheng began to enjoy his meal.

Honestly speaking, the taste of the steamed buns and wontons made by this roadside stall cannot compare to those made by the famous chefs in the Governor's Mansion, but perhaps it was the ease and freedom that made Ye Mingsheng's meal taste particularly sweet...
After eating and drinking and letting Ye Kui pay the bill, Ye Mingsheng started thinking about finding a place to watch a play. As he was looking, a huge plaque came into Ye Mingsheng's sight. On the plaque were four big characters "Dongting Theater" written in bold letters!
Looking at the four majestic and ancient words "Dongting Theater" on the plaque, Ye Mingsheng blinked his eyes and waved his hand, leading Ye Kui and others into the theater along with the crowd.

(I’m always writing about wars, military affairs, and politics. It’s tiring for you readers to read, and I’m also tiring to write. I’ll write two chapters to change things up. Next I’ll speed up the progress and write the next chapter, so I’ll take this opportunity to insert a side story. You can guess what I’ll write in the next chapter!)

(End of this chapter)