Lingzhou Le’an County, adjacent to North Sea County, extends seventy-two thousand miles from east to west and approximately one hundred thirty thousand miles from south to north. On the map, North Sea County is relatively rectangular, forming a field shape.
In contrast, Le’an County resembles a large semi-circular addition to the field-shaped North Sea County, and together, the two counties vaguely resemble the character for ’field’.
After many years of turmoil, Changling County has become a dead zone, devoid of human presence for thousands of miles, existing only in name.
Now elevated to the Duke of North Sea County, things were different.
With that, Princess Changle turned around to cast a slightly reproachful glance at Ye Zhen, the turn of her face revealing endless charm.
Saying this, Ye Zhen drank a cup of tea in one gulp, and, as Princess Changle offered a refill, he gently held her delicate, bone-soft hand.
Then, the parents of the deceased son would fight back, either privately or publicly on the court floor.
After the war, once granted a key position, even without further achievements, Ye Zhen’s position could still advance.
Therefore, with a stroke of Zuo Zongling’s pen, some vague jurisdiction areas, covering ten thousand miles of barren mountains south of Le’an County, were designated under Le’an County as a slight compensation.
Aristocratic sons often disputed over love interests, staged cockfights, and engaged in racing, usually restrained, but occasionally conflicts would escalate with a noble son beaten to death.
The Ren Venerate Emperor usually inquired a few questions about the frontline war, but the real events happened during private interviews after court.
Additionally, like the early days of North Sea County, although the registered population of Le’an County is small, there are many refugees and bandits out of necessity.
Understanding the situation immediately, Ye Zhen realized the Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long feared any conduct unbecoming of royal dignity between him and Princess Changle. The moment Ye Zhen arrived, court experts were watching over.
Ye Zhen had accepted that a true man should dare to love and hate; if the Emperor was displeased, he would eventually have to be pleased.
Thus, Ye Zhen’s new fiefdom was decided.
The following morning, Ye Zhen, the Duke’s avatar returning to court, conventionally attended the morning session to pay respects to the Emperor.
It was here that Ye Zhen chose for his new fiefdom.
Thus, he simply glanced and then calmly closed his eyes, awaiting the court session’s end.
Every year, the salaries of stationed troops and officials require financial support from the Imperial Court.
The rising tea fragrance seemed to be welcoming Ye Zhen’s arrival.
Once the fiefdom was determined, and after receiving the Golden Book and Jade Record and other tokens, the matter was considered settled.
Ye Zhen’s primary desire was actually a fiefdom near the Yizhi Sand Sea.
Meanwhile, Le’an County currently has over one hundred thirty-two thousand households registered, with a population of over seven million, only one-third of North Sea County’s population.
Ye Zhen was momentarily stunned, then rubbed his hands sheepishly, "Word has spread so quickly. Wasn’t I just back from the battlefield, stepping into bustling Luoyi, feeling rather uncomfortable, and that young fellow approached?"
As for annual tax revenue, it generates less than one-tenth of what North Sea County currently does.
Ye Zhen was utterly bewildered.
Therefore, Ye Zhen only half-closed his eyes, listening dutifully to the petitions of the courtiers, patiently awaiting Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s inquiries, and the session’s conclusion.
"I received word on the street that a Duke, relying on his status, violently beat a young Marquis. Then I knew you had returned."
Establishing a commandery there as a fiefdom, even as an enclave, would allow Ye Zhen to engage in commerce with the Yizhi Sand Sea, generating profit, and, by virtue of Ye Zhen’s status, also support the resource-scarce Yizhi Sand Sea.
In the rear garden of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, by the time Ye Zhen arrived, a beautiful silhouette was already brewing tea amidst the flowers.
Unfortunately, the Heavenly Temple had long seized all possible fiefs in that area.
The more prosperous a large county, the stronger and more entrenched the aristocratic clan’s forces are, making governance challenging and troublesome.
However, according to Zuo Zongling Ji Cang, Le’an County currently doesn’t even qualify as a Low Grade County; Ye Zhen would suffer a great loss if he chose it as his fiefdom.
Moreover, having a fiefdom there would enable Ye Zhen to more conveniently wield the power of the Yizhi Sand Sea.
Damn, Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting died from severe injuries?
The fundamental reason for Ye Zhen choosing Le’an County as a new fiefdom is simple.
In Luoyi, this was nothing new.
Because, like North Sea County, Le’an County borders both the North Sea and closely neighbors Changling County.
How, overnight, did he succumb to severe injuries and die?
Nonetheless, this is quite normal.
Conversely, declining counties like Le’an County are akin to a blank slate; Ye Zhen can operate freely without causing significant disturbances.
Of course, this was as far as it went.
Those potential fiefs would have to wait for future attempts.
In terms of area, Le’an County is about one-third larger than North Sea County. However, regarding population, Le’an County currently has less than half of North Sea County’s populace.
Is this a misunderstanding or a joke?
And Changling County is already a border region of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
With these words, the Universe Hall fell silent.
Coupled with North Sea County’s experience and advantages, it wouldn’t take many years for development to occur.
After all the battles, Ye Zhen was more open-minded now; he unrestrainedly rubbed Princess Changle’s slender hand, leaving her blushing, while the nannies watching in the void were at a loss.
Currently, North Sea County has over four million households with a population close to twenty million, a result of vigorous efforts to suppress bandits and integrate refugees over recent years.
Though Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting was unfortunate to encounter Ye Zhen, Ye Zhen acted with utmost restraint, and Shi Ting’s cries were merely from superficial wounds.
In fact, governance can be smooth and free from unnecessary complications, providing great peace of mind.
The territory is rich in fields, mountains, and mineral veins, but the population remains scarce.
There, the Emperor would personally ask Ye Zhen about the Mysterious Formation below the Blood River in the Forbidden Blood River Land, which was crucial.
A Duke’s public cry of grievance naturally required an inquiry from Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long.
With some organization, the population could definitely exceed ten million.
Turning casually to look, an old man in the attire of a State Duke appeared, tears streaming down his face, his figure and voice suggesting his son had been killed.
To the east of Changling County lies the famous Changlin Fortress, which is beyond the Human-Demon Battlefield of the Great Zhou, and the Changlin Army, one of the Central Forbidden Armies, is stationed there permanently.
Even Le’an County experienced worse conditions in the past, only improving gradually in recent years due to the influence from Ye Zhen’s North Sea County.
Compared to his first morning audience, when Ye Zhen had to wait at the end of the Universe Hall’s courtier line with no speaking privilege, waiting for Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s inquiries,
"Duke Yu, what grievances does your son have? Speak freely; if there is injustice, I will ensure it is righted," Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long declared.
For today’s court session, Ye Zhen hadn’t prepared much.
"Your Majesty, I accuse Duke of North Sea County Ye Zhen of exploiting his achievements to act tyrannically, publicly beating, humiliating, and threatening my son, Marquis Chii Quan Shi Ting, leading to his severe injuries and eventual death. I seek nothing but justice, for Duke of North Sea County to gift my son’s life as compensation,"
The main reason for choosing Le’an County as a new fiefdom was its proximity to North Sea County, forming a contiguous land.
Suddenly, a particularly mournful wail echoed outside the Universe Hall, "Your Majesty, please seek justice for this old minister. To send a black-haired person off by a white-haired one in my old age—Your Majesty, please bring justice to this old man."
Such incidents occur annually several times. As someone from the Heavenly Patrol Department, Ye Zhen had become numb to such cases.
Shi Ting was lively and vibrant when he left.
On the way back to the Duke’s Mansion of North Sea County, Ye Zhen shed that cumbersome and noisy ducal attire, left the carriage silently, and headed straight to the Ancestor God Temple.
Led by a little eunuch, Ye Zhen now stood in the noble sequences of the Universe Hall, with the right to present matters to the court.
Princess Changle’s pretty face suddenly turned red, yet her eyes inadvertently glanced at the space above.
It’s still inferior to North Sea County back in the day.
However, despite the Changlin Army being stationed here, over numerous years, sporadic Demon Clan disturbances and North Sea Water Demon chaos have rendered the situations in these counties highly problematic.
Reportedly, those barren mountains harbor tens of thousands of refugees.
And how did it become Ye Zhen’s fault?

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