Jiang Pengji had been in the north for more than a decade. She celebrated the New Year according to the customs of the north. This was the first time she had returned to the south. The New Year in the south was very different, not only in terms of customs, but also in the environment.
The snow in the north had always been thick, but it was not too cold around the New Year.
It was different in the south. The snow was not thick, but the air was chilly.
It was during the war, so the atmosphere was not strong. The streets and alleys were almost empty.
Half a month before the New Year, Jiang Pengji led people to visit everywhere secretly. She was only relieved when she was sure that the people had been properly settled down.
There were many people in the world who obeyed on the surface but disobeyed on the inside. That was why there were scandals of poor supervision and poor implementation.
It was not possible even in the future interstellar with the information explosion, let alone in ancient times when communication was extremely inconvenient.
The people under her command did not take the people seriously, nor did they take her orders seriously. It was normal for the winter clothes and food to be embezzled and embezzled. Therefore, Jiang Pengji's hands were stained with blood during this trip.
She killed along the way, so the local officials spent the New Year in fear. They were afraid that Jiang Pengji was secretly watching them.
Who knew where she came from!
Those who committed lesser crimes were reprimanded from top to bottom. None of the people involved could escape.
Those who committed more serious crimes and embezzled more than the standard set by Jiang Pengji were merciful.
Of course, it was not that she did not promote people along the way.
Corrupt people were hateful and deserved to be killed, but those who did their duty well and even exceeded their quota should be rewarded and encouraged.
She recorded the people and things she saw along the way in her mind's account book. Some people should be promoted. It was a waste of talent to stay in their original positions. Some people did not have enough experience. They needed to be honed for a year or two before being promoted. Some people were not as good as the top but were better than the bottom. Rewards were enough.
"The snow outside is melting. Why is my lord dressed so lightly?"
Wei Ci did not follow Jiang Pengji everywhere. He stayed to deal with the trifles of the New Year.
Even if he wanted to follow, Jiang Pengji would not allow it.
After all, Wei Ci did not have a strong body like hers. If he ran around for a month in the cold season, he would definitely fall ill.
"I'm not afraid of the cold."
Jiang Pengji untied the rope of her straw cape with one hand and threw the name list on the bamboo slip to Wei Ci.
The paper was light, but it had its drawbacks. If it got soaked in the rain, the ink would scatter. For convenience, Jiang Pengji used a bamboo slip to record and a pen knife to carve. Even if the bamboo slip was damp, the words on it could still be preserved for a long time. It was enough for her to bring it back for Wei Ci and the rest to copy.
Wei Ci opened the bamboo slip. The first dozen or so names were all killed by the lord, and each name was followed by the crime of being killed. The twenty or so names in the middle were reprimanded or demoted, and the last ten or so names were praised or promoted …
"Remember the people behind you for this year's New Year."
"Yes, sir!"
"The files of those who were punished or killed are still on the way. It's a long journey, so it'll probably take two days to get there. " Jiang Pengji smiled and said, "In order to come back as soon as possible to spend the New Year with you, I've shortened the journey time again. Do you feel touched?"
Wei Ci sighed. "I want to be touched, but there are too many things to do this year. I have the heart but not the strength."
Every New Year, important officials would receive generous rewards. It was a kind of year-end bonus. Officials who had worked hard and performed well in the previous year would also receive it. Other than the important officials, who were personally reviewed by Jiang Pengji, the rest were arranged by her subordinates …
In the past, Dongqing, which was a fraction of the later, had a small territory and few officials. It was naturally relaxed during the New Year.
Now that it controlled Dongqing, the northern borderline, and Nansheng, it had expanded in scale. The New Year's gifts had to be prepared long in advance and sent to various places.
In her previous life, Her Majesty did not start this habit until she ascended the throne.
From her ascension to the throne until the year of Long Yubin, it had lasted for a whole 18 years. No matter how fierce the battle in the court was, the lower levels of officialdom were still relatively clean.
Now, it had started early. There was Wei Ci's admonition and the enlightenment of the idle people.
Even if it was an insignificant year-end bonus, the person who received the reward would be greatly encouraged. At the same time, it could also be used as a warning to those who did not receive the gifts.
The types of gifts were relatively simple, such as a set of ink, a knife of paper, a piece of cloth …
It didn't matter if there were too many or too few gifts, or if the gifts were too light or too heavy. What mattered was the meaning behind the gifts.
This was not only to win over the hearts of the people, but it was also a warning to the many supervising officials. It was to make them constantly alert and not slack off.
Especially when they knew that Jiang Pengji would spend a month at the end of the year inspecting the grassroots, they did not dare to be careless.
To be able to receive a gift meant that they had done well in the previous year. This killer was very satisfied and they did not have to worry about losing their lives during the New Year.
As for those who did not receive it, they were naturally trembling with fear, afraid that disaster would befall them one day.
After so many years, except for Nansheng and Nansheng who did not know the rules, everyone in Dongqing understood her temperament.
Towards those who were derelict in their duties and corruption, she would kill them without batting an eyelid.
As long as they were dutiful and diligent in their duties, she was also a magnanimous and benevolent ruler.
Every New Year, the people would be surprised to find that these parents and officials became extraordinarily hardworking. Their performance in government affairs rose steadily and their efficiency was extremely high.
For example, among the New Year's letters sent this year, there was a very interesting content.
A small county magistrate who was mediocre but had been in a remote and desolate village for 23 years complained that his old mother was getting on in years. She happened to hear about foreign qiang peaches and really wanted to eat them. Even if she could not eat them, it would be good to see them. He also wanted to buy half a catty for his old mother, but the small county in the 81st level didn't have it and the price of buying it on behalf of others was too expensive. Jiang Pengji felt that this request was not too much. This minor official's performance in the previous year was not bad and he had a good reputation in the local area. Therefore, the New Year's gift was changed from a knife of paper and two ingots of ink to a catty of peeled qiang peaches.
Not to mention how frightened and surprised the minor official would be when he received the qiang peaches, Jiang Pengji was busy until the morning of New Year's Eve before she stopped writing.
There were wars everywhere this year. During the winter, she even allocated funds to save millions of people in Jinan and Nansheng.
If it was not for the fact that the Nan family had assassinated seven noble families in Fenzhou and enriched their private coffers, her wallet would have been empty.
The New Year's banquet was not as elaborate and grand as the previous years. It was more like an ordinary family banquet. Everyone gathered for a meal and summarized their performance in the previous year.
Compared to her low-key side, An Cui on the other side was very arrogant.
Hua Yuan could hear An Cui's laughter from afar.
He adjusted the expression on his face and revealed just the right amount of puzzlement. He smiled and entered the main tent.
"I wonder what happy event has made my lord so happy?"
The bashful Xichang Princess was kneeling next to An Cui. His large palm held the Princess's soft hand and he kept rubbing it with emotion.
"The heavens have not ended my heir!"
An Cui's eyes reddened as he spoke.
Although he said that the Princess of Xichang was just a plaything and did not have the right to give birth to a young master for him, he was still very happy that she was really pregnant.
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