Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2302: Going UpwardsEditor: Henyee Translations

Yuezheng Xiao thought highly of Shao Yunduan as well, so he agreed without hesitation.

Once the matter was confirmed, Shao Yunduan sent someone to Yuzhang to take charge, and the officials there were to be reassigned. County Magistrate of Yuzhang understood that since he had already surrendered, he needed to show complete sincerity and make his intentions clear about aligning with the South.

The garrison in Yuzhang was also replaced, with most of the troops being transferred to Huaixi and replenished from there.

This was how Shao Yunduan took control of Yuzhang Province.

If all the official positions in Yuzhang remained unchanged after the surrender, then what would be the difference from before?

The transfer process would take at least two months to complete. Shao Yunduan was not in a hurry and continued with the plan.

With Yuzhang’s initiative to align with him, the excitement grew. The Lantern Festival, already planned as a major event, became even more lively. The people were jubilant and prosperous.

Shao Yunduan went out with Qiao Xuan to admire the lanterns, blending in as an ordinary couple accompanied by Ah-Ye and a few others. Anan was coaxed by Shao Yunduan and his cousins to stay with Ms. Fang and the others. It seemed like it had been a long time since Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan had gone out together, so they wanted to enjoy the excitement just the two of them.

Good fortune continued to smile upon Shao Yunduan. To his surprise, Lu Min, the County Magistrate of Ningde County in Fujian Province, successfully persuaded several counties, including Ningzhou County and Pingnan County, to align with Shao Yunduan.

Facing two formidable local powers in Nanyue, Fujian Province had only half of its territory remaining. Lu Min and others were unwilling to submit to any Nanyue faction and had struggled for a long time. Holding out was becoming increasingly difficult for them.

Now that Yuzhang Province, their neighbor, had joined Shao Yunduan, Lu Min wasted no time in making her decision. She rallied several County Magistrates who were sympathetic to her cause, and they all agreed to join forces with Shao Yunduan. Action was promptly set in motion.

With no end in sight to the conflict between the two factions, delay was not an option.

Lu Min had never doubted Shao Yunduan’s integrity.

The reason he had gained renown in Fujian Province was thanks to the introduction of potatoes by Qiao Xuan.

The high yield of potatoes had astonished them initially. Following the successful harvest, they scoured the entire territory, especially along the coast.

Not only did they discover potatoes, they immediately began extensive cultivation. Within two years, potato cultivation had become widespread throughout the territories under Lu Min’s jurisdiction.

The benefits of potatoes were readily apparent to the commoners.

Thanks to this, Lu Min gained favor with her superiors and became beloved by the people. She transformed from a remote County Magistrate in Fujian into a renowned figure in Ningde County.

Ningde County, situated in the southeast and close to Yuzhang, allowed Lu Min to fortunately avoid the conflict brewing between the two Nanyue factions.

However, the tide of the world was gradually shifting, making it increasingly impractical to remain neutral.

Shao Yunduan was overjoyed upon hearing about Lu Min’s decision. This development made matters even more convenient for him. He promptly instructed the Yuzhang garrison to take over defense duties and incorporate Ningde and the surrounding counties into his territory.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the southeast.

The two Nanyue factions were taken aback and seethed with fury.