Lin tied up one wake-up only to know that Su Mei was a guest in the grass hall last night and left at dawn. Dazed, he remembered the figure that flashed before his eyes when he fell asleep, with his legs apart and sitting on the soft couch, asking Xiao Man: "Did I lose my demeanor?"

  "Your leg injury hasn't healed, you shouldn't be drinking. They say it's hard to refuse a generous offer, but I heard from the Ge family that you got drunk last night and came back completely intoxicated. And you still have the nerve to ask if you made a fool of yourself?" Little Manchu said with her hands on her hips, pouting.

  Lin tied up Ha ha, perfunctorily passed it on, and asked Xiao Man to bring the documents on the table over to him.

  When he was not at the river mouth, many things such as Ji Yun She, River Mouth and Prison Island were handled by Chang Sun Geng, Yang Shi, Cao Zi'ang, Lin Jingzhong, Ge Cunxin, Zhao Hu, Lin Mengde and others. All matters were only briefly reported to him for his knowledge. Now that he has returned to the river mouth, these things cannot be neglected. Fortunately, Xiao Man is familiar with the accounts and documents by his side, and can handle them skillfully.

  Lin Xing woke up late, and after lunch, he took a boat to the prison island. He dragged his injured leg and it was not convenient for him to enter the cell for inspection. Instead, he summoned Zhangsun Gan, Yang Shi, Zhu Ban and other heads of the prison, as well as the prison heads selected from among the prisoners, in batches to the front hall to inquire about the prison situation and understand the situation.

  Since Liu An'er's rebellion in Hongze Pu, many local criminals from various prefectures and counties who committed lighter or heavier crimes were sentenced to serve in the garrison or provincial military. However, vagrants had no roots and when they joined the army, they often escaped with their weapons, which was disliked by the various armies. Many were sent to prison islands for imprisonment or exiled to border garrisons. The number of prisoners on the prison island has increased to over 1,400.

  Chang Sun-geng was a capable person, and as an official, he could do things differently without being polluted. However, due to his limited background as a xiucai (a low-level degree holder) and lack of patronage, he remained a minor official in his thirties, unable to secure even the lowest ninth-grade position. After Lin Xie left Hekou, he entrusted Chang Sun-geng with managing the affairs within the prison, which he handled meticulously.

  Lin Jie divided the affairs of the prison island into internal and external divisions. The internal division, which included the management of prisoners' food, clothing, and other supplies, as well as the personnel management of officials and prisoners, was mainly handled by Zhang Sun-geng. All other matters related to the prison island, including the purchase of large quantities of labor tools and raw materials, the output of goods produced on the island, and the management of boats, sailors, and other workers recruited to work on the island, were handled by Lin Jingzhong, in order to cover up his various actions on the island.

  Now Gu Wu Chen wants to transfer Yang Shi, first by Yang Pu to make an appointment in advance, yesterday also mentioned that he will be promoted to Zhao Hu Yun's deputy captain of the cavalry.

  At that time, apart from imperial examination and hereditary titles, "official recommendation" by the heads of departments, temples, counties and prefectures was also an important channel.

  It's easy to be an official in the world, but it's hard to be an officer. The original intention of "official promotion" was to absorb some capable and talented officials into officers, now it is also an important means for superiors to win over their confidants.

  "The Officer's Promotion" occurs every three years, with limited spots available. Gu Wu dust recommended Zhao Hu Yun as the deputy captain of the cavalry, although it was only a ninth-grade military position, but for many ordinary people, it was a way to cross the gap between civilians and officials. This also paved the way for Yang Shi's departure and Zhao Hu's complete control over the island's military forces.

  This is also considered as Gu Wu Chen's compensation for not allowing Lin Xuan to interfere with the affairs of Dong Yang Xiang Yong.

  Lin Mou didn't care about these compensations, let alone that his gaze at this time was no longer limited to the prison island, but mainly focused on the Xisha Islands.

  He still needs to take refuge under the big tree of Gu Wu Chen at this time, and naturally he still has to be "loyal" to Gu Wu Chen, do his best to make Gu Wu Chen's foundation in Jiangdong more stable. Otherwise, how can he have the qualifications to control Xi Sha Island without fearing the local forces of Chongzhou?

  ************

  Lao Gongguan Ge Fu made a wheelchair for Lin Xie, who had difficulty walking due to leg injuries. The design was similar to that of later wheelchairs, but without the lightweight materials, it was much heavier than later wheelchairs. However, it was made from high-quality nanmu wood, intricately carved and polished, taking several days to complete, making it look exquisite and elegant.

  At dusk, the sedan chair stopped at the southwest corner of Prison Island. Lin Xie sat in the sedan chair, covering his injured leg with a blanket, and had Yang Shi find him to talk alone.

  "There's nothing good to hand over here on Prison Island, and the situation in Dongyang is also urgent. After you go to Dongyang, you'll have less time to return to Jiangning. You should take these two days to return to the city and reunite with your family. Once the documents arrive, Master will likely urge you to go to Dongyang immediately." Lin Fu said, "You can also bring the team of soldiers you brought with you on the island, and in Dongyang, you'll have a foundation to rely on... Lin Jiyuan and Chen Shouyan are both good friends..."

  At first, when they met in Shiliang County, the young and vigorous Yang Yi had conflicts with Lin Xie and didn't get along with him either. After arriving at Prison Island, he realized the gap between himself and Lin Xie, calmed down, and focused on doing his job on the island.

  "These days, I've been troubling you to take care of me." Yang Shi said lightly, exhaling a breath.

  "Cut the polite talk," Lin Xie said with a smile. "The important thing is that you don't embarrass Master when we go to Dongyang."

  Yang Xi smiled, he was inarticulate, in his view, Lin Xuan no matter the talent or the prestige accumulated over this period of time, were more suitable to go to Dongyang Army, it's just that these were all Gu Wu Chen's arrangements, so he didn't say anything.

  "This is some of the military strategies I've been thinking about recently, it may be useful to you," Lin Xie took out a manuscript from his pocket and handed it to Yang Shi, "The way of using troops doesn't have too many tricks, just put aside your identity and interact with the soldiers to understand its subtleties, also, one must cherish their troops..."

  Gu Wu Dun wants to borrow the strength of Dongyang Xiangyong to help his official power, but Dongyang Xiangyong will not completely become Gu Wu Dun's private army. They still represent the fundamental interests of Dongyang local and Lin clan. In other words, Gu Wu Dun must first maintain and guarantee the interests of Dongyang local forces in order to have the possibility of pulling Dongyang Xiangyong under his command; there is no absolute loyalty between heaven and earth.

  Although there are places where interests do not coincide, fundamentally, Lin Xie and the Lin family, as well as the local forces of Dongyang, have no direct conflicts, and even more often need to rely on each other.

  Leaving Gu Wu Chen, Lin Xuan lost the big tree that shaded him; losing the Lin family, Lin Xuan would lack the most fundamental support in this life.

  Gu Yingru is still the seventh lady of the Lin family, whether it's Lin Mengde, Lin Jingzhong, Zhao Hu, Zhao Qingshan and others, or more than half of the martial artists in Jiyun Society, or Zhang Yuber, Liu Xilin and others, all have close and inseparable connections with the local forces of Dongyang.

  Lin Xian may not be able to directly intervene in the affairs of Dongyang Township, but he absolutely does not want to see the power of Dongyang Township or local forces weakened or consumed during the process of suppressing Liu An's troops. Instead, he hopes that the local forces of Dongyang can expand and rise through this war.

  Yang Pu and Yang Shi, father and son, are easier to get close to than Zhao Qinnian, Chen Yuanliang, Gu Siyuan and others. If Yang Shi can truly grow into a trusted general for Gu Wudu, occupying an important position in the Gu system, it will also be beneficial for Lin Xie to pass on his skills to Yang Shi later, without too much reservation. However, whether he can understand and apply them to military affairs depends on Yang Shi's own wisdom.

  **********

  From Prison Island back to River Mouth, Lin Xie went to the cemetery to pay respects to Lin Tingxuan. The Lin family had built a special temple in the cemetery for Lin Tingxuan's coffin and also for the convenience of the Lin family members to come and pay their respects.

  Lin sat in a wheelchair and was pushed into the mourning hall, where she lit incense and then went to the side room to listen to the old nun of the mourning hall recite several passages of scriptures. It's strange to say that the old nun didn't believe in Buddhism, but rather in a popular folk religion in Jianghuai Prefecture called "One Stick of Incense Teaching". The worship form was also very simple, burning one stick of incense and praying, and stopping when the incense was finished, hence the name of the teaching.

  Also because of its simple form, it was easy for ordinary people to accept, so it spread widely. However, there was no strict organization within the sect, and the imperial court and local officials could tolerate the existence of the Xianghua Sect.

  A faint fragrance wafted from behind, Lin Xie turned his head to look, and saw Meng Yuqing standing by the door with a bright and elegant smile, her sleeves fluttering as she gazed at him.

  Lin tied a slight smile, he wanted to see Gu Xuan's sleeves, speaking without being disturbed by outsiders, it seemed that only in this nunnery.

  The old nun saw Madame Wu enter and retreated, closing the door for them as she left.

  Lin tied Pu found it strange and asked: "Who is this old nun? She looks very familiar?"

  "Have you forgotten the hermitage on Iron Curtain Mountain? She is the Abbess of the hermitage, and it's been many years since you've seen her, no wonder you can't recognize her. I saw that she had nowhere else to go, so I let her come here, but others don't know she's my person. To tell you the truth, you won't believe it, Old Six met with Zhao Qianmin here at noon today." said Gu Yingxue.

  Lin Xie smiled, knowing that Gu Yunxiu wouldn't be too lonely at the river mouth. Zhao Qinnian had secretly met with Liu Furen, mostly to divide and conquer the Lin family from within. Gu Wudu relied on the Lin clan for many things at this time, but didn't want them to be too united. However, Zhao Qinnian hadn't expected that the old nun in the temple was Gu Yunxiu's informant. Smiling, he said, "As long as they don't cross the line with their behind-the-scenes actions, let them be. After all, everyone is tied together like ants on a string, and no one can leave anyone else."

  "'You make it sound easy, but I'm in a difficult position,' said Gu Ying Xiu. 'I regret not controlling my temper and telling Xun Niang about that matter earlier. The day before yesterday, Xun Niang came to find me and changed her words to probe my intentions.'"

  "......" Lin Xian said with a self-deprecating smile, "I can only be considered a good subordinate, but not a good son-in-law candidate."

  "If this matter is not settled, won't Xunniang hate me?" Gu Yingxu said with a scowl.

  Lin Xian let out a soft sigh, many things cannot be taken care of at the same time. In fact, if Gu Wuhen really wants to marry Gu Junxun, it will only make Lin Tingxun and Lin Xuwen in Yanjing suspicious. The matter is too subtle, people need to be confused. Just like the She family, on the surface they seem united, but aren't there still opportunities for outsiders to take advantage of the relationship between She Feixiong and She Feihu?

  Gu Ying didn't want to add more trouble to Lin Xuan's heart, so she walked in and squatted down in front of him, her hand touching his injured leg. "Does it hurt?"

  "It doesn't hurt now, the scab is still a bit itchy, and I'll be able to walk on my own in a few days," Lin said, holding her warm and jade-like hand on his thigh, stroking her tender cheek, "You've lost a lot of weight..."

  "All day I've been worried, seeing you come back, I feel at ease." Gu Yingxiu gently pressed her face against Lin Xie's thigh, savoring the warmth of this stolen moment. Lin Xie cradled Gu Yingxiu's plump face and made her sit on his lap, gazing closely at her beautiful and captivating face, looking into her tender and loving eyes, and leaning in to kiss her rosy lips.

  Gu Yingying was leaning against Lin Xie's legs, but she didn't dare sit on his lap for fear of pressing on his injured leg. She just gave him a kiss that left them both dazed and confused, wishing they could stick their entire bodies together. Without worrying too much, she sat sideways on his thigh, her cheek pressed against his chest, and they chatted intimately in the pavilion for nearly half an hour before leaving first.