The abandoned administrator's office stood like a monument to corruption and cowardice. Zhao Ming stepped through the main entrance, his boots echoing in the hollow chambers where Wang Shu had once held court over Poyang's affairs. Overturned furniture, scattered documents, and the lingering smell of burned papers told the story of a hasty flight more clearly than any witness could.
"Complete chaos," Sergeant Chen observed, his weathered face showing disgust as he surveyed the destruction. "This wasn't an orderly transfer of authority—this was panic."
Ming nodded, his tactical mind already cataloging the evidence of Wang Shu's desperate escape. Drawers had been yanked open and emptied, official seals were missing, and valuable furnishings showed signs of hasty removal. But it was the partially burned documents in the corner that drew his immediate attention.
"Someone tried to destroy records," he said, kneeling beside the charred remains. "But they were in too much hurry to do it properly."
Gan Ning approached from the treasury chamber, his expression grim. "The coffers are empty. Not just low—completely cleaned out. Silver, gold, even the emergency grain reserves. Everything portable is gone."
The systematic looting confirmed what Ming had suspected about Wang Shu's character. This wasn't merely administrative incompetence, but deliberate theft on a massive scale. The man had used his position to enrich himself while the people under his protection suffered.
"Check the document storage," Ming ordered. "If Wang Shu was as careless with his records as he was with his escape, we might find evidence of the corruption network."
What they discovered exceeded even Ming's expectations. Hidden behind a false panel in Wang Shu's private study, they found a collection of ledgers and correspondence that detailed years of systematic corruption. The records showed bribes from merchants, kickbacks from tax collectors, and most damning of all, regular correspondence with Chen Gui in Changsha.
"Look at this," Sergeant Liu said, holding up a letter bearing Chen Gui's personal seal. "Coordination between the administrators. They've been working together to exploit their positions."
Ming read the letter with growing anger. Chen Gui's instructions were explicit: maintain high taxation rates, skim imperial revenue, and ensure that military supplies were purchased at inflated prices from preferred merchants. The corruption wasn't isolated to Wang Shu—it was part of a larger network that included his own supposed superior.
"This changes everything," Ming said quietly. "We're not just dealing with one corrupt official, but an entire system designed to exploit the people."
The evidence they gathered filled several chests: detailed financial records, correspondence with other corrupt officials, and documentation of illegal taxation schemes that had driven the region to desperation. Most importantly, they found proof that the Yellow Turban rebellion had been directly caused by administrative abuse rather than mere ideological fervor.
As they organized the administrator's office into a functional command center, Ming felt the weight of legitimate authority settling on his shoulders. The scattered furniture was rearranged into a proper meeting space, guard posts were established at key entrances, and communication systems were set up to coordinate with the various military units now under his command.
"This will serve as our base of operations," Ming announced to his assembled officers. "From here, we'll coordinate the recovery of Poyang and establish the kind of governance that serves the people rather than exploiting them."
The afternoon brought their first formal council meeting in the reclaimed administrative compound. Ming sat at the head of the table that had once been Wang Shu's, with Gan Ning, Sergeants Chen and Liu, and Fan Wei arranged around him. Maps of the region covered the surface, marked with notes about population centers, resource locations, and areas requiring immediate attention.
"Report on the agricultural situation," Ming said, opening the meeting with the most pressing concern.
Sergeant Liu consulted his notes. "Seeds are sorted and ready for distribution to farmers. However, grain stores are critically low. We're uncertain whether Wang Shu took the reserves with him during his flight or if he had already embezzled them over time."
The food shortage represented an immediate threat to stability. Without adequate supplies to feed the population until the next harvest, even the most grateful citizens might turn to desperation and unrest.
"What about the former rebels?" Ming continued.
Sergeant Chen's report was more encouraging. "We've finished sorting them. The majority are farmers and laborers who can return to productive work. Most have been assigned to agricultural teams to prepare fields for spring planting. Some of the more skilled workers will be assigned to repair the city gates and walls damaged during the siege."
Gan Ning leaned forward with his assessment of local conditions. "The people are cautious but not hostile toward the new leadership. They're watching to see if this administration will be different from Wang Shu's. Word of your fair treatment of prisoners and equal medical care has spread, which helps build confidence."
"That's encouraging," Ming replied. "But we need to do more than just avoid Wang Shu's mistakes. We need to actively demonstrate that this government serves their interests."
Fan Wei nodded agreement. "My father suggests reducing taxes for this year to help families recover from the crisis. The lost revenue can be offset by eliminating the corruption that was draining resources."
Ming had been thinking along similar lines. "Agreed. We'll announce an immediate tax reduction and use the former rebels to open new farmland. That should increase agricultural production while providing productive employment for people who might otherwise return to banditry."
The discussion turned to external support, and Ming outlined his plans for reaching out to contacts in Changsha. "I'll send letters today—one to Mei Ying's family requesting grain and agricultural tools, and another to Lu Su about his relief shipments. We'll offer fair payment, but we need to emphasize the urgency of our situation."
"What about communication with Changsha?" Gan Ning asked. "Your uncle will eventually learn about Wang Shu's flight and your assumption of authority."
"I'll send a warning letter to Uncle Wei about Chen Gui's involvement in the corruption network," Ming decided. "Along with copies of the evidence we've found. If Chen Gui tries to move against us, Uncle Wei will be prepared."
The policy framework they developed addressed both immediate needs and long-term stability. Tax reduction would provide relief to overtaxed families, while the integration of former rebels into productive work would prevent them from returning to banditry. Infrastructure repair would restore the city's defenses and demonstrate effective governance, while price controls on essential goods would prevent merchants from exploiting the crisis.
"We'll also need to increase patrols throughout the city and surrounding areas," Ming added. "Both to maintain security and to show that this administration can protect its people."
As the formal meeting concluded, Fan Wei remained behind for a private consultation about regional political dynamics.
"What about other noble families in the area?" Ming asked. "Are there potential allies or threats we should be aware of?"
Fan Wei's expression grew somber. "No other noble families remained during the crisis. All the others fled with Wang Shu when the Yellow Turban siege began. My family is now the only established noble house in the region."
The revelation was both opportunity and burden. It simplified the political landscape by eliminating potential rivals, but it also meant that the Fan family partnership was crucial for maintaining legitimacy and local support.
"That makes your family's support even more important," Ming observed. "Without other noble houses to provide balance, we'll need to work together to ensure stable governance."
"You have our full support," Fan Wei assured him. "My father believes that honest governance benefits everyone, and your actions during the crisis proved your character."
As evening approached and the immediate administrative tasks were completed, Ming found himself reflecting on the transformation his mission had undergone. What had begun as a simple assignment to support a corrupt administrator had evolved into the foundation for independent territorial authority based on popular support and moral legitimacy.
The evidence of corruption they had gathered provided legal justification for his assumption of power, while the successful defense of the city had earned popular support. The integration of former rebels into productive work demonstrated his commitment to addressing the underlying problems that had created the crisis, while the alliance with the Fan family provided the local legitimacy necessary for stable rule.
But Ming also understood that the real challenges lay ahead. Chen Gui would eventually respond to his independence, and the corrupt network they had exposed would not simply accept the loss of their Poyang operations. Building sustainable governance would require not just good intentions, but the political skill and military strength to defend what they had built.
The jade pendant rested quietly against his chest as he reviewed the day's accomplishments, its warmth a gentle reminder of the supernatural guidance that had helped bring him to this point. But the ancient spirits had always emphasized that their role was to provide wisdom, not solutions. The hard work of governance would depend on his own abilities and the loyalty of those who had chosen to follow him.
As he prepared the letters that would reach out to potential allies in Changsha, Ming felt the weight of responsibility settling comfortably on his shoulders. The boy who had left his uncle's protection just weeks ago was gone, replaced by someone ready to take responsibility for others and make the difficult decisions that leadership required.
The evening brought reports from the patrols that security was holding throughout the city, while the former rebels assigned to agricultural work had begun preparing fields for spring planting with enthusiasm that spoke to their relief at having legitimate employment. The price controls on grain and essential goods were preventing the kind of speculation that often followed crises, while the medical care provided to all wounded regardless of their original allegiance continued to build goodwill among the population.
Most importantly, the evidence of Wang Shu's corruption was being carefully documented and prepared for transmission to Uncle Wei. The detailed financial records, correspondence with Chen Gui, and proof of systematic exploitation would provide both legal justification for Ming's actions and political protection against future challenges to his authority.
As night settled over Poyang, Ming stood in what had once been Wang Shu's private study, now transformed into his own command center. Maps covered the walls, showing not just the immediate region but the larger political landscape of Jing Province and beyond. The transformation from family-protected youth to independent territorial ruler was nearly complete, but Ming understood that this was just the beginning of a much larger journey.
The ancient spirits had guided him to this point, but the future would depend on his ability to build lasting institutions that could serve justice while surviving the political realities of a fragmenting empire. The foundation had been laid, but the real test of his leadership was yet to come.