As the parental official of a county, especially when considering long-term development, birth is undoubtedly an unavoidable issue.

After returning to the Government Office, Geng Songfu talked to Chen Mo about this matter.

Currently, the birthrate in Pingting County is too low.

Is it because the people don't want to have children?

There's some reason for this, but very few people think this way.

In a feudal society where manpower determines productivity, the poorer people are, the more they tend to give birth.

Some impoverished families, even when struggling for food and clothing, still do not give up on having children.

The root cause is the impact of warfare, leading to a shortage of men and an increasing number of widows.

Geng Songfu and Chen Mo discussed re-establishing connections between unmarried soldiers and these widows to form new families.

Geng Songfu even proposed a military household system similar to the Ming Dynasty, where the children of these soldiers could become future military recruits.

This left Chen Mo stunned, as what he was currently doing indeed resembled the Ming military household system.

He was also allocating lands outside Pingting County to the soldiers of the Divine Brave Guard as a form of compensation.

Moreover, the redistribution of land brought additional tax revenue, which could improve the financial situation of the County Government Office.

This aspect was similar to Ming Taizu.

If he remembered correctly, his teacher talked about the Ming military household system in high school.

The emergence of the military household system was extremely important to the country in the early stages, consolidating the regime and strengthening national governance. It was especially crucial when facing external threats.

It also helped reduce social unrest, stabilize social order, and provided favorable conditions for the country's development.

However, the result of the military household system was not good.

Over time, it led to unequal land distribution, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. The duties of the soldiers became increasingly burdensome, causing dissatisfaction.

Corruption within the system gradually became apparent, and in the later stages, it was directly abolished.

Finally, the teacher defined it in one sentence.

The Ming military household system played an extremely important role when the country needed to recover and rebuild. It helped Zhu Yuanzhang establish and consolidate his regime.

Its appearance was good, but historical systems are not constant; they evolve and adjust with changes in times and environments.

This means that the military household system can be implemented, but it should be adjusted and reformed according to specific circumstances and needs.

Chen Mo nodded, allowing him to study this further. However, establishing families for the soldiers and widows could be implemented first.

In this deep winter, who wouldn't want a wife and children to warm up with?

...

In the side room at the back of the Government Office.

Xia Zhiqing was playing her famous "Ni Changyin," with the melodious and lingering zither sound filling the air, evoking a sense of joy.

On normal days, Xia Zhining would perform a sword dance to accompany her sister, but now, she was entirely out of sorts.

Her eyes were fixed on her sister's ten fingers upon the zither strings, but her heart was cursing that scoundrel.

It had been more than ten days since they returned to the county, yet that scoundrel hadn't come to see her once.

This would have been fine if they hadn't expressed their feelings for each other, but now that they had both made their feelings clear,

Xia Zhining felt neglected.

All that talk about only having eyes for her, and upon returning to the county, she was cast aside and perhaps now he was dalliance with a concubine.

Xia Zhining bit her lip, and a shadow fell over her heart.

And as for her sister Xia Zhiqing, she wasn't much better off.

However, her thoughts were quite different.

She believed that the debt between the three of them was settled before the last military expedition.

He also said that they could leave at any time.

This meant that their complex relationship with Chen Mo had been severed.

So in Xia Zhiqing's view, it was clear that Chen Mo truly no longer wished to be entangled with them, which explained his lack of visit despite being in the county for days.

Seeing Chen Mo so decisively cut ties,

Xia Zhiqing felt a deep sense of loss for some reason.

To the extent that she made several mistakes when playing Ni Changyin.

Under normal circumstances, Xia Zhining would have noticed and pointed this out long ago.

But she did not do so this time.

And Xia Zhiqing did not bring it up proactively either.

The two sisters each had their own thoughts.

Xia Zhining, unable to sit still any longer, dressed lavishly and appeared delicate and alluring, much like a dewy rose. Despite her stunning appearance, she was not herself; she stood up and walked towards the door.

"Zhining, where are you going?" Xia Zhiqing paused her playing and asked.

"To the bathroom," said Xia Zhining before leaving the side room.

...

In the study of the Government Office.

The weather turned cold, so naturally Chen Mo couldn't work in the bright hall.

After being away for over three months, Chen Mo had accumulated many official duties. Although these duties had been handled by Geng Songfu, his "suspicious" nature made it inevitable that he would review them again to see if there were any mistakes.

Especially concerning the appointments and dismissals of clerks.

Zhi Ning found Geng Songfu, learned where Chen Mo was, and headed to the study.

Inside the study, behind a rectangular rosewood desk, a tall and youthful figure sat in the master's chair, bending over to write as the characters appeared clearly on paper.

"Marshal Chen, Miss Xia is outside saying she wants to see you." Just then, Sun Meng entered the study quietly and spoke softly.

Chen Mo put down the brush in his hand and said to Sun Meng, "Let her in."

"Yes."

"By the way, you don't need to stay outside." Chen Mo said.

Sun Meng was momentarily stunned but soon understood the meaning and replied, "Yes."

…

Zhining walked in energetically, looking around.

"Zhining, what are you looking for?" Chen Mo was puzzled.

"I'm looking to see if anyone is hiding." Zhining said, and actually started searching.

"What could be hidden here, what's wrong with you?" Chen Mo got up from his seat and came to Zhining's side.

Zhining coldly laughed twice: "Really? Or are you entangled with some other girl, otherwise why have you ignored me for more than ten days.

In my heart, it's clear there's no other girl more interesting, but in the end, it's that you don't care about me, you bastard."

Chen Mo: "…"

"How could that be, listen to what you're saying, I've been away from Pingting County for months, as the head of Pingting County, now that I'm back, there are too many things that need my attention, why would I intentionally ignore you."

Chen Mo held Zhining's delicate hands in his palms and said, "How could I not care about you, if you weren't in my heart..."

But Zhining didn't want to listen to Chen Mo anymore, interrupted him, and withdrew her hands, saying sarcastically: "See, starting to draw promises again. If I believed you, I'd probably cry my heart out."

Too busy, right in one government office, busy enough not to even take a glance.

This made Zhining unable to believe.

Chen Mo wrapped an arm around Zhining's fragrant shoulder from behind, embraced her, and whispered in her ear where her hair curled: "I'm thinking of you, isn't it."

"Enough with this act." Zhining pushed against Chen Mo but didn't move him, saying, "What about thinking of me, don't use this talk to deceive me."

Chen Mo knew that Zhining coming to find him was because she missed him, so he could coax her, and he held Zhining's delicate hands once more, saying:

"Think about it, in front of your sister, our debts between us are settled, which means our relationship is severed, so now what reason do I have to seek you?

Besides, if I show any intimate attitude when finding you, wouldn't that make your sister suspicious since you won't willingly tell her about our relationship? If I'm cold, wouldn't you misunderstand, so I'm conflicted, plus there are affairs that need attending, therefore I haven't come."

Chen Mo's words made sense, and Zhining somewhat believed him, thus softening her resistance, her brows furrowed slightly, saying: "Then what do you plan to do?"

"I have a way, but I need your help, Zhining." Chen Mo thought for a moment and started whispering.

Zhining looked surprised and said, "This... this is too... despicable, no."

"I'm doing it for you, since you can't bear to face it, then involve your sister, and later you can appear as if catching 'a thief' and solve it from the angle of caring for your sister, wouldn't it be perfect." Chen Mo said.

Zhining: "…"

She actually found some reason in his words.

The reason she couldn't face her sister about her and Chen Mo.

Is because she doesn't want her sister to think she's cheap...

But this way, it wouldn't happen.

Though it's a little unfair to her sister.

Zhining's face blushed slightly, saying: "First, you have to win over my sister, make her like you too, otherwise this plan won't work."

Chen Mo knew Zhining agreed and said: "Don't worry, even you were won over by me, with your sister, isn't it just a piece of cake."

Chen Mo looked confident.

Honestly, Xia Zhiqing is indeed easier to win over than Zhining.

After all, the grudges between them aren't as deep as those with Zhining.

"What do you mean..." Zhining looked at the young man with anger, biting her lips with a feeling of being underestimated.

"I mean your sister isn't as good as you." Chen Mo said.

"As if I need you to say it." Zhining glared at Chen Mo.

"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore, since you're here, then..."

"You're shameless, uh..." Zhining angrily pushed Chen Mo, but saw the young man holding her shoulders, and the next moment, warmth and softness approached, stopping her words.

Zhining reached out her delicate hand to gently push away, pursing her lips, but it didn't take long before she felt dizzy and like walking on clouds.

After a while, Zhining still pushed Chen Mo away, saying: "You... stop fooling around, I told my sister I was going to the bathroom, if I take too long, she'll get suspicious."

Chen Mo paused slightly, raising his eyes to the beauty with watery eyes and slightly parted lips, clearly moved, and pointed a finger: "Then what about me?"

Zhining glanced down, her face blushed red, she didn't want to, but under the youth's closeness, she still conceded.

Chen Mo concentrated, stroking the beauty's hair, while discussing the specific details of the plan and how she should cooperate.

ps: Thank you all for the monthly tickets and rewards! Thank you!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.