C106. Tickle.

C106. Tickle.

Yuan Li chuckled at Chu Hechao's happy expression, "This is your birthday gift."

Raising an eyebrow, Chu Hechao questioned, "A birthday gift is just a letter?"

Yuan Li, alert, replied, "Then what else do you want?"

Chu Hechao wanted to make a suggestive comment but stopped himself, sighing. His throat and chest trembled as he spoke, "I don't want to scare you by saying it now. Let's wait two more years. Let you grow up a bit more, kid."

He still had two years left in mourning.

Yuan Li immediately understood his meaning and bluntly asked, "Do you want to sleep with me?"

Chu Hechao was caught off guard, choking on his saliva and coughing several times. Stopping, he looked at Yuan Li incredulously, blushing and feeling embarrassed for even thinking about such a thing while still in mourning.

He blushed and retorted indignantly, "I didn't say that, you're just imagining things. Look at what's going on in your head."

Seeing him embarrassed, Yuan Li sighed, "I'm sorry, brother."

Confused, Chu Hechao asked, "What?"

"You're almost thirty after the mourning period," Yuan Li said sympathetically, "and you haven't even experienced intimacy."

Chu Hechao: "..."

Yuan Li patted his head reassuringly, "It's okay, you don't look old. At first glance, you still look like a young man in his mid-twenties."

With veins popping on his forehead, Chu Hechao said, "...Just stop talking."

After the teasing, Chu Hechao had completely lost interest in the matter.

He cuddled with Yuan Li and recounted the events during the attack on Bingzhou and the current situation there. He mentioned that some officials remained in Bingzhou, and they might have to make do with them temporarily as they couldn't recruit many officials from elsewhere.

It was crucial to appoint local governors, particularly in Bingzhou, to firmly control the region.

Yuan Li concurred with a slight nod, "Indeed, that is precisely the case."

The need for manpower extended to both Youzhou and Bingzhou. Bingzhou, as a recently secured territory, demanded even greater attention. To solidify control, it necessitated stationing their own troops in the garrisons and appointing trusted confidants to fill the upper echelons of the administration.

The plight of the Bingzhou populace also necessitated immediate action. The combined devastation of the winter snowstorm and the rebel army's depredations had left the people utterly terrified. Widespread starvation and death from exposure painted a grim picture across the land.

Fortunately, there were no epidemics in Yunzhou and Bingzhou.

Yuan Li had received medical books from the system as a reward and had instructed people to study the medical knowledge systematically to train medical practitioners.

Scratching his arm, Yuan Li asked, "Who will be appointed as the governor of Bingzhou?"

Rubbing his earlobe, Chu Hechao replied, "Who else but you?"

Their conversation seemed casual, as if they could easily appoint anyone as the governor. In fact, since Bingzhou was under their control, they had the authority to make such appointments.

After arranging the personnel, they just needed to formally request the emperor to appoint their chosen candidate as the governor of Bingzhou.

This "who holds what official position" is very interesting in troubled times.

In times of chaos, appointing officials was often more of a formality. In regions they controlled, the appointments were genuine, but in other areas, they were purely symbolic gestures.

For example, if Li Li recommended someone as governor of Bingzhou, Jizhou, or Yanzhou, would his subordinates really assume those roles?

It was merely a facade.

Therefore, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were unconcerned about revealing their conquest of Bingzhou to Li Li and the emperor. They didn't rush to request official appointments for fear that even if Li Li recommended others for these positions, those individuals wouldn't dare to take on the responsibilities.

And if someone did come to Bingzhou, they would likely be sidelined and used as figureheads.

After some thought, Yuan Li agreed to take on the role, as he had prior experience. "Alright, I'll manage it. But don't you think we have too few people in these two provinces?"

Among the chaos of the snow disaster, the only real gain was the more than five hundred thousand refugees who had fled to Yunzhou. However, for the uncultivated lands of Yunzhou and Bingzhou, this number was still too few.

The current priority is to find a way to attract people to settle in Youzhou.

As they were talking, Yuan Li suddenly sighed and helplessly said to Chuhe Chao, "Can you stop poking me?"

Chu Hechao blushed and shamelessly replied, "I haven't seen you in four months, it misses you, I can't control it. Can't you persuade it?"

Yuan Li turned around, reached out and stroked, "Be good, go to sleep and stop making trouble."

It took a gentle persuasion for a while before it listened, Yuan Li's hand was sore, and he complained, "What have you been eating to grow like this?"

Chu Hechao exhaled a breath comfortably, wiped his sweat-soaked face, exuding a sexy wetness. He took a towel and wiped Yuan Li's hands, satisfied, kissed Yuan Li's lips, laughing mischievously, "This is your fortune, do you like it?"

Yuan Li twitched his lips, "...I can't force myself to like it."

Chu Hechao laughed and scolded, "You don't know how lucky you are in good fortune."

Yuan Li felt that he really couldn't handle this fortune, he felt troubled when this matter was brought up. Yuan Li covered himself with a blanket, muttered to the man, "I want to sleep."

Chu Hechao clicked his tongue, grabbed his blanket, afraid that he would suffocate, "Sleep if you want, why cover your head with a blanket on such a hot day?"

Yuan Li said, "If you don't kiss me, I won't cover." One kiss could easily lead to further actions.

Chu Hechao hesitated for a moment, immediately covered Yuan Li with the blanket, and even tucked the corner of the blanket for him, "Just cover yourself nicely."

Yuan Li said, "...get lost."

The first night after sharing a bed for four months, both of them slept soundly.

In the morning exercise, they also talked about He Lang going to Luoyang.

Chu Hechao casually asked, "Li Li didn't react?"

"No," Yuanli said casually, "He's too late for everything. Now everyone already knows he killed the Prince and Consort of Chu and tried to bribe you and me."

After saying that, Yuan Li realized his mistake, he looked at Chu Hechao with guilt, regretting bringing up the Prince and Consort of Chu's murder.

Chu Hechao's expression remained unchanged, he paused and calmly said, "We can't seek revenge on them for a few years."

A gentle breeze blew, and the leaves rustled softly.

Yuan Li said firmly yet gently, "We will eventually kill him."

Chu Hechao smiled and said, "Okay."

*

In the afternoon, everyone gathered in the study to discuss who should be sent to serve in Bingzhou.

After the snow disaster, Xiang Hongyun, who had witnessed Yuan Li's extraordinary side, decisively pledged allegiance to Yuan Li, who then appointed him as his subordinate official.

Without hesitation, Yuan Li appointed Xiang Hongyun, Yuan Lou, Jian Shaoning, Zheng Rong, Zhong Ji, and Guo Lin to go to Bingzhou first to handle the aftermath.

Xinzhou and Guan Zhihuai, who had not yet returned from Bingzhou, would temporarily stay in their original location and organize the local defense forces before starting to recruit soldiers from Bingzhou.

There were ultimately too few people who could be sent to Bingzhou to serve as the magistrate. After much thought, Yuan Li personally visited Zhang Liangdong and invited him to become the magistrate of Bingzhou.

Zhang Liangdong, who had once served as one of the three highest-ranking officials, was naturally capable of being a magistrate.

He was somewhat moved by Yuan Li's words but still expressed some hesitation due to lingering concerns about being dismissed by the late emperor. He said, "I am already old...I'm afraid I may not be suitable for this."

Yuan Li sincerely replied, "Uncle, only you can help me now. The people of Bingzhou are suffering, and you have served as an official all your life. No one is more suitable than you to take on the role of magistrate and bring stability to the people. Uncle, with your love for the country and the people, please work hard for a few more years for their sake."

In the end, Zhang Liangdong was persuaded by Yuan Li's words and sighed, "Since you've asked me this way, how can I refuse?"

Recognizing Yuan Li's shortage of manpower, Zhang Liangdong thought for a moment and wrote a letter to his disciples, asking them to come to Youzhou to help Yuan Li.

Touched by this gesture, Yuan Li immediately shared half of the famous wine from Bingzhou with Zhang Liangdong upon hearing about it.

Among these subordinates going to Bingzhou, Guo Lin was the most concerned. Before departing, he found Yuan Li and said, "Your Excellency, even though I am leaving, I cannot abandon my responsibilities. I would like to recommend someone to take over my duties."

Curious, Yuanli asked, "Who?"

Guo Lin replied, "Ding Zongguang."

The name Ding Zongguang seemed familiar.

Yuan Li glanced at Chu Hechao sitting beside him.

Furrowing his brows in thought, Chu Hechao, with a good memory, after a while, remembered someone, "He's a military commander under Yang Zhongfa. He lost an arm during the battle against the Baimi Rebels in Weixian, intended to seek death but was saved by you and given a task."

Yuan Li vaguely recalled the incident and, as Chu Hechao finished, finally remembered, "That's him."

When he heard that he intended to shelter wounded soldiers, Ding Zongguang had brought the wounded soldiers to kowtow to Yuan Li. It was because of this military commander's refusal to eat or drink and his impending death that Yuan Li decided to take in the wounded soldiers for work.

Feeling some fondness for this man, Yuan Li smiled and asked, "What kind of person is he?"

Guo Lin bowed and said, "He is extremely grateful to Your Excellency and is willing to devote himself to you unto death."

Guo Lin didn't have to say anything because, for Yuan Li, this assurance was enough.

Guo Lin was a cautious person, and his statement that Ding Zongguang was completely loyal to Yuan Li must have been thoroughly confirmed before he said so.

Yuan Li trusted Guo Lin and his ability to judge people, so he smiled and said, "Then let him take over your duties."

With the resolution of this major issue, Guo Lin felt much more at ease and was ready to leave Yuan Li's side to go to Bingzhou to carry out his duties. "Your Excellency, there is one more thing. Master Yuan instructed me this morning that you should have dinner at the Yuan Mansion before dusk."

With the matter settled, Guo Lin departed with a spring in his step.

Yuan Li stretched his languid limbs, a sudden itchiness creeping up his back. He turned to Chu Hechao, requesting a scratch, while inquiring, "Will you accompany me for dinner at the Yuan residence?"

Dinnertime had arrived. Since Chu Hechao's return, Yuan Li had been diligently keeping him company at Prince Chu Estate, leaving little time for visits to his parents.

Chu Hechao obliged, his hands moving rhythmically along Yuan Li's back. Before he realized it, he had pulled Yuan Li into his embrace, seating him comfortably. "Certainly, I wouldn't miss the chance to formally pay respects to my father-in-law."