The transmigrated wife is crazy and ruthless.

Chapter 197 Offering a Plan

"King of Wu,"

Qiu Ziyue asked softly, "How does Zhu Yanshou treat his subordinates?"

Yang Xingmi frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes:

"He was extremely harsh. Anyone who stole anything would surely die."

Qiu Ziyue nodded, and said thoughtfully:

“Then I have a plan that can help you win people’s hearts.”

"What plan?" Yang Xingmi asked curiously.

Qiu Ziyue explained:

"You can begin to implement a policy of appeasement towards the soldiers and win their hearts as much as possible."

"There are many thieves in the army, and Zhu Yanshou's severe punishments have not had the desired effect. Instead, they have instilled fear and dissatisfaction among the soldiers."

Yang Xingmi pondered for a moment, then nodded:

"Indeed, overly harsh methods will only backfire."

Qiu Ziyue continued, "Each time you catch a thief, you return the stolen goods to the thief."

"Then let them go back, and quietly tell them: 'Whatever you do, don't let Zhu Yanshou know! If he finds out, he won't let you go!'"

Yang Xingmi revealed a slight smile:

"That does sound like a good idea. But wouldn't it seem too weak to do so?"

Qiu Ziyue shook her head:

"On the contrary, this will make the soldiers feel your tolerance, and they will appreciate your forgiveness. Moreover, it will not really undermine your authority."

"And what's next?" Yang Xingmi pressed.

Qiu Ziyue smiled mysteriously:

"Next, you can subtly let Zhu Yanshou know about these thieves."

Yang Xingmi understood Qiu Ziyue's intention:

“In this way, the thieves will still be executed by Zhu Yanshou, but they will feel that I am their savior.”

Qiu Ziyue nodded:

"Yes, the soldiers will realize that with you, they still have a chance to survive, while with Zhu Yanshou, there is only merciless punishment."

"Over time, the soldiers' hearts will turn to you."

Yang Xingmi took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with determination:

"This plan is excellent; I will implement it immediately."

"Also, you can continue to play blind, or even more so than before, to lower their guard."

"There is one more thing, Your Majesty. In the duel between the zither and the sword, Lord Zhu Yanshou also wanted to win me over and do me some favors. So my husband and I will only offer you advice and suggestions, and will not participate in your struggle openly. Is that alright?"

Yang Xingmi nodded in acquiescence.

Yang Xingmi, Qiu Ziyue, and Qi Yuxuan emerged from the secret room.

Just as I stepped into the study, a crisp sound suddenly rang out:

"Beautiful lady, handsome gentleman, take care."

Qiu Ziyue was taken aback and looked up toward the sound.

A brightly colored parrot was in its cage, tilting its head and looking at them.

This parrot has bright and eye-catching feathers and lively eyes, as if it is full of intelligence.

"This is……"

Qiu Ziyue pointed at the parrot in surprise, speechless for a moment.

Yang Xingmi was also greatly surprised, and a look of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

"My Iroha actually spoke."

He muttered to himself, "This is incredible."

"This parrot is named Rainbow Feather."

Yang Xingmi explained:

"Ever since I pretended to be blind, it seems to have become quiet and withdrawn. I guess it senses my depression and is afraid that speaking will reveal secrets, so it keeps quiet."

Qi Yuxuan smiled slightly:

"Perhaps it is also waiting for the right person to appear."

Yang Xingmi nodded:

"Yes, it seems to have a special connection with you. Perhaps it's because you brought new hope that gave it the desire to express itself."

Qiu Ziyue approached the parrot and whispered:

"Little one, is there something you want to tell us?"

The parrot flapped its wings a few times and repeated the sentence:

"Beautiful lady, I want you to be my new master."

Qiu Ziyue smiled:

"It seems it really is intelligent and knows we are discussing important things."

Yang Xingmi seemed to be deep in thought:

"This colorful bird has been with me for many years. Today, it actually spoke on its own initiative. Perhaps this is a good omen."

“Caiyu wants you to be its new owner. It seems it likes you very much, Miss Qiu.”

Qiu Ziyue said softly, "King Wu, a gentleman does not take what others love. Caiyu is your spirit, so Ziyue will not take what you love."

Qi Yuxuan nodded in agreement:

"Yes, we should seize this opportunity, implement the plan as soon as possible, and turn the tide."

Yang Xingmi took a deep breath and said firmly:

“Alright, since Aya is cheering us on, we can’t back down. I’ll start preparing immediately to make sure every step goes smoothly.”

A few days later, following Qiu Ziyue's advice, Yang Xingmi began to implement the plan.

Whenever he caught a thief, he would personally return the stolen goods and gently persuade them to repent and start anew.

He also cleverly let Zhu Yanshou know about these things, ensuring that the thieves would ultimately not escape death.

Meanwhile, Yang Xingmi continued to feign blindness.

He wandered around the house, deliberately groping around inside, and bumped into pillars several times, almost fainting.

Zhu rushed forward to support him and anxiously treated him.

"Husband, be careful."

Mrs. Zhu said worriedly, "If this continues, you will hurt yourself."

Yang Xingmi gave a wry smile: "It seems my eye disease is incurable."

One day, Yang Xingmi called his wife to his side and whispered:

"None of my sons are capable, so I think I'll hand over all the power to my brother-in-law in the future."

Madam Zhu was taken aback, then a hint of joy appeared on her face:

"My husband, are you really sure?"

Yang Xingmi nodded, a hint of helplessness in his voice:

"Yes, I don't trust my sons. My brother-in-law is strict, but at least he can keep things stable."

A hint of excitement flashed in Yang's eyes, and she quickly agreed.

Not long after, Madam Zhu found Zhu Yanshou and eagerly told him what Yang Xingmi had said.

"Brother, the King of Wu says he wants to hand over power to you!" Lady Zhu said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yanshou was overjoyed, but feigned surprise on his face:

"Really? Why did the King of Wu suddenly make this decision?"

Madam Zhu nodded.

Zhu Yanshou was secretly pleased, but he knew he couldn't show it too obviously, lest he arouse suspicion.

He nodded, feigning composure: "I will think about it carefully."

By winning over hearts and minds day after day through a policy of appeasement, Yang Xingmi gained the hearts of his soldiers.

Gradually, the soldiers' attitude towards Yang Xingmi changed.

They no longer saw Yang Xingmi as an old man pretending to be blind, but rather felt his wisdom and benevolence.

Whenever someone was caught stealing, the other soldiers would whisper among themselves:

"Fortunately, he was protected by the King of Wu, otherwise he would have been dead long ago."

This word-of-mouth news quickly spread throughout the entire military camp, and the soldiers were filled with gratitude and respect for Yang Xingmi.

Zhu Yanshou's harsh methods only made them feel more uneasy and fearful.

A few months later, the number of thieves in the army decreased significantly, and morale was greatly boosted.

The soldiers were no longer afraid of being punished unjustly; instead, they were more willing to be loyal to Yang Xingmi.

They knew that behind this seemingly weak King of Wu lay a strong and benevolent heart.

"King Wu, your strategy has truly worked." Qiu Ziyue looked at Yang Xingmi with admiration in her eyes.

Yang Xingmi smiled and said:

"I have to thank you for your help. Only by winning people's hearts can we truly consolidate our rule."

To be continued in the next chapter!