minions live

Chapter 752 Retention

After chatting for a few more sentences, Huo Ling turned to the main topic.

"I heard that the county governor recently submitted a petition to Xingji City, hoping to continue to serve in Dingxi County?"

Zhu Jialiang was slightly stunned, then he understood.

The man in front of him is not only the general guarding the Yanchui Fortress, but also one of the few dukes in the Yunchui Empire, holding a high position and power.

Most importantly, he is the uncle of the current emperor.

I'm afraid Huo Ling would know exactly what memorials I submitted to Xingji City without me having to ask specifically.

"My Lord," Zhu Jialiang nodded with a smile, "It is true."

He looked up at the sky with a complicated expression.

"It is well known that the Western Territory is cold and barren. When I first arrived here to take up my post a few years ago, I was at a loss as to what to do."

However, when Xiliang invaded later, he and his family shared life and death with the soldiers and civilians of Dingxi. After living together for several years, he fell in love with this land and its people.

According to the Yunchui official system, local officials serve a five-year term. Now that his term has expired long ago, he could have been transferred to another county.

But looking at the devastated land and the expectant eyes of the people, Zhu Jialiang really couldn't just walk away.

"My Lord," Zhu Jialiang said with a guilty look on his face, "We used all our strength to repel the invasion of the Western Liang wolves, and now the county is in ruins. However, Dingxi is located in the frontier, sparsely populated and with fierce folk customs. If the court transfers a new county governor, it may be difficult to quickly control the situation."

"Although I am not very talented and well-educated, I have gained some prestige among the people over the years, and people still listen to me when I speak out. In this case, why not let me stay for a few more years until the county affairs and the people's production and life are back on track before making plans."

After listening to this, Huo Ling was silent for a long time.

He looked around the small shabby house in front of him again.

"Have you thought it through?"

This time when returning to Beijing, Huo Ling deliberately took a detour through Dishi City, precisely because of Ren Ning's request.

If these words were to get back to Xingji City, Zhu Jialiang's continued tenure would almost certainly be a foregone conclusion.

Although the position of governor of a county is unattainable in the eyes of ordinary people.

But each county magistrate is different from another.

Dingxi was just a lower-level county under Yunchui.

As the saying goes, Xingji City is home to many high-ranking officials, and the low-ranking county magistrate is the most humble, and it is difficult for him to have a say even if he comes to the capital.

The term of office of Yunchui officials is five years. Zhu Jialiang is already over thirty years old. If he stays in office for another five years, if all goes well, his career will at best end in the position of a high-ranking county magistrate.

By then, let alone taking charge of the Six Ministries, the center of power in the empire, even becoming an ordinary official in the capital would be a luxury.

Haha.

"Thank you for your concern, Duke." Zhu Jialiang smiled freely.

"I have already figured it out. No matter how high or low my position is, I am here to help Your Majesty. Besides, life is only a few decades long. If I can benefit the people and contribute to the empire, I will be satisfied."

"As for high office and generous salary, I have never dreamed of it."

Huo Ling nodded slightly, as if remembering something, and changed the subject: "A month ago, the Ministry of Works sent 300 craftsmen to the west. Has Lord Zhu received the news?"

Zhu Jialiang nodded: "I will remember this."

These officials from the Ministry of Industry were all professionals who came to assist Dingxi County in geological surveys, water conservancy planning, drilling for water, and providing guidance on other farming techniques.

It is said that Ren Ning had high hopes for these craftsmen and even met them in person in the imperial city before they set off.

"Your Majesty is thoughtful." Zhu Jialiang said with emotion.

He raised his head and looked toward the eastern sky, as if he could see the Luoxia Mountains stretching in the distance, tall, majestic and green.

"Dingxi is dry and rainy all year round, but the Luoxia Mountains are moist all year round, and the top of the mountain even has snow that never melts. Your Majesty intends to divert the water from the Luoxia Mountains to flow westward to irrigate the entire county, and at the same time plant trees along the post road to conserve water and soil."

At this point, the county magistrate let out a long sigh.

"But this project will probably require a huge amount of manpower and financial resources."

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. However, the treasury was not short of silver now, and the empire had captured many Japanese pirates on the east coast, so they could be put to work.

He smiled and said, "Although it will take a lot of money and time, once it is accomplished, Dingxi under our feet will become the Jiangnan outside the Great Wall, benefiting all the people."

Zhu Jialiang couldn't help but look forward to it: "I hope so."

After saying that, the two looked at each other and sighed at the same time.

In fact, long before Zhu Jialiang took office, the water diversion project had been proposed many times by other former county governors, but each time it fell on deaf ears and Xingji City never responded at all.

Firstly, the treasury was empty and the court really could not come up with any money.

Secondly, when Emperor Changxing was in power, he had the idea of ​​giving up Dingxi and dividing the mountains with the people of Xiliang.

The old emperor never had the idea of ​​expanding the territory, and he hoped to leave an empire that was easy to control to his descendants.

In his eyes, Dingxi County was poor and cold, and Xiliang had frequently invaded the border. Not only was there no tax to collect, but the county also required large subsidies from the imperial court.

Rather than wasting national strength to defend this "useless" piece of land, it would be more cost-effective to rely on the natural barrier of Luoxia Mountain to build defenses.

In addition, Dingxi also has the Yanchui Fortress, which has been garrisoned for generations. The Huo family is very good at fighting and difficult to control. If they are completely destroyed in the battle with Xiliang, it will be what he wants.

However, as an emperor, he had to consider his reputation after death and did not dare or want to leave behind a bad reputation for eternity.

Therefore, Emperor Changxing could only adopt a laissez-faire attitude towards Dingxi, neither allocating funds for construction nor explicitly giving up.

Originally, his goal was about to be achieved, but unfortunately, the Dingxi army and the Yanchui Fortress were really good at fighting, and they drove the Xiliang people out again...

On the contrary, he had just died and Ren Ning had not yet ascended the throne, but the Ministry of Works had already sent people to the west, and it was about time.

Huo Ling smiled and reminded: "But Lord Zhu, not all of these Ministry of Industry officials will stay in Dingxi."

Zhu Jialiang thought for a moment, then turned to look west: "Your Majesty, are you planning to build a city in Kailun?"

Huo Ling nodded: "In addition to the Queen's family, the Kailun tribe has a vast area around it, which is suitable for herding horses and sheep, growing cotton, and is also a key point for attacking Xiliang. How could Your Majesty give up such a precious land so easily?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhu Jialiang breathed a sigh of relief.

By then, Dishi City will not only be free from invasion by Xiliang, but will also be more likely to become a hub for the east-west trade routes.

As he thought about it, he seemed to have seen the prosperous scene of the future where people would live and work in peace and contentment and the city would be bustling with traffic.

Ha ha.

Huo Ling gave him another reassurance.

"Does the county magistrate know Master Liu Yongchun?"

Zhu Jialiang blinked and said hesitantly, "Are you talking about the current Sulan County Magistrate, Lord Liu?"

He is a top-ranking county magistrate, and will most likely be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue in the future. He is someone that lower-ranking county magistrates like him look up to and envy.

Zhu Jialiang certainly knew it.

"That's right." Huo Ling smiled and nodded, "I'm talking about Su Lan, the current county magistrate."

"The Liu family's ancestors were in the cloth business. They heard that Kailun was rich in cotton, so they intended to set up a textile factory in Dingxi."

It not only benefits the family, but also shows support for Your Majesty and the court.

Of course, it also indirectly helped Dingxi County.

"That's great!" Zhu Jialiang was delighted.

Apart from the Panlong Stone underground, Dingxi County has almost no other output worth mentioning.

Now that someone is willing to set up a property in his home, he naturally welcomes them with open arms.

Zhu Jialiang quickly cupped his hands and said, "If the Duke is able to meet with County Magistrate Liu, please convey my sincerity. The people of Dingxi welcome Liu's cloth business. If it can be established, we will select the best location for it and give it our full support."

"Very good." Huo Ling was very satisfied.

The Duke Zhenguo Mansion also has shares in the Liu Textile Company today, so we can all make money together.

The two chatted for a few more sentences before Huo Ling left Dishi City with his personal guards.