At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 202 Touring Wei County

Yu County, known as Weizhou in ancient times, is one of the sixteen prefectures of Yanyun.

During the Warring States Period, after the Zhao State was invaded by the Qin army, the remaining nobles of the Zhao State retreated to Yu County and established a short-lived regime called Dai State.

Of course, this so-called Daiguo is nothing more than fighting an extra battle for the people of Qin, who are full of arrogance.

At least in terms of geographical location, Daiguo, that is, Yu County, guards the Feihu Valley and leads directly to the hinterland of the Taihang Mountains. It can be attacked and defended. The strategic location is very important.

Zhu Qizhen still didn't bring soldiers and horses, and there were only three people around him, namely Fan Zhong who never left, Yuan Bin, the leader of the eagle dog, who burned his head by smoking and drinking... No, it was the all-rounder Yu Qian.

Due to the reorganization of the Jiangnan army, Li Zhen's [-] battalion could not return to Beijing for the time being. Instead, as instructors, they were scattered in various military battalions to conduct all-round training and guidance.

In order to ensure the emperor's safety, Yuan Bin brought twenty Jinyiwei spies in disguise to arrive at Yu County first to make preparations in advance.

For a while, people who were doing business, visiting relatives and friends, passing by... In short, as the new year is approaching, there are suddenly more strange people in Yu County.

When Zhu Qizhen and his party arrived in Yu County, they clearly felt the difference.

It should be said that it was a feeling of sudden enlightenment.

The brand-new and straight road came into view. This road was forcibly built by Shangren under the opposition of the gentry in the county. The road was paved with gravel and plastered with cement. Compared with the surrounding dirt roads, it can only be described as luxurious.

This road leads directly to the capital, and there are constant trucks on the road, which is very lively.

In the distance are patches of wheat fields. Although it has already entered winter, it can be seen that the crops in the wheat fields are growing well, and next year will be a bumper harvest.

Yu Qian said suddenly: "Your Majesty, this wheat...seems a little different."

Zhu Qizhen nodded and said, "This is barley, also called highland barley."

Yu Qian said thoughtfully: "So that's the case, it's just...seeing that the ears of wheat are dense and full, and the yield must be comparable. Why have you never seen such wheat seeds in other prefectures and counties along the way?"

Zhu Qizhen knew this very well, because he was the one who asked Shang Ren to plant highland barley in Yu County.

"I specially sent people to buy the highland barley from Wusi Tibet. It has not been promoted yet. It is mainly planted in Mobei. Yu County is just an experimental field. That is to say, these wheat seeds are not for food, but for special use. An agricultural research group was set up to cultivate improved varieties and then spread them all over the world.”

The group continued on and passed a dam, Zhu Qizhen introduced eloquently: "There is a man named Chen Fang in the county government. Yu County allocated a sum of money, which was used to promote agriculture, including building reservoirs, reinforcing embankments, diverting water for some fields to irrigate, and introducing breeding cattle into the desert..."

Yu Qian felt a little shocked that the emperor knew everything about the situation in Yu County.

The closer to the county seat, the busier it was, and workshops were set up directly.

There are workshops everywhere, recruiting manpower, entering raw materials, and starting production.

A lot of young and strong people are working here, and they are very busy.

Yu Qian couldn't help frowning, and said suspiciously: "If young and strong come to work, wouldn't the farmland be abandoned?"

Zhu Qizhen smiled lightly and said, "Did you see deserted farmland along the way?"

Yu Qian scratched his head and said, "It seems... I really haven't seen it, but I am a little puzzled..."

Zhu Qizhen said: "The gentry are all smart people, and they all have an abacus in their hearts. They can't do business at a loss."

Yu Qian still didn't understand, and said: "Farming is dependent on the sky, and the price of food fluctuates. If there is a disaster year, there will be no harvest. I just saw that after the new policy of Yu County, the cattle and new farm tools, There are also high-yield and improved varieties being cultivated, not to mention how they will grow in the future, but if they suffer from pests, droughts, floods, whatever, it will make people lose their money. Even if the harvest is bumper, if the price of food plummets, wouldn’t it Is it also a heavy loss?"

Zhu Qizhen nodded, shook his head again, and said: "You are only half right, it is precisely because farming depends on the sky, so if you want people to be willing to farm, and willing to invest, intensive farming, increase production, the government must do It is not about letting it go, but doing something about it. For example, strengthening river embankments can prevent floods; building reservoirs and irrigation ditches can prevent droughts. In addition, building roads will make the roads open, even in remote places , it can also guarantee that the grain can be sent to the market for sale at any time, which is enough to guarantee the income. With these, those gentry and ordinary farmers are willing to put more energy into their fields instead of spending as much money as before. After the land is planted, whether the harvest will be good or not depends entirely on the sky."

Yu Qian tried his best to digest these words. It sounded like some very simple and popular principles. Even if he pulled an old man from the field, he could understand them. feeling out.

It seems that there are some truths hidden in the small, sparse and ordinary daily life.

He couldn't help but think of what the emperor said when he was in Nanjing, the Four Books and Five Classics could no longer satisfy the development of Ming Dynasty, and it was necessary to vigorously develop basic education and popularize natural science.

At that time, I thought that natural science was just astronomy and geography, and it was no big deal. However, seeing it today, even a small farmland contains such profound truths...

Zhu Qizhen looked around at Xinqi, his previous understanding of Yu County was all in Shang Ren's letters, seeing it with his own eyes today, he couldn't help but feel very good.

There is a carpentry workshop on the side of the road, which is busy in full swing. Zhu Qizhen looked at the casual clothes on his body, and said with a thought, "Come on, let's go and have a look!"

Yuan Bin suddenly became nervous, the plan didn't say that he had to go to the workshop!

Jin Yiwei's spies have all entered the city, and there is no one around to protect them. What if something happens?

"Your Majesty, it's getting late, why not...advance the city!"

It was not easy for Yuan Bin to stop him, so he had to find an excuse.

Zhu Qizhen looked at the sky and said, "Just delay for a while, it's okay!"

After finishing speaking, he got off the horse and walked towards the workshop first.

Fan Zhong followed him like a shadow, and Yuan Bin had no choice but to follow.

Equal to Qian's reaction, the three of them had already entered.

The people inside were so busy that they didn't even notice that there were a few more strangers.

Zhu Qizhen wandered around, only to see a middle-aged man walking out in a hurry with an account book.

When he saw these people, he subconsciously thought they were workers from the workshop, and he didn't pay attention at first, but when he took a second look, no, their faces were very raw, and judging from their clothes, they didn't seem to be ordinary people.

"Several...what's the matter?"

Zhu Qizhen smiled politely and asked, "Are you the shopkeeper?"

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "Yes, you are..."

Zhu Qizhen had already prepared a set of excuses: "That's how it is. We came from the capital and wanted to purchase a batch of furniture. We saw you here..."

"I'm so sorry!"

Unexpectedly, he was rejected before he finished speaking.

"Our workshop's order has been scheduled for half a year, and there is really nothing we can do. You should go to another place to have a look!"

At this time, Yu Qian had just walked in, and when he heard these words, he was surprised and said, "After half a year?"

The shopkeeper nodded and said, "That's right, it's been half a year."

Yu Qian looked around and asked, "Is the current furniture... so tight?"

"It's not just furniture. Everything is in short supply now. Many workshops' goods are only for the capital."

"Since the supply exceeds demand, why not recruit more people to work?"

"See what you said..."

The shopkeeper smiled wryly, and said, "There is a shortage of people everywhere, and there is nowhere to find a job!"

Yu Qian said again: "If you are really short of people, you can recruit from neighboring counties."

"To tell you the truth, most of the workers in this workshop are from neighboring counties!"

Yu Qian was speechless. He didn't expect that the popularity of the workshop here had already exceeded his imagination.

Zhu Qizhen just looked casually and was about to leave when he saw a guard walking in.

This person was wearing Tsing Yi, walked hurriedly, and carried a bag on his body.

"Dong Zhou's house!"

"Ah, it's Brother Wang!"

The shopkeeper hurried forward, it seemed that he was very familiar with this servant.

The guard said: "The New Year is coming soon, the sky is dry and things are dry, and your place is full of wooden furniture, you must take precautions, and you must not make any mistakes!"

"Please don't worry, what the county magistrate told me last time has been rectified. Six water tanks have been set up in the whole workshop, filled with water, and ready to go at any time!"

"That's good!"

The guard surnamed Wang did not leave in a hurry, but patrolled back and forth.

Yu Qian suddenly heard Yuan Bin and Fan Zhong whispering.

"100 taels, I bet he is here to extort money!"

"Follow, I bet he won't take money!"

Yu Qian came to the two of them and whispered, "What are you two doing?"

Fan Zhong smiled and said, "Master Yu, do you want to add a bet?"

"What bet?"

"I bet that little official is here to extort money!"

Yu Qian frowned. Indeed, such local officials like to bully small businessmen the most.

This person talked about fire protection, and he still didn't leave after he finished speaking. In all likelihood, he was waiting for the money from the shopkeeper.

"Well, if something happens, you must notify the county government as soon as possible!"

"Okay, sure!"

After the two finished speaking, the young official in Tsing Yi turned and left.

Fan Zhong was a little dazed, and murmured: "It's weird, didn't you come here to extort money?"

At this time, Zhu Qizhen also left, and several people hurriedly followed.

On the way, Fan Zhong took out a bank note with annoyed expression and threw it to Yuan Bin.

Yuan Bin took it with a smile, and said, "Old Fan, you didn't see it, did you?"

Fan Zhong was puzzled and said, "What do you see?"

"Have you noticed that the man just now is very capable. Before, no matter which yamen you are in, have you seen such a small official?"

After these words, not only Fan Zhong, but also Yu Qian was stunned.

Yuan Bin is right. Except for those who have been officials for generations, most of the government servants are recruited. This is a kind of corvee. Those people are all blind and muddled. The appearance, or honesty.

Thinking of that little official just now, his spirit was very different.

Fan Zhong asked: "So what about being capable?"

Yuan Bin said sarcastically: "It's a good thing you are still with the emperor every day. Didn't you hear how the official system was changed? The new policy in Yu County is like this. That little official is by no means an ordinary person, at least he is a scholar!" "

Fan Zhong asked back, "How can you see it?"

Yuan Bin shook his head and said, "I don't understand you, let's go!"

Fan Zhong was dissatisfied and said, "Hey, please make it clear..."

Yuan Bin ignored him and walked forward.

Fan Zhong had no choice but to look at Yu Qian and asked, "Master Yu, what do you think?"

Yu Qian also had this doubt, so he shook his head.

However, he soon understood.

In the New Deal, a big change was made to the official system.

In the past, an official was an official, and an official was an official. No matter how well you did it, it was impossible to change from an official to an official.

The new official system has broken this gap.

If the number is good, you will have the opportunity to be promoted, become a pawn, master book, and may even become a county magistrate, county magistrate...

In this way, the people at the bottom are motivated and naturally full of energy.

Moreover, under such a promotion channel, scholars will no longer look down on officials. If they can't directly become officials, they will retreat to the next best thing, start from officials and go up step by step.

In this way, the officials were all replaced by a group of energetic, motivated, literate young people from the illiterate people in the past.

These people have energy and can learn.

Most importantly, of course, they have hope.

Originally, these petty officials were called cheap officials, but now, their status is different.

After thinking through this section, Yu Qian felt relieved immediately.

At this moment, he felt a sense of enlightenment.

When I was in Nanjing, I only listened to the emperor talking about how good the New Deal is. Although the things he said were detailed, there was always a very vague feeling. When I came to Yu County today, I fully understood those principles.

Before dark, a group of people entered the city, and Yuan Bin asked, "Your Majesty, do you live in the county government office or in an inn?"

Zhu Qizhen pondered for a moment, and said: "It seems that they are quite busy, let's go to the inn!"

"There is an inn ahead, it's fairly clean, I've sent someone to arrange it!"

On the way to the inn, a few people happened to pass by the county government office, but they saw the brand new gate of Yu County, and it occupied a large area. Although the sun was setting, there were still many people coming and going in a hurry.

Yu Qian couldn't help saying: "Officials don't repair government offices, this Yu County has broken the rules."

Zhu Qizhen said: "Yu County is different from other places. Here, there are rules for everything, and the yamen must be leniently managed. Look, how many people need to go to the yamen to do business? If it was the dilapidated small yamen in the past, would it ever See people coming in and out? The new policy is all about efficiency, whether the yamen is good or not depends on how well things are done, and besides, the yamen is the face of the court, why can't it be repaired?"

Yu Qian nodded and said: "What the emperor said makes sense, I understand!"

Zhu Qizhen said: "You don't have to be too impatient. There is nothing to do these few days. Just walk around and take a look. In the future, the new policy will be promoted nationwide, and the burden will fall on you!"

(End of this chapter)