Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 258: Clear Water Without Fish

After hearing Meng Changqing's words, Yang Zheng slowed down and passed the news on the next day. The personal soldiers were very happy and wanted to write letters home immediately.

Meng Changqing had no idea how happy they were. At this time, she took a group of people to the camp near the wall.

Zhang Yuan had been waiting at the door for a long time. When he saw someone coming from afar, he immediately went to greet him with his trusted aides, "Sir! I haven't seen you for a few days."

Meng Changqing got off his horse and replied with a smile, "How is Captain Zhang these days?"

"As usual, please come in, sir."

The two of them sat down in the tent. Zhang Yuan served them tea and cakes before speaking, "Sir, have you read the letter I sent last night?"

Meng Changqing took off the cloth bag from his waist, took out the opened letter and placed it on the table. "I have read it. As Captain Zhang said, the official road must be repaired as soon as possible. I came here today to discuss this matter with you in detail."

Zhang Yuan nodded. "I have already prepared all the personnel. I wonder who your Excellency will send from the county government to take charge of this matter?"

"Zuo Datou." Meng Changqing turned his head and called the man over. Before coming, Meng Changqing had already informed him, "He is prudent and careful in his work. This time, he will participate in the road construction."

It is said to be participation, but in fact it is just surveillance.

There are many things that can be done when it comes to road construction. Meng Changqing doesn't have much trust in Zhang Yuan, so naturally he has to leave someone to supervise the whole process.

Zuo Datou nodded towards Zhang Yuan, "Captain Zhang."

"Okay!" Zhang Yuan stood up and patted Zuo Datou's shoulder. "You are capable. Your Excellency believes in you, and I believe in you too. When the soldiers are repairing the road, if there is anything they do wrong, just tell me directly."

"Yes." After saying hello, Zuo Datou retreated to Meng Changqing's side.

Meng Changqing said to Zhang Yuan: "The captain asked me before, what kind of trees should be planted on both sides of the official road?"

"Correct."

"I see there are many birch trees on the mountain, so why not plant some? Let people dig them up from the nearby mountains and plant them. They are more likely to survive."

"Okay." Zhang Yuan had no objection. He had thought that he could make some money by purchasing trees, but who would have thought that this young Master Meng would just dig nearby. It was obvious that he had no money, so Zhang Yuan gave up the idea.

"The tools for road construction are readily available at the county government office, just ask someone to get them." Meng Changqing said, "When the time comes, have your people go find Zuo Datou.

There is also silver money. "Meng Changqing couldn't help sighing when he said this, and complained to Zhang Yuan: "I see Beishan County is like a bucket full of holes, and every hole needs money to plug it. How many days has it been since Beishan County was established? How many people are there in the county? There is no gold waiting for me to dig in the land, where can I find the money? It's really worrying."

Meng Changqing cleared his throat and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. I'll ask Zuo Datou to bring the money for the road construction, and then I'll withdraw it from him."

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, so that's how it is. The reason they laid that long section in front was because they didn't want the money to pass through his hands.

What kind of thing is this? I brought a bunch of people to help him, but in the end I didn't get any benefits?

In this case, Zhang Yuan's smile was very forced. "Managing expenses is very troublesome, especially for these people in the military camp. They are careless and have bad tempers. It's hard to talk to them. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to do his job."

Meng Changqing said: "Captain Zhang, have you forgotten that he also came from Weishan Camp and is now receiving money from the Ministry of War?"

This completely blocked Zhang Yuan's excuse. Helplessly, Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Zuo."

Zuo Datou said nothing and saluted him.

Meng Changqing raised his voice, "I should trouble you, Captain Zhang. The official road of Beishan County starts from you."

Zhang Yuan felt very uncomfortable. The money right in front of him was not within his grasp. Didn't Meng Changqing feel sorry for him?

He thought to himself: After all, he is just a young boy who doesn't understand that there are no fish in clear water. He will suffer for this in the future.

He was muttering about Meng Changqing in his heart, and Meng Changqing was also muttering about him.

Meng Changqing knew that he wanted to gain some benefits, and even the other party's temptation was not subtle.

Any money given from above is always distributed layer by layer, with each layer receiving less and less. This system of corruption does not allow for the existence of honest officials.

The officials caught in the middle will be forced to take money even if they don't want to make money.

If you are not as evil as me, who can guarantee that you won't report it?

So Meng Changqing was not surprised at all that Zhang Yuan had such an idea.

In the case of building an official road like in Beishan County, the government generally allocates funds to the corresponding person in charge in the military camp, requiring the soldiers to complete the construction within a certain period of time.

The government will not care about materials or personnel, but will only inquire about the progress regularly.

Although it is the soldiers' obligation to build official roads, the government needs to give them certain subsidies, but often this money does not fall into their hands.

For many years, the people at the top have been dividing it up.

But for Meng Changqing, just because a rule has been in place for a long time doesn’t mean it’s right.

If I were rich, I might turn a blind eye and let you make some money, but I can't even make ends meet now, and you still want to take things from me. Who gave you the face to do that?

Zhang Yuan did not respond. The scene was silent for a moment, but Zhang Yuan still looked like a decent person. He coughed twice and then said, "Then please set an auspicious day and time, sir."

"What day is tomorrow?" Meng Changqing asked Bafang.

"Thirty." This was Zhang Yuan's answer. He knew that he had just humiliated Meng Changqing and was trying to make up for it.

"Then tomorrow, there's no need to worry about whether it's appropriate or not. We'll start construction at 7:00 p.m." Meng Changqing finished speaking before asking Zhang Yuan, "What do you think, Captain Zhang?"

Zhang Yuan: “I think it’s good.”

"The camp will send someone to the government office to get the tools later." Meng Changqing said to Zuo Datou, "Go back and open the warehouse first and count the things."

"Yes!" Zuo Datou took the order and left.

After sitting for a while, he asked about the patrol arrangements on the city wall. Zhang Yuan answered one by one and asked Meng Changqing to go up to the city wall to take a look.