Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 274 It's a Good Opportunity

Ding Aixue's gaze shifted from the people in the fields to Meng Changqing's face, "You are just starting out in Beishan County, so you don't have the advantages or disadvantages left by your predecessors.

This is a good opportunity. You should take good care of the land in Beishan County. It is the foundation of the people's lives."

Meng Changqing already had concerns in this regard. The land was not in the hands of the people, nor in the hands of the government, but was held by a small number of rich people. Once they accumulated a certain amount of capital, they would be qualified to negotiate transactions with the government.

By then, officials are no longer officials and businessmen are no longer businessmen. She will never tolerate such a thing happening.

She has many plans for Beishan County, so how could she allow others to get in her way?

Even if Ding Aixue didn't say it, the series of policies subsequently formulated by Meng Changqing for Beishan County also ensured that the land would not be gradually enclosed by landlords.

But then again, he was worthy of being the one she liked, as they had such similar ideas.

"I've taken note of what Master said," said Meng Changqing.

Ding Aixue smiled and said, "What you want to learn from me is actually very simple. It's nothing more than getting to know the people, caring about everything, considering everything comprehensively, and giving a response.

All officials in the world know this truth, but how many are willing to do it?
Doing these things is a thankless task!
The voices of the people cannot reach the ears of the emperor, but if you want to fight for the interests of the people, you will inevitably offend the powerful. There is only so much money in the world, where else can it come from if you don't make them spit it out of their mouths?

But the rich and powerful have power and influence, how can they easily give up what they have?

They have ways to embarrass you, frame you, and talk directly to the court without your knowledge. If you are unlucky, you may not only lose your future, but even your life.

Being an official is also difficult. The people see us as their parents and the great masters under heaven, but there are still higher skies and even greater masters above us. "

Meng Changqing agreed with what Ding Aixue said, and he also felt the same helplessness.

After hearing these words, Meng Changqing wanted to treat the other party as a close friend, but unfortunately, he became his disciple too quickly.

After looking around the farmland near the county town, Ding Aixue answered all the questions Meng Changqing asked seriously, and at the end he asked Meng Changqing whether he understood them thoroughly.

Among all of Meng Changqing's masters, there has never been one as competent as him.

After returning to the county government office, Ding Aixiu intended to let Meng Changqing stay here for one night. After all, it was getting dark outside and it was always unsafe to walk at night.

"Thank you for your care, Master. I have some things to deal with at Beishan County Office, so I have to go back." Meng Changqing said, "I will come to see you again when I am free later."

"Well, you are indeed busy now, so be careful on your way back. If you can't get away for the moment and have questions, send someone to deliver a letter to me. As long as I am free, I will definitely write back to you as soon as possible." The two of them said goodbye at the gate of the government office for a cup of tea. The yamen runners at the gate were tired of standing. If no one was around, they could relax a little, but the adults were right next to them, so they could only stand properly.

At the same time, in Beishan County, which Meng Changqing was concerned about, the yamen runners who were distributing seeds were being questioned by some people.

"Last year, the government distributed seeds and every family got the same amount. Why is it different this year? Why does his family get more and mine get less?"

When ordinary people encounter problems, they don't communicate with the authorities immediately, because since ancient times there has been no communication channel from the bottom up. Ordinary people can only hold it in, and when they can't hold it in anymore, they explode and question their superiors.

Therefore, how can the people who say this have a good tone?

He had been paying attention for several days and found that not only millet, but other seeds as well, were less in his family but more in the neighboring families.

It was not just his family that encountered this situation. After this man took the lead, many people responded and gathered around the yamen runner who was distributing seeds.

"Stop, what are you doing?" The bailiff became alert and grabbed the knife hanging at his waist.

"We want fairness. Why does the county government distribute seeds differently to each household?"

Soon someone reported the situation here to Xi Bei.

Xi Bei rushed over in a hurry. If he had come any later, the surrounded yamen runners would have resorted to knife-wielding against the people around them.

"Shut up." Xi Bei pushed through the crowd, stood in front of the yamen runner, and yelled at the people who had been making noise just now.

Xi Bei came with a group of yamen runners. When they saw that there were so many yamen runners, the courage that the people had finally mustered immediately dissipated. Some of the people standing at the outermost edge reacted and turned around and wanted to run.

Xi Bei shouted to the man, "Stop!"

The man froze in place.

Xi Bei asked the yamen runner to keep an eye on the group of people, then turned around and asked the yamen runner, "What caused the commotion?"

"Seeds. They think they received too few seeds."

"Is that so?" Xi Bei asked the people again.

It was the man who had asked the question just now. When others were dodging, he stood up and admitted, "Yes, Lord Meng is fair. Does Lord Meng know that you are distributing seeds like this?"