spend time

Looking at the princess's determined and bright eyes, an idea flashed through Chen Zhuo's mind.

Soon, Chen Zhuo himself was shocked by this idea.

Jiang Shaohua didn't notice Chen Changshi's slight anomaly, and smiled and said, "Bowang is ahead. We will stay in Bowang County for a few more days this time."

Chen Zhuo calmed himself down, gladly thanked the princess for her grace, and silently suppressed the horrifying thought that flashed through his mind.

Half a day later, Jiang Shaohua and his party entered the Bowang County Government Office.

County Magistrate Chen led a group of officials to escort the princess into the main hall, and greeted them one by one. The county magistrate, the county lieutenant and others were very respectful, and even County Magistrate Chen was particularly respectful to the princess.

It can be seen that Jiang Shaohua's swift and resolute approach has been quite effective. This is also the approach that superiors should use, combining kindness and severity, combining hardness and softness, using carrots in one hand and sticks in the other, neither of which can be missing.

"Please stand up, County Magistrate Chen," Jiang Shaohua said with a pleasant smile, "Everyone stand up and sit down to talk."

County Magistrate Chen took the lead in thanking the princess for her grace and sat down next to Chen Changshi.

Jiang Shaohua asked directly without beating around the bush: "How many famine victims has Bowang County received? Where are they being settled now?"

County Magistrate Chen was well prepared, and he answered with his hands clasped, "My Lord, there were originally two groups of hungry people in Bowang County, and another group was sent here five days ago, totaling 1,639 people. There are 415 households in total. I have allocated a large piece of land for them and built a new village."

The chief clerk at the side tremblingly handed over the household register and the account book of grain distribution.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Tang Youyin, who immediately stepped forward and collected the household registers and account books. During the journey, the first thing the princess did when she arrived at a county town was to inspect the settlement of the hungry people. He was proficient in accounts, which really came in handy.

County Magistrate Chen continued to report: "...Bowang County is different from other counties. Most of the able-bodied men have gone to work in the mines. Among the newly arrived hungry people, I have selected some strong men and asked them to work in the mines. The daily wages are paid in cash and in the form of grain. Therefore, they are all very willing to work in the mines."

"As a result, fewer people are reclaiming wasteland. Currently, only more than 4,000 acres of wasteland have been reclaimed."

This number is indeed pitifully small compared to other counties. However, Bowang County is special in that it is not mainly based on farming.

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "You are right. Keep the mines under control. Don't overwork the people. Make sure they have enough food every day."

County Magistrate Chen bowed and accepted the order.

Mining is physically demanding, very hard, and has certain risks. If the exploitation is too much, it is easy to cause civil unrest and riots. Once the person in charge of the mine is greedy or too cruel, it is like hell on earth.

For example, most of the more than a dozen mines of the imperial court were mined by criminals. They could not last more than a few years and would either die of exhaustion or escape and be executed.

The iron mines in Nanyang County were completely different. They provided lunch every day, and workers were paid. The workers were not overworked. In Bowang County, everyone was happy to work in the mines.

Jiang Shaohua only trusted County Magistrate Chen to do this kind of task.

After finishing the business, the dinner will come next.

County Magistrate Chen smiled and stood up, raising his glass: "This year, Nanyang County has a bumper harvest of new grain. I am overjoyed and congratulate the princess."

Jiang Shaohua's brows relaxed, he smiled, raised the teacup and took a sip.

The corn harvest was great, and then the sweet potato harvest was even better. After the grain was harvested in all the counties, the statistics were in the hands of Feng Changshi. The household office was busy for several days before they calculated the grain harvested in Nanyang County this year. No more than five people in Nanyang County knew this specific number. Even County Magistrate Chen only had a vague idea. From the deep smile on the princess's face, we can see how satisfied she was.

This year, the whole county planted new crops, and the yield per mu increased by 20% compared with last year. The total grain output is more than double that of last year, and 30% more than the most optimistic figure previously estimated.

This means that the grain in Nanyang County can not only feed the people and the Nanyang Army of the Imperial Guard, but also donate a portion of it to the court in exchange for Nanyang County's transcendent status and reputation, and there will be enough food to continue to recruit hungry people.

With such a bright prospect, Jiang Shaohua was in a good mood. Thinking of Cui Du who spoke without restraint, Jiang Shaohua was not annoyed at all, and even felt that Cui Du was the most real and lovely.

Jiang Shaohua was in a good mood and took the initiative to write a letter to Cui Du, praising Cui Du for his hard work and his great contribution to the promotion of new grain.

……

The letter was delivered to the farm by express horse in three days.

Cui Du was busy in the fields as usual. The harvest was good, but there was still a lot to do, such as composting the land, selecting and cultivating new crops, and improving wheat, rice, and corn varieties.

"Mr. Cui, this is the princess's handwritten letter." Meng Sanbao, who had come all the way to deliver the letter on a fast horse, did not even bother to wipe the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly delivered the princess's letter.

"My hands are covered in mud and are too dirty. Please put the letter in my arms." Cui Du said hurriedly.

Meng Sanbao smiled knowingly and stuffed the letter into Cui Du's arms.

Perhaps it was because the sun in the sky was too hot, the smile on Cui Du's face was particularly bright, and his chest felt warm holding the letter from the princess.

After working in the fields for an hour, Cui Du finally had some free time. He went back to the house, washed his hands, carefully took out the warm envelope, opened it and read it carefully.

The princess has beautiful handwriting, which is like her personality. Her handwriting is neat, elegant and sharp.

There was no private talk in the letter, it was just praising him for his hard work and efficiency. This was very much in line with Jiang Shaohua's personality.

Cui Du did not feel disappointed, he was even very happy, with a smile on his face. He read the letter three times, put it against his chest, and rolled around on the bed twice.

It’s just like every young man in the world who is just beginning to fall in love and receives a gift from his loved one for the first time.

The two servants outside the room looked at each other and laughed secretly.

"Look how happy our young master is."

"The princess didn't forget our young master even when she was on patrol outside, and she even wrote a letter. Whoever changed her would be happy."

"If this continues, our young master may really have great luck. Back then, County Ma Lu had nothing but a pretty face, and he was able to marry into the Nanyang Palace!"

"Our young master is diligent and capable. He can cultivate grain seeds and grow new grains. Our young master deserves the most credit for the bumper harvest in Nanyang County this year. It's just that our young master is young and not old enough to be an official. Otherwise, even if he went to the court, his ability would be enough to make him a high-ranking official."

"Oh, you are too naive. Do you think you can be valued just because you have talent? Believe it or not, if the young master had been taken in by someone in the capital, he would not have had the opportunity to do so many things. If you have no power or influence, your achievements will be taken away. Do you think everyone can be like our princess?" (End of this chapter)