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Chapter 449: Rain Before Rain (I)

Jiang Shaohua inspected Li County for several days. On the day he was leaving, he received the latest news from the capital from Chen Changshi.

General Fan led his troops to Sizhou, accompanied by an imperial envoy who read the imperial edict. This imperial envoy was none other than Zheng Chen, the young master of the Duke of Anguo's mansion and a close confidant of the emperor.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Zheng Chen's name, sneered, and a cold look flashed in his eyes.

Sure enough, Zheng Chen was behind this matter.

Different road non-phase plan.

The relationship between her and Zheng Chen had ended in the previous life. They would not be together in this life. Since their last farewell, they had completely stood on opposite sides.

She wanted to see how big a storm Zheng Chen would stir up.

"Princess, where are we going next?"

Jiang Shaohua came back to his senses and said calmly: "Go to Biyang County."

The guards responded loudly and surrounded the princess as she rode forward.

Nowadays, every county has goshawks to deliver messages. Not long after Jiang Shaohua and his party set out, the message had already reached Biyang County.

Magistrate Ma, who was over 70 years old, immediately ordered the county government to prepare. The princess lived in the Ma family's mansion when she first came to Biyang County. From the second year on, she lived in the backyard of the county government.

Two days later, Magistrate Ma led everyone from the county government office to welcome the princess outside the city gate.

The princess' inspections had long been a routine, and everyone had gone from being trembling with fear at the beginning to gradually getting used to it. After the greetings, everyone surrounded the princess as if she were the moon and entered the city.

Jiang Shaohua had been on the road for two days and was still in high spirits. After entering the county government office, he went to the study to talk with Magistrate Ma alone.

Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaozong were both locked outside the door.

The princess did not come out for a long time. Ma Yaozong was a little curious and whispered, "What are the princess and Magistrate Ma talking about? Why did they talk for so long?"

Chen Jinyu speculated in a low voice: "These days, the princess is very angry because the court summoned General Zuo to question her, and she is in a bad mood. I think she wants to expand the scale of the horse farm and is discussing it with Magistrate Ma!"

That should be the case. Ma Yaozong thought to himself, his eyes fixed on Chen Jinyu's pretty face, not moving away for a long time.

Chen Jinyu's face seemed to be covered with a layer of light rouge, and she glared at Ma Yaozong.

Ma Yaozong felt as if he had drunk honey in his heart and silently looked away.

……

The atmosphere in the study was far more solemn than Chen and Ma had imagined.

Magistrate Ma lived to be over seventy years old. In the Liang Dynasty, where the average life expectancy was just over forty, he was already a rare centenarian.

At his age, he should have been raising children and grandchildren, enjoying their blessings. However, Magistrate Ma was still strong and often rushed between the horse farm and the county government. Magistrate Ma boasted that he had lived for a long time and would not be moved by anything.

He never thought that a few words from the princess today would make him tremble with fear and his expression suddenly changed.

"Magistrate Ma, I want you to devote all your energy to horse breeding from today on. You must raise at least 3,000 horses every year."

Three thousand horses?
In the past, Biyang Horse Farm raised 500 horses a year, which was already the top horse farm in Daliang. In recent years, the farm has been secretly expanding its scale, raising more and more horses every year, and last year there were 1,500 horses.

A good warhorse can be used for five to eight years. Everyone in the Imperial Guards had a horse, and the elite soldiers had two horses each. The Nanyang Army also had sufficient warhorses. It can be said that this was all due to Magistrate Ma.

Because of this, County Magistrate Ma was naturally respected and promoted by the princess. Ma Yaozong was also favored by the princess and was currently discussing marriage with the Chen family. Nanyang County was peaceful and prosperous, with a strong military force, and was unique among the prefectures in Daliang.

Now the princess wants more war horses... 3,000 a year! What is she going to do?!

Magistrate Ma was not a hot-blooded young man; on the contrary, as people live longer, they tend to be more cautious and timid.

His expression changed again and again, and he gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice: "Why does the princess need so many horses?"

Jiang Shaohua looked at the wrinkled face of Magistrate Ma and said slowly: "The Rouran invaded Daliang and massacred people in Pengcheng. The court is now recalling General Zuo to question him, and has sent General Fan to take charge of the border army."

"I think that disaster is coming. Perhaps within a few years, the war will break out again in the north."

"When the nest is destroyed, the eggs will be destroyed. County Magistrate Ma must understand this, so I don't need to explain it. Nanyang County is located in the north, so we must be prepared to deal with it."

No matter when, a strong military force is the guarantee to deal with everything. Therefore, the princess will continue to expand the military force, and weapons, war horses and food must be prepared in sufficient quantities.

Perhaps... the princess has even greater ambitions.

Magistrate Ma was secretly shocked and said, "Your Highness is right. I will do my best."

"Three thousand." Jiang Shaohua's words were concise and powerful: "Doing my best is not enough. I want three thousand war horses every year."

"The horse farm is not big enough, so keep expanding it. If there is not enough fodder, you can buy it with money. If there is not enough manpower to raise horses, find a way to buy more horse slaves."

"In short, we need to have 3,000 war horses next year."

These few words were like a mountain, weighing heavily on Magistrate Ma's heart.

The princess had always disliked the business of horse-breeding, but now, in order to raise horses, she allowed the Ma family to buy horse slaves outside the Great Wall. This shows how determined the princess was.

He didn't dare and couldn't ask further questions, so he responded in a low voice.

When talking to a smart person, there is no need to be too thorough. With Magistrate Ma's wisdom, he will naturally figure it out slowly.

Just like County Magistrate Chen, after receiving her order, he silently increased the intensity of iron ore mining to ensure the completion of the task.

As for food, it was the easiest thing for Nanyang County now. Needless to say, the yield of new grain was high. After Cui Du's cultivation and improvement over the past few years, the yield of common grains such as wheat, millet and beans also increased significantly.

The grain grown in Nanyang County in a year was enough to feed the people of the county. All the Taiping granaries were full. There was still some left to deal with the imperial court's grain collection, and some was sent to Pingzhou from time to time.

The high-yield grain varieties of Nanyang County were sought after and purchased by many wealthy and powerful families, and ordinary people also went to Tang’s Grain Shop to buy grain varieties.

Of course, these achievements should be attributed to Cui Du.

And the Nanyang Army, the Royal Guards, with so many soldiers loyal to her...

Thinking of this, Jiang Shaohua's eyebrows relaxed quietly, and finally a faint smile appeared on his face: "By the way, County Magistrate Ma has repeatedly gone to the Chen family to propose marriage. Has the Chen family agreed to the marriage?"

Speaking of his grandson's marriage, Magistrate Ma narrowed his eyes and laughed: "Chen Changshi has already agreed, and Magistrate Chen has also agreed. I will go to your house to propose marriage in a few days."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and hummed: "This marriage is also a pleasure for this princess."

"However, there is one thing that this princess must make clear to Magistrate Ma. Once the marriage is arranged, Sheren Ma will no longer stay by this princess' side to serve her."

"The position of the steward of the palace has been vacant. This princess intends to let Ma Sheren fill this position, and he will work in the palace in the future. What do you think, Magistrate Ma?"