Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 364 Patrolling the Mountain Field
After finishing the affairs in the mansion, Chen Xiuyun asked someone to harness the carriage before Meng Lanxin could rest.

Then the two of them dressed neatly, held their hand warmers and went out to visit the winery, flour mill, warehouse, etc.

Let the managers and shopkeepers of all places meet the second lady of the mansion, and also explain the situation of these industries to Meng Lanxin.

"Remember all of this. I will give you the account books of these transactions later. From now on, these transactions will be under your control.

Shaoyang is busy and can't take care of the family businesses, so we have to support them." Chen Xiuyun said to Meng Lanxin.

After hearing this, Meng Lanxin felt as if she was on a pirate ship.

But looking at Chen Xiuyun's sincere look, he couldn't say no.

Meng Lanxin followed Chen Xiuyun to learn how to manage internal and external affairs, while Qu Shaoyang led Li Daishi and his son to the general office to discuss the establishment of a branch office in Shuangdianzi.

"Brother, the branch office of the Wood Tax Office is located in Shuangdianzi. After the New Year, I will trouble you and Zhengwen to go to Shuangdianzi to select a site and recruit staff.

These are some regulations of our general office. Zhengwen should read them carefully and understand every clause.

We will make some changes later based on the actual situation around Shuangdianzi."

Qu Shaoyang handed a thick stack of documents to Li Zhengwen.

"Did you hear what your uncle said? Learn from your uncle and stop being so lazy all the time, or I'll beat you to death."

Li Daishi patted his son on the shoulder, winked at him and said.

"Uncle, don't worry, I will read these regulations carefully.

From now on, I will do whatever my uncle arranges, and I will listen to him in everything."

Li Zhengwen was not stupid. He understood immediately after seeing his father's look and quickly expressed his determination.

“Okay, just have this intention.

You are still young and have a lot to learn. If you work hard, you may have the opportunity to take a step further in the future."

Qu Shaoyang nodded with a smile. After two days of contact, Qu Shaoyang felt that the young man was pretty good.

I am not as arrogant as some scholars, nor as boastful as some people who talk big and brag about all kinds of irrelevant things.

Qu Shaoyang felt that Li Zhengwen was quite compatible with his temper. With Li Daishi guiding him from behind, he would definitely be able to do the job well.

Li Daishi's home is in Huapidianzi, quite far away from Maoer Mountain.

The main purpose of their trip was to congratulate, and secondly to visit Li Zhengwen's maternal grandparents.

It's already the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and it's not long before the Chinese New Year. They have to rush back to Birchbark Dianzi to celebrate the New Year, so they can't delay too long.

After talking with Qu Shaoyang in detail, the father and son said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, Li Daishi said that after the New Year, he would let Li Zhengwen come to Maoershan to study with Qu Shaoyang for a while.

As for the site selection in Shuangdianzi, Li Daishi took care of it.

Qu Shaoyang had no objection to this.

It would be beneficial for Li Zhengwen to come here and learn some tips on handling official business from these people in the yamen.

After the Li father and son left, Qu Shaoyang also took the time to deal with the official business at hand.

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Inspection Office and the General Office were "sealed" and stopped working.

Qu Shaoyang prepared a New Year gift for everyone in the yamen as a token of his appreciation. Everyone took the gifts and happily went home to prepare for the New Year.

Since the government office was closed, Qu Shaoyang finally had some time. On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, he led Xingye and others, driving seven or eight sleds, to the mountain field to visit the woodcutters.

The mountain field is still in the same place as last year, but the work area is divided into two places, which are not far apart.

When the group arrived at the mountain, the guard saw them and hurried to the mountain to find the second cabinet member Li Changliang. When Li Changliang learned that Qu Shaoyang had come to the mountain, he hurried back.

"Oh, Master Qu is here. Look, if you have anything to say, Master, just send anyone over to tell us.

It's so cold, and you're asking the adults to come here in person." Li Changliang ran out of breath and said as he came closer.

"Isn't the New Year coming soon? I thought there would be a lot of people in the mountains, so I sent you some New Year's goods in advance.

What's the matter? Are you still working in the mountains? Why don't you stay in the big house?"

Seeing that Li Changliang was gasping for breath, Qu Shaoyang had to show some concern for him.

"Well, how can I stay in a big house all day?
There are many people on the mountain this year, and the work is done in several places. I have to watch over each place one by one, and I dare not be careless. "

Li Changliang finally caught his breath and explained with a smile.

This year, there are not only experienced woodcutters in the mountain area, but also people who come here from the gold mines to spend the winter. The most important thing is the captives from the gangs.

These people were all novices, they had never worked as a gangster before, plus they were used to being bandits, many of them were difficult to get rid of their bandit nature.

While working, they started to play tricks and slack off, and some even thought about running away.

Although Qu Shaoyang arranged thirty or forty guards to patrol and guard the area with guns, Li Changliang still did not dare to be careless.

Therefore, Li Changliang went into the mountains almost every day to keep an eye on things, to prevent any accidents that he would not be able to handle.

Of course, Li Changliang couldn't tell Qu Shaoyang directly.

Qu Shaoyang promoted Li Changliang out of their past friendship and made him the second cashier in charge of three to four hundred wooden handles.

He also sent the child brought by Li Changliang's wife to Fengtian to study with Xiaozhi.

This is a great favor to Li Changliang.

Li Changliang is now a second-level shopkeeper. Even if it is still hard work, it is much better than when he used to chop trees and carry wood with an axe.

If he can't even manage the three or four hundred people under him, wouldn't he be betraying Qu Shaoyang's trust?
Even if Li Changliang didn't say anything, Qu Shaoyang probably understood what was going on. It must be those prisoners who were causing trouble.

"Changliang, what about those gang members? Are they still thinking of escaping?
If they want to run, don't stop them. I have instructed the guards to shoot anyone who tries to escape.

These people are just cheapskates. If you don’t beat them up a bit, they won’t work wholeheartedly.”

Qu Shaoyang destroyed Zhan Dongshan and the Mantianhong Gang, and captured nearly two hundred prisoners in total.

Qu Shaoyang was quite troubled at first about how to deal with these people.

They have already surrendered, it would not be nice to kill them.

But if we let them all go, these people will be used to doing evil things and will definitely form gangs, occupy a mountain and act like bandits, and then they will bring harm to the people.

That's why Qu Shaoyang decided to send them to the mountain field to work, and after the work was over, send them to the gold factory to work as laborers.

Through labor reform, we can grind away the banditry in these guys.

When they have been reformed to a certain extent, those who have committed less serious crimes should be recruited if possible.

As for those who have committed numerous crimes and refuse to repent, there is nothing that can be done but they have to continue to work as laborers in the mountains and gold factories.

When Li Changliang heard what Qu Shaoyang said, he smiled awkwardly.

"Not really, not really, there are just a few who don't quite follow the supervision.

At first he wanted to run away, but we caught him twice and gave him a beating. He is much better now. "

(End of this chapter)