Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 511 New Look of the County Town

"Heh, they want me to resign from my position as county magistrate so they can find me a position as an official under the governor? These people really know how to play the game!"

Looking at the letter sent from his family in the city, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel both angry and amused.

It is unknown who persuaded the Li family patriarch to write a personal letter, urging him to resign from his post as magistrate of Kaiyang County and to find him a higher official position in the future.

It is obvious that the rapid development of Kaiyang County has threatened the interests of some people.

Some people don't want Kaiyang County, this pilot county, to continue to be developed properly.

Once Kaiyang County proves over time that its new policies are beneficial to the people and the country, and then promotes these policies, it will be something many people are unwilling to see.

Li Yuan snorted coldly, "Do you think I, Li Yuan, am a fool? Even a personal letter from the clan chief wouldn't work, not even my own father!"

They even promised him a lucrative position; he's just a minor official in charge of a prefecture, something Li Yuan wouldn't even consider now.

Li Yuan frowned as he put the letter away, then wrote a new letter and put it inside.

Then, Li Yuan summoned a trusted aide and said, "Have someone deliver this letter to the governor for his perusal, and make sure no one else discovers it..."

Apart from that imperial family governor, Li Yuan no longer trusts any of the officials in the prefecture.

Upon hearing this, the confidant took the letter, nodded in agreement, and then whispered, "Sir, the wealthy Mr. Yang from the Yang family wishes to invite you to a banquet at his residence..."

"Which one?"

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow. He had seen so many people lately that he couldn't remember some of them at the moment.

The confidant then said, "Yang Qing, who used to run a cloth shop in our county, closed down because he thought the taxes were too high. But seeing how well the county is developing recently, he probably wants to come back and do business again..."

Li Yuan scoffed upon hearing this, "Oh, I remember now. Now that our county has developed, he wants to come back for a taste of the good life? Let him get lost. Kaiyang County has no shortage of shops these days; there's no place for him."

Previously, many merchants and gentry in Kaiyang County resisted the new tax laws and policies, and all kinds of business stopped, making it difficult for ordinary people to buy daily necessities even if they had money, in an attempt to put pressure on the government.

It was thanks to Li Yuan bringing in some businessmen from other places, coupled with the ample funds in the government treasury to keep things running, that they weathered the most difficult period and were not held hostage by the local bigwigs.

Kaiyang County is currently in a period of construction and development. Although the taxes levied on non-ordinary people are much higher, as long as you do business here, you won't have to worry about not making money.

The county's commerce is much more prosperous than before, and some people are envious and want to come back to make money? Li Yuan won't give those people a friendly look; no way.

Li Yuan said quietly, "I'm a very vengeful person. Go and talk to the county magistrate. Make sure to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of anyone who wants to do business in Kaiyang County, so that no one can sneak in!"

"Also, prepare a carriage for me. I'll go for a drive outside the city. The spring wheat should be ripe soon; I want to check on the harvest..."

The trusted confidant, having received the order, immediately ran off to carry it out.

After handling a few more official matters, Li Yuan strode out of the yamen with light steps, heading out of the city with several guards.

Outside the county town, the streets are flat and wide, bustling with people, and the shops on both sides of the road are neat and clean, all open for business.

As Li Yuan passed by the county school, he could faintly hear the sound of reading coming from inside.

Upon hearing the sound of reading aloud, Li Yuan couldn't help but say to the guard beside him, "Listen to that voice, it's full of energy! I've never heard such a clear and melodious reading voice when I passed by the county school before... Lu Zheng is right, if we shut down the brothels and gambling dens, those hypocritical scholars will have no choice but to bury themselves in their studies."

Now, all the brothels and gambling dens in Kaiyang County have been shut down by the government, and the teahouses and music halls are now doing legitimate business.

In their spare time, city students would usually go to teahouses to listen to folk songs or storytelling.

The storytellers in the city were hired by the government; they told stories of important events and events, subtly changing the habits and thoughts of some people. Li Yuan paused, then said, "By the way, find someone to talk to the teachers at the county school and ask them to have the students help harvest the wheat outside the city. If scholars don't understand the livelihood of ordinary people, how can they govern the people in the future?"

One of the guards responded and quickly headed towards the county school.

Ah, I am truly a good official… Li Yuan couldn’t help but praise himself in his heart.

Before long, Li Yuan led his men to the outskirts of the city.

The open land is planted with various crops, especially a large field of wheat that is about to ripen, which is dazzlingly golden.

This is the land that Li Yuan ordered officials to dig with the help of some demons and ghosts.

Kaiyang County exempted ordinary people from taxes for three years. According to the plan, the grain cultivated by the government should not only fill the tax gap that the people paid to the court, but also meet the needs of the Kaiyang government.

We must strive to ensure that we no longer collect taxes from ordinary people.

If this can be achieved, isn't this the prosperous age that the sages spoke of? Li Yuan looked at the wheat field before him and couldn't help but feel excited and moved.

Li Yuan actually had the opportunity to achieve what the ancient sages had hoped for.

Along the vast farmland, there are also patrolling guards.

Li Yuan waved to a bull-headed demon patrolling not far away.

When the bull demon saw Li Yuan dressed in official robes, he immediately recognized him and scurried over, saying in a deep voice, "Magistrate, what can I do for you?"

Li Yuan asked, "Is the wheat almost ripe? When will we harvest it?"

The bull demon said, "It will be soon. We are already making preparations in less than seven days."

"Is that so!" Li Yuan nodded. "Good, good, good. Just let me know in advance so I can harvest the first crop and bring some people to help."

"I've got it!" the bull demon said hastily.

Li Yuan smiled and said, "You're a demon from out of town, aren't you? I've been here before. You seemed to be working quite hard. How much longer will you be serving your term?"

Li Yuan recalled the past and vaguely remembered some impressions of this monster.

The bull demon chuckled and said, "My lord, in a little over a year, we will have household registration in this county."

Li Yuan nodded slightly and said leisurely, "Work hard. If there is a good harvest next year, I will give you a minor official position and let you be in charge of this place."

Kaiyang County is not what it used to be. It is now common for demons and ghosts to be promoted to official positions, and even ordinary people do not find it strange.

This also shows that Kaiyang County under Li Yuan's rule was peaceful and stable, and even demons and ghosts no longer posed a threat.

The bull demon was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Thank you, sir! I will certainly work hard!"

The bull demon had been here for some time, and he knew that having a formal identity was not easy, let alone being able to eat the food of the officials.

He was fortunate to be born at a good time to come here and help the government farm.

Otherwise, he wouldn't know where he would be hiding, living in constant fear that some cultivator or monster would kill him and eat him as beef.

(End of this chapter)