met free Chapter 368 This official wishes to establish a life for the people
Chapter 368 This official wishes to establish a life for the people
Niu Er didn't know whether the man in front of him was serious or just joking.
Yang Shaofeng extended his palm and said with a smile, "A man's word is his bond. I swear to Brother Niu Er today that as long as Brother Niu Er farms well, I will definitely find him a wife before next winter."
Niu Er was still somewhat hesitant, but Yang Shaofeng grabbed Niu Er's hand and half-forced him to make a high five as a vow. Then he continued, "Not only Brother Niu Er, but also all the unmarried people in our village. As long as everyone can farm well, I will help them find a husband."
Without having to pay taxes or perform corvée labor or miscellaneous duties, it would be a miracle if the people of Qixia County couldn't save up enough grain next year.
As for the claim that Qixia experiences drought six out of ten years and occasional floods, these problems are not unsolvable. At worst, we can just repeat the same tactics we used in Ningyang County.
Once the people of Qixia County have grain in their hands, what problem will it be to find a wife?
In the agricultural era, grain was the most reliable form of currency!
Niu Er stared blankly at his palm, unable to believe that he had actually made a vow with the master, a vow concerning something as important as whether he could get married and start a family.
Yang Shaofeng laughed and stood up from the wooden stump, saying to Niu Er with a smile, "Alright, I'm going to take another look around, so I won't keep you any longer, Brother Niu Er."
After leaving Niu Er's house and passing by two or three more houses, Yang Shaofeng stood under the big willow tree at the entrance of the village and pointed to a small hillside not far away, saying to Lu Buping, "When the fruit tree seedlings arrive, remember to lead the people to start planting fruit trees."
"When autumn comes, remember to lead the people of each village and community to dig a reservoir. I will have someone send plows, hoes and other farming tools to Qixia as soon as possible."
"Also, small workshops such as brick kilns, lime kilns, and cement kilns should be set up as soon as possible. If there are no craftsmen in Qixia County who know these things, remember to tell me as soon as possible, and I will find a way to solve it."
“The mess left by those bastards Xu Zheng and Qu Mingjie is too big, and they have wasted too much time. As the magistrate of Qixia County, you can only suffer more.”
Lu Buping nodded heavily and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency, rest assured, I will do my best."
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement and asked as he walked forward, "How are the people who migrated from Jiangnan doing?"
Lu Buping replied, "Your Excellency, rest assured, the people of Jiangnan have all been settled. The land they were entitled to has been allocated, and the seeds and farming tools that the imperial court had previously provided for them have also been distributed to them."
Yang Shaofeng nodded again and continued, "The people who have migrated from Shanxi will arrive soon. They will be resettled and given land, just like the people from Jiangnan. Seeds and farm tools will not be withheld."
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng sighed helplessly and said, "Since the Song court moved south, the north and the south have become increasingly distant. The people of Qixia may not be fond of the people of Jiangnan. As the magistrate of Qixia, you must be careful and make sure you don't cause any trouble."
Upon hearing the word "trouble," Lu Buping's heart immediately tightened, and he cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly pay close attention."
Yang Shaofeng nodded again and started walking towards Cuiping Mountain.
“Cuiping Mountain, Juyu Mountain, Beiqu Mountain, and those mountains and slopes of all sizes, most of them have land suitable for planting various fruit trees.”
As Yang Shaofeng walked forward, he said, "Whether it's to grow more fruit or to open workshops, it will bring more income to the people."
"As long as the people can gradually become rich, they will most likely get an excellent grade in the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation three years later, or at the very least a mediocre grade. Even if they cannot be promoted, they will most likely be transferred to some of the better counties to serve as officials."
"Even if you can't be promoted or transferred, just staying in Qixia as the county magistrate, a county that the people respect is still better than those people who curse you behind your back, right?"
Seeing Yang Shaofeng constantly pondering how to make the people of Qixia prosperous, Lu Buping couldn't help but admire him greatly. Suddenly, on a whim, he cupped his hands towards Yang Shaofeng and said, "What the Prefect says is true, but..."
After a slight hesitation, Lu Buping gritted his teeth and said, "I do not want a promotion or a transfer. I just want to stay in Qixia as the county magistrate."
Hearing Lu Buping's words, Yang Shaofeng became very curious. He stopped and turned around, looking at Lu Buping and asking, "Why?"
Lu Buping said, "Your Excellency, when I first came to Qixia, I was thinking about how to get through these few years and then be transferred to another place to serve as an official. But later, Scholar Zhao took me with him to distribute land to the people, and I... I..."
"I simply cannot bear to see the people so poorly clothed, nor can I bear to see them so emaciated and sickly. I... I..."
After saying "Your humble servant" several times, Lu Buping took a deep breath and said, "Master Hengqu said, 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations.' I am foolish and dull, and cannot accomplish such great things as establishing a heart for heaven and earth, continuing the lost learning of the past sages, and ushering in an era of peace for all generations. I only hope to establish a destiny for the people."
"The five-year plan for Qixia County, which I personally drafted under the guidance of the Prefect, has only just begun. We have just finished distributing land and resettling the relocated people. The plans for workshops, road construction, reservoirs, and so on have not yet been completed."
"I wish to stay in Qixia County and work step by step to implement the five-year plan so that the people of Qixia County can gradually become prosperous."
"This humble official dares not hope that Qixia County will become rich in the future. He only hopes that the people of Qixia County can have enough to eat and wear, and can wear new clothes and eat meat during the New Year."
"In this way, I will have the face to say that I have read the books of sages and have not disgraced the ancients. Even if I go to Master Lu's grave, I will dare to stand up straight and will not feel ashamed of the Lu family."
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback, then realized who Master Lu was.
Lu Xiufu carried the late Emperor Shao of Song, Zhao Bing, into the sea.
Although Yang Shaofeng had never looked down on Da Song, nor on scholars, especially those during Da Song's time, he still held Master Lu, Emperor Zhao Bing, and those scholars who died for their country at Yashan and the sea in high esteem, even though he sometimes resented their lack of ambition.
Now that Lu Buping says he wants to stay in Qixia County as magistrate, he only hopes to make the lives of the people better, so that he can stand up straight in front of Mr. Lu Xiufu's grave and say that he has not let down the Lu family. Yang Shaofeng can't help but feel a sense of respect.
"I cannot guarantee how the Ministry of Personnel will evaluate me, or whether I will be able to stay in Qixia as magistrate in the future, nor will I interfere in it."
Yang Shaofeng reached out and patted Lu Buping on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "But as the prefect of Dengzhou, I naturally hope that the people of Dengzhou can become prosperous."
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng added, "Furthermore, I truly admire Magistrate Lu's love for the people. As long as Magistrate Lu remains true to his original aspirations, he will be a good official wherever he goes in the future."