Chapter 132 I'm finally back!

"After investigation, we found out that the cement was used to build houses for the common people." Liu Ji smoothed his hair, making his already unruly hairstyle look like a chicken coop.

"Wushang County is home to many mountain dwellers. In the past, they would hide in caves during heavy rains. They weren't good at building houses. Since moving down the mountain, their homes have been leaking whenever it rains. The Wushang County Magistrate ordered people to build them waterproof houses out of cement."

In this matter, you can't say he had malicious intentions, but it did almost cause serious consequences.

Moreover, arbitrarily diverting materials that should have been used to build water conservancy projects would be a serious offense even in the Qin Dynasty.

"How should this matter be handled?" he asked Wei Shengxue.

Wei Shengxue responded with a face full of question marks.

"Don't ask me for this kind of thing. Make your own decision. As long as it's not excessive, I'll cover for you with His Majesty."

"Alright," Liu Ji had been waiting for these words. With that assurance, he announced the decision he had been planning for a long time. "Then I'll demote the Wushang County Magistrate to a minor clerk and appoint the student with the highest scores in the Wushang County provincial examination as the new magistrate. I'll order him to hand over his duties within two weeks."

Wei Shengxue had no objection.

Liu Ji drafted the appointment and dismissal documents, and asked his legal advisor to polish them before affixing the county magistrate's official seal on them.

After reporting to Ying Zheng, who was far away in Xianyang, through the sound transmission stone, the appointment and dismissal documents were sent out, and a notice was posted outside the government office.

"There's another announcement. Is there anyone who can read? Come and see what's written on it."

After carrying sandbags on the riverbank together some time ago, the relationship between the scholars and ordinary people has become much closer. At this time, when they heard someone calling them, those who had free time came over to read.

"Here is the Magistrate of Wushang County... Oh my god, he actually dared to use the immortal mud for reinforcing the dam for other purposes! Is he trying to kill everyone?! This damn scoundrel! It was all his fault that I had to carry sandbags some time ago!" The scholar in a long robe started cursing as he read.

Others hold a different view: "This is a helpless move. Almost all the houses are leaking, and without repairs, they're uninhabitable. Wushang County is surrounded by mountains, so summer rainstorms don't have much of an impact. The Wushang County Magistrate originally thought nothing would happen, but then he encountered an unexpected situation."

"Which is worse, a leaking house or a broken dam? Do you even need to think about it? You have no brains at all! Is this something you can gamble on? If the immortal hadn't intervened, we would all have to go swimming in the sea!"

The man explaining to the Wushang County Magistrate took a step back, wiped his face, which was almost sprayed with spit, and repeatedly advised, "Brother, don't get excited, don't get excited. I don't mean to support that corrupt official. I'm just trying to understand his mentality. Otherwise, I can't really explain his thoughts."

If this is misuse of public resources or corruption, it can be understood, but since it doesn't go into your own pocket, why take such a big risk?

"I have a heart that loves the people, but I lack the ability to be an official."

"There's brains, but not much."

As the scholars talked to each other, the onlookers finally figured out what had happened.

"Ignore the levee just to build a house?"

No, he is sick!

Everyone hurriedly asked, "Does the notice mention any penalties?"

The scholar continued to read word for word: "By order of His Majesty the Emperor, the Magistrate of Wushang County is dismissed from office and demoted to a minor clerk, to labor without pay for thirty years. His descendants are prohibited from taking the imperial examinations for the next three generations. Hiss—"

This punishment is quite harsh, and it directly cuts off the family's hope of reviving.

With the current speed of development and frequency of change in the Qin Dynasty, after three generations, I am afraid that there will be no way for them to advance in the officialdom.

What a great trick to kill without shedding blood.

But well done!

We must be ruthless to those who are unworthy of their positions and who are on the verge of causing serious harm!

"Oh, I wonder how that corrupt official will react when he finds out. I'm really looking forward to it."

"Will you die of anger? Please don't die. My man's back is bleeding from carrying sandbags. This is all unprovoked. He deserves to suffer while he's alive."

…

"Wushang County Magistrate, oh no, minor official, please accept the order." The official who delivered the order gestured to the former Wushang County Magistrate to accept the order.

"The Emperor has ordered that you hand over your duties to the new county magistrate within two weeks. After that, you will take care of the paperwork and do some writing. It will be a waste of all the years of hard study and learning."

The former Wushang County Magistrate refused to accept the order. He argued, "I'm doing this for the people of Wushang County. Their houses are leaking, and once winter comes, they'll freeze to death! I'm doing this for their sake!"

The official delivering the decree said coldly, "Autumn hasn't even passed yet, and they've already drowned. If it weren't for the immortal's visit, do you think you would still be alive and shouting here?"

"Come here, strip him of his official robes and take his official seal. Make sure he has a chance to show his talents."

He politely handed the official seal he had just collected to the young man standing beside him. "Wu County Magistrate, Wushang County will be handed over to you from now on. I hope you will put the overall situation first and not be blinded by small gains."

The newly appointed Magistrate Wu quickly glanced at his predecessor, who was still slumped on the ground and unable to get up, and nodded repeatedly, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

The official who delivered the decree handed him the imperial edict and reminded him, "The Technical College in Kuaiji County has been completed and will soon begin recruiting students. The county magistrate must quickly hand over his duties and ensure that Wushang County does not miss the enrollment deadline."

…

Outside the city of Kuaiji County, there is a ten-mile long pavilion.

Some people had been waiting here early, stretching their necks to look towards the end of the road. There weren't many people, but they were all dressed neatly and cleanly, and even the dust on the corners of their robes had been flicked off several times, which showed how serious they were about this.

Dadada...

The sound of horse hooves came from afar, and the man who came to report the news on horseback quickly reined in his horse.

"Are they here?" the leading official asked anxiously.

"Your Excellency, the convoy is already ten miles away, and there are many people accompanying it."

"More people are good, more people are good." The official nodded happily. "With more people, our Kuaiji County will develop faster."

The convoy was moving at a fast pace. After a while, a team with black flags of Xuanniao and grass-leaf flags in the shape of a mountain appeared at the end of the road.

"Luo Qing, an official of Kuaiji County, has come to greet you on orders from the county governor."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards at the front of the convoy stepped aside on horseback, revealing a "carriage" in the middle. However, the carriage was very strange, as it did not require any animals to pull it.

The curtain was lifted, and a young girl with bright eyes and a charming look jumped out from the back of the car.

"I am the person in charge of this 'Xianyang aid to Kuaiji County'. My name is Wang Yu." Wang Yu showed him the emperor's handwritten edict to verify its authenticity.

Luo Qing took the letter and examined it carefully before politely handing it back with a more approachable smile. "Lord Wang, your accommodations in the city will be arranged in the newly built Technical College. This is a place personally selected by the Immortal. It has a quiet environment and sufficient patrol personnel."

Hearing that it was the immortal who personally selected them, the polite and distant smile on Wang Yu's face became much more genuine. "Then I must go and thank the immortal."

Luo Qing said, "The Immortal said, you've all been exhausted from the journey, so take a break first and we'll meet again tomorrow."

"Thank you for your compassion, Immortal. However, we also brought a sapling that has been blessed by the Immortal. It cannot live without soil, and it has already wilted a bit since we brought it here. We need to get someone to plant it immediately."

Wang Yu turned around and looked at him. The limp leaves really looked like they were about to collapse.

Luo Qing subconsciously thought, "Will those who pass by the immortal tree also receive a bit of the immortal's grace?"

Wang Yu didn't expect that he would react so quickly. He thought of maximizing benefits in the short time after hearing the news.

"This tree has lush branches and leaves. When it grows up, it can become a forest. The fruit it produces is very filling. The counties surrounding Xianyang, after obtaining branches, basically set aside an open space in the most prosperous area of ​​the city for planting, adding flowers, ponds, and some seating. This serves as a place for public leisure and entertainment."

“Shops around here can sell some food or small toys. If there are any activities, they can also be held here.”

This model, which takes all aspects into consideration, is obviously not a spur-of-the-moment idea.

Luo Qing asked tentatively: "What does this place have to do with the immortals...?"

“The immortals call this place: People’s Square.”

"For example, the one in Kuaiji County can be called Kuaiji People's Square."

A place where people gather and where economic and monetary flows are fast will definitely attract caravans once it is built.

Where there is communication, there will be trade. Once the people get used to trading, they will be more willing to circulate money instead of hiding it at home or burying it in the ground.

…

"I knew that if I followed Teacher Weisheng, I would never have any time to rest." Wang Yu changed into a short suit and followed Weishengxue through mountains and rivers.

Wei Shengxue turned around and knocked her, "If it weren't for my intercession, would this trip have fallen on you? We've only just started, and you're already complaining of being tired?"

Wang Yu held his head and stopped bothering her. She didn't want to go back to Beijing and be that dignified and elegant lady.

Thinking about their roommates, Song Jing was extremely talented and devoted herself to studying the penicillin that the immortals talked about; Doctor Xia led a group of traveling doctors to practice medicine all over the country; even Shao Lan followed her mother's caravan to travel all over the country, determined to open up trade routes across the country and establish the Daqin Chamber of Commerce.

Only she seems to be busy, but in fact she has accomplished nothing.

I performed well the last time I went out with the immortal, and I also did very well in the next college entrance examination. In addition, thanks to the efforts of many parties, I got this opportunity.

She must get the job done.

With this idea in mind, Wang Yu ran around and never rested since he arrived in Kuaiji County. He finally selected a few locations and this time asked Weishengxue to come and take a look.

"How about here? Is it okay?"

The terrain is open, so large factories can be built, and it is close to water sources, so water power can be utilized.

It is suitable for both paper mills and textile mills.

Wei Shengxue looked around and nodded.

"Although this location is a bit remote, factories shouldn't be too close to residential areas to avoid polluting water sources. The land you chose is excellent."

"Have you decided what to build?"

Wang Yu immediately took out the plan he had prepared long ago. "This plan is to build a textile factory first, and teach the female workers to read and write at the same time."

"Coming all the way from Xianyang, even though some colleges are free, there are very few daughters of common people who go to school. I think instead of wasting energy on tedious housework, it would be better to learn a skill and have some money to support myself."

Wei Shengxue smiled and praised her: "You have a great idea, go ahead and do it."

The new academy's first open enrollment will begin in a few days. Unlike the Xianyang Academy, the Technical College in Kuaiji County focuses on cultivating practical technical talents. Most of the students who come to support this time are highly professional people such as Mohists, farmers, and doctors.

"We don't need to catch up with Xianyang's progress, but at least we shouldn't fall too far behind."

There is also Baiyue. According to the news from Xu Sheng's fleet's exploration, there are other lands south of Baiyue. If the Qin Dynasty wants to sail far in the future, Baiyue will be a necessary stopover, so we must prepare in advance.