Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Ji Yuan is now the governor of two places.

In Ning'an Prefecture, there is no need to worry about spring ploughing. Village heads in various places are very enthusiastic, after all, they tasted the sweetness of increased production last year.

The model of rice, duck and fish has become familiar to people, and even many families’ rice-flavored ducks are booked in advance, because the ducks here are really plump and delicious.

The rubber dyeing process is also stable, but Jiyuan needs to transfer some people to Zhennan Pass.

After the spring plowing in Zhennanguan is over, the rubber industry in Zhennanguan will also develop.

These were all in the original plan.

In addition to this, there is the construction of roads and official schools.

One is a path to the outside world in a physical sense, and the other is a path to a world beyond.

We will have to wait for the former, as road construction is not an easy task and requires both manpower and financial resources.

Although Ning'an Prefecture has accumulated some local commercial taxes, the family's financial resources are still limited. Moreover, whether or not to pay the land tax this year depends on the notification from the imperial court.

Official schools are easy to deal with.

With Miss Cheng here, there shouldn't be any problems.

And when Lord Cheng is not confused, he can give a lot of suggestions.

Speaking of this, Lord Cheng's eyes and Mrs. Cheng's body are also engraved in Ji Yuan's heart.

However, when Ji Yuan and Cheng Yisan discussed official studies, they also mentioned the veterinary medicine taught by Dahai.

Ji Yuan said: "I want to roughly divide official studies into three subjects."

"One type is devoted to scientific research. I don't need to explain this part. It starts from elementary school."

"One is veterinary medicine. Dahai has a very good foundation in the local area, so I think it won't be a problem to incorporate this subject into the official school."

“The last one is an adult subject.”

It's not just children who need to learn to read.

Adults can't just turn a blind eye.

There is no need to explain the situation in Ning'an Prefecture. If veterinary science were incorporated into official schools in other places, it might still cause controversy.

But locally, if Jiyuan said it wanted to merge, no one would object.

And this is indeed very practical.

It is very beneficial to local development.

Only the last item, adults’ literacy, Ji Yuan said: “I would like to call it literacy.”

“Learning characters is not only a form of learning, it also makes life easier.”

"Local business has just started to develop. There will definitely be more exchanges with the outside world in the future. If you are literate, you will be less likely to be deceived."

This one seems to be a thankless task.

After all, the imperial examination subjects can train scholars to become officials.

Veterinary science can help develop local animal husbandry.

Only adult literacy appears to have altruistic attributes.

Cheng Yishan quickly understood: "Adults are indeed the backbone of the local community. If they can read and write, it will be beneficial for both education and daily life."

"If that's the case, then we can't use children's books."

"It will probably be a series of books for adults."

It is not required to understand the Four Books and Five Classics. You just need to learn common characters and how to write documents such as sales and leasing. It would be best if you also learn to write your own name.

Once they can read, those landlords and gentry won’t be able to trick them into signing any contract, and they’ll be less likely to be deceived.

As Cheng Yisan spoke, she already had an idea in her mind.

Ji Yuan just listened, and waited until Cheng Yishan finished speaking before smiling: "You are right."

Cheng Yishan was a little embarrassed: "You are the top scholar, I am showing off my skills in front of you."

"How could that be? I haven't thought of many of the things you mentioned."

After something unexpected happened in Cheng Yisan's family, she was no longer just a girl in the boudoir.

She has read a lot of books and has experienced a lot in the past one or two years, so what she said is basically very practical.

The two discussed the affairs of the official school in the courtyard.

All three subjects of official education were assigned to Cheng Yisan alone.

Cheng Yisan's younger brother listened with his head tilted beside them, pouring tea for the two from time to time.

When it comes to the imperial examinations, the Cheng family is also a family of scholars.

As the descendant of a convicted official, Cheng Yishan's younger brother can study but he can forget about taking the imperial examination.

Unless one day it can be vindicated.

Lord Cheng, who had been standing next to him, had trembling hands. I don’t know what he was thinking about, but he was in a bad mood again.

Ji Yuan went to take care of Mr. Cheng first, helping him to calm down, and then said: "The official school needs books, but books are hard to buy. Mr. Cheng, what kind of books do you think the official school should buy first?"

As a scholar who has passed the imperial examination.

Ji Yuan understood too well what a scholar was thinking.

The simplest time in their lives may be when they are in school.

Study for the imperial examination.

Don’t think about anything else.

During that period, even before the Cheng family encountered trouble, those were their happiest and most peaceful days.

Lord Cheng became quiet, muttering something.

Cheng Yishan also squatted down to comfort her father: "Dad, you said, I remember, just like when we were little."

Cheng Yihuai brought over some soothing tea, and Mrs. Cheng's gentle voice could be heard from the room.

All this made Master Cheng calm down slowly. He held Ji Yuan's hand and said, "Don't go back to Beijing."

"Don't go back."

The old women and servants nearby felt that their Master Ji seemed to have been integrated into the Cheng family.

Ji Yuan comforted him, "No, no."

"Ning'anzhou is very good."

Lord Cheng was tortured in the capital prison. The scars on his body have not healed yet and his spirit has collapsed.

This kind of collapse can only be healed by time.

After the official school was settled, Ji Yuan also took Cheng Yisan to a government office that had already been built nearby.

Cheng Yisan was responsible for all the cleaning and tidying inside, as well as buying books and recruiting students.

Fortunately, several minor officials were already waiting, and for convenience, Ji Yuan also asked Chai Feng's wife to follow.

Although Chai Feng's wife is illiterate, she is efficient and effective. She represents Ji Yuan and can support Cheng Yishan, the outsider.

When Madam Chai saw Cheng Yishan, she subconsciously asked, "Are all the people in Beijing so tall?"

Mr. Ji is not short, and Miss Cheng is also outstanding in stature among women.

He is just too thin, so thin that he could be blown down by a gust of wind.

Ji Yuan didn't say anything, just smiled and looked at Cheng Yisan.

He is not from the capital, he is from Jianmeng Mansion.

Miss Cheng is actually from Beijing.

Cheng Yishan said: "My parents gave it to me, so it's not like it's from Beijing."

Cheng Yisan learned some local dialect from Ji Yuan. She was smart and could speak it fluently after repeating it several times.

Seeing that Cheng Yishan had already started working, Ji Yuan did not bother her any more. He just said, "I will go to Zhennan Pass in a few days. The spring plowing there is earlier than here, and it is the first year of recovery, so I have to watch it."

After that, Ji Yuan continued, "If there is anything, feel free to send someone to look for me. You can also go to the local Liu Tongzhi. An Dahai is my good friend. I can go to him for both big and small matters."

As if that was not enough, Ji Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'll bring Xiao Huang over later and leave it to your home. It will also be a means of transportation for you to go back and forth to the office."

Little Yellow?

Cheng Yisan was rarely confused.

Ji Yuan said: "It is a working ox that grew up with me. It is idle on weekdays."

"If it's suitable later, I'll find you a horse so that you can do things more conveniently."

Madam Chai looked at Lord Ji and then at Madam Cheng.

ah?

Didn’t Chai Feng say before that Ji Zhizhou doesn’t talk much?

How can this be so meticulous?

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, he seemed to feel that there was something he had not finished saying, but he didn't know what to say.

Cheng Yisan remembers it clearly, and she will definitely ask someone for help if she has any problems.

When Xiao Huang was sent over, it was not Ji Yuan himself who sent him over. Something suddenly happened at Zhennan Pass and he needed to go there to deal with it.

But along with Xiao Huang came more than twenty egg tarts.

Cheng Yisan had not seen such exquisite food for a long time. Even after knowing that it was made by Ji Zhuangyuan, she was still surprised.

She knew that Ji Zhuangyuan could make dim sum, and she also knew that he was the first one to make foods like egg tarts and snow skin mooncakes.

But only when I actually saw the real thing did I realize how good Ji Zhuangyuan's craftsmanship was.

"Is there anything else he can't do?"

Cheng Yisan ate the egg tarts she hadn’t tasted for a long time, and it seemed as if she had returned to her peaceful life for a moment.

"Please help me deliver these food to my home."

Cheng Yisan kept two, and just as she finished speaking, she looked at Xiao Huang in the eye.

Xiao Huang looked at the girl in front of him with great curiosity, walked forward and lowered his head.

"Good boy."

"Are you a friend of Ji Zhuangyuan?"

Xiao Huang panted happily, he liked the sister in front of him!

Ji Yuan is now on his way to Zhennan Pass.

Everything in Zhennan Pass has just been reorganized, and he still needs to keep an eye on it all the time.

When it comes to the affairs of Zhennan Pass, although there are old precedents in Ning'an Prefecture to follow, there are still many problems.

For example, the population found in this census is 70,000 to 80,000 more than the actual number.

The actual population of the entire Zhennanguan is around 430,000.

Most of the time, it was the landlords who concealed the truth and did not pay the head tax for many years. These old accounts had to be settled one by one.

Chase them as hard as you can, these accounts will definitely fall on the tenants.

If we don’t chase them, those landlords will definitely not be willing to do so.

There is also human trafficking. Some women were abducted and then rescued, but their families do not want to keep them.

Others were bought and sold when they were young and could no longer remember where their homes were.

Placing them is also a problem.

In addition, the cells in Zhennan Pass are also overcrowded.

The cleansing before the era was so severe that the prisons could no longer accommodate the prisoners.

These things cannot be delayed.

Fortunately, there are no major problems with Zhennan Pass.

Spring ploughing is also proceeding as scheduled. Although the canals are not as complete as those in Ning'an Prefecture, we can give them time and repair them slowly.

Ji Yuan, who was already the prefect of Zhennan Pass, heard this and said directly: "Where are the prisoners in the prison? Let them repair it."

ah?

This, this is also okay, right?

There have been precedents for this before.

But this is the first time I’ve seen them being pulled over in large quantities.

Moreover, the prisoners imprisoned this time are either extremely vicious or usually oppress the people. How can they be asked to repair canals for the people?

Ji Yuan said bluntly: "What's wrong with recycling waste?"

"Let the locals take care of it. If they really want to run into the mountains, then let them do as they please."

Ji Yuan was extremely cruel and ruthless to these people.

But after thinking about it, it can indeed solve most of the problems.

Even the problems of repairing the canals and overcrowded prisons were solved.

It can even serve as an example to those landlords who fail to pay the head tax.

Most of those landlords had not committed any crime, so they had nothing to fear.

And catch them?

That's a bit too much.

At this time, Ji Yuan said, "Spring ploughing in Zhennan Pass will not start until the end of April. Let's take advantage of this time to build a rubber workshop."

!!!

Rubber workshop?!

really?

The rubber workshop was mentioned before the era, but everyone thought that it was Ning'an Prefecture's business and it would be difficult to take it away.

Even if they do, they will only be orders that Ning'anzhou doesn't want.

And now, Ji Zhizhou said, let Zhennan Pass do it as well?

Although most of the Tongzhi and other officials in Zhennan Pass are not from Zhennan Pass, who wouldn't want to build a workshop in their place?

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that once this workshop is built, it will generate countless taxes.

It is very beneficial for them.

Ji Yuan said: "But this workshop also has requirements."

"First, arrange for the women who cannot go home and organize them."

There are now many houses of prisoners in Zhennan Pass. The things inside have been confiscated, leaving only an empty house.

This kind of place is very suitable for conversion into a workshop, where work can be done in the front and people can live in the back.

Organize these women whose reputations are dirty and whose bodies are dirty?

Let them do rubber work?

Ji Yuan knew what these people were thinking without even raising his eyes, and said directly: "I asked the locals to learn how to make rubber in order to provide a livelihood for the homeless."

"Only the elderly and weak can go in there."

To put it bluntly, although the rubber business is for tax revenue, the more important reason is employment.

Women in ancient times, let alone working with rubber, could also herd cattle and plow fields. However, they were not in their hometowns, and it might be dangerous to arrange them in villages at random.

Then this kind of handicraft is very suitable for them.

The rubber industry can definitely help them gain a foothold in Zhennan City.

Ji Yuan simply said: "In the rubber industry, three types of people are selected in advance. One is the wives and children of soldiers, because they work hard guarding the border."

"Second, the homeless women and children were kidnapped and abducted. Since they cannot go home, we should help them find homes locally."

"Third, elderly people who have no one to rely on, regardless of gender, who are over 60 and have no children or grandchildren at home, can come here to find a light job."

Therefore, in this era, slightly upgraded handicrafts are prepared for the elderly, the weak, the sick and the disabled.

It's impossible for a group of strong people to take everything.

Not only were the land divided up, but the rubber industry was also acquired.

The winner-takes-all law of the jungle will only make the situation more chaotic.

The upgrading of handicrafts should not only generate profits but also create more jobs.

Ji Yuan's attitude is not as gentle as it was in Ning'an Prefecture, and he seems to be the one who has the final say.

This attitude is very suitable for dealing with the complicated situation here.

To put it bluntly, this technology is in his hands and also in Ning Anzhou's hands.

Only Ji Yuan has the final say.

The Tongzhi of Zhennan Pass had never seen such a person.

If we want to develop the local area quickly, make the local area prosperous, and achieve real results, shouldn't we just speed up the production of rubber?

Doing so will help the weak, but the efficiency will be slow.

It is strange that Ji Zhizhou, who has always demanded efficiency, would slow down on such matters.

Ji Yuan knew that his subordinates wanted political achievements and wanted to leave Zhennan Pass as soon as possible, and even leave Dianzhou Prefecture as soon as possible.

Ji Yuan smiled mysteriously and pointed out a clear path.

"Let's do it first. Once you finish the task at hand, there is another extremely important errand waiting for you."

"If you do that well, I guarantee that everyone will be promoted to a higher position."

Ji Zhizhou was a man who never boasted.

Not to mention that the people believed in him, even the officials had already come to believe in him subtly.

The Tongzhi immediately asked, "Master Ji, what are you talking about?"

"Will you build roads after the spring ploughing? Or do you want to support the local government schools?"

"If we can repair those canals well, or do a good job in the rubber business, then we will be successful?"

Wait, why are there so many things going on?!

When did they roll up too?

Ji Yuan was amused and looked up and said, "It's better than these things."

Ji Yuan looked into the distance and said, “When the people from the court come down, we will do it.”

Naturally, they would wait for the imperial generals to come down, so that he and Wu Renhao could free up their hands to go south to look for Champa rice.

But Champa rice is so magical that it’s better to wait until you see it in person before you talk about it.

What we need to do now is what the Tongzhi of Zhennan Pass just mentioned.

Repair canals, carry out spring ploughing, build roads, and at the same time reorganize local official schools.

One thing after another, it seems that there is never an end to the work.

Even the average number of oxen per household in the local area has to be ranked behind.

The locals have no money, so there is no point in mentioning this now.

It is better to farm well first, rest and recuperate, and you will get it eventually.

After all, there is a farm next door, and what they lack is money.

Ji Yuan was very busy here, and the official school in the neighboring Ning'an Prefecture was also established.

The person directly appointed by Ji Zhizhou was a woman who was also exiled, so she naturally attracted attention.

Especially Governor Li in the yamen.

Although this Magistrate Li was a juren, he had always loved drinking. After being assigned to such a remote place, he became an alcoholic.

Earlier, Ji Yuan had wanted him to set up a government school.

But as soon as the office was opened, Governor Li heard that Ji Yuan was demoted and was furious. He said he didn't want to do the job anymore and felt there was no future in working for Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan gave you one chance, and he will never give you a second one.

When Ji Yuan became the local prefect, Governor Li was directly marginalized, and it was even his own active choice.

He was really afraid of Ji Yuan's revenge.

The better Ning'an Prefecture developed, the more unhappy he felt.

Now, seeing that the family of a convicted official who was exiled here is actually going to take over the official school in this state?

Why?

How can a woman be in charge of the provincial school?

Cheng Yisan was well prepared for this.

Her identity was indeed inappropriate.

But she has the right scholarship.

Not to mention the drunkard in front of her, she was not afraid of even an ordinary Jinshi.

The provincial school of Ning'an Prefecture has not yet developed, so it is enough for her to do it.

When Liu Tongzhi arrived, he originally wanted to help.

But seeing Miss Cheng citing classics and making the other party unable to defend himself, he could not help but write a letter to Ji Yuan.

The letter kept saying that Miss Cheng was not only knowledgeable but also eloquent.

Governor Li was deeply ashamed of what he said.

He also said that he had already asked this Governor Li to get out. Although he had the status of a juren and could not be dismissed directly, there would really be no chance for him to leave this time, so he should just let him go and garrison at the border of Ning'an Prefecture.

The letter ended by saying that Miss Cheng was efficient and that the provincial school had been tidied up. She had drawn up teaching models for three subjects, which would probably be sent over soon.

It seems that the official school in Ning'an Prefecture is going better than he imagined.

Ji Yuan picked up his pen and scribbled a few words in reply to Liu Tongzhi, then spread out the paper and wrote to Cheng Yisan.

He did not mention the official school in his letter, but only talked about the customs and people of Zhennan Pass, as well as the interesting stories of Zhennan Pass.

Then he said, "There is a kind of red bean rice in Dianzhou Prefecture. It tastes very good. You can try it."

As he spoke, he had the two doctors from Wuxin Prefecture, as well as a few books, taken back to Ning'an Prefecture.

There is no need to talk about the doctors. One specializes in treating eye diseases and the other knows about women's diseases.

It is helpful to Cheng Yisan's parents.

As for the leisure books, Ji Yuan found them interesting. They were some strange stories from Dianzhou Prefecture, and she thought she would like to read them too.

In late March, the three subjects of Ning'an Prefecture Official School, as well as the enrollment plan, teaching content, etc., were indeed delivered to Ji Yuan.

Cheng Yisan also mentioned that the red bean rice was indeed delicious, and thanked Ji Yuan, saying that the doctor was very good and his parents were in much better condition.

The official school in Ning'an Prefecture was built visibly.

Although some adjustments will still be needed later, classes will definitely start in May at the latest.

The first class to be offered was the adult class. Cheng Yisan contacted Sister Luo from the Lottery Association, and it was indeed easier to persuade the Lottery Association.

In September, children's courses will start again, also following the rules of the imperial examination, so that when they go out to take the exam in the future, it will be more standardized.

For the veterinary course, two teachers from the elementary courses were selected to help Dahai share the burden.

Ji Yuan couldn't help but say, "It would be great if everyone did things like Miss Cheng."

That being said, such talents are hard to come by.

Ji Yuan was not polite either, and would definitely point it out directly if there was anything inappropriate.

They would just ask a few more questions at the end of the letter, such as how you have been doing recently, or share something about their own situation.

Although the messages were few and far between, Cheng Yisan responded every time.

The two of them went back and forth, and it was really time for spring plowing in Zhennan Pass.

The atmosphere in Zhennan Pass has been a bit weird recently.

Why?

Because the situation is really weird.

There is even a local song about it.

Probably something.

The landlord was hoeing the fields and the serfs were resting.

The gentry sweat, and the common people kick them.

It sounds a bit like an inverted song. Originally, it was the lower-class people who were working on the fields, but now they have become the landlords and gentry.

March, April, and even many days to come.

It was these landlords and gentry in shackles who dug the canals.

At first they were not used to it, but now they have become skilled workers. Only after becoming skilled workers can they drink water properly.

Before this, they were the ones watching from above.

Now it's completely reversed.

So the atmosphere is weird.

For the local people, before the spring plowing, there were finally several thousand people helping to repair the canal.

This greatly relieved the pressure on local prison cells.

For local officials, it was good that the canal was repaired sooner rather than later and they finally accomplished something.

So here comes the question.

Who is suffering?

Except for the situation in the fields.

The prostitutes and slaves who had been bought and sold before occupied a courtyard in Zhennan City and learned how to make rubber under the guidance of the government.

Beyond everyone's expectations.

The vast majority of trafficked women showed courage unlike others and were more willing to work.

In the past, when I was a domestic slave, I wasn’t even a human being.

There are also some young and beautiful ones who feel that they are not as free and relaxed as before, but since everyone else is doing it, they have no choice but to follow suit.

After a long time, I realized what true respect is.

There are also many elderly soldiers and their descendants.

They were originally marginalized people in Zhennan Pass, but now became an important supplier of rubber to Zhennan Pass.

Originally, officials at Zhennan Pass were worried that the local area would start producing rubber, which would make things difficult for Ning'an Prefecture.

It’s not that I’m worried about them stealing my business.

But after they robbed it, they would definitely be more inclined towards Ning'an Prefecture.

But rubber orders kept coming in like a tide.

Ji Yuan said bluntly: "Rubber was produced last year. After nearly a year, it must have spread to all parts of Tianqi Country."

“There will be more orders in the future.”

To be honest, the quality of the rubber they produce nowadays is not the best.

But it is also something that is difficult to replace nowadays.

Especially when used for dyeing cloth, it is simply a magical artifact.

In addition, there are so many carriages and horses in Tianqi Kingdom, and so many parts that require rubber, so the demand for this thing will only grow.

One day, I’m afraid that the production of both places will not be able to meet the demand.

So there is no need to worry about the two places stealing business from each other.

Even increasing production is feasible.

It’s a pity that we can’t increase production now.

Because both places are about to start sowing crops one after another.

The preliminary preparations took so long.

It's for this moment.

Many families in Ning'an Prefecture use their own oxen for farming.

The people of Zhennan Pass used their own land and the newly built canals.

Gradually, spring ploughing began in both places.

The government office cannot be idle at this moment.

People from the two government offices went to inspect the villages and counties below.

Spring ploughing also needs to be supervised, and if there are any problems, they can be solved in time.

The people in both places are busy farming.

The merchants who came from all over the country to buy rubber were dumbfounded.

Why reduce production?

How can we reduce production?

But there's no point in saying more.

Everything must give way to spring plowing. No matter what happens, just wait!

Merchants from all over Tianqi State had no choice but to settle down locally.

Alas, there is nothing we can do. It’s because your Ning’an Prefecture is different from Zhennan Pass!

Who made you have such a powerful governor?