Chapter 118 Picking Up a Lot

The administrative regions in the Tang Dynasty were divided into three levels: Dao, Zhou, and County.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Dao was a supervisory agency rather than a formal administrative agency, and each Dao had an interview envoy.

After the An-Shi Rebellion, Dao became a de facto local administrative agency, and Jiedushi in various places began to establish separatist regimes.

Zhou was the second-level administrative unit in the Tang Dynasty, equivalent to the modern city. Zhou in the Tang Dynasty was divided into seven levels according to the number of households: Fu, Xiong, Wang, Jin, Shang, Zhong, and Xia.

The highest official of a state was the Inspector, under whom were other officials such as the Beijia, Changshi, and Sima.

The county was the most basic administrative unit in the Tang Dynasty, with three levels: upper, middle and lower.

The chief executive of an upper county is the county magistrate, with a population of more than 6,000 households, a medium county has 3,000 to 6,000 households, and a lower county has less than 3,000 households.

County Magistrate Hu ignored the governor's unpleasant expression and asked Hu Erlang and Huang Si to unpack the items.

The squad leader also wanted to see what it was, but was afraid of seeing the governor's face, which was so black that it looked like water was dripping out, so he could only stretch his neck to look outside the reception room.

"Sir, please look!" After unpacking, County Magistrate Hu said happily.

Lu Zhaoshi put down the teacup, glanced casually at the objects on the ground, and was stunned.

He hurriedly stood up and walked over, circling Jiang Dongli, "Where did you get this?"

"Sir, please take a closer look!" County Magistrate Hu did not answer, but moved the plowshare and plow mill for Lu Zhaoshi to see.

Lu Zhaoshi lifted up his official robe, squatted down without caring about his image, fiddled with it for a while, then stood up and lifted the plow to feel its weight and whether it was suitable for hand.

"Sir, please turn around and try!" County Magistrate Hu said again.

Lu Zhaoshi glared at County Magistrate Hu, then obediently turned around with the plow in his hand. However, he didn't expect that as soon as he lifted the plow slightly, he felt that the plow mill was moving. When he turned the curved beam, the plow frame turned around with the plow mill as the center.

Lu Zhaoshi's face showed joy. "Where did you get it from? Why didn't you take it out earlier?"

"Sir, I just got it and I'm sending it to you right away!" County Magistrate Hu said flatteringly.

"Who designed this?" Lu Zhaoshi wanted to kick County Magistrate Hu twice. This guy kept him in suspense!

"This is called the Jiangdong plow! It's used by farmers in the Jiangnan area. It's thanks to the emperor that this thing has been passed down to us!" County Magistrate Hu knew that the governor was anxious, but he still deliberately talked about him.

"Your Majesty?" Lu Zhaoshi was confused.

If it really came from the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Agriculture in the capital, shouldn't it have first been passed down through the prefectures? When did it skip the prefectures and go straight to the county governments?

"Didn't the Chang'an County Magistrate Su Bucheng exile us not long ago? He did it!" County Magistrate Hu looked as happy as a mouse stealing rice.

"The magistrate of Chang'an County? Has it been promoted in Chang'an?" Lu Zhao was delighted.

"No! Magistrate Su was exiled before he could do anything! We in Wuzhou just happened to take advantage of this opportunity!" County Magistrate Hu said with a smile.

"Really?" Lu Zhaoshi grabbed County Magistrate Hu's hand.

"Really? Even in the Jiangnan area, it hasn't spread yet!" County Magistrate Hu's face was full of pride.

"How is the plowing effect?" Lu Zhaoshi thought of the most critical thing.

"Sir, you see, this plowshare and plowshare arrow are completely different from our old-fashioned straight-beam plowshare. This plowshare not only plows the ground deeply, but also pours the soil to one side, turning over the mud thoroughly, and it saves effort!" County Magistrate Hu fiddled with it.

"That's great! Old Hu, after working with me for so many years, I know that you are a capable and promising person!" Lu Zhaoshi rarely gave a high evaluation to County Magistrate Hu.

"I dare not! My Lord is wholeheartedly serving the people. I dare not forget your teachings." County Magistrate Hu was overjoyed to hear this and said modestly.

"Let's go and find a place to plow the field!" Lu Zhaoshi picked up the plow and left.

"Sir, let me do it!" County Magistrate Hu hurried forward, carrying the Jiangdong plow with his son, and followed behind Lu Zhaoshi.

"Let me do it!" Seeing the governor coming out with a happy look on his face, the squad leader hurried forward to take it from County Magistrate Hu and take a look at what it was.

Lu Zhaoshi brought County Magistrate Hu to the garden of his own house, which frightened all the female relatives so much that they quickly stood up and avoided them.

"Go and bring the cow!" Lu Zhaoshi ordered his servants.

Soon an old ox was brought in. The servants harnessed it to the plow and County Magistrate Hu began to tinker with it. Lu Zhaoshi grabbed it and said, "I'll do it!"

"Wait a minute! Sir, wait until I adjust the plow level before you plow!" County Magistrate Hu understood Lu Zhaoshi's urgent mood, as he had experienced it himself.

County Magistrate Hu plowed a few steps, adjusted the plow, tried it out and handed it over to Lu Zhaoshi when he felt it was okay.

"Gee!" Lu Zhaoshi shouted, driving the cows back and forth in the garden, leaving neat plow paths and dumping the soil neatly to one side.

In a short while, the garden was turned upside down and all the few flowers and plants were destroyed.

"Hahaha! It's so satisfying!" Lu Zhaoshi finished plowing, sweating profusely, and laughed heartily, "It's so satisfying!"

"Husband, what are you doing? Why did you turn the garden into this state?" A beautiful middle-aged woman came hurriedly.

The maids came to report that for some unknown reason, the master had turned over the garden with a plow.

Cui didn't take it seriously at first, but then so many people came to report that she came over to take a look.

"Madam, how do you think the land is turned over?" Lu Zhaoshi pulled his wife to admire it.

"Uh, it's okay!" Cui Shi didn't farm, but she could still see that the land was different from usual. "Husband, why is the land plowed so neatly?"

"This is not an ordinary plow, it's a Jiangdong plow! What a good thing!" Lu Zhaoshi said with a smile.

"Congratulations to my husband." Cui was delighted when she heard that.

Seeing a few men from outside the family, she knew it was official business and hurriedly said goodbye, "My husband is busy, I won't disturb you!"

My husband has been frowning these days, but today he is laughing heartily, which is a rare sight. I guess this plow must be of great significance.

If a woman doesn't understand, she shouldn't talk nonsense here.

"Quick, serve tea to Lord Hu!" Lu Zhaoshi said enthusiastically when they returned to the reception room.

The servants brought tea, and the thirsty County Magistrate Hu drank two cups in a row.

"How do you push this plow?" asked Lu Zhaoshi.

County Magistrate Hu would never just do it blindly. Wu County must have used some means to vigorously promote it.

"Sir, we in Wu County are poor. This plow must be introduced as soon as possible, and the price must not be too high..." County Magistrate Hu explained their plan in detail.

This time, Lu Zhaoshi did not interrupt County Magistrate Hu, but listened attentively and nodded from time to time.

I didn't expect that after not seeing him for a few days, County Magistrate Hu has made such great progress and has such insight! When a man is away for three days, he should be looked at with new eyes!

"Well, that's right! Lord Hu is wholeheartedly serving the people. It is a blessing for the people of Wu County to have you!" Lu Zhaoshi praised.

"I dare not! I learned it from you, sir! You set an example yourself and care about the people. You are a role model for me!" County Magistrate Hu flattered him.

"We in Wuzhou will implement this method as you did, with the government setting the prices to prevent unscrupulous merchants from driving up prices. We will strive to fully promote the Jiangdong plow by the beginning of next spring.

"Master Hu has made great contributions and deserves the highest grade in the evaluation!" Lu Zhaoshi set the tone with one word, full of confidence.

Just for this Jiangdongli, this year's performance evaluation, the interview made me at least there.

"Thank you, sir!" County Magistrate Hu was delighted, then remembered something important. "Sir, I brought some special products from Wu County!"