Chapter 120
Xu Chong looked at the city wall of Jinxi Prefecture with a somewhat excited expression. He rode at full speed. After more than half a month, he went from Jinxi to Yichun, and then from Yichun back to Jinxi.
If all 800 people enter the city, the target will be too big, which is definitely not possible.
Zhou Yushu ordered his deputy, Hou Sheng, to accompany Xu Chong into the city, and then selected 180 skilled warriors from among them to enter the city in batches. He then led the remaining cavalry outside the city to provide support. They had to prepare for the worst-case scenario, that is, Xu Chong would be detained and forcibly imprisoned by Wei Yuanwang's troops upon his return.
Of the 180 people entering the city, some will be left inside the city gate and at several key locations for support. Thirty to fifty soldiers should be enough to go to the Xu family. Too many people will easily attract attention.
Xu Chong and Zhou Yushu had discussed these action plans on the way. As Yao Chunnuan had expected, the two of them got along very well.
This matter needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, so after eating and taking a short rest, Hou Sheng led his men and followed Xu Chong into the city, heading all the way to the Xu family's location, and quickly subdued the people from the prefectural government.
These people provide both protection and surveillance for the Xu family.
After Hou Sheng knocked them down, Xu Chong quickly came to the door, knocked three times long and two times short, then knocked twice, alternating between two heavy and one light knocks, and the door was quickly opened.
Entering the house, he quickly found his wife and children.
His wife and children were very excited to see him return safely with his men.
He raised his hand to stop the family members who were about to speak. "There's no time for small talk. We can talk on the way. Now, hurry back to the house and pack your belongings. Take only the valuables and leave the rest. Yichun Military Village has everything! Hurry!"
Although they subdued the people guarding the prefectural government office in Xujiazhou State, they were not sure whether the other party had arranged a second layer of surveillance, so the sooner they left, the better.
Thanks to Xu Chong's instructions, the Xu family only took a quarter of an hour to clean up. This was already very quick.
Under the cover of Hou Sheng and other soldiers, the Xu family quickly headed towards the city gate.
Just as they were about to leave the city, a voice called out from behind, "Xu Gongcao, wait a minute!"
The Xu family couldn't help but turn around and take a look. The voice sounded like that of the Wei prefect?
Only Xu Chong, Hou Sheng and others rushed straight towards the city gate without looking around, "Ignore him, charge!"
Seeing this, the people behind them hurriedly shouted to the gate guards, "General Yan, the governor has ordered to close the city gate immediately!"
Zhou Yushu, who was coordinating outside, also noticed the change at the city gate and immediately led his troops forward. Together with their skilled ambushes inside the city gate, they also launched their attack. With the combined efforts of the three parties, the Jinxi Prefecture gate was captured, and Xu Chong and his family escaped safely. Hou Sheng and his men, who were responsible for the rearguard, also escaped successfully shortly thereafter.
Looking at the shaking and damaged city gate, Wei Yuanwang frowned. He didn't expect that Xu Chong came back well prepared.
The men he brought back were clearly soldiers, judging by their aura and tactics. For a moment, he was in a state of shock and uncertainty. He didn't dare pursue them, so he simply stepped onto the city wall and stared at Xu Chong.
After Xu Chong and his family came out, they were in no hurry to leave. He was quite disappointed to find that Wei Yuanwang didn't dare to chase him, but then he thought, maybe keeping a governor like him in Jinxi would be a good thing for their Yichun military settlement?
Yes, it was their Yichun Juntun. Xu Chong was such a smart man, he had vaguely realized something. But he still boarded the Yichun Juntun ship without hesitation.
Wei Yuanwang stood on the higher ground and asked him, "Xu Gongcao, why are you doing this?"
"Why? You should know it very well. Why, even though I've already been dismissed from my post, are you still planning to force me and my family to stay in Jinxi Prefecture?"
"Why are you so angry about such a small thing? It's not necessary, is it?"
Xu Chong chuckled twice, it’s really easy to talk without any pain in your waist. It turns out that you are not the one who has been suffering the loss!
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Xu family was extremely angry and thought he was so shameless.
"What happened last time was indeed the fault of that kid Shen Ji. I've already taught him a lesson, and he knows he's wrong. I'll bring him to you to apologize, and we'll be done with this." Wei Yuanwang paused, then continued, "Young people need to grow up. As elders, we shouldn't be so harsh on them, right? Brother Xu, come back. Come back and you'll still be the Gongcao of the Jinxi Prefecture."
"Yes, people need to grow, but growth comes at a price." Xu Chong snorted inwardly. "He's your nephew, not mine. Why should I pay for his growth?" "I believe this incident has left a deep impression on him. My nephew is about to become a great man. Congratulations, Governor Wei."
Wei Yuanwang only felt that these words were harsh. But he still wanted to win back Xu Chong. Without Xu Chong, Jinxi Prefecture had been in a mess recently.
"Brother Xu, come back. If you're still not satisfied, I'll make him apologize for your crime!"
"Prefect Wei, although you lack any talent, like to flaunt yourself as a man of virtue, and favor nepotism, you still have some self-awareness. You knew to leave a few capable people in the Jinxi Prefectural Office, and not fill the entire office with hypocritical fools. It's just a pity for those few capable people who have to carry a bunch of fools on their shoulders to move forward. It's really hard work."
After hearing what Xu Chong said, Wei Yuanwang's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"Back then, I was one of them. Now, I've jumped out. Do you think I will go back?" Xu Chong had an expression that said 'Do you think I'm stupid?', which made Wei Yuanwang so angry that he threw his sleeves and left.
Xu Chong had just experienced a thrilling battle, but the Yichun military settlement was relatively calm.
At night, Yao Chunnuan was still working. Recently, more people came to the military settlement, and there were relatively more things to do.
While she was taking a short break, Qi Yingshan beside her said a little embarrassedly, "Ah Nuan, do you have time to take a look at the plan I wrote?"
Yao Chunnuan looked up and found that he was holding a piece of paper in his hand. She guessed that it contained the plan he mentioned.
"Okay, let me take a look." Reporting to a higher level is a major workplace taboo. But Comrade Xiao Qi did it anyway, presumably for a reason.
The more Yao Chunnuan read the plan, the more surprised she became.
After she finished reading it, she understood why Comrade Xiao Qi had chosen to bypass the chain of command to report. This plan, whether submitted to the owner of the exchange building or her grandfather, the deputy owner, would be rejected.
She had single-handedly founded the exchange office, as well as the work point and merit system. As the military settlement prospered, her infallibility was increasingly proven. They even deified her. Qi Yingshan's attempts to change the rules she had established were unlikely to gain their approval.
Qi Yingshan's plan included some reforms to the exchange building, work points and merits.
Regarding the common items in the exchange building, he suggested clearing them out or matching their price to those outside. The remaining items were rare or limited in quantity, and most were produced outside the city. The previous exchange method could be used, meaning that these rare items would require work points or merit points to redeem.
Of course, food is still exchanged for work points or merit points, which is the bulk of the cost.
As for whether the settlers wanted to eat better and bring in fine food from outside, they didn't care. To be honest, the quality of the food in their military settlement was very high, and even the grain stores outside might not be able to compare.
Qi Yingshan's proposal was accepted by Yao Chunnuan. She had actually had a similar plan a long time ago, but she had been busy with many things and had never had time to work on it.
The exchange office previously handled the exchange of too many commodities, almost all the supplies for the military settlement residents, including daily necessities. Now with 140,000 or 150,000 people in the settlement, the exchange office was under tremendous pressure.
Qi Yingshan’s reform was: simply throw away some of the burdens.
Initially, when they took over the military settlements, the settlers were practically destitute, making them well-suited to management using the previous work point and merit system. They also needed the military settlements to support them and provide them with subsidies. Secondly, this could foster their cohesion, solidarity, and sense of honor towards the military settlements.
But now, the cohesion and centripetal force of the military settlements are sufficient, even if the exchange building is reformed. Moreover, the settlement residents' wallets have bulged, and the exchange building's exchange mechanism is no longer suitable for the current situation. What is needed and suitable now is a free market economy.
In Qi Yingshan's reform, the part of the burden that was thrown away, the ordinary commodities and items of the general public in the exchange building, will enter the free market economy after being thrown out of the exchange building.
His idea is correct.
She has the knowledge and insights of later generations. Qi Yingshan, a native of Daliang, is very impressive for seeing this. At least in terms of economic value, she has an extremely keen awareness.
For a moment, Yao Chunnuan looked at Qi Yingshan with bright eyes.
There were stars in her eyes. He felt a little embarrassed when she looked at him with such straightforward admiration, but he couldn't help but feel excited.
"Don't look at me like that." Qi Yingshan couldn't help but stretch out his big hand and cover her eyes.
Yao Chunnuan took his big hand away and said, "How did you come up with this? It's very well done."
"Read more and think more." Qi Yingshan felt a little shy because of her straightforward praise.
She was amazing. When he stood next to her, people always looked at him strangely. Although this didn't affect him, sometimes he wanted to get closer to her, to prove that he had something else that could make people's eyes shine. Well, besides his looks and figure.
"I know your plan is intended to improve the development of the military settlement, but ordinary residents only see their own interests being harmed, and they're bound to feel resentful. If someone with ulterior motives stirs things up, I'm afraid rumors will spread and negatively impact you. I think your plan could be improved." The military settlement can no longer be exploited, and the residents will undoubtedly feel uncomfortable. This requires guidance.
"I'm not afraid." How could a grown man like him be afraid of this?
"Think about it carefully. It would be best if you could exchange benefits for benefits." They would not talk nonsense. "You are so smart, you will definitely be able to come up with a solution." Yao Chunnuan hugged his waist, then quickly raised her head and kissed him on the cheek.
Suddenly attacked, his jade-white ears suddenly turned red.
"Okay, I'll think about it carefully when I get back." Qi Yingshan tried to remain calm.
Seeing him like this, Yao Chunnuan simply put aside her work and started to fight with him.
Later, under Yao Chunnuan's suggestion, Qi Yingshan learned from his experience and added a commercial street to it, quickly perfecting the entire plan.
Their military settlement currently has 140,000 or 150,000 people, and has long been a town in its own right. They have also long been divided into different groups based on the town's management.
Although the exchange building has cancelled the work point exchange function for ordinary commodities, the military settlement has opened up a new commercial area, which is open to the public. In other words, in addition to the people in the military settlement, outsiders can also come in and set up stalls.
This commercial area can be divided into several areas.
These areas, with numerous stalls, were then divided into zones, each assigned a plot. For example, in Zone A, where stalls and shops were located, the military settlement only charged half the market rent. After the zones were divided, the groups could either run the properties themselves or sublet them to profit from the difference; the military settlement had no control over the situation.
Yao Chunnuan even secretly hoped that a few business geniuses would emerge among them so that she could take advantage of them.
Once the plan was complete, the exchange building underwent a major overhaul. This reform actually facilitated the integration of outsiders. At the same time, it preserved the unique character of the Yichun military settlement, allowing workers to exchange food and other rare items for work points and merit points. It also made life more convenient for the residents.
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