Chapter 142: Simple Discussion
"Because of this, we have to sort out the city's political affairs before we can discuss the land distribution. There's no rush to divide the land. Bandits are rampant outside, and many places are still snowing heavily, making the mountain roads difficult to travel. I plan to send people to measure the land nearby when the weather warms up a bit. By then, we have to figure out the rules for dividing the land. Otherwise, you might say your family has too little land, and he might say his family's land is not as good. All of these must be taken into consideration. Rest assured, I, Xu Zhenying, am here to make it clear that the land will definitely be divided, and we will do so before the spring, so as not to delay anyone's production!"
These words made everyone in the chicken coop applaud.
When Xu Zhenying led his men out of the chicken coop, Fang Xun followed behind him at a loss. This time, Fang Ningmo couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips and secretly suppressed his laughter.
At the dinner table last night, this cousin shed tears of sympathy for those assigned to raise pigs, but unexpectedly, the situation changed and this time he not only had to raise pigs, but also became the person in charge of pig farming.
According to Fang Ningmo, there is nothing wrong with raising pigs. Xu Zhenying said that she has a way to quickly increase pig production. Thinking about it this way, although this position sounds dirty, smelly, and even humiliating, it is easy to produce results.
The word "achievements" is often on Xu Zhenying's lips. This shows that Xu Zhenying does not underestimate any industry, and it all depends on whether there are any outstanding achievements.
What's more, if it is true as Xu Zhenying said, that one can make pigs gain weight quickly, and two can remove the fishy smell from pigs, then pork will surely quickly replace mutton and become a must-have on the tables of the people of the Zhou Dynasty!
If it weren't for the fact that it would be bad for a girl to raise pigs, Fang Ningmo would really like to volunteer to raise pigs.
Seeing Fang Xun's worried look, Xu Zhenying felt that she had gone too far. She kept asking Fang Xun to use his staff. The main reason was that most of the people under her command were brave, but few were good at both literature and martial arts. This also sounded the alarm for her. Basic education was imminent, otherwise there would be no way to alleviate the shortage of people when hiring.
So she comforted Fang Xun, "Fang Xun, you don't have to be so sad. Raising pigs is not difficult. I have a way and I will send other people to help."
Fang Xun shook his head. "I don't reject it. The City Lord is right. This is all about solving Lan County's food problem. Although the food in the warehouse looks abundant, it can only last through this winter. When spring comes, food will be in short supply. We still have to study the field of breeding."
Xu Zhenying smiled. It was rare that Fang Xun did not have the burden of being a member of the aristocratic family. If he had to do ideological work on Fang Xun, Xu Zhenying would feel very tired.
"In that case, why are you worried?"
"I'm wondering where piglets come from, how pig pens are built, and how to make pigs grow faster. It's a pity that my grandfather's cart of books was lost during the escape, otherwise I really want to go back and look for books on agriculture."
"So this is what you are worried about." Xu Zhenying felt comforted, but she also admired Fang Xun for being able to change his mind so quickly and devote himself to an industry he didn't like. She really liked this kind of employee who obeyed the organization's arrangements and was proactive.
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. These are extraordinary times. We're all navigating the river by feeling the stones, trying step by step. There will inevitably be many failures. Regarding pig farming, my plan is the same as raising chickens. I'll assign you two teams: one dedicated to the practicalities of pig farming, and one who can read and write to work with you on how to increase pig production. Don't panic, I have some ideas, and I'll explain them to you in detail later. And I'm not kidding. Gaining twenty pounds a month is not an unattainable goal."
After listening to this, Fang Xun nodded slightly, and the uneasiness in his heart finally subsided a little.
Xu Yinxi reminded him, "City Lord, according to our statistics, there aren't many piglets in Lan County. If we want to implement centralized breeding, wouldn't the more piglets the better? But the people don't seem to trust us very much. Most of them are unwilling to give us their piglets..."
"These are minor issues." Xu Zhenying smiled faintly. "When doing things, there will always be problems. What's more, what we are doing is unprecedented and there is no one to learn from. If we encounter problems in the future, we can all work together to solve them. Just like the pig farming problem, if you have any good opinions or suggestions, please share them."
Xu Zhenying loved to test everyone with impromptu questions, especially as he walked along. Everyone behind him instantly felt like they were facing a formidable enemy, their minds racing. Feng'er, who was quick-witted, said first, "We could either grant benefits to the people, or just buy the piglets."
Fang Xun shook his head, "No. If you have to pay for everything, we won't be able to survive here for long. Besides, the people want to raise pigs themselves, and unless you compensate them according to the price of the pigs when they grow up, they won't be willing to sell their piglets."
Xu Yinxi pondered for a moment and said, "How about a guaranteed strategy? We won't spend a penny, but will collect all the people's pigs. We'll determine that a pig weighs 200 kilograms. Then, after six months, we'll return the 200 kilograms of meat to the people, and the rest will be ours. This way, the people won't lose anything. We're raising the pigs, and we're providing the feed. The people are getting 200 kilograms of pork for free. I think... no one would be unhappy about that."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
Xu Zhenying countered, "Your idea is indeed good, but raising pigs takes time. It will take at least three or four months. The locals don't trust us, and they're not sure how long we can stay in Lan County. They won't believe in the long-term benefits. They'll just think we're writing a blank check."
Everyone asked: "What is a blank check?"
"It's just... I gave you a banknote, but you can't withdraw it at the bank."
Everyone suddenly understood and couldn't help but feel that the words "blank check" were somewhat descriptive.
Xu Zhenying's worries were not without reason, and everyone was at their wit's end for the time being.
"Everyone, go back and think of a solution for this matter. If you really can't think of a solution, we'll just do what Fourth Sister said. I'll advance the money to buy the piglets."
Xu Yinxi wanted to persuade him again: "City Lord, your money is also money. There are more than 15,000 people in this city. You can't use your family's wealth every time. If you continue like this, your family's wealth will be emptied sooner or later."
Everyone looked a little embarrassed.
After entering the city, almost all the food and drinks were obtained by the third branch of the Xu family. How could they hold their heads high?
"That's fine. The advance payment will only happen during the first few days after we arrive in the city. Besides, the bulk of the money is coming from the Chen, Wang, Liu, and Gu families. Once the piggeries and chicken coops are built, we'll be self-sufficient. The people will have money, and once the entire administration is up and running, our financial situation will improve. Fang Xun, building the piggery is urgent. It's related to whether we can gain a foothold in Lan County. You must make this a priority."
Fang Xun agreed and was no longer nervous. Instead, he started thinking about building a pig house.
Xu Yinxi thought that since they had finally gathered so many people, they should take the opportunity to discuss what needed to be discussed, and then asked, "City Lord, what exactly is the arrangement for the land division that you just talked about with the aunties?"
Mo Jinchun, who had been observing the situation for a while, finally spoke up, "City Lord, you just promised to sort out the land distribution before the spring plowing. However, with five thousand refugees, based on the current amount of arable land in Lan County, we'll need half an extra acreage. Most of this extra land will have to be reclaimed, and I'm afraid there won't be a harvest in the first year. You have to take all of this into consideration."
Mo Jinchun had originally thought that since he had just arrived, he should observe the situation first. If he spoke rashly and violated any taboos, it would be bad to make people think he was shallow and rude.
But seeing that they were discussing very heatedly, and Xu Zhenying was not like the average leader, what she called discussion really was discussion. She did not look down on others because of their crude and shallow words, but instead taught them in detail. From the conversation of the girl Feng'er who was following her, one could tell that although she did not have much knowledge, she was able to handle these things in an orderly manner.
From this point of view, Xu Zhenying is either extremely short of people around him, or he does not care about the educational level of his subordinates.
Moreover, Xu Zhenying's discussions were very simple and pure. Everyone expressed their own views and then discussed them together. Everyone discussed the matter at hand and expressed their own opinions in a peaceful atmosphere.
There were also people in Mo Jinchun's family who were seeking official positions in the court, and he was fortunate enough to witness the officials' discussions.
No matter what the matter is, it will take ten days or half a month. It's just to see who is in the same party and who has affected whose interests. He has never seen such a pure deliberation style as Xu Zhenying and others.
Mo Jinchun was also very excited when he heard this. He didn't care whether Xu Zhenying was a boy or a girl at all, so he spoke first in a fit of excitement.
After he finished speaking, seeing that everyone was looking at him, Mo Jinchun felt a little hot in his heart and even a little nervous.
But Xu Zhenying smiled and said, "Mo Jinchun's reminder is very correct. This land distribution is a major issue that concerns every refugee, and it is also related to whether we can gain a firm foothold in Lan County."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
But Fang Xun's eyes were a little evasive.
"But it's all chaos out there right now. We'll have to wait until spring comes and the snow melts before we can decide." Xu Zhenying stared at Mo Jinchun and smiled faintly. "Mo Jinchun, have you ever been to school? Do you know how to read?"
Mo Jinchun's heart was filled with warmth. He raised his head proudly under Xu Zhenying's encouraging gaze and said, "To be honest, I'm ashamed to say that after passing the Tongsheng exam five years ago, I haven't made any further progress."
Although he spoke modestly, his eyes were full of ambition.
Tongsheng, a scholar, is considered a prominent figure anywhere in the Zhou Dynasty.
What's more, Mo Jinchun's family is a bodyguard, but he has such a high level of knowledge, which shows that his parents have worked hard to cultivate him.
Even Xu Huiming was excited, and looked at Mo Jinchun with a little more appreciation.
Xu Zhenying smiled and praised: "I didn't realize Jinchun is so talented in both literature and martial arts."
But Mo Jinchun was very smart and realized that although Xu Zhenying said this, he did not treat him differently like other people did.
"So...how about math?"
Mo Jinchun was stunned, not knowing why Xu Zhenying suddenly asked about this. He was a little overwhelmed, but could only reply truthfully: "My math skills are really average."
Xu Huiming whispered to Xu Zhenying, "The Tongsheng exam mainly consists of eight-legged essays, poetry, and policy essays. Mathematics is not even covered here. Sister, you're making it too difficult for him."
Xu Zhenying said, "That's fine. He's already been enlightened, so his brain is more active than most people and he learns new things faster. Who else has nothing to do now?"
Xu Huiming thought about it and wanted to mention the younger members of the Xu family's second branch, but when he thought about Xu Zhenying's attitude towards the second branch, he gave up. After picking and choosing, he said, "Anping from the fourth branch... helps Uncle and Aunt with some chores. I think he should be free."
"Okay." Xu Zhenying turned to Mo Jinchun and said, "Mo Jinchun, select a few of Lao Liao's subordinates who are highly respected, can convince the people, have strong communication skills, and are fair in their work. Then over here..."
Xu Zhenying pulled his hair out again. He looked back and forth at his subordinates several times. Apart from Ming Xiaoshuang, he couldn't find anyone else who was suitable. He had no choice but to say, "For now, you will follow my fifth sister Xu Anping to learn the four arithmetic operations and some other basic mathematical knowledge."
Mo Jinchun was naturally reluctant, especially since he was already a student, yet Xu Zhenying asked him to learn from a young girl. He was just trying to figure out how to politely refuse when Xu Zhenying continued, "Don't panic, Mo, brother. To work for me, you have to learn some basics. Not just you, but everyone here has learned. Calm down and learn. The land division involves many aspects and is a detailed and massive project. You should sort out the initial things first and build the overall framework. Then we can discuss it in detail."
Mo Jinchun's eyes gleamed with disbelief, "The city lord wants me to be in charge of the land distribution?"
Xu Zhenying smiled. "You can't take the lead. After all, I've never used you before, so I don't know how you do things. Ming Xiaoshuang will take the lead, and you'll be the deputy. Ming Xiaoshuang is still defending the city, so you can meet him later and convey my intentions. Where's Anping?"
Xu Anping walked over from the back of the team with a frightened look on his face.
She was really terrified. There were many sisters in her family, and the second wife was the favorite. She was neither too old nor too young, so she was naturally the one who was easily ignored.
Since being exiled, the four families have been well-behaved. They thought that they would go to Qianzhou for the rest of their lives, but unexpected changes occurred along the way. They were doing business, fleeing, and robbing cities. No matter how stupid Xu Anping was, he knew that the third family had become a behemoth at this moment, especially the sixth sister.
Xu Anping saw that her sisters were all busy, so she naturally felt bored. In the past, her father had restrained her and disapproved of her having more contact with the third wife. But somehow, her father finally relented and allowed her to do some small things with her sixth sister.
Xu Anping is different from Feng'er. Feng'er is not afraid of showing her weakness or being called shallow. She dares to ask and answer anything.
As for her, although she was always by Xu Zhenying's side, she always watched more, talked less, and asked less. When she encountered something she didn't understand, she would quietly ask Xu Yinxi, and never asked Xu Zhenying.
Therefore, Xu Anping followed behind Xu Zhenying like a transparent person.
Xu Anping felt her face flush when Xu Zhenying suddenly called her out. She quickly raised her hand and replied softly, "City Lord, I'm here..."
"I've noticed you're quite good at math, so this time you'll be assisting them. You and Mo Jinchun will go together later, and the three of you should discuss how to proceed with the land division, what principles to follow, how long it will take, and who will be needed. Once you've agreed on something, prepare a feasibility analysis report for me."
Xu Anping had never done such a big thing before, and she felt dizzy for a moment. She didn't know why Xu Zhenying gave her such a big task as dividing the land right away. How could she do it well?
Xu Anping was about to refuse, but Zhao, who was beside her, had already held her down and agreed with a smile, "Okay. Don't worry, City Lord, she will definitely handle this matter properly."
Mo Jinchun also quickly followed suit, "Don't worry, City Lord! We'll get this... that..."
Xu Anping was a little anxious, his face flushed as he repeated, "Feasibility analysis report on land division!"
Xu Zhenying smiled at Xu Anping, and Xu Anping lowered his head a little embarrassedly.
"Alright, everyone, go disperse. Ning Mo, go get Jiang Yongkang and Ming Xiaoshuang. Fourth sister, could you please call the female elders of the Xu family? We'll meet at the county government office for a meeting."
Xu Yinxi was a little puzzled about Xu Zhenying's suggestion to invite the female elders in the family to the meeting, but she didn't ask any more questions and turned around to call them.
Mo Jinchun couldn't help but feel excited.
Let's meet, let's have a meeting, these six simple words sound particularly wonderful.
He looked at Feng'er and Xu Yinxi, and somehow, he felt a little envious of them.
When will he be able to squeeze into the core circle of the Xu family?
At this moment, Mo Jinchun no longer thought about whether Xu Zhenying was a man or a woman.
Who cares if he's a man or a woman, isn't it enough to be better than him?
Xu Zhenying and Feng'er walked from the chicken coop to the county government office.
Along the way, it was obvious that the people of Lan County had become much friendlier towards her.
In the past two days, people either hid far away or knelt down tremblingly. Today, it was rare that few people avoided her, and some brave ones even dared to say hello to her.
Xu Zhenying smiled and nodded one by one, and from time to time he chatted with the people who came up to talk, all of whom talked about the disaster situation in the homes of these people.
After they had passed, some of the common people stared at her from behind, unwilling to leave, and sighed, "Who said this king was a vicious beast? He looked quite kind to me, and even smiled at me."
"Those who are willing to distribute food to us are not bad people! Aren't they also fleeing famine? These days, life is not easy for anyone."
"Yes, but it looks too small. Not even as big as my baby."
"To be honest, Magistrate Sun never distributed any food to us before."
Someone immediately rebuked them, "You know this is treason! Magistrate Sun is a good official. He's done so much for us. He can't be heartless! Didn't you see Magistrate Sun following behind them? I heard his family is still trapped in the inn—"
"Well, isn't it better to stay in an inn? I don't think the king and his men have given Madam Sun any trouble. It's better to wait for her with good food and drink every day than to kill people as soon as she enters the city. Besides, aren't the vacant houses all occupied by refugees? Otherwise, you're just going to let them sleep on the streets?"
The discussion gradually faded away.
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