Chapter 255: Mobilization
Zhao Qiaonian felt a little guilty, but in fact he didn't do anything.
More importantly, Zhao Qiaonian not only felt guilty, but also a little nervous.
Because he noticed that Xu Zhenying now had many capable people under his command, such as Mo Jinchun, Gu Guihua, Chang Zizai and others. It was obvious that he was no match for them, either in terms of martial arts or intelligence.
If it weren't for his previous relationship with selling soap during his exile, Zhao Qiaonian would probably not even be able to show his face in front of Xu Zhenying.
Now is not the time to be short-handed in selling soap!
Zhao Qiaonian heard from Feng'er that Jinzhou Prefecture was carrying out some kind of universal education program, and everyone could read and write. Especially the group of soldiers, who could write and count, and were good at both civil and military affairs. They were completely different from the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
At this moment, Zhao Qiaonian felt a sense of crisis, and he immediately took the opportunity to get closer: "City Lord, why haven't you seen Ming Xiaoshuang? This time we came from Bianjing City, but we brought his mother with us!"
Xu Zhenying smiled and said, "He's leading another team to attack the county below. I'm afraid it will take at least ten days or half a month for him to return."
After that, she said to Mrs. Lian, "Second Aunt, please take good care of the family they brought with them. Especially Ming Xiaoshuang's mother. I heard she is very old and can't see. Please hire a diligent maid to take care of her."
Lian quickly sighed.
Xu Zhenying brushed it off with a single sentence, then returned to his duties. "Mo Jinchun, go take inventory of the weapons and military equipment. Feng'er, have Lord Sun help you figure out Xingyuan Prefecture's financial situation, including fertile land, taxes, and population, and make a table for me. Second Aunt, have your staff notify the people of Xingyuan Prefecture that a meeting will be held at nine o'clock tomorrow at—"
Xu Zhenying was a little unsure of the terrain of Xingyuan Prefecture, but Qi Er had already chimed in: "Why not set up the site at the north gate? There's more space there."
"Okay. Qi Er, take your men to clean up the venue, and help my Second Aunt maintain order at the venue tomorrow."
Qi Er nodded quickly, his heart beating fast. He turned around and chatted with Feng Er: "When is nine o'clock? What do we need to do at the venue?"
Feng Er also shook her head, "I don't know either. Why don't we go ask Minister Lian later?"
Zhao Qiaonian became a little anxious when he saw that his subordinates had not assigned him any tasks.
Daniu also tugged at his sleeve, signaling with his eyes. Zhao Qiaonian then boldly said, "City Lord, what do you need us to do? Since we have come to you for refuge, it would be inappropriate for us to do nothing."
Xu Zhenying smiled, "Don't worry, Brother Zhao. We need to sort things out one by one. There are plenty of opportunities to perform meritorious service. If there's no assignment for the time being, you can just be on standby. When someone calls you, you can go out and put out fires."
When the meeting was over, the group seemed to understand what they had just heard, but they were too embarrassed to ask Xu Zhenying. So they shamelessly pulled Lian aside and asked, "Minister Lian, the city lord said there's going to be a meeting tomorrow. What kind of meeting is it? Is it about killing people or stealing things?"
Qi Er also came over and said, "Minister Lian, what did the City Lord mean by nine o'clock? Why don't I understand what she said?"
Elder Lin also joined in the fun: "Are all the people in the city invited to the meeting? What is she going to say?"
Sun Qingchen had been with Xu Zhenying for some time, so he was naturally familiar with the situation. Seeing everyone's confusion, Sun Qingchen, who had been somewhat depressed and worried that Xu Zhenying would not be able to use him, finally regained some face and said with a smile: "There is a twelve-hour clock in Lan County. It runs by itself and does not need a time doctor to record it. Half an hour is an hour, which is much more convenient than the current copper kettle dripping water. Don't worry, Xingyuan Prefecture will also repair this clock soon, and you will understand it at a glance. Nine o'clock is probably the time when the Chen and Si hours turn -"
Old Lin was very fond of the object that could keep time by itself, and he wished that Xu Zhenying would repair the clock right now so that he could play with it.
Sun Qingchen continued, "As for setting up the venue, that means getting some tables, chairs, and benches, hanging a banner, and, oh, we need a loudspeaker. If there are too many people, it's easy for a stampede to occur, so Brother Zhao needs to send more people to maintain order."
Lian also smiled and added, "A meeting is a meeting. No killing, no looting. Our soldiers from Jinzhou Prefecture behave properly wherever they go. I guess the city lord just occupied Xingyuan Prefecture and has some things to tell the people."
Qi Er finally felt reassured.
It was not until the next morning that the people of Xingyuan Prefecture were sure that the situation had changed.
From then on, their Xingyuan Prefecture officially became the territory of rebels.
As soon as the day broke, the group of soldiers and women in strange clothes began to go from street to street, shouting loudly, "There will be a meeting at the North City Gate Square at the beginning of the day, and no one can be absent."
They kept shouting for about half an hour, until they made sure that every household was notified.
Someone brave enough leaned over the window and peered through the crack. Seeing only a few sturdy women, they grew a little bolder and whispered, "A meeting? What kind of meeting?"
This question made everyone on the street listen attentively to the woman's answer.
"It's a meeting! The City Lord has something to tell everyone. Universal education, smallpox vaccinations, and piglet farming all need to start as soon as possible. You can't not go. They're all very tangible benefits!"
"Raising pigs?!" A bold woman opened the door halfway, only daring to poke her head out. "Is it Lanxian pigs? They say you can raise a Lanxian pig weighing one or two hundred kilograms in half a year."
"Yes, yes, if you miss this opportunity, you won't be able to find this store again!"
"Are you really going to teach us how to raise pigs?"
The woman frowned, looking impatient. "Could it be true? In Lan County, every household raises pigs. The city lord sent people to teach us how to do it. If you don't believe me, don't come!"
Although everyone was afraid, they were also curious, and most of them were captivated by the woman's few words.
Raising pigs!
The Lan County pig is said to be able to grow to 200 kilograms in just half a year!
As for things like universal education and smallpox vaccination, they didn't understand and didn't care much.
Only the pigs from Nalan County are ready-made and offer real benefits!
After the women walked away with the loudspeakers, the neighbors leaned out one by one, exchanged glances with each other, and seemed to be asking questions.
At this point, there is only one choice but to go!
If everyone goes, what are you afraid of?
But no one expected that the rebel from Jinzhou Prefecture, who was said to have three heads and six arms and loved to drink human blood, was actually so young, so tender, and so handsome!
The rebel was neither tall nor thin, slightly plump and a bit rounded, but at least he looked healthy and strong. His facial features were not outstanding, but he had a pair of bright black and white eyes that always had a smile in them, and two shallow dimples on his lips.
The most eye-catching thing is her strange outfit.
He was not wearing the fashionable skirt of the Zhou Dynasty, but only a long coat and trousers. He looked like he had hurriedly put on his undershirt before going out, which was extremely strange.
Not to mention his shoulder-length hair, tied in a small bun at the back of his head, making him look like a servant or a page boy of a wealthy family. The people around him also had short green hair, no wonder he was called the Green-Headed Thief.
Those who were curious about Xu Zhenying's appearance were inevitably disappointed.
This is too out of place!
The rebel leader built a high platform today and placed more than a dozen stools on it. After most of the people from Xingyuan Prefecture had arrived, the square was filled with people, but it was as quiet as a grave, and no one dared to make a sound.
With the crowd as the center, there were hundreds of soldiers guarding each intersection. They were holding knives and staring fiercely. Although they were dressed strangely, their muscular bodies and fierce eyes were enough to intimidate all the people in Xingyuan Prefecture.
"Everyone!" Xu Zhenying held an iron tube in his hand and instantly turned up the volume very loudly. Not to mention the people of Xingyuan Prefecture, even Old Lin on the side was startled by the sudden volume.
All the people in the square immediately looked towards Xu Zhenying on the platform.
In the morning glow, a ray of sunlight fell on her head, and at that moment she seemed like a compassionate god.
"I am the legendary leader of the rebels in Jinzhou Prefecture. Everyone, look up and look at me. It's rumored that I have three heads and six arms. Everyone, take this opportunity to quickly count how many arms and legs I have."
The people in the audience were amused, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little livelier, no longer as tense as before.
"Of course, I don't like drinking human blood either."
This time, the people laughed sincerely.
Everyone also noticed that this traitor was really different. At least he looked gentle and polite, unlike some other bandits who were fat and big-eared and looked murderous.
I'm afraid it's really as those people in Jinzhou Prefecture said, this traitor has some skills!
Old Lin had never seen Xu Zhenying so friendly. The imperial power was majestic, and the superiors in history always appeared majestic, fearing that they could not suppress the common people.
Xu Zhenying, however, did the opposite.
He is strict with his subordinates but friendly to the common people.
Elder Lin was stunned and said to Sun Qingchen, "Has she always been like this?"
Sun Qingchen nodded. "She's always been good at winning people over."
"Lord Sun, this is wrong. Don't forget that you are now working under her. If you make such arrangements with the higher-ups, you will be punished."
Sun Qingchen smiled, "I'm telling the truth. The City Lord is very generous and never cares about such things. She only values your ability and attitude; nothing else matters to her."
Mr. Lin looked thoughtful.
This god is more interesting when he comes down from the altar.
He was increasingly looking forward to seeing what earth-shaking changes Xu Zhenying's governance methods, which were completely different from those of the Great Zhou Dynasty, would bring to the world.
"I'm sure everyone has heard of my name, Xu Zhenying, to some extent. There are good and bad things, real and fake. I won't try to distinguish them here. It's meaningless to talk about one's own achievements; only when others judge them can they be considered real. I won't say much else. Now I want to speak to you all from the bottom of my heart."
"From today on, Xingyuan Prefecture is my, Xu Zhenying's, territory, and you are my, Xu Zhenying's, people! I, Xu Zhenying, will do my utmost to create a fair and free society, a society completely different from the Great Zhou Dynasty. Perhaps you cannot fully understand what I am saying now, but that's okay. You just need to understand one sentence: I, Xu Zhenying, will do my utmost to lead you to a good life! No more hunger and cold, no more lack of dignity, no more social disparity, everyone will have enough food and clothing, every child will be able to read and write, and everyone will have the opportunity to realize their dreams!"
Compared to Xu Zhenying's exciting speeches, the reactions of the people in Xingyuan Prefecture were lukewarm, not even as enthusiastic as her previous joke about her supernatural powers.
Looking at the numb faces and hunched people below, Xu Zhenying knew that before the problem of food and clothing was solved, those who talked about dreams were hooligans!
It is useless to just talk about values. You have to show the people some practical benefits so that they will willingly identify with and maintain your regime!
"Alright, I won't go into the other details. I'll first announce a few things that are closely related to your own interests. The first is universal education! The census and registration will begin this afternoon. Everyone between the ages of thirteen and fifteen, regardless of gender, will receive free education and literacy starting tomorrow. Teachers will be in place soon, and several private school spaces will be requisitioned for schooling. You'll be informed of the specific arrangements when you register this afternoon."
As expected, since their own interests were involved, the enthusiasm of the people in Xingyuan Prefecture instantly increased a lot. Immediately, a brave enough voice asked in a shrill voice: "Why does it have to be between thirteen and fifteen years old? The normal age for enlightenment is five or six years old!"
Xu Zhenying smiled and said, "That's because people between the ages of thirteen and fifteen can sit still and learn quickly. After they learn, they can immediately work for me, either as teachers or clerks. Only by training teachers first can we take on more students. Of course, don't worry, teachers like me, Xu Zhenying, will be paid at least thirty wen a day, and payment will be made on the same day. I will never delay payment!"
--boom.
The crowd exploded.
"What? Thirty cents? A day's wages? Did I hear correctly?"
"So, after the first batch of people come out, they can become teachers and teach the next batch right away? But it will take at least several years to learn to read and write, right?"
"Is it free? Really? He doesn't charge a penny? But what's he trying to do? Paying money for our kids to learn to read?"
——Bang, bang, bang!
Someone struck a gong on the high platform, the sound deafening. Xu Zhenying took the opportunity to say, "I'll reiterate, admission is free. No matter if you are a teacher or a student, lunch is provided. The elementary literacy class takes about twenty days of study, and the intermediate class takes one to two months. After you finish this course, you will be able to basically read and write. The first batch of people is the most valuable. After graduation, you can immediately become a teacher and receive a daily salary of thirty wen. If you are interested, please go to the government office this afternoon to inquire! I will set up an office there, so you can register early, the school will start early, and you can earn money early. If you don't trust me, Xu Zhenying, and miss this first wave of opportunities to make a fortune, you can't blame me!"
The people of Xingyuan Prefecture were skeptical. No one seemed willing to believe that Xu Zhenying was spending so much money on this so-called universal education program. However, Jia the peddler in the crowd shouted, "Why don't you believe it? They've been doing universal education in Lan County for almost a year! From the elderly in their eighties to children as young as five or six, almost everyone can recognize words! They have a special method for teaching people to recognize words, called pinyin. As long as you know a few dozen runes, you can read all the words. If you don't believe it, you can ask the people from Lan County!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
