Chapter 268 Qiu Ju Niang's Report
Ming Xiaoshuang had been working with Xu Zhenying for a long time, so naturally he had his own spies. As soon as he went out, his personal soldiers came to greet him, and he asked about the situation of Zhao Qiaonian and others.
Knowing that Zhao Qiaonian had been in Xingyuan Prefecture for more than a month, the city lord had not assigned him any specific tasks, Ming Xiaoshuang also roughly knew what Zhao Qiaonian was planning.
However, the two men used to be brothers, and Ming Xiaoshuang was also eager to train his own personnel and team, so naturally he had to put in some effort in Zhao Qiaonian's employment.
He first went to the government office and learned that Xu Zhenying was talking to Dean Qiu who had returned from the north, so he went to the government school to find Zhao Qiaonian.
Ming Xiaoshuang is a prominent figure in Jinzhou Prefecture. He attracts attention wherever he goes. Naturally, countless people greet him along the way.
But Ming Xiaoshuang didn't dare to put on airs. He responded to everyone with a smile and even called out most of them by name.
Zhao Qiaonian, Daniu and others naturally saw Ming Xiaoshuang as soon as the get out of class was over.
It was really hard not to see it, and everyone naturally gathered around her. Ming Xiaoshuang was like the moon surrounded by stars, causing quite a commotion.
It's no wonder that everyone is so enthusiastic. The team of veterans around Xu Zhenying are all legendary figures. No matter whether they are from Jinzhou Prefecture or Xingyuan Prefecture, they naturally have to give him some face.
Zhao Qiaonian felt a little sad in his heart, but he pretended to be happy on his face and rushed forward with Da Niu and the others.
It was natural for old friends to be extremely happy to meet each other. A group of people hugged each other and talked about their innermost feelings. Ming Xiaoshuang was the host, and the group went to a restaurant near the government office and set up a table, which was considered a proper welcoming drink.
As soon as Ming Xiaoshuang sat down, he sighed, "Now our escort team is finally complete."
Zhao Qiaonian said, "A few of our brothers are still missing. They took the money from selling soap and went to the countryside to buy land and become landlords. Some spent it all on a life of luxury, and some even started a soap business. Last year, there were twelve of us, and now we're only able to get seven together. It's already quite a feat."
Da Niu looked at Ming Xiaoshuang, who seemed like a different person. Although he was dressed as usual, there was an indescribable demeanor in his every move.
Da Niu was naturally envious and full of questions, "Brother Xiaoshuang! I heard that you led the troops to fight?! We brothers haven't seen you for over a month. Everyone said you were on official business, but we didn't believe it! You don't know, we went through so much hardship and left our homes and careers to join the City Lord, but when we got here, we found out that the City Lord has so many capable people under his command, and there's no chance for us to make a name for ourselves! Besides, we only know the City Lord, Feng'er, Fang Xun, and Da Zhuang. Unfortunately, Feng'er and Fang Xun are so busy every day that we can't see them anymore. We don't dare to bother the City Lord, so we can only look forward to your return!"
Ming Xiaoshuang smiled and patted Da Niu on the shoulder. "Brother Da Niu, don't worry. As the saying goes, haste makes waste. A while ago, the city lord did ask me to attack the county town under Xingyuan Prefecture. To be honest, a flood washed away the plank road, so my men and I got lost, which delayed us. As soon as I entered the city, I heard that you had come to seek refuge with the city lord. I was so happy that I just went home to see my mother and immediately called all the brothers out."
Zhao Qiaonian is a smart man. Although Ming Xiaoshuang did not intend to show off in his words, he knew that Ming Xiaoshuang was very sharp-eyed and had learned about them as soon as he entered the city. It can be seen that he also has loyal people under his command.
Still late!
Zhao Qiaonian felt regretful whenever he thought about it.
If he had dared to take more risks and followed Xu Zhenying last winter, he, Zhao Qiaonian, would have had a share of everything Ming Xiaoshuang had!
Zhao Qiaonian raised his glass and said with a smile, "That's right. We are different from the people outside. We all started our business by selling soap with the city lord, so naturally we have a special bond."
"Of course. To be honest, brothers, even if you didn't come to the City Lord, I was planning to send a letter to you. But you all know that rebellion is risky. I'm afraid that before I succeed, I'll drag you down. Originally, when the City Lord captured six prefectures, I had already decided to send someone to Bianjing City to look for you!"
Zhao Qiaonian's heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed slightly. "The City Lord has already occupied six prefectures? Aren't there only Xingyuan Prefecture, Jinzhou Prefecture, and Qianzhou Prefecture?"
Ming Xiaoshuang narrowed his eyes and smiled, "We're all brothers, so I won't hide anything from you. The latest battle report hasn't been released yet. The City Lord may announce it in the next couple of days. Even if you know about it, don't make it public. Jiang Yongkang and Zhang Wanjun led their men south and have already captured the three prefectures of Bao'an, Xiangshui, and Jiangling. The City Lord will make a big move soon, and mobilizing troops is inevitable."
Several people gasped!
They had a hard time attacking Xingyuan Prefecture, but who would have thought that Jiang Yongkang could capture three prefectures in one go?
Zhao Qiaonian's mind went blank before he said, "Doesn't that mean... doesn't that mean that in this southwest region, apart from the King of Zhoushan, no one can rival the City Lord?"
Danniu also asked, "Didn't they say there were also two Li Wangs, the Big and the Small Li Wang?"
"Most of the Li princes' men are refugees, and they're not loyal to him, so it's not difficult for Jiang Yongkang to capture these cities. I think the Li princes' elite troops have probably fled to Tongzhou. They're badly weakened, and they might join forces with Prince Ming to attack us!"
Everyone has different thoughts.
This Xu Zhenying is truly remarkable. In just over a year, he has become the biggest rebel leader in the southwest region!
So, it’s not too late for them to surrender!
Although there are risks ahead, wealth and honor have always been sought in danger. How can one achieve success without sacrificing one's life and blood?
The blood in the bones of several people began to boil.
Zhao Qiaonian was so excited that his eyes turned red. He grabbed Ming Xiaoshuang and said, "Brother Xiaoshuang, we are friends who have risked our lives together. There are some things I can't ask the City Lord, so I can only ask you. Please tell us the truth so that we can feel at ease."
Ming Xiaoshuang calmly fiddled with the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile, "Do you feel that the city lord has ignored you?"
Zhao Qiaonian nodded.
Daniu could only grumble quietly, "The City Lord is always telling us to study, study! We've already been promoted to the intermediate class, and now the City Lord is looking for people, and it's a good time to make achievements. If we miss this opportunity, I don't know how long we'll have to wait. But we still haven't made any progress, and I'm so anxious..."
Another person added, "The City Lord always tells us to be patient, saying there's definitely a job for us. But we know that if it weren't for the bond we built during our exile last year, we wouldn't even have seen the City Lord. Furthermore, times are different now. The City Lord has so many talented people under his command, and there might not even be a place for us. We're really... anxious!"
Ming Xiaoshuang smiled and said, "Don't worry, everyone. Don't you understand the City Lord's character? She has always valued friendship and loyalty, and never tells lies. Since she told you to wait, she must have some plans for you."
Zhao Qiaonian said, "Brother Ming, please don't try to fool us with these words. What exactly did the city lord arrange? You might as well tell us the bottom line."
Ming Xiaoshuang paused for a moment. "Alright. I'll give you a hint. First of all, you have a friendship with the City Lord. As long as that friendship exists, the City Lord will definitely consider you. The City Lord often says that a good blacksmith must be strong himself, so the most important thing is that you must hone your own skills. Don't underestimate your academic performance. I'm sure you've noticed since last year that the City Lord places great importance on academic performance. Academic performance determines your upper limit, so the most urgent thing is to get your intermediate class diploma as soon as possible."
Zhao Qiaonian immediately said, "To be honest, brother, we all think the same."
"As for the others..." Ming Xiaoshuang paused deliberately, "Do you have any ideas about going out and exploring the world?"
Zhao Qiaonian narrowed his eyes: "Where are you talking about?"
"For example, the area around Bao'an Prefecture and Xiangshui Prefecture that we just conquered. Although it's a bit far away and there's the danger of encountering the enemy, wealth and honor are always sought in danger. It all depends on one's perspective."
Da Niu immediately stated: "We are not afraid of danger. If we were afraid of danger, we would not have come from Bianjing City to seek refuge with the City Lord in the first place!"
"Let me be frank. The City Lord has just taken over four prefectures, so there must be many places to recruit people, which means there are many opportunities. Perhaps Xingyuan Prefecture will be recruiting soon. When that time comes, no matter what method you use, you must first join the army. You should also know that the City Lord's recruitment standards have always been open and transparent, and there are no shortcuts. If you want to work for the City Lord, you can either take the civil service examination or join the army. Only if you join the army first will the City Lord be willing to use you. Do you understand what I mean?"
Zhao Qiaonian seemed to understand but not quite.
From Ming Xiaoshuang's tone, it seemed that Xu Zhenying had strict rules for employing people, and even she herself could not break them easily.
Da Niu immediately said, "Recruiting soldiers? Is this true? If so, I, Da Niu, will definitely be the first to sign up! Damn it, I've been studying and learning to read lately, and I'm almost too idle to do anything!"
Ming Xiaoshuang continued, "Actually, you don't necessarily have to pursue a career in government or join the military. Have you ever been to Jinzhou Prefecture?"
Everyone shook their heads, "Is there anything strange over there?"
Ming Xiaoshuang smiled and said, "Our city lord is different from the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. We don't care about social classes here, nor do we care about the distinctions between scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans. On the contrary, the most restrictive things are those who follow the official career path. Even a tael of silver constitutes corruption and bribery. There are many literate people, and many eyes are watching you. You may have missed the money for a bowl of noodles one moment, but the next moment you may have a letter of denunciation to the city lord. Let me tell you, although you have come to seek refuge with the city lord, you don't necessarily have to rely on him to make a career. You made a lot of money in the soap business last year, so you can consider doing business in Jinzhou Prefecture. To be honest, with me, Ming Xiaoshuang, here, who dares to bully you?"
Everyone looked at each other, as if they had not expected that there was such a way to go.
They had never been to Jinzhou Prefecture. They just felt that all their acquaintances were there. It was an eternal principle that it was easier to get things done if you had someone in the court. Therefore, they had never thought of going to Jinzhou Prefecture to make a living.
"Jinzhou Prefecture is a great place. There's gold everywhere, and the people say you can pick it up just by bending down. It's in the heart of the southwest, so there are a lot of opportunities. I think you should go and try your luck."
Someone immediately asked, "What kind of business are we going to do in Jinzhou Prefecture? We don't know how to do business!"
"How can you not understand business? Last year, when we followed the city lord, didn't we see him doing soap business? If you don't understand, you need to study harder. There are economics courses in the intermediate class, and that's what teaches you how to make money!"
Although Zhao Qiaonian was determined to pursue a career in government, that didn't stop him from asking around. "So, in your opinion, what kind of business is making money in Jinzhou Prefecture right now?"
Ming Xiaoshuang curled his lips slightly and said in a low voice, "Have you heard of cement?"
Everyone shook their heads, but Zhao Qiaonian frowned slightly. "I heard a teacher from Jinzhou Prefecture mention it at school. He said that cement is used in bridge and road construction there now. It's said to be low-cost and very effective."
"That's right. This is also the City Lord's recipe. Just like soap, it's a highly profitable business. I actually think it's worth it!" Ming Xiaoshuang looked around and deliberately lowered his voice. "You should also know that the City Lord actually values commerce. She made her fortune selling soap. Plus, with such a large business now, there are countless places to spend money. She urgently needs to revitalize the economy and enrich the treasury."
Everyone was so fascinated by what they heard that they didn't even eat their food.
"You know Feng'er from the Ministry of Commerce, right? Miss Qi Er is probably looking for a position there soon. They're all old acquaintances of ours, so why not go talk to her about cooperation? Although cement is still a special supply product right now, and priority is given to road and bridge construction, the market will be opened up sooner or later. When the time comes, you can grab the business of building houses and raising money for road construction in the village, as long as you pay taxes to the city lord. You haven't forgotten Old Man Lin and Old Lady Luo who cooperated with the city lord to sell soap last year, right? They are now two of the richest families in Xingyuan Prefecture! You can imagine that if we do business with the city lord, he will definitely not treat us unfairly!"
Ming Xiaoshuang's words moved some people.
Yes, they really don’t like studying, and I’m afraid it will be difficult for them to pass the civil service examination. As for being a soldier, they have to charge into battle, so how can it be as fun as doing business?
Moreover, they all know the old members of the Xu family's government team. Who wouldn't give them some face when the time comes?
This seems to be a more enjoyable matter than pursuing a career in officialdom.
Ming Xiaoshuang stopped there, "I won't say much. You can think about it carefully. But now that we have this opportunity, you can't delay the intermediate class! You don't know how valuable this diploma is. It's probably your ticket to anything in the future. If you get tired of business, you can always take the civil service exam or something like that. So, no matter what, the most important thing right now is studying!"
Everyone believed this without a doubt.
But Da Niu had a bitter look on his face. His grades had always been in the middle to lower ranks. If the teacher hadn't noticed that he was close to the city lord, he would probably not have been able to graduate from the beginner class.
But I heard that the learning atmosphere in the army is even better than outside.
Daniu was in a state of confusion for a moment.
At this moment, Qiu Ju'niang was reporting to Xu Zhenying with a dozen students.
Those dozen or so students had only heard of Xu Zhenying's name and had never seen him in person, so they were all very nervous.
But there were also some brave ones who kept secretly glancing at her, as if trying hard to see clearly what she looked like.
She looked like an ordinary woman, but her aura was impossible to ignore. It was as if she was just sitting there, smiling, but the pressure was so great that people couldn't breathe.
Fortunately, Xu Zhenying did not exchange too many pleasantries. She looked very busy. Even at night, the entire government office was brightly lit and people were constantly coming and going.
They were outside holding their numbered cards and waited for half an hour before being called in.
"General Bai played a crucial role in this. It was his continued trust in our smallpox vaccine that allowed it to be widely promoted. Initially, General Zhao Yi didn't trust us and wouldn't let us enter the barracks, but they readily accepted the 5,000 cotton-padded jackets. The city lord's kindness helped us break the deadlock, and General Bai's constant lobbying, coupled with his being the first to receive the smallpox vaccine, ultimately led to the majority of the soldiers in the north receiving the vaccine. Our preliminary estimate that day was that there were approximately 300,000 soldiers in the northern camp, and approximately 180,000 of them had been vaccinated."
Xu Zhenying did not respond, but motioned Qiu Ju Niang to continue speaking.
"They loved the cotton-padded clothes and even kept asking us how to make them. But when they heard that cotton-padded clothes required large-scale kapok planting, they gave up the idea. Before we left, General Zhao asked if we could supply them with some cotton-padded clothes for next year. They were willing to do cotton business with us."
Xu Zhenying raised an eyebrow, then smiled and said, "I've already mentioned this to Feng'er. Cotton-padded clothes are something that can change the world. Next spring, Bao'an Prefecture and Xiangshui Prefecture will vigorously promote cotton planting. If cotton-padded clothes can be sold thoroughly, it will be a considerable income for both our national treasury and the people."
Qiu Ju Niang was deeply impressed. "The City Lord is truly foresighted. No wonder you went against everyone's wishes and insisted we take these 5,000 cotton-padded jackets as a token of your appreciation."
The other medical students also looked admiring.
As expected of the city lord, he really thinks far ahead.
As a result, the newly conquered Bao'an Prefecture and Xiangshui Prefecture had local specialty crops, which undoubtedly gave the people there a new way of making a living.
Then a brave male student asked, "May I ask the City Lord, why do we have to administer the cowpox vaccine to the soldiers in the north? They don't welcome us."
The people around him changed their expressions and hurriedly pulled the companion who was speaking, as if blaming him for his recklessness.
Who is the city lord?
It was a great blessing for them to be able to listen in when the city lord and the dean were speaking, so how could they have the right to speak!
Before Xu Zhenying could speak, another male student explained, "Although we are rebels, we also live on this land. If the Tartars were to take us, the people would suffer, and we would be implicated as well. So, from a broader perspective, we currently need to rely on the power of the Great Zhou Dynasty to stabilize the war situation in the north."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
