Chapter 287 Natives Migrate West
Feng'er just felt disgusted!
She suddenly didn't know why she had made this trip today.
Is it to make the former enemy kneel down and beg for mercy?
Is it to prove to those who once looked down on you that you are living a good life now?
Or do you want to give an explanation to your past self?
Looking at the master of the Qian family who was trying hard to please her, Feng'er suddenly felt that she was really like a villain who had achieved success for a while.
What did the city lord do when faced with someone who had insulted him?
Her world is so big that it seems there is never any room for those bad things.
Xu Deyuan once despised her, but eventually died suddenly.
The second branch looked down on her, but now all the members of the second branch are servile and follow her.
The city lord never seems to be trapped by these villains. No matter how strong he is, the breeze blows over the hills, and the one who laughs last is the real strong one.
In the eyes of the city lord, there is only the general situation of the world and the people's livelihood.
She is the true hero.
At this moment, Feng'er seemed to have let go, as if she was slowly reconciling with herself in her heart.
She has become very strong now, so strong that she doesn't need to prove her strength to anyone.
The person who worked as a slave in the Qian family was her.
She is the one who is timid, cautious, conservative and bullies.
Now she is the one who is strong and confident.
The Feng'er of the past will not die or disappear, but will only turn into steel and iron and become a stronger her!
Gradually, she didn't find the Qian couple so disgusting anymore.
At this moment, Feng'er seemed to have reconciled with her former self.
She looked down at the Qian couple and said, "You accepted huge bribes without Qian Zhenniang's knowledge. The evidence is irrefutable and the verdict will be soon. Get ready to spend the rest of your life digging in the mines."
Mrs. Qian almost fainted, and Mr. Qian was also shocked. The two of them cried and cursed, but Feng'er stood up and turned a deaf ear to their curses.
Then she walked over to the yamen runner and said with a smile, "I haven't violated any rules. You still need to sign before you leave, right? Here's the booklet. I'll sign it."
The bailiff looked a little confused.
He originally thought that a woman of such high status and power as Miss Feng'er, who came to visit the prison late at night, must be either her relative or her enemy.
Judging from the situation just now, the two families must be enemies.
But Miss Feng'er didn't even say anything. Was she going to teach the Qian couple a lesson? She just left like that?
It was difficult for him to feel his heart pounding, and he even thought of countless possible situations. He was even torn between his conscience and his conscience. If Miss Feng'er proposed something beyond his responsibility, what should he do?
In the end, he just waved his sleeves and left without even giving me a glance.
For some reason, Feng'er left with a brisk pace.
She set such a big trap for the Qian couple. According to the laws of Jinzhou Prefecture, if they embezzled such a large amount of money, the Qian couple would have no hope of turning their lives around in this life. They might even have to work as hard laborers in the mines for the rest of their lives.
The Qian couple knew that she and Zhenniang had become such high-ranking officials, and were about to enjoy wealth and glory, but they couldn't get any benefits or advantages at all. This was more painful than killing the couple.
Does Feng'er still need to kick someone when he's down?
Now she is in a high position with great power. With just a look or a gesture, she can tell who she likes and who she dislikes, and those with good eyesight will naturally help her do it.
Just like the big guy this time.
After the Qian couple were sent to the mines, they were afraid that they would never have a good life in this life, not to mention that her subordinates would take advantage of the situation and help her step on them.
This is what power feels like.
Feng'er now understood why sometimes when the city lord wanted to punish someone, he didn't need to explain or throw him into jail.
She just needs to ignore this person, and someone else will take care of the rest.
Although Jinzhou Prefecture is different from the Great Zhou Dynasty, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and the place where she is is still surrounded by wolves.
Some people in Jinzhou Prefecture are happy while others are sad.
The Qian couple set off crying and wailing, cursing Qian Zhenniang and Feng'er all the time. On the day they left the city, they cursed so hard that the sky fell and the earth cracked, and everyone knew about it.
However, this also indirectly cleared Qian Zhenniang of the suspicion of bribery.
When people mentioned this matter, they would only scold Qian Zhenniang's uncle and aunt, and sigh that Qian Zhenniang was pitiful.
Zhao Qiaonian and Qi Er both looked happy.
Because both of them passed the civil servant assessment and entered the reserve force recommended by the Xu family team.
This year, the civil servant assessment system was reformed, and each minister had one quota for official appointment. As long as they were not relatives or had any vested interests with the candidates, they could be recommended for official appointment. They did not have to choose a position based on their grades like other candidates.
This future is bright and visible.
The two men who had been fighting for half a year had already developed different revolutionary feelings during the preparation and waiting. Therefore, on the day the results were announced, the two men met early in the teahouse closest to the government office with the best view.
When they saw each other, they found that each other's faces were beaming, and then they said at the same time: "Did you pass the exam?"
The two smiled at each other.
"We've worked so hard for so long, and we've finally lived up to everyone's expectations." Qi Er patted Zhao Qiaonian's shoulder with a smile, "Congratulations, Brother Zhao. We'll be colleagues from now on."
Zhao Qiaonian smiled meaningfully, "I heard that the city lord talked to you last night?"
Qi Er was stunned. "Brother Zhao is really sharp-eyed. You don't have spies in the government office, do you?"
"The guards at the government office are like iron barrels. How can I place spies there? Second sister Qi, you think too highly of me, don't you?" Zhao Qiaonian smiled slightly, but there was a hint of high spirits in his eyes.
The teahouse was crowded with many students waiting for their results, chattering about their scores and rankings.
Zhao Qiaonian had no choice but to lower his voice and said, "To be honest, this matter was leaked by the city lord."
Qi Er immediately grasped the key point of Zhao Qiaonian's words, "Did the city lord also summon you alone?"
Zhao Qiaonian seemed to have swept away the depression he had felt in the past few months, and a look of pride was hard to conceal. "Not bad. The City Lord is a man of loyalty and righteousness. He will never forget the brothers who made their first fortune together!"
Qi Er's face lit up immediately. "Tell me quickly, what did the City Lord arrange for you? A personal summons from the City Lord is a big deal. He must have reserved a good position for Brother Zhao, right?"
Zhao Qiaonian wasn't a talkative person, but since he and Qi Er were comrades in the same trench, he naturally didn't want to hide it: "Didn't the Minister of Supervision... just die?"
Qi Er's eyes widened, and then he gasped, "Minister of the Procuratorate?"
Zhao Qiaonian quickly made a gesture to silence the crowd, "Don't make any noise for now."
"I know, I know." Qi Er seemed excited as well. "Brother Zhao, I'm really happy for you. The position of the Chief Prosecutor is a high and powerful one, with the authority to supervise all officials. Moreover, the City Lord is directly in charge, and all matters must be reported directly to the City Lord. He is above all other departments! This shows that the City Lord trusts you!"
Qi Er has always been tactful in his dealings with others. Even though he suddenly heard that Zhao Qiaonian was in a high position, he felt jealous, envious, and flattering in his heart, but he was able to speak without any loopholes.
Zhao Qiao Nian was in such a critical position that Qi Er almost immediately thought that he must have a good relationship with Zhao Qiao Nian in the future!
"All of this power was given by the City Lord. The City Lord trusts me, so naturally I must serve the City Lord wholeheartedly. This matter has not yet been officially implemented, so just you and I need to know."
It has to be said that Zhao Qiaonian has become more cautious.
In the more than half a year since he returned to Xu Zhenying's side, he has worked hard to study in the training class, witnessed the departure of his brothers, and endured this long wait. Now that the dust has settled today, how can he not be happy?
But Zhao Qiaonian is no longer the squad leader he used to be.
He only revealed this little bit in front of Qi Er.
He has been thinking about the city lord's words today. Xu Zhenying will not reveal anything easily. Whatever she says or does, people cannot help but think deeply.
Before leaving, Xu Zhenying asked him to look into the mess left by Hu Wei, saying that although death is like the extinguishing of a light, she always felt that Hu Wei had not done a good job of supervision, and asked him to be cautious during the handover.
This forced Zhao Qiaonian to toss and turn for the whole night.
With Zhao Qiaonian's keen political sense, he always felt that there was something strange about Hu Wei's death.
Was Xu Zhenying’s words last night a warning or an instruction?
Zhao Qiaonian didn't expect that he would have to start guessing the thoughts of his superiors before he even took office.
"The city lord asked you to come over. I guess he has arranged something for you, right?"
Qi Er also smiled and said, "Since Brother Zhao has been so open with me, I won't hide it from you. The City Lord called me over last night, intending for me to take over Feng Er's position. Who knows, in the future, the Ministry of Commerce's affairs may fall solely on my shoulders!"
Zhao Qiaonian raised his eyebrows, "What about Feng'er?"
"I heard that he and Master Xu were going north."
"Northward?"
Qi Er made a gesture to silence the others. "This matter is still a secret, and only a few people know about it. I think our forces are needed in the north as well. The city lord must be making arrangements in advance."
Zhao Qiaonian couldn't help but sigh, "The City Lord is truly a man who thinks ten steps ahead. I see Jinzhou Prefecture is governed in perfect order by the City Lord, and the people are living and working in peace and contentment. Who knows, maybe one day the world will truly have a new master!"
Qi Er remained silent, as if lost in thought.
Many major events have taken place in Jinzhou Prefecture in recent days. First, the civil servant assessment has kept the people busy for a while. Then Xu Zhenying was crowned king and proclaimed himself King Zhao. Jinzhou Prefecture was temporarily made the capital, and the economic and cultural centers were concentrated in the Jinzhou Prefecture area.
Xu Zhenying didn't hold a grand Fengshan ceremony; he simply posted a notice to inform the public. All his subordinates were promoted one level higher, forming the initial prototype of a four-tier government: central government, prefectural capital, county seat, and village and town.
The officials looked delighted and were obviously more motivated.
Although the above meant to keep everything simple, the common people below celebrated on their own.
During this period, the streets of Jinzhou Prefecture were filled with joy. Many people put up red elephants of King Zhao, changed their clothes to red flags, or tied up red silk, making it look like a vast red ocean.
They were happy for the city lord and for themselves.
If he has already become a king, how far will it take for him to become an emperor?
The southwest region was naturally filled with joy, including the natives as far away as Qianzhou.
They vied with each other to praise King Zhao's merits, and some even made wooden carvings of Xu Zhenying and enshrined them at home.
Ever since Xu Zhenying came to Qianzhou, their lives have been getting better and better. They used to live a life of slash-and-burn agriculture, but now every household has a house built, there is a road in the village, and by the end of the year they can even make one or two pieces of jewelry. These happy days are all brought by King Zhao!
The natives sang and danced, and brought out good wine and delicious food, as if they were celebrating the New Year.
The ice between the Han and the natives had already been broken, and they even invited many local Han people to watch their singing and dancing celebrations, creating a joyous atmosphere.
In the government office, Xu Yinxi summoned all the indigenous representatives to attend the meeting. The meeting was very grand. Not only were chieftains, elders, and priests of various ethnic groups invited, but even indigenous students studying in Qianzhou Prefecture were also invited.
Unlike the celebratory atmosphere outside, everyone at this moment had a solemn look on their faces, some were lost in thought, some looked disapproving, and some were talking loudly. For a moment, the noises in the entire government office were getting louder and louder.
Xu Yinxi was a little thirsty from talking, so she asked her secretary to refill tea and water for everyone. She also drank a glass of water in a hurry to relieve the dryness.
The moment she put down her teacup, she raised her voice and said, "I think we should put this matter on hold for now. You can take the news back and get everyone's opinions. Some people are willing to stay, and there are definitely people who want to leave. For those who are willing to move west, we have many favorable policies to support them. There are vast plains over there. Whether you are farming or doing business, it will be much more convenient than in the mountains. It all depends on whether you have the courage to move!"
"This isn't a question of courage. We've lived in the mountains for generations, and our whole family is used to it. They suddenly asked us to move to the west where we know nothing, especially since that was once the territory of the King of Zhoushan, and there's a plague there!"
"Don't be afraid of the plague. You've all been vaccinated against smallpox. According to the battle report sent back by General Liu and his men, no one in the vanguard was infected with smallpox, proving the effectiveness of the medical school's vaccine! As for whose territory it is, you're kidding. His Highness Prince Zhao's strength is evident to all. Even though that place has already been conquered by us, it's ours. Who knows, maybe in the future, Prince Zhoushan's territory will also be entirely ours!"
"But it's hard to leave our homeland... We've lived in the mountains for hundreds of years..."
"Habits can be changed. What's so nostalgic about life in the mountains? Water, farming, transportation, and development are all inconvenient. You can't even begin to appreciate it now, because the mountainous terrain is complex and the cost of building cement roads is even higher. Your Highness now owns eight prefectures. Just wait and see, cement roads will soon be built in each prefecture, and transportation everywhere will become very convenient. Only in Qianzhou, there are many mountains, many roads, frequent rains, floods, and mudslides! When that happens, transportation construction will definitely be the slowest and the most expensive! Wait a few years, and you'll find that Qianzhou has become the slowest-growing prefecture again! Why haven't your lives changed much in hundreds of years? It's because this place is not good! If the place is not good, we can move! Move to a place with beautiful scenery, a good climate, and a plain, and everyone can still live together. Isn't that good?!"
Xu Yinxi felt like she was repeating what she had just said in the meeting. She spoke until her mouth was dry and her voice was hoarse by the end.
"Master, the main thing is, we haven't been to the west yet! Not only do we have no idea what it's like, but we have to walk nearly a thousand miles!"
"Didn't I just tell you? You don't have to worry about logistics. Your Highness's letter has been distributed to all the counties along the way. Every county will provide logistical support. This long-distance migration will involve boats and special carriages, so it should only take three or four months at the fastest. Once you arrive, someone will immediately meet you and arrange everything. Besides, when you go there, both men and women will receive five acres of land for free, with no taxes for the first year. You can grow as much as you want and eat as much as you want. This is simply pie in the sky!"
"That's what we say, but who knows what the situation will be like on the road? Who knows if there will be anyone to pick us up? What if we get there and there's nothing there?"
"How could it be! That's His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's territory, and all the officials have passed the assessment. Who would dare to disobey His Royal Highness Prince Zhao? If you see such a person, report him and he will be punished!" Xu Yinxi's voice was hoarse, but her eyes were bright. "It's because His Royal Highness Prince Zhao really cares about you that he gave you all the details in advance. The shortage of people in the west will soon spread far and wide. In the future, whether it's our territory, the Great Zhou Dynasty, the King of Zhoushan, or the Prince of Ming, everyone can settle in the west. If you go too late, all the good farmland will be taken!"
As expected, competition brings pressure. Everyone was frightened and their faces changed. "Why is there an outsider eyeing that piece of land?"
"So many people have died from the plague in the west. Your Highness must find a way to fill the population gap of hundreds of thousands. Otherwise, why would we bother taking down a few empty cities? These cities are vibrant because of the people. If they're deserted for a long time, the land will become barren and the roads will become useless. What's the point of attacking them?"
No one could refute this statement.
"I understand your concerns. They're simply that you're afraid that once you get there, you'll be unfamiliar with the place and your lives will be drastically changed. But we must view this change dialectically. If it's a good change, why not? You Miao, Dong, and Aboriginal people have lived in the mountains for generations, and it's time for you to move down. Migrating west is certainly troublesome, but that's only for the first two years. It's not like you haven't dealt with His Highness or me, Xu Yinxi. After all, our two families have long been brothers and relatives, so I might as well be honest with you."
Everyone looked at her.
"I understand your concerns. First, you're simply afraid of being in an unfamiliar place. I've already explained the solution to this problem, so I won't repeat it. Second, you natives are used to sticking together. You're worried that if you go there, your power will be dispersed, and you won't be able to gain a foothold among the Han people, and you'll be bullied like before, right?"
These words really touched the hearts of the natives.
Yes, after crossing the Wujiang River, Qianzhou Prefecture is almost entirely inhabited by natives. If there's trouble in any village, just shout, and everyone in the village will rush over with their weapons.
It was because of their spirit of unity that the natives were able to repel the attacks of the Zhou Dynasty many times and barely survive in the mountains and forests.
This is also the reason why they have stood for hundreds of years.
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