Zheng Gaoyi couldn't help but sneer: "Gentlemen, if I remember correctly, when the idea of revitalizing Tianxiang County was first proposed, you were the most opposed. Now that the county seat has been built, you're just here to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Seeing that Zheng Gaoyi had changed his attitude, one of the young officials who had been silent until now finally spoke up: "Lord Zheng, that's not what we meant. Please calm down. We were indeed rash in this matter. Let's go back first and discuss it further later."
As soon as the person left, Song Ning couldn't help but curse out loud: "Lord Zheng, are all the officials in the court like this? Last time it was the Ministry of Works, and this time it's the Ministry of Revenue. Are there not a few normal people among them?"
With such high-ranking officials in the court, it's no wonder the Jin Dynasty was doomed.
"Don't be angry. It's not all like that. The one who spoke just now was not bad."
The man hadn't said much since he arrived; instead, he had been observing. That was the second thing he had said since he came here.
I heard that one of the people who came was a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a high-ranking official of the third rank.
The rest were all from various departments and bureaus, which she didn't understand.
The people all knew that a high-ranking official had come from the county to inquire about the cotton fields.
After this year's cotton harvest, Song Ning said that next year, more than half of the land in the entire county would be used to grow cotton, and the more cotton planted, the better.
This is a very profitable business.
Everyone is looking forward to next spring so they can start growing cotton and making money.
But when several high-ranking officials arrived and immediately said they wanted to take away their land in Tianxiang County, how could they remain calm?
As soon as Song Ning returned, a large group of people surrounded him.
"Er Ya, how's it going? Can we keep our land?"
"Are those officials really going to take our land away? If they do, how will we farm? What will we eat?"
Everyone was anxious, as they had never heard of any county having its land taken back.
Song Ning has not yet reached a conclusion. Even if this is Xie Linzhou's territory, Zheng Gaoyi is not someone who can be easily fooled. But those people are, after all, imperial envoys. Who would dare to offend them?
That's a capital offense.
"Everyone, don't worry, the magistrate will find a way. Let's wait a little longer."
No sooner had Song Ning finished speaking than a voice came from not far away: "Miss Song."
Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw it was the young official from before.
Dressed in official robes and wearing a gauze hat, he walked towards them with a smile.
When the people around saw that it was an official from the capital, their expressions changed, and they immediately lost their friendly demeanor.
Some people even muttered a few curses under their breath.
Although this person seems to have a good temper, it is unacceptable to insult officials of the imperial court.
"Alright, everyone, let's go back first. We can talk about this another day."
Upon hearing this, the crowd glared at him and then dispersed.
"Sir, is there something you need?"
Xia Shiyang smiled and said, "May I have a chat with Miss Song?"
Song Ning very politely invited them in and served them tea and refreshments.
"What would you like to discuss, sir?"
Xia Shiyang smiled warmly: "My surname is Xia, and I am currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I have come today to talk to you about cotton cultivation."
Song Ning was slightly surprised, not expecting the Vice Minister of Revenue to be so young.
He hadn't said a word, and she had always assumed that he was just there to make up the numbers.
"In that case, Lord Xia, please speak your mind."
Xia Shiyang chuckled; the person Ying Huai had taken a liking to was indeed extraordinary.
When most people hear his title, their first reaction is to stand up and bow. This young girl is quite bold.
"I heard from Lord Zheng that Miss Song is in charge of the cotton fields, so I would like to ask how Miss Song plans to use these cotton plants in the future?"
"Naturally, we should sell the cotton."
Upon hearing this, a look of understanding appeared in Xia Shiyang's eyes.
Sure enough, what could a young girl possibly know?
"Lord Xia probably doesn't know this yet, does he? I run a clothing workshop that makes cotton-padded clothes and quilts for the surrounding military camps."
This year, my field yielded hundreds of thousands of kilograms of cotton. All of this cotton was first used by the military, and the rest was sold to the people.
In addition, cotton can be used to make clothes, cottonseed can be pressed for oil, and cotton stalks can be used to make wood ash. These are all useful. I won't list the rest. If Lord Xia is interested, you are welcome to come often in the future.
Song Ning maintained a polite smile, as if she knew what he was thinking. At a glance, Xia Shiyang felt as if she could see right through him.
He took a small sip of tea, his expression brightening; this tea was different from the one he usually drank.
And these pastries, he had never seen before.
When Xia Shiyang arrived in Tianxiang County yesterday, he was stunned by the scene as soon as he entered the city gate.
This place looks completely different from other county towns.
The street was lined with shops, and you could tell from the accents of the people there that they weren't from the same place.
Moreover, everyone here is very orderly, and people wearing orange clothes pass by on the street from time to time, as if they are patrolling.
If someone litters on the street, they will be condemned by those around them and ordered to pick it up and throw it into that strange-looking bin on the side of the street.
Moreover, everyone selling food had their heads completely covered. He asked them, and they said Er Ya had told them it was for hygiene.
On the day he arrived, he bought a convenient snack at Xiangyunlou, something he had never seen before in the capital.
He had heard snippets of information about Song Ning from Ying Huai's words, and he was really curious about him.
"Then tell me, how can Tianxiang County attract more people in the future?"
Was this a test for her? But she wasn't fooled.
"Shouldn't this be something that a pillar of the court like Lord Xia should be concerned with? I am just a commoner. Lord Xia should ask the county magistrate about this."
Song Ning maintained a smile throughout. "Little brat, trying to trick me into revealing anything?"
Do you really think she's a thirteen-year-old?
Besides, people in this era mature early. Even if she really is thirteen, shouldn't you be peeking at her through such a narrow window? Do you really think she can't tell?
Xia Shiyang was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Song Ning: ...You're crazy.
“Miss Song, it’s just the two of us today, so you can be more honest with me.” Xia Shiyang’s tone was noticeably different when he spoke to her.
"Alright, since Lord Xia has said so, I'll just say it directly."
"The cotton in Tianxiang County was grown by me, and only I can grow it. If you insist on taking it over to your Ministry of Revenue, I'm sorry, cotton is what the people of Tianxiang County rely on for their livelihood, and I will not help you."
Xia Shiyang said calmly, "As a citizen of the Jin Dynasty, if Miss Song disobeys His Majesty's orders, it would be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and might even lead to her death."
Song Ning shrugged: "It doesn't matter, we can kill them if we want... But Lord Xia, are you sure your current story is authorized by His Majesty the Emperor?"
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