Chapter 67 Is He Sick?
Wei Shengxue and his group had not walked far when they saw the person waiting by the carriage. He was the manager of Shao Lan's mother's caravan.
He would come here and wait, it looked like the caravan had been settled.
"We're tired from the journey, why don't we rest here for a day or two? We can also take this opportunity to join in the fun of the Spring Farming Festival." Fusu pretended to ask for other people's opinions and winked at the guards beside him.
They were originally here to investigate farm tools, so participating in the Spring Ploughing Festival, which was originally an opportunity for fun, became a natural reason.
The caravan had a large number of people and was very wealthy, so they bought a yard here directly to avoid squeezing with others. However, there were too many people this time, so several people had to share one yard.
"Sorry, it was us who arranged it. We apologize for any inconvenience." Shao Lan came over to apologize as soon as she learned about this.
At that time, the nobles occupied a courtyard by themselves, and letting others squeeze into one courtyard was really too neglectful.
Wei Shengxue always meditated instead of sleeping, and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. She didn't mind, and it was even less likely for others to say anything, so the matter went smoothly.
When it was almost evening, the guard who had gone out to inquire about the news came back.
"The magistrate of Dong County is named Lu Jia, a native of Nanyang County. He is twenty-two years old and took office last year. Since taking office, he has been widely praised and has an excellent reputation in the local area. He is outstandingly capable. He is quick-witted and eloquent, and he is kind and tolerant. Whether he is a peddler or a runner, he speaks highly of him."
"During last year's Spring Ploughing Festival, he personally went into the fields to plow the land, which moved the onlookers to tears."
In short, this is a good official.
It’s just that the school of thought it belongs to is a bit vague. It has the benevolence and righteousness of Confucianism, the strictness of Legalism, and the clever debate of the famous scholars.
Fusu couldn't help but praise: "What a wonderful person."
"You must return to Xianyang immediately and review Lu Jia's files."
After giving his instructions, he explained to Wei Shengxue, "The Qin dynasty allows officials to be selected upon reaching adulthood. Lu Jia was appointed to the East County position last year, which means someone was campaigning for him right after he came of age. The person recommended by the court must be of high status. However, he is from Nanyang County, so his identity is sensitive, so we must be wary."
Where is Nanyang County? Chu State.
Qin conquered Chu only a few years ago. Judging from Lu Jia's age, he likely grew up in Chu and felt a stronger sense of belonging there. Yet, upon reaching adulthood, he was parachuted into the magistrate position of Dong County, a suburb of Xianyang...
This place is only a few dozen miles away from Xianyang, and you can go back and forth in a day by riding a fast horse.
…
As soon as Fusu sent someone back to review the official files, someone reported it to Ying Zheng.
He personally met with the guards and asked, "The magistrate of Dong County has made remarkable achievements since taking office. Why did Fusu find something wrong?"
The guards described in as much detail as possible how they found no one using the fairy plow while plowing the fields outside the city, and even what they saw and heard after entering the city.
Farming and warfare were the foundation of the Qin State. Now someone wanted to destroy one of the empire's legs. How could Ying Zheng not be angry?
Not only did he order people to get the files of the Dong County magistrate, he also found out who had recommended him in the first place. Coincidentally, it turned out to be Chunyu Yue.
Chunyu Yue was from Qi and had nothing to do with Chu. How did they get involved?
"Lu Jia is a descendant of King Xuan of Qi, and his family is well-connected with his elders. Seeing his considerable abilities, I recommended him for the position of magistrate of Dong County."
Chunyu Yue dared not bear the accusation of delaying the spring plowing, and hurriedly explained, "The Right Prime Minister also knows about this. He once tested Lu Jia's talent with me."
The right prime minister, Wei Zhuang, was a Chu native, so he could be related to her.
Ying Zheng had great trust in this confidant who had been assisting him since the time of King Qin. When he heard that he had seen everything, most of his doubts were dispelled.
When Wei Zhuang heard about this incident after arriving at Zhangtai Palace, he immediately stated: "I will personally go to Dongxian County and investigate this matter thoroughly."
Facing the loyal old minister, Ying Zheng even softened his tone: "Qing Wei is old, and as a small county magistrate, there is no need to go. Just send your chief secretary to do it."
The most important thing is that Ying Zheng also read the report from Dong County. The situation has improved significantly in the past two years, which shows Lu Jia's dedication to governance.
Fusu waited in Dong County for a day, and the guard came back with a chief secretary under the right prime minister.
As the Chief Secretary entered, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you. Your Majesty has ordered me to thoroughly investigate the farm implement issue."
As soon as Ying Zheng was mentioned, Fusu became nervous, "Father also knows?" Then he felt that this was nonsense. He ordered people to check the official files. How could the managers not report it?
"The magistrate of Dong County was recommended by Doctor Chunyu and transferred to the post after being examined by the right prime minister." The chief secretary explained the lawsuit clearly in just two sentences.
Ying Zheng even sent his men to investigate the person recommended by the Right Prime Minister, which shows that he was more inclined to believe that Lu Jia was the right person.
Fusu felt relieved, but he was not completely at ease yet. He just nodded and let the two of them go and rest first.
"Tomorrow is the Spring Ploughing Festival. Let's go investigate first."
…
It’s a lively festival that happens once a year. The streets become bustling as soon as the sun rises.
However, Weishengxue discovered that there were far fewer newsstand vendors in the city today, and even most of the pedestrians were going outside the city, and rarely stayed in the city.
Are there any activities outside the city?
"Tong'er, scan it."
The system hummed and grumbled, "It's the same if you just send out a divine thought, but you have to make me do it." Even so, it still activated the scanning function as instructed.
Wei Shengxue: "Isn't it easier to just talk than to do the work yourself?"
[The county magistrate I met yesterday is outside the city, and there are many curved plows.]
He was wearing a short brown suit, probably going to work in the fields.
The system broadcast the scene over there in my ears.
Wei Shengxue waved goodbye, changed into lighter clothes, and went to knock on Yang Zi and Shao Lan's doors.
"The county magistrate is going to hold a plowing ceremony outside the city. Do you want to go?"
Of course I will go.
Afterwards, he called Fusu, and the group followed with Wei Sheng Xue brushing the breath-concealing technique, blending into the crowd and following openly.
The most eye-catching person in the crowd was the county magistrate standing next to the ox. The ox was fully equipped with equipment, and they recognized it at a glance as a curved plow produced by the ironworks.
Since we have the farm tools, why don’t we distribute them?
Fusu suppressed his surging dissatisfaction and waited for the truth.
While he was thinking, the county magistrate had already started driving the oxen with the iron plow. As a mature traditional farming tool, the curved plow has incomparable advantages in arable land.
Lu Jia had obviously practiced a lot in private and was very familiar with the various functions of the curved plow. On this not-so-large experimental land, he demonstrated many functions such as adjusting the depth, breaking up and loosening the soil, and making ridges, which attracted bursts of joyful exclamations from the onlookers.
"Mr. County Magistrate, is this for us?" Someone couldn't contain his excitement and shouted loudly.
The young man following Lu Jia took two steps forward and stood on a nearby shelf. "Everyone, listen to me. This is a fairy plow bestowed upon your majesty by an immortal. We, your majesty, have gone through untold hardships to obtain thousands of these plows from Xianyang. Today, we will rent them to you on a per-person basis!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became heated.
The cheers that resounded through the sky lasted for a long time before gradually subsiding.
"Sir, can we buy back such sacred objects as these? Just like the iron hoe and sickle."
"Of course you can. The rental and purchase prices will be posted on the notice board at the entrance of the county government office later. Fellow villagers, if you find that any petty officials are raising the price privately, feel free to come to the county government office and find me. I will handle the matter for you!"
Because of working in the fields, Lu Jia's trouser legs and clothes were covered with mud, but in everyone's eyes, he seemed to be extremely shining, and even the rising sun covered him with a layer of golden clothes.
Everyone was cheering happily, but Fusu looked very unhappy.
If he really delayed spring plowing for selfish reasons, he deserves to be killed!
The Chief Secretary hid in the back and didn't dare to say a word, and cursed Lu Jia countless times in his heart.
——Winning people’s hearts is risking your life!
Even the Prime Minister is being dragged down by him!
I knew he loved fame, but I didn't know he was so bold. The thought that the Prime Minister might be reprimanded by His Majesty for this made the Chief Secretary's teeth itch with hatred.
Wei Shengxue was also speechless.
Before entering the city, she thought it was a huge conspiracy. Thanks to years of wandering in the sea of books and browsing major novel websites, her imagination was so open that she melted iron plows to make weapons and plotted a rebellion. It turned out that it was all for the sake of gaining a good reputation.
Xianyang was a suburb of the city, and he was at the feet of the emperor, yet he dared to step on the emperor to show off his reputation.
Those who recommended him would sit up in the middle of the night and curse: No, he must be sick!
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