Chapter 69: Could it be that the prefect of Anling County is exceptionally capable? ...
The delegation, led by Zhu Yunwei, soon met the legendary goddess at the Goddess's Palace.
He Qinglan nodded immediately after hearing their purpose, "I have no objection to the trade."
"You will discuss the specifics with the Administrative Office. Minister of Finance Yun Youning will be able to return to Anling within two days."
Zhu Yunwei was quite surprised to hear this. This goddess had actually given complete authority to her subordinates?
She's not afraid...
Cheng Hui didn't seem surprised at all and respectfully agreed.
What's the situation in Anling County?
The delegation left the Goddess's Palace, filled with curiosity.
He Qinglan sat motionless in the chair, looking at the map in her mind.
Anling County's current development is still insufficient. If it wants to take Jinzhou, it will need to develop for several more years.
But Hu Lin and Sun Yannan might not give them that opportunity.
Hu Lin had long coveted Anling and wanted to get rid of her, his biggest threat.
After being rejected, Sun Yannan also wanted to take Anling as soon as possible and control her through other means.
Sun Yannan and Lu Hong formed an alliance to destroy Luo Boyuan and divide Chaozhou among themselves.
There is a high probability that they will turn around and cooperate with Hu Lin, and then force their way to Anling.
Anling at present can withstand Hu Lin's Jinzhou army, but it cannot withstand the combined forces of Hu Lin and Sun Yannan.
Therefore, it is imperative to act before Chaozhou is captured...
He Qinglan seemed to be deep in thought.
Could you provide assistance to Chaozhou to help it hold out longer?
What are the chances that Ningzhou will be willing to send troops to provide support?
Could we provoke the northern court to take the opportunity to threaten Sun Yannan's Shengzhou?
There's a pretty good chance that Lu Hong betrayed Sun Yannan.
She frowned.
Of course, the most important thing is to strengthen our own capabilities.
Otherwise, no matter how cunning one is, one cannot protect Anling when surrounded by wolves.
With that in mind, He Qinglan decided to send a message to Hu Dazhu and Ning Huai'an.
After defeating the garrisons of Sifang County and Yuanxi County, if possible, we will take over Sifang County.
She wants to attack Jinzhou.
Naturally, they began by gradually encroaching on the surrounding prefectures and counties, eventually forming a siege around Jinzhou city.
Because the goddess said that Yun Youning would return within two days.
After discussing with the people in the administrative office, Cheng Hui decided to schedule the "exchange meeting" with the envoy from Ningzhou for three days later.
He relayed this opinion to Zhu Yunwei.
Zhu Yunwei had no objections; their delegation was there to discuss cooperation and wasn't in a hurry to return to Ningzhou.
Cheng Hui smiled kindly, "Then please take a tour of our Anling. Our library and East Market are both great places to visit, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them."
Zhu Yunwei asked, "May we take a look at Anling's workshops?"
That's pretty straightforward.
Cheng Hui's smile deepened. "I'm sorry, our workshop is not open to the public. If you would like to see the products from our various workshops, please visit our shops in the East Market."
Zhu Yunwei glanced at him; Cheng Hui's eyes were sincere and his smile friendly.
Although Zhu Yunwei didn't say anything more, she followed Cheng Hui to visit the administration building first.
When Zhu Youchuan found out, he laughed out loud, "You're not even pretending at all, are you?" You should at least pretend a little.
Zhu Yunwei really liked Anling's tea. He picked up a cup and slowly blew on it, saying, "Isn't it a reasonable request for us to buy and sell goods from you and visit the workshops where they are produced?"
Zhu Youchuan unfolded his fan and shook it. "Why wasn't your Zhu family's study open to me back then? We all share the surname Zhu."
Zhu Yunwei stopped discussing this topic.
He took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and looked intently at Zhu Youchuan.
He asked, "Why are you in Anling? With your talent and ambition, even if you hadn't chosen Sun Yannan, you would never have stayed in a prefecture."
Zhu Yunwei frowned slightly, "He Qinglan, what is it about her that attracts you?"
Zhu Youchuan replied solemnly, "Because only here with the goddess can I practice my way."
Zhu Yunwei looked at him with a complicated expression.
Zhu Youchuan shrugged. "It's not necessarily true that one has to reach a high position to be considered to have a high position. My current efforts, the process of combining my theories with practice, have already made my life worthwhile."
Even if the goddess is defeated in the future, my masterpieces and thoughts will remain, and my experiences and lessons will be passed on to future generations to provide guidance.
After entering Anling County, Pei Wenzhao and his disciples clearly felt that the official road here was wider and flatter than the official road in the previous county.
They stopped the carriage and got out to check.
The official road in front of us was clearly newly built, and it was almost twice as wide.
The road was also very smooth.
Not far ahead, there is a narrower fork in the road that winds its way down to a village built along the river.
However, the road is not yet fully completed. Dozens of feet away from the village, more than a hundred villagers are carrying hoes, shovels, baskets, and winnowing baskets, working enthusiastically to repair the road.
Pei Wenzhao stood on the official road, looking down.
The houses in the village were neatly built, with no dilapidated ones and all habitable.
Fruit trees were planted in front of and behind the houses, and some families also planted flowers and plants.
Fields and soil have been cleared around the village, planted with crops and vegetables, and tender green seedlings have already sprouted, swaying in the cold wind.
On some of the paddy field ridges, roosters peck at the ground, ducks swim around in the fields, and children graze cattle or sheep by the roadside.
Further away, there were barren, low hills. The villagers, with an inexplicable enthusiasm, planted trees on the barren hills.
The trees that have already sprouted, though their trunks are only as thick as an adult's thumb, are growing proudly upwards.
Deciduous trees shed their leaves, awaiting the coming spring. Evergreen trees, lush and green, stand tall and graceful, welcoming the cold winter.
This place is peaceful, harmonious, and full of vitality and hope.
Unlike many villages we've seen along the way, the villagers here are also quite different from those outside.
They seemed to be living not in a chaotic world, but in a peaceful and prosperous one.
Pei Wenzhao had deep-set eyes.
Could it be that this governor of Anling County is exceptionally capable?
After resting for a while, the group continued on their way with great curiosity.
At dusk, they passed through a county town called Fuping. Pei Wenzhao looked at the sky and decided to stay in town for the night. People needed to wash up and have a good meal, and so did the horses.
They set off again the following morning.
But as soon as they entered the city, they were stunned.
The road paved with blue bricks was very smooth, and osmanthus trees were planted at intervals on both sides of the road. There were no fallen leaves or garbage on the ground, and it was very clean.
The houses along the roadside were also built with blue bricks, red bricks, and wood, all in the same style, neat and beautiful.
The pedestrians on the street had healthy skin, and few were sallow and thin, which made them look different from the people in other places.
Although their clothes were made of ordinary material and had patches, their shirts and trousers were clean and tidy.
The people here all look very energetic.
Pei Wenzhao's disciples were even more astonished.
"Teacher, the people of Fuping County..." a disciple exclaimed in shock, "It seems the magistrate of this county is no ordinary person!"
Another disciple frowned. "Do you know who the local magistrate is?"
"How would I know? I don't even know who the governor of Anling County is."
"yes."
"If every county here could be like this..."
Pei Wenzhao interrupted, "Let's find an inn to stay in first."
The disciples replied, "Yes."
They parked their carriage by the roadside, intending to ask a local where there was an inn.
Just then, two young women walked past the carriage.
One was petite, the other tall; both wore short-sleeved shirts made of coarse knit fabric and carried several paper books in their arms.
The short girl said smugly, "I'm definitely going to be number one in this month's exam!"
The tall woman remained calm: "I might not lose."
Short girl: "Have you forgotten that you lost to me in the last autumn sports meet?"
The tall girl said, "Why don't you mention the midterm exam? Oh, I got first place in the midterm exam."
The two stopped, their murderous gazes meeting in a fierce exchange.
The tall woman raised an eyebrow: "Speaking of getting first place in exams, it doesn't really mean much. I want to take the exam for the administrative department in the future. Do you dare to compete with me?"
The short woman sneered, "Why wouldn't I dare? Don't think you can beat me; my eloquence is no worse than yours!"
The tall girl seemed thoughtful. "Where are you applying? Fuping County?"
The short woman thought for a moment and said, "If the goddess takes over Jinzhou in two years, she will surely recruit a large number of administrative personnel. I want to go to other counties to 'reclaim wasteland'."
The tall woman was surprised, "You actually thought the same thing as me?"
Short woman: "Of course, I'm not stupid."
Young people must achieve results if they want to get promoted.
The fastest way to achieve results is, of course, to go to the new land of Shu to "reclaim" and build.
Pei Wenzhao was no longer just surprised; his entire understanding of the world had been overturned.
Who is the goddess?
Girls in Fuping County can actually go to school?
How could a young woman from Fuping County become an official through an examination?
Is the goddess going to take Jinzhou?
What is "reclaiming wasteland"?
Pei Wenzhao gestured to his third disciple, who then got off the carriage and called out to the two young ladies.
"My name is Mu Jun. My teacher is Pei Wenzhao, the Duke of Qingzhou. He wishes to travel to Anling County. May I ask to meet you two ladies?"
Xie Yingshi and Su Yue were initially curious, then exchanged a glance.
Xie Yingshi: "Pei Wenzhao of Qingzhou?"
Su Yue: "I've heard Confucius mention him; he's a famous figure from the Legalist school."
Speaking of Legalism, Xie Ying suddenly realized something and asked Mu Jun with great interest, "Did your teacher go to argue with Minister Zhu Youchuan... oh no, to discuss the Dao?"
Mu Jun: "..."
Xie Yingshi: "Let's go, let's go, we want to see your teacher."
Pei Wenzhao was a very charismatic and handsome old man, and he introduced himself in a gentle manner.
Xie Yingshi and Su Yue greeted him. "We are students from Wenfeng Academy in Fuping County. My name is Xie Yingshi, and her name is Su Yue."
Su Yue asked, "Would you like to learn about Anling County before you come here?"
Pei Wenzhao's gaze swept over their books, and he smiled kindly, "Is it convenient for you two?"
Su Yue and Xie Yingshi exchanged a glance. "Okay."
"We've just finished our exams."
Where would you like to talk to us?
Pei Wenzhao said, "We originally planned to find an inn to stay in. Do you two have any recommendations? Let's find an inn and chat over tea."
Xie Ying thought for a moment, "Then let's go to the market. The inn there is the largest in the county, and the innkeepers can even hoof your horses for free."
Pei Wenzhao and others: "?"
One of the disciples asked curiously, "What is a horseshoe?"
Su Yue pointed to the horse pulling the carriage, "Putting iron shoes on its four hooves can slow down the wear and tear on the hooves."
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Author's Note: I'm having a terrible writer's block; this chapter took me almost five hours to write.
I've revised the outline. [Cracking emoji] [Cracking emoji] [Cracking emoji]
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