Chapter 511 Voting Rights
Since Lu Songli has decided to let the people of Youzhou decide the stay or departure of these officials stranded in Youzhou, he will implement it step by step.
Lu Songli knew that the literacy rate of the common people was not high, so the election and public announcement should be as simple as possible.
Lu Songli had a batch of hard-shell paper cards made, on which were written the names of officials from the twelve counties of Yuyang County, but they were classified by region.
For example, in Lu County, two officials stayed behind: Zhang Yong and Shen Kun. Their names were written on the paper cards, followed by a check mark and a cross.
The people of Lu County only need to press their fingerprints on the checked and crossed areas to decide whether the official stays or leaves.
Lü Songli directly assigned a group of grassroots officials from Pingzhou to oversee this matter, and then had Qin Yan, the second brother of Qin, arrange for military assistance. This would ensure the authenticity of the election, ensuring that the people were acting voluntarily and not under duress. Secondly, it would also allow for a thorough investigation of the grassroots level in Youzhou.
Ning Changge and Zhou Jing were responsible for the investigation in Lu County.
The two men came to Silver Tree Village with four or five helpers and a small group of soldiers.
With the cooperation of the village chief, people from every household gathered in front of the ancestral hall.
Zhou Jing and other students distributed hard-cover cardboard cards to every household in Yinshu Village, one card per household.
The farmers were at a loss when they received the cardboard cards that belonged to them.
Several boys reached out curiously and touched the paper card. It was hard, like paper, but even harder than paper.
They thought that Liaodong County in Pingzhou could always come up with new things.
After the distribution was completed, Ning Changge began to speak, "Did everyone get their own paper cards?"
"I got it."
"I got it."
Ning Changge didn't get annoyed by the scattered responses. Instead, he picked up a cardboard and explained, "Look everyone, the first name on this card is Zhang Yong, County Lieutenant Zhang. The second name, the one below, is Shen Kun, County Magistrate Shen. If you think County Lieutenant Zhang Yong has done a good job in his tenure over the years, please put your fingerprint where you ticked it."
Ning Changge paused while speaking.
The villagers thought to themselves, what the hell!
"If you think he's not doing a good enough job and don't want him to continue serving as an official in Lu County, just press your fingerprint where the cross is at the back. It's very simple. Do you understand?"
The village chief looked at the villagers who were talking like gourds and couldn't help but say, "I'm asking you, do you understand? At least say something."
Some villagers bravely answered, "Sir, it's so simple, we all understand it." They are just illiterate, not stupid.
"Okay, then you can go back with the cardboard and discuss which one you want to choose."
"Sir, is it necessary to fill it out?" a villager asked hesitantly.
"It's not compulsory. You can also leave it blank and waive your right to choose, but you have to think carefully. Do you see this tent? If you don't have ink at home, you can take your card inside and stamp it, then hand it back to us."
"It's Si hour now. We'll be collecting the cardboard cards here at 15:25. Our soldiers will be patrolling the village during this time. If all is well, please return."
Some villagers went home one after another, but there were still many villagers gathered on the dam. This was really rare and they were eager to join in the fun.
Ning Changge didn't care about them. Their people were packing up and preparing to rush to the next village.
Before leaving, Ning Changge said to Zhou Jing, "Is it okay for the two of you to stay in Silver Tree Village?"
Zhou Jing: "Don't worry, we still have Captain Zhang and his team members here."
"Okay. If you have any problems, send someone to find me in the next village." Ning Changge was not the kind of person who would complain a lot.
At this time, a boy from Yinshu Village asked curiously, "Master Ning, are you going to the neighboring Liujia Village?"
"Yes."
"How about I lead the way for you?"
"That's great, thank you for your help, little brother."
"No trouble, no trouble."
After Ning Changge and others left, Zhou Jing had a stomachache, so he told his classmates and went to find a place to get rid of it.
He knocked on a door and an old lady opened it.
He asked politely, "Auntie, I need to go to the bathroom for a while. Can I borrow your precious space?"
"Sure, sure." Aunt Zhang recognized that he was with the adult who handed out the cards.
She thought to herself, just borrow the toilet, why talk about it being a precious place? Scholars always speak in flowery language.
After Zhou Jing had finished his work and was tying his belt, he heard footsteps coming from the side of the toilet. He thought someone was passing by, but the footsteps stopped and then voices started to sound.
First, an old man's voice said, "Ayuan, don't be impulsive."
Then came a duck-like voice in the process of voice change, "Second Uncle, no matter what, this time I will press the cross behind Zhang Yong."
Finally, a clear young man's voice said, "Ayuan, you don't think you can bring down Master Zhang this way, do you?"
The fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy said stubbornly, "I don't know what the final result will be, but I think this is an opportunity and I should give it a try."
"You are so delusional. Have you ever thought that if Yan Zhonglei finds out about your actions, you will not only harm your family, but you will also implicate us!"
Zhou Jing knew that the Yan Zhonglei they mentioned was the village tyrant of Ginkgo Village.
Zhang Xuyuan, the young man with a droopy voice, insisted, "Lord Ning was very thoughtful just now. I can go into the tent and write the answer down. No one will know."
Zhang Xuyuan's cousin still disagreed.
Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, Zhou Jing coughed twice to show his presence.
This really scared the Zhang family, "Who?"
Zhou Jing pushed the door open and walked out. "It's me, I'm borrowing the toilet."
Seeing Zhou Jing, the Zhang family father and son were obviously relieved. They recognized that the person who had been following Lord Ning just now seemed to be his deputy.
But the situation at this moment is very embarrassing.
Zhou Jing smiled and patted Zhang Xuyuan on the shoulder, "You are so brave, little brother." He said this without hiding the fact that he had heard their conversation.
Zhang Xuyuan looked at him in surprise.
Zhou Jing couldn't help but speak up for him, "Uncle, I think you and your son should try to trust this little brother and also try to trust our new policy."
Old man Zhang moved his mouth, but in the end he couldn't say anything.
Zhang Xuyuan's cousin disagreed.
Zhou Jing said to him, "Brother, you can choose to remain silent, but please don't mock or even slander those who are braver than you, such as your cousin, because the light they have fought for may one day shine upon you."
This sentence is simple yet full of philosophy. I didn’t understand it at first, but after chewing on it a few more times, I began to understand it vaguely.
Zhang Xuyuan's cousin hesitated.
After Zhou Jing finished speaking, he nodded to them and left.
Zhang Xuyuan looked at the other party's departing backs with shining eyes, with only one thought in his mind, he wanted to join them.
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