The troop-pleasing activities began in Hexi.
After the great victory in Hexi, the garrison at Yanmen Pass helped build the new city. To improve relations between the military and the people, Xu Rao would organize the people of Hexi to deliver things to Yanmen Pass during festivals, such as food and drink. Sometimes he would also organize some elderly women to help wash and dismantle bedding. Over time, the government no longer needed to organize it. At first, it was some wealthy local households, but later some ordinary people also joined in.
The benefit of doing this is that the relationship between the military and the people is exceptionally harmonious. As the city behind Yanmen Pass, Hexi has given Yanmen Pass the greatest support. After Xu Rao left, Li Yuexi's father took over as the magistrate of Hexi County and has maintained this tradition for many years. This tradition continues to this day.
Zheng Yuanyuan had lived in Hexi for several years, so she naturally knew about the matter of rewarding the troops. The next day, she got up early, took out the silver notes she had brought with her, and began to think about what she should buy.
Chen Zhaoci bought a lot of rice and flour and instructed the kitchen to make more food that could be stored for a long time. Many of the soldiers who came from Yuezhou were from the south and were not used to the northern noodles when they first arrived. However, rice was a precious commodity in the north, so Chen Zhaoci had to go to great lengths to get a rice shop on the street to bring over a batch of rice from elsewhere.
Everyone was doing their best to prepare the things to be sent to the barracks on New Year's Eve, while Xu Di was now paying attention to what things the locals in Penglai would send over.
The two richest people in Penglai County were a landlord surnamed Zhou and a dye shop owner surnamed Chen.
These two people don't usually stay in their old house in Penglai County. Instead, they live in other places. However, they always come back at the end of the year because important events like worshipping the heavens and ancestors are held in their ancestral home.
These two men were contacted by Magistrate Qian. It was said that the previous Magistrate Li had a close relationship with them. However, after Magistrate Li was escorted to the capital, these two men remained silent. Even after Xu Di took office, they did not return. It was not that Xu Di wanted to show off his official power in front of them, but he had heard that these two men were very close to that Magistrate Li. He wondered if they had some kind of conflict of interest behind the scenes. If they did, even if Xu Di did not take action against them, the imperial court would probably send someone to deal with them.
Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. Many of the county officials have already gone home to prepare for the New Year. Xu Di, however, has been staying at the county office. Yuan, the county magistrate, lives in Jiangnan, which is far from home, so he usually doesn't go there for holidays.
It was snowing again outside. Xu Di lit a brazier in the back office, with a few sweet potatoes in it. He sat next to the brazier with a book in his hand, reading.
At this moment, Magistrate Yuan entered from outside, wearing a straw hat and a raincoat, the straw hat covered with snow.
County Magistrate Yuan stood at the door, took off his raincoat, and shook his straw hat vigorously outside the door before entering. He said with a smile, "So, Lord Xu was enjoying some leisure time here."
Xu Di stood up and said with a smile, "It's not about avoiding any leisure. In this weather, isn't everyone staying indoors?"
Yuan, the county magistrate, took a small stool, sat by the brazier, warmed his hands with the fire, and said, "I just went to the Chen family. The head of the Chen family just returned last night."
Xu Di nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Magistrate Yuan."
Magistrate Yuan waved his hand and said, "It's nothing hard, Lord Xu. Is there a purpose in sending people to visit the troops outside the city this time?"
Xu Di paused for a moment, his mind racing, and he understood somewhat. He smiled and said, "County Magistrate Yuan, I don't have any ulterior motives. If I had to name one, it would be to make the garrison on the coast outside the city as close as family to the people of our county. That way, if the Japanese pirates land, they can fight them to the death as if protecting their own family."
Yuan, the county magistrate, was somewhat puzzled when Xu Di earnestly recounted the past events at Yanmen Pass and Hexi. Only then did Yuan nod in agreement.
Xu Di said, "I have been with my father in Hexi since I was ten years old. I have witnessed the tremendous changes that have taken place in Hexi. Ten years have passed. During this time, without the help of the soldiers of Yanmen Pass, we would not have been able to achieve what we have today. Yuan County Magistrate, the Emperor selected me to come here so that I could protect the people here and help them live a good life."
Magistrate Yuan's face showed some emotion. Xu Di said, "Lord Yuan, life is only a few decades long, but if we can leave our names in the county annals because we have done something that is praised by others, do you think our lives have any meaning?"
County Magistrate Yuan nodded and said, "Of course it's meaningful."
Xu Di nodded and said, "In the future, soldiers will always be stationed in the barracks by the sea. This will be a form of protection for us, but in some special circumstances, it will also become a target."
Seeing that Magistrate Yuan was listening attentively, Xu Di found a tree branch, burned it until it was blackened in the fire, and then drew a simple topographical map on the ground. The map only showed two peninsulas, Goguryeo, and Japan, which was not far from Goguryeo.
Xu Di pointed to a spot with a twig and said, “Lord Yuan, please look. This is Penglai. Across the sea, on one side is Liaodong, and on the other side is Goguryeo. It’s very fast to travel to Liaodong by boat from here. If we open a sea route from here to Liaodong, do you think it would be much faster to transport grain from Jiangnan to Liaodong?”
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Yuan's expression suddenly turned serious, as if he had just thought of something.
Xu Di nodded and said, "It seems that Lord Yuan has already thought of this. So, what do you think? If the Jurchens in the north cooperate with the Japanese pirates and don't want us to open this sea route so smoothly, will they come over to harass us? If they grow stronger, will they land on our side and attack into the territory of Daliang?"
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