Wang Cheng and Zhang Hu arrived promptly at 3 PM.
Gu Shouxin looked at the two of them: "Can either of you read?"
The two shook their heads.
Gu Shouxin didn't have much hope either, and asked again, "Are there many people your age in the city? How do most of them make a living?"
Wang Cheng said, "My lord, there are no men in the city who are between eighteen and thirty years old, like us. They've either joined Peng's army or are working for rich people."
Gu Shouxin: "Heh, there are still wealthy families in Kuncheng?"
Wang Cheng: "Yes! But the master doesn't live in Kuncheng often. Most of them do business in other prefectures. They just bought a house in Kuncheng. Master, we didn't want to be slaves. We have no relatives, and we don't know how to farm. We only know how to hunt. Later, the whole village moved away, and that's when we came to Kuncheng."
Gu Shouxin raised an eyebrow: "There should be able-bodied young men in the nearby villages, right?"
Wang Cheng nodded: "Yes, but they can't afford to pay the money."
Gu Shouxin: "What silver?"
Wang Cheng: "They have to pay a sum of money, ten taels, to find a job at the yamen. That's enough for them to live on for a year or two. Most of the men in Kuncheng are over thirty, and the young ones are almost all in the Peng family's army camp. And more than half of them are military dependents. The yamen doesn't usually have much to do. In the past, it was just dealing with troublesome matters in the trading area. Ordinary people generally don't cause trouble; if they do, they resolve it themselves. Those who cause trouble in the villages find it troublesome to go to the yamen. After the incident with Magistrate Hu, the Peng family has been in charge of the trading area."
Gu Shouxin understood.
To be honest, he had never actually served as a minor official before. The people he dealt with were all old foxes in the imperial court, and they were always involved in conspiracies and intrigues. This was the first time he had ever encountered such trivial matters that a county magistrate was in charge of.
Moreover, Madam Peng said yesterday that after he takes office, the trading area will still be handed over to the county government, and on trading days, the Peng family army will help guard it.
Through his investigation, Gu Shouxin learned that there was a trading area in the southern part of the western city, where merchants from various countries lived. Previously, the Peng family army was only responsible for maintaining order. The map that Magistrate Hu colluded with Langge Kingdom to send out happened in that trading area.
Gu Shouxin pondered for a moment: "Wang Cheng, starting tomorrow, you will search the city for men under forty who are physically strong and willing to work in the yamen, regardless of gender. I will not charge you any fees. Zhang Hu, you will go to the villages below and search for men under thirty, also regardless of gender. On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, I will personally select the yamen runners."
"Lord Gu, you really won't accept money? Then will you accept gifts?" Even Zhang Hu was surprised.
Anyone who wants to work in the government office, where can they get in without paying bribes?
Gu Shouxin: "We don't accept any. Anyone who is willing can come on the tenth day. Where do you two currently reside?"
"Reporting to you, sir, there's a large courtyard next to the county government office. The yamen runners used to live there, but now it's just us yamen runners living there," the two replied.
Gu Shouxin nodded: "Alright, when you go to the village to recruit people, remember that we provide food and lodging. In the next few days, you should also find a woman to be in charge of the meals for everyone in the yamen. Of course, don't rush, there are only two of you yamen runners now, you should be able to manage on your own. Also, I noticed that the grievance drum at the main gate is broken, find someone to repair it!"
After saying this, Gu Shouxin learned a few more things and then dismissed the two.
Looking at the empty hall, Gu Shouxin found it quite amusing. The emperor was really testing him, wasn't he afraid that one day he wouldn't be able to take it and would rebel?
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