Chapter 143: Earl
On the fifth day after the war, Du Qingtang led a group of government officials and common people to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and bowed three times in front of the hero's monument.
One thousand five hundred and ninety-six heroes will rest here forever, and one hundred and sixty-one hero monuments will become a unique landscape of Shaoqing Prefecture.
On the sixth day after the war, Wang Tongpan came to report with the account book.
"Including dried fruit, the fresh orchard made a profit of 128,000 taels in October. However, due to the war, the supply of fresh and dried fruit from other places has been cut off in the past two months, resulting in a profit of only 97,000 taels."
"Furthermore, the Qi bandits wreaked havoc in the orchard, even destroying the melon and fruit seedlings. The peach and pear trees, which would have yielded a good harvest next year, were uprooted by those beasts and burned for firewood. Dead branches and ashes still lie outside the orchard."
At this point, Wang Tongpan could hardly contain his anger. "They plucked every ripe orange tree, chopped off the branches along with them, and now the trees are bare, many of them dead."
"Originally, citrus fruits could be sold at a good price in the orchard, but now, not only are we selling fresh fruit, but even the dried fruit in our cellars is running out."
Thinking about the orchard closing down due to lack of fresh and dried fruit supply, and that it might not be able to resume business until next year, and thinking about the money that had slipped through his fingers, Wang Tongpan wanted to kill that bastard!
"That's not an option. We can't just move the entire orchard into the city." Compared to Magistrate Wang, Du Qingtang was calmer. "We'll hang a sign at the entrance of the orchard to explain the situation to customers, so they don't make a wasted trip. We'll reopen the orchard to customers next year when the new batch of fruits and vegetables are ripe."
Thinking of the silver he had lost during this period, Wang Tongpan's heart was bleeding. He suppressed his heartache and nodded: "Yes, I will arrange it later."
"Oh, sir, there is also a market."
Du Qingtang was busy working on official documents. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and asked, "What happened to the market?"
The market had stopped operating during the war preparation period and was empty, so there shouldn't have been any losses.
Wang Tongpan curled his lips in disdain: "The Qi thieves have demolished the wall of the market, and even the wire used to separate the stalls."
"The dried fruit factory is similar, but the walls are still there, but the tables, chairs, and porcelain jars inside are gone."
"Luckily, the Qi bandits didn't discover the treasures in the cellar, otherwise they would have eaten them too." Wang Tongpan snorted coldly, "They wouldn't have been worried about their intestines rotting after eating them."
Du Qingtang: “…”
The Qi army was like locusts, leaving no grass behind wherever they went.
Du Qingtang was speechless and choked up. He raised his hand and rubbed his brows. "Tell the craftsmen in the workshop to repair it quickly and resume business as soon as possible."
The market was the source of funds for many people to survive. Even if they had savings, they could not spend all their money.
The dried fruit factory is not in a hurry. Without fresh fruit supply, it can stop operating after selling out its inventory.
But if this happens, the workers in the dried fruit factory will have to find other jobs.
"I know. I asked the craftsmen from the workshop to go there before I came here."
Wang Tongpan paused, and seeing that the prefect had no other instructions, he bowed and quietly withdrew.
After leaving the duty room, Zhou Tongzhi came towards me.
Wang Tongpan glanced at the account book in his hand with the five large characters "Shaoqing Garment Factory" written on it and raised an eyebrow. "I wonder how the garment factory has been profitable in the past three months?"
In October, a plague broke out in Shaoqing Prefecture. The plague patients here had not yet recovered, and the bad news came from the other side that the Qi bandits were approaching.
As of now, there has been no consolidated profit for three months.
Now that the dust has settled and the end of the year is approaching, it is natural that I have to report this to the prefect as soon as possible.
The profits of garment factories were all public, and Zhou Tongzhi made no secret of it, stating frankly, "Fumin Garment Factory in Shaoqing Prefecture has been unable to open for over two months and has suffered heavy losses. Fumin Garment Factory in surrounding prefectures has made a profit of 48,000 taels in three months, and the profits from selling garments to clothing stores across the country totaled 470,000 taels."
"The Qi bandits are truly despicable! A bunch of bastards!" Even though Wang Tongpan was well-mannered, he couldn't help but curse at this moment. He could have made more profit, "But compared to last year, it seems that we still made tens of thousands of taels more?"
Zhou Tongzhi rubbed his hands, which had turned into carrots from the cold, and said, "The weather has been getting colder every year. Wool sweaters are comfortable and warm, and they are very popular in all parts of Daxia. Naturally, profits have increased."
Wang Tongpan's expression softened slightly as he complained to his colleagues, "I guess the fresh fruit orchard won't be open for business for the next six months. I'm so pissed!"
Zhou Tongzhi was also very annoyed when he heard this. He patted Wang Tongpan on the shoulder and said with a smile, "The most important thing is that people are alive."
At least they did not become captives of the Qi bandits and suffer humiliation.
Wang Tongpan exhaled through his nose, still feeling indignant, and waved his hand weakly, "Go in quickly. I have to deal with some official documents and go to the dried fruit factory this afternoon."
Zhou Tongzhi nodded, knocked on the door and entered the duty room, reporting the garment factory's three-month profits to the prefect.
Du Qingtang's expression relaxed slightly when he heard this. This was the only good news among all the bad news.
Du Qingtang glanced through the general ledger. She knew that there was more or less corruption in every department of the garment factory, but when the water is too clear, there will be no fish. As long as they didn't go too far, she could turn a blind eye and allow them to have some broth.
"Remember to pay double wages to those who worked in the garment factory during the Lunar New Year holiday." Du Qingtang handed the account book back to Zhou Tongzhi and instructed, "It's time to collect taxes."
Zhou Tongzhi sucked in a breath of cold air and slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! I've been so busy with trivial matters in the government office these days that I actually forgot about this! Thank you for reminding me, sir. I will arrange it right away!"
Du Qingtang hesitated for a moment, but gave up the idea of a census.
One to two thousand people died in Shaoqing Prefecture that year. Wouldn't a census be like rubbing salt into the wounds of those people who lost their loved ones?
Zhou Tongzhi took the order and left. Du Qingtang spent more than an hour processing the remaining documents, rode his horse to the government office, and taught the students as usual.
New Year's Eve is approaching, and this is the last class of the 20th year of Qingyuan.
Du Qingtang spent an entire afternoon teaching the students in the scholar class, and then gave the students in the juren class a set of mock exam questions to do.
The juren will go to Beijing to take the imperial examination next year. There are only two months left, so he needs to read and practice more.
When I walked out of the classroom in the evening, I found that it had started snowing outside.
Under the eaves, Professor Zhang had been waiting for a long time wrapped in his coat. When he saw the prefect appear, he hurried over to greet him and bowed. "Sir, it's snowing hard outside. Why don't you wait until the snow stops before leaving?"
Du Qingtang shook his head: "Looking at this heavy snowfall, I don't think it will stop anytime soon. It's getting late, so we should go back as soon as possible."
Professor Zhang saw that the prefect had made up his mind, so he stopped trying to persuade him. "Please wait a moment, my lord. I have a spare umbrella here. I'll get it for you."
Du Qingtang did not refuse: "Then I will be disrespectful to refuse."
Professor Zhang repeatedly said he dared not, quickly took out the oil-paper umbrella, and offered it with both hands: "Sir, please walk slowly and be careful on the road."
Du Qingtang took the umbrella, thanked him, opened it, and walked into the snow.
It was inconvenient to ride a horse with an umbrella, so Du Qingtang led the white horse Zhuifeng and walked back to the government office.
Snowflakes were flying everywhere, but there were still vendors setting up stalls on the street, shouting at the top of their lungs. The snowflakes on their heads and eyebrows fell down with the shouting.
"Fresh radishes, just dug out of the ground this morning, two cents a pound!"
"Deerskin boots, fifty cents a pair!"
Du Qingtang bought two pounds of radishes and planned to go home and cook them in a pot.
When we reached the corner of the street, several scholars in round-collared robes raised their wide sleeves above their heads, protecting their books in front of them, and jogged over.
They ran, panting and talking loudly.
The cold wind howled, blowing the words into Du Qingtang's ears.
"My friend in Jingdong Prefecture wrote to me saying that the Qi bandits also attacked Loushan Pass last month. It's snowing in Shaoqing Prefecture right now, so it's probably snowing at Loushan Pass as well."
"I don't know when the fighting at Loushan Pass will end. If the Qi bandits launch a surprise attack in the snow, the battlefield will be filled with wind and snow, making it extremely difficult to fight."
"It's so cold, and after just a cup of tea outside, my fingers are already numb from the cold. I can't even hold a book, let alone pick up a weapon to resist the Qi bandits."
"The dog emperor of Great Qi has always coveted our territory. The Qi thief has never given up his determination to attack Xia, and has repeatedly launched an invasion. He is truly despicable."
"After Shaoqing Prefecture experienced this disaster, I realized the hardships and difficulties faced by the soldiers. I hope the war ends quickly with fewer casualties..."
Du Qingtang passed by the scholar, raised his head slightly, and looked at the snowflakes in a daze.
Zhuifeng snorted loudly, and his thick mane touched the side of his face. Du Qingtang came to his senses and rubbed his mane with the hand holding the reins: "We're almost home."
Zhuifeng rubbed against it docilely again, and walked back to the government office with his master in the wind and snow.
When I returned to the government office, the officials were just off duty.
All the officials and the prefect bowed and said goodbye, then went back to their homes in their carriages.
Du Qingtang handed Zhuifeng to the yamen runner, folded his oil-paper umbrella, and shook it gently, and a layer of white snow fell on the steps.
When the wind blows, the snowflakes scatter.
Du Qingtang walked into the third hall with an oil-paper umbrella in one hand and a radish in the other.
Du Qingzhu and Du Qingju had returned and were busy in the kitchen. The two sisters were talking about something, but their laughter, like silver bells, could be heard from time to time.
Du Qingtang leaned the oil-paper umbrella against the corner of the wall and walked into the kitchen carrying the radish.
On the stove, two iron pots were bubbling with something cooking. The aroma lingered and the hot mist trickled in, making the whole kitchen warm. It seemed as if the inside and outside of the house were two different worlds.
Zhu Ju and the others were cutting vegetables with their backs to the door. Du Qingtang called out softly, "Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister."
Du Qingzhu turned her head and said, "Oh, Xianyu is back! It's too cold today. Let's cook some food, okay? It will warm us up so we can have a good sleep at night."
Du Qingju added, "Two pots, one for mushrooms and one for butter."
Du Qingtang curled his lips and said, "On the way back, I saw an aunt selling radishes, so I bought two kilograms and planned to eat them in a hot pot when I got home."
Du Qingzhu raised his eyebrows, looking full of energy: "Then we really want to go together."
Du Qingju put down the kitchen knife, walked over, took the radish, and waved him away: "Go change your clothes quickly, you're all soaked, don't catch a cold."
Du Qingtang looked down and saw that the corners of his robe were wet, and there were also spots of wet marks on his chest: "I went to the prefectural school to teach in the afternoon. The snow was too heavy."
After saying that, he washed his hands, went back to the house to change into casual clothes, and went to the kitchen to help.
After preparing the ingredients and not wanting to move the pot to the dining room, the three sisters sat down in front of the square table in the kitchen, put their favorite food into the pot, and chatted while waiting for the meal to be served.
"This afternoon, Chuxia's mother came to Xinglin Hall..."
"What is she doing here? Is she here to intercede for Chu Xia's grandfather?"
"That's not the case. Chuxia's mother came in and said directly that Chuxia's father asked her to come over. She wanted me to forgive her for Chuxia's sake and also wanted Chuxia's brothers and sisters to come over and ask for my advice."
"Her mother actually begged for mercy? What a shameless family! How dare they let you give them instructions?"
"...Can you wait until I finish speaking before commenting?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong. Xiao Ba, you speak, I'm listening."
Du Qingtang glanced at Du Qingzhu who was rubbing his hands and begging for mercy, chuckled, and listened to Du Qingju talking with his chin resting on his hand.
"After Chuxia's mother explained her purpose, she told Chuxia and me not to bother with the Liang family, and then she left in the snow."
Du Qingzhu nodded: "Chu Xia's mother is a sensible person."
Du Qingju remained noncommittal: "When Chuxia was born, her father considered her a girl and planned to throw her away. It was her mother who threatened to commit suicide before he finally kept Chuxia."
Du Qingzhu clicked his tongue.
"It's ready to eat." Du Qingtang took the lead and picked up a piece of radish. "But if you do this, Chuxia's mother will definitely have a hard time in the Liang family."
"I only overheard Chuxia's plan to bring her mother out, and I didn't get involved in the Liang family's affairs," Du Qingju said with a smile. "But the Liang family must be having a hard time right now. Ever since my identity spread throughout the city, the people have been so grateful to me for the plague remedy that they've spontaneously boycotted the Liang family clinic. It's said that business is getting worse day by day, and I'm sure it'll close down soon."
"Serves you right! This is karma!" Du Qingzhu was very happy. "But they really have no self-awareness at all. Even in such a state, they still want you to guide Chu Xia's two brothers."
Du Qingju shook her head: "I won't agree to it. I feel it will make Xinglin Hall dirty if they come in."
Du Qingzhu laughed heartily and slapped the table: "That's right!"
Du Qingju raised her chin and talked about other things.
Du Qingzhu is a chatterbox and kept talking the whole time.
Du Qingtang was concentrating on eating and only responded occasionally.
No matter how windy and snowy it is outside, the house is still warm and filled with laughter and joy.
......
Just as the scholars I met on the way worried, snow was falling all over Loushan Pass, and everything inside and outside the pass was white.
"General, the spy sent to Shaoqing Prefecture has returned."
Inside the main tent, Pei Yuchun stood in front of the sand table, thinking about what to do next.
From November till now, the two armies have been fighting for forty-six days.
The 300,000-strong Xia army fought against the 300,000-strong Qi army. Without the support of the firearms battalion, the two armies were in a stalemate, the battle line was infinitely stretched, and it was unknown when the war would end.
In the afternoon, heavy snow began to fall. Pei Yuchun was worried about the battle situation in Shaoqing Prefecture, so he sent a spy to Shaoqing Prefecture to inquire about the news.
——Due to the intense battle situation at Loushan Pass, all the spies trained in the army were used on the front line. In addition, the two armies were fighting almost every day, so Pei Yuchun was too busy to handle it. He had not paid attention to the battle situation in Shaoqing Prefecture for several days.
Upon hearing that the spy had returned from Shaoqing Prefecture, Pei Yuchun immediately left the sand table and summoned the spy into the tent.
The spy saluted as he entered, his face filled with joy. "General, Shaoqing Prefecture successfully repelled 160,000 Qi bandits seven days ago. The commander was captured alive, and the deputy commander was beheaded. Aside from 20,000 prisoners, the rest perished from gunpowder or the hands of Shaoqing Prefecture's soldiers!"
Pei Yuchun was overjoyed, his heart finally at ease: "She is still as wise and brave as ever, courageous and knowledgeable."
"General, you're absolutely right. Shaoqing Prefecture defeated the enemy with fewer troops, and it was a truly magnificent victory!" The spy hesitated for a moment, then boldly suggested, "General, why don't you ask Lord Du for help? With his kindness and righteousness, I'm sure he'll provide gunpowder and muskets for Loushan Pass..."
Pei Yuchun shook his head. "Gunpowder and muskets are difficult to produce. If there were any surplus, Lord Du would have sent someone to deliver them as soon as the war subsided."
At the last meeting last year, both sides talked everything out.
Du Qingtang was determined to cut off all love and devote herself to her career, so she resolutely pushed him away.
Pei Yuchun also realized his problem.
He was not mature enough in terms of feelings and was too self-centered, thus ignoring the other person's feelings and almost hurting Du Qingtang.
But even if a clear line was drawn, Pei Yuchun knew that Du Qingtang was not a person who could clearly distinguish between public and private affairs, and would never ignore Lou Shan for some personal reasons.
The green-eyed young man said solemnly, "Furthermore, Shaoqing Prefecture used gunpowder because they were outnumbered and had very low odds of winning. Meanwhile, the two armies in the battle at Loushan Pass were evenly matched, with a 50/50 chance of winning."
"If we blindly rely on gunpowder, the soldiers at Loushan Pass will become complacent and lazy, and we will produce a group of useless people who cannot lift weapons and fight the enemy."
"If Lord Du returns to the capital and the Qi bandits attack again, our army will be without the aid of gunpowder and will undoubtedly be defeated."
When the spy thought of the consequences of the defeat at Loushan Pass, his face turned pale and he knelt down to apologize.
Pei Yuchun knew that the spy had good intentions, so he did not bother with him. He waved his hand to let him leave, walked to the sand table, and studied the terrain of Changping Pass intently.
Half an hour later, the generals gathered in the main tent.
Pei Yuchun first informed everyone present of the great victory in Shaoqing Prefecture, and everyone was ecstatic.
"Commander Du is truly a heroine! The battle at Loushan Pass hasn't even subsided yet, and before we could send troops to support them, Shaoqing Prefecture has already won a victory!"
"Gunpowder is a good thing, but I think it's best to use it sparingly to avoid over-reliance, which is not a good thing."
"General Feng is absolutely right. Loushan Pass is different from Shaoqing Prefecture. This is a strategic military location, so we must fight with real weapons."
Pei Yuchun's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, and he said seriously, "The battle in Shaoqing Prefecture has subsided, and it's time to quickly resolve the battle at Loushan Pass."
General Feng clasped his fists and said in a resounding voice, "I, your humble general, invite you to fight!"
Pei Yuchun agreed. He and the other generals came to the sand table and circled an area with two fingers. "There will be a snowstorm tonight. The Qi army will definitely relax their vigilance. When the time comes, General Feng, you will lead a team from here..."
An hour later, the generals left the main tent in the snow.
On a quiet snowy night, a great battle is about to begin.
-
The snow fell heavily all night and only stopped at dawn the next morning.
Du Qingtang got up in the morning, dressed neatly, and opened the door. Everywhere he looked was covered in silver.
Du Qingzhu poked her head out of the kitchen, her cheeks faintly stained with flour, and she smiled with her eyes curved. "How about sweet potato porridge in the morning? But I got up a little late, and the rice has just been put into the pot. I have to wait another incense stick of time."
"No rush, it's still early for duty." Du Qingtang stepped out of the door and stood under the eaves to do some stretching exercises. "There's no need to get up too early on a snowy day. You can sleep in a little longer."
Du Qingzhu scratched her cheek, flour falling down: "I'm used to it. I can't fall asleep even if I lie down, so I just get up and make breakfast."
Du Qingtang's fingertips moved slightly, but he couldn't help but walked over to wipe the flour off Du Qingzhu's face.
Du Qingzhu opened his eyes wide in surprise and muttered, "I guess it got on me accidentally when I was pouring flour just now. I was planning to make potato pancakes, but I have to wait for Xiao Ba to wake up. It's already freezing cold right out of the pan, and it feels cold in my stomach, which makes me uncomfortable."
Du Qingtang hummed softly and twisted the flour on his fingertips: "It's still early, why don't you join me for morning exercises, Seventh Sister?"
Du Qingzhu turned his head to look at the stove and readily agreed.
The sweet potato porridge was cooking in the pot and she didn't need to keep an eye on it.
After doing a set of warm-up exercises, the two sisters jogged back and forth under the eaves.
When Du Qingju got up, the two of them were already sweating and their breathing had become heavier.
Du Qingzhu's face flushed and she looked radiant: "Xiao Ba, go wash up first, and dinner will be served soon."
Du Qingju smiled and said "OK". When she finished washing up, breakfast was already on the table.
The three sisters sat around the table. Du Qingju chewed on a crispy potato pancake and tilted her head to look at the snow in the yard. "I guess not many people will come to Xinglin Hall for consultation today."
"The Shixiang Pavilion is about the same." Du Qingzhu shook his calf and suddenly remembered something. "That traitor said that the Qi bandits not only targeted Shaoqing Prefecture, but also planned to send troops to attack Loushan Pass. I don't know what the situation is over there now."
Du Qingju hummed softly: "There are no firearms at Loushan Pass, so the battle must still be going on."
Du Qingzhu sighed: "It seems that the people of Loushan Pass will not be able to have a comfortable New Year."
"All the gunpowder is used up, and there are no more materials." Du Qingtang explained casually, "And even if I had some, I wouldn't send it over."
Du Qingzhu's eyes widened: "Why?"
Du Qingtang took a sip of sweet potato porridge and explained slowly, "Whether it's gunpowder or muskets, it's best not to abuse them unless absolutely necessary, such as when Daxia is facing a life-or-death threat."
Just like modern nuclear bombs, it can be used, but it cannot be absent.
Similarly, Daxia does not need to use firearms in every battle, but it cannot be without firearms.
"Just as water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it, firearms can protect Daxia, but they can also destroy it. We must be extremely cautious." Du Qingtang said solemnly, "In fact, if it weren't for the invasion of the Qi bandits, I would never have planned to use gunpowder again in my lifetime."
In fact, if she had not entered the court as an official as a woman and later committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, she would never have offered gunpowder and muskets.
Because Du Qingtang could not guarantee that all the rulers of Daxia were wise and could use firearms properly.
It is true that firearms are Daxia's last trump card, and are a powerful armed force that intimidates other countries. However, if they are used by people with ulterior motives and become a tool for internal strife, Daxia will destroy itself even without Daqi.
This is the result that Du Qingtang does not want to see.
Du Qingzhu suddenly understood: "So that's how it is. Then I'd better hide it well."
Du Qingju patted Du Qingzhu's bun and said with a smile, "Seventh sister is really becoming more and more sensible. She even knows how to worry about the country and the people. But don't worry, Seventh sister, Loushan Pass has many capable soldiers and generals. They will definitely be able to drive out the Qi bandits and protect the peace in this area."
Du Qingzhu rolled her eyes: "You are so disrespectful, who can say that you are sensible..."
Du Qingtang laughed, and after breakfast, he asked the cook to make some ginger tea and send it to the lobby, then went to work.
When they arrived at the roll call, the officials were so cold that they gasped for breath, rubbed their hands constantly, and kept saying how cold it was.
When they saw the prefect, everyone saluted and said, "Greetings, Your Excellency."
"I've had some ginger tea made. Everyone should have a cup later. Don't drink too much." Du Qingtang then instructed Captain Zhang, "Tell the patrolmen to remember to shovel the snow. It's cold and the roads are slippery. If they fall, they'll be punished severely."
Captain Zhang responded in unison, grinning, "Your Excellency is so kind. I'll have to notify them immediately, so they don't have to drink ginger tea later."
Du Qingtang smiled and said, "Everyone who sees it will have a share."
"Thank you very much, sir!" Captain Zhang bowed and trotted away.
After Du Qingtang checked in, he went straight to the duty room to handle official business.
It’s nearing the end of the year, and with the frequent accidents that have occurred recently, many things have piled up, so I’ve been very busy these days.
-
Xia Jing, in the Golden Palace.
Emperor Qingyuan wore a bright yellow dragon robe, a crown with twelve tassels on his head, and sat high on the dragon throne.
After one official finished his report, Emperor Qingyuan saw that no one stepped forward to speak, so he announced loudly, "My dear ministers, I received an urgent report from Shaoqing Prefecture yesterday evening."
When the officials heard this, they immediately became alert and listened attentively with their ears pricked up.
At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, Du Qingtang, the prefect of Shaoqing Prefecture, sent an urgent report stating that a thousand-man commander in the Ming army had colluded with the Qi bandits to spread the plague virus in the city, causing tens of thousands of people to be infected with the plague.
When the captain saw that the matter was exposed, he told the whole story and said that the Qi bandits would invade Shaoqing Prefecture and Loushan Pass in five days.
Regardless of whether the invasion by the Qi bandits was true, the fact that tens of thousands of people were infected with the plague was enough to cause an uproar in the court.
Some people are worried, while others are gloating.
"I've said it before, that Du Qingtang is too arrogant and will fall sooner or later. It really came true."
"Since ancient times, anyone infected with the plague has almost certainly died. Shaoqing Prefecture finally enjoyed peace and prosperity under Lord Du's governance, so how could it be hit by such a catastrophe?"
"This is due to the negligence of Du Qingtang as a local official. He should remove this woman from her official position and throw her into prison to pay for her crime with her life!"
"What does this have to do with Lord Du? Even if you had three heads and six arms, you wouldn't be able to foresee that someone was bribed by the Qi thieves to spread the plague, right?"
"Master Hu, don't argue with him. He's just jealous of Master Du, who has achieved a fourth-rank official position at such a young age and has made countless contributions."
"Nonsense! How could an old man be jealous of a woman?"
"Some people say one thing and mean another. If there's nothing, then there's something. So what if she's a girl? Lord Du is one level higher than you."
Minister Qi single-handedly made a group of officials who were gloating over the misfortune blush and walk away in anger.
These days, all officials have been waiting for the latest news from Shaoqing Prefecture.
Has the plague been brought under control?
Will the Qi bandits really attack Shaoqing Prefecture in five days as the traitor said?
I waited and waited, and finally got the news.
Shi Zishan was impatient, and concerned about the tens of thousands of people infected by the plague, so he asked impatiently, "Your Majesty, how is Shaoqing Prefecture doing now?"
Emperor Qingyuan twirled his beard, a faint smile spreading across his round, elegant face. "The head of Deyang Township has developed a remedy for the plague, and all the people infected with it have recovered."
"The Lord of Deyang? The one who invented the Tianju Drink?"
"Yes, it's her."
"This village chief does have some real skills."
Now that the plague problem has been solved, the focus of all officials has shifted to the invasion of the Qi bandits.
Yan Tiande held his tablet in his hand and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, may I ask if what the traitor said is true?"
Emperor Qingyuan nodded. "Da Qi assembled 300,000 troops and attacked Loushan Pass. They also assembled 160,000 troops and attacked Shaoqing Prefecture. Minister Du Ai requested aid from the provincial capital and surrounding prefectures, but without exception, he was rejected."
Everyone's face changed instantly and they gasped.
"According to regulations, each prefecture only has 40,000 soldiers and horses, and Shaoqing Prefecture has no reinforcements. How can they defeat an army of 160,000?"
"Once Shaoqing Prefecture falls, the Qi bandits will advance eastward, and the entire Northwest Province will fall. What will we do then?"
"If everything was peaceful at Loushan Pass, we could send troops to help. Unfortunately, there is also fighting at Loushan Pass."
"In my humble opinion, the reason the Qi rebels attacked Shaoqing Prefecture is, firstly, to avenge their previous defeat, and secondly, to capture Du Qingtang alive and use him for the benefit of the Great Qi. If Shaoqing Prefecture falls, Du Qingtang will become a sharp weapon pointed at our dynasty by the Great Qi, and the consequences will be disastrous!"
Important officials in the court recalled the scene they had seen in the Huben Camp three years ago. They couldn't bear to think that if Da Qi had gunpowder and muskets, and Du Qingtang created something with even more astonishing lethality for Da Qi, Da Xia would probably fall into a more difficult situation than two years ago, and even... the country would be in danger.
The officials who had been prejudiced against Du Qingtang in the past and insisted that women should not be officials and that Du Qingtang should be executed turned pale.
It was not until this time that they had to admit that Du Qingtang played a crucial role in the rise of Daxia.
If they maintained their previous attitude, continued to look down on Du Qingtang and spoke with contempt, perhaps one day she would become disappointed and turn back to Da Qi, and they would not even be able to cry.
"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have scolded her."
"She's actually a pitiful person. Disguising herself as a man wasn't her original intention. On the contrary, she's made many contributions to Daxia and is truly a hero."
"I hope Du Qingtang can be more reliable and defend Shaoqing Mansion. Don't let him be seduced by those bitches in Daqi!"
Emperor Qingyuan listened to the discussions of the officials, and the smile in his eyes disappeared in an instant.
Some people just take advantage of the fact that Du Aiqing is a woman and isolated and helpless, and bully her as much as they can.
Now that they realize her importance, they are afraid that she will turn against them and become a sharp weapon that Da Qi will use to attack Da Xia.
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place.
Emperor Qingyuan watched the excitement for a while before speaking calmly, "Don't panic, everyone. While Minister Du was writing this urgent memorial, within just twelve hours, Shaoqing Prefecture had already won two city defense battles, causing the Great Qi to lose nearly thirty thousand soldiers."
As soon as these words were spoken, all officials were in an uproar.
"How did she do that?"
"Could it be with the help of gunpowder and muskets?"
"Nine times out of ten, it depends on them."
Emperor Qingyuan smiled faintly. "Your guess is correct, my dear ministers. It is indeed gunpowder and firearms. Furthermore, Lord Du also used something called cement to block the three city gates. This material is so strong that the Great Qi's battering rams pounded against it for half an hour, but it remained motionless."
Everyone suddenly understood.
By blocking the three city gates, we can concentrate our forces, thus increasing our chances of victory.
I didn't expect that Du Qingtang, a civil servant, would have such a strategy.
This made many people ponder whether they had underestimated her in the past.
"Lord Du has presented me with the recipe for cement. This material can be used to pave roads and build houses. Cement roads are flat and comfortable, making travel convenient. Cement houses are inexpensive and earthquake-resistant to a certain extent, so they won't collapse even in the event of an earthquake."
"I intend to gather craftsmen and form several construction teams, starting with the construction of roads in Xiajing, and strive to have all official roads in the country paved with cement within two years."
The construction team was proposed by Du Aiqing. Emperor Qingyuan thought it was a great idea and adopted it decisively.
But there is no need to let the officials know about this.
"My dear ministers and the people of Beijing, if you wish to have cement roads or houses built in your homes, please register with the Ministry of Works and the government. Construction teams will then go to your homes one by one to start construction."
"Not only the Ministry of Works, but local governments will also form construction teams, all following the rules of the capital."
Of course, there is no free lunch in the world. Whether it is paving cement roads or building cement houses, you have to pay.
Great, the national treasury will have another source of income!
Emperor Qingyuan was in a good mood and looked at the Minister of Works: "Lord Han, I will leave this matter to you."
The Minister of Works bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will follow your command."
None of the officials in the hall stepped forward to stop it.
"The cobblestone roads are bumpy, and the dirt roads are muddy. If it is true as Your Majesty says, road construction is urgent."
"Even the Qi bandits' battering ram couldn't break it open, so it's very sturdy. It just so happens that many of the houses in the mansion are quite old, so I'll go to the Ministry of Works to register them tomorrow."
At this time, the Second Assistant Qi Lianmao stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if Du Qingtang manages to defend Shaoqing Prefecture this time, how will you reward her?"
The discussions in the Golden Palace came to an abrupt halt.
No, what crazy are you talking about?
The battle between Shaoqing Prefecture and the Qi bandits has just begun, and the outcome is unknown. Why are they talking about her reward?
What if Shaoqing Prefecture is defeated?
What if Du Qingtang surrenders to the enemy... Pah! Du Qingtang would never surrender to the enemy!
Absolutely impossible!!!
Emperor Qingyuan leisurely stroked the dragon pattern on his jade ring, his voice rising as he said, "So far, there has been no victory report from Shaoqing Prefecture. Isn't it too early to say this?"
All the officials nodded in agreement.
Yes, yes, it’s not too late to discuss how to reward Du Qingtang after the good news comes.
Ever since they realized that Daxia couldn't survive without Du Qingtang, rather than Du Qingtang failing to survive without Daxia, the officials who originally viewed Du Qingtang as a thorn in their side suddenly came to their senses.
As long as Du Qingtang can be retained, it is not a bad idea to reward him.
Qi Lianmao smiled bitterly in his heart. If it weren't for the emperor's instructions, he would never have dared to say such crazy words.
The second prince died suddenly, Concubine Rong in the palace had long since fallen out of favor, and there was no successor to the Qi family. He had no choice but to become a knife in the hand of His Majesty, hitting whoever he wanted.
"I believe that even though the war has not yet subsided, Your Majesty should commend Du Qingtang for his contributions to Daxia."
These words made all the officials fall into memories.
Du Qingtang entered the court as an official in the 16th year of the Qingyuan period. He first proposed the double-entry bookkeeping method to expose the massive corruption case headed by Wu Guangwu, the father-in-law and son-in-law, and then proposed the cowpox treatment method to save the people of the world from the suffering of smallpox.
In the 17th year of the Qingyuan reign, Du Qingtang returned to Beijing from Runing Prefecture. He first built Ningxiang Tower, a gold nugget that made a fortune every day, and then he invented muskets and gunpowder. In the following year, he made meritorious service while serving his sentence and led the firearms battalion to repel the Qi army.
Then, in the 18th year of Qingyuan, Du Qingtang went to Shaoqing Prefecture to take up his post.
First, he brought peace and prosperity to the chaotic Shaoqing Prefecture, and in less than two years, he collected a huge tax revenue of over one million taels. Later, he created the Liulifang, a gold nugget that made tens of thousands of taels of gold every day. The suturing technique he proposed could save people, and the compass he created could be widely used in sea navigation and marching.
Most importantly, Du Qingtang offered potatoes and sweet potatoes that could yield 2,000 kilograms per mu!
They made it so that the people no longer had to suffer from hunger, and there were no more starving people in Daxia.
Taking cement into account, all officials were surprised to realize that Du Qingtang played a vital role in strengthening the army, enriching the country and benefiting the people.
Because of Du Qingtang, Daxia had undergone earth-shaking changes in just three years.
If he had agreed with Qi Lianmao's opinion in his heart in order to prevent Du Qingtang from becoming disheartened with Da Xia, now he was convinced wholeheartedly.
"This woman Du Qingtang is so terrifying!"
"Is she still human? How come she knows everything?"
"I really want to pry open her brain and see what's inside. I can then make some contributions and get promoted soon."
At this time, Yan Tiande stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I second this motion."
Shi Zishan stepped out and said, "I second the motion."
Qi Shangshu stepped out and said, "I second the motion."
Twenty or thirty officials came out one after another and stood on Qi Lianmao's side, believing that Du Qingtang should be rewarded.
The first civil official, Cao Yuan, was wearing a purple official robe, holding a tablet in his hand, with his head bowed and silent, the sarcasm in his eyes fleeting.
The fourth prince was still thin, with sunken cheeks and a sinister and cold look in his eyes.
The fifth prince glanced at his brother from the same mother, made a delighted tongue-tickling sound, and narrowed his eyes like a fox.
That’s really awesome, Du, Da,ren.
Emperor Qingyuan pondered for a long time before making his decision: "My dear Lord Yan, I order you to immediately go to Northwest Province, arrest the Governor-General of Northwest Province and several prefectures, and behead them in public."
"If the fighting in Shaoqing Prefecture has already subsided, that would be great. If it hasn't, you can lead the troops to support them, and then pass on an imperial decree on my behalf, conferring upon Lord Du the title..."
Emperor Qingyuan spoke three words one by one, and all the officials were stunned, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
Even though he had expected this, Yan Tiande was still a little shocked. However, he quickly adjusted his expression and bowed his hands in response, "Your Majesty, I will follow your Majesty's wishes."
Emperor Qingyuan looked down and asked, "Do you have any objections, my dear ministers?"
After a brief silence, all the officials said in unison: "We have no objection."
Emperor Qingyuan: "Besides..."
Everyone's eyelids jumped.
"The Lord of Deyang successively developed prescriptions to cure smallpox and plague, and also developed forceps to facilitate childbirth, thus saving countless mothers and babies, and making great contributions to Daxia and the people."
"I originally wanted to confer the title of Princess, but this would violate etiquette. I have decided to establish a female medical department within the Imperial Hospital and appoint the Deyang Township Lady as deputy director, in charge of the female medical department. I will recruit female doctors from all over the world to serve the court."
Emperor Qingyuan paused and asked, "What do you think, my dear ministers?"
An imperial censor immediately stood up to refute the statement, "Your Majesty, women practicing medicine is already unorthodox. How can you establish a female medical bureau and appoint the head of Deyang Township as its deputy director?"
They agreed with His Majesty's reward for Du Qingtang because they didn't want to benefit Da Qi, but that doesn't mean they agree with women holding official positions.
The deputy dean is a sixth-rank official. First there was Du Qingtang and Fu Ci, and now there is the Lord of Deyang Township. Once the door is opened, it will never be stopped!
Emperor Qingyuan said confidently, "There are differences between men and women. If the women in your families are unwell, the doctors in the Imperial Hospital are often not convenient to treat them. By establishing a female doctor bureau, we can train more female doctors to serve women."
The censor suddenly thought of his old mother who had a hidden illness at home. The imperial physician was unable to diagnose and treat her, and the folk female doctor's medical skills were not sophisticated enough. His old mother was suffering from pain and was speechless for a moment.
Not only the censors, but many officials thought of their mothers, wives, concubines, daughters and even granddaughters.
As long as one has not completely lost his humanity, he will feel more or less shaken in his heart when thinking about his family.
"Alright, this matter is settled." Emperor Qingyuan waved his hand. "Lord Yan, when the time comes, you will go to Shaoqing Prefecture and convey the imperial edict to the Lord of Deyang Township."
Officials: “???”
No, who told you it was a deal?
They haven't agreed yet!
At this time, an official stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Emperor Qingyuan: "Yes."
Officials: "......"
Don't want to talk.
-
On the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, all taxes from the prefectural city and the four counties under its jurisdiction were collected into the government office.
The clerk spent two days checking and, after confirming that it was correct, Zhou Tongzhi presented it to the prefect for review.
In the duty room, Zhou Tongzhi reported in a serious tone: "Compared to last year, the land tax and the capitation tax have more than doubled, and the commercial tax has tripled."
Du Qingtang flipped through the account book and asked casually, "What's the total tax revenue?"
Zhou Tongzhi was well prepared and answered fluently: "Two million four hundred and thirty thousand taels."
Du Qingtang was stunned for a moment, took a deep breath, and suppressed the corner of his mouth that was raised: "Where does this amount rank among the 140 prefectures?"
Zhou Tongzhi grinned, his tone unable to conceal his excitement: "With more than 20 years of experience as an official, I will definitely be among the best!"
Du Qingtang coughed lightly, his brows and eyes stained with a smile: "Very good, this month the government salaries will be doubled, and porridge will be distributed at the government gate until the fifth day of the first lunar month."
"yes!"
That afternoon, 2.43 million taels of tax silver were transported to Xiajing under the escort of government soldiers.
The people lined up in a long queue at the government office gate, holding their bowls and watching the government soldiers leave.
"It's Chinese New Year again."
"Eat your fill during the New Year, and you'll have plenty to eat and drink in the coming year, and be rich and prosperous!"
The air was filled with the aroma of rice porridge and everyone laughed.
The laughter was cheerful, without a trace of worry.
......
The next year was the 21st year of Qingyuan.
Du Qingtang gathered eighty craftsmen and formed four construction teams.
The construction team will first start paving cement roads from Funing Street where the government office is located, and strive to pave all 24 streets in the city with cement roads within half a month.
At the same time, the government posted notices.
"Except for the twenty-four main streets, the rest of the roads in the prefecture can be paved with cement at the expense of the residents. The construction fee is calculated at ten cents per person per household."
"From now on, those interested can come to the government office to register. The registration period ends on the 31st of the first lunar month. Construction will begin in the east of the city next month, and then in the west, south, and north of the city."
The clerk stood in front of the notice wall and read the notice aloud.
The people in the city came over upon hearing the noise and started talking about it.
“Why can’t we work together?”
"There are only so many people on the construction team, how can they take care of everything?"
"Then we can only wait slowly."
“Are you all planning to pave the road with cement?”
"Why not pave a cement road? Stone slabs are fine on sunny days, but if it rains or snows, the water will splash down half your trouser legs if you step on them. Cement roads are better, not only are they strong, but they're also clean."
"Anyway, I don't plan to open a shop. Ten cents per person. The government is really desperate for money."
"Tsk—we pay money so that the road in front of our house can be more accessible. The government didn't force you to pay. At most, the construction will bypass your house. Then all the neighbors will have cement roads, but yours will have cobblestone roads, which is really shabby."
"...Then I'll just pave the road with cement."
On that day, thousands of people went to the government office to sign up and paid half of the construction cost.
Wait until the cement road is paved and then fill in the remaining half.
The clerk in the workshop was so busy that his pen almost flew out of the shadow, and his fingers were shaking when he was off duty.
However, when they heard the crisp sound of copper coins falling into the money box, they were happy from the bottom of their hearts.
"The government can make money again."
"The city is becoming more and more beautiful."
The next day, the construction team began paving the road.
In order not to affect people's daily traffic, the construction team only pried up the stone slabs on the left, and waited for the cement road to dry before paving the ones on the right.
After half of the road was paved with cement, in order to prevent people from causing trouble and damaging the wet road surface, the government also sent yamen runners to guard it twelve hours a day. If anyone was found, they would be arrested and sentenced to ten days in prison.
Four construction teams worked simultaneously, and in just twelve days they paved twenty-four streets with cement.
Once the cement on the right side solidifies completely, traffic can be fully restored.
Two days later, on the 31st day of the first lunar month, the registration deadline came and the cement road was dry.
Du Qingtang stood at the gate of the government office, looking at the light grey cement road. He was in a good mood and spoke in a slightly cheerful tone: "Once all the roads in the city are paved with cement, it's time to arrange for the four counties to do the same."
"I understand. We can't focus on one thing and lose the other." Zhou Tongzhi smiled, twirling his beard. "But cement roads are indeed much better than stone roads. They feel cleaner and brighter."
"Cleanliness is one thing, but as for the carriage driving on the cement road, I didn't even feel the bumps, it was as if I was walking on flat ground."
Everyone was chatting and laughing, admiring the newly renovated Funing Street, when they heard a rapid and chaotic sound of horse hooves coming from afar.
Following the sound, I saw that the leader was wearing a purple official robe, followed by dozens of men in armor.
“Whoa—”
The group stopped at the government office gate. Yan Tiande dismounted, stood still, looked straight at Du Qingtang, and said loudly: "Shaoqing Prefecture Governor Du Qingtang, accept the order!"
Du Qingtang was stunned for a moment, then he lifted the corner of his robe and knelt calmly: "Your humble servant Du Qingtang accepts your order."
All the officials and servants in the government office suppressed their surprise, knelt down behind the prefect like dumplings, and bowed their heads in respect.
Yan Tiande took the imperial edict, opened it, and read aloud: "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims that Du Qingtang has made countless contributions since he took office, to Great Xia and to the people. I am deeply pleased. I hereby confer the title of Earl of Wen'an, grant him a reward of one thousand gold coins, and grant him an Earl's mansion. I decree this!"
Du Qingtang took the imperial edict with both hands and raised it above his head: "I thank you for your grace!"
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