After Pei Zhi carefully examined the man in front of her, the man was also examining Pei Zhi.
"You're not a local, are you?"
Pei Zhi's voice was clear and crisp, tinged with a hint of doubt: "Miss?"
The title "girl" seems a bit distant from her.
She's forty-five this year, and it seems inappropriate for her to be called a young lady.
The man cupped his hands in greeting: "My name is Li Zheng. I passed the imperial examination two years ago and became a Xiucai. My parents are still alive, and my sister is married to the local county magistrate."
After a moment's thought, Pei Zhi asked, "Who is Li Ren to you?"
Li Zheng seemed quite surprised: "Does Miss actually know my uncle?"
"Lord Li is the prefect of Jiangnan; I have heard of his name."
Before Pei Zhi came to Jiangnan, he naturally knew about the local officials.
Li Ren is the prefect of Jiangnan, and has been in office for five years.
Pei Zhi came to visit and took the opportunity to see what achievements Li Ren had made in recent years.
If nothing unexpected happens, Li Ren will be promoted by the end of this year.
Li Zheng, as if assessing someone, revealed his family's wealth and resources.
"I see. We've been chatting for so long, and I still don't know your name, young lady."
“My given name is Zhi.” Pei Zhi pondered for a moment, “My surname is Qin, Qin Zhi.”
Pei is the imperial surname. In the entire world, apart from members of the royal family, no one dares to use the surname Pei, as it would be a great disrespect.
Therefore, Pei Zhi simply borrowed Qin Xiangyang's surname.
“Miss Qin,” Li Zheng immediately changed his tune, “why don’t we go to a private room so we don’t block people from doing business?”
Pei Zhi nodded, and Li Zheng led the way, with Pei Zhi and her maid following behind.
Upon arriving at the private room, the waiter brought over a menu and asked what they would like to eat.
“I’m new here, but Mr. Li must be a regular customer. Please order.”
Li Zheng did not refuse upon hearing this and immediately named several famous dishes from the restaurants.
"This restaurant's pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup is absolutely delicious. Miss Qin, you must have a lot of it later."
Pei Zhi nodded slightly: "Okay."
"Miss Qin, are you here to visit relatives, or are you here for sightseeing with your family?"
Pei Zhi replied, "I'm just out having some fun with my family. I won't be staying for more than a few days."
Li Zheng's expression changed slightly after hearing Pei Zhi's words that he wouldn't be able to stay for more than a few days.
When Li Zheng first saw the beautiful woman, he was immediately struck by her divine beauty.
Hearing that the beauty would be leaving in a few days, Li Zheng felt a deep emptiness in his heart.
Li Zheng hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and stood up.
"When I first saw Miss Qin, I was immediately struck by her beauty. If Miss Qin does not find me unattractive, I am willing to go home and tell my parents so that I can propose marriage to her."
Why are young people these days so direct?
They've only just met, and he's already telling his parents about the marriage proposal?
Pei Zhi asked, "What do you think of the new emperor's order to allow troops to return to their posts?"
The first order issued by the new emperor upon ascending the throne was the order to return the army to its place of service.
Soldiers in the army can go home once they turn thirty.
For the next five years, military salaries will continue to be paid as usual.
The local magistrate would also actively arrange tasks for the soldiers.
Of course, if war breaks out in the court, these soldiers who are still receiving salaries from the court must immediately return to their posts.
This move drew opposition from many military officers.
The military officer believed that this move had caused his soldiers to develop disloyalty.
If they could go home, who would want to stay in the army and risk being killed at any moment?
Li Zheng never expected that after he expressed his feelings, Miss Qin would actually test his knowledge.
Li Zheng hesitated for a moment, then began to think seriously.
"In my opinion, this policy should have been proposed by the retired emperor."
Pei Zhi became somewhat interested: "Why?"
"When the new emperor ascended the throne, the retired emperor was worried that the new emperor's foundation was unstable, so he used this policy to let the new emperor stabilize the people's hearts."
"There has been no war in the court for nearly twenty years, so it is only right to let a group of soldiers go home."
"Let men over thirty years old return home so they can reunite with their wives and children."
"Firstly, it has alleviated the problem of the aging of soldiers in the military."
Pei Zhi nodded; this was something she had discovered earlier.
Many soldiers in the army are quite old, yet they still have to train hard every day.
They were willing to retire, but their families were all relying on their salaries for food.
During Pei Zhi's tenure, there was another policy: soldiers who reached the age of 55 could receive a monthly pension from the local government.
Many soldiers thought that they would wait until they were fifty-five years old before retiring and receiving a pension.
"Secondly, it can also reduce the burden on the imperial court."
With so many soldiers in the military every year, paying a salary to each one is a considerable expense.
Moreover, after Pei Zhi ascended the throne, he greatly improved the conditions in the army.
Many young men today, having failed to gain anything from their studies, have joined the army.
Anyway, there's no war now, and when I get old, the imperial court will take care of me in my old age. What a wonderful thing.
It was not appropriate for the army to send its soldiers home without cause.
By using the order to return to the army, soldiers were given the freedom to choose.
"Thirdly, this is the first policy the new emperor has implemented since his ascension to the throne, and we must not make any mistakes."
Pei Zhi nodded repeatedly; Li Zheng had hit the nail on the head.
"Miss Qin's question came so suddenly that I didn't have time to think, so I could only give a hasty answer."
Pei Zhi praised, "It's already very good."
"Young Master Li is still young. He should take the imperial examination next year and serve the country."
Li Zheng, however, was getting anxious. "Miss Qin, do you think there's something wrong with me?"
Pei Zhi realized that Li Zheng was not her subject; Li Zheng was expressing his feelings to her.
Pei Zhi smiled and said, "Young Master Li, I am already forty-five years old this year, old enough to be your mother."
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