At the beginning of the year, when Luoyang was conducting an assessment, Li Ru, who ranked eighth, volunteered to come to his hometown to serve as the county magistrate.
He grew up here, so he hopes to use his knowledge to contribute to his hometown and improve their lives.
Li Ru vividly remembered the words the emperor had spoken to him when they met: "You possess the talent of Zhang Liang, and you do not forget your hometown after achieving success. I am very pleased with you. I hope that you will bring prosperity to the region. I will be waiting for you in Luoyang!"
Liu Hong's words deeply moved Li Ru, who immediately vowed that if he could not bring benefits to the region as His Majesty had promised, he would have no face to see His Majesty again in this life.
Upon returning to Heyang, Li Ru saw that the local people were living in poverty and the government treasury was empty. So he immediately began internal reorganization and summoned the local powerful landlords in Heyang, hoping that they could lend grain to the government, but they all refused.
Li Ru then took drastic measures, arresting and interrogating them on charges of annexing land and oppressing the people. He then confiscated their property, forcing the local powerful landlords to donate large amounts of grain and land. It can be said that he offended all the powerful landlords in Heyang.
He then led his men to travel between towns and villages every day, investigating and organizing the registered population, vigorously gathering refugees, encouraging people to reclaim wasteland, and sending officials to the fields to personally guide the people in farming.
Today, thanks to Li Ru's governance, the situation in Heyang has greatly improved. Most people now own their own land and live in peace and contentment.
Because Li Ru held the title of the emperor's protégé, not only the powerful landlords but also his superior, Wang Yun, the Left Fengyi, offered him much support.
In the Heyang County government office, Li Ru was handling official business when a yamen runner suddenly rushed in.
"Magistrate Li, the people who came to receive the refugees on our way to Jizhou have returned! They are outside the east gate of the county town!"
Li Ru stopped what he was doing and asked, "Oh? How many people did they bring back?"
The constable thought for a moment and said, "There are probably more than five thousand people!"
"Let's go take a look!"
After saying this, Li Ru got up and left the county office, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
"Greetings, Magistrate Li!"
Upon seeing Li Ru walking through the county town, passersby stepped forward to pay their respects, their eyes filled with gratitude and reverence.
"Please, everyone, don't be so polite!"
Li Ru greeted the people warmly, and seeing the happy smiles on their faces made him very happy too.
When he first arrived in Heyang, he saw that almost everyone looked pale and listless, like walking corpses. In less than a year, most of them had changed, and their faces were full of longing and hope for life.
Thinking that with the emperor's support and his own efforts, the people were able to live such a happy life, Li Ru felt very satisfied, but also filled with a sense of responsibility.
The number of people in the counties and prefectures of the Han Dynasty is immense, and there is still much for me to do.
Before long, Li Ru arrived outside Heyang and met the refugees who had been received from Jizhou.
After a long journey, everyone was disheveled and their clothes were tattered, but Li Ru saw hope and longing for life in their bright eyes.
Li Ru then summoned the official in charge of receiving the people and asked, "How are these people?"
"Reporting to the magistrate, these people are all displaced people who suffered disasters in their early years and have been wandering around begging. Upon hearing His Majesty's decree, they all came voluntarily!"
"kindness!"
Li Ru nodded, then asked, "Was there any situation on the road?"
"No, along the way, every county and prefecture had soup kitchens set up for relief, and not a single person starved to death!"
"Okay! That's good!"
Then Li Ru looked at a yamen runner beside him and said, "Go and inform the county magistrate to prepare some food and clothing immediately and distribute them to these people!"
"promise!"
The constable turned and ran into the city.
Then Li Ru approached the refugees and shouted, "I am Li Ru, the magistrate of Heyang County. On behalf of the people of Heyang, I welcome you here! From now on, this will be your home!"
"We have come to greet Magistrate Li!"
Upon hearing Li Ru's kind words, several elderly men, who were the leaders among the refugees, stood up and bowed respectfully to Li Ru. Along their journey, they had seen that the lives of the people under the jurisdiction of Heyang were indeed much more stable and peaceful than in other places.
Li Ru laughed and said, "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities! We have been ordered by His Majesty to build houses for you. After you are registered as households, we will provide you with food and farming tools to make a living and cultivate wasteland!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Magistrate Li!"
Li Ru then arranged for people to lead these people to the newly built resettlement area in the northeast of the city. He then found the county clerk and began to register these refugees as citizens.
Just as Li Ru was busy, several Imperial Guard soldiers appeared at the east gate of the city on horseback not far away.
The soldiers guarding the city gate hurriedly stepped forward to greet them, "This humble servant greets you gentlemen!"
The leading Imperial Guard nodded and asked in a deep voice, "Where is your magistrate of Heyang, Li Ru? We are here on His Majesty's orders to give him an imperial edict!"
"Magistrate Li is over there resettling the displaced people. Please wait a moment, gentlemen, while I go and fetch him!"
Several Imperial Guards looked in the direction the city gate guards were pointing and saw Li Ru, dressed in the robes of a county magistrate, moving among the refugees and a group of Heyang officials, asking questions and taking notes.
The leading Imperial Guard officer nodded. "Good!"
Soon, Li Ru followed the city gate guard to the Imperial Guard officer.
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