They returned to the riverbank, where Xiao Liu and the others had already prepared lunch.
"Do you know this Lord Li?" Fang Qing asked.
Zhao Shi'an shook his head.
“We just arrived a few days ago, and almost all the officials, big and small, from Yongzhou came to pay their respects, but we didn’t see Lord Li. Perhaps he really is different from the others,” Fang Qing said.
"I'll have someone investigate."
This trip wasn't without its rewards; they returned home in the afternoon, just as the seeds they had brought from Yuzhou arrived.
According to the agreement with the Tibetan king, some of these seeds were transported to Tibet, while the rest were kept for wider distribution.
Two days later, the investigation into Zhu's case, which he had ordered, also yielded results for Lord Li.
Xiao Liu gave a brief report.
This Lord Li is named Li Yuan. He is from the capital and comes from a very good family background. He is the son of the fifth sister of the late emperor.
However, this fifth princess was not favored before her marriage and never received a title. She married the third son of the Li family after the late emperor ascended the throne.
But this Third Young Master Li was no good. He was lazy and loved to eat, and he doted on his wife while neglecting his concubines. Later, the Fifth Princess divorced him and lived on the estate ever since.
As for Lord Li, he remained in the Li family, but was not valued by them. Several years ago, after passing the imperial examination, he was appointed to Yongzhou. Before the previous prefect of Yongzhou was transferred, he recommended Lord Li to the court to be the prefect.
This Lord Li was indeed as frugal and simple as rumored, a good official who was wholeheartedly devoted to the people.
"Then what about taxes?" Fang Qing asked.
"This is indeed true."
Fang Qing looked at Xiao Liu with suspicion.
"The taxes in Yongzhou are different from those in other regions, including a military tax, which is used to support the protection of the local people by the troops stationed in Yongzhou."
How can there be such shameless taxes?
Fang Qing laughed in exasperation.
Who made these rules?
Zhao Shi'an also frowned and looked at Xiao Liu.
In his previous life, when he was in charge of the government, he never allowed such things to appear and harm the people.
"It was last year; the document was delivered directly from the Ministry of Revenue without going through any discussion in the court."
"And whose orders does the Ministry of Revenue take?"
"emperor."
Fang Qing looked at Zhao Shi'an and asked, "What does he mean by this? As far as I know, the national treasury is not empty."
Agriculture in Yongzhou was already not thriving, and the Emperor's actions have completely prevented Yongzhou's agriculture from developing.
"Last year you were busy fighting for the throne for him, and the various factions were all unstable. How could he do something like this? Has he lost his mind?"
She cursed the emperor, and Xiao Liu quickly glanced outside to make sure no one was eavesdropping before he breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhao Shi'an poured her a cup of tea to soothe her emotions.
"Perhaps I know why he did that."
Fang Qing looked at Zhao Shi'an, waiting for him to continue.
"At that time, I promised him that I would let him sit in that position, but he still withstood the pressure from the Southwest Army and the vassal kings. If the Northwest had risen up again at that time, let alone the throne, I'm afraid the whole country would not belong to the Sima family."
"So he thought of finding something for the Northwest to do, so that the people would put all their energy into farming, so that they would not be able to launch a mutiny."
Fang Qing almost sneered when Zhao Shi'an spoke.
How could anyone even think of such a thing?
Isn't he afraid of oppressing the people and then launching an uprising?
Fang Qing didn't say it aloud, but Zhao Shi'an could tell.
“Last year, Yongzhou suffered from natural disasters, and the people’s survival was a problem. At that time, they relied entirely on the court for relief, so it was impossible for them to launch an uprising.”
Fang Qing sighed heavily.
"Now that we're planning to develop local agriculture here, let's clear away these obstacles first."
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Since Zhao Shi'an has said so, Fang Qing no longer needs to worry about this matter.
In the following days, she led a team to promote the grain seeds.
He originally thought things would be difficult, but little did he know that Li Yuan would personally visit him on the second day of the promotion.
Fang Qing had just returned from outside and was checking the accounts with the steward when Seventeen told her that Lord Li had come to visit, which surprised her for a moment.
Fang Qing was also secretly surprised to see Li Yuan.
She's clearly in her twenties, but looks like she's almost forty.
He was also very thin.
After exchanging greetings, Fang Qing invited him to sit down.
"May I ask what brings Lord Li to visit me?"
"I heard that the county magistrate has been promoting grain seeds recently. I have heard a lot about your seeds, so I came to see if there is anything I can do to help."
His attitude was sincere, yet tinged with a hint of shame.
“Even if Lord Li hadn’t come here, I would have come to visit. We do indeed need your help with grain seeds.”
After all, Li Yuan was the prefect of Yongzhou City, and he held a special place in the hearts of the people of Yongzhou. If he had help, it would naturally be of great assistance to her work.
Upon hearing Fang Qing's words, Lord Li's expression softened considerably.
Afterwards, Fang Qing discussed the situation in Yongzhou with Lord Li.
Even with Xiaodou's help, Fang Qing's understanding of Yongzhou was still not as detailed as Li Yuan's. Li Yuan not only knew the population distribution like the back of his hand, but also had a clear understanding of the general land situation.
It's clear that this person is truly devoting his heart and soul to Yongzhou and its people.
The two were initially discussing the situation in Yongzhou, but before they knew it, they were talking about other things.
When Zhao Shi'an returned, he saw the two chatting happily.
He hesitated for a moment at the door before stepping inside.
Fang Qing saw him first, and then introduced him to Li Yuan.
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