Chapter 352: Contempt
On the second day, Meng Ju's people took Yang Zhumu and Yang Zhulin and stayed behind to harvest high-yield sweet potatoes and other crops, while Zhou Shuren and others continued to rush to Lizhou City.
Although some people were left behind to harvest the crops, the city of Lizhou was still waiting for food to save its life. They hurried on the road while collecting cheap grain from farmers passing by, which resulted in the convoy becoming larger and larger. In order not to delay the journey, they would sometimes continue on the road at night and rest in the car when they could.
After walking most of the way, Zhulan was secretly glad that she had spent money to buy ginseng when she was in the capital. This time, not only her parents needed it, but she and Zhou Shuren also needed it. They were both very tired these days.
Arriving at the border of Chuanzhou, Zhulan found many apple trees, some of which were large apple forests. Suddenly, she remembered that apples were introduced to the northwest during the Han Dynasty. She remembered that there was an apple town in the northwest in modern times. Chuanzhou and Lizhou were close to each other and had similar geographical locations. Zhulan's eyes lit up. In ancient times, winter fruits were precious. "Shuren, look at the apple forest."
Zhou Shuren put down the account book in his hand and looked in the direction Zhulan pointed. It was indeed an apple forest. "What's wrong? Want to eat apples?"
Zhulan, "No, I was thinking that Lizhou City and Chuanzhou are so close, it must be suitable for growing apples. I want to buy some mountain land and then buy apple trees from Chuanzhou to plant. What do you think?"
Zhou Shuren naturally supported it, "I'll listen to you."
Zhulan calculated, "I need to build two more icehouses and a few more cellars so that the apples can be stored for a longer period of time. The price will increase as winter approaches, and I will be able to make a lot of money by then."
Zhou Shuren listened and went into the ice cellar. His most important thing at the moment was to ensure food and shelter for the people of Lizhou City and to ensure that this year's spring ploughing went smoothly. He did not want to think about other things to increase income for now and would talk about it after solving the two major problems.
There are many apple trees planted in Sichuan Province. There are also many abandoned orchards in the mountains. These are because people don’t know how to grow apples. Apples don’t taste good, so they are not planted because there is no profit.
I don’t know how to grow bamboo orchid. It still needs professional fruit farmers to grow it. I will have to come to Chuanzhou to hire someone when the time comes.
The distance to Lizhou City became shorter and shorter, and more and more refugees were begging for food. After seeing the huge grain trucks in the convoy, more and more people followed the team. Fortunately, there were many officials and it was spring, so there were wild vegetables, so they didn't get too hungry and rushed to grab them.
Entering the area of Lizhou City, there are many people digging wild vegetables in the mountains for food. Fortunately, there is no drought and no grass grows. As long as they can successfully cultivate some high-yield crops, there is hope for life.
Lizhou City is an upper prefecture and also a direct-controlled prefecture. The status of Zhou Shuren, the prefect, is parallel to that of the prefect. Although Zhou Shuren is still a fifth-rank official, because he is the prefect of a direct-controlled prefecture, Zhou Shuren's salary is more than that of the prefect of a scattered prefecture.
Moreover, Lizhou City is a direct-controlled prefecture with jurisdiction over counties, so Zhou Shuren, the prefect, has extraordinary power.
Zhou Shuren explained all this to Zhulan later, and only then did Zhulan realize that there was so much to say about Zhoucheng.
In the territory of Lizhou City, Zhulan saw that the children were all skinny. This was all due to the war. The most miserable were still the ordinary people. They had no money and could not farm in their hometown. They had no money left after fleeing and could only beg. After finally finishing the war, they returned to their hometown without a penny. They could not even afford the seeds for spring farming, and the food supply for the family made the situation worse.
Lizhou City is poor, with few merchants. Some wealthy families have not returned yet, and they will not hire anyone to work. Without additional sources of income, they can only sell their children.
Lizhou City currently has the largest number of human traffickers.
Zhulan felt sad when she saw a group of children leaving with them. These children were all bought by human traffickers.
Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan tightly and said, "Don't look at it."
Zhulan listened to the cheers behind her and felt even more depressed. "Fortunately, we can collect food as we go."
Zhou Shuren nodded. Several food transport vehicles followed behind him. Zhou Shuren sighed, "I don't have much money left."
Zhulan was silent. There really wasn't much left. Now she had 15,000 taels left. There would be many places to use silver in the future. "Put yourself in my shoes. The silver came with you to Lizhou City. At least it didn't go through many hands. We used it on the refugees. Wouldn't it make you feel better if you think this way?"
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "It is indeed much more comfortable."
If this is put down layer by layer, we would be thankful if we could get 20,000 taels out of the 50,000 taels in Lizhou City.
It was noon when we arrived at Lizhou City. The Tongzhi and Tongpan had been waiting outside the city gate with their men for a long time.
As soon as Zhou Shuren got off the carriage, he saw the haggard Tongzhi and Tongpan. He had the information given by the emperor. The Tongzhi and Tongpan were both newly transferred. The Tongzhi was originally the prefect of Sanzhou in Chuanzhou. He was promoted from the fifth rank to the fifth rank. Although he was promoted, Zhou Shuren looked at the haggard appearance of the Tongzhi and estimated that he would rather continue to be the prefect of Sanzhou and endure it slowly.
The Tongpan was also newly transferred from Jiangnan Prefecture. He was clearly in his thirties, but he looked so haggard that he looked like he was in his forties.
Tongzhi Chen Chen, 43 years old, was not only worried and exhausted, but also worried all the time whether his head would move away. When he received the imperial edict that the new runner-up in the imperial examination became the prefect of Lizhou City, he burst into swearing. How could a runner-up who had never been an official be able to handle the mess in Lizhou City? Wouldn't that mean his head would move away as well?
Now looking at the new prefect, Lord Zhou, and then at the huge convoy, he knew at a glance that those behind were all grain carts. He put away his contempt, thinking that the emperor must have a reason for valuing him.
Tongpan He Yun, 36 years old, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the team leader, saying that help had arrived.
Tongzhi Chen Chen and Tongpan He Yun stepped forward, "Sir Zhou."
Zhou Shuren returned the greeting, "Master Chen, Master He."
Chen Chen and He Jun looked at each other and realized that they did not believe that Lord Zhou had investigated them in advance. Lord Zhou accurately said their surnames, so it must be the emperor who told them. No wonder all the people in Lizhou City were newly transferred. The two of them knew in their hearts that the emperor really valued this Lord Zhou.
Since the emperor values them, they dare not despise them. The two of them could not help but glance at the officers in the team. Who knows who among them is the emperor's man? Originally, Lizhou City was a rotten stall. The two of them had not improved the situation in Lizhou City. The emperor must be dissatisfied. It is better for them to be honest.
Chen Chen said, "Master Zhou, you have worked hard on the journey. Please come into the city."
Zhou Shuren said, "You two go ahead. I will tell my family and then go back to the government office with the team."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves came from afar. Zhou Shuren looked at Wu Chun who was leading the group and saw that he had heard the news and was coming to pick up the Yang family.
The Tongzhi, Tongpan and others were stunned. Why did General Yang, who was stationed in Zha, come? They soon found out why he came.
Wu Chun dismounted and saluted, "Uncle, you have worked hard on the journey."
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I was thinking of writing to you after I got into the city, but you got the news and came here on your own."
Wu Chun explained, "I sent people to guard outside the city gate. I knew that the city would welcome you today, so I came here from where I was stationed. Uncle, how was your journey, grandpa and grandma?"
Zhou Shuren said, "I'm fine, but I've been rushing all the way home so I need to recuperate for a few days. I'm going back to my uncle's house first, and we'll have a good family reunion when he comes back in the evening."
Wu Chun knew that his uncle had something to ask him, so he smiled and said, "Okay."
The Tongpan and the Tongzhi were silent, but they knew that because Lizhou City was close to the border and was an upper prefecture, there were more soldiers and generals stationed there than in other prefectures, a total of 4,000 people. The highest commander was General Zheng, and this General Yang was the second person with the say. These two generals had made great contributions, and the emperor personally appointed them and trusted them very much. Unexpectedly, they were Lord Zhou’s nephews!
The two of them really didn't have any thoughts at all this time. If I remember correctly, General Yang even saved General Zheng's life!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
