Chapter 419: First Entering the City
Jing'an City is located in the southeast of Qingtian County. It is the capital city of the Northwest and the largest city in the entire Northwest.
It is close to the canal ferry, so it has the blessing of water transportation and is also well connected by land.
The terrain advantage is unique in the northwest.
Therefore, Jing'an City's commerce was very prosperous and it shouldered nearly half of the tax revenue in the entire Northwest.
It was almost sunset when Gu Xixi and others entered the city, and they still saw many people entering and leaving the city gate.
There are also caravans and escort agencies, with people speaking different accents gathering here.
Lu Jing opened the curtains and looked outside excitedly.
She seldom went out in the past, but now that she was on a business trip with Gu Xixi for the first time, her mood was very different.
I'm in a place I've never been to before, so naturally I find everything interesting.
"The man leading the camel has red hair, different from An Qinghe's!"
"Those people were holding monkeys and colorful birds. Were they parrots? What did they do?"
"Look at this stall owner, what kind of vegetables is she selling? I've never seen them before."
…
Gu Xixi would take a look from behind from time to time to help the curious baby answer questions.
When entering the city, Jiang Mingyuan rode in front on horseback.
At this moment he slowed down, waiting for the carriage to catch up, and said to Gu Xixi from the window:
"The government has a post station in the city, so we can stay there."
"I'll visit you at the government office tomorrow morning."
Gu Xixi nodded and said, "This is my first time in Jing'an, and I am not familiar with government affairs."
"Everything is up to Brother Zichu's instructions."
Gu Xixi had already set her eyes on a piece of low sloping land south of Qingtian County.
There is not much fertile land in the northwest.
Good land suitable for growing crops has long been reclaimed by generations of people in the northwest.
The remaining abandoned places are certainly not fertile soil.
Gu Xixi was mentally prepared for this. She didn't seek to be picky in her selection, but only wanted to pick the tallest among the short ones.
Fortunately, she found it.
Because of the year-round wind direction and terrain, that place has more rain and is relatively warm.
The conditions were just barely suitable, with irrigation being convenient, and it was located in Qingtian County, close to home.
Gu Xixi made the decision immediately and informed Jiang Mingyuan of her decision.
Jiang Mingyuan looked at the plan formally submitted by Gu Xixi, and after taking the county government's agricultural officials for an on-site inspection, he also approved Gu Xixi's plan.
Although this piece of low sloping land doesn't look very big, people from the county government conducted an on-site survey and found that the area marked by Gu Xixi was nearly 500 acres.
In the Northwest, arable land is extremely precious.
When Huo Jiang, the current Northwest General, first came to power, in order to increase the total amount of grain in the Northwest, he specially consulted with the prefect at the time and issued a series of decrees called the "Farming Order."
For example, arable land cannot be bought and sold privately, left idle without reason, or used for other purposes without permission.
Those who violated the order would be fined, caned, have their farmland confiscated, or be forced into military labor, depending on the severity of the crime.
Therefore, if the piece of land that Gu Xixi liked continued to be left idle, nothing would happen.
But if the land is reclaimed and crops are planted, it will fall under the jurisdiction of the Farmland Order.
No one in the Northwest grows tea yet.
Tea trees are certainly not considered a food crop.
Is planting tea trees on a large scale considered a violation of the order?
In addition, so much wasteland needs to be approved to Gu Xixi for use through cooperation between the government and individuals.
How should the contract be formulated?
What is the authority of the government in this matter?
How should future profits be divided?
...There are so many issues, and they are of great importance. Jiang Mingyuan, as the county magistrate, cannot make all the decisions.
So Jiang Mingyuan first wrote a letter to the prefect, Mr. Xu.
After getting approval, Gu Xixi went to the city today to discuss the details with Lord Xu in person.
As long as this trip goes smoothly and we get the official documents approved by the government office.
The subsequent implementation will be decided by Jiang Mingyuan, the local official.
When they arrived outside the post station, Gu Xixi and Lu Jing were about to get off the bus.
Suddenly, a man in official uniform came out of the post station and bowed to Jiang Mingyuan, saying:
"May I ask if you are the new Qingtian County Magistrate, Lord Jiang?"
Jiang Mingyuan dismounted and greeted him.
Inside the carriage, Gu Xixi signaled Lu Jing to continue sitting down and wait and see what would happen.
I just heard the conversation between two people outside.
Jiang Mingyuan said: "That's right."
No matter who the other party is, he believes that he has behaved uprightly and there is nothing he cannot admit.
The other party said: "I am a ninth-rank clerk in the government office, Ren Quan."
"I am here on the orders of Lord Xu to take Lord Jiang and the guests you brought with you to the welcoming banquet."
Jiang Mingyuan's voice still contained a bit of scrutiny, "This is our first meeting. How do you recognize me?"
Ren Quan smiled and said, "It is said that this year's number one scholar is extremely talented and is not inferior to the number three scholar at all."
"Just now I saw the carriage following you and stopped in front of the government post, so I was 80% sure."
Jiang Mingyuan saw the color of the official uniform this person was wearing and knew he was indeed from the ninth rank.
In addition, I saw with my own eyes him walking out of the official inn in broad daylight.
Jiang Mingyuan dispelled his doubts at this point and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Master Ren, to lead the way."
"But please wait a moment."
Jiang Mingyuan turned and walked towards the carriage, whispering a few words through the window.
Gu Xixi actually heard it all clearly.
After Jiang Mingyuan finished speaking, she said calmly, "I'm not inconvenienced."
"Just make the decision."
According to Gu Xixi's thoughts, of course she wanted to meet the prefect in person as soon as possible.
As for Jiang Mingyuan, Shangguan calculated the time of his arrival, prepared a welcoming banquet, and sent people to wait in advance.
He had no choice tonight and there was no reason to refuse.
So, the group changed direction and followed Ren Quan's carriage towards the government office.
The backyard of the government office was not luxuriously decorated, and there were not many servants coming and going.
Ren Quan personally held a lantern to lead the way, and said with a smile, "We adults have always been frugal."
"We are entertaining our distinguished guests tonight, so we prepared a few more meat dishes and a jar of good wine."
"The banquet is nothing more than some home-cooked dishes with local characteristics."
"So the three of you don't have to be restrained. Just treat it as a normal conversation."
Jiang Mingyuan can now speak some polite words, "I have heard that Lord Xu is incorruptible and upright, and he is a role model for us."
Ren Quan asked about some things in Qingtian County.
The two of them were talking about officialdom, but Gu Xixi was not very interested. She just silently thought about what she had prepared to say in advance.
Since she came here for negotiation, she had to put forward all the key points and try her best to win.
The government office was very large. After passing through several small doors, we finally arrived at the courtyard where the banquet was held.
Without waiting for the servants to inform him, Ren Quan led the guests directly to the big house with lights on.
He said loudly outside the door, "Master Xu, Your Majesty, County Magistrate Jiang and the two distinguished guests have been brought here."
Prince?
Jiang Mingyuan was stunned. Could it be that the mysterious high-ranking official who was rumored to come to the northwest was some prince?
Gu Xixi also heard it, but she was still reviewing her plan. She only glanced at Jiang Mingyuan subconsciously and didn't think much about it.
As soon as Ren Quan finished speaking, the laughter of Prefect Xu was heard from inside the house, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching the door.
"Come in! Come in quickly!"
"I can't wait to see the true face of our new number one scholar!"
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